Stickers on the Mic Podcast

Join us in our latest podcast episode as we host John Clinton, the creative mind behind Colorado Cool Apparel. Born out of passion and a relentless desire to be different, Colorado Cool Apparel is the brainchild of a designer who's always looking to push boundaries and create designs that embody the spirit of Colorado. Growing up in Colorado, John's love for the great outdoors and the state's vibrant culture always found a way into his art. It was this consistent theme in his designs that birthed the idea of Colorado Cool Apparel. From its humble beginnings as a personal project to improve his design skills, it has evolved into a brand that's all about celebrating Colorado's unique lifestyle. Colorado Cool Apparel is more than just a brand - it's a growing community of IG brand ambassadors across Colorado and the globe who resonate with the brand's designs and lifestyle, giving life and meaning to Colorado Cool. The brand is all about its people, those who love Colorado and the lifestyle it promotes. And as the brand continues to grow, John is committed to giving back to the Colorado community. Whether it's investing in environmental preservation or providing gear to those less fortunate, Colorado Cool Apparel is all about embracing and enhancing the Colorado lifestyle. Tune into this episode to hear more about John's journey in creating Colorado Cool Apparel, how he challenges the norms of design, and his vision for the future of this unique brand. Check out this inspiring episode anywhere you get your podcasts.

Joshua Mehzer tried to germinate his first cannabis seed while in high school, after attending one of the early public protests in the UK to decriminalize cannabis in the year 2000. Shortly after moving to the USA in 2010, he found himself dropping out of the University of Santa Cruz to grow medicinal cannabis full time. Since then he has grown cannabis hydroponically, aeroponically, soil medium, indoors, and outside in greenhouses and full sun. He developed the worlds 1st pair of smart electric scissors for timing cannabis and has participated at all levels of the industry. His love of plants goes back to an early age, but cannabis is his favourite and he has grown a lot of it. He started A Pot for Pot and A Pot for Plants to empower people to grow their own plants and to combat the stigma that pot is difficult to grow. He's been approached by countless amateur home hobbyists who would like to start a small personal grow, but don't know where to begin. They're overwhelmed with information, and think there must be some secret sauce to growing great plants. He created a kit so anyone can grow their own clean, plants at home. Everything needed is in the box. Just add water, seed, and sun. The simple directions take customers through the process step-by-step, and make it easy to grow their own natural herbs right on their desk or balcony, or in their living room or home garden. In this episode, Josh covers a lot of ground regarding how difficult it is for cannabis brands to advertise and grow their business in the current internet marketplaces, how he developed this product, and how he is scaling and moving into new markets with his brands.

Charminta Brown is the founder and owner of Brown Joy, a brand that highlights the importance of representation, worthiness, and normalcy by featuring Black and Brown characters in everyday products, such as stickers and other industries where Black and Brown people are not commonly seen. Char has daughter named Joy, and as a mom, she always wants Joy to see herself in everything positive specifically in children's products. For example, every time Charminta would take her daughter Joy to the Pediatrician, Dentist office, or business that gave children stickers, Joy would always receive stickers of animals or of characters that do not look like her. Charminta was exhausted from witnessing the lack of representation in sticker selection, so she decided to create Brown Joy where Black and Brown characters can be showcased in everyday items we love and enjoy. Brown Joy wholeheartedly believes that all children need to see positive images of Black and Brown characters. The purpose of this brand is to create images that showcase Black and Brown characters to increase recognition. Due to the scarcity of Black and Brown characters portrayed on children's products, they believe it is crucial to create a space for diversity and inclusion to promote representation, worthiness, and normalcy of Black and Brown people. Brown Joy is a Black Women Owned Business that is on a mission to display Brown Joy characters on children's products to promote cultural competence. In the first year of her business, Char found herself and her story written into the United States Congressional Record for her contribution as a distinguished Black female business leader in Central Florida. A truly historic moment, and one to shout from the mountaintops. Listen in to the early days of this business, and where it's going next.

The Black Chef Movement was inspired by activists and Black and brown communities stepping up to fight social injustice. Disturbed by civil unrest and the inequities in urban communities, Executive Director and chef Rasheeda McCallum used her love of food and passion for justice to create the Black Chef Movement. BCM works to create a network of Black and brown chefs together to provide healthy and nourishing meals to folks in need of mutual aid. In just three years, BCM has grown to include nearly 250 volunteers and has fed thousands of activists and families across New York State. Listen in to hear how Rasheeda started the organization and what's next as she continues to serve her community, one meal at a time.

