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This is my 200th show!  It's also my last show for the decided future. I promised myself I would hit 200 shows and keep this show going for a year, and I have.  I hope you have enjoyed this show, and now let's go out with a bang. I'm so excited to welcome Ella Barnard onto the show for our 200th episode!  Woot!  Ella and I have been friends for a long time and I've been on her show multiple times. She's amazing. A successful author who helps other author be successful, and in this episode she basically lays out the step-by-step formula for jumpstarting your author career.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to choose your genre What makes a great cover and blurb How to get out books faster than you ever thought possible How to make a living as an author ...and much more.  I couldn't have asked for a better episode to be my last one. If you want to check out Ella's work, head over to http://authorlikeaboss.com/. If you want to see what's next for me, you can check out my work at www.russellnohelty.com.  See you on the bestseller list.  Russell   

This week on the show we have author Christie Stratos. We did a deep, deep dive on one of her books, Anatomy of a Darkened Heart, which was just a phenomenal work that I loved so much. Here's her bio, straight from her website.  Christie Stratos is an award-winning writer who holds a degree in English Literature. She is the author of the psychological suspense novels Anatomy of a Darkened Heart and Brotherhood of Secrets, the first two books in the Dark Victoriana Collection. Also a poet and short story writer, Christie has been published in anthologies, literary journals, and magazines. Christie has been featured on the radio, in magazines, and on podcasts, and she has given presentations for writing organizations and at writing conferences. She owns her own editing company, Proof Positive, where she works one-on-one with authors as well as with small presses as a freelance editor, and she has enjoyed working with a rising press as an acquisitions editor. Christie hosts the well-received podcast Writers Showcase on the Authors on the Air Radio Network. She has interviewed New York Times bestsellers, publishers, and major award-winning authors, including #1 New York Times bestselling author Peter Straub, Hugo Award winner Robert J. Sawyer, BBC correspondent Humphrey Hawksley, and Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Hank Phillippi Ryan. I was introduced to Christie from friend of the pod Jennifer Gordon, and reading Anatomy of a Darkened Heart made me realize I just really love Victorian Gothic horror suspense. It's not something I would have ever known about myself until reading both Jennifer and Christie's book, but I really, really do. Christie's work is nuanced and complex, diving into historical traditions while explaining them so even somebody without a history of reading the genre can understand.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to keep a book from lagging How to plot an intimate book without a lot of action while still keeping engagement How to make the reader feel a character and root for them ...and much more.  If you liked this episode, check out Christie's work at: https://christiestratos.com/ If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

This week on the show we have my dear friend Barbra Dillon, editor-in-chief of Fanbase Press and my dear friend. Fanbase Press gave Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, my first book, its first review, and I have been honored to call her and Bryant friends for years.  Fanbase Press celebrates fandoms and creates new ones! As an award-winning comic book publisher and geek culture website, Fanbase Press produces new and distinctive works, as well as daily reviews, interviews, and podcasts, that span the pop culture spectrum and give voice to the themes, ideals, and people that make geekdom so exceptional. Here is a little about the company, which is both a member of the press AND a comics company.The company was founded in 2010 (originally under the name Fanboy Comics) by Barbra and Bryant Dillon and Sam Rhodes and rebranded to Fanbase Press in May 2016.Fanbase Press' graphic novels, including the 2018 Eisner Award-nominated Quince, the 2020 IPPY Award-winning Quince: The Definitive Bilingual Edition hardcover, the 2019 IPPY Award-winning A Geek's Guide to Cross-Stitch: Journeys in Space, the 2014 Bram Stoker Award-nominated Fearworms: Selected Poems, The Sequels, The Margins, The Gamma Gals, Something Animal, Identity Thief, The Arcs, and Penguins vs. Possums, are available online at www.fanbasepress.com. Barbra is seriously one of the most lovely humans of all time, and she's also a fount of knowledge about a whole range of topics, including, most recently, how to run a company and have a full-time job while pregnant with twins.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  how to have some semblance of work life balance while building an empire. how to introspect in order to move forward how to rebrand and evolve an established business ...and much more. Make sure to check out Fanbase Press's work at http://fanbasepress.com If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show I have artist and founder of PhantasMeow, Saturn Santiago. Here's here bio.  