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© 2025 The Riley Black Project
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Where we talk about lasers, life and all the ish in between!
243 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John & Crystal sit down with Jeff and Anna of Lancaster Supplies for a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes world of laser blanks, sourcing, scaling, and what it really takes to build a supplier brand from scratch. From waking up at 4 AM with no alarm, bowling in the 200s, and balancing multiple businesses… to accidentally engraving on your spouse’s belongings (we’ve all been there 😂)… this episode blends business strategy, maker ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Stephanie of Pretty Pitty Design for one real maker conversation — covering craft shows, pricing pressure, brand loyalty, machine obsession, and why markets are about more than just sales. From starting with a Cricut and Glowforge to running multiple lasers, Stephanie shares the behind-the-scenes truth of doing vendor shows in different seasons, choosing machines you trust, and navigating an economy whe...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Lanie & Alex of Hialeah Fine Jewelry for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about building a business, raising a family, and navigating entrepreneurship as a couple — all while welcoming a brand new baby into the mix. 👶💍 From launching a jewelry brand without formal training to selling out at conferences and moving across states to find balance, Laniey and Alex open up about the real side of c...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Joshua Perry, the award-winning creative behind Perry Design Tulsa — a laser business born from a long career in the salon industry. ✂️➡️🔥 Joshua shares his inspiring transition from 22 years as a salon owner to running a thriving design and laser engraving studio known for its next-level branding work, stunning shop décor, and signature custom pieces. We talk about: ✨ How a salon background built ...
Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal share a real-life business update—talking openly about burnout, shifting gears, and keeping momentum through the slow seasons. From dealing with canceled trips during the government shutdown to landing their biggest tumbler order ever, this episode is full of truth bombs and laughs. They also dive into: ✨ How a simple print-shop contract changed their business trajectory ✨ The emotional...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal catch up with Desiree Townsend of Yay Gifts & Cards — a laser maker, designer, and longtime community member who’s taken her business to the next level with her first real studio space! 🎉 We talk about the highs and lows of expanding your creative business — from working out of your house (and spilling into every hallway 😅) to signing that first lease and making it official. Inside this episode: ✨ Desiree’s ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we’re switching things up—recording from Riley Black Studios instead of the garage! 🎥 Join John and Crystal as they take you behind the scenes of Printing United 2025 in Orlando, one of the biggest print and laser industry events of the year. From mind-blowing UV printers to massive laser machines and live sandblasting demos, this episode is packed with new tech, vendor insights, and real talk about what’s next in the maker world. W...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Tess from Wealth With Tess, a former aerial acrobat turned investing educator, who’s helping creatives, makers, and small business owners take control of their money and build long-term wealth. 💰✨ Tess shares how she went from performing high above cruise ship decks to buying her first investment property after a single Google search—and eventually creating an entire brand to simplify investing for self-employed entr...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Cindy from Saltwater Stitches & Hat Co., who went from bartender and busy mom of four to running a booming hat patch and leather business that’s making waves in the laser community. 💥 Cindy shares her incredible journey from buying her first laser while pregnant to building a loyal customer base, growing through local markets, and ultimately scaling her business online — all while balancing family life and major ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we’re joined by Jessica Raba of Letters From Me TX — known as The Keychain Lady! Jessica shares how she turned her creative passion into a thriving Etsy shop with over 10,000 sales in just 16 months, all while juggling motherhood, a full-time job in the oil industry, and marathon training. We get into: ⚡ How a hand-me-down Glowforge launched a full-blown laser business ⚡ The genius “sample name discount” hack that booste...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we’re back on the road for another unforgettable maker adventure—this time at the CMB Open House! 🎉 From checking out brand-new laser gear to laughing with friends over late-night hangs, this episode is all about what makes the maker community so powerful: connection, inspiration, and hands-on experiences you just can’t get online. We cover: ✨ Behind-the-scenes at CMB’s new space and their growing lineup of acrylic & machines ✨ ...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we hit the road to Atlanta for the Georgia Laser & UV Printing Business Meetup with Sumita & Anuj We dive into: ✨ Why in-person events hit different compared to online groups and tutorials ✨ The power of simple tools like Keychain Thingies—and why seeing them live makes it click ✨ Lessons on outsourcing, staying organized, and investing in the right tools (like accounting & Shopify) ✨ How makers are diversifying—from lase...
Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we’re joined once again by our friends Len & Stan from LensDigital—the minds behind some of the most innovative rotary attachments in the laser engraving industry. We cover everything from the affordable Piburn Light (built for makers testing the waters with tumblers) to the Vertigo—a next-level rotary that’s turning heads across the laser community. Inside this episode: ⚡ What makes the Piburn Light the perfect entry rotary for...
Send us a text On this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Roy from Industrial Fringe to dive into his journey from DJ booths and Disney clubs to the laser world. Roy shares how he went from sublimation to lasers after picking up the xTool F1, and how documenting his learning process turned into a YouTube channel with 21K+ subscribers. We get into: How sublimation, tumblers, and snarky coaster designs led to building Industrial Fringe What it’s really like to balance creat...
Send us a text This episode of The Riley Black Project is unlike any other—we’re live on the road from Next Level Laser Conference 2025! 🙌 Join us as we share the behind-the-scenes of our 17-hour road trip, connect with amazing makers, and rally together for a powerful cause. From beard-off fundraising to surprise donations, this episode is packed with laughs, heartfelt stories, and community spirit. We dive into: ✨ Supporting our friend Mario as he battles stage 4 cancer—raising funds in t...
Send us a text Hit the road with us for this special Riley Black Project episode, recorded on the way to the Next Level Laser Conference 2025! 🚗✨ We cover everything from road trip snacks and travel stories to how fast laser technology is evolving, the rise of UV printing, and how makers can use these new tools to test markets and grow their businesses. Plus, we dive deep into AI in content creation, sharing how we use tools like ChatGPT and automation in our podcast, video editing, and dail...
Send us a text On this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Frankie from Trotec to talk about life on the road with the TroVan. Frankie shares how he’s turning a ProMaster into a mobile demo hub, traveling from Florida to Michigan, Miami, Atlanta, and beyond—bringing the Trotec Speedy 360 right to makers’ doors. We dive into: What it’s like running laser demos out of a van (yes, even in bank parking lots!) Frankie’s transition from electrical engineering and defense contrac...
Send us a text This week on The Riley Black Project, we’re joined by Sara, the virtual assistant who has been saving businesses (and our sanity) one task at a time — and now she’s taking it to the next level with her new subscription service, My Social Companion. We talk about: How a VA can free up your time and streamline your business Why most makers and small business owners post sporadically (and how to fix it) The real benefits of batching content vs. posting daily Why email marketi...
Send us a text This week on The Riley Black Project, we’re hanging out with Jess & Alex from JT Financial Studio — the power duo helping makers, laser owners, and small business hustlers finally get their books, taxes, and finances in order. From filing your LLC without falling for scams, to knowing when to switch from an LLC to an S-Corp, to avoiding the most common (and costly) tax mistakes — they break it all down in plain English. We talk: The real startup headaches no one tells yo...
Send us a text In this wild episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with John and Mark of MakerFlo — two longtime friends turned laser biz legends. From being held at gunpoint at an international border (yes, really!) to building a thriving supply business for makers, their journey is full of laughs, lessons, and a little chaos. We dive into: Their insane border story (and how they got out of it 😳) How their business started by accident (and what they learned the hard way) The beh...
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