Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Bad Idea Social Club
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sara Pulver: Chaos and Whimsy | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:57:55 | |
Sara Pulver (illustrator, muralist, Dear Ollie) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about knowing who you are and building something around it. She gets into a lifelong love of tactile, handmade things that eventually turned into markets, a grant, and a stationery shop where she hosts her own work alongside over a hundred vendors with a focus on women and queer creators. They talk about tackling murals, life as a neurodivergent artist, and why the AI crunch might be the best argument yet for going analog. About finding your people, protecting your whimsy, and keeping the whole thing moving. —— | |||
| Luke Grill: Every Damn Detail | 26 May 2026 | 01:00:35 | |
Luke Grill (chef, restaurateur, sommelier, 1983 Restaurants) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about what it means to build something people can feel. He gets into cutting his teeth in some of the most demanding kitchens in the country, how dangerous it is to follow the crowd, and why holding his convictions is non-negotiable. They talk about the tension between art and business, building spaces that satisfy more than just hunger, and why the details nobody notices are exactly the ones that matter most. Keep up with Luke Grill: —— | |||
| Courtney Lauer: The Hurry and the Harm | 11 Nov 2025 | 01:10:54 | |
Courtney Lauer (graphic designer, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall and talks about survival, control, and the strength it takes to turn pain into something honest. She opens up about surviving and processing trauma, rebuilding identity through creativity, and using art to make sense of the things that don’t have easy answers. Keep up with Courtney Lauer: —— | |||
| Jacob Betts: Once a Vagrant | 04 Nov 2025 | 01:01:56 | |
Jacob Betts (singer-songwriter, The American Hotel System) joins Aaron McCall to talk about creativity as something to hold onto when life unravels, how grief reshapes how we see purpose, and what it means to rebuild belief in people when everything around you feels painfully divided. He opens up about faith, art, and the defiance it takes to choose hope over cynicism. Keep up with Jacob Betts: —— | |||
| Casey Lambert: The Other F Word | 28 Oct 2025 | 01:02:30 | |
Casey Lambert (independent pro wrestler, marketing director) joins Aaron McCall to talk about life in and out of the ring, how strength and vulnerability feed off each other, and how connection shows up everywhere from the crowd to your opponent, and the relationships that matter most. They dig into storytelling in wrestling, learning how to take a hit and keep showing up, and what it actually looks like to lead with empathy in a world that keeps rewarding the cruelty. Keep up with Casey Lambert: —— | |||
| Joy Rhine: Unhinged and Feral | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:58:03 | |
Joy Rhine (visual designer, photographer) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about keeping creativity in your life without letting it become your whole identity. She opens up about being people-first in a screen-first industry, why she’d rather build community than chase trends, and how confidence came from doing hard things like running marathons and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro “for fun.” From travel and fitness to design and friendship, Joy proves you can be wildly creative, wildly active, and wildly human at the same time. Keep up with Joe Rhine: —— | |||
| Mack Garrison: Everything in Motion | 14 Oct 2025 | 01:04:32 | |
Mack Garrison (motion designer, co-founder of Dash Studio) joins Aaron McCall to talk about ADHD as both a curse and a creative advantage, building a studio rooted in empathy over ego, and what happens when you decide burnout isn’t a badge of honor. He opens up about the lessons that shaped Dash’s first decade, from mentorship and community to leading with transparency when things get hard and what it means to keep the work moving without sacrificing the humanity behind it. Keep up with Mack Garrison: —— | |||
| Scott Katsufrakus: Castles and Sirens | 07 Oct 2025 | 01:01:16 | |
Scott Katsufrakis (founder of Flying House Threads, firefighter) joins Aaron McCall to talk creative entrepreneurship at the edge of whimsy and weight. They dig into building a Disney-inspired, punk-leaning apparel brand while working life-and-death shifts, the pressure of being “the face” on camera, and the mental health work behind staying steady. They touch on the role of community, the discipline it takes to keep quality high, and finding ways for a brand built on castles and monsters to also do real-world good. It’s about craft, perspective, and the strange balance of survival and play. Keep up with Scott Katsufrakus: —— | |||
| Taylor Matteson: Beautifully Odd | 30 Sep 2025 | 01:00:49 | |
Taylor Matteson (painter, experimenter) shares her story with Aaron McCall and discusses following creativity wherever it leads: painting, sculpture, and adding teeth to thrifted objects. She opens up about growing up shy in a loud, creative household and learning to embrace the unapologetically weird. From finding confidence through experimenting in her 20s to building a deep connection with animals in her work, Taylor leans fully into the strange energy that makes her art unmistakably hers. Keep up with Taylor Matteson: —— | |||
| Ray Anne Barker: Noise and Stillness | 23 Sep 2025 | 01:02:29 | |
Ray Ann Barker (painter, photographer, model, content creator) talks with Aaron McCall about anxiety as the root of her creativity, finding ground through photography and abstract painting, and how turning perfectionism on its head opened new doors. She opens up about modeling in her 30s, navigating motherhood, and creating space for community over competition in creativity. Keep up with Ray Anne Barker: —— | |||
| Colin Russell: Oops, All Murals | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:58:40 | |
Colin Russell (artist, muralist, Ghost Town) talks with Aaron McCall about moving from years in coffee to a life in art, stumbling into murals, and building a world in black and white. His work is bold, playful, and unsettling all at once—creepy cartoons that have made their way from Grand Rapids to Japan. Colin opens up about freelancing, anxiety, and what happens when the thing that used to be your outlet becomes the thing you depend on. Keep up with Colin Russell: —— | |||
| Virginia Anzengruber: That's Not Funny | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:59:50 | |
To kick off Season 6, Virginia Anzengruber (comedian, filmmaker, writer) joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about grief, comedy, and what it takes to keep creating when life gets heavy. She talks about loss, writing scripts that hold both humor and heartbreak, the grind of freelancing across film and TV, and the uneasy balance between survival and art. Keep up with Virginia Anzengruber: Tickets for “An Evening with Jim O’Heir” hosted by Virginia Anzengruber: —— | |||
| Mark Stein: If It Kills Me | 19 May 2026 | 00:38:27 | |
Mark Stein (artist, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to talk about what it takes to go all in on your work and the cost of pushing too hard. He gets into growing up on cartoons, punk and skate culture, the wake-up calls that changed everything, and why being a lone wolf will only get you so far. They talk about finding creative community, imposter syndrome, getting out from behind your desk, and why if it’s not hard, you’re probably not trying hard enough. This is a conversation about the slow build, the kind that takes until your late 30s to really catch fire, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to keep it burning. Keep up with Mark Stein: —— | |||
| BONUS: Social Media is a Lie | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:21:45 | |
This time, we’re talking about the mess of being online. From LiveJournal drama to influencer marketing and the existential weight of Instagram captions, we dig into what makes social media feel necessary, fake, addictive, useful, and totally exhausting. We ask big questions about authenticity, attention, and the line between art and content. When the algorithm is hungry, we keep feeding it pieces of ourselves. —— | |||
| BONUS: Starting Over | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:21:43 | |
This time, it’s just the three of us—Aaron, Joe, and Amber. No guest, no plan, just vibes and a theme: starting over. From lost files and ruined shoots to quitting jobs and creative resets, we get into the mess and momentum of starting fresh—when it’s your choice, and when it’s not. Technically, a bonus episode. Structurally, unsound—a freefall. —— | |||
| Jenny Hearns: Ghost of a Ghost | 20 May 2025 | 01:01:16 | |
Jenny Hearns (artist, graphic designer) talks with Aaron McCall about creative identity, chronic illness, and what happens when your body hits pause before your mind is ready. They get into creepy-cute aesthetics, the pressure to stay visible, and how she’s learned to make space for rest without losing her spark. It's the classic tale of a ghost, an onion and a perfectly reasonable emotional spiral. Keep up with Jenny Hearns: —— | |||
| Craig Horky: Dusty Old Man | 13 May 2025 | 00:50:45 | |
Craig Horky (illustrator, graphic designer) shares his story with Aaron McCall and talks about analog habits, unexpected upheaval, and the tension between making a living and making something that lasts. They cover brush pens, weird gigs, creative grit, and the strange freedom that comes with getting fired. Also, he really loves his cats. —— | |||
| Mitch Ermatinger: Where the Wild Things Sour | 06 May 2025 | 00:51:22 | |
Mitch Ermatinger (brewer/founder, Speciation Artisan Ales) talks with Aaron McCall about building a life around wild beer—then no longer being able to drink it. They get into the art and science behind fermentation, the gut-punch of a celiac diagnosis, designing what he can’t taste, and staying creative inside sharp limitations. It’s about constraint, reinvention, and what it means to keep making things—even when the rules change. Keep up with Mitch Ermatinger: —— | |||
| Rae Lang: Outsider | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:57:07 | |
Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop outrunning yourself. Keep up with Rae Lang: —— | |||
| Scott Millington: Real AF | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:49:25 | |
