Andy MacKenzie: Kwala (Ep. 263).

Andy MacKenzie: Kwala (Ep. 263).

Author: Shan August 9, 2025 Duration: 1:29:03

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In this episode, I sit down with Andy MacKenzie, the former owner of Kwala Distribution - a key player in shaping the scene throughout the golden era of 90s Australian skateboarding. We talk about the early days of Kwala, the brands it supported, the tours it facilitated, and how it helped feed the culture, both locally and internationally.

Andy opens up about the challenges of running an independent distro, what the skate industry looked like behind the curtain, and what brought about the company's eventual demise. It’s a raw, honest convo about passion, loss, resilience, and how our experiences in this life can shape our perspective for the better... if we choose so.

Enjoy,

Shan

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Music credits:

(Intro) Music by Def Wish Cast.
Song: Forever
Album: The Evolution Machine
www.defwishcast.com.au
https://defwishcastofficial.bandcamp.com/ 

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/avbe/night-in-kyoto

License code: BUWOJ51XIZRYYQJ2

(Outro) Music by Athron (for THT)



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You'll find a particular kind of honesty in the conversations on Terrible. Happy, a podcast that sounds like a late-night chat in a backyard after a long day at the skatepark. Host Shan sits down with a rotating cast of characters from the Australian skateboarding scene and beyond, but the talk rarely stays on just tricks and terrain. It naturally veers into the messy, funny, and deeply human stuff that happens off the board: the struggles with fitness, the odd jobs that pay the bills, the mental health ups and downs, and the pure, alternative comedy of everyday life. This isn't a polished production; it's the raw audio of community, capturing the specific voices and stories that make this culture tick. Listeners will hear genuine interviews that feel more like catching up with an old mate, punctuated by the occasional chaos of THT Radio segments. It’s about finding the connection and the laughter in the grind, whether that's on four wheels or just trying to get through the week. The result is a uniquely Australian show that’s less about sports commentary and more about the shared, sometimes terrible, often happy reality of the people within it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 267

Terrible. Happy
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