Deep Dive Creatives

What does it take for a 19-year-old to buy and run a business—and successfully lead it for nearly three decades? In this episode of Deep Dive Creatives, Tamara McGinnis sits down with Janey Jefferson, owner of a successful dance and fitness studio in Monmouth, Oregon. Janey shares her remarkable creative journey from purchasing a dance studio at just 19 years old to becoming a choreographer, costu...

🎭 From one-man shows to music, storytelling, and faith-driven creativity — actor and performer Chuck Neighbors shares his incredible 45+ year creative journey in this inspiring episode of Deep Dive Creatives. Discover how creativity, improv, storytelling, theater, music, and even AI shaped his artistic path. Chuck opens up about finding his calling, overcoming creative blocks, writing from life e...

What does it really mean to be creative? In this episode of Deep Dive Creatives, we sit down with woodworking artist Reuben Gershin, who turned a hobby into a full-time business by relentlessly asking one simple question: “What if?”Reuben shares his journey from high school science teacher to professional woodworker, revealing how curiosity, experimentation, and persistence shaped his creative pat...

In this episode of Deep Dive Creatives, we sit down with Rand Chesshir, a musician, filmmaker, and lifelong creator whose journey spans continents, cultures, and decades of artistic exploration. From growing up in post-war Seoul to facing rejection in Hollywood, Rand shares powerful insights on perseverance, purpose, and what it truly means to live a creative life. If you’ve ever struggled with se...

Pepe Moscoso is a mixed media artist that uses ability to be a connector, to learn about people and culture and share those discoveries through his art. His creative journey is both entertaining and inspirational.00:00 Creativity is…00:57 Meet Joel Nickel11:47 Defining Creativity14:56 What is your creative process?18:21 What is your favorite part of the process?19:50 Where do you find inspiration?...

Discover the creative journey of film maker and educator Jack Shay. In this inspiring conversation, Jack opens up about the childhood experiences that shaped his imagination, how resilience fuels creativity, and why artists must learn to trust themselves. From personal stories to practical insights, this episode dives deep into the mindset behind making meaningful work. What you’ll learn: • How ea...

“Creativity is a process of making—and of becoming.”In this episode of Deep Dive Creatives, retired Lutheran pastor and lifelong artist Joel Nickel shares the story of a lifetime spent exploring form, color, faith, mistakes, and the joy of discovery. From gouache to enamel, from Chicago to Oregon, from biblical imagination to German Expressionism, Joel invites you to see yourself as God’s artwork—...

Rachel Ost dedicates a large amount of her spare time as a playwright. Over the years she has learned a great deal about the process of adapting stories for the stage and learning a great deal about herself along the way. Rachel communicates in a down to earth level in order to encourage you and inspire you in your own creative journey.#deeoduvecreatives, #creativitypodcast, #creativewriting, #pod...

A conversation between artist, Mike Gatlin and Tammy McGinnis. "Beauty points the way to love." Makoto Fujimura Mike grew up throughout the west and southwest of America, and learned to see the distinctive beauty of our world no matter where he found himself. Bringing that extravagant beauty onto a simple piece of paper using pencil and watercolor is one of the joys of his life as an artist. He lo...

In this inspiring episode of Deep Dive Creatives , host David McGinness sits down with Steve Hunt —a painter, woodworker, writer, editor, and clockmaker—who shares his lifelong journey of creativity fueled by curiosity, craftsmanship, and purpose. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode : Steve’s hands-on creative process (from thumbnail sketch to finished piece) How he finds inspiration in everyday...

Kristen Grainger , is the voice of True North, an Americana string band that hails from the Pacific Northwest.  Kristen is the primary architect of the band’s songwriting.  She was named by The Bluegrass Situation as one of the “Women Who Wrote Our 2020 Soundtrack,” alongside Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile.

Justin Panneck is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a masters degree both in counseling and education as well as a PhD in health psychology. Through education, experimentation and collaboration, Justin has developed a highly creative counseling practice that not only promotes healthy thinking, but nurtures the creative spirit.

Meet Bentley Michaels. Bentley has been a full-time Voice Talent for the past 15 years. In that time his voice and music have been used by companies like AT&T, NBC, Comcast, Walgreens, Evolution Game Systems, Reebok, just to name a few. Bentley works from his home studio in the great NW doing voice overs and creating custom music for projects that are seen and heard all over the world.

Meet Molly Gracida Beach, a young entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, living in San Antonio de las Minas BC Mexico, who started a cake decorating business in 2024. She also started an Instagram channel called Mollyssweets that has quickly grown to 30,000 followers.

director of the Enchanted Forest, a theme park located in Turner, Oregon.  She counts herself fortunate to have been born into a family dedicated to cultivating the creative spirit.  In the late 60’s Susans father, Roger Tofte, on a 20 acre land site, created and hand built the Enchanted Forest. Susan had a front row seat for the entire experience. 00:00 Creativity is… 00:43 Meet Susan Vaslev 07:2...

Meet Dan Chen, a multi-disciplinary artist who has mastered over glaze painting, charcoal drawing, airbrush painting, oil painting, raku pottery, porcelain and stoneware creation, soft pastel, scratch board and intaglio prints,  Bronze sculpting, lucite engraving, and the list goes on!  Dan considers him self a work in progress, always in pursuit of learning new things and new skills to master.  W...

Meet Steve Gehlen.   Steve has led digital teams at Hollywood Video, Nike, Icebreaker Clothing, Pendelton, OHSU, Brandlive, Costal Farm & Ranch and currently heads up a team at Wilco. Steve is also the Founder of organizations that promote creativity like the Internet Strategy Forum, Keeping the Arts and Oregon Creative Industries. Steve unpacks his ideas about technology.generative A.I  and h...

Meet Michelle M. Bruhn.  Michelle is a Young Adult fantasy author whose stories focus on outcasts, hard questions, and hope. Michelle is the author of a book series titled the dragon singer chronicles.  The first book in the series, titled Songflight was published in 2020 and is a three-time finalist for the Realm Awards.

Von Glitschka , the founder of Glitschka Studios , located in the Pacific Northwest, works closely with clients from all over the world, collaborating to create design and illustration for global brands, small business and startups. Von has a passion to pass along his knowledge and expertise to anyone willing to improve their creative abilities. He has written numerous resource and how to books. H...

Welcome to Deep Dive Creatives, a podcast that dives into the creative process and explores what happens when people interact with that elusive thing called creativity.  In this premiere episode, I talk with songwriter, carpenter, painter, transportation consultant, Del Huntington.