Good People, Cool Things

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? I'd go for an extra pair of arms. Joe Field is a superhero in his own right — he's what Paul Bunyon would be if he were also a writer. Joe is the creator of the LEGENDS UNIVERSE and author of Arrowhead Legends, Skoldrum Legends, and Chokecherry Legends. His books are enjoyed by middle grade kids, young adults, new adults, and the young at heart, or...

Betty Lu loves to travel and hike. Yet when she found herself reaching for protein bars to satiate her hunger, she encountered boredom more than yum-dum. So, she made herself a lightweight snack that still tasted great, pulling inspiration from the markets she went to growing up in Singapore and other flavors around the world, and using colorful plant-based ingredients like okra, sweet potatoes, r...

At the Texas Rennaissance Festival, you’ll see engaging experiences nearly everywhere you turn. Between themed weekends, local business owners peddling their wares, and elegant performers interacting with visitors, it’s a spectacular time. Presiding over it all is the King of the Texas Renaissance Festival, who just so happens to be this episode’s guest. Yes, we’re kicking off the new season of Go...

Good People, Cool Things returns on October 4. In the meantime, I'm highlighting some other cool shows that I think you'll enjoy! This week, we're flipping the script. Normally, I'm the one doing the interviews and highlighting the lovely things my guests are doing. But on this episode? I'm the guest, and I'm being interviewed by Rabiah Coon, host of the More Than Work podcast. More Than Work feat...

Good People, Cool Things is returning with new episodes on October 4. In the meantime, I'm sharing episodes of other shows I think you'll dig. Today's episode is from The Artist's Work Ethic with Mike Pelak. Mike is chatting with actor Terry Serpico, an actor who's currently recurring on Law & Order: SVU as Chief of Detectives, Tommy McGrath. Terry's appeared in films such as Hannibal , Michae...

Good People, Cool Things will return on October 4. In the meantime, we're sharing episodes from other shows doing great stuff. Today's highlighted show is The Integrated Schools Podcast, hosted by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. Housing and school segregation are closely intertwined, yet the story of how that came to be is rarely taught. The students at EPIC Theatre Ensemble were commissioned to w...

Good People, Cool Things is returning October 4. In the meantime, we're highlighting other cool podcasts! Access to Inspiration is a not-for-profit podcast that aims to improve people’s lives by helping them transcend their day-to-day challenges and reflect on what they're capable of. From accomplished artists and entrepreneurs to visionary thinkers and resilient leaders, the podcast uncovers the...

Good People, Cool Things is returning October 4. In the meantime, we're featuring other cool podcasts! Art Heals All Wounds is a podcast that features a different artist each week whose work is having an impact on their communities. These artists share what motivates them, what issues in their lives have inspired their creativity, and the ripple effects of their work in the world. Today’s episode...

EJ McCoy mowed his first lawn when he was eight years old and soon learned that he could turn that activity into a pretty successful business. He also discovered that, hey, most people don’t like to deal with their pet’s waste. Shocking, right? Luckily, EJ doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, and he’s turned Scoop Soldiers into a successful business of pet waste removal. He’s also evolved his law...

When Cassie Petrey was a mere 12 years old, she created a newsletter for the Backstreet Boys that reached fans worldwide. She’s parlayed that fangirling into a highly successful career, playing a role in social media marketing for several major artists, including those very same Backstreet Boys, Camila Cabello and Britney Spears. Cassie is the co-founder and co-CEO of the marketing and music manag...

While merch and tours can help musicians make more money, they’re not the only ways to go. Evan Price helps artists think more like artistpreneurs. He wants them to approach their music like a business — because that’s what it is. Evan founded his first company when he was just 14 years old. Now, he’s the head of Artist Collective, helping musicians monetize their creative skills and giving them t...

Reenita Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist, and audio producer. Her female-driven comedy Operation Mom has won all kinds of awards, including the Grand Prize of the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Her young adult fantasy screenplay, Shadow Realm has a bunch of recognitions, like being a Script2Comic finalist. And her newsletter is chock full of good tips for better writing and...

