Craft Talk

In this episode, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Taylor DeRousse, whose new album “Running Back To Me” is the product of a decade long journey of self discovery and bold creative choices. During this album release cycle, I observed that she approaches her craft with so much intentionality, and isn't afraid to go for it. She not only understands the demands of being an artist, but also understands the work required to market her work in the social media space.Taylor also runs a music school called “Tailored Harmonies Music Co.” where she shares her passion for teaching music and providing custom paths for aspiring artists. She shares insights on her teaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of balancing emotional expression with technical skills and fundamentals.I really enjoyed learning about where Taylor's drive comes from. Hearing about her experience of being told that she can't do something, really explains why she's always rose up to challenges and made her want to fully commit to what she truly believes in. That drive shows up in her music, her teaching, and the way she builds her business.With her balanced mindset, I can't wait to see Taylor's success continue and I hope that the listeners enjoy our conversation!About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own!Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notesWebsite -  crafttalk.net

I'm so excited to speak with Ioana Jongsma, an executive presence coach and public speaking trainer. Ioana is an ICF Associate Certified Coach, a Gestalt Professional Certified Coach and a NeuroMindfulness Master Practitioner. Headquartered in Denmark, Ioana has worked with hundreds of speakers from all over the world including scientists, artists, educators, leaders, world record athletes, policy experts, and entrepreneurs to help them communicate their ideas. Whether it's for a TEDx talk, a pitch to investors, or a networking presentation, her goal is to help people clarify and structure their ideas, cultivate confidence, hone their personal style, find the right words, and build leadership presence.In this conversation, we explore the ins and outs of speaking in front of others. From how the body responds to stress, to reframing nerves as energy, to building trust through presence. This chat was a perfect combination of science and soul when it comes to the artform of public speaking. Whether you're an introvert, a seasoned speaker, or just trying to find your voice, this episode offers tools, insight, and warmth to help you grow more authentically in your journey to sharing your story.You can find Ioana's work on https://onspeaking.com/Enjoy!About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own!Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notesWebsite -  crafttalk.net

For this solo episode, I share 3 essential approaches to leadership whether you're stepping into a leadership role, refining how you lead, or just curious about what separates great leaders from bad ones.I hope that these items will help you on your own journey to leadership in whatever that looks like for you. The world is always going to be full of questionable leadership or terrible managers, but maybe in our own small circles, we can make even decisions to serve the people around us, and make any type of positive impact. And I think if that happens, it's all worth it.Enjoy!About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own!Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notesWebsite -  crafttalk.net

For this episode, I have a chat with Singer Songwriter, Jack Droppers. Jack has been in a band with his best friends for almost a decade, and he wouldn't want it any other way. I loved where this conversation went. From sharing our mutual connection to Orlando, to finding the hidden little things that we incorporate into our work, and also celebrating the fun and quirky methods that we have in order to chase down that great idea.Jack has really great insights when it comes to creative work. His music is really in touch with his personal memories and emotions, and also inspires listeners to ultimately celebrate life despite all of its imperfections. He understands the value of art, and also has a deep desire in expressing that the act of creating is just as important as the finished product.I can't help but to smile when thinking about how serendipitous this conversation was. To start the chat with me sharing a childhood photo wearing an Orlando Magic jersey (well before I've ever lived in Orlando), to learning how big of a basketball fan Jack is, particularly the Orlando Magic, and to top it off, the conversation about creativity was focused on finding the little MAGICAL moments to incorporate into our art. I mean, cmon!The band Jack Droppers and the Best Intentions is in the process of writing and recording their next album. Their latest album "Scooter" won the WYCE "Alternative Album of the Year" in 2024 and "Dad Rock" won the WYCE "Rock Album of the Year" in 2023Enjoy!About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own!Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notesWebsite -  crafttalk.net

For this episode, we are flipping the script. Creative storyteller and trusted friend, Beni Artreche, steps into the host's chair to interview me, your usual guide behind the mic. In this episode, we dive into my journey, the doubts I've faced, and the ideas that fuel Craft Talk. From where I came from to what keeps me curious, this conversation explores not just the story behind the show, but the power of leaning into uncertainty and asking the big questions. Beni's natural curiosity and thoughtful questions brought out reflections I didn't expect, making this episode both deeply personal and incredibly rewarding to record. If you've ever wondered about the heart behind Craft Talk—or wanted encouragement to explore your own doubts—this episode is for you. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

