The Powell Movement

For my last Best of Inappropriate Questions episode, I'm focusing on the snowboard side of things and have some laugh-out-loud questions and answers for you. Think names like John Cardiel, Mike Ranquet, Danny Davis, Mikey LeBlanc, Eric Jackson, the Mitrani Brothers, and many more. It's a don't miss episode that has something for everyone. Best of Inappropriate Questions, The Snowboard Edition: 5:0...

Inappropriate Questions has been a staple of The Powell Movement podcast over the past couple of seasons. But did you know the show pre-dates TPM?  Years ago, I had a podcast with Powder Magazine called "Sponsored," and to build my own audience off that show, I created Inappropriate Questions as a stand-alone podcast and put it out on the TPM feed. When Powder killed the Sponsored pod, I pulled ol...

Inappropriate Questions has been a staple of The Powell Movement podcast over the past couple of seasons. But did you know the show pre-dates TPM?  Years ago, I had a podcast with Powder Magazine called "Sponsored." To build my audience off that show, I created Inappropriate Questions as a stand-alone podcast and put it out on the TPM feed. When Powder killed the Sponsored pod, I pulled old IQ epi...

Robin Goomes went from an unknown name to one of the top women in freeride mountain biking, and she did this almost overnight by backflipping her way into the spotlight…But, before this Kiwi's meteoric rise in the bike world, Robin grew up on a remote island and then entered the military. On Robin's first podcast, we talk about the wild ride she has been on since 2021 and the road she took to bein...

Louie Zamora came from nothing to become one of his most influential inline skaters. He was a street skater whose video parts still hold up, a contest skater who podiumed at X and Gravity, an entrepreneur who was responsible for important brands, and a victim of the opioid crisis that's turning his life around. This podcast was a fun and heavy way to catch up with an old friend and relive his past...

Mike Adams's legendary 45-year career in snow business has come to an end. I was able to catch up with the man responsible for some of the most iconic products of our time during his last week in the industry. It's a history lesson of the business from the man responsible for bringing the shaped ski to North America. The podcast talks about all things Moog, Molnar, Elan, Salomon, and Atomic. It's...

Nick Sargent is the SIA President who moved the business and sold its key revenue generator, the SIA Tradeshow...but he's so much more than that. Nick came up as a race tech on the World Cup, parlayed that into a gig managing Salomon's Olympic efforts, then it was on to Burton before taking over at the SIA. These days, Nick is navigating some challenging waters, and we talk about his key moves, th...

Louie Vito has done it all: Champion snowboarder, reality TV star on 'Dancing with the Stars', playing himself in the sequel to 'Point Break', and there is so much more to him. On part 2 with Louie, we dive into sponsors, contests, Danny Kass and the Grenade Crew, the fact that no brand ever put big marketing dollars behind him, and so much more. Louie is not the guy I thought he was going to be,...

Louie Vito is a badass snowboarder. He's an Olympian, a US Grand Prix Champion, a Dew Tour Champion, an X Games medalist, and he comes from a 300 vertical foot hill in Ohio. He also seems to know everyone form celebrities to pro athletes, he's competed in Dancing With The Stars, he's been in a Hollywood blockbuster movie and he's pretty humble about it all. On the podcast, we talk being Italian, h...

Tyler Bereman is a badass when it comes to riding his dirkbike but that is only part of what makes Tyler so special. He's the kid who was born into a motorcycle family and while he didn't have the same finances as his competitors to make his supercross dreams happen, after some ups and downs, he made it. But Tyler is so much more than that: He's a 10 time X Games Medalist, a content creator, and a...

Gabe Schroder is the most passionate behind-the-scenes player I know in snow business. While he's always been a talented marketer, he's really made his money over the years through building relationships and spreading his stoke for the love of skiing to the masses. Between his jobs with Powder Magazine, Smith Optics, and Dakine, Gabe has made a career out of working with the best athletes in the w...

Mark Fankhauser has been a creative force in snow for over 20 years. "Fank" grew up worshipping Glen Plake, Scot Schmidt, and Mike Hattrup before he found the opportunity that came with snowboarding. From there, Fank chased Peter Line down the mountains of the PNW before landing his gig at Ride Snowboards while still in college. Eventually, Fank created and led the in-house design agency at K2 Spo...

