A Podcast for Creative People

Cocoon Art Space is a vibrant art gallery and studio located at 327 S. Division Ave in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded by artists (and married couple) Josie Garcia and Tedd Smith, the space serves as a hub for local creativity, offering a rotating selection of exhibitions, handmade goods, and community events. The "Growth" exhibit celebrates nine different artists, who over the course of two month...

Pablo Eskobear is well known in Grand Rapids, Michigan, having recently won INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the Jammies. He produced tracks for a bunch of artists locally and nationally, including past guest Sonny Ski (listen to "The Grandest" ).  Among other things, we talk about: Pablo's "standard" musical beginnings his deviation from school band into metal drumming listen to Slow Croak how h...

In this episode Chris LaPorte, the Grand Rapids-based artist who won the second ArtPrize competition and currently teaches at Aquinas College, shares the personal and creative journey that led him from one year of being an engineering student to award-winning artist—and yes, there’s an '80s cover band involved. Chris opens up about his decision to leave engineering school to attend art school, mos...

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE on Ivan's youtube channel. Ivan who, you ask? Ivan Labra, the photographer from episode 78 (who also took my author photo for my most recent book, Sleepwalker Angel ), returned with the Hot Ones Season 25 hot sauces. We consumed hot wings at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filming and recording audio as we went along. It's kinda like my normal podcast, but we try to...

The GalaxyCon in Richmond, Virginia, was a ton of fun. I carpooled with Rich Hosek, and together we drove through the night—taking shifts at the wheel—until we arrived in Richmond, Virginia, at day one of this four-day event to sell books with the Pop-Up BookShoppe for the first time. The Pop-Up BookShoppe is run by an author I first met at the GalaxyCon in Columbus in 2024— C.R. Rice, who was a g...

I sat down with Carlos Sampson --also known on social media as Los the Artist --at the tattoo shop he works at, Cielo Ink in Jenison, Michigan. We were joined by our good friend (and Carlos' old neighbor) Mike Logan (comedian, actor, producer, and VO artist). We chatted about Carlos' journey as an artist, including winning Art Battle, live painting in front of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and how he...

Chelsea Rice, known professionally as C.R. Rice , is a fantasy/sci-fi writer, currently immersing you in the Realm Series . She also founded the Pop-Up BookShoppe , which helps authors sell book (and make money doing it!) at GalaxyCons across the country. If you're an author looking to expand your audience, this might be the best way to do it. If you're a Con-goer and book lover--keep an eye out f...

Sonny Ski met me at HAS HEART coffee shop downtown Grand Rapids to talk creativity. Sonny Ski's album, States of Mind, features a song called "Grand Rapids, Michigan" (that I refer to as Welcome to GR to avoid confusion) that is the new anthem for the city. Sonny Ski has been nominated for the Jammie Awards best album and artist of the year. Help him out and vote here! We talked about creativity,...

That's right, I said whorror. It's a term one of her fans came up with to describe the blending of the romance and horror genres in Tylor's books. Now she uses it to lovingly address her fans as her Whorror Babies. Her most recent novel, Slash Or Pass , has sold a ton of copies, forcing/allowing her to build a small team of professionals to help her with many of the non-writing elements of being a...

Jody J. Sperling is an author ( the Luke in Time Series (and others)) and podcast host ( Becoming a Household Name ). Together we've traveled around the country a bit going to Comic-Cons and Galaxy-Cons to sell books. This is a great episode for authors trying to find ways to get their books out to more people, but also for anyone interested in marketing, promotions, and live selling (whether it b...

Alex Anest is a guitar player based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Currently touring with his jazz trio, Alex is a skilled musician in many genres, a band leader, and a music teacher. Through our discussions--favorite bands, musical influences, legendary musicians, and the creative process--you'll learn a bit about music history (like who influenced Paul McCartney's bass playing the most), and how import...

Marcel Fable Price (former poet laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan) is the author of the book "New American Monarch" . This is his third time on the podcast. This time he's here to promote "New American Monarch" , but this is a great episode with insights for being the best version of yourself, how to be the best creative (including the "non-creative" parts of being a modern day creative) you can...

