Storycraft

Tony, aka TGB Art, returns to discuss the evolution of personal projects on the way to completion, personal vs professional work, and the life epiphanies we gather along the way. Throughout it all, Tony ties everything to his ongoing project, and the reshaping of it as he reshapes his life. #aikidoyourself Follow Tony on FB & twitter @tgbArt, and on instagram @tony_guaraldi_brown. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.  

In a breath of fresh air to all the comics talk lately, the engaging and talented Jennifer Lynn Simpson joins me for a great talk about her new album "All I Know", available everywhere, the long road of pursuing dreams, the benefits of appreciating the journey and one's place on it, and the powerful influence your creative community has to get you, and keep you heading in the right direction. Plus, naturally, we go deep behind the scenes on her creative process and the way her particular music brain works, in a very wide ranging and enlightening chat. Follow Jennifer on instagram @jenniferlynnsmusic for updates and tour info. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

YouTube Pop-Prop-Maker extraordinaire Odin Abbott breaks down the process behind his currently exploding YouTube show, and we peel back the fundamental personal layers of making things for decades. We simultaneously explore our decades long acquaintance only to find it's roots at a classic, but sadly departed, Northern California comic book shop. This epic chat was years in the making, doesn't disappoint in scope or entertainment value, and has some super fun reveals within! Watch & subscribe to Odin Makes on YouTube, and support the show on patreon. Follow Odin on Facebook & Instagram. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

In another solo episode I tackle loss and family turmoil in the most practical terms possible, to share how I have been coping over the last handful of months. Although this is an intensely personal and somewhat emotional episode, I believe what I share could be helpful for all kinds of trauma, and all kinds of creators. Plus, I recommend a great book on entrepreneurial thinking and talk about combining intermittent fasting & stress! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

In a hilarious, emotional, insightful and info packed episode, Mike Dubisch says goodbye to Phoenix and our regular think-tank sessions on the show. It's not a full goodbye, but indeed a huge change from what was, and in turn we discuss the way life changes affect our work, as well as using life's big hurdles to catapult yourself to mixing metaphors... waitaminute-- Support Mike Dubisch at forbiddenfutures.net, and by keeping up with him on the socials. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

Voiceover artist Jack La Pick chats with me about formative high school pressures, drama class & our early creative inspirations, the sometimes underwhelming realities of professional creative work, and finding your lane-- all through a healthy dose of hilarious anecdotes. Look for Jack to return in the near future! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

Stevie Rae Brown (aka Stevie Spade) returns to talk about breaking into a new stand-up comedy scene after moving to Seattle in the spring, and how its hard to be a human with feelings. We also have a nice heart to heart about the emotional perils of doing conventions when you're down, and have an illegal amount of laughs. (I looked it up.) Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow @storycraftpod, and follow me @webcomictheater & @kraigcomx.

Seamus Smith & I talk Robert Crumb the man and artist through the lens of "Crumb", the mind-blowing documentary from 1994 by Terry Zwigoff. Even after 25 years, and having built my own art career in the meantime, I was still floored by revisiting this film, and stunned at how much artists are alike at their core, even when they go through hell to grow up like Crumb did. Subscribe to Storycraft & Repeat Viewing on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the shows @storycraftpod, @repeatviewpod, and me @kraigcomx.

Legendary illustrator & Production Designer William Stout shares captivating tales of his epic career and adventurous life. He's a huge inspiration to me, and throughout this conversation, he exhibits why, while simultaneously revealing all the wisdom you need to see your own creative career from a different perspective, and truly go after what you love. Film fans will also get loads of amazing behind the scenes anecdotes and reveals about huge movies such as Conan the Barbarian, Masters of the Universe, Dinosaurs & more! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow this show @storycraftpod, and please follow me @kraigcomx.

Self-publishing comic book creator & brilliant designer J. Gonzo (La Mano Del Destino) and I share a blisteringly sharp conversation about the DNA beneath our work, writing deep characters without getting too highbrow, genre, ancient history, banking on yourself, and so very much more. Find out more about Gonzo and his amazing work at jgonzodesigns.com and make sure to read his terrific comic La Mano del Destino! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter & instagram @storycraftpod, and follow me @kraigcomx.

