Open Studios

Claire Stapleton is the author of Don't Be Evil, Bad Bosses, Fake Promises, and My Escape from Big Tech. Claire joins Karen to discuss her book and her journey from earnest college grad to seasoned, disillusioned Google insider. It’s a ballsy, up-close account of Big Tech during a major cultural pivot, a reckoning with the stories we accept and the ones we tell ourselves.Open Studios on Instagram and SubstackClaire Stapleton on SubstackMusic provided by Cousin John—>xoxo to my og Open Studios gang for attending the live, and for the brilliant questions ←-

Last year, the world - and your Tiktok FYP - met Le Poisson Steve, an orange fish with a brainwormy song, created with love by Parisian artists and streamers Vigz & Tomo (Victoria Rona and Thomas Ename). On its debut, Steve immediately snatched a gazillion views across all platforms, sparked a global fan art response, was dubbed the French anthem, and is still stuck in our heads…Il est orange, Ila des bras, et des jambes…Vigz & Tomo join Karen to discuss how they turned a community Twitch challenge into a worldwide sensation.Open Studios on Instagram and SubstackVigz on InstagramTikTokTwitchYouTubeTomo on InstagramTikTokTwitchYouTube->Open Studios playlist<--Music provided by Tomo 

Frank Abney is an American filmmaker, NAACP Image Award-winning artist, writer, director, animator, and (apparently) a former BMX daredevil. After working on some of the biggest animated blockbusters of our time, Frank Executive Produced the Academy Award-winning short film Hair Love, created and directed Netflix’s NAACP’s Image Award-winning Canvas, and wrote and directed Black Man, Black Man based on his own original poetry. The Turners, an original animated western that has been completely crowd funded, is up next for Frank and his fans.Open Studios on Instagram and SubstackFrank Abney on Instagram Learn more about The Turner’s Watch the trailer for Black Man, Black Man ***Open Studios playlist***Music provided by John Buffalo and Brothers Vanguard, Electriq

On December 5, 2025 Bay Area artist Vincent Serritella's life changed forever with the diagnosis of a glioblastoma, a rare and random brain tumor.  As a response, he turned to his art and began painting The Human Infrastructure (Those Who Carried Me), a collection of portraits of the people who supported his recovery - or as Vincent describes them “a living system of care without which recovery would not have been possible.” Vincent’s story weaves resilience with time and technique, and finding unexpected beauty in moments of crisis.Follow Open Studios on Instagram and SubstackFollow Vincent Serritella on InstagramLearn more about Vincent’s art at  vincentserritella.comInformation on [eek-wuh-lib-ree-uhm] (Vincent’s painting visible during our video call) can be found here More information on the National Brain Tumor Society hereMusic and sound design provided by John Buffalo and Brothers Vanguard, Electriq

Laia Casanovas is the Oscar-nominated Supervising Sound Designer and Editor behind SIRĀT, the daring film from director Oliver Laxe. Together with Yasmina Praderas and Amanda Villavieja, Laia and her team made history this year as the first-ever all-female sound crew to snag an Oscar nod. Fresh off an incredible season, Laia joins me to talk about the art of creating sound for a living—and how she’s just getting started.Follow us on InstagramOpen StudiosLaia CasanovasMentioned on the showOfficial trailer for SiratOliver Laxe InstagramYasmina Praderas InstagramAmanda Villavieja InstagramKangding Ray InstagramMusic provided by Brothers Vanguard, Electriq