Products Of The Mind: A Conversation About The Intersection Of Business + Creativity

Welcome to Episode 36 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with artist Susie Ghahremani. “I remember most being afraid about the idea of living with other people…You spend a lot of time alone if you’re an artist because that’s what’s required to make things, you have to spend time alone. So the idea being around other people and so many people 24-hour days in a dorm context was terrifying to me.” On today’s show I sit down with Susie Ghahremani, artist and owner of boygirlparty.com. Susie takes us back to her childhood as the introverted artistic kid and narrates her story up to her current life as an artist and small business owner. We’ll hear about some of the struggles that may sound familiar to other artsy types: introversion, social awkwardness, and general struggles of growing up “in one’s own head.” We’ll also learn about what it’s like for an artist to be at art school, and how it might be harder than typical schools and programs. Like many artists, Susie has a passion for music. Since bo

Welcome to Episode 35 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Barry Edelstein, the Artistic Director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theater. “I tell young people who ask me all the time ‘what do you recommend?’ my answer is two things. Either just go with it and be as open as you can about every door that might open up in front of you, or fashion for yourself the most specific possible vision that you can of what you might want your life to be and make it happen.” Today’s episode is a great discussion with author, scholar, and artistic director of The Old Globe Theater, Barry Edelstein. Barry is a Shakespeare expert, educator, and director of some of the Bard’s most notable work. Barry talks about growing up immersed in theater and developing a love for the art and particularly Shakespeare. Originally set on acting, Barry learned he had a special talent for directing and production, and this talent allowed him to focus on doing what he loved without sacrificing his values. Now Barry is able to combin

Welcome to Episode 34 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Karina Longworth, historian, author, and host of the You Must Remember This podcast. “I was looking for a way to do what I felt like I should be doing and what I could be doing, but I couldn’t really find the right format. When I started thinking about this podcast and sort of hearing what it would sound like in my head, I was pushed to this point where I felt like I really had to make something and I had to give it a try. “ Today’s show features the host of the You Must Remember This podcast: Karina Longworth. Karina’s interest in Old Hollywood might be obvious to listeners of her show, but less well-known is the history that preceded the top-ranked podcast. Karina grew up in L.A., albeit with relatively minimal exposure to Hollywood. She developed a passion for writing and criticism with a focus on classic movies and television. Karina discusses her struggles in finding the right niche in academia and the job market challenges in a

Welcome to Episode 33 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Yash Nelapati, the first engineer hired at Pinterest. “It’s just fun conversing with people, learning their story, what inspired them, what brought them here; Stories always inspire me.” Whether a startup or big business, sometimes you just need a little luck to get things going. Yash tells us about his entrance into the tech industry after college, and how just being in the right places at the right times provided him with a noteworthy opportunity with a tiny startup called Pinterest. Yash recalls some perhaps familiar hurdles for startups such as funding, finding a target market, and getting calls at midnight to fix things. This story is a great example of how a small no-name company can strike it big when the right people are behind the scenes (with a little luck, of course.) All this and more today with Yash Nelapati. Links from today’s episode: Yash’s Pinterest Page Yash’s LinkedIn Yash is @yashh on Twitter Yash’s blog Thanks

Welcome to Episode 32 of Products of the Mind. On thisepisode, I speak with entrepreneurial business strategist andfull-time dad, Joon Han.“Social entrepreneurs are going to love this bookbecause it’s right up their alley; but, there are five differentbusiness models to use generosity, and social entrepreneurship isjust one of them.”Do you struggle with the 9 to 5? Is “working for the man” notyour thing? Do you feel the entrepreneurial spirit within, butremain unsure as to how to harness that energy?Today we listen to Joon Han, a process-oriented entrepreneur whostruggled with the same questions before finding hisentrepreneurial niche. We’ll learn about Joon’s struggles in thenon-profit world, trying to have meaningful employment whileraising a family; and how that experience helped push him towardshis entrepreneurial self.Joon discusses meaningful work and his secret to figuring outwhat kind of work someone can enjoy and be successful at. As aprocess-oriented person, Joon first devised a process to figure ou