Mike & Kraig dive back in to finish the second half of Moebius "18 tips to aspiring artists", and the results are a very engaged and nuanced look at the craft of comics, as well as the core of creativity. Moebius has given us a perfect roadmap, although it starts out lofty, to attain  truly captivating, relatable results. This one was yet another delight to record, and left me with a lot to ponder about my own work. Hope it offers you the same! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your creative community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Last week, an old transcribed lecture from master cartoonist Moebius, made it's way around the web once again. Mike Dubisch and I decided to sit down and address all 18 tips, point by point, since Moebius is one of our mutual favorites. The conversation turned out to be illegal levels of fun, hilarious, and thought provoking all at once, even if we lean on Moebius for some of that. Find the Moebius art tips at openculture.com or by searching Xurxo Penalta-moebius-william-stout. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your fellow creators. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Disclaimer: This is not a campaign endorsement. Really, the title says it all. Previous guest and friend of the show, comedian Ben Gleib returns to reveal why he's running for the highest office in the land, why he might be a very interesting choice, and just what the hell it's like to do what he's doing. Go to Gleib2020.com to find out more about the campaign. Follow Ben online @bengleib, listen and subscribe to his podcast Last Week on Earth wherever podcasts are sold for free. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Favorite sometime co-host Mike Dubisch and I talk about working through hardships, the misnomer that art isn't practical, the art market, and it's history. Plus we reveal a number of drawing tips & tricks, and share some truly excellent nerdy laughs. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before you share it! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

In a very personal episode, I go solo to share a very big change my life just encountered, and how I am attempting to cope with it while still producing creative work. (WARNING: this is an extremely emotional episode.) Thank you very much to all the friends who have reached out personally. I don't have enough words to express my true gratitude. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing far and wide. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Prolific self-publishing comic book writer and convention queen Natalie Ngo joins me for a lively, hilarious chat about running a creative business, how to structure your business with the aim of actually making money, the ins and outs of conventions, and the ins and outs (so to speak) of modern dating. Follow Natalie on the socials @goldenassgwen & @ngobrainer, and follow theadventuresofgoldenass.com. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Writer, Retailer (owner, the Comic Bug), and all around one of my favorite people in comics, Mike Wellman joins me to chat about the ins and outs of being in our community. We talk about the realities of life in comics, or simply life AND comics, community, cons, childhood inspiration and much more! Follow Mike Wellman on Facebook, @atomicbasement1, and visit the Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach or Culver City. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your community. Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

TJ Storm, Martial Arts Hall of Famer, Performance Capture Pioneer, and all around action film guy, sat down with me to talk about his path into the movies, fighting vs filming, and working with great directors. We also nerd out to a hilarious degree over kung fu, and kung fu movies. This episode is very close to my heart, just for that, and its a terrifically fun time! Follow TJ @stormzeye on instagram, @tjstorm01 on twitter and on his school's site, mindseyetribe.com. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

A couple months ago, filmmaker and actress Michal Sinnott blew my mind when she described her incredibly unique and powerful film project, Born That Way. We reenact that so you can join in as we discuss the film, it's personal roots, family influence on creative work, long gestating projects, and the lesson we learn about ourselves on the creative journey. This is one of the most inspiring conversations I've had the honor to share, and I' very proud to say it is equally entertaining! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing it widely! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Longtime pal and sometime co-host Mike Dubisch returns after a long stretch to reveal his quarterly art & fiction magazine "Forbidden Futures" in a lively and idea packed episode. We also chat about our comics obsession, whether or not it is responsible, and whether or not we care if it's responsible. Plus, we get really practical about "getting hired" in comics. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your friends! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Actress Karina Wolfe talks with me about her recent, wonderful short film Thirsty Girl, Acting in LA vs SF, marketing yourself, and the skinny on LA auditions. We also cover her upcoming projects, her early film and stage work, including the brilliant Desdemona by Paula Vogel, and writing scripts for yourself. Plus, we discuss using your resources well, having proper representation, and how to maintain the hustle over time. Follow Karina's excellent work, and stay up-to-date at karinawolfe.com! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your tribe! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.  

