VISIONS by Village Psychic

Trigger Warning: Drugs are referencedToday’s episode is a BIG one, and if you’re familiar with today’s guest, multidisciplinary artist Travis Spinks, you’ll know why. He’s a stunningly bright guy with a shining personality and lot to say.Originally from Houston, TX, Spinks has been living in Brooklyn, NY for the last decade, after stints in Austin and the Bay Area. His journey as an artist has taken him from doing graffiti, to working in the art world in various ways. He’s truly developed his own unique (and popular!) style, which has led to doing client work and brand collaborations and, most importantly, making art just to make art.We had a great time talking about the realities of art world, his post-college lifestyle, a church youth group that REALLY wanted him to join, personal relationships with early internet celebrities, the merits and pitfalls of brand collabs, and his big reasons on why he makes art.Enjoy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

New York or Portland?!? What happens when you get arrested wearing Half Cabs and miss a test at school?!? What the hell is Bosco and why is that your nickname?!? These questions and so many more are answered in today’s installment of This or That™.YouTube link is here for the visual learners among us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Today we’re talking with Alexis ‘Bosco’ Picard, an artist designer whose work truly comes through as authentic in our current era of cookie-cutter visual media.His style lives in that interesting space between art and design—you can tell it’s grounded in a serious painting practice. He’s also spent about a decade working at Nike, along with doing graphics for Allitmers and Palace. So yeah, he skates.Bosco grew up in New York City and did a brief stint in suburban Maryland, but New York clearly left a mark—he ended up coming back for college and got pulled into a really special era in NYC skating, hanging out at Autumn Skate Shop and being part of the Green Diamond crew. Our conversation gets into how all of that—painting, design, skating—comes together in how he works and thinks. There’s also a lot about what art school teaches you, and the (major) mindset shift that comes with entering the working world. Creative and professional growth get talked about, as they should.This or That with Bosco coming later this week as a separate post :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

We like talking to shoe designers (see our past episodes), so it should come as no surprise that today we’re talking to Richard Stickney, the designer behind some of the biggest shoes of the past few years – the Alexis Sablone AS-1 Pro and the Louie Lopez Pro from Converse. Even more exciting is that he’s launching his own shoe brand, HRMNY Footwear.He’s also an amazing manny skater. See for yourself.Today we’re posting our chat with Richard, where we talk all things Boston, getting good at giving feedback, local videos, lesser known Coliseum videos, and how being a size 9 can lead to having a career. Of course, we play a round of This or That™ as well :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Vince Skelly makes sculptures out of wood, oftentimes using a chainsaw. Some look like chess pieces, some look like furniture, some actually are furniture. They can be seen in a lot of interesting places, and we’ve been seeing more and more of them in recent years.Vince’s sculptures embody a timeless spirit, one that conjures West Coast energy into form – natural, clean, serene. One that’s clearly organic but somehow perfect for a streamlined midcentury living room, bringing to mind the term hippie modernism (a truly amazing book BTW).Also, (and this is a big ‘also’) - we just found out he skates. Vince grew up skating at the storied Chaffey High, of all places. This week, we talked to Vince about his path to making the work he does, chainsaws, the skate to graphic design pipeline, the mixed blessings of working with galleries, and how you know you have great friends when they send you photos of roadside wood piles. And, of course, we play This or That™.For the third time in a row, our guest will be involved in Slow Impact 2026, which is fast approaching. Hope to see you there. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

The academic life - it’s pursuit of many. A lot of days, you get to be the smartest person in the room, and on other days you get to hang out with the other smartest people from other rooms. It seems great.In previous generations, the idea of a university professor who skates would have been out of the question. Isn’t that stuff for kids?More and more, as the dynamic of this whole world we inhabit grows and changes, we know of folks who excel in both academic and skate spaces. Maurice Crandall is one of those people.At top of his field in History, specifically the history of Native American cultures of the Southwest, he’s taught at Dartmouth and Arizona State University, is published plenty, and is active in his community. Also, the dude rips.We talked to Maurice, or, as many know him, Mo, today on the pod about academic life in general, Native American cultures (and what people get wrong about them), working at a casino, how skating entered his life, and what it’s like too exist in both the worlds of academia and skateboarding. We also engaged in a spirited round out This or That :)Additionally, we talk about his involvement in Slow Impact, which is only a couple weeks away. See you there. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

How do you know when you’re doing too much? It has to be hard balancing a career as a professional skateboarder while being the founder of one of our world’s best events (and, we truly do mean best), all the while finding time to complete endurance challenges that most of us, even at our respective peaks of physical health, would shudder at. Or is it? Today’s guest, Ryan Lay, does all the things referenced in the previous paragraph, and does them all quite well. One gets a sense from listening to him talk about these disparate activities that he gets a unique brand of fulfillment from each, and most importantly, truly enjoys them for what they are.So, is it hard? We’re not the experts, Ryan Lay is. Check out today’s conversation with Ryan and judge for yourself.Tickets to Slow Impact 2026 can be found here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

We’re all creative in one way or another (especially the listeners of this pod) – some write, some build, some paint. However, there are times that even the most creative among us are stopped in their tracks by someone who truly creates on a different level.Today’s guest Scott Warneke is one of the rare individuals who could certainly engender such a response. Some kids played with trains, he built the tracks. Some draw shoes, he constructs them from scratch. I talked with Soctt about his journey as a creative person, how it’s been informed by skateboarding, how a pair of Etnies (probably) changed his life, and about how working as a designer of skateboarding footwear for Nike, Vans, Lululemon, and now adidas makes for as niche of a career path as one could imagine. We also play a game of our new favorite game, This or That™. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Launching something new at this time, no matter what it is, is…hard. Doing it with conviction and an entirely new way of manufacturing that’s based on values rather than instant profit? In this economy? Impossible.Unless (wait for it..) you’re Unless Collective. They’re making high quality gear - hoodies, pants, tees - all of your favorites, made with organic materials, and zero plastic. Let’s say that again - zero plastic, which, unsurprisingly, is in basically all clothing made today. Their gear biodegrades, you can bury it it next to your tomatoes, and it’s also great to skate in – hence their tapping industry heavy hitters of Silas Baxter-Neal – let’s all revist his Origin part – and Albany, NY’s own Mike Falco to launch a skate program. Today on the pod, we talk with Silas and Mike making gear in an intentional way, skate camping trips in the Pacific Northwest, and how crazy it is to watch Evan Smith skate in person - he’s on the team as well :). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Mocean Skateboards of Portland, Maine grabbed our attention simply because their gear looks different (and, let’s be real, better) than what you’d expect from a clothing line based out of a skate shop. Their house brand features thoughtfully designed pieces made from high quality fabrics, made with skaters in mind and clearly referencing something different from the standard streetwear playbook.Today we’re posting our chat with Mocean’s founder Jasper Tripp, who’s been skating since age 6 and spent his 20s riding for Rome Snowboards and filming the Strange Brew video series.We talk life in a vacation town, turning skate stoppers into obstacles for a skate contest, military gear’s surprising influence on clothing (shout out Avery & Articles Of Interest), and why making clothes from plastic is stupid.“The homies in the 40s and 50s really knew how to dress.””…we based it around the arts and community, but then we blew it up with skateboarding.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

UPDATE - Had the wrong audio on original post - here’s the right one!It’s not every week that we have the inventor of one of Time Magazine’s Inventions of the Year on the pod - but we do this week, AND he’s a ripping skater. Joe Hollier, co-creator of the Light Phone (check it out, it’s truly amazing and much needed in our current era) talks coming up skating in New Jersey, visiting the Brooklyn Banks back in the day, going from never hearing of art school to getting in to one and forming an art practice, how smart phones have changed the world ,and what he’s doing about it. Heavy inspiration this week!“There’s definitely a DIY attitude ingrained in skateboarding that I resonated with as a kid - from making spots, making your own clothes, to making your own company.”“I felt like from my own experience as a skateboarder, as an artist, all of my time offline, which is so special and different… I found when I brought the smartphone into the mix, I sort of lost myself a bit and lost my motivation in different ways.”“Google had an experimental program and they invited some artists and designers. I think I was chosen as a wild card in the mix. They really encouraged us to make new types of technology companies.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