Tiphanie Anirah started CreeAnna's LLC during the COVID pandemic, selling cookies, muffins sweet breads and African meat pies. Now, her products are available at almost every event in Pocatello, Idaho. She learned about African food and culture as a student at Idaho State University, and she started making food at home to share. On the behest of her friends, she soon started sharing her food with more than just friends. Tiphanie harnessed her passion for baking and started her brand by focusing on African Meat Pies, a flaky, pastry filled with meat, vegetables and African spices, as her flagship product. She added cookies, sweet breads, cakes and chin chin, which are small, fried, doughnutlike treats native to West Africa, to her menu. She used her middle name (CreeAnna) as inspiration for the business name and purpose. Now nearing her fourth year in business, she has plans to expand and grow the brand. Listen in to her how she got started and what's next.

Ethan Levy is the founder and host of Dork Dancing. Ethan, diagnosed as bipolar, has been hospitalized twice for his episodes of mania. These experiences were life-changing, altering his perspective on life entirely. During the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, Ethan reflected on his values, purpose, and story. He decided to fight for a cause, advocating for mental health through dance. Ethan is going out to the streets making a statement and helping others let loose. Ethan is on a mission to help others move well and break free from psychological barriers. Dance holds tremendous power and Dork Dancing is helping more people tap into that power by letting loose. As a community, Dork Dancing is growing together while raising awareness for mental health. Dork Dancing is something that's visible, that's positive, and that can spread. Dork Dancing means dancing like dorks to do something good for mental health. Dork Dancing is also project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center, and StickerGiant is a sponsor of their stickers. Ethan joined the show to talk about how the idea is growing and helping to bring about awareness for mental health.

Chuck Williams is the Senior Director of R&D Global Platform at the Avery Dennison Corporation, and he joined the show for a special National Sticker Day episode where he talked about polymer science, sustainability and his path at Avery. He shared a few terrific stories, including his meeting with R. Stanton Avery, the founder of Avery Labels and the reason StickerGiant chose January 13th (his birthday) as the date for National Sticker Day. In his thirty years at Avery, he's been able to work on development projects that have changed the way labels are produced, and how the label industry continues to evolve.

Jennifer Santi is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Zingerman's Deli. Zingerman's is a community of eight food-related businesses all located in the Ann Arbor, MI area that has become an institution in itself. Their mission is to share the Zingerman's experience selling food that makes people happy and giving service that makes people smile. Jennifer spoke on the podcast about Zingerman's iconic designs, local focus and community-oriented growth. She shared how they bring the Zingerman's Experience to as many people as possible by focusing on their 3 Bottom Lines (Great Food, Great Service, Great Finance) and about how their Guiding Principles shape how they work together, how they relate to each other, to their guests, to their suppliers, and to their community. Listen in to learn more about how Zingerman's impacts the community in Ann Arbor and what's next for this growing group of businesses.

Hunnie Butter is a small family business owned and operated by husband and wife team, Jonathan & Jasmine. They are located in Mesa, AZ, but they are proud Los Angeles natives. They met 10 years ago at a bakery and they have been on the same team ever since. Their mission is to make incredible and beautiful, scratch-baked goods like layered cakes, cookies, bars, round cakes and caramels. Jasmine joined the show to talk about how she's growing her eCommerce brand while also creating a local business that offers Hunnie Butter baked goods and classes. Jasmine's passion for culinary arts, impeccable attention to detail, and customer-centric business ethics have helped her mold Hunnie Butter into what it is today. Her great grandmother instilled in Jasmine a passion for baking that gave her th extra push to go to culinary school. After completing school, she had some amazing opportunities to come her way including participating on four competitive baking shows: Cupcake Wars, Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, Duff til Dawn (winner!), and Cake Wars. After getting married and starting a family, Hunnie Butter was born. When the brand was being built, Jasmine wanted to tap into another one of her passions: teaching. Now they also share their years of knowledge and practice with others interested in learning the craft.

