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On this episode of Best Ever CRE, Joe Cornwell interviews Chris Parrinello, VP of Investor Relations at Viking Capital, live from the Best Ever Conference 2025 in Salt Lake City. Chris shares insights into Viking's strategic pivot toward development, highlighting their latest JV project in Peoria, AZ—a 220-unit garden-style and townhome multifamily deal. They discuss why Viking is still bullish on multifamily, how they're mitigating risk through conservative underwriting and experienced partners, and the importance of reframing investor expectations when chasing long-term equity multiples over short-term yield. Chris also breaks down the project's economics, deal structure, and why 2025 might be the perfect setup year for outsized gains in 2026. Chris Parrinello Current role: VP of Investor Relations, Viking Capital Based in: South Florida Say hi to them at: https://vikingcapllc.com or listen to his podcast Wealth Unfiltered Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/cre. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Post your job for free at https://www.linkedin.com/BRE. Terms and conditions apply. Join the Best Ever Community The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria. Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on the podcast, Nate the Great and Matthew the... Greathew talk with Will Shick, VP of Creative Development and Strategy at AMG, as he shares with us his thoughts and opinions on the May 2025 character update and designing the game in general.If you would like to further support the channel go here to find out more: https://www.patreon.com/ThegamersguildPlease join us on Discord! Or find us on Facebook here.If you are in the US, shop at: https://gamechefs.org to help support the guild and use code: GamersGuild to save an additional 15% on your order! If you are in the UK, shop at: http://www .tritex-games.co.uk/ to help support the guild and use code: TRITEXGGCP5 to save an additional 5% on any of your MCP purchases! You can also find Tritex Games on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/tritexgames/ and on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TritexGamesLtd
Neil McRobert from Talking Scared returns to TYOUSK! -The Women of Stephen King Pt. 4:1. Neil's Top-5 Favorite Stephen King Females (+Honorable Mentions) 2. Which Stephen King Females does Neil want more from?3. Stephen's King's Creative Development on Female Characters throughout his Career4. Would a Woman Write it Any Differently?5. Where Would Neil take Charli McGee from Firestarter in a King approved sequel? More from Neil: - patreon.com/talkingscaredpod- pod.link/1530064310Please Give the Show Some Love and Post a 5-Star Rating on your Favorite Podcast Outlet! End Credits: (Keys of Moon) SoundcloudX: @UnderratedSKPodInsta: @UnderratedSKPodcastBlueSky:UnderratedSKPod.bsky.social Patreon: patreon.com/dansewithkimcKim C. will Return with Never Flinch!
Next in Media spoke with Brian Albert, Managing Director, YouTube Media Partnerships & Creative Works, about YouTube's ascent on the TV screen, how the company plans to bring top creators to the table during upfront talks, and whether brands are about to pull back on commitments amidst all this tariff uncertainty.
Isaac Stewart, once an independent author and artist, now serves as the Vice President of Creative Development at Dragonsteel Entertainment. Isaac designed and illustrated the interior art for Brandon Sanderson's “The Way of Kings,” including the Alethi Women's script, maps, Shallan's and Navani's notebook pages, and additional artwork. He also created the interior art for the Mistborn series, featuring the Steel alphabet, maps, and Allomantic table. Stewart is closely linked to two Cosmere characters: Nazrilof, a character he created and partially based on himself, and the cartographer Isasik Shulin, whose name derives from Isaac's. Beyond his contributions to Sanderson's works, Isaac is writing books, creating cartography, and designing book covers. He collaborated with Shawn Boyles on the webcomic “Rocket Road Trip.” Isaac and his wife, Kera, joined Dragonsteel Entertainment around 2013, with Isaac hired as an in-house artist before the publication of “Words of Radiance.” Isaac attended the Life, the Universe, & Everything (LTUE) annual booksales event, where he gifted the podcast host a copy of his book “Monsters Don't Wear Underpants” and which became part of this podcast discussion. Learn more about Isaac at https://coppermind.net/wiki/Coppermind:Artists/Isaac_Stewart
Isaac Stewart, once an independent author and artist, now serves as the Vice President of Creative Development at Dragonsteel Entertainment. Isaac designed and illustrated the interior art for Brandon Sanderson's “The Way of Kings,” including the Alethi Women's script, maps, Shallan's and Navani's notebook pages, and additional artwork. He also created the interior art for the Mistborn series, featuring the Steel alphabet, maps, and Allomantic table. Stewart is closely linked to two Cosmere characters: Nazrilof, a character he created and partially based on himself, and the cartographer Isasik Shulin, whose name derives from Isaac's. Beyond his contributions to Sanderson's works, Isaac is writing books, creating cartography, and designing book covers. He collaborated with Shawn Boyles on the webcomic “Rocket Road Trip.” Isaac and his wife, Kera, joined Dragonsteel Entertainment around 2013, with Isaac hired as an in-house artist before the publication of “Words of Radiance.” Isaac attended the Life, the Universe, & Everything (LTUE) annual booksales event, where he gifted the podcast host a copy of his book “Monsters Don't Wear Underpants” and which became part of this podcast discussion. Learn more about Isaac at coppermind.net/wiki/Coppermind:A…sts/Isaac_Stewart
Have you ever wondered how a movie gets made? Or better yet, where do the ideas from movies come from? And if you have your sight on making a short film, wouldn't it be great if someone helped you buff your idea and make the end product simply spectacular? Shannan E. Johnson is that someone! As a former creative executive at NBCU/The Syfy Channel, Shannan left her full-time gig to become a storytelling expert who develops creatives and their ideas for the screen. As a script consultant, teacher, and therapist, she uses her innate understanding of storytelling to make compelling TV and movies. In today's podcast, Shannan walks us through her wide-ranging career and shares what it's like to work in Hollywood. She offers invaluable tips on how to write and tell a great story. I walked away from our conversation with a framework on how to approach fear and how to position my vision to achieve my desired outcomes! As you listen to the interview, the conversation will skip forward here and there - this is because Shannan's audio cut off at certain points, but the insights remain powerful throughout. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Shannan E. Johnson 02:09 The Journey into Storytelling 07:14 Understanding the Craft of Screenwriting 12:23 The Differences in Storytelling Mediums 18:19 Transitioning to Executive Roles in Hollywood 24:15 Navigating the Business of Hollywood 26:48 The Evolution of Storytelling in TV 35:03 Navigating the Transition from Executive to Entrepreneur 41:08 Building Confidence and Leadership Skills 47:09 The Professional Pen: Empowering Screenwriters 51:03 Introducing Truffle Sauce: A New Film Experience Connect with Shannan: Website: http://www.shannanejohnson.com/ The Professional Pen: https://www.awriterforyourwriter.com/bio.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannanejohnson/ The Professional Pen IG: https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalpen/ Connect with your host: Website: Martine Severin Instagram: Martine | This Is How We Create Subscribe to the Newsletter: Martine's Substack This episode of This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin and edited by Ray Abercrombie.
In this mini-episode, we explore the unexpected parallel between toe yoga and creative practice. Through her personal experience with a daily exercises, our host, Martine Severin, reveals how small, consistent efforts lead to remarkable changes over time – both in physical flexibility and creative mastery. Martine challenges the myth of natural talent, showing how persistence and consistent practice often triumph over innate ability. This episode serves as your permission slip to begin that creative project you've been postponing – no matter how small your daily commitment might be. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Creative Journeys 00:27 Understanding Toe Yoga 04:22 The Metaphor of Toe Yoga in Creativity 08:10 Taking Action and Consistency in Practice Key Takeaways: The benefits of toe yoga extend beyond foot health to our entire physical structure Just 1-5 minutes of daily practice can lead to significant improvements in any skill Consistent practice often trumps natural talent in creative pursuits You don't need expensive equipment or extensive training to begin your creative journey Stop waiting for permission and start with small, manageable commitments Stay in touch: Website: MartineSeverin.com Follow on Instagram: @martineseverin | @thisishowwecreate Subscribe to the Newsletter: Martine's Substack - Creative Matters
New York Women in Film and Television: Women Crush Wednesdays
We are still feeling inspired by our Muses and their powerful words at the 45th Annual NYWIFT Muse Awards. This week, we have interviews straight from the red carpet!Hear from Muse Honorees Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Versha Sharma, Director Lisa Cortés, Actress Marissa Bode, CNN EVP for talent at CNN Originals and Creative Development for CNN Worldwide Amy Entelis and Producer Celia Costas; plus 2023 Muse Honoree, Author and Host Sandra Lee; Actresses Jessica Sherr and Samantha Mathis; and NYWIFT Board Members Kuye Youngblood and Shruti Ganguly. To be featured on the podcast email us at communications@nywift.org. For more great content go to NYWIFT.org.Special thanks to Elspeth Collard, the creator of our podcast theme song.Link: https://bit.ly/41UQB2MSocial Media:Versha Sharma: IG: @versharma / Twitter/X: @versharmaShruti Ganguly: IG: @shrutirya Lisa Cortés: IG: @misscortes / Twitter/X: @misscortesMarissa Bode: IG: @marissa_edob Samantha Mathis: IG: @samantham01 / Twitter/X: @samanthamathisSandra Lee: IG: @sandraleeonline / Twitter/X: @sandraleeKuye Youngblood: IG: @kuyelynne Jessica Sherr: IG: @jessica_sherr / Twitter/X: @jessicasherrCelia Costas: IG: @ccelialoveAmy Entelis: IG: @cnn / Twitter/X: @amyentNYWIFT: IG: @NYWIFT / Twitter/X: @NYWIFT / FB: @NYWIFT
As they attempt to save the marriage of one of their listeners, Brad and Dave consider the best path for a cartoonist who wishes to pursue a master's degree. Would a Master's in Fine Arts be the right choice, or would a Master's in Business Administration be the better option? Considering the expense, perhaps the best choice is to avoid both! After grappling with that dilemma, Susan MacTaggart stops by to share a personal affirmation with a member of the ComicLab community.Today's ShowIs a Master's Degree in comics worthwhile?Susan MacTaggart's AffirmationUPDATE: Brad and Dave's Wikipedia pagesMixing word-balloon stylesSummaryIn this episode, the hosts discuss the importance of education for cartoonists, debating the merits of pursuing a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) versus a Master's in Business Administration (MBA). The discussion highlights the value of writing skills in comics and the necessity of understanding business principles in today's publishing climate. In this episode, the hosts delve into the intersection of art and marketing, discussing the value of formal education, such as an MFA, in developing a creative career. They explore the importance of self-teaching versus structured learning, emphasizing personal growth and the impact of higher education on career paths. The conversation also touches on community engagement through personal affirmations and mid-show updates, culminating in discussing word balloon techniques in comics. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett delve into the intricacies of comic storytelling, focusing on the use of word balloons and their aesthetic implications. They discuss the evolution of comic communication, the philosophy behind how comics convey messages, and the unique structure of two-panel comics. The conversation highlights the balance between visual elements and text, exploring how these components enhance storytelling in comics.TakeawaysEducation in the arts should focus on writing, not just drawing.An MFA may not provide the specific skills needed for comics compared to an MBA.Understanding business and marketing is crucial for independent cartoonists today.Higher education can provide a shortcut to knowledge that would take years to learn otherwise.Not all education needs to have a direct financial return on investment.The subjective nature of art can complicate grading in MFA programs.Scholarships can help alleviate the financial burden of higher education.Choosing between an MFA and an MBA depends on personal career goals and interests. The art itself is not enough; marketing plays a crucial role.An MFA can provide valuable insights into salesmanship and marketing.The experience gained from an MFA depends on the student's openness to feedback.Many successful cartoonists do not have an MFA, indicating it's not essential for success.Self-teaching can be as effective as formal education, depending on the individual's learning style.Personal growth and happiness can come from pursuing higher education, even if it doesn't directly impact career success.Community engagement is vital for creators, as seen in the personal affirmations segment.Word balloon techniques vary based on the comic's style and background complexity.The hosts share humorous anecdotes about their Wikipedia pages, highlighting the challenges of self-presentation.The conversation emphasizes the importance of adapting techniques to fit the evolving art style. Word balloons can affect the aesthetics of a comic.Using a floater can conserve space in a panel.Breaking up dialogue into multiple balloons improves readability.Floaters can convey whispers or asides effectively.Aesthetics sometimes dictate the choice between word balloons and floaters.The history of word balloons reflects the evolution of comic art.Comics often rely on a visual punchline that follows a setup.Two-panel comics can exist in greeting cards and other formats.The construction of comics can influence how they are perceived.The philosophy of comic communication is complex and evolving. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive.
