Shows
Always Choose Orange#49: I Rewrote the First Five Pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and This HappenedCreative exercises are one of the most powerful ways to hone your craft, refine your voice, and try out new techniques to see if they fit your process. And, the good news is that they don’t need to take up much time to have a big impact on your art. In this episode, we’ll talk about a fun little writing exercise I did in my writing group last year that involved rewriting the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 20 minutes without looking at the original. Tune in to hear me read my version...2024-10-2311 minAlways Choose Orange#48: Thinking Like a Curator - How to Manage Your Creative InputAs of 2024, there are over 100 million songs on Spotify, 3.9 billion videos on YouTube, and tens of millions of books on Amazon — that's a whole lot of content. How do we keep our noses above the proverbial deluge of information that floods us every day? The answer (or part of it at least) is curation. Tune into this week's episode to explore the idea of thinking like a curator as it pertains to managing and fostering a creative input that builds you up instead of tears you down.And if you feel the call, you can hop over to w...2024-10-1617 minAlways Choose Orange#48: Thinking Like a Curator - How to Manage Your Creative InputAs of 2024, there are over 100 million songs on Spotify, 3.9 billion videos on YouTube, and tens of millions of books on Amazon — that's a whole lot of content. How do we keep our noses above the proverbial deluge of information that floods us every day? The answer (or part of it at least) is curation. Tune into this week's episode to explore the idea of thinking like a curator as it pertains to managing and fostering a creative input that builds you up instead of tears you down.And if you feel the call, you can hop over to w...2024-10-1617 minAlways Choose Orange#47: Beyond Cheeto Dust & Mountain Dew - Debating the Artistic Merit of Video Games (with Tim from Earbuddies)It may be hard for newer generations to imagine but there was a time when video games were not commonly seen as a legitimate cultural medium. In this episode, Tim from Earbuddies, bravely steps forward to take on a ChatGPT-created straw man in a (mostly) friendly debate about the artistic merit of video games. From claims of excessive violence and sensationalism (i.e. the public perception of Grand Theft Auto upon release) to their (allegedly) over-heavy reliance on technology, it's a battle of words you won't want to miss. And after the matter is settled, Alex and Tim spend an...2024-10-021h 30Always Choose Orange#47: Beyond Cheeto Dust & Mountain Dew - Debating the Artistic Merit of Video Games (with Tim from Earbuddies)It may be hard for newer generations to imagine but there was a time when video games were not commonly seen as a legitimate cultural medium. In this episode, Tim from Earbuddies, bravely steps forward to take on a ChatGPT-created straw man in a (mostly) friendly debate about the artistic merit of video games. From claims of excessive violence and sensationalism (i.e. the public perception of Grand Theft Auto upon release) to their (allegedly) over-heavy reliance on technology, it's a battle of words you won't want to miss. And after the matter is settled, Alex and Tim spend an...2024-10-021h 30Always Choose Orange#46: Any Austin - Enjoying the Hyper-Mundane Aspects of Video Games, Following Your Interests, Finding What People Actually Care About, and MoreAustin is, in his own words, 'making the worst video game content on the internet by far'. His YouTube channel, Any Austin, features content that looks into the hyper-mundane aspects of video games, including mapping out how rivers flow in The Legend of Zelda, how the power grid is represented in Grand Theft Auto IV, and what the unemployment rate of Skyrim is. His goal is to change the way people play video games, and to change the landscape of gaming content on YouTube as a whole, by creating content that pushes the boundaries of how entertaining dull content c...2024-09-251h 26Always Choose Orange#46: Any Austin - Enjoying the Hyper-Mundane Aspects of Video Games, Following Your Interests, Finding What People Actually Care About, and MoreAustin is, in his own words, 'making the worst video game content on the internet by far'. His YouTube channel, Any Austin, features content that looks into the hyper-mundane aspects of video games, including mapping out how rivers flow in The Legend of Zelda, how the power grid is represented in Grand Theft Auto IV, and what the unemployment rate of Skyrim is. His goal is to change the way people play video games, and to change the landscape of gaming content on YouTube as a whole, by creating content that pushes the boundaries of how entertaining dull content c...2024-09-251h 26Always Choose Orange#45: Meg Loeks - Self Portraits as Self Care, Inspiration vs. Imitation, Photographing Chickens, Refusing to Rush, and MoreMeg Loeks lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with her husband and five children. She is an international award-winning fine art and portrait photographer whose nostalgic work centers around the home. In-between photographing her family, she teaches several online and in-person domestic and international workshops. Meg is an instructor through Click Photo School, a SIGMA & Profoto Ambassador and 2022 Lightroom Ambassador. She is also a volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit organization which gifts families battling pediatric cancer a free photo session. Instagram: http://instagram.com/meg_nloWebsite: http://www.megloeks.com...2024-09-181h 18Always Choose Orange#45: Meg Loeks - Self Portraits as Self Care, Inspiration vs. Imitation, Photographing Chickens, Refusing to Rush, and MoreMeg Loeks lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with her husband and five children. She is an international award-winning fine art and portrait photographer whose nostalgic work centers around the home. In-between photographing her family, she teaches several online and in-person domestic and international workshops. Meg is an instructor through Click Photo School, a SIGMA & Profoto Ambassador and 2022 Lightroom Ambassador. She is also a volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit organization which gifts families battling pediatric cancer a free photo session. Instagram: http://instagram.com/meg_nloWebsite: http://www.megloeks.com...2024-09-181h 18Always Choose Orange#44: (Almost) Unreadable BooksWhy would a novel require the use of two bookmarks? What does a 957-word sentence sound like? Is it humanly possible to understand Finnegans Wake? We'll explore those questions and more in this week's episode. Join me as I highlight the three things that can easily push a book over the edge and send it teetering into the abyss of unreadability. We'll talk about the effects of structure, length, and complex language on the accessibility of a book, and if all goes according to plan, have a little fun in the process. Books mentioned in t...2024-09-1117 minAlways Choose Orange#44: (Almost) Unreadable BooksWhy would a novel require the use of two bookmarks? What does a 957-word sentence sound like? Is it humanly possible to understand Finnegans Wake? We'll explore those questions and more in this week's episode. Join me as I highlight the three things that can easily push a book over the edge and send it teetering into the abyss of unreadability. We'll talk about the effects of structure, length, and complex language on the accessibility of a book, and if all goes according to plan, have a little fun in the process. Books mentioned in t...2024-09-1117 minAlways Choose Orange#43: Robin Fox - Location-First Photography, Finding Your Visual Voice, The Art of Self Teaching, and MoreRobin Fox is a self-taught photographer residing in Hamilton, Ontario. Fox began her study of photography seven years ago and credits her close examination of the works of photographers and cinematographers of past eras in helping to find and refine her visual voice. Having just begun pursuing opportunities to show her work, she is grateful to have been included in exhibitions in the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Canada and has released her first print publication from Setanta Books in the United Kingdom. Website: https://www.robinclairefox.