Nithin and Susan are two of the co-founders of JKL Teahouse, publishers of "R Is For Rice." They joined the show to talk about Asian American representation in children's literature and starting a self-publishing brand. As Asian Americans growing up in the U.S., they rarely saw themselves reflected in popular books and media. They created their first book, R is for Rice, to celebrate Asian cultures infused in daily American life. Their goal is to take readers on a journey through the alphabet with the ABC's of Asian American foods. At JKL Teahouse, they are proud of their multiple Asian heritages, and they are proud to be Americans. Their mission is to inspire a broader definition of “American” by offering products that reflect Asian Americans and the impact of Asian communities on American life. They also spoke about starting their publishing and ecommerce brand, and how the creative process works in their business. Listen in to learn more about they are working to create a more inclusive world through kids books.

In this special episode, Andrew is joined by three members of the StickerGiant Marketing Team. Alison (SEO Content Strategist), Shandell (Community Manager) and KB (Social Media Strategist) to talk about upcoming StickerGiant promotions that kick off the holiday season starting with Black Friday and running into Cyber Week. Their discussion focused on how the marketing team pivoted into a new creative campaign the week before the holidays, and how they plan to execute the strategy across the multiple channels that StickerGiant uses for promotions and messaging. If you're a small business looking for ways to improve your marketing during the busiest time of the year, give this a listen. And if you're a business owner who wants to share your holiday success story, drop us a line at podcast@stickergiant.com to join the show.

Marisa Morrison is the color-loving, creativity-obsessed founder of The Neon Tea Party (TNTP). For as long as she remembers, she's made things: a “fashion line” at age 8, crystal bracelets at age 11, themed parties at age 14, a university magazine at age 19, and a lifestyle blog at 27. Now, in her 30s, Marisa aims to inspire others to tap into their own creativity by offering DIY tutorials, in-person workshops, virtual classes and more. When she's not immersed in her latest crafting obsession or growing The Neon Tea Party from her colorful home office, you can find Marisa decorating her house, scrolling Pinterest for fresh project inspiration, or in the kitchen cooking. Marisa lives in New Jersey with her daughter Sofie, dog Kugel, and husband and TNTP Chief Hustle Officer Sam. Marisa spoke about how The Neon Tea Party is on a mission to empower people to celebrate their creativity through colorful, playful crafts. TNTP provides fun DIY tutorials, craft supplies, virtual classes, and even a virtual craft camp to help people make joyful items for themselves, their loved ones, and their surroundings.

Briana Boehmer is the Chief Operating Officer at Run the Edge, a Boulder-based fitness platform that aims to make fitness fun, accessible, and integral to daily life. They inspire and include people all over the world with their devoted team, dynamic challenges, and community-first approach. Briana ran collegiately for the University of Colorado and the University of Wisconsin, but now you'll find her standing atop the podium in multi-sport events. She's completed 6 full Ironmans, including the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. She joined the show to talk about how they create gamified fitness experiences that challenge people to meet and exceed their goals. The platform at Run the Edge is a diverse set of virtual challenges that feature unique rewards and help foster community. There are seven different options that range from full-year challenges to monthly motivations. Briana loves working for startups with their hearts in the right place. Her 14 years of startup business development experience includes work for 5 different companies, each with a mission to help people lead healthier lives. Briana is a master organizer whose influence at Run The Edge is focused on ensuring everything they do centers on their mission “Everyone Included, Everyone Challenged, Everyone Successful.” Check out runtheedge.com to learn more about how they are trying to innovative fitness experiences for everyone.

Rita Ho-Bezzola is an entrepreneur based in Los Angeles with an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. After working at a furniture wholesale company, she decided to launch her own ventures, including establishing a raw material export company, creating a home furnishings wholesale and retail brand generating $22M in sales per year, as well as founding a local organic vegetarian eatery. She has extensive experience in international and domestic logistics, supply chain management, total quality management, and product development. As a mother of two, she strives to contribute to the well-being of the next generation in her future endeavors. Like millions of other parents around the world, the Covid pandemic turned Rita's life upside down. She started looking for resources that would support her in guiding her two young daughters through a strange and scary time. She was looking for any tool that could her help frame the conversation or give her the right words to say to make the situation easier for her kids to understand. This search brought with it a realization that for so many families, perhaps those with a sick child or parent, these conversations have to happen all the time. And because kids think about things so differently than we do, the words we use (and don't use) matter when helping shape their perception. Piper + Enza wants to help kids and their families center on the good when faced with challenges, and to focus on the light as they are moving through the tunnel. The mission at Piper + Enza, a health and happiness company, is to support children and their families with the inevitable bumps and bruises of growing up, shifting the narrative from a place of fear to one of healing, knowledge and celebration. Using books, tools, toys, and resources developed in collaboration with early childhood educators, child life experts, pediatricians, and child psychologists, they want to give families strategies to navigate through the fears and unknowns of growing up and instead, support them in embracing the journey. Listen in to hear how Rita plans for the growth of the brand and other lessons she's picked up in the early days of this business.

