What do we say at the beginning of these things again? Oh yeah, WHAT'S UP, Skaters?!

On this episode we discuss the skateboarding film Lords of Dogtown (no Z). Kyle Beachy (book author), Ted Schmitz (show notes author), and Tim Ward (not at all an author, but he's on another podcast, so that counts for something?) look at the the general failing of skate films by taking apart the characters and story presented in this strange studio feature. How it got made, we may never know, but maybe there was a market maybe? If you liked the film, that's fine; it's good to have joy where you can. We, however, did not enjoy it. And you can hear all about it. We don't really do the timecode thing, but maybe it'll help guide you through this one: 

00:00:00 - Cold Open (we do these instead of skits because, the skits weren't funny and they took too long) 

00:00:30 - Cold open ends and we hear a nice intro song by Roar

00:01:00 - Introducing the podcast cast 

00:04:00 - Introducing the film cast. It's not looking good 

00:05:00 - Start talking about the movie. Bummer

00:05:30 - Nothing improves, massive problems exposed 

00:05:31 — 01:03:00 - The bad things are discussed 

01:08:25 - Tim brings up a trick challenge 

That's basically it.

#37 Lordz of Dogtown

What's Up, Skaters?! 

Goddamn, got some cobwebs to brush off, but we do it in style with the first-ever FULL-CAST episode about everyone's favorite topic: The 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. You know what is going on. Listen to it, spam the DMs with how bad the takes are. Get blocked. Go out and skate. See us at the spot. Get ignored. Go back into the DMs and apologize. And look at that, we're friends again. 

Did the olympics go well? Do they even deserve a capital letter when typed aloud? We discuss the judging, the strange difference in quality viewing between the men's and women's events (spoiler: the dudes suck) and the beauty of Cab back lips. Update: Candy is out of jail. Which kinda sounds like a line from that song Candy Jail. Listen up, have fun and drop a Cab back lip of your own. We love you and we'll be back soon now that the writer of these here notes has settled into his new permanent residence. 

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne 
Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful 

Feel free to skip the Pro Flow credits, because it's just bananas. 

Support the hours of schedule coordinating and editing: Patreon.com/ventcity

And, yeah, Kyle's book is out. Go run that shit up!!!

#38 Yes, We Watched The Olympics

What's up skater?! 

We are back with another episode of Vent City with Ted S, Ted B, Ryan L and our guest Gifted H. We're hoping in the expensive stretchy car without U. That's right we're talkin' Limosine's "Paymaster" vid and what even a "small board brand" is? Hint: It's Primitive. Also, how do you pronounce "Ventura," the city in California.

Thank you all for listening. And thank you to these fine folks that help the waveforms flowing. 

Intro music: 
Roar

Credits music: 
Dylan Bryne 

Logo and Graphic Design:
Michael Worful 

and you can support the show over at:
Patreon.com/ventcity 

Have a good holidays, everyone.

Maybe the Best Back Tail Kickflipper on Planet Earth (w/ Gifted Hater)

What's up, Youtube, meet our friends, skaters.

Today on the show we have skater and Climate reporter Noah Gallagher Shannon talking with Kyle Beachy, Ryan Lay, and resident skeptic/show-note author Ted Schmitz about why the planet is fine and all good. Actually, the groundwater is getting sucked out then shipped to Saudi Arabia, the storms in South America are scarier and worse than ever, and nobody knows if skateboarding is bad for the planet or not. Read the chat then listen to Noah's articles we talk about here:

What’s Going on Inside the Fearsome Thunderstorms of Córdoba Province?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/22/magazine/worst-storms-argentina.html

Water Wars of Arizona
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/magazine/the-water-wars-of-arizona.html

lol, I just remembered Noah has, like, all these prestigious awards for journalism, and we talked to him like he was just a guy who knew a couple facts about clouds. Whoops. Well, you'll get something out of it and then you'll stop flying, stop driving, stop buying premade meals at Starbucks and stop talking about Elijah and Austyn. The just life awaits.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful

Support the show:
patreon.com/ventcity

More work by Noah Gallagher Shannon:
http://www.noahgallaghershannon.com/work

I'm a Shitty Skater BECAUSE I'm an Environmentalist w/ Noah Gallagher Shannon

What's up, skaters?! 