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinc...2024-09-041h 01Always Choose Orange#43: Robin Fox - Location-First Photography, Finding Your Visual Voice, The Art of Self Teaching, and MoreRobin Fox is a self-taught photographer residing in Hamilton, Ontario. Fox began her study of photography seven years ago and credits her close examination of the works of photographers and cinematographers of past eras in helping to find and refine her visual voice. Having just begun pursuing opportunities to show her work, she is grateful to have been included in exhibitions in the United States, Italy, Argentina, and Canada and has released her first print publication from Setanta Books in the United Kingdom. Website: https://www.robinclairefox.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinc...2024-09-041h 01Always Choose Orange#42: Jacob Montague - Film Scoring, Setting Rigid Perimeters for Maximum Creativity, Writing Good Cover Songs, and MoreJacob Montague is a producer and multi-instrumentalist by day (Branches, Tsutro, Dream Cassettes, Far Friends, figuers, MVVE) and cinematic folk composer by night. His compositions weave a musical landscape composed of big beats, plucked strings, minimal patterns within grand combinations, and honest ethereal sounds. Jacob's music has appeared in a number of popular TV shows including — America’s Got Talent, The X Factor, One Tree Hill and others, as well as the film trailers for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Afternoon Delight, and Love Is Strange. Website: https://www.jacobmontaguemusic.comInstagram: @jacobmont2024-08-281h 15Always Choose Orange#42: Jacob Montague - Film Scoring, Setting Rigid Perimeters for Maximum Creativity, Writing Good Cover Songs, and MoreJacob Montague is a producer and multi-instrumentalist by day (Branches, Tsutro, Dream Cassettes, Far Friends, figuers, MVVE) and cinematic folk composer by night. His compositions weave a musical landscape composed of big beats, plucked strings, minimal patterns within grand combinations, and honest ethereal sounds. Jacob's music has appeared in a number of popular TV shows including — America’s Got Talent, The X Factor, One Tree Hill and others, as well as the film trailers for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Afternoon Delight, and Love Is Strange. Website: https://www.jacobmontaguemusic.comInstagram: @jacobmont2024-08-281h 15Always Choose Orange#41: M.L. Silverline - The Poetry of People & Places, Editing Using the “Cringe Factor”, Experimenting With Words, Refining Your Writing Over Multiple Drafts, and MoreHailing from Washington and Oregon, M.L Silverline has spent 25 years as a student of the spoken, written, and experienced word – traveling the world to explore people, places, and philosophy wherein he finds his greatest inspiration in the untold spirit; the uncelebrated and the subtleties of life that go uncounted. A graduate of Western Washington University in Bellingham, he has experimented with a great many poetic techniques and considers himself a historian documenting the human moment and the authentic emotional imprint that we, as people, remember most intensely. Silverline has read at open mics from Seattle and San Francisco to New York City...2024-08-211h 45Always Choose Orange#41: M.L. Silverline - The Poetry of People & Places, Editing Using the “Cringe Factor”, Experimenting With Words, Refining Your Writing Over Multiple Drafts, and MoreHailing from Washington and Oregon, M.L Silverline has spent 25 years as a student of the spoken, written, and experienced word – traveling the world to explore people, places, and philosophy wherein he finds his greatest inspiration in the untold spirit; the uncelebrated and the subtleties of life that go uncounted. A graduate of Western Washington University in Bellingham, he has experimented with a great many poetic techniques and considers himself a historian documenting the human moment and the authentic emotional imprint that we, as people, remember most intensely. Silverline has read at open mics from Seattle and San Francisco to New York City...2024-08-211h 45Always Choose Orange#40: Pieper Bloomquist - Contemporary Scandinavian Folk Art, Growing Up in a Town of 44 People, Cataloguing Color Palettes, “Perfect Practice”, and MorePieper Bloomquist is a contemporary folk artist based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She studied Swedish Dalmålning and Bonadsmålning, and has been painting in traditional Scandinavian styles of folk art since 1993. Pieper enjoys utilizing elements from folk art traditions to tell modern stories, incorporating the floral forms, borders, layout and perspective of the past to depict scenes that — while personal to her — portray universal human experiences and daily activities of growing up in the upper Midwest. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Pieper-Fleck-Bloomquist-Scandinavian-Art-100057696589880/Instagram: @pieperbloomquist For more informatio...2024-08-141h 12Always Choose Orange#40: Pieper Bloomquist - Contemporary Scandinavian Folk Art, Growing Up in a Town of 44 People, Cataloguing Color Palettes, “Perfect Practice”, and MorePieper Bloomquist is a contemporary folk artist based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She studied Swedish Dalmålning and Bonadsmålning, and has been painting in traditional Scandinavian styles of folk art since 1993. Pieper enjoys utilizing elements from folk art traditions to tell modern stories, incorporating the floral forms, borders, layout and perspective of the past to depict scenes that — while personal to her — portray universal human experiences and daily activities of growing up in the upper Midwest. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Pieper-Fleck-Bloomquist-Scandinavian-Art-100057696589880/Instagram: @pieperbloomquist For more informatio...2024-08-141h 12Always Choose Orange#39: Erothyme - Developing a Musical Archive, Machine Learning & A.I. Generated Music, Field Recordings as Time Travel, Narrative Structure, and MoreErothyme is the electronic music solo project of Bobby West. Erothyme is best known for emotive downtempo and for the musical use of field recordings, but also has roots in the world of all things glitchy, funky, strange, and soulful. As of 2024, the project spans 15 years and more than 40 releases, which branch across a wide range of moods and sound palettes, all while maintaining an unmistakable fingerprint. Since the time of the earliest releases, Erothyme has performed at venues and festivals across North America, collaborated with numerous other musicians, produced dozens of official remixes, and produced music for several...2024-08-071h 38Always Choose Orange#39: Erothyme - Developing a Musical Archive, Machine Learning & A.I. Generated Music, Field Recordings as Time Travel, Narrative Structure, and MoreErothyme is the electronic music solo project of Bobby West. Erothyme is best known for emotive downtempo and for the musical use of field recordings, but also has roots in the world of all things glitchy, funky, strange, and soulful. As of 2024, the project spans 15 years and more than 40 releases, which branch across a wide range of moods and sound palettes, all while maintaining an unmistakable fingerprint. Since the time of the earliest releases, Erothyme has performed at venues and festivals across North America, collaborated with numerous other musicians, produced dozens of official remixes, and produced music for several...2024-08-071h 38Always Choose Orange#38: Talking Tolkien (with Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast)In part three of the Body of Work series, Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast joins me to talk about the timeless work and legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. During our conversation, we share the ways we were introduced to Tolkien, explore a few of the universal themes of Lord of the Rings, and spend some time comparing Tolkien and his work to Johann Sebastian Bach, a skyscraper, a cathedral, and Mt. Fuji. Material Mentioned in This Episode:What Makes Prose GOOD? Tolkien, Sanderson, Jemisin, Rothfuss, Erikson | Professor Craig Explains#181. Leaf by Niggle#420. Tolk...2024-07-311h 23Always Choose Orange#38: Talking Tolkien (with Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast)In part three of the Body of Work series, Craig Hanks from the Legendarium Podcast joins me to talk about the timeless work and legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. During our conversation, we share the ways we were introduced to Tolkien, explore a few of the universal themes of Lord of the Rings, and spend some time comparing Tolkien and his work to Johann Sebastian Bach, a skyscraper, a cathedral, and Mt. Fuji. Material Mentioned in This Episode:What Makes Prose GOOD? Tolkien, Sanderson, Jemisin, Rothfuss, Erikson | Professor Craig Explains#181. Leaf by Niggle#420. Tolk...2024-07-311h 23Always Choose Orange#37: David Gungor of The Brilliance - Musical Empathy, Psychedelic Research Studies, and the Difference Between Craftspeople & TastemakersDavid Gungor is an artist, songwriter, pastor, speaker, and music producer based in New York City with his wife Kate and their four children. David is half of The Brilliance — a band that creates art that inspires empathy. Their acoustic-electronic, symphonic-pop songs invite you to step outside yourself; to see the world through the eyes of the other, the stranger, those you may consider your enemy. The Brilliance sound spans too many genres to count - but it all works together to create an environment for self-reflection and hope for peace.David produces music and podcas...2024-07-241h 47Always Choose Orange#37: David Gungor of The Brilliance - Musical Empathy, Psychedelic Research Studies, and the Difference Between Craftspeople & TastemakersDavid Gungor is an artist, songwriter, pastor, speaker, and music producer based in New York City with his wife Kate and their four children. David is half of The Brilliance — a band that creates art that inspires empathy. Their acoustic-electronic, symphonic-pop songs invite you to step outside yourself; to see the world through the eyes of the other, the stranger, those you may consider your enemy. The Brilliance sound spans too many genres to count - but it all works together to create an environment for self-reflection and hope for peace.David produces music and podcas...2024-07-241h 47Always Choose Orange#36: Daily RoutinesInspired by Mason Curry’s book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, this episode explores the power in forming a creative routine. In Curry’s words, “A solid routine fosters a well-worn groove for one’s mental energies and helps stave off the tyranny of moods.” Join me as I share personal insights and experiences in developing my own creative habits. Plus, I’ll guide you through a set of thought-provoking questions to help you craft or refine your own daily practice.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason CurryThe Artist's Way by Julia Came...2024-07-1720 minAlways Choose Orange#36: Daily RoutinesInspired by Mason Curry’s book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, this episode explores the power in forming a creative routine. In Curry’s words, “A solid routine fosters a well-worn groove for one’s mental energies and helps stave off the tyranny of moods.” Join me as I share personal insights and experiences in developing my own creative habits. Plus, I’ll guide you through a set of thought-provoking questions to help you craft or refine your own daily practice.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason CurryThe Artist's Way by Julia Came...2024-07-1720 minAlways Choose Orange#35: Appreciating PoetryInterested in poetry but feel like you don’t really understand it? It took me longer than I'd care to admit for it to finally click. In this week's episode, I share three simple things that helped me have a deeper appreciation for poetry. Tune in to hear the Mary Oliver quote that had me fire up the airhorns and stick around to the end to hear me recite three of my favorite poems of all-time.Resources:A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver2024-07-1020 minAlways Choose Orange#35: Appreciating PoetryInterested in poetry but feel like you don’t really understand it? It took me longer than I'd care to admit for it to finally click. In this week's episode, I share three simple things that helped me have a deeper appreciation for poetry. Tune in to hear the Mary Oliver quote that had me fire up the airhorns and stick around to the end to hear me recite three of my favorite poems of all-time.Resources:A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver2024-07-1020 minAlways Choose Orange#34: Favorite Reads of 2024 | Part 1 (with Andrew Drake)It's time for a reading check-in! Join my brother Andrew and I as we discuss some of our favorite books we read so far in 2024. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and as always, take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading.Which book surprised you the most?What is the most ambitious book you read this year?Which book had the best prose?What is one book that made you cry?Which book impacted your life the most?What was your personal favorite? 2024-07-031h 31Always Choose Orange#34: Favorite Reads of 2024 | Part 1 (with Andrew Drake)It's time for a reading check-in! Join my brother Andrew and I as we discuss some of our favorite books we read so far in 2024. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and as always, take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading.Which book surprised you the most?What is the most ambitious book you read this year?Which book had the best prose?What is one book that made you cry?Which book impacted your life the most?What was your personal favorite? 2024-07-031h 31Always Choose Orange#33: Wilder Adkins - The Importance of Strong Lyrical Imagery, Solo Music vs. Collaboration, Learning Dulcimer, and MoreWilder Adkins is a singer-songwriter based in Birmingham, Alabama. With influences spanning from Appalachian folk ballads to Indian devotional music to the poetry of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver, his songs are steeped in natural imagery and frequently touch upon the subjects of faith, doubt, hope, and sorrow. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of strong lyrical imagery, his experience working with a band after years of writing solo, the way his songs come together, and a whole lot more.Website: https://wilderadkins.comInstagram: @wilderadkins2024-06-261h 34Always Choose Orange#33: Wilder Adkins - The Importance of Strong Lyrical Imagery, Solo Music vs. Collaboration, Learning Dulcimer, and MoreWilder Adkins is a singer-songwriter based in Birmingham, Alabama. With influences spanning from Appalachian folk ballads to Indian devotional music to the poetry of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver, his songs are steeped in natural imagery and frequently touch upon the subjects of faith, doubt, hope, and sorrow. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of strong lyrical imagery, his experience working with a band after years of writing solo, the way his songs come together, and a whole lot more.Website: https://wilderadkins.comInstagram: @wilderadkins2024-06-261h 34Always Choose Orange#32: Michael Gungor - Shutting Off Your Inner Editor, Getting Into a Flow State, Group Singing, and MoreMichael Gungor is a creative mystic living in Pasadena, California. Primarily known for his music, Michael is the co-founder and primary songwriter of the eclectic indie band Gungor. The group's acclaimed albums blend elements of folk, rock, electronic, and world music, with introspective lyrics exploring the divinity of the human experience. Aside from his work under the Gungor moniker, Michael has also released three ambient instrumental albums with his friend and bandmate Tyler Chester as "On Earth", as well as an experimental side project called "Weiwu".Beyond his music, Michael is also the co-founder of the popular...2024-06-191h 20Always Choose Orange#32: Michael Gungor - Shutting Off Your Inner Editor, Getting Into a Flow State, Group Singing, and MoreMichael Gungor is a creative mystic living in Pasadena, California. Primarily known for his music, Michael is the co-founder and primary songwriter of the eclectic indie band Gungor. The group's acclaimed albums blend elements of folk, rock, electronic, and world music, with introspective lyrics exploring the divinity of the human experience. Aside from his work under the Gungor moniker, Michael has also released three ambient instrumental albums with his friend and bandmate Tyler Chester as "On Earth", as well as an experimental side project called "Weiwu".Beyond his music, Michael is also the co-founder of the popular...2024-06-191h 20Always Choose Orange#31: The Creative Power of Question-AskingCan the quality of your art be improved by the questions you ask as you make it? Will the right questions help you get unstuck? How do you make sure the feedback you receive from your friends will positively contribute to your creative process? Will this episode provide satisfactory answers? Tune in to find out!Resources:Sermonsmith Interview | Steve CarterHow to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking | Tim FerrissOnly The Questions2024-06-0620 minAlways Choose Orange#31: The Creative Power of Question-AskingCan the quality of your art be improved by the questions you ask as you make it? Will the right questions help you get unstuck? How do you make sure the feedback you receive from your friends will positively contribute to your creative process? Will this episode provide satisfactory answers? Tune in to find out!Resources:Sermonsmith Interview | Steve CarterHow to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking | Tim FerrissOnly The Questions2024-06-0620 minAlways Choose Orange#30: The Myth of FlowWhat is the relationship between creativity and the flow state? What happens when we don't feel inspired to make art? In this episode, we'll draw from Verlyn Klinkenborg's Several Short Sentences About Writing to challenge the commonly-held idea that creativity is supposed to effortlessly burst through us.Sources:Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn KlinkenborgThe Legendarium - What Makes Prose GOOD? | Part 2: Defining ProseInterview | Tom Robbins | January MagazineRework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson2024-05-2927 minAlways Choose Orange#30: The Myth of FlowWhat is the relationship between creativity and the flow state? What happens when we don't feel inspired to make art? In this episode, we'll draw from Verlyn Klinkenborg's Several Short Sentences About Writing to challenge the commonly-held idea that creativity is supposed to effortlessly burst through us.Sources:Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn KlinkenborgThe Legendarium - What Makes Prose GOOD? | Part 2: Defining ProseInterview | Tom Robbins | January MagazineRework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson2024-05-2927 minAlways Choose Orange#29: Guards! Guards! (And How To Write a Character Introduction With Personality)In 1989, Sir Terry Pratchett released Guards! Guards!, the eighth entry in his Discworld series. In 2024, I read that book for the first time while sitting on my back porch. In today's episode, we look at one of the reasons the book is so great — it's character introductions.2024-05-1517 minAlways Choose Orange#29: Guards! Guards! (And How To Write a Character Introduction With Personality)In 1989, Sir Terry Pratchett released Guards! Guards!, the eighth entry in his Discworld series. In 2024, I read that book for the first time while sitting on my back porch. In today's episode, we look at one of the reasons the book is so great — it's character introductions.2024-05-1517 minAlways Choose Orange#28: Building a Second Brain - Some Notes on Digital NotetakingIn today's episode, I share my thoughts and key takeaways from Tiago Forte's book Building a Second Brain, which focuses on digital notetaking and the ways it can contribute to your creative output. Resources:Building a Second Brain by Tiago ForteDigital Notetaking Resource GuidePablo Picasso's Le Taureau2024-05-0817 minAlways Choose Orange#28: Building a Second Brain - Some Notes on Digital NotetakingIn today's episode, I share my thoughts and key takeaways from Tiago Forte's book Building a Second Brain, which focuses on digital notetaking and the ways it can contribute to your creative output. Resources:Building a Second Brain by Tiago ForteDigital Notetaking Resource GuidePablo Picasso's Le Taureau2024-05-0817 minAlways Choose Orange#27: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale“Have ye seen the white whale?” It's a great question, but it's not the one we’ll be investigating in this week's episode. Instead, we’ll attempt to answer the question that has been plaguing literature lovers since the dawn of time — is Moby-Dick the best novel ever written or is it a 206,000-word abomination that would best serve as the anchor to a whaling ship?Well also explore other important questions such as: What are Moby-Dick’s best non-narrative chapters? What is skrimshandering? And whatever happened to good old-fashioned monologues? Resources:Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nath2024-05-0127 minAlways Choose Orange#27: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale“Have ye seen the white whale?” It's a great question, but it's not the one we’ll be investigating in this week's episode. Instead, we’ll attempt to answer the question that has been plaguing literature lovers since the dawn of time — is Moby-Dick the best novel ever written or is it a 206,000-word abomination that would best serve as the anchor to a whaling ship?Well also explore other important questions such as: What are Moby-Dick’s best non-narrative chapters? What is skrimshandering? And whatever happened to good old-fashioned monologues? Resources:Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nath2024-05-0127 minAlways Choose Orange#26: Talking Coldplay (with Tim from Earbuddies)The Body of Work series continues! Join Tim from the Earbuddies podcast and I as we blast off into the stratosphere and share our thoughts on Coldplay’s discography. We rank their nine full-length albums, unpack the universal nature of their music, and poke fun at Chris Martin’s… uhh…lyricism? My favorite (so far) episodes of Earbuddies: Episode 10: Dumb RockEpisode 101: Clean White Noise - Loopable with No FadeEpisode 110: Justin Timberlake's Approval Rating2024-04-251h 52Always Choose Orange#26: Talking Coldplay (with Tim from Earbuddies)The Body of Work series continues! Join Tim from the Earbuddies podcast and I as we blast off into the stratosphere and share our thoughts on Coldplay’s discography. We rank their nine full-length albums, unpack the universal nature of their music, and poke fun at Chris Martin’s… uhh…lyricism? My favorite (so far) episodes of Earbuddies: Episode 10: Dumb RockEpisode 101: Clean White Noise - Loopable with No FadeEpisode 110: Justin Timberlake's Approval Rating2024-04-251h 52Always Choose Orange#25: Feverkin - Ideas as Stepping Stones, Spending a Year on One Song, Recording the Calendar Project, Going Viral in Russia, and MoreAdam Orfale, aka Feverkin, is a music producer and composer based in Portland, OR. Drawing inspiration from trip hop, future garage, lo-fi, jazz, and classical music, he strikes a unique balance between melody and beat, resulting in instrumentally-driven downtempo music that is both organic, glitchy, and emotionally impactful. In our conversation we talk about his early days of making music under the Feverkin moniker and how Burial's album Untrue completely changed the way he thought about music. We also discuss his creative process and his most recent projects including his collaborative EP with Laura Wolf and the soundtrack for Pwnis...2024-04-171h 12Always Choose Orange#25: Feverkin - Ideas as Stepping Stones, Spending a Year on One Song, Recording the Calendar Project, Going Viral in Russia, and MoreAdam Orfale, aka Feverkin, is a music producer and composer based in Portland, OR. Drawing inspiration from trip hop, future garage, lo-fi, jazz, and classical music, he strikes a unique balance between melody and beat, resulting in instrumentally-driven downtempo music that is both organic, glitchy, and emotionally impactful. In our conversation we talk about his early days of making music under the Feverkin moniker and how Burial's album Untrue completely changed the way he thought about music. We also discuss his creative process and his most recent projects including his collaborative EP with Laura Wolf and the soundtrack for Pwnis...2024-04-171h 12Always Choose Orange#24: Turning The Gem - Getting Creatively UnstuckFeeling creatively stuck? In this short episode, I share one simple perspective that can help you breathe new life into the thing you're working on. Books referenced in the episode:Basketball (And Other Things) by Shea SerranoGod Was In This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner2024-04-1011 minAlways Choose Orange#24: Turning The Gem - Getting Creatively UnstuckFeeling creatively stuck? In this short episode, I share one simple perspective that can help you breathe new life into the thing you're working on. Books referenced in the episode:Basketball (And Other Things) by Shea SerranoGod Was In This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner2024-04-1011 minAlways Choose Orange#23: Manatee Commune - Making Danceable Music, Balancing Acoustic and Organic Textures, Creativity As a Muscle, and MoreGrant Eadie, aka Manatee Commune, is a musician based in the Pacific Northwest. His music combines field recordings, textures from nature, surfy guitar licks, arpeggiated sine waves, and classically influenced viola. In our conversation, Grant and I talk about his early musical memories and the episode of MTV Cribs that started his fascination with electronic music. Then, we dive into his songwriting craft — including the way he utilizes field recordings and how he approaches working with vocalists. Website: https://www.manatee-commune.comBandcamp: https://manateecommune.bandcamp.comInstagram: @manatee.commune2024-04-031h 27Always Choose Orange#23: Manatee Commune - Making Danceable Music, Balancing Acoustic and Organic Textures, Creativity As a Muscle, and MoreGrant Eadie, aka Manatee Commune, is a musician based in the Pacific Northwest. His music combines field recordings, textures from nature, surfy guitar licks, arpeggiated sine waves, and classically influenced viola. In our conversation, Grant and I talk about his early musical memories and the episode of MTV Cribs that started his fascination with electronic music. Then, we dive into his songwriting craft — including the way he utilizes field recordings and how he approaches working with vocalists. Website: https://www.manatee-commune.comBandcamp: https://manateecommune.bandcamp.comInstagram: @manatee.commune2024-04-031h 27Always Choose Orange#22: The Immersive World of PiranesiI finally read Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, and (no surprise) it blew my mind. Rather than a straightforward book review, I spend this episode ruminating on the different things that made it so immersive. Buckle up because we cover a lot of ground - from chapter lengths to serif fonts to Chronicles of Narnia references!2024-03-2718 minAlways Choose Orange#22: The Immersive World of PiranesiI finally read Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, and (no surprise) it blew my mind. Rather than a straightforward book review, I spend this episode ruminating on the different things that made it so immersive. Buckle up because we cover a lot of ground - from chapter lengths to serif fonts to Chronicles of Narnia references!2024-03-2718 minAlways Choose Orange#21: Talking Sanderson (with Bookborn)Join Bookborn (@bookborn.reviews) and I as we explore Brandon Sanderson's bibliography, including his characters, writing style, main themes, and creative evolution. Follow Bookborn at:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookborn/videosInstagram: @bookborn.reviews My favorite Bookborn videos (so far):Do SFF authors think we are stupid now6 fantasy books you can read in one day This episode was recorded on March 7, 2024.2024-03-201h 53Always Choose Orange#21: Talking Sanderson (with Bookborn)Join Bookborn (@bookborn.reviews) and I as we explore Brandon Sanderson's bibliography, including his characters, writing style, main themes, and creative evolution. Follow Bookborn at:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookborn/videosInstagram: @bookborn.reviews My favorite Bookborn videos (so far):Do SFF authors think we are stupid now6 fantasy books you can read in one day This episode was recorded on March 7, 2024.2024-03-201h 53Always Choose Orange#20: Body of WorkArtists of every kind — writers, musicians, painters, sculptures — spend their lives creating pieces of art that become their legacy, their body of work. This episode, and the Body of Work series as a whole, explores the concept of the Body of Work, follows the careers of specific creators, and immerses us in their complete works. We'll discover their natural talents already present in their first works as well as the ways they developed over time. The quotes in this episode came from this article by Kelsey McKinney:https://kelseymckinney.substack.com/p/a-challenge-read-an-entire-oeuvre2024-03-1312 