Today is September 30 and it's International Podcast Day, an international celebration of the power of podcasts! In this episode, Andrew talks about the history of our podcast, and then he re-shares the stories from 2017 until today on a little walk down memory. There are so many tips and tricks for small business across the episodes over the years, and we wanted to take a moment highlight how our show has changed along with the changing business climate. StickerGiant's podcast Stickers on the Mic started in 2017 as Sticker Stories and then spent two seasons under that moniker before we decided to rebrand the show to help differentiate it a bit and also own the brand name for the show. Since 2017, we've told 120 stories of entrepreneurs who took their passion and turned it into a growing business. This adds up to real awareness and actual business! This celebration is a great opportunity to connect with fellow podcasters, podcast listeners, podcast enthusiasts, and leaders in the podcasting industry. Help spread the word by telling your friends, sharing the celebration on your podcasts and social media feeds, and using #InternationalPodcastDay. We are excited to join this year, and we will help keep the celebration going year after year.

Adrienne Ruth is a Denver-based graphic artist who rose to prominence when one of the Colorado Avalanche players wore a shirt she design in the 2022 Stanley Cup Victory Parade. She's a passionate hockey fan, and she built a rapport with Nazem Kadri and his family over the years. Adrienne created a design that he wanted to wear for the celebration, and the rest is history. She's since partnered with the Nazem Kadri Foundation to donate proceeds from the shirt sales to benefit his pursuit of mental health awareness, while also expanding her product lines of designs. She joined the show to talk about her experience creating hockey-related art and how Murder on Ice (her design brand) responded to the influx of business that followed the Avs winning the Stanley Cup.

Abby Glassenberg is a co-founder of the Craft Industry Alliance and now serves as its president. She's a sewing pattern designer, teacher, and journalist. She's dedicated to creating an outstanding trade association for the crafts industry. The Craft Industry Alliance was founded in 2015 by Abby and Kristin Link. They each had over a decades' worth of experience as craft industry professionals. They'd been designers and producers, makers and retailers, writers and teachers. Their vision was to build a thriving trade organization that meets the specific needs of today's craft industry professionals and offers an opportunity for makers, suppliers, designers and writers to join together as allies under a united “craft industry” umbrella. In 2022, Craft Industry Alliance became the strategic partner for h+h americas, a new trade show for the crafts industry. This event is a uniting force for crafts, bringing all businesses together in one place where they can showcase new goods, discover trends, network, and make crucial connections at an exciting, in-person event.

Harsha Maragh is the owner and CEO of Wah Gwaan Brewing Company was founded by owners, Harsha Maragh and Jesse Brown in 2020. The idea for the brewery was driven by Harsha's Jamaican heritage, their shared love for craft beer, a passion for homebrewing and the desire to create social change within the brewing industry. Listen in as she shares the story of how their Denver-based brewery got started during the pandemic and how they are growing their business in the Colorado craft brewing industry.

Cidney Moorer started Herbal Ciddy four years ago to create plant-based skincare products for all skin types. Her vision was to have an all-in-one selccare and holistic wellness line. She wants everyone to love their skincare and bathing routine, which is we she provides all natural, vegan friendly skin care solutions for all skin tones. She joined the show to talk about how she started Herbal Ciddy in 2019 after sixteen months of trial and error that included learning all there was to know about skin and botanical ingredients to help alleviate particular conditions. Cidney also spoke about how she scaled her brand and developed new products like petcare and wholesale options. Up next for her is a retail presence in the Beachwood Place Shopping Mall in Beachwood, OH. We also chatted about how she built a loyal consumer base for her products that led to a massive marketing boost in June of 2020 from one of the most-prolific influencers in the world: Beyoncé. The music mogul and her fashion stylist Zerina Akers included Herbal Ciddy in their “Black Parade Route” promotion that put a spotlight on Black-owned brands across the country. Listen in to hear Cidney share her passion and plans for the future of Herbal Ciddy.

Brett Freedman is an LA based makeup artist that's worked within the Hollywood system for decades. Before starting Brett Glam Beauty, he had deals with Revlon, Neutrogena and Pantene, to name just a few. Throughout his work, he always had a knack for brows, and since that service was his calling card, he decided to create products with his favorite attributes, while also adding products where he saw a need. Brett says that developing the line was the hardest thing he's ever done, but that the journey has been vastly rewarding. After over a decade of selling his brow and lip products, he is in love with his work and his brand. Every product is created, formulated and developed by Brett. While his brand represents a true makeup artist's line, it's available to everyone. Listen in as Brett talks about his path into his business and where's it's going next.

Mikey Latner is a co-founder and the Executive Director of Project:Camp, based in Los Angeles. He is a leader and innovator that believes that disaster response should not end at providing food and shelter, but should provide joy and community. As a life-long camp director who understands how camp can impact and change the lives of children, he works to provide a safe space for kids whose lives have been disrupted, and to help them learn, grow and thrive as a result. Listen in to hear how they've responded to recent disasters and where he hopes to take Project:Camp in the future.

Kris Barnard started Posterity Ciderworks with her husband Brendan in 2018, and since they have been working hard to produce estate & small batch hard cider in Calaveras County, California. She's fanatic about good pies, good organization systems, and friendly animals. Her favorite days are spent together picking apples and then finding some water to relax in. She wears the hats of operations, sales, and marketing for Posterity, and she joined the show to talk about how they are growing their business and expanding their brand. This year they have opened a brick-and-mortar tasting room in Mokelumne Hill, and they are expanding the footprint of the wild, rural and rare trees that help produce their unique ciders. She also spoke about branding, packaging and what it takes to create and to maintain an orchard. One example is the Posterity Cider Club that highlights their values of a commitment to locality and sense of place. From 150-year-old homestead orchards with towering trees to wild & beloved solitary trees growing in canyons and Sierra meadows, some of the varieties and places they share only produce a handful of bottles, and the cider club gives access to these hyperlocal batches. Listen in to hear Kris talk about how they make their ciders and what's next for their brand.

Jacklyn Rasmussen is the founder of Northern Ties and the creator of the TikTok viral hoodie. For the entire world, the 2020 pandemic changed everything. The same was true for Jacklyn. While in quarantine and on furlough, Jacklyn not only had time to plan and complete projects around the house, she started experimenting with reverse tie dye (or acid wash) fabric treatment--a technique that uses a bleach solution to chemically change fabric colors with organic, one-of-a kind results. What began as a personal project to satisfy her own creative curiosity soon took on a life of its own once friends, family, and coworkers saw her designs and requested commissioned articles of clothing. Jacklyn soon discovered she had a passion for the process and started bleaching everything. That's where it all began, Northern Ties was founded in June of 2020, and a little over a month later Northern Ties launched their first official product. Jacklyn has left her corporate job in March of 2021 to pursue Northern Ties full time. As a side hustle she now helps other small business owners with branding, logo creation, and having a social media presence. She joined the show to talk about her viral success on TikTok and what it takes to scale her small home business while also chasing around her two German Shepard dogs, Maxx and Meeka. Check out northerntiesmn.com to learn more about her business and shop her store.

Destiny Butler is an illustrator and entrepreneur who started up the Destiny Darcel brand as a "finsta" account in the early days of the pandemic. Her illustrations and the engagement with her audience on Instagram led her to open an online store to promote and sell her art. Now she's expanding line of products that celebrate Black women, and she joined us to talk about where's she taking her business and how she creates her work.

Yosi Sergant is a cultural strategist & movement entrepreneur who started TaskForce, an independent agency working at the intersection of arts, culture, and social change. He has spent his career investigating how intentionally designed cultural strategies can create new narratives, reshape cultural norms and spark lasting behavioral change. His mission is to champion the role of the artist in shaping culture, public opinion and public policy. Yosi is known for his role in commissioning and managing the Obama "Hope" poster created during the 2008 presidential election by Shepard Fairey. He spoke to us about how TaskForce is trying to help people and organizations build momentum to tackle our worlds toughest challenges. He covered three of their current projects. First, the Into Action project, a movement of designers, illustrators, animators and artists building cultural momentum around civic engagement and the issues affecting our country and world. Then he spoke about their Giflytics brand, which helps brands and agencies to better measure performance of GIF marketing campaigns. Lastly, he shared the TaskForce Impact Accelerator, which is an initiative that is turning on the full force of their team's creativity and experience to support small and emerging organizations - free of charge. Listen in to learn more about how Yosi thinks GIFs can create a new conversation around current events and cultural change.

Stickers on the Mic is proud to collaborate once again with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 8 collection of stickers. Sydney Schwindt wears many hats (actor, fight director, clown), but in this talk she shares her passion for what she calls "art for the warrior within." Her creative work centers on digital illustration, mixed media works, watercolor, and acrylics. Sydney is one of this season's artists who we will feature, and in this episode, you can hear about her creative process and how she finds inspiration. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner.

Stickers on the Mic is proud to collaborate once again with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 8 collection of stickers. Will Betke-Brunswick is a transgender and nonbinary cartoonist, and recent graduate from the California College of the Arts MFA in Comics program. Will's memoir, A PROS AND CONS LIST FOR STRONG FEELINGS, will be available from Tin House Books in November, 2022. Will is one of this season's artists who we will feature, and in this episode, you can hear about their creative process and how they find inspiration. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner.

Stickers on the Mic is proud to collaborate once again with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 8 collection of stickers. Lily Binswanger is a Denver-based art director and aspiring advertising professional who is honing her craft and finding new avenues for storytelling. Lily is one of this season's artists who we will feature, and in this episode, you can hear about her creative process and how she finds inspiration. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner.

Stickers on the Mic is proud to collaborate once again with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 8 collection of stickers. Aerica Raven Van Dorn is a Colorado artist exploring new ways to excite the imagination with murals, illustrations, and immersive installations. Aerica is one of this season's artists who we will feature, and in this episode, you can hear about their creative process and how they find inspiration. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner.

The Otis Redding Foundation's mission is to empower, enrich, and motivate all young people through programs involving music, writing and instrumentation. Justin Andrews, Redding's grandson, and Jared Wright, the foundation's Director of Development, joined the show from Macon, Georgia, to talk about the philanthropic commitment of Otis Redding to empower and enlighten all young people to fulfill their dreams. They shared how the Otis Redding Center for the Arts is breaking ground on a new facility that will house the Otis Music Camp and many more events to serve the community in Macon. Listen in to hear how the Foundation is building on the legacy of Otis Redding and creating a better future for kids through musical and cultural education.

Gaby and Teresa from The Central Coast Aquarium in Avila Beach, California, joined us to talk about how this nonprofit organization provides education and engagement with San Luis Obispo County's marine habitats and estuarine environments. For 25 years, The Central Coast Aquarium has been a community resource with interactive exhibits, outdoor activities, and laboratory lessons for all ages, and has served over 23,000 visitors and 4,500 school students each year. The Central Coast Aquarium serves as a home to over 75 different species of local San Luis Obispo County marine life including sea stars, decorator crabs, swell sharks, moon jellies and, from time to time, a Giant Pacific Octopus. As the ocean spans across nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, this small sample of animals represent only a fragment of the oceanic life that depends on the health and cleanliness of our oceans. Specifically focusing on the diversity of the waters off the coast of San Luis Obispo County, their exhibits highlight the fascinating adaptations these creatures develop to survive and thrive in the seas, just footsteps away in Avila Bay. Through this work, the Central Coast Aquarium has cultivated a community dedicated to ocean stewardship through education, engagement, and action. Listen in to hear about how the aquarium is growing its offerings and creating connections for visitors of all kinds.

Robert Liu-Trujillo is an Oakland-based author and illustrator who is co-founder of The Trust Your Struggle Collective, a contributor to The Social Justice Children's Bk Holiday Fair, Tone Magazine, The Bullhorn Blog, and the founder of Come Bien Books. Rob is the author and illustrator of Furqan's First Flat Top and he's illustrated numerous other children's books. Always drawing, Rob grew up to be an artist falling in love with graffiti, fine art, illustration, murals, and children's books. He spoke with us about Alejandria Fights Back, his latest book, and the many social justice projects he's working on to help children find themselves in popular literature. Learn more about Rob's work at robdontstop.com.

