Version 1

Cynthia Hauk is an artist, educator, and the founder of Mindful Creative Muse. Cynthia helps people reconnect with creativity in simple, kind, and realistic ways. She began using art as a way to move through anxiety, illness, and burnout, and that personal practice grew into work that now supports thousands of creatives and educators around the world.   Cynthia believes creativity isn’t about being perfect or producing more—it’s about showing up, paying attention, and trusting the process. In this conversation, we talk about creative blocks, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and how small, mindful practices can help creativity feel supportive instead of stressful.   In this episode, we talk about how mindfulness and creativity are linked, how she incorporates yoga into her practice, the mind-body connection, how she teaches people the business side of living a creative life, how to stop judging your art, and more.    Follow Mindful Creative Muse on Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/mindfulcreativemuse/  Visit Mindful Creative Muse’s website: https://mindfulcreativemuse.com/  Check out Mindful Creative Muse’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulCreativeMuse  Art as Mindfulness Workshop: https://learn.mindfulcreativemuse.com/art-as-meditation-workshop  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Silva Hrabar-Owens is the founder of No More Nobody, an independent London-based fashion brand rooted in sustainability, storytelling, and female empowerment. She creates limited-edition pieces using deadstock and leftover fabrics, championing ethical production and conscious consumption. Through No More Nobody, Silva is building a community that celebrates individuality, confidence, and clothing with purpose. In this episode, we discuss Silva’s upbringing in Croatia and London and how it impacted the work she does now, her switch from being an accountant to fashion, what she learned about the fast fashion industry that was the catalyst to launch her own sustainable brand, growing up with ADHD and dyslexia, why she’s inspired by the 1800’s, why it’s important to pay attention to the fabrics that touch your skin,    Follow No More Nobody on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorenobody_studio/  Check out No More Nobody’s Website: nomorenobody.com  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville   

Chavalia Mwamba is the founder of Pink MahogHany, an independent fragrance brand. She is a self-taught niche perfumer from Longview, Texas (by way of Dallas.) With a background in both music and education, Chavalia treats each composition as an alluringly intriguing song that takes the wearer on a unique, unforgettable journey.     Chavalia founded Pink MahogHany in 2005, when she began to notice the scents of once favorite fragrances changing without notice. Amidst these changes also came an influx of complaints from those whom she conversed with. Frustrations from an inability to wear or use certain fragrances due to adverse reactions such as headaches, rashes and other allergy-like symptoms placed urgency on her quest to create a line of products that gratify the senses without the addition of some of the less than desirable ingredients. Through her constant research and many forms of trial and error, Chavalia aims to educate and provide transparency, all while helping others feel more confident about using fragrance on their skin and in their space.   In this episode, we discuss Chavalia’s journey from a music teacher to a perfumer, why scent is so important to her, what phthalates are and why Pink MahogHany never uses them, the surprising parallels between scent and music, her creative process behind designing a scent, how she evokes emotion to design her fragrances, how she designs fragrances in layers, how she finds inspiration from music, experiences, words, and other unique places and how she translates those to scents, the unique ways she tests her fragrances, and more.    Follow Pink MahogHany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pink_mahoghany  Visit Pink MahogHany’s website: https://www.pinkmahoghany.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Amy L. Bernstein is an award-winning author, a former journalist, and a professional nonfiction book coach helping authors find their best path to publishing. She teaches writing and creativity workshops and brings an empowering message to writers and multi-media artists around the world. Her nonfiction book, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, won first place from BookFest 2025 for self-help and inspiration. In this episode, we discuss Amy’s writing career, why she loves storytelling, why Amy struggled with calling herself a writer, why creative people specifically suffer from self doubt, where self doubt comes from, how to identify and deal with your creative allies and adversaries, how to be a better ally, why women are affected by self doubt more than other identities, how to stop comparing yourself to others, how to shift validation from external to internal, and more.    Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amylbernstein/  Visit Amy’s website: https://amywrites.live/  Buy Amy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Wrangling-Doubt-Monster-Fighting-Inspiration/dp/1610886380  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Jessie Johnson is the founder of Life As A Strawberry, a food and recipe website that helps home cooks make food they're proud of. Her superpower is breaking complicated recipes and techniques into accessible, easy-to-follow action steps. Jessie grew up working in catering and community kitchens, and spent her academic career studying sustainable food systems and food security. Her graduate work at Cornell University focused on the stigma of hunger in America. After grad school, Jessie went full-time with Life As A Strawberry and never looked back. Today, Life As A Strawberry is a full-fledged food media company reaching millions of readers every year, with multiple verticals and team members in seven states.  In this episode, we discuss how Jessie’s background in working in food kitchens and studying food access and food security influences her work as a food writer, being a food blogger in the early 2000’s, how she turned blogging into her career, why educating her audience about food is important,  growing an intentional community, growing her team,  lessons she’s learned, how she’d like Life As A Strawberry to evolve, and more.    Follow Life As A Strawberry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeasastrawberry/  Visit Life As A Strawberry’s website: www.lifeasastrawberry.com  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Rose Bakewell is the founder of English scone company Mrs. Bakewell’s, and the author of the Lottie book series. An award-winning author with a deep love for history and a particular fondness for British history, it seems only fitting that she would launch a business devoted to one of Britain’s most cherished traditions. She founded Mrs. Bakewell’s after discovering Maryland’s shocking shortage of proper English scones. The Lottie book series was inspired by Rose’s daughter Charlotte and her wish to give readers that comfy-cozy feeling of home. She is a devoted mother to three beautiful children and two beloved dogs, Ollie and Lucy, who remain convinced they run the household. In this episode, we discuss Rose’s journey to becoming a professional baker, why she loves British history, what Americans get wrong about British scones, her timeless brand design, creativity in baking, how her business growth has mirrored her personal life, why she decided to write a series of children’s books, her personal journey in parenting, creating memories through her books with her children, and more.    