I love listening to Rodney speak. Not just about skating but his thoughts in general. The man is undoubtedly a genius.. If he wasn't who knows where skating would be. Thank you Rodney for inspiring me for 30 years!

I can't skate but watching and listening to Rodney has had a profound affect on my life, his intense study of reason and consequence in skating is a modern day parable. I would say he is deity as his level of commitment is as close to a spiritual progression as can be. knowing the pain and torture he has gone through to achieve tiny small changes in his physiology, just so he can continue to innovate and further extrapolate the tricks. shows he is the Zen of skateboarding but he is also an ambassador of this uniquely individual and highly creative art. He belongs in the history of America because he begat a revolution in consciousness as well as art in to athleticism and the creative mind. When I see skateboarders I marvel at the intense yet casual mindspace they manage to inherit it's awe-inspiring a complete breakdown of art, athletics, physics and pure style. I salute you Roddney and I salute you skaters of the world who continue to innovate and push all boundaries because that's living life at the forefront of time and space and that is what life is about.

He needs to write a book.... These videos are great and they last forever, but he's got so much to share, and it needs to exist in every media. I don't know if comments on this stuff reach you Rodney, but if its in you, write it all down man. I want my kids if I ever have any to know it like I have come to.

His take of an ollie is the most complete and technically thought out explanation I have ever heard.

Thee most influential man in skateboarding. Period.

Hell yeah! He's getting that confidence back. The man was one of the heros of my youth, and there was nothing like watching him win that contest in the fountain in San Francisco's Civic Center. He'd already won, but he went huge for the second run. Rodney Mullen, skateboarding needs you! So stoked to see you in good shape.

WOW. I clapped at the end. I sk8ed in the 80s and 90s in dc md va. I had many boards taken from me sk8ing in DC near were this interview took place. I am so glad that we as a community have the Most articulate and beautiful mind representing US from the past, present, and for the future. Thank you Mr. Mullen

this man invented the ollie, kickflip, impossible, heelflip and the list goes on...friggin ballet on a skateboard.he is the best on the street....

That was incredible. I would absolutely love to hang out and discuss life and skateboarding with this guy. He is so down to earth and humble! Always my hero.

its good to see him skating again in his late fortys. its gettin rarer and rarer to see Rodney skate in videos these recent times. nice vid

Congratulations Mr. Mullen on the Lemelson Honor. The last 6-weeks of watching you here on KZfaq have excelled me in self-development and wanted to take the time to thank you personally. Keep the faith, your mission is paying dividends in value. ~~~Jason

The thing I love most about him is how humble he is. Even when he's discussing his credited invention of the ollie, he still doesn't feel like he should be given the credit. He's such a great guy, and an incredible skater. A true role model.

I love this guy and wish I could have skated with him just once back in the day.When I watch Rodney and listen to him talk about the mechanics its a language only skaters can understand,feeling the concave under your feet knowing every inch of your board with your feet like a blinde persons fingertips on brail,we talked with are feet we expressed ourselves with are style.We supported each other with every trick over and over tell one of us nailed it.Hitting that first handrail or landing flat on your back off the launch ramp knocking the wind out of your lungs and dancing the dance of pain battle wounds I carry to this very day.I can't skate anymore cause of health reasons but I still fill every move and when watching Rodney I feel every trick he does in my minds eye my body almost wants to jerk like when dreaming yet half awake.I miss skating so much it was in my blood and can you believe that my home state now has the most skateparks.....Oregon the rain state?Well hopefully Oregon can produce some Rodney Mullens & legends like Natas Kaupas and give a boy or girl a chance at making history. Hopefully showing the world that legends can come from any small town if you give them a place and a chance to thrive the will.There's a little Rodney and Tony Hawk in all of us and I'm totally happy that my state gives little guys and gals a chance at becoming pro.How cool is that considering over 20 years ago skaters were hated and laughed at in my little town,we were public enemy#1 blamed for running over senior citizens and destroying public property almost terrorist LOL.

Rodney Mullen has been my favorite skater for as long as I can remember and it is truly an inspiration to see him talk about everything he has done and continues to do. I haven't skated in probably 6 or so years but I still love watching anything that he does. He inspires me to continue my dreams in other things besides skating and it is an honor to once be a part of the sport that he has pretty much created today.

No one ever deserved recognition more. Brilliance & a genuine, humble human being. I could listen to him theorize all day. Everytime he simply talks about skating I pick up a pointer or 2, his analytical POV helps my frantic ADHD mind analyze things more precisely. Truly the 'Godfather' of Skateboarding.

I've been following this guy for over more than 10 years, his view and teaching of life and skateboarding are so inspirational. This guy got me into science, skateboarding and helped me look over the horizon instead of being in your comfort zone. Thank you Rodney Mullen for being yourself for so many years :)

When I was a kid playing tony hawk games, I had no idea I was gonna resonate with the skaters on soul levels

He is the best example of how you can be recognised for so many things and not become mainstream, he chose not to have the fame that Tony Hawk did, he just loved skateboarding he didn't care about the fame he just wanted fulfill his passion. Truly an inspiring man, I am skateboarding because of him thankyou, rodney

Wow this brings tears to my eyes. Hearing him speak so passionately about skateboarding makes me really appreciate my love for skating even more.

Rodney Mullin hands down the most impactful and top innovater, as well as contributer to skateboarding today

is just me or does he seem to be on a genius iq lvl?

'my best friends were hoofed.' God bless this dude.

7:42 There are footages from 70's when Rodney make ollies as well, even with flips. So I think he is just modest, because it was him who invent ollie.

I watched the bones brigade movie the other day on netflix. I dont know why but i just like the way he talks.lol

It's nice to see a video of Rodney that takes enough time to let him explain things the way he sees them for you to realize what a genius he truly is. He tends to come across a bit weird in short soundbites. I've been lucky enough to meet him and skate with him. And every true skater owes him a debt of gratitude for the innovation he's brought to the sport. My hat is off to you friend. Cheers.

When you first hear him you think, "ok he might be pulling a Deepak Chopra with his comparisons physics, etc", but then he starts talking about vectors and components, and you realize he actually knows something about physics.

I don't skateboard much, but as a snowboarder this really hit home for me. I have so much more respect for Rodney Mullen now. He is more than a great skateboarder, but an amazing, intelligent person who truley cares about skateboarding and creativity.

This is so much deeper than skateboarding. This guy is talking about life in itself. I can now confirm that Rodney Mullen is, in fact a genius.

it's great that he's probably the main person who probably knows exactly how he does any trick. you saw him brieflly try to explain manuals and you can just tell he's thought about it very deeply, where everone else is just like "just try to balance"...basically...it's awesome. been watching rodney videos the past week, still going

from the point of view of an engineer, and lover of the characterization of the systems of any kind, I find it amazing what rodney says and his point of view his approach is basically analytical, but constantly breaks down the elements of his construct, for use in other systems, as he himself says This is the basic principle on which form the construction of new systems in nature, new cell structures, new ways of thinking simple awsome rodney, i feel very close to you when you talk and talk

Such a beautiful video. Rodney is so humble, and so intelligent. His way of explaining life and skating make you ponder it, and reevaluate yourself. I highly respect Rodney for his innovation, as well as his humility. He has had a massive influence in modern-day culture, and no one really knows it. Rodney influenced me so much as a kid and helped mold who I am by this imagination and skill. Thank you for this video and for taking such an interest on his view and innovation.

to me Rodney Mullen is God Of The Skateboard

listening to Rodney talk while watching his parts on mute in another tab, makes his parts so much better

This let the day open for huge possiblilities. In so many ways you are pin pointing the "skateboarders" life not all to center around one thing because life is a constant of variables as well. Needing a place to fit...I would have love for the LemelsonCenter to participate a little more than they have, how ever I really can't complain. For the first time besides watching the massive videos of how to's you have open my mind to many possiblities so I do also thank you for haveing this interview.

This man should be getting all the big bucks, we owe everything to him. Every skateboarder does, yet he's so incredibly humble. And when I listen to him talk and watch him skate I realize how much most skateboarders are sucked into the "mainstream" way of skating.

For as long as I have enjoyed skateboarding, Rodney has ALWAYS been such a great inspiration in starting skateboarding. I am grateful to be skateboarding for that reason.

I couldn't have said it better myself ! I was about to comment something just as similar but it seems you've already beaten me to it. He also a very poetic way of describing his thoughts and feelings. Very humble indeed.

Every street skater alive owes so much to this man. Truly a great human as well.

