Andy MacKenzie: Kwala (Ep. 263).

Andy MacKenzie: Kwala (Ep. 263).

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

Send us Fan Mail

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

Support the show and get discounts! (Click on the links):

LIFE CYKEL - Mushroom extracts (10% off)  or Coupon code: THT at checkout 

10% off your order by clicking the link OR use code THT at checkout! Aussie-made mushroom extracts for focus, energy, and recovery—on and off the board

KRUSH ORGANICS - CBD oils and topicals (40% off) Or use Coupon Code: THT at checkout.
(shipping is WORLDWIDE and fast).
Reduce anxiety and sleep better with CBD oil, the health benefits are unquestionable....and it’s all natural.

BREATHEEZE - Nasal Strips (15% off) Or Coupon Code: THT at checkout
Snoring? Tired and frustrated by blocked airways? Picture the freedom of easy breathing and unlock your full potential with our nasal strips and mouth tape!

INDOSOLE - Sustainable footwear ( Click link for 15% off) Or Coupon Code: THT at checkout
(shipping is WORLDWIDE and fast).
Sandals made from recycled Tyres. Timeless footwear for the conscious consumer.

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)



Support the show

FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE SHOW
Follow on Instagram
Follow on Facebook


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
Podcast Episodes
Darren (Rudolph) Stapleton: Ho Ho's and Guitar Picks (Ep. 222). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:57
Send us Fan MailThe one and only Darren (Rudolph) Stapleton joins myself, and this week's co-host, Ti Coleing for an in-depth exchange about his life so far. A trailblazer of the street skating scene from the late 80s, D…
Chad Caruso's Ride from Addiction to Advocacy (Ep. 219). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:17
Send us Fan MailI'm stoked to bring you a conversation with Chad Caruso, a dude who embodies what it means to push yourself to the limits. Chad's story is a wild ride from the streets of New York to the Guinness Book of…
Steve Tierney: En la vida real (Ep. 218). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:45
Send us Fan MailLast episode for 2023. Steve is back on the show for a second time this year. Checkout our first episode #202. Unlike our first episode (which was an online recording), this week's episode is in real life…
Poppy Starr Olsen: Culture over competition (Ep. 217). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:06
Send us Fan MailPoppy Starr Olsen is an artist and skateboarder. In this week's episode, Poppy shares about her early years growing up in Bondi, her family's decision to move to Newcastle, her unique education journey, r…
Nathan Kealy: The GOOD PUSH. A suicide prevention mission (Ep. 216). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:03
Send us Fan MailNathan Keeley will be riding his skateboard, unassisted, over 300 kilometers from Port Macquarie to Newcastle in the name of suicide prevention. Nathan has osteoarthritis in his knees. In this week's epis…
Marley Rae: Authentic skateboarding (Ep. 215). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:30
Send us Fan MailMarley Rae is a sponsored Australian skateboarder, occasional competitor, university student, retail worker, and purveyor of good vibes. In this week's episode, Marley discusses his part in the skate movi…
Shan and Jeremy: Across the board (Ep. 213). [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:56
Send us Fan MailA laid-back episode this week, with no interview, just some friendly banter with an old friend, a past guest, a Beatles enthusiast, and a skate aficionado – Mr. Jeremy Rowling.Jeremy and I delve into our…