In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from Atomic Mass Games, Will Shick, Vice President of Creative Development and Strategy, for an in-depth conversation about Marvel Crisis Protocol live from the AdeptiCon 2025 floor. We cover the Friday AMG AdeptiCon panel reveals in greater detail, and learn the process and philosophies when making all of the new waves coming to the game. We get to learn lots of character spoilers and new character playstyles live from Will throughout, and fun lore as well. We finish the episode on a discussion about the upcoming rebalance and character packs and what the community can expect from MCP going forward this year.Fury's Finest is a podcast and resource devoted to the discussion of the tabletop game Marvel Crisis Protocol.___________________________________Fury's Finest is supported by our wonderful patrons on Patreon. If you would like to help the show go to patreon.com/furysfinest and pledge your support. Fury's Finest Patrons directly support the show and its growth by helping pay our monthly and annual fees, while contributing to future projects and endeavors.Fury's Finest is sponsored by MR Laser: https://mr-laser.square.site/Check out our Fury's Finest apparel and merchandise on TeePublic.___________________________________Twitch I twitch.tv/furysfinestTwitter I @FurysFinestCastInstagram I @FurysFinestFacebook I Fury's FinestYouTube I Fury's FinestApple Podcasts l Spotify l Google Podcasts___________________________________Thanks to Approaching Nirvana for our music.Help spread the word of our show. Subscribe, rate, and review!Send feedback, Marvel thoughts, and show inquires to FurysFinest@gmail.comFury's Finest is hosted by Jesse Eakin and Chris Bruffett.
In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from Atomic Mass Games, Will Shick, Vice President of Creative Development and Strategy, for an in-depth conversation about Star Wars Shatterpoint live from the AdeptiCon 2025 floor. We cover the Friday AMG AdeptiCon panel reveals in greater detail, and learn the process and philosophies when making all of the new units coming to the game. We get to learn lots of unit spoilers and new unit playstyles live from Will throughout, and fun lore mentions as well. We finish the episode on a discussion about the upcoming May rebalance and what the Shatterpoint community can expect from future rebalances to the game.___________________________________Hello There! is supported by our wonderful patrons on Patreon. If you would like to help the show, and join our discord community, go to patreon.com/hellotherecast and pledge your support. Hello There! Patrons directly support the show and its growth by helping pay our monthly and annual fees, while contributing to future projects and endeavors.___________________________________Twitch I HelloThereCastTwitter I @HelloThereCastInstagram I @HelloThereCastFacebook I HelloThereCastYouTube I HelloThereCastApple Podcasts l Spotify l Google Podcasts __________________________________Hello There! is hosted by Jesse Eakin.
Ever wondered how Texas Athletics creates its iconic look and feel? In this episode of 3rd & Longhorn, we sit down with Caten Hyde, Texas' Senior Associate Athletics Director, Creative Development and Video Production, to break down the strategy behind the photography, video, and digital marketing campaigns that shape the Longhorn Athletics' brand.From game-day visuals to viral social media moments, Caten gives an exclusive look at how the Texas creative team tells the story of one of college sports' most powerful programs. Whether you're a fan, a content creator, or just curious about the behind-the-scenes magic, this episode is a must-watch!Welcome to 3rd & Longhorn, your ultimate destination for all things Texas Longhorn Football! Join us weekly for an in-depth show featuring analysis and commentary from Lifetime Longhorn Football players Derrick Johnson, Alex Okafor, Fozzy Whittaker, Rod Babers, Jeremy Hills, and Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund co-founder Nick Shuley.3rd & Longhorn takes you deep inside the world of Texas Football, offering a unique perspective from some of the best to ever put on the pads at the 40 Acres. Whether you're a die-hard Longhorn fan or new to the scene, our show provides unparalleled insight, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert breakdowns of games, players, and strategies.Meet Our Team:Derrick Johnson: NFL All-Pro and Texas Longhorn legend, providing unparalleled defensive insights. Alex Okafor: Former NFL defensive end, breaking down the line of scrimmage battles. Jeremy Hills: Renowned trainer and former Longhorn running back, discussing player development. Fozzy Whittaker: NFL veteran and special teams ace, offering game day analysis.Rod Babers: Longhorn cornerback great and media personality, sharing insider knowledge.Nick Shuley: Co-founder of Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund, discussing the business side of college sports.What to Expect:• Game Highlights & Recaps: Relive the best moments from every game with comprehensive highlights and in-depth recaps.• Expert Analysis: Get detailed breakdowns of team performance, player statistics, and game strategies from our seasoned analysts.• Behind-the-Scenes Access: Enjoy exclusive stories and insights from former players who know the program inside and out.• Player Spotlights: Learn about the standout athletes making waves on the field and their journeys to success.• Recruiting News: Stay updated on the latest recruiting developments and future Longhorn stars.• Fan Interactions: Engage with our hosts and fellow fans through live Q&A sessions and social media.Subscribe to 3rd & Longhorn and never miss an episode. Hit the notification bell to get alerts for our latest uploads. Join us in celebrating the legacy and future of Texas Longhorn Football!Connect with Us:Follow us on Instagram:Derrick Johnson - https://www.instagram.com/superdj56Alex Okafor - https://www.instagram.com/alexokaforJeremy Hills - https://www.instagram.com/jhills5Fozzy Whittaker - https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhittRod Babers - https://www.instagram.com/rodbabersNick Shuley - https://www.instagram.com/nickshuleyFor the most comprehensive coverage Derrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokaforJeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhittRod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabersNick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley
In Episode 193 of REIA Radio, we sit down with Katie Neason, a powerhouse in real estate redevelopment. Katie isn't just flipping houses—she's revitalizing entire communities! From transforming neglected buildings into vibrant spaces to commissioning murals that reflect the history of her town, she's redefining what it means to be a real estate investor.Inside This Episode: ✅ The ups and downs of growing up in a real estate family—from boom to bankruptcy ✅ How Katie pivoted from corporate finance to redeveloping downtown Bryan, Texas ✅ The role of AI and strategic networking in scaling real estate ventures ✅ The biggest mistakes new investors make when jumping into development ✅ Why Katie believes creativity is key to building standout propertiesPlus, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Katie's coaching program, Rookie Redevelopment, designed to help investors take on urban redevelopment projects with confidence.
On this episode of Modern Royalty Podcast recorded LIVE in front of a studio audience, Princess Sarah Culberson speaks with some of Hollywood's “Royalty”- Iconic Producers Stephanie Allain and Greg Silverman, who have worked in the industry for 40+ years, about their insights in reference to where the entertainment industry has been, where it is now, and what's in store for its future.About Stephanie Allain:Stephanie Allain is an award-winning film and television producer and the founder of Homegrown Pictures. Some of her projects include Hustle & Flow and Dear White People. Her latest film is Titus Kaphar's critically-acclaimed Exhibiting Forgiveness and Universal Pictures Woman in the Yard starring Danielle Deadwyler. Stephanie is the first woman of color to preside over the Producers Guild of America as president. In 2020, she became the first Black woman to produce the Oscars for which she was Emmy-nominated. Her first children's book, Who's In Charge? reinforces body autonomy for toddlers and is available where good books are sold.About Greg Silverman:Prior to founding Stampede Ventures, Greg served as President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production at Warner Bros. Pictures. During his tenure, he spearheaded such box office hits as The Harry Potter series, The Hangover Trilogy, Gravity, The Great Gatsby, Magic Mike, The Lego Movie, Mad Max: Fury Road, Wonder Woman, Crazy Rich Asians, The Joker, 300, American Sniper, A Star Is Born, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, Dunkirk, Inception and Interstellar, and Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One among many others. His career spans more than 125 movies and over 38 billion dollars in worldwide box office.Silverman serves as executive chairman of The Hidden Pigeon Company, the spinout from Stampede organized around the work of #1 children's author, Mo Willems, in partnership with Mo and Cher Willems and Red Bird Capital.Silverman has also been an early stage investor in some of Silicon Valley's biggest success stories including Slack, Robinhood, Allbirds, Cue, and Vidmob. He is a Partner at Series X Capital, the newly established fund which will be the exclusive scaling partner to Google on companies emerging from Google X.He serves on the board of The Monterey Bay Aquarium and has aided in founding the non-profit organization, We Got Your 6, which provides support to members of the Armed Services. Silverman lives in Sherman Oaks with his wife, Amanda, their youngest son, Dash, and their three dogs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do toys shape who we become? Today, I sit down with a fascinating toy historian Chris Byrne who reveals the hidden power of play - from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem - solving abilities. We explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, but about embracing the pure joy of the journey. Whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them space to explore independently, this episode will transform how you think about playtime. Join us for a rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to simply play. After exploring the art of play with our toy historian today, I want to share something powerful with you. My book Fertile Imagination tackles a crucial truth: we can't guide our children toward imagination if we've lost touch with our own. I'll show you the exact framework I used to reawaken and strengthen this superpower – the same one that transformed both my life and my three sons'. If you're ready to rediscover your creativity and childlike zest for life, grab your copy now: https://bit.ly/fertilebook In this episode, you will hear: Play is a process, not a means to an end, and embracing it can reduce stress. Imagination influences every decision we make. Playing with toys helps kids develop problem-solving and relationship skills. Adults benefit from play too—it fosters creativity, joy, and innovation. Letting children lead playtime strengthens their confidence and creativity. Kids learn by doing, and unstructured play is vital for their development. In corporate settings, a playful mindset can unlock new ideas and innovation. Fear of failure limits creativity—kids don't judge play, and neither should we. This episode is brought to you by: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book is available as a hard cover, paperback, and also as an audiobook. If you are on the go and wish to quickly jot down where you can purchase the book then head to: https://bit.ly/fertilebook. If however you want to grab the audio version then head to the show notes to click the direct Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB About Chris Bryne Chris Byrne has spent over 35 years in the toy industry, holding major marketing and creative roles before launching Byrne Communications, a consultancy specializing in product development, strategic planning, and marketing. A passionate advocate for the power of play, he has studied its impact on child development and creativity across industries. He has appeared on major media outlets worldwide, sharing insights on toys, play, and innovation. He also co-hosts The Playground Podcast, diving deep into the toy industry's past, present, and future. SHARE this episode with fellow moms and entrepreneurs who want to bring more creativity into their lives! Chris's insights on play, imagination, and innovation are a must-listen for anyone balancing motherhood and career growth. Let's embrace play, rediscover joy, and inspire the next generation! Supporting Resources: Website: https://www.thetoyguy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetoyguy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoyguyofficial/ The Playground Podcast: Spotify & Apple Podcasts Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators? I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert! In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination! Advance Praise “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Chris: I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it, that had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. I mean, they were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:00:43 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're going to get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover how mom founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood. Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out. 00:01:09 Melissa: And stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening. 00:01:36 Melissa: So how do toys shape who we become? Have you ever asked yourself that question as you are giving your child a toy? If that toy is going to influence their career choices ahead or the way that they are, their character. Today, I sat down with a fascinating toy historian, Chris Byrne. 00:02:04 Melissa: Now he is a 35 year plus veteran of the toy industry. He's held major marketing and creative positions earlier in his life. And he's appeared on TV talking about toys and play in the US and around the world. He's even been on the Live with Kelly and Mark show as a regular guest. And he has his own podcast, by the way, the Playground Podcast. 00:02:29 Melissa: So, Chris reveals today the hidden power of play, from how different toys develop everything from relationship skills to problem-solving abilities. We also explore why true play isn't about reaching an end goal, it's about embracing the pure joy of the journey. So, whether you're looking to understand the art of playing alongside your kids or giving them some space to explore independently, this episode is going to change how you think about playtime. So I encourage you to join us for this rich conversation about rediscovering the magic that happens when we give ourselves permission to just play. 00:03:10 Melissa: Okay, so before we jump into the conversation, I wanna just let you know that after the conversation, I would invite you to explore the art of play with my book, Fertile Imagination. Why is that relevant to you as a mom? Here's what I want you to know. It's really hard to guide our kids toward imagination if we've secretly lost touch with our own. So in my book, Fertile Imagination, I share with you the exact framework that I used in order to reawaken my imagination, play with my imagination, stretch my imagination, and strengthen what I believe to be our greatest superpower. 00:03:56 Melissa: So this framework is super simple to follow. It is guided and it is also provided in lots of really cool journaling question prompts in the book. And it's gonna be the same exact process that I used in order to really get back in touch with that little childlike spirit that all of us has, but maybe we forgot we have held quite tightly close to our hearts. 00:04:22 Melissa: So, I invite you to go ahead, rediscover your creativity, and see if you can find your childlike zest for life. Because I really believe that it's hard to teach our kids things that we may have forgotten are natural to us, and maybe came naturally to us when we were younger. So enjoy the conversation. The link to the book is available in the show notes where you're listening to this. Let me read the actual link so that you can learn more about my book, Fertile Imagination. 00:04:53 Melissa: It is a bit.ly link. So it is bit.ly/fertilebook. You can absolutely grab a copy right there of Fertile Imagination. If you wanted the audio version that is available exclusively via Amazon. So go ahead and check out the show notes for that link. Thank you again. And I hope you enjoy the conversation and let me know what you think at the end, I will share with you my top three takeaways that you can apply to your immediate mom life. Thank you so much. 00:05:28 Melissa: Chris Byrne. I am so excited to have you here on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. How are you? 00:05:35 Chris: I am very well. I'm so excited to be with you. Thank you so much for the invitation. 00:05:40 Melissa: I couldn't get enough of your TED Talk. I was like, oh my gosh, he's not just a toy historian. He's like a toy psychologist. I loved it. I loved it. So welcome to the show. Chris, I want to just start with the big, big question on my mind. Help me understand from your perspective, decades in the industry, learning about the art of play, like what is an imagination to you and do you consider it a superpower? 00:06:12 Chris: Well, I absolutely consider our imagination our superpower. It is the one thing that, really one of the many things that really define us as human beings. Nothing happens in our world that doesn't start in the imagination. It can be, what do I want for lunch? Or what do I want to be when I grow up? Or should I marry this person? Or should I have children? 00:06:34 Chris: Or whatever it is because we begin in the imagination and other kinds of animals, you just put food in front of them and they eat, it's instinctual. But for us, it's not- as humans, it's not just instinctual. We literally create our worlds on a daily basis and that starts in the imagination. 00:06:54 Melissa: I agree. And it's interesting because as a fully grown adult, I would say that when I was writing my book, Fertile Imagination, and I see it as like a superpower for moms who are technically adults. I feel like it's a topic that is seldom discussed amongst adults. Like, is this something that you are noticing? Or maybe, you know, people that have that childlike quality because of your industry? What's your take on imagination, the art of play, and being an adult? 00:07:30 Chris: Well, I think all of those are really critical to who we are, because play is really the act of asking a question, what if? What if I do this? What if I, you know, as an adult in can be, what if do whatever? For me, as a kid is like, what if I jump off this wall? What's gonna happen? You know, but we grow up and we have a little bit more, more adult kind of perceptions, if you will, for that. And it really is like trying to spin out a scenario. 00:08:06 Chris: So if I am going to take a new job, for example, what is that gonna be like? Who am I gonna be working with? And we begin to develop stories around things in our imagination. And those stories are very important because we really can't take action to make things real until we've imagined them as a concept. 00:08:28 Melissa: Yeah. And so, okay. So this is something that I'm struggling with right now. This is like real time, I need some help, get me unclogged sort of stuff. So this idea of having a story in my mind and having a vision I want to make real, the vision side of it is so hard right now for me to see, mainly because it's like, there's things that I've envisioned in the past, but I haven't made happen. So I don't know kind of like how to play myself to a solution or a vision or just kind of like, think with a little less of like the past, you know, like hindering this vision. 00:09:15 Chris: Right. It's a great, it's a great thing. I mean, I'm sorry you're going through that, but I think that if you look at how a child plays, right, when they get an idea and they don't sit there and think, well, if I just do this or I do this or I do that, it's going to be fun, right? They come, that's not fun. I'm done. I'm on to the next thing. And I think as adults, we should do that too. If something is becoming too much effort, if it's not working, then we just drop it and go on to the next thing. 00:09:47 Chris: And I don't think there's any harm or foul in that. And I think that when you look at a kid who is imagining and playing, they're not judging the play as they're doing it. They're looking at well, where did this take me and where should I go next from it? And it's a much freer, kind of more peaceful way to go through the world. 00:10:08 Chris: I mean, I talk about things that I've done that turned out to be mistakes. And I call them I said, well, that was a once in a lifetime experience. As in I don't have to do that again. I learned the lesson. 00:10:20 Melissa: Yeah. And I think, you know, approaching any problem from that perspective releases that pressure to get it right the first time. And it gives you like the levity to get back up and just be like, okay, let's go at it again. And I imagine like, cause I noticed also, and I know that this side of it might be a little bit more conventional thinking, but like, you actually bring these ideas into corporate settings, you know, the art of play. 00:10:51 Melissa: And I'm like, if I think about the different environments where it's not okay to play. It's not okay to make mistakes. Like how do you sell that idea of we're just playing right now and don't get frustrated if it works or not in like a corporate setting, you know? 00:11:11 Chris: Well, one of the things that's so interesting in a corporate setting is people come into a meeting or a brainstorming and they're focused on one specific outcome, right? So if you're focused on an outcome, you kind of end-run the process of play because play is a process. Play is asking, what if, you know, let's go down this road and let's go down this road and see what it is. So I always encourage people to be as off the wall as possible. I will give you an example that almost got me fired. 00:11:43 Melissa: This is a good one, okay. 00:11:44 Chris: And nobody will like it, but I was working with Ideal, with Ideal Toy Company and we had the Shirley Temple doll. And nobody, we had these porcelain $400 Shirley Temple dolls and Shirley Temple dolls were huge in the '30s and still with doll collectors, but nobody was buying them. And we thought, how do we get rid of them? And I said, well, why don't we put them on the QE2 and use them as skeet? Like people can launch the doll. 00:12:11 Chris: So the brand manager got really mad at me. And told me I was inappropriate. But as we talked more, we ended up doing a doll collecting event with Cunard that actually turned out to be good. So the idea is, go out there and play off the wall in a safe environment, obviously. So the idea of creating an environment where it's safe to play, where it's safe to have that sort of impulsive childish response to a situation is okay. 00:12:45 Chris: We would never have promoted that in a corporate sense. But the idea that we were just playing with ideas and being silly. That opens the pathway to being really creative and to seeing what could actually work. And then once you get that, you put the action steps in place to get to the next step. 00:13:05 Melissa: Yeah, I think just, you know, going crazy and just really trying to break out of conventional thinking and our very logical pathways in our mind, it's like first we do this, that, the other. It's almost like some sentences, right? And the way we like greet each other, it's so like rehearsed that to come up with something like, oh my gosh, I love your outfit. You know, it reminds me of like a toy soldier or something. It would be like way off, but it would start rapport, I think. Rapport or like, you know, people would be like, kind of weirded out. But I've always tried that. How can I not weird people out? 00:13:44 Chris: Well, it's, right, well, that's always a question, but I don't really worry about that too much. But I think that one of the things, again, as I was saying about process, but also getting over fear, right? As adults, we think, well, what if I get it wrong? Children, when they play, if you watch them play, they don't worry about getting it wrong. They just think, well, that didn't work. That didn't do what I wanted it to do. Let me do something else. They haven't built a hierarchy of judgment and really being unkind to themselves about doing something wrong. 00:14:19 Chris: And if you embrace play, there's really no kind of, you can't be wrong when you're playing, right? Some things may be practical, but there's imagination and there's spinning things out, things that might never become real, but then things that actually could practically become real. And the process of getting to that point is actually pretty joyful. 00:14:42 Melissa: And I think we could all use some more joy these days, that's for sure. Adults and children alike. So let's see, let's go back in time. So let's go back to the time where you recall maybe playing with a toy and feeling like an insane amount of joy. If you can think about, you know, your one moment or one of the moments, I'm curious to hear your perspective. 