Follow Mrs. Bakewell’s on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsbakewells/ Visit Mrs. Bakewell’s website: mrsbakewells.com  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Paul Pape is a TEDx speaker, author, and business consultant for creative entrepreneurs, known professionally as "Santa for Nerds." With 30+ years in the arts—including over 20 years designing custom props and experiences for Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon—Paul brings real-world creative credibility to his transformation work. Paul is the creator of Gamify Business and author of four books: The Creative Player's Handbook to Business, The Creative Player’s Workbook, The Game Master's Guide to Business and his latest book, Quit Selling Your Sh*t. His approach uses gaming frameworks and RPG mechanics to help artists, designers, makers, and creative entrepreneurs build profitable businesses without selling out to corporate business culture. His mission is clear: destroy the starving artist mindset. Paul proves that creative entrepreneurs don't have to choose between artistic integrity and real profit—and that the business side of creativity can be just as innovative and fulfilling as the art itself. Business is an Adventure, so don’t be an NPC. In this episode, we discuss his custom approach to building unique objects, all the modalities he uses to create custom items, his work in TV and film, why he can build items fast, his creative process, why you should sell yourself as a creative instead of your items, how to approach building a business like a game, what Paul’s “rule of 100” is, and more.     Follow Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpapedesigns/  Check out Paul’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_HqOy0Fn4YYW_aYjneS8g  Check out Paul’s Website: paulpapedesigns.com  Check out Gamify Business: gamifybusiness.com  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

It’s been a year since Version 1 came to life!! The mic gets turned on the host, Waverly, as she sits down with John Guilyard (from the first episode!) to talk about a year of podcasting, the lessons learned, the common themes she’s seen among creative people of all disciplines, which guests have intimidated her, how she helps guests open up and get vulnerable, how she wants the show to change and evolve, and how her life is changing this year (and involves going away for two months!)    Follow Waverly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wavescolville/  Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mynameisgilly/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Chef Serge Krikorian and his wife, Mary Krikorian, are the founders of Vibrant Occassions Catering, where they’ve served thousands of events and weddings. Serge Krikorian was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States with his family as an adult entering college. He and his wife Mary now hail from Benton, Arkansas. Krikorian is an alumnus of Henderson State University where he studied business earning his Bachelor’s Degree and met his wife, Mary. He earned his MBA from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. They founded Sergio’s Pizza before moving into catering, and also own Our Mobile Kitchen food truck. His southern hospitality paired with his penchant for developing unique international fusion-style recipes, especially sauces, has garnered his reputation as foodies' fan favorite in his community and now on the Youtube space for his cooking show, Cooking with the Kriks. They also host a cooking segment on Little Rock’s THV 11’s The Vine television show for the past several years making them local and beloved celebrity chefs.  In this episode, we discuss Serge and Mary’s journey from being one of the most successful independent pizza restaurants in the country to losing everything and finding catering, the tough lessons learned and how they had to reprioritize their family to get to their next stage, why they invest so heavily in their employees, the unique experiences they bring to their catering, how emotions play a role in catering, how Serge and Mary balance each other out being both work partners and husband and wife, how important mentors are, and more.    Follow Vibrant Occassions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibrantoccasionscatering/  Check out Vibrant Occassion’s website: https://vibrantoccasionscatering.com  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Devorah Brinckerhoff is a mixed media artist and transformational guide with over 30 years of experience who developed Soul Portraits - an innovative healing methodology that uses creativity to transform trauma into empowerment. RISD-trained and formerly gallery-represented, her life took an unexpected turn when protecting her children from sexual abuse led to complete family estrangement overnight. This crisis became the catalyst for discovering that creativity could fundamentally shift how we relate to our most difficult experiences. Her Soul Portrait process involves physically working with actual personal materials - old letters, photos, documents - allowing people to access embodied wisdom their minds can't reach. Now working from her Oregon studio, she leads workshops (in person and virtual), guides individuals to tap into and deepen their creative practice (virtual) and completes Soul Portrait commissions (virtual).   In this episode, we discuss what a SoulPortrait is, how people can use a Soul Portrait to work through trauma and other types of life experiences, the materials from one’s life that are used in Soul Portraits, why loss and grief come in many forms, how she taps into others’ experiences to create Soul Portraits for them, guiding others through their experiences and lessons, community building through art, and more.    Follow Devorah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devorahbrinckerhoff/  Visit Soul Portraits’ website: https://soulportrait.art/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com   Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/  Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Althea Wiles, founder of Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio in the Ozark Mountains, brings three decades of masterful experience to every floral creation. At the helm of one of the region's most versatile floral businesses, she orchestrates 75-100 weddings annually while maintaining a thriving corporate events division and daily flower delivery service. With a Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College and an Arkansas Master Florist Certification, her work has been featured in Homes & Gardens, The Knot, and Southern Living. A champion of thoughtful sourcing, Althea incorporates local blooms when available while maintaining access to premium flowers from global markets. She is a regular contributor to the prestigious Art in Bloom exhibit at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and serves as a respected mentor in the floral industry through her consulting program. Her approach to floral design emphasizes personal service and attention to detail, whether crafting an intimate birthday arrangement or transforming venues for grand-scale events. In this episode, we discuss why Althea fell in love with floral design, the beauty in having her art live only temporarily, how she finds creativity within constraints, which flowers evoke which emotions, the factors she takes into consideration when designing florals,how she uses emotional intelligence when being involved in events like weddings and funerals, how the floral industry and trends have changed and where they’re going, and more.   Follow Althea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseofsharonfloral/  Check out Althea’s website: https://www.roseofsharon-eventflorist.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Chef Corso is a classically trained chef and outdoor cooking expert on a mission to elevate the outdoor food experience. As host of Outdoor Eats TV and author of the popular Trail Meals cookbook series, he’s redefining how people eat outdoors through fun, approachable recipes that inspire creativity, connection, and adventure—one camp stove meal at a time. On this episode, we discuss his traditional culinary career before starting Outdoor Eats, how getting laid off helped him launch his company, why he loves the outdoors and backpacking, the factors he considers when developing new recipes, why it’s important to test all the recipes in different climates, cultures, and elevations, how an incredible outdoor meal becomes a memorable moment, starting his TV show and some of his amazing experiences around the world, and building a global community through his company.    Follow Chef Corso on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdooreats365/ Check out Outdoor Eats’ website: https://outdooreats.com/ Use code Waverly15 for 15% off your order! Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Tamara Dever is the creative force behind TLC Book Design. The TLC team has helped hundreds of authors turn their manuscripts into professionally polished books over 30+ years. A follower of Jesus and passionate about encouraging others, she combines expert design with thoughtful coaching and decades of publishing experience. Tamara is also the voice behind Totally Cool ’80s, where she celebrates Gen X nostalgia through her Ultimate Mix Tape music quiz book series, The Day We Found Yesterday picture book, retro merch, and a rather large dose of nostalgia.   In this episode, we discuss her process for designing a book, turning her high school freelance work into a career, how the front cover, back cover, and inside designs affect each other, the changes she’s seen over the last 30 years in book design, how she learns about each book without reading it, how writing vs designing books uses her creativity differently, the process behind her own books, and more.  Follow Tami on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totallycool80s/  Tami’s website: https://www.tlcbookdesign.com/  Tami’s books: https://www.totallycool80s.com/ and https://www.yesterdaybook.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

In March 2021, Irini was broke, fresh out of university, with no marketing prospects—thanks, pandemic. When a client found her on Upwork, she took the leap. But starting a business in your 20s isn't a straight line. There were years of uncertainty, clients who ghosted, and plenty of moments where she questioned everything. What kept her going was figuring it out anyway. Today, she helps SaaS companies cut through noise with words that convert—and her clients see 1700% ROI increases. But Irini's real story isn't just about the wins. It's about learning to build a sustainable business while navigating imposter syndrome, and realizing that the messy middle is where real growth happens.   In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind content marketing, dealing with imposter syndrome, the ups and downs of freelancing, discovering her passion, the importance of self-development, using AI tools, and advice for other freelancers.  Follow Irini on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irini.karatoliou/?hl=en  Irini’s website: https://www.irinikaratoliou.com/  Irini’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irini-karatoliou-content/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

  Dustin Black is the executive creative director of Preston Spire. Nationally recognized for his infectious art direction, Dustin crafts brand voices that cut through today's fractured media landscape. His career spans top-tier agencies including BBDO, Colle+McVoy, mono, and Carmichael Lynch, earning recognition from Clio, D&AD, Communication Arts, Cannes Lions, The One Show, Obie, Telly, and Effie Awards along the way. Dustin has brought his entrepreneurial spirit, (he wrote the internationally published, "The Book of SPAM" and helped start an ice cream company) to national brands like Perdue, Craftsman, Franks RedHot Sauce, Cub Cadet, 3M, MSNBC, Subaru, Jackson Hole Tourism, Purina, Hormel, Caribou Coffee, Blue Bunny Ice Cream and Tillamook Cheese. He also makes felt sculptures, one of which is on display at the Minneapolis Airport through October 2026.    In this episode, we discuss his journey to becoming a creative director, why curiosity is neutral, how he fosters a culture of curiosity, how putting himself in uncomfortable situations helps build confidence and creativity, why having a diverse team is crucial in advertising, thinking about your brand as someone at a party, creativity in constraints, why he calls his ideas “dumb,” how building felt sculptures helps him think, and more.   Follow Dustin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black_dustin/  Check out Dustin’s website: https://www.dustinblack.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

