TPM EPISODE 476: CASSIE ABEL

TPM EPISODE 476: CASSIE ABEL

Cassie Abel had a different road than most to the ski industry. While her peers spent as much time as possible on snow, Cassie was winning 4 State Championships in HS before her Hall of Fame collegiate career. After a stint of a 9-5 lifestyle, Cassie got sucked into the ski industry, first with resort marketing, and then on the brand side with Smith.  But when her dream job left town, Cassie stayed back in Sun Valley, started a PR agency,  eventually jumped into entrepreneurship with her Ski and Mountain Bike start up, Wild Rye. This is fun episode with a passionate, tenacious, awesome person.  Maro LeBlance asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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TPM EPISODE 475: JASON ARENS

TPM EPISODE 475: JASON ARENS

Jason Arens was the Head Ski Judge at the Milan Cortina Olympics and when he’s not traveling the most important ski events, to judge the best athletes in the world, he’s an Owner of Surface Skis, Joystick Poles, and Causwell Outerwear.  Jason always has a lot going on...I met him calling tricks at a contest years ago, I was blown away by his ski nerdery, and these days, Jason may be the most knowledgeable person on the planet when it comes to competition skiing. On the podcast, we talk his sponsored ski career, Olympics, judging, Good Enough, brands and more. Khai Krepela and the Good Enough crew collaborate on the Inappropriate Questions.

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TPM EPISODE 471: WSM TRADE SHOW

TPM EPISODE 471: WSM TRADE SHOW

Winter Sports Market, aka WSM, is the only show that resembles what SIA once was.  It has all the brands, all the new products, all the in-house staff, all the reps, and all the dealers.   As far as industry building and culture building events, outside of movie premiers, this is all skiing has.  I went down to SLC to cover the event and detail my trade show experience and along the way I chat with folks like Mike Hattrup, Ted Ligety, Cassie Able, Griffin Post, Jonny Moseley, Alex O’Brien and some other incredible industry legends and insiders.

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TPM EPISODE 469: CODY CIRILLO

TPM EPISODE 469: CODY CIRILLO

Cody Cirillo started his ski career competing on the AFP pro circuit, but huge podiums weren’t in Cody’s future, graduating from USC magna cum laude all while transitioning his pro ski career from contests to adventure, was the path for Cody. And for the next decade, he's managed to pump out annual ski content, personal project style, while holding down a desk job as a creative director, these days for his longtime sponsor, Faction skis. On the podcast, we talk about Cody’s Mongolia film project “150 Hours From Home” (it drops free online today) and Bobby Brown asks the Inappropriate Questions. 

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TPM EPIOSDE 465: SID PATTISON

TPM EPIOSDE 465: SID PATTISON

Sid Pattison is a heli ski guide,  an Everest veteran, and an all around badass,  but what makes Sid different is who he is. Sid has the rare combination of a magnetic personality that lights up any situation, along with the ability to connect with every person he comes across, from the janitor to the CEO. These unique human skills, combined with his beast-like ability in the field, has created a fast lane in life that’s allowed Sid to leapfrog past more accomplished peers. He’s skipped some traditional steps on his way to things like guiding Everest, to his upcoming buy into North Cascade Heli Ski, but he doesn't cut corners.  While nothing that Sid does is traditional, it’s always memorable and it eventually works out. This is a fun one

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TPM EPISODE 464: SEATTLE TO JACKSON

TPM EPISODE 464: SEATTLE TO JACKSON

Seattle and Jackson Hole are the focus of this different Christmas episode.  In Seattle, I checked out “The Common Line” snowboard event (which was incredible!!) and I talked to a few legends who stand sideways. After that, I caught up with skier and recent avalanche survivor, Adam U, before he played a punk rock show with his band Krontonamo. A couple days later, I traveled to Jackson Hole with the Outside Life crew to emcee an event and while I was there, I caught up with some forward-facing legends.  It’s a different episode that I think you’ll like.

