Podcasts about Bluprint

This episode is sponsored by...BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:Get pre-approved with one of RTR's preferred lenders at https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/ 

This episode is sponsored by...BLUPRINT HOME LOANS:Get pre-approved with one of RTR's preferred lenders at https://bluprinthomeloans.com/renttoretirement/ 

Send us a textA familiar name and face to the Realty ONE Group network, Justin Taylor, is joining the conversation to discuss his new coaching platform, BLUPRINT, as well as provide some extremely insightful tips and tricks for real estate professionals gearing up for what is supposed to be a very busy 2025!

Dr.Sarah Buckley is a New-Zealand-trained GP/family physician with qualifications in GP-obstetrics and family planning. She is the mother of four home-born children, and currently combines motherhood with her work as a writer on pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Sarah's work critiques current practices in pregnancy, birth, and parenting from the widest possible perspectives, She encourages us to be fully informed in our decision-making; to listen to our hearts and our intuition; and to claim our rightful role as the real experts in our bodies and our children. Her bestselling book⁠ Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor's Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices,⁠ Sarah has presented workshops and conferences in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK, the US and Canada, lecturing to midwives, nurses, physicians, obstetricians, doulas, and childbirth educators as well as mothers and fathers. So sit back and enjoy the wise words, we could have listened to Sarah for hours… To find out more about Dr.Sarah Buckley and all her research and about her books please see the following  ⁠https://sarahbuckley.com⁠ To read the latest research by Sarah: ⁠https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/health/maternity/hormonal-physiology-of-childbearing.html⁠ Sarah has suggested for up to date research and topics following her blog ⁠https://sarahbuckley.com/category/blog/⁠ To book into one of my Online or Face-to-Face Hypnobirthing Courses OR to book a Birth Debrief session visit ⁠www.belly2birth.com.au

Week 5 19.12.2023 - Pastor Jim Dykes

We are on a mid-season break and will be back on 24th October 2023! Until then, we're revisiting a segment of our first live podcast recording, which took place at the All About Music conference last month. Here, Bhavya Anand, co-founder of Bluprint, the artist development agency that represents rapper-singer King; singer Asses Kaur; and Padmanabhan 'Paddy' NS, the head of  artist and label partnerships at Spotify India, discuss with us the difference between a trend and a hit.

This week, we present a special episode that was recorded live at the All About Music conference in Mumbai this past weekend. We begin the show with a look at the contribution of different labels, languages and genres to the tracks to have reached the top ten of the Spotify Weekly Top Songs India chart over the last eight months, and then discuss the difference between a trend and a hit, the importance of artist' fandoms, and how the very definition of a hit can vary, with our guests, singer and chart topper Asses Kaur; the head of  artist and label partnerships at Spotify India, Padmanabhan 'Paddy' NS; and the co-founder of artist development agency Bluprint, Bhavya Anand. We would like to thank our friends and partners who helped us bring this to life: Chandni Soni, Ashish Jose aka Tarqeeb, Roydon Bangera, Nikhil Udupa, Savio Fialho, Krishna Ahuja, Luxman Gupta. PS: We mention some stats and graphs in the start of the episode. You can see them here: bit.ly/3PxMbce