Alicia and Neal are a husband and wife photography & planning team. They create and capture down-to-earth weddings and intimate elopements for adventurous couples in beautiful outdoor locations across Montana. Their events range from backcountry elopements to large ranch weddings, and everything in between. They started Off the Beaten Path in 2017 to help other couples celebrate their love authentically. They combine our talents to bring photography, planning and officiating under one roof for those who desire a unique Montana wedding. We spoke to Alicia and Neal about how they help make Montana destination weddings possible for their clients, and they share how they ensure the process is stress-free so that they create an unforgettable experience that help couples remember their special day forever.

Andrew, the host and producer of Stickers on the Mic, takes a moment at the end of the year to give thanks to all of the customers who joined the show in 2021. Whether they were using stickers and/or labels, each business has is own unique story, and we are so honored to be able to share their stories. Please check out the businesses of our guests from 2021. Angie Chua - Bobo Design Studio Terah Eatmon - Body Baked Body Butter Katie Jesionowski - MySuperFoods Tisha McCoy-Ntiamoah - PrePOPsterous® Gourmet Popcorn & Sodas Jasmin Foster - Be Rooted inclusive stationery Tom Ludlow - Tend Studios 2021 Design Contest Winners Cassie and Vanessa - Art Sticks Boulder Chris Smith - Virgina Beer Co. Rebecca Ward - Clothe the West Stephanie Pitts-Noggle - Longmont Economic Development Partnership Faheema Chaudhury - Unicorn Crafts Art Sticks Boulder Artists Lou Mongello - WDW Radio Podcast Miriam Weiskind - The Za Report Amber and Andrew - The Cattyshack Cafe Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini - Casita Michi Candles Todd Olson - Angel Fox Foods

Todd Olson is a food and beverage entrepreneur in Sumner, Washington. He joined us to chat with us about his various brands. He recently started Lucille's Gourmet Honey, which includes a standalone CBD Honey spinoff that he discussed from a strategic standpoint. He also has deZirPremium Liqueurs, which started a project between friends and now has many unique flavors for mixing with spirits. We also talked about Laneway Cocktails, a spirit brand he launched in Australia. Listen in to hear about his marketing strategies for these various brands and what's next for his company Angel Fox Foods.

Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini launched a second small business in the Fall of 2020 called Casita Michi, a California-based brand that celebrates Latinx heritage and culture through artisan goods. Michelle is a self-taught artisan and one of the first Latinx candle makers to have her products featured at Macy's. Her mission is to inspire, empower, and motivate her community to be seen through her artisan goods, because representation matters. Her velas (candles) are made of vegan coconut wax and they are imbued with her Latinx heritage through various scents that conjure her upbringing with each light of the wick. For the whole story and video, head to stickergiant.com/podcast/casita-michi.

Amber and Andrew started the Cattyshack Cafe, the first cat cafe in Fort Myers, Florida, where feline fans can find adoptable cats, coffee, food, craft beer and wine. Cattyshack Cafe is a coffee shop and lounge with a separated area dedicated to interacting with adoptable rescue cats and kittens. While saving lives and enriching others, Cattyshack Cafe provides a home for adoptable cats that would have been otherwise overlooked at an animal shelter. Amber and Andrew's goal is to find wonderful homes for their cats, while provided a high-touch cafe experience for their human patrons. They believe that "believe every day should be vaCATion in PURRadise!"

Miriam Weiskind is a New-York based pizza connoisseur who started The Za Report during the pandemic and built up major media buzz by baking apartment pizzas and giving them away to anyone who need a hot meal. She likes to say she's just a small town girl from Dayton, Ohio, who moved to NYC in 2004 on a coin toss and a few hundred dollars in her pocket. Little did she know that her calling would be pizza. For the last eight years, she spent every Friday leading 16 strangers around NYC on the greatest tour NYC offered—the tour that retraced the footsteps of the evolution of pizza, it's history and teaching the science behind cheese, sauce and crust. In 2019, she started baking pizza at home, she and quickly got a job at a pizza place to learn the ropes. Once Covid hit, she turned her passion into purpose by making 12 pies a night to give away. She encourages everyone to have a "Slice Day," and no, she's not kidding. Listen in to hear her truly inspiring entrepreneurial and the twists and turns in her story, plus how she comes up with her creative pies.

