CREATIVE 4 LIFE

2021 HAS WRAPPED UP AND WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CREATIVE 4 LIFE PODCAST.   WHAT STARTED AS “THE G'MANGO SHOW” TOOK ON NEW MEANING AS THE STORIES OF OUR LIVES OF CREATIVITY  GOT META & TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING MUCH DEEPER.   The desire to let people know they are FREE to Do & Go Be Creative, to follow your passion, is what drives the Creative 4 Life Podcast & John & Gordon's lives. The Creative 4 Life Duo take some of our amazing listener's spot-on questions about Creativity, Motivation & Why…? It's been amazing to discuss the Transformations our guests have had in their lives: Creatively, Personally, Spiritually.   We're so grateful to have had such amazing guests & close friends!  We're also grateful for our listeners, and we want to give them our best - our beneficial insights, our spiritual connection, the greater love we share in life.   We are moved that we have had such insightful questions about Creativity in Life.    We dive into our suggestions & actions for helping and moving you forward in an inspired & positive direction!Let's keep doing our best work  in bringing our message of Transformation and Creative 4 Life to you.  We're so grateful to have you join us, ENJOY!    Why and for who are we doing our best work? Doing what you do for the love of doing.  We are joyful in the now of doing.  Our Universal connection and service.The courage and resilience to follow your path.Living in a deeper and more meaningful state.Sharing love and alleviating suffering is our service, and Creativity does thisDownload > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...https://www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

The desire to let people know they are FREE to Do & Go Be Creative, to follow your passion, is what drives the Creative 4 Life Podcast & John & Gordon's lives. The Creative 4 Life Duo take some of our amazing listener's spot-on questions about Creativity, Motivation & Why…? It's been amazing to discuss the Transformations our guests have had in their lives: Creatively, Personally, Spiritually.   We're so grateful to have had such amazing guests & close friends!  We're also grateful for our listeners, and we want to give them our best - our beneficial insights, our spiritual connection, the greater love we share in life.   We are moved that we have had such insightful questions about Creativity in Life.    We dive into our suggestions & actions for helping and moving you forward in an inspired & positive direction!Let's keep doing our best work  in bringing our message of Transformation and Creative 4 Life to you.  We're so grateful to have you join us, ENJOY!    Why and for who are we doing our best work? Doing what you do for the love of doing.  We are joyful in the now of doing.  Our Universal connection and service.The courage and resilience to follow your path.Living in a deeper and more meaningful state.Sharing love and alleviating suffering is our service, and Creativity does thisDownload > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...https://www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

The desire to let people know they are FREE to Do & Go Be Creative, to follow your passion, is what drives the Creative 4 Life Podcast & John & Gordon's lives. The Creative 4 Life Duo take some of our amazing listener's spot-on questions about Creativity, Motivation & Why…? It's been amazing to discuss the Transformations our guests have had in their lives: Creatively, Personally, Spiritually.   We're so grateful to have had such amazing guests & close friends!  We're also grateful for our listeners, and we want to give them our best - our beneficial insights, our spiritual connection, the greater love we share in life.   We are moved that we have had such insightful questions about Creativity in Life.    We dive into our suggestions & actions for helping and moving you forward in an inspired & positive direction!Let's keep doing our best work  in bringing our message of Transformation and Creative 4 Life to you.  We're so grateful to have you join us, ENJOY!    Why and for who are we doing our best work? Doing what you do for the love of doing.  We are joyful in the now of doing.  Our Universal connection and service.The courage and resilience to follow your path.Living in a deeper and more meaningful state.Sharing love and alleviating suffering is our service, and Creativity does thisDownload > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...https://www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

Hope you enjoyed the first 2 parts of Nora and Jason's journey,  I'm sure you're really going to enjoy this third and final part of our podcast discussion with them.    We're looking forward to more chats with both of them in near future!  So grateful to Nora and Jason for allowing us to share their song “Into the Light”… we'll keep using it on our intro and outro!     Loving it!  Like Nora and Jason chatted with us about in this episode...Let's keep doing our best work  in bringing our message of Transformation and Creative 4 Life to you.  We're so grateful to have you join us, ENJOY!    Why and for who are we doing our best work? Doing what you do for the love of doing.  We are joyful in the now of doing.  Our Universal connection and service.The courage and resilience to follow your path.Living in a deeper and more meaningful state.Sharing love and alleviating suffering is our service, and Creativity does this.Download > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwFOR MORE INFO ON NORA AND HER TEACHING, VISIT ‘THINK OFF THE MAT'...https://www.thinkoffthemat.comFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...https://www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