PhantasMeow, the new name of pastel goth, was conceived when Saturn Santiago blended pink, blue, and decay onto the canvas for the first time back in 2016. This riveting take on the occult, fantasy, and taxidermy-conceptual art became a place for her imagination to grow; and like most dead things left alone in the dark, her artwork was stripped to the emotional bones. What rose from the grave was the CATton Candy Nightmare Series, a chilling set that blends her favorite colors into scenes that terrify and captivates the senses.Saturn started practicing with all mediums in 1997; born from a family of varied artists, she was always pushed to grow her talent. Saturn’s early career consists of School of The Arts Programs, where in 2004 she was inducted into the National Art Honors Society. More recently, she has become an art instructor and is the cover artist for Horror Author J.L. Gipson’s, The Effect Trilogy. J.L. Gipson actually introduced us and we had a blast talking about pastel goth, building an art business, and general creative things.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to run a successful art campaign on Kickstarter How to tell a story with your art Why duality in art is so important ...and much more.  If you want to check out PhantasMeow's awesome work, you can go to: https://www.phantasmeow.com/ This is also the last week on my Kickstarter, which ends on October 1st. You can check it out at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/ichabod-jones-volume-1-2-a-lovecraftian-dark-fantasy-comic If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show I have my new friend Liz Manashil. I was introduced to Liz by previous guest Kris Wile, and I loved our conversation. Here's her bio.  Liz Manashil earned her B.A. in Film and Media Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, and her M.F.A. from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Post-graduation, Liz spent several years as a film critic for the PBS/Hulu series JUST SEEN IT (which she also helped produce and direct). Overlapping this, Liz worked with distribution guru Peter Broderick. In 2016, Liz became the sole manager of Sundance's groundbreaking Creative Distribution Initiative until the program's close in 2019. As a filmmaker, her debut feature, BREAD AND BUTTER (starring Christine Weatherup, Bobby Moynihan, MIcah Hauptman, Eric Lange, and Lauren Lapkus), was called “an absolute must-watch for women everywhere” by HelloGiggles. It was released by The Orchard and can be seen on VOD nearly everywhere. Her second feature, SPEED OF LIFE (starring Ann Dowd, Allison Tolman, Jeff Perry, and Ray Santiago), was called “Delightful in just about every way,” by noted film critic Tim Cogshell. Liz has started production on her third feature, LADY PARTS. She lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Laura Palmer, her partner, Sean Wright, and her son, Colin. She is a Women in Film mentee and currently works as the Senior Manager, Impact Distribution at Picture Motion. I was so excited for this interview because I watched Speed of Life before our interview and frigging LOVED it. Since my background is in film and TV, it was amazing to be able to talk with a filmmaker about her process.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  -How to make an amazing indie film for less than $100,000.  -How to write a movie script -How to use crowdfunding to seed your budget and then go out to find investors -How to cast top tier talent for a low budget movie  ...and much more.  If you want to find more about Liz's work, http://www.lizmanashil.com.  This is also the last full week of my Kickstarter, and if you want to support check out, you can do so at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/ichabod-jones-volume-1-2-a-lovecraftian-dark-fantasy-comic If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Today on the show I have my good friend Greg Anderson-Elysee, creator of Is'nana: The Were-Spider, which is on Kickstarter now. Here's a summary of the book straight from the Kickstarter page:  A horror-fantasy, coming of age story, Is'nana the Were-Spider: Showtime (64 page one-shot) is the fourth release of an on-going series of graphic novels and one-shots. Is'nana the Were-Spider has won 7 Glyph Awards (2018 Fan Award, Rising Star Award, & Best Male Character Award; 2019 Best Male Character Award, 2019 Best Writer Award, & Story of the Year Award; 2020 Best Male Character Award). Accidentally breaking a barrier between our world and theirs (called THE MOTHER KINGDOM), Is'nana (the son of Anansi the Spider God of Stories) accepts the responsibility for releasing creatures of horror into our reality, villains who want nothing more but to cause chaos and mayhem to achieve their own diabolical or selfish goals. With guidance from his father, Is'nana not only strives to live up to his father's name but to also reach his own potential while he seeks to discover his individuality and place in the world. I absolutely love this series. Greg uses a collection of artists to do a one-character, one writer, anthology series. My good friend Walter Ostlie draws a several of the stories, and they are just all so great, and Greg is so great. We started our creator journey at around the same time, and it's amazing to watch how he's grown as a creator while I've grown at a creator.  