James Morehead is Poet Laureate Emeritus of Dublin, California, host of the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast, and has published several poetry collections, including "The Plague Doctor." “Tethered” was transformed into an award-winning animated short film, “Twilight in the Sculpture Forest” won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Poetry Film Festival,  and “gallery” was set to music for baritone and piano. He has been published in the Ignatian, Beyond Words, Citron Review, Ekphrastic Review, Loud Coffee Press, Havik, and others. James has performed in Patagonia's Poet Laureate Celebration, NPR’s Poetically Yours, and as Guest Poet at the 20th Annual Haiku Festival. In this episode, we discuss James’ journey into poetry, balancing a tech day job with being a poet, how he pushes himself to write even when he doesn’t feel like it, how his life experiences inspire his work, the personal experiences people bring to find meaning in his poems, how changing locations can help writers’ block, the different forms poetry can come in, what his role as Poet Laureate means, inspiring students to be multi-faceted as a tech professional and a poet, and more.    Follow James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viewlesswings/ Check out James’ poetry: https://viewlesswings.com/james-morehead/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Claudia Ruiz Vasquez Nooren is a Guatemalan-born conceptual designer, painter, jewelry designer, and founder of Arte Sano Design Studio. She was the conceptual designer behind the Boardwalk Hotel in Aruba, designing across, art, landscape, architecture, and interior design.  In this episode, we talk about the work that goes into conceptual design, her creative background, why she loves Aruba, how she uses color to evoke emotions, how she balances color in her designs, how she helps out vulnerable communities through art, why art is such a great form of therapy, her new venture into jewelry design and her new restaurant El Patio, and more.    Follow Claudia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artesanodesignstudio/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

  Suelyn Dankerlui is an artist from Aruba who creates beautiful abstract paintings. Her work can be found around the island of Aruba in many people’s homes and the Boardwalk Hotel. Suelyn discusses her process for abstract painting, why the northern part of Aruba is so inspiring to her, how changes in her life affects her work, how movement helps her stay creative, her twin painting project for the Boardwalk Hotel, the unique meanings behind her pieces’ names, why she loves getting lost in her creative process, where she goes when she needs inspiration, and more.  Follow Suelyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.by.suelyn/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Taki (Frank Kelly) is a private chef, forager, and artist from Aruba. Renowned for his seafood, vegetarian and vegan specialties, Chef Taki forages food and catches fresh seafood and prepares the freshest dinners with these local ingredients. He also is an artist and a storyteller on the island, and was featured by National Geographic.  Taki shares about his adventures in foraging, how he uses creativity to come up with new dishes and drinks, unexpected flavors, his life on the island of Aruba, his painting and other artistic endeavors, and more.    Follow Taki on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/taki_aruba/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Armando Goedgedrag is a visual artist, photographer, painter, and multimedia specialist based in Aruba. He’s often inspired by nature, especially Aruba’s nature. One of his goals is to bring awareness of the beauty of nature that surrounds us. Armando was born in the Netherlands and grew up on Aruba. After graduating high school on the island, his artistic journey led him to pursue higher education in the Netherlands, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Multimedia Design and a Master's degree in Animation.   His vibrant murals and artworks adorn various public spaces across Aruba, including the Boardwalk Hotel, Natural Bridge, Aruba Marriott, Hilton and the Renaissance Marketplace in Oranjestad, as well as the southern city of San Nicolas.   Through his art, Goedgedrag aims to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing Aruba and to inspire a deeper appreciation for its unique ecosystems. His commitment to nature is evident not only in his creations but also in his active involvement in local conservation efforts.   In this episode, we talk about how Aruba’s nature inspires him, his love for different artistic mediums such as photography, painting, and videography, growing up on Aruba, and the techniques he uses in his work.  Follow Armando on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artmando_multimedia/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Yvette Franken is a Dutch wedding and lifestyle photographer whose work blends a clean, editorial aesthetic with natural documentary moments. She prioritizes genuine connection with her clients and prepares thoroughly so her presence on the day can remain calm, unobtrusive, and focused. Her work has taken her to countries such as Morocco, Canada, France, and Aruba, where she consistently creates images that are true to each couple’s story. In addition to her wedding and lifestyle work, Yvette maintains a long-standing partnership with Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba, a collaboration that is especially close to her heart. As the hotel’s dedicated photographer, she safeguards the brand’s visual identity through her imagery, video content, and their social media presence. Working alongside the hotel’s small, all-women team, she helps share the story of Boardwalk, its heritage, and the island of Aruba, where she lived for several years. In this episode, we discuss her background as a lawyer and how she transitioned to photography, working with the Boardwalk Hotel, her wedding photography work around the world, her creative process, how nature, hiking, and scuba diving influence her work, her favorite spots in Aruba, and more.    Follow Yvette on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvettefrankenphotography/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Roy Szuper has been an independent filmmaker for over twenty years. His films have screened at major international film festivals throughout the world. A first generation, native New Yorker, Roy Szuper initially started working in live music production where he found the topic for his first documentary. “Concert Joe: A New York Story.” Szuper’s next short titled “Charcoal,” was based on an instance of racial profiling that happened to his own family in the days after 9/11. It screened in Cannes and Buenos Aires.Szuper’s first feature, “Gonzo Music Diaries, NYC” started as a documentary about subway musicians and morphed into the story of a music festival during the Republican National Convention in New York. Szuper’s upcoming feature, “Can’t Let It Go,” will be released in March 2025 by Indican Pictures and 7 Palms Entertainment. It features Sex in the City’s Mario Cantone and is Executive Produced by his longtime mentor, Academy Award winner James Ivory. Szuper’s work at The Metropolitan Opera was his inspiration for “Madhouse,” a farce about an urban opera company. Szuper has recently completed his first novel titled “Love Letters from the Abyss”, loosely based on his experiences balancing life as a single father and an independent filmmaker in New York. He is developing a film culled from the novel. In this episode, we discuss his life as an independent filmmaker, writing his first novel, how screenwriting and novel writing are different, how his experience as a single dad influences his work, working at the Metropolitan Opera, other interesting life experiences he’s had and how he’s translated them into films, his writing process, what he loves about being on set, his editing process and approach, trying acting for the first time, how his experience acting affected his directing, and more.    Follow Roy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royszuper/ Check out Roy’s website: https://szuperfilms.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Jenny Leigh Hodgins is a creative empowerment coach, music educator, performer, composer, poet, author, and longtime Buddhist. For 30+ years, she has helped overwhelmed adults, creatives, and caregivers overcome creative blocks, rebuild trust in their creativity, restore energy, and empower creative flow and inspired living. She integrates burnout recovery, practical strategies, and artistic exploration to support sustainable, authentic creative living. In this episode, we talk about creative empowerment, how to overcome burnout, her RESET program to help tap into your creativity, what creativity is and is not, balancing a helpful Inner Critic and a harmful one, how she incorporates principles from Buddhism into her work, how important boundaries are, why creativity is undervalued and what we can do about it, and more.    Follow Jenny Leigh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourcreativechord/  Check out Jenny Leigh Hodgins’ website: https://www.yourcreativechord.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville   