Welcome to Episode 31 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Randy Smith. “I think underneath every journalist is this feeling that by shedding light on an entire situation, you make life a little bit better for the community and help the community move forward in a progressive and enlightened way." The focus of today’s talk is the importance of journalism with Professor Randy Smith. Randy’s recollection of the history of journalism, and the development and transformation of investigative reporting over time is quite interesting and informative. Have you heard of the Hyatt Skyway Collapse of 1979? I hadn’t. Randy recalls the scene of the tragedy and describes both the event and the journalistic aftermath that led him and his staff to win the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for spot news reporting…a news report that likely prevented countless future tragedies. Randy also reports on his own childhood and upbringing that led him to journalism. He briefly recalls the turmoil

Welcome to Episode 30 of Products of the Mind. In this episode, I provide a brief intro to the often misunderstood concept in copyright law known as "Fair Use." What are the factors, and how do you know if your use is fair? If you need a refresher on copyrights in general, check out Products of the Mind Episode 5, “What Is a Copyright?” This Episode Includes A brief review of copyright. Copyright law vs. the First Amendment. How do you "claim" Fair Use? The Four Factors of Fair Use. Important Fair Use Cases. The future of Fair Use. In future episodes, I’ll discuss trade secrets and other intellectual property related topics. If there was anything in this episode that wasn’t perfectly clear, or something you’d like me to expand on, please let me know. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating f

Welcome to Episode 29 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Amy Burvall: teacher, mother, artist, learning expert, and creative guru. “Making your thinking visible is one of the most crucial things you can do. If creativity is about dot connecting, you have to have the dots in order to connect them. You have to collect your dots and you have to put them somewhere, and you have to be able to access them…Education has always been about giving kids those dots.” Do you get completely worthless around 3pm? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! On today’s episode I chat with Amy Burvall, an artist, educator, and creative mastermind. We travel to the depths of creativity, leaving no creative stone unturned. Amy shares with us how she is transforming the classroom with her creative innovations geared toward actually educating and developing students. We’ll also discuss technology, new ways to be creative (including seeing everyday things in unique ways), remix culture, Oblique Strategies, “wonderlust,” cur

Welcome to Episode 28 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with lover of facts and all things interesting Gordon Javna from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader. It’s story time today with “Uncle John” of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader. The Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader books have been helping people cure boredom during those (hopefully not too tough) times in the bathroom since 1987. Filled with short stories, facts, and interesting articles, the Bathroom Readers are family appropriate and suitable for nearly all readers. But where do these facts and stories come from? In fact, where did this idea for a bathroom reader come from? In this episode, Gordon explains the history of the Bathroom Reader (including who the heck is “Uncle John”). An entrepreneur in his own right, Gordon discusses his many ventures before taking over the Bathroom Reader, including careers in music, real estate, and the craft beer business. We’ll get insights on naming the book, developing the style and concept, and dealing with publ

Welcome to Episode 27 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with sports writer, activist, and A’s fan Christina Kahrl. “My entree into the game initially as a fan was pretty much the same kind of experience as my great grandfather’s. I was listening to a lot of ball games on the radio, I was getting my information on how the A’s did the night before through box-scores, and I was not getting to see my team on television very often if at all. I was not getting to consume information in the ways that we take for granted today.” “I was very fortunate because a lot of people responded very positively. So on that level that was perhaps the truly extraordinary experience I had in coming out as the first trans sports writer.“ “Trans kids who want to play sports are just kids. Trans people who are your teammates are just teammates; and in the same way you shouldn’t get hung up on questions of race or religion, gender and sexuality also really shouldn’t matter. You define people by their qualities, not by t

