Always Choose Orange

#94: For the Love of the Game

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:04:00 +0000

Do you ever want to quit working on a creative project because it feels like a slog? Or find yourself saying that you just need to get it done as fast as you can so you can move onto something else? If that sounds familiar, number one: you're not alone, and number two: thankfully, there are some tools for that. This episode of Always Choose Orange uses a clip from a recent J. Cole interview to give you a few powerful questions to ask when your art-making feels dull and uninspired.

#93: Mat Charley of Raynes — Musical Obsession, Literary Devices, and How Songs Take Shape

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:45:12 +0000

How do songs actually come into being?

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, Mat Charley (co-founder, lyricist, and producer of Raynes) and I talk about the craft and obsession behind his songwriting.

After more than 30,000 hours spent writing music, Mat has learned that songs rarely emerge from force alone. Instead, they reveal themselves gradually through melody, iteration, and careful attention to language. As he puts it: a song wants what it wants.

In our conversation, we explore:

How and why Mat spends 10–16 hours a day writing music without burning out
His “melody first” approach to building songs
How he uses literary devices and poetic structure in his lyrics
What it’s like writing deeply personal songs for someone else to sing
How Raynes organizes ideas, images, and fragments into larger musical projects

We also talk about artistic obsession, creative discipline, and why, after writing nearly 1,000 songs, Mat still wakes up excited to make the next one.

Website: http://raynesmusic.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/raynesmusic

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@raynesmusic

Bandcamp: https://raynes.bandcamp.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/raynesmusic

Discord: https://discord.gg/venx9Mg7zG

#92: Ellie Richards — Finding Your Personal Style Through Fashion Psychology

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:47:00 +0000

Have you ever looked into your closet thinking, “None of this feels right?”

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, I talk with stylist Ellie Richards about how clothing can act as a mirror for how clearly we understand ourselves.

Drawing from fashion psychology, Ellie explains why developing a personal style starts internally rather than with aesthetics or trends. Instead of copying influencers or chasing the latest look, she encourages people to understand their lifestyle, preferences, and identity first, and then build a wardrobe that reflects those things.

In our conversation we discuss:

Why clothing influences how we think, feel, and behave
How “self-concept clarity” affects personal style
Why copying aesthetics from influencers often falls flat
The minimalist wardrobe pyramid and dopamine dressing
How to identify your contrast level and seasonal color palette
What to look for when buying ethical and sustainable clothing

Along the way, Ellie also shares insights from her experience running a sustainable fashion boutique and explains why she sees herself as an educator rather than an influencer.

Website: https://www.nuude-studio.com

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ellie.richards

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellierichards.intel

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellie.richards

#91: Peter Rollins — Designing Experiences That Actually Change People

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:25:12 +0000

How do you design an experience or piece of art that transforms someone rather than simply giving them more information?

In this thought-provoking episode of Always Choose Orange, author and philosopher Peter Rollins and I talk about how he's spent the last 20+ years of his life plumbing the depths of some of the deepest philosophical and theological questions. From his early days creating "transformance art" through his (in)famous Ikon gatherings to the powerful new communities he's building around a sense of shared lack, Peter has dedicated his life to helping people come face to face with the universal human experience of loss.

The two of us explore a bunch of fascinating ideas, including:

The role of discomfort in making space for transformation
How he built his legendary Atheism for Lent practice
How, in some ways, many great artists spend their whole career circling a single question
Why reimagined forms of community are more important than ever

Website: https://peterrollins.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweF6BScvFnbsymouI-znDA

Instagram: http://instagram.com/peter_rollins

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/orthodoxheretic

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/peter-rollins

#90: Coulou — Trumpet Meditations, Deep Openness, and the Art of Long-Form Improvisation

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:20:12 +0000

In March of 2024, Coulou sat down in the bedroom of his Brooklyn apartment with his guitar, some effects pedals, and a trumpet. What happened next was something special. He set up a camera, strummed his guitar, found some chords he liked, looped them, grabbed his trumpet, sounded the first note, and Coulou’s Cafe Trumpet Meditations were born.

Now, two years later, Coulou has released more than 65 of his twenty-minute meditations and learned a number of powerful lessons along the way.

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, we talk about:

Why Coulou almost scrapped the meditation that became his most viewed video on YouTube
How long-form improvisation has impacted his songwriting (including the heartfelt story behind his song “Joe”)
The difference between improvising with a band and improvising by yourself
How he selects his recording locations and the painstaking process he goes through to make sure he creates the right atmosphere for his viewers

Website: https://www.couloumusic.com

Bandcamp: https://coulou.bandcamp.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/coulou__

Facebook: http://facebook.com/C0ULOU

#89: Sarah Detweiler — Redefining Success, Maintaining Creative Freedom, and Unmasking Your Authentic Self

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:20:39 +0000

How do you keep moving forward once your work begins to resonate with people on a larger scale?

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, I talk with mixed media painter Sarah Detweiler about the quieter, more complicated season that follows increased public recognition.

While Sarah’s Hidden Mother series helped her understand herself more deeply as an artist, this conversation focuses on what came with that realization: the decision to keep evolving, to follow curiosity rather than expectation, and to make work that remains honest even when it's moving in fresh and unexpected ways.

We talk about art as a way of processing internal experience, the freedom that comes from letting go of external metrics, and how Sarah thinks about authenticity, attention, and care as she builds new bodies of work.

Along the way, we explore:

Using art to process things that are difficult to name with words
Letting curiosity (and not audience response) guide the work
Making art with ADHD and embracing experimentation over cohesion
The tension between visibility and freedom
Building solo exhibitions and knowing when a body of work is finished
Feedback, inner critics, and learning which voices to trust
Parenting, time constraints, and how limitation clarifies values
Why authenticity requires not thinking about how the work will be received

At its core, this conversation is about staying honest with yourself as your work changes and about trusting process over performance as you continue to grow as an artist.

Website: https://www.sarahdetweiler.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sd_artifacts

#88: Nasir Young — Decoding the Visual Language of Urban Spaces

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:40:07 +0000

What does it take to see the world around you the way an artist sees it?

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, I chat with visual artist Nasir Young about how skateboarding transformed the way he moves through cityscapes and how that way of seeing laid the groundwork for his detailed oil paintings. His work documents the small, often overlooked wonders of urban life, including brick walls, corner stores, and gas stations.

We talk about:

Always having a handful of projects to work on
How to tell intriguing visual stories without including a single person
Titling your work to evoke curiosity and meaning
Studio routines (including scheduling time to read manga)

Oh, and by the end of the episode, don’t be surprised if you never look at vans the same way again.

Website: http://www.nasiryoungart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasiryoungart/

#87: Favorite Reads of 2025 | Part 2 (with Andrew Drake)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:35:53 +0000

With 2025 behind us, my brother Andrew and I check in with each other to talk about some of the most powerful, entertaining, and interesting books we read in the second half of the year. Between the two of us, we read a lot of books (probably too many) so these were, for us, the best of the best.

We use the following questions as a guide:

Which book surprised you the most?
What is the most ambitious book you read this year?
Which book had the best prose?
What is one book that made you cry?
Which book impacted your life the most?
What was your personal favorite?

As we answer these six questions, we venture down a few side streets and touch on a variety of topics such as goal setting, purple prose, contemplative prayer, and even Count Dooku's journey to the Dark Side. If you enjoy the written word and enjoy stumbling across new books, chances are, you'll find something here you'll love!

#86: Ankurana — Developing Patience, Embracing Minimalism, and Building Cohesive Albums in a Track-by-Track World

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:35:13 +0000

What does it actually take to build a sound slowly and deliberately?

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, I talk with electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist Ankurana about the long, unglamorous reality of developing a musical voice — years of experimentation, hundreds of abandoned ideas, and learning when to stop adding and start listening.

We talk about:

Learning music production the hard way (after years of trial and error)
Using nature and field recordings as musical material
When to strip ideas back instead of adding more
The subtle details most listeners never consciously notice

We discuss the value of building cohesive bodies of work in a time when music is often consumed in fragments, as well as why Ankurana still thinks in terms of albums, arcs, and emotional continuity rather than isolated tracks.

Bandcamp: https://ankurana.bandcamp.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ankuranamusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ankurana_/

SoundCloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/ankurana

#85: Any Austin — Growing His YouTube Channel to 1.5+ Million Views Per Video, Dealing With Imitators, and Cultivating the “Unremarkable and Odd” Mindset

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 19:11:50 +0000

Any Austin changed the rules of gaming content on YouTube. So what happens after that?

