Michael Spencer is a powerhouse of an agent who represents some of the top athletes in ski and snowboard. I’m talking about Shaun White, Gus Kenworthy, Simon Dumont, Torin Yater-Wallace and more. On the podcast, we talk about deep connections to his athletes, starting brands with them, all things agent and of course, Michael’s backstory. It’s a peek into the life and times of a super-agent. Jossi Wells asks the inappropriate Questions.
Michael Spencer Show Notes:
3:30: Shaun White, his new brands, his image in the world of snowboarding and beyond
14:30: Mormon, his brother coming out, and coming up in the freestyle world
20:30: Stanley: Get 30% off site wide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers, they support action sports more than anyone
23:30: Competition, college, quitting competition, Law School in California, his girlfriend’s gold and the injury that made his career
35:00: Grasping for anything, Nike pro models, medals stolen, money, and personal expense
28:00: Working for the Salt Lake Olympic Committee, starting his agency, the first Olympics, and cutting his teeth early on
32:00: Depression, overdose, getting help, another intense bout with depression, another overdose, and time in the psych ward, getting out and figuring out how to manage her depression
41:00: Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
43:00: The courtship of Simon Dumont, the progression of athletes, Sarah Burke, and creating the AFP
51:30: FIS doesn’t get it, babysitting, explaining things to sponsors, and dealing with athletes when they don’t want to show up at sponsor related contracted events
60:00: Contract negotiations, creating brands with athletes, and all things Gus Kenworthy
77:00: Inappropriate Questions with Jossi Wells
Jackie Paaso has lived a life full of ups and downs. This once-promising mogul skier turned free ride athlete has battled with her mental health throughout her life as an elite athlete. We talk about depression, suicide, getting help, and death on the podcast. But don’t worry, it’s not all bad. We also talk about her incredible career, her new movie Artic 12 and having a baby any day now. Mike Wilson asks Inappropriate Questions.
Jackie Paaso Show Notes:
3:30: About to have a baby, what that means to her skiing, her movie “Artic 12” and the drama around it
20:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
23:00: Making the movie successful numbers-wise, having an NFL dad, skiing as a family, Bethel, Maine, and mogul skiing
28:00: The cost of skiing, the end of moguls and college, and going to India for a NOLS course
32:00: Depression, overdose, getting help, another intense bout with depression, another overdose, and time in the psych ward, getting out and figuring out how to manage her depression
40:00: Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
42:00: Where is her mental health today, Timy Dutton and death
48:00: Moving to Tahoe, finding a path to big mountain skiing, Big Mountain comps, and winning at Snowbird and the Sickbird Award
52:00: Mentality behind her skiing, her impressive ski resume, finding joy in her skiing, and being a super competitive person
58:00: Inappropriate Questions with Mike Wilson
While Pat Milbery isn’t a household name, if you’ve been to Denver, you’ve seen his work. Pat is one of the more accomplished artists in the country, but his story is so much more than just art. Growing up in Minnesota, Pat was a team sports guy until politics rubbed him the wrong way…and while his path took him skateboarding and inline skating, his passion was always snowboarding. We talk about the tragedy of his childhood, music, snowboarding, Think Thank, art, and so much more on the podcast. Living legend Jesse Burtner asks Inappropriate Questions.
Pat Milbery Show Notes:
3:30: Talking to kids, growing up in Minnesota, and team sports
9:00: Sports politics, skateboarding, snowboarding, and the universe aligns for rollerblading
15:00: Murder in the family, his creative outlets, being a sponsored skater, music culture, and being an outcast
21:30: Stanley: Get 30% off site-wide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
23:30: Friends that became famous musicians, bouncing back from death, and college
34:00: Visiting Colorado, graffiti, backyard snowboard parks, and art
40:30: Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
41:30: Mt Hood, So Gnar camps, Skullcandy, and Think Thank,
49:30: Scott Stevens, Snowboard on the Rocks, and more Think Thank
56:00: Sharing a podium with Shaun White and Travis Rice, creating with brands, and Ingemar Backman
61:00: How does snowboarding end, focusing on murals, how much do they cost, his style, and working with Jimbo Phillips and Jamie Lynn
70:00: Inappropriate Questions with Jesse Burtner
Benjamin Alexander has only spent four months of his life on Jamaican soil, and yet he’s now representing his father’s birthplace in this week’s Winter Olympic Games. Yes, a Jamaican skier, it’s like “Cool Runnings” on snow, and Benji’s story is an amazing one. While he was a troublemaker of a working-class kid, Benji was smart and always had huge goals: finish university, move to Asia, become a DJ that traveled the world, and eventually, go to the Olympics. It’s a wild story that takes Benji from England to Hong Kong to DJing sex parties, and the happy ending will be found this week during the Beijing Olympics.
Benjamin Alexander Show Notes:
3:30: Prepping for the Olympics, sponsors, the coverage he is getting, and racism in England
9:00: Growing up in England, being a troublemaker, and earning a scholarship to private school
13:00: Becoming a DJ, focusing on university, moving to Asia, modeling, and becoming a DJ again
20:00: Stanley: Get 30% off sitewide with the code drinkfast
Peter Glenn Ski and Sports: Over 60 years of getting you out there
10 Barrel Brewery: Buy their beers; they support action sports more than anyone
23:00: Do people think his risks are crazy, The Art of War, big DJ events, and going to Mica Creek
28:00: Traveling with high rollers, not being into materialistic things, drugs, and dj’ing sex parties
32:00: Learning how to ski six years ago, the Send It event, and retiring from DJing,
36:00: Getting the idea for the Olympics in 2018, Cool Runnings inspiration, and time in Revelstoke
39:30: Alpine Vans: Upgrade your adventure, Upgrade your life
Elan Skis: Over 75 years of innovation that makes you better
41:30: Skiing 1.7 vertical feet in 37 days, is he still a kook when he does that, and moving to Jackson Hole
44:00: Race training, mentors/coaches, time in Jamaica, and making friends Dudley Stokes (The real Cool Runnings Pilot)
51:00: New FIS rules, Elizabeth Swanney and Steve Nyman
62:00: Inappropriate Questions with Matt Masson