Welcome back to another full episode of Vent City. On today's show we have the author Kyle Beachy, the caption writer Ted Schmitz, professional skater Ryan Lay and one of the sickest skaters on the planet Arin! Did you know she had no intentions of getting into the sponsored game? Maybe! Did you know she worked in a lab processing COVID samples? Probably not, but maybe you did. But you certainly won't know everything we talk about in this fantastic interview, so put on some headphones and enjoy.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful

Support the show:
Patreon.com/ventcity

Having Free Time (w/ ARIN)

What's up, Skaters! 

Welcome back to Vent City, where we're always topical and timely while responding to the skategeist. That was one of the worst portmanteaus I've ever typed. Jesus. Worstmanteau. 

With us on the show we have show-description copywriter Ted Schmitz in weird third-person voice, followed by more-normal and better-thinking Ted [Barrow], and Ryan Lay of nollie-boardslide-on-Hubba fame. We even get a special call in from a castmember, but it's not Kristin or Alex 'cause they're at Wheels of Fortune 11. 

WIth this esteemed panel we're talking about that bench. Yep, that one. Then we talk about some Philly stuff and I drop enough Swedish pop songs into the track for Soundcloud to cancel the upload. 

Trick Challenge:
Bring the bench to a masonite park in Virginia Beach.

intro music:
Roar

Credits music:
Dylan Bryne

Logo and Graphic Design:
Michael Worful

Support the show:
patreon.com/ventcity

It's Still the Skate Entertainment Complex

What's Up, Skaters? 

Welcome back to another episode of Vent City. Don't call it a call in; it's a call out. The author of these episode descriptions hops on the line with castmembers Ted Barrow, Alex White, Kristin Ebeling, Ryan Lay and Kyle Beachy. We're talkin' YouTube's fascination with AA, sponsored babies, DIY must-haves, table clearing and a world beyond SOTY. If none of that sounds interesting to you, then you are a weird person that I don't even want to call!!! BLOCKED AND REPORTED. Listen to it. Enjoy it. Listen to it again. Enjoy it a second time. I wouldn't suggest a third listen, 'cause this isn't Arrested Development. You're pretty much gonna get everything out of one listen. I hope you love that one though...

Intro and transition music by ROAR
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful

Support the show:
Patreon.com/ventcity

Do You Mean My Switch Backside Tailslides?

What is up, skaters?!

On today’s episode we talk with the only pro we know to blend dolphin flips and drag in this freewheelin’ discussion that will literally make you laugh and cry. If you don’t do both, go to your cardiologist, ‘cause your heart’s in rough shape. We’ve got THERE Skateboards pro and Bottom Feeder exec Chandler Burton joining us! We cover getting sober young, the origins of his drag persona Titus, the whirlwind of the Glory Challenge and so much more. It’s good. It’s like really good. Like you should listen to it twice on regular speed. You people that listen to podcasts on 2x make me sick! What are you in such a rush for?! I can't remember if there's a trick challenge or not but it would be a dolphin flip if there was.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful

Support the show:
Patreon.com/Ventcity

Buy everything from Bottom Feeder:
www.bottomfeederx.com

I'm Not Trying to Kill Myself for Skateboarding (w/ Chandler Burton)

What's up, skaters?!

Welcome back to another episode of Vent City. We're talking the SLOW IMPACT extravaganza in Tempe, Arizona with Ryan Lay, Alex White, Kyle Beachy, Ted Schmitz and new to the cast Adam Burns. We talk about the skateboarding and the panels and meeting each other IRL for the first time. Listen to it and smile and feel light, goddamnit. 

Intro music by Roar
Credit music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and Graphic Design
Mixed and Edited by Adam Burns

Support the show:
Patreon.com/ventcity

You Can't Be a Cool Guy in Tempe, Arizona

What's up skaters, 

We start the show by asking one question: Is there a doctor in the building?! We answer that by saying yes. It's Theodore Barrow Ph.D. Our distinguished castmember talks about the years-long process of attaining such an accomplishment and credential, then we talk about another academic, Alexis Sablone before getting into Kristin Ebeling's epic trip out to Cambodia to share Skate Like a Girl programming with the scene there. It's fun and we have a great time. 