Welcome to Episode 26 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with journalist, Chief Film Critic of the New York Times, and author: A. O. Scott. “The point of real criticism I think is to move beyond just the statement of opinion, which isn’t necessarily very helpful to anyone, and turn your opinion into something useful, into an argument that people can grapple with.” Today we chat with Tony Scott: a film critic for the New York Times and author of Better Living Through Criticism. Tony talks a bit about the role of print vs online journalism as they relate to criticism; what goes on in a writer’s head; and the perceptions a critic might have of a popular hit movie. What is criticism? Have there always been critics? Will there always be critics? What impact might criticism have on the thing being criticized? Tony fills us in on the unique role of criticism, and the interesting dynamics between criticism and film versus television. Is it possible Netflix and Hulu are changing the way we think about

Welcome to Episode 25 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with author Alicia Eler. “When everything is a yes/no, left or right, there’s no room for maybe or gray area; and that I think is where actually a lot of the real vulnerability or potential relationships or friendships can occur. But the app doesn’t lend any space or time to maybe.” (On Tinderization) Today we speak with multi-talented artist and author Alicia Eler. We discuss Alicia’s recent essay The Tinderization of Feeling, which explores what Alicia calls the “emotional labor of Tinder.” What might you find at the intersection of sexuality, gender studies, queer studies, and technology? At a minimum, you’ll find some of Alicia’s amazing work and collaborative writing, which explores social sexual dynamics. Today Alicia discusses questions such as: How might persons on dating apps become players in a game; and, how might this dehumanization impact social relationships as well as our own psychology? Also on this episode with Alicia: gr

Welcome to Episode 24 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Editor in Chief of Voice of San Diego Scott Lewis. “Every city in America is defined by landmarks that were philanthropically made by their newspaper tycoons. The newspapers were so powerful that they could build Symphony Halls and they could build Hearst Castles. Newspapers were extremely profitable and that was because they owned the bundle that you all had to get into.” Today we hear from the voice behind the Voice of San Diego, Scott Lewis. Scott provides informative answers and interesting insights on journalism, the history of newspapers, and the future of investigate reporting. Scott talks about growing up as a non-Mormon outsider in Salt Lake City; hanging out with anarchists in Spain; and feeling the importance of journalism during his time at the University of Utah. He also tells us about his transition from anarchism to Navy husband (and how he finally got to read Moby Dick). What is the current state of journalism? How di

Welcome to Episode 23 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with Jennifer Briney, creator and host of the Congressional Dish podcast. Congressional Dish exposes corporate influence in the bills passed by Congress and tells us what’s really in all of those huge omnibus bills. While Jennifer gets into lots of details, the show is intended for an audience who aren’t already experts in politics or policy—she always takes the time to explain the process as simply as possible. I enjoy the show and I find it fascinating how she was able to take her anger about what’s wrong with Washington and turn it into an informative, educational listener-supported podcast. Congressional Dish doesn’t accept any advertising dollars (we talk about why), and it’s become Jennifer’s full-time gig…with a few bumps along the way. Jennifer talks about how she went from not really paying attention to politics to spending all of her time watching C-SPAN, reading congressional bills, and discussing the topic on her podcast. Why

Welcome to Episode 22 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with lifelong entrepreneur and founder of Hera Hub, Felena Hanson. “It’s not about segregation, we have men in the space every day. It’s about creating that environment and that community where women can flourish.” What do you do when you experience three layoffs before the age of 30? Unleash the “entrepreneurial spirit” and become a solopreneur! Today we chat with Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub: a spa-inspired coworking space for female entrepreneurs. Felena tells us about growing up in an entrepreneurial family; the decision on whether or not to go to college; and the struggle of being a professional marketer in the tech industry. We’ll learn about how Felena’s trials and tribulations as a marketer initiated her desire to create something new, and how her successful “something new” brought more trials and tribulations. Felena discusses the challenges associated with franchising, and how commercial real estate can be a roadblock for

