Ep. 128 - Creative Sparks, Goblin Hospitality, and the Richest Man in Town

This week on Well Being, Theo and Kel share the creative projects that have been lighting them up lately—from editing family memories into meaningful mini-films to launching a brand-new podcast about video game music. Along the way, they discuss the joy of finishing creative work, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and why sometimes “done” is better than “perfect.”   In the Goblin Mode segment, they tackle hospitality, hosting, and holiday expectations. What does it mean to welcome people with what you already have? How do you create meaningful gatherings without chasing perfection? From homemade pies and backyard parties to board games, music videos, and Christmas traditions, the conversation explores how connection often matters more than presentation.   Plus: Severance rewatches, RoboCop: Rogue City, podcast production headaches, and a heartfelt appreciation for It’s a Wonderful Life.   Theme by Affektiv Music Find more of Affektiv’s music at @AFFEKTIVMUSIC   Have questions, queries, or quandaries? Reach out to us at [email protected]   Follow the hosts: Theo: @Theo_Ripper Kel: @KellyBowen3   Don’t let them tell you you need to change, just because you’re feeling a little strange. Be well. 🌱

This week on Well Being, Theo and Andy hold down the fort as Kel takes the week off. The duo settles into a relaxed Friday recording session, sharing the little things that helped them get through the week—from The Legend of Vox Machina and Doctor Who to new creative projects and the joy of geeking out over the things we love.   For the mental health segment, they continue their journey through A Goblin’s Guide to Life, exploring the idea of hospitality. What does it mean to truly make people feel welcome? How do we create spaces where friends can feel safe, comfortable, and free to be themselves? Along the way, the conversation wanders through impromptu party planning, crock-pot chicken, giant batches of iced tea, Rock Band nights, work stress, and the challenge of carving out time to recharge.   It’s a cozy, low-key episode about community, comfort, and finding ways to make life a little warmer—for ourselves and for the people around us.   Sparks of Inspiration: The Legend of Vox Machina, Doctor Who, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and the launch of Theo’s new video game music podcast, All Your Bass.   🎵 Theme by Affektiv Check out more of his music wherever you stream music: A-F-F-E-K-T-I-V   📧 [email protected]   Remember: Just because you’re feeling a little strange, doesn’t mean you aren’t doing well. Be well. 💜

This week on Well Being, the gang digs into the creative process through the lens of The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin and explores the idea of creative seeds—those tiny sparks of inspiration that can grow into something much bigger if we’re willing to nurture them.   Before that, it’s time for Sparks of Inspiration! Theo shares his love for Resident Evil 9, Kel takes us through a full room makeover powered by technology, determination, and a car jack, and Andy returns from vacation to workplace shakeups, unexpected changes, and a summer full of projects.   The conversation turns toward creativity, stagnation, and the challenge of finding ideas when the well feels dry. The crew discusses collecting seeds without judging them too quickly, balancing personal projects with professional fulfillment, and why sometimes the hardest part of creating is simply figuring out what to make next.   Plus: photography vs. filmmaking, creative droughts, D&D worldbuilding, office chaos, music festival totems, and why every creator needs a few seeds planted for the future.   A thoughtful episode about trusting the process, staying curious, and leaving room for ideas to grow.   Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q   https://soundcloud.com/affektiv   Email us: [email protected]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

This week on Well Being, Theo, Andy, and Kel kick things off with a fresh round of Sparks of Inspiration. From anime recommendations and secret-agent adventures to blockbuster sci-fi tearjerkers, the crew shares what’s been fueling their creativity lately. Along the way, they dive into filmmaking, Disneyland memories, editing workflows, and the eternal struggle between capturing moments and actually doing something with the footage afterward.   The mental health discussion continues through Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being, focusing on the chapter Habits. What starts as a conversation about routines quickly turns into an honest look at procrastination, creative anxiety, perfectionism, and the strange ways our brains keep us stuck. The hosts explore the difference between habits and routines, the importance of creating space for creativity, and why sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t a lack of talent—it’s simply getting started.   Whether you’re wrestling with unfinished projects, trying to build healthier creative routines, or just looking for a little motivation to make something, this episode is packed with relatable stories, practical insights, and a few unexpected tangents about Tom Cruise movies and sneaking cameras into festivals.   Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q   https://soundcloud.com/affektiv   Email us: [email protected]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

