We were lucky to catch up with Thomas Gaupp recently and have shared our conversation below.

Thomas, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

Without a doubt, reading, writing, history, arithmetic, science, physical fitness and health, should remain a part of the high school curriculum. However, in reimagining high school education, a trio of fundamental enhancements would enrich students’ lives and better prepare them for the future.

Firstly, integrating comprehensive financial literacy into the curriculum stands as a cornerstone. Equipping young minds with the knowledge of prudent investing from an early age empowers them to build a financial foundation. By fostering this fiscal acumen, individuals can chart a course toward financial independence, liberating themselves from the traditional reliance on employers for benefits like healthcare and pension. This not only ensures greater personal freedom but also encourages a mindset of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Secondly, nurturing individuality as an integral aspect of personal and collective growth is paramount. High school education should encompass discussions on the significance of embracing one’s unique identity while recognizing the interconnectedness of all individuals in the broader spiritual context. Encouraging self-discovery and celebrating differences not only fosters a more inclusive society but also cultivates a sense of belonging and understanding among students. This holistic approach to education lays the groundwork for empathetic, well-rounded individuals who appreciate the richness of human experience.

Lastly, high school should be a platform for dynamic exploration and the acceptance of failure as an inherent part of the journey to success. Offering students the opportunity to engage in internships and explore diverse career paths before college enables them to make informed decisions about their future. Emphasizing that evolution and change are natural aspects of personal and professional growth encourages resilience and adaptability.
By integrating these principles into the educational framework, we can mold a generation better equipped to navigate the complexities of life with confidence, curiosity, and a resilient spirit.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My priorities are God family country, and my affiliations, in that order. Having a foundation of Christianity gives me a moral compass and I do my best to make sure that my product doesn’t offend any of the aforementioned priorities. I’ve always had a creative entrepreneurial spirit, and an interest in helping others and making people laugh.

I spent the first 20 years of my life in a pool going back-and-forth swimming laps. I often asked myself, “What am I going to do with this skill?” Lifeguarding seemed like a logical step, but not a lifetime career.  In reflection, it was some of the best years of my life. I still consider myself a volunteer lifeguard, willing to risk my life in the ocean to save another. I’m eager to help anyone that seems in distress. I have to admit it’s hard to just sit on the beach and relax. I watch everybody, with a keen interest in safety for all.

I moved to Hawaii in the late 1990s with the desire to make surf movies. I started a business on the North Shore of Oahu with two newfound friends. A water cameraman a land cameraman and I was the editor and all-around cameraman too. We produced water sports programming to be televised on major sports networks. Eventually, our partnership dissolved but my love for surf remained.

In 2005 I started my surf podcast called Hawaii Surf Session Report. What set my surf videos apart from other surf videos, aside from the fact that there were not many surf podcasts at the time, was the fact that I didn’t focus on professional surfers. It was about the everyday surfer Joes and Bettys in the breaks, dogs on the beach, nature and lifestyle that surrounded the sport. I think this made it more appealing to independent surfers in the community as a whole. This is where I came up with my pseudonym, Tom e Stokes. My slogan was “Great Surf, Good Music and Bad Jokes”. It was a one-man show. I shot it, edited it and narrated it in my Bruce Brown folksy kind of way. I would post it the same day I shot it. As if that didn’t consume enough time, I also I also wrote music, sourced music to license for the show, managed the website, found sponsors and kept up with viewer email correspondence. It was in the top 20 podcasts for five years, but there just wasn’t much money generated by advertising in the early days of podcasting. I made over 285 episodes and it was viewed in 121 countries, my subscriber base was greater than our local newspaper. During that time I married, and started having kids. I had to start focusing my time more on family and profitable endeavors. After my computer system crashed, I was faced with a decision, buy a new computer or diapers for my kid. The decision was easy but ending my podcast was disheartening.

During an artistic hiatus, I became a full-time dad and I took a part-time job working for the top chauffeur service in Honolulu. That provided amazing opportunities for me to meet highly influential and successful people. A lot of those people took an interest in my story and encouraged me to continue podcasting. I helped others develop podcasts as well as a social media presence. Beyond consulting, i started an audio podcast in 2018.

While I haven’t quite yet returned to the video podcasting world, I have found great pleasure in doing an audio podcast. My current show is called Hawaii Posts. It’s gone through several starts and stops due to family life, the pandemic, and other uncontrollable circumstances. It’s always nice to return to the airwaves. The show centers around a seven-day forecast for weather, surf, night, sky, concerts and events that anyone can participate in around the islands. My experience, perspective and midwestern approach are what make the show unique. Having lived in Hawaii for 25 years I have a great affinity for the people, lifestyle, culture and history of these islands. I like to share my insight with the audience and often make fun of myself for being an Ohioan who still has trouble pronouncing Hawaiian. The longer the Hawaiian word the greater the likelihood that I stumble with a humble chuckle. Currently, I’m building a larger audience and enjoying good ratings in foreign countries like Australia and Japan

Throughout all my podcasts, creative contracts and jobs, one project has remained a constant, The 4 Buckeyes OHIO.

When I was a kid during the Ohio State football season, especially the colder days, my family and our neighbors would make funny signs and post them in our windows to share the Buckeye spirit. Of course, this was before text messaging, memes and social media. As I look back it seems like it was a foreshadowing of what I would be doing many years later in my life. I’ve always had a comical Buckeye Spirit and I want to perpetuate it through my comic strips, animations, original music and additional variety of Digital Media.