It’s not every week that we have the inventor of one of Time Magazine’s Inventions of the Year on the pod - but we do this week, AND he’s a ripping skater. Joe Hollier, co-creator of the Light Phone (check it out, it’s truly amazing and much needed in our current era) talks coming up skating in New Jersey, visiting the Brooklyn Banks back in the day, going from never hearing of art school to getting in to one and forming an art practice, how smart phones have changed the world ,and what he’s doing about it. Heavy inspiration this week!“There’s definitely a DIY attitude ingrained in skateboarding that I resonated with as a kid - from making spots, making your own clothes, to making your own company.”“I felt like from my own experience as a skateboarder, as an artist, all of my time offline, which is so special and different… I found when I brought the smartphone into the mix, I sort of lost myself a bit and lost my motivation in different ways.”“Google had an experimental program and they invited some artists and designers. I think I was chosen as a wild card in the mix. They really encouraged us to make new types of technology companies.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Getting into skating can expose you to a lot of interesting people and get you into a lot of things. Skaters tend to go all in on skating and then find a way to go all in on everything from woodworking, art, writing, real estate, or…podcasting. But olive oil? That’s a first. We had a very good chat with Theophilos Constantinou of Psyche Organic, a maker of pinnacle-quality olive oil, where we discuss the sheer insanity of starting an import-based business in our current geopolitical reality, Copenhagen vs NYC, and how skating can connect you to the world in the most special of ways.“If we’re being completely honest about it...I’m making this s**t up as I go every day. Nobody gave me the blueprint of how you start an olive oil company.”“The coolest s**t to me is when I see somebody successful who actually built something real.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Today on the pod we’re joined by Leif Hauge, a footwear designer who’s currently making his mark at New Balance Numeric, as well as holding it down with own creative practice. Also, the dude rips. We get into starting with the goal of becoming a footwear designer, how unexpected projects can pave the way for your future, and why sometimes it’s great to just be a sponge.“I told myself I wanted to work in skateboarding. And that was my avenue.” “...this ability to be a sponge right now is so awesome. It’s actually one of the main reasons why I decided to stay in Boston is to be closer to the overall design community here.”“I’m working with my favorite skateboarders. It’s one of the sickest things.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

It’s a big one today, folks! We talked to one of VP’s (and let’s be real, one of a lot of people’s) favorite skaters, Gino Iannucci. We talked his new release with ASICS, Long Island’s rich history of skateboarding, first try bangers, why indoor soccer shoes work for skating, and what it’s like to start new projects after decades in the game. Enjoy.📸 by Cole Giordano“…as I continued skating, I definitely liked bigger shoes less and less. I wanted to feel my board.”“We ended up going to Marshall’s and we would find basketball sneakers that were cheap, like $30, $40. We skated in them a lot, it was what a lot of people were doing back then.”“I just remember being immediately drawn to it because it’s an indoor soccer silhouette, it’s perfect.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

One of the best things about bringing VP to Substack has been becoming immersed in an entirely new content ecosystem – people are using Substack for so many creative things :) A few months back our attention was caught by The War Report, a hilariously insightful Substack account that chronicles skate and skate adjacent fashion from the perspective of someone who definitely knows what they’re writing about.We reached out to Jamie Carey, founder and author of The War Report to get his takes on blogging(!!!), what makes for a good fit, how dramatically the men’s fashion landscape has changed in the last few years, and what he’s ecited about. Also, some Bravo chat. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Since our original feature on Sexhippies in May of 2023, the brand has experienced tremendous growth, as evidenced through their video output, Converse collaboration, and presence in some of the best shops. In celebration of their SS25 release, we felt inclined to re-release our interview with Ben Baptiste, founder of Sexhippies, as a podcast. Here’s the audio (it’s a great convo!), and stay tuned later this week for a Sexhippies giveaway. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Big one today folks: we’re announcing that VP favorite brand 18 East is (finally) launching a skate team. Since its inception in 2018, the brand has had more references and connections to skating than any non-skate specific brand we can think of, so it’s due time for them to announce a proper entry into the skate world. Today on the podcast we talked talked to Antonio Ciongoli, the brand’s founder (and a sick skater in his own right) about this new phase for the brand, making a photo zine with GOATed GOAT Matt Price, and opening an official store in Los Angeles. Enjoy.Oh, and we’re premiering the 18 East video featuring Marcello Campanello, Brandon Starr, and Ben Tenner TOMORROW. Stay tuned. “...deliberately excluding it [skateboarding] from the conversation is much more difficult, because that’s the thing I’m the most psyched on.”“Matt [Price] put the whole thing together…it’s probably the first time we’ve ever worked with someone where I had no notes, like literally none.”“...you’re not going to be seeing roll-on grinds from 18 East, you’re not going to be seeing a ton of wallrides from 18 East, you’re not going to be seeing pole jams from 18 East.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

