Episodes
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Synchronicity is an undeniable theme throughout the life of Kapulani Patterson AKA Hawaiian Blaze. Each step of their journey in skating, life, and art all feel meant to be.
Stumbling upon roller derby through a peer in trauma recovery after being medically retired from the Air Force reshaped their life in enumerable and amazing ways. In nearly ten years of playing, Kapulani met their spouse, found community, and leaned into their power as a skater and human being.In recent years Kapulani has deepened their connection to roller derby through skating for Team Indigenous Rising. As an indigenous, queer, Māhū skater, they hold the rallying cry for Indigenous skater representation in the sport close to their heart. Skating alongside their teammates on Team Indigenous Rising they have amplified one another’s ancestral wisdom and strength, and they’ve made big moves in not only the athletic but organizing arenas. The team has stood strong together through discrimination, and in this conversation we talk about Kapulani’s perspective on the organizers at BOTAs 2023 questioning their right to participate as a borderless team. We also go on to talk bout how the team has continued to support each other to keep pushing in the face of ignorance.
Kapulani also shares their thoughts on how roller derby could educate skaters and officials to make it an inclusive space. We get into the racism and transphobia that are present in the international WFTDA community, and the roles that interpersonal connection as well organizations play in shaping progress and inclusivity.
Their entry into the world of stained glass art seem just as destined in the way that their metal skills acquired during their military service branched into their artwork. And what’s more, they have since channeled their artwork into a means to raise awareness of Hawaiian cultural history and drawing attention to the thousands of missing and murdered indigenous women.
This interview is jam-packed with thoughtful reflections from this amazing skater, artist, and mother. Tune in to hear about all the exciting projects they have in the works!
Follow Kapulani on IG! :
instagram.com/hawaiianblaze/
Take a look at Kapulani’s beautiful stained-glass creations! :https://www.instagram.com/wildwahineglass/
Listen to Kapulani's Playlist!:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7DczOsv4bjdx9sbKaCalZO?si=105be284a6ce4231
Learn more about Team Indigenous Rising :
https://www.teamindigenous.org/
Learn more about Borderless Roller DerbyTeams : https://www.teamindigenous.org/borderless-roller-derby-teams
Read the Team Indigenous Rising Statement Regarding BOTAS: https://www.teamindigenous.org/indigenous-rising-roller-derby-instagram
Check out Gotham Roller Derby! : https://www.gothamrollerderby.com/Support Skaterade!
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Arri Santiago is an artist on and off skates, when she’s not lighting up the floor she’s creating imaginative characters and worlds as an artist and animator.
She had no idea what was ahead when she rediscovered roller skating in 2020. She was introduced to rinks as a young kid (her dad was a rink ref back in the day), but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that she would rediscover skating. She laced up a pair of her grandfather’s skates, which were 5 sizes too big, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Roller skating has taken her on a journey from pandemic skate crews, to opportunities skating with roller skate productions such as DiscOasis, Flippers, and even New York Fashion Week shows. The approach that she brings to her skating is unmistakably elegant and simultaneously inventive by way of harnessing the artistry of whacking and voguing. As glamorous as all of that is, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, along the way she’s faced challenges ranging from tough past and present introspection and engaging with challenging community discourse. In this conversation we delve into the many experiences she’s had these past few years.
She opens up about her complex relationship with movement and how she’s learned and grown and recovered through injuries sustained as a performer, and how exploring outlets for movement outside of skating have deepened her connection to her body.
We also explore broader conversations around boundaries and social media, advice for progressing one’s roller skate skills, the importance of connecting with your local skate community, and the future of building sustainable homes for rink skating in New York City.
Keep up with Arri on IG:
@arriquenia
Take a peep at Arri's artwork! :
@luneplanta
Check out some of Arri's fave jams to skate to! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4UkN0eL0SwdWxoXsjoqaWb?si=1_AViUnHR0OS55Thkr-CNA
Arri shouts out A LOT of skaters in this episode, if you're curious about her list of faves, check them out! :
@maskdsk8erz
@lynnamovingstar
@sydblaylock
@jasonacosta
@thesensational_sade
@keeganjamess
@elijahjustice
@jill_tf_out
@joshlemonade
@ginnngaa
@sqwheels
@sqwheelsandhubs
@cottorollerskaterSupport Skaterade!
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https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Episodes manquant?
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After facing personal trauma and the pandemic disruption of queer nightlife, A fortuitous stumble upon the skate rink at Riverbank Park in Harlem took Kenny McQueen on a journey. Roller skating started out as a way to move his body and became something that completely transformed his lifestyle.
