Making Ways

New bands! New artists! Making Ways: The Art of Music is returning with a brand new season! And we're so excited to be joining the Weirder Together podcast network for it all. This season we're bringing together even more bands and musicians with the visual artists they work with to talk all about the art of music and creative collaboration. Everything from band posters to album design, music videos, and stage shows –– and you'll hear about the art of music for film, TV, and fashion too. Each episode features a custom 'gig poster' to commemorate the conversation, illustrated by host and series creator Rob Goodman. We have an amazing line-up of musicians and visual artists for you this season –– like the Melvins, Built to Spill, Lambchop, Neil Frances, Dead Cross, and a lot more. And we're celebrating with a brand new website at http://makingwayspodcast.com. So be sure to subscribe and follow wherever you're listening and get ready for new episodes very soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, we go deep into the art of the music for “Marrow,” the latest single from Thao & the Get Down Stay Down off the deluxe edition of their album, Temple. Thao and filmmaker Linda Mai Green discuss their collaboration for the music video for “Marrow,” the meaning behind the song, and Thao shares the influence her work as host of the podcast Song Exploder had on her overcoming creative blocks in writing the album.

What happens when the anthem for our times meets… elf yourself? It's the story behind the music video and song, Born For This Bullshit, with acclaimed and beloved rocker Ben Lee and the brilliant director Byron Spencer. Buckle up for a wide-ranging conversation about the music video, Ben's upcoming 20th (?!) LP “I'm Fun” and explore why embracing your own weirdness can lead to amazing new work.

We're talking about building consensus in creative projects, how to give feedback, and the value of clearly defined roles... so much goodness in one lil' bonus episode. You'll hear from  Laura Lee of Khruangbin and designer Nate Utesch, Anaïs Mitchell of Hadestown and Bonny Light Horseman with designer Aaron Denton, and Ra Ra Riot's Mathieu Santos with designer Chris Everhart. Tune in for lessons in creative collaboration from this past season of Making Ways: The Art of Music. Hear the full episodes by subscribing today, wherever you're listening to this podcast.    Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com.   Discover more from Khruangbin at www.khruangbin.com and explore the work of Nate Utesch at www.utesch.xyz.    Hear Bonny Light Horseman at www.bonnylighthorseman.com and see Aarron Denton's designs at www.aaronlowelldenton.com.   Check out Ra Ra Riot at www.rarariot.com and see Chris's artwork at www.chriseverhart.com.    All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.

We implore you to watch the music videos for Cholla, My God, and Your Cocoon, they will most certainly blow your mind. Lucas Nathan aka Jerry Paper makes music that is chill, breezy, absurd, and as Lucas puts it: funny with a touch of sadness. Steve is one of the most talented 3D animators out there and he's worked with Team Coco, Snapchat, and edited the TBS TV series The Dress Up Gang. Both Lucas and Steve have done various TV projects including work for Adult Swim. In this conversation, we talk about the creative collaboration between Lucas and Steve on Jerry Paper's music videos, go into the making of Jerry Paper's latest album Abracadabra, and discuss Lucas and Steve's art and music origin stories. You're in for a truly unique conversation with two fascinating, funny, and very talented creators.   Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Check out Jerry Paper's music at https://jerrypaper.guru and see more from Steve Smith at https://stevesmith.co. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.   A big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible.   Cholla music video:  https://youtu.be/ytTrL6qqDJs   My God music video:  https://youtu.be/EpfGP_vY1Hw   Your Cocoon music video: https://youtu.be/jzEKSTYa5FE    Face Lift | Adult Swim: https://youtu.be/UxBl73QX000 

