PODCAST · arts
Origins: A Creative Journey
by DesignerCon
Conversations with the biggest names and best-kept secrets of the creative world, spanning across industries. Learn about their origin stories and how they keep going when things get tough. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. Hosted by Rick Kitagawa and Digital Noir Studios.
Episodes
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EP 48 - Building a successful fine art career with Steven Russell Black
Being a full-time fine artist and illustrator is an aspirational dream for many, and is a reality for Steven Russell Black that he’s created for himself through discipline and mileage. Steven Russell Black is a northern California-based painter who paints surreal figurative work that highlight…
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EP 46 - The Power of Asking For What You Want with Jordan Fuchs of Plastic Pizza
Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch an independent brand and immediately get a collab with Johnny Cupcakes? Jordan Fuchs knows, as he’s literally done just that. Jordan Fuchs is the frontman of Plastic Pizza, an art-driven brand with a focus on creativity, imagination, and community....
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EP 45 - The Drive to Find Success On Your Own Terms with Joseph Israel Raul Bullard
If you’ve ever wondered about the determination and confidence needed to come from humble beginnings and build a successful career in design, look no further than this conversation with Joseph Israel Raul Bullard. Joseph Israel Raul Bullard has cut his teeth doing design work for companies like...
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EP 44 - How to Build Your Creative Confidence with Diana Ling
Have you ever wondered what it takes to break into the competitive world of visual development? Vis dev artist Diana Ling knows, as she’s been there and done just that. With credits at studios like Marvel, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Hasbro, Diana Ling is a Los Angeles-based visual development...
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EP 43 - Balancing Technology and Humanity with Shane Stover
Do you know what MLB, Interstellar, and Avengers: Infinity War all have in common? They all have had fine artist, fabricator, concept artist, and illustrator Shane Stover work on them. Shane Stover started out painting sports legends while still in high school until he graduated college, moved to...
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EP 42 - Worldbuilding and writing with Wes Allard of Last Bastion Studios
What does Philip Marlowe, Space Godzilla, and Jiujitsu all have in common? They’re all part of the wide lexicon that writer, painter, and toy producer Wes Allard brings into his world of crime and luchador masks. Wes Allard is one of the founders of Last Bastion Studios - a Los Angeles-based art...
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EP 41 - Making comics and never giving up with Howie Noel
It’s relatively quick to read a graphic novel, but it’s much more time-consuming and difficult to write, draw, ink, and publish one yourself. Howie Noel has done this numerous times, while also balancing a career as an illustrator and caricaturist for an impressive slate of clients. Howie has run...
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EP 40 - Switching industries, valuing your work, and talking money with Julie Parrish
The pervasive myth of the starving artist has scared many people into pursuing careers outside of art, and Julie Parrish was no different. But through tenacity, some strokes of good luck, and a mindset of possibility has led her back into a career in photography and illustration. With a…
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EP 39 - Building a creative company from scratch with P-A Lesperance of House of Gog
Many people dream of leaving their dayjob to start a creative company. P-A Lesperance did exactly that, leaving decades of operations work behind to build House of Gog, a Montreal-based premium toy and collectable company that makes high-craftsmanship art statues from some of the world’s coolest...
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EP 38 - Changing career ladders and creative collaboration with Shih-Wen Lin and Kun-I Chang of Space Rabbit Studios
Many people strive hard to work their way up a career ladder - but what if it’s not the right career ladder for you? Our guests this week, Shih-Wen Lin and Kun-I Chang did just that, and then pivoted to building an independent art studio. Shih-Wen and Kun-I are the artistic duo behind Space…
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EP 37 - Fostering curiosity through collecting ideas and allies with David Mould
If you've ever been told "go get a real job," you’ll be familiar with how creatives are often devalued in the workforce and society at large. But it is still possible to be creative, have some fun, and have a career, and our guest this week, David Mould, is living proof of that. David has been...
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EP 36 - Creating for the love of it with Adam Griffin of Thirsty Thursday Toys
With all the allures of fortune and fame, it can be tempting to try and chase trends and do things that will get you noticed. But what does it look like to build something completely for yourself? Adam Griffin has done that with Thirsty Thursday Toys, a YouTube channel where he creates a cocktail...