Trick Challenge: LIke as many ollies as you can do in 30 sceonds.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful 
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns

Support the show:
Patreon.com/ventcity

It's like BDSM For Your Wheels

What's up, Skaters

We're back with the host and star of the hit urban design and architecture skate history program "This Old Ledge" from Thrasher Magazine—that's right, Ted Barrow joins Ryan Lay, Kyle Beachy, Alex White and Ted Schmitz. We talk about the program, sing its praise and digress into a lengthy chat about the weight of nostalgia. Following that thread, we also talk about the cultural impact of Ed Templeton and his new book "Wires Crossed" that Kyle Beachy wrote about in the Southwest Review. Here's a link to that! https://southwestreview.com/naked-wives-and-surprising-penises/
What a title. After we spend more than 20 minutes discussing what Ed meant to us in our adolescence and what if feels like to watch our heroes age online we talk about a young person, lest we lose the one zoomer who listens to the show. Thank you for listening, Hayden. Yuto Horigome looks good in his hometown and we think it's funny when he skates with Supreme's fashionable French models. The trick challenge is to heelflip off literally anything. 

Intro song by Roar
Credits by Dylan Bryne
Mix and Edit by Adam Burns

Millennials Killed the 16 Stair

What's Up Skaters!

Welcome back to Vent City. Today we're talking to esteemed video game writer and full-fledged skater Cole Nowicki on the heels of his new book "Right, Down + Circle" from ECW Press. We get into our past as gamers and skaters coming up in the inescapable wake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. We also wonder why we never got into skyboarding. It's a fantastic, inquisitive chat with a true Canadian treasure you're sure to fall in love with. And if you've ever wondered what it takes to get Tony Hawk to reply to your book blurb request, Cole lets you on his propriety method. 

Ender-season trick challenge: kickflip pivot fakie

Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Mixing and Editing by Adam Burns

Blowtorch the Ramp for Clout (w/ Cole Nowicki)

Skaters, 

We'll make this a short intro. We are beyond honored to welcome Palestinian-American skateboarder, writer, photographer and human rights researcher Maen Hammad. We start with a reading from his piece "On skateboarding, solidarity, and Palestine" published by Skate Jawn (https://skatejawn.com/on-skateboarding-solidarity-and-palestine/) Then we talk about his growing up, skating and work in Palestine. Despite some of the sad circumstances we discuss, it really is a good time and Maen's voice and photos in this moment are essential for any skater.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and Graphic design by Michael Worful

It's Paintings on the Wall (w/ Maen Hammad)

Oh you went to Slow Impact? No you didn't. That's why you gotta listen to this show!

What's up skaters, 

We went back down to the number two city in America, Tempe, Arizona to learn and to lay in the sun. Lie in the sun? Who knows. Probably Kyle. He's on this episode, not correcting the "lay vs lie" debate, but he is joining Ryan Lay, Kristin Ebeling, Ted Barrow, Adam Burns and the person who writes these comprehension show notes. Do we talk about video parts from your favorite pros? No. But here's a link to one if you absolutely need it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gOz7Qt8JVM

From the first panel to the closing session at The Wedge, we walk you through everything that is this "entertainment product." So turn your fuckin' headphones up and do some dishes or drive to work with us.

Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns

I Felt Like CJ

What's up, Skaters! 

This one is more of a comment than a question. Actually it's a lot of questions from Ryan, Kyle, Adam, Kristin, Alex and Ted S about all the mysteries of skateboarding. Is the technical talent in skating dwindling? Would you want a partner that skates? We get into all that and some meandering tangents as always. You're gonna love it. 

Intro music by Roar
Outro music by Dylan Bryne
Edited by Adam Burns
Logo and Graphic design by Michael Worful

You Don't Know What a Butt Flap Is?

That’s right, Vent Citizens–it’s a new day here at VC headquarters. Dog and Skull have grabbed hold of the reins and there’s some changing afoot. What kind? How about regular, monthly episodes, or at least our best attempt at same? How about reasonable runtimes? More interviews? A brand new internal workflow model with labor distributed among all the humans and 400% more preparation before recording?

Our first ep under brand new management is a doozy. The industry is hurting, so naturally we’re talking all about brands with Alex White, Kyle Beachy, Adam Burns, and Ted Schmitz. Tip toeing that fine line between making product and making art, we cover everything from the logos we doodled in notebooks to genuine professional expertise, including a few actual numbers! What do SNL and Powell Peralta have in common? How cynical is too cynical? And is “heritage” an obvious good, or should old brands get out of the way? Tempers flare, laughter rings out in the night, and by the end, we’re all much, much smarter. 

And would you believe it concludes with the triumphant return of the trademarked Vent City Trick Challenge? Do a pole jam, people. Find a pole jam, jam that sucker, and tag @vent.city with the clip.