Wendy Fisher is known as one of the pioneering women in the big mountains, and she changed the game, but that's only part of her story. In part 2 with Wendy, we talk about leaving the race world, depression, eating disorders, extreme contests, filming with MSP, and much more. It's an open and honest chat with a legend. Murray Wais asks the Inappropriate Questions Wendy Fisher Part 2 Show Notes: 3:...

Wendy Fisher changed the game as one of the pioneering women in the big mountains, but that's only part of her story. In part 1 with Wendy, we talk about growing up in Tahoe, losing her brother young, racing with McConkey, going to Burke Mountain Academy, making the US Ski Team at 15, and the problems with the US Ski Team, mental health and more. It's an open and honest chat with a legend. Lhotse...

Marko Shapiro is one of the most legendary action sports photographers of our time. Marko was the captain of Team Clambin, and for 50 years, Marko has called Verbier home and has shot all of the ski legends there. On the podcast, we talk about how he created a timeless style of photography through skiing powder and reading light, shooting with Dick Barrymore, Wayne Wong, Glen Plake, Scot Schmidt,...

Jeremy Nobis is a living legend cwho describes his life and times on skis as often misunderstood. But I believe there is no misunderstanding; Jeremy was a race prodigy, making the US Ski Team at 16 and racing on the World Cup until he was 26 years old. Then, Jeremy transitioned to the big mountains, and singlehandedly changed the way people ski them. In part 2 with Nobis, we talk about Alaska, TGR...

Jeremy Nobis is a living legend who describes his life and times on skis as often misunderstood. But I believe there is no misunderstanding; Jeremy was a race prodigy, making the US Ski Team at 16 and racing in the World Cup until he was 26 years old. Then, Jeremy transitioned to the big mountains, and singlehandedly changed the way people ski them. In part 1 with Nobis, we discuss coming up in Pa...

Trent Bush was born into a family of technical outerwear designers at a time when snowboarding didn't exist. Trent grew up learning how to build outerwear and skateboarding. He was a grom before groms existed, and when Wave Rave opened its doors in Boulder, Trent hung out there daily until they hired him and his brother. From there, they grew with the sport of snowboarding, eventually creating the...

Marco de Santi has the most interesting journey of any athlete I've had on the podcast. Born in a less than desirable situation in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Marco did what every kid does; he played soccer until he found skateparks. Marco quit team sports and headed to the USA at age 15, with literally nothing, to make his pro skating dream happen. While Marco eventually became a world Champion, inline wa...

Paddy Graham wasn't supposed to be a pro skier wearing a Red Bull helmet. He's from Sheffield, and everyone knows Brits for their football, not their talent in the mountains. But Paddy changed that school of thought, and it all started on a dry slope. Yep, before Paddy was filming powder segments, he learned how to ski on carpet. And that magic carpet had taken Paddy all over the world in pursuit...

While Tyler Turner has lived a life of adventure, he almost had it all taken away from him a few years ago when a skydiving accident destroyed his lower limbs. Between amputations, addiction and depression, it would have been easy for Tyler to throw in the towel and feel sorry for himself. And while there may have been a little of that in the beginning, Tyler quickly realized that he wanted to liv...

Part 2 of Jimbo Morgan's life and times start with a trip to the Albertville Olympics in 1992. While this should have been the best day of Jimbo's life, we talk about the good friend that died in his arms that day and how it impacted him. We then talk about the end of filming speed skiing with Plake and Stump, pioneering bungee jumping, inventing skiercross, and getting sponsored as a skier, telem...

Jimbo Morgan is arguably one of the most talented athletes to come out of the snow space; he's also a total badass. From being an Olympian to pioneering bungee jumping to being a sponsored skier, telemark skier, and snowboarder, Jimbo has always been at the top of his game. He does things his way, always telling it like is...whether you like it or not. This is a do not miss podcast with a living l...

Jenny Taylor has done everything in the ski industry. She started at the bottom in customer service and worked her way to her current role of VP of Marketing for Salomon. On the podcast, we talk about breaking the glass ceiling, managing some of the best athletes in the world, letting them go, and much more. It's another incredible business episode. Jenny Taylor Show Notes: 3:30:  Managing athlete...

Bill Marolt is not only a ski visionary, but he's also a living legend known for his Olympic-level ski career, NCAA Championships, and US Ski and Snowboard Teams. When Bill proclaimed that the USA would be the best ski team in the world, the world thought he was crazy, but Bill achieved that goal and many more throughout his career. On the podcast, we talk about the 2022 Olympics, the other games...