From Oakley to ASICS, Amy Miller has made a career out of helping people find happiness at work. As the brand’s Director of People Capability, Culture & Global Engagement, she joins Shady Characters to talk about leadership, purpose, and how a 102-year-old Big Bear cabin, a VW van named Goldie, and a Japanese philosophy called Ikigai all tie into building a life—and workplace—you actually love.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPY: AMY MILLER ON PURPOSE, PEOPLE, AND IKIGAI AT ASICS

In this warm and inspiring episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with Amy Miller, Director of People Capability, Culture & Global Engagement at ASICS, to explore what it really means to find happiness at work—and in life.

A natural storyteller and connector, Amy shares her journey from retail training at Oakley to shaping culture at one of the world’s most recognized athletic brands. She talks about ASICS’ founding philosophy, Anima Sana In Corpore Sano—“a sound mind in a sound body”—and how that guiding principle has shaped not only her leadership style but also her personal outlook.

From her global role bridging cultures between the U.S. and Japan to her efforts in building ASICS’ first-ever global career development program, Amy gives a candid look at what drives true engagement: joy, purpose, and connection. She reflects on lessons from Japanese concepts like Ikigai, the sweet spot where passion meets purpose, and shares how she’s bringing that philosophy into modern corporate life.

Outside of work, Amy’s adventures are just as intentional—from weekend escapes to her century-old Big Bear cabin, van trips in Goldie, her trusty VW camper, and life with her 16-year-old “adventure cat,” Soba. Together, they embody the same spirit of curiosity and balance she champions professionally.

This episode is a reminder that success isn’t about climbing faster—it’s about pausing long enough to ask the question Amy built her career on: “Am I happy?”

Former NFL safety Chris Conte joins Shady Characters to talk about growing up in Hollywood, chasing football dreams to the NFL, and life after the league. From locker room legends and “The White Unicorn” nickname to raising kids, coaching young athletes, and building community in San Juan Capistrano, Chris opens up about competition, family, and the next generation of sport.

What happens when a Hollywood kid grows up to play in the NFL—then trades stadium lights for youth sports fields? In this episode of Shady Characters, hosts Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat sit down with former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Chris Conte for a candid conversation that spans childhood dreams, the business of football, and building a life after the game.

Chris shares stories from his upbringing in the Palisades, where his father’s career as a feature film editor exposed him to movie sets, actors, and the creative energy of Los Angeles. But while the family’s roots were in Hollywood, Chris’s obsession was always sports. He recalls endless days playing soccer, basketball, and flag football—eventually walking the path from Loyola High School to Cal, and finally to the NFL.

From being drafted by the Bears to battling concussions and criticism in Chicago, Chris reflects on how perspective changes with time—and why resilience, humor, and humility matter more than stats. He opens up about life in Tampa, the meaning behind his infamous nickname “The White Unicorn,” and meeting his wife Steph, a former Buccaneers cheerleader, whose family’s story adds an even deeper layer to his journey.

Now a father of three, Chris talks about raising competitive kids, the lessons he hopes to pass down, and the importance of keeping sports fun. He dives into his work with Sports Movements, a youth training program that teaches speed, strength, and agility, and his growing involvement with Next Gen Flag Football—a community-driven league helping both boys and girls fall in love with the game.

It’s an unfiltered, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about identity, transition, and what it means to find new purpose once the pads come off. From Soldier Field to San Juan Capistrano, Chris Conte proves that the same mindset that drives greatness on the field can build something even more meaningful off of it.

Journalist, storyteller, and Oakley veteran Chasen Marshall joins Shady Characters for a deep dive into the power of storytelling, creativity, and staying curious. With a background in journalism and a decade-plus inside Oakley’s walls, Chasen has lived the evolution of content — from magazine features and surf trips to global brand films and NFL campaigns.

He shares how his early days as a writer and photographer shaped his approach to brand storytelling, why authenticity always beats polish, and what it means to lead creative work that still feels real in an algorithm-driven world. From documenting the rise of surf culture to helping Oakley launch products for the NFL and even NASA’s Artemis mission, Chasen’s work proves that purpose and storytelling can live comfortably inside the same frame.

The conversation spans his time as a surf journalist, his leap to Columbia’s journalism program, and his unexpected shift into brand storytelling — a transition that tested his sense of creative integrity and redefined what “truth” means inside a marketing department. He also talks about teaching his kids curiosity, the fluidity of surfing as a metaphor for creativity, and how each product — even a surf helmet — can carry a story worth telling.

It’s a thoughtful, grounded look at how journalism, marketing, and storytelling collide — and how to keep your craft honest in a world of short attention spans and quick wins. Whether you’re a creative, marketer, or storyteller yourself, this episode is a reminder that good stories never expire — they just evolve.