Speedy Ortiz started off as a solo project for musician, songwriter, and poet Sadie Dupuis that quickly grew into a full band experience. Over the past several years Sadie has been experimenting with a new solo project under her own moniker of Sad13. Her latest album Haunted Painting is a loud danceable indie-pop gem that is as personal as it is relatable. Michael DeForge is a celebrated comic book artist from Toronto, Ontario, with a treasure trove of original books to his name and artwork that has been featured in The New York Times, The Believer, Bloomberg, and he's worked as a designer on Adventure Time for six seasons too. Michael and Sadie recount the projects they've collaborated on over the years, their creative processes for songwriting and art-making, the joys of procrastination, the fight for artists' rights, and the story behind the art for Sadie's latest album (with cover painting by Sadie's mom).  Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Discover more from Sadie Dupuis at www.sad13.horse and explore the artwork of Michael DeForge at www.michael-deforge.com.  All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher. Big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bonny Light Horseman and his wife and creative collaborator, photographer Annie Beedy, all about their work together that pairs his music with her vivid documentary-style photography. And we’re joined later in the episode by Daniel Murphy, acclaimed album designer, now residing as Art Director at Merge Records. Daniel has designed albums for Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger, Sharon Van Etten, The War On Drugs, Dinosaur Jr., and has worked with Fruit Bats on their brilliant, new album The Pet Parade. We go behind the art of the music and talk through Annie’s photography, how it connects with Eric’s music, how Eric thinks about the artwork that represents his body of work, the making of stories and themes of the new album, and how Daniel Murphy puts the puzzle pieces together for incredible packaging. Follow Making Ways for more stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com. Discover more from Fruit Bats at www.fruitbatsmusic.com. See Annie Beedy’s photography at www.anniebeedy.smugmug.com. And view Daniel Murphy’s portfolio at www.5pt5panoramic.com. Hear more about Bonny Light Horseman in our episode with Anaïs Mitchell and designer Aaron Denton at www.makingways.co/episodes/bonnylighthorseman. All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher. Special thanks to Dean Christesen at Spacebomb Group for helping to make this episode possible.

In this episode, we’re joined by Mathieu Santos, bassist and founding member of the band Ra Ra Riot and Chris Everhart, the graphic designer who has worked on all their album packages, countless posters, and creative collaborations. We talk through the band’s creative approach to songwriting and what it’s like to manage so many creative voices and opinions (with 5 members of the group). We walk through all their creative adventures with Chris, his work in coming up with concepts, and the shared artistic language they’ve developed over a decade of work together. In addition to his work with Ra Ra Riot, Chris has done amazing posters and artwork for The Raconteurs, 311, The National, Phish, and Jack White.   Follow Making Ways for more stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com. Discover more from Ra Ra Riot at www.rarariot.com and see Chris’s artwork at www.chriseverhart.com.    All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.   Special thanks to Josh Roth for helping to make this episode possible.

Anaïs Mitchell, is a singer-songwriter, creator of the 8x Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown, and 1/3 of the folk-rock supergroup and twice Grammy-nominated Bonny Light Horseman. Aaron Denton is an acclaimed poster artist and designer for music including work with Stereolab, Slowdive, Khruangbin, and… Bonny Light Horseman. In this episode, we go deep into the backstory of where art meets music for Bonny Light Horseman, Anaïs and Aaron’s unique creative processes, what they look for in a successful creative partnership, and how Aaron applies his artwork “effects pedal” to the music he loves from the bands he collaborates with. Follow Making Ways for more stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman. Discover more from Bonny Light Horseman at www.bonnylighthorseman.com and see Aarron Denton’s brilliant artwork at www.aaronlowelldenton.com. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher. Special thanks to Dean Christesen at Spacebomb Group for helping to make this episode possible.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Hazel English discussing her latest album “Wake UP!” with bandmate and album designer David Vieira. Hazel and David discuss working together on the album, how the packaging came together, and Hazel’s process for songwriting. You’ll hear about the themes behind “Wake UP!” and David’s approach to the handcrafted design elements he brought to the album’s packaging. His work surrounds a bold, colorful photograph of Hazel English used for the cover and shot by Janell Shirtcliff. Tune in for one of our favorite new artists in conversation about the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman. Discover more from Hazel English at https://hazelenglish.com, explore David’s art and music at  https://www.instagram.com/davyera. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.