00:15:06 Chris: Well, it's really interesting because one of the things that I really believe is what we play with as kids really becomes, we become a lot of that. And we had a basement in our house that had a room in it. They had a window in it. And my brothers and I would create puppet shows. And we would do that. And we would just go round up all the kids in the neighborhood and say, you have to watch this puppet show. And they did. They were good. But it was really about storytelling. It was about connection. It was about making things up and just feeling very alive in that moment, feeling very connected to who I was at that time and being able to share that with other people. 00:15:52 Melissa: Wow, so that's interesting. So it's funny because I feel like maybe I was, because I was an only child for most of my upbringing, like a lot of the things I did were just on my own and I had to really figure out how to make something out of what was around me. So let me share like this one thing that I would do to just pass the time. And of course, like in the background, like there was like maybe Magnum P.I. playing or, you know, name- Hawaii Five-0, whatever my mom was into. 00:16:25 Melissa: So I would go to the closet and I would take out a shoebox. And I would proceed to create like a scene. So they're called dioramas. I looked it up because I was like, this is a weird thing that I just kept doing all the time. And then I would create little figurines and put like little slots, you know, on the sides and move the little carboards in and out, you know. And I was like, okay, I have to ask Chris, like, what does that say about me? I have no idea. 00:16:56 Chris: Well, I mean, I would say it sort of starts you as a storyteller, which is what you're doing today. You're telling stories and you're facilitating other people telling stories. But it's also, I mean, especially for children at that age, it's about trying to make sense of the world and the stories they tell us, like trying to make sense of relationships. I'll tell you another story. 00:17:18 Chris: Years ago, we were playing with some kids with Barbie dolls. And they had all these different Barbie dolls. And one kid took all the blonde Barbie dolls and they were making fun of the brunette Barbie doll. And we were just watching this and going, yeah, this is somebody who is working out a reality in their life. 00:17:38 Chris: And that is really what play is, because even as she, in this case it was a girl, became powerful in that situation, was able to stand up for herself, you're giving your brain the sense that you can actually do this. If you do it vicariously, you've already had that experience on some level. So that when you confront that in real life, it might be easier, or you might have a solution. 00:18:03 Chris: I mean, how many times do you go into a situation, an interview or whatever, and you've rehearsed what you're gonna say? And your brain already knows that. It's like visual, what they talk about in sports about visualizing, you know, the outcome. You know, you're already having that experience, which is so cool. Cause our brain doesn't know the difference sometimes between reality and what we imagine. 00:18:24 Melissa: I love that. I love that. And so, yeah, who knows what I was trying to work out? There are a lot of things going on in my home. I'll tell you that much. But yeah, I think, you know, that idea though, just like trying to work things out that, you know, maybe you don't have that first person experience with, but like doing it through the use of a toy. Have you noticed at a curiosity any sort of changes with the dynamics between toys and kids now that there's like AI sort of toys out there? 00:19:01 Chris: There are so many different types of play experiences. What we were just talking about is more traditional doll or action figure or stuffed animal kind of play where a child is really doing that. Some of the other stuff with AI or licensed space like Star Wars, Marvel, all of that is beginning to understand yourself as a capable human being. 00:19:23 Chris: So for example, if I'm a superhero, I can feel. I can have the feeling of what it's like to be a superhero. And I always say, if your life is all about mom is in control, eat your peas, get in the minivan, do your homework, suddenly if you're a superhero, that's very empowering. And then empowering as an individual to be able to confront the world in a different way because you're empowered. So it's very classical, the kind of totemistic idea that we take on the powers of the superheroes. 00:19:59 Chris: And even though we're not gonna fly, we're not gonna lift, we're not gonna pick up a truck, we're not gonna do that, you have the emotional sense of capability, which is really what it's all about. 00:20:10 Melissa: That's interesting. I think, I mean, I don't know. Now that I think about my kids, for example, their toy experiences these days is really YouTube videos and playing video games and things like that. And I wonder if that's also along the same thread of what you just said, feeling the different capabilities like running fast or jumping high, things like that. 00:20:37 Chris: I think definitely. I mean, it's, you know, YouTube videos are like today's cartoons, right, on some level. You know, I grew up watching cartoons and, and it was- so they're looking at who are my role models and who are, you know, somebody's doing something. Oh, I'd like to try that. And, you know, or oh, wow, they tried that, I'm not gonna do that, but what would it be like if I did this kind of thing? 00:21:03 Chris: So I think that it's a window on the world and people are always concerned about screen time and I'm never concerned about screen time so much as I'm concerned about what's on the screen. So that is what's being modeled through the YouTube things, things that you as a mom or a parent want your child to be consuming because it can be very supportive or it can be kind of dangerous depending on what kids have access to. 00:21:30 Melissa: Yeah. And it's so interesting what you're sharing right now, because I mean, I had Saturday morning cartoons, for example, and I ate a lot of cereals with all the dyes and all these other things. And my kids literally tell me, they're like, oh, we want to have Saturday morning cartoons just like you. But of course, it is that YouTube thing. And I limit it to SpongeBob. Like, that's appropriate for their ages right now. 00:21:54 Melissa: But I think that's so interesting, this whole idea of rehearsal and visualization and imagination. I wonder because when it comes to toys and just the way that they've changed through the years, how did, for example, Tickle Me Elmo, how did that support people in terms of capabilities or anything? I'm curious. 00:22:22 Chris: Well, Tickle Me Elmo was kind of an outlier in that, you know, in terms of classical play. Tickle Me Elmo became a fad, right? And fads take on a life of their own. They kind of jump the shark or jump from the toy industry because Tickle Me Elmo started as an entertaining little preschool doll for preschoolers, infants and preschoolers. Suddenly it becomes this whole cultural phenomenon that everybody has to have. 00:22:50 Chris: It becomes, so it's a fad, so it becomes kind of a marker in time. So if you were around for Tickle Me Elmo, and you remember that, it's sort of a springboard to your memories of what the latter part of 1996 was about, because that's when Tickle Me Elmo was really huge. So that's not really kind of play in the way that I talk about it a lot. That becomes a cultural event. And my other joke about Tickle Me Elmo, Tickle Me Elmo was $40 really, basically, or more. You know, you can have a Tickle Me Elmo and be really cool for a lot less than you can have a Birkin bag. 00:23:26 Melissa: Wow, yeah, that's true. That is true. It's so funny, this conversation just takes me down the whole nostalgic route. Like I'm thinking about my Steve Urkel joke pull doll. Do you remember that one? 00:23:39 Chris: Yeah, yeah, of course. 00:23:41 Melissa: Yeah, so anyways, I'm totally like aging myself right now. I'm like, oh, I had Steve Urkel and I had Popples and all the like. What do you think, you know, nostalgia? Let's talk about that. Because I feel like a lot of marketers use that, you know, in order to kind of like pull forth a certain generation, let's say. And I even feel like at a supermarket, like I'm like, I think they know who their shoppers are with the music. But let's talk about nostalgia. 00:24:09 Melissa: Like, and again, thinking about more quote unquote modern toys, you know, like. And back to like these like electronics, like do you think that it'll be the same sort of calling card, I think is the right phrase? Like when someone starts saying, oh, like, let's say 10 years from now, you know, what's the name of the- Stumble Guys? Like, do you think that people will say like a certain like thing on video games and it'll have the same emotional pull as like Tickle Me Elmo, Popples, or Cabbage Patch? 00:24:41 Chris: It's hard to know. The thing about nostalgia is it's really for adults, right? Nostalgia is for people looking back. When you're three and four, you're not nostalgic for much. You're not remembering much. Maybe you remember your pull ups, right? When you had your pull ups. But you don't, you're not really nostalgic for something because you haven't been around that much. 00:25:03 Chris: The challenge from a toy marketing standpoint is relying on nostalgia to sell toys. Because I mean, yes, there's a certain level of you as a mom had My Little Pony or Littlest Pet Shop or any of those huge hits, Masters of the Universe. And you want to share those with your child. But for it to engage your child's imagination, there has to be something authentic to them. It's not just, mom liked this, so I'm going to like it too. That doesn't really work. 00:25:31 Chris: Look at Barbie and how Barbie's been redefined over the years, because Barbie always reflects the culture at any given time. So in 1959, she could be a fashion model or a bride, right? Pretty much, those are the Barbie options. Today, there are hundreds of careers and there's hundreds of abilities. And Barbie, the Barbie line looks like the world kids are growing up in, just as it did in 1959. It's just a more diverse and broader world with more possibility for girls and women today than it was in 1959. 00:26:08 Melissa: So when it comes to the toy industry, who's actually using their imagination to come up with like what to make for the future? Like, is it a combination of kids and adults? Is it like who's actually imagining like right now, like in the Mattels, et cetera, you know, what's coming down the line like 10 years from now? It's going to be hot and cool. And like, how do you how do you imagine something like that? 00:26:36 Chris: Well, it's hard. I mean, I think I think it's like, you know, my crystal ball usually needs a shot of Windex so I could get a clearer sense. But it's more an art than a science, that's for sure. And it's looking at trends. It's looking at how are kids playing, how are they interacting, how are they socializing, what is fun to them, and what's going on in the culture at large. Because the toy industry always reflects the culture. 00:27:03 Chris: We're always reflecting, because kids, you know, most healthy kids, they aspire to being big. They wanna grow up and they want the things like their parents have. So back in the, you know, in the early 2000s when cell phones came out, you saw tons of preschool cell phones, right? You don't see that so much anymore because the preschoolers have a real cellphone. 00:27:25 Chris: But you see things that will allow them to feel like they are part of the culture and they are growing up into it and that they are older and perhaps more capable than they really are because that's an important imaginative tool to help in the maturation process. 00:27:41 Melissa: That's fascinating. So that's true. It was definitely a lot of like, I don't know, mommy and me things. Like you see them with like a cash register or like a Target cart, right? The plastic little one, right? Cause their parent is shopping at Target. And so I wonder because it's like, there's some habits that as a parent, like maybe we wanna shake off ourselves, but we're inadvertently doing a lot. 00:28:06 Melissa: So like the cellphone one, I'm like, oh God, yeah, mommy has a cellphone and now her child does too. And it's like, how can I stop? And it's a reinforcement, but I'm wondering, okay, so in terms of the future and in terms of toys, have you ever done or seen any sort of things where the mom was playing with the child versus the child was playing by themselves? Like any differences there? 00:28:31 Melissa: Because I would love to just kind of inspire a listener right now to consider the fact that actually getting lost in play with their child can be even more beneficial than just having your child play with a toy to the side and you're doing something completely different. 