In this episode of Shady Characters, Danielle Braithwaite—founder of Variant Movement—shares her journey from aspiring professional dancer to studio owner, mentor, and working mom. Danielle opens up about career-altering injury, launching a business during the pandemic while pregnant, and building a studio rooted in discipline, kindness, and community. It’s an honest look at creativity, leadership, and redefining success on your own terms.

Danielle never planned to become a studio owner. Her early dream was to dance professionally—traveling, performing, and living fully inside the art form she loved. But at just 21 years old, a serious hip injury abruptly changed her trajectory. Faced with an uncertain recovery and the loss of her professional path, Danielle found herself falling in love with teaching, choreography, and the impact she could have on others through dance.

After more than a decade of teaching and creating within other studios, Danielle took a leap—launching Variant Movement in 2021, during the tail end of the pandemic, while pregnant and navigating a high-risk pregnancy. What began as a low-risk experiment with a single studio room and a goal of 15 students quickly evolved into a thriving program of nearly 100 dancers in just four years.

Throughout the conversation, Danielle reflects on what it means to grow intentionally. Rather than chasing scale or multiple locations, she built Variant to stay small, personal, and deeply connected—ensuring every student is known, supported, and held to high standards both technically and personally. Success, for Danielle, isn’t just trophies or placements, but how students carry themselves, treat others, and grow into confident, respectful people.

The episode also explores Danielle’s experience as a working mother, balancing late nights at the studio with family life, and intentionally modeling ambition and leadership for her son. She speaks candidly about perfectionism, burnout, self-doubt, and the quiet pressure of wearing every hat as a founder.

Now entering its next chapter with the launch of Vivid, Variant’s elite performance team, Danielle reflects on the excitement—and fear—of growth, and why staying rooted in purpose matters more than ever.

This is a conversation about movement in every sense: physical, emotional, and personal. A powerful listen for creatives, founders, parents, and anyone navigating a pivot they never planned—but were meant for.

Photographer Matt Morgan sits down with Shady Characters to unpack a 20-year career that started in a high school photo class and led to shooting world-class athletes, punk rock icons, and award-winning commercial campaigns. From San Juan bathtub birth stories to photographing Shaq with nothing but a reflector, Matt reflects on creativity, lighting, fatherhood, golf, and the joy of capturing life — one frame at a time.

In this episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat welcome longtime friend and collaborator Matt Morgan — a photographer whose career is equal parts craftsmanship, curiosity, and character.

Born (literally) at home in San Juan Capistrano, Matt stumbled into photography in high school after ditching a one-on-one construction class. What started as a creative elective quickly became a lifelong obsession. With encouragement from his dad, a hobbyist photographer, and the early influence of surf/skate culture, Matt spent his teens shooting friends in the water, at skateparks, and for a small clothing brand he helped launch.

After a fleeting attempt at the corporate world, Matt found his calling in wedding photography — a space where entrepreneurship and artistry collided. That foundation eventually propelled him into the commercial world, where he built a reputation as a master of lighting and a photographer who can make anyone comfortable in front of the camera.

Matt shares stories from shooting global athletes for Power Balance, including a surreal first encounter with Shaquille O’Neal, where he had under ten minutes to get the shot and ended up standing on a chair just to reach eye level. He talks about capturing punk legend Dwayne Peters (while driving him to set as he rolled a joint in the passenger seat), working with deeply trained classical musicians, and leading the technically demanding multi-person composite portrait for the Pacific Symphony.

The conversation dives into Matt’s obsession with lighting, his ongoing commitment to learning (including workshops with iconic photographers), and his unconventional philosophy about not specializing in one niche — but instead using diversity of experience to fuel creativity.

Outside photography, Matt opens up about fatherhood, surfing, the camaraderie of golf culture, generational traditions, and the infamous Morgan Family Christmas Card — a full-scale, Norman Rockwell-inspired creative production he now builds every year.

It's a warm, funny, and deeply human look at a photographer who’s spent two decades capturing stories, studying light, and celebrating the beauty in the everyday. Whether you’re a creative, a photographer, or just someone who loves a good origin story, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and inspiration.

In this heart-forward episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Harrison Taylor, Director of Leasing & Development at Almquist, and one of the key minds behind River Street Market — the new cultural hub redefining San Juan Capistrano.

Harrison shares what it’s like to raise four kids on Los Rios Street, the oldest residential street in California, and why the community’s small-town heartbeat is something he never plans to leave. From Trader Joe’s managers picking figs off his tree to seeing neighbors at River Street every weekend, he reflects on how intentionally connected San Juan really is — and why he believes that’s worth protecting.

He walks through his unexpected career pivot: leaving a decade in corporate electrical and solar sales, joining the Planning Commission to learn the development world from the inside, and ultimately being tapped by developer Dan Almquist to help shape River Street’s tenant mix. Harrison breaks down how he evaluates brands, why personality matters as much as financials, the wild story of landing Kovás Boots, and the pressure of curating a space that both honors history and brings something new.

Beyond development, Harrison opens up about starting Rad Dads, a men’s group born out of church, friendship, and vulnerability. He shares stories of pushing past comfort zones, dealing with stress and mental health, and the surprising power of showing up for other men in similar stages of life.

The conversation ranges from generational rowing stories and heirloom rings, to family legacy, surfing accidents, faith, and finding your place in a fast-moving world. At its core, this episode is about community — how to build it, how to protect it, and how to grow with it.

A must-listen for anyone who loves San Juan, is curious about development, or believes deeply in the value of showing up for the people around you.