Scott Millington (photographer) has always had an eye for real-life moments—and in photography, he found the language to document them. Scott sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about how the camera gave him purpose, community, and a way to show the world as he sees it. From indie wrestling shows to coffee shops and protests, Scott shares what it means to document real life, connect with people, and stay grounded in your perspective. Keep up with Scott Millington: —— | |||
| Courtney Romero: Sunshine | 08 Apr 2025 | 01:01:59 | |
Courtney Romero (graphic designer, co-founder of Class) didn’t set out to co-found a tech company, but when the opportunity came, she ran with it. Courtney shares her story with Aaron McCall about growing up fast, chasing stability, and refusing to play the starving artist game. From agency life to ed tech, she’s made her own rules, learned how to rest, and found unexpected freedom in pole dancing, puzzles, and houseplants. Keep up with Courtney Romero: —— | |||
| Jon Bailey: Pour Boy | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:56:22 | |
Jon Bailey (photographer, videographer, and co-owner of Lantern Coffee Bar & Lounge) joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about reinvention, embracing uncertainty, and the realities of running an independent coffee shop. His path hasn’t been a straight line—from filming skate videos to shooting weddings to finding his place in coffee—but with grit, determination, and a willingness to bet on himself, he’s learned what it means to build something with intention. They discuss the challenges of leadership, the weight of responsibility, and creating a space where people feel like they belong. Keep up with Jon Bailey: —— | |||
| Mike Egan: A Brush with Death | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:47:36 | |
Artist Mike Egan joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about art, death, and building a life on his own terms. Known for his bold, macabre paintings of skeletons, coffins, and religious iconography, his work is unmistakable—equal parts haunting and approachable. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mike worked as an embalmer and funeral director, experiences that shaped his perspective on life and mortality. Keep up with Mike Egan: —— | |||
| AB: Make Them Move | 12 May 2026 | 01:00:04 | |
AB (DJ, creative) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about confidence, rejection, and how your sense of self evolves as you move through new experiences. He gets into music as both expression and connection, the push and pull of reading a room while staying true to your own voice, and how failure, fatherhood, and life experience shaped the way he moves through the world. They talk creativity, self-awareness, faith, the creative scene, and how to keep getting better without losing yourself in the process. Keep up with AB: —— | |||
| Jenny Berggren: Rawdogging | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:53:43 | |
Filmmaker and creative director Jenny Berggren (Wondergold Pictures) joins Aaron McCall for an unfiltered conversation about reinvention, creative freedom, and breaking away from the structures that no longer fit. From growing up making home videos to crafting stories through film and photography, storytelling has always been at the core of who she is. Jenny has torn everything down and rebuilt from the ground up—walking away from a marriage, leaving behind evangelical Christianity, and stepping fully into her queer identity. Now, she’s reclaiming creativity on her own terms. Keep up with Jenny Berggren: —— | |||
| Marcel Fable Price: The Poet and The Price | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:51:20 | |
Poet, storyteller, and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Marcel Fable Price joins Aaron McCall for a raw and deeply honest conversation about creativity, mental health, and the weight of grief. He opens up about loss, the complexity of love and regret, and how storytelling became both a survival tool and a calling. From founding a multimillion-dollar nonprofit to stepping into the deeply personal role of a death doula, Fable shares what it means to hold space for loss, transformation, and truth. Keep up with Marcel Fable Price: —— | |||
| Back for More: Sabrina Dahlgren, Jacob Rosenburg, and Mike Mains | 28 Jan 2025 | 00:58:07 | |
Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with singer/actor Sabrina Dahlgren (S3 Ep5), graphic designer Jacob Rosenburg (S2 Ep12), and musician Mike Mains (S1 Ep3) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps moving, and we’re here for all the stories about what’s changed and how their lives, creativity, and perspectives have evolved. —— | |||
| Back for More: Lydia VanHoven-Cook, Jill Deiters, and Edwin Collazo | 21 Jan 2025 | 00:59:15 | |
Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with Lydia VanHoven-Cook (S1 Ep1), Jill Deiters (S1 Ep5), and Edwin Collazo (S4 Ep1) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps moving, and we’re here for all the stories about what’s changed and how their lives, creativity, and perspectives have evolved. —— | |||
| Bailey Sell: Transfigure | 12 Nov 2024 | 00:59:05 | |