We're back with another episode of Craft Talk! Initially Rachele and I had planned to discuss a specific topic, but like most great conversations, some back roads and side streets were taken and although not anticipated, it ultimately led us into a fruitful topic of the “Niche”. “Finding Your Niche” has become a buzzword in social media and marketing circles. I, who sometimes have contrarian tendencies, shares doubts and gripes about the concept, while Rachele, a seasoned marketing expert with a focus on helping small businesses succeed in social media, provides a balanced perspective. She shares functional and practical tips in finding where we fit into all of this authentically but emphasizes how to avoid getting trapped by trends or algorithms. We hope that this conversation helps you take time to observe your goals, reasons and “why's” so you can ultimately present the most honest version of you online. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Happy 2025! As we look ahead to the potential that the new year brings, I wanted to share 3 concepts to help you think about some intentions that you could implement into your own life. In this episode, I offer some tools to help us set more wholistic goals, help us visualize how to achieve those goals, and also give ourselves a kind reminder if we don't end up “meeting the goal” As much as these are intentions and wishes for my year, it is also my wish that these ideas are something that you can adopt into your own new year planning. I can't wait to see what 2025 has in store for us! Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  ⁠crafttalk.net

In the final episode of 2024, I'm reflecting on the year and sharing my theme of “The Year of Content (Yes, the way you look at it matters)”. This theme has been an important framework for my creative identity. By setting intentional boundaries and giving myself permission to push myself, it helped me navigate finding balance and peace with my creative output, while also pushing myself at the same time. While I still feel like I have more work to do to truly achieving this balance, I truly feel that I've gotten closer to it with this theme, and I hope that it can do the same for you! Lastly, I would like to thank EVERYBODY who has supported Craft Talk. I'm extremely grateful for all of the guests that have agreed to have a chat with me. I'm extremely proud to have created something meaningful and I'm looking forward continuing to collect, observe, and share all of these great ideas with you. Thank you! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

This marks the 50TH EPISODE of Craft Talk, so I invited my wife Amanda to join me and celebrate the milestone! In this episode, Amanda shares her journey into becoming a Physician Assistant (PA-C). Her early interest in the medical field and her own personal medical journey led her to wonder what career avenue is best suited for her. After bouncing around many different types of programs and jobs such as physical therapy or nutrition/dietetics, she ultimately decided to obtain a pre-med undergrad degree so she can apply to PA school. This conversation led us to talk about self doubt, confidence, and fighting for balance while pursuing our careers. We also chat about her love of all things houseplants, animals, books, interior design, and Taylor Swift! Amanda's intelligence, empathy, and perseverance is something that I admire about her everyday, and I am absolutely honored that she's open to sharing her experiences and vulnerability on this chat with you all. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Eric Novak and Maurice Hogan is the creative duo behind 31 and Up Media, a Production company that specializes in video and photography for social media. Their company services many local businesses from schools, pizza shops, fashion designers to HVAC companies. As much as their business is technically driven with cameras and microphones, the team sees their role as more than just a “tech” or a “videographer”. Their ultimate responsibility is to helps their clients share their story in a fun, informational, and authentic way. In this chat, we explore the idea of translating different skillsets into our current work. Having experience as musicians, they are familiar with key skills such as improvisation and collaboration, which are crucial elements to possess in fast paced live environments such as grand openings, ceremonies, concerts and weddings. As I got to know Eric and Maurice, I observed that their superpower is the ability to make people feel comfortable. Having this in their tool belt elevates their craft because creating a comfortable environment allows the client to feel at ease, which results in a better performance on camera, which ultimately provides the best end product. I really appreciate having them on Craft Talk and we hope you enjoy our chat! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Joe is a cartoonist based out of Greenville, South Carolina. In this episode, we explore playful topics such as Dungeons and Dragons, childhood memories, and storytelling. We also dive into more heartfelt and vulnerable ideas like creative doubts, mental health, and belonging. Although we've been Instagram buds for some time now, this was my first time formally meeting Joe. I really enjoyed discussing some of the similar thought processes that we go through. I also appreciate how open he is about the struggles of burnout and balancing your passion with daily life. I feel like it's something that all of us deal with in some shape or form, so a lot of the things we chatted about really resonated with me and I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy the episode. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

As creative minds, we are on a life long pursuit of finding our uniqueness. Surrounded by talented and seemingly original people all around us, it's easy to start thinking: “where do I even begin?” or “I feel like everything has been done before” or “what I do isn't THAT special or unique, is it even worth pursuing?” In this episode, I share a few concepts and ideas that help me unpack this topic, and I also share a practical exercise to provide a visual representation to guide us into realizing that all work that we do inherently has our unique fingerprint embedded all along. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

