Shyle Lyons: Make or Break

Nick Nortier (illustrator, muralist, Old Growth Creative, Dinderbeck Studios) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about finding creative inspiration in nature, the physical and mental toll of making art, and the responsibility artists have to use their voices. There’s something beautiful in imperfection, but keeping the romance alive when art becomes work is where things get messy.Keep up with Nick Nortier:oldgrowthcreative.comIG: @oldgrowthcreativeIG: @dinderbeckBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Shyle Lyons (founder, Merchants & Makers) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about the unexpected connection between social work and building markets that bring people together, the cult-ish world of multi-level marketing, and the slimy realities of generative AI and its growing threat to working artists. Making a living is one thing. Giving a hoot is another.Keep up with Shyle Lyons:merchantsandmakers.comIG: @merchants.and.makersBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Jason Ley (writer, author) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about healing through creativite expression, overcoming his abusive relationship with alcohol, and finding courage, strength, and forgiveness in putting pen to paper. Sometimes a laugh is the mask. And sometimes it’s the only real thing in the room.Keep up with Jason Ley:jasonley.comIG: @jasonleyBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Marcus Assenmacher (musician, songwriter, producer, Twin Phase, SayHeySounds) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about the magic and the broken business of making music, creative obsession, and the blurry line between making art and living life. Kinda funny how the thing you love most can make you forget why you loved it in the first place. But not haha funny.Keep up with Marcus Assenmacher:IG: @marcxxleeIG: @twinphasemusicIG: @sayheysounds Bad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Tanya Avoundjian (creative director, designer, Stout Collective) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about wearing her Armenian-American identity and what it shaped in her, getting her hands dirty as a creative director who doesn’t fit the Don Draper mold, and the “what if” as a creative philosophy. She started by illustrating forum avatars for fake gold and look at her now.Keep up with Tanya Avoundjian:IG: @t.basmadjianBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Riley Dompierre (photographer, sewist, creative nomad) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about keeping creativity wild and untamed, the idealism and reality of living in a commune, and the relationship between creativity and humanity. Five foot two and completely unafraid.Keep up with Riley Dompierre:IG: @thimbleandgruffBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

David Martinez (drummer, Tidals, Second Body) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about rediscovering drumming after a decade, changing relationships with people, alcohol, and creativity, and not letting anybody or anything else define you. Dave and Aaron are old friends and bandmates from ~20 years ago; their music was loud and fast and their jeans were so tight. So. Tight.Keep up with David Martinez:IG: @davidmcmartinezIG: @tidalbandIG: @second.body.bandBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Abbie Lemke (comedian, writer, Off Air) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about living with and masking an invisible disability, comedy as survival, writing a TV show with little to no resources, and not changing who you are for anybody. She’s been on stage over 1,000 times and she’s just getting started.Keep up with Abbie Lemke:abbielemke.comIG: @abbielemkellcIG: @offairtheshowBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Kayla Turpin (film photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about living and capturing the real, messy, unposed moments, the hunger for internal and external validation, and weighing authenticity against posturing. Wind in the hair, tears on the lens, Kayla opens up about all of it.Keep up with Kayla Turpin:kaylaturpin.comIG: @kaylaturpinphotoBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Leigh Ann Cobb: Awkward Art Kid" from Season 4.Leigh Ann Cobb (photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss going from an awkward art kid to an awkward art grown-up, what it takes to keep her sense of self and identity in check, and the relationship between Leigh Ann and the camera, the camera and her subjects, and more importantly, Leigh Ann and her subjects.Keep up with Leigh Ann Cobb:leighanncobb.comIG: @leigh.ann.cobb.photoBad Idea Social Club Holiday Art MarketSaturday, November 14, noon–4:00PM at City Built Brewing. A curated gathering of artists and makers featuring original art, handmade goods, food, drinks, and live music. Somewhere between an art market and a party.Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMonthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyon——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub