Playing in Traffic Episode 4: John McGuire
What can I say about John McGuire? The man has been places and seen things that most of us only dream about. From making art for some of the biggest companies in skateboarding to his own video parts, John has put a lifetime into skating. Having worked for companies such as Foundation, Invisible, and Zero, his presence in the skateboard industry goes back decades. On top of that, he’s incorporated his taste for movies, television into his skateboarding that definitely changes the way you look at skateboarding.
In this episode, John and I talk about skateboarding in Milwaukee, moving to California, working for companies such as Toy Machine, Foundation and Zero, sobriety, filming the Kramer video parts, becoming a teacher and much more.
This is Playing in Traffic.
TGIF???
I woke up this morning not knowing how to feel about it being Friday. These are some weird times and the new reality of going to work, coming home and staying home (outside of running to the store or taking a walk) is hard to get used to. I know it’s what most of us do from December-February anyway but it just all feels different right now.
I type all this from my office at work, where someone tested positive for Covid-19 the other day and yet we’re still up and running. It’s confusing seeing all the headlines telling you to stay away from large groups of people, yet most of us are still going into plants or offices with 50-300 plus people. I guess this is the new normal and we just have to accept that if we want to get paid, we have to put the health of ourselves and our family and friends at risk.
Anyway, I know we’ll all pull through this and be out annoying business owners and security guards soon enough. Here’s a few photos from summer/fall 2019 and winter 2020. Keep your heads up, Love you guys.
“Playing in Traffic” Episode Three: Josh Ellis and Max Murphy
This interview was originally going to be with Josh Ellis. But he asked if we could get Max Murphy on as a special guest. Josh cited Max as “his muse,” which made sense when you think of what the two have done for Milwaukee skateboarding in the last ten years. I was fortunate enough to talk to the two about the beginnings of Wiskate, their finest moments, giving their winnings from the All-City Showdown to Sky High Skateboard Shop, the rise & fall of Gorf Life, Max’s move to Strangelove Skateboards and Nike SB and much more. Enjoy and please, like and subscribe!
Some supplemental content that is referred to in the interviews:
Wiskate.com, in the year 2000. You can read all about the history of the site here.
Hurry Up and Die, the first wiskate video from 2003.
Beez 2, by Russ Clark.
Matt and Max Roger of the Month Outro Video
Max Murphy Traffic Report
Max Murphy 50-50 victory pose, photo by Bradford Bishop
All City Showdown 2015
Max Murphy for Strangelove Skateboards, by Gabe Chan. Read a recent interview with Max here.
“Playing in Traffic” Episode One: Alek Lockhart and Paul Carlson
Last May, I went out and bought an H2N zoom recorder with hopes of recapturing the spark I had as a journalist in my college years. My initial plan was to talk to skateboarders in the Midwest. However, the predominating podcasts such as The Nine Club and The Bunt caused some hesitation. How was I gonna do something truly different? For one, Milwaukee harbors an impressive history of skateboarding that has evolved into much more. The answer to my question unfolded as I started looking at what skateboarders were doing outside of skateboarding and decided to start there.
I sat with my friends Alek Lockhart and Paul Carlson about a thesis they wrote about policing at public skateparks and dives into topics such as race, violence, and community. Alek was able to present the thesis at Pushing Boarders last summer and continues to write about the role of skateboarding and our everyday life.
This is the first episode of Playing in Traffic.
WAZPZ
Over a decade in the making (or three years, depending on which timeline of the Beez Cinematic Universe you follow), I give you: WAZPZ.
Update! No one asked for it it, no one wanted it, but it’s here. Feb 1, 2020: WAZPZ updated with 5 minutes of unused footage from 2008. This footage was intended for the fourth Beez video which never materialized. At least 3/4 to 2/3 of this footage has never leaked out to the public. I present: WAZPZ w/ THE BEE SIDES.
Wazpz from Josh Ellis on Vimeo.
If you want to cut out the middle man and watch only the Bee-Sides, I got you:
The Bee-Sides from Josh Ellis on Vimeo.
And of course….the Beez trilogy. By Russ Clark:
Beez 3 from Josh Ellis on Vimeo.
Beez 2 from Josh Ellis on Vimeo.
Beez from Josh Ellis on Vimeo.