Some things never change:
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns

Branding's a Hell of a Drug

Come along as Ted Barrow, Adam Burns, Ryan Lay, and Ted Schmitz duck and dodge the fuzzy reality of November 5, 2024, daring to record on the dark and miserable night of our most recent presidential election. The result is a triptych of topics, starting with the institutionalizing of skateboarding at LOVE Malmö and Leo Valls’s Connect Festival, in Bordeaux. Not to be daft, but who are these conferences for, really? Then it’s on to plaza culture, which, is there still plaza culture? Are people out there still top-doggin’ and one-uppin? Is Borough Hall a plaza? Are DIYs actually our new plazas? We got those big questions that you’ve come to expect. As the ender, the fellas take on that bane of contemporary skateboarding, the ride-on grind. 

It’s fun, folks. It is fun and healthy to get together with friends and talk through the most inane nuances you can think of. Let’s do more of it, whoever ends up winning this election. 

Oh! And! The next Vent City Trick Challenge™ is a tasteful classic, the nollie backside lipslide shuv out. Wow, yeah, say that five times. Nollie back lip shuv. Nolli back lip shuv. Nollie back lip…Sorry. Film one! Tag us! 

Meanwhile, Thank you to our listeners, especially the following four folks who make the show happen:
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns


I Never Met A Teenaged Cheesemonger That Skated

Well, well, well–if it isn’t our last pod of last year that’s actually our first of 2025. Alex White, Ted Barrow, Kristin Ebeling, Ted Schmitz, and Kyle Beachy are back and ready to talk mad, mad shit. First, they address a debate nearly as old as time: Emile Laurent or Aimu Yamazuki? Are these dudes somehow hesh and fresh? Or neither? Where’d they come from? Who would you rather have a beer with? In any case, Portland’s got parking for days. Then it’s time for reflection, as the Gregorian calendar casts a broad, massive shadow. The twist around these parts, though, is we’re looking for vids with heart. Soul? The videos of 2024 have that something that tickled our human parts. And hey, while we’re at it, why aren’t we any better yet at talking about women’s skateboarding? Are the ally olympics this year, or next? Anyway, wrap things up with a little talk about the year ahead. Is hopelessness a strategy? Nah. Keep pushing, as the man himself says. All this, plus Shane O’Neill’s secret hack for skate contest attire. 

And a new Vent City Trick Challenge: a classic blunt fakie on transition. The tinier the better.

Thank you to our listeners, especially the following four folks who make the show happen:
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns


Jason Dill Is Screaming 'I Told You So'

The industry is down bad, y’all. There are booms, there are busts, and as 2025 gets moving, we’re squarely in the latter. Everyone will tell you so. But is that…bad? Yes, definitely for the people who work in the industry. But what about for the rest of us? Who says we’ve got to make money in order for the culture to be vibrant? And what does it mean that skateboarding has to keep reaching outside of itself for help, always struggling to sell our weird hobby to normies? What’s a contest, after all, if not a way to force a story onto skateboarding and make a quick buck? Well, Kristin and WOF would like a word. So would Alex White, Ted Barrow, Ted Schmitz, Adam Burns, and Kyle Beachy. But you know one way these fools all agree? Thank god for local videos.

Thanks, always, to the following:
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Burns

You Won't Believe People Are Skating In This Tiny Fishing Village In Finland

Consider this a mini-Slow Impact recap, where an excellent panel about skatepark design and skate-integrated spaces leads to a productive conversation between our guest, Portland-based landscape architect, Taj Hanson, and Ted B about skate spot heritage, the shifting needs of skate plazas and their form, and what we all can do to ensure better things get built and worse things don’t get built at all. Practice into praxis, bank to curb, slap this!

Taj’s trick challenge is a Welshed-out backside noselide, which means you’re gonna do a backside noselide and nollie pop outta that thang!

Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Mixing and Editing by Adam Burns

Privatized Paddlescapes And The Freaks In The Skyscraper (w/Taj Hanson)

Grabbing the hosting reins this time around, Kristin Ebeling keeps the crew’s wandering eyes focused on the actual prize: a super coherent and non-wandering-ass conversation. The result is what sure seems like Vent’s most compact and taut episode…ever? It starts with a check-in, quickly, before we hear from Alex White on Tacky Joy Factory and Leo Baker, with a full-on fanout from monsieurs Ted Schmitz, Adam Burns, and Kyle Beachy. Then it’s Street League’s turn toward single-issue skate events. A wooden triple set? In Los Angeles? Is Rumble still behind this shit? Who knows. Then it’s all about The industry is in trouble…and the industry is thriving? To wrap things up we’ve got a few burning-hot predictions for Ted’s triumphant return to the desert after a stint in New York City. Who’ll sponsor him? What’s his future hold? Then it’s the most tasteful trick challenge of all time. And that’s it! A wrap! 

