Rad Season Action Sports Podcast

João Macedo is a Portuguese big wave surfing pioneer and the Founder of Hope Zones Foundation. 

João reflects on growing up in Portugal's first generation of competitive surfers, learning invaluable lessons in Hawaii and witnessing the evolution of big wave surfing long before Nazaré became a global phenomenon. He also shares stories of working alongside surfing legends, coaching the next generation of Portuguese surfers and the mindset required to push through fear in extreme conditions. 

Today, João has channelled that same passion into Hope Zones, a non-profit dedicated to ocean regeneration through innovative seaweed farming and community-led conservation. We dive into why protecting our oceans requires working with local communities, how surfers can become environmental leaders, and why the next great adventure isn't riding bigger waves, it's helping restore the seas for future generations.

You can follow what João is up to on Instagram @officialjoaomacedo and be sure to check out Hope Zones to get involved. 

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.
 
Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Chris Berkard, Stacy Peralta, Chad Nelsen, Gerry Lopez, Tiago Pires and loads more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Simon Forster is the founder of Robot Food, a leading branding and design agency. 

Join us as we explore Simon's journey from a snowboard-inspired creative to building an internationally renowned agency behind some of the world's biggest food, drink and lifestyle brands. We discuss creativity, brand strategy, entrepreneurship and what it takes to build brands that people genuinely care about. 

We go behind the scenes at Robot Food, talking about the future of branding, company culture, the power of great design and the lessons Simon learnt working with global brands while staying true to a creative vision.

You can follow what Simon is up to on Robot Food's Instagram @robotfoodcreative and be sure to check out the site robot-food.com

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.
 
Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Chris Berkard, Stacy Peralta, Todd Richards, Gerry Lopez, Xavier De Le Rue and loads more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

London Almida is a pro surfer and founder of Chasing Portugal. 

Join us as we explore the journey of London Almida a professional surfer from Hawaii to Portugal, discussing big wave surfing in Nazaré, content creation and the evolving surf industry. Discover insider insights on surfing spots, big wave safety and making a career out of free surfing.

We go behind the scenes on Chasing Portugal and his travels across Europe’s wildest coastlines, what he loves about living here and what makes Portugal special.

You can follow what London is up to on Instagram @londonalmida and be sure to check out @chasing_portugal for more epic adventures and videos on chasingportugal.com

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.
 
Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Chris Berkard, Stacy Peralta, Chad Nelsen, Gerry Lopez, Tiago Pires and loads more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Alex Sasha Unwin is the Founder of Moana Surf School in Cascais, Portugal. 

Alex shares his unique journey from growing up in Papua New Guinea to becoming a passionate surfer and owner of Moana Surf School in Portugal. He discusses his early experiences with the ocean, the thrill of big wave surfing and the importance of balancing family life with his love for adventure. 

Alex reflects on the adrenaline rush associated with action sports and how it connects to overcoming fear. He also shares memorable stories from his travels, including snowboarding adventures and the joy of teaching others to surf.

You can follow what Alex is up to on Instagram @moanasurfschool and be sure to check out the surf school website moanasurfschool.com

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.
 
Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Chris Berkard, Stacy Peralta, Chad Nelsen, Gerry Lopez, Tiago Pires and loads more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Chris Friend is the Co-Founder & CEO of Liveheats a tech platform that enables action sports communities to experience better competitions.

Chris Friend shares his journey from competitive surfing to creating a technology platform that revolutionizes grassroots action sports events. He discusses the challenges faced in developing technology for sports, the impact of COVID-19 on the business, and the future aspirations for LiveHeats, including innovations in data analytics and streaming solutions. Chris emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the action sports community and the need for tailored solutions in competition management.

Topics Covered: 

• From competitive surfing to technology
• LiveHeats born out of a need for better competition management
• The platform aims to modernize grassroots action sports events
• COVID-19 forced LiveHeats to innovate with virtual competitions
• Investment allowed LiveHeats to expand its offerings
• Focus remains on action sports communities and their needs
• Data analytics will enhance athlete performance tracking
• Platform is adaptable to various action sports formats
• The importance of community engagement

You can follow what Chris Friend is up to on LinkedIn

Connect with Liveheats:
Website: Liveheats 
Instagram: live_heats

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Kevin Lyman, Adam Wilson, Nick Tran, Stacy Peralta, Monica Medellin, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Iain Cairns, Circe Wallace, Selema Masekela Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Mike Ciprari is the Co-Founder of SJC Custom Drums and Founder of Loyal to the Craft: Helping Creatives Fuse Passion with Purpose. 

Mike Ciprari shares his journey from from a passionate young drummer to a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the evolution of his business, the challenges of balancing touring and entrepreneurship, and his commitment to giving back to the music community. Mike reflects on the importance of relationships in the music industry and how they have shaped his career and the growth of SJC Drums. We go into why he started Loyal to the Craft and what he has coming up. 

