In this series, we step out of the spotlight and into the shade - to have conversations and uncover real stories behind topics like brand-building, creative thinking, entrepreneurialism, music and entertainment, and the interesting characters who shape them.
Multi-platinum artist Ryan Shuck shares his journey from working with Korn to Orgy, Julien-K, and Dead by Sunrise to building a fully independent, fan powered music business. We talk publishing, reinvention, crowdfunding, touring, branding, and why modern artists must think like marketers. A raw, practical look at surviving and thriving in today’s music industry.
Christian Scott, Global Director of Sports Marketing at TravisMathew, joins Shady Characters to talk modern sports branding, athlete partnerships, and creative risk taking in golf culture. From left of center campaigns and unexpected collabs to St. Andrews trips and family priorities, Christian shares how authenticity, hustle, and relationships shape both great marketing and a meaningful life.
Photographer Matt Morgan sits down with Shady Characters to unpack a 20-year career that started in a high school photo class and led to shooting world-class athletes, punk rock icons, and award-winning commercial campaigns. From San Juan bathtub birth stories to photographing Shaq with nothing but a reflector, Matt reflects on creativity, lighting, fatherhood, golf, and the joy of capturing life — one frame at a time.
From surf mags to space missions, Chasen Marshall has spent his career chasing authentic stories. The longtime Oakley storyteller and content lead joins Shady Characters to talk about his journey from Columbia Journalism School to shaping one of the world’s most iconic sports brands. He shares insights on authenticity in marketing, storytelling as a craft, and finding creativity in every wave.
Advertising veteran Lee Kovel joins Shady Characters to trace his career from Cleveland radio spots to Madison Avenue campaigns and California agency life. He shares stories from the golden age of advertising, lessons on leadership and client trust, and how AI is rewriting creativity itself.
Active-lifestyle photographer Joe Scarnici joins Shady Characters to unpack the craft behind nailing split-second moments—from touring 22 shows with Madonna to photographing Team USA medalists and high-stakes live sports. We talk anticipation vs. control, using psychology to direct portraits, learning video on the road, and why tennis (and even pickleball!) keeps him chasing the perfect frame.
Designer, musician, and community-radio music director, Jeff Holmes, joins the show to talk creative process, analog style, travel, and the surprising ways ideas find you. We also dig into vinyl reissues, theme-music-making, and why he built a life that leaves space to think.
A five-year van trip turned global creative lens: Oakley’s Jes Stockhausen shares how nomadic filmmaking, a Patagonian rescue dog, and a passion for the circular economy shaped his work… from surf helmets to an Oakley visor headed to the moon.
Oakley’s VP of Soul & Creative Brian Takumi joins Shady Characters to trace 28 years shaping the brand—from BMX roots to the iconic Square O, from wild Foothill Ranch culture to leading creative in a 200k-person matrix. He unpacks storytelling, “physics elevated to an art form,” and why AI is a tool—not the soul—of design.
Filmmaker Chris Stacey joins Shady Characters to share his journey from music videos and viral hits like Teach Me How to Duffy to feature films including The Blind. From selling his guitar to pay rent to seeing his work on thousands of theater screens, Chris talks legacy, creativity, and why saying “yes” shaped his career.
Tim DeBrincat and Evan Burgher of Thatch Creative join Tom Dioro to share their evolution from a small production shop to a full-service agency. They discuss storytelling, the creation of Shady Characters, and how family life inspires their creativity while keeping a personal touch in their work.
