A Podcast for Creative People

Originally aired 2-28-2022. This is one of the most downloaded episodes of the show. It's a great story about putting it all out there to start a business and giving back to your community. Since this aired Pharmhouse has opened its grow facility and sells high quality weed at discounted prices. I love this place. Nice people, great cannabis, and a very cool story of how it all came to be. Enjoy. .     .     . Follow Pharmhouse on Instagram or go straight to their website. Follow me, Christopher Tallon, on all social media @tallonwrites or at www.christophertallon.com (where you can also get the cheapest copy of my ebook!)

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself! Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff all over the country. We recorded at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ivan shoots and manages the office. When he's not shooting content, he's making coffee at Has Heart Coffee Shop. Topics range from creative process, inspiration, being self taught vs. classically trained, overcoming doubt, how to get into something without training, coffee, Carbon Stories, film (specifically Christopher Nolan), and music. Follow Ivan Labra Instagram: @ivan.labra_ Website  LinkedIn Shout Outs Carbon Stories Has Heart Coffee Shop Keep up with Christopher Tallon @tallonwrites on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X Buy my ebook or paperback Go to www.christophertallon.com for news and updates about books, podcasts, appearances, and more. 

J.B. Velasquez is an author in Arizona. He's written two novels, so far, and they're both worth a read. Whether you like metaphysical stories of people doing drugs and getting stuck in the afterlife, or futuristic dystopian stuff, give J.B. a try. We discuss his books, his process, publishing, promotion, and writing about drugs. This was fun and informative. Enjoy!  Visit JBV's website: https://jbvelasquez.com/ Buy JBV's books: Every Last One Tourist Trapped Follow JBV on social media: Twitter/X Instagram Facebook Threads .  .  . Keep up with the podcast and its host: Visit www.christophertallon.com Follow CT on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter

Michael Hyacinthe is an 8 year Navy Veteran who served around the world with the Seabees, the construction arm of the Navy. He left the military to pursue his interests in entrepreneurship. He currently has multiple ventures working in children's educational programs, a coffee shop, and works with veterans through the Grand Valley State University Veteran Entrepreneurship Lab.  Michael, along with my last guest, Tyler Way, created an initiative that wound up becoming a physical coffee shop of the same name, Has Heart, which connects injured/disabled veterans with artists to create designs that are sold in the shop. (And they serve great coffee. (As well as free and discounted drinks for veterans.)) Wimage, the app Michael created with his team, helps kids become producers, not just consumers, with the help of a character named Wimee, who has a TV show called Wimee's Words on PBS, as well as a bunch of books. When you're in Grand Rapids, check out what Michael's got going on by visiting The Wimee Store & Studio at 125 Ottawa Ave NW Suite 150 Grand Rapids, MI 49503. It's open Wednesday–Saturday from 12:00pm– 6:00pm, and on Sunday from 12:00pm–3:00pm. And grab a coffee from Has Heart at 22 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimatley led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee but it's more than that. HAS HEART also allows veterans to connect with artists to tell their story. As a veteran myself, I love that there's a social space where people can share their military experiences and get a free cup of regular coffee, as well as discounted specialty drinks and food. . . . Follow my guest, Tyler D. Way: on Instagram and/or LinkedIn, check out his Bio Site, and for the love of God, check out HAS HEART on Instagram or their website. Follow me, Christopher Tallon: on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, check out my website where you can buy my novel, Switchers, about teens in 1996 who get into a time travel war against their adult selves. Thanks for listening. Hit me up on social media and let me know what you think of the show! . . . Shout outs to HAS HEART and every one of the wonderful people who work there, Cpl. Joshua Hoffman, Mike Posner, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, World Wide Wes, Chris Paul, Threadless, Treetops Collective, Brian Cousins at Wolverine Footwear, Phil Knight and Nike, Memorial Park, ArtPrize, and the City of Grand Rapids (MI).    