Theo returns from a shoot in West Virginia sick but inspired, bringing tales of graveyards, beautiful forests, filmmaking chaos, and distant sightings of America’s most famous monument (“the giant pee-pee”). The gang reunites after a short hiatus to dive back into The Creative Act: A Way of Being and unpack the slippery, magical nature of inspiration. This week’s Sparks of Inspiration include Kel dusting off vintage point-and-shoot cameras for an upcoming trip, Theo continuing his obsession with Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Andy spiraling back into anime confusion with Jujutsu Kaisen rewatches and new demon-fueled chaos on Crunchyroll. Along the way, the crew talks creative collaboration, experimental filmmaking, perfectionism, client work vs. personal art, and the weird reality of Hollywood productions fleeing California for tax credits and cheaper shoots overseas. It’s an episode about chasing inspiration while trying not to overthink yourself into oblivion — whether you’re making art with friends, packing too many cameras, or trying to save a production with duct tape and teamwork. Theme by Affektiv Affektiv on Spotify Affektiv on SoundCloud Email us: [email protected] YouTube: Well Being Podcast YouTube Channel

We are BACK—all three of us in the same room again—and yeah… we’ve been through some things. But what better way to return than with a little gear envy, existential creativity, and a reminder that maybe we don’t know what we’re doing… and that’s kind of the point. This week’s Sparks of Inspiration hit everything from camera cravings (and the frustrating reality of DJI bans 👀), to Dungeon Crawler Carl chaos, to WrestleMania traditions with the boys. It’s a little tech, a little nostalgia, and a whole lot of “why do I suddenly want to spend money I don’t have?” Then we dive back into The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin—exploring Patience and Beginner’s Mind. We talk about slowing down, re-experiencing art, and how sometimes the best creative breakthroughs come from not knowing the “right” way to do something at all. From AI breaking a 3,000-year-old game to our own early days duct-taping cameras to cars, we unpack how ignorance, curiosity, and chaos can actually be creative superpowers. The conversation gets real as we reflect on losing (and maybe rediscovering) our creative identities—especially as filmmakers who’ve spent years working on other people’s visions. What happens when you don’t know what your thing is anymore? And how do you get it back? We wrap things up with thoughts on collaboration vs. solitude, critiques vs. criticism, and why the best creative environments are the ones where everyone’s just trying to make the best idea win. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or unsure what you’re even creating anymore… this one’s for you. Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q https://soundcloud.com/affektiv Email us: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

This week, it’s just Theo and Kel holding it down—sending love to Andy while diving headfirst into sparks of inspiration, creative nostalgia, and full-on goblin hosting energy.   We kick things off with hype around DJI’s next move (👀 Pocket 4 rumors), the ever-evolving world of content creation, and a surprise shoutout to Pizza: The Movie—a modern stoner comedy that absolutely delivers. From there, things get reflective as we explore how creativity has become more accessible than ever… and why that’s both exciting and a little overwhelming.   Then it’s time to slip into Goblin Mode: Hospitality Edition.   We revisit memory spaces—those chaotic, perfect hangouts from the past. Garages turned creative sanctuaries. Smoke-filled backyards. Dingy couches that somehow felt like home. The places where ideas were born, friendships were forged, and nothing else mattered.   From there, we get real about: What it means to host people in your space The pressure of cooking vs. just showing up Dinner party insecurities (and why they exist) The unspoken rules of “acceptable” goblin hosting (frozen food? box wine? slightly burned meals?)   And ultimately, we land on something deeper—what makes a gathering truly meaningful isn’t perfection… it’s presence.   This one’s about creating spaces where people can just be—messy, creative, nostalgic, and real.   Come hang in the garage with us. Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q https://soundcloud.com/affektiv   Email us: [email protected]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

