Greg Cipes is Michelangelo; both on television (NickelodeonsTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesanimated series) and in real life.
Hes full of joy and zen-like thoughts, as youll see throughout the interview.
And of course, he loves pizza (sprouted buckwheat crust with avocado and green algea).
Im craving raw food now, so enjoy this interview while I make a grocery run for spirulina.
Greg Cipes:Yeah, it was my favorite show as a kid and still is.
Every Halloween for six years I was a Ninja Turtle and Mikey was my favorite.
The turtles really made me who I am today.
And skateboards as well and then I just never stopped.
I became third in the US as a junior pro surfer.
Its a surprise, but Im also like, wow, this is kind of all perfectly connected.
Ad content continues below
DoG: How much of yourself do you see in Mikey?
GC:A lot, really.
I get texts from Ciro Nieli (executive producer) all the time.
He has to put a lot more work in the show than me.
When Im animating, Im drawing you, and Im listening to your voice, youre there.
DoG: For Halloween, were you always Michelangelo?
Did you go as any of the other turtles?
Ive been all the turtles.
I just remember by all my weapons, Ive had all the weapons.
GC:Oh, for sure I did.
Its been a long time so I cant really remember what I did during recess.
[Laughter]Role playing games as far as I can remember always had to do with the turtles.
I loved the nunchucks.
Swords were a little harder to come by so Leo was the harder one to be.
DoG: Youre very involved in nature.
Do you still camp a lot?
Are you involved in outdoor activities?
GC:I do as much outdoor stuff as I can.
Its called Laurel Canyon.
Its either I have to be in the trees or in the ocean, otherwise I lose my mind.
I have to get connected with nature, otherwise I dont feel very good.
And thats what lifes about, feeling good, so nature knows best for me.
I found a turtle that became my best friend as a kid.
Interestingly enough, his name was Spike, which is the turtles name on our show.
I found him while camping in the Georgia Mountains on the side of the road.
DoG: In the recording booth youre very active.
You feel it when you watch it.
Theres an organic connectivity between all of us.
DoG: Have you recorded the episode with the 80s turtles?
How was that experience, working with your childhood idols?
I didnt go back and reference it when I auditioned for Mikey.
I just brought whatever Mikey did for me in real life to the character.
I was told they were coming in and I was like, Thats awesome, thats awesome.
And when the turtles came in, [Townsend Coleman] signed right on top of my Mikey!
Like, hes messing with me!
DoG: No, Its gotta be booyakasha.
GC:ItisBooyakasha, and kids love it.
I do a lot of outreach programs for kids.
They brought me in and its so wild and overwhelming and amazing to see how kids love our show.
The first thing I said was, Booyakasha, and I go, You all know who that is?
and all four thousand kids are all MIKEY!
So booyakasha, really is a very powerful catchphrase.
I think it is bigger than cowabunga is now.
Kids dont know what cowabunga is.
But for me, when I was a kid, cowabunga was a big deal.
It really means something special too.
Its a positive affirmation; it means bringing love in to the now, in to the situation.
DoG: I love that positivity!
Its really great that you do all that charity work.
GC:Its becoming my main focus.
Its what makes me feel best.
I love being around children because they are unconditioned and ultimately theyre what Mikey is.
So its kind of all I want to do.
Better than you could have imagined, every time.
Getting the role of Mikey is an example of that.
Like us onFacebookand follow us onTwitterfor all news updates related to the world of geek.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
