The Friendly Unknown

In today’s episode I’m chatting with the wonderfully imaginative illustrator and musician Jim Stoten. He’s much more than both those titles would have you believe - creativity seems to just flow through him into the world in a beautiful technicolor surreal way. You may know him from his Mr. Tweed books, my kids are big fans of those, or you’ve probably seen his work in the world for the likes of The New Yorker, The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bandcamp, Moog synthesizers, or any of the other many clients who have commissioned him over the years.If you’re a long time listener of the podcast, you might remember that Jim was on nearly five years ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long! If you want to hear our first conversation, check out episode 11 where we discuss the topic of time. Today, we pick right up where we left off in the last episode, pondering time and our relation to it. But also, a lot has changed in Jim’s life since then; he’s become a dad, moved to Venice, Italy, has brought new creative projects into the world, including his most recent album with Dirty Melody records titled “22”, and a new book with Unseen Sketchbooks called “Super Road”. Check out unseensketchbooks.com to purchase a copy. This will allow you to peer into his fabled sketchbooks that are so captivating. In this conversation, Jim and I dive deep into parenthood, beauty, depression, what it means to be an artist, time, aging, art and much more. Jim is so easy to listen to, he’s hilarious and a great storyteller, and it’s fascinating to hear the world through his perspective. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.You can find Jim on instagram or online at jim-stoten.comYou can find Allison on instagram or online at thefriendlyunknown.com

In this episode Pace and I discuss the metaphor of the chrysalis, how a caterpillar builds a safe container around itself where it melts down into a kind of cosmic soup before it can reform into a butterfly and take flight. We talk about how this metaphor relates to our own lives and those periods of expansion that often feel like we turn to goo for long periods of time before we finally have a breakthrough.The chrysalis is that threshold time when you’ve outgrown the old world, but the new world has yet to emerge, and you’re in a kind of stasis between the two. That period can feel quite confusing and confronting. We talk about why that is, what we can do to cross the threshold into the new world, and how the chrysalis is a natural process and ultimately a good thing, despite it often feeling the opposite.

In today’s episode I chat with the wonderful Tina Yip. Tina is a coach and the founder of Space to Grow, a company helping creative people make their work/life more intentional, meaningful, and expansive. After spending the last decade as a brand strategist at agencies such as R/GA and Big Spaceship and working on brands like Samsung and Mastercard, Tina realized that what she cared most about were people - bringing people together, maximizing their human potential, rethinking their relationship with work, and challenging societal norms so that they can live their most fulfilled lives. This conversation is a heart to heart about how to navigate the pathless path to do what you love in this lifetime. We dive into how to connect and align with your future self and allies for our journey, and why it’s so important to remember your dream for your life. Tina and I are both endlessly passionate about these topics so hopefully you find our conversation just as fun and insightful as I did.You can find Tina online and on instagram  If you’d like to find out more about the Friendly Unknown, you can follow me on instagram, or at thefriendlyunknown.com. 

In this episode, Pace and I dive deep into the mystery to get closer to who we are. We discuss some of the important messages we’ve found in our dreams, some of synchronicities we’ve experienced and how they've influenced our paths, and some of the insights we’ve had in therapy. We talk about how these experiences are easy to miss and dismiss in our lives, but how when we pay attention, we begin to notice them more, and we discover they can be helpful guideposts on our paths, and bring us into a deeper relationship with ourselves and our desires. This was a fun one for me because I love talking about this kind of stuff, and I hope you enjoy it too!--Pace Gatherer is a future Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) working toward a Master’s in Science. Their work with children—particularly in underserved communities—uses play to build resilience, leadership, and connection. With a BFA in Sculpture and a background in museums and arts nonprofits, they’ve long been committed to promoting DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion accessibility) initiatives. Driven by a passion for creativity, emotional intelligence, and modern spirituality, Pace explores how these elements intersect to foster personal growth, healing, and self-expression. You can contact Pace at pace.gatherer at gmail.com.

In today’s episode, I speak with the wonderful Katie Benn. Katie is a multidisciplinary artist from San Francisco currently living in southern Oregon. She’s inspired by all things magical and mysterious, dreamy, silly, and absurd. She explores themes relating to the human condition and her inner world. She is a painter, muralist, illustrator, textile designer, and creator of zines and various art products. She has worked with clients including Google, Facebook, WeWork, Masterclass and much more.In addition to her creative work, Katie is also a practicing evidential medium. She has been connecting with spirit since childhood and has strengthened her connection through years of private study, training with renowned psychic mediums in the US and UK, and offering in-person and online readings to her extended community. Katie’s mediumship is known to be down to earth, compassionate, healing, and heart-focused as she works to connect people with their loved ones that have passed on. I've been wanting to talk to Katie for years because I love her work and am so interested in the way she explores her world and puts it into her art, so I'm very excited to bring you our conversation today.You can follow Katie on Instagram here or online at www.katiebenn.com

In this episode, Pace and I discuss limiting beliefs, what they are, how they show up in our lives as blocks, and how we can work with them to open up our lives so that we can get unstuck and move forward into more of who we are and what we want in life.