Laura Jaye Cramer is a Brand Strategist and Writer. She runs Cowboy Media & Marketing and its subsidiary, Waiting Room Publishing, which produces five magazine titles: Candlelight Magazine, Clarity Magazine, The Grand Life, Vital Years, and Gigi. Her work centers on print media for the End-of-Life and Senior Living industries. Previously, she worked as a journalist and brand strategist at several creative agencies in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington, but hails from the great state of Colorado.    In this episode, we discuss going from professional ballerina to a magazine publisher and writer, turning her experience of loss into her art and career, how she started her publishing company and magazines from scratch, the creative process behind creating a magazine, how an issue comes together, how she balances the content she puts out when dealing with heavy topics, how grief affects each person differently, her journey in grief, what she hopes her magazines provide to people, and how she treats and takes care of her mental health.   Follow Waiting Room Publishing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waitingroompublishing/  Follow Laura on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurajayecramer/  Check out Waiting Room Publishing: https://waitingroompublishing.com/ Check out Laura’s website: laurajayecramer.com Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville   

Lindsay Marie Morris is a novelist and journalist based in Los Angeles, bringing a dynamic storytelling voice to both her historical fiction and her nonfiction work. Inspired by her Sicilian-American roots, her debut novel, The Last Letter from Sicily, traces a World War II–era story of love, resilience, and family secrets that spans continents and generations. Her second novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars, returns to this pivotal moment in history, following a family divided between California and Sicily whose lives are forever changed by the war, forcing them to confront questions of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice. A graduate of Marquette University with a B.A. in Communications, Lindsay began her editorial career in magazine publishing. When she's not writing, Lindsay leads author talks and workshops on personal storytelling and historical fiction, coaches writers, visits book clubs, and interviews Italian culture and history ambassadors. In this episode, we discuss how she got her start in journalism, pivoting to narrative fiction writing, how she went from a short story about her grandparents to two novels, how her writing style is different in novels than articles, her unique publishing story, speed writing her second novel in just a few months, her favorite and most challenging parts of the process, and advice she has for writers who want to write stories inspired by their lives.    Follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaymariemorris  Check out Lindsay’s website: https://www.lindsaymariemorris.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Mike Sealy is a leadership strategist, coach, inclusive culture expert, and author of three books: Leadership in Action, The Belonging Shift and Mindset Unlocked. With over 20 years of senior leadership experience leading teams across global organisations like Microsoft, BBC, HP, and Informa, he now empowers leaders, learners, and dreamers to overcome self-doubt and unlock their true potential. As co-founder of X-INC Global, Mike helps individuals and organisations build confidence, drive inclusion, and lead with purpose. His book “Mindset Unlocked” is all about how to silence self-doubt, overcome Imposter Syndrome, and step confidently into your potential. In this episode, we discuss who imposter syndrome affects, why it doesn’t go away even after you accomplish your goals, why quitting can sometimes be a good thing, why “fake it til you make it” isn’t helpful, coping mechanisms, and more.    Follow Mike Sealy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sealymike/  Check out Mike’s website: https://xincglobal.mykajabi.com/rise-and-lead Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Whitney Dueñas Richardson is a marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of Global Sprouts, a children’s cultural learning company turning playtime into a passport. With a background leading digital campaigns for brands like ADT and Builders FirstSource, Whitney blends creativity with data-driven strategy to craft meaningful experiences. Her journey, from surviving a near-fatal car crash to becoming a mother and business owner, fuels her mission to help families raise globally curious kids through storytelling, culture, and connection. In this episode, we talk about developing curiosity and a global mindset in children, Whitney’s upbringing in Guam, why empathy through cultural understanding is so important, what goes into designing every Global Sprouts box, the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, why she finds travel so inspiring, and more.    Follow Global Sprouts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalsproutsbox/  Follow Whitney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitfromguam/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Lauren Remesi is a self-taught founder and creative director of Cut From The Same Cloth, a small independent womenswear brand based in Seattle, WA.  What began at her kitchen table, has grown into a made-to-order label that brings back the artistry to fashion. Lauren uses thoughtful design and small batch production to create pieces that tell stories and create statements.  Her work reflects a commitment to slowing down, creating with purpose, and redefining what modern, conscious fashion can look and feel like. In this episode, we discuss starting her brand Cut From the Same Cloth, the benefits of being self-taught in fashion, designing in 3D, ethical slow fashion, how she makes her made-to-order clothing, the important stories and meaning behind her pieces, and more.    Follow Cut From the Same Cloth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutfromsamecloth/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Melly Adkins is the mind and heart behind Merci Dema, a New York-based brand rooted in emotional storytelling, intentional design, and vulnerable luxury. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Melly’s journey has been anything but linear—and that’s precisely what makes his work so dynamic. After earning a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Melly went on to receive both a J.D. and an LL.M in Entertainment, Art, and Sports Law from the University of Miami School of Law. After practicing law, a car ride with his sister helped him start a spiritual journey that led him to starting his fashion brand Merci Dema. Fueled by a deep appreciation for people, music, food, sports, travel, and pop culture, Merci Dema folds lived experience into design, exploring what it means to feel, to fall, to remember, and to rise. Now based in NYC at 35, Melly is fully leaning into his creative aspirations, merging legal precision with emotional expression. Whether through a tear-shaped logo or a hoodie turned tote bag, Merci Dema makes space for truth, style, and storytelling—with designs that don’t just say something, they feel something. In this episode, we talk about starting Merci Dema after years of being an attorney, the one question his sister asked him that made him change his career, his spiritual and emotional journey, believing in himself, how travel inspires him, the intention behind all his pieces, his design process, why his clothing is looser fit, the balance between utility and non-utilitiy in his clothing, what “vulnerable luxury” means, and more.   Follow Merci Dema on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merci_dema/  Follow Melly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mel_ice4/  Merci Dema’s website: https://mercidema.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Madina Akavova is a design entrepreneur and founder of UNEVEN - a collectible furniture brand rooted in bold aesthetics, artistic influence, and business precision. Originally from Western Siberia and now based in Madrid, she brings a strategic, global approach to the world of independent design. Her work challenges conventional paths in the industry by blending creative vision with sharp entrepreneurship, building a brand that dares to stand out. In this episode, we talk about Madina’s start in the furniture design industry, how she moved from Russia to Spain, the challenges of launching her own furniture company, how furniture design works, why she loves asymmetry and how she incorporates it into her pieces, what parts of the world she travels to for inspiration, how she balances comfort with function, and how she wants to expand the UNEVEN brand.    Follow Madina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madina.akavova/ Follow UNEVEN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uneven.objects/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Taylor McKinnon and Aaron Haxton are the co-founders of Mr. Charlie’s – the irreverently joyful, plant-based fast food brand on a mission to feed people with love and purpose. Taylor’s journey from homelessness on the streets of Los Angeles to co-founding one of the most buzzed-about vegan restaurants in America is a powerful story of second chances, creative resilience, and community-driven impact. With Aaron’s background in visual storytelling and experiential branding, they built Mr. Charlie’s as a living art project disguised as a burger joint — one that makes you laugh, think, and feel seen. Driven by a deep commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and irreverent design, they are reimagining what fast food can be — joyful, ethical, and anything but ordinary  In this episode, we talk about how Aaron and Taylor met, how they created the concept and design behind Mr. Charlie’s, why eating plant-based is important, how they give people who need a second chance a role at Mr. Charlie’s, what it’s like working with your best friend, and much more.    Follow Mr. Charlie’s on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrcharlies/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Dana Gaydon is a Southern California based brand and lifestyle photographer with over 20 years of experience capturing colorful, personality-driven stories. Her approach blends color psychology, personality frameworks, and storytelling to create images that feel authentic, joyful, and impactful. At the heart of her work is a mission to help clients show up confidently through visuals that truly reflect who they are. In this episode, we talk about Dana’s love of color and vintage things, how inspiring Southern California is for her, how she color matches or color clashes, how she helps people feel comfortable and find confidence in front of the camera, how she incorporates personality types and astrology into her shoots, and more.    Follow Dana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana_gaydon/  Check out Dana’s website: http://danagaydon.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Jessica Richards is the founder of 12th house, whose focus inspires brands + private clients alike to explore, express, and identify as their highest selves through radical authenticity, vulnerability, and alignment. Working as a guide, Jessica leads her clients through curated experiences meant to profoundly shape those seeking deeper meaning and forge stronger identities through both style and substance. Jessica’s love of divination + the metaphysical realm have always greatly inspired her work; having incredible resonance now as she pursues new ways to present “what’s out there” to seekers looking to align with their highest potential, through spiritual wellness guidance + bespoke meditations and affirmations. Jessica graduated from Boston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, and has been additionally certified from the Fashion Institute of Technology. With an extensive career in fashion trend forecasting and design, she serves as a noted industry expert, featured across international media outlets, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, VOGUE, ELLE, New York Magazine, and more. Additionally, Jessica is a certified spiritual wellness coach and meditation + mindfulness instructor. In this episode, we talk about Jessica’s journey into trend forecasting, how she developed her interest in astrology, tarot, and spirituality, how she combines both in her work, trends she is seeing now and their historical tie to astrology, her creative process when it comes to styling and trend forecasting, and how to get started learning about astrology and divination.  Follow Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaxrich/  Check out Jessica’s website: https://the12th.house/   Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned full-time travel writer and entrepreneur. She’s a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and award-winning journalist. Jen has been featured by Forbes, The Washington Post, and named a Top Latina Travel Expert by The Points Guy and Mitú. She’s the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane and aims to encourage others to stop waiting and start living. We talk about how she balanced working full-time as an attorney while pursuing travel writing and content creation on the side, her processes when it comes to writing articles, blog posts, and books, the business side of writing, adventures with her new puppy, and how to stay focused and not compare yourself to others.    Follow Jen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenonajetplane/  Check out Jen’s website: https://jenonajetplane.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

