Michael Montella: Founder of Yeoman

Dong-Ping Wong is the founder of FOOD, an architecture studio known for public-first, joy-forward design. From a floating pool in the East River to a Mahjong clubhouse in Chinatown, his projects reframe how we use space, who it’s for, and what it can say. We cover: •⁠ ⁠The design philosophy behind +POOL •⁠ ⁠Collaborating with Virgil Abloh •⁠ ⁠Designing civic joy into urban space •⁠ ⁠Launching experimental venues in NYC •⁠ ⁠Sketching, constraints, and creative freedom Plus: 🚀 A Rocket Round full of quick-fire insights—from go-to materials to dream cities and defining “home.” 📍 Recorded @wsanyc 🎧 Spotify | Apple | YouTube

Rami Haykal-Manning is the co-founder of Elsewhere, Brooklyn’s beloved independent venue known for genre-spanning shows, dance nights, and community-first culture. We cover: •⁠ ⁠Elsewhere’s founding story & seven figure raise •⁠ ⁠NYC’s shifting nightlife landscape •⁠ ⁠How to build community through curation •⁠ ⁠Lessons from Glasslands & PopGun •⁠ ⁠Why live music still matters •⁠ ⁠Rami’s global upbringing & creative lens Plus: A Rocket Round packed with first shows, favorite venues, wild stories, and real talk on building spaces that last. 📍 Recorded @wsanyc

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Michael Montella, the first-time founder of Yeoman - a bold new marketplace connecting America’s farms directly with local food businesses and consumers. We explore: •⁠ ⁠The origin story behind Yeoman and the “Farmazon” concept •⁠ ⁠Why he’s focused on B2B2C and P2P logistics •⁠ ⁠What it’s like raising $600K with no prior startup experience •⁠ ⁠How Yeoman hopes to reverse a system where farmers earn less than 14 cents per grocery dollar •⁠ ⁠The power of small, local farms — and why U.S. agriculture is overdue for a refresh •⁠ ⁠Why furniture making might be his secret backup career Plus: 🚀 A Rocket Round full of farmer’s markets, Moby Dick, coffee shop plug-ins, and big founder energy. 📍 Recorded at WSA Podcast Studio, NYC

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Kris Moon, former President & COO of the James Beard Foundation and now COO at a21—the executive team behind iconic festivals like NYCWFF, SOBEWFF, and Art on Paper NY. We cover: His 17-year run at JBF and leading it through cultural evolution Why chefs became powerful cultural voices—and how policy meets food Building Platform by JBF at Pier 57 as a creative civic space Transitioning to a21 and the art of producing large-scale live experiences The WSA x NYCWFF partnership and why local ecosystems matter How creativity, hospitality, and impact intersect Rocket Round — favorite meals, concerts, books, rituals, and more. 📍 Recorded at WSA — where creativity meets community.

Damon Brandt opened his first gallery in the 1980s and went on to found Saltmine Projects in the early ’90s - a platform dedicated to long-term collaboration and curatorial depth. In this episode of Creative Coordinates, Damon shares what it was like growing up in a family of art dealers, carving his own path, and how the art world — and artist storytelling — has evolved over the past four decades. We explore: – What it means to represent an artist through story – How value in art is shaped by narrative and reputation – The balance between instinct and experience – The importance of creative hubs like WSA in today’s NYC – Damon’s new artist-focused documentary series 📍 Recorded at WSA — where creativity meets community.

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Jake Harper — an artist and founder whose journey moves from marathon piano sessions to creating Soot, a new way of mapping information. Breaking from the grid and the linear scroll, Soot is self-organizing, spatial, and incredibly fast — built to help designers and creatives finally see everything. Jake shares how his years in music and sound art shaped his problem-solving, why embracing ignorance can unlock breakthroughs, and how curiosity fuels his work today. We talk about: •⁠ ⁠Practicing piano 8 hours a day and what it taught him about problem-solving •⁠ ⁠The transition from sound art to creative coding and design •⁠ ⁠Why Soot rethinks digital navigation beyond the grid and the scroll •⁠ ⁠Why curiosity matters more than expertise •⁠ ⁠The habits fueling his late-night explorations 📍 Recorded at WSA — where creativity meets community.

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Joey Flynn - a product designer whose work spans three of the most influential creative platforms of the last 15 years: Facebook, Instagram, and now OpenAI. From designing Facebook’s Timeline to crafting Instagram’s iconic camera features, and now working on ChatGPT and other creative tools at OpenAI, Joey shares how he’s stayed curious, experimental, and creatively hands-on through it all. We talk about: • The early days of social design at Facebook and Instagram • How “making things weird” can unlock great ideas • Why good AI products feel more like collaborators than replacements • The value of side projects and intuition in a tech-driven world 📍 Recorded at WSA — where creativity meets community.

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Tei Carpenter, architect, educator, and founder of Agency—Agency, a design practice exploring the intersections of culture, ecology, and the built environment. From projects like Toronto’s Bentway Stormwater Management installation to collaborations with artists and her architect mother, Tei’s work demonstrates how design can transform overlooked urban spaces into living laboratories, theaters, and community hubs. We discuss her philosophy of architecture as an active agent in society, how research and experimentation guide her process, and why she believes creativity thrives at the intersection of ecology, culture, and design. Plus, in our Rocket Round, Tei shares her inspirations—from Kyoto to the pyramids. 📍 Recorded at WSA—where creativity meets community.

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with Celia Ellenberg, a writer, editor, and strategist whose work has defined the conversation in beauty and wellness for nearly two decades. From her time as Vogue’s Beauty & Wellness Director and Global Content Lead to launching CE Strategy, her boutique advisory, Celia has shaped how brands and media connect with audiences across fashion, lifestyle, and culture. We explore her journey through legacy media and into brand consulting, the evolving role of editorial in a data-driven era, and how trend forecasting, storytelling, and strategy intersect to build categories and drive cultural change. 📍 Recorded at WSA—where creativity meets community.

In this episode of Creative Coordinates, we sit down with YOSA, a creative powerhouse whose work spans acting, comedy, music, and entrepreneurship. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and founder of Naso, YOSA is best known for his viral “Pissing Off My African Parents” series (2B+ views) and for characters that spark the question: is he American or British? Our conversation explores his multi-layered journey — from playing college soccer to launching a startup, cultivating his own sense of style, and now releasing “Sticky One Styll”, a track that blurs performance, slang, and social commentary. Along the way, YOSA shares how humor becomes cultural dialogue, why fans say his content uplifts them during hard times, and his personal philosophies. 🎙️ Highlights The viral “Pissing Off My African Parents” series and its cultural resonance How college soccer discipline shaped his artistry Playing with identity through accents, humor, and style The story behind “Sticky One Styll” and UK-inspired performance Founding Naso and reshaping creator ownership 📍 Recorded at WSA—where creativity meets community.