Kevin Wilkins was my longest-running magazine editor and he was my friend.
Before that, he was the mind behind the very well-respected “Toner” column in TransWorld.
I’d never seen skateboarding written about the way Kevin did in “Toner”. In fact, writing about skateboarding in such a manner had never even occurred to me. And from what I read in all the other mags at the time, it didn’t seem to occur to anyone else either.
Fifteen years before I knew Kevin personally, “Toner” was what sparked my interest in writing to begin with as well as the inspiration and the glimmer of hope that I might be able to write for skate mags myself one day.
The fact that I ended up writing for him was something I never would have imagined.
I owe my career and success to many amazing people in the skateboarding world, but almost no one more than Kevin. Its the type of thing that floats around in my mind, always. Not just the gratitude, but the fact that I was able to work with one of my biggest inspirations collaboratively for so many years and that he chose me for his mag.
The writer I am now didn’t take shape when I started writing, but during my time at The Skateboard Mag with Kevin as my editor. He knew I had a vision and was trying to do something different and he believed in me and let me find my lane, while simultaneously keeping me in check and guiding me with his experience and wisdom. As a writer, nothing is more paramount than that combination faith and guidance from an editor.

This interview took place in October of 2023 and we spoke for hours. Our intent was to have a second conversation but Kevin’s condition began to worsen, so we never got around to it.

I believe this is Kevin’s final interview on camera, therefore I didn’t cut any content out. Just a few audio glitches and breaks we took. What you will see is a raw conversation between friends, fellow skaters and writers and old co-workers. I felt that we should see as much of Kevin as we could now that he is gone.

I knew I was interviewing a man who wouldn’t be with us much longer. Kevin knew it too. I noticed when we got on the call right away he was a little slower than normal … but I don’t go into these interviews with any sort of time limit or rules. I just want to be human.
I wanted to talk to my friend. I wanted to have him share things with us that maybe we didn’t know. I wanted to hear how he felt about cancer and his uncertain future. I wanted to thank him for helping and believing in me. I wanted him to know how important he was to so many people.
Editing this for the last two days, and watching us talk, it didn’t even feel like Kevin was gone. I honestly don’t know what was more strange, doing the interview with a dying man, or editing one after they have passed. Both new experiences for me, but spending the last 2-3 days with Kevin was awesome.
Huge shout out to Grind for Life and Mike Rogers. Kevin speaks at length about the organization, how they helped him and the amazing work they do. PLEASE donate if you can.
Huge “eat a dick” to Steve Berra, the rich guy, who Kevin explains didn’t fully pay out his friends and left them struggling when The Berrics bought their mag. No one’s suprised to hear yet another story like that about Steve, but I often wonder how someone like him lives with himself and his actions after a loss like this.
Don’t be an asshole to people. It really isn’t that difficult.
Thank you for everything Kevin. We miss you and love you ♥️🛹✍🏻

Brink’s Show is available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/UI4NS

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/xHR0a

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IG: https://instagram.com/robertbrink

⚠️ Trigger Warning: DOMESTIC ABUSE & SEXUAL ASSAULT. ⚠️

Christine Flannigan, ex-wife to professional skateboarder Chris Cole, candidly shares her experience enduring the multiple forms of abuse she experienced during her marriage and explains how she managed to escape it and start over to live a new and happy life.

By sharing stories like Christine’s and many others from the people I have, and will interview for Brink's Show, its my hope that the skateboarding community can begin to witness and engage in new, more candid dialogue about topics that are often difficult to discuss or rarely discussed at all.

The intent is not to be salacious or embark on witch hunts or “expose” anyone who has ever done wrong. We all make mistakes. We are not perfect..

Whether victim or perpetrator, you can turn your life around. But it’s important for us to better to ourselves and one another and, on the other side of that, to know we are not alone in our struggles and experiences—that there are people out there who love and support us and believe in the truth—and that there is light on the other side of the dark tunnel you might be in.

Thank you,

- Brink

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Brink’s Show is available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/UI4NS

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/xHR0a

YouTube: https://shorturl.at/RcJKB

IG: https://instagram.com/robertbrink

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Discussions of Sexual Abuse ⚠️

Jacob Rosenberg is a filmmaker, photographer, skateboarding historian/archivist, mentor and so much more. A personal friend of mine, I felt it was time the world got to know more about Jacob than many of his other interviews allowed. He had the faith and trust in me to open up and discuss so much more than just skateboarding filmmaking and I think anyone who is a life-long fan of skateboarding and Jacob and Mike Ternasky's work will appreciate this deep dive. From childhood traumas to fights with friends to his favorite films and directors, this is Jacob Rosenberg like you've never heard him before.

Order Jacob's new book "Right Before My Eyes": https://www.jacobrosenberg.tv/shop

Brink’s Show is available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/UI4NS

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/xHR0a YouTube: https://shorturl.at/RcJKB

IG: https://instagram.com/robertbrink

Shop The Nine Muses: https://robbrink.com/collections/the-nine-muses

Special thanks to the sponsors!

Thunder Trucks: https://www.thundertrucks.com/

Ace Coffee Outpost: https://acecoffeeoutpost.com/

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Discussions of Suicide ⚠️ 

In loving memory of Minnie Nicolaus

A life-long skater, Andrew Nicolaus is Team USA’s Skateboarding Olympic coach. He also co-founded and co-owns Faces skate shop (https://www.facesskateshop.com/) in Tempe, Arizona with longtime friend and professional skater Dashawn Jordan, in addition to other work like Olympic Gold Medalist Yuto Horigome’s longtime friend and coach and being Steve Berra’s right hand man at the Berrics.

Brink’s Show is also available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/UI4NS

YouTube: https://shorturl.at/RcJKB

Spotify: https://shorturl.at/xHR0a

IG: https://instagram.com/robertbrink

The Nine Muses Boutique: https://robbrink.com/collections/the-nine-muses

Special thanks to the sponsors!

Thunder Trucks: https://www.thundertrucks.com/

Ace Coffee Outpost: https://acecoffeeoutpost.com/