“While I can't change the entire art world, I can change my small corner of it. Art has only ever been in my life because it was made accessible to me. I will always work to keep my art accessible to you, because art should be accessible for everyone.” - Erica Helder Erica Helder is an abstract artist based out of Brant, Ontario. Erica's creative journey did not start in the abstract art world; actually, quite the opposite. As a child who grew up in challenging circumstances, Erica found incredible support from her local community and was sponsored to be an apprentice of a local community artist where she learned the craft of oil painting and photorealism. As she developed her skills and grew her experience as a gallery represented artist, she realized that the life of galleries and the style of photorealism did not resonate with her goals. As her journey continued over the years, Erica discovered a love for a more nuanced artistic expression. She found herself experimenting by blending her photorealistic training while embracing the imperfections. Over time, her style evolved even more into a medium that expressed the human condition such as bittersweet emotions, deep personal loss, and change. I had an awesome time chatting with Erica. I am so fascinated by creative minds who allow their intuition to guide them in their work. To be able to observe the world around them, absorb it, and be able to translate extremely complex feelings and emotions into a medium that communicates to everyone universally is amazing. There are so many lessons in this chat that we could all transfer into our own life and work so we hope that you enjoy the episode! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Vita Artreche is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) that has worked in countless events ranging from conferences, trade shows, weddings, and fundraisers. She is currently the Conference Director for Jesus Film Project where she leads the event team with day to day operations, strategy, and professional development. This was such a fun conversation. For about a decade, I worked in the hospitality/convention industry with an audio visual company so being able to share stories with Vita brought back so many memories (the good, the bad, the stressful and everything in between) I absolutely loved hearing about Vita's wisdom when it comes to setting high quality standards, yet employing empathy and teamwork during the entire event planning process. Her ability in finding collaborative ways to digest creative vision, and execute while being able to effectively set expectations is truly an art. Enjoy this chat! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

“Being brave doesn't mean you're never afraid. It means you do the thing DESPITE of the fear” - Beni Artreche This line from a conversation I had with Beni inspired me to record this episode of Craft Talk on the topic of bravery. In this episode, I share some quotes about this subject that allows us to observe this idea within ourselves, and also share a really amazing method to help us potentially make practical steps towards a more courageous attitude. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Rachele Wright is a jack of all trades, and a master at ALL OF THEM. She is a pianist, a musician, an educator, a business operations specialist, a marketing strategist, and the list goes on and on. Given all of the tools and skills we possess, it's only natural to start building strong identities with these different disciplines. We seek the validation based on our performance within set goals and plans, and we put much value in how productive these different parts of ourselves are. What happens when these different ideas of ourselves are no longer as active as they once were? What if music or teaching is not playing a primary role in our current day to day work? Does it feel like failure? Can we still identify ourselves with those titles? How does it feel when those identities that we held on to for a majority of our lives start to crumble. These are the questions that we discuss on this episode. I had a great time working through this with Rachele and I'm looking forward to more conversations like this. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Robby Fischer is the owner of Dogtown Studio located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a staple in the music scene in GR and has been a honored recipient of an Ovation Award given out by the Michigan Music Alliance for Dogtown Studio's positive contribution to the local music community. Robby is also one of my best friends and I consider him to be a close partner in creativity. (It's like “partners in crime”… but with creativity… get it? anyways…) Whenever I have new ideas or thoughts that I'm working through, he's one of the people I bounce stuff off of and I have so much appreciation on his positive and energetic outlook on creative work. As someone who has the tendency to overthink or can be overwhelmed with negative thoughts about my work, it is crucial that I have friends like Robby around. In this special episode, we chat about a really interesting concept regarding familiar and unfamiliar. What makes something “good”? and what do we really mean when we say something is “bad”? Outside of running a studio business and winning prestigious community awards, Robby is a musician at the core. I also got to hear about his latest music project called “Unsummer Club” and learned about his thought process on how it came about. Enjoy the episode!

If you're like me and often feel like your work or skill is not quite exactly how you envision it, this episode might be for you. I share a concept from Ira Glass called “The Gap” and highlight previous guests experiences with this very subject. Here's my favorite video of it. https://vimeo.com/85040589 If anything, I hope this episode makes you feel like you're not alone in feeling like this, and you making efforts to get better is actually work well done. Enjoy the episode About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Jonathan Camarillo is a Lighting Designer and Programmer at One4Five Creative Group . Along with partners Damian Rogers, Jason Gray, and Brent Harwell, One4Five currently services clients such as Khalid, Slipknot, Misterwives, Rob Zombie, Pentatonix, and other corporate groups. Out on the road, Khalid is Jonathan's direct account and handles all of the programming and design of the show under the creative direction of Levi Turner (@filmsbylevi). In the past, Jonathan has also worked at some capacity with notable artists such as Slayer, Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5, Weezer, Fallout Boy, and Pitbull. In this chat, Jonathan shares the journey of landing an opportunity in the early phases of the rising star, Khalid and getting some insight into the day to day life on the road. From the exciting phase of world building in the programming/design process for massive tours to the uncomfortable road and not so glamorous side to the competitive industry. Most importantly, Jonathan was my college roommate! I am extremely proud of him. Not only for what he has accomplished so far in his young career, but also for the growth that he's been able to achieve despite all of the adversity that came his way. I'm absolutely honored that he was comfortable enough to share a really vulnerable part of his experience and I hope that the people listening can observe the wisdom within these hard lessons. Enjoy the episode! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Lynn Gräber is an award winning mix engineer with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Currently located in Nashville, Tennessee, Lynn has mixed and mastered many thousands of songs and has had opportunities to work on projects with Grammy and Dove nominated artists. In this chat, Lynn shares his journey from being a studio owner in Indiana, going back to school to sharpen his craft and business skills, and all of the work and experiences that lead him to a music rich city like Nashville. This interview is a great mix (pun intended) of technical insight, but also grounded in Lynn's mindset and approach to his work. I really appreciate his thoughts and I think his insights can apply in so many cases outside of just audio engineering. Say hello to Lynn on Instagram - @lynn_graber_mix About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