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EP 35 - Being creative vs. being a Creative with 8pm
Generative AI image creation is everywhere, yet there’s still artists out there creating things by hand and building a brand around what they’re making. 8pm is one such artist. Known for his anime-inspired hyper-detailed illustrations and his runaway hit vinyl toy Jimmy, 8pm designs UX flows by…
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EP 34 - The battle between original art and fan art with Pancho Abalos
Fan art is a convention staple, but some say it can stifle your creative voice. Pacho Abalos digs deep and dives into why he focuses now on his original characters and how that sets him apart from the masses.Pancho is an artist and streetwear designer known for his graffiti-inspired styles that...
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EP 33 - Making independent comics and figures with Ben Seto of Black Sheep Press
Have you always had an itch to make your own art, but didn’t know where to start? Award-winning independent comic artist and toy designer Ben Seto will tell you to just do it anyway. Ben is the author and artist behind the Xeric-winning comic series “Usagi Jane and The Skullbunnies.” As an...
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EP 32 - How design thinking will change your world with Brian Flynn of Super7
Do you know what Japanese soft vinyl, punk rock albums, and shoe catalogs all have in common? Brian Flynn, the founder of Super7 will let you in on the answer - it’s design. From understanding the visual language of punk album covers to building his own design studio and working with clients like...
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EP 31 - How to make a movie with Courtney Daniels
Ever wonder what it takes to make a feature film? What about three of them, with a shoestring budget? Courtney Daniels, not only knows how but wrote a book on it titled Yes You Can - How to Make a Movie for Almost No Money. The writer and director of What Other Couples Do, Bedroom Story, and It’s...
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EP 30 - Building a toy company with Trent Slingshot of Hip Hop Toyz
Famous musicians can seem out of reach, but after years of promoting and managing artists in Australia, Trent Slingshot of Hip Hop Toyz has built relationships with legends like KRS-One and Wu-Tang. Trent is a bona fide hustler in all the good ways, and he breaks down his knack for knocking on...
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EP 29 - Building a designer toy brand with Connor McConnell of Abominable Toys
For many artists, having an immediate sell-out of a product would be amazing. It would be even more amazing to do it in high school. Connor McConnell of Abominable Toys has done just that. Connor is the co-creator of the yeti characters Chomp and Chomper and the owner of Abominable Toys, which he...
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EP 28 - Understanding trends and building a business with Brianna of Onicakes
Many folks want to run their art business full-time, but have you run the numbers? In this interview with Brianna, the artist behind Onicake, she does a deep dive into the business side of running a kawaii art business and shares how she got started. A full-time artist selling enamel pins,...
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BONUS EPISODE 2 - DCON 2024 with MONDO's Hector Arce and Peter Santa-Maria
Are you in love with Mondo’s toy releases as much as we are? Come check out what Mondo will be bringing to DesignerCon 2024 from the men who make it all happen, Hector Arce and Peter Santa-Maria aka ATTACKPETER. Hector Arce is the Senior Creative Director of Collectibles and Design at Mondo who...
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EP 27 - The argument for day jobs and creating from your soul with Sean Keeton
The goal for many fine artists is to do it full time, but what might be the argument for having a day job as well? Fine artist, video game art director, and animator, Sean Keeton explores the benefits of keeping the day job while making incredibly personal work. A Los-Angeles based gallery artist...
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EP 26 - Balancing vulnerability, social media, art, and capitalism with Skinner
With the sea of social media hype, the pressures of capitalism, and unprocessed trauma, it’s difficult to not only find your authentic voice, but also make a living doing so. Skinner is a visual artist, writer, filmmaker, installation and muralist, and all-around super monster artist. With work...
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EP 25 - Focus and iterative growth with Elliot Garnett
Ever thought about starting your own creative business? Ever consider the ups and down and personal discipline needed? Elliot Garnett is the mastermind behind Centerpoint Studios, a full-time custom miniature and diorama studio. Always a showstopper at various conventions around the country with...
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BONUS EPISODE - DCON 2024 with Kevin Cao
Ever wonder how DesignerCon grew into what it is today? Come meet Kevin Cao, the co-founder of DesignerCon and collector extraordinaire. In this special episode, Kevin shares his origin story as a collector and entrepreneur, as well as the lowdown on what to expect for this year's DesignerCon for...