Thanks, always, to the following:
Intro music by Roar
Credits music by Dylan Bryne
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful
Mixed and edited by Adam Bur


That's Not A Sunset, That's A Mushroom Cloud

On Episode 3 of Vent City Ryan Lay, Ted Schmitz, Kyle Beachy, Ted Barrow and Kristin Ebeling talk about skateboarding and all its bullshit. 

Interview Music by Michael Kryger (@blogafonte)
Credits Music by Ilana Bryne (@ilana.bryne)
Please check out their music and support fellow skaters! 

Due to a longer than normal running time, here are some timecodes to help you navigate through the episode if you want to just hear us discuss a specific top or jump to the interview of Bing Liu by Kyle Beachy. 


0:00 - 5:45 a reading by Ted Schmitz dedicated to Pablo Ramirez (aka P Splifff) of the GX1000 squad followed by a short discussion acknowledging his impact 

7:10 show intro 

9:00 Ryan Lay opening and disclaimer about the show

14:00 panel discusses who has the authority to say who is and is not a skater. Ted Schmitz says he’s the authority but he’s wrong about a lot of things 

15:30 panel discusses X-Games Real Street 

16:00 Kristin Ebeling explains how reverse sexism is not the same as sexism 

19:00 more X-Games discussion. The panel gives their votes and discusses LA bias in the selection of contestants 

30:40 panel discusses the video A Day in the Life of Cher by Magdalena Wosinska, a short documentary about the first transgender pro skater. 

It’s fucking amazing, watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/317400509

44:00 Kyle Beachy interviews Bing Liu about his breakthrough success and Academy Award Nominated film Minding the Gap. We still think Free Solo should not have won the Oscar over Bing’s film. 

1:56:15 panel discusses the interview with Bing and the film in general. 

 2:16:40 Funeral Pyre Segment: watching the things we no longer want in skating go out in a glorious blaze 

2:17:20 Ted Barrow throws music in Instagram clips onto the pyre (don’t put so much thought into your post, it’s already corny enough)

2:19:05 Ryan throws in the gamification of wallrides and wallies (don’t let the skatepark kids find the button the every trick in the tasteful street skater’s bag)

2:22:28 Kristin throws unsolicited advice for tricks onto the pyre (the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions)

2:27:00 Kyle bids adieu to ledge tricks to manual (when Koston did it in Mouse, that shit was funny and wasn’t supposed to get all serious)

2:33:00 Ted Schmitz says we gotta burn the practice of sponsoring and promoting little kids (they’re probably not the next Guy or Nyjah, so just avoid the future child labor lawsuit and let them play)

Bing Liu Makes Skaters Cry

Hey Skaters, 

In the sixth episode of Vent City, the cast (Kristin Ebeling, Ryan Lay, Ted Barrow, Kyle Beachy, and Ted Schmitz) talk Alexis Sablone's Thrasher interview by Elissa Steamer and whether skating is enough to keep someone happy. 

They go over some already covered ground about pads and shame, that hopefully uncovers something exciting. 

Dew Tour had a remarkably young podium for the Women's division and they talk about how these young skaters are pushing the limits. Misugu Okamoto and Kokona Hiraka are both under 15 and winning/placing alongside well established skaters like Lizzie Armanto. 

Music in this episode was provided by the amazing Ilana Bryne (naivetrax.bandcamp.com & @ilana.bryne on Instragram)

#6 A Flat Bar That's as Wide as a Sandwich is Just a Box

Welcome back to Vent City, a place to talk about skateboarding and it’s bullshit. This week on the show we have novelist Kyle Beachy, pro skater and commentator Alex White, art historian Ted Barrow, and Thrasher contributor Ted Schmitz. 

The panel starts by discussing good things going on in skating and the world—USA Women’s Soccer team being non-White House going badasses, teaching kids to push their skating, and Jacob Elliot Harris’s recent video output. 

Following the Trust Fall and Nike videos discussion the panel discusses the Welcome video, Seance, and discusses whether or not Ryan Lay’s most recent part is dummy good or not. Spoiler: nollie front salad equals dummy good. 

