<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Episode:&lt;/strong&gt; Big Truth Podcast — with Cary Brobeck (Owner/Editor-in-Chief, &lt;em data-start="691" data-end= "710"&gt;Choppers Magazine&lt;/em&gt; + Founder/Organizer, &lt;em data-start= "732" data-end="746"&gt;Chopper Fest&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong data-start="776" data-end="793"&gt;Core promise:&lt;/strong&gt; A behind-the-scenes look at how chopper culture actually gets preserved and pushed forward—through print, shows, relationships, and a lot of unglamorous work.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Cary Brobeck breaks down the &lt;em data-start="1012" data-end= "1018"&gt;real&lt;/em&gt; day-to-day reality of running an iconic print magazine in an internet era while still working a full-time construction/QC job, plus what it took to take over &lt;strong data-start="1177" data-end="1193"&gt;Chopper Fest&lt;/strong&gt; and scale it to &lt;strong data-start="1210" data-end="1231"&gt;10,000+ attendees&lt;/strong&gt;. The conversation hits chopper culture's punk/DIY roots, the market's price swings, the importance of &lt;em data-start="1334" data-end="1346"&gt;showing up&lt;/em&gt; in the industry, and a major mission: preserving &lt;strong data-start="1396" data-end="1410"&gt;David Mann&lt;/strong&gt; artwork and artifacts via the &lt;strong data-start="1441" data-end="1473"&gt;David Mann Legacy Foundation&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt; &lt;/h3&gt; &lt;h3&gt;Key topics &amp; highlights&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="1506" data-end="1642"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1506" data-end="1523"&gt;Chopper Fest:&lt;/strong&gt; how Cary took over a 20-year legacy event (originally tied to David Mann) and &lt;strong data-start="1602" data-end="1639"&gt;doubled attendance year-over-year&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="1645" data-end="1753"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1645" data-end="1671"&gt;The grind nobody sees:&lt;/strong&gt; why "owning a magazine" doesn't mean you're not still clocking in at a day job.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="1756" data-end="1873"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1756" data-end="1796"&gt;Why choppers (not just motorcycles):&lt;/strong&gt; the punk/skate/custom-culture pipeline—loud, dangerous, DIY, and personal.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="1876" data-end="2001"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="1876" data-end="1892"&gt;Market talk:&lt;/strong&gt; vintage bike pricing swings (knuckles, pans, shovels), and why things feel like they're "breathing" again.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="2004" data-end="2131"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2004" data-end="2032"&gt;Publishing origin story:&lt;/strong&gt; Dice → early projects → working with &lt;em data-start="2070" data-end="2083"&gt;Easy Riders&lt;/em&gt; / &lt;em data-start="2086" data-end="2094"&gt;Wrench&lt;/em&gt; → the path to &lt;em data-start="2109" data-end="2128"&gt;Choppers Magazine&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="2134" data-end="2270"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2134" data-end="2169"&gt;Choppers Magazine name revival:&lt;/strong&gt; how "Choppers Mag" (Ed Roth era) became available—and why Cary got the Roth family blessing first.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="2273" data-end="2433"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2273" data-end="2303"&gt;Preserving motorcycle art:&lt;/strong&gt; the plan to collect and protect David Mann originals + artifacts so they don't disappear into attics, estates, and trash piles.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="2436" data-end="2578"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2436" data-end="2467"&gt;Harley sponsorship reality:&lt;/strong&gt; how Cary views working with a corporation while staying rooted in the culture—plus why relationships matter.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="2581" data-end="2708"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="2581" data-end= "2597"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What's next:&lt;/strong&gt; more shows, possible "town takeovers," and future special issues (including an all-women riders edition idea).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt;For More Info:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;" data-start="4168" data-end="4205"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong data-start="4168" data-end="4190"&gt;Choppers Magazine (IG):&lt;/strong&gt; @choppersmagazine&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style= "margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chopper Fest (IG):&lt;/strong&gt; @chopperfest&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p data-start="4208" data-end="4276"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p data-start="4208" data-end="4276"&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, &lt;strong data-start="4326" data-end= "4346"&gt;follow/subscribe&lt;/strong&gt; to the Big Truth Podcast, leave a &lt;strong data-start="4381" data-end="4398"&gt;5-star review&lt;/strong&gt;, and share this one with a builder, a rider, or anyone who cares about preserving culture—not just consuming it.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;This episode is about keeping real culture alive — the Back Channel is how we do the same for this show.&lt;br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" data-start= "2113" data-end="2116" /&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--&gt;&lt;br style= "mso-special-character: line-break;" /&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Independent. 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font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background: white;"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background: white;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;"&gt; The Big Truth Podcast is proudly sponsored by:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;"&gt; - Choppahead Kustom Cycles (IG: @choppahead /&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href= "http://www.choppahead.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; 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color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;"&gt; - Heavy (IG: @heavyclothing /&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href= "http://www.heavy.bigcartel.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background: white;"&gt; www.heavy.bigcartel.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;"&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Big Truth Podcast