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EP 24 - Embracing your uniqueness and finding your voice with Kria Lindquist
Have you ever thought what it would be like to make art of all your worst moments and hidden traumas? Kria Lindquist got started making art as a means to exorcize her demons, and eventually led her to the path of being a full-time fine artist. As a visual artist who is a staple at dark art…
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EP 23 - Career success vs creative freedom with Critical Buildz / Asako Sauz and Paul Evangelista
Do you dream of having millions of people wear something you designed? Or working on some of the top anime of all time? What if it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be? The dynamic duo of Asako Sauz and Paul Evangelista have huge credits to their name, but are also setting out on their own to carve...
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EP 22 - The evolution of an fine art career with Mark Dean Veca
What does it mean to build a sustainable fine art career? Mark Dean Veca has done just that over the past few decades, working with brands like Nike and The Hundreds as well as legendary rock bands like Pearl Jam, Primus, and Ween. With a career spanning back to the 90’s, Mark’s recognizable…
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EP 21 - Learning how to choose yourself with Michael Lewarne of unmeasured
Do you have what it takes to leave your job or change professions? Michael Lewarne is an architect, coach, and installation artist who understands fear, decision making, and how to choose himself. With a 30-year career in architecture, Michael has pivoted from designing buildings to helping other...
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EP 20 - Building an apparel brand with Alex Louie of Story Spark
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it takes to start your own apparel / t-shirt company, this is the episode to listen to. In this episode, we talk with Alex Louie of Story Spark, a graphic designer who built a career as a web designer and since pivoted to co-founding Story Spark. Alex has a...
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EP 19 - Creativity as problem solving with Andrew Davis of Dodecadonuts
Andrew Davis is a creative director, marketer, woodworker, and Dungeons & Dragons GM that has rolled (pun intended) all his interests into one Dodecadonuts - where he sells handcrafted donut dice containers. With over two decades of experience in advertising and design, Andrew shares his journey...
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EP 18 - Authenticity, creativity, and the merging of art and science with Emma Bolz
If you’ve ever struggled with the tension between a job you struggle with and what pulls you with every fiber of your being, you’ll gain a lot from this conversation with Emma Bolz. Emma is a young designer who brings an incredible amount of thoughtfulness, maturity, and intellectual rigor to the...
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EP 17 - The power of brand and discipline with Chris Maze
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a successful career in branding, design, AND illustration, you definitely need to listen to this masterclass with Chris Maze. Chris masterfully juggles two jobs - his day job as a Creative Director specializing in brand development who works with...
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EP 16 - Being steady and putting in the work with kaNO
Have you wondered what it takes to hang in multiple industries ranging from graffiti to animation to toy design to streetwear? kaNO’s done it, and that’s who we’re talking to this week! kaNO is an art hustler extraordinaire, whose multidisciplinary roles and iconic style takes him around the…
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EP 15 - Building new worlds with Fixed Temple Toys
If you’ve ever looked at a project’s deep world building and wondered what inspired it, check out this conversation with Colton Houser of Fixed Temple Toys. Colton is the mastermind behind the Glorbles, ectoplasmic shape shifting entities bent on taking over the world, and the AOA, the last…
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EP 14 - Building a Creative Community and Career with Ari Bean Things
If you’ve ever wondered how to get started streaming your art and building a community, come listen to the blueprint that Ari Bean Things shares in this fun and lively conversation. Ari is a multidisciplinary artist who makes her living crafting, illustrating, and streaming her process on Twitch....
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EP 13- The Power of Community and Optimism with Hyperactive Monkey’s Jerome Lu
If you’ve ever thought about making your own toy, or trying to break into the toy industry, you’ve got to listen to this conversation with the creator of Hyperactive Monkey, Jerome Lu. Jerome works by day for clients like Hasbro, Super7, Nice Kicks, and Spin Master, and builds the world of...
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EP12 - Writing Legendary Characters with Tom DeFalco
If you’ve read any Marvel comics in the 90’s, there is a strong likelihood that you’re familiar with Tom DeFalco, one of Marvel’s longest running editors-in-chief. Besides helping Hasbro launch the GI Joe mythos of the 80’s, he’s also written stories for Spider-Man, Archie, the Fantastic Four,...
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EP 11 - Choosing Your Environment with Susel Aleman
Ever feel like someplace else might suit you better? What does it take to move countries twice before finding the place that feels right for you? Find out in this conversation with industrial designer and visual development artist Susel Aleman. Susel Aleman didn’t start taking art seriously until...