George Clarke, lead singer from the band Deafheaven joins Making Ways alongside his creative collaborator, close friend, graphic designer, and musician Nick Steinhardt from the band Touché Amoré. In addition to his work with Deafheaven, Nick Steinhardt has designed packaging for popular artists like Tom Petty, Pink, Britney Spears, and the latest Paul McCartney album, McCartney III. In this conversation, we go deep into the creative process behind the music and art of Deafheaven’s album covers and overall visual aesthetic. Throughout the interview, you’re going to hear about the care and consideration that goes into every decision the band makes about the visual art that surrounds their music. You’ll learn more about George’s backstory, how Nick and George originally connected, and the stories of inspiration and creative production that bring Deafheaven’s music to life through art.  Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman. Discover more from Deafheaven at www.deafheaven.com, explore Nick Steinhardt’s art and design at www.23in.com, and hear the music of Touché Amoré at www.toucheamore.com.  All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher. Special thanks to Josh Roth for introducing us to Nick and helping to make this episode possible.

Songwriter and musician Shamir Bailey and artist Faye Orlove talk about the art of the music video that Faye illustrated and animated for the song “Running” off of Shamir’s latest self-titled album. In this conversation, we get into the collaboration and connection between these two, the backstory of the video, and go deeper into both the songwriting and artmaking process. Shamir and Faye talk about the power of working with distraction (on purpose), creativity and mental health, and the downside of romanticizing the idea of the tortured rock star. Shamir even touches on some of the new music he’s been creating. Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman. Discover more from Shamir at shamir.bandcamp.com and explore the work of Faye Orlove at fayeorlove.com. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.

Laura Lee of Khruangbin and designer Nate Utesch discuss the stories behind the art of the band’s latest album ‘Mordechai.’ In this expansive conversation for the new Making Ways podcast, we dive into the origin story of the record and how the artwork came together as a collaboration between Laura and Nate. Laura shares her creative songwriting process and how mindfulness plays such an important part in her craft, and Nate walks us through the way he works with bands (including Smashing Pumpkins, Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer, and his own electronic music project called Metavari) to create incredible packages.  Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Discover more from Khruangbin at www.khruangbin.com and explore the work of Nate Utesch at www.utesch.xyz. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher. Special thanks to Josh Roth for his ongoing support and for introducing us to Nate which made this episode possible.

Matthew Caws of Nada Surf and lifelong friend, artist Melissa Unger discuss the music and artwork that brings the band’s latest album ‘Never Not Together’ to life and uncover new layers behind the record’s biggest themes. In this debut episode of the new Making Ways podcast, hear about Matthew and Melissa’s creative practices, the value of ritual, what it means to catch creative fire with hot hands, and why taking a cold shower might not be such a bad idea.  Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Discover Nada Surf's music at nadasurf.com and learn more about Melissa Unger and Seymour Projects at seymourprojects.com. All music used by permission of band, label, and publisher.

Tune in for a special preview of the new Making Ways podcast where we're taking you behind the stories of the art of music. Host Rob Goodman interviews bands with the visual artists they collaborate with for album covers, posters, videos, and more. In conversation together about the creative process and the intersection of art and music. Get a sneak peek at upcoming episodes with Matthew Caws of Nada Surf alongside artist Melissa Unger, Laura Lee of Khruangbin with designer Nate Utesch, and longtime creative collaborators Deafheaven's George Clarke and Nick Steinhardt of Touché Amoré. All this and so much more is coming for you on the new Making Ways: The Art of Music.

An update from Making Ways host and creator Rob Goodman on what he's been up to and what's next for Making Ways. With special guest interviewer Rob Meyerson of How Brands Are Built podcast.