This is why the people you come up with are so important to your career, because you've gone through the ringer together and come out stronger on the other side. I'm so grateful for our friendship, and love watching his success.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to work with multiple artists at the same time How to make a single character anthology book How to collaborate better  Why ideas are only the first step ...and much more.  If you want to check out Is'nana the Were-Spider for yourself, check out his Kickstarter at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/isnanashowtime/isnana-the-were-spider-showtime AND I also have a Kickstarter for my book Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, about a mental patient that escapes from an asylum and becomes a monster hunter during the Apocalypse, but doesn't know if he's killing monsters, humans, or its all in his head the whole time. You can check that one out at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/ichabod-jones-volume-1-2-a-lovecraftian-dark-fantasy-comic If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Holy crap. This week I'm interviewing Shelly Bond. When I first set out to make this show, I made a dream list of people to get on my show and she was on the list! Then, friend of the pod Kris Simon edited an anthology with her called Insider Art that's RIGHT NOW on Kickstarter, and BOTH of them came on to geek out about editing and tell me all about this book.  So, this episode is a twofer, not only did one of my favorite humans, Kris Simon, co-editor of the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: The Terrible Twos anthology, come on the show, but Shelly FRIGGING Bond came on the show, too.  If you don't know Shelly Bond's work, then just pick up any Vertigo title and there's a good chance her editing fingerprint is all over it. She helped mold and grow the Vertigo line and has worked on over 1,100 comics titles according to ComicsVine, along with rising up to become executive editor at Vertigo from 2013-2016 and having her own imprint at IDW called Black Crown.  She's a comics legend, basically.  If you don't remember Kris, she was on the show in March during our Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: The Terrible Twos campaign. She's edited just about everybody in comics as well, including ME, which makes her Wannabe Press royalty.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to become a world-class editor How to work and choose the right editor for your project How to get the best out of the people you work with  Why passion is the key to making a great comic ...and much more.  Most importantly, Shelly and Kris have a Kickstarter campaign going right now for an incredibly cool anthology called Insider Art, which is a love letter to editing and the art of making comics. I have bought both the ebook AND the print book, and highly recommend it. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sxbond/insider-art And while you're on Kickstarter, I ALSO have a campaign going right now for my book Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter.  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/ichabod-jones-volume-1-2-a-lovecraftian-dark-fantasy-comic Go back both books today, especially since Shelly's book only has a couple days left on it.  If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show I have my good friend David Pepose, creator of Spencer and Locke, Going to the Chapel, and The O.Z., which is live on Kickstarter right now.  Here's his Comixology bio:  After starting his career at DC Comics, David Pepose has gone on to write thousands of articles about comic book storytelling. SPENCER & LOCKE, Pepose's debut series with artist Jorge Santiago, Jr., has been praised by IGN as "a fiendishly fun take on an age-old classic." A St. Louis native, Pepose currently lives in Los Angeles, where he works in the television industry. I met David years ago on the con circuit when he just had the first volume of Spencer and Locke, and I thought it was BANANAS. He pitched it as Calvin and Hobbes meets Sin City, and it absolutely delivered. Plus, he's just a very pleasant human to converse with, so we got along well.  He's been blowing up recently, and his latest book raised over $20,000 on Kickstarter...in a single day. We recorded this episode right after the Kickstarter went live, so we talk about his incredible first day, and more.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to raise $20,000 in a single day on Kickstarter How to deal with the press and make them want to promote you How to build a world-class network ...and much more.  If you want to check out David's amazing Kickstarter, then it's still live at this link:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theozcomic/the-oz-1 I ALSO have a Kickstarter live right now, and it's launching TODAY. I would love to get even half of what David did on his first day. I've been working on Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter for a decade, and this is the first new volume of the book to launch since 2014.  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/russellnohelty/ichabod-jones-volume-1-2-a-lovecraftian-dark-fantasy-comic I am super excited for it, and I hope you are too. Ichabod is my most beloved property, and I look forward to bringing the new evolution of the book to you.  If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