WIth the industry skate talk out of the way, everyone engages Ted Barrow on stopping the daily skatepark clip reviews on feedback_ts and what his output on the account looks like going forward. They also discuss sincerity online and arguing with 14 year olds. 

The funeral pyre burns bright this week as we say goodbye to some practices in skating that once served us but maybe we could do without. Ted Schmitz thinks being good at skating for certain people is no longer enough to make him like someone’s skating, Ted Barrow thinks roll-on grinds that aren’t in a pool are quite corny. Alex White thinks nose slide bigspins in contest runs have run their course. Kyle Beachy thinks their is an odd thing taking place where skateboarding, instead of having our scene co-opted by pop culture, is now taking influences from the broader culture when it comes to things like Spencer Hamilton’s Primitive intro video, which seems to look more like an innocuous Uber commercial than a street skating video. 

Thank you to everyone for listening. As always you can support the show on patreon.com/ventcity to get access to more show and help our operation get our faster. 

Music provided by Ilana Bryne (@ilana.bryne and naivetrax.bandcamp.com)

Logo Design by Michael Worful (@worful)

#7 When You Realize the Person You're Arguing With Is 14

Welcome Back, Skaters, to another episode of Vent City. On this show we have Kristin Ebeling, Alex White, Ted Barrow, and Ted Schmitz having a conversation about the Sk8 Rats video by Shane Aukland which has full parts from Kristin and Shari White from the Skate Witches and more. 

Shane steps in to set Ted S. straight on some of the music used throughout the video. 

The panel discusses Kristin’s part at length after a lengthy discussion of bath balms and the necessity of self-care in your 30s. They also discuss Cory Kennedy’s new part and how the prison system in America is a fucking joke. 

At some point they talk about the uses of a Theragun during foreplay so there’s that. 

Alex also tells a show-stopping about how the ASR Tradeshow saved her life.  

To prep the interview with Keegan Guizard at the College Skateboarding Educational Foundation (CSEF), the panel talks a little about each of their college experiences and what Ted B. gives an inside look at what is actually entailed by a Ph.D program—time, so much time. 

After Ted Schmitz (me) sits down with Keegan the group goes on to talk about the New York Times article about the events that happened in San Francisco earlier this year between skaters and a security guard. 

Then there’s the Funeral Pyre segment: 

Alex White throws in the practice of Go Funding Yourself to get to contests. The platform could probably be used to more necessary things. Kristin lights ablaze the practice of having companies being run and operated mostly by men who are shutting down opportunities for women in skating and don’t know how to advance equity in skating. Boy’s club shit needs to go. Ted Barrow can see, somewhere off in the distance a glowing orange strobe that seems to get more intense the closer he gets. It’s a giant temple of flames and everyone is standing around it honoring a memory while the heat keeps them at a distance. That giant flame is fueled by EMB footy in 2019 and the kept ablaze by the thick oil of nostalgia that soaks each clip. The historian stays toward the back of crowd, taking in the last flickers of light as the crowd starts to dissipate while he mutters to himself—or maybe an imagined historically minded crowd member—“all I see is an absence, not a presence.” Ted Schmitz on a petty note takes issue with the constantly reinventing instagram move of archiving the grid so skaters only have one post up, making it impossible to find the funny heel flip board slide of yesterday. 

That’s the show here are resources from the topics, links, and credits: 

To send mail to Cory Kennedy, address all envelopes to: 

Cory Kennedy 
410614 
PO Box 37
Little Rock, WA
98556 

To learn more about CSEF: 

Go to https://www.collegeskateboarding.com/

Transition music by Michael Kryger (@blogafonte)
Credits music by Ilana Bryne (@ilana.bryne or naivetrax.bandcamp.com)

Graphic design by Michael Worful (@worful)

#8 ASR Tradeshow Saved My Life

Kyle Beachy and Ted Schmitz bring you a bonus episode about the part they both devoted weeks of their life to—Mark Suciu's Verso. The part is long, epic, and complex and we try to unpack a little bit of it. Enjoy. Oh, also if you wanted to watch along with us, start Verso at 31:13. Not kidding, that's literally the time stamp.

Flowgram #6 Great Hyperboles of Melting Faces and Shitted Pants

Skaters, what is up? 