I have now had the absolute pleasure of talking with Fred Williamson on two occasions. The first was at a con in Palm Springs, when fortune happened to place our tables next to each other, and I was blessed with a weekend of his high energy anecdotes. The second is this amazing conversation-- a glimpse into 50 plus years of Hollywood and America, complete with all the details you'd want to know. We discuss director Robert Altman on M.A.S.H., co-stars Pam Grier, Franco Nero, and Jim Brown, Star Trek, football, martial arts, and more. This one is easily in my top 5! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please kindly rate, review and share! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Illustrator and Painter Alexis Lopez joins me to promote her gallery show in Phoenix, "Hustle & Flow", and to generally break down the life of making art. We discuss community, voice, splitting focus and allowing a project to arise from playing with ideas on the side. Please follow Alexis Lopez on Instagram @heavymetalalo, as well as on esty, and join us for the opening of her show at Megaphone PHX on August 31st. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your people! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Hosts of the Bigfoot Collector's Club Podcast-- stars of True Blood and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, & Willow Creek and Misfits & Monsters, respectively, join me to talk all things paranormal, podcast and professional creative career. It's a high energy, high concept dive into many facets of imagination, reality, and everything in between. Fans of True Blood, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and many Bobcat Goldthwait projects, will get a lot from this, along with the usual goodies about surviving and thriving in your creative pursuits. Follow @bigfootcollectorsclub, @McMillzz, @MrBryceJohnson, @adventurevancomic & @ryancody on instagram, as well as @McMillzz and @BryceOJohnson on twitter. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Musician, actor, all around maker, Malek Houlihan & I talk pitch meeting hacks, personal hacks and global hacks. This is a terrifically insightful, deeply practical, powerful episode, for everyone who makes anything, or wants to make anything out of their lives. Malek accompanies the podcast with his acoustic guitar to give a deceptively laid back ambience to one of the most incisively philosophical episodes I've ever done. I learned something big, and so may you. Buckle up! Follow Malek Houlihan on Facebook, @MalekHoulihan on twitter & @malek_houlihan on Instagram. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.  

I take to the mic in a brief mini to talk about an upcoming event on May 10th in Sacramento, and some insanity from my recent online AND personal experience. The insanity comes in the form of 2 Fake News stories that affect me directly (mostly) and the fact that even exists. Plus, I talk about writing my stories with pictures as I go, and share 2 graphic novels I just read. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Seamus Smith & I tackle Steven Spielberg's "virtually" epic new film, complete with (mostly spoiler free) book to screen comparisons. After weeks of mixed headlines and a bravura box office take, we look at Ready Player One as filmmakers, artists, and fans of the book by Ernest Cline. We talk about the way the IP is handled, the deft script by Zak Penn & Cline, the terrific performances by the incredible cast, dig into the strong social commentary, and Spielberg as a filmmaker. Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

What I learned making stories this week was further wisdom from Seth Godin, for ask the doc I claim writer's block is fake, and I share what I'm reading. Hear the tale of my birth, 40 years before the date of this episode, then hear me gush about Seth Godin, how I love his new podcast Akimbo, and some of the great thoughts from his first episode that apply directly to storycraft as a show AND discipline. Also, I talk about a couple things I'm reading, one by Andy Diggle & Victor Ibanez, the other by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. Plus, "Ask the Doc!" Send me your queries on story making, your thought process, or particular conundrum: @storycraftpod, @kraigcomx, Storycraft on Facebook and kraig@monkeygong.com. Let's talk it out! Also, please follow all of the above, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Nice reviews on iTunes/Apple Podcasts will result in fun shout outs on air!  

It's a strange return to the original format of Storycraft, where I discuss things about my own work, share things I learn from making stories, and specifics from the freelance struggle, all by myself on the mic-- or, Kraig goes solo! (No relation. Zero wookies are involved in this episode, unfortunately...) My first one-man show since the earliest episodes of the show, now lost to time and my old harddrive. I take some time to welcome you to "what I learned making stories this week", and the companion segment, "Ask the doc!", in which I solicit your problems or need for feedback on one of your projects. Join me! Subscribe to Storycraft on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you listen, and please rate & review kindly before sharing with your pals! Please follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me there and on instagram @kraigcomx.

