We Never Met

In this episode, Sam meets the talented artist and muralist, Emma Daisy. They chat about being a Korean adoptee, growing up in white suburbs of Milwaukee, identity, home economics, social media culture, working on murals, Banksy, growing up constantly drawing, parents keeping art, higher education, BTS, flip phones, and doing things because you love it.

In this episode, Sam meets founder of The Scatter Joy Project, Zachariah Thompson. They chat about what The Scatter Joy Project is, stigma, mental health, the journey of finding a therapist, his life threatening heart condition, suicidal ideation, having strength in your story, anxiety, shame, and your identity.

In this episode, Sam meets two brilliant artists, Aremy Stewart and Anne Meyer. They chat about their collaborative art work and show in Portland, Aremy's relationship with abstract art, Anne's versatility in the art world, how they met, growing up in Minnesota, being “stuck”, motherhood and art, Anne's deep dives into her artistic work, their relationship now, and growth in artistic work.

In this episode, Sam meets stained glass artist, Madison Olsen. They chat about how she got into stained glass art, studying in the UK, traveling, her artistic style, pen and ink drawing, her mother fostering her creativity, growing up in Utah, whitewater rafting as a kid, viewing an eclipse, her largest stained glass piece, and sociology.

In this episode, Sam meets artist and rug maker Amber Stafford. They chat about where the name Makers of We came from, why she got started making rugs, empowerment through art, her previous job as an interior designer, creative fulfillment, pursuit of purpose, being raised by a single mother, perfectionism, creating a special space, Lisa Frank, and embracing chaos and uncertainty.

In this episode, Sam meets owners of Lion's Tooth bookstore, Cris Siqueira and Shelly McClone-Carriere. They chat about why they started a bookstore, cybercafes in Brazil, Cris's dislike of Spiderman, finding what you love to read, Cris's award-winning documentary about sideshows, translating comic books, Shelly being one of the founders of the Riverwest Co-op, learning from kids, surveillance states, roller derby, Shelly's trip to Brazil, and the impacts of the pandemic.

In this episode, Sam meets filmmaker, photographer, and content creator, Bennett Young. They chat about his early love of art and drawing, his first camera, being inspired by Nat Geo, his early days of concert photography, why cabin photography is so popular, the story he's trying to tell with his art, Great Lakes surfing, working with Honda, and places he has traveled that had a profound impact on him.

In this episode, Sam meets owner and COO of Milwaukee Pretzel Company, Matt Wessel. They chat about making the Milwaukee Bucks logo as a pretzel, living in Germany, making Bavarian-style pretzels in Milwaukee, their first German Fest jumping off point, being a musician, his thoughts on starting a business, balancing work and life as business owners, growing the business year over year, the idea of entrepreneurship compared to actually running a business, and the dynamic of Chip and Joanna Gaines.

In this episode, Sam meets plant enthusiast and owner of the amazing plant shop, Planty McPlanterface. They chat about where his iconic plant shop name came from, plant tattoos, plant clubs in California, moving to Portland, being an all in hobbyist, his favorite plant family, starting the business in his yard, his ceramic collection, fake Christmas trees, and whole sale plant shops.

In this episode, Sam meets the Steeplejack Brewing Company team, including Brody Day, co-owner, Anna Buxton, head brewer, and Anne Aviles, lead brewer. They chat about how they all met, finding the best people, women in brewing, why Brody started a brewery, going to university in China, brewers playing instruments, the chair system, personalities of cities, rap battles, time capsules, and the first beer the ever made.

In this episode, Sam meets the owners and farmers at Topaz Farm, Kat Topaz and Jim Abeles. They chat about two hummingbirds landing on Kat's finger, why they moved to Portland, working at Willamette Week, starting companies, pivoting careers, the Muhammad Ali app, buying a tugboat, living on Sauvie Island, buying a farm, their amazing corn mazes, and the special moments on the farm.

In this episode, Sam meets artist, science writer, and cartoonist, JoAnna Wendel. They chat about wanting to be a zoo painter, evolution, creating science cartoons, writing for NASA, her abstract artwork, art smiling at you, revolutionary artists, color coming first, drawing accurately for science comics, constantly learning, slow slip earthquakes, and bird facts.

In this episode, Sam meets Tomas and April Sluiter, owners of Culmination Brewing. They chat about Tomas's start in home brewing, the first beer he ever made, their beer being popular in Japan, working as a brewery consultant, his style as a brewer, Cold IPA, people investing in their brewery, pivoting during the pandemic, and his favorite collaboration beer with a Japanese brewery.

