Nmrl_MTBer interview w/ Fezzari to Ari and more - EP5

In this episode, the hosts and guest talk about their experiences at the Sedona MTB Fest and discuss the changing landscape of the bike industry. They also share their thoughts on Fizzari changing its name to Ari. The guest, Sebastian (Normal Mountain Biker), introduces himself and talks about his background in California, childhood adventures, bike origins, discovering mountain biking at Whistler, starting Normal MTBer, transitioning to social media during COVID lockdowns, finding comedy in content creation, getting sponsored by Specialized, meeting his mountain biking heroes, and dealing with negative comments on social media. The hosts and guest also discuss the challenges of producing engaging content, making mountain biking more accessible, the importance of trust in business partnerships, and the role of influencers in education and engagement. They address the conflicts between different user groups, the importance of welcoming newcomers to the sport, and the need for inclusivity. The conversation concludes with discussions on personal branding, fan interactions, the value of changing lives, future events and races, and plans for the podcast. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of being raw and authentic, including diverse perspectives, and creating relatable content for a wider audience.
Chapters
01:02 Meeting in Person for the First Time
06:12 Spencer and James Meeting in Person
08:11 James' New Job
11:05 Fizzari Changing Name to Ari
16:19 Introduction of Special Guest: Normal Mountain Biker
22:47 Sebastian's Background and Upbringing
25:36 Childhood Adventures and Bike Origins
33:15 Starting Normal MTBer and Choosing the Name
34:18 Transitioning to Social Media and COVID Lockdowns
36:19 Early Content and Finding Comedy
47:33 Water Polo and Mountain Biking
51:06 Style in Mountain Biking
52:09 Meeting Mountain Biking Idols
54:48 Transition from Fan to Peer
57:36 The Welcoming Mountain Biking Community
59:57 Favorite Videos and Memorable Moments
01:01:17 The No Handlebars Video
01:04:34 Dealing with Negative Comments
01:09:05 Negativity on Social Media
01:10:09 Dealing with Negative Comments
01:11:15 Misinterpretation of Comments
01:12:09 The Importance of Trust in Business Partnerships
01:13:23 Living Outside of California
01:14:19 Reno as a Mountain Biking Hub
01:15:25 Creating Content for Social Media
01:17:20 Working with Family
01:18:26 The Team Behind the Content
01:22:28 Creating Engaging Content
01:24:46 Generating Ideas for Content
01:26:57 Making Mountain Biking More Accessible
01:28:21 The Role of Comedy in Content Creation
01:29:47 Challenging Stereotypes and Relatability
01:30:20 The Value of Relatable Content
01:31:19 The Importance of Getting People Outdoors
01:32:48 The Three E's of Social Media
01:33:10 The Influence of Role Models
01:33:27 The Educational Role of Influencers
01:36:17 The Need for Welcoming Newcomers
01:39:58 The Battle for Trail Access
01:43:23 The Threats and Challenges Faced by Mountain Bikers
01:46:03 The Paradox of Hiking and Biking Trails
01:47:56 Contrasting Experiences in Different Locations
01:49:20 The Challenges of Personal Interactions
01:49:41 Working with Cody Kelly
01:57:23 The Impact of Social Media on Mountain Biking
02:11:09 Transcending Niche Sports
02:17:08 The Importance of Personal Branding
02:19:17 Troubling Fan Interactions
02:31:20 Upcoming Events and Races
02:31:56 The Importance of Being Raw and Authentic
02:36:13 Being Less Scripted and More Raw
02:38:01 Shaping the Brand and Voice
02:41:46 Spencer's New Bike and Racing Plans

[@vanhelzer22]

Thanks for the effort y’all! I really appreciate Sebastian’s take on the mtb scene. The mtb family welcomed me with open arms back in the day. That’s one of my biggest reasons for staying with it so long! Cheers 🍻.