Making Ways

Heather D’Angelo used to tell her Au Revoir Simone bandmate Annie that going on tour was a pipe dream. The band, that went on to tour the world, release four full length albums, and take the stage at the Roadhouse for David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return, reached indie rock heights on their own terms. In this new episode of Making Ways podcast, Heather talks about her latest creation, Carta fragrances, and the journey that brought her from musician to scientist to perfumer.

Making Ways is back with a new episode all about Risk. Tune in for tales that offer advice on breaking through, getting uncomfortable, and leaping towards the unknown. You’ll hear from past guests of the show offering tips and guidance you can apply to your creative practice and career right now. Host Rob Goodman also shares the latest risk he took in his creative career journey.

Michael Stinson had dreams of becoming an airplane pilot, but his imperfect eyesight led him to an entirely different path, albeit one where precision is essential. Listen to Michael’s story of discovering a career in typography, his evolution from print to digital, and how he now trains students and companies like Disney, Facebook, and Mattel, through his program TypeEd, to better understand how to use type to design brilliantly.

Carissa Potter started out making greeting cards to serve as conversation starters for difficult conversations. She’s concerned and curious about the human condition –– the deep sadness, the surprise joy, the relationship muddiness, the everyday occurrences that make our days bright and dark. Carissa and her team, also known as ‘People I’ve Loved,’ run a popular site, have published books, and make goods in search of truths that connect us all.

Giselle Gyalzen, owner of San Francisco’s beloved art and gift shop, Rare Device, joins the show to discuss the critical decisions she made to follow her passion. Giselle moved to California from the Philippines as a teenager to attend college, built an accomplished career as a project manager for some of the world’s finest agencies, and switched gears midstream to support local creators and community with Rare Device. Giselle’s story is one of hard work, creativity, and constant evolution.

Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer discuss their path to opening 3 Fish Studios, the popular workspace and retail store in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. This husband and wife, printmaker and painter, dynamic duo talk about their recent sabbatical in Paris, and how good business planning and real connection with their community have been essential ingredients to thriving as independent artists and small business owners.

When Donald Burlock was a little kid and started breaking eggs to see how they worked, his mother noticed his curiosity and gave him more tools to construct and understand better. These early signs grew into a passion for designing the world around us. Donald Burlock joins the show to discuss his experiences working for IDEO, General Motors, and Coca-Cola, the leadership lessons he learned after running his own agency, and the qualities that make for an exceptional design studio.

Caldecott and Sibert Honor recipient, children’s book author and illustrator, Jason Chin discusses his path to creating stories for kids that beautifully combine science and imagination for grand results. In this episode, you’ll learn how seeking out a mentor changed the course of Jason’s career, the ways reading and travel play into his inspiration, and how a great tale need only rely on one central thing.

Sometimes in order to show the world who you really are, you have to see yourself first. Today we are joined by Solo an artist who has been rebuilding his life brick by brick through addiction and depression recovery and is ready to share his story. Solo discusses the early childhood pain that shaped his outlook as an adult, the serendipitous moments that took him from drawing privately to selling out gallery shows, and the rock bottom realization years later that would help turn his life around.

Muralist Nathan Richard Phelps discusses his road to a creative life, the vision that propels his work, and the practical dollars and cents of making a living as an independent artist. Nathan creates beautiful, massive murals that are intensely personal and vividly otherworldly. This episode is brought to you by Soothe (https://www.soothe.com). Get $20 off your first massage with code MAKINGWAYS. Learn more at http://www.makingwayspodcast.com and on Instagram @making.ways.

Theo Aytchan Williams discusses his path from arts advocate to dancer and now artistic director for Samba Funk, the non-profit organization focused on preserving and celebrating African Diaspora culture. From the first captivating moments Theo heard the rhythms of a drum, to the unexpected death of his mentor and the community rebuilding that followed, listen in for an amazing conversation on the power of family, music, and transformation.

On today’s episode we are joined by dancer, instructor, and coach Alicia Langlais. Alicia’s practice is about conquering your fears and overcoming the demons that are holding you back from pursuing your own path, whether that be as a dancer, artist, or entrepreneur. Alicia found her way back to dance after years as a school counselor and time overcoming the challenges of her early dancing days at the renowned LaGuardia Performing Arts School. Hear Alicia’s journey and conquer your own dragons today.

Artist and designer Mik Gaspay left the steady 9 to 5 twice in his career and has learned a thing or two about being bold and going for what you want. On today’s episode of Making Ways podcast Mik shares his journey, discussing his move to Palo Alto from the Philippines at age 9, his work at Colorforms toys, and the moment the band Built to Spill helped light the spark to his pursuit of an independent career. Mik also offers practical advice for navigating the highs and lows of the freelance hustle.

Today we are joined by the CEO and Executive Creative Director of Butchershop agency, Trevor Hubbard. Trevor’s path to becoming a design leader was unconventional… he went to film school, got fired from his first design job, left design school and later taught there instead, and came to starting an agency through his love of the action sports industry. Tune in for a great story, conversation, and advice on navigating your own creative career with Trevor Hubbard.

On today’s episode we’re joined by artist, curator, and director Brion Nuda Rosch. Brion discovered his love of art-making in the San Francisco creative community scene. He went on to curate art shows (even some in his apartment bathroom), make his own way as a painter by initially cutting up and recontextualizing his work, and breaking into the art world not through a MFA but by an unrelenting commitment to moving forward. Brion spends his days directing the studio program at Minnesota Street Pro