Summary: Wyatt Bales served up an awesome episode, calling marketers to defend themselves with SQL proficiency amidst rising AI and automation. His vision? The future marketer as a 'full-stack' pro, tech-savvy and strategic, partnering with AI to steer marketing operations to be faster and more data-driven. Wyatt emphasizes maintaining a strong grasp on foundational skills alongside AI tools. In his projected future, consumers willingly opt into hyper-personalized, non-intrusive ads, reshaping advertising dynamics. His takeaway? The marketing landscape is becoming a less daunting journey, navigated by versatile, full-stack professionals who strike the perfect balance between tech and strategy.About WyattWyatt Bales, Chief Customer Officer at Bluprintx. Wyatt got his start as an analyst at Unilever where he got the knack for using Teradata systems and decided to go consulting for the vendors themselves.  At Teradata, he implemented marketing automation and an analytics software for a few Fortune 100 customers. A few colleagues of his went over to a lesser known company called Marketo, where he started as employee # 201  He moved up to Solutions Architect where he focused on revenue attribution and was assigned to some of Marketo's largest accounts such as Microsoft, Facebook and Philips66.. 3 years later, Wyatt took a Senior Marketing role at Uber where he eventually relocated to Amsterdam to lead their Enterprise CRM strategy team where he was the principal architect for Uber's global roll-out of Marketo's ecosystem After being a customer of Bluprintx while at Uber, he got the itch to get back into consulting and open a new Bluprint location in Amsterdam, where he led the European consulting practice Today Wyatt manages the global P&L and a team of 85 Bluprint consultants and engineers The Silent Struggle: Marketing Headcount vs Technology IntegrationWyatt begins by addressing a crucial, yet often overlooked issue in the realm of marketing technology: the ongoing tension between maintaining adequate team size and implementing advanced technology. While discussions about the shiny new tech and exciting innovations typically dominate the conversation, he emphasizes that the human aspect, specifically the team size, can get sidelined.Reflecting on his extensive experience, Wyatt recalls numerous instances where businesses grappled with this reality. Often, they found themselves constrained by their inability to grow their teams to match their objectives. "I don't have enough people to do that," a common lament, resonates across various companies he has engaged with. This constant struggle to secure sufficient headcount is a reality that many marketing teams face. But, why is this the case?Wyatt points to a counterintuitive relationship between technological progress and team size. As businesses lean more heavily into automation and AI, there's a growing belief that these advancements can replace the need for large teams. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in the enterprise space, where headcount tends to remain stagnant, even as marketing technology gets introduced at an accelerating rate.One might be quick to laud this as a victory for efficiency. However, Wyatt prompts us to consider the other side of the coin: What are the implications of this move towards automation and its impact on team size? Are we heading towards a future where automation overtakes human creativity and effort in marketing? And if so, what are the implications for those who've made their careers in this space?Takeaway: Wyatt's reflection presents a compelling portrait of the struggle within the marketing world. The tug of war between advancing technology and the need for human intellect exposes a significant challenge faced by many companies today. As we move further into the realm of AI and automation, businesses must grapple with the question: How do we strike the balance between leveraging cutting-edge technology and preserving the invaluable human element that drives creativity and innovation?Becoming Future-Proof: The Power of SQL SkillsWith the growing concern about AI potentially replacing entry-level jobs in marketing, Wyatt offers a lifeline: learning SQL. This piece of advice is significant in an era where anxiety about job prospects, particularly among soon-to-be graduates, is increasingly prevalent. Wyatt provides reassurance, suggesting that mastering SQL can equip individuals with a skill that's in high demand and potentially immune to the trend of job automation.For those unfamiliar, SQL (Structured Query Language) is a programming language used for managing and manipulating databases. It's a valuable skill across various marketing roles, including strategy, market operations, and analytics. And according to Wyatt, this skill can act as a powerful tool for carving out one's career path, regardless of the turns the industry might take.As companies continue to leverage data to inform their strategies, the role of data analysts becomes increasingly pivotal. They're needed to extract, manipulate, and funnel data into systems that drive decisions. Wyatt argues that this role is still a considerable distance from being automated. As such, individuals skilled in SQL and capable of tasks like joining two datasets together or building dashboards have strong job prospects.Key Takeaway: Wyatt's advice to graduates or those feeling the heat of AI's rising influence is to invest time in learning SQL. This specific, tangible skill set serves as an excellent defense against automation's encroachment into the job market. It's a reassuring message that underlines the enduring value of technical skills, even in an era increasingly dominated by AI.The Future Marketer: Bridging Technical Skillset and Strategic MindsetWyatt foresees a transformation in the DNA of successful marketers in the coming decade. He predicts a bifurcation, where marketers will be divided into two distinct groups: those who cultivate a more technical understanding and those who continue to rely on traditional marketing skills. According to Wyatt, technical expertise isn't merely a buzzword; it's a credibility builder. Mastery of technical skills, such as writing SQL queries, discussing API integrations, and coding, boosts a marketer's credibility not only among engineers but also among senior executives. However, this doesn't downplay the importance of strategy. If a marketer can balance technical prowess with a sound understanding of strategic elements, such as mapping out a lead funnel or discussing conversions, they will possess a unique skill set that is highly sought after. This hybrid profile—the technical strategist—will be the most valuable player in the future marketing landscape.Wyatt goes one step further and outlines an ideal marketer for the future. Such a marketer would know how to leverage tools like AI and GPT for creative tasks, like generating copy or designing, and integrate these capabilities into a broader marketing stack. He gives the example of 'content supply chains', where campaign briefs can go through market automation all the way to delivery, without the need for a single developer or market operations person. This vision isn't far-fetched; it's becoming reality today. And a marketer who can navigate this landscape, integrating AI tools with enterprise systems, will hit the sweet spot in terms of value.Key Takeaway: Wyatt provides a clear vision for the future marketer—someone who pairs technical acumen with strategic insight and embraces the integration of AI tools into marketing processes. This profile is not only the ideal solution to the challenges presented by automation but also the key to unlocking new opportunities in the evolving marketing landscape. Such a blend of skills and understanding will make one an invaluable asset in the rapidly transforming world of marketing.Automating the Campaign Process End-toEndWyatt paints a vivid picture of a revolution in marketing. According to him, the line between project managers, campaign creators, and implementers is gradually blurring. This is not merely theoretical speculation; it's the practical reality that he and his team have been building over the past six months.When a campaign brief comes in, a request form with up to 25 fields captures all the necessary details, from target audience persona to copy, naming conventions, tags, and channels. The campaign idea, after a strategic whiteboarding session, evolves into a concrete action plan that can mostly be automated from request to delivery and reporting. Here's where it gets really interesting. The request form doesn't just sit idle, waiting to be actioned. Instead, the details provided — keywords, personas, etc., — are leveraged to generate content drafts automatically. An AI model, similar to OpenAI's GPT-4, scrapes the internet, generating multiple examples of emails that could be used for the campaign. Wyatt shared that these examples are sent back to the campaign requester for approval or tweaking, all within the platform they are using, Workfront, a versatile tool from Adobe.Once approved, the content passes to compliance — possibly another AI function in the future. Time tracking kicks in as soon as an agency opens the note for approval, allowing accurate measurement of time and spend for ROI calculations. Post agency approval, the content goes for localization in up to 45 languages — again, without any manual involvement.The result? A fully approved, localized email campaign ready to roll out in every language needed. The package is then sent to your Marketing Automation Platform, in their case, SF Marketing Cloud, where all the corresponding journeys and assets are created. The sender, who could be the same person who initiated the request, gets a notification that the package is ready to go. With a simple click, the campaign launches.Yet, the innovation does not stop there. Wyatt shared that all this data — every step, every interaction — is pushed to Tableau. This allows for insights not only on campaign performance but also on the efficiency of the campaign execution process itself. Executives can see how many employees it took to launch a successful campaign and how long it took. This becomes particularly relevant in industries that struggle with staff retention, such as banking and healthcare.Takeaway: Wyatt's and his team's revolutionary campaign process automation eliminates the traditional silos in marketing, allowing a single strategist to wear the hats of a copywriter, operations manager, and even an analyst. It's a terrifying but exciting new world where AI and software could potentially replace the need to retain dozens of marketing campaign management personnel. The most compelling part is that it's not science fiction but the reality that's being built today. With this approach, marketing becomes more efficient, fast, and data-driven, ensuring better ROI and quicker turnaround times.Marketing Operations Pros Will Always Have a Strategy Seat at the TableIn response to concerns about automation rendering marketing operations obsolete, we maintain an optimistic view. We believe that the transformation in the works is not a death knell for marketing ops personnel but rather an opportunity for growth and evolution in their roles.In the process Wyatt illustrated, while automation handles a lot of the batch-and-blast tasks, it doesn't eliminate the need for human involvement, especially in the whiteboarding and strategy planning stages. This is where many ops professionals could shift their focus, thus transforming their roles rather than being replaced.The power of automation could potentially extend beyond just sending a batch of emails. It could leverage higher-quality data, honed from previous user history, to create micro-segments and tailor individualized emails based on factors like when a user created their account or initiated a free trial. This opens a new door to comprehensive personalization, making the messages more relevant and engaging for the recipients.Interestingly, Wyatt acknowledges that these possibilities exist but stresses the importance of scale. What he's building is intended for large corporations with thousands of employees — not a one-size-fits-all solution for all businesses.However, he emphasizes the potential benefits of automation: reducing the monotonous tasks in marketing ops and freeing up time to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of the job. With the nitty-gritty details taken care of, ops professionals can concentrate on channel performance and optimization, further enhancing campaign effectiveness.Takeaway: Automation in marketing operations doesn't signify an end but rather a pivot towards more strategic and creative roles. With tedious tasks handled by AI, marketing ops professionals can focus on strategy, channel optimization, and advanced personalization. They'll have more time for deeper, more comprehensive A/B testing and can finally run the robust campaigns they've dreamt of, boosting campaign performance and enhancing their contribution to the business.Preparing Today for the AI-infused Marketing Department of TomorrowWyatt is unapologetically forward-thinking about the role of AI in the marketing world. When it comes to envisioning the marketing department of the future, he's clear about one thing: data models. After all, the tuning and precision of AI tools hinge on the quality of the underlying data. How can organizations prepare for this impending AI revolution, particularly if it feels like they are traversing the territory of science fiction? Wyatt provides an insightful perspective on this based on his own professional journey.His prior role at Teradata, a major database company, meant he had a decent grip on SQL. But when he transitioned to Uber, he discovered a whole different ball game. At Uber, a striking 60-70% of employees were proficient in SQL, often more adept than he was. That meant even senior directors could whip out a query builder and write SQL code on the fly to solve a problem. The profound realization for Wyatt was that technical know-how like this not only bridged hierarchical gaps but also allowed for quicker, more efficient problem-solving.Wyatt urges today's marketers to embrace this dual proficiency. Firstly, in SQL and data science to manage basic data analytics and data store definitions. Secondly, in AI, to understand how this technology can revolutionize business operations and marketing strategies. Having expertise in both these domains would make one a much sought-after "unicorn" in the industry, able to command conversations at both technical and business levels. Whether at a big tech giant, a small start-up, or a traditional enterprise organization, this unique skill set, according to Wyatt, is sure to make one stand out.Takeaway: As AI continues to permeate the marketing sphere, Wyatt's words ring true – proficiency in data models and AI, coupled with a firm understanding of business context, will set marketers apart in this rapidly evolving landscape. Preparation for the future starts now, and it starts with mastering these skills.The Big Question: Learn SQL or Use Text-to-SQL Tools?Wyatt's perspective on the increasing emergence of AI tools that can convert plain text into SQL was enlightening. He didn't dismiss the value of these AI tools, but he also emphasized the continued relevance of knowing SQL as a marketer. The analogy he drew was insightful; just as one doesn't need to be an electrician to understand the basics of a fuse box, one doesn't need to master SQL but should have a fundamental understanding of it. Wyatt's perspective is that knowing SQL is not just about performing technical tasks, but it is a fundamental skill for a marketer. The skill lets marketers interface with their data directly, it enables them to converse at eye level with developers and engineers, and it also gives them independence and efficiency in a meeting or a discussion.According to Wyatt, tools like text-to-SQL should complement your SQL skills rather than replace them. While they can indeed be useful when tackling more complex queries involving joins and unions, or when looking to understand specific patterns like trend lines, they should not replace the basic knowledge of SQL.His standpoint makes a lot of sense in today's business context. When a marketer has the ability to modify a query on the fly in the middle of a meeting, it comes across as more professional than having to juggle between multiple tabs with your AI tools to achieve the same. Wyatt argues that it's not an either-or choice between SQL and AI tools, but rather how these two can best be used in conjunction.Takeaway: While AI tools like text-to-SQL are becoming increasingly powerful, having a basic understanding of SQL can offer a unique edge for marketers. It's about complementing AI tools with SQL skills, not replacing one with the other. In Wyatt's view, SQL is not just a technical skill, it's a life skill for future marketers, and it enables them to be more professional, efficient, and independent.Speeding Up Your Development Process with AI, But Keeping Your Technicals GroundedWhen we navigate the intricacies of technical subjects such as JavaScript, it's intriguing to note how AI tools, like GPT, can make a world of difference. These tools are indeed "wicked" for generating code templates, but he cautions that these automated solutions are far from infallible. They often need to be carefully vetted, as they can produce errors, and moreover, they lack the human ability to understand the full context of a particular situation.In agreement with this perspective, Wyatt acknowledges that AI tools can significantly accelerate your development process, providing invaluable templates to work off of. However, he emphasizes the necessity of having a foundational understanding of the technical aspects of your work.Reflecting on a hypothetical scenario, Wyatt paints a picture of a boardroom meeting where one's technical knowledge is put to the test. If a question arises about how a certain mechanism works, and you've relied solely on AI without understanding the underpinnings of the technology, it will become glaringly obvious. Takeaway: In the fast-evolving world of AI, it's alluring to lean heavily on these advanced tools. But Wyatt suggests a balanced approach. Use AI to accelerate your development process but don't neglect the foundational technical skills. It's the blend of AI utilization and in-depth technical understanding that will help you maintain your credibility and shine in your profession.The Shift Towards Warehouse-Native in Martech: A Game Changer or Just Another Buzzword?In the realm of marketing technology, the movement towards a warehouse-native approach is gaining traction, transforming the fundamental structures that have dominated this space. With companies like Vero, Message Gears, and Castled.io paving the way, Wyatt finds himself in agreement with this emerging trend. He firmly believes that in the context of enterprise-level operations, the concept of an interface or a duplicate database might soon become obsolete.Drawing from his own experience, Wyatt reflects on conversations with customers who have either tried their hand at building their own customer data platforms (CDPs) or have invested in existing solutions such as Segment. The recurring question, he notes, seems to be around the necessity of traditional marketing automation tools when data could be directly accessed and managed through warehouse-native structures.The concept of circumventing the traditional methods by directly packaging HTML or querying staged views of leads is gaining ground. It reflects a growing desire to simplify and streamline processes by leveraging the capabilities of data warehouses. Wyatt also discusses the implications this shift might have on pricing models in marketing automation, hinting at a possible evolution or a radical change that companies like Marketo and Salesforce might need to address.However, Wyatt notes a caveat - while the warehouse-native approach may be the way forward for enterprises, the traditional marketing tech model still holds relevance for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Tools like HubSpot and MailChimp still have a considerable place in the market, catering to businesses that might not require or benefit from a warehouse-native structure.Interestingly, he also envisions a merging of work management tools like Asana with marketing tech platforms for SMBs, creating end-to-end solutions that cater to their unique needs. This could lead to a greater diversification of the martech landscape, with warehouse-native solutions dominating at the enterprise level and more integrated, all-in-one solutions gaining traction in the SMB sector.Despite these potential shifts, Wyatt doubles down on the importance of marketers having a foundational knowledge in SQL. In his opinion, the value of such a skill set could be amplified in a future where marketing professionals are directly engaging with data warehouses. This emphasizes the need for marketers to continue developing their skills and adaptability to thrive in an evolving technological landscape.Takeaway: The advent of warehouse-native tools could revolutionize the martech landscape, particularly for enterprise-level businesses. Amid these changes, foundational knowledge in SQL could become a critical skill for marketers, underscoring the need for continuous learning and adaptability in a rapidly evolving field.The Great Debate: Packaged vs. Composable CDPStartups today are beginning to grasp the importance of data, but with it comes a significant question: should they choose a packaged or a composable Customer Data Platform (CDP)? Wyatt shared his experiences from the front lines, offering insights from his encounters with diverse clientele. His observations revealed that while Segment CDPs are a common choice among his clients, some are starting to realize the potential pitfalls of this option. The licensing cost can become a deterrent over time, especially for startups that may not yet be generating significant revenue. Simultaneously, Wyatt is noticing the rising prominence of Salesforce's data cloud in the CDP conversation. Salesforce is repurposing its ABM or B2B tool, Pardot, and shaping it into a flexible platform that can handle high transactional activity and large-scale events while sitting on top of an existing database. However, this landscape doesn't solely revolve around traditional CDP platforms. Wyatt introduced an exciting alternative in the form of data integrity solutions, such as the one offered by Soto.io. This tool isn't about duplicating databases but rather about creating a transparent, informative layer over your database. It provides an accurate assessment of your data's quality, giving startups a clear view of their warehouse contents. Takeaway: The verdict on packaged vs. composable CDP is far from settled. While some startups are gravitating towards packaged solutions like Segment and mParticle, others are exploring the composable stack. The final choice depends on your startup's unique needs and the vision of its data team. The journey of learning and discovery in this space is ongoing, making it an exciting debate to keep an eye on.The Future of AI in Martech: Optimizing for the IndividualDespite the considerable buzz around AI, the reality is that the practical use of AI in businesses is often dependent on the quality of data available. This is a challenge that Wyatt believes will be a critical focal point over the next five to ten years.Yet, Wyatt doesn't shy away from revealing his excitement for the future of AI in marketing. His company is working on a side-by-side comparison of different AI vendors' channel optimization capabilities. The aim is to understand how AI can improve channel optimization and ultimately enhance customer engagement.Channel optimization, Wyatt explains, has been a game of chance for too long. He envisions a future where AI learns customer preferences so seamlessly that it doesn't feel intrusive. Imagine a world where marketing messages arrive just as you finish your morning coffee or when you're winding down for the evening. The interaction would feel less like being sold to and more like an organic part of your routine. As Wyatt articulates, this potential for personalized, almost intuitive engagement is the ultimate promise of AI in marketing. Despite the operational challenges in the world of martech, Wyatt's anticipation for AI's role in channel optimization is palpable. This vision of AI-enhanced marketing operations is not only exciting but also a testament to the game-changing potential of AI when backed by robust and clean data.Takeaway: In the future of AI in martech, the focus is not just on automating processes but also on optimizing individual engagement. As Wyatt suggests, AI could make marketing feel less intrusive and more like an organic part of daily life. However, this future relies heavily on the quality of data, emphasizing the critical role of data management in harnessing AI's potential.Advertising of the Future: Opting in for ValueA thought-provoking concept drawn from the sci-fi book 'All Our Wrong Todays' by Elan Mastai, presents an alternate future where advertising is not merely one-to-one communication, but hyper-personalized based on an individual's current mood, daily activities, and even upcoming events. In this alternate world, the protagonist, an employee of an advertising agency, introduces an idea of offering consumers a flat fee to opt out of all ads. Interestingly, this proposal fails spectacularly, as consumers in this world prefer to pay for hyper-personalized ads that bring them genuine value and communicate the right message at the right time.Wyatt echoes this notion, introducing the example of 'We Are 8,' a company that is already bringing elements of this future to life. Co-founded by one of Wyatt's former colleagues at Uber, 'We Are 8' offers an opt-in advertising model where prospects get paid for each click they generate. This business model shifts the dynamics of advertising, empowering users to create their own journeys with the brands they engage with, while also profiting from each interaction.This shift could lead to a radical redefinition of advertising, with consumers in control, curating their own experiences, and benefiting directly from their engagement with ads. If successful, this approach could turn the conventional model of advertising on its head, allowing businesses to target consumers who are not just interested, but also invested in their brands.Takeaway: The future of advertising could see a shift towards a model where consumers willingly opt in for hyper-personalized ads that offer genuine value, echoing a theme from the sci-fi world. 'We Are 8' exemplifies this future, offering an innovative model where consumers get paid for their engagement, signifying a radical change in the dynamics of advertising.The Advent of the Full Stack MarketerThe full stack marketer. A role that promises to navigate the ever-expanding landscape of marketing technology, harnessing the power of data, and deftly architecting marketing strategies that resonate with the evolving consumer mindset.Wyatt reflected fondly on his experience as a Solutions Architect at Marketo, recalling it as one of the most rewarding stages of his career. There, he engaged with a myriad of clients, each presenting their unique challenges, and spent his days creatively piecing together solutions on whiteboards, devising strategies that would integrate different systems - some quite antiquated - into a functional and efficient whole. The reward lay not only in the intellectual exercise but also in the diversity of industries he got to work with and the range of problems he encountered.In Wyatt's view, the evolution towards becoming a full stack marketer or a solutions architect - whatever you choose to call this exciting new role - follows a natural progression. After gaining familiarity with SQL, integrations, deployments, and the grind of day-to-day operations, one is equipped with a wealth of opinions on tools, APIs, and vendors. Such expertise becomes an invaluable asset, especially in an age where 'native integrations' are often a misnomer and knowing which vendor will cause 'throughput' issues can save substantial headaches down the line.Takeaway: The future of marketing may well lie in the hands of these 'full-stack' professionals who combine an understanding of technology with marketing strategy, who can bring together disparate systems into a cohesive whole and who know from experience which tools deliver and which merely promise. This new breed of marketers could make the journey of navigating the digital marketing landscape a less daunting expedition, making it a truly exciting prospect for anyone considering this career path.Seeking Balance and Happiness in the Tech WorldWyatt, a seasoned C-level executive, keynote speaker, drone pilot, award-winning outdoorsman, and successful real estate investor, offers some rare insights into finding happiness and maintaining balance in a fast-paced career, especially in the tech sector. He sheds light on his approach to navigating the high-pressure world of martech while retaining his personal contentment and grounding.For Wyatt, the key to happiness in this challenging industry lies in the pursuit of humility. His ethos is deeply rooted in acknowledging the surreal nature of the martech industry and keeping things in perspective. He often reminds his team and himself, that despite the high stakes and stress involved, they aren't performing surgery or saving lives, but merely facilitating email clicks.Maintaining this sense of humor about their work and understanding the relative gravity of their tasks, according to Wyatt, allows him to stay upbeat. He encourages his team to appreciate their unique circumstances – the freedom to work from home, to travel, and the flexibility to shape their career trajectory. Recognizing these privileges and never taking them for granted forms the backbone of his happiness.When it comes to finding balance among various roles and responsibilities, Wyatt's approach is refreshingly candid. Upon moving from the U.S. to Amsterdam, Wyatt sought an enhanced quality of life, distancing himself from the American trend of excessively long work hours. He drew inspiration from his parents who, despite working on a farm, maintained a flexible schedule, investing time in family activities and making up for it later in the evening.Wyatt applies this same philosophy to his day, breaking it up with gym sessions or two-hour coffee breaks in the sunshine with his employees. He might find himself working late into the night to complete a deliverable or a presentation for a client, but he never loses sight of the larger picture. The key, according to Wyatt, is to prioritize physical and mental health, invest in others, and let career-related concerns follow suit.Takeaway: Wyatt's philosophy highlights the importance of humility, perspective, flexibility, and prioritizing personal well-being over career-related concerns in finding happiness and balance in the tech sector. His insights are a reminder that maintaining a sense of humor and perspective about one's work, coupled with investing time in relationships and health, can lead to a more fulfilling career in the tech industry.Financial Freedom and Podcast RecommendationsIn the world of real estate investment, Wyatt maintained a sense of modesty. He was quick to dispel any illusions of grandeur, remarking, "I'm quite a humble, small shot guy, by no means like this massive tycoon or anything like that." He emphasized, however, the importance of passive income and financial freedom, acknowledging its empowering potential for people to not have to rely solely on a paycheck.When it came to recommendations for individuals interested in understanding more about real estate, Wyatt cited the BiggerPockets podcast as a valuable resource. Though he clarified that he had no direct association with the team, he expressed admiration for their practical and down-to-earth approach. "Anywhere that you are interested in real estate," Wyatt suggested, "whether you just want to rent out your home, consider buying a home, or want to refinance, they've got some good stuff."Shifting gears from real estate, Wyatt shared his personal favorite podcast, Checks and Balances by The Economist. It provides a refreshing perspective on current affairs that, according to Wyatt, escapes the doom and gloom often associated with news outlets.