I met Foster for coffee and a podcast conversation. This episode was recorded at The Last Mile Café, which is a black & female owned, b-corp certified business, and they have the best “miel” of all time. (Try “the last miel.”) Foster is officially listed as the “Vibe Manager” of The Diatribe. He’s a poet, father, and a voice for his community. We met up specifically to discuss The Emory, but here’s a full breakdown of what we talked about: 00:00 – Cold Open 01:06 – Show Intro 03:28 – The Emory 20:04 – Upcoming Diatribe Events 22:13 – How to Get the Word Out 27:24 – Family Medical Emergencies 31:59 – Problems Facing GR 34:09 – Foster’s Origin Story 1:03:47 – Foster Reads His Poetry 1:23:47 – In Closing (The original conversation was almost two hours and has been edited for time and clarity.) Find Foster on Instagram and Facebook.   UPCOMING EVENTS Right Now! | Support the Diatribe Apr 28 | New Holland Brewing Co. | Annual Fundraiser w/ live entertainment June 20 | Broadleaf Brewing Co. | The Diatribe wsg Bedrock   SHOUT OUTS The Diatribe The Emory Well House Exalta Health Care Systems Catherine’s Health Center Gleason Bedrock Dominic, Ben, and Tony from back in the day Mr. C’s Deli IF YOU LIKE THE SHOW... ...follow me on social media: facebook, twitter/x, instagram ...rate and review the podcast wherever you listen ...tell people about the podcast ...consider buying my debut novel Switchers. Thank you! -CT www.christophertallon.com  

If you enjoy Creative Ops, please rate and review it wherever you listen to help the show grow! If you dig the vibe, also consider supporting the host by buying a paperback or ebook copy of his novel, Switchers. Thank you. . . . Today's guest is SCOOB, an artist, originally from St. Louis, MO, now living in Grand Rapids, MI. He's the mastermind behind the multimedia art project and album, The Trauma Project, which you can see at Muse GR (727 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, Michigan) March 2-3 & 9-10. SHOP FOR TICKETS NOW before it sells out! LINKS Trauma Project GR on Facebook MuseGR (Event Location) Radio Interview with SCOOB on 104.9 w/ Lisha B News Article about the Trauma Project SCOOB: Instagram | Facebook FIND SCOOB'S ART IN GR Della Soul Records Last Mile Cafe PERSONAL SHOUT OUTS Teknique Academy Mike Logan Gwopped Up $peedy Michelle Dunaway

Shayna is a writer, poet, activist, radio host, filmmaker, and—in her words—a “textbook weirdo trying to figure things out." Shayna uses her creative powers to entertain as well as uplift. She’s a teaching artist with The Diatribe, runs an open mic, and is working on having a birthday party with Oprah Winfrey. We talk about creativity, culture, community activism, and more. Shayna is a fun person to hang out with and has a lot of good things to say. Enjoy. Check out: Shayna on Instagram (follow her for updates on her goings-ons) The Diatribe (where she teaches) Reaching Beyond Bias (a project she started) All Shayna's other links (she does SO much!)  

Dante Cope—previously on Ep.84 | Dante Cope does EVERYTHING—returns to discuss the grand opening of Grand Rapid, Michigan's newest business and cultural space, Grammotones. Grammotones is located at 120 S. Division in Grand Rapids, MI, and it is part clothing store, part music store, all cultural space. You can shop, listen to records, enjoy beautiful art, and pick up high quality used clothing as well as new clothing from local brands both big and small. (You can also buy a copy of my book there!) We talked about a lot of things and a lot of people. If there's something you heard about that you want to know more about, all the links are below. Email Grammotones for inquiries: info@grammotonesmusic.com     Dante’s World of Winter Ghost Town app in the App Store GR's go-to DJ: Adrian Butler aka AB Sir Manley "Library" by LILEL (ft Dante Cope) on YouTube LILEL on IG Artsauce Quartet on IG Travis Treadway (music/art) Sango Lady Ace Boogie George Eberhardt (muralist) Anthony Carpenter (illustrator) My sincere apologies if I missed anyone. You're all amazing, creative people and we're lucky to have you in this world. Be creative, be kind, and take care of yourself. -CT