The Brooklyn Banks - they’re on everyone’s minds after their (very) recent reopening, so we’re extra blessed to this week to talk to Steve Rodriguez. Steve has not only been hosting skate events at The Banks for many years, he’s also the co-founder of Gotham Park, the organization responsible for reviving the banks into their current form. We get into the spot’s full history, why it was off limits for so long, and what it took to make the dream of skating there again a reality.Volunteer with Gotham Park“…in 2004, I think it was like November, I rolled up to skate it like on a normal… Saturday or after work on a weekday, and there was a Jersey barrier with a fence.”“It's almost impossible to explain how difficult their rules and regulations are, and how they do things. It has to be strictly by the book.”“…I've been to like a million community board meetings…'““…he was super interested and he's like ‘we had no idea people actually use this space.’” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest Fabricio Da Costa has lived many lives. He’s a footwear designer as well as an ex-pro skater who’s lived in Brazil, Portland, and New York City. He designed some of the most iconic silhouettes in both skate (including the VP favorite Project BA) and running footwear (Nike Zoom Alphafly), and has expanded his reach into everything from apparel to snowboard boots.”…it was hard to get product from…American, European brands back then. A lot of the products from the local brands I wasn't happy with. So to be honest, that's how I got into design. I was like, ‘Dude, I know I get s**t for free, but I don't like it. How can I make it better?’”“I skated for a lot of the big brands in Brazil, but I feel like it wasn't so much because of my performance in contests, because I never liked them. I did well when I was an am…but I was never into it. It felt too artificial and forced.”“I don't think a lot of people expected that, right? It was probably one of the most unexpected shoes Nike SB came out with.”“Brian (Anderson) is great, such a great homie, such a super humble and creative dude. One of the best dudes out there, I would say.”“Product creation is not easy.”“…it helped more that I had a background in skateboarding, I think. That I was a pro skater that wasn't retired yet. I was doing both. I had the studio, and I was still skateboarding.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

We’re hitting everyone with the podcast version of a recent favorite - a conversation with Dane Nomellini, Griffin Gass, and Andrew Nedimyer of Pearl, a new clothing brand from Seattle. 🎧 Enjoy 🎧 “You keep watering it and taking care of it, and it'll grow.”“Dane and Griffin even screen printed some of our hang tags – at one point were poking holes in the tags, putting on them on all the shirts…we're touching every single garment that goes out the door, which is pretty cool.”“…we’re trying not to bite anyone as much as just asking ‘How can we make something that feels like us?’”“…] a lot of the graphic references are to super classic stuff. So I, think that it makes what we do open to any type of person. And that’s what we want.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe

If you haven’t heard by now, all-around pro dude and swaggy skate world mainstay (We mean it! He’s so swaggy!) Curren Caples has a new pro shoe out with Vans. It’s clearly an updated take on classic Vans vulcanized sole stylings, but like…how do you even upgrade a classic? Well, there’s one guy to ask: Curren himself. Listen to our conversation above ⬆️, some key takeaways (yeah, that’s business speak BECAUSE WE MEAN BUSINESS WITH THIS ONE!) below ⬇️: “I definitely need a lot of board feel. When I started skateboarding, I didn't wear shoes for the first year.”“I kept looking at this drawing that Claude did, and I was like, ‘Dude, I have to see a sample of them.’”“…just figure out the panels and stuff where my feet are in these certain areas. try to have no sort of panels meet up in these spots.”“I tried to implement every little bit of those three models of shoes (Era, Skate Slip-On, Old Skool) and put it all into one. I actually like the way they skate better than slip-ons.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit villagepsychic.substack.com/subscribe