Hope you enjoyed the first part of Nora and Jason's journey,  I'm sure you're really going to enjoy this second part (of three) as well.  The key word is RELAX… just TRUST and things will unfold if you do the work.You have to do the work - meditate, breathe, practice compassion and positivity.   The universe has your back! Nora and Jason also share a song they composed & recorded called “INTO THE LIGHT”, which you can hear in the intro.But the full version is at the end of this episode and can be found at the link as well:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMHPDWFQmOoSo RELAX and enjoy part 2 of Nora and Jason's journey of transformation.  Realising our unique path.  Our paths and understanding may not be evident at the present time, but is important to stay in the moment.RELAX.   Things will unfold as they will.   The universe has your back.  Allow the universe to work for you.  Just keep doing your work.  Yoga is the state of missing nothing.   Everything we need is within us.  Trust and do the work.Let go of the expectation and follow your bliss is doing & being. Do not attach yourself to the fruits of your labour, but offer these fruits to the highest.Download > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwFOR MORE INFO ON NORA AND HER TEACHING, VISIT ‘THINK OFF THE MAT'...https://www.thinkoffthemat.comFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...https://www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

OUR STORY BEGINS AT THE BREAK OF DAWN ALONG THE COAST OF CHENNAI, SOUTHERN INDIA....Nora Lim and Jason Kennedy are good friends of mine who, I met here in Hong Kong, and are currently living in Chennai, South India for the past 5 years. Both are teachers of music and yoga who bring their message of positivity, love and inner growth wherever they travel.We had a such a rich and insightful conversation about mindfulness, spirituality giving ourselves space to breathe.  Time just slipped by and we now have 3 Episodes! Their life stories of transformation is in many parts and we are so grateful they could share their wonderful journey with us.  Hope you enjoy this first part of Nora and Jason's story of Creativity and Transformation.   Download > Subscribe > Share > Feedbackhttps://creative4life.buzzsprout.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwkFOR MORE INFO ON NORA AND HER TEACHING, VISIT ‘THINK OFF THE MAT'...https://www.thinkoffthemat.comFIND MORE ABOUT CREATIVE 4 LIFE AND GREEN SKIN MANGO...www.greenskinmango.com GO. BE. CREATIVE. “Into the Light” by Nora Lim / Jason Kennedy (2021) used by permission.  

Jason Freeny.  Dissectibles. Foodie.We reunite with our very special guest Jason Freeny in this episode to chat about his life of unending Creativity & the Transformations he's gone through to get where he is today.   We also chat about our time working together as studio & site artists back in the ‘90s in NYC.   Oh, and we talk a LOT about his passion for food, Asian food, as well as his journeys around the globe. “I just want to do the things that make me happy.   I want to eat my yummy food.  I want to travel.  I want to make stuff and hope people like it.  And I'm thankful I can do something I enjoy for a living.” Jason Freeny is a New York based sculptor and toy designer. Voted "2014 Fan Favorite" by Clutter Magazine readers, Freeny blurs the lines between toy design, art, science and teaching. Known for his iconic anatomical character dissections, Jason utilizes his industrial design prototyping techniques to create hyper-polished, hand made sculptures that are often confused as actual mass produced toys. Openly displaying his process and techniques in extensive work-in-progress posts on social media as an online classroom (Facebook) (Instagram). Born in Silver Spring Maryland, Jason studied industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York City and spent most of his early career in production, retail and properties design with MTV Networks and ESPN before going solo in 2010. Since 2006, Jason has been meticulously exploring the innards of some of our favorite characters for our enjoyment. In 2015 Jason teamed up with Singapore based toy company MightyJaxx to produce limited edition sculpture reproductions and manufactured toys based on his creations, most can be found at his partner site www.mightyjaxx.com.Find more of Jason's amazing works on his websitehttps://jasonfreeny.comInsta:  https://www.instagram.com/gummifetus/ Jason Freeny: https://jasonfreeny.com/Mighty Jaxx:  https://mightyjaxx.com/collections/jason-freenyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX9-woOfKQJjIdugR6hPX4g“K11 OUTSIDE IN: An Unconventional World of Art Toys” / Hong Kong 2020https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/art/outside-in-an-unconventional-world-of-art-toyshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_FreenyBecome a subscriber to “CREATIVE 4 LIFE” on all your favorite streaming platforms and check out the podcast notes for more links and info. You can also visit our website at greenskinmango.com for our awesome streetwear, eclectic music and comedy.   GO BE CREATIVE!