This week on the show we have my good friend Jonas Saul, bestselling author of more than THREE MILLION BOOKS. Here's his Amazon bio:  Jonas Saul is the bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series and has written and published over thirty thrillers. After selling more than two million books, he signed with the Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary and Dramatic Rights Management.His recent releases are, THE FUTURE IS WRITTEN, published by pioneering media company Adaptive Studios, and THE IMMORTAL GENE, published by Vesuvian Books. Saul has traveled extensively throughout the world to scout settings for his thrillers, spending several years between Greece, Italy, Denmark, and Hungary. He is regularly invited to be a guest speaker, teacher, or workshop presenter at international writing conferences. I caught up with Jonas while he was in Greece, and I was hella jealous of it. I've known Jonas since we were both guests at a writer's conference years ago, and we stayed in touch. We both have a very business mindset to our writing careers, and both owned businesses before getting into writing, so we connected almost immediately.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to structure a book Why a writing career is about the long term How to make a series last What's more important than whether you are self published or traditionally published ...and much more.  The TWENTY-FOURTH Sarah Roberts book is out today, and if you are interested in checking it out, you can go here. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08F4N4K4X Otherwise, you can check out his work at jonassaul.com/ If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

Today on the show we have Travis Vengroff and Kaitlin Statz, the creative team behind The White Vault, Vast Horizon, Liberty, and Dark Dice audio dramas, and founders of Fool and Scholar Productions.  I've known Travis for YEARS, back when he was deep into trying to make a go of it as an independent comic creator. So, when he suddenly blew up with The White Vault, an audio drama, I took notice. I've been wanting to speak with him and Kaitlin for years, and I was so excited we could set this up. I know several indie comic creators and authors who have successfully transitioned into audio dramas, and since I have a podcast I'm fascinated by that kind of thing.  I love all their shows, but for my money, Vast Horizon is my favorite. However, it costs NO MONEY to check them out. Fool and Scholar rely on Patreon to create and fund their shows, and with over 1,000 patrons, they are one of the most successful Patreon creators that I personally know.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to subvert listener expectations Why audio is one of the best mediums for horror How to collaborate with your spouse and live harmoniously ...and much more.  If you want to find our more about Travis and Kaitlin, check out their Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/LibertyPodcast If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show I have a new friend who I've been dying to speak to forever, Rachel Kelly of Colorworld, an awesome YA fantasy book series, but her and her husband have turned it into a whole art business. Here's a bio for Rachel:  I dig philosophy, lore, fairy tales, authentic romance, and the occult. I have longed to read something that artfully combines all 5, and since I haven't found it, I decided to write a story of my own. Colorworld is the culmination of all these loves of mine, and it's my passion to make it something everyone can read and get something out of. Stories are meant to entertain, yes, but the best stories are the ones that do that AND make you question yourself. And since I hold all other literary works to this standard, it is also the standard I hold myself to when writing. The Colorworld series is a story that opens your eyes to the beauty of that everydayness we all know so well while weaving in that wee bit of fantasy we all long for. I've known about Colorworld for years. My longterm collaborator Erik Lervold has worked with them for years on their metal bookmark line, and I've seen Brad at shows for a long time. However, we're always so busy that it's hard to connect.  Luckily, Brad reached out to me a couple month ago asking if I wanted to do a panel with Rachel for their livestream channel and I jumped at the offer.  Then, I had such a great time that I asked Rachel to come on my show to talk about how she built her Colorworld universe, why she write in first person present, and more.  Listen to this episode if you want to hear:  How to expand a book world beyond just novels Rachel's inspirations for making Colorworld How to build out a creative business ...and much more.  If you liked this interview, check out Rachel's work at https://colorworldbooks.com. If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