After many years of struggles, I've started to get back into the succulent game, I have a duck planter filled with fun lil' greenery. My personal favorite: lithops, which are also known as “living stones.” They look like little brains to me, but I also heard a shop owner refer to them as “pig’s noses,” so your mileage may vary. While my green thumbs are slowly but steadily improving, this episode'...

I’ve always felt fortunate that my family has loved to travel. Before I went to college, I had been to a luau in Hawaii. I had held koala bears and rode underwater scuba motorcycles in New Zealand and Australia. I had seen tortoises in Ecuador and traversed Machu Picchu in Peru. Even a mere few months ago, I embarked on a month-long trip across Europe. It was a wonderful time, and…psst, in case yo...

When you think of tourism, what comes to mind? Like how Paris, Texas has an Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat on top? Or how some cities base their entire economy around one major event, like Williamsport, Pennsylvania does with the Little League World Series? Well, Diana Edelman, founder of Vegans, Baby!, has a different type of tourism. Diana is, in her own words, a former publicist-turned-travel-b...

Whether you're a fan of brainteasers, puzzles, or board games — or all three — this episode is right up your alley. Austin-based company Project Genius makes brainteasers and puzzles designed to get your mind stimulated. The company is also women-owned and an active member of the Austin Autism Council. One of those owners is Brandi Pinsker, who founded the company and serves as CEO. Brandi shares...

Patrick Grimes is the founder and CEO of InvestOnMainStreet.com , a private equity firm that provides tax-shielded and inflation-hedged passive investments in alternative investments. What does that mean? Well, since 2007 — which, you may remember, was right before a massive housing crash — Patrick has purchased distressed real estate assets, renovating and stabilizing them for long-term cash flow...

When you were in school, you probably did some kind of project or report on a family member. Chances are you didn't uncover something like my guest. Pepper Anne is a true crime writer, and the author of The Notorious Texas Swindler about Bob Leach, a cattle rustler turned con man and the mastermind behind the Grayson County Five, a group of fugitives who escaped from the Grayson County Jail in She...

We've got plenty of good guests in store for the latest season, but I'm ridin' solo for the first episode back! I just spent a month traversing around Europe, and I've told everyone within earshot that they should go have a European adventure of their own. Since you are, in fact, within earshot, you're getting a sneak peek at my itinerary. Enjoy walking through the fabulous sights and sounds. Let...

Payal and Kajal Vitha left their jobs in tech to follow their hearts and start their own jewelry business. Their goal? To make Sonu Company the premier engagement ring destination for this generation. We're talking about their appearance on Indian Matchmaker , what it's like working with family, and tips for keeping your ring sparkling.

The world could use a little more love, and that's one of the guiding forces behind author Emma Barry's books. Romance novels are about love, relationships, and hope. In a dark world, that's endearing! If you have any inkling to write...well, anything , you'll find plenty in here. Emma shares why she has a writer ethos, the reason she fired her agent, and how Saturday Night Live inspired her most...

Have you ever done something you didn't want to do — and it turned out to be an incredible decision? Holly Curby is no stranger to finding inspiration in all kinds of people and places, but she never expected to be an entrepreneur or write a book. Now, she's done both and is thriving. We're talking about her unexpected business growth and her book journey, from writing to a deeply personal cover....

Mike Fata was raised by a poor single mother, dropped out of school as a teenager, lost more than 100 pounds, and started a business in the hemp food space. A few years ago, he sold that business for nearly half a billion dollars. Mike will be the first to tell you that his journey isn't the "typical" one, but it's a great reminder that success comes in all different shapes and forms. Now, Mike wo...

You may have noticed we’re in the middle of March, which means it’s time for the greatest time of the sports year — March Madness. It can seem daunting to fill out a bracket, particularly if you haven’t watched a lick of basketball all year. But there’s good news: It’s equally as difficult to fill out a bracket even if you have watched many basketball games. Luckily, Chris Hayes and I are here to...

People are often surprised to learn that I host multiple podcasts. Perhaps my self-promotion skills need a bit of work…in any case, I am, in fact, a multi-podcast connoisseur. My other current show is called Sports R Dumb; each episode dives into a silly element of sports. It may seem like there’s not a ton of crossover between a sports-centric show and a show about building a brand. But Good Peop...