Today I’m talking with my best friend from high school Pace Gatherer who is a fine artist and currently studying for her masters in marriage and family therapy. She’ll be joining me throughout this podcast to discuss lots of interesting topics. In this episode we discuss the topic of play, and how it can be an antidote for being stuck in life. It’s an appropriate topic since I have been wanting to restart this podcast for a while, but was getting caught up in my own perfectionism. Having this conversation was a taste of my own medicine, and helped remind me to follow the fun, make it playful and that putting something out messy is better than not doing it. Hopefully this conversation will be helpful for you as well!

In this episode, I chat about community with fellow San Francisco based creative Lindsay Stripling. Lindsay is an artist, illustrator, muralist, teacher, and she hosts an amazing series on her instagram called Lunch Club, where she has really wonderful conversations with fellow artists.We discuss how community has shaped Lindsay’s life and career, how having a creative community to tap into can accelerate your path and feel like therapy, how to build your own community (even if you’re shy), and how important it is to surround yourself with supportive, like-minded people.Lindsay also shares a super useful map she uses (and teaches) to help navigate the ups and downs of a creative project. Talking to Lindsay was so fun and insightful. She’s a ray of sunshine and I hope this conversation makes your day a little brighter.You can find out more about Lindsay by following her on instagram, or find her online at lindsaystripling.com.

In this episode, I chat with Brooklyn based artist Grace Miceli. Grace works across multiple mediums including illustration, animation, comics, product design, murals, and she’s recently added published author to that list. She has an amazing new book coming out on May 4th, called How to Deal: With Fear, Failure, and Other Daily Dreads.Grace has worked with an impressive roster of clients including The New Yorker, Apple, Nike, Warner Bros., The New York Times, Urban Outfitters, Instagram, Adidas, MTV, Adobe, and the list goes on...Her work explores life’s deeper topics with a colorful, humorous, and nostalgic approach. Viewing her work almost feels like you’re secretly reading through her diary. It’s very specific to her experience and at the same time, so universal. I’m so thankful that Grace was brave enough to explore the topic of fear with me. We talk about the fear involved in forging your own path as a creative, how personal growth and healing is often painful but ultimately rewarding, how fear can be a sign post pointing us in the right direction, how we can learn to live with fear, what it’s like to write a book and the fears that come along with that process, and much, much more. This was such a wonderful conversation and I’m really excited to share it with you all.You can find out more about Grace by following her on instagram here, or find her online at gracemiceli.com. And be sure to check out her new book as well. Resources Mentioned:Pema ChodronTara BrachDharma PunxMental Health Happy Hour podcast

In this episode, I chat with the wonderful Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan is an artist, poet and musician. Her process for creating work is really unique and amazing. People submit their stories to her and she creates artwork for those individuals, and then shares those pieces daily on her social channels. Although each piece is created for one person, they deeply resonate with the larger collective as well. So much so, that Morgan currently has 1.7 million followers on Instagram. And honestly it isn’t surprising, her presence feels like a breath of fresh air in a world that can often feel so overwhelming. Morgan shares her journey from being a musician first to becoming a visual artist, and the winding road she had to navigate to get here. We dive into the topic of “growing”, both in our personal and professional lives. Growth is a theme Morgan often explores in her work, and she has a really wonderful perspective on the topic that I hadn’t considered going into the interview. Morgan also has a beautiful new book coming out on April 27th titled How Far You Have Come. Be sure to check it out, and if you aren’t already, follow Morgan on instagram here, or find her online at morganharpernichols.com

In this episode, I chat with the enlightened duo behind Slimy Oddity, Cherie and Tim. Slimy Oddity is an art collective brought together to spread love and light into the world. Their work focuses on sharing insights from timeless wisdom found in spirituality, philosophy and the human experience. They have a friendly and playful style that makes these deeper topics fun and approachable.We dive into the theme of awakening in this episode. Awakening to your life, the magic in the world, your gifts and your purpose, and even to the awareness of a world beyond our senses. Awakening is an overarching theme for Slimy Oddity, and we dive deep into it. Cherie and Tim also generously share their own personal awakening journeys. This dynamic duo are also incredible musicians. Their band Kekko is releasing their debut single titled “Within You” mid March on Spirit Goth Records. Stay tuned to the end of the episode where we’ll be playing it for you. I love this song and I’m so excited to share it with you guys.To find out more about Slimy Oddity, you can follow them on instagram here, or online at slimyoddity.com.

