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 al...

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 so...

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 c...

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 val...

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 evol...

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...

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 rap...

Monica Medellin is a Film Director, Executive Producer & Unscripted TV Creator Monica Medellin is a filmmaker dedicated to expanding narratives around women and people of color in sports through media, including ahead-of-the-trend film, tv and branded content. Monica is the creator and executive producer of Surf Girls on Prime Video, in partnership with Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine. Her work has been featured by the Emmys, Forbes, and Elle Magazine, among others. In this episo...

Jonathan Weaver is the Chief Marketing Officer at Db Journey Jonathan Weaver is a Global Marketing Leader with roles across Nike SB, Womens & Football, Burton Snowboards and currently at Db having been part of the team to drive the LVMH LLV minority investment. From the UK, living in Portugal with his wife Mareike, and two kids, Lenny and Lilly after living in Portland, USA, Austria, France and the UK. In this episode, he shares his journey through the action sports industry, his ea...

Dustin Hinz is the Chief Marketing Officer at Firestone Walker Brewing Co Dustin Hinz has spent his career at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and commerce. From his early days at Guitar Center to shaping music culture with many of the world’s most influential artists, to stewarding iconic guitar and string maker Ernie Ball Music Man, and now leading marketing at Firestone Walker Brewing Co., he’s navigated the evolving landscape of music, culture, and beer. In this episode, h...

Nik Strong-Cvetich is the CEO at Save The Waves Coalition and Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commission at City of Santa Cruz. Nik Strong-Cvetich shares his journey from Washington to Santa Cruz, his passion for surf conservation, and the evolution of the Save the Waves Coalition. He highlights the importance of community collaboration in protecting surf ecosystems and shares innovative approaches like surf break insurance. The conversation also touches on future projects and how in...

Florian Klaass is the Founder & Managing Director K&CO and ex Head of Global Music, Entertainment & Culture Marketing at Red Bull. Florian Klaass shares his journey from a punk rock musician to a senior marketing strategist at Red Bull, where he spent 15 years shaping the brand's cultural and entertainment marketing. He discusses his early influences in action sports, the innovative projects he led at Red Bull and the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includi...

In this episode of Group Y Live, Oli Russell-Cowan is joined by legendary snowboarding photographer and the Founder of Nemo Design, Trevor Graves.Graves shares his journey from skateboarding in a small town in New York to becoming a key player in the snowboarding industry. He discusses the evolution of snowboarding, the importance of authenticity in action sports, and how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping creative work. Trevor also reflects on the challenges and triumphs of running an...

Join us for new season of Group Y Live as host Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Nick Tran, a renowned marketer known for transforming brands into cultural icons. With a wealth of experience as the former global head of marketing at TikTok and executive roles at Taco Bell, Hulu, and Samsung, Nick shares his insights on brand transformation, crisis leadership, and audience engagement.In this episode, Nick reflects on his journey from a quiet upbringing in Orange County to leading innovative mar...

Tim Warwood ex professional snowboarder, sport events commentator, TV, radio and podcast host and Founder of the game show Famous First Words. Tim Warwood is a British TV presenter known for his energetic style and entertaining hosting skills. Tim started snowboarding at Britain’s first indoor snow centre, the Tamworth Snowdome. It was there that he met his best friend Adam Gendle and they have been on a thousand adventures since. Tim started doing seasons and became UK Snowboarding Champion ...

Hugo Tagholm, Environmentalist, Speaker, Campaigner, Surfer, Executive Director and Vice President of Oceana in the UK. Committed to protecting and restoring the world's oceans, Oceana is a global organization dedicated to this cause. Prior to his current role, Hugo led the charity Surfers Against Sewage, where he took action from the beach front to Parliament, securing crucial government legislation across 4 environmental pillars: plastic pollution, water quality, climate change, and re...

Steven Kotler, New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Journalist, Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective and Park Skier.Steven Kotler is an acclaimed author and journalist renowned for his expertise in flow states, human performance, and action sports. He has dedicated his career to exploring the frontiers of human potential.Kotler is widely recognized for his groundbreaking work on "flow," the psychology of optimal human experience. His 11 bestselling books, inclu...

James Threlfall is a skateboarder, BBC Radio Presenter, Podcaster and Host of Football Platform 433. James Threlfall is a British presenter hailing from just outside of Bath, radiating more charm and wit than a pack of cheeky monkeys. With a career predominantly in radio for the BBC and as a host for the football platform 433, James is like a human ball of energy, ready to make you laugh, gasp, and cheer like a madman.Tune in as James give us the lowdown about how he got into skateboardi...

Sarah Crockett is the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Dickies a workwear brand that recently celebrated its centennial anniversary. She has an impressive background in the outdoors and action sports industry, having previously worked as the Chief Marketing Officer for Burton Snowboards and Backcountry. Her focus at Dickies is on reaching the next generation of consumers and continuing the brand's plans for globalization.Jake Hayes is a member of the Dickies Skate Team and an Australia...

Matt Stocks is a renowned DJ, live event host, presenter, and writer hailing from Birmingham in the UK. With an extensive portfolio, he has presented on prestigious radio stations including Q Radio, Kerrang! Radio, and Scuzz TV as well as contributing 200+ articles to prominent publications like Metal Hammer, Kerrang! magazine, and Classic Rock. As a podcaster, Matt is the creator and host of two successful podcasts: Life in the Stocks and Stoke the Fire. The latter he co-hosts with Jesse Lea...