Big Truth : Anthropologist, Custom Motorcycle Builder, and Podcaster

#158 – Cary Brobeck : on Choppers Magazine, Ed Roth, David Mann, and Preserving Chopper Culture

FEB 18, 202676 MIN
The Big Truth Podcast

#158 – Cary Brobeck : on Choppers Magazine, Ed Roth, David Mann, and Preserving Chopper Culture

FEB 18, 202676 MIN

Description

Episode: Big Truth Podcast — with Cary Brobeck (Owner/Editor-in-Chief, Choppers Magazine + Founder/Organizer, Chopper Fest) Core promise: A behind-the-scenes look at how chopper culture actually gets preserved and pushed forward—through print, shows, relationships, and a lot of unglamorous work. Cary Brobeck breaks down the real day-to-day reality of running an iconic print magazine in an internet era while still working a full-time construction/QC job, plus what it took to take over Chopper Fest and scale it to 10,000+ attendees. The conversation hits chopper culture's punk/DIY roots, the market's price swings, the importance of showing up in the industry, and a major mission: preserving David Mann artwork and artifacts via the David Mann Legacy Foundation. Key topics & highlights · Chopper Fest: how Cary took over a 20-year legacy event (originally tied to David Mann) and doubled attendance year-over-year. · The grind nobody sees: why "owning a magazine" doesn't mean you're not still clocking in at a day job. · Why choppers (not just motorcycles): the punk/skate/custom-culture pipeline—loud, dangerous, DIY, and personal. · Market talk: vintage bike pricing swings (knuckles, pans, shovels), and why things feel like they're "breathing" again. · Publishing origin story: Dice → early projects → working with Easy Riders / Wrench → the path to Choppers Magazine. · Choppers Magazine name revival: how "Choppers Mag" (Ed Roth era) became available—and why Cary got the Roth family blessing first. · Preserving motorcycle art: the plan to collect and protect David Mann originals + artifacts so they don't disappear into attics, estates, and trash piles. · Harley sponsorship reality: how Cary views working with a corporation while staying rooted in the culture—plus why relationships matter. · What's next: more shows, possible "town takeovers," and future special issues (including an all-women riders edition idea). For More Info: · Choppers Magazine (IG): @choppersmagazine · Chopper Fest (IG): @chopperfest If you enjoyed this episode, follow/subscribe to the Big Truth Podcast, leave a 5-star review, and share this one with a builder, a rider, or anyone who cares about preserving culture—not just consuming it. This episode is about keeping real culture alive — the Back Channel is how we do the same for this show. Independent. Direct-to-listener. No gatekeepers. Join here → http://www.patreon.com/bigtruth Follow us on IG: @bigtruth TikTok: @bigtruthpodcast YouTube: @thebigtruthpodcast For feedback, questions, sponsorship info contact: [email protected] For more info: http://www.bigtruthpodcast.com To support the show: http://www.patreon.com/bigtruth The Big Truth Podcast is proudly sponsored by: - Choppahead Kustom Cycles (IG: @choppahead / www.choppahead.com) - Tattoo Flash Collective – www.tattooflashcollective.com – use promo code: BIGTRUTH for 10% off your order - Omerta (IG: @omertamia / www.omertamia.com) - use code: BIGTRUTH at checkout for 20% off your order! - Heavy (IG: @heavyclothing / www.heavy.bigcartel.com)