IMMERSED IN ART

Do you follow @x.kod1e on instagram? I do and if you like a level of cool that is kind and kicks ass - run go do. Cade tells us about her ride to Zane Grey and it rocks. 

Sometimes we are handed decisions we are too young to make but do it anyway because life is a weird mother of a thing. 

This kid has bars and a story to tell. He got extra time because his words flow like WATERRRR.

You never know what story someone has and how brave they have been to simply enter a school everyday. Axel is awesome and we are so grateful for his story. He is loved.

This powerhouse mama caught me on a day of tragedy and loss, like life, which tries to intervene with your best laid plans. We bring you her own story and how life intervening lead her to Stoney Point High School - thank goodness.

How do we follow our hopes and dreams even when we need to catch up? How do we stay on track with our stated goals when other things are not as on track? Listen to Oscar tell us how he's gonna do it.

Design is my favorite of the professions you can follow with art and Edgar and I share the same passion. It raises your eyes and desires for things well made. Listen to how he's transitioned from just making it to totally making it work!

These two!! They followed each other to John R. Wooden High School and beyond! Listen in to this delightful team, you might hear a little of yourself in them.

This highly focused teen decided that a diploma is the same for everyone and once he saw that, all the BS of school got way less important and he dialed into finishing early with a game plan.   So inspiring!

You know it's a good one when it ends by him saying, "Your mess will turn into a message." @juan_the_artist has some insight from his stories from the street. 

One of the fab founders of 11:11 - A Creative Collective! @1111_acc on the instagram. We have a great origin story talk and walk the last ten years of making change in the Valley and LA proper! Make some noise!!!

SO many shout outs and so much love to the local community builders of Chicago's Pilsen. Love from The Kid From Pilsen to : Chicago Bulls College Prep Socialchange.org (hey Michelle!) Chicago Reader Muralmovement.org  Healthyfood.org YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  

Teacher of the years! Global impactor! John R. Wooden English class superstar and red leotard wearing leaper... Ms. Brenda Young everyone!

Our good good friend! ZEA!! We have been friends for years and it is a joy to catch up with him and hear about him new journey into school AGAIN!

These two young ladies travel the Valley together with a plan for success. Moving from one school to the next with intelligence, hutzpah and a pod to quarantine and study with because it's the new school idea. Lead the way ladies - onward!!

A two hour update on Paulie's life past and present! What a nice talk we had. As Co-Founders we have traveled, lived, plotted and planned together but it's been a while since we've been in action. He's up to his own things and they are continuing the mission at hand over in Florida! Listen up to hear about the changes he's gone through and what's in store for the future of Off The Wall Graffiti over there in Bradenton, Florida's Artists Guild of Manatee County, Village Of The Arts!

You know her from her chants on the court during P.E. You went to her when you needed help, "Miss J..." Now she is in charge of Stoney Point High School in Chatsworth, CA and ready to PLAY for your education. She's the first of many teachers to tell their stories from school - the flip side.   Our friend, Barb Jepson.

When your road is windy but connected. Here's more of Paul and Tricia on their way to Stoney Point High School.

How do you go from school to a killer job in design? Follow along with us to see how that worked for our mentor and master - Paul, who happens to also work at City National Bank - one of our sponsors!!

THIS TIME IT'S FOR REAL. I lost the files the last time and we had to redo this talk! He was pro retelling his trek from East LA to the Valley and back again. I can't believe he keeps going with all the strife in his life. But spoiler alert - Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan can be credited with some of it!

One of our closest kids, young adults, grown ass young man... aka, Waful from back in the day. He is single handedly responsible for us meeting so many lovelies. He tells his story from school and how our tendencies to slack off can be fun in the moment...but.

Actor, Artist, Comedian, Friend... listen to the wise thoughts about an artist's life between Maura and her dear friend, Gregory Hoyt, aka, @hoytamania and @hoytpaintings.

 We helped a student taking our M2ART & DESIGN ONLINE class at Boyle Heights HS finish up his senior year with a podcast assignment. We are here for it! It our first pod zoom call!

What does a break from creating do to you or for you? Life does happen and you will get from it what you need - worry not! Joux took a long ass break from creating and it fueled him. Listen up for his THIS OR THAT... either way it's okay!

Two years ago we did back to back episodes at GetLit.org's headquarters. It was a packed night. I can hear myself being just a tiny bit tired! Sorry about that. Espy brought it though with his storytelling episode of making THIS (which is every damn day) or THAT happens is filled with good stuff. 

How do we lean in to what we are already always doing and call it who we are? Amy figures it out, everyday, over and over. Listen up to hear how she learns mastery and submits to being mentored and mentoring others.

Once you hear the calling - you have to make way for your art. Listen to how Sept learned to take risks, in spite of being told no, he made THIS or THAT would have happened.   Also - I got it wrong, Saul Bass did not design the CBS logo - Lou Dorfsman did. And, Otis is a very fine school. That is true.

Growing up as a dutiful son, a good student and eager to please - it creates quite the rebellion. Shaq learns many lessons, including "let mom win" and how misbehavior can help you find your true north. Listen to his hard earned story from school.

Life can get pretty hairy when you aren't making art, however, the road, if you're lucky, returns to creating. Max had his own journey with I'll make THIS, or THAT happens. Listen up!

This girl was straight up a little shit as a teenager! Listen up, you'll hear how she evolves out of it but for real, I think she is gonna be a tougher mom than she grew up with...while she was climbing out of her window and climbing into a fucking car at age 14! PEOPLE what the what?!!!

A poet who has gotten to a place where he is able to reliably deliver and understands the creative process like a boss talks with an artist who is in the beginning of her career while also being a bit of a master.

A little story about what happens when your creative road comes to the proverbial - Get A Job end and how to get around that and how to pull up your family members along the way!

This little pixy of an artist did get into Rhode Island School of Design - the same school that Seth McFarland and Shepard Fairey attended. Listen up to hear how she was valedictorian of Reseda High School as a transfer student senior year. She went to atleast five schools during her K-12 AND was homeschooled at Walmart! Listen up! 

FROM EURO TRAINS TO VAN NUYS This international muralist ran hard in Europe during his formative years on trains and in ancient ruins. How did he get caught and how did he not?  

Pacoima Projects to Tacoma Beautiful. This story has prompted a play which is being written about the world of graffiti because it is so powerful. West Side Story from the Deep North of the Valley. A birthday to remember. Photo cred @isdatfuego

Espy runs but never gets caught in New Jersey. Plus a little smack talk and a little mentor lesson from the street.

You'll hear a quick story of a cop chase which goes a little haywire. It's okay, everyone is fine. There's nothing to see here.

The youngest is overlooked until she gets mad as hell and can't take it anymore!

More on being all in and what that really looks like in NYC.

The amazing Joi Sanchez tells about her journey toward being ALL IN as an artists. @artloveher