James Barrett is a 2x New York City Marathoner, advanced certified merman, avid scuba diver, New Jersey native and has visited every continent as of last year. He’s a travel & lifestyle journalist with 200+ published articles seen in various publications such as Travel + Leisure, InsideHook, Redbook, Elle Decor, Veranda, Country Living and more. His weekly Jimmy Rox newsletter defines honest travel and shower thoughts with personal travel stories, itineraries and think pieces that’s grown to more than 11,000+ subscribers. In this episode, we talk about how he got started in travel writing, his creative process, how he balances work for publications with his newsletter, why travel inspires him, scuba diving and getting his advanced certification in mermaning, and why he walks 5 miles a day.    Follow James Barrett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyrox/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Dara Israel is a documentarian, underwater photographer, and freediving instructor currently based wherever her suitcase is. When she isn't underwater or working on her latest film, The Element, you can usually find her singing karaoke or curled up with a book. In this episode, we discuss how she got started in underwater photography during the pandemic,  why she loves freediving over scuba diving, the unique challenges shooting underwater presents, starting her underwater film production company, and the current film she’s working on.   Follow Dara Israel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daradives/ and https://www.instagram.com/onebreathdeepdocs/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

London-based travel couple Toti & Ale are the slowmads and creators behind Passport and Stamps, a platform built around authentic experiences spanning five years of adventures and 47+ countries. From chasing the sun around Southeast Asia to road tripping in Morocco, they share budget-friendly adventures, hidden gems and unique stories. In this episode, we discuss how they got into content creation, balancing their relationship with working together, how they manage traveling full-time with work, making sure their content is original, their experiences with imposter syndrome, and more.    Follow Passport and Stamps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passportandstamps/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Helen Zhao is a videojournalist who spent five years at CNBC making videos about personal finance and entrepreneurship. She reports, hosts, scripts, shoots and edits her own videos. In 2022, she quit her dream job to fulfill her longtime dream of traveling the world full-time for 1.5 years. After exploring 18 countries across South America and Asia, Helen landed another job in videojournalism, got laid off, and is now doubling down on independent content creation, covering travel, money and work. Her content explores what survival, success and happiness look like around the world. In this episode, we dive into Helen’s career trajectory, how she found the confidence to quit her job to travel, content creation, how to start putting yourself out there, and how she wants her content to have a positive influence.    Follow Helen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenjzhao/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Katie Scarlett is an illustrator, animator and graphic designer from Newnan, Georgia. Using vibrant colors and interesting perspectives, Katie brings a fresh way of looking at familiar settings. She typically illustrates scenes of home such as dining rooms and kitchens, and sometimes other spaces like landscapes and street scenes. She often incorporates the plants, furniture, and other decorations she has in her home into her work. Katie has worked with a wide range of clients including Microsoft, Urban Outfitters, Thrillist, The Washington Post and more. In this episode, we talk about how Katie got her start in design, themes in her art, getting past creative roadblocks, trying photography, and how she wants her work and business to grow in the future.   Follow Katie Scarlett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie.scarlett/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Aaron Nessel is the founder and one man show behind Bushwick Yacht Club, a Brooklyn-based lifestyle brand blending streetwear and community impact. Since its launch in 2020, Aaron has grown the brand into a multi six-figure business, spearheading everything from product design and digital marketing to guerilla campaigns and local collaborations. Bushwick Yacht Club is not just a brand for Aaron, it's a vehicle to give back to the less fortunate in New York City, with thousands of items of clothing and thousands of dollars donated to youth services programs, neighborhood organizations, and mutual aid groups. In this episode, we talk about how he started his brand Bushwick Yacht Club during the pandemic with no fashion experience, running the brand alone while working full-time, overcoming setbacks in life and how those give him perspective, going back to school after dropping out of high school, and how he makes an impact on the local NYC community through BYC.    Follow Bushwick Yacht Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bushwick.yacht.club/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Alexis (Lexi) Brown is a photographer, filmmaker, writer, and community builder. Lexi first was recognized nationally at age 12 for her photography, and has been creating ever since. She built her foundation in classical music, studying opera at Manhattan School of Music while simultaneously building a career in visual art. She’s worked with clients such as Vrbo, Polaroid, Fujifilm, Lumix, travel agencies, tourism boards, and many more. She has combined both of her passions into a directing career, with her first film “Sunny Side Up” in the festival circuit. Her sophomore film will go into production in November of this year. Lexi is passionate about using storytelling to evoke empathy and eliminate indifference. In her experience feeling misunderstood, she uses her unique gifts to guide others to a place of understanding and authenticity. In this episode, we discuss how Lexi started photography at a young age, how she built her portfolio, why she loves to travel, digital vs film, her experience directing her first short film, how her autism diagnosis affected her work, and more.    Follow Lexi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexibrownphoto/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Emily Pavacic is a Queens-based visual artist, dancer, and educator whose artistic career has been shaped by her dual passions for the visual arts and dance. Her love of creating hand-stitched art began with an unconventional drawing assignment while studying at Adelphi University. Upon graduating, she decided to continue her studies and earned a Masters in Art Education from NYU- the prelude to a 9-year public school-teaching career. Inspired by the human experience and deep connections, her work is often described as tender and intricate. While Emily no longer teaches for public school, she has maintained a deep interest in community work and teaches weekly volunteer ballet classes to her local community. In this episode, we talk about her dance background, how she started using embroidery in her art, what hands mean to her in her art, eco printing with flowers, and overcoming depression and imposter syndrome.    Follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilypavacicstudio/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

