Getting Work To Work n5c57

If I were to type a prompt into AI to generate today’s episode for me, it would probably be this: “Insert amazing monologue here.” It’s generically specific. Yes, I want a monologue, but make it amazing. I’ll spend hours whittling down the responses, going back and forth with a computer. Until I find something able, meets my deadline, and keeps me moving forward until real inspiration shows up. How often do we approach our creative journey with the same level of expectation and response. We pick a thing or a niche, attach a one or two word description of our expectations, and then go about our business. When things don’t work out, we change-up the words, and hope the results will change more in our favor. In today’s episode, I want to dive into what we want, because until we know what that is, what we do might not matter. Show Links Midjourney prompt for episode art: insert amazing monologue here cinematic lighting –ar 16:9

One of the things I often hear while interviewing people is, “Oh, I’m sorry, I went off on a tangent.” My common response is, “That’s okay, tangents are interesting.” Not only are tangents interesting, they are instructive and important. They teach us about how we learn, our curiosities, what motivates us to keep moving forward, and the very things that matter most to us. In this episode of Getting Work To Work, I’m going to explore a few tangents in my own life from the first car I ever bought, to my latest creative curiosities and experiments. Show Links Leatherworking 101: A how-to guide to learning leather crafting The Crucible: Your Guide To All Things Industrial Arts Craft in America The Automata Maker – Oliver Pett by We Are Makers Automaton Lake Lady Midjourney prompt for episode art: off on tangents, exploring new territory, creative explorers –ar 16:9

When I first saw Luke Preece’s work on Instagram for Metallica’s 30th anniversary of …And Justice For All, my mind was blown. Since then, I’ve followed his work seeing him continually produce stunning art for bands, video games, and movie studios. His bio says it best: “Luke Preece is a UK-based award winning Illustrator and Art Director. His work combines the visceral power of Heavy Metal iconography and the intricacy of 70s/80s science fiction, presented with a clear, compositionally-led design aesthetic.” In our conversation, we talk about his drive and need to create, how nostalgia fuels his work, and his creative journey from art college to working with iconic bands. We also talk about how imposter syndrome is a good thing, the reality that success takes time, how he works from rough thumbnail to finished product, and finding inspiration from his clients. Show Links Luke Preece Official …And Justice For All artwork by Luke Preece Pushead Jim Phillips Michael Whelan Ross Halfin Photography 2000 AD Guns N’ Roses – You Could Be Mind (Live in New York, Ritz Theater – May 16, 1991) Metallica: Enter Sandman (Official Music Video) Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live) [Cliff ‘Em All] Rebellion NECA Hot Toys Mondo Sleep Token Midjourney prompt for episode art: abstract skulls monochromatic color scheme –ar 16:9 –v 6.0

Ever since I started my creative journey, I feared being empty. Empty of ideas, thoughts, stories, projects, connections, business, ambition. What would become of me if no one wanted to work with me? Who would I be if I ran out of creative ideas? I associated emptiness with negative feelings: imposter syndrome, comparison, lack of self-worth, and low self-esteem. I didn’t want to invite those feelings into my life, so I built processes, systems, goals, fail-safe methods, and a good old-fashioned work ethic to fight the onslaught of emptiness. I wanted nothing to do with it. Every time I felt its pull, I pushed harder, until I couldn’t fight it any longer. Show Links Midjourney prompt for episode art: emptiness abstract surreal –ar 16:9

If you were to produce a film about your life, what would it say about the choices you made, the people you surrounded yourself with, and the impact you had on the world? Eriksen Dickens is today’s guest on the show, sharing his ion for storytelling and filmmaking in the form of legacy documentaries. Our conversation begins with his endless curiosity about big existential questions and how his schooling in philosophy and psychology translates to filmmaking. He talks about turning a childhood ion into a business, what it’s like collaborating with his brother, the seven storytelling pillars, keeping creative juices flowing on long-term projects, leadership, and balancing a long-term vision with the needs of today. Regardless of where you find yourself in the creative world, Eriksen brings a depth of introspection and drive that you can learn from and bring into your life and work. Show Links Platinum Peek Productions Dickens Brothers Joel Coen Ethan Coen No Country for Old Men (2007) Gary Hustwit Watch Photographer (2024) on National Geographic Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2022) Kanopy Civil War (2024) Fallout (2024–) The Power of the Actor: The Chubbuck Technique – The 12-Step Acting Technique That Will Take You from Script to a Living, Breathing, Dynamic Character by Ivana Chubbuck Midjourney prompt for episode art: documentary filmmaking, life, legacy, cinematic lighting –ar 16:9