In his return to Always Choose Orange, Austin reflects on the growth and influence of his channel over the past year. We talk about the benefits and challenges of bringing on additional team members, the one thing he believes should be the true goal of time management, and how he uses the rise of imitators as competitive fuel rather than a distraction.

During the second half of our conversation, I ask Austin a series of questions submitted by his audience. We examine how his videos evolve from draft to draft, a specific moment in Mega Man 2 that has stuck with him since childhood, and the likelihood of ever seeing another episode of Eggbusters.

To wrap things up, we do a career retrospective using the presidents on Mount Rushmore as a loose metaphor for key milestones in his YouTube journey.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@any_austin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/any_austin/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/any_austin

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@any_austin

#84: Henry Lien — Eastern Narrative Structures, Choosing the Right Ideas, and Writing Lessons from George R.R. Martin & Kelly Link

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:49:45 +0000

How do cultural values shape narrative structure?

This is one of the main questions in author Henry Lien's most recent book, Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling. After leaping headfirst into writing at age 42 and spending some formative time at the Clarion Workshop learning from George R.R. Martin, Kelly Link, and Chuck Palahniuk, Henry developed a fascination with form which eventually led him to kishōtenketsu (East Asian four-act structure).

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, Henry and I talk about:

The differences between a typical Eastern story and a typical Western story
Why Disney's version of Mulan strayed from the original source material
How newer writers can steer clear of cultural appropriation
The use of circular narrative structure in the level design of the Metroid games

Website: https://henrylien.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrylienauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenryLienAuthor

Resources mentioned by Henry:

#83: Mean It Always

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:48:30 +0000

You know what they say, “you can’t spell artificial without art!” …What? What do you mean you haven't heard that? I'm sure someone, somewhere has said it… Anyway, in today's episode, we explore a provocative idea put forth in Carl Wilson’s book Celine Dion’s Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey To The End of Taste that in a sense, all authenticity in art is a kind of performance. If we adopt that perspective, it raises a lot of questions, including: how do I make art with conviction while simultaneously making it for an audience? Using examples from punk and emo concerts I went to in high school and college, as well as my personal experience making music of my own, we stumble through some possible answers.

#82: This Episode Could Have Been an Email

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 11:26:38 +0000

Have you ever been in a meeting that just as easily could have been an email? Have you slogged through a personal development book only to realize that the whole thing could've been summed up in a few tidy bullet points? With the advent of LLMs such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini, it's easier than ever before to access information in a fraction of the time. And many times, that's a great thing. But everything comes with a cost. In today's episode, we examine that cost and segue into a set of practical questions you can ask yourself whenever you're struggling to bring a creative project to life.

#81: The Book as a House — A Short Musing on Mindfulness, Narrative Structure, and the Illuminating Nature of Really, Really Good Prose

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:35:04 +0000

After a two month hiatus, Always Choose Orange is back with a new episode! But here's the question — what exactly is it? A quiet manifesto? A book review for three Pulitzer Prize-winning meditations on the human experience? Or, is it merely a Trojan horse I'm using to transport some really great Ursula K, Le Guin quotes into your ears? Whatever it is, come ready to explore a way of reading that brings you deeper into the small, beautiful moments of your own life.

Media mentioned in this episode:

#80: Favorite Reads of 2025 | Part 1 (with Andrew Drake)

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:05:04 +0000

We're a little more than halfway through 2025 and it’s time for a six-month reading check-in! In this episode, my brother Andrew joins me to discuss six books that affected us during the first half of the year. We use the following questions as a guide:

Which book surprised you the most?
What is the most ambitious book you read this year?
Which book had the best prose?
What is one book that made you cry?
Which book impacted your life the most?
What was your personal favorite?

Beyond simply talking about the books we selected for each category, we also explore larger aspects of both reading and creativity in general. One of the books sends us down a tangent about the role of questions in podcasting and therapy. We also talk about the dangers of emulating popular art without truly understanding what makes it great. I then dismount my high horse and let Andrew fire off some stray shots at the Fourth Wing series before we land on a few things that we think make for an engaging memoir.

Material Referenced in the Episode:

You can purchase Andrew's debut poetry collection here: The Fire of Love: A Compilation of Spiritual Love Poetry: Volume One by Andrew Drake

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#79: Andrea Burgay — Modern Collage, Overcoming Creative Blocks, and Turning Destruction Into Creation

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:35:27 +0000

Andrea Burgay is a visual artist from Syracuse, New York, currently based in Brooklyn. Her practice centers on collage, sculpture, and mixed-media assemblage, often utilizing found and vintage materials to explore themes of transformation, decay, and renewal. Through layering, tearing, and reassembling paper, books, and ephemera, Andrea creates works that reflect the passage of time and the interplay between destruction and rebirth.

In addition to her studio practice, Andrea is the founder and editor of Cut Me Up, a participatory collage magazine and curatorial project. Each issue features original artworks intended to be deconstructed and transformed by readers into new pieces, fostering a collaborative and evolving artistic dialogue.

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, Andrea and I explore her creative rituals (including the reason she makes sure to start each day decisively), her approach to building series like Requiems and Reliquaries, and how she structures her studio environment so that she doesn't experience creative block. Andrea also shares some great entry points for people to dip their toes into the incredible world of modern collage. To top it all off, we talk about a few of the wildest and most experimental Cut Me Up submissions as well as some "inside baseball", including the type of glue Andrea uses to keep her pieces together.

Website: https://www.andreaburgay.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaburgay/

Cut Me Up Magazine: https://www.cutmeupmagazine.com

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#78: How To Better Recall Your Dreams and Solve Creative Problems While You Sleep (with Dr. Deirdre Barrett)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Dr. Deirdre Barrett is a renowned psychologist, author, and dream researcher affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Serving as a Lecturer in Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, she teaches courses on dreaming to undergraduates, psychiatry residents, and psychology interns.

Dr. Barrett's research explores dreams, hypnosis, and evolutionary psychology. She has authored several books, including The Committee of Sleep, Supernormal Stimuli, Waistland, The Pregnant Man & Other Cases from a Hypnotherapist’s Couch, and Pandemic Dreams, which explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dreaming.

In addition to her writing, Dr. Barrett serves as Editor-in-Chief of Dreaming: The Journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams and has held leadership roles as Past President of both the International Association for the Study of Dreams and the American Psychological Association’s Division 30, The Society for Psychological Hypnosis.

Her work has garnered attention from major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and Newsweek, and she has appeared on programs such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, and the BBC. Beyond academia, Dr. Barrett creates digital dream-inspired artwork, which has been featured in National Geographic and exhibited internationally.

In this episode, Dr. Barrett shares how her childhood experience of dreams led her to a career in psychology and dream research. She talks about the role dreams have played throughout history in problem solving and gives specific, mind-blowing examples from her research where students or colleagues solved word problems in a dream, sometimes in startling ways. Dr. Barrett also provides a step by step breakdown of a technique called “dream incubation” that she finds to be a more effective tool for creativity than lucid dreaming. Many people say they don’t remember their dreams. If that’s you, don’t worry, we end the conversation with some practical steps you can take to increase your dream recall.

Website: www.deirdrebarrett.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deirdre_barrett_dreams/

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#77: Alex Eckman-Lawn - Making Time for Experimentation, the Best Places to Source Collage Images, and What He Learned From Studying Dave McKean

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Alex Eckman-Lawn is a Philadelphia-based artist and illustrator known for his intricately layered, hand-cut paper collages. His work explores themes of control, psychological complexity, and the hidden architecture of the human body. Alex’s distinctive visuals have appeared across a wide spectrum of media, including comic books, album and book covers, music videos, t-shirts, and gig posters. He has collaborated with bands such as Afterbirth, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Imperial Triumphant, and his illustrations have been featured in acclaimed comics like Swan Songs, Awakening, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, and the Eisner Award-winning Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream.

In this week's episode, Alex and I talk about the influence that the city of Philadelphia has on his art. We also discuss Alex's experience in art school and the power of artist communities (as well as a few ideas on how to find or create one). He then revisits the moment where he first stumbled upon his layered collage style and forever changed the trajectory of his career. Aside from sharing a first name, the two of us also share a lot of the same taste in art. As a result, we spend some time nerding out about what Alex learned through studying legendary artists like Frank Frazetta and Dave McKean, as well as some thoughts on how A.I. is affecting newer illustrators. At one point, Alex even pries open his vault and shares the valuable websites where he sources his collage material.

