Living Proof Radio

Full episode now available on Patreon. 

GIZ MTA is a prominent graffiti writer from New York City. After a lifetime of sacrificing his body, mind and freedom for graffiti, GIZ has arrived at a point where his work is revered from the streets of New York City to the galleries of London, Amsterdam and Paris. 

His story is one of pain, joy and experience. Coming up in a crime-ridden New York City, GIZ suffered multiple stabbings from robberies over gear, served time in prison and lost many friends to street violence.

As a key member of the MTA crew, Most Talked About, GIZ contributed to the legacy of a group that became legend; not only for their volume & visibility, but also the iconic figures within the crew, include the late grate VE, and DESA. 

GIZ transitioned from illegal street graffiti to fine art and sculpture by gradually adapting his techniques into formats that could be appreciated within a gallery setting. His sculpture work brings his throw-up into a tangible, tactile form, adding a new dimension to his art and allowing him to create pieces that resonate within both urban and fine art spaces.

http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. ZEPHYR, born Andrew Witten, is a pioneering figure in the graffiti movement, particularly known for his contributions to the New York City subway graffiti scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where he became inspired by the vibrant graffiti culture that was emerging around him. His work, alongside that of his peers, helped shape the aesthetic and culture of graffiti during its golden era in New York City.

ZEPHYR became known as one of the original graffiti artists who elevated the art form from a street phenomenon to a recognized movement. Alongside other pioneers like DONDI, Lee Quinones, and FUTURA, ZEPHYR’s subway pieces garnered significant attention as they traveled across the city, carrying his name to a broader audience. 

As the city began to crack down on graffiti and the subway era waned, ZEPHYR transitioned into the fine art world. He started exhibiting his work in galleries, becoming one of the key figures who bridged the gap between graffiti and the mainstream art scene. ZEPHYR’s ability to adapt his style from the streets to the gallery space allowed him to remain relevant and influential in both the graffiti world and the larger contemporary art world.

He has recently published: “ZEPHYR; GRAFFITI BLACK BOOK/ SCRAP BOOK: 1978 & BEYOND”, presented by BEYOND THE STREETS
http://livingproofnewyork.com
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

Full episode on Patreon. OJAE FYC is an iconic graffiti writer from the Upper West Side of Manhattan who cemented himself as one of the stand-out New York City graffiti writers to become renowned globally, past the reaches of the five boroughs. Coming from a troubled home, OJAE was separated from his mother at age 4 and transferred from foster home to foster home, dealing with abuse at each one. Finding a sense of freedom and relief within graffiti, OJAE fostered the spirit of effort. His approach to graffiti in sheer volume had him surpass many from his era.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. Jerome Peels is a skateboarder originally from Florida who founded Citibike Boyz and Peels Clothing. 

Citibike Boyz is an informal group of riders in New York City who gained attention for their public stunts on Citibikes, the city's shared bike rental service. Despite using bikes designed for casual commuting, CitiBike Boyz push the limits of what these rental bikes can do, which has earned them a mix of admiration and criticism.

Peels Clothing is a New York-based clothing brand known for traditional workwear garments. Rooted in a personal connection to manual labor with inspiration from his father’s profession as a house painter, Jerome started Peels to honor the blue-color work ethic. The shirts became popular due to their simplicity and high quality. The hand-sown patches onto work shirts have been worn by the likes of Mark Gonzales, Pete Davidson, Jonah Hill and Ishod Wair.

http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. Distort is a writer most known for very large scale graffiti using rollers in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. He hails from New Jersey and has made a significant impact on the graffiti scene in the northeastern United States. DISTORT blends graffiti with fine art, often incorporating themes of politics, mythology, and the human experience into his work.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full version of the episode on Patreon. Labor Skate Shop for Living Proof Radio. Opened in 2012 by James Rewolinski, Labor was founded to serve as a core skate shop for New York City.

Before the rise of mainstream media and the explosion of skateboarding into the global spotlight, skate shops were the center of the skateboarding community. They weren’t just retail spaces but epicenters of culture where people went to immerse themselves.

Preceding Labor, Autumn Skate Shop, which opened in the early 2000s and closed in 2008, was one of the pioneering shops in the city. Located near Tompkins Square Park, it played a key role in nurturing the local scene, serving as the go-to shop in the area. Autumn created a community around New York’s skateboarding culture at a time when the city lacked these locations and commercialized skateboarding had not yet taken over.

The closure of Autumn Skate Shop in 2008 left a void in the Manhattan skate scene. Labor Skate Shop stepped in just a few years later to fill that gap, continuing the legacy of community-focused, independent skate shops that prioritize local talent and the spirit of skateboarding. In a way, Labor is the torchbearer for what Autumn Skateshop represented—a space for skaters to gather, share ideas, and push the scene forward in an otherwise commercialized urban landscape. Labor has played a critical role in shaping the identity of New York City's skateboarding and while there Brooklyn location has recently closed, the doors of their Manhattan shop remain open.

http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. Originally coming up with the Shep Dawgs crew out of Southern California. Hawk, alongside Taylor Kirby, Rowan Zorilla and Jake Hill, gained recognition from the videos that showcased the raw energy of the crew.
Those videos played a crucial role in his rise within the scene, eventually leading to him turning pro for the iconic Baker Skateboards in 2013, a brand known for shaping modern street skating culture.
Outside of skateboarding, Hawk practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that gained recognition in Brazil, Japan and the United States during the early MMA era of “no-rules” fights.
He speaks on the idea of longevity within professional skateboarding, how training martial arts has helped his mental, physical and emotional, how he got on Baker Skateboards and more.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode now available on Patreon. Taylor Kirby is a skateboarder riding for Deathwish skateboards. Originally becoming known for his involvement with the Shep Dawgs; a skateboarding crew from Southern California that gained recognition in the early 2010s for their raw, DIY, authentic skate videos. Members of the Shep Dawgs included now well-known pro skaters such as Riley Hawk and Rowan Zorilla. Through the videos, Kirby was contacted by Brian “Slash” Hansen to ride for Deathwish. 

He speaks on what makes the Baker Boys approach to skateboarding so special that it survives generational cycles within the skate industry, how life has changed since the Shep Dawg days, the lifestyle that touring brings, getting over drinking and more. Now streaming on our website, Youtube, iTunes and Spotify. 
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode now available on Patreon. Graffiti on Low or No Dollars is a novel written by Elberto Muller. Muller, who lives life mostly as a drifter, writes about his experience travelling throughout North America via freight train. The book reflects on the state of American life & society today; the scamming, drugs and unorthodox ways of making a living that much of the United States has taken up to survive and get by. This episode covers many of the ideas in the book that are encountered throughout Elberto Muller’s stops across America.
http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com

Full episode on Patreon. 

Full episode on Patreon. Pedro Delfino is a skateboarder riding for Deathwish. After his Thrasher Magazine cover in 2018, Pedro went from being relatively unknown to gaining lots of attention from the skate world. In 2021 he went pro for Deathwish Skateboards, one of the most iconic brands in the industry whose videos profoundly influenced the skateboarding world, giving a glimpse into the partying, touring and lifestyle of the Baker and Deathwish teams. He has recently released his color-way of the Vans Half Cab, one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the history of skate shoes; with a design that pays homage to his home state of Florida. His part “Road to Nowhere” had him as a SOTY contender in 2023. 

http://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork
http://livingproofnewyork.com