PODCAST · business
Shady Characters
by Thatch Creative
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.
Episodes
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The Crash Changed Everything | Thomas Craig
The Crash Changed Everything Thomas Craig was building his dream career as a commercial pilot when everything changed in an instant. After leaving a successful career at Oakley to pursue aviation, Thomas found himself fighting for his life following a catastrophic plane crash that left him with...
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More Than a Restaurant - How Trevor Baird Built a Community Around Hospitality
More Than a Restaurant - How Trevor Baird Built a Community Around Hospitality What does it really take to build a restaurant people return to again and again? For Trevor Baird, it starts with much more than great food. In this episode of Shady Characters, Trevor shares the journey of…
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No Paper Nights and the Art of Being Invisible
Most people think tour security means being big, intimidating, and ready to throw someone out. Mehdi Rabii has spent 22 years proving that the real job looks nothing like that. It is logistics, empathy, advanced planning, and the kind of situational awareness that never really turns off, not at a...
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Bare Bones Tattoo: Where the Craft Meets the Chaos
When Bare Bones Tattoo opened its doors in San Juan Capistrano, it became the first tattoo shop in a city that just celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Mission. Alex Blackwell and Zane Leibowitz did not stumble into this craft lightly. Between them, they have over 30 years of experience,...
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Beneath the Surface: Storytelling, Conservation, and the Power of the Ocean
Beneath the Surface: Storytelling, Conservation, and the Power of the Ocean Katie Thompson has spent her career building brands, but her true impact lives far below the surface. As Executive Director of the PADI AWARE Foundation, she is helping mobilize a global community of divers to protect and...
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Water Project: Finding Your Lens on Life
Water Project: Finding Your Lens on Life Seth Willingham didn’t set out to become one of Southern California’s most recognizable drone photographers. He grew up splitting time between Hawaii and Laguna Beach, fell in love with the ocean through GoPros and free dives, and stumbled into drone…
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She Didn’t Follow the Market. She Built Her Own.
She Didn’t Follow the Market. She Built Her Own. Nicole Bowyer did not start with a polished brand or a clear roadmap. She started with a vision, a small budget, and a willingness to figure things out as she went. In this episode, the founder of Coco on the Go breaks down what it actually looks...
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Short-Lived Blast: The Story Before Korn...and After
Short-Lived Blast: The Story Before Korn… and After Before Korn, there was LAPD. Before the tours, the fame, and the legacy, there were a group of kids from Bakersfield trying to figure it out as they went. In this episode of Shady Characters, Fieldy and Richard Morrill take us back to the...
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Can Account Managers Be Creative? | Ana Gallego
Ana Gallego’s career did not start with a clear title. It started with curiosity, hustle, and a willingness to say yes to whatever got her in the room. In this episode of Shady Characters, Ana shares her path from working in restaurants to finding her footing in the agency world, moving through...
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The Legend and Legacy of Hank the Crank with Kaikea Wilinski
The Legend and Legacy of Hank the Crank In this episode of Shady Characters, Kaikea Wilinski shares the deeply personal story behind a project that connects generations through speed, craftsmanship, and legacy. What began as a simple project car slowly became something far more meaningful when…
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Kayden Muzila on Losing Everything and Starting Over
Kayden Muzila on Losing Everything and Starting Over In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with creative director and founder Kayden Muzila to unpack a story that goes far beyond branding, content, or creative work. Kayden shares his journey from working with major studios like Disney...
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Get Me the Ball: The Vizzi Brothers on Building a Movement Through Sports
Get Me the Ball: The Vizzi Brothers on Building a Movement Through Sports Matt and Tim Vizzi sit down with Shady Characters to share the origin story behind Get Me the Ball and the deeper mindset that now fuels everything they do. What started as a hype song inspired by Tim’s comeback from a...
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Legacy, Leadership, and the Future of the Acjachemen Nation
Legacy, Leadership, and the Future of the Acjachemen Nation In this episode of Shady Characters, Nathan K. Banda, Tribal Chairman of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, sits down for a deeply personal and important conversation about identity, leadership, and legacy. Nathan...
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The Truth About Athlete-Led Brands & What Actually Scales
Nate Raabe of RX3 Growth Partners steps into the shade to talk investing, athletes, and the hard realities behind influencer led businesses. We dig into why most influencer and athlete driven brands fail, the hidden risk of betting on a single personality, and what has to be true for that kind of...
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EP 028 - Lee Lizotte
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Lee Lizotte, founder of True Love Coffee, to talk about craft, community, and the quiet discipline of building something that actually matters. Lee’s journey into coffee started not with a grand business plan, but with curiosity. After...
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EP 028 - Mechelle Lawrence-Adams
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Executive Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, to explore what it really means to steward 250 years of history while shaping its future. Mechelle’s connection to the mission began at age ten on a school field trip...
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EP 027 - Ryan Shuck
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with multi-platinum artist, producer, and entrepreneur Ryan Shuck for a deep dive into music, reinvention, and building a modern creative business without gatekeepers. Ryan walks through his path from a small town outside Bakersfield to the global...
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EP 026 - Christian Scott
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...
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EP 025 - Jim Taylor
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Jim Taylor, comedian, master of ceremonies, and the driving force behind San Juan Capistrano’s iconic Swallows Day Parade. Jim’s story is one of humor, hustle, and heart, spanning decades in stand-up comedy and nearly a decade leading one of...
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EP 024 - Linda Hakim
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Linda Hakim, a true connector and community builder in South Orange County. Linda is the publisher behind three hyper-local magazines with Best Version Media, serves as an ambassador for multiple Chambers of Commerce, and leads communications...