Episode 17 is coming to you straight from the Vent City studios in Maricopa County which actually is not that far from where Joe Arpaio’s absolutely abhorrent Tent City was. So there’s that. For the first time ever we have a live in-person roundtable discussion without the use of video conferencing technology. 

On the show, we’ve got the owner of a brand-new birthday Kristin Ebeling, followed by Ryan Lay, Ted Schmitz, and Kora Colasuonno from Queer Skate LA, to discuss a thousand topics which we will not, under any circumstances, give you timecodes for because it’s after midnight and somehow feel like if we don’t you’ll listen to the whole thing. 

We get into Kristin taking kids at Skate Like a Girl to the state capital to advocate for more skate parks and skate programming. Word has it, they even got the Governor to wear a SLAG hat. After that we talk about the olympic art of cupping which three out of four panelists tried and liked at varying degrees. 

The main focus of our discussion is centered around three things: local skateparks and why you should build them with beginners in mind, Queer Skate LA meetups and how Instagram can be used for good, and Marsha Ann’s Day in the Life video on Skateism. It’s all very rad stuff and pretty goddamn wholesome this time around. 

Check out Marsha's video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xORr_dAB52Q&feature=emb_title

Oh, you’re wondering what our first skate shoes were? Yeah, we cover that too. 

Almost forgot, I give tips on frontside airs that you don’t need to listen to. The only real tip is to spend a few years as a fly-out kid and then live in shame until you find the guts to come back into the ramp. Also, minus that shame part. Fly-outs are totally fine. I get to say that stuff like it’s everyone on the show’s opinion cause I write the show notes and I don’t think they read them long enough to ask me to delete the parts where I’m misrepresenting their feelings towards hangtime. 

On the Pyre we’ve got Red Bull hats and a bunch of other silly shit! 

What’s up with our Pro-Flow credits songs? They’re fucking weird, but this time the studio just wasn’t working out so we did it a little different. 

As always our credits music is by Ilana Bryne (@ilana.bryne and naivetrax.bandcamp.com) 
Our logo and graphic design is by the ever-so talented Michael Worful (@worful) 

Thank you again, everyone, for listening. 

To support the show further and get some bonus materials, go to patreon.com/ventcity

#17 Instagram's THE BEST

What's up skater's? We'll make this quick.

The Southwest dudes (Ted S [the person who writes these notes] and Ryan)sat down with ASU professor and abolitionist Alan Gomez to discuss police and prison abolition strategies and the enduring carceral society we live in. This is a broad talk with a lot of branches so make sure you're ready for a ride. 

Tommy Guerrero was kind enough to join us on a call to discuss the story beyond his now-iconic "End Racism" board from the '80s. (37:35)

Thank you to everyone for listening. We hope this helps.

Intro jam by Michael Kryger (@blogafonte)

Outro by Sean Bonnette of AJJ. Search any music platform or YouTube for AJJ. I suggest starting with "No More Tears," or "People II: The Reckoning"

Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful (@worful)

Here's a list of books and retailers to start or continue your interest in abolition:

https://www.akpress.org/

https://www.versobooks.com/

Ruth WIlson Gilmore's Golden Gulag: 
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520242012/golden-gulag

Adrienne Maree Brown's Emergent Strategy: 
https://www.akpress.org/emergentstrategy.html

Angela Davis's Are Prisons Obsolete:
https://www.feministes-radicales.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Angela-Davis-Are_Prisons_Obsolete.pdf

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/angela-y-davis-are-prisons-obsolete

Ear Hustle Podcast:
https://www.earhustlesq.com/

#23 A Skater's Intro to Abolition w/ Alan Eladio Gómez

Hello Skaters, 

Are you feeling remotely human? We hope so, but we understand if your sense of humanness is off-kilter. Rather than talking about world-collapsing forces like the unchecked advance of razor-toothed, bloodthirsty capitalists or a pretty good Antihero video, we at Vent City thought our time with you would be better spent conceptualizing a utopia. Yes, Professor—and man I once described on the Thrasher site as “firebrand novelist”—Kyle Beachy leads a discussion with Kristin Ebeling, Ted Barrow and Ted Schmitz about THE PERFECT SKATE SPOT. And if you are reading this before listening, I encourage you to take a moment to think of your immaculate plaza or parking lot or whatever. And then answer this question: Why are you reading the show notes before listening? You’re weird. 

