CO-PRO

Before Danny Way could jump the Great Wall of China, someone had to build the ramp. For Brian Harper, that road started at AZP, the skate shop where his ramp-building career began.

In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Brian, Senior Vice President at California Skateparks, to trace a career built around progression. We revisit snowboarding’s early days, the Burton and Tom Sims era, and how his time at AZP opened the door to building skateboard ramps, eventually leading to the massive big-air ramp behind Danny Way’s historic Great Wall jump.
Along the way, Brian and his teams have helped build the stages for action sports’ biggest moments, from X Games street, park, vert, and Big Air courses to builds for Dew Tour, MegaRamp events, and Red Bull Hart Lines.

It’s a conversation about skate-shop roots, creative problem-solving, and turning a love of board culture into a career, building what comes next.

In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Brian Franks, founder and executive creative director of Where Eagles Dare, to talk about brand strategy, creative leadership, and building brand identities with heart, culture, and a real point of view.

Brian spent more than 20 years at American Eagle Outfitters, rising from graphic designer to VP of Creative while helping shape the brand during a major period of growth. He also helped launch 77Kids, an experience that pushed him toward entrepreneurship and eventually led him to found Where Eagles Dare in 2015.

We talk about the difference between making work that looks good and building a brand identity people actually feel connected to. Brian shares how pop culture, retail instincts, and personal experience shape his approach to brand-building, why collaboration is at the center of his creative process, and how he built an independent creative agency designed to bring the right people together around the right idea.

We also get personal. After surviving a hemorrhagic stroke, Brian returned to the work he loves and used creativity as a way to reconnect with himself. His story is a reminder that doing work that matters can be more than a career; it can be part of who you are.

A conversation about brand-building, creative risk, resilience, leadership, and finding your way back to the work that feels like it belongs to you.

Fifty episodes of good conversations, lessons learned, and figuring it out as we go. For this milestone episode, we’re looking back at a few favorite moments and guests, sharing what’s helped us keep the podcast moving, and giving you a little peek at what’s next for Co-Pro. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Hit play and celebrate 50 with us.

In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Jim Geduldick, better known as Filmbot, to trace a career built at the intersection of action sports, filmmaking, and emerging technology.

Jim started as a sponsored snowboarder before turning the camera toward the people and culture around him. What began with shooting snowboarding and skate videos with friends grew into a career spanning cinematography, editing, visual effects, virtual production, and some of Hollywood’s biggest sets. Along the way, he worked in GoPro’s professional marketing organization, helping explore how new camera technology could be used across cinema, broadcast, VR, and photography.

We talk about the early days of making films with friends, learning by doing, and how a background in action sports shaped Jim’s creative approach. We also get into the transition from rider to filmmaker, the evolution of camera technology, working on major productions including The Martian, Point Break, and Transformers: The Last Knight, and why curiosity is still the most valuable tool in a fast-changing creative industry.

From rocket airs to blockbusters, this is a conversation about following the next interesting idea and building a career where creativity, culture, and technology meet.

Selema Masekela is one of the most recognizable voices in action sports. From snowboarding and surfing to skateboarding and the X Games, he has spent decades helping bring the culture and its biggest moments to a global audience.

In this episode, Selema looks back on moving to California, discovering action sports, and working as a restaurant busboy before landing his first media job at TransWorld. He shares how stepping behind the microphone launched a career that would take him across the worlds of snowboarding, surfing, and beyond.

We also talk about music, creativity, and legacy. As the son of legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela, Selema felt hesitant to begin making music himself. But finding his own relationship with music ultimately brought the two closer than ever.

From Alphanumeric and Burton to the X Games, the Tony Hawk 900, and the evolution of action sports culture, this is a conversation about taking chances, finding your voice, and building a life around what moves you.

Today we sit down with Ian Rogers and chat about the difference between people who are genuinely excited by technology and the people who see a way to make money from it. Ian has spent his career on the leading edge of the technologies that reshape culture, from building for the Beastie Boys in the ’90s to Yahoo Music, Topspin, Beats Music, and Apple Music.

Now at Ledger, Ian is focused on building products and experiences that give people more ownership and control in the digital world. A conversation about music, tech, culture, and staying curious about what comes next.

On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with professional snowboarder Pat Moore. We trace his full journey from growing up in New Hampshire and first strapping on a board at age 3 at Waterville Valley, where his mother worked as the resort’s marketing director, to becoming a Forum Youngblood at 15 and rising through the competitive snowboarding world just two years later.