In this episode, Sam meets Brooke Anderson, sewer, maker, and creator of amazing quilt jackets. They chat about her dog, making quilt jackets, sustainability, selling knitted hats to classmates, parents dealing with mental health, quilt pants, her company Thunderpants, buying local, the economy, and marine biology.

In this episode, Sam meets the owner of Cafe Zamora, Hector Mejia Zamora. They chat about growing up in Guatemala, working on his father's coffee farm, growing his banana business from $50 to $15,000 in sales each month, moving to America, the phrase that made him want to start a business, putting people first, his father going to school with no shoes, getting rid of the middleman, what fair trade actually means, the gap between wealthy coffee farmers and small coffee farmers, and implementing educational programs in his village in Guatemala.

In this episode, Sam meets director, filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur, Stephen Spurlock. They chat about moving around the country, his childhood thoughts of Wisconsin, building with Lego, shooting his first video at 16, his passion for music, learning the guitar, how he got into visual effects, working on The Avengers film, 27 hour shifts, camping, traveling changing his life perspective, his love of bikes, and starting his own business.

In this episode, Sam meets the amazing artist and muralist, Travis Fields, also known as Campo Graphic. They chat about where the name Campo Graphic came from, growing up in Ohio, artist residence vegetable farms, getting into graffiti, the history of graffiti, finding your style, his parents reaction to his graffiti, the transition away from graffiti to murals, graffiti rules, his Robin Williams mural story, painting Amanda Gorman on a building, and doodle grids.

In this episode, Sam meets the talented and award-winning singer-songwriter, Joshua Burnside. They chat about growing up in Northern Ireland, his eclectic musical sound, recording an album in Columbia, wrong weather forecasts, his song ‘Whiskey, Whiskey', writing random thoughts into your phone, fear of death, writing music, technophobia, the pandemic's effect on live music, creating music with his brother, and playing pub gigs.

In this episode, Sam meets Rob Brennan, owner of Supermoon Beer Company. They chat about the start of the brewery, brewing beer with wild yeast, his inspiration from Belgian breweries, beer having a sense of place, his first beer memory, jam bands, working at Penrose Brewing Company, not having to be Michael Jordan to be happy, working with Third Space Brewery, great local produce in Wisconsin, where the name Supermoon comes from, and the fascinating science behind pellicles.

In this episode Sam meets artist, illustrator, and graphic designer, Melissa Lee Johnson. They chat about moving to Arizona, drawing people accurately, art camp, how collaging inspired her work, being a serious teenager, illustrating books, winning a Communication Arts Award, interior design, her rescue chihuahuas Bambi and Sparkle, and being the Sauce Boss on Instagram.

In this episode, Sam meets FL Morris, the owner and farmer at Grassroots Farm and the founder and president of South Central Hemp Cooperative. They chat about the history of her farm, building sustainable food communities, CSAs, being a first generation farmer, managing livestock, going to art school, once being a vegan, growing hemp, cooperative principles, Community Kitchen Cooperative, Wisconsin being a leader in fiber hemp production in the '40s, and the five types of cannabis.

In this episode, Sam meets Olympic speed skating silver medalist, Brian Hansen. They chat about wild ice skating, playing hockey before learning to speed skate, skating alongside future Olympians at the age of 10, qualifying for three Olympics, skating in front of 10,000 people in Norway, Dutch speed skating fans, clap skates, mass start racing, winning a silver medal at the Olympics, his most memorable race, and being ranked as one of the best speed skaters of all time.

In this episode, Sam meets pizza genius and owner of Jerry’s Pizza, Jerry Benedetto. They chat about starting his pizza business out of his apartment, making Chicago tavern-style pizza, being a Chicago native, the history of tavern-style pizza, quarantine, going to 20 pizzerias in 5 days, community, the artistic side of food, different styles of pizza, the Portland Pizza Collective, and his favorite large-scale pizza chain.

In this episode, Sam meets artist, Jack Kent. They chat about his comic Sketchy People, why he gravitated toward drawing comics, Buff Muffin, biking on the St. Johns Bridge, the process of journaling, drawing with pen and paper, mentoring students in illustration, growing up on the Oregon coast, traveling to all 50 states, Gulls, partnering with Meals on Wheels, and becoming a better listener.

