Podcast Summary: The Entrepreneurs — "France Special: Best in Surf and Skincare"
Host: Tom Edwards, Monocle
Aired: July 9, 2025
Overview
This episode of The Entrepreneurs takes listeners on a sun-drenched journey to France, exploring innovative strides in two distinct yet connected domains: sustainable surfboard manufacturing on the Atlantic coast and pioneering skincare in Paris. Through in-depth interviews and lively conversations, the episode showcases French entrepreneurial spirit at the intersection of eco-conscious design and wellness, highlighting stories from the Basque surf scene as well as an intimate chat with acclaimed facialist Sophie Carbonari.
Key Discussion Points
1. Surfboard Innovation on the French Atlantic Coast
The Rise of Sustainable Surfboard Startups
- [01:44-12:00]
Reporter Ian Wylie visits Anglet and Biarritz, hubs of the French Basque surf culture, to meet two entrepreneurs redefining surfboard manufacturing for sustainability.
Wyve: 3D-Printed Eco-Friendly Boards
- Sylvain Fleury (CEO and co-founder, Wyve) shares how his passion for surfing and engineering led to the creation of a company that 3D-prints custom surfboards from sugarcane-based plastic, cutting CO₂ emissions significantly.
- Wyve’s boards have a customizable hexagonal construction, allowing tailoring of performance for each surfer and wave type.
- The company works closely with renowned "shapers" in the region, blending tradition with innovation.
- Local surfing culture provides vital feedback and testing opportunities.
Quotes:
“With 3D printing… the core inside the board is 100% bio-based, made out of PLA we use. So it’s sugarcane plastic with no petrochemical inside.” – Sylvain Fleury [03:30]
“With our pattern you can really play on the… pattern itself. With the hexagon we have like a different size of hexagon, some reinforcement… really adapt the board to the surfer, to the type of wave.” – Sylvain Fleury [04:15]
Polyola: Recyclable Foam Blanks
- Aristide Schoen Dienst (co-founder, Polyola) introduces his firm’s mission to reinvent the classic surfboard blank using recycled and fully recyclable polyurethane foam.
- Polyola's blanks generate 73% less CO₂ than conventional PU foam, matching or surpassing existing performance.
- The company operates from Biarritz and partners across Europe, influencing the surfboard industry globally.
- Their philosophy: create materials usable for the whole industry, not just one brand.
Quotes:
“We were able to develop a foam that is made from 2/3 recycled material and that produces about 73% less CO₂ emissions compared to traditional PU foam…” – Aristide Schoen Dienst [09:45]
Regional Collaboration and Ecosystem
- Both companies benefit from the proximity to skilled shapers and fellow innovators (e.g., Notox, Canoa).
- Local and governmental support, plus collaborative spirit, drive the region’s eco-surfboard cluster.
2. French Riviera Skincare with Sophie Carbonari
A Personal, Intuitive Approach to Skincare
- [14:46-27:55]
- Sophie Carbonari details her journey from growing up in Provence (after arriving from Mali as a baby) to building a unique esthetic philosophy and product line.
- Early exposure to familial rituals of self-care sparked lifelong passion.
- Despite initial self-doubt and a false start at entrepreneurship, a formative move to London broadened her worldview and professional network.
Quote:
“What I did through this almost 20 years of my career is… learn the language of the skin.” – Sophie Carbonari [19:22]
Cross-Cultural Technique and Philosophy
- Carbonari’s facials fuse global modalities—from Ayurvedic and African to Japanese and South American—reflecting her ‘skin geek’ ethos and deep curiosity.
- She emphasizes an ‘inside-out’ process: unlocking physical tensions and focusing on the narrative each client brings.
Quote:
“It’s an inside, an inside out kind of process and good enough, it works… it lasts longer than a regular facial in term of result.” – Sophie Carbonari [20:40]
Launching a Skincare Line
- Her hands-on, experimental style led to her own apothecary: starting with custom oil blends and progressing to a serum and beauty tools unlike anything currently on the market.
- Carbonari resists the notion of being “just an esthetician” and aspires to shift the industry narrative.
Quote:
“I want to change the full narrative. That’s what I want.” — Sophie Carbonari [22:37]
Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Longevity in Skincare
- Sophie is eager to personalize skincare recommendations and routines, drawing inspiration from clients who use tech like ChatGPT for advice.
- She advocates for approaches that respond to lifestyle and stress as much as skin type, seeing synergies with the emerging ‘longevity’ movement.
Quote:
“This new kind of wave of longevity… That’s just the beginning of the blooming side. It’s really something that I feel affiliated to…” – Sophie Carbonari [24:38]
3. Summer Skincare Tips
Adapting Your Regime for the Season
- Keep skin cool—use mineral water sprays to regulate temperature and prevent pigmentation/acne.
- Prioritize sleep for healthy skin microbiome, wear SPF, and double-cleanse in hot, polluted conditions.
- Sophie recommends Korean brand Benton (with Centella Asiatica) and The Ordinary SPF 45 for those with oily skin who find sunscreens difficult to use.
Quote:
“One key thing is like… you have to keep your skin cool… keep the temperature of your skin under 37. Because the question is like… that can create a degenerative impact such like pigmentations or like acne…” – Sophie Carbonari [25:15]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “We all share the same vision of making high performance and sustainable products.” — Sylvain Fleury [07:28]
- “Our philosophy has always been to develop materials that could be used by everyone in the industry.” — Aristide Schoen Dienst [11:06]
- “I just don’t want to be like another brand. I want to change the full narrative.” — Sophie Carbonari [22:37]
- “I love surfing. The idea of surfing, I do not surf… but I think it’s the most magical and beautiful sport.” — Fernando Augusto Pacheco [12:33]
- “You have to readapt and regulate everything [with the seasons].” — Sophie Carbonari [26:25]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:44: Ian Wylie’s surf industry report introduction
- 02:24-05:00: Sylvain Fleury describes Wyve’s sustainable surfboards and process
- 09:02-12:00: Aristide Schoen Dienst on Polyola’s recyclable blanks
- 14:46: Fernando Augusto Pacheco’s interview with Sophie Carbonari begins
- 16:42: Sophie discusses her time in London and early influences
- 18:50: Deep look into her cross-cultural facial techniques
- 21:12: Origin of her product line and entrepreneurial journey
- 24:38: Reflections on technology, longevity, and personalized skincare
- 25:09: Seasonal skincare tips and sunscreen recommendations
Episode Tone and Style
The episode is infused with Monocle’s signature optimism and curiosity. Tom Edwards and Fernando Augusto Pacheco maintain a light, conversational rapport, balancing insightful entrepreneurial stories with lively exchanges on travel, self-care, and summer rituals. Sophie Carbonari’s dialogue is authentic, enthusiastic, and sprinkled with personal anecdotes, embodying her hands-on and heartfelt approach to both beauty and business.
Concluding Thoughts
This France-focused edition of The Entrepreneurs shines a light on how deeply rooted traditions—whether of surf culture or French self-care—are being reimagined by a new wave of eco-conscious and intuitive entrepreneurs. From 3D printing surfboards to embracing personal narratives in skincare, the entrepreneurs profiled are united by a drive to innovate for both people and planet, making a compelling case for thoughtful, sustainable growth in the worlds of sport and beauty.