Website: https://www.alexeckmanlawn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexeckmanlawn/

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#76: Mastering the Art of the Epigraph — How To Set the Tone for Your Story

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:35:00 +0000

A single sentence at the start of a book can set the tone for everything that follows. In this week's episode, we dip our toes into the mysterious and powerful world of epigraphs — the quotes or passages that open some of our favorite stories. We explore the many purposes of epigraphs, from foreshadowing and framing to adding emotional or intellectual depth. We examine how they can elevate a work (and occasionally distract from it) and why some writers swear by them while others avoid them entirely. Whether you're a novelist, screenwriter, poet, or creative in any field, we end the episode with practical tips for using epigraphs to sharpen your storytelling and leave a lasting impression.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#75: Jon Guerra — Writing Music as an Act of Devotion

Wed, 21 May 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Jon Guerra is a singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas, renowned for his distinctive style of devotional music. Jon describes his work as "less Sunday morning worship music and more Monday morning prayer music." His critically acclaimed albums — including Keeper of Days (2020), Ordinary Ways (2023), and most recently, Jesus (2025) blend poetic lyricism with minimalist instrumentation. Beyond his solo work, Jon collaborates with his wife, Valerie in the musical duo Praytell, and has contributed to film scores, notably composing additional music for Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life (2019).

In this week's episode, Jon and I spend some time digging into his new album Jesus and the two-year journey to finish the project. We then talk about some practical ways to hone your musical instincts and Jon shares a powerful example of him not going with his first idea and allowing a song to evolve beyond his initial vision for it. We go on to discuss the importance of taking the time needed to make your best possible work rather than getting a project done just to get it done. If you're interested in songwriting and/or creating beauty that, in Jon's words, "puts people in contact with invisible things," there's a good chance, you'll enjoy this episode!

Website: https://www.jonguerramusic.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/iamjonguerra

Devotional Songwriting Masterclass: https://www.jonguerramasterclass.com/start

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#74: Tara Sellios — Turning Bones, Insects, and Light Into Monumental Images

Wed, 14 May 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Tara Sellios creates monumental photographs using real bones, insects, dried flowers, and natural light—assembled by hand and captured in a single shot on an 8×10 large-format camera.

In this episode of Always Choose Orange, Tara walks through her entire creative process: from early sketches and symbolic research to assembling upright sculptural scenes, working with articulators and entomologists, and photographing work that often takes weeks to complete. We also explore how her strict religious upbringing continues to inform her symbolism, why she thinks of her body of work as a single unfolding narrative, and what she hopes viewers feel when encountering her images in person.

Website: https://www.tarasellios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarasellios/

#73: Caroline Shaw - Voice Memo Roulette, the Magic of Old Janky Instruments, and the Story Behind Ringdown's Lady on the Bike

Thu, 01 May 2025 00:51:45 +0000

Caroline Shaw is a musician who moves among roles, genres, and mediums, trying to imagine a world of sound that has never been heard before but has always existed. She often works in collaboration with others, as producer, composer, violinist, and vocalist. Shaw is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Music, an honorary doctorate from Yale, five Grammys, and a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. She has written and produced for iconic artists and ensembles across the musical spectrum, including Rosalía, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Tiler Peck, Kanye West, Nas, the LA Phil, the NY Phil, and others. Her recent TV/film/stage scoring projects include “Leonardo Da Vinci” (Ken Burns/PBS), “Fleishman is in Trouble” (FX/Hulu), and “The Sky Is Everywhere” (Josephine Decker/A24). Her favorite color is yellow, and her favorite smell is rosemary.

In this week’s episode, Caroline shares the background behind her Ringdown project (a collaboration with her partner Danni Lee) and talks about what it’s like for her to make music with someone she loves. Ringdown’s debut album Lady on the Bike comes out on May 9, 2025 and we talk about the heartwarming story that inspired the album name. From there, we dive into Caroline’s creative process and she outlines a fun exercise called “voice memo roulette”, describes how she builds her songs starting with the harmony first, and the two of us wax poetic on the benefits of Rhymezone.com for lyrical inspiration. To top it all off, we discuss the relationship between environment and creativity, the magic of old, janky instruments, and what Caroline listens for when she’s revising one of her works-in-progress.

Website: https://carolineshaw.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolineadelaideshaw/

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#72: How to Enjoy Art & Everything Else More | Part 5: Passing It On

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:35:00 +0000

In the conclusion to our five-episode series on enjoyment, we examine the relationship between understanding and sharing. Using the coffee taster's flavor wheel, the Studio Binder YouTube channel, and Scott McCloud's books on comic-making, we look at the way developing a vocabulary helps us process and understand a sensory experience. And to wrap things up, we'll use a probably-apocryphal Albert Einstein quote to reiterate the importance of teaching others what we've learned.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#71: How to Enjoy Art & Everything Else More | Part 4: Getting Lost

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Getting lost is often thought of as a bad thing. However, when it comes to art, it can be a major contributor to our sense of enjoyment. This week's episode hones in on six access points to getting lost in something you love. From allowing your mind to freely associate to memorizing pieces of a poem, we'll examine some practical ways to look at art from a new angle.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#70: How to Enjoy Art & Everything Else More | Part 3: Inverting Resistance

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:45:00 +0000

Resistance is futile! At least, it will be after this episode. In part three of our series on enjoyment, we look at four common ways we resist pieces of art and explore some tools we can use to invert that resistance. From identifying the different types of screaming in metal music to intentionally finding flaws in pieces of art, we explore curiosity and the power it has to help us enjoy things more.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#69: How to Enjoy Art & Everything Else More | Part 2: Moving Beyond

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:35:00 +0000

In part two of our series on enjoyment, we're looking at a quick and easy way to deepen your appreciation of a piece of art — moving your attention beyond the part you immediately focus on. From following along with the chord changes in "Penny Lane” to identifying the 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper, we'll examine some quick and easy ways you can hone this skill.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#68: How to Enjoy Art & Everything Else More | Part 1: A Learnable Skill

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Enjoyment is not only a creative superpower; it's also a valuable life skill. And thankfully, it's one that any of us can learn. Using this brilliant essay by Sasha Chapin as a jumping off point, we're going to explore the micro skills that make up the larger skill of enjoyment. The hope is that each and every one of us can interact with our own creative process in a way that brings us deep joy, even when it gets hard.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#67: Peter Adamson's History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps — The Story Behind the 14+ Year Podcast

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Dr. Peter Adamson is a philosopher and intellectual historian. He holds two academic positions: professor of philosophy in late antiquity and in the Islamic world at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; and professor of ancient and medieval philosophy at King's College London.

Adamson hosts the weekly podcast History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps which surpassed 25 million downloads in 2019. The podcast has covered Greek philosophy, Islamic philosophy, and European philosophy up to the early modern era, and also launched series on Indian philosophy (with co-author Jonardon Ganeri), Africana philosophy (with co-author Chike Jeffers), and Chinese philosophy (with co-author Karyn Lai). Next to his other academic publications, Adamson has turned the podcast into an eponymous book series.

In this episode, Peter and I talk about what it’s been like to maintain a weekly podcast for more than 14 years — including the reason he doesn’t burn out. He shares some valuable insight into how he’s able to make philosophy palatable for the average person as well as the early pushback from his listeners that helped him change his thinking and make his podcast better. Near the end of the episode, Peter shares some recommendations for people who want to get into philosophy for the first time — his “Minimum Effective Dose” if you will.

Website: https://historyofphilosophy.net

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#66: Matt Bucher - Thoughts on A.I. and Art, Staying Creative at a Corporate Job, Wikipedia Rabbit Holes, and Writing The Belan Deck

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Matt Bucher is the author of The Belan Deck and co-host, with Dave Laird, of The Concavity Show podcast. He is one of the founders of the International David Foster Wallace Society and administers the wallace-l listserv. His writing has been published in Electric Literature, The Dublin Review of Books, Puerto del Sol, Publishers Weekly, and other places. He currently lives in Austin, Texas.

In this episode, Matt and I talk about the creative process behind his debut novel, The Belan Deck, a thought-provoking story about a businessman who is working on a PowerPoint presentation at the airport.