Michelle Dunaway is her station's Community Relationship Manager, host of the FOX 17 Morning Mix , and an Emmy-award winning storyteller.  Michelle has worked in television journalism since her internship where she logged VHS tapes. We talk about her journey from intern to hosting the Fox17 Morning Mix, which is on weekdays in the greater Grand Rapids, MI, area on Fox17 at 9am. (Not 10am (to 11PM,...

Hear the full song "Different Clout" by Alfie DaGreat at the end of the episode! Alfie DaGreat is one of the most powerful voices to come out of the Grand Rapids music scene. Strong lyrics and an amazing voice make his music stand out above the rest. Listen in as we talk about his history with music, his writing process, how he got involved in The Trauma Project, The Black Rose Society, and much m...

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself! Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff all over the country. We recorded at Carbon Storie...

J.B. Velasquez is an author in Arizona. He's written two novels, so far, and they're both worth a read. Whether you like metaphysical stories of people doing drugs and getting stuck in the afterlife, or futuristic dystopian stuff, give J.B. a try. We discuss his books, his process, publishing, promotion, and writing about drugs. This was fun and informative. Enjoy!  Visit JBV's website: https://jb...

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimately led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee but it's more than that. HAS HEART also allows veter...

I met Foster for coffee and a podcast conversation. This episode was recorded at The Last Mile Café , which is a black & female owned, b-corp certified business, and they have the best “miel” of all time. (Try “the last miel.”) Foster is officially listed as the “Vibe Manager” of The Diatribe . He’s a poet, father, and a voice for his community. We met up specifically to discuss The Emory , bu...

If you enjoy Creative Ops, please rate and review it wherever you listen to help the show grow! If you dig the vibe, also consider supporting the host by buying a paperback or ebook copy of his novel,  Switchers . Thank you. . . . Today's guest is SCOOB, an artist, originally from St. Louis, MO, now living in Grand Rapids, MI. He's the mastermind behind the multimedia art project and album, The Tr...

Shayna is a writer, poet, activist, radio host, filmmaker, and—in her words—a “textbook weirdo trying to figure things out." Shayna uses her creative powers to entertain as well as uplift. She’s a teaching artist with The Diatribe, runs an open mic, and is working on having a birthday party with Oprah Winfrey. We talk about creativity, culture, community activism, and more. Shayna is a fun person...

Dante Cope returns to discuss the grand opening of Grand Rapid, Michigan's newest business and cultural space, Grammotones. Grammotones is located at 120 S. Division in Grand Rapids, MI, and it is part clothing store, part music store, all cultural space. You can shop, listen to records, enjoy beautiful art, and pick up high quality used clothing as well as new clothing from local brands both big...

Nothing is impossible if you have dreams, ideas, and a willingness to work towards them. And my guest, Tara McCrackin (president of Kendall College of Art & Design (KCAD) AND vice president of Ferris State University), has an inspiring creative journey which showcases that. She shares a bit about what her school has coming up, then we dive into her professional background, how she became a tea...

After this one, this idea will resonate with you: You can figure it out; it's only over when you quit. Whether or not you're an engineer, thinking like one can help you as an entrepreneur, a creative, or just as a person. Adam Truckey's story embodies that. Adam is an engineer who successfully started his own business, AJT DESIGN, centered around something he's passionate about. But it wasn't all...

This one's a fun listen that will inspire you to call a buddy and make something silly together. Kirk Ross (host of our brother podcast, A Talk in the Attic, and one half of Trophy Husbands) and Christopher Tallon (host of Creative Ops, and the other half of Trophy Husbands) talk about Trophy Husbands' latest music video, "PINK" --now out on Youtube--and what goes into collaboratively making music...

This was a fun and fascinating conversation. We start with eye training and vision therapy as possibly the next big evolutionary step in athletic achievement. Starting out on the east coast with parents that immigrated from Nigeria, Dr. Lester has since given up his shoulder pads for a lab coat, which, ironically, may have greatly extended his career in professional sports. . . . Check out Dr. Les...