There's no better feeling when everything we're doing seems to be clicking. I'm currently in a very productive phase. My creative output is higher than usual, and it's a really empowering. I'm trying to lean into it and “strike while the iron is hot”, but on the other side of the coin, I'm fully aware that this mode is not permanent and inevitably, that output will slow down. Not knowing how long this will last, the usual doubts start to come to the surface in order to brace myself for that seasonal swing. For this solo episode, I share my experience with this idea and also recall a couple of conversations I had with some previous guests. This episode features the wisdom of Michelle LaForest and Rachele Wright. I'm so grateful to have had these conversations with them, and thankful that I get to revisit so many moments that can teach different lessons at different times in our life. Whatever season you're experiencing in your journey, I hope you can fully accept it without the additional worries accompanying it! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Karen Albert is a classical singer (mezzo soprano) specializing in choral, oratorio and concert repertoire. Currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she graduated with master's degrees in both musicology and voice performance from Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. She has been featured as an alto soloist in works such as Handel's Messiah, or Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Her work also expands into choral ensembles, musical theater and opera. In this conversation, we hear about Karen's journey in this classical music world. Ranging from her thoughts on the industry such as being an advocate for utilizing local talent, to understanding the type of work best suited her lifestyle, to overcoming adversity. I really enjoyed my conversation with her. I appreciate the time she carved out of her busy day as a new mom to chat with me. Say hello to Karen in Instagram @karenalbertmezzo About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  [crafttalk.net](http://crafttalk.net/)

It's a tale as old as time. Changing your mind is a reality that we all experience and is an act that we should be more open to embracing. As a self proclaimed over-thinker, I usually live with the constant worry of the “what ifs” when it comes to the creative work that I publish. Questions come up like: “What if I realize that what I'm doing is actually not as good as I imagined?” “What if the thing that I was so sure about at one point, actually isn't working and now I have to go back to the drawing board?” “What if I just wait to put this out, until I'm 100% sure that I won't regret it. Would that be better?” And it goes on, and on, and on… In this episode, I share an example where I had this moment (Specifically with this podcast), and I also tie in some profound lyrics from a well known artist that you may have heard of, and also some wonderful wisdom shared by a few of my guests on this podcast. Whatever type of craft or work you do, I hope this reminder helps you along in your journey. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  crafttalk.net

Ben Artreche serves as the Creative Director at SanRico Film & Music. At the core, Ben (or Beni to some) is a storyteller. In this interview, we talk about Beni's experiences in storytelling, from being a young writer, to a theater major, working as a data analyst, lessons of being a dad, all the way to growing into a creative leader amongst his peers. Most importantly, Beni is someone that I deeply admire and respect as a friend. I appreciated his vulnerability and wisdom in the stories that he shared, and I'm grateful to experience such a refreshing conversation and to be able share it with others in hopes to inspire them as much as it has inspired me. Say hi to Ben on IG @ben_artreche About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.notes Website -  [crafttalk.net](http://crafttalk.net/)

Oh well hello there! After being away for over a year, I drop in to say hi, and catch you up on what this next phase of Craft Talk is going to be. Thanks for listening!

For this episode, I'm joined by Michelle Laforest of Laforest living. Michelle runs an eco-based small business that up-cycles furniture into unique custom pieces that's inspired by nature and living life more slowly with intention. She hopes to empower and inspire others to look at the world through a more sustainable lense and see that you can create something beautiful in the strangest of places. It was such a pleasure to speak with Michelle about their experiences restoring old pieces of furniture and breathing new life into something that could have potentially been trashed or sent to the landfill. It was so fascinating to hear about Michelle's mindset on the creative process and also chat about some of the challenges we face as humans in trying find a realistic balance while still doing our best to make our planet a better place. Who would have thought that reviving old furniture could lead to such a beautiful conversation. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it. Say hi to Michelle @laforest.living on Instagram About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.toolbox Website - crafttalk.net

For this solo episode, I share a story about 3 words that have helped me stay grounded and centered during a challenging period in my work career. In some roundabout way, these 3 words actually helped me quit my job! If you have an overwhelming challenge ahead of you or just feeling stuck in general, I hope that my story encourages you to find power in these small reminders and help you continue on with the journey. Enjoy!