No, I’m not kidding. And yes, it’s actually good.

Beyond the book itself, Matt and I discuss a number of things — from exploring your family tree as powerful inspiration for stories to the beauty of falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes. We also touch on copyright law, technology, artificial intelligence, horses, three authors named David, and how to stay creative while working in Corporate America.

Website: https://www.mattbucher.com

Purchase The Belan Deck here: https://www.amazon.com/Belan-Deck-Matt-Bucher/dp/B0BZWKP2WN

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#65: David Benjamin Blower - Writing Narrative Music, Processing Hope and Grief Through Art, and Leaving the Creative Process Open to Chaos

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:25:00 +0000

David Benjamin Blower is a prolific musician, a writer of theological books, a podcaster, and an activist from Birmingham, UK. His writing, like his music, is characterized by its political and religious vision and by its apocalyptic imagination. His new book, The Messianic Commons: Images of the Messiah After Modernity, is out now through SCM Press and his most recent album, Kindness is Solid Stone Violence is a Heavy Loan to Pay is available on all platforms.

In this episode, David and I talk about writing narrative-driven music which is something that, in my humble opinion, he’s really, really proficient at. Back in 2017, he released a concept album about the biblical story of Jonah that combined a folky-acoustic sound with sea shanties and narration from legendary theologian and writer N.T. Wright (who wrote a biography of the apostle Paul that was my favorite read of the year). David explains the backstory of the album and what he did when the whole thing got deleted from his hard drive before he was able to release it.

We also talk about how his songs form, the tension between grief and hope that undergirds his music, and the way that he goes about expanding his sonic palette when he wants to change his sound. And of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of Always Choose Orange without some sort of astounding story or detail — at one point, David talks about a five-star review he received that said he sounded drunk throughout the entire album and he also shares the fascinating story about how the sound of his keys jingling made it onto the outro of his song “No Debts, No Masters”.

Website: https://davidbenjaminblower.com

Substack: https://davidbenjaminblower.substack.com/

Bandcamp: https://benjaminblower.bandcamp.com/music

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#64: In Case of Haters, Break Glass - Overcoming the Fear of Judgment

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Putting your art out for the world to see is a vulnerable thing. It often means leaving yourself open to criticism, and in some cases, outright hate. How can you sift through the deluge of comments, feedback, and judgment and use it to make yourself a better artist? How do you stop obsessing over a negative evaluation of your work? And do you look at "the haters" from a different angle?

In this episode, we'll talk about all those things and more. AND, we'll talk about a few composers who had their music critically eviscerated, including the one whose music was described as "the most dreadful deluges of piffle, bombast, and nonsense ever perpetrated on an audience in these environs." Surprisingly enough, it wasn't Richard Wagner…

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#63: How to Concisely Start a Chapter in Six Words or Less

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:35:00 +0000

It’s possible to start a chapter in six words or less AND have your reader want to keep reading. How do I know? I analyzed the opening sentence of every chapter in Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga (Magician: Apprentice, Magician: Master, Silverthorn, and A Darkness at Sethanon) and found some eye opening patterns. In this episode, we'll see what we can learn through studying Feist’s short and striking chapter openers.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#62: Noam Oxman - The Composer Who Transforms Your Pet Into a Beautiful Piece of Music

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Noam Oxman is a composer who turns portraits of beloved pets into beautiful musical compositions. His “sympawnies” have garnered thousands, and in some cases millions, of views on YouTube. Noam is a passionate animal advocate, and he uses his art to promote his message of compassion for animals and nature. You can learn more about commissioning your own pet’s portrait on his website. At least 20% of all proceeds are donated to help feed and give medical treatment to stray cats.

In this episode, Noam and I discuss his musical upbringing, including how he started learning the harmonica at age 7 before picking up piano and the accordion. We also talk about a professor he had in college who taught him a way of deconstructing musical styles that he still uses today to create compositions that are inspired by anything from prog rock from the 70s to motets from the Renaissance. Noam talks about how his love for cats, musical experimentation, and the beautiful handwritten scores of Johann Sebastian Bach all combined to form the basis of his famous musical pet portraits. He walks me through his creative process from start to finish and details his recent ventures into calligraphy.

Website: https://www.sympawnies.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sympawnies

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sympawnies/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sympawnies/

Check out Noam's calligraphy pieces here:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#61: Kreg Yingst - Block Printing as a Spiritual Practice, Recontextualizing Parables, & Illustrating Psalms, Saints, and Prayers

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Kreg Yingst is an illustrator specializing in block printing, with original works created from carved blocks of wood, linoleum, or other materials, and printed onto paper or other media. Initially trained as a painter with a Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity University and a Master’s from Eastern Illinois University, Kreg turned his attention to the block print in the mid-1990s after discovering the graphic novels of Lynd Ward and Frans Masereel. In 2003 he quit his teaching position to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. Two years later, he founded Starving Artist Books as a means to help support orphanages and charities around the world. In 2015, Kreg was honored with a retrospective featuring his paintings and prints at Pensacola State College. His works are in many private and public collections, including Purdue University and the Halsey Contemporary Museum of Art. Kreg's most recent book, Everything Could Be a Prayer: 100 Portraits of Saints and Mystics is available now through Broadleaf Books.

Website: https://www.kregyingst.com/index.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psalmprayers

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/workingarts

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#60: Favorite Reads of 2024 | Part 2 (with Andrew Drake)

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:35:00 +0000

Now that 2024 is behind us, it’s time for a six-month reading check-in! My brother Andrew is back and we each discuss six books that affected us during the second half of 2024. We use the following questions as a guide:

Which book surprised you the most?
What is the most ambitious book you read this year?
Which book had the best prose?
What is one book that made you cry?
Which book impacted your life the most?
What was your personal favorite?

Our selections include books from the following genres: fantasy, science-fiction, religion/spirituality, poetry, graphic novels, history, and literary fiction.

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

You can purchase Andrew's debut poetry collection here: The Fire of Love: A Compilation of Spiritual Love Poetry: Volume One by Andrew Drake

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#59: Nothing is Lost - Creative Abundance, Recycling Material, and the Unpublished Novels of Brandon Sanderson

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:35:00 +0000

To kick off the new year, let's talk about two ways of viewing and experiencing creativity — the first is scarcity, a white-knuckled clinging to ideas that constantly asks things like "What if the ideas run out?", "What if I never come up with anything better than this?", or "What if the inspiration goes away?" The second is abundance, a way of looking at the world that holds ideas loosely and says things like "There are more ideas than I'll ever be able to act on", "Something better is coming", and "Nothing I ever work on is wasted". In this week's episode, we'll look at those two viewpoints through the lens of musician Erothyme's musical archive and author Brandon Sanderson's thirteen unpublished novels.

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#58: The Gift That Keeps On Giving - How to Reflect Back on Your Creative Year

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 12:35:00 +0000

The year is coming to a close and it's a great time to reflect back and celebrate your creative accomplishments. This episode is one part highlight reel and one part guide to looking back on the art you've made in 2024 (as well the things that inspired you throughout the year). We talk about lists, accomplishments, statistics, learnings, favorite media, and the moments that make you smile.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#57: Don't Find Your Voice, Your Voice Will Find You

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:35:00 +0000

One of the most common sources of anxiety for budding creatives is the struggle to find a unique voice. Should you spend your apprentice years by imitating the masters? Do you need to focus all your energy on being original? Or is it better to ignore those questions altogether and just focus on making as much art as possible? In today's episode, we'll look at the path to finding your own distinct creative voice from a number of angles. We'll hear some thoughts from photographer Meg Loeks and multidisciplinary artist Claire Luxton. We'll also glean some nuggets of wisdom from a recent Brandon Sanderson interview and hear my personal journey from writing knockoff E.E. Cummings poems to discovering a style of my own.

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#56: A Few Ideas About Ideas

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Where do ideas come from? How do they grow? How do you know which ideas to pursue and which to save for later? In today's episode, we'll explore those topics and more! From Ramit Sethi's book-buying rule to YouTuber Any Austin's view that you can't make 100 bad ideas, we'll take a deep dive into the foundation of creative projects and have you out before your lunch break is over.

