#liveandcreate

Amy Tipton is a New York Times Best Selling Agent turned editor and owns and operates Feral Girl Books.  Feral Girl books is an all-inclusive editing service that is committed to supporting marginalized authors and diverse storytelling. Her passion to develop female writers through the collaborative process shines through as well as her desire to create a life in the literary world that she a...

Matt Richards is the owner of Avenue Record Company, a producer, and musician.  His passion to see other artists succeed in their own craft and in business overflows from him. Matt shares his story of going from a touring musician to a producer helping others take their songs to the next level. He breaks down the spin cycle of write, release, and fail that he sees so many artists get stuck in...

Ben Wendt wears many hats.  He is the Co-owner of one of my favorite venues in Kansas City called The Rino where he also operates as the Production Manager.  He hosts a weekly podcast called Ope! Radio where he highlights KC and Regionally based artists. And he is the frontman for the band The Way Way Back. Ben shares the heartbreaking story of losing his son just shortly after he was bo...

Reed is a nationally touring, award-winning illusionist. He performs with his wife Ashton as The Mastersons 21st Century Magic. They have been featured on ABC, NBC, Fox, and the CW. Century Magic is what Reed & Ashton like to call a “High Energy, High Impact, Magic & Illusion Show” . It is a strategically combined mix of Brain-Bending New Age Illusions, Highly Trained Rescue Animals, Ridic...

Rusty Osborne is a health coach who’s passionate about helping musicians live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives. The musician lifestyle of touring and late-night partying finally took its toll and sent Rusty on a journey to improve his health and ultimately to help others do the same. He’s helped clients lose a collective of 700+ lbs and no doubt that number will continue to rise. If you’...

Enrique is the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed band Making Movies known for its Latinx activism. They were nominated in 2019 for the Latin Grammy Album of the Year for the collaboration they had with Ruben Blades. They’ve had their music featured on NPR’s best songs of 2019. He is also the founder of Arts as Mentorship a non-profit that helps young artists explore their full potential...

Nav the poet is a spoken word Artists, writer, and content creator.  He is chasing his dreams pursuing his passion and sharing his voice.  He shares his story of going from student to stage inspired by the college performers he saw, asking questions, and then stepping out on his own artistic journey.   He also opens up about his inward journey and the tough questions he is aski...

Keelan is a Singer-Songwriter and touring artist signed to Big Yellow Dog.  He was most recently Nominated for CMT Music Award for Quarantine Video of the Year video. He also has logged over 600 shows across 48 states and four countries alongside the likes of The All-American Rejects, Ben Rector, Matt Nathanson & New Politics as his music popped up everywhere from Spotify’s coveted “New M...

Chad Bourquin is the founder and guitarist for the band Big Time Grain Co. and the owner of the events/booking agency Generation Relevant.  He also breaks down the new technologies that he’s working in to help identify the Covid frequency with the hopes of erasing the idea of lockdowns in the future.  We hit topics of success routines, time blocking, and the necessity of following your p...

Rich Bracken is a Keynote Speaker, Podcaster, and Author.  He’s worked with Vice, ABC, ESPN, and Bustle just to name a few.  We cover topics ranging from empathy and storytelling all the way to how Hanson went from making MMMbop to selling their own beer at a microbrewery.  He also drives home the reality that your story can become someone else’s lifeline. Connect with Rich at: http...

Mica-Elgin Vi is the founder and lead singer of the band Modern Day Fitzgerald.  His creativity is off the charts and his passion for the business behind the art is as well.  We tackle a ton of topics centered around the intersection of entrepreneurship and music.    We also geek out on our love for Gary Vaynerchuck and how his concepts have fueled our own work.  And...

Kelli Winkler is a voice actor and entrepreneur.   Over a period of three years, she was able to build a full-time career in the voice acting world. She shares advice for getting started in the voice-over world and brings insight into the various opportunities that exist.   We also talk about the downfalls and benefits of people-pleasing, the necessity of employing patience, an...

