Max Temkin is not your average human. He formerly advised on the Obama for America campaign, worked with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and is also the creator of the much-loved game Cards Against Humanity. Max and his team’s approach to creativity is rather simple. They think of weird ideas until something makes them laugh. Beyond that, it’s exploring which of those new ideas, might not work. They talk it out until something sticks. A rather novel approach to business on the whole, one could argue. The secret to the success of Cards Against Humanity might just be Max and his trusty Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil. As every new idea he has, he writes it down with this preferred writing implement. I’ve already ordered a box. We talked to Max about Chicago, his love for magic, the newly founded Mural Registry, and many other random (but important) topics. Ever wonder how Rock the Vote got started? Want to know why you should listen to birdsong? Interested in mastering a new skill? Have a listen.

The Threadless Podcast

Max Temkin

Jordan writes for HBO’s "Divorce", "The Nightly Show", and "Uncommon Sense Live." He is also the co-host of an incredible podcast with Michelle Buteau called "Adulting" that covers the trials and tribulations of adulthood. Join us as we talk with Jordan about what it means to be an equal opportunity entertainer, how growing up in Texas shaped his youth, why British comedy was such an influence in his material, and more hilarious but critical lessons in life.

Jordan Carlos

Artist Lauren Asta dropped everything to become a traveling full time muralist. On this episode, Threadless chats with Lauren about what it’s like to work with big sports teams like the Chicago Bulls and White Sox, interacting with the public while doing a piece, and why Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world!

Lauren Asta

Our first episode of 2019 is nothing short of inspiring as we’re joined by Priya Shah, Founder and Executive Director of The Simple Good. Their mission is to connect the meaning of good from around the world to empower at-risk youth through art and discussion. An artist herself, Priya shares with us a few mind-opening stories from kids that overcame their own limitations. Who says they can’t rule the world? We talk about travel, life, art and ways to remember to pause and congratulate those small, good things that happen everyday.

Priya Shah

On this episode, we’re joined by cartoonist Carey Pietsch! Carey most recently illustrated “The Adventure Zone” - a graphic novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons podcast of the same name that quickly topped the New York Times’ Trade Fiction Best-Seller list the month of its release. Carey has also worked on “Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift”, “Lumberjanes”, her own titles “Rift” and “The Witches’ Daughters”, and much more. Join us as we talk comics, artist's block, creative collaboration, and more!

Carey Pietsch

We kick off season two talking about mental health and creativity. (Warning: this episode talks about suicide + dark subjects within mental health awareness (plus, has some swearing) that may not be suitable for all listeners.) We’re joined by world-renowned artist Derek Hess and founder of the nonprofit “Hope for the Day”, Jonny Boucher; both advocates for mental health awareness. Recently, Hess went on tour for his new book, “31 Days in May”, full of art pieces he posted in 2017 for Mental Health Awareness Month that each have a story related to his own struggles. Boucher just opened Chicago’s "Sip of Hope" - the first coffee shop that donates 100% of the proceeds to support mental health education and suicide prevention.

Derek Hess & Hope For The Day on Mental Health Awareness

We step into the world of Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them with actor & stand-up comedian Dan Fogler. Before landing a leading role in the Harry Potter spinoff as Jacob Kowalski, this actor, director, podcaster, and writer extraordinaire won a Tony Award as one of the originators of the hit Broadway show, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In addition to being in films like Balls of Fury, Fanboys, Good Luck Chuck & many more, he’s also a comic book writer and has his own podcast, Dan Fogler’s 4D Experience.

Dan Fogler

Fellow Chicagoan and artistic rockstar Hebru Brantley joins us on this episode! Brantley’s graffiti-inspired work has made appearances in Chance the Rapper’s “Angels” music video as well as in murals across Chicago. His work is collected by celebrities including like Beyonce & Jay Z and has been featured in exhibitions all over the world. We talk to him about geek culture & representation, music, and the historical background of his character, Flyboy.

Hebru Brantley

Can’t stop bingeing "BoJack Horseman" on Netflix? Get to know one of the creatives who brought the show to life! We sat down with production designer and producer of "BoJack Horseman", Lisa Hanawalt. Besides giving the show its unique look and characters, this artist extraordinaire creates books of art and comics like Hot Dog Taste Test and co-hosts the podcast Baby Geniuses in her free time. We talk about everything from the "BoJack" aesthetic and her favorite episodes, to creative anxiety and cats eating people (for real). Give it a listen!

Lisa Hanawalt

Just in time for Halloween, we have spooky art extraordinaire Annie Owens on the show! Annie Owens is the co-founder of the modern contemporary art magazine Hi-Fructose by day, amazing artist by night. We talk to her about her beautiful personal work, her favorite urban legends and creepy stories, and of course, about starting Hi-Fructose, how it’s changed, and about some of her favorite artists.

Annie Owens

For our first in-person interview, we talk to the mastermind behind the adorable Star Wars books, Darth Vader and Son and Jedi Academy, Jeffrey Brown! This Chicago cartoonist went from self-publishing his autobiographical graphic novel Clumsy, to working with big-time publishers like Random House. From movie scripts to a music video for Death Cab for Cutie, Brown has quite the resume to flaunt, and just recently published the next in his series of books, Lucy & Andy Neanderthal. We talk to him about working in all these different mediums, how he plans out his graphic novels, and, of course, about working on his official Star Wars books!

Jeffrey Brown

We’re joined by legendary punk band Bad Religion’s guitarist and founder Brett Gurewitz. Besides continuing to write music for Bad Religion while running his record company Epitaph Records, Gurewitz also helped establish comic publisher Black Mask Studio. We talk to this musician-turned-businessman about the role of art in politics, protest art, overcoming addiction, and, of course, about the creative process when it comes to music, the music business, and transitioning from being the talent to scouting it.

Brett Gurewitz

From video game development, to storytelling, all the way to mindfulness, Journey’s Robin Hunicke covers it all! This video game designer and producer kicked off her career at Electronic Arts (EA) where she worked on The Sims as the lead designer. She now balances working as a professor of game design at UC Santa Cruz, at Funomena as a game designer, producer, & co-founder, and just being the happiest person we know. We talk to Robin about the unique challenges of designing a VR game, the art of storytelling and the world of indie game dev, and how to live a happier life!

Robin Hunicke

We’re kicking off The Threadless Podcast by sitting down with graphic novelist, Sina Grace! This artist and illustrator has been busy in the comic book world this month between the solo run of Marvel’s Iceman that he writes having just kicked off, his newest graphic novel Nothing Lasts Forever hitting shelves, and the release of his Pride-themed variant cover for The Walking Dead issue #168. He’s perhaps best known for his personal graphic novels, Self-Obsessed and Not My Bag. And this creative of many hats has been trying on a few more, recently turning Self-Obsessed into a web series that he also stars in. We talk to Grace about how his own love for comics started, whether he brought his personal touch into Iceman, about about ‘putting it all out there’ in his autobiographical works.

Sina Grace

This is the Threadless podcast! Where we talk to creative people doing creative things. There’s always something we can learn from creatives from all corners of the artistic world talking about their craft. If you’re looking to get inspired, find out about some amazing things to add to your binge-watch/reading/tunes list, and if you want to nerd out, then welcome home!

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The Threadless Podcast

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