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#55: Claire Luxton - Creating Her Own Muses, Embracing Isolation, and Finding Inspiration in Everything

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Claire Luxton is a British contemporary multi-disciplinary artist working with photography, immersive installation, and poetry. She works from her rural studio based in East Sussex, and the nature she is surrounded by is reflected in her work. After receiving a BFA from Goldsmiths University of London, Luxton’s practice developed a strongly recognizable aesthetic, which quickly gained her recognition. Her dynamic work explores the delicate equilibrium between humans and nature, the ominous undercurrents oscillate between constructed femininity and alluring vulnerability, seducing the viewer with color, intrigue, joy and uncertainty.

Website: https://www.claireluxtonart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claireluxtonart/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ClaireLuxtonFineArt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claireluxtonart

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#54: Kate Woodman - Photo Concepts That Make You Say WTF, Visual Hooks, and Reinventing the Wheel With Every New Project

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Kate Woodman is a Portland, Oregon-based commercial photographer specializing in conceptual and narrative imagery. A structural engineer by trade, Kate made the jump to photography after a work transfer to New Zealand got her interested in shooting landscapes, and things spiraled from there. Ten years into her professional career, Kate shoots everything from pharma to fashion and all sorts of things in between. When she’s not photographing, she’s teaching color theory and putting her engineering degree to work by renovating her midcentury house.

Website: https://www.katewoodman.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katewoodman_photo/

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#53: Simon Van Booy - Facing Your Weaknesses as a Writer, How To Find an Editor, and Living Out Parts of Your Own Stories

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Simon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children, including The Illusion of Separateness, The Presence of Absence, and most recently, Sipsworth. Simon is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer E.M.T. crew chief.

Website: https://simonvanbooy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonvanbooy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonVanBooy/

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#52: Rob Bell, Part 2 - Writing Plays, Following Curiosity, and the Creative Freedom of Self-Publishing

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Rob Bell (New York Times Bestselling author) is back to continue last week's conversation on creativity, the craft of writing, and his latest book, Where'd You Park Your Spaceship? Book Two: There's Only One Noon Yeah. In this episode, Rob compares his experiences with traditional publishing and self-publishing, shares what it was like to watch his plays being performed, and talks about the relationship between structure and spontaneity. He also tells the story of going to Miami and almost interviewing Richard Saul Wurman (legendary information architect and inventor of the TED conference) for his podcast but instead coming away with a powerful reminder of what it feels like to live life in a state of radical amazement.

Website: www.robbell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrobbell/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/robbell

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#51: Rob Bell, Part 1 - Trusting the Creative Process, Beginner’s Mind, and the Comfort and Durability of Paul Smith Socks

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:35:00 +0000

Rob Bell is the New York Times Bestselling author of fifteen books and plays which have been translated into 25 languages. He creates visual art that can be seen on his Instagram, makes music in a band called HUMANS ON THE FLOOR, and hosts a podcast called The RobCast. His new book, Where'd You Park Your Spaceship? Book Two: There's Only One Noon Yeah is out now and in this episode, we spend some time discussing how it came together. Rob shares some powerful creative exercises that writers can use to decide which project to focus on, discover the outline of their book, and reconnect with why they write in the first place. We also talk about narrative voice, trusting the creative process, and the comfort and durability of Paul Smith socks.

Website: www.robbell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrobbell/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/robbell

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#50: One Year of Choosing Orange - Lessons From 50 Episodes of Podcasting

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:35:00 +0000

One year ago, I released the first episode of Always Choose Orange using my built-in MacBook microphone, a story about a stack of paint samples, and a hilariously obtuse method of generating an RSS feed. Since then, I've learned a few things (well, more than a few) about podcasting, creativity, and how to face fear. Tune into this week's episode to hear the lessons that I've taken away from recording fifty episodes and how they can help you do the same!

You'll learn:

How I took actionable inspiration from my favorite podcasts such as The Tim Ferriss Show, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, the RobCast, and No Skips with Shea Serrano and used it to improve my show
Why we should all stop being afraid of the word "no"
The value of having a casual mentor
The importance of promoting your show in a way that's congruent to your values

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#49: I Rewrote the First Five Pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and This Happened

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:25:00 +0000

Creative exercises are one of the most powerful ways to hone your craft, refine your voice, and try out new techniques to see if they fit your process. And, the good news is that they don’t need to take up much time to have a big impact on your art. In this episode, we’ll talk about a fun little writing exercise I did in my writing group last year that involved rewriting the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 20 minutes without looking at the original. Tune in to hear me read my version, reflect on what I learned from the exercise, and decide for yourself if something like this is worth trying.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#48: Thinking Like a Curator - How to Manage Your Creative Input

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:39:21 +0000

As of 2024, there are over 100 million songs on Spotify, 3.9 billion videos on YouTube, and tens of millions of books on Amazon — that's a whole lot of content. How do we keep our noses above the proverbial deluge of information that floods us every day? The answer (or part of it at least) is curation. Tune into this week's episode to explore the idea of thinking like a curator as it pertains to managing and fostering a creative input that builds you up instead of tears you down.

And if you feel the call, you can hop over to www.alwayschooseorange.com and get on our weekly creativity newsletter full of tips, insights, and recommendations that go above and beyond the material included in the podcast.

Material referenced in this episode:

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#47: Beyond Cheeto Dust & Mountain Dew - Debating the Artistic Merit of Video Games (with Tim from Earbuddies)

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:35:00 +0000

It may be hard for newer generations to imagine but there was a time when video games were not commonly seen as a legitimate cultural medium. In this episode, Tim from Earbuddies, bravely steps forward to take on a ChatGPT-created straw man in a (mostly) friendly debate about the artistic merit of video games. From claims of excessive violence and sensationalism (i.e. the public perception of Grand Theft Auto upon release) to their (allegedly) over-heavy reliance on technology, it's a battle of words you won't want to miss. And after the matter is settled, Alex and Tim spend an hour discussing their top-three video games based on music, visual design, narrative, and multiplayer functionality. Will they remember to talk about Japan's rich jazz scene? Will they correctly guess each other's preferred fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee? And most importantly, how many times can one podcast episode reference the Legend of Zelda?

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#46: Any Austin - Enjoying the Hyper-Mundane Aspects of Video Games, Following Your Interests, and Finding What People Actually Care About

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Austin is, in his own words, 'making the worst video game content on the internet by far'. His YouTube channel, Any Austin, features content that looks into the hyper-mundane aspects of video games, including mapping out how rivers flow in The Legend of Zelda, how the power grid is represented in Grand Theft Auto IV, and what the unemployment rate of Skyrim is. His goal is to change the way people play video games, and to change the landscape of gaming content on YouTube as a whole, by creating content that pushes the boundaries of how entertaining dull content can be. His videos have already garnered hundreds of thousands-- in some cases millions-- of views, which-- as far as he's concerned-- means there's a whole generation of game-players that have grown up playing games in a way that hasn't been adequately represented on YouTube.

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#45: Meg Loeks - Self Portraits as Self Care, Inspiration vs. Imitation, Photographing Chickens, and Refusing to Rush

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Meg Loeks lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with her husband and five children. She is an international award-winning fine art and portrait photographer whose nostalgic work centers around the home. In-between photographing her family, she teaches several online and in-person domestic and international workshops. Meg is an instructor through Click Photo School, a SIGMA & Profoto Ambassador and 2022 Lightroom Ambassador. She is also a volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit organization which gifts families battling pediatric cancer a free photo session.

Instagram: http://instagram.com/meg_nlo

Website: http://www.megloeks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/megloeksphotography

FOR EXCLUSIVE CREATIVITY TIPS, MUSINGS, AND EXERCISES, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ALWAYS CHOOSE ORANGE NEWSLETTER: https://www.alwayschooseorange.com

#44: (Almost) Unreadable Books

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Why would a novel require the use of two bookmarks? What does a 957-word sentence sound like? Is it humanly possible to understand Finnegans Wake? We'll explore those questions and more in this week's episode. Join me as I highlight the three things that can easily push a book over the edge and send it teetering into the abyss of unreadability. We'll talk about the effects of structure, length, and complex language on the accessibility of a book, and if all goes according to plan, have a little fun in the process.

Books mentioned in the episode:

#43: Robin Fox - Location-First Photography, Finding Your Visual Voice, and the Art of Self Teaching

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Robin Fox is a self-taught photographer residing in Hamilton, Ontario. Fox began her study of photography seven years ago and credits her close examination of the works of photographers and cinematographers of past eras in helping to find and refine her visual voice. Having just begun pursuing opportunities to show her work, she is grateful to have been included in exhibitions in the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Canada and has released her first print publication from Setanta Books in the United Kingdom.