Making Ways is back with a brand new episode, recorded live at Wayfair HQ in Boston last fall. We sat down for a live conversation with Kendall Bradford, Senior Brand Manager, Experience & Retail Design at Wayfair, about her winding creative career path. Nowadays Kendall designs real world retail experiences for the online giant Wayfair, but before her latest career turn, she worked as a fine artist, painter, bartender, and event planner. It was in her evolution into a visual designer, window and set creative artist for Ralph Lauren, Saks, and the National Gallery of Art, where Kendall’s passion for creative spaces took hold. Kendall is a longtime friend of the show and we’re so excited to have her on. Stay tuned for more from Making Ways this fall as we work on a new set of episodes that will leave you inspired in a whole new way.

Heather D’Angelo used to tell her Au Revoir Simone bandmate Annie that going on tour was a pipe dream. The band, that went on to tour the world, release four full length albums, and take the stage at the Roadhouse for David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return, reached indie rock heights on their own terms. In this new episode of Making Ways podcast, Heather talks about her latest creation, Carta fragrances, and the journey that brought her from musician to scientist to perfumer. Learn about the hustle it takes to follow more than one path to bring creative dreams to life.

Making Ways is back with a new episode all about Risk. Tune in for tales that offer advice on breaking through, getting uncomfortable, and leaping towards the unknown. You’ll hear from past guests of the show offering tips and guidance you can apply to your creative practice and career right now. Host Rob Goodman also shares the latest risk he took in his creative career journey.

Michael Stinson had dreams of becoming an airplane pilot, but his imperfect eyesight led him to an entirely different path, albeit one where precision is essential. Listen to Michael’s story of discovering a career in typography, his evolution from print to digital, and how he now trains students and companies like Disney, Facebook, and Mattel, through his program TypeEd, to better understand how to use type to design brilliantly.

Carissa Potter started out making greeting cards to serve as conversation starters for difficult conversations. She’s concerned and curious about the human condition –– the deep sadness, the surprise joy, the relationship muddiness, the everyday occurrences that make our days bright and dark. Carissa and her team, also known as ‘People I’ve Loved,’ run a popular site, have published books, and make goods in search of truths that connect us all. On today’s episode, Carissa shares her journey, her struggles, and how she came to become 'People I’ve Loved.'

Giselle Gyalzen, owner of San Francisco’s beloved art and gift shop, Rare Device, joins the show to discuss the critical decisions she made to follow her passion. Giselle moved to California from the Philippines as a teenager to attend college, built an accomplished career as a project manager for some of the world’s finest agencies, and switched gears midstream to support local creators and community with Rare Device. Giselle’s story is one of hard work, creativity, and constant evolution.

Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer discuss their path to opening 3 Fish Studios, the popular workspace and retail store in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. This husband and wife, printmaker and painter, dynamic duo talk about their recent sabbatical in Paris, and how good business planning and real connection with their community have been essential ingredients to thriving as independent artists and small business owners. In this episode you’ll learn about what it takes to plan and run a small business, switching gears mid-career to follow your passion, how relief printmaking works, and so much more.

When Donald Burlock was a little kid and started breaking eggs to see how they worked, his mother noticed his curiosity and gave him more tools to construct and understand better. These early signs ultimately grew into a passion for designing the world around us. Donald Burlock joins the show to discuss his path to industrial design, his experiences working for IDEO, General Motors, and Coca-Cola. And Donald shares the leadership lessons he learned after running his own agency and the qualities that make for an exceptional design studio.