Heba Abusedou is the Founder of iSimplify Presentations, a boutique consulting agency working with clients to build a skill that they'll utilize for life. During our conversation, Heba shares her thoughts on how her natural sense of curiosity has helped her build the skills to become a better presenter. This discipline goes beyond PowerPoint slides. Having curiosity shifts the way we communicate with the people around us from friends, to co-workers, and even stranger. It was so fun having Heba on and we hope that you find our conversation compelling. She is very sharp, and is really driven and passionate about what she does, and the word needs more of that. Say hello to Heba and make a new friend! @isimplifypresentations

For this solo episode, I decide to take the opportunity to reintroduce what Craft Talk is and share WHY it exists. The quick and rehearsed answer is INSPIRATION. Inspiration to learn from others and to absorb people's experiences and thought processes regarding their respective disciplines, in an effort to find ways to improve my own. This version of my “Why” can be empowering and certainly feels like I'm tapping into a true purpose. However, if I was being honest, there's also a complex and personal truth that plays a part in this equation. For me, it's DOUBT. Doubt, plays a factor in the way I create, whether I like it or not. Sometimes it can be used for fuel, but other times, it can cause a lot of resistance. I can say for certain that a lot of my creative work is a product of doubt (amongst other things, of course). In this 14 minute self reflecting session, I unpack how doubt plays into my thoughts and along the way, I also share a concept that can be used as a way to take back some ownership of our worthiness so we can honor our skills exactly the way it was intended. Thanks for listening.

For this interview, I am so honored to speak to my guest, Jon Lake about all things self-growth. Jon is an environmental scientist and is in a constant pursuit of growth through meditation, travel, plant based eating, song-writing and endurance sports. This conversation takes us on Jon's current journey and unpacks some of the ups, the downs, and everything in between. We touch on different aspects of his experiences, from traveling across the country in a converted van, to picking up hitch hikers, and even running into his future coach. I felt really blessed to catch up with Jon. Although we grew up in the same town and went to the same school, our paths didn't cross too often. Over a decade removed, it was great to share this moment of conversation and even if we didn't know each other too well back then, it really still felt like I was catching up with a old friend. I really hope you enjoy the conversation, as much as we did and I hope it inspires you to find more mindfulness in your own life!

For this interview, I'm joined by professional drummer and podcast editor, Nahshon Thomas. Nahshon or @shondrums, who currently resides in Southern California specializes in both session work and live performance, and plays with notable artists such as Benjah and Sahra. In our conversation, we broke down Nahshon's process when it comes to his craft. Through his experiences, he's gained valuable understanding in picking the right moments, and practicing consistency in all aspects of his life. Nahshon shares his mindset when it comes to learning a new song and how he breaks down his responsibilities as the drummer. We also got into an interesting topic of timing, metronomes, and ultimately respecting the responsibility of keeping time. Finally, we also discussed how his work a drummer has also informed how he conducts himself as a podcast editor. I have a great amount of respect for Nahshon and I really enjoyed our conversation, and I hope you do as well. Enjoy the episode!

I'm super excited to have Dominique Yahyavi on the Craft Talk Podcast. Dominique builds products that help small businesses and entrepreneurs run the creative side of their business. He is a designer and engineer from Stanford and before starting Pixelcut and Spark Camera, he worked at companies like Apple, and Ideo We had a great conversation about Dominique's journey in building his own business. It was so inspiring to hear about how he was able to land some of his earlier jobs and loved finding out how he was able to make himself stand out against a sea of other applicants. I also really admired that Dominique tackled both the technical and business aspects within his company. Having skills on both ends ultimately gave him full ownership and knowledge of his products. I think this conversation is not just for aspiring programmers, but for everybody who wants to do something for themselves and have a desire create something that you can be proud of. Enjoy the Episode!

For this episode of Craft Talk, I am joined by singer-songwriter, Mark Harrell. Mark is based out of Holland, Michigan, and performs original music with his band “Mark Harrell and The Hundred Star Hotel”. During this conversation, we dove into Mark's story and learned about how songwriting became a source of healing from a dark past. Early in his teens, Mark fell heavily into drugs and alcohol. For years, this addiction resulted in destructive and very dangerous situations. One incident in particular that he shared with me became the catalyst to start the journey of sobriety. A crucial moment that lead into the calling to write and express his experience through honesty and song. There were so many other topics that we talked about. We also chatted about his love for movies, his songwriting process, and how he is dealing with adversity in both life and music. Ultimately, I was honored to have the opportunity to hear Mark's story and I hope that our conversation can inspire and encourage others. I admire his level of vulnerability so much, and there's no doubt that listening to his music after this conversation will give me so much more context and connection after knowing more about his story. Check out Mark's music on all streaming platforms and say hello on Instagram @harrell_mark Enjoy the interview! If you are struggling with addiction and are seeking assistance, call 1-800-662-HELP(4357). SAMHSA's National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net

