In this episode of outside is Magic, I sit down with my longtime friend Jarrod Allen. We go way back to our BMX days, and over the years our paths have continued to cross through creativity, work, family, and life.

This conversation is about growing up without losing yourself. We talk about authenticity, gratitude, showing up for the people around you, and navigating change while staying true to who you are. It’s honest, reflective, and rooted in lived experience.

We get into:
• Growing up and evolving without letting go of your core values
• Lessons from BMX and DIY culture
• Family, responsibility, and perspective
• Gratitude as a grounding force
• What it means to keep showing up over time

outside is Magic is hosted by Christopher San Agustin.
Produced by Broken and Coastal.
Follow us on Instagram @brokenandcoastal
Help spread the magic. Hit follow, drop a review, or share the episode with someone who gets it. You never know who it might inspire.

In this episode of outside is Magic, I sit down with Kyle von Hoetzendorff — one of the first people I met when I moved to Portland, and someone I’ve respected for years across the outdoors, creative work, and community.

Kyle is a partner at Lucky Day, a storyteller, a cyclist, a traveler, and one of the most thoughtful humans I know. This conversation was a chance to slow down and go deeper — to talk about empathy, identity, leadership, adventure, and what it really means to find common ground with the people around us.

We get into:
• Growing up and the early experiences that shaped him
• Learning empathy and navigating conflict with curiosity
• Transitioning between careers and stepping into ownership
• Riding bikes as a way to explore, connect, and process life
• How to keep your heart open in a world that feels divided
• Why community is the thread that pulls everything together

It’s honest, grounding, and one of my favorite conversations — the kind that stays with you long after it’s over.

outside is Magic is hosted by Christopher San Agustin.
Produced by Broken and Coastal.
Follow us on Instagram @brokenandcoastal
Help spread the magic. Hit follow, drop a review, or share the episode with someone who gets it. You never know who it might inspire.

This episode dives deep into creativity, identity, and how to stay grounded when life keeps changing. Jake shares lessons from Instrument, Google, cycling, fatherhood, and co-founding Apogee Bikes.

EPISODE OVERVIEW
In this conversation, Christopher sits down with Jake — Creative Strategy Lead at Google Brand Studio, early strategist at Instrument, longtime cyclist, and co-founder of Apogee Bikes.

They talk about:
• Finding identity again after becoming a parent
• Staying grounded in a noisy digital world
• Building a strategy career at Instrument and Google
• Learning leadership and protecting people’s time
• Building Apogee Bikes and launching a small brand today
• Community, cycling culture, and what needs to evolve
• Why provenance matters and how brands build meaning
• The emotional weight of losing old versions of yourself
• How to keep showing up creatively even when life gets hard
• The one belief that keeps Jake centered: Assume good intent.
This one is full of wisdom, honesty, and perspective.

ABOUT JAKE
Jake is a Creative Strategy Lead at Google Brand Studio, former Strategy Director at Instrument, cyclist, dad, and co-founder of Apogee Bikes. His work spans brand strategy, product vision, community building, and the intersection of creativity and the outdoors.

Apogee Bikes: https://apogeebikes.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeszy/

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#outsideisMagic #Podcast #CreativeLife #BrandStrategy #GoogleBrandStudio #Instrument #CyclingLife #ApogeeBikes #CreativeProcess #ParenthoodJourney #DesignAndOutdoors #MountainBiking #CreativeCareer

outside is Magic is hosted by Christopher San Agustin.
Produced by Broken and Coastal.
Follow us on Instagram @brokenandcoastal
Help spread the magic. Hit follow, drop a review, or share the episode with someone who gets it. You never know who it might inspire.