00:28:52 Chris: I think that is critically important. One of the things that we're talking to parents of Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. And Gen Alpha was born 2010 to this year. And one of the things that parents talk about is some of the best part of their day is when they're playing with kids. And what I always suggest is that if you're playing with your kid, especially if they're a preschooler, let the child run the play and you respond. Don't tell them, oh, look at this, oh, do that. 00:29:24 Chris: And you don't have to teach, it doesn't have to teach them anything, right? It doesn't have to teach. Kids are going to learn. So really letting that child's imagination drive the experience because, you know, I think every parent has had the experience where your child comes up with something and you go where did that come from? 00:29:45 Melissa: 100%. All the time. 00:29:47 Chris: And it's because they're sponges and they're listening to their absorbing everything and then they're processing it to their childlike brains or their childish brains. So I think that letting the child do that, but being there and being in communication is really important. 00:30:02 Chris: When I was growing up and maybe when you were too, we had three different worlds. We had kid world where no adults came in and the kids were doing that. We had adult world where we weren't allowed, where the parents would do that. And then there was family world, which is dinner and vacations and being yelled at about your grades or whatever that was. 00:30:21 Chris: But those three worlds don't really seem to exist anymore. And parents and kids are much more integrated in one another's lives. I think that's an outcome of COVID. It's actually a very positive outcome from COVID. Because you as mom and dad, have fun with your kids. Come on. It's, again, back to the idea of process rather than outcome. They don't have to become an expert ball player. They don't have to become an expert thing at times. They can actually just learn and play and discover the world and share those discoveries with you. 00:30:51 Melissa: Yeah, I love that. And I think it's an opportunity for someone that has to think a lot in life and feels the stresses of life to kind of let go and just stop thinking and just going with what is. Be present. You know, be totally present. 00:31:12 Chris: Be totally present and just be open to what it is. It's trying not to, as I was saying, it doesn't have to have a definitive outcome. And the one thing I think we've lost track of, often in our culture right now, is the idea of embracing process. It's really okay to make mistakes. It's really okay to try something, as long as you get up and start again. 00:31:36 Chris: I mean, how many times have you, I was talking about, for me, I learned to ski late. And I'm a really mediocre skier. I'm enthusiastic, but I'm not good. And I had somebody who was teaching me and he said, Chris, eventually I was scared. Eventually you're gonna have to point your skis down the hill. So I did it, I fell a lot, I did that, but I was so eager to learn that I'd fall and get up again. 00:32:04 Chris: I had to learn how to get up, but that's the thing that I think is, you know, if you have an idea of where you'd like to go but embrace the process on the way there because who knows what you're going to learn and what you're going to discover. 00:32:16 Melissa: Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think that's the key to any goal. It's just you have to really fall in love with the process as you head towards the vision the goal, you know, whatever it is that you're trying to accomplish. And I also love the fact that, you know, as with play it's like there's something that's so pure about it, you know, when left on unmanipulated. 00:32:40 Melissa: It's like as a parent, we might have this desire to like educate our kids up to wazoo with regards to like every educational toy out there and every moment with we're with them, we're teaching them another language or coding or something. But I think, you know, just being open to a little bit, you know, unstructured play and that time with your child has so many benefits. And I think, you know, Chris, the work that you're doing just stay connected to like play as just being fun and okay and positive is is really helpful. Thank you so much for the work that you've done. 00:33:18 Chris: Thanks. I mean, I really do think that it as I mentioned, joy before it really does open the door to being joyful and going, oh, wow, that's fun, you know? I mean, when was the last time you said, oh, wow, that's really fun. 00:33:31 Melissa: 100%. Yeah, for sure. Thank you so much, Chris. So where can listeners continue to learn about their favorite toys, about you, about what's up ahead in the toy industry? 00:33:42 Chris: You can come see the toyguy.com. That's probably the best way. And then on Instagram, I'm thetoyguy. So, yeah. And I post a lot of pictures from things like toy fairs and different things and things that are fun for me and that make me giggle. 00:33:58 Melissa: Thank you so much, Chris. Have an awesome one. 00:34:01 Chris: Thank you. 00:34:03 Melissa: My three takeaways for this conversation that you can absolutely take to the bank and apply in your home are, first, this idea that playing with our kids has benefits for our kids, but also for us, especially if you're a super busy mom. It helps put you in the immediate present moment. So that's a big, big perk right there. 00:34:25 Melissa: Second is this idea that it's all about the process as opposed to the final answer. And that's something that I know is hard to think about when you're constantly thinking about what's next in your life. So thinking about play as something that you're doing and it's a process instead of to put together that Lego piece might be a great shift in your thinking and could relieve you of the stress and pressure of getting things right. 00:34:54 Melissa: Second, no, actually my third point here, my third point would be that in terms of the benefits of playing, I hadn't realized how psychologically deep some of these toys touch the minds of our kids. So the simple fact that we are thinking about, you know, working out relationships when you're doing a diorama, which may have been the case for me personally or maybe you're thinking about whether or not you have skills like a superhero, which was something that Chris shared, I just never thought about how psychologically interesting playing with a toy could be. 00:35:32 Melissa: So you might want to reconsider this idea that playing with a toy is just a way to distract your child or keep them focused on something other than breaking things. There could be real psychological value and also something for you to just consider psychological opportunity when it comes to the choices behind the toys we put in front of our kids. 00:36:00 Melissa: So I hope you enjoyed this conversation. Again, this episode was brought to you by my book, Fertile Imagination. I am excited about it. It's a guide for stretching every mom's superpower for maximum impact. Your imagination is your superpower. That is why I had Chris on the show today. I encourage you to check out the show notes where you could actually purchase the book and let me know that you did. I am always available for conversation and any questions. Thank you so much and I appreciate you. And until next Tuesday.
Pauline is joined by two experts in experiential design: Ann Morrow Johnson, former Head of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Emilie Baltz, an award-winning artist and digitial design leader, both from the world's largest design firm, Gensler.Together, they discuss how human senses and emotions are impacted by space design and how businesses can leverage their own spaces to create immersive customer experiences and convey rich and memorable stories.
In this episode, we are joined by a special guest from Atomic Mass Games, Will Shick, Vice President of Creative Development and Strategy, for an in-depth conversation about Marvel Crisis Protocol. We learn Will's tabletop story, and the steps in his gaming journey that lead to AMG. Next, we explore Marvel Crisis Protocol's game's design process, delve into the philosophy behind the War of Kings crisis pack, and the future plans and cycles of crisis packs. We also cover Organized Play in 2025, potential future releases, game balance, and AMG's long term plans and goals for Marvel Crisis Protocol. Lastly, we cover lore and comics throughout, and learn Will's favorite aspects and stories of the Marvel Universe. Fury's Finest is a podcast and resource devoted to the discussion of the tabletop game Marvel Crisis Protocol. ___________________________________ Fury's Finest is supported by our wonderful patrons on Patreon. If you would like to help the show go to patreon.com/furysfinest and pledge your support. Fury's Finest Patrons directly support the show and its growth by helping pay our monthly and annual fees, while contributing to future projects and endeavors. Fury's Finest is sponsored by MR Laser: https://mr-laser.square.site/ Check out our Fury's Finest apparel and merchandise on TeePublic. ___________________________________ Twitch I twitch.tv/furysfinest Twitter I @FurysFinestCast Instagram I @FurysFinest Facebook I Fury's Finest YouTube I Fury's Finest Apple Podcasts l Spotify l Google Podcasts ___________________________________ Thanks to Approaching Nirvana for our music. Help spread the word of our show. Subscribe, rate, and review! Send feedback, Marvel thoughts, and show inquires to FurysFinest@gmail.com Fury's Finest is hosted by Jesse Eakin and Chris Bruffett.
In this episode, we are joined by special guests from Atomic Mass Games, Will Shick, Vice President of Creative Development and Strategy, and Michael Plummer, Game Development Manager, for an in-depth conversation about STAR WARS Shatterpoint. We explore the game's design process, delve into the philosophy behind its mechanics, and discuss the team's vision for future growth. We also cover Organized Play, potential future releases, game balance, and AMG's long term plans for Shatterpoint. It's an insightful discussion that offers a promising look at the game's future. ___________________________________ Hello There! is supported by our wonderful patrons on Patreon. If you would like to help the show, and join our discord community, go to patreon.com/hellotherecast and pledge your support. Hello There! Patrons directly support the show and its growth by helping pay our monthly and annual fees, while contributing to future projects and endeavors. ___________________________________ Twitch I HelloThereCast Twitter I @HelloThereCast Instagram I @HelloThereCast Facebook I HelloThereCast YouTube I HelloThereCast Apple Podcasts l Spotify l Google Podcasts __________________________________ Hello There! is hosted by Jesse Eakin and Aman Khusro.
In episode #279, we're joined by Craig Custance, who is the Head of Creative Development at The Athletic. Custance recently released his second book, The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams, which features in-depth interviews with some of the top team builders in hockey, including Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, and many more. The book showcases the unique path each of these individuals has taken to land in their current roles, the challenges they've faced in their careers and the decisions that have led them and their teams to the pinnacle of the sport. Custance got his start in hockey by covering the Atlanta Thrashers for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and joined ESPN in 2011 as a National Hockey writer. In 2017, he joined The Athletic and has played a pivotal role in growing the company into a global sports brand that today serves over 11 million subscribers. Listen as he shares key lessons learned from hockey's top builders, the traits that all great leaders have in common, and future GM's to watch out for.
In this episode of Creative Lift: "Creating Space: Finding Flow," we're revisiting the ideas offered in season eight. Join me to reflect on our journey through the Illuminary's five rooms - the Studio, Workshop, Attic, Library, and Garden Cafe, in Creative Lift episodes 60-70. Each of these Illuminary rooms offer unique tools and mindsets to support different aspects of your creative process. In this episode, we explore: How each room in the Illuminary serves a specific creative purpose Real-world examples of using these spaces to overcome creative blocks Ways to reframe creative challenges into opportunities for growth Practical strategies for maintaining creative momentum Featured Tool: The Why Game - A practical tool for understanding the root cause of creative blocks. Check out that tool at this link: https://naomi300.typeform.com/to/PJ43egu9 Key Takeaways: Different types of creative blocks require different solutions The importance of identifying the underlying cause of creative resistance How to transform "work" into play to maintain creative flow The value of reframing our creative narratives Credits: Recorded and edited by Alex Doherty Episode Links: Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review Creative Lift on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform. Your support helps others discover these tools for their creative journey.