Our special guests this episode are Hilcia Pena (Architect / Walt Disney Imagineer) & her husband / returning guest Jameel Haiat (Author / Poet / Creative / Punk).   Jameel and I were both living and woking (our dreams!) in NYC on September 11, 2001.  We both were starting our mornings, heading to work on that blue-skied, crisp, early fall morning when everything changed in our city, our country, our world.    There would be positive and negative transformations to come from this event: some emboldened to spread their negativity, while some positively heroic &  giving of their lives to helping others.   It is this TRANSFORMATION which we Jameel and Gordon will be remembering in this Episode.To avoid setting off any triggers, this is not a retelling of the horrific events of that day. Instead, we are focussing on how we personally transformed or had a new reality transform all around us.  Perspectives change. Change for positivity. LOVE To find out more about the events of September 11, 2001 in NYC, please visit https://www.911memorial.org/Find more about Hilcia and Jameel's Creative Life:https://localyetnot.com/about-us/https://www.jameelhaiat.com/This episode features the beautiful instrumental score “Wayward” by John Witcher.   https://music.apple.com/us/album/wayward/917718468?i=917718484IN THE BEGINNING...  John Witcher  & Gordon Meier started the podcast to talk about their creative experiences: successes, failures, inspirations & what influences them to continue collaborating creatively for over 30 years.In creating those first 20 podcasts, they grew in understanding and awareness, both individually and in working more closely together than they had in 25 years.The episodes went from being “topical” to “discovering meaning”, from the shared experiences of their past to what has become part of themselves, as individuals, today.NOW is a new phase of self-discovery and of TRANSFORMATION.Going beyond “topic” to “faith in living the message”.Change is now embraced more than ever, and the next episodes will revolve around the lives of our guests, their history, their creative transformations and faith to follow that voice in their head.Practicing what we Preach!GO.  BE.  CREATIVE!www.greenskinmango.comUPCOMING EPISODESSEPTEMBER 23:  VINCE KADLUBEK / DISRUPTOROCTOBER 7 :         JASON FREENY / DISSECTIBLE

HILCIA PEÑA & JAMEEL HAIAT / TRANSFORMING TOGETHEROur special guests this episode are Hilcia Pena (Architect / Walt Disney Imagineer) & her husband / returning guest Jameel Haiat (Author / Poet / Creative / Punk) and they will be giving us powerful insight into their new creative life here in Hong Kong, the changes and transformations in the past 2 years since leaving the US, and what personal transformation means to them.      Never a dull moment with this Creative Couple.     IN THE BEGINNING...  John Witcher  & Gordon Meier started the podcast to talk about their creative experiences: successes, failures, inspirations & what influences them to continue collaborating creatively for over 30 years.Find more about Hilcia and Jameel's Creative Life: https://localyetnot.com/about-us/https://www.jameelhaiat.com/In creating those first 20 podcasts, they grew in understanding and awareness, both individually and in working more closely together than they had in 25 years.The episodes went from being “topical” to “discovering meaning”, from the shared experiences of their past to what has become part of themselves, as individuals, today. NOW is a new phase of self-discovery and of TRANSFORMATION.Going beyond “topic” to “faith in living the message”.Change is now embraced more than ever, and the next episodes will revolve around the lives of our guests, their history, their creative transformations and faith to follow that voice in their head. Practicing what we Preach!GO.  BE.  CREATIVE!www.greenskinmango.comUPCOMING EPISODESSEPTEMBER 10:  9-11 ANNIVERSARY / GORDON & JAMEEL RECOLLECTSEPTEMBER 23:  VINCE KADLUBEK / DISRUPTOROCTOBER 7 :         JASON FREENY / DISSECTIBLE

IN THE BEGINNING...  John Witcher  & Gordon Meier started the podcast to talk about their creative experiences: successes, failures, inspirations & what influences them to continue collaborating creatively for over 30 years.In creating those first 20 podcasts, they grew in understanding and awareness, both individually and in working more closely together than they had in 25 years. The episodes went from being “topical” to “discovering meaning”, from the shared experiences of their past to what has become part of themselves, as individuals, today.  NOW is a new phase of self-discovery and of TRANSFORMATION.Going beyond “topic” to “faith in living the message”. Change is now embraced more than ever, and the next episodes will revolve around the lives of our guests, their history, their creative transformations and faith to follow that voice in their head.  Practicing what we Preach!GO.  BE.  CREATIVE!www.greenskinmango.comUPCOMING EPISODESSEPTEMBER 9:     HILCIA PEÑA & JAMEEL HAIAT / TRANSFORMING TOGETHERSEPTEMBER 10:  9-11 ANNIVERSARY / GORDON & JAMEEL RECOLLECT SEPTEMBER 23:  VINCE KADLUBEK / DISRUPTOROCTOBER 7 :         JASON FREENY / DISSECTIBLE It's great to have so many creatives now able share their gifts with the world.SHOUT OUT to some of favourites!LISTEN UP!  Aswintha Vermeulen  has an amazing new album out “Keep On Singing”!

Face it (and with a mask on!) - we're all doing a LOT of coping these days.The COVID Pandemic has brought the globe together in near isolation, and now... things are started to loosen up as we start getting out.   While many took on new creative endeavours as the our time inside increased, a lot of us need something now, as we have to face....OTHER PEOPLE AGAIN.  Luckily, there's no end to Creative Coping exercises - and most are enjoyable, some even edible!   And I'm sure you're already doing a few, for that simple fact.  So here's how it works....Creativity asa distraction tool (to avoid stress)a contemplation tool ( lead to questions /  problem  solving)a way of gaining confidence & resilience Trying new creative activities benefitspositivity deeper self-awarenessRegardless of skill level, all these creative actions and intents are producing positivity in our minds and bodies - which resonates all around us.Face to face & group activities most are beneficial, but online / self taught also have positive benefits.New creative learning & activities more beneficial then repeated activities.Emotional benefits from a single hands-on experience.ITS ALL ABOUT MAKINGPlayMusicArt & CraftCooking Writing & Reading Practicing Spirituality - MeditationOrganisationFrom “Siddhartha”...Pondering deeply upon sensations / emotion & turning sensations into realizations.We sent out a message into the universe that we are open for business, ready to connect.   We do it for pure joy.   It's permission to do and be that self we love.    It's creating the life that you want.  Love x  Love = More LoveCheck 13 Clue4 ALL THINGS MANGO VISIT US HERE..www.greenskinmango.com

As we are now starting to open up globally,  cinemas return with the dynamic and nostalgic shared experience only a movie theatre can bring.    The combination of image & score can affect us so deeply, it's no surprise we hold the movie-going experience so dear to our cultures.    The creativity derived from the onset of the moving image has been astounding & so extraordinarily influential on how we tell stories.So powerful are these creative gems, they become inseparable from their scores, can be recognized with one line, and immediately felt emotionally with a 10 second clip.   John & Gordon talk about the influence of film on their Creative processes and way of thinking creatively.  Each choose 1 film which forever changed the way they viewed film, understood story, heard scores differently and simply rocked their world. John has chosen the 1985 John Hughes classic “The Breakfast Club” to discuss his relationship to the experience of the film and how he finds Creative influence in its story and characters.  Gordon has selected the shockingly dark and deeply emotive “Blue Velvet” (1986) by David Lynch, to discuss the larger picture of what affects our world, our relationships, transformations and the beauty found in life.    The Creative influences are endless when you have David Lynch directing and writing,  and Angelo Badalamenti creating  the atmospheric and mood altering score. Gordon discusses meeting with Geena Davis (Disney Parks Ambassador) and how her Geena Davis Institute is changing the faces we see on the big and small screen, as well as those responsible for creating the stories.   “If she can see it, she can be it” is the mantra that has expanded beyond bringing more women into visibility in all walks of life - but to the multitudes of diverse people who are under-represented today.   Please take a look at all the amazing work the Geena Davis Institute is doing & creating!https://seejane.org/We sent out a message into the universe that we are open for business, ready to connect.   We do it for pure joy.   It's permission to do and be that self we love.    It's creating the life that you want.  Love x  Love = More LoveCheck 13 Clue4 ALL THINGS MANGO VISIT US HERE..www.greenskinmango.com

Welcome to the g'mango show where Gordon & John chat about the Creative Life and bring some insight to some of life's most pressing questions.If you know the show, welcome back & you may have some pressing questions for us after that opening statement!We were searching for a topic & found some answers, by simply asking “how”?How do you stay Creatively Motivated?What causes roadblocks in Creativity?Can you simply run out of ideas? What is Leading you?  Schedule?  Cost?  Efficiency?  Micro-Management?Or are you waiting to be told from “Upper Leadership” how to proceed?If you are suffering from a lack of Free-Flowing Creative Juice, you might want to avoid the aforementioned Leads & Leaders. Be open to life, curiosity, spontaneity and THE MOMENT. Vulnerability is your strength and guide to exploration and Creativity.  And you might find something out about yourself as well.  GO BE CREATIVE!www.greenskinmango.com  

Welcome to the g'mango show! We recorded this the day before the Indy 500, a major annual event in our home town of Indianapolis, Indiana. Especially exciting as fans are able to attend with masks at a percentage of the full capacity. But MOST EXCITING is that John has a comedy song that is gaining a lot of streaming and airplay and whose story centres around The Indy 500 and a girl named “VENUS”.      We're hoping this song will become an annual favourite in Indy and for race fans everywhere!Check out the song!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNd51puSnnAGordon is grateful for the opportunity to be a panel judge for a LEARN WITH LEADERS Innovation & Imagination Bootcamp. The online workshop brought together high-school aged students from around the world to work on group projects and exercise skills on Creative Confidence, Collaboration & Thematic Focus.  These young adults were so impressive and was a real learning experience with many insightful questions.  Shout out to Cheryl Chi for the inclusion and amazing conversation!Find out more about Learn With Leaders on the website:https://learnwithleaders.com/ciibootcampJohn asks Gordon about some of the Creative projects he's worked on in NYC and Hong Kong.We hear from Gordon about how he used his Creative and Artistic skills for a Doc Martens promotional event. Also we find out about the formation of Art Sunday in Hong Kong (2009-2010), and becoming a Creative Connector to build an art community.  https://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/accessing-and-making-art-in-hong-kong/We sent out a message into the universe that we are open for business, ready to connect.   We do it for pure joy.   It's permission to do and be that self we love.    It's creating the life that you want.  Love x  Love = More LoveCheck 13 Clue4 ALL THINGS MANGO VISIT US HERE..www.greenskinmango.comCREATIVE 4 LIFE !GO BE CREATIVE!

