NOVEMBER 2024
November 2024
PW: Hey Gio! You’ve been a great friend and contributor to Pup-World since the beginning. It was about time we got you on our cover. So, what have you been up to since your Woodpile interview a few months ago?
GIO: Awwrufff! I’m really honoured to be Pup-World’s easy, breezy Cover Pup—thank you so much for having me! Since Woodpile, I’ve let my bratty, extroverted, slightly unhinged side out—meet Dirtpaw! Gio’s quiet confidence is still here, but Dirtpaw’s been pawing to get out and play for a while. I also just celebrated my 7th pup birthday on 27 October. My journey’s always evolving, and the time was right to introduce Dirtpaw to the world.
I’ve been having quite a few adventures getting to know some other pups—every time we go out, we always end up running into even more pups, it’s been a lot of fun! I’ve also ordered a custom hood in purple and orange (not revealing it yet!)—I’ve designed it so I can slide between Gio and Dirtpaw easily depending on my mood that day.
PW: The weather is starting to change and winter is coming. Do you celebrate the holidays? If so, what do you have planned?
GIO: I do celebrate, but I keep it low-key. For me, it’s about warmth and good company. My family is spread across Europe and the west of North America, and I’m not enough of a masochist to travel during the holidays—so it's cozy nights in, catching up with friends and taking time to unwind. Food is love to me, so I like having get-togethers where I prepare a home-cooked meal, throw on a classic Star Wars or Indiana Jones flick, and just chill. That’s what makes it special.
We should never be complacent and assume those we love just know. It’s so important to tell them often what they mean to us.
PW: How are things in the pup realm? Anything exciting?
GIO: The pup realm has been a vibe lately! I went to the first-ever Nuzzles event down on the coast, and it was amazing—the organizers had originally anticipated 35–40 pups, and ended up being 160 strong! They put so much heart and passion into it and defo raised the bar on pup socials. I don’t think anyone expected it to take off like this—the pub kitchen even ran out of food! This was Dirtpaw’s first proper event and it’s been fun letting him find his place in the community.
I also had a quieter day out with Pup Danny, just the two of us, exploring some rooftop gardens and sights around London. He’s at a bit of a turning point, figuring things out and thinking about what comes next. He’s like a sibling to me and someone I care for deeply—I’ll always make time for him without a second thought. But it was also a reminder that we should never be complacent and assume those we love just know—it’s so important to tell them often what they mean to us.
PW: Any big goals for 2025?
GIO: A few! I’ll be continuing to work out regularly to stay trail-ready—mountain biking and freeriding are some of the most important ways for me to de-stress. I’m not 20 anymore, so it’s a commitment to stay in peak condition and avoid middle-age spread! I’d also like to share more of my experiences with neurodiversity so others know they’re not alone in their journeys. On the work side, I’ll be setting clearer boundaries to focus more on the creative side of my role—and I intend to progress my semi-autobiographical book 1998: 60 Days of Summer which explores the shit we got up to in the mid-90s West Coast skate scene—for anyone interested. I’ve published the first eight chapters, but it’s a labour of love and a long way to completion.
PW: How about a New Year’s resolution?
GIO: Not so much a resolution, but more a reminder to keep learning, growing, and being curious about the world around me. Maybe push myself a bit further out of my comfort zone now and then, keeping an open mind and connecting more deeply with the people who are important to me. And, hopefully, taking a bit more time for myself along the way.