Had heard of Rodney Mullen but never actually heard him and now that I have, without even seeing any actual skate vids of him can tell his tricks are amusing. He is imaginative.

Rodney is once again giving to society for the very fact that anyone who watches this can gain something from it. Younger people should realize that creativity is a combination of education and natural talent and it's okay to value education and try hard. Older people benefit from this video by realizing even sports which tend to have a bad stigma (ie. punks/burnouts) can produce innovative, intelligent, creative thinkers and encourage their children more. Thank you for everything Rodney!

i found this very very enjoyable. thank you to whoever posted this.

I grew up watching the Bones Brigade and he was always my favorite. He was way ahead of everyone else, that they didn't understand it because of vert ramps, pools and half-pipes. His chessboard desk is a work of art too.

RODNEY MULLEN YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION ! , my reason I am so brave and willing to take risks and willing to push the boundaries farther then ever ! , my first vid I saw of you was in tony hawk 2 , the clip at the end with A F I -boy who destroyed the world , your every type of word that associates with creative and inspiring that there are , I hope one day to skate with you and be humbled by your potent remarkable energy , thank you so much for staying skating and thank you for inspiring me ! :)

Forefather of skateboarding. I skate when I can, I have skated for about 6 years and am at a great point in my "trick alphabet" expansion, as Rodney coined. I love skateboarding and appreciate its possiblities. I feel that it converts negative feelings into an ingenuitive energy. Shred on my fellow soldiers of the gnarr, yee street gorillas, thy griptape pirates, HARDFLIP WILSHIRE 10 in the rain. Skategasm. Thank you Rodney, I truly appreciate your definition of skateboarding.

I'm a 19 year old girl from Hong Kong, and I didn't really know what skateboarding felt like until 2 months ago when I finally got a skateboard for myself. Before I came to australia where everyone had a skateboard, my impression of skateboarding was a way of travel that allowed people to fly over obstacles at speeds and over distances we couldn't accomplish only by two feet. Now I know where all the flying began.

Skateboarding is so complex yet very simple, mostly mental, without Rodney Mullen Skateboarding wouldn't be as advanced as it is today, lets all be thankful he didnt quit, Imagine being him being the first to do those tricks, its like writing instructions on a blank canvas for the world, its Law and Order and simple math 1+1=2, He has reached algebra stages. Tony Hawk inspired me to skate and Rodney Mullen made me think and progress.

Rodney really gets it, and his thoughts and ideas here apply to many things beyond skateboarding. It brings me great joy to feel the shared context of passion.

such a sweet, talented, humble & intelligent man. The world needs more Mullens.

i learned a lot about skateboard, but also as a musician a learned a lot about music from this video.

As a juggler, I found this video interesting because innovation in juggling shares a lot of similarities with that of skateboarding. There are families of patterns in juggling which are constantly being explored. Fortunately for juggling, it has a mathematical notation and so these families of patterns/tricks can be more easily identified and grouped. I guess if someone were to create a mathematical notation for skateboarding, the same could perhaps be achieved.

smartest skateboarder of all time. havent seen a video part in a long time from rodney

Rodney has a beautiful mind

wow he got all emotional in the end of the video. so great to hear him speak from his heart.

i don't even skateboard but Rodney is one of my biggest inspirations. absolutely amazing guy

hats off to Rodney. what a tremendous honor to be interviewed at the Smithsonian.

So humble and well spoken. Awesome skateboarder. Awesome person.

Seen almost all of Mullen's interviews. The guy's the closest thing I have to a role model.I don't even skate that often, but it doesn't matter. He has such great messages to give people.

damn what an inspiration. rodney is the what sparked my initial interest in skateboarding. he's the one that made me go out and skate. so sick that he's recognized like this!!

Rodney Mullen is the essence of being something more. He's not only my Hero, but a person a aspire to be.

I'm so glad to see him still skating!

Good on you mate. I really respect his spirit. You deserve it and thanks to the Smithsonian for recognizing a true innovator! Cheers.

I wish i had the brain of this man, so i could think like he does. To be able to be so passionate about something to never quit and always progress. I have to say im jealous.

"skateboarding is as much or more of an art or mode of expression than it is a sport" a lot of love for you Rodney. I hope i get to meet you some day.

I could listen to Rodney talk for hours, the guy is a legend!

Thank you for this video. Rodney is one of a kind.