Find me, Christopher Tallon, slinging my novel Switchers in-person the next few weekends: September 8 & 9, 5p-11p, After Dark Art Market, Canal Park in Grand Rapids, MI (shout out to Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts for the event) September 16, 10a-1p, Author's Alley, Hyne Alley, Brighton, MI (thank you to 2 Dandelions Bookshop for the opportunity) .   .   . Goodbye, folks! (For now...) I'm not "ending" the show. Let's be clear there. I just need to free up time. I'm in the middle of writing another novel and I still have yet to record the audiobook for my first novel. So I'm going to be doing those two things mainly in the time previously spent booking, recording, editing, and promoting the podcast. HUGE THANKS to all the listeners who got a copy of my debut novel Switchers. You guys are amazing, creative, supportive people. I appreciate you very much. For the first few months, you were the only audience I had. I hope you'll stay subscribed so we can catch up when the show returns. And I might do an episode here or there while on hiatus. There are people and things I still want to talk to and/or about. And I'll probably use the podcast to give updates on the new book as it progresses and whatnot. Stay creative. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you again.   Your friend in creativity, Christopher Tallon  

Nothing is impossible if you have dreams, ideas, and a willingness to work towards them. And my guest, Tara McCrackin (president of Kendall College of Art & Design (KCAD) AND vice president of Ferris State University), has an inspiring creative journey which showcases that. She shares a bit about what her school has coming up, then we dive into her professional background, how she became a teacher, and how she then became president of a college just before the pandemic. Some cool and wild stuff. Check out Tara and KCAD: Tara's school profile KCAD homepage Tara's (short) bio: Tara McCrackin was named President of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) in the spring of 2021. She concurrently holds the office of Vice President of Ferris State University. Her design career began in 1997, working in corporate office interiors. She designed spaces for Steelcase, Inc., and was the lead designer on the initial WorkSpring in Chicago, Ill., a co-working space incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and focusing on hospitality in the corporate environment. Pursuing her passion for sustainability, President McCrackin had the pleasure of working on the Rackspace Headquarters space in San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, she worked on the interior for the Kids’ Food Basket building in Grand Rapids.

After this one, this idea will resonate with you: You can figure it out; it's only over when you quit. Whether or not you're an engineer, thinking like one can help you as an entrepreneur, a creative, or just as a person. Adam Truckey's story embodies that. Adam is an engineer who successfully started his own business, AJT DESIGN, centered around something he's passionate about. But it wasn't all downhill. Listen for the ups, downs, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. If there's something in this world you love and/or love to do, go for it. Keep figuring it out and moving forward! . . . FOLLOW MY GUEST Adam Truckey WEBSITE: www.ajtdesign-llc.com INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ajt_design . . . FOLLOW THE HOST Christopher Tallon WEBSITE: www.christophertallon.com INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/tallonwrites FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/tallonwrites ALL OTHER LINKS: linktr.ee/tallonwrites  

If you were in Grand Rapids and you missed the Pharmhouse Wellness Art Market in July, may god have mercy on your soul... Here's a some of what was going on, via 6 interviews conducted outdoors at my booth. If you hear people in the background, that's just the toke tent folks having fun. Make sure you don't miss the next Pharmhouse Market AUGUST 19, 2023!!! (10a-3p) Pharmhouse Wellness is the ONLY 100% locally owned dispensary in Grand Rapids, MI, and they are located at 831 Wealthy St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Go to www.pharmhousewellness.com for more. . . . KEEP UP WITH THE SHOW Follow Christopher Tallon on social media: @tallonwrites Check out the website and blog: www.christophertallon.com Buy Switchers . . . INTERVIEWEES Ben W: wood artist - www.thespartanartisan.com  Alby Blazo: romance writer (aka Leesa Mason) - www.lovelunapress.com; @albyblazo (look her up on Kindle and Vella) Henry: collage artist - facebook: @henryarthurbrown Eva Finley: fantasy writer - @thatwritinglife; www.evafinley.wordpress.com  Maude Winters: princess fiction - tiktok @thatbikemom; www.linktr.ee/maudewinters  Jason: artist/graphic novelist/market goer - @strutzart; www.strutzart.com