Kenny’s deep love for community and dance skating is palpable, and when he felt called to address issues around nonconsensual touch and bullying that he and his peers were experiencing, he stepped up to the plate by creating the Respect My Space Alliance (RMSA) to get these difficult conversations started. In this interview, he shares the core values of RMSA and his vision for a skate community that cultivates multigenerational dialogues (and connection) with respect at the core.
Kenny imparts his thoughts on activism as an extension of community and collaboration even when it’s hard, as well as the transcendent nature of roller skating that leads to healing. Throughout this talk it is so clear that skating cuts deep for Kenny, and that he understands that sometimes things need to be shaken up in order to get to the good stuff.
We reflect on his experiences skating in different regions including his home base in NYC. He shares his love of Skate Jams he’s traveled and speaks to the historical and cultural significance of these events in the Black community. He also shares his thoughts on what makes NYC skate community unique.
Join us as we get personal with this shy yet audacious skater.
*Editor’s Note: In this interview, we mention the influential JB skater, Calvin Small. Kenny misspeaks and refers to him as Kevin.
Follow Kenny on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/k_emez/
Support the Movement! Check out the RMSA code of conduct and more!:
https://www.rmsanyc.com/
Follow RMSA on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/rmsa.nyc/
Check out Kenny's Online Shop OKBleep! :
https://www.okbleepshop.com/
Check out Kenny's Playlist, it'll inspire you to move your body! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ExdiZOCa3sKMf1tGFGMuj?si=66d2f70550504047Support Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Sometimes unlikely friendships make for the best pairings, and that’s certainly the case with Elise (bigb00tysk8rgrl) and Kooky (hurt_cobainn)! With a bit of an age gap, and being at different stages of life, they might not have met if not for the pandemic roller skating surge (and Elise sliding into Kooky’s DMs), but since their worlds collided they’ve become inseparable. In this conversation, they open up about what it’s been like to navigate friendship whilst sharing the hobby of aggressive park skating when one of them flourishes in the spotlight and the other finds their bliss in a more understated role.
We get into the landscape that is roller skate community on social media in their eyes. They express their very different relationships to being perceived , opening up about how they relate to and interact with it all ranging from FOMO and overwhelm to connection and making international skate friends. We touch on dialogues in park skating including their perspectives on pathways towards growing the sport, whether by lifting up the next generation of youth skaters and through pro skate teams. They also share their desires to grow the presence of skate competitions in their home city of New York.
Elise and Kooky have seen a lot together over the past few years, and their bond has served as a constant through injury, tears, laughter, and just the day to day push and pull of holding up our friends and motivating them to keep skating. This conversation is full of the kind of friendship that is equal parts roasting and unadulterated love, a plutonic romance if you will! It’s a fun ride, come along with us!
Follow Elise on IG ! :https://instagram.com/bigb00tysk8rgrl?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Follow Kooky on IG ! :
https://instagram.com/hurt_cobainn?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Book a private lesson with Elise! :
https://calendly.com/bigb00tysk8rgrl/1hr-private-skate-lesson-autmn?month=2023-10
Kooky + Elise playlist! Riot Grrrl with 90s soundtrack worthy bops with a sprinkle of Justin Bieber! :
https://spotify.link/UlL1lJTzNDb
Watch Maternity Leave, by Kooky + Elise ! :
https://youtu.be/59w81hGDKtM?si=h_dJ3HDhxGBnz6LN
Support Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
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[email protected]
Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
This week’s conversation is a journey, a little metaphysical, a little brass tacks life advice, no doubt this week’s guest will send you! A resident of Long Beach California since 1999, Tracy Emiko Ugai created a mosaic by picking up pieces that work and discarding what doesn’t to build the colorful life she has today. Best known for her roller skating and wellness brand Basics of Happy, her impact as a visible Long Beach skate community member, and storied career in action sports marketing and PR (for iconically California brands such as Vans, Quicksilver, and Moxi ) precede her.
Tracy regales us with tales of her roller skating roots, which started with Long Beach DIY parking lot roller derby in all of its scrappy down and dirty charm. She also takes us back to park skating before its boom and the exciting collaborative phase of discovery the community was in before the days widely available tutorials and park hardware.
The draw Tracy feels towards wellness is in no way out of left field, in part born of the dissonance she felt between the marketing (and social media) presence she crafted and real life, she found herself hungry for a more grounded perspective. She was evolving and wanting out of the corporate gig life, and wanted to leave space for healing herself, and on the way she found herself positioned to pivot towards a path working wellness. In the process she found herself back in roller skating community and exploring the intersections between movement and healing.