Topics Covered: 

• Drumming at a young age.
• SJC Custom Drums started as a hobby and evolved into a business
• Building relationships in the music industry was crucial for SJC's growth.
• From a small operation to a larger business involved hiring employees.
• Being a drum tech for major bands shaped his understanding of the industry.
• Shifting priorities towards family and business led Mike to focus on SJC.
• The importance of community engagement.
• Loyal to the Craft aims to empower youth through music and drumming.
• Brand collaborations enhance the reach and impact of Loyal to the Craft.

You can follow what Mike Ciprari is up to on LinkedIn

Connect with Mike:
Website: loyaltothecraft.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: loyaltothecraft

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Kevin Lyman, Adam Wilson, Nick Tran, Stacy Peralta, Monica Medellin, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Circe Wallace, Selema Masekela Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Adam Wilson is the CO-Founder, Head of Strategy and Creative at D/CAL

Adam Wilson shares his journey from the advertising world to founding his own agency, D/CAL. He emphasizes the importance of understanding subcultures over demographics in modern marketing, the evolution of digital marketing, and how his diverse team drives innovation. Adam discusses the challenges and rewards of building an agency that focuses on real-time audience insights and the creator economy, while also providing valuable advice for aspiring agency founders.

Topics Covered: 

• Understanding subcultures is crucial for effective marketing
• The digital landscape transformation
• Diversity in agency teams fosters innovation and creativity
• Real-time audience insights vs traditional demographics
• The agency's success relies on understanding client needs and challenges.
• Working with Co-Founder Tony Hawk
• Authenticity in marketing leads to more resonant brand narratives

You can follow what Adam Wilson is up to on LinkedIn

Connect with Adam:
Website: dcalagency.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @dcalagency

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Courtney Carter, Stacy Peralta, Monica Medellin, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Circe Wallace, Selema Masekela Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Amy Stanton is the Founder & CEO of Stanton & Company

Amy Stanton shares her remarkable journey from engineering to marketing, detailing her experiences in advertising, the Olympic bid for New York, and her passion for building a business focused on women's sports. She discusses the challenges of running a business, the cultural shifts in the workplace, and the importance of authenticity and representation in sports. Amy emphasizes the need for positive female role models and the evolution of workplace culture, highlighting her commitment to creating a supportive environment for her team and clients.

Topics Covered: 

• Amy's journey from engineering to marketing
• The  New York Olympic bid experience
• Working  with Martha Stewart
• Empowering female athletes and building a business in women's sports
• The importance of brand building and representation in sports
• Challenges of running a business and fostering open communication

You can follow what Amy Stanton is up to on LinkedIn

Connect with Amy:
Website: stanton-company.com
Email: [email protected]
Social Media: @StantonCompany

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Courtney Carter, Stacy Peralta, Monica Medellin, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Circe Wallace, Selema Masekela Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Courtney Carter is the Seattle Sounders FC & Reign FC Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

In this episode, Courtney shares her journey from being a high-level soccer player to a key player in sports marketing and talent representation. She discusses her experiences at Major League Soccer, ESPN, and CAA, emphasizing the importance of diversifying across traditional and new media platforms. Courtney also highlights the evolution of soccer in America, the rise of social media and the creator economy, and her innovative projects at Seattle Sounders and Rain.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Courtney's transition from playing soccer to sports marketing.
• Starting at Major League Soccer before moving to ESPN.
• Evolution of commercialisation of soccer in the U.S.
• Social media transforming the way talent is represented.
• Being an early adopter of the creator economy.
• Launching Carter Media Group, to represent innovative talent.
• Reclaiming identity is crucial in the entertainment industry.
• Seattle Sounders and Rain focusing on community-driven storytelling.
• The importance of authentic partnerships in sports marketing.

You can follow what Courtney Carter is up to on LinkedIn

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Truls Brataas, Stacy Peralta, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Nick Tran, Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad! 

Brian Garofalow Chief Executive Officer at Skullcandy

On this episode of Group Y Live, join host Oli Russell-Cowan as he sits down with Brian Garofalow, the CEO of Skullcandy and a legend in the action sports industry.

In this episode, Brian shares his incredible journey from the early days of the action sports scene to leading a prominent audio brand. He discusses the challenges of reviving Skullcandy, the importance of understanding their core audience, and the need for adaptation in a rapidly changing market.

Discover how Skullcandy is engaging with communities through sponsorships, events, and collaborations, and learn about their innovative internal processes and strategic focus. Brian also reveals an exciting new product launch and partnership with Bose that aims to bring premium audio to the masses at an accessible price point.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Brian's background in the action sports industry
• The evolution of Skullcandy and its brand strategy
• Engaging with core audiences: active consumers, content creators, gamers
• The significance of community engagement and events
• Insights into product innovation and market adaptation
• Sneak peek at the Method 360 ANC headphones & the partnership with Bose

You can follow what Brian Garofalow is up to on LinkedIn

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Group Y Live Podcast come out across all podcast players with a new episode every two weeks on Thursday. 

Past guests on The Rad Season Show include Truls Brataas, Stacy Peralta, Wim Hof, Mike Cessario, Nick Tran, Gerry Lopez and more.

Contact Oli Russell-Cowan

• On Instagram olirussellcowan
• On LinkedIn at olirussellcowan

Thanks for listening & keep it rad!