Listen "EP 017 - Chasen Marshall"
Episode Synopsis
Journalist, storyteller, and Oakley veteran Chasen Marshall joins Shady Characters for a deep dive into the power of storytelling, creativity, and staying curious. With a background in journalism and a decade-plus inside Oakley’s walls, Chasen has lived the evolution of content — from magazine features and surf trips to global brand films and NFL campaigns.He shares how his early days as a writer and photographer shaped his approach to brand storytelling, why authenticity always beats polish, and what it means to lead creative work that still feels real in an algorithm-driven world. From documenting the rise of surf culture to helping Oakley launch products for the NFL and even NASA’s Artemis mission, Chasen’s work proves that purpose and storytelling can live comfortably inside the same frame.The conversation spans his time as a surf journalist, his leap to Columbia’s journalism program, and his unexpected shift into brand storytelling — a transition that tested his sense of creative integrity and redefined what “truth” means inside a marketing department. He also talks about teaching his kids curiosity, the fluidity of surfing as a metaphor for creativity, and how each product — even a surf helmet — can carry a story worth telling.It’s a thoughtful, grounded look at how journalism, marketing, and storytelling collide — and how to keep your craft honest in a world of short attention spans and quick wins. Whether you’re a creative, marketer, or storyteller yourself, this episode is a reminder that good stories never expire — they just evolve.
More episodes of the podcast Shady Characters
EP 20 - Harrison Taylor
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EP 019 - Amy Miller
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EP 018 - Chris Conte
12/12/2025
EP 016 - Howard Hart
28/11/2025
EP 015 - Lee Kovel
17/11/2025
EP 014 - Nicole DaCosta
13/11/2025
EP 013 - Matt Schnitzer
07/11/2025
EP 012 - Christian Hernandez
31/10/2025
EP 011 - Pete Stirling
30/10/2025
EP 010 - Joe Scarnici
20/10/2025
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