Always an intersting person to listen to speak. His TEDx talk (also here on KZfaq) is an excellent talk too.

Thanks Rodney! Great interview

I would be blessed to know this guy. eccentric, smart and humble.

What a fantastic guy. I think this video should be shown to schoolchildren; they could learn a lot about innovation, critical thinking, and being humble from Rodney.

Rodney create the real freestyle skateboard. his a god damn legend and its great to see him skate. Been a while since we didnt get news from him on skateboard video.

One of my alltime hero's. The man is a true genius. So much respect.

gotta give the guy props for inventing something which a lot of sports are trying to emulate and also spawned. rodney you are the man! by inventing a new way of expression of ones self. i am too able to express myself in what i do in life along with everyone who does this so called "extreme sports"

I thank God at the time I love skateboarding the Inventor is still alive. He is humble, well behave, dedicated to the sport,and he really shows that skateboarding is all about sport, fun, and love (we do what we love right?), there is nothing about crimes or vandalism

he's TOTALLY rockin' a gold TOOF!! dang..he's so OG

Wow. That was a lot to take in. Rodney your a true genius it's always people who look from a different angel who innovate.

my best friends were hooved...amazing.

I love when a multimillionaire (in this case Rodney) dress and look like an average person, he is such a modest person.

His description at 12:43 about breaking down the learning process by component vectors has a name - it's called "dynamic learning". I once had a conversation with a professor earning his masters degree on different learning tendencies and he taught me the term. We compartmentalize individual pieces of the leaning process and eventually, they coalesce into a singular form. It's interesting to recognize, because it speaks to the way different people think and learn and process information.

The epitome of his understated humility "half an hour / an hour you have an ollie". "You" has such gravitas that he doesn't undrerstand. Literally a living legend

I wish I could have seen this video 25 years ago when I was trying to learn how to ollie... He explains it so well. It took me years to get more than a few inches off the ground. Rodney turned skating completely on it's head. The vert guys at the time were the "real" skaters, while freestyle guys were, somewhat appropriately, considered lame. Then Rodney opened up skating to everyone, everywhere, and we see where it is today. He is an exceedingly rare savant.

Genius and revolutionary innovations and ideas are always something that is so simple. The ollie is a perfect example of this

I am simply blown away, how he talks about skating..

who wants him to live young 4ever :'( ?

Rodney Mullen skateboarding on the roof of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History with the Washington Monument as a backdrop is like the most American thing ever

When I skated in the mid-80's, freestylers were the outsiders (welinder and mullen). Rodney hits one key aspect of skating....comradery. Nobody judged by game, gear, or performance. One might reach higher praise, but all buds brought their boards to the ramp/street course and did their thing. The contest was judged; but not the skaters amongst themselves...we were all homies at the end of the day. Hard to find togetherness like that in U.S. competitive sports today.

He is amazing to listen to and watch.

Rodney was always someone I idolized as a kid constantly rewinding and rewatching his parts in skate tapes. Now years into adulthood and long past dreams of being pro I idolize him even more. retrospectively, I should've had more friends with hooves and built more potato clocks as a kid

man, this guy is so humble. amazing

The spirituality he exudes when speaking about the physics of skateboarding leaves one in complete awe of his mind. "Innovation is complicating a subject until it becomes mite simplistic".... The mutt is good....

If only lectures were expressed with his level of intuition and clarity. skate-ology!

i could just listen him talk for hours, genius, the things that he did for skateboarding.

Couldn't agree more with top comments. Rodney is a genius and a beautiful person.

Who ever says rodney isnt the best take a good look at wat all the pros do and everyone else does rodney invented tht trick and hes the reason y we can do these tricks without rodney we wouldnt know wat tricks to even do thank you rodney for the inspiration and motivation to skateboard u r a legend

A joy to listen to.

I get stoked to sk8 just by earing the man

Skateboardings Einstein :p I was impressed with this even more so then when watching his early video parts I remember how excited and hyped up I was to go skate after watching him in round 1 and 2 of Rodney Mullen vs dawon song if you haven't seen those clips yet I recommend um highly

I admire his thinking and insight...

its just interesting to hear him talk, guy should be on radio...

The local skate shop had Rodney Mullen there many years ago and he actually followed us to a skate spot.He is such a cool person to bullshit with.

His voice is so calming...