Some monologues I have a pretty solid idea from start to finish, but others need time and reflection to make sure I’m not just ranting and railing against some invisible force. Today’s episode started with a few early morning rants that I captured in my notes app. As I went through the day, I realized I wanted to shape it into something else, but didn’t know what. So, I just wrote. I fought the urge to apologize for expressing my feelings, ate dinner, then deleted the apology. I’m not sorry, so why pretend? Because I got comfortable using code words to let people know what I was feeling without really saying what was going on. But, it’s time to let the code words go. I’ll still change the names to protect the guilty, but that’s just smart. Show Links Midjourney prompt for episode art: canary birds wearing bowler hats in the style of film noir –ar 16:9 –v 6.0

What’s the point of preserving old homes? Why do old homes matter? Two driving questions for today’s interview with Lee McColgan, woodworker, restorer of old homes, and author of A House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial. Lee shares his philosophy, how he thinks about old things, and many stories about his journey from finance to woodworking and home restoration. We talk about his fascination with how things are made by hand, the breadcrumbs of our work present throughout our lives, the creative drive and purpose of his work, the impermanence of all things, the eccentric personalities of people he’s met over the years, why generalization is dangerous, and interesting things he’s found hidden in the walls. Show Links Lee McColgan on Instagram (@helvehistorictrades) A House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial by Lee McColgan The Last of the Mohicans (1992) Stranger Things (2016–2025) James Victore Wall Street (1987) The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis Building the Timber Frame House: The Revival of a Forgotten Craft by Tedd Benson with James Gruber Bensonwood The Framed Houses of Massachusetts Bay, 1625–1725 by Abbott Lowell Cummings The Old Way of Seeing (And How to Get It Back) by Jonathan Hale The Age of Wood: Our Most Useful Material and the Construction of Civilization by Roland Ennos Mark Kurlansky Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Photo by Carlo Borella on Unsplash

The simplest quotes are often the deepest and inspire endless reflection. In my conversation last week with Gregg Brown—entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author—he dropped a short sentence that stopped me in my tracks: “We have to be prepared to be unprepared.” My mind filled up with questions. How does one prepare to be unprepared? Why can’t we prepare for all possibilities before they happen? How does preparing for how we will respond to the unknown becoming known impact all areas of our lives and work? In this episode, I’m diving into this quote and my questions in greater detail and hopefully discover a healthier mindset when faced with change. Show Links: Gregg Brown – BeChangeReady.com “Change is the Future” with Gregg Brown (GWTW776) Midjourney prompt for episode art: unprepared for change and the future in the style of dadaism oversaturated colors –ar 16:9

How prepared are you for the future of your work? Maybe you are coasting on continual success, not worried about what’s on the horizon. Perhaps you find yourself in a season of loss, feeling threatened by the rise of AI tools and frustrated with disruptive change. Regardless of where you are at in your professional journey, today’s guest is on the show to teach us how to be change ready. Gregg Brown is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Spark Action: How to Lead Change That Matters. He helps “leaders and teams get ready for the future so they can tackle change head-on and get things done.” In our conversation, he shares what getting future-ready in a rapidly changing world means. We also discuss the need for critical thinking and decision-making in the age of AI, how to bring our personality and brand of magic to our work, why it’s crucial to shed our corporate skin, what change looks like in the middle of your career, and the importance of taking action and being explorers in everything we do. Show Links Gregg Brown – BeChangeReady.com Spark Action: How to Lead Change That Matters by Gregg Brown Midjourney prompt for episode art: being change ready, human resilience, futurism, neon cinematic lighting –ar 16:9 –v 6.0