Hey Yo!  We're starting a new series called “Inspired Tunes” on the g'mango show!  John & Gordon will share some of the tunes that inspired them in various meaningful ways.  Whether it is a direct influence on playing music, a nostalgic place to return to, or simply a song that touches you like no other. These are the songs of our lives and it's exciting to share them you.  And we'd love for you to share your Inspired Tunes with us as well!  We're always here to chat about inspiration and creativity, but we're also here to listen.  Here's Athena song list & videos below:Crazy Trainhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FVovq9TGBw0Quote Unquote (Travolta)https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mwRnBS3hmwAHigher Ground3:01"Higher Ground" Stevie Wonder 1974YouTube · WestLAGuy27 Dec 2012https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HZySqMlEuSQClose To Youhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6inwzOooXRUTunic (Song For Karen)https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=reSOp1domrUFolsom Prison Blueshttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wG0fS4DoGUcSo What9:07Miles Davis - So What (Official Video)YouTube · MilesDavisVEVO20 Oct 2010FIND EVERYTHING HERE!www.greenskinmango.com

Our very special guest this episode is LA native & current Hong Kong resident Jameel Haiat.   Jameel is a Creative, in every sense of the word,  & living that life to the fullest.    We chat with Jameel about his Creative roots and how he has survived while following his artistic passions. Life can be challenging & Jameel has had a lot to overcome, but he has empowered  himself with his experiences (positive & negative) and his determination to follow his many creative drives wherever that inner voice leads.    LA.  New York.  Shanghai.  Hong Kong. Poetry.  Production.  Art.  Imagineering.  He's been there, done it and lead the way... his unique way.And the journey is what Jameel finds to be the most important part for any Creative.  Break out of your comfort zone and explore the world. Join us for this enlightening, engaging and inspiring deep dive into the Creative Life of Jameel Haiat.    You can find more about Jameel and his newest book of poetry,  “Life Edited”, on his website / blog:https://www.jameelhaiat.comAnd follow him on Instagram: @jameelh1www.greenskinmango.com The song “13 Ghosts II” is from the album “Ghosts I-IV” by Nine Inch Nails and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Nine_Inch_Nailshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Everything is really heavy now.  So much realization. Green Skin Mango formed in 1992. Our music was one of the first shared online music, back in 1992, in the earliest version of online music sharing.  We also got our music online and sold some MP3s. But the global reach of this podcast in just 4 months / 13 episodes is astonishing.  We've  reached 11 countries on 5 continents.  We're not influencers or anything near that.   Its all grass roots for us.   As its always been.    It has never been about commercial success, though, we would embrace that. The message has always been to be unique, genre fluid, following that inner voice while leasing our own creative destinies.People pay to see others believe in themselves.  - Kim Gordon

Welcome to Podcast 13!Your Everyday Creative Thinking.My favourite number is 13.   It's been lucky for me.   But I'm sure a lot of other numbers have been too.   Yet, I choose to focus on 13.   Isn't that how life is?  Where & what you focus on becomes your perception of life.    When you think your way through daily life, are you fixed in the outcomes?   Creative thought brings a multiverse of possibilities and less fixed expectations.   Keeping an open and creative mind to the greater process can lead to a more connected reality, in the now, and unforeseen potential in the future.   Trust Creativity!And if you are reading this, the first 3 people to send us this message “NIN Oscar WIN” (via our website, Facebook, Instagram, email...) ... we'll send you a t-shirt!  These are the stories of our ambitions, our creative experiences, our creative pursuits and the dots that connect our creative lives with other people and places.  Being Creative is not only solving problems, but asking questions.   Some of those answers are only found by acquiring the skills needed to solve these problems.   And sometimes you meet people along the way that help with your success and point you in a new direction.    Over the past 3 decades our hosts (John Witcher & Gordon Meier) have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative! https://thegmangoshow.buzzsprout.comwww.greenskinmango.comApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gmango-show-creative-4-life/id1549814066Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2JvJnmB8E0VSkrwZzoMGe9?nd=1Google:   https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNjE5MDk1LnJzcwk

Create Now For LaterHow do you create? What is your method?  How do you approach the blank page?Are you creating for now?  Or for the future?For an audience that hasn't even been born...John & Gordon open up and chat a bit about their processes & influences. We get interesting insights on how John crafted and modelled some of his superhero characters in the “Danger Club” series.   In a revealing discussion of Gordon's painting processes, we learn what used to be an immediate reaction of reflection on the world around, has turned into a long view of documenting the eventual change of humanity in our daily lives.   “20 years after doing the show (“Subdivisions” 2002, @Kimberly Venardos Gallery NYC) the reality of what I was painting is coming into existence.  And I always knew that would happen.  Yes, this is now how my work plays out.  This is how it all makes sense.  But you didn't get it off the bat.  Your were just looking at paintings by this 29 year old artist.  But really it was the 40-something person inside me that was saying these (paintings) aren't even going to be out of the oven and ready to serve for another 20 years... when the actual world catches up to them... and the malls are falling apart and the economy has to shift because this was never sustainable to begin with.  Contact Vince or Ali at Meow Wolf... they'll fix up that old shopping mall for ya!” -Gordon MeierMusic & Score Ep12Green Skin Mango: “Green Skin Mango” (John Witcher / Gordon Meier)Mangosteen: “Rappongi Sweat”; “Nikko 2001 (Crover); “Invisible Like 2”; “Phantom 1”; “HoKme”  (Gordon Meier / John Witcher)“09 Ghosts I”;  “14 Ghosts II”;  “29 Ghosts IV”“Discipline”The songs listed are from the albums “Ghosts I-IV”  and “The Slip” by Nine Inch Nails and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Nine_Inch_Nailshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Trent Reznor.  Atticus Ross.  Nine Inch Nails. The epitome of risk and danger in music along with continued growth.It's why the eyebrow is raised when you hear the band that wrote “I want to f*** you like an animal” is doing the score for a beautiful film by Pixar Animation.It's also why, this year, they are nominated for an Academy Award for this film.Oh, and also for  David Fischer's historical and timely film “Mank”.And why they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year as well. From the first note of their debut album “Pretty Hate Machine” to balling my eyes out in the theatre during “Soul”,  Nine Inch Nails has been a huge influence on our music, our culture, and our creative drives.    As well, they are able to relate with those very lonely, isolated and dark moments that many of us feel.  It's a comfort not found in the desire to be depressed, but in the revelation we are not alone.   The empathetic nature of Nine Inch Nails is profound.   It's found primarily in the music, but also in the poetry of lyrics.   Taking breaks are necessary for rejuvenating your spirit & creativity.It also gives you time to reinvest in yourself and take a long view of your creative path.Upon returning to the podcast, we decided  to be more open and dive deeper into our passions for future podcasts.   We stand by the work we've done, obviously, but we were nervous about becoming too “topical”.   Creativity thrives on change and inspiration, listening to that voice inside,  and is related to the world surrounding us.   So while we may not be covering the evening news, the politics of the day, or saving the planet from environmental disaster... we are very aware of the world and we feel it.   We're vulnerable souls.  Music, art, film, literature - we can feel it very deeply.   We could spend many more episodes talking about so many aspects of NIN and how they have positively affected our creative lives and how we view and relate to ourselves and emotions.... And maybe we will.   It's our g'mango show.  Stay Vulnerable & Brutally Honest!Our gratitude and thanks to Trent Reznor for putting some of his work onto Creative Commons & allowing us to to use these works to share, non-commercially, with our listeners.1  Ghosts I-IV2  Ghosts I-IV7  Ghosts I-IV13  Ghosts I-IV14  Ghosts I-IV22 Ghosts I-IV24 Ghosts I-IV32 Ghosts I-IV33 Ghosts I-IV34 Ghosts I-IV36 Ghosts I-IV“999,9999”“Discipline ““Lights in the Sky”“The Four of Us Are Dying”The songs listed are from the albums “Ghosts I-IV”  and “The Slip” by Nine Inch Nails and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Nine_Inch_Nailshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

(music)

This emotionally charged Episode 10 returns to the city that kinda sleeps. In a conundrum the likes of Special Agent Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks) can appreciate.Episode 6 only touched on the first 9 months of Gordon's decade in NYC.Gordon is finally getting grounded in his East Village space & finding that walking the beat of Manhattan is as fulfilling as the new job at the mural studio, surrounded by fellow artists.  But there's temptation - with giant balloon dog artist Jeff Koons.And the road beckons - towards distant planets... or at least Planet Hollywood.  Will Gordon follow the call......of living on the road?...going back home?  ...following the inner voice that lead him here in the first place?It's a major life decision and a huge sacrifice no matter which option. And it gets real this episode, as emotions rise to the surface during this interview.These are the stories of our ambitions, our creative experiences, our creative pursuits and the dots that connect our creative lives with other people and places.  Being Creative is not only solving problems, but asking questions.   Some of those answers are only found by acquiring the skills needed to solve these problems.   And sometimes you meet people along the way that help with your success and point you in a new direction.    Over the past 3 decades our hosts (John Witcher & Gordon Meier) have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

