From Here 2 There

This week on From Here to There, we sit down with Leo Taylor, a creator who lives at the intersection of curiosity, collaboration, and pure play. We get into How one career accidentally turned into another Why creative partnerships work when egos do not The joy and chaos of real people playtesting What improv and stand up can teach you about being flexible Growing up everywhere and how that shapes...

This week on From Here 2 There , Annie and Jose sit down with Ellie Dix, award-winning British game designer, founder of The Dark Imp , author of The Board Game Family , and host of Behind the Cardboard . Ellie’s story is one of reinvention and creativity. From her roots in education to becoming one of the most influential voices in tabletop design, she shares how curiosity, failure, and play shap...

When your career becomes your identity…what happens after a layoff? In this real-talk episode, Annie and Jose switch on the mics mid-conversation to unpack the messy middle: grief, doubt, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to “figure it out.” We talk dopamine lists, celebrating small wins, and staying open to unexpected pivots—from part-time retail to an auto-tech certification—while still honori...

In this candid and hilariously relatable episode of From Here 2 There, we sit down with our longtime friend and creative powerhouse, Sara Erickson —a toy and entertainment industry leader who recently marked her one-year self-employment anniversary (a.k.a. life after layoff). We dive into the emotional rollercoaster of navigating unemployment as a creative: the frustration, the freedom, the freela...

He’s a designer, storyteller, and builder of ideas—who does it all with a paper bag on his head. Ed Gartin’s career spans Toys R Us, Hasbro, Paper Bag Creative, and now Bestway where he mentors creators and comes up with Big Ideas that challenge the norm. In this episode, Ed joins Annie and Jose to explore: Why the best leaders act as coaches, not bosses How safe spaces fuel innovation and bold id...

In this episode of From Here 2 There , Annie and Jose get real about rejection, growth, and the mentors who shape our lives—both professionally and personally. From honest feedback and corporate culture clashes to redefining what mentorship really means, they share hard-earned lessons from the job hunt and beyond. Jose reflects, "I want to be the dumbest person in the room—because that means I’m l...

Dianne Lauble has helped shape some of the most beloved toys and games out there—and mentored countless creatives along the way. In this episode of From Here 2 There, Dianne shares how she stumbled into toy design with a creepy Pinocchio sketch, how she learned to invent on demand, and what she’s learned about collaboration, confidence, and trusting your gut. We also talk about the power of mentor...

In this episode of From Here 2 There, we talk with toy and game industry powerhouse Dougal Grimes , whose journey spans from inspecting potato crops in Aberdeen, Scotland to collaborating with Erno Rubik himself. Dougal shares how curiosity, creativity, and calculated risks shaped his path from Hasbro and Spin Master to launching his own venture, EightyTwo —a studio at the intersection of play, in...

What happens when two creatives get laid off on the same day? A whole lot of WTF, reflection, and surprisingly—laughter. In this episode, Annie and Jose share the real story behind that October morning, from the moment they got the call to what they’ve learned (and unlearned) since. They talk gut instincts, survivor's guilt, the weird world of job applications, and the wild mental gymnastics it ta...

In this episode, we sit down with  Asa Mathat —renowned photographer, creative mentor, and master of reinvention. Asa shares how radical honesty changed his life, how failure shaped his success, and why even your darkest moments can become a creative spark. From photographing legends like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to empowering at-risk youth through  Camp Enlightenment —and yes, there’s even a sto...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Cournoyer—former game designer turned bold brand builder. Adam shares how he dived into career leaps, creative risks, building brands people actually care about, and trusting your gut even when it’s scary. From toy and game design to most recently Kickstarter success with Vampire Surf Cult.  Feeling stuck? Dreaming bigger? Looking for a sign? This episode is...

From Here to There — Meet Your Hosts In our very first episode, we flip the script and interview each other. Get to know Annie and Jose — two creatives with big dreams, weird paths, and a lot of stories. We talk childhood aspirations (spoiler: one of us wanted to be an astronaut, the other had a surprising plan to deal with bullies), what drives us today, and why we started this podcast. It’s the...