#6 On recovering from addiction using meditation

Have you, or do you know someone who has ever struggled with nasty drug addiction? Well two times surfing world champion Tom Carroll has, and with one of the worst of them all, meth. Tom is now well and truly off the gear and attributes much of his recovery with meditation AND seeking help from others. If you’re any form of hellman who needs to feel a rush, I feel you, and this is your episode.

Tom was world champ in 1983 and ‘84, and probably would have been world champ in ‘85 if it wasn’t for the fact that he boycotted the South African leg of the tour in protest against apartheid. As well as his two world championships, throughout his career, TC took 26 world tour wins, which includes three Pipe Masters victories in 1987, ‘90 and ‘91.  

We do talk a bit about surfing, but eventually our focus comes around to addiction, mental health, meditation and Aussie male culture. We pick up this interview just as Tom is opening up about the time he won arguably the most prestigious event on the world tour surfing calendar, the Pipe Masters. For those who don’t know, the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of O'ahu in Hawaii is one of the heaviest, most dangerous and most exciting waves in the world. However, what makes this moment in time all the more extraordinary is that Tom won this event the very day after his much loved older sister Josephine tragically died in a terrible car accident back home in Australia. How on earth is such a thing possible?! So humbling. 

This was an amazing interview to do - it was a rare privilege to interview a sporting hero in my favourite of all recreational activities. Tom was incredibly generous with his time, and aside from being a really upbeat and fun person to be around, he is also deeply insightful, intelligent, kind and well-versed with life’s challenges. 

Thank you for tuning in, and I hope that you enjoy the show.

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Links from the show:

• For Tom’s 5:50am AEDT Tues, Thur and Sat guided meditations, go to: https://www.instagram.com/thomasvictorcarroll/ also tomcarrollmeditation.com

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