What rules do you follow because you believe they will lead to success? What tools do you use to ensure you can be as relevant as possible? What if these rules and tools have the opposite effect on your life, and you can’t see it because you’re too close? What if social media is actually turning you into a new person you don’t want to be, doing what you don’t want to do? What if all your daily actions to stand out and get noticed shape you into a societal clone? How many more questions can I fit into this opening synopsis? One more? I love it when a book enters my world and shakes it up. Anti Rule: Navigating The Lies About Fiction Writing by Christian Francis is the small but mighty book that inspired today’s episode. So, put on your dunce cap and me in detention. It’s time to chat about what we’re doing wrong. Reflection Questions: What rules do you follow blindly despite knowing they aren’t working, hoping that if you just hold on a little bit longer, inertia will shift and success will be in your favor? What tools do you use begrudgingly because you think they are what you have to use to be accepted? How can you embrace the label of “fool” and become devoted to the work that matters to you, while stripping away all the baggage? Show Links Anti Rule: Navigating The Lies About Fiction Writing by Christian Francis Echo On Publishing Love and Monsters (2020) Midjourney prompt for episode art: surrounded by clones

How do you pitch yourself and your business to podcasts you want to be a guest on, people you want to connect with, and companies you want to bring into your network? By taking the courageous step and shamelessly sending the email or making the call. Today’s guest did that after hearing an earlier episode of Getting Work To Work with Rachel Allen. Solveig Petch is a strategic brand consultant and creative director providing “remarkable branding for the quietly rebellious.” In our conversation, we talk about the importance of sending shameless pitches and the difference between courage and confidence. She shares what a brand is and how it’s different than branding, what it takes to build a stand-out brand, why we choose generic values instead of those that will help us stand apart, and why it’s okay to want to keep changing the world. Show Links Petchy Randi Buckley – Healthy Boundaries for Kind People® What Works by Tara McMullin Bolt from the Blue Copywriting “Words Make Worlds” with Rachel Allen (GWTW765) No Plan B: A Handbook for Incurable Entrepreneurs and Other Rebellious Souls by Heather Thorkelson Midjourney prompt for episode art: abstract surreal authentic human humanity –ar 16:9

Earlier this week, in my paid newsletter for Getting Work To Work, I was reflecting upon the question: How is your body of work holding you back from experimenting with risky creative ideas and exploring new directions? No matter how long you’ve worked on your craft, you inevitably amass a body of work. The apparent measure is quantity, but you can also look at quality with an eye toward growth and outcomes. But the more I think about my body of work, the more I wonder if it’s a hindrance rather than a help. What does it communicate to a potential employer or client? How can it hold you back by morphing from what you’ve done into a statement of being on-brand, not to mention consistency? Questions aside, I want to explore what to do if you feel stuck and need to take a creative chance beyond what you’ve done before. Four ways to inject creative risk and experimentation into your creative journey: Reexamine your systems and processes. Identify playing-it-safe behaviors and how you can counter them with small creative risks. Imagine your creative future based upon what you are doing today. Seek new partnerships and collaborators. Show Links Getting Work To Work on Substack Midjourney prompt for episode art: creative risk and experimentation, body of work, portfolio, creativity in the style of dadaists –ar 16:9

I first met today’s guest near the beginning of my creative journey at the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon, where I was taking a workshop on interviewing techniques. Almost 20 years later, he is on Getting Work To Work to share his latest project hitting theaters and the internet today. Brian Lindstrom is a documentarian and co-director of Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill. In our conversation, Brian shares what captures his attention in filmmaking: the stories of struggles and victories and the beauty, strength, and resilience to overcome the odds. He talks about his first exposure to Judee’s music in the early days of YouTube, why she was more than the one-note tragic story her Wikipedia page describes, why some projects need to take longer than others, and the joys of collaboration he experienced on this film. Most importantly, Brian reminds us of the importance of independent filmmakers and how we can vote with our attention and wallets. Show Links Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill Brian Lindstrom Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse (2013) Andy Brown Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2022) The Northwest Film Center is now PAM CUT Judee Sill Andy Partridge Judee Sill – The Kiss – The Old Grey Whistle Test 1973 Dreams Come True by Judee Sill Beth Harrington The Winding Stream (2014) Mia Nolting NiemannWorks Animation Gary Meister Bonnie Consolo Kuleshov effect Shadow Play (1986) Kelley Baker Beyond Your Imagination Regional Arts and Culture Council On the Bowery (1956) Cinema 21