I wanted my kids to be interested in my college alma mater, The Ohio State University. So I created characters called the 4 Buckeyes. The 4 Buckeyes are 4 little buckeyes with the letters O-H-I-O in beige atop their brown bodies. They each have their personalities; Big O is die-hard Ohio State fan and the leader that keeps the other three nuts in line, H is witty and goofball, I is an overly fanatic Buckeye with a silly cheerleader spirit and Little O has hints of being a coach (think Woody Hayes), with matter of fact humor.

Originally, The 4 Buckeyes premiered as pregame animations on YouTube from 2009 to 2015 after that it transitioned into comic strips for Facebook and Instagram. After 14 years, the 4 Buckeyes have developed quite a following and I’m grateful for the support they receive. I still hope to monetize the project and leave it as a legacy for my children, for them to continue in the future.

Everything I produce for the 4 Buckeyes is “kid-tested and mother-approved”. I often consult with my mom and my kids for ideas that would work for my comic strips. With the 4 Buckeyes, you won’t see much hatefulness about the opposing team, you will see good-natured mascot humor. The 4 Buckeyes are family friendly and in doing so I hope that it has a lasting appeal and a greater acceptance among fans. I would be stoked to see the 4 Buckeyes make a special appearance alongside Brutus Buckeye during Ohio State games, energizing the crowd and performing silly antics

This past year I’ve transitioned to be more of an Artistic Director than a hands-on artist. I could “only spin so many plates” as the expression goes. Taking a page from some of the great artists, such as Andy Warhol or Roy Liechtenstein, they had understudies that would help them complete many of their most famous works. Recently, I have been contracting with artists, to provide illustrations and music, that are based on my concepts and directions, which are often delivered as storyboards, sketches and sophomoric musical compositions. My decision to contract out for work, was because my family and work life was becoming more busy and I didn’t have time to do the quality work that I thought was necessary to continue the 4 Buckeyes.

This year, with the help of my contributing artist, Riski @Genicstudio I revised the look of the 4 Buckeyes. They now have cleaner lines, more poses and facial expressions. Also, the format of my comic strips has changed from 1 page that included multiple frames to now being done in a panoramic format which is cut into multiple photos/frames that are seamlessly pieced together using the SCRL app, #scrlapp. I call these new comic strips “Swipe Left Comic Strips”, I think it’s a good look and adds an interactive aspect for the reader. Thus far, I received good feedback from my fan base.

I suppose my podcasts and the 4buckeyes comic strips are professional hobbies, that I supplement with my job, creative contracts in marketing advertising and branding. It’s enjoyable to help others accomplish their vision for products and brands. Sometimes focusing on solutions for others brings fresh ideas for my projects.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I started my podcast in 2005, I was one of the first video Podcasters on Apple iTunes. It was at the time when Steve Jobs introduced the video iPod. 2006 In Youtube came along and it provided another venue to distribute my videos. Then in 2007, Apple released the first generation iPhone. Video consumption was readily available in the palm of your hand. It was a special time, the market was hungry, so in a way, I was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time. The reality is, it was more than luck, I was growing with the market and I had to work to keep my content fresh by constantly evolving and customizing it to keep my audience engaged and at the same time, expand my audience to new viewers. I committed to it  with it for seven years until my computer crashed I ran out of money.  Using my reputation as a successful podcaster and pioneer in social media, I often consulted people in creating podcasts and helped in developing social media influencers. My first piece of advice is always –Jump right in. Your first show doesn’t have to be perfect, you can build it to what you want over time. You just got to get started. My second piece of advice is to have plenty of content because if they come for one show they’re going to know what else you’ve done, so it’s best to have a strong catalog to keep the viewer entertained and wanting more.
When I started The 4 Buckeyes, my goal was to start a new niche of animated mascot entertainment. It’s evolved over the years from animation to comic strips. The challenge I faced with The 4 Buckeyes was and still is the fact that it is a seasonal podcast/feature. When the football season is over The 4 Buckeyes take a vacation until the next season. I’m realizing to make it work and reach that tipping point of success, I will have to find new ways to keep the 4buckeyes relevant and active throughout the year. This may be creating game apps, coloring books, and comic strips for other Buckeye sports and activities throughout the year. Needless to say, I have a few good ideas that I am working on.

When I started Hawaii Posts podcast I knew it was a great idea with a popular subject. I have come to realize that most people only go to Hawaii once in their lifetime. My target audience is temporary, to say the least. This has created a challenge for me to provide something more than just a weekly update about Hawaii. Because if you listen to a show about weekly events the content becomes outdated by the following week. My goal is to capture the interest of avid podcast listeners, providing a catalog of features that stand the test of time.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Knowing people like what I do, is what keeps me going. Receiving feedback from the fan base and listeners is a great reward. When they tell me that they look forward to the next episode or comic strip each week or they share with me how my products bring joy to their daily lives or inspire them in other ways, I know that what I am doing is making a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: Tomgaupp.com
• Instagram: 4Buckeyesohio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4Buckeyes?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: Tomestokes123
• Youtube: @4buckeyesohio
• Other: Some of the original Hawaii Surf Session Reports are YouTube: @Tomestokes Hawaii Posts Podcast is on Apple Podcasts/Google Podcasts/Spotify/iheart podcasts Website: www.hawaiiposts.com Hawaii posts on Instagram is @hawaiipostspodcasts Another website which is in development is Tomestokes.com. This website will serve as a hub for all of my projects and e-commerce