Brain Drain Episode 42 with Toby Batchelor & Forde Brookfield 🧠 Join us for over two hours vertical madness with XGames gold medalist and Opera Skateboards very own Sam Beckett. In this episode we discuss being the only British skateboarder to win an X-Games gold medal, Turning pro for Blind Skateboards & Madness Skateboards, the death of Dwindle Distribution, the birth of Opera Skateboards, the brilliance of Bill Weiss, living in the U.S.A, working for SkateboardGB, getting into woodwork, multiple surgeries, taking a step back from sponsored life and much much more! 00:00 - Coming up on this episode. 02:26 - Sam Beckett's Skatepark of Tampa profile mix up... 03:32 - Where is Sam from, how did he get into skateboarding and what was his local skatepark? 07:52 - When did Sam get skating vert? 15:52 - How long did it take Sam to get comfortable and confident with skating vert? 20:38 - What were Sam's first sponsors, eventually getting onto Blind Skateboards (Europe) and early trips... 30:28 - How long was Sam on Blind Europe for before he got onto the full Blind Skateboards team, first trips to the U.S.A and entering competitions. 38:15 - Back and fourth from the U.K. to the U.S.A, meeting Bill Weiss and the importance of shaking hands... 45:55 - Turning PRO for Blind Skateboards, the birth of Madness Skateboards, choosing the team and issues with the original name! 1:03:26 - Show sponsor: @slappytrucks 1:04:32 - Sam's PRO shape for Opera Skateboards... 1:10:32 - How long does a board last when you're predominantly skating vert and making all his product last as long as possible 1:14:14 - The death of Dwindle Distribution, the end of Madness Skateboards, the newcomers of Opera Skateboards and it's future... 1:24:24 - First British skateboarder to win the 2016 Summer XGames and the absolute brilliance of Jimmy Wilkins!! 1:38:43 - Inventing tricks, the niceness of Darren Navarette and has Sam's job at SkateboardGB altered his perception of his own skateboarding? 1:44:25 - Sam's role of a "Performance Development Coach" at SkateboardGB. 1:49:04 - Taking a step back from sponsors, multiple surgeries, ACL reconstructions, moving back to the U.K and living in Bristol... 1:59:10 - Getting creative with woodwork and exploring frontside grinds and backside airs. 2:07:50 - Closing statements and credits! Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Youtube. https://linkin.bio/rollersnakes Support The Brain Drain Show by hitting the "THANKS" button under this video. Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BrainDrainShow 💰Want to BUY Brain Drain Merch?💰 https://rollersnakes.co.uk/search?q=brain+drain INSTAGRAM: 📸 Rollersnakes 📸 https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakes https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakesshopderby YOUTUBE: ▶️ RollersnakesTV ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/rollersnakestv Support us by checking out our sponsors: Rollersnakes: www.rollersnakes.co.uk Presented by: Forde Brookfield (@bagheadcrew) & Toby Batchelor (@tobybatchelor) Edited by: Forde Brookfield Producer: Frazer Murphy (@dontfollowfrazer) Thumbnail: Frazer Murphy #skateboarding #braindrainshow #xgames #sambeckett #operaskateboards

Brain Drain Episode 41 with Toby Batchelor & Forde Brookfield 🧠 Join us for over two hours for an in depth conversation of the day to day operations that went into creating one of the greatest and most culturally important British skateboarding Magazine of all time with none other than the author of the Read and Destroy book, Dan Adams! In this episode we discuss the creation of the Read and Destroy book, early days of the R.A.D Magazine, Tim Leighton-Boyce's pure dedication, 80's magazine editing, Phat Magazine, articles being cut due to advertisements, English Skateboard Association, Derry Thompson, Danny Webster, Claus Grabke & Lucien Hendricks, later contributors to the magazine and much much more! 00:00 - Coming up on this episode/intro & magazine geekery. 08:40 - When did Dan get into skateboarding and what where his early inspirations? 13:51 - Growing up in Greenwich, the English Skateboard Association competitions with Derry Thompson, shredders of the time; Claus Grabke, Danny Webster and Lucian Hendricks. 28:20 - Some Tim Leighton-Boyce history, how did Dan start getting involved with R.A.D Magazine, what where his day to day tasks and how did he design the magazine pre-editing software in the late 80's? 38:34 - How long did it take to make a magazine, taking side jobs as a graphic designer while working for R.A.D Magazine, delayed magazine articles due to advertising and the struggles of shooting film under bad lighting... 50:12 - How was R.A.D Magazine being distributed, was it reaching Europe or the U.S.A and issues with Tim Leighton-Boyce's PHAT Magazine... 55:59 - Show sponsor: @slappytrucks 57:07 - What other photographers where contributing to R.A.D Magazine and what other staff worked for the magazine? 1:03:35 - Was there any issue of the magazine that was more popular than any other, where the covers pre-planned and what's Dan's favourite magazine cover? 1:10:34 - Was where the Americans opinions of R.A.D Magazine, advertisements, subscribers, fan mail and what where some of the biggest mistakes printed in the magazine?! 1:17:47 - How did Dan's time at R.A.D Magazine come to an end, the end of the Tim Leighton-Boyce era and the birth of Sidewalk Magazine. 1:27:00 - The history of the READ AND DESTROY book, how long did it take to make, how did Dan digitalise the photos and was it hard to choose the photos that made the cut, and the history of the London Calling event. 1:48:39 - Who worked on the READ AND DESTROY book, how did Dan approach publishers and what imitations did Dan face? 1:53:23 - Where can people get hold of the READ AND DESTROY book and what well known skateboarders have promoted the book? 1:56:13 - Some of Forde, Toby and Dans favourite photos and inspirational Rodney Mullen quotes... 2:04:33 - Wrap up, thank you's, credits and ultimate respects! Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Youtube. https://linkin.bio/rollersnakes Support The Brain Drain Show by hitting the "THANKS" button under this video. Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BrainDrainShow 💰Want to BUY Brain Drain Merch?💰 https://rollersnakes.co.uk/search?q=brain+drain INSTAGRAM: 📸 Rollersnakes 📸 https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakes https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakesshopderby YOUTUBE: ▶️ RollersnakesTV ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/rollersnakestv Support us by checking out our sponsors: Rollersnakes: www.rollersnakes.co.uk Presented by: Toby Batchelor (@tobybatchelor) & Forde Brookfield (@bagheadcrew) Edited by: Forde Brookfield Producer: Frazer Murphy (@dontfollowfrazer) Thumbnail: Frazer Murphy #skateboarding #braindrainshow #readanddestroy #radmagazine