A Pen & A DreamEver have a dream and have it seemingly destroyed, leaving you heartbroken and not knowing what to do with your life? Ever try out for the Red Hot Chili Peppers?Sometimes those painful life decisions can put you on your true path in life.Co-Host John Witcher (MBA), has had many dreams & heartbreaks while overcoming mental illness.  Inspired to write, John has found increased success as an author.  With a pen & a dream, John has detailed his journey, not only as a musician, and author, but in achieving his MBA.    In his 2018 Amazon Bestseller “My Journey to MBA”, John poetically details the challenges he faced mentally, emotionally and in everyday life to reach his goals.  Having a creative mindset, John was able to restructure his way to educate himself.  And in relearning, found himself immersed in creative writing.     John has published books in many genres (children's, sci-fi, non-fiction, superhero), but in every case finds a way to let his unique voice shine.   It's a real joy to hear in depth,  John's inspirational journey,  as continues to create and reinvent his dreams every day.  Creative 4 Life!Find John's Books Here!https://www.amazon.com/Books-John-Witcher/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJohn+Witcher#podcast#thegmangoshow #greenskinmango#authorsofinstagram #mba #mentalhealthawareness 

Genre Fluid, Education & Experience We're Green Skin Mango & we're always changing. “You can't compare your Chapter 1 with someone else's Chapter 20”.   Don't we know it!   This is Episode 8!  Education and Experience are inseparable - wherever applied to formal or vocational education, or on-the-job skills.   And during this time of Global Pandemic, how do we view education... besides on Zoom.John & Gordon start out this episode with some reflection on their own education experiences.  Gordon compares the hilarious point of view of an esteemed professor at his alma matter (Herron School of Art) with his own experiences. John revisits the struggles he encountered in acquiring an MBA after being diagnosed with his disABILITY. We also get to the root of what is most valuable  in a formal education...“You had fun, didn't ya?”One's disABILITY is not a life sentence and we are seeing greater public sentiment and focus on the “invisible” challenges being faced.   It's great to hear more professional athletes are speaking out as well.   Confessions of a Podcaster...Keeping creative is always looking for new ways to communicate.   It's been surprising how fulfilling this podcast has been personally & creatively!    And it's worth all the effort when we see people from around the globe downloading & giving us feedback. Gratitude!   Over the past 3 decades our hosts (John Witcher & Gordon Meier) have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

In layers is how so many works in art & music are created.   What if we could better live our lives in this way?Many of us grow up learning and living on a single trajectory.  We are told art looks likes “this”....music sounds like “that”.... and there is a standardised way from which “all things created” are learned... and produced.The closer you are to hitting that standardised expectation, the better you are as a student, an artist, a musician.   Ummm.... No.   And how much of our lives are held up to similar timeline of expectations?  In a longitudinal test of creative potential, a NASA study found that of 1,600 4- and 5-year-olds, 98 percent scored at "creative genius" level. Five years later, only 30 percent of the same group of children scored at the same level, and again, five years later, only 12 percent. When the same test was administered to adults, it was found that only two percent scored at this genius level.Children live for fun, and immerse themselves in a joyful world of creative thinking and doing.   They are thinking freely, without the known standards of expectation and levels of accomplishment.   For children, time is not gauged by minutes, hours or years... it's by moments.   In this episode, John & Gordon reflect on various moments: the exciting current of a creative economy at Omega Mart Las Vegas (Meow Wolf), getting outside for Spring and creating new streetwear with Green Skin Mango, anticipating where and when creative energy will flow, and enjoying creating art for yourself or with your family at a community studio - like Brandi Cottingham / BeArtSee Studio in Fort Worth. You never know when that spark of creativity will hit.Luckily, there are so many layers to creatively enrich yourself and bring some of that imaginative genius back into your life!These are the stories of our ambitions, our creative experiences, our creative pursuits and the dots that connect our creative lives with other people and places.  Being Creative is not only solving problems, but asking questions.   Some of those answers are only found by acquiring the skills needed to solve these problems.   And sometimes you meet people along the way that help with your success and point you in a new direction.    Over the past 3 decades our hosts (John Witcher & Gordon Meier) have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/Omega Mart / Meow WolfLas Vegas / Santa Fehttps://www.omegamart.comhttps://meowwolf.com#omegamartusa#meow_wolfBrandi Cottingham / BeArtSee2952 Crockett Row, Fort Worth, Texashttps://brandicottingham.com#BrandiCArt@BrandiCottinghamArtOscary Art Hong Kong / Central / PMQhttps://oscaryart.com

“Many times you have to live in dark places to then create a more beautiful life.”  This episode is only a small part of that story. 25 years ago, Gordon packed up his stuff in a U-Haul & chased a blizzard from Indiana to NYC, in order to pursue his lifelong dream of being an artist.   Today,  Gordon is often asked by parents of artistically inclined children & by art students  - “What did you do and how did you do it?”   Well, there's as many ways as there are artists around the globe.   But, for Gordon, it took an unfailing belief, inexhaustible positivity, huge leaps of blind faith, with a lot of long hours of hard work learning new skills.   The challenge to his ambition became real when he moved into a freezing-cold garage in Brooklyn...  These are the stories of our ambitions, our creative experiences, our creative pursuits and the dots that connect our creative lives with other people and places.  Being Creative is not only solving problems, but asking questions.   Some of those answers are only found by acquiring the skills needed to solve these problems.   And sometimes you meet people along the way that help with your success and point you in a new direction.    Over the past 3 decades our hosts (John Witcher & Gordon Meier) have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