Tracy generously shares the lessons that very much influence her business and her brand today. Applying her life experience, she tackles issues like facing burnout, overcoming self-doubt, redirecting hyper focus as a neurodivergent business owner, and meditative power of roller skating! Above all else she highlights how relinquishing control in creating her own business allowed the road to unwind before her in unexpected and miraculous ways.
Not to mention, we get granular about her foray into developing roller skates for the first time for her very own company, and how collaboration in community are very much the engine behind Basics of Happy. Get ready to nerd out!
Suffice to say, this interview is a veritable treasure trove featuring slices of roller skate history, personal wisdom, healing, and being in business in roller skating today.
Dive into Basics of Happy ! :
https://www.thebasicsofhappy.com/
Tune in to Tracy's playlist! This mix is definitely giving grooving on a basketball court by the beach:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zXIeEnEbu4at6X9OiQV9Y?si=Hj-8ejXFSpCQ2_xSpGdt4Q&nd=1
Keep up with Tracy's world and projects on IG :
@thebasicsofhappy_skate
@xoxobanzaiSupport Skaterade!
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Follow Us On Instagram:
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It can be easy as a New Yorker to lose sight of the endless possibilities the city holds, but this week’s guest never misses a chance to take it all in. Frank Figueroa has covered countless miles on these city streets, in his well-loved roller skates, that are often a scrape away from combusting. Anywhere there is a community event with good music and dancing, you better believe he’s there and finding release almost certainly with his skates in tow. When the iconic rinks, Skate Key and Empire closed in the early 2000s, Frank took his love of wheels and dancing to the streets, and shows no signs of stopping. Frank has the hard-won grit the city is known for and he’s got the battle wounds to show for it, however he’s not afraid to be vulnerable and channels that sensitivity through his numerous modes of artistic expression including disciplined training in dance, photography, and DJing.
In this intimate conversation we get a glimpse of what Frank contends with including dismantling societal expectations for men expressing emotion (whilst holding space for others) and skating through physical and mental pain. He does this all with an enviable fluidity and serenity.
Frank shares the history of skating he’s lived through in NYC, and the ways in which his community mentors have given to him and how he’s paid it forward. We also get into the magic of partner skating, and how much human connection it fosters.
Frank’s ease and sincerity will transport you. He speaks with the same nostalgia and sensory palette when he regales us with growing up in Chinatown arcades and dumpling spots as he does navigating the Tokyo subway system. Kick back and let Frank take you on a Journey!
Follow Frank on IG :
@rizztheavengersk8s
Learn more about New Style Hustle & Frank's mentor Jeff Selby :
@jeff_newstylehustle
In memory of another of Frank's mentors, Lezly Ziering:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/18/nyregion/lezly-ziering-who-rescued-roller-skating-dies-at-82.html
Get down with Frank's DEEP playlist! 7hrs of music! :
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj8YS30KOFOG7W_5UEQOodjO8DFGbc-j2If you, or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please know there are resources available, and people who care:
https://988lifeline.org/
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Social Justice, catholic school uniforms, horror films, and a scrappy midwestern je ne sais quoi all inform the style and approach of Elijah Justice. He’s a rhythm skater and designer residing in Brooklyn, but his home state of Ohio has his heart. His foray into skating like many of us began in family-fun style rinks, but when he found himself at United Skates in Wyckliffe, Ohio he caught sight of the real deal and there was no turning back, he was hooked. In this conversation he opens up about what drives him as a skater, creator, and most importantly a member of the wider rink skating community.
Elijah’s skating is without a doubt a love letter to the swagger-fueled Cleveland style, and in gratitude for all that the OGs and new school skaters of the region have given him, he finds himself driven to give back especially to the youth. He’s also found his place in the NYC/NJ skate scene, making friends galore all while unapologetically challenging the status quo with his emphatic skate style. In this conversation he reveals himself as someone who makes moves of purpose, and while he may be known for shaking things up, he doesn’t shy away from having difficult conversations that are led by love and commonality.
In our exchange he brings into focus how his design work and skate life intersect. A unifying theme is his punk sensibility, which shows up in the messaging of his eponymous apparel line, and similarly in the way he challenges inequity and discrimination in community. Whether signifying through clothing and graphics or his words he gets the message across!We also get into all the fun opportunities roller skating has brought into his life, the importance of keeping ALL regional skate styles alive, and the specific ways he’s giving back to young people in the realms of design and skating.
This conversation is equal parts vulnerability and unwavering confidence, and you really shouldn’t miss it!