Website: https://www.robinclairefox.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinclairefox

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinclairefox/

You can find some of Robin's photography courses here:

#42: Jacob Montague - Film Scoring, Setting Rigid Perimeters for Maximum Creativity, and Writing Good Cover Songs

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Jacob Montague is a producer and multi-instrumentalist by day (Branches, Tsutro, Dream Cassettes, Far Friends, figuers, MVVE) and cinematic folk composer by night. His compositions weave a musical landscape composed of big beats, plucked strings, minimal patterns within grand combinations, and honest ethereal sounds. Jacob's music has appeared in a number of popular TV shows including — America’s Got Talent, The X Factor, One Tree Hill and others, as well as the film trailers for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Afternoon Delight, and Love Is Strange.

Website: https://www.jacobmontaguemusic.com

Instagram: @jacobmontague

#41: M.L. Silverline - The Poetry of People & Places, Editing Using the “Cringe Factor”, Experimenting With Words, and Refining Your Writing Over Multiple Drafts

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Hailing from Washington and Oregon, M.L Silverline has spent 25 years as a student of the spoken, written, and experienced word – traveling the world to explore people, places, and philosophy wherein he finds his greatest inspiration in the untold spirit; the uncelebrated and the subtleties of life that go uncounted. A graduate of Western Washington University in Bellingham, he has experimented with a great many poetic techniques and considers himself a historian documenting the human moment and the authentic emotional imprint that we, as people, remember most intensely. Silverline has read at open mics from Seattle and San Francisco to New York City – with many books and collaborations in progress, he is a talent to look out for.

#40: Pieper Bloomquist - Contemporary Scandinavian Folk Art, Growing Up in a Town of 44 People, Cataloguing Color Palettes, “Perfect Practice”, and More

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Pieper Bloomquist is a contemporary folk artist based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She studied Swedish Dalmålning and Bonadsmålning, and has been painting in traditional Scandinavian styles of folk art since 1993. Pieper enjoys utilizing elements from folk art traditions to tell modern stories, incorporating the floral forms, borders, layout and perspective of the past to depict scenes that — while personal to her — portray universal human experiences and daily activities of growing up in the upper Midwest.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Pieper-Fleck-Bloomquist-Scandinavian-Art-100057696589880/

Instagram: @pieperbloomquist

For more information on Pieper Bloomquist, check out these videos:

#39: Erothyme - Developing a Musical Archive, Machine Learning & A.I. Generated Music, Field Recordings as Time Travel, Narrative Structure, and More

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Erothyme is the electronic music solo project of Bobby West. Erothyme is best known for emotive downtempo and for the musical use of field recordings, but also has roots in the world of all things glitchy, funky, strange, and soulful. As of 2024, the project spans 15 years and more than 40 releases, which branch across a wide range of moods and sound palettes, all while maintaining an unmistakable fingerprint. Since the time of the earliest releases, Erothyme has performed at venues and festivals across North America, collaborated with numerous other musicians, produced dozens of official remixes, and produced music for several other artists and projects. At the time of this writing, Bobby is a full-time university student studying astrophysics, but is still actively producing and releasing music as Erothyme.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erothyme777/

Bandcamp: https://erothyme.bandcamp.com

Support Erothyme at https://www.patreon.com/erothyme/

#38: Talking Tolkien (with Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast)

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:35:00 +0000

In part three of the Body of Work series, Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast joins me to talk about the timeless work and legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. During our conversation, we share the ways we were introduced to Tolkien, explore a few of the universal themes of Lord of the Rings, and spend some time comparing Tolkien and his work to Johann Sebastian Bach, a skyscraper, a cathedral, and Mt. Fuji.

Material Mentioned in This Episode:

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#37: David Gungor of The Brilliance - Musical Empathy, Psychedelic Research Studies, and the Difference Between Craftspeople & Tastemakers

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:15:00 +0000

David Gungor is an artist, songwriter, pastor, speaker, and music producer based in New York City with his wife Kate and their four children.

David is half of The Brilliance — a band that creates art that inspires empathy. Their acoustic-electronic, symphonic-pop songs invite you to step outside yourself; to see the world through the eyes of the other, the stranger, those you may consider your enemy. The Brilliance sound spans too many genres to count - but it all works together to create an environment for self-reflection and hope for peace.

David produces music and podcasts and has a studio in New York City. He has pastored at Good Shepherd New York for over 10 years and has worked extensively with the Peacemaking Organization, Telos. The Brilliance also has worked with Narrative 4, a global organization headed up by some of the world's most renowned and influential authors, artists, and community leaders who have come together to promote empathy through the exchange of stories. David also leads workshops on creativity and songwriting and is a Mentor for the Trinity-Leadership Fellows.

In this episode, David talks about the ways in which The Brilliance seeks to inspire empathy, shares some profound thoughts on craftspeople and tastemakers (and how these two types of artists can collaborate and inspire each other), tells the powerful story behind the song "Just Be", and a whole lot more.

Website: https://www.davidgungor.com

The Brilliance Website: http://thebrilliancemusic.com

Instagram: @thebrilliancemusic

#36: Daily Routines

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Inspired by Mason Curry’s book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, this episode explores the power in forming a creative routine. In Curry’s words, “A solid routine fosters a well-worn groove for one’s mental energies and helps stave off the tyranny of moods.” Join me as I share personal insights and experiences in developing my own creative habits. Plus, I’ll guide you through a set of thought-provoking questions to help you craft or refine your own daily practice.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

#35: Appreciating Poetry

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Interested in poetry but feel like you don’t really understand it? It took me longer than I'd care to admit for it to finally click. In this week's episode, I share three simple things that helped me have a deeper appreciation for poetry. Tune in to hear the Mary Oliver quote that had me fire up the airhorns and stick around to the end to hear me recite three of my favorite poems of all-time.

Resources:

A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

#34: Favorite Reads of 2024 | Part 1 (with Andrew Drake)

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:35:00 +0000

It's time for a reading check-in! Join my brother Andrew and I as we discuss some of our favorite books we read so far in 2024. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and as always, take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading.

Which book surprised you the most?
What is the most ambitious book you read this year?
Which book had the best prose?
What is one book that made you cry?
Which book impacted your life the most?
What was your personal favorite?

Art Referenced In This Episode:

Abstract: The Art of Design | Es Devlin: Stage Design | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

#33: Wilder Adkins - The Importance of Strong Lyrical Imagery, Solo Music vs. Collaboration, Learning Dulcimer, and More

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Wilder Adkins is a singer-songwriter based in Birmingham, Alabama. With influences spanning from Appalachian folk ballads to Indian devotional music to the poetry of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver, his songs are steeped in natural imagery and frequently touch upon the subjects of faith, doubt, hope, and sorrow. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of strong lyrical imagery, his experience working with a band after years of writing solo, the way his songs come together, and a whole lot more.

Website: https://wilderadkins.com

Instagram: @wilderadkins

#32: Michael Gungor - Shutting Off Your Inner Editor, Getting Into a Flow State, Group Singing, and More

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:35:00 +0000

Michael Gungor is a creative mystic living in Pasadena, California. Primarily known for his music, Michael is the co-founder and primary songwriter of the eclectic indie band Gungor. The group's acclaimed albums blend elements of folk, rock, electronic, and world music, with introspective lyrics exploring the divinity of the human experience. Aside from his work under the Gungor moniker, Michael has also released three ambient instrumental albums with his friend and bandmate Tyler Chester as "On Earth", as well as an experimental side project called "Weiwu".

Beyond his music, Michael is also the co-founder of the popular The Liturgists podcast, which brings together diverse guests for honest, thought-provoking conversations about faith, science, art, and the nature of the divine. He also has a second podcast exclusively focused on non dual spirituality called “Loving This.” In addition to his musical and podcast endeavors, Gungor has co-written songs for other artists, produced records, and created music for film and television. He is also an author, having published a book titled "THIS: Becoming Free."

In our conversation, Michael and I talk about his current projects, how he maintains the right creative energy in the studio, the power of group singing, and more.