Caldecott and Sibert Honor recipient, children’s book author and illustrator, Jason Chin discusses his path to creating stories for kids that beautifully combine science and imagination for grand results. In this episode, you’ll learn how seeking out a mentor changed the course of Jason’s career, the ways reading and travel play into his inspiration, and how a great tale need only rely on one vital idea. _____ Jason Chin combines imaginative storytelling with intriguing science to create books that both enchant and educate. He is is the author and illustrator of Grand Canyon which received a 2018 Caldecott Honor, Sibert Honor and won the 2018 Orbis Pictus award. His other books, include Redwoods, Island: A Story of the Galápagos, Gravity, and most recently Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard. While researching his books, he’s gone swimming with sharks, explored lava fields and camped with scorpions at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Jason was raised in New Hampshire, studied illustration at Syracuse University, and now lives with his family in Vermont. _____ This episode is brought to you by Soothe. Get $20 off your first massage with code MAKINGWAYS. _____ Find Making Ways on Instagram @making.ways.

Muralist Nathan Richard Phelps discusses his road to life as an independent artist, his rough early days as a teenager, the mental break that changed the trajectory of his life, and his years of hard work as an artist and waiter. Nathan creates beautiful, massive murals that are intensely personal and vividly otherworldly. You’ll also hear about the practical dollars and cents of making a living as an independent artist and the vision that propels his work.   This episode is brought to you by Soothe (https://www.soothe.com). Get $20 off your first massage with code MAKINGWAYS.   Get news, updates, and merchandise at http://www.makingwayspodcast.com.   Find Making Ways on Instagram @making.ways.

Making Ways podcast welcomes dancer and artistic director of Samba Funk, Theo Aytchan Williams. Theo discusses his path from arts advocate to dancer and now artistic director for the non-profit organization focused on preserving and celebrating African Diaspora culture. From the first captivating moments Theo heard the rhythms of a drum, to the unexpected death of his mentor and the community rebuilding that followed, listen in for an amazing conversation on the power of family, music, and transformation. Plus you'll hear real world tips for navigating a creative career with a mission but without a roadmap.

On today’s episode we are joined by dancer, instructor, and coach Alicia Langlais. Alicia’s practice is all about conquering your fears and overcoming the demons that are holding you back from pursuing your own path, whether that be as a dancer, artist, creator, or entrepreneur. Alicia found her way back to dance after years as a school counselor and time overcoming the challenges of her early dancing days at the renowned LaGuardia Performing Arts High School aka the school that inspired Fame. Listen in to Alicia’s incredible journey and get ready to conquer your own dragons today.

Artist and designer Mik Gaspay left the steady 9 to 5 twice in his career and has learned a thing or two about being bold and going for what you want. On today’s episode of Making Ways podcast Mik shares his journey, discussing his move to Palo Alto from the Philippines at age 9, his work at Colorforms toys, what life was like as a grad student at art school while also working full time there in IT, and the moment the band Built to Spill helped light the spark to his pursuit of an independent career. Mik also offers practical advice for those seeking to break away from their day jobs and how to navigate the highs and lows of the freelance hustle.

On today’s episode we are joined by the CEO and Executive Creative Director of Butchershop agency, Trevor Hubbard. You could call Trevor’s path to becoming a design leader unconventional… he went to film school, got fired from his first design job after botching a pet ad, left design school and later taught there instead, and came to starting an agency through his love of the action sports industry. Trevor runs Butchershop, an award-winning creative agency that works with organizations on reimagining culture through design. Tune in for a great story, conversation, and advice on navigating your own creative career with Trevor Hubbard.

On today’s episode we’re joined by artist, curator, and director Brion Nuda Rosch. Brion discovered his love of art-making in the San Francisco creative community scene of the 1990s. He went on to curate art shows (even some in his apartment bathroom), make his own way as a painter by initially cutting up and recontextualizing his work, and breaking into the art world not through a MFA but by an unrelenting commitment to moving forward. Brion spends his days directing the studio program at Minnesota Street Project––helping to support the careers and creative practices for resident artists. Minnesota Street Project is based in San Francisco’s Dogpatch district and provides sustainable spaces for galleries, artists, and arts nonprofits. Tune in for Brion’s story and learn more about how to carve your own path by earning your stripes in the real world.