In this episode, I chat with Brooklyn based creative studio and dynamic duo, Wade and Leta. Wade and Leta do it all, they’re graphic designers, art directors, photographers, public speakers, they do event design, branding, sculpture, book design, type design, retail design, film, and more. If there’s something they haven’t done, they want to try that too. They’re a duo who personifies today’s topic of “Taking the Leap”. They’re constantly pushing themselves into new directions and mediums. They love a good challenge, they see constraints as opportunities, and they thrive on intensity. This drive has led them to create work for a truly impressive roster of clients that include Gucci, The New York Times, Herman Miller, IBM, Instagram, Facebook, Adobe, Airbnb, Target, and the list goes on. We discuss the lessons they’ve learned on their journey so far, how they’re able to continually “take the leap” into new directions and opportunities, how keeping an open mind and fresh perspective is key, how important it is to ask for help and learn from others, their pursuit to continually “level up”, what their dream project is, and much more.This conversation was really inspiring to me. Wade and Leta are always striving to create their best work and it’s hard not to be in awe of them. These two have such wonderful energy and a refreshing perspective on life and career. I hope you’re just as inspired by this one as I am.To find out more about Wade and Leta, you can follow them on instagram @wadeandleta, @wadejeffree, @letasobierajski or online at wadeandleta.com.

In this episode, I chat with the amazing Andy J. Pizza. You probably already know Andy from his incredible podcast Creative Pep Talk. It’s one of my all-time-favorite podcasts and was a big part of what kept me going on my journey to become an illustrator, and what’s kept me motivated in tough times since. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be making this podcast if it weren’t for Andy. He’s been a huge inspiration to me! If you aren’t already listening to Creative Pep Talk, then definitely head over after this episode and give it a listen. I know you’re going to love it. Andy’s an illustrator, a public speaker, a podcaster, and so much more. He’s the co-founder of co-loop, which is an artist agency, he’s an educator and has classes available right now on skillshare.com. He’s hilarious and wise beyond his years, and he’s here to generously share his wisdom with you all. Andy and I have a lot in common, so I was really excited to talk shop with him. And he did not disappoint. We dive into subjects like finding your style, finding yourself and your message, we talk about the hero’s journey, personality types, spirituality, how important it is to be your unique self, how important exploration is to feeling fulfilled in your creative journey, how your perceived weaknesses are actually strengths, and much, much more. I need to have Andy back on the show again soon, because there was so much more I wanted to talk about. I’m really grateful I was able to speak with him, and I’m so grateful you’re here listening. I’m excited to share this one with you guys.

In this episode, I chat with New York based illustrator and musician, Lauren Martin. Lauren’s sunny, smiley, vibrant illustrations and animations are full of the kind of optimism and encouragement we all need right now. Lauren’s journey to full-time illustration is a recent one, having just set out on that path earlier this year. In that short amount of time, she’s already carved out her unique style and quite a following and client list to go with it. She talks about how having to pause touring with Frankie Cosmos, the band she plays keyboard and guitar with, has allowed her to take this shot at illustration. And how the timing of it all was kismet. She also discusses how going to therapy, working on her personal development and going through a spiritual awakening opened up everything for her. I too, went through a similar path, and it was great to find such a kindred spirit to discuss these topics with. So I’m really excited to share this one with you all.

In this episode, I chat with illustrator and human being extraordinaire, Jim Stoten. Jim’s work is a kaleidoscopic adventure, full of vivid color, imagination and playfulness, all while maintaining a beautiful depth to it. Jim and I explore the topic of time in this episode. How Jim spends his time, How he perceives time, what advice he would give his past self, and what advice his future self would give him today. I feel like I caught Jim at just the right time for this conversation, he’s just celebrated his fortieth birthday and is both looking ahead to the next decade and reflecting on the past one as well. This one’s less about the business of being a creative professional and more about all the other important aspects; an artist's state of mind, hopes and dreams, perceptions of self, struggles and inspirations. I’m really grateful to Jim for being so open with his thoughts and feelings in this one. Jim always carries a sketchbook with him and he habitually draws his way through the world. To take a peek inside these famed sketchbooks, He actually has a new book available now that’s filled with pages from them called Skotchbook, as well as a magnificent new zine called “The Mind wanders, the Eye follows”, both out now with Unseen Sketchbooks. Jim’s also a talented musician. He has a new album out now called “Lights” with dirty melody records. In true Jim fashion, it’s amazing. Definitely give it a listen. And while you’re at it, check out his new music video for the single “over the mountain”.

