Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Blue mind: Why we love water

    One of my favorite things to do after a stressful work day is drive up the Pacific Coast Highway – to Point Mugu – and plant my rear-end in the…

    • Share
    Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.By Steve Chiotakis • Jul 26, 2014 • 1 min read

    “Life on The Beach” by Motorito via Flickr/CC

    One of my favorite things to do after a stressful work day is drive up the Pacific Coast Highway – to Point Mugu – and plant my rear-end in the sand or on a rock, or walk a few feet into the Pacific. The smell of the salt water, the sound of crashing waves – it’s zen for me.

    I certainly don’t think I’m alone. Most of us are drawn to the water. It’s calming, it’s relaxing. It feels good.

    Wallace J. Nichols is a marine biologist and researcher at the California Academy of Sciences and he wrote “Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do.”

    • Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.

      Steve Chiotakis

      Afternoon News Anchor

      Arts & Culture StoriesEnvironmentArts