About this episodeThis conversation explores the deep psychological and structural parallels between professional skateboarding …AI summary
This conversation explores the deep psychological and structural parallels between professional skateboarding and stand-up comedy, highlighting how both disciplines require risk assessment, resilience against failure, and a balance of ego and humility. The speakers discuss the evolution of skate culture from a competitive, often toxic environment to a more accepting community, while sharing personal anecdotes about overcoming insecurity, managing public perception, and the therapeutic nature of their crafts.
Key takeaways 5
Skateboarding and comedy share a core mechanic: both involve creating something (a trick or a joke) that evolves through repetition and audience feedback, requiring the practitioner to have an honest inventory of their skills and risks.
The shift from vert to street skating in the 90s was driven by accessibility; as skate parks were demolished, skaters turned to urban architecture, fostering a more creative and individualistic culture compared to the rigid contest structure of vert.
Constructive criticism often feels like bullying in the moment but is essential for growth; Jason Ellis notes that Neil Brennan's advice to 'smile more' was initially hurtful but ultimately allowed him to connect better with audiences.
Public perception and 'court of public opinion' dynamics are dangerous for public figures; both speakers advise against engaging in online feuds, noting that people who attack others online are often projecting their own insecurities.
Therapy and self-awareness are critical for high-performers; both Chris Cole and Jason Ellis admit that their early success masked personal issues, and they had to learn to adjust their behavior in relationships rather than just 'trying harder' like they would with a skate trick.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“Skateboarding really has always been that... it was like a therapy to me... I would pour it out on my skateboard and it would grab your board it'll like grab your board it makes it harder to do it but I refuse to do it any other way I like to lean into it and try to rip that [ __ ] in half because I'm [ __ ] angry”
▶ 3:18Chris Cole explains how skateboarding served as an emotional outlet for his aggression and fears, turning physical challenges into a form of therapy.
“You have to have a very good relationship with the truth in order to be good at skating... you have to be honest and self aware to know whether you can hit the landing on a Wallenberg”
▶ 42:15Jason Ellis draws a parallel between the self-awareness required in comedy and the factual risk assessment needed in extreme sports.
“It's like you're surfing you're not skating... you never took a second to be like tweaking it and then realize that you're actually surfing you're not skating”
▶ 28:48Chris Cole uses a skateboarding metaphor to explain his past failures in relationships, realizing he was trying to force a mismatched dynamic rather than recognizing incompatibility.
“The success of skateboarding... was harder to go to therapy back then... because I was like a problem child a frustrated scared little boy and I and I pushed all that energy into skateboarding skateboarding paid off”
▶ 1:23:12Jason Ellis reflects on how his early success in skateboarding delayed his need for therapy, as the validation from skating masked his underlying emotional issues.
“I don't think comedians know necessarily how to uh like receive love and have like an intimate moment all the time saying thank you to a compliment”
▶ 27:44Chris Cole discusses the difficulty comedians have in accepting compliments due to ingrained insecurity and ego management.
Chapters & Sections (85)▼
0:00Skateboarders' Secret Desires and Community Issueschapter2
0:00Skateboarder Discusses Community and Personal Issues
2:15Skateboarding and Creativity as a Career Path
5:28Skateboarding Tricks and Personal Experiences Sharedchapter3
5:28Skateboarding Tricks and Similarities with Comedy
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