Check out Elijah's apparel line :
https://www.elijahjustice.com/
Follow Elijah on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/elijahjustice
Dive deep with Elijah's playlist featuring Cleveland rink essentials:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2xlJMpSd0t6G49sVpdfJgR
Keep up with the Cleveland skate crews Elijah shouts out in the interview:
@sk8life_crew
@topflightclass
@elitesquad09
@team.homicide_
@dipgirlzcrew
@stormch8sers
@freaksquadcrew
@f5skatecrew
@style.bendersSupport Skaterade!
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
This week’s skater exemplifies the spirit of why we started this podcast. She reminds us that though skating elevates our lives, it does not define who we are. Krystal Roames is a New York native who has had quite the journey over the course of these pandemic years. Not only did she pick up rhythm skating, but she became a first time mother, started her own private therapy practice, and moved to a new city. Join us as we share in her experiences of striking a balance between raising a family, and finding time to nourish her love for skating and ultimately herself as an individual!
Like many of us, Krystal found herself looking for fulfillment amidst quarantine isolation, and upon discovering the strutting stylings of Oumi Janta and Ana Coto her interest for roller skating peaked. She had her reservations as she had long set aside childhood fancy, but as she stepped into her skates she realized it wasn’t just for kids after all. Honing her skate chops in her parking garage Krystal eventually found herself hooked on roller skating. Her love for skating presented her with unforeseen opportunities and meaningful connections to new friends and the community at large.
Krystal also reflects on her bodily autonomy in skating while pregnant, the metamorphosis of her relationship with skating as she takes on new frontiers as a mom, and the magic of finding time to skate alone. Come along with us and get to know her better!
Does Krystal sound like the therapist for you? Check out her practice! :https://bournetherapeuticservices.com/
Follow Krystal on IG!:
https://www.instagram.com/shenanswithkrys/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Rock with Krystal's skating playlist. Daft Punk, Anita Baker, and Deee-Lite? Yes, please. :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JoWymfFG4FIP6E8MkWDcl?si=dizQWg3XTuG-AjnY3plKZA&nd=1Support Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
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[email protected]
Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
We're excited to be back for our third season with a guest who has carved out space for herself since she was a kid. From a young equestrian to the double threat derby and park skater she is today, Afton has always PUT IN WORK. Her perseverance doesn't rest within the confines of athleticism either as she is an outspoken advocate for Trans-rights and mental health awareness. She's also a proud mother of two amazing kids that feed her drive to push forward with equal measures of strength and vulnerability that you see in everything she does.
Afton found roller derby in time when her world was falling apart around her, and through it she found chosen family. Afton reflects on her experiences as a Trans athlete in the roller derby and park skating spheres alike, and the barriers that marginalized skaters are up against in order to participate in competitive skating.
In this intimate chat, she shares her experiences in unlearning the white-picket fence ideals she was fed as a young person in order to step into her authenticity. Afton doesn't turn away from sharing her mental health struggles, and instead opens up about her pain and finds community in showing others that they are not alone.
This chat left us feeling uplifted and connected to our skate community. Settle in with us as we get to know this passionate skater a little better!
Keep up with her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skatebeeotch/?hl=en
Support Afton by buying her signature skate leash from G-Strap! :
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1429234872/bee-your-self-skate-leash-for-roller?click_key=6805417f98cf5e4452117ddbf9e0c7dcb5fed815%3A1429234872&click_sum=677a55e2&ref=shop_home_active_11&frs=1
Or, if you wanna tip her find her on Venmo @AftonBlakeBrooks ;-)
Check out what Afton and the rest of the GNDRSHREDR Skate Team are up to:
https://gndrshredr.com/pages/team-gndr-shredr
Take a look at Afton's most recent sponsor Eat My Skates :
https://eatmyskates.com/
For all things Virginia All Stars Roller Derby:
https://www.facebook.com/VAAllStarsRollerDerby/
Check out her playlist & plug into what Afton skates to! This playlist is loaded up with dark pop, alternative, & hip-hop with a sprinkling of metal:
https://spotify.link/OIpYM0YK8ybSupport Skaterade!
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https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Hey friends! To round out this season we’ve got a hangout session from Jasmine’s apartment with three of our co-workers and skate friends. We touch on shop life at Five Stride Skate Shop, but mostly you’ll get to know our pals and our relationships with them.
You’ll meet Mina, a skate tech pursuing a law degree and finding time to enjoy the simpler things! Join us to hear about Mina’s search for the perfect low-top skate boot !
Paco joins us to talk about their last stretch of design school, making Skaterade cover art, and slowly inching their way back into training full time for Gotham Roller Derby! In this chat they share their creative process, and how they compare everything in their life to roller derby.
