Culture Mashup. Exploring arts, culture, and people. Both locally, and around the world.

Send a textIn this episode, Scott and I bounce between bikes, motorcycle culture, and the design choices that separate a good machine from a great one. We wander, nerd out, and occasionally ramble—but it all comes back to why working with your hands, your head, and a little obsession still matters. Scott is a motorcycle builder, rider, and lifelong tinkerer who’s been modifying bikes for as long as he can remember. After a 25-year career designing products sold around the world—he walked away in 2022 to chase the feeling he gets in the garage: focused, energized, fully in it. These days his heart belongs to vintage BMWs (airheads, obviously), but he’s fluent in just about any machine with a solid foundation and a future.Hit play and settle in.

Send a textStrap in people —Thee Melanie Owens is in the studio. And yes, things get loud fast. If you don’t already know: Melanie is a Sacramento powerhouse—rooted in soul, gospel, and musical theater. I spend half the episode confused over “new R&B”, say prolific like it’s the only word I know, and confidently misquote songs. Meanwhile, Melanie stays cool, sharp, and fabulous. Among other things, we talk racial issues, the craft of background singing, and her amazing run on American Idol. Find her on IG @mrsmelo_79, and keep an eye out for her upcoming website with performance dates—because missing a Melanie Owens show should be illegal.

Send a textIn this episode, we sit down with photographer Tom Huynh—a portrait-maker who happens to work in fashion, but refuses to let the clothes overshadow the person. Tom’s mission is simple and bold: help people see themselves as striking, powerful, and wholly themselves. Whether he’s photographing politicians, actors, or one of the muses he loves to experiment with, his focus never changes. His work is rooted in empathy, intention, and a mastery of lighting. Tom’s story reaches far beyond the studio. A refugee from Vietnam who came to the U.S. with his family in 1983, he carries those early experiences into everything he makes—family, place, and identity all shape his vision. One of his most meaningful photographs is an intimate portrait of his mother in her final days, a moment he captured through overwhelming emotion and deep love. Despite his accomplishments and the big names he’s worked with, Tom remains quiet, grounded, and focused on the craft itself.

Send a textSacramento’s own Ross Messier roars into this episode—it’s his studio we’re in, not mine, and if you saw it you’d know it.  Ross handed me a whiskey I’d been eyeing forever and we got straight into it.I came in rusty, made a few gaffes, and might have committed an art-history sin by mixing up Matisse and Monet. We hit his childhood brush with comedic fame, music, cooking, painting, and every sharp left turn the conversation decided to take. It’s messy, energetic, and absolutely worth it.

Send a textIn this episode, we sit down with local artist Mike Blanchard. Mike moves seamlessly between photography, music, painting, and writing—each one handled with the same thoughtful, deliberate approach.We get into how his creative process has evolved, what he’s noticing in today’s media landscape, why hot rods still draw certain people in, and the enduring appeal of the Leica.

Send a textIn this episode I sit down with Vanessa Van Vleck — Sacramento artist, plant whisperer, and the creative force behind Superbum Plant Co. Fair warning: this episode gets real. We drop some swear words, discuss depression and suicidal thoughts… and then somehow pivot to talking houseplants, plant/retail culture, and the wild story of her husband taking down a guy before he could swing on a cop.Superbum, planted right in the heart of East Sacramento, is a fun, funky vintage boutique packed with clothing, accessories, art, and knick-knacks. Even better, it’s home to 16 local small businesses offering everything from unique handmade goods, jewelry  and a carefully curated vinyl selection. It’s a punk-spirited treasure trove — there’s truly something for everyone.

Send a textIn this episode, we sit down with Jamie Lee of Blue House Designs—a one-woman wood studio in Sacramento where craft, character, and a deep love of the material come together. What started as small favors for friends and family has morphed into a creative business. We dig into her process and the spark behind her work, but also digress into sexism, being a woman in a traditionally “male” trade, and a few wonderfully random tangents along the way.