In this episode, I chat with the amazing Dutch illustrator and designer Seb Agresti. Seb just returned from a transformative experience at an artist residency in Japan. As you’ll hear in the episode, he decided to embark on that journey as a way to step away from his client work and focus on creating personal work again. The residency and what he learned in the process allowed him to recalibrate his life and gain new perspectives on his career after years of intense client work. Seb and I discuss what’s inspiring him right now, what he learned from his time in Japan, finding balance and setting boundaries with client work, burnout, book recommendations, what the future holds for him, and much more. Seb is quite thoughtful and introspective and it was a pleasure to be able to speak with him at this unique time in his life. He was sort of in between worlds when we spoke, and I’m thankful he was so candid about his experience. I think many of us can relate to the feeling of needing a change of pace or wanting to reconnect with ourselves. I’m excited to see how he embarks on this next chapter of his journey.

In this episode, I’m chatting with illustrator, designer, art director and all around amazing human being, Chrissie Abbott. Chrissie is one of my favorite creatives and a huge inspiration to me, so I was super excited to be able to speak with her and peer into her world a little bit. We talk about Chrissie’s creative journey to where she is now, our mutual love for personal growth and New Age inspiration, how making personal work helps evolve her client work, how she struggled with money when she was starting out as a freelancer (which is a struggle most of us can relate to I’m sure), how she recently created posters for likes of Courtney Barnett and Tame Impala, and much more. We also dive into the topic of gratitude, a concept Chrissie was introduced to at an early age by her mom, and a tool she has used throughout her journey to keep things in perspective. I’ve personally been struggling with gratitude recently, so it was really nice to hear Chrissie’s thoughts on this topic. It’s a challenging time for all of us in one way or another, so I’m hoping this episode will leave you feeling a bit better about things.

Today I’m chatting with Tokyo based creative, Lindsay Arakawa. Lindsay possesses that magical combination of creativity and strategic thinking. She’s part freelance social media strategist and part creator of dreamy images that combine hand drawn messages and illustrations over her film photographs. We discuss the serendipitous way she came to find her creative style, how she uses social media to experiment and help push her work forward, how she recently took the leap to move from New York City where she oversaw Instagram strategy and creative at Refinery29, to Tokyo where she’s embarked on a freelance career. Lindsay also generously shares how she finds clients, how she built confidence in herself and her work, and the challenges that have come along with moving to Japan. Lindsay has a really wonderful energy about her and I left this conversation feeling revitalized. I was inspired by the playful lens she views her creativity through. She doesn’t overthink things, and she creates work that’s a kind of snapshot of who she is in that moment. Coming from a chronic overthinker, it was refreshing to hear her process! I’m excited to share this one with you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

In this episode, I chat with neon artist, designer, and my good friend, Brooke Barttelbort. Brooke bends glass into all kinds of amazing shapes, and uses her pieces to help inspire others. She’s also a super talented graphic designer and glass blower. Brooke has been through a lot in recent years. At the age of thirty she went through treatment for breast cancer, ultimately having to have a double mastectomy. Following that, her mom had a major stroke. Brooke decided to move from San Francisco to LA to be closer to her family, and in that transition, she reconnected with her love of neon, and ultimately herself in the process. She now uses neon as a way to work through her grief and help heal herself as well as others. As she puts it best, she’s creating light in the darkness. Her story is truly one of strength and inspiration. The amount of work it takes to learn neon is immense, and what she can do with her craft is truly inspiring. Both in her abilities and her message. A message the world really needs to receive right now.

In this episode, I chat with Melbourne-based creative Beci Orpin. Beci’s one of my favorite creatives, her work is so positive and always makes me smile. Everything she touches turns to cute, it seems. Her creativity takes many forms, some of which are illustration, design, children’s books, murals, branding, crafts, clothing, painting, puzzles, packaging and more. Beci was such a joy to talk to, so generous and humble for someone who has such an incredible career spanning 24 years! In our chat we look back on her career, where it started, where it is today, and what she’s learned about herself along the way. She offers great advice and inspiration for how to build and navigate a creative career. And stay tuned to the end of the episode where she answers a couple questions I received from listeners.