Pat talks about riding for major brands like Vans, Arbor Snowboarding, and K2 Snowboarding, and how he became known for innovative tricks and a heavy metal–inspired riding style. We dive into his 2022 attempt to break the world record for the highest air ever achieved on a quarterpipe, and what it takes to push limits both on and off the mountain.

Beyond the riding, Pat shares how he transitioned from pro athlete to the brand side of the industry, including his work with Arbor, and what it’s like to help shape products, campaigns, and culture from a different angle.

If you’re into snowboarding, brand building, or stories about making the leap from athlete to executive, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Co-Pro, we sit down with legendary motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter. We talk about brand and what it means to him through the lens. How he’s built a visual identity around bikes, builders, and the open road while staying true to his own voice.

From his early days shooting for Easyriders and Sturgis to working with brands like Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Nikon, Michael shares how he’s turned passion into a career and why authenticity matters more than any label.

Laurel Burton is a force. As CEO of Instrument, she’s built a career by wearing a hundred hats, pushing through late nights, and leading with the kind of creative fire that doesn’t ask permission.

In this conversation, Laurel opens up about the path that got her here, from single mom to the C-suite, and what it really means to lead as a woman in an industry that’s still evolving. We talk about resilience, ambition, collective progress, and why she’s always been drawn to building what’s next.

She’s sharp, thoughtful, and full of momentum. Laurel doesn’t just talk about progress, she embodies it.

“Danger” has always had a place in pop culture. From Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” to Rodney Dangerfield and Danger Mouse, the word has a long history of showing up wherever things get bold, wild, or unforgettable. So when Ehren became “Danger Ehren,” it didn’t just sound cool. It felt inevitable.

In this episode, Ehren shares how his early days in snowboarding shaped his mindset, how he ended up joining the Jackass crew, and the real story behind the creation of “Danger Ehren.” We dive into calculated risk, identity, and how he turned chaos into a lasting personal brand.

We also talk about the upcoming Jackass movie, The Best and Last, what fans can expect, and how the legacy of Jackass continues to evolve.

If you’re into Jackass, action sports, skate and snowboard culture, or building a brand through personality and risk-taking, this episode is a must-watch.

We sit down with Mel Strong to talk through her path through Nike’s world, from SB and ACG to Nike Running, and the culture that shaped each chapter. She shares a behind-the-scenes look at building brands that move people, with a perspective grounded in sport, style, and strategy.

Now she is bringing that experience to Next Ventures, where she is helping back health and fitness companies with purpose alongside Lance Armstrong. It is a conversation about momentum, meaning, and what happens when smart ideas meet real conviction.

Modern snowboarding needs a conversation that cuts through the noise. That’s why we sat down with Tricia Byrnes and Jen Sherowski, hosts of the Going-Off podcast, to talk pro snowboarding past, Olympics moments that stuck, and how today’s riders are rewriting the next chapter.

We’re getting real about the golden era of competition, the cultural shifts that shaped the sport, and the fresh energy the new generation is bringing to the mountain. This isn’t just a look back, it’s a launch ramp into what snowboarding becomes next.

From high-impact stories to the soul of the culture, this episode brings emotion, perspective, and serious mountain moments together

From downtown Manhattan to the global stage, Bruno Musso has been quietly engineering the DNA of modern action sports culture for over 30 years.

In this episode, we sit down with the mind behind some of the most iconic moments in skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. From founding Shut Skateboards (NYC’s first skate brand) and helping build Zoo York, to producing legendary tours with Tony Hawk and reshaping how brands like Red Bull show up in skate culture. If you’ve watched the US Open of Surfing, the Hurley Pro, or any modern surf contest and thought “this feels different,” there’s a good chance Musso had something to do with it.

We get into the evolution of youth culture, the business of action sports, and what it really takes to turn underground scenes into global movements. Along the way: Manny Mania, Seek & Destroy, First Descent, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped define an entire generation of skate, surf, and snow.

Call him a tastemaker if you want, but “culture sculptor” feels a lot closer.

This week on the Co-Pro Podcast, we ride with Casey Potter, founder of CP Design and a creative shaped by moto, culture, and purpose-driven brand work. From designing helmets at Bell to collaborating with Roland Sands Designs, Casey’s approach is rooted in craftsmanship, speed, and storytelling that actually hits.