Bailey Sell (screen printer, graphic designer, Transfigure Print Collective) shares his story with Aaron McCall and discusses the love/hate relationship between creativity and time, the roles that identity and community play in creativity as well as queer and trans initiatives, and the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with building a brand so close to his heart. —— | |||
| Daphna Sebbane: Hell Bent | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:52:38 | |
Daphna Sebbane (graphic designer, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to share her story, discussing her multicultural upbringing and creative inspiration rooted in mysticism, tattoo art, and the occult. Daphna opens up about developing her distinct artistic style, prioritizing mental health, and the influence of music and travel on her work and personal growth. —— | |||
| Sean Cook: Golden Retriever | 22 Oct 2024 | 01:05:16 | |
Sean Cook (wedding photographer) shares his story with Aaron McCall, diving into his struggles and growth with social anxiety, the lengths he goes to capture meaningful images, and how his camera has served as a conduit, a security blanket, and a paycheck. And if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of two grown men with a friendly, yet petty, rivalry over the heart of their mutual best friend. —— | |||
| Mark Condupa: An Empty Chair | 15 Oct 2024 | 01:13:28 | |
Mark Condupa (songwriter, singer, writer) shares deeply personal stories with Aaron McCall as they discuss creativity born out of love and grief, the effects of trauma on creativity and decision-making, and the role music plays in our day-to-day lives. —— | |||
| Josie & Michael Herman: Characters | 08 Oct 2024 | 01:22:41 | |
Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman (actors, writers, podcast creators, Acorn Arts & Entertainment, The Call of the Void, Silvertongues) share their stories with Aaron McCall as they discuss collaboration in creativity and in marriage, the humanity and empathy that goes into writing and performing, and the perspective needed to take acting from a hobby to an art form. —— | |||
| Alyssa Pacheco: Mirror Mirror | 01 Oct 2024 | 01:06:49 | |
Alyssa Pacheco (poet, author, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the deeply personal nature of her work. Alyssa opens up about the influence of her family dynamics, the vulnerability in her words, and how her lived experiences serve as a form of discovery, expression, and a vehicle for creativity. —— | |||
| Joel Hoekstra: Bite and Sound | 05 May 2026 | 00:46:52 | |
Joel Hoekstra (cook, musician, owner of Meyer Music) hosts Aaron McCall for dinner as they discuss creativity, instinct, and finding room to breathe inside the things that matter most. He gets into the connection between food and music, how growth comes from pushing beyond structure, and how both create joy, healing, and a real sense of community when they’re done with care. As a music education advocate, he speaks to the importance of access to music and why it matters. They talk about creative freedom, cooking as expression, and the version of yourself that starts to show up when you finally feel at peace. —— | |||
| Nicholas Hartman: Macabre & Medicated | 24 Sep 2024 | 01:05:38 | |
Nicholas Hartman (painter, illustrator, Chapel of Ghouls) shares his story with Aaron McCall and opens up about his death anxiety as well as other mental health challenges and how those things present themselves in his work. Nick balances a macabre energy with infectious positivity while discussing the humanity of art and an appreciation for the darkness. If you or someone you know needs support, here are some mental health and grief resources:
—— | |||
| Leigh Ann Cobb: Awkward Art Kid | 17 Sep 2024 | 01:05:55 | |
Leigh Ann Cobb (photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss going from an awkward art kid to an awkward art grown-up, what it takes to keep her sense of self and identity in check, and the relationship between Leigh Ann and the camera, the camera and her subjects, and more importantly, Leigh Ann and her subjects. —— | |||
| Marley Soden: Good Bones | 10 Sep 2024 | 01:02:38 | |
Marley Soden (letterer, illustrator, muralist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss breaking off from agency life, her need for control in creativity and presentation, playing with food, and how she uses TikTok and Instagram as their own mediums. —— | |||
| Edwin Collazo: Sins In Booth 6 | 03 Sep 2024 | 01:14:28 | |
Edwin Collazo (brewer, business owner, City Built Brewing Company) shared his story with Aaron McCall and 70-something other people at City Built Brewing Company for a LIVE recording session to kick off season 4. Edwin opened up about how creativity presents itself, the life experiences that led him to open a brewery, and his relationship with his faith, community, and culture. —— | |||
| Amber Gray: Mama Likes Her Ghosts | 17 Jul 2024 | 01:00:51 | |
In this BONUS episode, we officially welcome Amber Gray to the Bad Idea Social Club team. She's a multi-faceted creative with a background in graphic design, creative direction, photography, performance art, and probably 20 other things. Amber shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss their history together, the bullshit that comes with progress, and what she's bringing to the podcast. And if you know Amber at all, you know we talked about ghosts.