Earlier today, I was writing about the National Geographic docies, Photographer, and my lifelong love of photography. This newsletter led me to explore my archives from two trips to Africa in 2008 and Haiti in 2012. Scrolling through thousands of photos, most not very good, I could see something in my work that only the age of time allowed me to see: the desire to capture and be present with people. In 2008, I could feel the fear, but my creative brain was at work to document what I was experiencing. 2012 was a different story. I was documenting like before, but I was getting closer, physically and emotionally, as I engaged with people. I felt less fear and was more present. And then I came home. I had an adverse reaction to the anti-malarial medication I was taking, and I wanted to die. I didn’t, physically, but part of my creative spirit disappeared over time. And as I look at pictures of me from that time, I realize just how much I miss that young man and his dreams. Five ways to pay attention to your forgotten dreams and actually start bringing them to life: Spend time in your creative archives. Let imposter syndrome be a guide, not a deterrent. Create a new vision for your future by combining your long forgotten dreams with who you have become. Be kind to yourself for the decisions and mistakes you’ve made. Become the mentor you never had for yourself and for others starting out in their career. Show Links Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Photographer (2024)

How are you doing? No, really, how are you? Scanning social media lately, I see similar messages: clients are disappearing, budgets are shrinking, ghosting has become normalized, big companies are reducing their workforce, and burnout is the new badge of honor for independent creators. It’s tough out there. And in today’s episode, I will dive right into this topic for those of us who have been business owners and independent creators for years and decades. It can be hard to know what to do. I am struggling to know myself, but hopefully, there will be something I share in this episode that helps you face the road ahead. Seven ways to begin answering the question, What are you going to do? Stabilize yourself before attempting to address any business shortcomings. Once you stabilize yourself, reconnect to your friends and colleagues, and reinforce the community around you. If you aren’t sure what you’re going to do, it’s time to examine your work. The longer you’re in business, the more accustom you become to creating work that you think clients will want. Take less action, spend more time resting. Refill your curiosity, dreams, and imagination tanks. Hope is built upon a dream, not crushing reality. More will be revealed. Now is not the time to return to where you’ve been. Instead, it’s about heading to where you want to be. Say thank you to the voices who want to help and care, even when they don’t understand what you’re trying to do. Show Links How much YOU is in YOUR work? Midjourney prompt for episode art: the long road ahead, storm chasers, cinematic lighting –ar 16:9

Everyone’s favorite blind Australian filmmaker is back on the podcast to promote his latest film, Idiom. Okay, everyone is a strong descriptor, how about: my favorite blind Australian filmmaker. I can’t help it, gough makes me chortle (his word, not mine). From the angle he would take on true crime podcasts and why crime shows are awful and depressing, to providing educational moments related to geography, grammar, and other assorted (and assertive) topics, gough brings the Beernuts Productions fun factory straight to your earholes with production tales and stories of creative exploration. We talk about how he approached this film differently than previous films, how he wrote with the lead actress in mind, things you can’t unsee or even unlearn, and must importantly, the hard truth that you can’t “unstupid” stupid people. As you’ll learn in this episode, gough is a healer, and a helper. So, sit back, and let him mildly entertain you for a good, solid 50 minutes. Show Links Beernuts Productions category on Getting Work To Work Beernuts Productions Idiom Reluctant Hero’s – Horse Race Commentators The War on Drugs The Education System Episode 10 – The Neil Maxwell Smith Interview The Beernuts Productions Podcast If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer by O.J. Simpson “gough in the trunk” on Instagram Argylle (2024) Wonka (2023) The Muppets (2011)