And you'll also get to know Ari, a professional artist and multi-disciplinary skater. Tune in to hear her tips for landing new tricks at the skatepark, and she also opens up about her very first trip to the skatepark!As any hangout with friends, this one spirals into a silly frenzy of laughs and cordial disagreements! Tune in to see which roller skate wheel each of us is, and more importantly the forbidden snacks round where we reveal which wheel we’d like to eat.
Follow Mina On IG!
https://www.instagram.com/skatetechmina/
Follow Lauren On IG!
https://www.instagram.com/lrnwrd_/
Follow Ari On IG !
https://www.instagram.com/ari.b.jpeg/?hl=enSupport Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Tracie Garacochea is a WCMX skater (Wheelchair Moto Cross, a sport created and by Aaron Fotheringham) it’s a young sport, and Tracie has been making her mark on it for 7 years! At the age of 62, she finds herself carving out new frontiers as she pushes her sport with personal style, commitment, and a tangible love for community and the next generation of skaters. Even more than her pro-tour & competition appearances at the Dew Tour, and wins at Exposure, her focus is volunteering, as it has been her entire life. She is fueled by an innate desire to show what’s possible and extending those possibilities to kids by giving her time to expand access to more durable chairs suitable for sport, and teaching kids how to skate using their wheelchairs.
In this interview, Tracie opens up about how she’s adapted her goals and pursuits to meet the changing tides of her life. She addresses how skating helped her to see her wheelchair as an empowering tool, and other gear that keeps her rolling including the adapted protective gear that has allowed her to address MS symptoms that impact her skating. Her flexibility extends to her artistic mediums as well, and she shares how her approach to artwork has shifted as MS has changed her ability to work with her hands.
Tracie shines light on the institutional challenges she’s experienced as a disabled person. She recounts an exclusionary experience she had at a skate park, and the distrust she holds for our medical system which often fails to see the whole of a person’s experience by rushing them in and out of appointments.
Throughout this interview Tracie emanates an undeniable sense of wonder that is truly infectious. From the exuberant way she talks about her skate bestie, skateboarder, Brooklyn Khoury, to her appreciation of assorted found objects that she collects from the skate park.
Take this ride with us and get to know Tracie!
CHECK OUT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRACIE WORKS WITH AND BELIEVES IN!:Challenged Athletes Foundation:
https://www.challengedathletes.org/Life Rolls On:
https://liferollson.org/
PlayLA:
https://www.laparks.org/play-la
US Center for Safe Sport:
https://uscenterforsafesport.org/
USA Skateboarding:
https://usaskateboarding.com/
Catch up with Tracie on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/traciegara/?hl=enSupport Skaterade!
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Part two of our Shovel episode kicks off with a little spirituality. Rebel and Shove share the role that crystals, witchyness, and intention play in their lives.
They also use their spirituality to manifest their goals and futures, and they open up about their experiences as fat and alternative models in major campaigns.
We get into the important role they play as representation of a unique queer relationship, and they answer whether they will be sharing their upcoming wedding with their audience.They revisit two major injuries Rebel had during the height of the pandemic, and how Shove went above and beyond on many levels to get her through it. We touch on the importance of therapy to help contextualize one’s life beyond their identity as a roller skater, and find balance in all realms of one’s life.
Shove explores the intersection of her creative process and mental illness.
Both Rebel and Shove offer advice to skaters struggling to strap on their skates in tough times.
Lastly, we round out the conversation with reflecting how important it is to nurture our relationships outside of skating.Check out Rebel's shop loaded with queer and roller skate treasures from skate accessories to cute sunnies!
https://www.cheerstothequeers.com/
Follow their podcast on IG:https://www.instagram.com/skatedatepod/?hl=en
Listen to their podcast, Skate Date! What's better than two roller skaters in love?:https://open.spotify.com/show/36B0jBzrCjYKkHXBTEKy9f
Follow Shove on IG! :
https://www.instagram.com/fat_girl_has_moxi/?hl=en
Follow Rebel on IG! :
https://www.instagram.com/queergirlstraightskates/?hl=en
Thanks to Shove, we've got some killer playlists for ya! :
The Basics So you Won’t be Basic
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1sTkAKVZmqAAYTPPxaxJ2bRiot Grrrl
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kZ6XFXeBgX1gfluKoArV7
Sun’s Out, Buns Out II
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vI5zEeqjw1PUwVt6u3ef6
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https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Rebel and Shove, AKA Shovel are a skating couple that would be hard to miss if you spend any time on skate IG or Youtube! You might know them better by their IG handles @queergirlstraightskates & @fat_girl_has_moxi. If you haven’t heard, they’re two recently engaged down to earth and yet over the top skating fat femmes in love! With different approaches to skating that compliment one another, and a life in which they’re each other’s biggest cheerleader.
In this chat we get inside their heads about what it’s like to have such a vast online audience, and how they cope with balancing the concept of their brands with who they are as individuals.
Both of them open up about their current goals ranging from strength training to leveling up their chops via dance skating gigs (Including skating with P!NK for the AMAs!).
They also share revelatory anecdotes of how they’ve taught each other so much about life, you’ll have to listen to really grasp this bit!
We chat about their mutual passion for community building online and IRL, as they’ve hosted some of the most successful Roll Outs in Long Beach that bring body positivity and queer identity to the forefront.
We delve into their experiences as young people, and they reflect on their shared struggles with eating disorders and later learning to celebrate their bodies.
They both experienced immense growth through the pandemic, in their professional skills in and outside of Roller Skating. We explore how the pandemic skate boom is leveling out, and the importance of fostering community as a skate brand to remain vital as a roller skating business.
We get into the transformative role that fashion, adornment, and expanding options in plus sized fashion play in their lives and how it has impacted how they show up in community.
In short, we cover a lot of ground, and it’s an absolute laugh riot of FUN!
Check out Rebel's shop loaded with queer and roller skate treasures from skate accessories to cute sunnies!
https://www.cheerstothequeers.com/
Follow their podcast on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/skatedatepod/?hl=en
Listen to their podcast, Skate Date! What's better than two roller skaters in love?:
https://open.spotify.com/show/36B0jBzrCjYKkHXBTEKy9f
Follow Shove on IG! :
https://www.instagram.com/fat_girl_has_moxi/?hl=en
Follow Rebel on IG! :
https://www.instagram.com/queergirlstraightskates/?hl=en
Thanks to Shove, we've got some killer playlists for ya! :
The Basics So you Won’t be BasicSupport Skaterade!
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This week’s guest is a former D-1 collegiate alpine skier turned Gotham Roller Derby All Star, not to mention she’s a physics, space, and paleontology reporter at the Wall Street Journal. Meet Aylin Woodward, affectionately known as Yeti Or Not.
Yeti cut her teeth on the ski slopes, but ultimately ended up a roller derby All-Star, she’ll tell you that switching from a team sport to a solo sport took some of the pressure off. But, don’t let Yeti fool you, she’s self-critical no matter what, and perhaps this is part of what keeps her nose to the grindstone whether she’s reporting on climate change or striving for the Hydra.
A competitive spirit is the lifeblood behind everything she does, but under a tough exterior beats an empathetic heart that understands that the greater good that only connection facilitates is of the utmost importance.
In this interview, Yeti speaks to the hard realizations she and her league mates faced during the shutdown. With her priorities rearranged, Yeti found herself slowing down enough to see that the very strengths that drove Gotham forward contributed to its shortcomings in relation to accessibility and openness to change.
During this conversation we see that Yeti does not shy away from the discomfort that inevitably accompanies growth. Over the past few years, she has exemplified this by proudly finding her place on Team Black Diaspora, and on the whole remaining teachable in her approach to derby in the post-pandemic world.
Ever the voracious learner, Yeti brings all of her hard earned knowledge to coaching junior roller derby skaters, finding that they are often her favorite skaters to coach!
On wheels Yeti can take a breather from her high pressure day job, and in this interview she gets a chance to take a load off. We’re right there with her along for this open and heartfelt ride. Join us!
For all things Gotham Roller Derby :
https://www.gothamrollerderby.com/
For all things Santa Cruz Roller Derby :
https://www.santacruzrollerderby.org/
Check out Team Black Diaspora on IG :
https://www.instagram.com/blackdiasporaderby/?hl=en
Follow Yeti on IG :
https://www.instagram.com/alwaysjumpsfirst/?hl=en
Here's the article Aylin wrote that we chat about in the episode :
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-acl-tear-that-heals-itself-11662564861Support Skaterade!
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[email protected]
Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Kiana Maxwell, better known as Kianayouwanna is an undeniable powerhouse of the park skating world. The timeless classic Whip It pulled them into the world of derby, but they found themselves lured to park skating after watching the OG Moxi skate crew at the skate park.
They open up that after leaving Moxi, they’re looking to focus on building the local SD community that has made them the skater they are today. To this end, they’ve been keeping busy as the admin of CIB SD and organizing with SD Skate Fund.
As an artist, they are very passionate about the creative pursuits and businesses of roller skaters. In this interview, they explore themes in their art such as clowns, duality, and emotional states that all serve as outlets to explore their identity.
