Bad Idea Social Club

Craig Horky (illustrator, graphic designer) shares his story with Aaron McCall and talks about analog habits, unexpected upheaval, and the tension between making a living and making something that lasts. They cover brush pens, weird gigs, creative grit, and the strange freedom that comes with getting fired. Also, he really loves his cats. Keep up with Craig Horky: craighorky.storenvy.com IG: @crai...

Mitch Ermatinger (brewer/founder, Speciation Artisan Ales ) talks with Aaron McCall about building a life around wild beer—then no longer being able to drink it. They get into the art and science behind fermentation, the gut-punch of a celiac diagnosis, designing what he can’t taste, and staying creative inside sharp limitations. It’s about constraint, reinvention, and what it means to keep making...

Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop...

Scott Millington (photographer) has always had an eye for real-life moments—and in photography, he found the language to document them. Scott sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about how the camera gave him purpose, community, and a way to show the world as he sees it. From indie wrestling shows to coffee shops and protests, Scott shares what it means to document real life, connect with people, a...

Courtney Romero (graphic designer, co-founder of Class ) didn’t set out to co-found a tech company, but when the opportunity came, she ran with it. Courtney shares her story with Aaron McCall about growing up fast, chasing stability, and refusing to play the starving artist game. From agency life to ed tech, she’s made her own rules, learned how to rest, and found unexpected freedom in pole dancin...

Jon Bailey (photographer, videographer, and co-owner of Lantern Coffee Bar & Lounge) joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about reinvention, embracing uncertainty, and the realities of running an independent coffee shop. His path hasn’t been a straight line—from filming skate videos to shooting weddings to finding his place in coffee—but with grit, determination, and a willingness to bet on h...

Artist Mike Egan joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about art, death, and building a life on his own terms. Known for his bold, macabre paintings of skeletons, coffins, and religious iconography, his work is unmistakable—equal parts haunting and approachable. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mike worked as an embalmer and funeral director, experiences that shaped his perspective on life and...

Filmmaker and creative director Jenny Berggren (Wondergold Pictures) joins Aaron McCall for an unfiltered conversation about reinvention, creative freedom, and breaking away from the structures that no longer fit. From growing up making home videos to crafting stories through film and photography, storytelling has always been at the core of who she is. Jenny has torn everything down and rebuilt fr...

Poet, storyteller, and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Marcel Fable Price joins Aaron McCall for a raw and deeply honest conversation about creativity, mental health, and the weight of grief. He opens up about loss, the complexity of love and regret, and how storytelling became both a survival tool and a calling. From founding a multimillion-dollar nonprofit to stepping into the deeply personal...

Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with singer/actor Sabrina Dahlgren (S3 Ep5), graphic designer Jacob Rosenburg (S2 Ep12), and musician Mike Mains (S1 Ep3) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps moving, and we’re here for all the stories about what’s changed and how their lives, creativity, and perspectives have evolved. Season 5 starts hitting on...

Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with Lydia VanHoven-Cook (S1 Ep1), Jill Deiters (S1 Ep5), and Edwin Collazo (S4 Ep1) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps moving, and we’re here for all the stories about what’s changed and how their lives, creativity, and perspectives have evolved. Season 5 starts hitting on Tuesday, March 11. Don't forget...

Bailey Sell (screen printer, graphic designer, Transfigure Print Collective ) shares his story with Aaron McCall and discusses the love/hate relationship between creativity and time, the roles that identity and community play in creativity as well as queer and trans initiatives, and the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with building a brand so close to his heart. Keep up with Bailey Sell:...

Daphna Sebbane (graphic designer, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to share her story, discussing her multicultural upbringing and creative inspiration rooted in mysticism, tattoo art, and the occult. Daphna opens up about developing her distinct artistic style, prioritizing mental health, and the influence of music and travel on her work and personal growth. Keep up with Daphna Sebbane: daphnasebb...

Sean Cook (wedding photographer) shares his story with Aaron McCall, diving into his struggles and growth with social anxiety, the lengths he goes to capture meaningful images, and how his camera has served as a conduit, a security blanket, and a paycheck. And if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of two grown men with a friendly, yet petty, rivalry over the heart of their mutual best...

Mark Condupa (songwriter, singer, writer) shares deeply personal stories with Aaron McCall as they discuss creativity born out of love and grief, the effects of trauma on creativity and decision-making, and the role music plays in our day-to-day lives. Keep up with Mark Condupa: LinkedIn: Mark Condupa —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/...

Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman (actors, writers, podcast creators, Acorn Arts & Entertainment , The Call of the Void , Silvertongues ) share their stories with Aaron McCall as they discuss collaboration in creativity and in marriage, the humanity and empathy that goes into writing and performing, and the perspective needed to take acting from a hobby to an art form. Keep up with Josi...

Alyssa Pacheco (poet, author, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the deeply personal nature of her work. Alyssa opens up about the influence of her family dynamics, the vulnerability in her words, and how her lived experiences serve as a form of discovery, expression, and a vehicle for creativity. Keep up with Alyssa Pacheco: apachecopublishings.com IG: @lyss_poetry —— This...

Nicholas Hartman (painter, illustrator, Chapel of Ghouls ) shares his story with Aaron McCall and opens up about his death anxiety as well as other mental health challenges and how those things present themselves in his work. Nick balances a macabre energy with infectious positivity while discussing the humanity of art and an appreciation for the darkness. Keep up with Nicholas Hartman: IG: @chape...

Leigh Ann Cobb (photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss going from an awkward art kid to an awkward art grown-up, what it takes to keep her sense of self and identity in check, and the relationship between Leigh Ann and the camera, the camera and her subjects, and more importantly, Leigh Ann and her subjects. Keep up with Leigh Ann Cobb: leighanncobb.com IG: @leigh.ann.cob...

Marley Soden (letterer, illustrator, muralist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss breaking off from agency life, her need for control in creativity and presentation, playing with food, and how she uses TikTok and Instagram as their own mediums. Keep up with Marley Soden: marleysoden.com TT: @marley.makes.things IG: @marley.makes.things —— This episode is supported by: Creative Morn...

Edwin Collazo (brewer, business owner, City Built Brewing Company ) shared his story with Aaron McCall and 70-something other people at City Built Brewing Company for a LIVE recording session to kick off season 4. Edwin opened up about how creativity presents itself, the life experiences that led him to open a brewery, and his relationship with his faith, community, and culture. Keep up with Edwin...

In this BONUS episode, we officially welcome Amber Gray to the Bad Idea Social Club team. She's a multi-faceted creative with a background in graphic design, creative direction, photography, performance art, and probably 20 other things. Amber shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss their history together, the bullshit that comes with progress, and what she's bringing to the p...

To wrap up season 3, James Victore (artist, graphic designer, art educator, creative coach) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they get into discovering your voice as an artist and a person, the line between creative block and being bored, and finding your way back to yourself after getting lost. Keep up with James Victore: yourworkisagift.com IG: @jamesvictore —— This episode is supported by:...

Dan Wiltshire (motion designer, Chop & Hue ) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the energy that creativity gives and takes, catching influence from film and thin air, and overcoming physical and emotional setbacks to keep artful energy moving forward. Keep up with Dan Wiltshire: IG: @daniel_wiltshire_ch chopandhue.com IG: @chopandhue mittenstatelights.com IG: @mittenstatelights...

Steph Harding (photographer, marketer, creative nomad) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about chasing down creative ambitions, surrounding yourself with people who energize instead of drain, and turning the creative switch on and off. Over drinks, of course. Keep up with Steph Harding: IG: @stephwithdrinks IG: @sodrinkible —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rap...