Lou Mongello is the host and producer of the WDW Radio Disney podcast, which has been named Best Travel Podcast by the Podcast Awards for nine consecutive years. Lou started podcast way back in the early days of the medium, and he's built a passionate fan base over the past 17 years. Now he and his community are giving back through the Dream Team Foundation, which we talked about on the show. Lou also provides mentoring, consulting, and workshops to those looking to build their business and brand. He is a keynote speaker who shares the magic of Disney and the importance of exceptional customer service as well as the power of new and social media, podcasting, live video, community, entrepreneurship, and how to follow your dreams and passions.

Stickers on the Mic is honored to collaborate with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 7 collection of stickers. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. Adriana is one of seven artists who we will feature this month, and in this episode, you can hear about her process and how she finds inspiration.

Stickers on the Mic is honored to collaborate with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 7 collection of stickers. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. Izzy is one of seven artists who we will feature this month, and in this episode, you can hear about her process and how she finds inspiration.

Stickers on the Mic is honored to collaborate with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 7 collection of stickers. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. Murphy is one of seven artists who we will feature this month, and in this episode, you can hear about her process and how she finds inspiration.

Stickers on the Mic is honored to collaborate with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 7 collection of stickers. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. Kirbe is one of seven artists who we will feature this month, and in this episode, you can hear about her process and how she finds inspiration.

Stickers on the Mic is honored to collaborate with the team at Art Sticks in Boulder to highlight the artists in their Series 7 collection of stickers. Art Sticks exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of their community. Using stickers as the medium, they seek to create a strong appreciation of art to stimulate healthy conversation and share diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. Jessica is one of seven artists who we will feature this month, and in this episode, you can hear about her process and how she finds inspiration.

Alyssa Aguilar is the head of Business Operations at Meek Monster Media in Austin, Texas. She is one of twelve winners from the 2021 StickerGiant Logo Sticker Design Contest, and we will be featuring these stories throughout the year. Listen in to this mini episode to hear about how Alyssa came up with her winning design and how she and her team are growing their new business.

Faheema Chaudhury started Unicorn Crafts to inspire people and remind them to tend their inner kid-at-heart. Her online story features a variety of products, from jewelry to watercolors and from planters and pots to stationery. All of the designs spring from Faheema's creative energy and her hope is that when customers wear her designs, they feel like their authentic self. Listen in to hear why she started up her own brand and what's next for her business.

Stephanie Pitts-Noggle is the interim CEO of Innovate Longmont and an Economic Development Specialist at the Longmont Economic Development Partnership. She joined the show to help promote Longmont Startup Week, along with the Innovate Longmont Business Accelerator program. Listen in as she gives tips to entrepreneurs about accessing funding and how medium-sized cities can encourage economic development. This continues our #OneGiantCommunity series about how people are creating opportunities in their communities.

Rebecca Ward is a community organizer in Louisville, Kentucky, who made a choice to give back to the West End of her hometown. She started Clothe the West in an effort to rally her neighbors, friends and family to contribute to those in need. This volunteer-driven organization is celebrating their first year, and they have big plans to keep growing and giving. Listen in to hear Rebecca's story and how she stays motivated during the tough times.

Chris Smith is the Co-Founder at The Virginia Beer Company, which he started with Robby, who he met at the College of William & Mary. Their time together at university in Williamsburg – along with a shared passions for philanthropy, adventure, and (of course) craft beer – led to a decade-long journey to start a business together in a community they cherished and a field they loved. Chris joined us to talk about how they brew their beer, how they give back to their community and how they designed their unique logo.

Cassie Clusman and Vanessa Kahn joined the show to talk about how Art Sticks, a volunteer-run nonprofit that exists to bring affordable local art to the hands of the Boulder community. Using stickers as the medium, Art Sticks seeks to create a strong appreciation of art that stimulates healthy conversation and shares diverse opinions in a safe and respectful manner. From the heart of an artist, to a local vending machine, to your hands. Each Artist Series features limited edition stickers designed by Boulder artists. Their distribution is as analog as art itself: an old school coin-operated vending machine in local businesses. Listen in to hear how this project got started and what's next for their latest release.

Tom Ludlow is the founder of Tend Studio, a multimedia production studio in Longmont, Colorado. We spoke to Tom about how he's taken on major aerospace clients and created content for the University of Colorado Boulder's Fiske Planetarium, along with opening a creative production space during a pandemic.