Mack and Kiana compare notes about their experiences as skaters with ADHD.
Kiana opens up about their drive to compete, and how representation motivates them to push the limits of their sport. They also open up about the confusion surround their non-binary division wins at Quad Cup 2022.
Whether they’re lighting up your feed with their sick lines, or teaching you to skate on Twitch Kiana keeps it kind and genuine. Please join us and to to know them a little better!
Kiana's Etsy for all your Clownery needs!:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Kianayouwanna
Skating in San Diego? Link up with the SD CIB chapter!:
https://www.instagram.com/cibsandiego/?hl=en
Check out SD Skate Fund!:
https://www.instagram.com/sdskatefund/?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE%3D
Kiana graced us with 4 playlists!
Uplift Black Voices Indie Playlist-Did someone say bedroom pop?:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Y916vy8WHSjjjPkkPm2vb?si=24d30ca4a6d24517
Kiana's Roller Skate Songs-Get pumped for stair jumping!:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11layMUleAV7g00aADUm7W?si=7dc40f02563b4651
Stardew Valley Lofi & Chill- Feeling anxious? sink into video game bliss:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3r6xqNFvsGeuaz44FlSlki?si=6ddccd5fb8f8440b&nd=1
Kiana's top songs of 2022! Get nosey! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mdu1ZfEQJtwUItJ5vbkTo?si=93a0c2f4c5de4849&nd=1
Check out Kiana's list of skater creators they're into on IG :
SKATE WAX:
@brainfreezeskatewax
ZINES:
@anticliquezine
@dogdays
@rollerragmag
MULTI-PRODUCT SHOPS:
@twotiasskate
@skatefantom
@fatfemmefatale.shop
@cheerstothequeers
@projectpinup
APPAREL:
@gndrshredr
@sunshineskate
@sunneeshenanigans
TATTOO ARTIST:
@spookyval
VISUAL ART:
@sarahcozzSupport Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
Get In Touch:
[email protected]
Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Marawa the Amazing is more than an international high-heeled roller skating icon, and her achievements are enough to make your head spin! She’s a circus school graduate, a 12x The Guinness Book of World Records holder, a showgirl, a designer, a writer, a teacher, a wife, a mother and more!
She took some time out of her busy schedule to chat, and imparted so much of her experience and inner world to us. Marawa’s world is dazzling, and she had us transfixed just the same whether she was talking about high flying circus stunts or the simple indulgence of a morning coffee at her neighborhood cafe. She is every bit as spectacular as she is humble, and the ways in which she tunes into the present moment twinkle with appreciation and a sense of wonder. We got a glimpse at Marawa’s pragmatic side as she shared wisdom about the importance of learning the basics to support a sustainable life of wheels, and how vital it is to pursue experience over image curation. In this interview she also shares how the stars aligned for her iconic collaborations with Impala! This interview is bursting with gems from this candid and unapologetic orator who wears her sequins as proudly as her bruises! Not to be missed.
Check out Marawa's brand, I WANT TO GO TO PARADISE, where you'll find her apparel, zines, hoops, her signature Impala skates & More! :
https://www.iwanttogotoparadise.com/?
Get your copy of Marawa's Book The Girl Guide 50 Ways to Learn to Love Your Changing Body:
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-girl-guide-marawa-ibrahim?variant=32116260044834
Catch up with Marawa herself on IG :
https://www.instagram.com/marawa/?hl=en
This playlist is BOPS only, and makes it very apparent that Marawa knows how to LIVE! Late 70s disco & funk dominate this party-scape, and they'll certainly transport you to a roller disco on or off the rink. Think disco anthems from Sylvester, Donna Summer, and Odyssey to name a few. The 80s and 90s nostalgia is felt in this playlist as well with acts like Prince, Ghost Town DJs, Mariah Carey, Chaka Demus & Pliers, and Crystal Waters. The 2000s up till now are also thoughtfully represented here with Christina Milian, Kandi, Solange, Afro B. and others boost this dynamic assortment of RnB, Electronic(a), Afro-Pop, Afro Beats, Funk, Soul, Reggae,Synth Funk & the list goes on! Check out Marawa's PARADISE ROLLER DISCO playlist, it'll make you want to dance! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4s1jbKGh4wEoNAN0wHzkYg?si=S1nThh7rSsCzQd2EB7NRKA&nd=1Support Skaterade!
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Get In Touch:
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Jasmine & Mack here! We can’t believe we just finished our first season of our first podcast! Neither of us had any experience in podcasting, and in this episode we talk about what we’ve learned along the way. We open up about the difficulties and the wins we experienced collaborating together, and the ups and downs of pursuing the podcast alongside our busy lives.