Tom Rehn, Ryan Fitzgerald, Arman Abrahimzadeh, Tim Ginever, Sam Daddow with Frankie at the BluPrint cafe, Orazio Fantasia, Jon Blake, Feedback Friday, Flashback with Michael Smyth and Behind Closed Doors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bluprint café on Flinders St has been caught up in a protest against Santos. The café's owner told David & Will this is the second time in six months the shop has been vandalised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two thing you need to do to grow your audience. First, get in front of new people who don't know you, and invite them to your show. Then, keep your listeners coming back week after week. Before you get started building your audience, you need to understand why you want to grow in the first place. THE AUDIENCE MISTAKE The one thing I want you to remember today is content drives business with relationships and authority, not sponsorships. Bring your listeners into your business. Many people want to grow their audience, so they can sell sponsorships. That is the worst thing you can do. And, I'll show you why in just a bit. This is going to be powerful for you today. Make sure you have a pen and paper to take notes. Many times we get training like this, we go to free webinars, or we attend seminars and get a ton of information. We get all excited. Then we go home or return to our "to do" list and we do nothing with the training. We never put it into action. I want to give you this strategy, so you can implement what you learn. Does that sound good? Nothing happens until you take action. No more guessing. Just the steps you can follow to build powerful, profitable relationships with your audience. Could you use that? Great! Remember, you just need to take action! MONETIZATION Many people make monetization much harder than it needs to be. It wasn't always easy for me. Over the years, I distilled it down into a step-by-step process to grow my audience and leverage that attention to make money with my podcast. If I can do it, you can, too. Let me give you a quick example. Zoë Routh is one of Australia's leading experts on people stuff in leadership. She helps leaders and teams overcome silos and turf wars to work better together. She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From the wild rivers of northern Ontario to the remote regions of Australia, Zoë has spent the last thirty years showing teams struggling with office politics and silos how to work better together. Zoë uses her podcast to open doors to her ideal clients. Rather than asking them to lunch or making a cold sales call, she invites those she would like to work with to be a guest on her show. Zoë uses her interviews to begin the relationship and really give value to these CEOs before she even starts talking about doing business together. That is my favorite way to use a podcast to land clients. You don't need a huge audience. You just need the right audience. Can you see how this one example could make a big difference in your business? Interviewing prospects on your show and building those relationships could be just what you need to land your next client. AUDIENCE EXPLOSION That is one example of making money with your podcast by attracting your ideal clients. It is about relationships and rapport. My Audience Explosion Blueprint consists of 3 easy steps. Don't make if more complicated than it needs to be. Don't get swallowed up by the tech. Just follow a proven process. On this episode, we are going to focus on growing your audience. They say public speaking is the most common fear. I believe it is probably the fear of failure while public speaking that paralyzes most presenters. You know what I mean. Music has always been a passion for me. But, I was always introverted and never dreamed of being on the radio let alone interviewing big stars. Three years into getting my architecture degree, I realized my career ladder was leaning against the wrong wall. By chance, I got a job at a radio station where my brother worked. I was a broke college student and needed the money. While working there, my passion for creativity and entrepreneurship returned. RADIO In radio, we would gain the attention of our listeners and sell that attention to clients. It was all about ads. I had a passion for creating great radio. The formula for successful radio equals great music plus great morning shows plus great marketing. It is all about creating great content with entertaining personality and then marketing the crud out of it. I have now gone on to interview many big names. Like George Strait, Ice-T, Zac Brown, Lady Gaga, Lionel Richie and more. Over 25 years of coaching talent and building effective marketing campaigns to serve clients and attract listeners, I have learned the effective traits of powerful content and marketing. I had a passion for creativity and to share my message. But with the big business of radio, I couldn't own a radio station. I needed a way to take what I've mastered and turn it into a business of my own. That's when I discovered podcasting. THE GURUS I saw all of these experts sharing their information online. I was following them all. I bought Brendon Burchard's "Millionaire Messenger". I spent a couple thousand dollars for Jeff Walker's "Product Launch Formula". I spend money on Russel Brunson's ClickFunnels. It was a lot of good money going out without much to show for it. I was following all of the magic formulas, but wasn't making the millions. Can you relate to that? How much have you spent on programs that didn't work? They say, "Just send an e-mail to your list." What most of these don't tell you is that you need an audience in order to have a list. And you have to build a relationship with that list before you can leverage the attention. I knew I had the knowledge. I just needed the vehicle to share it to build the relationships. That's when I began using my 25 years of knowledge and experience building client relationships to build a brand with my podcast and growing relationships rather than selling attention. IMPOSTOR SYNDROME But, it was crazy. Impostor Syndrome kicked in. I started to doubt myself. With podcasting, the platform was in front of me and the creativity returned. But, I started questioning myself. I knew I just needed to step up and believe in myself. I saw all of these other experts doing it. What couldn't I? The opportunity to own a radio station was gone. But now there was an opportunity to build my brand and attract clients with podcasting. The thrill of having full control of my content and help people was right there. So, I started demonstrating my expertise and attracting clients I could help. Over the past 9 years, I've been shaping all I've learned in radio to help other coaches and podcasters discover their possibilities. I've been helping them transform their information into entertainment, so they can use their podcast to attract their ideal clients and grow their business. YOUR OPPORTUNITY Now you have the opportunity to use this same process. I got lucky and found success. I fell into radio and learned by the school of hard knocks. You can now easily get in and find success without all the pain. Now, I tell you this not to impress you. I tell you this to let you know that if I can conquer the Impostor Syndrome, you can, too. If this introverted kid from a lower-income neighborhood can create powerful content on successful radio stations and podcasts, and can use that content to attract and help clients, you can as well. The best part … it won't take you years of living on $12k, working three jobs, fighting off the IRS, working through trial and error and suffering all of the bruises I endured. You just need to follow a plan. Your podcast allows you a great opportunity to demonstrate your authority while talking about a topic that you love. How great is that? If you structure the focus of your podcast properly, it can be an amazing tool to drive your business and generate revenue by building rapport. Using what I learned attaining my Masters in Business Administration, I have spent the last 30 years in radio refining how to create effective marketing campaigns to attract listeners and clients alike. I have used those skills to teach podcasters how to do the same since 2013. Publishing a podcast is a powerful way to let your potential clients to get to know, like and trust you. Your content helps build your authority in your niche and turn you into an influencer. But, how do you get noticed? How can you stand out in that sea of sameness? THREE WAYS There are three ways to share your content … video, audio or text. You can publish your content using blogs, YouTube videos and podcasting. There is one way I feel is best, and you can probably guess which format that is. Are you leveraging your content to its fullest extent to drive your business? If not, why not? Today, there are about 600 million blogs in the world today (Growth Badger). When was the last time you read a blog on a regular basis? In the video space, you are competing with 51 million different YouTube channels. YouTube also keeps changing the alogarithm which makes it incredibly hard to get your videos to go viral. It is hard to stand out and get noticed. However, there are just over 3 million podcasts right now according to Listen Notes. Only about half of those are actively publishing. The platform is still young. The opportunity for you is huge. Where do you want to compete? Would you rather try to be seen as one in three million or one in 600 million? Do you see how the opportunity with a podcast is wide open? Do you want to deal with all of the tech issues that come with shooting video? The lighting, the wardrobe, the teleprompter? Or, would you rather just roll in, turn on the mic and record with a lot fewer issues with equipment, time and hair? PORTABLE There are two other reasons podcasting is a better than other platforms for your content. First, podcasting is portable. Your ideal clients can listen while driving, working out, showering, running and many other places where reading and watching video isn't feasible. The numbers are also in your favor. Now is that right time to leverage your podcast. 39% of America now consume podcasts at least every week according to Jacobs Media's Techsurvey 2021. More than 109 million people in the U.S. over the age of 12 have listened to podcasts in the last month according to Edison Research. According to the Nielsen Company, the total podcast audience is growing at an amazing rate. Podcasting has seen 40% growth Over the last 3 years. Podcasting is huge and now is the time to get in. There is a bright future ahead. Create your podcast, so your content is on a platform that is portable, growing and still young with plenty of opportunity. The space is wide open for you. Now that we know podcasting is amazing, Are you leveraging your podcast to its fullest potential to build your authority and grow your business? If not, why not? GROW YOUR AUDIENCE You can start today to grow your audience. And, you can then leverage that attention to make money with your show. There are 6 steps to grow your audience and leverage your podcast to make money with your show. That's what I want to show you today. Before I share those 6 steps, I want to give you the solutions to the three big challenges experts face as they try to build their podcast and audience. CHALLENGES The three big challenges podcasters face are ... - They make it more complicated than it needs to be. - They have a poor strategy to attract their ideal clients and make money with their podcast. - They have no mentor to show them the way and hold them accountable. They simply don't know where to start. Let's talk about how you can easily overcome those three big challenges. COMPLICATED The first challenge I mentioned is that podcasters often make it more complicated than it needs to be. Simplify the process. There are 4 steps to creating a profitable podcast. Grow your audience. Build trust with that audience. Give them a resource to help them overcome their struggles. Finally, offer them additional help where they can pay you. 4 steps. It doesn't need to be any harder than that. Streamline your process and make it simple. Don't overcomplicate it. And stop chasing sponsors. NO SPONSORSHIPS The second big challenge I mentioned is that many podcasters don't have a strategy to attract their ideal clients and make money with their content. Many people believe sponsorships and advertising are the easiest ways to make money with a podcast. Untrue. In fact, those are the hardest. You shouldn't clutter up your show with ads. Instead, use it as a powerful marketing tool for your business and attract your ideal clients rather than clients for sponsors. Let me show you some reasons why sponsorships are the worst strategy you can take. First, it will eat all of your time. Radio stations have full teams that spend their entire day selling ads that listeners don't want. At my last station, we had a team of 18 selling ads 40 hours a week. At the same time, listeners are fleeing traditional media, because there are tired of sitting through all of the ads when there are other options. Don't jump into a market that is shrinking. Next, you only get paid once while your sponsors get paid over and over again. When you advertise for a sponsor, they pay you one time. They get paid every time a product is sold. You then need to go land another client to get paid again. Finally, few podcasts are big enough. Studies show that it takes roughly 5,000 downloads per episode to attract the big sponsors. Less than 7% of all podcasts are at that level. That means if you are like the 93% of the rest of us, you aren't even in the sponsorship game. You need another strategy. STRATEGY To make money with your podcast, you need to create a strategy that you can repeat over and over again. Focus on one strategy step-by-step until you reach success. That step-by-step process is my Audience Explosion Blueprint. It consists of six steps. PODCAST PLATFORM Step one is your Podcast Platform. This is your foundation and your why. TaVona Denise worked with me to build a strong foundation and a powerful "why" for her show. She worked as a nurse, but no longer loved the profession. She transitioned out of nursing into a new career. Soon, she began coaching other nurses to do the same and find the career they loved. This quickly became her purpose in life and she built her show around helping nurses launch their own businesses. POPULARITY FACTOR Step two is your Popularity Factor. This step helps people discover you. You get in front of new potential listeners and show them how you can help. This is all about partnerships, attraction and engagement. You want to find influencers who are already speaking to your ideal clients and partner with them. Greg Payne is the host of the "Cool Grandpa" podcast. He was around 350 downloads per month. After implementing the Audience Explosion Blueprint, his monthly downloads hit 854. When I put this step into place with my own show, I was able to double my downloads in the span of three months. I basically doubled my audience in 90 days. That was after 275 episodes as well. CONTENT CREATION Step three is your Content Creation. This is what you podcast. Your content gets people to listen to your show. Your content builds your authority and trust. This is how your ideal clients gets to know, like and trust you when you do it right. Sadie and Sausha created the "Meathead Test Kitchen" podcast. They talk about content they love and interview influencers in their niche. They've interviewed Olympic athletes, MMA fighters, renowned chefs, and various other powerful people in the niche. The two of them do it with a flair and sense of personality only these two tatooed ladies could deliver. In the first episode, you know exactly who they are and what you get. There's no holding back. INFLUENCE ROADMAP Step four is your Influence Roadmap. People may come for your content. They keep coming back for your personality. Build relationships with your listeners. Jedlie is one of my clients. He has the "Reading With Your Kids" podcast. Jedlie is a magician, clown and performer. He brings that personality to his show and builds relationships with his audience. STARTING STRATEGY Step five is your Starting Strategy. Without a roadmap, you can't hope to get where you're going. You need a strategy. Let me show you a case study that will show you how this works. When Oscar Trimboli came to me for coaching, he had the desire to strengthen the connection between his podcast and his consulting business. Season one of his podcast consisted of interviews. He was headed into season two and wanted this season to be more about teaching his five levels of listening. Oscar Trimboli is a mentor, leadership coach, speaker, author and podcaster. His podcast and book are both entitled "Deep Listening – Impact Beyond Words". Oscar Trimboli has 30 years' experience in bringing out the best in senior executives and next generation leaders. As we worked together, our challenge was to bring that power and authority to Oscar's podcast. Our goal was to create engagement with his audience and demonstrate his authority in the space. Over time, this would help him grow his consultancy. He could demonstrate his authority on his show and gain new clients. To build his authority in his space, I suggested that Oscar interject himself more into the episodes, so listeners get to know, like and trust him. Oscar Trimboli is now the author of 3 books. He has coached, mentored and advised people in a wide range of roles from founders, CEOs and CFOs . He has also been asked to speak to leadership teams and their organizations. His podcast is now focused on the same material. Oscar demonstrates his authority in and mastery of the space. This allows potential clients to experience what his coaching, mentoring and consulting is all about. CONVERTING CLIENTS Finally, step six is creating your Converting Clients. This is where get your listeners to your sales conversation and invite them to work with you. SHOW ME HOW The third challenge many podcasters face is that they don't have a mentor who can show them the step-by-step process and hold them accountable. They don't know where to start. Let me show you. What would it mean to your podcast if you had an easy way to grow your audience? In order to make money with your content, you need to grow an audience who needs your expertise. Then, you need to build a relationship with that audience. There is a secret to growing your audience nobody talks about. Getting listeners isn't enough. You need to develop a plan to actually keep them coming back time and time again. Many podcast gurus teach you how to create a podcast. Record your interview. Convert it to an .mp3. Upload it to your host. You have a podcast. Now what do you do? Some may even teach you how to get a few listeners. But, that is where most people teaching podcast stop. FILL THE BUCKET The problem is … if you keep putting water in a bucket with holes in the bottom, it becomes very difficult to increase the amount of water in the bucket. The same is true with your podcast. If you keep adding listeners, but they don't stick around, your audience and authority won't grow. Can you understand why both sides of the equation are important to your growth? If you want to use a podcast to grow your business and authority, you need to build it on a solid foundation and strategy. This is step four of the process … "Your Influence" roadmap. Your personality keeps them coming back for more if you use it right. THE BLUEPRINT This whole strategy is what I call the Audience Explosion Blueprint. My Audience Explosion Blueprint is built on these 6 steps for successful podcast audience growth and monetization. Your Personality is the the magic sauce. Your personality is the way people get to know you, like you and trust you. It is your personality that keeps them coming back for more episode after episode. So many forget this critical ingredient. Your podcast can't be all about information. Your content needs to be engaging entertainment. Your personality makes you unique. It makes you stand out from everyone else. Develop your personality through the stories that you tell and the details that you share. People will get to know what you believe and value. How great would it be to be able to follow a plan day-by-day to develop your personality, grow your audience and monetize your show? No more guessing. Just a way to take action to increase your downloads. Do you want to stop all the trial and error searching for the right process? WHERE TO START What would it mean to your income if you had an easy way to connect to the big fish that are your ideal clients? I can't guarantee you will make money from your podcast. Only you know the viability of your topic, your abilities and your willingness to work. However, this blueprint will definitely help you build a framework to see what is possible. Let's talk about using a podcast to create and grow your business. You have been trying to find unique ways to build your audience and make money with your show. Since we've started, I hope you've written down a few ideas on how you might incorporate a podcast into your marketing plan. You have the blueprint that can help you. Here's what I know. If you want another level of success in your business, you're gonna need help. There's no way to get different results by doing the same thing. There's no way you're gonna get to another level on your own. You need help, and I'd like to be that mentor to show you the step-by-step process. JOIN ME That's why I am so excited to invite you to join me in the Audience Explosion Blueprint. It is a step-by-step, live coaching program to explode your podcast audience in 6 weeks or less. By the end of this program you will: Have a clear, step-by-step blueprint to grow your audience with ideal clients in as little as 15 minutes a day Lay the foundation to be known as an influencer and respected authority in your niche Consistently attract listeners who become raving fans, share your podcast, become your ideal clients and purchase your programs Free up your time to create great content and monetize your show Audience Explosion Blueprint utilizes my 35 years of radio experience and 10 years working with podcasters creating successful shows, growing audiences, and coaching talent. This program will help you build an audience, attract your ideal clients, and keep them listening by developing your show and authentic personality. WHAT YOU GET In this program you will get access to: 6 Live group explosion training sessions that show you how to plan, create and launch your audience growth blueprint for your podcast. These sessions include Q&A opportunities so you can get your questions answered. This is a $1,497 value. Lifetime access to the recordings of the presentations in video and audio form just in case you miss any live sessions. This is a $1,497 value. Access to a full, online toolkit containing worksheets, checklists and other tools to show you how to organize your audience growth blueprint, execute your plan in just a few minutes a day, and methodically grow your downloads. This has a value of $497. Membership in the private Audience Explosion Blueprint Facebook group as another place for you to ask me questions. This will also help you get feedback, connect with others and develop new audience attraction ideas. This is valued at $497. PLUS GROW IMPLEMENTATION Daily e-mail reminders during the program to help you consistently take action for 15 minutes each day to execute your blueprint. You will receive an e-mail from me everyday over the 6 weeks that will tell you exactly what to do. No guessing. This has a value of $497. A 30-minute, one-on-one call with me to ensure your blueprint is clearly defined and efficient. It is valued at $250. You also get all future calls, updates and versions of the program. Whenever I teach the course again live, you're welcome to join at no cost. Whenever I update the course, you get access at no cost. This is like taking the course again whenever you'd like. This is lifetime access. It is a value of $1,497. That is a total value of $6,232. It sells for $997. But, I'm going to give you the opportunity to get into the program for a great deal for a limited time. ARE YOU READYTO GROW? Are you ready to get serious about growing your podcast? I also want to give you a few bonuses to make it even easier. Bonus #1: Audience Growth Toolkit ($191 value) You get help you create powerful, effective interviews. Bonus #2: Creating Powerful & Unique Podcast Interviews Course ($97 Value) One more bonus for you. What if you go through the Audience Explosion Blueprint, but you still have questions unique to your situation? Let me give you more help. Bonus #3: A one-on-one call with Erik K. Johnson ($250 Value) If you take advantage of the Audience Explosion Blueprint program by December 27th along with all the bonuses, I will give you a one-on-one coaching session with me as a gift to ensure you are on the right path and answer any specific questions you may have. LIMITED TIME After December 27th, the price goes back to $997 and you'll miss the start of the live calls. Total value is $6,770. Enrollment for the Audience Explosion Blueprint is typically $997. I want to give you an exclusive deal today. If you are ready to grow your audience and leverage that attention to make money with your show, it won't cost you $997. You can enroll in the Audience Explosion Blueprint by December 17th for a great deal. I can't give it here, because this podcast will be live for years. So if you want to see the deal, head to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/audience. Sign up now. The next live classes start on January 12th. The deal goes away on December 27th. You can spend a lot of time learning by trial and error. Or, you can fast track it by joining me in the Audience Explosion Blueprint and make it quick and easy. This program is for podcasters who are willing to consistently take action a few minutes a day to follow a simple plan and work to grow their podcast. This is not for those who expect to build their audience to thousands of listeners in just a few days, like a "get rich quick" scheme. If you take action like we discussed, you will have your blueprint to grow your audience in six weeks. I walk you through all six steps in the Audience Explosion Blueprint. The Audience Explosion Blueprint classes start in January. However, this opportunity is only open until December 27th. We need to get everyone plugged into the portal, ready to kick off the program, and working on the pre-work for the course. Enrollment is online at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/audience. GUARANTE Of course, I will give you a guarantee. I'll give you a 30-day money back guarantee. If you get into it and within the first 30 days you realize this isn't for you, I'll give you your money back with no questions. What do you have to lose? You want to build your audience and make money with your show. Let's get started. What would it mean to your income if you could increase your audience in a step-by-step way? Not only that, but your ideal clients actually subscribe and ask to hear from you every week? This is like a weekly webinar with subscribers and a built-in audience. What would that do to your income? You heard the stats. Podcasting could double in the next 5 years. 106 million people in the U.S. alone have listened to a podcast in the past month, and it is only getting bigger. Now is the time to up your game. Visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/audience to sign up. Take advantage of the Audience Explosion Blueprint. Let's get your blueprint built in the next 6 weeks. I can't wait to help you go to the next level. I am excited to begin working with you and can't wait to see what you accomplish and the clients you attract. Let me show you the step-by-step process and give you the accountability you need. Visit www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/audience to enroll, and I'll see you there. Until next week, remember to always tell the truth, always make it matter and always have fun. See you next time.

Merchant Street Music Fest, the biggest music festival of the year in Kankakee County, takes place this Friday and Saturday in downtown Kankakee near the train depot. I thought it would be fun to give you an overview of the local acts that are playing the fest this year. That way when you go to the fest this weekend, you'll know what bands or artists you won't want to miss out on.    This episode includes interview clips and songs from Musa Man, Michael Rockert, Matt Shipley of The Strips, Matt Yeager of South Side Social Club, Hayli Martenez, The Simsons, Bluprint, and 1.21 Gigawatts.    Visit merchantstreetmusicfest.com for the full line up and details.   Much Love, Jake LaMore   P.S. Support the podcast for as little as $1/month: https://patron.podbean.com/kankakeepodcast

The Elder Emo Hours crew sat down with the guys from BluPrint!

Check out New York legend Tommy5k and his producer Bluprint on this episode as we discuss their upcoming project "All In" and how they met. Tommy also tells some great stories of his journey as a stand up comedian, actor, writer, IG influencer and now musician. You dont want to miss this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Techstination interview: Techstination Interview: World building & coding for kids with Bluprint from Bitsbox

You ever watched shows like Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love and Marriage, Bet Presence the Encore!? Well today meet the man behind those shows and more!On this episode Shawn interviews the king of reality tv Carlos King. He is the CEO of Kingdom Reign Entertainment. Carlos is the creator of Love and Marriage Huntersville, BET Presence The Encore, and previously executive producer Real Housewives of Atlanta for 9 seasons. They will discuss the following

Blind Adam & The Federal League   Bluprint   Pop-Punk & Pizza Podcast #190: Blind Adam & The Federal League and Bluprint Hey! Just to warn you, I had some technical difficulties while recording this episode. So if things sound a little funky, that's why! For the first time in two years, I'm happy to welcome a band back into the studio for an in-person pizza eating interview! I'm glad it was my friends in, Bluprint. We grew up playing together in the Kankakee, IL punk scene. They just released a killer new song called, "Home", recorded by, Sean O'Keefe, and produced by, Mark Rose. Before my chat with Josh, Tyler, and Taylor of Bluprint, I had a virtual conversation with Adam Gogola of Blind Adam & The Federal League. They just released their sophomore album, An Act of Desperation, via A-F Records this past September. It was produced by, Chris "#2" Barker of Anti-Flag.    Much Love, Jacques LaMore   Pop-Punk & Pizza Podcast is presented by, Pop-Punk Takeout. A monthly subscription box filled with merchandise from pop punk artists from all over the world! Learn more and sign up at poppunktakeout.com. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Danny recaps this week's The Real Housewives of Potomac, which featured Mia being messy, revealing her husband left childbirth to get a Playstation, plus a trip into Surry! After the breakdown, Danny chats with Shamari DeVoe about BET's The Encore, what's next for her girl group BluPrint, her time with Blaque, touring with NSYNC, filming Bring It On, and more!Shamari DeVoe Interview: 27:54ish*To support this pod & access bonus episodes, visit Patreon.com/EverythingIconicLINKS:YouTube.com/DannyPellegrino1Twitter.com/DannyPellegrinoInstagram.com/DannyPellegrinoFacebook.com/PellegrinoDannyStore: EverythingIconic.store/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back with another episode of the SoulBack podcast. On this week's episode, we celebrate Chucky Thompson's contributions to R&B. We also talk about the success of BET's "The Encore" and the R&B supergroup BluPrint. We also touch on the new group The Chi which consists of Dave Hollister, Carl Thomas and Donell Jones. We also talk about the release of Aaliyah's "One In A Million" to streaming to platforms and what these upcoming Blackground releases mean for her legacy. Lastly we discuss our favorite R&B albums of 2021 so far. 0:00:30 – Remember R&B producer Chucky Thompson 0:04:15 – Why BluPrint was such a success 0:14:06 - Donell Jones, Carl Thomas and Dave Hollister form R&B supergroup The Chi 0:18:45 – The Blackground catalog is finally coming to stream platforms. Music from Aaliyah, Timbaland & Magoo, Tank, Toni Braxton and JoJo 0:28:34 – Love Letters: Aaliyah - 4 Page Letter 0:31:09 – Top 3 favorite R&B albums of 2021 so far 0:47:01 – Which album comes out first: Usher or Silk Sonic? 

Chris and Chantel give their unfiltered and honest thoughts on the first season of “BET Presents: The Encore” and BluPrint's debut EP. Apologies for some of the mic issues we had in the first half of the show! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cctvpops/support

Follow us on Instagram @blackslikeus @shaysbeautydiary @leefromthe_d @aaronkfoley

This week Davis discusses T.I. calling out his 'minions', BET Present's The Encore supergroup BluPrint's EP release, and 10 signs YOU'RE the problem in your relationship. SHOP THE CARMINE DAVIS SHOP MERCHANDISE CAPSULE: http://carminedavisshop.com FOLLOW CARMINE DAVIS: INSTAGRAM: @carminedavis x @carminedavisshow TWITTER: @carminedavis SNAPCHAT: https://carmndv.us/3xG86S4 T.I. Calls Out ‘Minions' Who Are Stealing His Style [Photo] | lovebscott.com https://carmndv.us/2VI5S8a Ten Signs You're The Problem | goodmenproject.com - https://carmndv.us/3gf7qxx

Everyone is awful, except for the Gorgas! And Kathy! And Pam! Join us this week as we discuss our Jersey girls over on RHONJ, BluPrint and their exclusion of Pam, and why exactly we don't see it for Askale on RHOP. Tune in this week for a jam packed episode of Realitea! Be sure to follow @RMTHEPODCAST and use #RMTHEPODCAST to join the conversation!

 From her love of crochet, quilting and crafts, Linda Permann has built a career as a talented writer, editor, designer and teacher, working for such brands as Adorn, Craftsy and Bluprint. Today, she is on the other side of the ever-changing business, serving as Yarn Manager for One Big Happy Yarn Company, where she is building a store from scratch, while also creating content — and raising two future crafters as well.  Please help us grow: Rate, review and subscribe to The Breadwinners today!  Episode Links  Linda Permann's Designs on Ravelry  One Big Happy Yarn Co.  Crochet Adorned  Little Crochet   Sugar and Spice  Want more Jennifer? Visit Jennwork.com Want more Rachael? Visit Rachaelellison.com  Want more Linda? Visit LindaMade.com  Visit The Breadwinners store!  Our music is “Run for your Money,” by Devil and Perfects.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Destiny Kyles-Jones (@destinykylesjones), former Miss Tougaloo and high profile insurance agent, shares her BLUPRINT on the importance of life insurance, financial literacy and generational wealth. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theebluprintpodcast/message

Armand Robinson (@armandrobinson), financial advisor, shares his BLUPRINT on what it takes to be financially free, tips on investment strategies and his experiences being a collegiate and professional athlete. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theebluprintpodcast/message

Rochelle Vaughns (@rrayted_)shares her BLUPRINT on what it takes to execute successful events in Houston, her experiences being an HBCU graduate and more. This is an episode you do not want to miss! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theebluprintpodcast/message

Paul Costabile is a host, comedian, writer, producer and entertainment reporter. He is the newest face on Universal Kids as the host of the iconic revival of Beat The Clock. He also appears on daily segments on NBC's New York Live and is the host of Doodle Wars on NBC’s digital network Bluprint. Most recently, Paul interviewed the band One Republic for The Netflix/NBCU series Once in a Lifetime Sessions and is a brand ambassador and face for Universal Kids. 

T’Erica Hudson (@iam_royalt4) shares her BLUPRINT on how she handles professionalism in higher education as a young black woman in a predominantly white space. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theebluprintpodcast/message

Mr. Pray Plan Execute himself, Jason Gibson, shares his BLUPRINT on what it takes to manage faith and entrepreneurship. This is an episode you DO NOT want to miss! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theebluprintpodcast/message

  From her love of crochet, quilting and crafts, Linda Permann has built a career as a talented writer, editor, designer and teacher, working for such brands as Adorn, Craftsy and Bluprint. Today, she is on the other side of the ever-changing business, serving as Yarn Manager for One Big Happy Yarn Company, where she is building a store from scratch, while also creating content — and raising two future crafters as well. Please help us grow: Rate, review and subscribe to The Breadwinners today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our 10th episode here at The MISSION pod, we have a huge group of talented individuals bonded together as BLUPRINT RECORDS. Artists, Producers, Engineers all under the same roof and moving as a unit. I met this team working for them as a DJ. The shows were always packed with a diverse, eclectic group. Killah Siah, Fanatik, KBizz, Knotty Kid all sit down and we discuss the missing monster member Big Daddy CHOOCH. Please listen as this group is so talented and focused, I have no doubt they are on the rise.Follow the show on Facebook at @themissionpod and join @themissionaries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined by Fanatic, The Knotty Kidd, Killa Siah, all reppin' BluPrint Records. They go into detail on how they went from vacuum salesman to one of the top production homes in Arizona. King Jayy hits us with the news for the week, mass grave found in Rocky Point which is a resort town in Mexico, and much more! Grab a blunt and enjoy the greatest show on the net. @bluprintrecords @Theknottykidd @fanatic623 @killa_siah --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/roachclippodcast/support

Lee is the CEO of Bluprint X, responsible for their strategic growth. He specialises in straight-talking consultancy for C-Level on how to drive revenue and improve scalability through the power of data and technology. He has played a leading role in the creation and scaling of 7 startups in 4 continents over the last 10 years. Several of these startups became market leaders within 1-3 years, leading to trade sales to FTSE 200 organizations and global companies. In 2013, Lee set up Bluprint X which is now a global agency, advising some of the world's biggest organizations on how to drive revenue through their use of technology. Lee hosts Bluprint's podcast series Making Marketing Heroes which invites insight and hot topic discussion from industry leaders. Lee also documents a raw insight into real business issues on his vlog series, Level Up. Today's episode was brought to you by MINT MOBILE. To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to mintmobile.com/dailygrind

In dieser Episode zeige dir welche 5 Schrite notwendig sind um erfolgreichen Digitalen Vertrieb umzusetzen. Ich gebe dir einen Einblick in meine Reise, und jede menge Mehrwert. Kapitel: 1. Unwiderstehliches Angebot 2. Eigne Positionierung erarbeiten 3. Technik 4. Vermarktung 5. Vertriebsabläufe

It's always great catching up with old friends, isn't it? Tyler, Josh, Taylor and I grew up in the Kankakee, IL music scene together in the late 2000s. When they got older, the guys all moved to Denver, Colorado together and eventually started a band called, Bluprint. It was really great talking with them after […] The post #136 Bluprint appeared first on Pop-Punk And Pizza Podcast.

It’s always great catching up with old friends, isn’t it? Tyler, Josh, Taylor and I grew up in the Kankakee, IL music scene together in the late 2000s. When they got older, the guys all moved to Denver, Colorado together and eventually started a band called, Bluprint. It was really great talking with them after […] The post Pop-Punk & Pizza #136: Bluprint appeared first on Bangarang Radio.

It’s always great catching up with old friends, isn’t it? Tyler, Josh, Taylor and I grew up in the Kankakee, IL music scene together in the late 2000s. When they got older, the guys all moved to Denver, Colorado together and eventually started a band called, Bluprint. It was really great talking with them after […] The post Pop-Punk & Pizza #136: Bluprint appeared first on Bangarang Radio.

This week we hung out with Bluprint! We talk music, being “proud of 50,000 words,” recording at Sonic Ranch, why video game friendships are important, and Down to Earth. Music featured in this episode: “The Answer” “Everything’s Alright” “Dancing With a Stranger” “Nothing Left to Lose”

In this weeks episode we discuss exciting ideas for a quilted jacket and the recent announcement that Bluprint (formerly known as Craftsy) is closing. *Edit: TN Marketing has now purchased assets of Bluprint* For photos and a full list of show notes please visit our website at https://www.sewingfortheweekend.com/

In this episode, I welcome Erin Paige! Erin is a speaker, author, and healing artist. She is the brilliant artist behind Love Tiles, where she paints hearts with loving-kindness, Reiki, and positive energy infused into each tile. She is an amazingly generous and positive woman, who share about the impact art can make without the artist even knowing.  Get in touch with Erin Paige: https://www.erinpaige.com/ | https://www.youtube.com/user/ErinsPaigeBluprint: More than 13 million enthusiasts - from artists to quilters and beyond - make Bluprint their home for binge-worthy on-demand content, access to the world’s top experts and curated supplies, all served up in a fun-loving creative community. Click here and use promo code 50OFF2 for 50% off all courses!Artfully Told links: www.facebook.com/artfullytold | www.artfullytold.podbean.com | elevateartskc@gmail.comSchedule your interview with Artfully Told! https://calendly.com/artfullytold/podcast-interview Intro & Outro Music Credits:Bad Ideas (distressed) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3412-bad-ideas-distressedLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Episode 007 - Erin PaigeLindsey Dinneen: Hello, and welcome to Artfully Told where we share true stories about meaningful encounters with art.[00:00:06] Krista: I think artists help people have different perspectives on every aspect of life.[00:00:12] Roman: All I can do is put my part in to the world.[00:00:15] Elizabeth: It doesn't have to be perfect the first time doesn't have to be perfect ever really. I mean, as long as you, you're enjoying doing it and you're trying your best, that can be good enough.[00:00:23] Elna: Art is something that you can experience with your senses and that you just experiences as, as so beautiful.[00:00:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Hello! Welcome to another episode of Artfully Told. My name is Lindsey and I am so delighted to have as my guest today, the absolutely wonderful Erin Paige.[00:00:44] She is a fantastically uplifting human being, just so full of grace and kindness and empathy towards the world. So she is a coach. She is an author. She has her own journal that I've actually had the privilege to go through, and it's just incredibly uplifting and inspiring. And she is also an artist. She paints and has a few different avenues for her art. And I'm just so excited to be able to talk with her today and share her with you, because I know you're just going to get so much from her. So thank you so much, Erin, for being here. I am so excited to have you.[00:01:27]Erin Paige: Oh, well, what a great intro. Thank you so much, Lindsey, for having me today. I'm just as thrilled to be with you, as you say you are with me. So this will be a wonderful moment in time and space to be creative together. I'm so excited. Thank you so much for having me.[00:01:45] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course! And I would just love to hear a little bit more about you and about, you know, what you do and in your art, if you don't mind just kind of sharing a little bit about that.[00:01:56]Erin Paige: Well, of course I would love to share. Well, let me just start out by saying, and I believe that if you are an artist listening to this, that you probably can relate as well, that I was born an artist. So, I grew up in a creative family. I was fortunate enough to have a mother that was, and still is, extremely creative, more on the abstract side. And my father, bless his soul--he was a mechanical engineer. And of course, when you hear about an engineer, you think very analytical and that was true with his artwork. He was creative, but more in the realistic, realistic realm.[00:02:36]So he could draw a portrait of anyone and it would look just like them. So I had a nice balance with that and we were creative as a family and they really enhanced that for myself and for my sister, whether it was through artwork or through singing. I love to sing as well, but as I moved on throughout my adult life, I started painting hearts and getting back into the painting side of things. I had a jewelry business. I was creative through that, but if I can get a little personal here--and I think that this can be relatable to a lot of people--that I realized that I was starting to paint hearts because where I was in at that time in my life. I was not being fulfilled in the love area, if you will.[00:03:29] My heart was really aching for someone to appreciate me for me. So I continued with these hearts and realized that it was almost like a healing journey, if you will. So the hearts evolved. I started speaking a lot more. I wrote the book and journal that I have that you mentioned, and it has hearts on it. And it really--that moment in time where I was needing to be fed. I realized that I could turn that moment into feeding others with positivity, with grace, with love and the feedback that I was getting from people when they would see my artwork. I would literally, Lindsey, I would have people stop, as they were walking by not paying attention, but then stop and then turn towards--let's say I was at an art fair--and they would stop and look and go, "I don't know. There's something about your artwork that makes me feel better."[00:04:34] And it was really quite powerful. And I think when you hear that enough times, you realize that you are really living in a present moment and you are gifting the world with your gifts. And I think a lot of artists--that's exactly what they are doing, and they are gifting their unique gift through the arts, whether it's dance, singing, or in my case, painting hearts. So I take what I do very, very seriously. So when I'm writing or with whether I am getting ready to work with people, you know, in a workshop that is still very heart-centered, I make sure that I'm in a very positive place.[00:05:18] If I am in that creative state, and I feel like my energy is down. I will get up and go on a walk, for instance, or I'll meditate or I'll pray just to make sure that what I am infusing into the artwork is pure positivity, pure love. I really like to say that I create and love and I give and love. So, you know, I really take that to heart. And I've got a couple examples, if I could share, one of the things that I create are love tiles and they're original. They're on four by four tiles and I paint hearts and I paint dots around them. So the, what I call like the energy, is radiating out and the loves radiating out to people.[00:06:01] And it comes in a gift bag with an easel and my inspirational card. I call it my wallet card so people can keep it in their wallet and be inspired whenever they need to be. I had a client of mine purchased two heart tiles and she gifted them to her grandchildren. And they're young and she called me and she said, "I have to tell you about how I presented these heart tiles that I purchased from you to my grandchildren."[00:06:30] She shared it with me and it was so precious and I just felt so overwhelmed with joy that what I was putting into the love tiles was being received by these young children. And she explained to them that it was created by a real artist--is what she said--a real artist created in love, and that these tiles, no matter where her grandchildren, children would be that she as a grandmother, she was gifting this piece of artwork to them to carry with them wherever they go. And she would always be there with them. And she said, "I just wanted to share that you are gifting your light into this world and your loved tiles are doing that."[00:07:19] And I just couldn't appreciate that comment more than I. I just had no words for it. I got a little teary-eyed, and I know there's a lot of creatives out there that are wondering if their creative talents are being received. And I'm here to tell you that they are, if there's any doubt-- well, just don't have any doubt that when you are living on purpose, you are doing good. You are being of service to others in the world, whether someone verbally tells you or not.[00:07:51] So the second part of this is just a few days ago. Well, yeah, it was just a few days ago that same person called me and she said, "You know, Mother's Day is coming up"--at the time that we're recording this, Mother's Day is right around the corner. And so she called and she said, "My grandkids decided to do something special for their mom." And they did like a spa day, if you will. And her son recorded this moment and the mom is laying there with her arms out to the side and she's got like a mud mask on and her little--I think it might be a six-year-old--a little granddaughter was doing a guided meditation for her mother.[00:08:33] This is the part where, like, tears welled up in my eyes of joy. She said, "Erin, I have to tell you what's part of this recording is so precious. She is using your love tile as part of her guided meditation for her mom, like she's doing this guided meditation and she's holding your love title, Erin." And it just humbled me so much that God has given me this gift to be able to infuse this divine liquid love. I love to call it divine liquid love that we have flowing within us, and it loves us more than anything in the whole entire. It's inconceivable how much this divine, liquid love, God-love, cares for us. And I felt so honored that I have been gifted this creative side to be able to give to others. And for those that are creative out there, know that that divine liquid love that flows within them is gifting this universe with that divine love.[00:09:36] And they should never, never, ever doubt it. And to those out there, your listeners that are not, you know, on the creative side, just know that when you see a work of art, whether you agree with it or not, know that it is coming from a place of love. It truly, truly is coming from a place of love. And if nothing else, just respect that there was a time, and--I guess I'm moving into a moment where, you know, I'd love to just reiterate the value of the arts whether it's dance, voice, poetry, writing, anything that is creative is so valuable. I was commissioned to do a work of art for the designer, the Symphony Designer Show House here in Kansas City a few years back.[00:10:30] And I put so much of my personal love, that divine liquid love went into it. It took several days to create the work of art. And I have to tell you, Lindsey, as soon as I finished it, like, I wish I did--I didn't literally do this, but I could have slept for three days because I gave so much of my soul. I know that you can relate with the work that you do, and the shows that you put together, so much of who you are and your soul into it, that, you know, when an when an artist performs, or if you pay a certain ticket price or you decide to buy a work of art, know that there is great value in what you are purchasing.[00:11:17] And it goes beyond just the ticket price that it will serve you beyond that. So, those are, that's how I go about my artwork and how I go about my life anymore. And I just hope that this message reaches, even if it just reaches one person, one artist or non-artist that feels compelled to dive deeper into their artistic side. Then I'm living on purpose and I'm honored to be here with you today.[00:11:45] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. Yeah. I love that you brought up the fact that you don't know who you're impacting through your art and it can even be something where, whether you consider yourself to be an artist or not--which I, as a little aside, I think that everyone is an artist in their own right. But whether you consider yourself to be one or not, you still have something to contribute to, to help make the world more beautiful.[00:12:10] Erin Paige: I couldn't agree more. And you are absolutely on point when you say that really everyone's an artist. And I just think that everyone has a unique gift that they come into this lifetime with. And you know, it's not a gift unless you share it. I'll just be sharing it all the time, whether it's just a smile to a stranger, you never know how much they might need that. I mean, in that, you know, a smile is a form of art. I really think that. Right?[00:12:40] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I agree. So from talking to you previously, I know that there was another story that you told me that I, I just think would be awesome for our listeners to hear, if you're okay with sharing it. But it was about the little art installation you did for, was it a hospital or a doctor's office? And kind of the result of that?[00:13:01] Erin Paige: Oh yes. Okay. So I gifted several pieces or several works of art to Menorah Medical Center here in the Kansas City area, and they were installed in the cardiac department because, of course, I paint hearts. So, you know, cardiac department and my hearts--they were a good fit and they had these blank walls and they just needed life. And so I said, you know, we had talked about this and that. And you know, my heart just told me that I needed to gift them a few pieces of artwork. So I installed 10 pieces of artwork, and down this hallway that was once just white walls and several of the employees they walked by and they said, "Are you the artist.?"[00:13:57] And I said, "Yes, I am!" And they said, "Oh, thank you so much for making our walk into work more joyful. We just love coming into work now and walking down the small section of the hallway, even if it's just a small section of the hallway, we are so appreciative of your artwork and it makes us just enjoy being in this place." And that warms my heart again. That was a moment where, I guess, honestly, I really didn't think--I kept thinking about, like, the cardiac patients and their families. I wasn't even thinking about the employees. I wasn't even thinking about beyond the walls of the box that I had built, that I was just going to, you know, bring joy to the heart patients because the artwork is actually right outside one of the physical therapy rooms. And that's one of the reasons why we chose that space. So when patients would leave therapy, they would see these hearts and--it goes back to what you say--you said earlier that you just never know who you're impacting. And I just never really thought about the ripple effect; that it wasn't just about the patients and their families.[00:15:17] It was about the employees. It was about the doctors and the nurses or anyone that was walking through, visiting the hospital, maybe, you know? Who knows? I have these visions and I do hope that this has happened. I have these visions of maybe like visitors getting lost. I mean, hospitals, they--you can get easily lost in a hospital, right? Because of the different hallways and departments and you get off the wrong floor. And it's my hope that maybe someone, you know, took a wrong turn and they happen to go down this hallway and they see my artwork and maybe it's brought them a little peace and some love today. So yes, that's the story. Thank you for reminding me.[00:15:57] Lindsey Dinneen: I just love that story. Yeah, that is really special. And, yeah, isn't that so interesting, because again, your original vision for--it was maybe one thing, but it actually touched, like you said, the ripple effect it, it has touched so many more lives even in than what you expected and that's, that's so cool.[00:16:15] Erin Paige: I'll take that. It is cool. I mean, it just--I'm smiling ear to ear to think that, you know, maybe a little work of art could change somebody's--the trajectory of someone's day can change. You know, turn their smile or frown upside down into a smile. So, yeah. Yeah, I am proud of that. And I'm honored to do that for people.[00:16:40] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. Well, and I'm curious, if you don't mind sharing just a little bit about sort of your process in writing your guided journal, because I think that that's a pretty unique work of art in and of itself. And I'm just curious: is there like, a backstory or how did you come to create that?[00:16:56]Erin Paige: Well, there is a story with that. So my journal is called, "I Release You to Become Who You Came Here to Be." It's a little bit long, longer title, but I just couldn't see any other way to title it, except for that. So the backstory behind it is, I am a mother of an adult now. It's hard to, hard to say that, but, he just turned 18. But for four years, when he was younger, I would text him what I called mom-isms.[00:17:26] And they were really just divine downloads, I called them, about life. I'd be driving or I'd be doing something and I would have this message come to me about life. And so I would text my son. In fact, I have it right... I have my journal right here. Let's just say it ended up the journal is 18, what I like to call, notes to self, which started out as mom-isms and--Oh, this is a good one. So number two is: take responsibility for how comfortable you are. So really getting out of that comfort zone. And so if you can imagine me typing this out on a text message, and then I would put a heart, and then I would put "mom-ism." So the interesting thing is if you, if anyone else out there has kids, you know, that most likely you probably aren't going to get on something like this from your mother.[00:18:23] Probably won't get a response, but I will say this, that I knew, again, it goes back to who you are impacting, who you are influencing. I kept sending those mom-isms. I kept taking what I was doing and looking at what I was doing and making sure that I was a positive impact in my son's life. And even if I was doing something, you know, we all have moments where we're probably not the most proud of, or if, you know, taking those moments and turning them around and going...okay. How can I become a better person by learning from this, and this not-so-good moment, turning it into seeing something good.[00:19:09] And then that teaches everyone around us. They see that shift in us. So, I've been sending all these mom-ism and then out of the blue, I sent him, what is actually number three out of 18: when you feel good, you could go out and do good. And he replied and he goes, "That's a good one." And you know, out of all of them--yes, my journal book only has 18, but I have a lot more--so out of all of them that I was sending, he finally returned one message that, you know what, I'm making a difference in his life and this response is all I need, as validation, I suppose.[00:19:52] So, that's the meaning behind, "I Release You to Become Who You Came Here to Be," and it's a working journal. So there's the statements, about what's written, so each one--there's the mom-ism or the, or the note to self, then there's a description or, you know, kind of my take on it. And then the flip the page, and there was an opportunity, some thought provoking questions for you to be able to answer. So that's the story behind the book journal. It all comes from being a mama.[00:20:22] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I love that. Well, thank you for sharing. I know I kind of put you on the spot there, but I was very curious.[00:20:30] Erin Paige: I love sharing those moments because I call him my grandest gift. He has been my grandest teacher, and he's real direct with me anymore. He's an adult now, ladies and gentlemen. Sometimes we don't want to hear what, you know, the truth. You know what? Oh my goodness, I just had no idea that, you know, your perception is a lot different than mine and it was good feedback. So, yeah. That's why I call him my grandest gift because he helps expand my soul every day. And I'm grateful for that.[00:21:03] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I love that.[00:21:05]Erin Paige: You assisted me and I'll talk about--if I could just a second, switch it to you a minute--you gifted me with a really great story. Part of when you participated in my GLAAL project. Oh my gosh. and I'd love to share a little bit about that because I think that that's just a continuation of not only the artistic side of me, but the side of me that really, and truly hopes that I leave a small little prints on this world when I leave it, when my time is up here, but GLAAL is "Go Live An Amazing Life." And that was just another message, if you will, where I was having my pity party. Okay, you know, we all have them. I always say that it's--everyone has the right to their pity party. It's how long you stay at the party that matters. One day I was having a little bit of a pity party, and I allow myself 24 hours. Now, you know, it used to be like months, if not years, where parties--I would get stuck in them and wallow in them. And you know, so typically what happens is, I crawl, you know, those moments where you want to crawl back in bed. And I'm like, man, I'm not going to talk to the world today. And then I go, wait a minute. This is so silly. Do you live an amazing life, Erin? I have an amazing son. I have amazing friends like you and so many others out there. And do you have a unique gift to share with the world today?[00:22:45] Yes. Okay. I'll get out of bed and I'll just, you know, I'll turn my frown upside down. So I thought about it and I was like, gosh, I do live an amazing life. I'm surrounded in love and that is a gift in itself. And so I thought, well, there's other people out there that are living amazing lives and they're choosing to see the good, even in the not-so-good.[00:23:09] I would love to hear their stories. So that's how my GLAAL project started. So I interview people. Basically, I asked them to share a GLAAL story, where they took, you know, maybe it's a moment where it was not so good and they turned it into a good moment. Maybe it's a time where, you know, love really came through and powered through for them. And you participated in this project![00:23:37]And it was, oh my goodness. You just, you gifted me that day. I thought about that for so long--how you too, through everything that you do are, you are impacting the world and you had shared about, you know, a couple people coming to you and, and expressing how much they appreciate you and what, and the light that you're shining out there.[00:24:01] And, we're all in this together. I mean, you know, we're all sharing similar experiences and we should all just be sharing, sharing, sharing, sharing the unique light that you are. So that's my GLAAL project and it's really taking off and I just can't wait to hear other people's stories because I am completely blessed every time I listened to one. And so I'm just going to say one more time, thank you, thank you. Thank you for participating in my project and being a part of it.[00:24:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, of course. No, it was absolutely my honor and joy to be a part of it, but I would highly encourage everyone to check out her GLAAL project because it is truly inspiring. And when you need an uplift, hearing the stories is just--it's so incredible to hear how people are taking difficult situations and transforming them into beautiful things. Or sometimes it's just, you know, talking about little ways that you can make a difference and it's all really inspiring. And so actually, as a result of that, Erin, where can we connect with you and see these, see your artwork and hear these stories and all that?[00:25:14] Erin Paige: Oh, absolutely. I would love for your audience to check it out. My website is Erin Paige, P A I G E. It's my first and middle name, erinpaige.com. And my blog is where you can see all of the GLAAL stories, and then I do have my love tiles and a journal and all of that in my products and shop, yeah, shopping sections. So that's where you can reach me. I also have a YouTube channel, which is just, if you look up Erin Paige, I'll pop up.[00:25:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Thank you. You definitely want to check out what she does and her work because it is really beautiful and inspiring. But Erin, I have a couple questions, if that's okay, that I like to ask my guests, if that works for you.[00:26:01]Erin Paige: Of course![00:26:02] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay! So first of all, how do you personally define art or what is art to you?[00:26:08] Erin Paige: Art to me is an expression of the soul. And I think that that just comes in many forms, whether it's a street performer that feels the need--even a little kid that is dancing to some music, I consider that art.  So really anything that you're inspired to do that your soul is telling you to do? That's how I see art.[00:26:39]Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I love that very much. And what do you think is the most important role of an artist?[00:26:44] Erin Paige: To be authentic. I think it's vital as an artist to be as true to yourself as you possibly can. To be as authentic--oh, I just got covered in goosebumps-- that's, that's how I know I'm speaking from my authentic self, I always tell people. Yeah, just to be as authentic as possible, and that serves others. If you're not showing up in your most soulful or authentic self, you are denying those of us that are looking at your art, watching your art, listening to your art--you're denying us that divine gift. So please, please, please. think it's vital for artists to be responsible in their artwork by being as authentic as possible. And that's, that's what I have to say about that.[00:27:40] Lindsey Dinneen: I love it. Thank you. Okay. And then my final question, and I'll explain my terms a little bit, but: do you think art should be inclusive or exclusive? And what I mean by that is exclusive meaning that an artist puts something out there and you don't necessarily know what inspired it, what the intention for it is, or the context is just sort of like, here's my piece, and here it is for the world. And then it's kind of up to the world to interpret. Versus inclusive, meaning that the artist does share a little bit about what they've created. Maybe, the feeling that prompted it, or even just like a title or just some context to kind of help the audience, just know a little bit more about where the artist is coming from.[00:28:31] Erin Paige: Well, my answer to that is...I think it depends. I think it depends on the audience. I think, I think there's, you can find balance with the inclusiveness and the exclusiveness to something because sometimes our art just needs to be interpreted solely by the viewer. And I think that if it calls to you to, you know, even titles... I mean, that influences the person that sees it right when they read it. So I suppose it depends on the intention of the artwork of the artist, where what's the intention behind it? Does it need to be inclusive? Or can it just stand on its own and be exclusive? Yeah, I really truly think it just depends on how the artist feels about their work of art.[00:29:26] Lindsey Dinneen: That's another great answer. Well, I just want to say again, Erin, thank you so much for joining me on this show. And, I know that I am feeling inspired and I'm sure our listeners are too, but I just wanna say, for my own sake, thank you so much for sharing your art with the world, for being brave and being responsible and authentic in what you do and for truly making the world a more beautiful place, more inspirational place.. And, thank you for impacting people you don't even know you're impacting. I really appreciate it.[00:30:04] Erin Paige: Well, you are--I'm just going to say, you're welcome. Someone taught me a long ago to just say thank you or you're welcome, and leave it at that. It is an honor to be with you today and to share my stories and to answer your questions as authentically as I can.[00:30:21] Lindsey Dinneen: Yes, I love it. Okay. Well, thank you again so much to everyone who's listening to this episode. If you're feeling inspired and you have a friend or two that you feel would enjoy this too, please share this with anyone and everyone. And we will catch you next time.[00:30:41] If you have a story to share with us, we would love that so much. And I hope your day has been Artfully Told.[00:30:52] Hey, Artfully Told listeners. I'm excited to share with you about Bluprint, which is the most amazing website for artists and makers of all levels. Bluprint lets you dig into anything you've ever daydreamed about doing, like dance, fitness, yoga, art, and home decorating, plus all the arts and crafts categories you know and love. More than 13 million enthusiasts, from artists to quilters and beyond, make Bluprint their home for binge-worthy, on-demand content, access to the world's top experts, and curated supplies, all served up in a fun-loving. Creative community. Super cool. And even better currently they're offering 50% off their classes. So if you are interested in taking advantage of that, learning a new skill, having an amazing time, working with experts in their fields, you will love to take advantage of this offer. And you'll just click on the link in my comments and my show notes, and you'll be rocking and rolling.

In this episode, I welcome Roman Mykyta! Roman is an incredible professional dancer, who has trained his entire life in classical ballet and traditional Ukranian folk dancing. He shares some of the most impactful encounters with art that inspired him to become an artist.  Get in touch with Roman Mykyta: /https://www.facebook.com/roman.mykyta.5Bluprint: More than 13 million enthusiasts - from artists to quilters and beyond - make Bluprint their home for binge-worthy on-demand content, access to the world’s top experts and curated supplies, all served up in a fun-loving creative community. Click here and use promo code 50OFF2 for 50% off all courses!Artfully Told links: www.facebook.com/artfullytold | www.artfullytold.podbean.com | elevateartskc@gmail.comSchedule your interview with Artfully Told! https://calendly.com/artfullytold/podcast-interview Intro & Outro Music Credits:Bad Ideas (distressed) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3412-bad-ideas-distressed-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ SHOW NOTES:Episode 006 - Roman MykytaLindsey Dinneen: Hello, and welcome to Artfully Told ,where we share true stories about meaningful encounters with art.[00:00:06] Krista: I think artists help people have different perspectives on every aspect of life.[00:00:12] Roman Mykyta: All I can do is put my part in to the world.[00:00:15] Elizabeth: It doesn't have to be perfect the first time. It doesn't have to be perfect ever really.  I mean, as long as you you're enjoying doing it and you're trying your best, that can be good enough.[00:00:23]Elna:  Art is something that you can experience with your senses and that you just experience as, as so beautiful.[00:00:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Hello and welcome. This is Artfully Told, and I am so excited that you are joining me again today to learn about stories about art. And I am just really, really excited because I have a  truly wonderful person on my show today that gets to be my guest and I am really honored to have him here with me and with all of you. He is a very accomplished dancer, but also just a rock solid person, so kind and generous . So, thank you so much to Roman Mykyta for being with us today and I'm so glad you're here. Thank you.[00:01:13] Roman Mykyta: Thank you, Lindsey, so much for having me. That was such a nice introduction. I'm so happy to be on this podcast. I think that this is a great podcast, such a great subject, meaningful encounters with art. As just mentioned before, that's such a rich topic and I'm so honored to be on this podcast and talk about it.[00:01:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Wonderful.  So would you mind just sharing a little bit about, you know, who you are and maybe a little bit about your journey with art?[00:01:40] Roman Mykyta: Of course. So I am a dancer. The first story I want to share about my meaningful encounter with art was kind of my first inspiration to be a dancer, but I'll save that for the next bit. But when I was very young, I was inspired to be a dancer and, it was actually Ukrainian folk dancing. My grandfather was from Ukraine. As I go into the story, he brought me this video of the Ukrainian National Dance Ensemble. It's called the Virsky Ensemble.  I saw that video and I was inspired to start dancing. I  started in a local Ukrainian dance ensemble, but just, for anyone who's ever seen Ukrainian dancing it's--if you have an image of cossack dancing, it's the same type of thing.[00:02:22] There's a lot of squats, a lot of big jumps and all of these, very exciting dances and tricks. And it's a mix between ballet already being part of Ukrainian culture, as well as just the, the ability to do those types of movement with good technique. I was really encouraged from a young age to start taking ballet as a type of cross training. And so I started Ukrainian dance when I was five, but by the time I was seven, I was taking ballet lessons. And just from there, kind of the rest is history. I trained throughout school and throughout high school as a dancer and doing ballet and Ukrainian dance, as well as all other, different styles of dance, folk dances, as well as styles like modern or jazz. And after I graduated high school I had the opportunity to audition for the ballet company, which was in my state.[00:03:15] And that was  Ballet Theater of Maryland.  I danced in the Ballet Theater of Maryland a total of about four years--four seasons. And then there was actually an opportunity to travel to Ukraine and to work with that group, which was the very first group that was, in the video that my grandfather gave me, and as you could imagine, just that opportunity was very unique and kind of like a dream come true. And so I took advantage of that opportunity and, I went to Ukraine, starting in the fall of 2017 and I am staying there continuing to dance. And also, as I had mentioned, I went right from high school into the ballet company, but while I'm in Ukraine, I'm also getting a degree in dance, pedagogy and choreography. Just for me being there, I feel completely in my element professionally.[00:04:09] There really is in my niche, because in addition to the normal styles of dance that you would do, for example, here in the USA, they also really focus on developing the choreographic and pedagogical skills, like in pedagogy to teach, all of the theatrical folk dancing, which is just between Ukraine and Russia.[00:04:27] They really kind of specialize in that style. And, even when I'm in the USA, I'm usually called upon to dance some of those roles or to teach that kind of style. And so just in the longterm, having, having that experience and having that education from Ukraine really means a lot. My typical life right now--I'm living in Kiev, dancing and studying, and also doing some other jobs that are kind of new to me. I'm doing a little bit of journalism, which started with writing reviews about some of the dance performances in Kiev, but has kind of evolved into other things.[00:04:59]I have a couple of interests, in addition to dance I love very much, but just all my life, dance and all of the other arts that are adjacent to it that are a touchstone have always been such a big part of my life, and remain such an important part of my life. It's definitely something that I'm so passionate about. I'm actually the first person in my family to be a dancer, although my parent, are both really-- not professionally--but they both really love the arts. My dad loves to play the guitar and he loves to sing. My mom also loves to sing and she likes to be in plays or in different musicals.[00:05:35]And so that's just the love for it--all the arts in general. Oh, and I forgot to mention it's also very important-- my dad, because my family, is the type of Christians who are Eastern Orthodox--my dad is also an iconographer, which is basically making the, religious art, the icons, which just are part of our tradition. And, so that's painting basically. So all the arts are really, special in our family. And I've always been so thankful that my parents have always been so supportive of my love for all of the arts and especially for dance, and supported me every step of the way, and continue to support me.[00:06:14]As I said, my typical, normal life right now is living in Kiev. But I am home right now, during the coronavirus. I'm working from home anyway, with my studies and it was just easier to come home during this time and do the quarantine with family. So right now I'm logging in from the USA. But, that's the overview of my life stories, especially related to dance and what I would consider also all the arts, but it's really colored by so many meaningful encounters that I've had with art, whether it's been initially inspired by it or how I feel when I, I'm going to perform, and kind of just how meaningful an experience that is to me.[00:07:01]Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you have such a rich background and so much diversity with the art that you've been able to be a part of and exposed to and, with your family being so invested in it, I think that's incredible. I mean you've certainly been able to have just such a cool background that obviously shaped you as a person and as a dancer and an artist. And you're dabbling in other art, like writing with your journalism, which is very cool.[00:07:30] Roman Mykyta: Thank you so much. I do feel very blessed.[00:07:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Well, I know you do have a few meaningful encounters with art to share with us today. So I'm super excited to hear them.[00:07:41] Roman Mykyta: Yes. Since we first talked, Lindsey, I've just been thinking about so many different things and I'll try to--I want to share all of them--and, I'll try to keep them all organized. I think the most important one that I want to share is kind of my initial encounter with art, which was basically inspired me to be a dancer and I distinctly remember when my grandfather who was from Ukraine brought me that video of the Virsky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. I distinctly remember watching it and just some of the thoughts that my two year old brain was having, 'cause I was two when he showed it to me. Again for those who have maybe, like an image from the collective consciousness of Ukrainian dancing, but I highly recommend anyone to look for it on YouTube, especially Virsky, spelled V I R S K Y. The costumes are incredibly colorful and the dancing, the typical theme is usually very joyful.[00:08:40] And it's very athletic, especially for the men's role. And so it's very impressive. And the women are also in their full costume, they all just seem so beautiful. And so, and just in the professional quality of the Virsky Ensemble, they just present thier folk dance. And, when they perform it--'cause they perform internationally--they're kind of serving as cultural ambassadors. And so in their professional style, they imbue all of that dancing with just the spirit of hospitality, the spirit of just openness, like this kind of agape love type of atmosphere kind of permeates so much of their show.  Culturally, it's the connection with other countries, as I said, kind of working as cultural ambassadors and spreading peace and love ultimately.[00:09:28] And just so their typical show is just so beautiful. Both in like the true ethnographic folk dance as well as just their presentation is just, making it the most beautiful and the most accessible as possible. Between the colorful costumes and just their bright smiles and just these beautiful looking people to me, I distinctly remember that dancers seemed like angels and the stage seemed like heaven.[00:09:55] And, in my young understanding of life, when I imagined heaven, I imagined that it was like that video that my grandfather showed me with all these people dancing. And, later in life, I read things, and heaven is also sometimes described as a dance. And so I guess that's not completely too much for two year old fantasy, but that was just the image of goodness and this kind of a perfect reality. And so, that's just, that was so special for me. And then as I said, when there was the opportunity to work with that group later in my life-- just once I had access to the opportunity, as you could imagine--it's not just, professionally and it's not just as a job to be with this particular company, but also just in my heart and in my soul, it was something which I just associate with only kind of these good things, blessings from life. And so it's just so meaningful. I feel very passionate about this topic, meaningful encounters with art. And my only regret is that I feel like just to talk about it is -- sometimes I can lose words to describe the whole effect.[00:11:03] I just encourage anything that I'm saying-- if any of the listeners can go and look and see yourself-- just because, I can describe it, but experiencing it is even better. So that I distinctly remember, with the Virsky Ensemble, just falling in love with these ideas about goodness, but then also just, dance was the medium and then just falling in love with a dance because of that. So that was the first thing that I saw and I watched that VHS tape so many times and whenever it would finish, I would be sad and beg for my parents or my grandparents, whoever was watching with me, to rewind it again, just so I could watch it from the beginning. I watched and I danced with it so many times[00:11:50] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that.[00:11:51]Roman Mykyta:  And so my dad's side of my family is from Ukraine, but my mom's side is actually Irish. And so, because they saw that I really loved Ukrainian dancing, they got me "Riverdance," and that was also a piece of art that was just so amazing to me as well. It's a completely different look and feel than the Ukrainian dancing, but it also just the theatrical effect of this type of performance is just amazing.[00:12:18] And whether it's the majesty of all of those dancers lined up and doing the Irish dancing with that powerful rhythm, it's like a completely different look and feel, as I said, from the Ukrainian dance, it creates such this powerful sensation.  In "Riverdance," there is the Irish dancers, also the flamenco dancers, and there are even the Russian dancers. And I think just seeing all of these different kinds of folk dancing, which had also like a personal connection with me and my family, but just seeing all of it and seeing all of the different interpretations of these life themes or concepts that you can find in these different dances from a very early age that introduced to me the idea of infinite variations of beauty, infinite variations of goodness. That helped me understand as a child, in a way, that concept of God is everywhere present .[00:13:04] And, that you can find, if it's something of goodness in every culture, you can find something of God in every culture. And that was really such a powerful concept  when I was little-- of course I didn't think of it quite like in the terms as I'm explaining it now-- but to kind of put into words, what I think I was feeling, as a child, and so that was-- I especially really loved both of those videos. and those were my first introductions into dance. And, any, even things like the colors of the costumes, the colors of the lighting, it was just all that's part of why the Sage was heaven to me because it could change and it could become colorful and it would just be so like, magical is probably the best word.[00:13:47]That was really amazing, but some other things meaningful encounters with art that I experienced in my childhood-- one that really comes to mind-- the second live show that I saw was actually my mom in a production of "Godspell."  For those who don't know, "Godspell" is a musical with music by Stephen Schwartz. And it's hard to describe again, but it's basically this impressionistic  theater piece, exploring the teachings of Jesus and especially from the gospel of Saint Matthew, while "Jesus Christ Superstar"--for those who are familiar with that is much more of like a dramatic passion play--"Godspell" is much more of taking the essence of the teachings. There is kind of a Jesus figure, but it's not meant to be as literal as "Jesus Christ Superstar," it's much more impressionistic and it's, it has this atmosphere to it because all of the ensemble is purposefully acting kind of clownish, like small children that came from the concept where it's like, you have to humble yourself as a small child to enter the kingdom of heaven.[00:14:49] And so, it was in this theater piece that creates this atmosphere of taking that with a group of typically adults who are playing in the show kind of to the maximum and when the show is done really well, the power of the gospel and then in that setting can-- it's just especially powerful. Now I remember it most because I remember when they would run through the audience. And I remember seeing my mom and I remember when there was a very dramatic scene and the lighting changed again. That's like an example of how to live, and when like the actors are acting in a way which is fully accessible, fully loving each other, just this beautiful community that is created on stage,  it's just kind of like this vision of how I would want my own life to be.[00:15:34]Again, for those who are not super familiar, I just recommend to maybe give that a try. "Godspell" was kind of a musical theater piece that I loved when I was little also because it came out around the, it came out in 1999, and at that time I was four. At that point, there were a couple of Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals that were being made in a very special, movie version format. And there was Joseph, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" with Donny Osmond. There was "Cats." Those were the two that again, we rented from the video store so many times and I watched over and over again.[00:16:10] I absolutely loved "Cats." I loved all the dancing in it and I would dance around to all the numbers. And that's another show that I really like. I think it's a little bit under appreciated. It seems very esoteric. It seems like maybe not a lot of people would get it. I encourage you, if you're not sure about "Cats," think of it like an exploration of how to be more human. It's through the dramatic exercise of acting like a cat or pretending to be a cat. And it's not so much like the actor being a cat, it's more about like a dancer being a cat because it's that whole kind of what our typical uniform is wearing legwarmers and things like that.[00:16:50] And just kind of moving in a maximumly expressive style, not like super in a classical form, like in ballet, but it's a mix between ballet and jazz. And so if you can kind of discover your humanity in that, I encourage to look at it kind of with those sides and not to worry about it too much, being two hours about the life of a cat or life of cats.[00:17:12] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay. But the music is incredible, so it does have that going for it, for sure. And yeah, and the movement quality is, is amazing.[00:17:19] Roman Mykyta: Any Andrew Lloyd Weber music definitely lends itself to a transcendent quality. And so if, if the music is good, it's, it's trying to pull out something interesting in the story, and so I definitely, and how kind of amazing and creative to like, do something a little bit unconventional, but still get something, which is still meaningful. I would consider those four the major things from my childhood, and kind of the things which really kind of inspired my love for all the performing arts, the arts in general, especially dance.[00:17:53] I feel like it's also really important to talk about my time dancing   Some people don't always get classical ballet or on the surface or don't always get it. I definitely encourage a lot of people who are less familiar with ballet, just to know that ballet has a really big history and therefore also has a really big range. And I most people know ballet just like for the Tchaikovsky ballets, which are really beautiful in of themselves like "Swan Lake" or "Nutcracker."[00:18:24] But if they feel kind of not connected to their time or even connected to their culture, can feel a little bit divorced from their experience. But I would just encourage, there's a huge history of ballet with a lot of different movements in it's evolution of choreographic art, in the same way that the fine arts of painting or music also went through several reinventions or renovation, so to speak.[00:18:48]For my experience when I was dancing in a ballet company, what was most, and still is really important for me is--as I kind of explained just even from like my very young years, just that effect that performance, could have for me, especially a dance performance or a musical theater performance.  It really is convicting to me to create the same experience, the best that I can--just to pray that I can-- for whatever audience, it's coming to see the performance. I love it, especially when we're doing "Nutcracker" and we have an audience of kids, because I just hope that we can, as a cast, make the story, make the show, as big ,theatrical, colorful as when I was really little like watching "Joseph" was for me.[00:19:34] In order for me to kind of invest in a role, I have always tried to find the deeper meaning of a story and sometimes dance literature doesn't always go quite as deep. But if the ballet has a fairytale connected to it, chances are analysts have kind of unpacked that fairy tale for its meanings and things, which are the big major truths that anyone in different walks of life can take from it. I'm not dancing for myself. I'm not dancing to get the applause of other people. I kind of suffer from some stage fright. And if I was dancing for myself, it really wouldn't be worth it. But the only way that really makes it worth it is if I feel like I'm doing something, which is meaningful--that I'm telling a parable, so to speak, or participating in a parable, which is going to be impacting.[00:20:26] And the only part that I can do is just dance with that intention. And it's really, this is the interesting thing how art works--because all I can do is put my part out into the world. Not every audience member is going to see the--they'll see the same ballet--but they won't necessarily get the same thing out of it. It kind of comes from where you're coming from or even the personal tastes that you have and how you feel about things. Certainly not everything is for everyone. And, a big thing with enjoying a piece is also just whatever mood you're in before you're going in to see it. And for me, whenever I'm an audience member, I always try to be really open to whatever I'm going to see, try to really understand and try to unpack for myself what potential meanings could be.  They can be all kinds of things that can be more literal or they can be very impressionistic. It's just like a mood-- it's kind of, it's hard to quantify all these things because part of the infinite nature of it is that it can be all of these different variations and it's hard to pinpoint them or classify them all.[00:21:33] I talked about what I do as a dancer, but as an audience member, I love to just watch, try to understand, and I find a lot of joy just from unpacking what I can understand out of it, maybe debriefing about it with whoever I went to go see the show with or something like that. That to me, that's, that's my ideal night out, both participating in or watching and discussing it, both sides, I really like.[00:21:57] Lindsey Dinneen: Thank you so much for those insights. Yeah. I just want to encourage people to have open conversations about art and to please ask questions. I can't speak for all artists universally, but I can certainly speak for myself and I think for Roman as well, and a lot of artists that we love curiosity. We would love to help answer any questions you have. So if something's unclear or you just are curious as to why we chose a certain element to what we do, I think most of us would love the opportunity to share more about our process, about what inspired us about why we made the choices that we did, because we are trying to be so intentional about the way that we create. And so having those honest conversations is really special.[00:22:47] Roman Mykyta: And I could say the same thing for myself as well. As I said, nothing energizes me more than either performing, choreographing, or talking about it, or watching-- just to encourage dialogue, between audience member and performer or creator, I think that that is the best way to, to share and to, and just like this podcast, to share our meaningful encounters with art, and this podcast is such a good platform.[00:23:17] Lindsey Dinneen: Thank you so much for that insight.  I just have a couple of questions for you to wrap this up. The first is how do you personally define art or what is art to you?[00:23:30] Roman Mykyta: Art is ultimately a worldview. I'm sorry, I just want to be thoughtful and not leave anything out, but I think art starts with a worldview and it can be-- it's very intentional and it's very presentational and it's always a form of communication with the creator and the viewer. But where my head is now I kind of feel like art is everywhere around us, even just looking out the window. The art is within the worldview to be able to see anything and to give it meaning, and it can be good or bad meaning, but I personally always like the good meeting, and to just kind of commune with all of these things in our life, which are indicative of something which is truthful and, in my mind, truthful also goes with, goes along with good. I feel like art can be like that. There's that kind of statement--art is in the eye of the beholder. And I feel like that's--that can be true that art can just be a person's worldview and how they give meaning to the world.[00:24:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent. I love it. Okay, my second question is what do you think is the most important role of an artist?[00:24:41] Roman Mykyta: Hmm. I think the most important role of an artist is to be truthful about reality and how they see it. And along with that, to be honest, that opens up a lot of different doors, whether being truthful and honest is being very joyful and expressing the beauty in life, or it can be expressing the pain that we all feel, and then the way you treat that, whether it's with humor, with seriousness or drama, I feel like there's a place for all of those things. I'm sensitive personally about not overloading audience with what's negative.[00:25:18]It's really important to be honest, to be raw and to express pain, honestly, but in a way, I feel like we are so inundated by bad news, and just other dramas and political things that I almost feel like if we're so out of balance that way, I would encourage artists to-- it gives the audience a bread and life from the other side. 'Cause in my personal life, I feel like in the people who I know we need more of a goodness color and light than we need more anger, but ultimately it's important to just be honest and truthful.[00:25:58] Lindsey Dinneen: My final question is, do you think art should be exclusive or inclusive? And I'll define that a little bit more: exclusive, meaning that the artist puts something out into the world and doesn't give a whole lot of context for it, whether that's not, you know, providing program notes or description or something like that. So you don't necessarily know the inspiration or the reasoning behind it. Versus inclusive, meaning that the artist gives you that context, tells you why they chose the colors that they did, or, or the particular movement pattern that they did or whatever. So kind of inviting you into that process. So you understand a little bit more of the artist's intention.[00:26:42] Roman Mykyta: I definitely feel like I understand. For me, when I am presenting either in the performance or creator mode, I value being inclusive. I really, as I said, I personally just really like to dialogue. And so, whether it is a program notes or, giving an intro or just dialoguing with anyone who I'm currently working with, or anyone who has seen what I've done.[00:27:09] And, you know, I'm always happy to talk about it because to me, the joy is in the dialogue. And I understand on the exclusive side, some people like to have the openness to variety of meanings and not to peg something down, so that people, audience members, can be free with their imagination. But I personally feel that even inclusive mold, you know, audience members can listen, but they can also still freely form their own opinion.[00:27:38] I guess it depends on the personalities of individual people. Maybe some people, if they are given more insight, they're going to just stick with that and maybe not think about other things, and so preserving the exclusive mold just helps to keep that open, but I personally really like the inclusive mold. And even, in my experience, as an audience member with either the inclusive or the exclusive mold, I mean, I'm really hungry for the creator or the performer to give me their inclusive worldview. Even if I get that, I still freely form my own thoughts about something.   There could be a movie musical piece of music that the creator/performers shared their worldview and it might not be something that I completely understand or, even agree with. I personally think there's nothing lost with the inclusive mold and it's ultimately just great to have the dialogue.[00:28:39] Lindsey Dinneen: Awesome. Well, thank you so much. That is really great insight. And I really appreciate your perspective about how dialogues about art can create so much more meaning to your encounters. And I think that that is so important. What stood out to me about what you said was you're talking about how having the inclusive mold does not mean that you can't take from it what you will anyway. Even if you have the context of what the artist originally intended doesn't mean that you can't also draw your own conclusions.[00:29:13] And I think that's a really nice balance and I haven't heard it said like that before, so thank you for that. And I just want to say, in general, Roman, thank you so much for being on this podcast and thank you so much for your heart for art and your heart for the world. You help make the world a better place because you're willing to share your art as a dancer, choreographer, journalist. And I truly believe that in what you're doing, you're making the world a more beautiful, inclusive place. And I just want to say thank you for that, because I know I appreciate it personally, but I, I know that what you do does impact the world. So thank you for that.[00:29:53]Roman Mykyta: Oh, my goodness. Thank you, Lindsey, so much.  That was such beautiful words. I'm just so honored and so thankful that I was invited to be a part of this podcast and I just think, we were talking about how meaningful dialogues are--this podcast, I think is so crucial in promoting that. And I cannot wait to hear all the more episodes from all the future guests that you will have. And just to be able to have that listening dialogue with all the other artists who you will have.[00:30:29] Lindsey Dinneen: Thank you again so much, Roman, for joining me today. And thank you so much to all of our listeners who have tuned in. I hope you feel inspired and rejuvenated and ready to witness some art and have great conversations about it because that's what it's all about. If this episode particularly inspired you today, would you just share it with a friend or two who might also be inspired? And until then we will catch you next time.[00:30:57] If you have a story to share with us, we would love that so much. And I hope your day has been Artfully Told.[00:31:07] Hey, Artfully Told listeners. I'm excited to share with you about Bluprint, which is the most amazing website for artists and makers of all levels. Bluprint lets you dig into anything you've ever daydreamed about doing like dance, fitness, yoga, art, and home decorating, plus all the arts and crafts categories you know and love. More than 13 million enthusiasts, from artists to quilters and beyond, make Bluprint their home for binge-worthy, on-demand content, access to the world's top experts and curated supplies, all served up in a fun, loving creative community. Super cool. And even better, currently they're offering 50% off their classes. So if you are interested in taking advantage of that, learning a new skill, having an amazing time, working with experts in their fields--you will love to take advantage of this offer. And you'll just click on the link in my comments and my show notes, and you'll be rocking and rolling.

This is Episode 21 of the Curly Seams podcast. Recorded on Friday June 19th in Hampshire/Wiltshire, United Kingdom via Zoom Welcome to Episode 21 of the Curly Seams Quilt, Knit and Stitch podcast. In this episode we continue our lockdown isolation recording. We are using Zoom in this episode to record and continue to learn as we go. Thanks for your patience. #flaxsweater #curlyseams #sewhouse7 #Bluprint #BerninaQ20 To all of our viewers please continue to stay safe as lockdown is being eased. We look forward to seeing you in again in Episode 22. We also want to say a HUGE thank you to all our new subscribers, many have made there way to us via the Fiberhustle podcast. Thanks so much Chip and Aaron. The Longarm Quilting Machine at the back of Emma is a Bernina Q20 on a 10' frame FINISHES Emma has made a short-sleeve wrap top using a floral liberty print : Pattern : McCall 4384 Version A. Emma has quilted a quilt using free motion and ruler work quilting and stitch-in-the-ditch. Tracey has been working on SewHouse 7 Free Range Slacks in linen. Fabric from stash. www.sewhouse7.com Tracey finished a quilt that has been in the WIP many years! Block pattern : Traceys own design : Fabric Layer Cake - possibly French General. Longarm Pattern : Fresco Feathers by Lorien Quilting Batting : Matildas Own 60/40 Wool/Poly WIP: Emma talks about her feathered star quilt and replacing a faced binding with a traditional binding. Emma continues to knit The Flax Sweater by Tin Can Knits using Drops Nepal http://tincanknits.com/pattern-SC-flax.html CHIT CHAT: Bernina Couching Foot : #43 : Use for couching and appliqué work The Happy Pear : thehappypear.ie Software used to download Bluprint Videos : https://www.allavsoft.com ACQUISITIONS: Skateboard/stunt scooter non-slip tape for rulers available from specialist shops. (By the way : stiction is a real word !! and means : friction which tends to prevent stationary surfaces from being set in motion) Martinelli Notions : 3 Mask Set : https://www.martellinotions.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MFM-03 Books: Free Motion Quilting by Kathleen Riggins : https://bit.ly/3fJ9WZZ Amanda Murphy Books : https://amzn.to/3dpuQMa

In this episode, Anne recommends some BluPrint classes for those who are trying to cram in as many as they can before the service disappears, as well as some knitting books she has found helpful for the Master Hand Knitter Program. More progress on the program, the Morehouse Virtual Farm Day, and more! Links to Things Mentioned on the Episode BluPrint is no longer accepting memberships, but all the classes mentioned in the show can still (at the moment this episode launches) be found by searching for the title of the class if you already have a membership. Hansel Shawl by Gudrun Johnston. Morehouse Farm. Get on their mailing list, if you haven’t already, to be part of the next Virtual Farm Tour! Master Hand Knitter program. Arenda Holladay’s THREE videos about lifted increases: first, second, and third. The Principles of Knitting, by June Hemmons Hiatt Reader’s Digest Knitter’s Handbook, by Montse Stanley Knitting in Plain English, by Maggie Righetti The Jamieson and Smith Lovers Ravelry group for their Keep Making Knit Along. Merrily by Design’s fundraising pattern, Christ and Jet Walk the UK. All proceeds from the pattern benefit the SSAFA. Sponsor Allbirds is a shoe company helping us all to tread lightly on the planet. Their shoes are durable, machine-washable, and made from sustainable materials, including merino wool. Their Wool Runners are the perfect “dog walking” shoe, but they also make actual runningshoes, casual slip-ons, socks, and more. Check them out, and if you decide to buy, Allbirds will make a contribution toward the running of the show. For more ways to support the show, please visit the Be a Booster page! Music Our songs from today’s show were “Arkansas Murder Ballad,” by Angela Easterling, and “Catch Da Fire,” by Oto Coberg.

In this first episode, I'm delving into the two conflicting perspectives whether or not we should be doing more productive work during this time, especially because we're now all at home. Some people are urging you to do more with this time, others are telling you to take a break. I chat about how to come to a healthy balance, what we should really be doing during self quarantine, and how we should approach our long term goals (or take this time to create them!). Online class platforms I mentioned that are worth checking out: Skillshare and Bluprint. Be sure to leave a review, subscribe, and connect with me: happilyhedy.com instagram.com/happilyhedy pinterest.ca/happilyhedy

Here are 4 steps to follow as you navigate your way through any DIY project. In the next few episodes, we will talk about how to go about completing this project using tools like CAD and maker spaces! Stay tuned!

Join us in the Nice Games Clubhouse/Newsroom to hear the latest and greatest news from the video game world. Mortho makes a return (and another and another), Stephen doesn't want to say "git gud," (but...), Mark wants to press all the buttons, and (STOP THE PRESSES!) Martha likes board games now.Bulletin topic (Recent releases) Timecode 0:01:15 “Needle Felting Gives Us All the Feels”  - Ashley Little, Bluprint“Islanders is a bite-sized palate cleanser of a civilization builder” - - Cass Marshall, Polygon“‘Super Mario Odyssey' and ‘Zelda: Breath of the Wild' are both getting VR supp… - Jacob Siegal, BGRLabo VR kit launches April 12th, Mario/Zelda support coming April 25th.“The Division 2 has a lot to say, but it's very hard to hear over all the gunfi… - Charlie Hall and Cass Marshall, PolygonLessons learned creating UI for the Division - Christian Savoie, GDCIn related news, this week a lot of new free content from GDC 2019 became available on the GDC vault: https://www.gdcvault.com/free/.Bulletin topic (News) Timecode 0:10:02 “She Invented a Board Game With Scientific Integrity. It's Taking Off.”  - Siobhan Roberts, The New York Times“Wingspan review: A gorgeous birding board game takes flight”  - Aaron Zimmerman, Ars TechnicaSpeaking of board games, Minnesota developer Leder Games just made 1.7 million dollars(!!!) on Kickstarter for “Root: The Underworld Expansion.”“EA Lays Off 350 People In Marketing, Publishing, And More”  - Jason Schreier, Kotaku“How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong”  - Jason Schreier, Kotaku“BioWare Boss Addresses Studio Issues, Vows To 'Continue Working To Solve Them'… - Jason Schreier, Kotaku“All the latest details on the new Borderlands game”  - Harry Shepherd, PCGamesN“Borderlands 3 On PC Is Exclusive To Epic Games Store Until Early 2020”  - Tamoor Hussain, GameSpot“Review-bombed Borderlands 2 is the first to have user scores thrown out by Ste… - Owen S. Good, Polygon“Lawsuit alleges Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford improperly siphoned $12M for perso… - Charlie Hall, Polygon“Google Stadia has a lot of ‘last mile' challenges”  - Jeff Grubb, VentureBeat“The Nintendo Switch in Japan offers a peek at the cloud gaming future”  - Sam Byford, Polygon“'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' and the debate over difficulty vs. accessibility”  - Adam Rosenberg, Mashable“An Easy Mode Has Never Ruined A Game”  - Joshua Rivera, Kotaku

Lee is the CEO of Bluprint X, responsible for their strategic growth. He specialises in straight-talking consultancy for C-Level on how to drive revenue and improve scalability through the power of data and technology. He has played a leading role in the creation and scaling of 7 startups in 4 continents over the last 10 years. Several of these startups became market leaders within 1-3 years, leading to trade sales to FTSE 200 organizations and global companies. In 2013, Lee set up Bluprint X which is now a global agency, advising some of the world's biggest organizations on how to drive revenue through their use of technology. Lee hosts Bluprint's podcast series Making Marketing Heroes which invites insight and hot topic discussion from industry leaders. Lee also documents a raw insight into real business issues on his vlog series, Level Up.

The Bluprint for disaster.