Welcome to Episode 21 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with musician and activist Peter Yarrow. “I wasn’t about being the center of attention that was so exciting and rewarding. There was a magic going on in the village at the time…This was a crucible of change where in the air was this spirit that something dramatically was changing. Something was going to happen in the world to challenge all the points of view with which we had been handed society’s rules… The sixties was a search for authenticity.” Today we speak with Peter Yarrow, musician, activist, and member of Peter Paul and Mary. It’s always fascinating to learn about how musicians and artists get inspired, and Peter’s story does not miss the mark. Peter takes us back to his childhood as a Jewish New Yorker and the strong cultural influence his mother had on him. From not having money for new clothes, but always having money for arts and culture, Peter takes us back to his first instrument…the recorder, and how his love of folk music

Welcome to Episode 20 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with multitalented artist Bryan Landers. “I think that’s the underlying design and art challenge that I love; it’s sort of just finding your way to the impossible through some very logical process.” Not many musicians leave L.A. for another place in order to get gigs, but when they do, that musician plays the banjo…and that other place is Nashville! Today’s talk is with Bryan Landers: an athlete who gave up skiing in order to protect his hands for banjo playing. Bryan talks about his inspirations Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Page, and Bela Fleck; picking out an instrument for the first time; and how you get to ski every day at boarding school in New Hampshire. As an artist who utilizes multiple media, learn about how his not-well-received art portfolio pushed him a little closer to music; and how he ultimately leveraged one talent to support another. Well also talk a bit about the importance of getting in on things from the ground up (or not getti

Welcome to Episode 19 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with comic book writer, shop owner, and entrepreneurial innovator Mike Wellman. Today’s talk is with Mike Wellman: a comic book artist, shop owner, and a man who is always looking to expand his business by helping others. Mike talks about growing up in North Carolina and being perceived as the bad kid for having comic books. And what do comic book bad boys from North Carolina do? Move to L.A. of course! Hear about Mike’s many jobs from street marketing to doing coverage of scripts. Not a fan of American History X? Apparently Mike wasn’t either… he gave the original script a big thumbs down! Learn about how Mike’s aspirations to become a screenwriter halted in a failed job interview with Tim Daly, and how that fall-through led him to his job at Geoffrey’s Comics. It’s all downhill after that, Mike now owns the Comic Bug in L.A. Tune in to learn how his shop sets themselves apart from other comic book vendors, and why The Comic Bug is a gre

Welcome to Episode 18 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with artist N.C. Winters. “Anything I wanted to learn I just started doing it. You figure out why the wrong ways don’t work by doing them, and you figure out the medium by using it. It’s not about your brushes and your paint; it’s about picking anything and starting, and failing a whole bunch.” What do you do when you can draw Ninja Turtles in elementary school? Charge a quarter of course! Today we talk with fine artist N.C. Winters about growing up as an artist and making his way into the art world. Hear about N.C.’s excursion through the New York art scene, majoring in art, working as a solo artist, and getting his foot in the gallery door. N.C. and I discuss the relationship between pop culture and art, and we get into the details of how technology and society impact our pop culture. Also discussed: working at a New York design firm; making something your own thing; navigating the social media world; and of course…intellectual property

Products of the Mind Episode 17: Author Marina Krakovsky on the Value of Middlemen Welcome to Episode 17 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with reporter and author of The Middleman Economy Marina Krakovsky. “I noticed that people have this very conflicted, often ambivalent attitude toward middlemen; we need them but we often resent them.” “What is a fair price of a snow shovel after a snowstorm?” Today we chat with Marina Krakovsky, a reporter, researcher, and author. We chat about behavioral economics, or what happens the intersection of psychology and economics. Marina tries to answer the question, “How do people behave in economic situations?” What is the true role of those “wheelers and dealers” known as economic middlemen? Do middlemen profit fairly; what value do they provide? How is Craigslist both a middleman and a platform for other middlemen? Why is eBay’s “power seller” award a highly coveted middleman status? Also: Why we use Amazon; why your cable company might be the most reviled