Website: https://www.michaelgungor.com

Instagram: @michaelgungor

#31: The Creative Power of Question-Asking

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 22:25:00 +0000

Can the quality of your art be improved by the questions you ask as you make it? Will the right questions help you get unstuck? How do you make sure the feedback you receive from your friends will positively contribute to your creative process? Will this episode provide satisfactory answers? Tune in to find out!

Resources:

#30: The Myth of Flow

Wed, 29 May 2024 11:35:00 +0000

What is the relationship between creativity and the flow state? What happens when we don't feel inspired to make art? In this episode, we'll draw from Verlyn Klinkenborg's Several Short Sentences About Writing to challenge the commonly-held idea that creativity is supposed to effortlessly burst through us.

Sources:

#29: Guards! Guards! (And How To Write a Character Introduction With Personality)

Wed, 15 May 2024 11:45:00 +0000

In 1989, Sir Terry Pratchett released Guards! Guards!, the eighth entry in his Discworld series. In 2024, I read that book for the first time while sitting on my back porch. In today's episode, we look at one of the reasons the book is so great — it's character introductions.

#28: Building a Second Brain - Some Notes on Digital Notetaking

Wed, 08 May 2024 12:30:00 +0000

In today's episode, I share my thoughts and key takeaways from Tiago Forte's book Building a Second Brain, which focuses on digital notetaking and the ways it can contribute to your creative output.

Resources:

#27: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Wed, 01 May 2024 11:32:31 +0000

“Have ye seen the white whale?” It's a great question, but it's not the one we’ll be investigating in this week's episode. Instead, we’ll attempt to answer the question that has been plaguing literature lovers since the dawn of time — is Moby-Dick the best novel ever written or is it a 206,000-word abomination that would best serve as the anchor to a whaling ship?

Well also explore other important questions such as:

What are Moby-Dick’s best non-narrative chapters?
What is skrimshandering?
And whatever happened to good old-fashioned monologues?

Resources:

Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick

#26: Talking Coldplay (with Tim from Earbuddies)

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 02:45:00 +0000

The Body of Work series continues! Join Tim from the Earbuddies podcast and I as we blast off into the stratosphere and share our thoughts on Coldplay’s discography. We rank their nine full-length albums, unpack the universal nature of their music, and poke fun at Chris Martin’s… uhh…lyricism?

My favorite (so far) episodes of Earbuddies:

#25: Feverkin - Ideas as Stepping Stones, Spending a Year on One Song, Recording the Calendar Project, Going Viral in Russia, and More

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:34:00 +0000

Adam Orfale, aka Feverkin, is a music producer and composer based in Portland, OR. Drawing inspiration from trip hop, future garage, lo-fi, jazz, and classical music, he strikes a unique balance between melody and beat, resulting in instrumentally-driven downtempo music that is both organic, glitchy, and emotionally impactful. In our conversation we talk about his early days of making music under the Feverkin moniker and how Burial's album Untrue completely changed the way he thought about music. We also discuss his creative process and his most recent projects including his collaborative EP with Laura Wolf and the soundtrack for Pwnisher's 3D challenge, Eternal Ascent.

Website: https://www.feverkin.com

Bandcamp: https://feverkin.bandcamp.com

Calendar Project: Calendar Project: January

#24: Turning The Gem - Getting Creatively Unstuck

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:55:00 +0000

Feeling creatively stuck? In this short episode, I share one simple perspective that can help you breathe new life into the thing you're working on.

Books referenced in the episode:

Basketball (And Other Things) by Shea Serrano

God Was In This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

#23: Manatee Commune - Making Danceable Music, Balancing Acoustic and Organic Textures, Creativity As a Muscle, and More

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 11:34:05 +0000

Grant Eadie, aka Manatee Commune, is a musician based in the Pacific Northwest. His music combines field recordings, textures from nature, surfy guitar licks, arpeggiated sine waves, and classically influenced viola. In our conversation, Grant and I talk about his early musical memories and the episode of MTV Cribs that started his fascination with electronic music. Then, we dive into his songwriting craft — including the way he utilizes field recordings and how he approaches working with vocalists.

Website: https://www.manatee-commune.com

Bandcamp: https://manateecommune.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @manatee.commune

#22: The Immersive World of Piranesi

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:49:00 +0000

I finally read Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, and (no surprise) it blew my mind. Rather than a straightforward book review, I spend this episode ruminating on the different things that made it so immersive. Buckle up because we cover a lot of ground - from chapter lengths to serif fonts to Chronicles of Narnia references!

UPDATE (12/28/25): I pronounced the name of the book wrong throughout this entire episode. It’s pronounced Piran-easy not Piran-essy. I’m lucky I didn’t get my Italian heritage revoked 😅

#21: Talking Sanderson (with Bookborn)

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:30:22 +0000

Join Bookborn (@bookborn.reviews) and I as we explore Brandon Sanderson's bibliography, including his characters, writing style, main themes, and creative evolution.

Follow Bookborn at:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookborn/videos
Instagram: @bookborn.reviews

My favorite Bookborn videos (so far):

This episode was recorded on March 7, 2024.

#20: Body of Work

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:48:00 +0000

Artists of every kind — writers, musicians, painters, sculptures — spend their lives creating pieces of art that become their legacy, their body of work. This episode, and the Body of Work series as a whole, explores the concept of the Body of Work, follows the careers of specific creators, and immerses us in their complete works. We'll discover their natural talents already present in their first works as well as the ways they developed over time.

The quotes in this episode came from this article by Kelsey McKinney:

https://kelseymckinney.substack.com/p/a-challenge-read-an-entire-oeuvre

#19: Lyric Breakdown: Middle of June by Noah Gundersen

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:34:25 +0000

In this episode, we'll embark on a line-by-line breakdown of "Middle of June" by Noah Gundersen from his 2009 EP Saints & Liars. We'll look at the song structure, explore a few different interpretations of the lyrics, and perhaps even discover why — almost 15 years later — this is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

DISCLAIMERS:

Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" of copyrighted material in a manner that constitutes quotation, criticism, review, parody, caricature, pastiche, and other legal copyright exceptions. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise by infringing.

#18: One Hundred Frogs - Translation as an Art Form

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:17:59 +0000

In 1686, Matsuo Bashō wrote a short poem about a frog jumping into a pond. That poem ended up becoming arguably the most well-known haiku of all-time. In this episode, we dive into Hiroaki Sato's One Hundred Frogs, a collection of more than 100 different translations of Bashō's famous haiku. We'll look at the ways the various translators approached the text and how their personalities colored their choice of word, syntax, and form.

#17: The Glory Days - Yellowcard, Bowling for Soup, and Handling Fan Expectations

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:49:00 +0000

Back in the summer of 2014, I went to Warped Tour and watched the pop-punk bands Yellowcard and Bowling For Soup play back-to-back sets. Seeing how each band handled the expectations of their fans was a fascinating lesson. Join me this episode for the full story and to hear some thoughts on responding to the belief (internal or external) that your best art is already behind you.

#16: Going Deep - Learning to Enjoy the Creative Process

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 12:24:00 +0000

In a recent Q&A about his new novella The Narrow Road Between Desires, author Patrick Rothfuss talked about his extremely intricate editing process (he edited Name of the Wind 800 times and spent 30 hours eliminating every superfluous instance of the word "that" from The Wise Man's Fear). This made me think a lot about how to slow down and enjoy the process of making art. Join me in this episode for a few thoughts and recommendations about ways to go deeper in your creative practice!

#15: Leaning Into Discomfort - Cold Showers, Affirmations, and the Key to Creative Growth

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:18:00 +0000

Do you find yourself getting distracted easily when trying to complete creative tasks? One moment you're writing, or drawing, or songwriting, and all of a sudden, you're doing something else entirely? If so, you're not the only one! This week I share a new technique I've been using (with great success) to help myself lean into discomfort for the sake of my creative growth.

#14: Walkie-Talkies - Letting Different Pieces of Art Talk to Each Other

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 12:31:00 +0000

When talking about his reading practice, author Richard Powers once said, "I like to keep one work of fiction and one of nonfiction going at once, and I’ll use them to triangulate against each other to conjure up some third space." In this episode, we talk about this idea of the "third space" that arises when we read more than one book at the same time and how it can transform our reading experience into something deeper and richer than ever before.