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TPM EPISODE 462: GEORGE COUPERTHWAIT

TPM EPISODE 462: GEORGE COUPERTHWAIT

George Couperthwait is one of those guys that everyone in skiing knows, likes, and respects. He's a visionary, who's ski industry life started in a van: going shop to shop, demo to demo, race to race...and he worked his way all the way up to the top of skiing  With over 30 years working with brands like Rossignol and Stockli, George has taken his passion for sport and his love of product and weaved that into a world of building relationships and brands.  It's an interesting peek behind the curtain with the brains behind the XXX and so much more.  

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EPISODE 453: JAMIE STARR

EPISODE 453: JAMIE STARR

Jamie Starr has had more great jobs in the ski industry than most guests  I’ve had on the show. Really, he was born to be a part of this industry. Growing up in Crested Butte taught Jamie a love of the mountains and understanding of what it takes to make non-traditional athletes tick, which all helped him in his later endeavors.  But what drove Jamie was a passion to not only be the best, but to do good and really make a difference in the world.  On the podcast we talk about law school, his incredible career with brands like The North Face, Spyder, DPS, Pomoca, how to handle athlete loss, and more.  It’s a business episode with one of the few lawyers I’ve had on the podcast.

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EPISODE 451: PETER MEHRHOF

EPISODE 451: PETER MEHRHOF

Peter Mehrhof was an early part of the "New School" ski movement but in the long run, Peter cared more about school than being a pro skier. Coming up in Mammoth, Peter was champion water skier and a fast ski racer who eventually made a pivot to the park and pipe and in no time was on the K2 Factory Team. And then Pete chose college and disappeared form skiing, only to resurface behind a boat and a desk in the world of wakeboarding. It's a cool story of a pioneer and engineer.  Don Wallace asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 446: SHAUN MURRAY/TATE HUFFARD

EPISODE 446: SHAUN MURRAY/TATE HUFFARD

Shaun Murray is a legendary wakeboarder who, after 29 pro models, is working on his 30th…Insane! On the podcast, we talk about his Best Day “Can You Ride It” event, Darin Shapiro’s Wakeboard “camp”, Tony Hawk, and more. Before we do that, I chat with Best Day Brewing Founder Tate Huffard about life, business, and beer. It’s the best of both worlds episode. 

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EPISODE 444: THE BEST OF INAPPROPRATE QUESTIONS 2025

EPISODE 444: THE BEST OF INAPPROPRATE QUESTIONS 2025

Inappropriate Questions is how I end every show. The idea is that I find a friend of my guest and record 3 questions with them. The questions can be anything that gets the guest to tell a funny, crazy, embarrassing or really, any good story. The goal is to get some gold without pissing off the guest when I surprise them with the questions. This week, I have a long list of legends on this highlight show.  Think Shannon Dunn, Tina Basich, Andy Hetzel, Colby Stevensen, Dane Tudor, Peter Olenick and many more. This is a fan favorite segment of the show, and this is some of the best of them.


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TPM EPISODE 442: LEE COHEN

TPM EPISODE 442: LEE COHEN

Lee Cohen may be the most dirtbag ski bum I’ve had on the podcast, and that's an honor, but that was back in his early 20’s. Eventually, Lee moved west from New York, picked up a camera and became the authority on what powder skiing photos should look like. Along the way, he followed the dead, had a pro skier kid, and shot some of the best photos that Utah skiing has to offer. It’s a business episode with one of those early creatives, who maybe weren’t all business, but still crushed it. Lee’s kid, Sammo Cohen asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 432: KHAI KREPELA

EPISODE 432: KHAI KREPELA

Khai Krepela is known for his prowess on rails, he made a career out of it, but really, he had a pro ski career because he realized what he was good at and he went all in on that aspect of the sport. But Khai didn’t stop at pro athlete, while he still had a little gas left in the tank, Khai found himself behind a desk at K2 for the beginning of his post pro ski career. On the podcast, we talk about inline skating, Park City, Detroit, filming, the X Games and more.  Olympic Head Judge Jason Arens asks the Inappropriate Questions.