In this episode Sam meets metalsmith, jewelry maker, and entrepreneur, Halie Conyers. They chat about her artistic family, metal smithing, her grandmother’s abstract paintings, the renaissance in Detroit, the first ring she ever made, chainmail shoulder pads, the story behind the jewelry, connecting with people, magnifying glasses, lab made diamonds, and flash-points.

In this episode, Sam meets the brewmaster and co-owner of Breakside Brewery, Ben Edmunds. They chat about having lawyers as parents, the emergence of brewpubs, home brewing, teaching high school in Colorado, the beer scene in Colorado, how the beer landscape has changed, mastering different styles, Sam's favorite beer 'What Rough Beast', New England IPAs, the history of Breakside Brewery, Portland’s early beer scene, and winning awards.

In this episode, Sam meets artist and graphic designer, Zac Jacobson. They chat about moving into his wife’s grandparents house, drawing the famous ’90s S, his dad the carpenter, a recruiter that changed his life, architecture, teaching at MIAD, skateboarding artists, finding his style, getting a motorcycle, becoming a father, and his favorite moment in his career.

In this episode, Sam meets artist, designer, and former professional baseball player, Jordan Guth. They chat about growing up playing sports, his experience playing professional baseball and collegiate hockey, drawing on an iPad at jury duty, the importance of mental health, skateboarding with friends, breakdancing in high school, the development of ‘be you.’, what he loves about art, personal mantras, anxiety, painting murals, and drawing for his wife.

In this episode, Sam meets the artist, Silke Noel. They chat about her stained glass work, how stained glass is created, pet portraits, cutting glass, 3D modeling artwork, studying mechanical engineering, Jeff Goldblum, watching The Simpsons, traditional tattoos, painting on glass, and seeing the progress in her art.

In this episode, Sam meets Pete Cooney, founder of Pete’s Pops. They chat about selling popsicles in the winter, starting the business, working in accounting and finance, his passion for food, eating double breakfast, Cheez-it popsicles, navigating COVID-19, food science, selling popsicles at Eaux Claires, winning REV-UP MKE, opening Pete’s Pop Shed in Bay View, and his favorite part about owning a business.

In this episode, Sam meets Maggie Murphy and Sissy Butner, the owners of Clover, a Milwaukee-based plant shop. They chat about Sissy moving to Milwaukee from Kansas City, massive snowstorms, how they met, selling plants on Instagram, why they love plants, educating the public, having two brain aneurysms, pricey plants, Lake Michigan, and parenting a plant.

In this episode, Sam meets the owner of The Toffee Club and Away Days Brewing Co, Pete Hoppins. They chat about growing up in Liverpool, his early love of football, supporting Everton, going a to traditional English boys school, designing football kits at Nike, streetwear, opening an English pub in Portland, pub culture, toffee, Tim Howard visiting the pub, and starting a brewery.

In this episode, Sam meets the photographer behind Milwaukee Alt and the founder of Milwaukee Makers Market, Ryan Laessig. They chat about growing up in the Garden District in Milwaukee, his introduction into photography, counterculture, the art of tattooing, collaborating with tattoo models, acceptance, nice people, MilRAWkee Alt, stencil art, working with Jeremy Novy, and being a high school educator.

In this episode, Sam meets the CEO and co-founder of Working Draft Beer Company, Ryan Browne. They chat about his father’s home brewing, making beer for university faculty in Alabama, growing up in Colorado, the national growth of craft brewing, starting a brewery in Madison, the community around beer, touring craft breweries, first dates, the beers that are hardest to make, and art.

In this episode, Sam meets the co-owner of the screen printing and embroidery business, Indelible Ink, Phoebe Valenti. They chat about moving from New York to Portland, starting the screen printing and embroidery business, the vibe of New York City, traffic and commuting, going to art school, working as a carpenter, turning points in life, having kids, sales, and doing what your passionate about.

In this episode, Sam meets artist, illustrator, designer, and author, Jason Heglund. They chat about writing and illustrating children’s books, his back-and-forth pursuit of drawing, architecture, his enjoyment in drawing monsters, creating his own business, drawing with his kids, creating characters from food photos, Fred the Ghost, developing his art brand, and unicorns.

In this episode, Sam meets musician, singer-songwriter, and artist, Taylor Kopp. They chat about being a jazz studies major in college, his past bands, songwriting in a remote cabin, turning points in life, his connection with nature, growing up and living in Oregon, balancing music and family, touring, music as therapy, grief, and listening to full albums.

