interview by Bonesaw

We just went camping, and I noticed you took charge of the campfire. Do you have any tips for building and maintaining a good fire?
I like starting small and concentrated, then ripping it. Gives you a good bed of coals as fast as possible. Especially when camping and you gotta feed the crew.

Any metaphors for life we can learn from fire?
Absolutely! That’s caveman TV. Patience. The best part of the fire is at the end of the night.

Where and how did you learn to cook?
I learned how to cook in Chicago. Growing up watching cooking shows with my mom. Then later on in professional kitchens ran by very talented skateboarding chefs. Shoutout Fuj and Andy!

What’s your favorite thing to cook? What tips can you give us to prepare a good meal?
I love anything coconut curry variety. I’m also addicted to ribeye steaks. My tips for a good meal would be to keep it clean and simple. Don’t over complicate things and let the flavors shine.

What’s the most underrated ingredient?
Black pepper or Parmesan cheese.

Any funny stories from working in kitchens over the years?
Maybe not one story in particular but the time period when I owned a car and cooked with Fuj and Kevin Scutchfield (in Chicago). I was the chauffeur to either Danny’s bar or the rave every night. Or maybe almost cutting my finger off a couple days before flying to Barcelona.

What countries/places have you been to?
Luckily, having motivated friends and being a part of Snack has given me some good travel opportunities. Some of my faves have been Colombia, Croatia, Mexico City, and London.

What was your favorite travel experience and why?
Maybe this last one to Portugal. That was a really great crew and being the youngest on the trip really motivated me to skate as hard as I could. I also just really love being in a whip driving around a different country looking for spots. Shoutout the AM van. John B and James Sayres are the big bros.

Any funny/crazy/scary travel stories?
I’ve been lucky to not be too scared on trips. But I will say, that backyard party that Frogboss took us to in Jamaica. The vibes walking in were so crazy but walking out at the end felt like we really conquered something by winning the party over.

Any place you’d never go back to?
I think I could go back to most of the places I’ve been. But there is only so much time to see the world, so might as well go somewhere new.

What would your dream trip with an unlimited budget be?
Train tour all over Europe, and then Japan to Hawaii, and back to NYC.

Any notable stories from traveling with the Snack team?
Acid in the jungles of Colombia, maybe (laughs). That was seriously one of the best days of my life.

Favorite person/crew to travel with?
Obviously Snack crew all day. Josh Narvaez, Ty Beall, and also John Baragwanath.

What did you learn about Marcus and Noah from Skate Jawn on our trip to Croatia?
I learned that they are both fucking amazing to be around (laughs). But really both are so social, and funloving, they really wanna just see everybody skate and have a good time. And spread the Skate Jawn word of course.

Did you go to college? Do you think higher education is a worthwhile pursuit?
Don’t go to college unless you want to. I don’t necessarily regret it, but I don’t think I had the right tools to succeed at the time. It also doesn’t teach you work ethic, which seems like the most important thing.

You grew up in Chicago, spent time in SF, and live in NYC now. How would you describe each of these cities? How did each place affect your development as a person and a skater?
I feel like Chicago was the sickest blessing and curse. It wasn’t as popping as little kid me would of liked. However, the people I grew up with, and the OGs that looked out for me, taught me the right way to go about skating. I think they gave me the confidence to go out to these places like SF and NYC. Which, over time, have definitely added to the way I skate and see the world. Moving to NYC was the best thing that could have happened to me. Shoutout to Dustin Eggeling for the opportunity.

Favorite people from Chicago?
CJ Kelly, Steffen Watts, Sean Cullen, and Jon Schmoldt are some of the many Chicago all-stars.

Any stories about filming with the Deep Dish crew in Chicago?
Deep Dish was such a special crew, and I was so grateful to be a part of that. I think the best times were on Monday when most of us were off. Spending the day looking for spots in the hood and then going to the loop at six and skating downtown until very late. Usually skating Chase for hours and then watching someone like Sean switch tail drop off a building into a parking garage.

Do you/did you have a psychedelic sponsor and what’s the story there?
I did get blessed with some mushrooms for a while. I am so grateful for that because they would essentially just magically fall from the sky and into my lap.

Best way to open your mind and expand consciousness?
Bike to the beach through East New York at 5 AM and watch the sunrise by Rockaway Beach.

Do you think psychedelics should be legalized and available to everyone?
Wouldn’t hurt the overall culture, but it is definitely mental exercise.

Who needs to take psychedelics the most?
People with strong addictions or people who feel like they couldn’t handle it. That’s exactly why you should. Get out of the comfort zone.

Have you heard any good jokes lately?
Shit… hang out with Josh Narvaez or Dustin Eggeling for three minutes. They’ll bless you with something.

Any life hacks you can share?
Don’t play life on expert mode. Play it on easy mode. Way more fun to beat the game that way. 

What’s your fastest time to bike over the Williamsburg bridge? Tips for going fast on a bike in NYC?
I usually bike from my house in Bed-Stuy to Supreme in like 15 minutes, which is like 4.6 miles with the Willy B bridge. Tips for going fast would be coffee and beetroot powder.

Thoughts on living through capitalism in 2026?
It’s fucking sad. Technology is wack. When you watch an old movie, you realize that everything was well made, more ornate, and just cooler. I hate techy yuppie finance bro vibes. It’s not it. 

If you could change one thing to make society/the world a better place, what would it be?
That’s a tough one. The conspiracy side of my brain wants to say something crazy right now. I’ll say make healthcare and public transportation free.

What music are you listening to right now?
Always Burial, Chuquimamani-Condori, and Sleep.

Favorite books you’ve read? Any books that have changed your life?
The Empty Mirror about meditation is really good. Just read Among the Thugs, which was awesome. Willie Nelson’s Autobiography, Electric Kool Aid Acid Test. I think for a period Malcolm Gladwell books helped me, and then later it turned into autobiographies. Hearing about someone else’s life struggles makes you appreciate your own.

What’s the best thing about the skateboarding community?
I think the best part is having this ability to connect with people all over the world. And then after you connect they are happy to help you. Seeing skaters in NYC help each other get money is also really sick to see and be a part of. No resume needed.

Why did you quit smoking weed and how has it changed your life?
I started working at Supreme and I think the job change shifted my scheduling and anxiety levels. So I simply didn’t feel like it was working anymore. Very glad I stopped. Really good decision.

Any tips for quitting?
Only tip I have is if it doesn’t feel like it’s serving you, try a different route.

You like skating junk and janky spots. What’s the most elaborate junk spot you’ve ever skated?
That’s a good question. I’m not sure really but maybe some of those garbage days at blue park or back in Chicago at Wilson skatepark. Down the grass out of the park was always a vibe.

What goals or plans do you have for the next year?
Skate as much as possible. Stay reliable to all my people and keep trying to be a little better. Less hangovers too, no good.

What are your goals for five or ten years in the future?
Beekeeper!!! Working with chefs and artists so that my love for nature, cooking, and art can all be combined seamlessly.