Mike and I talk about a couple of hidden pitfalls in art freelance that affect everything in our lives, and how to get out of them, while (maybe) also making a little extra cash. This is a sometimes rowdy debate about wrangling your time management, and taking back some of your agency with clients, to ensure you get paid for all the work you do, not just what you turn in. Please subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Also, please leave a 5 star rating on iTunes for a shout out thanks on the show. Follow the show on twitter @storycraftpod, and follow me on twitter & instagram @kraigcomx.

DJ Roshay, Seamus Smith and I discuss the first Marvel film of 2018, Black Panther directed by Ryan Coogler. We break down the vast social commentary, high level costume design, brilliantly lived in environments, and all the stellar characters played by a terrific cast. Also, ANNOUNCEMENT of the final delivery of the Solar Team vinyl from DJ Roshay. We have them in our hot hands! Available now from monkeygong.com/shop. $30 for the vinyl alone, $40 with a sketch. Please subscribe, rate, review and share this show on your favorite podcast app, or on all of them! Follow Storycraft on twitter @storycraftpod.

DJ Roshay is as insightful and gifted with films as he is with music, and his YouTube channel Roshay Reviews has all the proof. In the second half of our previous conversation, we shift gears into film talk, discussing Wonder Woman as political device, race and gender in film and art, and how to have the most productive exchange about issues. We also cover lots of films from 2016 and 2017, talk favorite filmmakers, and explore hidden elements of cinema. It's the film nerdiest! Watch Roshay Reviews on YouTube, listen to DJ Roshay's music on spotify, (or preferably buy it to support him), and follow him on twitter @DJRoshay. Please follow this show on twitter @storycraftpod, subscribe, rate & review on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you pod!

Comedian & Filmmaker Graham Elwood (First Nations Comedy Experience, Comedy Film Nerds, Earbuds, Laffghanistan) talks about his blended life experience as comic and filmmaker, political vigilante and podcaster, revealing levels to an already mulit-layered persona that I did not expect. Between laughs, we engage in a charged discussion of corporate profit motives vs. identity politics, the intentional media distraction, and regular injustices we've grown blind to. But we also talk about 70s cinema, the rigors of making a documentary, his amazing doc Earbuds, the LA Podcast Festival, and infusing creative work with meaning.

Filmmaker Dito Montiel (The Clapper, Man Down, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) has quickly created a masterful library of powerful, tense, thought provoking films, and he's just getting started. He shares the keys to that depth of craft in a lively talk about his new film The Clapper (out now!), New York, family dynamics, personal history, and just going for it. He also reveals a few intense stories from being on set (and is ridiculously humble about the great performances he gets from actors). Additionally, we cover his long collaboration with his talented editor (and previous guest) Jake Pushinsky, and his love for Al Pacino-- "Kleinfeld!!"  

You have definitely watched stuntman Rene Mousseaux work, even though you didn't know it, from his role as Lt. Mur on Supergirl, to being Stunt Coordinator of the original "Old-Spice Guy", now he's making his own films. We peal apart the film business, talking micro budget filmmaking, owning your work to take control of your career (and life), and using your resources to work smarter. We discuss a handful of his numerous credits, how he went from making underwater documentaries for National Geographic to stuntwork, and plenty of anecdotes from his times on set with Steven Segal, Clint Eastwood and more. It's film nerdy, but hyper practical and stuffed with ideas about how to manage your creative work in the real world. Check out clips from Rene Mousseux's work at rpmstunts.com, and have your mind blown by looking up his credits on IMDb. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and please subscribe and review on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your pods!

Creator of the recently renewed X-men show the Gifted, as well as Burn Notice, The Good Guys, and APB, Matt Nix, shares incredible insights into the craft and business of writing. We discuss his approach to creating a show, building characters, structuring a season or more, and pitching concepts in Hollywood. Without a doubt, this is among the most engaging and informative episodes of this show. Fans of the Gifted, the X-men, Burn Notice and more, will get everything they want, on top of all the story craft talk! Watch the Gifted weekly on Fox, or stream the whole thing on Hulu. Follow Matt Nix on Facebook, or on twitter @MattNixTV, and engage him with nice things about his great show! Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod.