025 Brandon Grosko (Civilian Firearms Trainer, Coach, and Teacher) Brandon has lived many lives. He was a full-time EDM producer / DJ. He started, grew, and eventually sold his own landscaping business. And now he is launching a new entrepreneurial endeavor as a private firearms trainer for new gun owners. Almost everyone has strong opinions on guns from either side. But, it is my hope you will he...

024 Nicolas Caesar (Artists, Founder for Scary-Art Collective, Curator of Art for Scream 4) Nicolas Caesar is an accomplished artist with works of art sold all over the world. He’s been featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and was the curator of Art for Scream 4.  We talk advice for new artists, merging business and art, and how as an artist you must never stop your whoring ways. The pow...

Zach Henderson is an artist that has a passion for building community through entrepreneurship. He shares the story of making huge pivots during the pandemic with The Rino and Colony KC which ultimately led to them starting Cultivar KC. Cultivar KC is a testament to community-based business. They combined multiple artists and entrepreneurs into a new business plan that their lenders and landlords...

022 TJ Roberts (Business Owner, Musician, Community Activist) TJ Roberts is a Business Owner (Farm Bureau Financial Services) that truly cares about his community. We talk through his vision of investing in the people around him. He also shares the challenges of being the only black man in his company in the state that he works in and his fight for the inclusion of all people. And prepare to be in...

021 Jillian Riscoe (Musician, Performer, Entrepreneur Kinder Musik) From her own personal trials and business successes, Jillian offers up some great wisdom for life, music, and entrepreneurship.  Creativity is not canceled, how to leverage live streaming performances and advice for new artists are just a few of the things we jump into.  She offers up some great resources including the b...

The Royal Chief is a Rapper and Producer.  Concepts like the power of networking, investing in your community and prepare for the worse and work for the best are front and center during our conversation.  He also highlights the reality that your story doesn’t end in your 20’s and that as an artist or entrepreneur your age doesn’t matter if you have the right mindset.  He also shares...

019 Mitch Gray. (Business Growth Specialist, Personal Development Coach, Writer, Speaker, Host of Mitch Gray Show Podcast) Mitch unpacks his journey of leaving the ministry in a Christian church to becoming a professional business consultant with a much broader definition of success and faith. We have known each other for a few years now and I always learn something applicable to my life or busine...

#liveandcreate 018 Ben Byard (Music Director, Multi-instrumentalist, Song Writer) Ben Byard often finds himself in multiple bands and music directing in musical theater productions.  We talk about how Covid has impacted the music and acting world and what that has meant for him.  We also discuss self-care and the necessity of making it a priority in a musician’s life. Some of the project...

017 Tim Shepard (Candidate for United States Senate) Tim Shephard is a candidate running for United States Senate.  Tim shares his story of how his time in the corporate world prepared him to truly make a difference through politics.   I was inspired by the conversations that centered around working for unity and understanding in politics.   Tim also shares his personal st...

016 Daniel Cole (Drummer w/ Quixotic, XV,  Twice On Sunday and Kat King) Daniel Cole is a drummer with multiple bands, social media guru, fire performer, and all-around great dude.   Daniel and I used to tour together with our band Run With It.  We dive into his journey of personal understanding and enlightenment.  It was great to catch up and I hope you enjoy the conversa...

015 Jeff Means (Owner KC Cider Co., Musician) Jeff Means is one of the founders and Co-Owner of KC Cider Co. They make some of the best hard cider you will find.  Jeff unpacks the 2020 story of he and his team pivoting during the Covid-19 pandemic.   We also discuss the concept of hustle and how it’s has taken on a dangerous meaning in entrepreneurship. He even turns the table and a...

014 Kaleb Unger (Author of A Birthday Cake for Danny) Kaleb is a children’s author with his new book A Birthday Cake for Danny published under Covenant Books.  It tells the true story of teaching his nine-year-old daughter Melody about her brother who was stillborn at 26 weeks.  We talk through the concepts of grief and healing as well as the creative process that led him to publish his...

013 Richard Cooper (Director Sofar Sounds Las Vegas / Owner Rawr Music / Producer, Engineer, Musician, Songwriter) Richard Cooper is an artist and serial entrepreneur.  He also leverages his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for investment into building up other artists.   He breaks down his journey and lessons learned through growing a multi-location bakery and how he applied thos...