From Oakley to ASICS, Amy Miller has made a career out of helping people find happiness at work. As the brand’s Director of People Capability, Culture & Global Engagement, she joins Shady Characters to talk about leadership, purpose, and how a 102-year-old Big Bear cabin, a VW van named Goldie, and a Japanese philosophy called Ikigai all tie into building a life—and workplace—you actually love.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPY: AMY MILLER ON PURPOSE, PEOPLE, AND IKIGAI AT ASICS

In this warm and inspiring episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Amy Miller, Director of People Capability, Culture & Global Engagement at ASICS, to explore what it really means to find happiness at work—and in life.

A natural storyteller and connector, Amy shares her journey from retail training at Oakley to shaping culture at one of the world’s most recognized athletic brands. She talks about ASICS’ founding philosophy, Anima Sana In Corpore Sano—“a sound mind in a sound body”—and how that guiding principle has shaped not only her leadership style but also her personal outlook.

From her global role bridging cultures between the U.S. and Japan to her efforts in building ASICS’ first-ever global career development program, Amy gives a candid look at what drives true engagement: joy, purpose, and connection. She reflects on lessons from Japanese concepts like Ikigai, the sweet spot where passion meets purpose, and shares how she’s bringing that philosophy into modern corporate life.

Outside of work, Amy’s adventures are just as intentional—from weekend escapes to her century-old Big Bear cabin, van trips in Goldie, her trusty VW camper, and life with her 16-year-old “adventure cat,” Soba. Together, they embody the same spirit of curiosity and balance she champions professionally.

This episode is a reminder that success isn’t about climbing faster—it’s about pausing long enough to ask the question Amy built her career on: “Am I happy?”

Former NFL safety Chris Conte joins Shady Characters to talk about growing up in Hollywood, chasing football dreams to the NFL, and life after the league. From locker room legends and “The White Unicorn” nickname to raising kids, coaching young athletes, and building community in San Juan Capistrano, Chris opens up about competition, family, and the next generation of sport.

What happens when a Hollywood kid grows up to play in the NFL—then trades stadium lights for youth sports fields? In this episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Chris Conte for a candid conversation that spans childhood dreams, the business of football, and building a life after the game.

Chris shares stories from his upbringing in the Palisades, where his father’s career as a feature film editor exposed him to movie sets, actors, and the creative energy of Los Angeles. But while the family’s roots were in Hollywood, Chris’s obsession was always sports. He recalls endless days playing soccer, basketball, and flag football—eventually walking the path from Loyola High School to Cal, and finally to the NFL.

From being drafted by the Bears to battling concussions and criticism in Chicago, Chris reflects on how perspective changes with time—and why resilience, humor, and humility matter more than stats. He opens up about life in Tampa, the meaning behind his infamous nickname “The White Unicorn,” and meeting his wife Steph, a former Buccaneers cheerleader, whose family’s story adds an even deeper layer to his journey.

Now a father of three, Chris talks about raising competitive kids, the lessons he hopes to pass down, and the importance of keeping sports fun. He dives into his work with Sports Movements, a youth training program that teaches speed, strength, and agility, and his growing involvement with Next Gen Flag Football—a community-driven league helping both boys and girls fall in love with the game.

It’s an unfiltered, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about identity, transition, and what it means to find new purpose once the pads come off. From Soldier Field to San Juan Capistrano, Chris Conte proves that the same mindset that drives greatness on the field can build something even more meaningful off of it.

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.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Captain Howard Hart, a retired Naval Intelligence Officer turned civic leader in San Juan Capistrano. Hart recounts his 30-year military career, the harrowing morning of September 11th, and the split-second twist of fate that saved his life as the Pentagon was struck — an experience that left him with lifelong survivor’s guilt and a renewed sense of purpose.

From monitoring Soviet submarines and counterterrorism intelligence to rebuilding life after 9/11, Hart’s story spans decades of service and sacrifice. He opens up about the cost of leadership, the responsibility of protecting secrets that safeguard national security, and the often-misunderstood realities of intelligence work — including what the public gets wrong about “Big Brother” and conspiracy theories.

Transitioning from military to civic life, Hart shares how he applied the same principles of duty and communication to his role as San Juan Capistrano’s District 5 Councilmember and former mayor. He discusses the human trafficking ordinance that became his proudest legislative achievement, his advocacy for equestrian heritage and sober living reform, and his ongoing fight against the proposed battery energy storage facility threatening local safety.

At its core, this episode is a reflection on service, stoicism, and community. Hart speaks candidly about faith, leadership under pressure, and the importance of empathy — whether commanding intelligence teams or answering residents’ Facebook comments at 2 a.m.

Equal parts military memoir, civic masterclass, and human story, this conversation reveals the heart behind the uniform — and the man still serving his country, one hometown decision at a time.

Advertising veteran Lee Kovel joins Shady Characters to trace his career from Cleveland radio spots to Madison Avenue campaigns and California agency life. He shares stories from the golden age of advertising, lessons on leadership and client trust, and how AI is rewriting creativity itself.

From splicing tape in the 1970s to creating fully-AI-produced commercials in 2025, Lee Kovel has lived every creative era of advertising. In this episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Lee to unpack his remarkable journey — from his teenage ad contests in Cleveland to working alongside legends at Y&R, McCann, and JWT, where he collaborated with icons like James Patterson and Bill Cosby and helped launch brands like Dr Pepper, Miller Lite, and Mazda.

Lee talks candidly about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in the creative business — from foam-core pitch boards and late-night edits to AI-generated campaigns that cost a tenth of what they used to. He reflects on founding Kovel Fuller, one of Southern California’s largest independent agencies, the risk of betting his house on its success, and the lessons he learned from clients like Yokohama, Sizzler, and Disney.

The conversation dives into creativity, risk, leadership, and how authenticity and tenacity still matter more than ever — even in an age of algorithms. Whether you’re in advertising, film, or just love a good underdog story, this episode is a masterclass in grit, reinvention, and storytelling.