Swellbeing: Everyone deserves to feel awesome

by Blake Johnston

Blake 'Blakey' Johnston is a surfer. So was his dad. And his brothers. For Blake, growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, life was good and surfing was everything. At sixteen, he turned pro and took off around the world, chasing his dream to become the world's best. The thing about dreams, though, is that they change - sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. For some people, that change can be too much. Too often, people stay silent about their struggles; too often, they can't see a way back.

Nine Australians die by suicide every day. Blake's dad was one of them. Ever since, Blake has made it his mission to help people find the tools they need to stay alive. In his own struggles with mental health, they are the tools he's used to find the joys in nature, family, human connection and himself. These tools even enabled him to unite a community, spend forty gruelling hours in the water, catch 707 waves and claim the world record for longest surf. And then the world's biggest paddle-out.

Now, in Swellbeing, his powerful and inspiring memoir, Blake outlines what he drew on to overcome his challenges with mental illness and shares the lessons he's learned to help others make it through the tough times to live their best lives. He's hoping his experience can ripple out and help others. Because . . . everyone deserves to feel awesome.

'This down-to-earth memoir offers those who are struggling a model for how they can help themselves' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

'Powerful . . . an honest and inspiring story' GOOD READING MAGAZINE

Audible Audio

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly inspiring and so awesome. I thought I was familiar with Blake Johnston’s story (we both live in cronulla) but I have been blown away. What an incredible ‘reminder that we all have the power to make the world a better place’ a memoir we should all read and then chat about; so many great tools for mental health here.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read with some general mental health tips that are useful but pretty standard. Nothing groundbreaking in terms of strategies mentioned to strengthen mental health. Whilst not a bad read, I do think it would have been more engaging if Blake could have gone a bit deeper / been more descriptive of the mental health struggles he experienced. He touches upon them and how they came about but doesn’t provide much depth to his thoughts and actions in the darker times, hence I thought it was difficult to get a comprehensive understanding as a reader and develop a shared connection with the author.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake Johnston's achievements are impressive: the world record holder for the longest surf; 40 hours, 7 minutes and 707 waves. Just as impressive as his incredible feat is the unforgettable story behind the record and the life of the man behind it, expertly and thrillingly captured in this compelling work. One can only imagine - and admire - the sheer willpower it took to be on that board for so long, enduring beyond what seems possible (at times I felt like I was on the board with him, too). It's an Australian story and achievement that deserves far more attention.
Yet the ocean can be more than a hard taskmaster: it can be a healer and mentor as well, something surfer Blake learned first-hand growing up around the beaches of Cronulla, dreaming of being the world's best. Blake shows by practical example - as well as with the Blakey's Tips at the end of each chapter, which would be particularly well suited to be studied as part of a school curriculum - how we can also tap into the lifegiving force of the water with the right tools.
As Blake says, "Everyone deserves to feel awesome." This unmissable memoir shares the secrets of how you can feel awesome, too, one wave at a time. Highly recommended.