San Diego skateboarder Brandon Turner moved up quickly in the sport, moving from local skate spots to major sponsorships and world tours. From skateboarding prodigy to rock bottom, now he's redefining addiction recovery and constantly evolving his understanding of control, identity and success.

Long Description/Show Notes:

In the '90s, Brandon Turner was a skateboarding prodigy, landing major sponsorships and touring the world with big-name skate teams. What looked like momentum from the outside often meant constant motion, pressure and independence arriving long before most people reach adulthood. And he ended up in prison.

In this episode, he revisits that period and the skateboarding culture around him during his rise, from the energy of the scene to the decisions he made as things moved quickly. Today, not only does he operate his own addiction recovery center — he's skating better than he ever has before. He reflects on the highs and the dark moments that followed and how those years shaped his sense of identity and his approach to responsibility and control.

" Skateboarding is just like life. It's not if you will fall, it's when you'll fall. But the more important thing of it is what you're going to do when you pick yourself back up," Brandon said.

He also shares what it means to learn through experience, how to foster that evolution in other people — and how his perspective continues to shift. It's a conversation about growth, accountability and moving forward when life doesn't follow a straight path.

Guests:

• Brandon Turner, professional skateboarder and founder of Westside Recovery

Sources:

• Brandon Turner: The Prodigy Returns (Michael Burnett, Thrasher Magazine, 2020)
• Fulfill the Dream, Short skate film (1998), Brandon Turner segment
• Guilty, Short skate film (2001), Brandon Turner segment
• 90s Skate Prodigy Brandon Turner on Addiction and Recovery (Miss Rosen, Huck Magazine, 2023)
• The Second Coming of Brandon Turner (Jenkem Magazine, 2021)