Do you find yourself always feeling like you're not being "productive enough"? I know I feel like this all the time, even though it may not necessarily be true. There are a lot of factors that may play into this. Our tendencies, experiences, and our current capacities are all woven together, and if we get stuck in this pattern long enough, we can actually start believing that no matter what we do, it is not enough. In this episode, I share my personal experience with this feeling. I talk about my tendency of having fears that I will eventually completely run out of ideas (scarcity mindset). I also talk about what direction I'd like to be working towards (abundance mindset). I walk through a process that I've been thinking about lately, and my hopes are that these ideas will help me get one step closer to becoming the more balanced, kind, and truly creative person that I always strive to be. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net

For this interview, I am joined self proclaimed Word Nerd, Isaac Knox. Isaac is an emcee, battle rapper, standup comic and also the cofounder of an improv freestyle company called “Free Daps” In our conversation, Isaac shared the story on how music, emceeing, and freestyling became a part of his life. Over years of developing his craft, he has been able to land amazing opportunities performing at halftime shows with the Orlando Magic and even getting featured on ESPN's Sport Center Top 10 list. His freestyle improv group, Free Daps has held long time residencies at Universal Studios and Disney Springs, performing for people from all over the world. What I really enjoyed about talking to Isaac is that all of the concepts and skills required to master the freestyle has so many qualities that transfer to so many other disciplines. You don't have to be a battle rapper or be in improv to learn from this episode. A lot of the skills and concepts we discuss can be translated into so many aspects of our work, creativity and life. Understanding the importance of anticipation, developing confidence in our skills, and trusting our instincts are all factors in creating better versions of ourselves. I hope you enjoy the interview! Say hi to Isaac on Instagram @imisaacknox and check out his freestyle improv group @freedaps About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net

For this episode, I am joined by Bronwyn Kelly, a talented illustrator based out of Ottawa, Canada. One of the most impressive things I learned about her in this interview is that Bronwyn started digital illustration only 5 months ago! While on maternity leave, Bronwyn dusted off an iPad that has been sitting on the shelves for a couple of years, and decided to start creating art. Understanding the all-consuming nature of being a new mother, Bronwyn wanted to be mindful about her mental space and prioritized self care by finding an outlet that can be simply her own. Within just a few months, her Instagram Page @bron.draws quickly gained followership and she also recently opened up a digital print shop, where most of her prints sold out within the first week of launching! In our conversation, I specifically asked about how she developed her taste in design. For someone who just started this discipline months ago, I found that her creative choices with texture, lines, and color palette were very intentional, refined, and tastefully done; a rare quality in beginners. It was so cool to hear about her thought process within that, and what type of lessons she's learned along the way. I'm very grateful for Bronwyn's time. Her work, taste in design, as well as mindset has really inspired me in my own creative journey. I know there is so much more to see from her. Do yourself a favor and visit @bron.draws on Instagram, pick up a print, and support small businesses! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda

For this episode, I'm so excited to be joined by the one and only, Emilee Petersmark. Emilee is a talented singer-songwriter performing as a solo artist as well as a member of the band, The Crane Wives. She is also a visual artist specializing in watercolor, marker art, and digital illustration. In this conversation, we talked about the current state of Emilee's life. Accustomed to the hustle of being a part of a nationally touring band for around a decade, Emilee was used to always being on the move. Due to the pandemic, touring and performing came to an abrupt halt in the beginning of 2020. During this period of rest, Emilee experienced an unfamiliar adjustment period that eventually led to a newly found appreciation of stillness. She's found beauty in cultivating her own space, developed new outlets within art that encouraged self care, and examined how to manage one's energy by creating healthy boundaries. I had a great time connecting with Emilee, and loved learning about how the band came together as well as learning out about her process. Enjoy our conversation! Say hello to Emilee on Instagram @ermsauce and support her band by listening to @TheCraneWives About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda

I'm very excited to be joined by a West Michigan based sandwich themed Instagram account, Mr. Big Sandwich. This page showcases some of the biggest and most unique sandwiches this side of the state has to offer and is managed by Jon Wilson and Tyler Ingersoll. Since its inception, their Instagram account @mr_big_sandwich has continually been growing and to their surprise, has opened up many opportunities in the food blog/influencer space. As they continue to grow, they've built connections with other local accounts such as @eatgr1 which has led to invitations to events and restaurants getting to try new menu items and helping promote upcoming openings. In this interview, I spoke to one of the founders, Jon Wilson about how the page came about, his current experience navigating the foodie space and of course, we talked plenty about sandwiches. In my time observing Jon in this conversation, I quickly realized that he was the PERFECT person to have this account. You could tell that he just absolutely loved sandwiches. In college, he was known by his roommates as the “sandwich guy”. Every year, The City of Grand Rapids puts on the annual “Grandwich” competition, where many local restaurants enters a City-wide contest on finding the best sandwich. One year, on his own accord, he decided to organize a group, ordered t shirts and put on a “sandwich crawl” in celebration of the festivities. He was so passionate about this competition that he was noticed and was invited to volunteer for this event and eventually become a judge for the competition. I believe that it is no accident that they have been able to land the opportunities that has been put in front of them. 100% , it's all because of the LOVE of sandwiches. Enjoy the conversation! Follow Mr. Big Sandwich on Instagram @mr_big_sandwich About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - crafttalk.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

