Selema Masekela: Building Culture Beyond the Mic

Selema Masekela is one of the most recognizable voices in action sports. From snowboarding and surfing to skateboarding and the X Games, he has spent decades helping bring the culture and its biggest moments to a global audience. In this episode, Selema looks back on moving to California, discovering action sports, and working as a restaurant busboy before landing his first media job at TransWorld. He shares how stepping behind the microphone launched a career that would take him across the worlds of snowboarding, surfing, and beyond. We also talk about music, creativity, and legacy. As the son of legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela, Selema felt hesitant to begin making music himself. But finding his own relationship with music ultimately brought the two closer than ever. From Alphanumeric and Burton to the X Games, the Tony Hawk 900, and the evolution of action sports culture, this is a conversation about taking chances, finding your voice, and building a life around what moves you. 0:00 Meet Selema Masekela 0:32 The $5 Table Hustle 6:20 Winning Over Transworld’s Crew 8:15 A Painful Job Rejection 9:43 Landing The Receptionist Job 10:42 Answering Phones, Learning Everyone 12:37 Lesson On Fear And Opportunity 13:32 Surfing Metaphor For Taking Chances 15:59 Chasing The 10% Feeling 18:20 Meeting Ali, Building Alpha Numeric 21:07 Naming Alpha Numeric 23:05 Leaving Chris Miller’s Mentorship 24:32 Launching With Mystery Ads 25:54 Building A Culture-First Team 28:46 Getting On The Mic 32:34 X Games And Selling Out 33:59 ESPN Recruits Him At A Bar 36:50 Counting 2,300 Broadcast Hours 38:16 His Father’s Practice Philosophy 41:32 Getting Into The Zone 42:27 Skate Crews And Future Stars 43:22 Reconnecting With Method Man 47:38 Becoming Action Sports’ Father Figure 49:06 Learning To Say “We” At ESPN 53:55 Trial By Fire Training Camps 55:52 Leaving ESPN For Red Bull 58:16 Returning To X Games 58:43 George Floyd And Finding His Voice 1:04:28 Calling Out Gatekeeping In Culture 1:05:24 The Nickname “Sal” Origin Story 1:09:23 Reclaiming The Name Selema 1:12:22 Brand Identity Versus True Self 1:14:56 Music As Therapy And Roots 1:26:32 Making His First Album 1:29:55 His Father’s Emotional Reaction 1:34:45 Recording A Song With His Father 1:37:08 Parents Are Just Figuring It Out 1:38:11 Defining What “Brand” Really Means 1:40:36 Brands He’s Excited About Now 1:43:27 New Shows, Films And Memoir 1:46:20 Risking It On A Stunt Show 1:48:16 Girls Are Saving Skateboarding 1:50:06 Why He Studies Women Athletes