In this episode, Sam meets artist and painter, Katie Martin. They chat about moving all over the country, surfing, being inspired by nature to paint, marine biology, her daily life as an artist, where her style comes from, perfectionism, living in Vermont, selling her work, why she creates with acrylic and canvas, and the learning business side of art.

In this episode, Sam meets Nat West, owner, and founder of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider. They chat about Nat’s past career in IT, starting cider making from a surplus of apples, having the largest cider library in Portland, his experimental ciders, starting a business out of his garage, lifting a house and building a basement, accepting challenges, hosting open potlucks, the cider that put him on the map, selling his cider in Japan, and being an ordained minister.

In this episode, Sam meets analog collagist, Laura Weiler. They chat about how she got into collaging, the collage community, beginners gap, anxiety, her background in photography and film, abstract art, imposter syndrome, secretly collaging, vulnerability, collage pieces that turned a corner for her, her love of finding source material, and creating seamless work.

In this episode, Sam meets the Vice President of Water Stewardship at The Water Council and the Director of Alliance for Water Stewardship in North America, Matt Howard. They chat about water sustainability, the history of water technology and science in Milwaukee, Lake Michigan water folklore, his prior work at the US Department of Commerce, The Water Council, working as the Sustainability Director for the City of Milwaukee, being a member of the 2028 Olympic Organizing Committee, systems thinking, and winning federal awards.

In this episode Sam meets Courtney Lesnik, the founder and owner of the vegan pop-tart company, Toast’d. They chat about vegan pop-tarts, the science of baking, her massive growth, creativity, culinary artists, experimenting with weird flavors, fitness, moving around the world, living in a city vs. vacationing, eating pop-tarts as a kid, and added sugar.

In this episode Sam meets illustrator, artist, entrepreneur, and graphic designer, Kristen Best. They chat about being a graphic designer before an illustrator, technology, studying linguistics, her love of music, archeology, teaching yourself how to draw, illustration style, meaningful commissions, northern California, and starting a family creative agency.

In this episode Sam meets entrepreneur, chef, yogi, photographer, and ceramicist, Karen Pride. They chat about growing up in the Midwest, working in the culinary industry, owning three restaurants in Portland, Eastern philosophies, juggling four businesses at once, yoga, burning out, veganism, pursing your own path, ceramics, and more/less lists.

In this episode Sam meets artist and illustrator Lauren Marvell. They chat about her fascination with blank things, finding your passions, art school, playing the bassoon, her unique style, creating patterns, past jobs, Washington Park, and designing for Hacienda Beer Company.

In this episode Sam meets the founders and owners of Tactile Craftworks, Anna Warren and Sarah Heck. They chat about creating leather goods, working in a prop shop, the history of objects, using lasers on leather, traveling, maps of cities, friendship bracelet businesses, improving at your craft, donating to the national parks, and bees.

In this episode Sam meets the founder of Great Northern Distilling, Brian Cummins. They chat about central Wisconsin, growing up in Ohio, chemical engineering, the paper industry, starting a distillery, creating the recipes for craft spirits, sourcing local ingredients, the origins of gin, brandy drinking in Wisconsin, old fashioned theories, and prohibition laws.

In this episode Sam meets the owner and founder of Grasshopper Goods and professor at National Louis University, Karen Tardrew. They chat about how Grasshopper Goods started, being a professor, her life changing trip to the Caribbean, refurbishing a pizza truck, being the first mobile boutique in Wisconsin, curating items for the truck, connecting with people, working through adversity, cancer, and opening up a brick and mortar shop.

In this episode Sam meets morning show host at 99.1 The Mix, Tony “Radar” Hess. They chat about how he got into radio, Tony Super Radio, working mornings at FM106.1, talking with a smile, being local, transitioning morning shows, building relationships, meeting Willie Nelson, social media and the future of radio.

In this episode Sam meets the founder of Roar Philanthropy, Lauren Nelson. They chat about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, being a survivor of childhood cancer, volunteering, creating Roar Philanthropy, kidneys, healthcare, not drinking alcohol, survivor’s guilt, the future of Roar and high school volunteerism.

In this episode Sam meets the founders of Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette, Staci Lopez and Ben Nerenhausen. They chat about what brought them to Milwaukee, going to culinary school in California, working at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, being married and business partners, creating a positive kitchen environment, burn out, why they got into the culinary field and the pandemic.