Conversations with a Creator

Evan Whitehead became the youngest assistant superintendent in Illinois at 34 and spent the next several years proving it 10-to-12-hour days, unused PTO stacking up, no vacations, no pauses. Until everything shut down. In partial hospitalization, three words kept surfacing in every therapy session: balance, boundaries, breaks. He said them out loud, ended up facilitating half the program, and walked out with the framework that became his life's work. J. Ack and Shadcore sit down with Evan for a conversation about burnout, dual diagnosis, what COVID couldn't break, the moment Oprah's YouTube series validated everything and what it means to go from dope addict to hope addict.Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Evan Whitehead's Journey10:20 The Three B's Framework: Balance, Boundaries, and Breaks20:54 Navigating Mental Health and Professional Challenges22:53 The Importance of Mental Health and Mindfulness31:14 The Journey of Recovery and the Three Bs39:43 Creating Impact Through Authenticity46:56 Scaling the Message: Organizational Change and SafetyConnect with Evan:🌐 Website: Balance Boundaries and Breaks📱 Instagram: @balanceboundariesandbreaksCome kick it with us at Conversations with a Creator

Dylan Mixer has been drumming since he was five, discovered film composing was a real job when he noticed Thomas Newman's name on two very different movies, and has since scored feature documentaries, action films, built his own sample instruments, and started a synth pop project during COVID that took on a life of its own. He joins J. Ack and Shadcore for a wide-ranging conversation about the film scoring process, why the lesser-known composers deserve more recognition, what it means when music saves your life, and the one piece of advice for any creator thinking about going all in.Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 The Journey Begins: From Film to Composition05:00 Influences and Inspirations in Film Scoring10:10 The Process of Scoring Films14:50 Creating Unique Sound Libraries19:56 The Duality of Performance and Composition24:56 Channeling Emotions into Music29:46 Advice for Aspiring ComposersConnect with Dylan:🌐 Website: dylanmixermusic.com📱 Instagram: @dmix.music🎵 Streaming: Dylan Mixer on Spotify & Apple MusicCome kick it with us at Conversations with a Creator

Jaire Harrell started filming church services with a tripod and no idea it would become a career. Now he's the founder of Harrell Family Creative, a filmmaker whose work spans Christian music videos, a Pinellas County Schools commission, a Jamaican Patois short film, and a live album project for a nine-instrument worship leader. He also happens to be Shadcore's son which makes this conversation something different entirely. J. Ack and Shadcore sit down with Jaire for a wide-ranging talk about creative accidents, Black Christian identity, challenging the bar, and why the best work doesn't always come from the plan.Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 The Journey of a Black Christian Creative09:16 Inspiration and Influences in Videography18:05 Creative Collaboration and Flexibility21:43 Navigating Identity as a Black Christian Artist27:00 Current and Upcoming ProjectsConnect with Jaire:📱 Business Instagram | Personal InstagramCome kick it with us at Conversations with a Creator

Alessandra Levy is a lifelong musician but six months ago she made her first beat on a borrowed MPC 60 ii and posted it anonymously at 12:30am so her musician friends couldn't find it. 35,000 followers later, she's collaborating with Pocket Queen, talking to J. Ack and Shadcore, and planning a beat tape with zero sample clearances needed because every sound will be hers. This conversation covers her musical upbringing, her influences (Stevie, Donnie, MJ, Q-Tip), how MPC Chop came to exist entirely by accident, and why the most important thing any creator can do is get out of their own way.Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 The Musical Roots of Alessandra Levy11:31 Influences and Inspirations in Music20:23 The Journey to MPC Chop24:05 Embracing Vulnerability in Creativity27:53 The Power of Authentic Expression30:27 Building Connections Through Collaboration32:34 Influences and Inspirations in Music35:30 Navigating a Creative Career38:14 Future Aspirations and Projects42:44 Advice for Aspiring CreatorsConnect with Alessandra:🌐 Website: alessandralevy.com📱 Instagram, YouTube & Tiktok: @MPCChopCome kick it with us at Conversations with a Creator

Ray Billingsley has been drawing on a deadline since he was 12 years old. Curtis, the strip he dreamed up literally overnight in a rough Harlem apartment, has run in over 250 newspapers for more than 30 years, and in 2022, Ray became the first Black cartoonist to win the Reuben Award. J. Ack and Shadcore sit down with the legend for an hour-plus conversation covering everything from industry gatekeeping and the publisher who said "Blacks don't read" to why passion without discipline goes nowhere, and what's coming next, including a new animated project that will surprise everyone who thinks they know Ray Billingsley.Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 The Impact of Stereotypes in Publishing03:47 The Evolution of Characters and Writing Process05:15 Balancing Art and Education: A Young Prodigy08:34 The Role of Family in Shaping an Artist10:59 Portraying Father Figures: A Different Narrative12:54 Cultural Representation in Comics14:22 The Authentic Black Experience in Art17:13 Hip Hop's Influence on Art and Culture18:12 Challenges in Animation and Adaptation20:12 The Importance of Self-Publishing22:10 Influences and Pioneers in Comic Art24:38 Facing Industry Bias and Stereotypes27:01 The Birth of Curtis: A Personal Journey27:29 The Birth of Curtis: Inspiration and Dreams30:25 Creative Pressure: Thriving Under Deadlines34:43 Staying Relevant: Adapting Curtis to Modern Times39:29 Authenticity in Art: The Importance of Originality43:46 Engaging with Fans: The Value of Feedback45:42 Building Each Other Up: Community and Support50:59 Passion and Sacrifice: The Heart of SuccessConnect with Ray Billingsley: 🌐 Website: billingsleyart.com 📱 Facebook & Instagram: Search Ray Billingsley 📧 Email: [email protected] Come kick it with us at Conversations with a Creator

J. Ack and Shadcore built Conversations with a Creator for one reason to give creative people a platform to say something real. This trailer pulls from some of the most honest moments in the show: burnout that became a breakdown, music that pulled someone back from the edge, a woman learning to reparent herself, and the reminder that your best work doesn't require perfection. It just requires you to keep going.Connect with Conversations with a Creator: 📱 Instagram: @conversationswiththecreator📱 TikTok: @conversationwiththecreator