The Paris Chong Show

Comfortable to Uncomfortable Confusion | Show Clip

Legendary skateboarder Ray Barbee describes the two distinct periods of "confusion" in his early career: the "comfortably confused" phase of success, sponsorships, and traveling the world, and the "uncomfortably confused" phase that followed, where the unwanted adoration and celebrity status left him feeling deeply unfulfilled and conflicted. He shares how this emotional struggle, combined with realizing the world's injustices, led him to a personal journey of seeking truth, ultimately finding a spiritual understanding that there is something bigger than himself. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #skateboarding #podcast #raybarbee

How Skateboarding Led Me to Guitar | Show Clip

Ray Barbee tells the engaging story of how he got his first skateboard, which was a hand-me-down from his friend Danny's dad, who grew up in the 70s park era of skateboarding. He describes the board—a vast improvement over the "banana boards" he'd seen—as the key that unlocked a new culture for him. This new board gave Ray and Danny the confidence to approach the "cool kids," who were skaters and surfers, at school. Accepted into this "brotherhood," Ray's journey as a skater took off, eventually leading to his professional career. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #skateboarding #guitar #podcast

Bedroom Snacks to London Life | Show Clip

Paris Chong recounts her dramatic personal transformation, revealing how she went from a self-described phase of "fat eating Ho Hos and Dolls in my bedroom watching MTV" one minute, to suddenly "living in London" and feeling "in love, and having fun" the next. She and her guest, Ray Barbee, share a moment of laughter and reflection on the sudden, significant shifts that can happen in life, setting the stage for a broader conversation about music, passion, and personal history. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #london #mtv #celebrity

Ray Barbee on Skateboarding, Photography, and a Life of Gratitude

Paris Chong sits down with her good friend, the multi-talented Ray Barbee, to discuss his new book, “The Joy is Capturing the Journey.” Ray, renowned for his legendary career as a professional skateboarder and a gifted photographer, explains how the book's title reflects his passion for documenting his blessed life and the sheer fun he finds in the process, from shooting to printing in the darkroom. The conversation also touches on his enduring career in skateboarding, including his long-standing sponsorships with brands like Vans and Crooked Skateboards, and a look back at his most significant skateboarding injury—a broken scaphoid bone that kept his wrist in a cast for nine months. Ray shares details about his family and musical roots, noting that his two sons are both skateboarders, with Max recently earning a full-ride football scholarship. He recalls growing up with jazz and soul music in the house, thanks to his parents, but notes that MTV introduced him to rock and roll, sparking his desire to play guitar. He shares a charming story of performing an air-broom guitar solo to AC/DC’s "For Those About to Rock" at a fifth-grade talent show. This early passion for music, combined with a fortuitous gift of an old-school skateboard, laid the foundation for his professional life. The discussion highlights the beautiful connection between Ray's skateboarding and photography styles, describing both as an improvisational act of "documenting moments" and "being surprised by something and hitting it... in the moment." An accomplished musician as well, Ray discusses how technology allows him to be a "one-man band" using a pedal to turn his guitar into a bass. Wrapping up, he mentions his newly released EP, “Little Postcard,” and his upcoming plans to support both the book and the album with a photo exhibition and performance at the Moments Festival in Spain. Ray attributes his famously cheerful demeanor to his faith, quoting the proverb, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful," and expressing deep gratitude for his journey. Show Notes: www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/ray-barbee-on-skateboarding-photography-and-a-life-of-gratitude Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Meet Ray Barbie: Skateboarder and Photographer 00:46 Ray Barbie's New Book 02:33 The Joy of Skateboarding 05:16 Family and Parenting 08:08 Growing Up with Music 18:48 Discovering Skateboarding 24:43 From Skateboarding to Street Photography 25:50 The Parallels Between Music and Photography 26:17 Skateboarding and Rhythm 26:59 Desiree and Photography 27:36 Transitioning to Podcasts 30:37 Faith and Spirituality 38:29 Seeking Truth and Finding Peace 48:44 Upcoming Projects and Travels 51:19 Conclusion and Farewell 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

17,000 Steps | Show Clip

Photographer Dennys Ilic reveals the intense physical demands of his work, sharing that he logged 17,000 steps during a single concert shoot—the equivalent of walking from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica—while burning 1500 calories. He also discusses his preferred gear for concert photography, explaining why he uses the Leica SL series cameras for their superior low-light performance and smaller file sizes, which is necessary when shooting 5,000 photos a day. The conversation lightens as Paris Chong praises Dennys' unique and highly sought-after homemade "den bread," leading to a humorous discussion about the serious investment offers he has received to scale his baking operation into a commercial venture. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilic https://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6o https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #photography #leica #10000steps