[Summary courtesy of Riverside's AI]: In this conversation, Ted Barrow discusses his background in skateboarding and academia, and how these two worlds have influenced his perspective. He shares his journey of balancing his passion for skateboarding with his academic pursuits in art history. Ted al...

[Summary courtesy of Riverside's AI]: In this conversation, Ted Barrow discusses his background in skateboarding and academia, and how these two worlds have influenced his perspective. He shares his journey of balancing his passion for skateboarding with his academic pursuits in art history. Ted also talks about the importance of critical thinking in skateboarding and how he developed a critical mindset. He explains the concept behind his series 'This Old Ledge' on Thrasher, which explores the history of skate spots and the built environment. The series has garnered attention and resonated with audiences, sparking a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of skateboarding. Ben and Ted discuss Ted's natural flow of information and storytelling abilities, honed through his experience as a walking tour guide. They delve into the story behind the Pyramid Ledges episode and how Ted's research led to unexpected connections and discoveries. They also explore Ted's sources of information, including art podcasts and skate videos. The conversation touches on notable stories, such as the Skate Gaze article and the Spots video. They discuss the fascination of This Old Ledge and the potential for future episodes. The conversation concludes with a reflection on skateboarding as a lifelong pursuit and a means to ponder the unanswerable questions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:33 Ted's Aesthetics and Academic Background 04:26 Exploring Art and Skateboarding in New York 05:42 The Openness of Art Spaces and Skateboarding 06:10 Moving to New York for Art Exploration 07:24 Transitioning to a Critical Perspective 08:24 Applying Academic Criticism to Skateboarding 09:05 Developing a Critical Mindset 10:04 Influence of Skaters' Critiques 11:03 Shifting Focus to Other Interests 12:06 Skateboarding and the Built Environment 13:05 Applying Skateboarding Perspective to Academia 14:25 Reevaluating the Importance of Skateboarding 15:24 Rediscovering the Significance of Skateboarding 16:12 Introduction to 'This Old Ledge' 19:09 Concept and Reception of 'This Old Ledge' 20:04 Exploring the Built Environment through Skateboarding 21:07 Unexpected Attention and Resonance 23:23 Ted's Natural Flow of Information 24:20 The Skill of Being a Walking Tour Guide 25:31 The Story Behind the Pyramid Ledges Episode 27:14 The Specificity of Skateboarding 30:42 Sources of Information 33:11 Reviewing Notable Stories 36:01 Exploring Connections and Possibilities 39:22 The Fascination of This Old Ledge 40:47 The Future of This Old Ledge 43:19 Encouraging Exploration and Discovery 44:29 Skateboarding as a Lifelong Pursuit