The last time I crossed creative paths with today’s guest was for my Innovators of Vancouver project over 11 years ago. Recently, as I’ve been getting into creative writing and poetry, his name naturally resurfaced, along with the open mic poetry events and workshops he facilitates throughout the area. Christopher Luna is a poet, collage artist, teacher, and maximalist who has been instrumental in fostering a creative community in Vancouver, Washington. In this conversation, Christopher shares the origins of the Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic events and how he believes poetry chose him. We discuss what he learned from the legends and gods of poetry—Allen Ginsberg, Walt Whitman, and Antler. Not to mention topics such as self-promotion, self-doubt and dissatisfaction, the subjective nature of art, writing versus arranging, curation, dream logic, and how art can help others. No matter what art medium you are currently obsessed with, enter this conversation with an open mind because Christopher has much to teach us all. Show Links Christopher Luna Printed Matter Vancouver Christopher Luna on Innovators of Vancouver Morgan Paige Kickstarter: The Marvel Art of David Mack and Alex Maleev—2 Deluxe Books David Mack on Facebook Allen Ginsberg Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University Ed Sanders Denise Levertov The Beat Poets Annie Lighthart Airlie Press Allen Ginsberg Quote: “Well, while I’m here I’ll do the work…” Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman Collected Poems 1947-1980 by Allen Ginsberg Projective Verse by Charles Olson Mary Oliver Allen Ginsberg wore khakis Harry Everett Smith Rex Foundation The Harry Smith Print Shop at Naropa University Anne Waldman Diane di Prima Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche Jess Collins Questlove Summer of Soul Ted Berrigan Patti Smith Beats and Other Rebel Angels: A Tribute to Allen Ginsberg Amiri Baraka Antler Jack Collom Tetragrammaton – Curated by Rick Rubin Broken Record The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Photo by NASA on Unsplash

How do you clear your mind? A simple yet challenging question that I found myself pondering while playing guitar. There is so much going on in the world, so many tasks we need to accomplish, problems to solve, goals to crush, and subjects to learn. It seems like the more we fill our days with, the faster our brains fill, and the harder it becomes to focus, be creative, and produce innovative work. In this episode of Getting Work To Work, I’m exploring five ways I use to clear my mind. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it is a start to helping you and me find a way to carve out time and space for our brains to work and find peace of mind. Five ways to clear your mind: Go for a drive in silence. Play a musical instrument, pick up a pencil and draw, or get out the silly putty. Go for a walk, preferably in nature. Stop multitasking. Do less, think more. Show Links: Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami The Land of Lost Things by John Connolly Archetype: Gojira X Midjourney prompt for episode art: clear your mind, send the demons back to the shadows, burst of light, inspiration, cinematic lighting –ar 16:9 –v 6.0

I love talking with people who dream big and work together to overcome systemic challenges and affect change. Today, I have the benefit of talking with two amazing women who work with Oregon STEM, an organization that s “the development of the next generation of innovators and leaders through statewide strategic leadership, collaboration, and alignment.” Deb Mumm-Hill is the Executive Director of Oregon STEM, and Kyle Ritchey-Noll is the President of Oregon STEM and the Education & Workforce Policy Director of Oregon Business Council. In this conversation, they bring stories and examples of how their work throughout Oregon impacts students. We talk about data-driven decision-making, overcoming massive challenges to create a resilient education system for the future, collaborating with industry partners to help students prepare for careers, cutting-edge technology that uses data and generative AI tools to align students’ aptitudes and interests with opportunities, and the power of career-connected learning. Special thanks to Leverenz & Associates for their hospitality and providing a lovely space to record this conversation. Show Links Oregon STEM Oregon Business Council Career Connected Learning YouScience® Brightpath Lam Research Hillsboro Youth Apprenticeship Program Lost River Schools Catalyze Challenge Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation by Shane Safir & Jamila Dugan Shifting Schools Leverenz & Associates Midjourney prompt for episode art: careers of the future, career-connected learning, semiconductors, quantum computing –ar 16:9

When you think about your words, what impact do they have on the world? Do they make money, capture attention, or disappear in a sea of sameness? Today’s guest believes that words make worlds, and in this conversation, she unpacks what that means as human beings in an increasingly technologically advanced society. Rachel Allen is the boss at Bolt from the Blue, a copywriting agency freeing businesses from the bonds of bad writing with the boldest claims: “We make words make money.” She shares her entrepreneurial journey and how words helped her create a business that works for her and not how other people think it should be. We talk about objective and subjective knowledge, what it means to write for an audience, why she doesn’t want to babysit technology, the aggressive nature of new digital tools, the boring middle, and why human is the only move left. I had a blast talking with Rachel, and I hope you enjoy the wisdom she shared throughout the episode. Show Links Bolt from the Blue On Coerced Mediocrity (Or: Why All Your Tech is Annoying You) No, The Apocalypse Is Not Upon Us Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy by Michael Polanyi Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch Omitted From My Obituary: The Stories We Neglect to Share The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life by Parker J. Palmer Midjourney prompt for episode art: worlds made out of words, surreal, rembrandt lighting –ar 16:9