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EP 10 - Professional Artist Masterclass with Stephen Silver
If you’ve ever wanted to draw faster or learn what it takes to make it in the animation industry, this conversation with character designer and academy founder Stephen Silver is a must-listen. Stephen Silver has worked with some of the biggest animation studios in the world as a lead character...
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EP 09 - Chasing rejection to find success with The Obanoth / Hannah Webb
If you've ever told yourself "You're not ready" for an opportunity, you've got to listen to this conversation with illustrator, muralist, and acrylic painter The Obanoth. The Obanoth, aka Hannah Webb, is a full-time artist with a huge social media following and multiple brand sponsorships. Her...
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EP 08 - Charting Your Own Course - Margarita Monet of Edge of Paradise
How do you weave together a background in theater, visual art, costume design, and music to chart your own course as a certified rockstar? Find out in this conversation with Margarita Monet, the singer/pianist behind the cinematic rock act Edge of Paradise. Margarita Monet and Edge of Paradise…
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EP 07 - Courage and Resilience as a Multi-hyphenate Creator with Ruby Roth
What does it look like to shed an identity after building up a public persona for a decade and getting on CNN, Fox, and the Today show? Ruby Roth won awards as a best-selling children's book author-illustrator, then made a major pivot into figurative art that alienated her past audience. Ruby's...
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EP 06 - Making Monsters with Mile High Sofubi
Recorded originally the week before DCON 2023, we're excited to bring you this convo with Paul Schiola, the sofubi man himself behind Mile High Sofubi. Paul shares about the blood, sweat, and tears that (literally) goes into making toys for many of DesignerCon's creators, and his year-long…
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Ep 05 - Envisioning Innovation - Mike Pell
We are honored to share this conversation with author, envisioneer, innovator, and futurist, Mike Pell. Mike Pell's origin story spans from design to creating the pdf (yes, the file type) to building and leading The Microsoft Garage - Microsoft's worldwide innovation program. Mike brings his...
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Ep 04 - Resilience Through Changing Industries - Phil Mucci
We are super excited to share this conversation with an award-winning, multidisciplinary creator Phil Mucci of Diabolik, LLC. Phil's origin story weaves through multiple industries from billboards in Times Square to music videos with Metallica to horror films to comic books. He shares stories of...
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Ep 2 - Authentic Inspiration and Creativity - Wonder Goblin / James Sizemore
We are super excited to share this conversation with one of the greatest influences in the modern sofubi scene - James Sizemore of Wonder Goblin Toys and Vinyl Wonder Paint. James has changed the landscape for soft vinyl toy painters by making an affordable, accessible paint that opened the doors...
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Ep 1 - Creativity Explained - John S. Couch
Welcome to the first episode of Origins: A Creative Journey. We are honored and so excited to bring you this conversation with John S. Couch, a multidisciplinary artist, designer, author, and creative director. John's origin story is a masterclass in creativity. Join us as he breaks down some...
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Ep 3 - The Intersection of Entrepreneurship & Art - Mr. Cookie / Michael Cook
Today we are excited to share the origin story of Mr. Cookie aka Michael Cook. Michael is an artist and tech entrepreneur seeking to empower freelancers and creators to better leverage their networks and relationships in a world shifting into a gig economy. In this conversation, Michael shares…
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Coming on December 15th, 2023 - Origins: A Creative Journey
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Conversations with the biggest names and best-kept secrets of the creative world, spanning across industries. Learn about their origin stories and how they keep going when things get tough. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. Hosted by Rick Kitagawa and Digital Noir Studios.
HOSTED BY
DesignerCon
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Origins: A Creative Journey have?
Origins: A Creative Journey currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Origins: A Creative Journey about?
Conversations with the biggest names and best-kept secrets of the creative world, spanning across industries. Learn about their origin stories and how they keep going when things get tough. New episodes drop every 2 weeks. Hosted by Rick Kitagawa and Digital Noir Studios.
How often does Origins: A Creative Journey release new episodes?
Origins: A Creative Journey has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Origins: A Creative Journey?
You can listen to Origins: A Creative Journey on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Origins: A Creative Journey?
Origins: A Creative Journey is created and hosted by DesignerCon.
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