John Fabiano is the Founder of Wags Around The World, a photography project that explores the varying relationships between dogs and humans in different cultures. After working a career in sales, he left his 9-5 role to pursue his passion full-time. The project has taken him to 20 different countries to photograph dogs, including sled dogs in Greenland, herding dogs in Australia, and street dogs in India. In this episode, we talk about how being laid off led John to pursue his passion for dog photography full-time, teaching himself photography, adventures he’s had around the world with all types of dogs, making friends through his work, and overcoming imposter syndrome.    Follow Wags Around the World on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagsaroundtheworld/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com    Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville 

Anika Ignozzi is a self-made artist and fashion designer who launched Ooh Baby in 2018 at just 20 years old, after dropping out of college to pursue her vision. What began with a dream, naïve courage, and a clothing rack at a street market in Pittsburgh has evolved into a thriving brand rooted in creativity and self-expression. Each Ooh Baby collection starts with a painting—Anika’s artwork forms the foundation of the designs, brought to life through bold patchwork, vivid patterns, and vibrant color stories. Her mission is to create clothing that taps into your inner child and empowers self-expression through wearable art. In this episode, we talk about dropping out of college and going into fashion, how Ooh Baby has changed throughout the last 7 years, the advantages of being self-taught, and how she uses positive affirmations in moments of doubt.    Follow Ooh Baby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oohbabybyanika/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Jesse Kearse is a photographer originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He’s a graduate of Morehouse College, and has photographed musicians such as Anderson .Paak and J. Cole, events, and much more. His first solo show, “Nu Narratives” premiered in Manhattan this past February. In this episode, we talk about finding inspiration from movement and music, what his photography setup is, film vs digital, and what he wants to say through his work.    Follow Jesse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessekearseiv/ Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/ Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Ginn Choe is a bartender on Food Network’s show “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” where she crafts new custom cocktails and mocktails for Bobby Flay and chefs Michael Voltaggio, Brooke Williamson, and Tiffany Derry. She has over a decade of experience in New York City’s hospitality, nightlife, and cocktail programs. Since launching nightlife venue Chapel Bar and the beautiful fine dining experience of Verōnika, she has since launched a new cocktail bar called Era in Hell’s Kitchen.    Follow Ginn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginndoll/?hl=en Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/ Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Emily Roemer is a graphic designer whose work has been on the pages of magazines, totebags, food trucks, umbrellas, matchboxes, posters, and much more. She’s currently the design lead of lookbooks at Amazon, and previously was the senior designer at The New Yorker. She has a BFA in graphic design from Louisana State Univeristy and an MFA in design from the School of Visual Arts. She’s worked with big names such as GAP, Hulu, James Blke, The Smithsonian, Soho House, and many more. In this episode, we talk about learning design in college, how The Beatles inspired her, what her creative process is like for both clients and herself, why Taylor Swift needs her design help, and how we both adopted maltipoo dogs spontaneously.    Follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roemerdesigns/ Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/ Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Jack McGuire is a songwriter, composer, and sound designer who produces music under the names Wet Hands, Ranch Hands, and FCTRYDRM. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music (2018) and is originally from Ohio. Jack has worked on many different interdisciplinary projects ranging from live scoring new dance pieces, film scores, and immersive theatre. His work has been performed all over the world, from Lincoln Center in New York to Scotland, Australia, and Germany, and he regularly performs his music at venues and bars throughout the city. In this episode, we discuss challenges he faced while at Julliard, his songwriting process, and how he thinks about the visual elements of his music.    Follow Jack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wet__hands/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/ Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Claire Akkan (@​​claire.akkan) is a writer and designer based in New York. Claire has a background as a venture capital chief of staff and brand strategist. She is a Fulbright scholar and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Russian & Eastern European Studies and a B.A. in Humanities. She writes the Substack award-winning newsletter Cappuccino Thoughts and runs a sustainable luxury bag brand (@claireakkan.bags). In this episode, we discuss how she got started on Substack, not experiencing writer’s block, staying disciplined, and designing and repurposing vintage bags.   Follow Claire’s Cappuccino Thoughts on Substack: https://cappuccinothoughts.substack.com/ Buy Claire’s bags: https://claire-akkan.myshopify.com/    Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/ Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville

Anjali Sundaram (@cooking.4.1) is an NYC-based food writer and recipe developer, focusing on tips and methods for the solo chef. She loves to discover new flavor combinations and push the boundaries of home cooking, using her years of writing and videography experience to inspire people to love cooking for themselves. In this episode, we dig into how Anjali started cooking and developing her own recipes abroad, how she experiments with pairing different flavors, how she balances creating and working full-time, imposter syndrome, and how she takes the pressure off herself to always be posting that helps prevent burnout.  Subscribe to Anjali’s substack: https://anjalicooks.substack.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville