Stories about the aquatic experiences that shape who we become back on land.

What does it take for you to slow down?Ziggy Alberts started playing live at 17, admittedly underprepared, but fizzing. By 21, he was staring at a studio ceiling noticing the lights had gone dim, but no one had touched the switch. It led him to break down to a friend. After years of “hell-for-leather” world-touring, he'd finally stayed still long enough to feel what he'd been outrunning.Ziggy is a songwriter, surfer, and founder of Common Folk Records, the independent label he built with his family and has run for nearly nine years. He grew up homeschooled on the Sunshine Coast, home-birthed and beach-shacked, surfing ratting before music making. In 2025, Ziggy, now in his 30s, toured 165 days and played The Royal Albert Hall to a packed house of fans who crossed Europe to be there.  This year? Only 3 or 4 shows. In this episode, he explains why.Our conversation moves through burnout and self-belief, busking the streets of Byron, the physiological crash that follows a long tour, what it takes for men to talk to each other, and the art of dissolving — in music and in surfing, both.…Ziggy’s song ‘Runaway’ is featured in this episode. …Notable links + recommendations from this episode: Ishmael by Daniel QuinnMichael Hutchence / INXS documentaryNew Jack Johnson filmSteph Strings, Aussie musicianSpotify daily upload rate — conversations cites 60,000 songs per day, that stat seems to be older, probably more like 100,000+ in 2026. Send us Fan Mail…Co-Hosts + Production: Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast …Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia: in business to save our home planetNgalung Kalla Eco Retreat: surf adventure paradise The Sunglass Fix: give your favourite sunglasses new lifeSodii: hydration for salty humans…Subscribe to our newsletter for BTS stories from making the podcast, and the books, films and music we’re currently into. Written by us + free to read. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from y…