This solo episode is less about sending a message, but more of sending a reminder. A reminder to those that feel that overwhelming feeling of wanting to do it all, but never feeling like there's not enough time to do it. How do we juggle everything that we want to do with everything we have going on. For me personally, it's about juggling my creative ventures as a musician, producer at Dogtown Studio and also building Craft Talk while also having a full time job, another side hustle, and more importantly managing my health and prioritizing relationships. How do we manage this and accomplish everything we want all at the same time?! Unfortunately, I don't have the answers, and most days, it feels impossible. That overwhelming feeling led me to stumble upon a post by a designer @maisiesghost (Instagram) A simple quote that has helped me take a moment of breath and help me reset whenever that feeling resurfaces. My hopes is that this “Note to self” resonates to you as well. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

In this episode I am joined by Writer, Poet, and Educator Josh Corson. Josh is currently in his Master's Program at the University of Pittsburg and has been teaching classes for 2 years as a part of his program. Our conversation went through Josh's experiences from starting out as someone who flunked out of his classes to discovering his true passion of writing that led him to become an educator at a college institution. Along with that, Josh was very open and transparent about his struggles with addiction and how writing and poetry redirected him down the path of sobriety and ultimately pursuing a more fulfilling life. After the interview, we were graced with a performance of one of his original pieces called “Half Life” It was an honor being able to hear his story, his thought process about how he viewed education, as well as dissecting how shaped language can ultimately bring forth connection, vulnerability, and empathy. Check out Josh's work on his website www.joshcorsonmakes.com or connect with him on Instagram @josh_corson_ About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast or @titodoes Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this episode, we are talking all about event management with Crystal Grajales. Crystal is an Event Manager in Orlando and has worked for some of the most recognizable brands in Hospitality such as Disney and The Ritz Carlton. She's also the cohost of a podcast called “Talk To Me Mija!” Crystal's role as an event manager requires the perfect balance of paying close attention to the details while also having a clear understanding of the bigger picture. In this interview, she shares everything from the good, the bad and everything in between when it comes to the world of events. We also discuss some of the most important skills to work on if you want to succeed in this space as well as other aspects of your personal development. Say hello to Crystal and support her podcast on Instagram @talktomemija About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

Finding your unique tone of voice is probably one of the most daunting ideas in the back of a creative's mind. If we have a message to communicate, how do we do that in a style that's our own without sounding too much like a carbon copy of our influences? Sometimes it helps to identify what we're dealing with first before we can understand where we fit in the equation. For me, it helps to visualize these concepts so I can wrap my heads around it. In this solo episode, I share an analogy about a sculptor and a block of stone and comparing it to the process of discovering our style. We go through the potential outcomes of sometimes not carving out enough which feels incomplete, taking out too much which takes the soul out the work, and getting to a place where we dial it in just right and maintain the heart of it while showcasing your unique style that you worked so hard to discover. Whether you are an artist, a business owner or just someone who wants to improve whatever work you're involved in, I hope this episode helps you visualize this concept and help you identify where you are in your process. Enjoy! About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this interview, I talk to Jacob Betts about the world of craft coffee! A self proclaimed “coffee geek”, Jacob works in the specialty coffee field and has had a love affair with the art form for many years. Outside of the shop, he is also the Director of Digital Media of a non profit organization, and he is also a singer-songwriter and is a member of the band, The American Hotel System. We had a really well rounded conversation that went through his journey of discovering his love for craft coffee. We talk about some of the fundamental aspects of what extracting coffee means as well as some of the newer scientific discoveries that are changing and challenging the way coffee professionals approach the traditional methods. Through this art form and the discipline of extracting the perfect cup, he discovered that this setting also encouraged a sense of community. He was able to find some of his most treasured connections through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, in a coffee shop. Enjoy the episode! Follow Jacob on Instagram @theconcussedcoffeegeek and check out his band @theamericanhotelsystem on all of the streaming platforms. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @crafttalk.podcast or @titodoes Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this interview, I'm joined by  my friend Alex Vivaldi aka“El Connoisseur”. Alex wears many hats and his craft includes being an Audio Engineer, Producer, Podcast Host and also a Twitch streamer. In this episode, our main topic of conversation is about his experience with gaming and streaming. We had a great discussion about why we think the world of gaming, e-sports and streaming have become wildly successful. On a deeper level, Alex also shares his journey of following his passions. He reflects on his life some years back and how he was working a job that wasn't making him happy. Although, financially it was rewarding, he soon realized that he needed to make a big change to ultimately get closer to life he truly wants to live. I really appreciate his transparency and I hope that you enjoy our conversation. Follow Alex and watch him play games on Twitch! @elconnoisseur About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into my guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this episode, I'm joined by super talented singer songwriter, JonPaul Wallace and we had a super fun conversation. Outside of his main passion of music, he also recently graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Finance and Marketing. In addition to that, he is currently one of the managers at his family's pizza and ice cream shop. During this interview, he shared his journey from getting connected to a label at the age of 15, and detailed what it looked like to develop his musical skills at such a young age. We discussed the business aspect of music and how he is implementing what he's learned from college in order to be a more well rounded artist within the industry. Lastly and possibly most importantly, we also learned the history of the Wallace family business of owning and operating a pizza/ice cream shop. To my surprise, we somehow found a way to tie it all together. Enjoy the episode! Find JonPaul music on any streaming platform and say hi to him on all social media @jonpaulwallace About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