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EP 023 - Jon Colburn
In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Jon Colburn, owner of Realtime AV—a high-end audio/video and smart home company based in San Juan Capistrano. Jon shares how a job at 14 (thanks to his speaker-engineer dad) turned into a 25-year career, a 50/50 partnership earned through…
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EP 022 - Danielle Braithwaite
In this episode of Shady Characters, Danielle Braithwaite—founder of Variant Movement—shares her journey from aspiring professional dancer to studio owner, mentor, and working mom. Danielle opens up about career-altering injury, launching a business during the pandemic while pregnant, and…
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EP 021 - Matt Morgan
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…
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EP 020 - Harrison Taylor
In this heart-forward episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Harrison Taylor, Director of Leasing & Development at Almquist, and one of the key minds behind River Street Market — the new cultural hub redefining San Juan Capistrano. Harrison shares what…
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EP 019 - Amy Miller
From Oakley to ASICS, Amy Miller has made a career out of helping people find happiness at work. As the brand’s Director of People Capability, Culture & Global Engagement, she joins Shady Characters to talk about leadership, purpose, and how a 102-year-old Big Bear cabin, a VW van named Goldie…
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EP 018 - Chris Conte
Former NFL safety Chris Conte joins Shady Characters to talk about growing up in Hollywood, chasing football dreams to the NFL, and life after the league. From locker room legends and “The White Unicorn” nickname to raising kids, coaching young athletes, and building community in San Juan...
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EP 017 - Chasen Marshall
Journalist, storyteller, and Oakley veteran Chasen Marshall joins Shady Characters for a deep dive into the power of storytelling, creativity, and staying curious. With a background in journalism and a decade-plus inside Oakley’s walls, Chasen has lived the evolution of content — from magazine...
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EP 016 - Howard Hart
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Captain Howard Hart, a retired Naval Intelligence Officer turned civic leader in San Juan Capistrano. Hart recounts his 30-year military career, the harrowing morning of September...
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EP 015 - Lee Kovel
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. From...
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EP 014 - Nicole DaCosta
Leadership and people strategist Nicole DaCosta joins Shady Characters to talk about the power of human connection in a remote world, building authentic culture inside fast-growth companies like Rivian, and redefining success beyond the corporate ladder. From hospitality roots to high-tech...
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EP 013 - Matt Schnitzer
When Matt Schnitzer picked up his clippers at King’s Club Barbers in Dana Point, he never imagined the same chair would someday fuel a humanitarian movement. In this heartfelt episode of Shady Characters, Matt joins hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat to share how a simple idea, a holiday toy...
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EP 012 - Christian Hernandez
In this episode, Christian Hernandez breaks down what leverage really means in 2025—and why it isn’t a dirty word. From using technology to remove friction (not people), to smart financial structures, to the kind of human leverage that comes from mentoring and true partnerships, Christian shares...
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EP 011 - Pete Stirling
Meet Pete Stirling: lifelong waterman, outdoorsman, and now co-founder/CEO of the pet-wellness company Skout’s Honor, based in Oceanside, California. In this episode of Shady Characters, Pete and hosts Evan Burgher & Tim DeBrincat dive deep into the untold story behind the brand, the risks taken,...
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EP 010 - Joe Scarnici
How do you freeze an instant that will never happen again? In this episode, San Juan Capistrano–based photographer Joe Scarnici takes us inside a career built on timing, access, and nerves of steel. Joe shares how a run on Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour taught him video and road discipline, and…
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EP 009 - Danny & Brenda Castillo
What does it take to build one of California’s most celebrated barbecue destinations? For Danny and Brenda Castillo, it started with a dream, a smoker, and a relentless belief that craft and community could coexist. In this episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit…
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EP 008 - Mathew Bowyer
He’s going to prison in just days… Illegal bookmaker, jiu-jitsu dad, and unapologetic high-rolling gambler, Matt Bowyer pulls back the curtain on million-dollar Mondays, counting cards, and the FBI raid that upended his life. He talks losses, trolls, restitution, and why he’s turning chaos into...
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EP 007 - Jeff Holmes
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.
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EP 006 - Jes Stockhausen
Oakley’s Global Content Manager Jes Stockhausen has lived the story he now tells. After backpacking across Asia and then spending five years driving the Pan-American Highway in a self-built van, Jes learned to create anywhere. Hot-spotting edits from a remote Mexican point break, fixing…
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EP 005 - Brian Takumi
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...
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EP 004 - Chris Stacey
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…
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EP 003 - Megz Clem & Katie Webb
Building Community with Heart – The Story of Intertwined Events. In this inspiring and joy-filled episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Megz Clem and Katie Webb, the powerhouse duo behind Intertwined Events, a multifaceted event and hospitality company…
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EP 002 - James & Marie Kelly
Two-Stepping Through Life – James & Marie Kelly’s Story. In this lively and heartfelt episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat welcome local South County favorites James and Marie Kelly — a husband-and-wife duo whose lives blend music, dance, and deep community roots.…
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EP 001 - Evan Burgher & Tim Debrincat
Under the Shade – The Story Behind Thatch Creative and Shady Characters. In this premiere episode of Shady Characters, executive producer Tom Dioro sits down with creative partners Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat to uncover the origins of their friendship, their boutique agency, Thatch Creative…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Thatch Creative
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Shady Characters have?
Shady Characters currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Shady Characters about?
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.
How often does Shady Characters release new episodes?
Shady Characters has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Shady Characters?
You can listen to Shady Characters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Shady Characters?
Shady Characters is created and hosted by Thatch Creative.
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