Artist-Filmmakers Seamus Smith and Kraig Rasmussen discuss the art of cinema as it ages, and the surprisingly vital practice of re-watching movies we love. Ring in 2018 with laughs and an in depth, sometimes snarky discussion of unexpected film pairings. This is the pilot episode for the upcoming new podcast titled Repeat Viewing-- launching February 2018! Do you love watching your favorite movies repeatedly? So do we!! And we know why you love it. Tune in to find out! Hosted by Seamus Smith (@SeamusSmithArt) & Kraig Rasmussen (@kraigcomx). Listen to, subscribe, rate & review this show on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And remember to share! Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod.

Filmmaker Jonathan Kesselman (The Hebrew Hammer, Jimmy Vestvood, The Hebrew Hammer vs Hitler) talks personal filmmaking, storytelling choices, and Rian Johnson's storytelling choices in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We discuss the world's first and best Hanukkah movie The Hebrew Hammer (on Amazon Prime now!), it's amazing cast led by the hilarious Adam Goldberg and Judy Greer, and we talk about the upcoming sequel The Hebrew Hammer vs Hitler. Also, we cover his second film, the scathingly fun Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, his work as 2nd Unit Director for Ang Lee on Billy Lynn's Long Half Time Walk, the benefits of small productions, and making comedies about difficult issues. It's a fun, heartfelt and insightful episode! Keep up with Jonathan Kesselman's work on twitter @Jon_Kesselman and at worldwidemediaconspiracy.com. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and please subscribe, share, rate and review (well) on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Filmmaker Simon Horrocks shares the secrets of micro-budgert films, Kickstarter success, and creating work that merges life and art. We discuss his films Third Contact and Kosmos at length, reveal the common themes that drive them, and talk about the genesis of becoming the creator you dream of being. We also talk about the upcoming MoMo Film Festival, creating unique experiences to involve people in your work, and channeling personal experience into art as a form of very effective therapy. Every potential filmmaker, and anyone curious about very effective Kickstarter strategies, this episode has you covered in spades! Watch Simon's films Third Contact and Kosmos on Amazon Prime and YouTube, respectively. Follow Simon Horrocks on Twitter @sihorrock and keep up with his work at momofilmfest.com-- where you can read a lengthy step-by-step article revealing the details behind making Third Contact for nearly no budget! Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod. Listen on Spotify or wherever you find podcasts-- please don't forget to rate & review! Follow me on twitter and Instagram @kraigcomx.

Illustrator Ryan Quackenbush, (Perfect Circle, Dolls, Monster,) and I parse the connections between film and comic books as artforms, revealing our mutual addiction to cinema that stretches as far back as silent film. We discuss the interplay of the two related careers, our desire to make films one day, the state of film, and what it takes for art to endure. We also breakdown our many influences in film and comics, working outside the norm, and what we'd like to do with our work going forward. An interesting look at a unique artist, devoted to bringing something fresh to his work. Follow Ryan Quackenbush on Instagram, Facebook and at ryanquackenbush.com. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod. Listen on Spotify or wherever you find podcasts-- please don't forget to rate & review! Follow me on twitter and Instagram @kraigcomx

Mike Dubisch joins me again to talk about the various scandals regarding men across American culture, how it affects us, how it affects our industry, and some root causes/solutions that lay primarily in the hands of men. We then break into the many interesting projects Mike has going these days, from his work in the Warren/EC style horror/sci-fi magazine "the Creeps", to his own upcoming magazine "Forgotten Futures", and a few of the other tidbits he's doing along the way. We close with what is hopefully not too murky a talk about fleshing out one's art style and taking an organic approach to drawing characters.

Unique and talented cosplayer Stevie Spade talks to me about the hidden sides of cosplay, becoming a maker, social anxiety, awkwardness, and finding your community. We share several anecdotes about working comic book (& other) conventions, inhabiting characters, and using creativity to get results. The conversation is packed with jokes and laughs, but also reveals some interesting philosophical observations about our own minds, but also about the world at large. Follow Stevie on Instagram @steviespade and on Facebook, Stevie Spade Cosplay. Look out for her upcoming blog about using your craft to better your life at steviespadecosplay.com Follow this podcast on Twitter @storycraftpod. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx, and suport the show by visiting monkeygong.com, reading the comics and shopping in the shop. Please subscribe to this show and share it with your friends.

Comedienne Jessimae Peluso left me with a sore face from smiling after this blazing (literally), hilarious conversation about social injustices, John Carpenter's "the Thing", organic eating, and history. We also take a ride through her incredible impression skills-- prepare to have you ears fooled! On top of that we cut into a few very current events, discuss how America takes political correctness a little too far, we share some family oddities and quirks from our childhoods, and we also share a few of our more infamous exploits while drunk, stoned or just plain dumb. It's a ride for the books, packed with laughs, and it is not for the timid (or uber-conservative). Find Jessimae on the road at a comedy club near you! Follow her on twitter & instagram @JessimaePeluso. Find out more about her at jessimae.com. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends.

Athena Aktipis, Assistant Professor at ASU & co-director of the Human Generosity Project, talks to me about cancer from a very unique perspective. We discuss her study of cooperation across systems, from human generosity to cancer, her focus on specific parallels between cancer and human behavior, how that may be revolutionizing cancer treatment now and into the future. This is a jaw-droppingly intriguing episode for science nerds, people who've been affected by cancer, and those looking for a little ray of sunshine on the future. Read Athena's article on slate.com "Why Cancer isn't going anywhere". Follow Athena on twitter @AthenaAktipis. Read more from her and find out about the Human Generosity Project at athenaaktipis.com. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.

Mike & I discuss something that has been nagging at me for some time, examining not just our relationship to the internet and technology, but to the content we all know, love, and voraciously consume. We discuss creative time management, content fatigue, quality vs. quantity, and the beauty of silence. This is a brainy, hopefully not-too-complainy, topical episode that applies to almost everyone, but is dedicated to the makers of free and/or regular content across multiple platforms that we have all grown accustomed to, as well as creators who feel the need to be visible on social media but who would rather just get some work done than constantly posting. I said not-too-complainy, but not completely non-complainy. There are, however, silver linings and surprising benefits that are not even fringe. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow Mike Dubisch on twitter and instagram @MikeDubisch. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.

Jon Bogdanove, (Power Pack, X-Factor, Death of Superman & lots more,) sat with me after Comic Con Palm Springs to share a detailed and nostalgic dive into his history of working for the "Big 2" on some absolutely seminal works. He tells all the behind the scenes hub-bub that spurred the Death of Superman, his magical tale of landing his job at Marvel comics in the 80s, his knack for surrounding himself with the best of the best, and how openness & love got to where he is now. We discuss his diversions into being a stylistic chameleon, doing work that is consciously different from your past work, and embracing the digital in a traditional way. The whole thing is bubbling with anecdotes and wisdom many great masters from the recent history of comics, some of whom put us both firmly where we are. Finally, Jon reveals some tantalizing upcoming work. An episode any comic fan can love, but also one that outsiders can learn a lot from. Follow Jon Bogdanove on the socials @JonBogdanove, and look for his many great works at you local shop or online. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.

In part 2 of my great talk with Shannon Wheeler (Sh*t My President Says, Too Much Coffee Man), we cover the perils of Hollywood, the beauty of teaching art, and being typecast as an artist. We also discuss breaking new creative ground, more stylistic choices, infusing our work with real life, and the importance of constantly considering the long game. This is yet another super insightful and entertaining chat, full of wisdom for anyone running a creative career. Pick up Shannon's amazing new book, "Sh*t My President Says", from Top Shelf Comics anywhere you buy books. Follow Shannon on twitter @muchcoffee, on instagram @muchcoffeeman and on Facebook, where he posts tons of cartoons. Find me this weekend at Comic-Con Palm Springs, where I'll be tabling in artist's alley (table A12), and I will be recording a live podcast as a panel with Death of Superman artist Jon Bogdanove! Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.