Though the panel differs slightly on what ideal sessions would look like and what players would constitute the perfect crew, one thing emerges as absolutely true—you must do a frontside noseslide for the trick challenge. Do it, or die trying. Actually, it’s not not worth dying over…maybe not even worth getting sweaty over. But it might be fun and we hope to share that experience of fun. 

Nothing gets set ablaze on that beautiful future-banning bonfire which we have come to know and love as the Funeral Pyre segment, because this is a rare exercise in building up a brightly reimagined skateboarding. 

As always, whatever I, the latter Ted, said on the show is probably wrong but I get to write the notes so I’ll leave you with the answer to the perfect spot. It’s that 20 stair in DC that Bobby tried to ollie. 

As always! 

Intro Music by Roar

Credits Music by Ilana Bryne (naivetrax.bandcamp.com)

Logo and Graphic Design by Michael Worful (@worful)

Support the show at patreon.com/ventcity 

And yes, I did buy the whole squad Taco Bell for $6.56. Live mas, skaters.

#27 What Is Your Perfect Spot?

What's up, skaters? 

You've heard the name Mason Silva a lot this year. And you probably have accidentally called him Miles once or twice. Lucky for us we put a voice to the face that birthed a part for every season this year. It was fun. 

We talked about whether or not AVE's DC part is his worst part. I, Ted Schmitz, say it is, and since I get to write the show notes, let's just go ahead and say the official position of the show that it is. Mason disagrees, but what does he know?! 

We also learn the correct pronunciation of the perineum, which is important to know probably. This kinda knowledge is important goddamnit. 

Thank you again for listening! 

Intro Music by Roar
Credits Music by Ilana Bryne
Logo and Graphics by Michael Worful

Email the show: 
Ventcitypod@gmail.com

Support the show: 
Patreon.com/ventcity

#30 Mason Silva Needs a Vacation

What's up, skaters?! 

Today on Vent City we've got three regulars and a guest! You already know Kristin Ebeling, Ryan Lay, and Alex White. And actually you might already know our guest Marbie Miller who is a full-time skater for There Skateboards and many other fine companies. Anyway, we had the privilege and the pleasure to talk with Marbie and her little scene growing up in Iowa and of course the slightly bigger scene in Wisconsin. "Stay Gold" premiere stories? Yeah, they're in there. What about getting jacked with Jeff from There? Yep, we talk about it too. Oh, and we play SOTY and the SHOTY (Skate Hottie Of The Year). And this was recorded before the Mason news, so if you have something to say about that, maybe don't? Or do. I don't really give a shit, but it would be cooler if you didn't. 

Trick challenge: THE NOLLIE VARIAL FLIP! 

Thank you again, everyone, for listening. We'll be back with a year-end wrap up shortly. 

Talk to us: 
@vent.city
ventcitypod@gmail.com

Support the show: 
Patreon.com/ventcity

Intro Music By: 
Roar 

Credits Music By: 
Ilana Bryne (naivetrax.bandcamp.com)

Logo and Graphics By: 
Michael Worful (@worful)

#31 Marbie Miller Full-Time Skater

What's up, skaters? 

It would be nice if there would be a rebuttal after that YouTubey "What's Up" greeting. It's very isolating, like having a conversation with your own canyon echo. Damn. This is getting off to a weird start. 

Let's get a do over. Welcome back to another episode of Vent City!!! 

Too much? Shit. Whatever. We've got a hell of a sincere show here with our incredible guest Ashley Rehfeld who helped us break into this business of mental health crises in skating. Sadly, being a skater doesn't make you immune to depression, or really anything else. So Kristin Ebeling, Alex White, Ryan Lay, and the author of these show notes talk about our individual experiences with mental stuff and what our journey through therapy has looked like. Are hotlines helpful? Maybe. They also might be an extension of the carceral apparatus. You won't get any hard answers, but you will get a few tools, options (openpathcollective.org), and insights into daily practices that help you feel like waking up is alright. Okay, I'm done now. you don't even fuckin' read this far down. Scroll down to see the trick challenge and the people off mic that help us out. 

Trick Challenge: Backside bluntslide on a curb or ledge (don't even think about doing it on a rail, you sicko) 

Pro Challenge: Backside bluntslide BIG SPIN OUT! It won't look great, but it can be done. 

Intro music by Roar 
Credits music by Dylan Bryne (naivetrax.bandcamp.com)
Logo and graphic design by Michael Worful (@worful)

Support the show: 
Patreon.com/ventcity

Contact the show: 
DM @vent.city on Instagram. 

I'm way behind on emails.

Vent City

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