We reflect on the varied points of views of our amazing guests, and achieving genuine connections that led to beautiful new friendships. We also chat about how the podcast has empowered us to connect with the roller skating community in new ways, and the encouraging feedback we’ve received from our amazing listeners. We once again find common ground in the parallels we see in the experiences of skaters and experiences in life in general. We explore all this and come to the conclusion that at the end of the day the most important and unifying theme of this podcast is fostering human connection by celebrating our common experiences. We’re so excited to take what we’ve learned into season one, and we hope you’ll come along for the ride!Support Skaterade!
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Kid Ace, the creator of Yoga for Skaters, has got more than shredding in her back pocket, with over 12 years total experience in the fields of yoga, personal training, and health coaching she’s highly attuned to how all of these plug into a happy lifetime of roller skating! Throughout this intimate chat Ace opens up about how difficult life events including roller derby injury, mental health treatment, and academic pursuits falling through were part of her path to finding where she was meant to be with a little help from the roller skating community and a furry friend named Rio!
Check out Kid Ace's new shop, Rust Belt Roller Skates on IG! :
https://www.instagram.com/rustbelt_rollerskates/
Send an email to [email protected] for custom orders!
Wanna do yoga with Kid Ace!? Check out her class schedule. :
https://yogaforskaters.com/
Catch up with Ace herself on IG :
https://www.instagram.com/kid_ace/?hl=en
Soulful, chill, and funky are words that come to mind when we think of Ace and when we hear this playlist. Ace has thoughtfully placed R&B and Soul standards from artists like Marion Black beside newer gems including Valerie June. She's clearly got a penchant for the 70s and the sound that typified the era, including anthems from Fleetwood Mac & Steppenwolf. There's some really fun and playful covers in the mix from Siouxsie & the Banshees and The Detroit Cobras. If all that doesn't convince you, she's got Brooklyn raised icons of Soul & Funk via The Dap Kings & the late great Charles Bradley. Just listen, see the link below! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/789mIcFjjXKctz7AcTIjLQ?si=00f5c90d9bf348c5Support Skaterade!
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ -
Roxy Dallas is a rare, dare we say, dying breed of New York weirdo. A captivating storyteller and wearer of many hats, she takes us on a journey in this episode starting with her roots in peewee hockey, then stumbling upon Roller Derby while sitting for a tattoo, to today where she’s got an over ten year Roller Derby career under her belt which includes winning the Hydra for Gotham! Roxy opens up about some hard hits in recent years including the long pandemic hiatus of Gotham Roller Derby and an ankle break she sustained when returning to training. A resilient leader who’s never down for the count, join us and get to know her!
For all things Gotham Roller Derby! :
https://www.gothamrollerderby.com/
Keep up with Roxy on IG :
https://www.instagram.com/roxanadu/?hl=en
Roxy's playlist is a journey! Her 90s R&B standards are a sure fire sign of her geriatric millennial status, and she’s got a dose of aggro to roughen the edges! Dive in! :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ZEIfVISzR7guCqKH6FsT7?si=GMMbCJ2dR--647jls-YwZASupport Skaterade!
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Olive best known for Queer Skate Alliance (QSA) and their company Radical Wheels has seen the skating world from more vantage points than most. They formed their derby roots on the bank track, fell in love with the expressive outlet of park skating, cut their teeth buying for a roller skating shop, and took on manufacturing their very own park wheels with co-creator Neon of BIPOC Who Skate! In this interview Olive sheds light on their experience with concussions, the stigma behind knowing your limits in aggressive sports and learning how to listen to their body. They illuminate what radical joy means to them and how that human need drives everything they do in the community from shining a light on underrepresented trans skaters by boosting their stories to expanding access to skates and gear to roller skaters around the world. Gather round as we tap into all that is nearest to Olive’s big heart.
Shop Radical Wheels! :
https://www.radicalwheels.shop/
Wanna know what Olive listens to while they're skating, or making plans for changing the skate world!? It’s a lotta hardcore & punk!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Bby6wBq68I6qbapYu4Au7?si=e6Ic_ThVQyy6qZqBDijqYQ
Check out the independent skate brands Olive shouts out in this interview! :
Chub Club
https://www.shopchubclub.com/
GNDR SHREDR
https://gndrshredr.com/
Bout Betties
https://boutbetties.com/bout-betties-roller-skates/
Two Tias
https://www.twotiasskate.com/Support Skaterade!
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https://ko-fi.com/s/4da0f13491
Get In Touch:
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Follow Us On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/skateradepod/ - Montre plus