This one's a fun listen that will inspire you to call a buddy and make something silly together. Kirk Ross (host of our brother podcast, A Talk in the Attic, and one half of Trophy Husbands) and Christopher Tallon (host of Creative Ops, and the other half of Trophy Husbands) talk about Trophy Husbands' latest music video, "PINK"--now out on Youtube--and what goes into collaboratively making music (and music videos). .  .  . Look for Kirk's next podcast episode about his Electric Forest experience. It will be on A Talk in the Attic's YouTube page, follow them on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download them thangs. .  .  . For info, visit www.christophertallon.com. For links, try my linktr.ee. Thanks everyone. MWAH!

This was a fun and fascinating conversation. We start with eye training and vision therapy as possibly the next big evolutionary step in athletic achievement. Starting out on the east coast with parents that immigrated from Nigeria, Dr. Lester has since given up his shoulder pads for a lab coat, which, ironically, may have greatly extended his career in professional sports. . . . Check out Dr. Lester Efianayi (ee-fee-ah-NIGH-ee) on Instagram: @eyesdontlie.vt . . . For all other things show/host related, go to www.christophertallon.com

"Trino the Magician" is the coolest. A super nice guy, talented, ambitious, and laser focused. You're going to want to get up and go do something cool after you listen to this. And you might have an itch to see a magic show. If so, check out www.trinomagic.com for info on Trino's monthly show "AMAZE & AMUSE", as well as anything else he might be up to. If you're the social media type, Trino is @trinomagic on most platforms. Also check out Luc's Light, a youth music and arts foundation set up in memory of Trino's brother. . . . Thanks for stopping in. Go to www.christophertallon.com for more on the show and its host, check out Christopher Tallon online @tallonwrites on social media, and make sure to read and review his novel Switchers. Go be creative!

Abbey Hunter is the owner of The Mortals Cafe + Confection in Grand Rapids, MI. They serve Vietnamese coffee drinks (as well as popular American coffee drinks) with an overall theme of death. They host grief groups, death talks, as well as a number of other regular and one-off events. Visit The Mortals online, then visit the store at 111 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Follow The Mortals on Instagram and Facebook. Do it before you forget and die. . . . Keep up on the show by following its host, Christopher Tallon, on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. Check out Tallon's novel, Switchers, on his website. Bye!

Jason Tieri (TEER-ee) is a podcaster from west Michigan. Actually, he's kinda my podcast mentor. (And beard guru.) He got me into podcasting. Hear what it takes to start a podcast, some techy stuff, some how-to, and us just kickin it.  This was a fun one, especially if you're a podcaster, you're thinking about podcasting, or you just like a peek at how it's done. (Recorded in the Hey Guys Media Group studio. Click the link to learn more about them and their podcast services!)

Hello everyone! Please feel free to use this episode as a "creativity playlist" for when you're drawing, running, painting, going to the store... It's all the original music from the podcast strung into one easy peasy playlist, with most songs ranging between 1-2 minutes, and the entire playlist coming in at just under 38 minutes. Enjoy. (By the way, you can hire me to make music for your project via my website www.christophertallon.com. Hit me up on Instagram @tallonwrites...I dare ya.)

ZERO is a fantastic beat producer in Grand Rapids, MI. His energetic performances are mesmerizing. I liken watching him play his drum machine to watching Stevie Wonder play the piano. Those performances, coupled with award winning music, are a can't-miss. Follow ZERO on his Instagram @zerodgaf to keep up with what's going on and to see some examples of his performing and musical abilities. He's on Twitter and Facebook as well, if you're not into the whole Instagram thing. . . . Thanks for listening. Check out more show stuff, listen to some original music, and take a gander at my time travel novel at www.christophertallon.com. Follow me on IG, FB, Twitter, & TT: @tallonwrites . . . Shout outs to Dante Cope, Wuzee, Beatrat, and DJ Phazer.