In the Summer of 1992, John (accompanied by Gordon ) went to Los Angeles to audition as lead guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.   Filling the shoes of guitarist extraordinaire, John Frusciante, would be a dream come true.  The realization of countless rock'n'roll fantasies and achieving superstardom while still a teenager seemed to be our co-host's inevitable fate.   But there's a lot more to achieving your aspirations than just showing up.   You have to do the hard work and preparation - physically & mentally - to match or exceed the expectation.   Life lessons come with experience.Although one must be prepared when opportunity strikes, one must also prepare to take huge risks and make one's own opportunities into reality.   Thank you all for your continued support!  Our gratitude to each and every one of you from around the globe!Being Creative 4 Life is no easy task.Over the past 3 decades our hosts have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness.  -Gilda RadnerIs laughter really the best medicine?  John & Gordon chat about some of their favourite comedians and the tremendous struggles they faced.   Lucille Ball had her work cut out for her.  Mary Tyler Moore blazed a new trail from one generation to the next.   We dive deep into the brief-but-brilliant life of Gilda Radner.  And we get real as we give respect to Margaret Cho.  These incredible women who make us laugh are also those who shed tremendous light on the serious pressures put upon them, mentally and physically, as they have struggled to maintain peak creativity, obtain their own definitions of success, and find themselves.     Thank you all for your continued support!  Our gratitude to each and every one of you from around the globe!Being Creative 4 Life is no easy task.Over the past 3 decades our hosts have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/#gilda#lovegilda#margretcho#gildasclubnyc#neda#snl#torontoimprov#secondcity#ilovelucy#marytylermooreGilda's Club NYChttps://gildasclubnyc.orgNEDA Feeding Hopehttps://www.nationaleatingdisorders.orgType 1 Diabeteshttps://www.jdrf.orgHowl & Roar Recordshttps://howlandroarrecords.com

We had a Regime Change! If you are a big music fan of the late 80s & early 90s, you do not want to miss this! Join John Witcher & Gordon Meier of Green Skin Mango as they revisit how they met at a Motley Crue concert, how they started collaborating together,  & the Creative Challenges that they faced and overcame.  With Our Very Special Guest, Cullen Peters, we take a close  look at a pivotal time in our Creative Culture,, when Heavy Metal was replaced by Alternative, the White House & Parliament got funky with Clinton, and the youth Rocked the Vote!   And we finally will reveal the #1 song on Cullen & Gordon's Top 30 Kiss Songs (1974-1979)!You can only hear it HERE on the g'mango show!Being Creative 4 Life is no easy task.Over the past 3 decades our hosts have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head & do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

Being Creative 4 Life is no easy task.Over the past 3 decades our hosts have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. Teaching, Collaborating, Inspiring, Caring & Giving GratitudeIn Episode 2: “Our Origin Story / The Steps” we travel back to 1991 and join John Witcher & Gordon Meier as they reflect upon the value of teaching and collaborative knowledge.   This is why you make a band!    “Why Green Skin Mango?”A Snapple flavor? ...well, we try to explain!  We take a “mental note” to reflect upon “The Invisible Disability”.   What you see isn't always what is being experienced - especially now,  things can feel compounded.   John sees this on a daily basis in his work and assures us that, luckily, you don't have to go through this alone. He encourages and urges anyone who feels they need help to reach out.  Here are a few places he recommends:National Alliance on Mental Illness:https://www.nami.org/Homehttps://www.namiindiana.org/Key Consumer Organization https://www.keyconsumer.org/SARDAASchizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America.https://sardaa.org/What could be so intimidating about recording a demo?   We give our gratitude to Charles, the genius home-studio engineer who showed us how to be our best,  whose knowledge & wisdom continues to help us grow and to listen & believe in our own unique voices....so CRANK IT UP!  And we finally learn the origin of a g'mango!  Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/

We've Arrived!  The g'mango Show: Creative 4 Life!Being Creative 4 Life is no easy task.Over the past 3 decades our hosts have lived a life of creating and collaborating all over the world in art, music, design, comedy and literature.  The quirky creators and collaborators from the band & brand Green Skin Mango share with us their, dreams, schemes, visions and reflections from their life of making their own unique mark in life.     And though the struggles are real, the rewards for doing & sharing is always its own reward and an opening to another opportunity to create. In this episode we join John Witcher & Gordon Meier from opposite sides of the globe as they chat about their first collaborative vision as musicians, the realities , and how it has evolved through the digital age and also through comedy.   We take a “mental note” to reflect upon the comedic genius of Robin Williams and the importance of stigma-free mental health in our society, and how this cascades to all those in the creative world struggling through the pandemic era we are living through. Most importantly, we want to support and inspire everyone with any creative aspirations to listen to that voice in their head do it!   Go Be Creative!Subscribe!Rate & Review!Say “Hey Yo!” @greenskinmango and go deeper athttps://www.greenskinmango.com/