Meet Jordan Auten | Filmmaker and Founder of Yoniswell Surf Collective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Auten and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
This is an interesting question. The idea for my business was not created to be a business in the beginning. The idea conceived came from my heart and soul wanting to provide a safe space for women in the surf community. It began as a way to bridge those who feared the sport, but so badly want to try it and those familiar with it, however needed an outlet of feminine energy with whom to share the experience. Yoniswell Surf Collective began as an effort to enhance a community of female surfers by creating a safe space for empowerment and healing. In result, we created a business that flourishes and thrives through synergy, connection, community, and generosity.

What should our readers know about your business?
I love these questions! Yet, they are very new in many ways because Yoniswell is in the infant stages of its growth. It’s a powerful place to be! They also seem foreign to me because since a young age I have strived to be, worked towards, and am now a professional director of television and film. It has been my goal for so long to create a positive impact in the world and upon humanity through non-fiction and fictional storytelling. I am grateful I am living that dream and continuing to choose content that will bring light to the human experience in an informative and positive way. That said, my same vibrational passion for storytelling has lead me to a new path aligned with my purpose and desire. I live a healthy and active lifestyle, meaning I love to challenge my mind, body, and strength through mindfulness, physical fitness, and outdoor adventures of many kinds. These actions fuel my soul. I LOVE surfing. I am mediocre at best, yet strive to improve each day as I am determined to master my personal skill level throughout my life. I love surfing like I love filmmaking. I love surfing like I love challenging my body through health and fitness. I love connecting with mother nature and the ocean through activities like surfing that bring me joy. It is surfing that empowers me as an athlete in the ocean and as a human being. Surfing creates a healing space for my heart and soul. If you think about it, when we catch a wave, it is only seconds in time that we experience those brief moments of magic, pure joy and infinite gratitude. We catch the wave, ride it for a few seconds, paddle back out for more. Though brief, those seconds accumulate overtime and stay with us forever. I am the founder of Yoniswell Surf Collective – Yoniswell: [yō – nē – swell] : is a community of women on a mission to connect, empower, and heal through the sport of surfing. We take ownership of ourselves and our life’s vision as we strive to infuse our community of girl power into the world in a positive and impactful way. Yoniswell began as a surf meet up group among female surfers in the Los Angeles area. We are a community on the rise. We give back through various organizations each month bringing awareness and education to important topics surrounding ocean preservation, health and wellbeing. How did I arrive here? What are the challenges? What are the lessons I have learned? Since Yoniswell is a new business, I can comment as follows. What I have learned is that life experiences shape us and allow us to choose how we value those experiences. We have the choice to be grateful for what we gained, to cherish those experiences, the people we met along the way, and lessons we learned. We have the choice to take with us what will serve our purpose in a positive way moving forward. What I know is that resilience is a gained value that strengthens within our souls like a muscle overtime. When the value of life’s experiences and resilience cross paths, there is synchronicity, synergy, and magic that forms and takes shape. For me, that is Yoniswell Surf Collective. Some exciting upcoming developments are that we are designing an apparel line that is unique, fresh, comfortable, and sustainably conscious. Something to look forward to!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Touring the Los Angeles beaches with some yummy food and scenery in between is a must! I would venture down to the south bay of Los Angeles to lounge out in the sun at El Porto beach in Manhattan Beach. It’s a fun beach break with wide open space to swim and surf that’s a bit secluded from the main highway which allows for feeling the exclusivity. There are beach rentals available including surf and boogie boards directly on the beach. There’s a friendly local vibe with lots of families adventuring out for fun in the sun. For a post beach meal, OB’s Pub and Grill is nearby off of Rosecrans Blvd with excellent eatery and drinks. If I were heading up north in the Malibu area, I would visit Heavens, a surf break in Leo Carillo. It’s a break wave that can have big waves at times depending on the tide and swell direction. It’s definitely a short board wave and meant for the more advanced surfer.  There’s parking on the PCH with beach access in walking distance. Dogs are allowed on the beach as long as they are on leash. This is also a great spot for families to enjoy the ocean water and sun all day! The best part about Heavens is just a bit south down the road, there is the world famous and arguably some of the best seafood at Malibu Seafood and Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe. Definitely a must; be prepared though, there is always a line. Well worth the wait.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I’d like to dedicate The Shoutout series to the women of Yonsiwell Surf Collective. Thank you for showing up for yourselves and for our community. You are the beating heart and soul that continues our lifeline. Secondly, to my dear friend, soul sister, and founder of The Nanny League, Lindsay Thomason. Lindsay is loyal, loving, caring, driven, fierce, creative, and nurturing woman with a humanitarian heart. Without Lindsay’s support, Yoniswell Surf Collective would not be where it is today as we are birthing into expansion and growing each day. Ariel Kochbarski, editor for the Sustainable Stylish Life with Sameside, a platform to connect events & gatherings with a purpose has been an integral part of Yoniswell’s growth and structural building of our brand. Through Samesside, we creatively collaborate planning events for our community while giving back. Many of these organizations include Heal the Bay, B4BC.org, Surfrider LA, La Food Bank, Color The Water, and many more to come. Finally, I’d like to give a shout out to our allies and partners as we build awareness, connect, and bring our community to life in a positive way. We have been so lucky to partner with AdventureFit, Rewilder Goods, Sustainable Republic, Pela Case, Yella Activewear, and also many more to come!

Website: https://www.yoniswell.com

Instagram: @yoniswell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoniswell

Other: https://www.onsameside.com/yoniswell-is-empowering-women-in-surfing.html

Image Credits
Megan Youngblood