This week I have a special episode for you. A couple of months ago we recorded a panel for Wondercon @ Home which I thought was very good but apparently didn't get shown at all.    Therefore, this week I'm going to bring it to you for the first time. This is a panel on making indie comics with Anne Agnew (https://twitter.com/annesplains), Bryan Silverbax (https://silverbax.com), John Dover (https://johnnyscotchjustice.com), Andrea Rosales (http://www.andrearosales.com), and me, Russell Nohelty (www.russellnohelty.com) being moderated by Jason Brick (http://www.brickcommajason.com).   Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to make better comics How to market your comics better Where to expend your energy  ...and much more.    If you enjoy this episode, make sure the check out each artist and writer and get more info on them at the links above.    If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  

This week on the show we have Ryan Zee and Cameron Sutter, founders of Plottr. Here's a little bit about the software.    Plottr lets you easily arrange (and rearrange) your scenes, plots, and character arcs so you can quickly find your way to the end of your tale — no corkboard required. Quickly outline your book with visual story cards Filter your timeline by characters, places, and tags Color-coordinate your storylines to keep them organized Flip the timeline to view it vertically or horizontally So, I have known Ryan for a long time. I used to use him for book marketing a long time ago, and we reconnected a few months ago when I ran my Online Writer's Conference.    He asked me if I wanted to have him on to talk about Plottr, and I was interested, but recently I've gotten DOZENS of messages about Plottr, so I figured that it was time to have him on and find out what all the hype is about, though if you're a fan of the show, you probably know this is much more than just a program pitch.    Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to write a book visually Why you shouldn't make your dream project first Why you need a safe space to fail at the beginning of your career A better way to outline and plot your book ...and more.    If it piques your interest, make sure to check out Plottr at https://getplottr.com/   If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show we have author and dancer Jennifer Anne Gordon. Before we get into it, here's her bio.   Jennifer Anne Gordon is an award-winning ballroom dancer, performer, and choreographer, she studied acting at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, as well as English and Art History at University of New Hampshire. Past jobs have included professional actress, a magician’s assistant, a gallery director, an artist, a burlesque performer, as well as a horror novelist.   Her mixed media artwork showcases her love of the late Victorian and Edwardian Era, as well as her passionate love for showgirls, burlesque, and vaudeville. Her work is in private collections throughout the world, and has been showcased in calendars, perfume labels, and has been featured in Somerset Studio Magazine, as well as Mixed Media Art Magazine.   Her first novel, “Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent” was published by Breaking Rules Publishing in late winter 2019. Her second novel “From Daylight to Madness” will be published during summer of 2020. When Jennifer is not busy writing or performing, she is an avid traveler who loves to photograph abandoned and forgotten places.   Victoriana is the first published collection of Jennifer’s work.   I'll be honest, I was dealing with some stuff when I recorded this episode, so we kind of drifted to a lot of things, from feminism in gothic literature to keeping a business afloat when everything is falling apart to keeping the creative spark alive and lots of stuff in between.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  The benefits of slow multitasking How to transition your creativity and stay alive when everything it falling apart Why creativity feels different depending on the medium Why we need art How to deal with grief ...and more.    If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out Jennifer's website at:  www.jenniferannegordon.com   If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show we have artists Sandra Busby and Tara Roskell, co-founders of Kick in the Creatives, a website that helps people get and stay creative through monthly challenges. Here's some info from their webpage:  Do you often find yourself discovering challenges through the sudden flow of related hashtags, only to find that you’re late to the party? Well, now you don’t ever need to miss an online creative challenge again! This is the place where you can find an abundance of existing online creative challenges all under one umbrella and with some brand new ones added to the mix! All you need to do is click on each individual month on the calendar, to find out what challenges are going on during that particular month. I met Sandra and Tara when I was a guest for their show, and found them so compelling that I decided to have them on this show to talk about building and maintaining creativity.