Brian Singer is a fine artist whose work includes installations, civic-minded projects, paper sculpture, and large-scale participatory experiences. Brian recently changed gears to devote his full-time attention to artwork after years of running his own agency and holding senior design roles at Facebook and Pinterest. In this episode of Making Ways, learn more about gradually carving out a career based on doing more of what you like and less of what you feel obligated to do. Brian also shares details on his new crowdfunded earthquake preparedness project, Basic Safety, and his acclaimed The 1000 Journals Project, which has been exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

During our recent visit to Design Week Portland, we had the awesome opportunity to meet illustrator and designer Jason Sturgill. Jason came to illustration later in his career and has flourished, sharing his journey on Instagram for fans the world over. His clients include Warby Parker, New Balance, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and many more. Jason lives his life and career with a curiosity and bias towards openness that has inspired him to start his own record label (where he released one of Modest Mouse's first 7" records), art gallery, and more recently take on roles at Wieden+Kennedy, Nike, Dark Horse Comics, and mentor students at Portland State University. On today's episode Jason talks about his unique serendipitous path and shares the nature of his open mindset. He also discusses his challenges with depression and bipolar disorder and how creativity plays a significant role in his happiness and health. Tune in for a great discussion with the inspiring, creative mind of Jason Sturgill. 

Making Ways podcast is live from Design Week Portland with Laura Whipple, the CEO and Cofounder of Scout Books. Laura shares her unlikely path to launching the company, great advice for entrepreneurs looking to get started, and she details the power of writing down your goals. She also offers listeners a closer look at what makes the Portland creative community tick (and how you can bring some of that magic to your own city or town). Thanks to Design Week Portland, Outlet PDX, and Stream PDX for making this live event and episode so special.

Aundre Larrow is a portrait photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. On today’s episode Aundre shares his story––from early days in Jamaica to adolescence with his supportive single mother in Florida, and the first steps that brought him into a freelance photography career. Throughout the conversation, Aundre talks about the motivation behind his work, details his latest project ‘Stories from Here,’ and discusses his year as an Adobe Creative Resident.

Indhira Rojas is the founder and creative director of Anxy Magazine, a beautifully designed Kickstarter-funded print magazine that tells the true stories of our internal lives. Indhira once called the mental health magazine, “group therapy in print.” On today’s episode Indhira discusses her path from a photography-loving student in the Dominican Republic to an esteemed designer working with some of Silicon Valley’s best-known brands. During our conversation, Indhira shares the challenges of overcoming childhood trauma and offers insights for listeners struggling to find their footing, both professionally and personally. Hear her story of leaving behind the corporate world, starting her own agency, and creating Anxy Magazine on Making Ways podcast today.

On today's episode we're joined by the founder of Stitcher podcasts, Noah Shanok. Noah shares his journey to starting Stitcher and how he delayed his entrepreneurial urges to sharpen his teeth first with roles at StubHub and JPMorgan Chase. Stitcher began over a decade ago and was very early to the podcasting game––arriving before the iPhone revolutionized the way we consume media. Today the company is among the world's most renowned podcasting platforms. Noah sheds light on his time as CEO of Stitcher, the pitfalls of the startup grind, and knowing when to throw in the towel. He discusses why getting out of your own way is the best path to thriving as a creative or business leader. Hear our illuminating conversation with Noah Shanok now on Making Ways podcast.

It’s time to celebrate one year of Making Ways podcast! 50 creative minds, 50 career journeys, 50 compelling conversations…50 episodes. Over the past year, host, marketer, and illustrator Rob Goodman has sat down with creatives of all stripes to discuss the winding journeys to their most fulfilling careers. Our guests have navigated unexpected paths and come out on the other side to share pitfalls, lessons learned, and amazing advice. These learnings can help any creative-minded professional pursue a career that will bring them joy—and have an oversized impact on their communities too. In today’s episode, we look back at some of the interviews that listeners have loved. Hear insightful stories from artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs like Kelly Inouye, Alexandra Kenin, Windy Chien, Paul Madonna, Susa Cortez, George McCalman, Steve Vassallo, and Kimberly Bryant. Thanks for an amazing first year of Making Ways. Cheers to more stories and inspiration ahead to help you chart a creative path all your own.

