When Nick Borelli paddled out on his boogie board in 1980s Santa Cruz, he instantly became an outcast in a culture that prized standing on surfboards above all else. "If you boogie boarded, you were persona non grata," host Michael Howard explains, "the bottom of the totem pole." But this relegation to surf culture's lowest rung gave Nick a perspective few others share—one that would eventually inform his remarkable photography and approach to life.

In this deeply personal conversation, Nick takes us through his journey of growing up in what he calls "the ghetto" of Capitola Shores, where despite limited resources, he found freedom in the water. Through vivid storytelling, Nick reveals how Santa Cruz's notoriously rigid surf hierarchies shaped him, creating both wounds and resilience that would define his path forward. "I knew where I sit and it's been proven to me where I sit," he reflects, describing the often brutal social dynamics at legendary spots like Sewer Peak.

The heart of this episode explores Nick's struggles with depression and substance abuse—how surfing, alcohol, drugs, and food all became escape mechanisms. "I was living in a dark spot by myself and I wasn't telling anybody," he shares with striking candor. His turning point came during time in Boston, where he found both higher education and sobriety, learning to see himself and the world with newfound clarity.

Photography emerges as Nick's ultimate form of expression and healing. What began as an attempt to capture barrel shots and possibly gain acceptance evolved into something far more profound—a way of seeing beauty in moments others might miss. As Michael beautifully observes, Nick's unique viewpoint from a lower, humbler position reveals "a world under us" with "a different essence" that standing surfers never experience.

Listen to this remarkable conversation about finding peace through acceptance, seeing things as they truly are, and discovering art in unexpected places. Whether you're familiar with Santa Cruz surf culture or not, Nick's journey offers universal insights about authenticity, sobriety, and the courage to embrace your own unique perspective.