Welcome to the A16 Z Crypto podcast. Today, A16Z Crypto general partner, Ariana Simpson,

since down with two people who have spent their careers performing at the highest levels

in sport and business. That's Big Wave Surfing Pioneer Laird Hamilton and former pro volleyball

star Gabby Reese. Recorded live at this year's A16 Z Crypto Founder Summit, the conversation

explores what it takes to endure and excel over decades. How to get back up after setbacks,

when to push versus change course, and how to build resilience and adaptability. They also get

into stress, burnout, intuition, and why experience and self-care matter just as much as data. It's a fitting conversation as we head into the new year, a moment to reflect on habits, goals, and the kind of people we want to become.

Gabby, Laird, we are so excited to have you guys here for this conversation.

So thanks so much for being here.

Laird, let's kick it off with you.

So I don't know a ton about big wave surfing,

but I have to imagine that you can't surf waves like that without getting a few bumps and bruises along the way occasionally.

So tell us about one such time,

and then sort of what got you back out there?

Probably one of the most memorable ones was

we had a kind of unforecasted giant swell.

And, uh, I went out with some friends, uh, just actually just two of us, two teams of four guys.

And the waves just kept getting bigger and bigger. And it was a unique weather pattern, so we didn't have any kind of helicopters or anybody looking out and and i crashed on a on a you know what i would consider

one of the bigger waves that i've ever ridden which when you when i fell on that wave i probably

had to swim from 60 feet uh to get through the back of it.

60 feet underwater up?

Yes.

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