This solo episode was recorded during a time when it felt impossible to schedule the next interview for Craft Talk. Up until this time, the excitement of starting this new audio interview series pushed me to get a handful of interviews knocked out really fast. However, after releasing 5 episodes, it got more and more difficult to schedule the next one. Why is that? What do we do when the work feels paralyzing and it feels like taking the next step feels impossible? I don't have all of the answers to that question, but what I can share is one simple story that has helped me process this experience. By the title of this episode, you can guess that it has to do with a little encouragement. Enjoy! Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

Sheli Báez is a bi-lingual voice actor based in New York City. She has been on a wide variety of projects ranging from broadcast radio , TV, animated shows, toys, educational software, and many other mediums. In this interview, Sheli shares how she accidentally  stumbled into the world of voice over work, and how it eventually transformed into a career that brings her a lot of joy and fulfillment. We also broke down some of the processes involved when it comes to auditioning for a role, how a character's voice gets developed, and also the important changes going on in the industry when it comes to the representation of people of color. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope that you do as well! Get in touch with Sheli on Instagram @shelibaez and check out the work she's doing! Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website -  titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda  ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

Kurt Brown, sometimes known as “Big Kurt” is a golf professional, social media personality and also a Lululemon Ambassador. Currently he is the Director of Instruction at Encanto Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona. In this episode, Kurt shares his journey of being a lifelong golfer and talked about the ups and downs, the challenges and wins that led him to the path of where he is today. We also discuss the topic of “Is there such a thing as a perfect swing?” I really appreciate Kurt's enthusiasm when it comes to self improvement. I can tell that not only does he want his student to succeed and get better at their game, but he's constantly pursuing different avenues to improve himself in all possible aspects. Ultimately this mindset translates into becoming a better player, instructor, and also a more diverse human. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this solo episode, I share some of my thoughts about feeling insecure about sharing our work. This internal conflict that is at work within me constantly. If you know me on a personal level, you would know that I tend to be more introverted, quiet and a private person Ironically, there's the creative side of me that wants to tell you stories, share my work, and entertain. Living with both is a balance that I've been trying to better at with my journey as a creative individual, and for this solo chat, I talk about some of the little things that have helped me feel more accomplished with my work. Enjoy and let me know if anything sticks out to you. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

For this episode of Craft Talk, I'm very excited to have the one and only Frank Rose on the show. Frankie has so many disciplines, and in all of those avenues, he's guaranteed to be the life of the party. From performing music as an emcee, being a hair stylist, hosting his own podcast to even being the go-to officiant for his friend's weddings, Frankie is a natural when it comes to understanding what the vibe is and knowing how to keep it going. In this interview, he shares some early memories that could have contributed to that skill, how it was harnessed while he established himself into all of these aspects of “hosting” and we also got to talk about some of the lessons he's learning that will help him keep improving his craft and his life. Find out everything that Frankie does on Instagram @iamfrankrose and also check out his podcast, “Keeping it Rosey” available on all streaming platforms. About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )

I'm so happy to interview Chris L.Stump for this episode of Craft Talk. Chris is a self-published author of fantasy novels and has always had a passion for writing all the way back when he was just 6 years old. In this interview, Chris shares the journey of writing his debut novel, Thalen and the Spark of Ancient Fire: First of the Lost Scepters. We talked about how the idea for book came about, the process of how the story unfolds and also got to hear about the challenges, internal doubts and fears that come along with it. He is currently in the process of writing the 2nd book to this 3 part series and I'm very glad to see Chris continue his passion of writing. Connect with Chris by joining his email list on ChrisLStump.com or say hi on Instagram @chrislstump About this Podcast : Craft Talk is a collection of interviews with people of different disciplines ranging from creativity, business, and lifestyle. By diving into guest's story and learning about how they approach their craft, I hope that these conversations help you find different ways to improve your own! Say hi to me on Instagram @titodoes Website - titomendoza.net Craft Talk Theme Credit: "Lazy Day" by David Renda ( Background Music - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com )