On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we open the proverbial can of worms with Aaron Draplin — designer, maker, Field Notes co-founder, and all-around creative force of nature. The Michigan-born legend has gotten his hands dirty on the heaviest of brands: Nike. Burton. Red Wing. Patagonia. Fender. NASA. Even campaign work for Obama and Bernie. And that’s before you get to the posters, merch, and the gospel of good design he’s been preaching across 500+ stages from Adobe MAX to TEDx. Draplin ...
From stretchy ski pants to the golden age of baggy snowboard gear, Pat Bridges has seen it all. Growing up as one of the only snowboarders in his Vermont town, Pat went on to become one of the sport’s most influential voices — documenting snowboarding’s evolution from the pages of E.I. and Snowboarder to the rise of Slush Magazine. In this episode, we talk about the new age of documenting snowboarding, the craft of storytelling on and off the mountain, and how Slush found its footing during ...
On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we enter the ring with Damion Triplett — a Creative Director who’s helped shape the DNA of modern sports culture. From cutting his teeth at the legendary Wieden+Kennedy agency to steering creative at Nike SB and Jordan Brand, Damion has been behind some of the most defining stories, products, and moments in the game. We trace his path from a skateboard-obsessed kid to a global creative leader, unpack what it really takes to build brands that endure, an...
On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Justin Lewis, co-founder of Instrument. From his early years in the Marine Corps to co-founding one of the world’s most respected digital agencies, Intrsument, Justin’s path has been shaped by discipline, service, and a drive to build with purpose. We dive into his leadership philosophy, his approach to fostering values-driven organizations, and the lessons he’s carried from military life into the creative industry. Justin shares h...
This episode on the Co-Pro Pod, we chop it up with none other than Russell Winfield — style icon, culture shaper, and certified legend in the game. Russ takes us back to Stratton grom days, where he went from lift rat to local hero, blasting onto the scene with Ride Snowboards and changing the whole look of what a pro could be. We’re talking mag covers, VHS-era hammer hunting, aprés antics, and the kind of global travel stories you can’t print in TransWorld. Fast forward — dude’s still bringi...
We’ve created 25 episodes of the Co-Pro Podcast. Along the way, we’ve gained a range of insights from our guests. Plus there’s the countless micro-lessons gleaned from doing production: set design, dongle procurement, audio level techniques, background research, and the human skills of connecting, interviewing, and storytelling. In honor of building the plane while teaching yourself how to fly it, we reflect on the lineup of industry pros who’ve joined us to share their tales. Kicking things ...
In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we link up with Circe Wallace—legendary pro snowboarder turned deal-closing dynamo. From slashing runs in video parts to running the industry as the sports agent, Circe carved her own line from the backcountry to the boardroom. We dig into her rise from the early days chasing the dream, to repping the next generation of podium-toppers, and how the skills she learned as an athlete inform her approach as an agent, advocate, and occasional therapist to some...
Strap in and hold your breath—this episode takes the drop with Bobby Meeks, a true original who’s never played it safe, whether he’s hucking off high dives or carving his path through snowboarding’s golden era. From launching himself into aquatic stunt shows as a kid to linking up with the legendary Robot Food crew, Bobby’s always followed the most creative line—even if it meant pissing people off or going off-piste. We dive deep into his behind-the-scenes role shaping Nike Snowboarding from...
Tighten your chin strap and get ready to rip through a full loop with Thor Drake—builder, dreamer, and visionary behind countless all gas / no brakes events via his community-charged hub, the One Moto Cafe. Thor’s tale is equal parts grit, garage grease, and make-it-yourself magic: From his slippery roots as an Arizona hockey grom, to finding his footing in the creative counterculture, building badass passion projects, and eventually launching one of the world’s most iconic motorcycle happe...
In this episode, we look through the lens of Lindsey Byrnes. Bringing together musical and visual alchemy, Lindsey’s journey is embedded in the culture of skateboarding. Her drive and talents lead to a job with Thrasher magazine, and she shares how she pivoted from writing—which triggered anxiety—to the visual narrative. Using a camera to tell stories, Lindsey found a new focus on festival stages, the Grammys, touring with artists. Stripping away filters and hype, she made photography a...