Your well-being is important. Please take care of yourself while listening. —— | |||
| James Victore: The Weight Of The Chorus | 26 Jun 2024 | 01:05:50 | |
To wrap up season 3, James Victore (artist, graphic designer, art educator, creative coach) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they get into discovering your voice as an artist and a person, the line between creative block and being bored, and finding your way back to yourself after getting lost. —— | |||
| Dan Wiltshire: Left-Handed House Cat | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:58:43 | |
Dan Wiltshire (motion designer, Chop & Hue) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the energy that creativity gives and takes, catching influence from film and thin air, and overcoming physical and emotional setbacks to keep artful energy moving forward. —— | |||
| Steph Harding: Drinks Well With Others | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:56:57 | |
Steph Harding (photographer, marketer, creative nomad) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about chasing down creative ambitions, surrounding yourself with people who energize instead of drain, and turning the creative switch on and off. Over drinks, of course. —— | |||
| Jack Muldowney: Thirsty For Change | 05 Jun 2024 | 01:22:40 | |
Jack Muldowney (graphic designer, Studio Malt) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the intersection of design and beer, environmental and social responsibility in his work and his space, and identity as an artist/studio. —— | |||
| Curt Prudden: Comparison, The Thief | 29 May 2024 | 01:18:50 | |
Curt Prudden (artist, painter) opens up with Aaron McCall about using creativity as a tool for both expression and survival, comparing himself to other people and artists, and his story from his time in the military to solo trips of self-discovery. —— | |||
| Hannah Berry: Do Something About It | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:47:49 | |
Hannah Berry (artist, founder of Lions & Rabbits) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about community, creativity, and the work happening between the cracks. She gets into turning art into real community impact, building something without a clear roadmap, and why creative people are often the ones holding solutions that nobody is listening to yet. They talk about collaboration, economic and community development, the tension between intention and execution, and how slowing down, letting go of control, and trusting the right people changed everything. Keep up with Hanna Berry: —— | |||
| Lainey Yehl: Lose Or Draw | 22 May 2024 | 01:08:43 | |
Lainey Yehl (freelance graphic designer, illustrator) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss her crooked and colorful path to graphic design, the love/hate relationship with hunting down new business, and overdue invoices, and Instagram of it all. —— | |||
| Trish Hadley: To Be Fuckable | 15 May 2024 | 01:05:05 | |
Trish Hadley (boudoir photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the mutual vulnerability and trust in boudoir photography, the varied motivations of her subjects to be photographed, and the ability to pivot when your path feels wrong. —— | |||
| Sabrina Dahlgren: The Girl On The Bench | 08 May 2024 | 01:16:56 | |
Sabrina Dahlgren (singer, stage/voice actor) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the effects of mental health on creativity and relationships, exploring herself as a performer and a whole person, and sticking up for your time and energy to be who and what you want. —— | |||
| Derek Mohr: Die By The Grid | 01 May 2024 | 01:04:23 | |
Derek Mohr (freelance brand designer and web developer) shares his story with Aaron McCall over a few bottles of red wine as they discuss the influences of travel on creativity, balancing professional and creative responsibilities with extracurricular experiences, and how design informs web development and vice versa. —— | |||