On this nourishing episode of Wellspringwords: The Podcast, Nkem speaks with two writers and members of the Wellspringwords community, Courtney Ng and Brittany Frizzelle. The trio touches on writing as a tool vs writing as art, writing in solitude and in/with/for community, voice reclamation through writing, and so much more. This episode is truly rich with authenticity, creative wisdom, and insights aplenty for any writer or artist on an intentional creative journey. We hope you'll enjoy it and share it with another creator who would benefit! Let us know what this episode brought to mind or heart for you in a podcast review, on Instagram, or via email at bewell@wellspringwords.love. Be well!Interested in diving into your own internal journey of self-discovery? Through writing? Learn more about our Intuitive Writing for Self-Discovery self-paced course, available for you anytime, anywhere. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off the course.------------The writing prompts mentioned at the end of the episode:I feel most myself when...This beautiful challenge…Write a poem with the lines: “I feel most myself when…” & “This beautiful challenge…” with “This beautiful challenge” being near the end of the poem.Find Courtney here:https://courtneyng.substack.com/@seresdesancristobalCourtney's writing for Wellspringwords' former Digital AnthologyFind Brittany here:@Un2rewBpatreon.com/Un2RewBBrittany's writing for Wellspringwords' former Digital AnthologyFind Wellspringwords here:www.wellspringwords.love/@wellspringwordsWellspringwords newsletter ------------Find Nkem here:www.bynkem.co/@naturallyfree123 | @bynkemNkem's personal newsletterPoetry and the immediate: A collection of sensed spaces ------------Don't forget to rate, review, share, and subscribe! Want to show more love? Leave us a tip to support this growing platform. :)
This week Topher and Jeff talk with Craig Custance, Head of Creative Development for The Athletic and author of The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams. We discuss some of the top general managers of the NHL and their processes to create winning teams and cultures. In this episode we talk about: — Craig's new book about the top NHL general managers — The difference between keeping your job and doing your job — That sometimes doing nothing is a bigger move AND SO MUCH MORE! Check out Craig Custance's book: The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams Thank you to our title sponsor IceHockeySystems.com, as well as Train-Heroic, CuredNutrition, Helios Hockey, and Crossbar! And thank you to our AMAZING LISTENERS; We appreciate every listen, download, comment, rating and share on your social sites! If you'd like to join our Hockey Think Tank Community, head over to Community.TheHockeyThinkTank.com and check it out! Follow us: IG: @HockeyThinkTank X (Twitter): @HockeyThinkTank TikTok: @HockeyThinkTank Facebook: TheHockeyThinkTank
Lora Sauls is the Assistant Director of Creative Development and Show Direction for Art and Design, Entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort, and joins the show to discuss the creation of Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. This year, HHN Orlando returns with 10 Terrifying Haunted Houses inspired by famous horror franchises — like A Quiet Place, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Insidious — as well as original concept houses: Universal Monsters: Bloodlines, Monstruous: Monsters of Latin America. Slaugher Sinema 2. Museum of Deadly Exhibits, Goblin's Feast. Triplets of Terror and Major Sweets Candy Factory. _______________________________________________________________ Talking Strange Paranormal Show with Aaron Sagers is a weekly paranormal pop culture podcast featuring celebrity and author interviews, as well as learned experts in all things strange and unexplained. Sagers is a paranormal journalist and researcher who appears as host of 28 Days Haunted on Netflix, and on Paranormal Caught On Camera on Travel Channel/Discovery+, and Talking Strange is part of the Den of Geek Network. If you like Talking Strange, please subscribe, leave a nice review, and share with your friends. The Talking Strange Paranormal Show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you check out spooky content. For more paranormal pop culture, head to Den of Geek, and follow @TalkStrangePod on Twitter. Email us with episode ideas, and guest suggestions, or for a chance to have your letter read on a future episode: TalkingStrange@DenOfGeek.com Follow Host Aaron Sagers: Twitter.com/aaronsagers Instagram.com/aaronsagers Facebook.com/AaronSagersPage tiktok.com/@aaronsagers Patreon.com/aaronsagers (For Q&As, livestreams, cocktail classes, and movie watches) Until Next Time: Be Kind. Stay Spooky. Keep It Weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on the Girls That Create podcast, Erin welcomes Allyson Rice, part-owner of the female-owned production company Atomic Focus Entertainment and one of the lead producers on the new documentary Banned Together. The film pulls back the curtain on two of the most controversial issues in America today: book bans and curriculum censorship in public schools. Before Atomic Focus, Rice was the Assoc. Director of Creative Development and a Producer for the STAGE Network (streaming), where she helped develop both scripted and unscripted content. She also wrote, produced, directed, and performed in the award-winning independent rap music video Fine, I'll Write My Own Damn Song. For more information about Banned Together, visit bannedtogetherdoc.com. For resources about fighting book bans, visit uniteagainstbookbans.org. About Girls That Create Host Erin Prather Stafford launched Girls That Create in 2019. The site supports the parents and caregivers of creative girls while encouraging greater female representation across the arts. To support the parents and caregivers of creative girls while encouraging greater female representation across the arts, go to girlsthatcreate.com and follow and connect on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. Please support UnsilencedVoices.org. WordofMomRadio.com - sharing the wisdom of women, in business and in life.
Joe Sabia is a filmmaker, digital creator, and celebrity interviewer. He began his career in media working across various platforms including television, film, and music videos. In his six years as Senior Vice President of Creative Development at Condé Nast Entertainment, he became a renowned multimedia storyteller, best known for the creations of Vogue's 73 Questions, Vanity Fair's One Year Later series with Billie Eilish, and Wired's Autocomplete Interviews. This past year, Sabia directed his debut feature film “Federer: Twelve Final Days” for Amazon Studios, which recounts Roger Federer's journey to retirement from tennis. As the operator of Studio Sabia, a full-service production company, he continues to help media companies create memorable content across digital and cinematic landscapes. ------ Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team: Squarespace https://squarespace.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Lucy https://lucy.co/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ LMNT Electrolytes https://drinklmnt.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ House of Macadamias https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA'
Bryan Smiley is President & Chief Content Officer of Hartbeat, the global multi-platform media company founded by Kevin Hart. Named to Variety's 2022 “New Leaders” and Hollywood Reporter's 2018 ”Next Gen” and “Rising Executives 35 under 35” lists, Smiley oversees Hartbeat production, financing, and development, including the company's 70+ projects in development and more than 20 projects released in 2022 across top tier partners including Netflix, Peacock, SiriusXM, Netflix, Audible and more. In 2021, Smiley negotiated a first look deal with Netflix to produce feature films for the streamer, a strategic move that would allow Hartbeat to continue creating content during a global pandemic. Smiley was also instrumental in getting Fatherhood released on Netflix, which was watched by more than 91 million accounts globally, making it one of the most successful original dramatic movies on Netflix. Since then, Smiley oversaw and produced Me Time and True Story, which went to #1 on the Netflix charts, and produced the upcoming 2024 film Lift. In this episode, we talk about: • Working as an assistant story editor out of college and how networking helped him get to New Regency • How his early assistant roles taught him about the business and how he identified where the company needed help and resources • His work as Vice President of Creative Development & Production at Columbia Pictures, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company • How the range of his individual companies that he co-founded (list them) help him in his role today • Why he's never had a fear of failure and the reality of starting a business • How he transitioned to development with an executive position at a studio • Some of his favorite deals at SONY with Steph Curry a multi-picture deal with Issa Rae • A breakdown of the divisions at Hartbeat and his rise to President and CCO • Their hands-on, full-service approach to projects including their show “Olympic Highlights with Kevin Hart & Kenan Thompson” on Peacock • His 4 picture guarantee and first look deal with Netflix and his thoughts on the importance of a first look deal in the current marketplace • How they decide what project to take on and develop? • Some pivotal moments and decisions that impacted his career Guest: Linkedin Hartbeat website IMDb Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out ecoming... VP at Disney Television Animation of Current Series & Diversity Jay Francis --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle-miller4/support
One of the highlights at ESTO is the GoUSA TV Storytelling Awards, recognizing best-in-class storytelling from DMOs across the USA. Hear tips on how to create entertainment-first travel shows from Stuart Butler, Chief Marketing Officer at Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB; Mandy Barton, Manager of Marketing & Special Projects at New Orleans & Company; Sharon Broussard, Advertising and Campaigns Manager at Explore Louisiana; and Jordan Wollman, Vice President of Miles Partnership and Head of Creative & Development at Odyssey Studios.
How Hollywood studios work and operate can be mystifying, especially for emerging filmmakers. Luckily, Dolby Institute Fellowship winner Carlos Lopez Estrada returns for another of his excellent Satellite Sessions (this one from December), featuring executives from some of the biggest studios in the entertainment industry, all to help de-mystify how they, and the studios, find, develop, and produce their projects. Joining the discussion are:- Vanessa Morrison, President of Streaming, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production- Mika Pryce, Senior Vice President of Production, Paramount Pictures- Sheila Walcott, Senior Vice President of Creative Development, Warner Bros. Entertainment- Ryan Jones, Senior Vice President, Production Development, Universal Pictures- Tara Duncan, President, Onyx CollectiveThis is another installment of our ongoing “Satellite Sessions” series, which we're bringing to you in partnership with Antigravity Academy and the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment. Follow @antigravityacademy and @capeusa for more information on even more upcoming panels.Antigravity AcademyCAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment)For more inspiring Satellite Sessions just like this one, be sure you are subscribed to Dolby Creator Talks wherever you get your podcasts.You can also check out the video for this episode.Learn more about the Dolby Institute and check out Dolby.com. Connect with Dolby on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
On this episode of Wellspringwords: The Podcast, Nkem has a dynamic conversation with Wellspringwords Writing Fellow, Price Maccarthy, on the value of remaining a beginner at any stage of the writing journey. They speak about receiving mentorship as a writer, retaining one's authenticity, shifting genres, and much more. If you're cultivating a writing practice to connect more deeply with your authentic self, we hope this episode will bring you insight and support your journey. Enjoy!Thank you for being here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your single 1-1 coaching session. Let's extract the wisdom and magic of your creative expression together.Let us know what this episode brought to mind or heart for you in a podcast review, on Instagram, or via email at bewell@wellspringwords.love. Be well!------------Find Price here:@akuacooperConnect with Price on LinkedInPrice's writing for Wellspringwords pre-2024 Price's poetry for the 2024 Literary AnthologyFind Wellspringwords here: www.wellspringwords.love/@wellspringwordsCreating Your Collection: A 4-week Generative Poetry Course ------------Find Nkem here: www.bynkem.co/@naturallyfree123Poetry and the immediate: A collection of sensed spaces ------------Don't forget to rate, review, share and subscribe! Want to show more love? Leave us a tip to support this growing platform. :)
Richie is a former teacher who understand the value art has on a child's development. He also makes stuff! 2&3-D Art, writing, & uncluttered laughter! He is well traveled a former University Professor, Fulbright Scholar, Salon Prizes, and numerous teaching Awards.
Welcome to True Fiction, where we dive deep into the creative minds shaping our world. Today, we're thrilled to have Jason Corbin, the Director of Creative Development at the renowned ad agency BIG, as our guest. Jason has spearheaded some of the most innovative and impactful campaigns in recent years, pushing the boundaries of creativity in advertising. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, he's a true visionary in the industry. Join us as we explore Jason's journey, insights, and the magic behind his creative genius. Credits: Host: Patrick Boggs truefictioncast@gmail.com Cohost: Norbert Yates truefictioncast@gmail.com Engineer/Cohost/: Marshall truefictioncast@gmail.com Amazing Voice in the show bumpers: Bobbie Ashley Bobbie's Amazing first album https://rb.gy/hfpluu Bobbie's second album (released on September 18th, 2023. https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0CFSBCC8J Bobbie's Books https://rb.gy/bjziju Intro and exit music artist: Jon Dacosta Song title: Funky Intro Spotify Link to a couple of Jon's projects: Cuba: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2SWNpmjhVyCCcHGb3ZUl0b?si=xuqPreLCSGakMyKeFbRDBQ Highland Reunion https://open.spotify.com/artist/2FkBd7GBKSINGFXediVPDy?si=NnPRxEXRRy-9PU5w_B1e0g
In this episode we are joined by William Whitecloud, the Founder and Chairman of the Natural Success Academy, a Creative Development trainer and Bestselling author of 3 books - The Magician's Way, The Last Shaman and Secrets Of Natural Success. William was born in a small African country called eSwatini, where he grew up on a sugar and citrus estate. His upbringing was also immersed in the supernatural worldview of the tribes people around him and their magic. Grab a cuppa and join us as we explore: ▶︎ Early years and parental guidance - go to Europe and become a garbageman! ▶︎ Unlocking your Genius and Creative potential ▶︎ The importance of tension & conflict ▶︎ Why intention rules the Universe ▶︎ Magic, synchronicity and destiny ▶︎ Lifechanging moment with a d**khead on a park bench #spiritualaf #podcast #williamwhitecloud #unlockyourgenius #creativepotential #creativeenergy #creativegenius #creativespirit #creativedevelopment #lifechanging #meaningoflife #limitingbeliefs #themagiciansway #thelastshaman #secretsofnaturalsuccess #synchronicities #powerofmagic #raiseyourvibration #spiritualmentor #spiritualgrowth #spiritualjourney #LimitlessPotential #subconsciousmind #SpiritualAwakening #SelfDiscovery #TransformativeThoughts #ConsciousCreation #synchronicity ======== CONNECT WITH WILLIAM WHITECLOUD: ▶︎ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/williamwhitecloud/ ▶︎ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/willwhitecloud ▶︎ Website → https://naturalsuccessacademy.com/ ▶︎ Books → https://naturalsuccessacademy.com/books/ ======== CONNECT WITH US: Did you know that we are building a movement of 1 million people who are Spiritual AF! We would love for you to join us, you can start by leaving us a review on Apple podcast. Each month we will intuitively choose one person for a psychic reading with Liz. We love hearing stories from others so please tell us about your awakening experiences or share any of your personal Spiritual As F**k! stories via DM to our Instagram page ▶︎ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/spiritual.a.f/ ▶︎ Linktree → https://linktr.ee/spiritualasfuck ▶︎ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualAFpodcast ▶︎ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@spiritualafpodcast ▶︎ Website → https://spiritualaf.co/ ▶︎ Email → info@spiritualaf.co CONNECT WITH LIZ: ▶︎ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/intuitive.liz/ ▶︎ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/theintuitionacademy_/ ▶︎ Linktree → https://linktr.ee/IntuitiveLiz ▶︎ Website → www.theintuitionacademy.com.au ▶︎ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/theintuitionacademyglobal CONNECT WITH DIANNE: ▶︎ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/diannedriscoll_/ ▶︎ Linktree → https://linktr.ee/diannedriscoll ▶︎ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/diannedriscoll.coach ▶︎ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@diannedriscoll ▶︎ Linkedin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannedriscoll/ ▶︎ Website → https://diannedriscoll.com/ ======== Spiritual As F**k! Fortnightly Podcast with Liz Volpe & Dianne Driscoll =========================================Connect with us: https://www.instagram.com/spiritual.a.f/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Want to grow your real estate investing business and portfolio? You're in the right place. Welcome to the Property Profits Real Estate Podcast
On this episode of Wellspringwords: The Podcast, Nkem sits with old friend, artist, and art curator Somi Nwandu to share a conversation on mental wellness, creative wellness, and spiritual nourishment. The topic of mental wellness is still associated with shame and stigma, despite how mainstream it seems to be. Nkem and Somi candidly and with compassion share their experiences, journeys, and hopes for personal and community exploration around the subject. Some of the themes they discuss are: navigating shame, guilt, and comparison in the creative wellness journey; living between worlds as an artist and the importance of cultivated Light; creating a network of Life in community, and so much more. Tune in and enjoy! Be sure to share this episode with loved ones and friends. Any insight into mental health issues is valuable to our collective human experience.Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your single 1-1 coaching session. Let's extract the wisdom and magic of your creative expression together.Let us know what this episode brought to mind or heart for you in a podcast review, on Instagram, or via email at bewell@wellspringwords.love. Be well!View this episode's complete shownotes on our website here: www.wellspringwords.love/podcast------------Find Somi here:@sominwanduSeason 2 episode with Somi: Art as Your Interpretation of Life + Living in Fulfillment with Somi Find Wellspringwords here: www.wellspringwords.love/ @wellspringwords ------------Find Nkem here: www.bynkem.co/ @naturallyfree123 ------------Don't forget to rate, review, share and subscribe! Want to show more love? Leave us a tip to support this growing platform. :)
In today's episode of Creative Lift, Creating Space: Designing with Collaboration in Mind , we're considering the importance of collaboration in the creative process. How might we outfit physical spaces and design our mindset to make the most of the varied perspectives and possibilities that arise when we work creatively with others? What approach might we take to sharing our ideas, inviting feedback, and then processing that feedback in a way that furthers our creative work's goal? How might we offer feedback to others in constructive and concrete ways that boost their momentum (rather than taking the wind out of their sails)? While some parts of the creative process may be served best by working on our own, collaboration is also an essential part of shaping and sharing creative work that expresses your unique voice. Let's lean into some tools and strategies that add energy, flow, and joy to working together. Episode Links: Sign up for Creative Lift tools and resources Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty
“If I'm not scared, I don't know that I want to be doing it.” Amanda Dunks loves living outside her comfort zone. As Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Creative Development at Caesars Entertainment, she's been making waves in the gaming world for over 12 years. In her conversation with Ryan, Amanda shares her insights from navigating mergers, emphasizing the value of learning through trial by fire and the abandonment of the pursuit of perfection. She discusses her approach to hiring, prioritizing potential over credentials, and the delicate balance between agency-like creativity and corporate structure. Amanda also explores the intersection of brand strategy and creative development, highlighting the importance of visionary leadership and practical implementation. Don't miss Amanda's advice to embrace fear as a sign of growth and her encouragement for authenticity in business, reminding listeners to pursue what they love.
In today's episode of Creative Lift, Creating Space: Learning in the Library, we're building on last week's exploration of an expansive library space, dedicated to learning, which houses artistic masterpieces of all kinds. Today, we'll step into that space and learn a reverse-engineering strategy. This strategy will make it possible for you to apprentice with any creative hero in an approachable way. First, spend intentional time studying their work, figure out what makes it so impactful, and then personalize those strategies so that you can use them in your own way, in service of your own creative work. Roll up your sleeves and try out this powerfully simple strategy that will multiply your creative skills exponentially. Episode Links: Sign up for Creative Lift tools and resources Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty
Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup In this Bonus DTC Podcast episode, Evan Lee, a creative strategy expert from Motion, outlinjes his approach to systemizing creative strategy, to reliably improve the performance of your ads. For the Full Presention: Watch on YouTube Motion is the platform that ties together data and creativity to help you find more winning ads you can scale! He emphasizes the need for a systematic process to find more winners and drive brands forward. The key steps include research and building avatars, ideation and prioritization, the briefing process, content creation and launch, creative analysis and retrospectives, exploring new opportunities, and the creative sprint process. Evan also highlights the role of AI tools and the importance of collaboration between media buyers, creative strategists, and creative team members. Takeaways Creative strategy is crucial for the success of advertising campaigns. A systematic process, including research, ideation, and analysis, helps find more winners. Building avatars and understanding pain points are essential for effective creative strategy. Collaboration between media buyers, creative strategists, and creative team members is key to success. Book a demo of Motion Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - The Interplay of Creativity and Data in Advertising Success 04:30 - Breaking Down the Creative Strategy Process: Research to Ideation 07:00 - Implementing and Testing Creative Hypotheses for Campaign Scaling 09:30 - The Role of AI in Creative Development and Efficiency 12:00 - Future Trends in Creative Advertising and Strategy Roles Hashtags: #CreativeStrategy #AdvertisingSuccess #MediaBuying #DigitalMarketing #CreativeProcess #AIinAdvertising #DTCMarketing #BrandGrowth #MarketingInsights #MotionApp Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signup Advertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertise Work with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouse Follow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter Watch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video
Brooke and Tyler invite Jennifer Neal, Creative Development at Dragonsteel, to join the podcast and discuss all the connections between Tress of the Emerald Sea and Stormlight Archive. In an effort to prepare ourselves for SA5 we'll be doing a look back at the Cosmere Secret Projects from 2023. #AllSpoilers Support this podcast by becoming a Patron on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/CosmereConversations) Original music by David Gruwier (https://twitter.com/DGruwier). "Radiant" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5CFAZUv4C0) by David Gruwier.
The Lodge at Marconi has one of the most colorful stories I've come across recently. Its developer and operator, Oliver Hospitality, invited me to check it out recently (you can follow along on the Hospitality Daily YouTube channel today). In this episode, you'll hear from Ethan Orley, the Managing Partner of Oliver Hospitality, about how this property came to be - with lessons for you on everything from concept development to the design to the guest experience. What did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands
SYNOPSIS: This is an addendum to the episode "Walking Somatic Empathy with Joseph Culp" on The Brilliant Body Podcast. We recommend you watch or listen to the full episode for a better understanding of Walking-In-Your-Shoes – what it is, why it works, why we do it. Here's a great example of Joseph Culp following his body's brilliance to offer Ali helpful insight to her new venture. This demonstration offers a clear visual representation of how it unfolds and, in this case, how it benefited Ali, and hopefully you, our Brilliant Body listeners... Joseph demonstrates his Walking-In-Your-Shoes somatic practice through two Walks. The first Walk embodies how Ali can best serve her audience with the podcast, while the second Walk puts Joseph in the shoes of the podcast's audience, helping Ali understand their feelings and needs. Watch Full Episode Here: Listen To Full Episode Here: To subscribe now, click hereTo be an angel to the podcast, click here To read more about the podcast, click here FOR MORE ALI MEZEY:Ali - Website:Personal Geometry® and the Magic of Mat Work Course information:Transgenerational Healing Films:FOR MORE JOSEPH CULP:Joseph - WebsiteWIYS Somatic Empathy - Workshops | Training | EventsIMDB Actor's CVBIO: Joseph Culp is an actor, director and filmmaker, working in theater, film and television for over 40 years. He is known to many audiences for playing Don Draper's father in the hit series Mad Men, and as the first Doctor Doom in Marvel's The Fantastic Four. In addition to producing several independent films, he notably wrote, directed, and co-starred in Welcome to the Men's Group, a comedy/drama about a men's support group, available on Amazon Prime.In addition to his work as a performing artist, Joseph has been involved for many years in the world of self-psychology and personal development. Joseph co-founded the Walking-In-Your-Shoes® body/mind process with psychologist John F. Cogswell, Ph.D during the late 1980s. The method known as “Walking” combines somatic empathy with movement, mindfulness, and the facilitated inquiry processing of the bodymind. Joseph formed the Los Angeles-based Walking Theatre Group in 1992 to explore the use of the WIYS method in dramatic arts. Together with Dr. Cogswell, he continued to develop WIYS for use in psychotherapy, coaching, trauma recovery, creative and performing arts, business and community for the next 20 years. Joseph has introduced hundreds of people to WIYS, in both performing and the healing arts, and trained many therapists and facilitators who have made Walking-In-Your-Shoes® part of their practice and life work. He founded the WIYS Institute of America and regularly gives workshops, seminars, and trainings in both the U.S. and Europe.
CONTENT HEADS UP: This episode may inspire you to give the practice of “Walking-In-Your-Shoes” a go on your own. We waive all responsibility for any ensuing mishaps of cramped spaces, being near stairs or inspired bouts of wild and/or naked abandon. On a more serious note, we do discuss heavy subjects like trauma, armoring, drowning, rape and PTSD. But predominantly, we delve into the healing power and intelligence of the body invited into highly conscious motion and given free-reign and guidance to express all that it knows.Also, Walking-In-Your-Shoes can be done just as effectively from a wheelchair or with the capacities of any perambulatory disability. You just have to be a body with the desire to follow how it's guiding you to feel, see and know.This episode presents a departure from our previous episodes. As in some of our upcoming episodes, we focus here on a specific practice and its transformative techniques aimed at unlocking conscious awareness of the body's intelligence. While past episodes delved into the philosophical underpinnings of embodiment, this installment offers practical guidance on tangible methods to access your inner knowledge as an opportunity for revelation and growth.SYNOPSIS:Ali discusses a movement-based mindfulness practice called “The Walking-In-Your-Shoes” (WIYS) mind-body process with one of its co-founders, actor and director, Joseph Culp. WIYS is a process that allows the practitioner, in partnership with a facilitator, to address questions or needs through an intuitive questioning of the body-mind through movement. The applications of the questioning process are quite broad and can be applied to everything from healing trauma and managing addiction, to business development or a more organic method of acting. This is another means of “knowing” through your body. Ali and Joseph discuss the overlap between WIYS and Family Constellation Work and how both practices allow others to help take on and process trauma or healing on the behalf of another person. EXPLORATION POINTS:- Joseph & Ali discuss the intersections between the Walking-In-Your-Shoes (WIYS) body-mind process and Family Constellation Work. The episode explores how both practices facilitate the process of addressing questions or needs through intuitive questioning of and attention to the body-mind through movement.- The episode highlights Joseph Culp's personal growth as an actor through his involvement in WIYS. Culp discusses how this movement-based mindfulness practice has contributed to his development as an artist, providing insights into the transformative power of the practice.- Joseph Culp and Ali discuss the concept of "Walking for Others". The exploration involves understanding how facilitators can embody and navigate the experiences of others through movement, emphasizing the empathetic and therapeutic aspects of Walking in someone else's shoes.- Joseph and Ali explore the therapeutic potential of WIYS for individuals grappling with severe trauma or PTSD. Discussing how the intuitive questioning of the body-mind through movement, coupled with the empathetic support of a facilitator and sometimes a group, offers a unique avenue for addressing and healing deep-seated traumas. - Joseph offers insights into how Wilhelm Reich's ideas have shaped WIYS, contributing to its foundation, while also exploring how Alexander Lowen's contributions informed the practice of following the body towards liberation. This exploration provides a comprehensive understanding of the historical and theoretical roots that form the intellectual, and practical, lineage of WIYS.To subscribe now, click hereTo be an angel to the podcast, click here To read more about the podcast, click here FOR MORE ALI MEZEY:Ali - Website:Personal Geometry® and the Magic of Mat Work Course information:Transgenerational Healing Films:FOR MORE JOSEPH CULP:BIO: Joseph Culp is an actor, director and filmmaker, working in theater, film and television for over 40 years. He is known to many audiences for playing Don Draper's father in the hit series Mad Men, and as the first Doctor Doom in Marvel's The Fantastic Four. In addition to producing several independent films, he notably wrote, directed, and co-starred in Welcome to the Men's Group, a comedy/drama about a men's support group, available on Amazon Prime.In addition to his work as a performing artist, Joseph has been involved for many years in the world of self-psychology and personal development. Joseph co-founded the Walking-In-Your-Shoes® body/mind process with psychologist John F. Cogswell, Ph.D during the late 1980s. The method known as “Walking” combines somatic empathy with movement, mindfulness, and the facilitated inquiry processing of the bodymind. Joseph formed the Los Angeles-based Walking Theatre Group in 1992 to explore the use of the WIYS method in dramatic arts. Together with Dr. Cogswell, he continued to develop WIYS for use in psychotherapy, coaching, trauma recovery, creative and performing arts, business and community for the next 20 years. Joseph has introduced hundreds of people to WIYS, in both performing and the healing arts, and trained many therapists and facilitators who have made Walking-In-Your-Shoes® part of their practice and life work. He founded the WIYS Institute of America and regularly gives workshops, seminars, and trainings in both the U.S. and Europe.WIYS COMMUNITY MONTHLY MEETING (Free community sessions with Joseph Culp) WIYS ONLINE CERTIFICATION TRAININGWIYS MESSAGE FROM JOSEPH CULPWIYS SOMATIC EMPATHY PROCESSIMDB Actor's CVMEDIA: Joseph's film, “We...
THE LION KING Music & Lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice | Additional Music & Lyrics by Lebo M., Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, & Hans Zimmer | Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi | Adapted from the Screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, & Linda WoolvertonWorks Consulted & Reference :The Lion King (Original Production Directed by Julie Taymor)The Lion King (Original Film Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff)The Lion King: Pride Rock on Broadway by Julie TaymorThe Lion King - The Full Film Script by Bill Scollon & Marbara MontiniDisney Theatrical Productions: Producing Broadway Musicals the Disney Way by Amy S. OsatinskiThe Disney Musical on Stage and Screen: Critical Approaches from 'Snow White' to 'Frozen' Edited by George RodosthenousThe Lion King: A 'Blockbuster Feline' on Broadway and Beyond by Barbara Wallace GrossmanMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"The Speed Test" from Thoroughly Modern Millie (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan | Performed by Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan & Ensemble"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording (Original Cast Recording / Deluxe) | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr. | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Performed by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Judith Moore, Cris Groenendaal, Charles Kimbrough, William Parry, Nancy Opel, Robert Westenberg, Dana Ivey, Kurt Knudson, Barbara Bryne"What's Inside" from Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Performed by Jessie Mueller & Ensemble"They Live in You" from The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lebo M., Mark Mancina, & Jay Rifkin | Performed by Samuel E. Wright & Ensemble - The Lion King"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Matthew James Thomas“What Comes Next?” from Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Jonathan Groff
We are honored to count Adam Federico as one of the first Hairbrained Community members, as well as a longtime friend and fellow #crafthairdresser. In this episode, we trace Adam's and his family's deep roots in professional beauty education, going all the way back to his grandfather. And for Adam, what started with playing with student kits in his garage developed into fulfilling a passion for hairdressing, not to mention becoming a salon owner and world-class educator. We talk about what inspired him to invest in bringing overseas talent to the U.S., as well as offering classes with brands like Z Gat, Dove Palmer and more, many for the first time in the states. His love for education continued to blossom when, after selling his salon following the pandemic, he began working with R+Co and created the brand's educational identity while developing courses for both the updated Miami studio and salons around the world.
Lucy Cheng, Senior Brand Manager, Hendrick's Gin at William Grant & Sons, Joins Amanda Ma, CEO and Founder of Innovate Marketing Group, to discuss everything from branding, creative development, to experiential marketing. Listen Now on EventUp! Lucy Cheng is a marketing leader and general manager who leads brands end-to-end, from Strategy to Creative Development & Comms to PR & Experiential to Innovation and to Retail. She has worked on everything from completely new-to-the-world brands to well-established icons, primarily in the CPG and Beverage space. She's led brands like Clearasil, K-Y, Durex, Coors Light, Seagram's, Beefeater Gin and most recently Hendrick's Gin. During her time on Hendrick's, she helped the brand reach the half-a-million case milestone and earn many industry awards like the “Impact Blue Chip Award” and the “Impact Hot Brand award”.
J. Erving III is the CEO and co-founder of Human Re Sources, a music distribution and artist services company. J's company was acquired by Sony Music's The Orchard in 2020 for a multi-million deal. Human Re Sources and the team have helped artists like RAYE, Brent Faiyaz, Pink Sweat$, Baby Rose, Bren Joy, Damian Lillard, and more.Now that Sony Music owns Human Re Sources, J's role has shifted. He serves as the EVP of Creative Development at Sony Music and reports to the CEO, Rob Stringer. In this episode, J and Lennon discuss the success behind RAYE's "Escapism," how culture fuels Human Re Sources, and how labels have helped artists.Connect with Lennon:Website: https://www.lennoncihak.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lennoncihak/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lennoncihakTwitter: https://twitter.com/LennonCihakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennoncihak/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LennonJeffreyGuest Request: https://goo.gl/forms/8zs61IYiIXMLjFpX2Connect with J. Erving III:Website: https://www.human-re-sources.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/human.re.sources/
Exploring the World of Digital Puzzle Games with Jonathan Knight, Head of Games at The New York TimesIn this episode, host Mark Stinson sits down with Jonathan Knight, the Head of Games at The New York Times, to delve into the world of digital puzzle games. They discuss the Times' foray into gaming, the importance of games in the overall growth strategy of the paper, and the creative development process behind their popular puzzle games.Jonathan has been working in the Computer and Video Game industry for over 25 years,beginning as a Producer at Activision, and having worked as an Executive Producer orGM/Studio Head at major publishers including EA, Zynga, and Warner Bros. Interactive. He hasbeen a production or creative leader on a number of major game franchises, including TheSims, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, The Simpsons Game, FarmVille, Words With Friends,Wolfenstein, and DC Comics. At EA, he was the creative force behind the blockbuster gameDante's Inferno, overseeing the game's story, development, and trans-media projects, includinga comic book series, an animated feature, and the action figure. Jonathan lives in California, and is currently the GM of Games for The New York Times, operating and empowering the team that brings daily joy to puzzle solvers with games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and the legendary New York Times Crossword.Key Points:1. The New York Times and Puzzle Games: - Knight explains that the New York Times offers a collection of digital puzzle games alongside their renowned crossword puzzle. - The crossword puzzle has been a staple since 1942 and has transitioned to digital platforms. - Additional games like Spelling Bee and Wordle have been introduced, with Wordle becoming an internet sensation. - The New York Times aims to provide engaging and human-crafted puzzles on a daily basis.2. Games as an Essential Part of the New York Times: - Knight acknowledges that some may find it surprising that games play an important role at the New York Times. - The organization has made investments in the games business, including a separate subscription that offers games alongside other New York Times products. - Games serve as a distraction from the news, attracting and retaining subscribers who engage with both the news and games offerings.3. Games and Subscriber Retention: - Knight emphasizes that games contribute to subscriber retention at the New York Times. - Subscribers who engage with both news and games have the highest long-term retention rates. - The daily habit of playing games, such as solving puzzles, creates ongoing engagement and value for subscribers.4. Creative Development and the World of Wordle: - Knight discusses the unique acquisition of Wordle, a viral internet sensation. - Wordle was initially created by an engineer named Josh Wardle and caught on rapidly, eventually leading to its acquisition by the New York Times. - The New York Times' creative development process involves internal prototyping and a green light process to determine the viability of new...
In this very special episode of Shardcast, we interview Isaac Stewart, VP of Creative Development at Dragonsteel! We talk about all the projects he has been or is currently working on, including his very own Cosmere novel! From our regular cast, we have Evgeni (Argent), Marvin (Paleo), and Veronica (Cheyenne Sedai). 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:45 Isaac's Role 00:04:45 White Sand Omnibus 00:18:50 The Arcanist/Darkside story 00:22:35 Graphic Novels at Dragonsteel 00:25:15 Boatload of Mummies 00:32:35 Maps in Secret Projects 00:37:25 Most Exciting Item in a YotS Box 00:40:25 Minis Kickstarter & Stormlight RPG 00:47:05 Working with a Team at Dragonsteel 00:50:55 Stormlight 5 Concept Art 00:53:50 Art Book 00:55:10 Hoid Story Picture Book 00:57:00 Evgeni's Merch Idea 00:57:55 Any Personal Projects? If you like our content, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/17thshard For discussion, theories, games, and news, come to https://www.17thshard.com Come talk with us and the community on the 17th Shard Discord: https://discord.gg/17thshard Want to learn more about the cosmere and more? The Coppermind Wiki is where it's at: https://coppermind.net Read all Words of Brandon on Arcanum: https://wob.coppermind.net Subscribe to Shardcast: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:102123174/sounds.rss Send your Who's That Cosmere Characters to wtcc@17thshard.com
In episode 297, the girls are joined by Jay Brunson who is the Director of Marketing and Creative Development for the iHeartMedia custom podcast division. Jay joins us to talk about a new iHeart slate entitled Outspoken which will work to spotlight LGBTQIA+ voices. They also get into Jay's upbringing in NYC, his mysterious instagram (@jaybrunson.us) and so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.