This week, the trio is BACK together—and you already know that means sparks are flying.   We kick things off with inspiration from Resident Evil 9, throwbacks to Pokémon Red, and a surprisingly deep dive into the current state of movies (plus a little Pedro Pascal appreciation along the way). But things really heat up when Kel recounts a festival experience that goes from vibey to full-on survival mode—think heat exhaustion, mushroom miscalculations, and laying under a tree questioning reality. Day two? Redemption arc.   From there, we dive into mental health and creativity, exploring two powerful ideas from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: What happens when you try the opposite of your artistic instincts? And are you really listening, or just waiting to respond?   The conversation gets real as we unpack: The struggle between process vs. product Rediscovering the joy of creating instead of chasing the result Nostalgia for the DIY filmmaking days at the Fox Theater And that elusive creative spark you can’t force—but can learn to notice   This episode is part reflection, part chaos, and part creative reset button.   If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or just too focused on the end result… this one might hit different. Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q   https://soundcloud.com/affektiv   Email us: [email protected]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

It’s hot. Like… offensively hot. And in this sweat-soaked episode of Well Being, Theo and Kel return (sans Andy, who is once again booked and busy) to talk surviving the heat, thriving on set, and finding inspiration in the chaos.   Sparks are flying this week: Theo’s fresh off nearly two weeks on set, soaking in that creative camaraderie and rediscovering the magic of production life A dive into the surprisingly fun Wonder Man series and why industry insight changes everything Kel brings the heat with Age of Attraction, a reality dating experiment that asks: what happens when you remove age from the equation? (Spoiler: it gets wild) Fitness arcs, early morning hikes, and prepping for Beyond Wonderland with next-level perler creations   Then the crew shifts into the mental health portion, continuing their journey through Goblin Mode: A Guide to Life—this time tackling Goblin Hospitality.   Why don’t we invite people over? Why does everything have to be perfect first? And who are we really trying to impress?   They unpack: The myth of the “perfect home” Childhood conditioning around hosting The pressure of appearances vs. the reality of connection Why your friends care more about you than your countertops   It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s deeply relatable.   Because at the end of the day… your friends aren’t home inspectors—they just want to see you. Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q   https://soundcloud.com/affektiv   Email us: [email protected]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod

This week on Well Being, Theo and Andy are flying duo while Kel gets dragged into the mortal realm of work. But fear not — because we’ve got Sparks of Inspiration that span animated mysticism to 70s detective brilliance.   Theo celebrates a holy day of personal significance: a new album drop from Gorillaz, complete with an 8-minute hand-drawn short and vinyl variants acquired like sacred relics. Meanwhile, Andy falls headfirst into an unexpected obsession with Columbo, discovering that the pilot was directed by a baby-faced Steven Spielberg — and realizing procedural television hasn’t quite felt the same since.   From there? We spiral (lovingly) into: Wizard-core aesthetics and curated maximalism Dream homes vs. the homes we actually live in Victorian manors, arcade basements, gothic rod iron fences Jacuzzi tubs as emotional reset chambers The quiet mental health impact of “keeping up appearances” And of course… an extended Doctor Who corner featuring David Tennant, Rose heartbreak, Donna supremacy, and why some regenerations are better left skipped.   In our Mental Health portion, we dive deeper into Goblin Mode Guide to Life, unpacking what it means to unlearn performative perfection — especially when it comes to how our homes “should” look. What if comfort mattered more than presentation? What if your house reflected your inner wizard instead of HOA expectations?   Episode 119 is part nostalgia spiral, part aesthetic manifesto, part detective dissection — and fully us.   Light a candle. Build a hidden room. Question your lawn.   Be well. And don’t let them tell you you need to change… just because you’re feeling a little strange. Theme by Affektiv https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dkwCQLY61JvqMmiiBvps3?si=N97bAnDqQkqcSSxVZA0C0Q https://soundcloud.com/affektiv Email us: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WellBeingpod