Independent creative entrepreneur Dava Guthmiller wears many hats. As the founder and chief creative officer of branding and design agency Noise 13, she leads a mostly female team in taking on big creative projects. Dava is also the cofounder of In/Visible Talks, a conference about the creative process, and founder and CEO of Revel & Rouse, an online cannabis magazine for women. On this episode of Making Ways, Dava shares great advice on nurturing relationships and collaborations and tips on replenishing your creative energy and balancing work and life for greater success. She also discusses her pivotal, impromptu decision to leave her day job and strike out on her own without a plan in hand. Listen in to hear her story and learn why you should prioritize taking time to recharge.

In life, we are often so fixated on moving forward that we overlook past passions worth revisiting. On today’s episode, we chart the amazing journey of Miriam Stone. Miriam is a published memoir author who switched gears after hitting writer’s block and found a career in business and marketing as a brand strategist. After the 2016 election, Miriam harnessed her years of training for political action, cofounding Swing Left, an organization that rallies support for progressive candidates in congressional races. Listen in as Miriam shares how her mother’s passing inspired her first book, why she switched gears and went for a MBA, and what a brand strategist really does. Miriam also delivers great advice for making room in your life for creative exploration and how to overcome those pesky feelings many of us have about not being good enough to do whatever it is that we really want to do.

As a child, Sarah Weiner loved food the way other little kids might love music. Her mom would hand her a treat and she'd be an angel all afternoon. Sarah also had a fondness for raising awareness for endangered species and caring for those in need. Years later she would come to realize that her passion for food and making the world a better place could come together to help reshape the nation's food system. Today Sarah serves as Executive Director of the Good Food Foundation. On this episode of Making Ways podcast, she discusses her path from food-loving kid to Economics student at Dartmouth College, and her experiences working with Alice Waters. Sarah has fantastic practical advice on how to learn through osmosis and offers this nugget of wisdom: “If you want to be a change leader, start by being a change helper.” Listen to her story on Making Ways now.

On today’s episode, watercolor artist Lindsay Stripling gets down to brass tacks when it comes to living a life and running a business as a creative freelancer. Lindsay shares the behind the scenes challenges and realities of sustaining a creative practice, running a side hustle, and working multiple jobs as you spin up doing something that you love. Tune in to hear about Lindsay’s path to art making, her time in Santa Cruz and at San Francisco Art Institute, and how she discovered her love of painting. You’ll also learn practical tips for establishing your creative business, programs and tools to help you organize your practice, and advice on scheduling your time for the greatest creative output.

Kelly Inouye is a watercolor artist who runs an art space and turned a career in product design and a stack of rejection letters into a fulfilling life as a creative professional. In this episode, you'll learn how to rethink rejection, continue your education without returning to class, and get a better understanding of the factors that might make you––one day––pack up and leave your corporate job behind. Tune in for today's episode of Making Ways podcast with the talented, kind, and driven Kelly Inouye.

Stuart Schuffman is a blogger, travel writer, author, and even hosted his own show on IFC. He's also the creator of Broke-Ass Stuart, the popular travel and culture website that got him called names like, "underground legend" by San Francisco Chronicle, "SF cult hero" by San Francisco Bay Guardian, and "chief of cheap" by Time Out New York. On today's episode Stuart talks about his path to becoming a travel writer, his work at Lonely Planet, that time he ran for mayor, and what it takes to operate an editorial site in today's media game. Stuart shares his daily challenges and discusses Patreon crowdfunding. He talks about bringing a TV show to the airwaves and getting his "living cheaply" city guidebooks published. Tune in for great advice and some amazing stories as we talk shop with Stuart Schuffman on Making Ways.

Miranda Jones is cofounder of Galanter & Jones, a design and fabrication studio she runs with her brother Aaron. The company is best known for their beautiful, heated furniture. Miranda's path to the furniture business was anything but a straight line. She worked in publishing as an editor for Sunset Magazine and later for the popular website PopSugar. Earlier in her career, she spent time helping to run the San Francisco Film Society and even started her own floral design business. On this episode you'll learn about identifying compelling projects and finding people in your life whose passions could also be your own. And you'll hear about the importance of partnership and collaboration in making big ideas take flight.

Jesse Genet has always had the entrepreneurial spark. In high school, she created a T-shirt printing business. Later, Jesse launched two successful Kickstarter campaigns for the sunlight-activated fabric dye Inkodye. That startup ultimately transformed into Lumi, a company reimagining packaging for commerce brands. On today’s episode, Making Ways is live at In/Visible Talks, the new conference all about the creative process. Listen in to hear Jesse’s great advice on building your tolerance for big risks, making difficult decisions, lessons on being a designer founder, her experience at Y Combinator, and so much more. The only way this conversation could have been better was if Jesse’s dog Flexo joined in. Next time. Tune in for a fun, insightful conversation with Making Ways live.

On today’s show, we are live at General Assembly with Lara McCormick, the creative director for the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s historic hands-on science museum. Lara’s path to becoming a design leader and teacher is anything but ordinary. On this episode, she shares the twists and turns of her journey with great humor and insight. Lara recounts the lessons she learned from her first steps into design with handmade flyers to earning an MFA from SVA and a degree in type from the esteemed Cooper Union later in life. She also discusses her experiences as art director for the New York Times, chairing the Design Department at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and leading design at Creative Live. Listen in for Lara’s great advice for anyone looking to stay inspired, be honest with themselves about what’s most important, and do great work.

Susa Cortez joins Making Ways for an inspiring conversation about her immigration to the United States from Mexico as a teenager and the drive that compelled her to become an artist. Susa was the first in her family to go to college, earning a BFA from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in fine art from Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her work includes performance, sculpture, and installations that often evoke memories of her early life in La Loma, a rural town in Guanajuato, Mexico. On this episode, Susa shares moving advice about finding your voice in whatever you do. She also discusses her role at visual arts nonprofit Root Division, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and the impact the organization has had on her work and community connection.

On today’s episode of Making Ways, interdisciplinary artist Rea Lynn de Guzman joins the show to talk about her artist path and her experience emigrating from the Philippines. You’ll learn the meaning behind Rea’s work and hear the stories that define her, from a not-so-everyday childhood to her separation from her family in Manila to a drawing class she took in college while studying for a business degree that began her career as an artist. Rea also talks about her time at visual arts nonprofit Root Division, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and its impact on her work, creative life, and community.

Fine artist Robert Minervini joins Making Ways podcast to discuss his path to becoming a professional artist. Robert's work has been exhibited nationally and examines utopia-inspired landscapes, cityscapes, and still-life. In this episode, you'll learn more about what it's really like to make a life as an artist, the influences from film and literature Robert infuses into his work, and his time in Philadelphia at Tyler School of Art and at the San Francisco Art Institute to earn his MFA. Robert discusses his public art works and his upcoming commission for a permanent installation at San Francisco International Airport. He also shares the impact that visual arts non-profit Root Division had on his art practice and sense of community in the Bay Area.

On today's show, fine artist, sculptor, and art educator Rachelle Reichert talks about her path to life as an artist. Rachelle discusses the curiosities that drove her to experiment with salt as a medium for sculpture and the research and creative work she does to bring together art and ecology. All this month, we are celebrating the 15-year anniversary of visual arts non-profit Root Division. Tune in for stories from some of their amazing alumni, artists the organization has supported to further their mission of connecting creativity and community in San Francisco and beyond.