Articles referenced in the episode:

https://austinkleon.com/2020/02/13/on-reading-more-than-one-book-at-a-time/

https://austinkleon.com/2023/01/11/letting-books-talk-to-each-other/

#13: Favorite Reads of 2023 (with Andrew Drake)

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 15:46:00 +0000

This week, my brother Andrew joins me to talk about our favorite books we read in 2023. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading (including how we get oriented when we start reading a new book in a markedly different style than what we just read).

What is the most ambitious book you read this year?
Which book surprised you the most?
What was your personal favorite?
Which book impacted your life the most?
What's one book that made you cry?
Which book had the best prose?

How would YOU answer these six questions for 2023?

#12: Eat These Words - The Power of Context

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:27:00 +0000

Have you ever experienced a moment where you were sure you understood something and suddenly, a whole new world opened up based on something someone said? Words have tremendous power to enact change. In this episode, I talk about three pieces of language we can adjust in order to transform our perspectives and completely alter the actions we're able to take in our lives.

#11: New Year, New You | Part 2 - Ten Years Later

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 12:58:00 +0000

Today, we'll look at goal-setting from another angle - what are some simple things we can do that will have a ten-year impact? Tune in to hear me talk about childhood memories, toilet seats, and a quote about the sacrificial nature of true gift-giving.

#10: New Year, New You | Part 1 - Footprints in the Snow

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 20:37:00 +0000

Welcome to 2024! This time of year, there's a lot of talk around resolutions, goals, and hopes. I wanted to share a few thoughts about this threshold period where we simultaneously reflect and look forward to what's to come. We'll start with a story about running in the snow and move on to a short review of brain plasticity, and end with the relationship between growth and discomfort.

#9: Artist Dates, Symbolism, and The Random Guy I Met At Barnes and Noble

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:50:00 +0000

Back in June 2019, while going through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, I went on an Artist's Date to Barnes and Noble and had a chance meeting with a stranger that led to a… cool guided meditation? Visualization exercise? I have no clue what to call it but it was profound! Tune in to hear the full story and try out the exercise for yourself.

#8: Rob Bell - The Power of Reading Out Loud, Creating Memorable Character Names, Using Large Font, and More

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:40:00 +0000

Rob Bell (@realrobbell) is the New York Times Bestselling author of fourteen books and plays which have been translated into 25 languages. He creates visual art that can be seen on his Instagram, makes music in a band called HUMANS ON THE FLOOR, and hosts a podcast called The RobCast. In this episode, Rob and I have an in-depth discussion about his most recent book, Where'd You Park Your Spaceship? An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread, Book One: Welcome to Firdus. We delve into where the idea for the book came from, as well as some of its major themes and motifs, including teaching, architecture, and of course, the ways in which we organize our world.

Website: www.robbell.com

Instagram: @realrobbell

Books Recommended by Rob in This Episode:

This episode was recorded on December 14, 2023.

#7: Hunter Morris - Doing Things With Excellence, Hearing the Heart of God Through Photography, and Creating a Space Where People Can Be Themselves

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:35:45 +0000

Hunter Morris (@creationphotography.co) is a lifestyle photographer based out of Panama City Beach, Florida. Through his work, he helps people see themselves and their story through a lens of love. In our conversation, Hunter shares how his approach to photography stems from his relationship with Jesus and how taking pictures professionally was not something he ever expected to do. He also opens up about the life-changing transformation he experienced in college that led him to give up a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and partying to give his life to God.

Website: https://www.creationphoto.co

Instagram: @creationphotography.co

This episode was recorded on December 4, 2023.

#6: Paige Thammavong of HeyHalle - Wedding Design Trends, Balancing Work & Family Time, Saying Yes and Figuring It Out Later, and More

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 12:24:00 +0000

Paige Thammavong (@hey.halle) is a graphic designer and handletterer based out of Portland, Oregon. Her company HeyHalle specializes in event design and branding and has worked with companies such as Burgerville (shout out to Burgerville), Lulu Lemon, Paper Source, Miss Hannah's Popcorn, and the Portland Trailblazers on a wide array of digital design, handpainted murals, handlettering, layout, interior and apparel design. In our conversation, we talk about trends in wedding design, maintaining a balance between work and family, and how Paige's motto of "say yes and figure it out later" has shaped the trajectory of her business.

Instagram: @hey.halle

Website: www.heyhalle.com

This episode was recorded on November 19, 2023.

#5: DeAnna Lozensky of Guardian Grains - Regenerative Grain Farming, Soil Biology, Artisan Pasta Making, and More

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:52:00 +0000

DeAnna Lozensky is a regenerative grain farmer based in central North Dakota. In 2020, her and her husband Kelly started Guardian Grains, a company that sells whole grain, stone milled flour, flaked barley, and artisan pasta across the Midwest and beyond. In our conversation, we talk about soil biology, regenerative farming practices, pasta making, and a whole lot more!

DeAnna graciously offers an exclusive coupon code for 20% off orders over $50 (excluding all MockMill products) to all Always Choose Orange listeners. If you check out this episode and want to try out some Guardian Grains flour or pasta, enter "alwayschooseorange" at check-out.

Website: https://www.guardiangrains.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guardiangrains/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardian_grains

Join the Guardian Grains Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2069290719885937/

#4: Graphic Novels (And Why You Should Read At Least One)

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:57:00 +0000

I spent over half of the year voraciously reading my way through what have been called "classic" graphic novels and manga. In April 2023, I stumbled across r/graphicnovels' Top 100 list on Reddit and decided to read at least one volume of each entry to learn what it is that makes a piece of sequential art truly great. Now that I'm 51 entries in, what's the verdict? Tune in to hear the biases and expectations I had going in, my key takeaways so far, and the titles I recommend!

r/graphicnovel's Top 100 List: https://www.reddit.com/r/graphicnovels/comments/w9dh91/rgraphicnovels_top_100_the_list/

This episode was recorded on October 19, 2023.

#3: Gina Ariko - Finding Belonging, Comfort, and Healing Through Art

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:53:00 +0000

Gina Ariko is a Japanese-American figurative painter based in Seattle, WA. Growing up, she spent every other summer visiting family in Kokura, Japan, where her ojichan and obaachan first taught her to paint. Despite the language and distance barriers between them, they learned to connect through a shared love of painting. Her interest in art and storytelling overlapped at Santa Clara University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in both English and studio art, with a minor in art history. After graduation, Gina worked in marketing, events, and community development before pursuing her art full-time in 2020. In addition to her studio practice, Gina freelances as a floral designer and teaches art classes in the Seattle area.

In our conversation, we talk about the childhood trips to Japan that influenced her trajectory as an artist, what it took for her to step out and commit to her art full time, and the impact her grandparents had on both her art and life. Gina is an avid reader and near the end of the episode, she also shared some of her current book recommendations.

Website: www.ginaariko.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginaariko/

#2: Joe Hunsaker - From Selling His First Painting for $20 To Paying His Mortgage Through Murals and Custom Artwork

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 12:33:00 +0000

Joe Hunsaker (@smokeyjoepaintco), is a painter, muralist, and entrepreneur based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His custom portraits are in high demand and his mural work can be seen in Air BnBs, gyms, local businesses, and personal residences across the Phoenix metro area. In our conversation, we talk about Joe's path to becoming a full-time artist, constantly redefining his artistic style, the lessons he's learned from skateboarding, and much more!

Instagram: @smokeyjoepaintco

Website: https://www.smokeyjoepaintco.com

This episode was recorded on September 5, 2023.

#1: Jonathan Wilson of Fian - Linear Songwriting, Shading Your Darker Side with Fiction, and the Most Ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert Audition You’ve Ever Seen

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 11:19:00 +0000

Jonathan Wilson is the lead vocalist of Fian, a progressive rock band based out of Orcas Island, WA and the surrounding Seattle area. Fian's self-titled debut album came out in 2015 and their most recent album Notes from the Underground, was released in 2022. In our conversation, we talk about Jonathan's lyric writing process, the challenges in writing melodies to alternate time signatures, the intersection between social media and art, and how he helped put together one of the most ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert auditions you've ever seen.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fianmusic/

Bandcamp: https://fian.bandcamp.com/music

Watch Fian's incredible 2021 Tiny Desk Content Submission here: Nosmirc (Notes from the Underground) Fian Tiny Desk Contest 2021 Submission

#0: Paint Samples

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:53:00 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of Always Choose Orange! Today, you'll learn the story behind the podcast name and the vision behind the show. Hint: it has to do with spreadsheets, guessing games, and a humungous stack of paint samples.