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to build a creative habit The power of collaboration Why accountability is so important for success How to create a community that creates a positive tone for your career ...and much more.  If you enjoy this episode, you can find Sandra and Tara on their Kick in the Creatives website. If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Today on the show we have Betabooks co-founder and all around creative human Paul Kilpatrick. Here's a bit of his bio:  Paul Kilpatrick has enjoyed working in the comic book industry, video games, publishing, music, and film filling various support roles including being an editor, project manager, coordinator, stage manager and assistant director, tons of logistics fun. As the co-founder of BetaBooks Paul has helped thousands of authors beta their book, many of whom are discovering the process for the first time. He enjoys jigsaw puzzles and has recently been watching the tv show Ghosts. Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to find the perfect mentor How to build a rock-solid network Why word of mouth is the best marketing How to determine book/reader fit How to create your ideal reader profile  ...and much more.  If you want to learn more about Paul, check out Betabooks at www.betabooks.co. If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show I brought on The Creativity Explorer, Fredrik Haren, to discuss how to increase your productivity and become more creative. Here is his bio:  Fredrik Haren is an author and global keynote speaker, based in Singapore. He speaks on business creativity and human innovation, on embracing disruption and change, and about the importance of having a global, human mindset. While some speakers claim they are global, few match Fredrik; he has given over 2,000 speeches in 67 countries across six continents of the world, and usually speaks in 20 to 30 countries a year. He is the author of 10 books, the most significant ones being The Idea Book, Developing World and One World One Company. The Idea Book has sold over 200,000 copies, and was included in the 100 Best Business Books Of All Time. Fredrik draws on literally thousands of conversations and interviews he has had over the past 20 years, with business leaders from all corners of the globe. This unique experience allows him to connect with audience members from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and what makes being the global speaker for global conferences his speciality. He is invited to speak at conferences, client events, company offsite meetings and leadership development programmes. His use of storytelling, interaction and humour, along with his authentic speaking style, makes him one of the most sought-after and inspiring speakers in the world., Fredrik essentially believes in the potential of humanity and the power of ideas to achieve this. He understands that people are often resistant to change, yet also curiously creative. He encourages his audiences to embrace rather than fear disruption and change through becoming more creative and innovative, and to develop a truly global mindset. What I love about Fredrik is that he's interviewed creative people ALL over the world and he was able to talk about the different ways creatives have cracked creativity and productivity in their countries. It's fascinating to see what is the same and different with creatives everywhere.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How you can become more creative The most important project for a creative person The most beautiful moment of the creative process Thinking in patterns Balancing creativity and focus ...and much more.  If you enjoy this episode, go check out his blog at: https://www.fredrikharen.com/category/theworldofcreativity/blog/ If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

This week on the show we have Headlocked creator Michael Kingston. Headlocked is a smash hit indie comic made by professional wrestlers for wrestling fans. It's awesome to see Michael's booths at conventions because they are always constantly swarmed with fans. Here's some info on his smash hit Headlocked from www.headlockedcomic.com Nine years ago, I just wanted to make a cool wrestling comic. Something that was entertaining but that also showcased wrestling as an art form. As a lifelong fan of both wrestling and comics, I felt that despite the obvious parallels and crossover fanbase…no one had really done wrestling comics the right way. I created Headlocked, an HBO-style drama chronicling an aspiring wrestler’s coming of age in the wrestling business. And I pitched it to everyone in comics… and I was turned down by everyone…one dude from a major publisher straight up laughed in my face. So we just made them ourselves. I love that last line. "So we just made them ourselves". It's incredible to think about Michael starting out in comics at a time when nobody wanted to book wrestlers and to watch how he has influenced the convention scene over the years until now when wrestling is a huge draw at conventions.  