Cartoonist and longtime con-pal Shannon Wheeler (Sh*t My President says, Too Much Coffee Man) chats with me about his new book from Top Shelf in which he Illustrates Trump's most insane & inane tweets, the confused state of America, and how this time has been on the horizon for decades. We also talk about the deliberate choice of art style and techniques, pushing to make stuff happen for yourself, Kyle Baker, and a bit about Hollywood... with more about tinsel-town in part 2 next week! Pick up Sh*t My President Says from Top Shelf, anywhere you buy comics or books. Shannon has crafted an incredible piece of art. Follow Shannon on twitter @muchcoffee, on instagram @muchcoffeeman and on Facebook, where he posts tons of cartoons. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.

Illustrator Tony Guaraldi-Brown (The Cone-Nose Saga, Always) and I escaped the madness of San Diego Comic-Con, [and the crazy-busy Artist's Alley], to talk studying art outside of comics, the pleasure of working within limits, major psychological elements that forge artists, family, and writing characters from the internal perspective. We also discuss the lack of great internal superhero stories, because we feel superheroes are often internally misunderstood by their creators, and Tony delves deep into his powerful ongoing web-comic the Cone-Nose Saga. We also cover how lots of characters are defined by the loss or lack of family (even our own selves as characters), as well as how we feel driven to one-up and change our approach constantly, both to grow and to say different things. We wrap with discussion of Tony's gorgeous new art book ALWAYS. For a talk between two artists, this one is truly all about story- writing, structuring, and executing story- it is by far the most complete look at how I make comics, and it was a delight to discover Tony makes them in almost exactly the same way, internally speaking. The episode closes out with Celestial Lagoon from Solar Team by DJ Roshay. Visit Tony's site tgbart.com and read his excellent ongoing web-comic the Cone-Nose Saga. Pick up always at bigcartel.com. Follow Tony Guarldi-Brown on twitter @tgbart and on instagram @tony_guaraldi_brown. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod, and support the show by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes, and by sharing with your friends. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx.  

All around music making machine DJ Roshay (Aloe, Solar Team talks with me about community, incorporating diverse influences, owning your brand, and standing out in noisy LA as an indie talent. We also talk about processing the current state of American politics, cool 80s stuff we love, practical science fiction effects, and our work together on his album Solar Team, for which I did the art-- NOW AVAILABLE for pre-sale at monkeygong.com! I round off the episode with a special announcement about the above pre-sale, as well as a bunch of cool monkeygong related tidbits. After the close, stay tuned for the track "VOYAGER" from Solar Team by DJ Roshay. Follow DJ Roshay on twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud, YouTube and Facebook @djroshay, and listen to his music on iTunes and Spotify. Follow this show on twitter @storycraftpod, and help support the show by subscribing, rating/reviewing on iTunes, and for Pete's sake, share it with your pals (especially Pete)! Follow me on twitter and instagram @kraigcomx, and please help support this show and my work by shopping at monkeygong.com/shop, or by supporting me at patreon.com/monkeygong.

In true late night podcasting form, Seamus Smith, Pheobe Dubisch, Mike Dubisch and I share a bunch of laughs and "con-brain" moments as we recount the way our experience at San Diego Comic Con has changed over years in attendance, and how the con has changed as well. It's a love letter to "Nerding Man" that we attend yearly, but also a glimpse at creators in intake and networking mode, thinking less about story on the page, and more about story in the moment between people. Then I sat down with Seamus Smith one-on-one to talk about his new portfolio site seamussmithart.com, where you can find his brilliant surrealist illustrations, his uniquely powerful photography, and his excellent debut short film, SLUMMING. Follow Seamus on instagram @seamussmithart, twitter @allthingsseamus, and on facebook... but only after you visit seamussmithart.com. Follow Mike on twitter, instagram & Facebook @mikedubisch. Please support the Storycraft podcast by subscribing, rating & reviewing on iTunes. Then tell all your friends! All. Of. Them. If you'd like to do more, please visit patreon.com/monkeygong &/or monkeygong.com/shop. Follow this podcast on twitter @storycraftpod. Follow me on twitter & instargram @kraigcomx.