In this episode, we connect with a rare import: New Zealand-born pro snowboarder and surfer Dani Kiwi Meier. From the bottom of the world to the top of the industry, Dani adjusted his sideways stance and activated his network to launch Mana Media. Ever dreamed of creating a global content studio tapped by big brands like Nike, Netflix, Toyota, and more? Dani’s done it, and we dig into his decades of insights and forward thinking. Dani has always believed storytelling should sit at the center ...
What’s the secret sauce of the success of a small-but-mighty creative shop? We explore this topic with Hank Brentlinger, the force behind Hank Makes Studio. Hank shares the origin story of evolving from bringing design to bear within the local music scene, and then transferring that passion to California. He sharpened his visual storytelling chops at the legendary California College of the Arts, propelling Hank into the agency world. After stints at Harlo Interactive and Studio Mega, Hank hit...
One of Chris Owen’s greatest moves was spinning a frontside 360 into a full-blown career in the action sports industry. Coming up during the era when solid style and a bit of hustle were essential ingredients to standing out and sending it forward, Owen’s path is unconventional and inspirational. Making the jump from sponsored Morrow team member to becoming the last employee as the brand folded, Chris shares stories of maxed-out airs and credit cards while managing the Morrow snowboard team a...
What do snowboarding, Jägermeisters, and Greek heritage have in common? Elias Cairo. On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we break bread with the co-founder of Olympia Provisions to learn what led him to swap sideways sliding across the slippery slopes for a culinary career (hint: it was after an apprenticeship in Switzerland). Elias’ journey from curious apprentice to building a brand took unwavering support of his family, who saw his ADHD as a strength, not a limitation. Together ...
A common pursuit for those born from boardsports is what’s next? After establishing a career as a world-class ripper for Forum Snowboards, Wille Yli-Luoma began searching for a new challenge. One that would match the endless inspiration, creativity, and boosts of energy he got from the sideways life. Wille found his next frontier in the world of coffee. In this installment of the Co-Pro Podcast, Wille shares his insights about making the leap from the Robot Food Crew to crafting award-winni...
In this episode, we look through the lens of Shaun Tinney, Head of Learning and Development at Goodr Sunglasses. Shaun has the rare ability to turn shade into bright optimism, and he shares his insights about forging your own path and using rejection as fuel. He also frames up what it’s like to live and work out of an Airstream travel trailer (including some hidden features), the journey of building a company with friends, and the process of writing a marketing book. The conversation is also ...
In this episode of Co-Pro, we sit down with Kara Fullmer, Senior Director of Marketing, Creative at Chewy, a brand known by every pet-parent. Kara’s brand-building trajectory spans categories defined by passion, including action sports, gaming, and of course pets. Proof that great ideas and talent transcends industries when fueled by adaptability and authenticity. In this episode, we explore what it takes to evolve in creative roles, the importance of staying true to yourself in branding, and...
Join us as we chat with Michael Brown, Director and Co-Founder of Sweetgrass Productions, the team behind award-winning films that blend cinematic artistry with raw adventure. Michael shares stories of turning his passion for skiing into a career, building Sweetgrass with friends, and staying true to his ski bum roots. From machete-wielding in the jungle for a Vin Diesel project to capturing untamed Alaskan peaks, this episode is all about chasing dreams, taking risks, and making art t...
Ryan Coulter, founder of The James Brand, joins us for a conversation about how he’s stayed sharp on his journey. Growing up in Bloomington, Indiana, when it wasn’t cool to be a skater, Ryan shares how the tenacity and creativity he honed on a board shaped his career. We explore the unique collective progression of the skateboarding community and his bold early steps, like applying to be an astronaut at age 9—a dream that remarkably came full circle when he later collaborated with NASA. Ryan...
Ray and Joyce Tsang are the husband-and-wife duo behind Only Today, a 10X Emmy-winning production company in Portland, Oregon. Risk-takers by nature, Ray and Joyce both left successful careers in engineering to pursue their dreams of video production. Acclaimed work with the NFL, iconic collabs with John Malkovich, and capturing President Obama at the Army-Navy game guerilla-style are all in a day’s work. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to reinvent your career and follow your cr...