Don't Quote Me

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me, we sit down with Amanda Hadd and Taia Sky, founders of Grand Rapids Foodie Fest, to talk about building one of the city’s biggest celebrations of food, culture, and community. What started as an idea inspired by food experiences around the country became a movement centered around bringing people together in Grand Rapids. Amanda and Taia share the story behind la...

Eric Freeman sits down for a raw, honest conversation about purpose, perseverance, and the realities of building a food business from the ground up. From being incarcerated at 19 to becoming a community activist, father, and founder of Mindset Meals, Eric shares how nourishment—physical, mental, and spiritual—became the foundation of his life’s mission. In this episode, we explore: Eric’s journey...

Season 3 of Don’t Quote Me begins with tattoo artist Frankie Williams , whose approach to tattooing goes far beyond ink on skin. In this episode, Frankie opens up about the responsibility that comes with permanent art, the importance of creating safe and intentional environments for clients, and how tattooing can become a form of emotional release and self-expression. The conversation explores men...

Season 2 of Don’t Quote Me concludes with a powerful conversation featuring Omar Arredondo, whose journey reflects what it means to lead with intention, resilience, and community at the center. In this finale episode, Omar shares the experiences that shaped his path, the lessons learned through adversity and growth, and his perspective on building something that outlives any single moment. The dis...

What does it really take to pursue creativity full-time? In this episode of Don’t Quote Me , we sit down with Grand Rapids artist and entrepreneur Alex “Big Al” Moran . Known for his murals across Michigan, Alex shares the unconventional journey that led him to leave corporate America and pursue art as a full-time career. Alex talks about the mental battle behind creativity, why great ideas often...

In Episode 10 of Don’t Quote Me, we sit down with Grand Rapids serial entrepreneur Jonathan Jelks to unpack what it really takes to build in today’s economy. From Sip Coffee & Cocktails to Motu Viget, cannabis ventures, hospitality spaces, and the Midwest Tech Project, Jonathan shares how he navigates risk, partnerships, failure, and long-term vision while staying rooted in community. In this...

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me , we sit down with Ximon Kittok (they/them) , co-founder and Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation , for an honest and deeply human conversation about trans identity, community care, and liberation. Ximon shares why transness isn’t monolithic, how joy and euphoria can be acts of resistance, and what it means to build systems of support for trans...

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me , Nick Avink—founder of Grand Rapids Trampoline Academy —shares his journey from competitive trampoline athlete to nonprofit leader working to expand access to movement-based programming for young people. The conversation explores: Why Grand Rapids Trampoline Academy transitioned to a nonprofit model How trampoline and tumbling function as both athletic discipline...

For 18 years, Lori has built a space where people feel seen, heard, safe, and welcomed. But behind the warm atmosphere is a journey filled with risk, creativity, grief, reinvention, motherhood, community-building, and resilience. We talk about: • How Scorpion Hearts Club came to be (and its past as Stray Dog Café & Sparrow’s) • Creating a genuinely safe space for staff and patrons • What it me...

In this episode, we sit down with Xavier Aker, a young self-taught artist whose work is turning heads across Grand Rapids and beyond. Xavier opens up about his journey into art, the personal experiences that shaped his creative voice, and why trusting himself became the turning point in his career. He talks candidly about learning outside of formal education, the pressure young artists feel to “pr...

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me , we sit down with Cole Williams: a pillar of the Grand Rapids community, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Delta Project , and a lifelong advocate for youth and justice. Cole has spent years working within the juvenile justice system, offering mentorship, education, and compassion to young people who are too often forgotten. But beyond his professional tit...

In this episode of Don’t Quote Me , we sit down with Luke Shoemaker, longtime Grand Rapids musician, photographer, and creative force, to talk about the journey of staying true to your art while evolving through new seasons of life. From his early days in the local music scene to national tours, countless bands, and a thriving freelance career behind the camera, Luke reflects on what it means to e...

Amy Day has built a career on curiosity and creative risk-taking. Now the Creative Director of ArtPrize, she joins Don’t Quote Me to reflect on her journey through design, wilderness therapy, and the power of art to bring people together. This episode explores what it means to create with purpose — and how art can move entire communities forward.

In Episode 2 of Season 2, we sit down with Kate Christy—founder of Folk Founded and the brilliant designer behind the Vance & Company brand. Kate is not only an incredible creative partner but also a mother, long-distance hiker, and one of the most grounded voices in design we know. This episode is all about what it means to design a creative career around the kind of life you want to live . K...

We're back with Season 2 of Don’t Quote Me , and there's no better way to launch than by sitting down once again with our longtime friend and collaborator, Jose Jimenez . In Season 1, Jose helped us pilot this series by sounding the alarm on the subtle — and not-so-subtle — threats facing immigrant communities in Michigan and across the country. Now, in September 2025, we revisit those con...

Leadership coach, consultant, and nonprofit board president Kareem Scales joins us to unpack what it really means to show up across sectors, roles, and lived experiences. With deep roots in advocacy and a firm eye on the future, Kareem shares what it takes to create systems that serve people and push back against outdated perceptions.

Luxury is Wellness: Brendon Craft on Reintroduction, Presence, and the New Masculinity Entrepreneur and creative Brendon Craft (aka Crafty) explores what it means to live again - to slow down, reset, and redefine success on your own terms. Brendon shares hard-earned lessons on fatherhood, mindfulness, male loneliness, and the power of radical authenticity.

Join us in Berlin with tramp wall artist Dillon Vance , who breaks down the intersection of athletics and artistry, and why live performance resonates in ways no recording ever could. Dillon’s story reminds us that pursuing passion, even without a roadmap, can lead to extraordinary places. For those chasing craft, momentum, and purpose, this one’s for you.

Civic designer and facilitator Adam Weiler breaks down the mechanics of meaningful innovation. Adam explains how design thinking and curiosity can lead to better outcomes for everyone. Whether you're in business, government, or somewhere in between, this one’s for the problem solvers.

Stylist, fine artist, and all-around creative powerhouse Lynn Serulla joins us to talk about working in the real world as an artist without losing your voice. This episode is a crash course in thriving creatively while still paying the bills (and following your dreams).

Hannah Berry has been loudly transforming Grand Rapids. In this episode, the Lions & Rabbits founder shares how art can shift public perception, unlock state infrastructure, and center community in lasting ways. It’s about systems, equity (and spray paint).

DJ, event producer, and Grand Rapids cultural icon Adrian “AB” Butler talks identity, longevity, and the challenge of staying true to yourself in spaces that weren’t built with you in mind. Adrian’s journey is full of laughs, lessons, and leadership. This one’s about legacy.

Filmmaker Kenny Acker opens up about his creative journey, the grind of building something real in Grand Rapids, and why trusting your gut (and your DMs) can open doors you never expected. Kenny shows us what it means to be relentlessly resourceful and unapologetically hopeful.

In this soulful episode, Amber Kilpatrick invites us into a conversation about intuition, mindfulness, and the quiet power of presence. From her work in wellness and contemplative practices to her community-based advocacy, Amber reminds us what it means to be a vessel for love, for healing, and for deep listening in a noisy world.

Steven Martinez , known for leading through change, sits down with us to explore resiliency, reinvention, and the leadership required to make bold moves in challenging times. This episode peels back the layers of professional growth, pivoting under pressure, and how tenacity and vision can propel meaningful transformation—even when the future isn’t clear.