Now, this show was recorded in February, before COVID, which means it might feel a little dated, but I liked listening to a time when we didn't have to worry about all this stuff, and we actually had conventions to look forward to, and we will again, which makes this the perfect planning episode for the future.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn.  How to build a world-class brand How to partner with celebrities How to bounce back after failure And much more. If you like this episode, head over and check out Michael's Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headlockedcomic/headlocked-tales-from-the-road If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Richard Fairgray has been making comics since he was a little kid, rose to became one of the biggest names on the New Zealand comic scene, and published over 200 comics all over the world.  When I found all this information, I was blown away, because I only knew him from his book Blastasaurus published by Golden Apple Books. He's produced a little bit of everything in just about every genre, and recently expanded into children's books as well.  Not only has he had a long career, but a prolific one as well. He churns out finished pages like Kirby in his prime. He tells a story on the show about how he produced a 180-page book in three months.  I am astounded by the level of dedication Richard has to comics, and I can't wait for you to hear from him.  Listen to this episode if you want to learn:  How to find your voice How to unlock the formula for comic success How to jump around genres and still maintain a rabid fanbase How to draw several hundred pages of art in less than three months How to make money in comics ...and much more.  If you would like to learn more about Richard's work, or reach out to him, you can check out his website at: http://richardfairgray.com If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Today on the show we have two guests, Andre Filip and Carlos Musquez from ELA Advertising to talk about how to effectively develop a brand and marketing campaign even if you are operating on a shoestring budget. Here are their bios before we get into it. Andre Filip, CEO & Founder, ELA Advertising Andre Filip is the CEO and Founder of ELA (“Everything LA”), a global creative advertising agency headquartered in Los Angeles.  He founded ELA in 2004 to capture the spirit, culture, vibe, and attitude of LA, where great creative ideas are born and where his creative energy and zest for advertising began. He oversees all aspects of the agency including creative, business strategy, culture, client service, and operations and has played an integral role in expanding the agency’s global presence for leading brands including TikTok, Disney, Easterseals, PepsiCo, Thermador and Western Digital.  A creative visionary with a strong business acumen, his more than 15 years of experience spans innovative campaigns for clients including HBO, Disney, Starbucks, Paramount Pictures, Universal, EA Games, NASCAR, Showtime, 20th Century Fox, ABC, Fox Sports and Bravo.  Andre also serves as the Board Chair for Easterseals Southern California. Carlos Musquez, Executive Creative Director, ELA Advertising Carlos Musquez, Executive Creative Director of ELA, is the creative lead for the agency. His deep agency roots at Omnicom under Alcone Marketing, saw him developing and designing best-in-class campaigns for major brands such as The California Lottery, Warner Music Group, Nestle, Logitech, LG Mobile, eBay, Sony, Diageo, and Coca-Cola to name a few. Carlos lives by the philosophy that an idea is only as good as its execution, and passion and craft are what turn good ideas into award winning ideas.  His work has been recognized by the Addy’s, Creativity, Effie’s, New York Festivals, Communication Arts, Art Director’s Club, and the Clio’s. In his free time, Carlos extends his love of craft to the world of home brewing, crafting ales and designing labels. I met Andre and Carlos through a public relations person and I’m so glad I did. I always worry about advertising agencies will not be able to talk to people who are freelancers or working on a small business budget, but they were both great. I think if you want to develop a brand, which we all do, then this is incredibly insightful advice. Listen to this episode if you want to learn: How to fail better How to find the discovery in the chaos Why anybody would care about your work Why you can’t be everything to everybody How to test your messaging …and much more. If you enjoyed this episode, then make sure to check them out at: https://www.ela1.com/about or https://www.instagram.com/elaadvertising/ If you love this show, please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.