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EPISODE 431: CHARLIE HOCH

EPISODE 431: CHARLIE HOCH

Charlie Hoch is a former pro snowboarder turned cannabis entrepreneur, which makes him the perfect guest for 420 week. When I say pro snowboarder, while Charlie competed amongst the likes of Travis Rice and was on the podium at some big events, his snowboard career won’t be what defines his existence; his success in the cannabis world will be. From developing the original ice bong to building his 100+ SKU empire today, Charlie could use snowboarding instead of having it the other way around, and on the podcast, we talk snowboarding, weed, and more. 

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EPISODE 429: SVEN BRUNSO

EPISODE 429: SVEN BRUNSO

Sven Brunso is the most photographed skier in the history of the sport, but he’s a name that most don’t know.  With 140 covers and 2500 pages published, you’ve seen him ski.  In the industry, Sven’s work ethic is a thing of legend.  He’s known for getting out a day early and setting the skin track and then out-researching everyone for the right beta to get the shot.  He’s an animal, and shooting photos is his side hustle.  Sven is a longtime ski marketer with an incredible resume that includes Bula, Purgatory, and Leki. No one works harder than Sven Brunso, and no one is as prolific in front of the lens as him either.  On the podcast, we talk about how 'Blizzard of Aaah’s' changed his life, how Glen Plake helped create his career, always having a plan b, suicide, and so much more. 

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EPISODE 426: HANNAH KEARNEY

EPISODE 426: HANNAH KEARNEY

Hannah Kearney is one of those perfectionist type people who are good at whatever they do because not only are they talented, not only do they eat, sleep and breathe their sport, but they also outwork everyone in the pursuit of crushing their goals on the way to greatness. And Hannah was great, 74 World Cup Podiums, 46 wins, Crystal Globes, and an Olympic Gold and Bronze medals. Her intensity and competitiveness are what make Hannah and this podcast so enjoyable and after listening, you’ll know why she’s getting into the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame this month.

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EPISODE 424: AMY BUCKALTER

EPISODE 424: AMY BUCKALTER

Amy Buckalter is a boss. One of those smart people, who have that thing, where you know they understand how business works and how to amplify. She's also unapologetically herself, wearing pantsuits while refining the sales strategies of action sports brands like Burton and K2. But her resume goes way deeper than that, think Converse, Terramar, Ryka, Nike, Yakima Pivot Point, and today, she's the founder and CEO of Pulse, a personal lubrication system with over 105 patents. So I guess you can say she's gone from sports to sex and while there are a lot of ins and outs to her life and times, Amy's managed to stay on top and achieve success at every step along the way. It's an interesting podcast with my first boss. 

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EPISODE 423: GARY BIGHAM

EPISODE 423: GARY BIGHAM

Gary Bigham is the most eccentric filmmaker this side of Greg Stump.  You haven’t heard about him because when he turned 18, he moved to Europe and became part of the fabric of European Freestyle culture, then he started making films with Europe and the world’s best. When the risk of filmmaking became worth more than the reward, Gary did what he does best, entertain. And, between his Vitamin Ski Chalet and playing music in the bars of Chamonix, Gary will always be the center of attention somewhere and the world is better for it. On the podcast, we talk about the draft, being part of 5 different national freestyle teams, Team Clambin, and so much more. Bernie Bernthal asks the Inappropriate Questions

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EPISODE 422: WADE MCKOY

EPISODE 422: WADE MCKOY

Wade McKoy is one of the legendary photographers who put Jackson Hole skiing on the map. With 50 Jackson seasons under his belt, Wade’s shot 5 generations of Jackson Hole Skiers and Snowboarders and, in turn, has documented the history of the elite in snow from one of the iconic destinations in the US and beyond.  On the podcast, we talk about coming up in the South, learning to ski in Jackson Hole, The Hostel, The Air Force, breaking speed records, Jamie Pierre, and so much more. Wade knows how to tell a great story which makes for an entertaining show and it closes out with another Jackson Hole legend, Jeff Leger, asking the Inappropriate Questions.

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