Through CP Design, he helps brands cut through the noise with sharp strategy, cultural relevance, and design that stands for something, not chasing trends but setting them.

We get into helmets, heritage, and building brands from the inside out, grounded in real culture, not surface-level hype.

This week on The Co-Pro Podcast, powered by Nemo Design, we’re hanging out with Leo Battersby, the creative mind who helped transmute toys into pop culture gold. As a former Mattel exec and co-founder of Mattel Creations, Leo helped transform a wild idea about “grown-up toys” into a $110 million global phenomenon.

Now he’s carving his own lane as Founder of Midnight Rally Club and VP of Brand Creative at Fluid Logic, bringing the same mix of imagination, mischief, and brand wizardry to the worlds of cars, culture, and performance.

In this episode, we talk about creative chaos, building communities around passion, and why sometimes the best ideas start with play. Buckle up, this one’s got high-octane creativity written all over it.

In this episode of The Co-Pro Podcast, powered by Nemo Design, we sit down with Creative Director and multidisciplinary artist Jesse Conte. For over 20 years, Jesse has shaped brands in the outdoor, sports, and active-lifestyle sectors.

He is now transitioning his creative expertise toward fine art and sculpture. This conversation explores creative evolution, examining how his background in hands-on design intersects with his experiences in nature.

Join us for an inspiring discussion on continuous transformation, the importance of craft, and the lifelong pursuit of creativity, from sculpting brands to sculpting clay.

In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Brad Steward, snowboard pioneer, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and founder of Bonfire Snowboarding.

Brad shares stories from the early days of snowboarding, when the sport was still carving out its place in the world. From exploring mountains across Russia, Japan, Sweden, Argentina, and the Pyrenees, Brad was part of the generation of riders who helped push snowboarding onto the global stage.

We also dive into Brad’s entrepreneurial journey, building Bonfire into one of the most influential snowboard apparel brands in the industry, helping shape the Olympic pathway for snowboarders, working in film and advertising, and later launching ventures like Caravan Outpost.
This conversation covers the evolution of snowboarding culture, building brands from the ground up, taking creative risks, and what it means to follow ideas across industries.

If you're into snowboarding history, action sports culture, entrepreneurship, and creative careers, this episode is packed with stories from someone who’s been there since the beginning.

On this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Cannes Lion–winning director Rob McConnaughy, better known as Whitey.

Whitey started directing snowboard and skateboard films at just 21, producing more than 16 best-selling action sports movies that helped define an era. He later helped shoot the pilot for Jackass and went on to write and shoot the first two Jackass films, shaping the hidden-camera chaos that became a cultural phenomenon.

Since then, Whitey has directed campaigns for global brands like Nike, Honda, Burger King, Mountain Dew, and Coca-Cola, while also creating comedy work for The Late Late Show with James Corden and Funny or Die.

In this conversation, we talk about the early days of action sports filmmaking, the making of Jackass, directing commercials, and the creative process behind capturing real moments with real people.

Sebo Walker came by the studio, and we ended up talking about way more than skating.
We get into how skating feeds his art, how art feeds his skating, and what it actually looks like to balance being a working creative with being a pro skater. Sebo also opens up about fatherhood, how becoming a dad shifts your perspective, your priorities, and the way you think about legacy.
We talk about growing up in skate culture, staying independent, building something that lasts, and what it means to create with the next generation in mind.
This one’s about skating, sure, but it’s also about time, responsibility, and figuring out how to keep pushing without losing what matters.
If you’re into skateboarding, art, or building a creative life on your own terms, you’ll dig this one.

What does it really take to build brand experiences that people feel, not just see?

In this episode of the Co-Pro Podcast, we sit down with Kelly Vaught, Principal at BeCore, to unpack the craft, strategy, and human side of experiential marketing. From culture-first brand activations to the behind-the-scenes realities of producing large-scale experiences, Kelly shares what it takes to turn ideas into moments that actually move people.

We talk about:

What experiential marketing really means today

How BeCore approaches culture, community, and authenticity

Building trust with brands while pushing creative boundaries

The balance between strategy, creativity, and execution

Lessons learned from producing experiences in the real world

Why experiences—not ads—are shaping the future of brand connection

Whether you’re a creative, marketer, producer, or brand builder, this conversation dives deep into how meaningful experiences are made and why they matter more than ever.