minAlways Choose Orange#20: Body of WorkArtists of every kind — writers, musicians, painters, sculptures — spend their lives creating pieces of art that become their legacy, their body of work. This episode, and the Body of Work series as a whole, explores the concept of the Body of Work, follows the careers of specific creators, and immerses us in their complete works. We'll discover their natural talents already present in their first works as well as the ways they developed over time. The quotes in this episode came from this article by Kelsey McKinney:https://kelseymckinney.substack.com/p/a-challenge-read-an-entire-oeuvre2024-03-1312 minAlways Choose Orange#19: Lyric Breakdown: Middle of June by Noah GundersenIn this episode, we'll embark on a line-by-line breakdown of "Middle of June" by Noah Gundersen from his 2009 EP Saints & Liars. We'll look at the song structure, explore a few different interpretations of the lyrics, and perhaps even discover why — almost 15 years later — this is one of my favorite songs of all-time.DISCLAIMERS: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" of copyrighted material in a manner that constitutes quotation, criticism, review, parody, caricature, pastiche, and other legal copyright exceptions. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statut...2024-03-0618 minAlways Choose Orange#19: Lyric Breakdown: Middle of June by Noah GundersenIn this episode, we'll embark on a line-by-line breakdown of "Middle of June" by Noah Gundersen from his 2009 EP Saints & Liars. We'll look at the song structure, explore a few different interpretations of the lyrics, and perhaps even discover why — almost 15 years later — this is one of my favorite songs of all-time.DISCLAIMERS: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" of copyrighted material in a manner that constitutes quotation, criticism, review, parody, caricature, pastiche, and other legal copyright exceptions. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statut...2024-03-0618 minAlways Choose Orange#18: One Hundred Frogs - Translation as an Art FormIn 1686, Matsuo Bashō wrote a short poem about a frog jumping into a pond. That poem ended up becoming arguably the most well-known haiku of all-time. In this episode, we dive into Hiroaki Sato's One Hundred Frogs, a collection of more than 100 different translations of Bashō's famous haiku. We'll look at the ways the various translators approached the text and how their personalities colored their choice of word, syntax, and form.2024-02-2821 minAlways Choose Orange#18: One Hundred Frogs - Translation as an Art FormIn 1686, Matsuo Bashō wrote a short poem about a frog jumping into a pond. That poem ended up becoming arguably the most well-known haiku of all-time. In this episode, we dive into Hiroaki Sato's One Hundred Frogs, a collection of more than 100 different translations of Bashō's famous haiku. We'll look at the ways the various translators approached the text and how their personalities colored their choice of word, syntax, and form.2024-02-2821 minAlways Choose Orange#17: The Glory Days - Yellowcard, Bowling for Soup, and Handling Fan ExpectationsBack in the summer of 2014, I went to Warped Tour and watched the pop-punk bands Yellowcard and Bowling For Soup play back-to-back sets. Seeing how each band handled the expectations of their fans was a fascinating lesson. Join me this episode for the full story and to hear some thoughts on responding to the belief (internal or external) that your best art is already behind you.2024-02-2112 minAlways Choose Orange#17: The Glory Days - Yellowcard, Bowling for Soup, and Handling Fan ExpectationsBack in the summer of 2014, I went to Warped Tour and watched the pop-punk bands Yellowcard and Bowling For Soup play back-to-back sets. Seeing how each band handled the expectations of their fans was a fascinating lesson. Join me this episode for the full story and to hear some thoughts on responding to the belief (internal or external) that your best art is already behind you.2024-02-2112 minAlways Choose Orange#16: Going Deep - Learning to Enjoy the Creative ProcessIn a recent Q&A about his new novella The Narrow Road Between Desires, author Patrick Rothfuss talked about his extremely intricate editing process (he edited Name of the Wind 800 times and spent 30 hours eliminating every superfluous instance of the word "that" from The Wise Man's Fear). This made me think a lot about how to slow down and enjoy the process of making art. Join me in this episode for a few thoughts and recommendations about ways to go deeper in your creative practice!2024-02-1418 minAlways Choose Orange#16: Going Deep - Learning to Enjoy the Creative ProcessIn a recent Q&A about his new novella The Narrow Road Between Desires, author Patrick Rothfuss talked about his extremely intricate editing process (he edited Name of the Wind 800 times and spent 30 hours eliminating every superfluous instance of the word "that" from The Wise Man's Fear). This made me think a lot about how to slow down and enjoy the process of making art. Join me in this episode for a few thoughts and recommendations about ways to go deeper in your creative practice!2024-02-1418 minAlways Choose Orange#15: Leaning Into Discomfort - Cold Showers, Affirmations, and the Key to Creative GrowthDo you find yourself getting distracted easily when trying to complete creative tasks? One moment you're writing, or drawing, or songwriting, and all of a sudden, you're doing something else entirely? If so, you're not the only one! This week I share a new technique I've been using (with great success) to help myself lean into discomfort for the sake of my creative growth.2024-02-0710 minAlways Choose Orange#15: Leaning Into Discomfort - Cold Showers, Affirmations, and the Key to Creative GrowthDo you find yourself getting distracted easily when trying to complete creative tasks? One moment you're writing, or drawing, or songwriting, and all of a sudden, you're doing something else entirely? If so, you're not the only one! This week I share a new technique I've been using (with great success) to help myself lean into discomfort for the sake of my creative growth.2024-02-0710 minAlways Choose Orange#14: Walkie-Talkies - Letting Different Pieces of Art Talk to Each OtherWhen talking about his reading practice, author Richard Powers once said, "I like to keep one work of fiction and one of nonfiction going at once, and I’ll use them to triangulate against each other to conjure up some third space." In this episode, we talk about this idea of the "third space" that arises when we read more than one book at the same time and how it can transform our reading experience into something deeper and richer than ever before. Articles referenced in the episode: https://austinkleon.com/2020/02/13/on-reading-more-than-one-book-at-a-time/ht...2024-01-3116 minAlways Choose Orange#14: Walkie-Talkies - Letting Different Pieces of Art Talk to Each OtherWhen talking about his reading practice, author Richard Powers once said, "I like to keep one work of fiction and one of nonfiction going at once, and I’ll use them to triangulate against each other to conjure up some third space." In this episode, we talk about this idea of the "third space" that arises when we read more than one book at the same time and how it can transform our reading experience into something deeper and richer than ever before. Articles referenced in the episode: https://austinkleon.com/2020/02/13/on-reading-more-than-one-book-at-a-time/ht...2024-01-3116 minAlways Choose Orange#13: Favorite Reads of 2023 (with Andrew Drake)This week, my brother Andrew joins me to talk about our favorite books we read in 2023. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading (including how we get oriented when we start reading a new book in a markedly different style than what we just read). What is the most ambitious book you read this year?Which book surprised you the most?What was your personal favorite?Which book impacted your life the most?What's one book that made y...2024-01-241h 29Always Choose Orange#13: Favorite Reads of 2023 (with Andrew Drake)This week, my brother Andrew joins me to talk about our favorite books we read in 2023. The two of us use the six questions below to guide our discussion and take a few detours along the way to explore different aspects of reading (including how we get oriented when we start reading a new book in a markedly different style than what we just read). What is the most ambitious book you read this year?Which book surprised you the most?What was your personal favorite?Which book impacted your life the most?What's one book that made y...2024-01-241h 29Always Choose Orange#12: Eat These Words - The Power of ContextHave you ever experienced a moment where you were sure you understood something and suddenly, a whole new world opened up based on something someone said? Words have tremendous power to enact change. In this episode, I talk about three pieces of language we can adjust in order to transform our perspectives and completely alter the actions we're able to take in our lives.2024-01-1723 minAlways Choose Orange#12: Eat These Words - The Power of ContextHave you ever experienced a moment where you were sure you understood something and suddenly, a whole new world opened up based on something someone said? Words have tremendous power to enact change. In this episode, I talk about three pieces of language we can adjust in order to transform our perspectives and completely alter the actions we're able to take in our lives.2024-01-1723 minAlways Choose Orange#11: New Year, New You | Part 2 - Ten Years LaterToday, we'll look at goal-setting from another angle - what are some simple things we can do that will have a ten-year impact? Tune in to hear me talk about childhood memories, toilet seats, and a quote about the sacrificial nature of true gift-giving.2024-01-1015 minAlways Choose Orange#11: New Year, New You | Part 2 - Ten Years LaterToday, we'll look at goal-setting from another angle - what are some simple things we can do that will have a ten-year impact? Tune in to hear me talk about childhood memories, toilet seats, and a quote about the sacrificial nature of true gift-giving.2024-01-1015 minAlways Choose Orange#10: New Year, New You | Part 1 - Footprints in the SnowWelcome to 2024! This time of year, there's a lot of talk around resolutions, goals, and hopes. I wanted to share a few thoughts about this threshold period where we simultaneously reflect and look forward to what's to come. We'll start with a story about running in the snow and move on to a short review of brain plasticity, and end with the relationship between growth and discomfort.2024-01-0117 minAlways Choose Orange#10: New Year, New You | Part 1 - Footprints in the SnowWelcome to 2024! This time of year, there's a lot of talk around resolutions, goals, and hopes. I wanted to share a few thoughts about this threshold period where we simultaneously reflect and look forward to what's to come. We'll start with a story about running in the snow and move on to a short review of brain plasticity, and end with the relationship between growth and discomfort.2024-01-0117 minAlways Choose Orange#9: Artist Dates, Symbolism, and The Random Guy I Met At Barnes and NobleBack in June 2019, while going through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, I went on an Artist's Date to Barnes and Noble and had a chance meeting with a stranger that led to a… cool guided meditation? Visualization exercise? I have no clue what to call it but it was profound! Tune in to hear the full story and try out the exercise for yourself.2023-12-2712 minAlways Choose Orange#9: Artist Dates, Symbolism, and The Random Guy I Met At Barnes and NobleBack in June 2019, while going through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, I went on an Artist's Date to Barnes and Noble and had a chance meeting with a stranger that led to a… cool guided meditation? Visualization exercise? I have no clue what to call it but it was profound! Tune in to hear the full story and try out the exercise for yourself.2023-12-2712 minAlways Choose Orange#8: Rob Bell - The Power of Reading Out Loud, Creating Memorable Character Names, Using Large Font, and MoreRob Bell (@realrobbell) is the New York Times Bestselling author of fourteen books and plays which have been translated into 25 languages. He creates visual art that can be seen on his Instagram, makes music in a band called HUMANS ON THE FLOOR, and hosts a podcast called The RobCast. In this episode, Rob and I have an in-depth discussion about his most recent book, Where'd You Park Your Spaceship? An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread, Book One: Welcome to Firdus. We delve into where the idea for the book came from, as well as some of its majo...2023-12-201h 08Always Choose Orange#8: Rob Bell - The Power of Reading Out Loud, Creating Memorable Character Names, Using Large Font, and MoreRob Bell (@realrobbell) is the New York Times Bestselling author of fourteen books and plays which have been translated into 25 languages. He creates visual art that can be seen on his Instagram, makes music in a band called HUMANS ON THE FLOOR, and hosts a podcast called The RobCast. In this episode, Rob and I have an in-depth discussion about his most recent book, Where'd You Park Your Spaceship? An Interplanetary Tale of Love, Loss, and Bread, Book One: Welcome to Firdus. We delve into where the idea for the book came from, as well as some of its majo...2023-12-201h 08Always Choose Orange#7 - Hunter MorrisHunter Morris (@creationphotography.co) is a lifestyle photographer based out of Panama City Beach, Florida. Through his work, he helps people see themselves and their story through a lens of love. In our conversation, Hunter shares how his approach to photography stems from his relationship with Jesus and how taking pictures professionally was not something he ever expected to do. He also opens up about the life-changing transformation he experienced in college that led him to give up a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and partying to give his life to God. Website: https://www.creationphoto.co2023-12-1300 minAlways Choose Orange#7: Hunter Morris - Doing Things With Excellence, Hearing the Heart of God Through Photography, and Creating a Space Where People Can Be ThemselvesHunter Morris (@creationphotography.co) is a lifestyle photographer based out of Panama City Beach, Florida. Through his work, he helps people see themselves and their story through a lens of love. In our conversation, Hunter shares how his approach to photography stems from his relationship with Jesus and how taking pictures professionally was not something he ever expected to do. He also opens up about the life-changing transformation he experienced in college that led him to give up a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and partying to give his life to God. Website: https://www.creationphoto.co...2023-12-131h 47Always Choose Orange#7: Hunter Morris - Doing Things With Excellence, Hearing the Heart of God Through Photography, and Creating a Space Where People Can Be ThemselvesHunter Morris (@creationphotography.co) is a lifestyle photographer based out of Panama City Beach, Florida. Through his work, he helps people see themselves and their story through a lens of love. In our conversation, Hunter shares how his approach to photography stems from his relationship with Jesus and how taking pictures professionally was not something he ever expected to do. He also opens up about the life-changing transformation he experienced in college that led him to give up a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and partying to give his life to God. Website: https://www.creationphoto.co...2023-12-131h 47Always Choose Orange#6: Paige Thammavong of HeyHalle - Wedding Design Trends, Balancing Work & Family Time, Saying Yes and Figuring It Out Later, and MorePaige Thammavong (@hey.halle) is a graphic designer and handletterer based out of Portland, Oregon. Her company HeyHalle specializes in event design and branding and has worked with companies such as Burgerville (shout out to Burgerville), Lulu Lemon, Paper Source, Miss Hannah's Popcorn, and the Portland Trailblazers on a wide array of digital design, handpainted murals, handlettering, layout, interior and apparel design. In our conversation, we talk about trends in wedding design, maintaining a balance between work and family, and how Paige's motto of "say yes and figure it out later" has shaped the trajectory of her business.2023-12-061h 35Always Choose Orange#6: Paige Thammavong of HeyHalle - Wedding Design Trends, Balancing Work & Family Time, Saying Yes and Figuring It Out Later, and MorePaige Thammavong (@hey.halle) is a graphic designer and handletterer based out of Portland, Oregon. Her company HeyHalle specializes in event design and branding and has worked with companies such as Burgerville (shout out to Burgerville), Lulu Lemon, Paper Source, Miss Hannah's Popcorn, and the Portland Trailblazers on a wide array of digital design, handpainted murals, handlettering, layout, interior and apparel design. In our conversation, we talk about trends in wedding design, maintaining a balance between work and family, and how Paige's motto of "say yes and figure it out later" has shaped the trajectory of her business.2023-12-061h 35Always Choose Orange#5: DeAnna Lozensky of Guardian Grains - Regenerative Grain Farming, Soil Biology, Artisan Pasta Making, and MoreDeAnna Lozensky is a regenerative grain farmer based in central North Dakota. In 2020, her and her husband Kelly started Guardian Grains, a company that sells whole grain, stone milled flour, flaked barley, and artisan pasta across the Midwest and beyond. In our conversation, we talk about soil biology, regenerative farming practices, pasta making, and a whole lot more!DeAnna graciously offers an exclusive coupon code for 20% off orders over $50 (excluding all MockMill products) to all Always Choose Orange listeners. If you check out this episode and want to try out some Guardian Grains flour or pasta, enter "...2023-11-292h 12Always Choose Orange#5: DeAnna Lozensky of Guardian Grains - Regenerative Grain Farming, Soil Biology, Artisan Pasta Making, and MoreDeAnna Lozensky is a regenerative grain farmer based in central North Dakota. In 2020, her and her husband Kelly started Guardian Grains, a company that sells whole grain, stone milled flour, flaked barley, and artisan pasta across the Midwest and beyond. In our conversation, we talk about soil biology, regenerative farming practices, pasta making, and a whole lot more!DeAnna graciously offers an exclusive coupon code for 20% off orders over $50 (excluding all MockMill products) to all Always Choose Orange listeners. If you check out this episode and want to try out some Guardian Grains flour or pasta, enter "...2023-11-292h 12Always Choose Orange#4: Graphic Novels (And Why You Should Read At Least One)I spent over half of the year voraciously reading my way through what have been called "classic" graphic novels and manga. In April 2023, I stumbled across r/graphicnovels' Top 100 list on Reddit and decided to read at least one volume of each entry to learn what it is that makes a piece of sequential art truly great. Now that I'm 51 entries in, what's the verdict? Tune in to hear the biases and expectations I had going in, my key takeaways so far, and the titles I recommend!r/graphicnovel's Top 100 List: https://www.reddit.com/r/graphicnovels/co...2023-11-2238 minAlways Choose Orange#4: Graphic Novels (And Why You Should Read At Least One)I spent over half of the year voraciously reading my way through what have been called "classic" graphic novels and manga. In April 2023, I stumbled across r/graphicnovels' Top 100 list on Reddit and decided to read at least one volume of each entry to learn what it is that makes a piece of sequential art truly great. Now that I'm 51 entries in, what's the verdict? Tune in to hear the biases and expectations I had going in, my key takeaways so far, and the titles I recommend!r/graphicnovel's Top 100 List: https://www.reddit.com/r/graphicnovels/co...2023-11-2238 minAlways Choose Orange#3: Gina Ariko - Finding Belonging, Comfort, and Healing Through ArtGina Ariko is a Japanese-American figurative painter based in Seattle, WA. Growing up, she spent every other summer visiting family in Kokura, Japan, where her ojichan and obaachan first taught her to paint. Despite the language and distance barriers between them, they learned to connect through a shared love of painting. Her interest in art and storytelling overlapped at Santa Clara University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in both English and studio art, with a minor in art history. After graduation, Gina worked in marketing, events, and community development before pursuing her art full-time in 2020. In addition to...2023-11-152h 18Always Choose Orange#3: Gina Ariko - Finding Belonging, Comfort, and Healing Through ArtGina Ariko is a Japanese-American figurative painter based in Seattle, WA. Growing up, she spent every other summer visiting family in Kokura, Japan, where her ojichan and obaachan first taught her to paint. Despite the language and distance barriers between them, they learned to connect through a shared love of painting. Her interest in art and storytelling overlapped at Santa Clara University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in both English and studio art, with a minor in art history. After graduation, Gina worked in marketing, events, and community development before pursuing her art full-time in 2020. In addition to...2023-11-152h 18Always Choose Orange#2: Joe Hunsaker - From Selling His First Painting for $20 To Paying His Mortgage Through Murals and Custom ArtworkJoe Hunsaker (@smokeyjoepaintco), is a painter, muralist, and entrepreneur based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His custom portraits are in high demand and his mural work can be seen in Air BnBs, gyms, local businesses, and personal residences across the Phoenix metro area. In our conversation, we talk about Joe's path to becoming a full-time artist, constantly redefining his artistic style, the lessons he's learned from skateboarding, and much more!Instagram: @smokeyjoepaintcoWebsite: https://www.smokeyjoepaintco.com This episode was recorded on September 5, 2023.2023-11-082h 11Always Choose Orange#2: Joe Hunsaker - From Selling His First Painting for $20 To Paying His Mortgage Through Murals and Custom ArtworkJoe Hunsaker (@smokeyjoepaintco), is a painter, muralist, and entrepreneur based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His custom portraits are in high demand and his mural work can be seen in Air BnBs, gyms, local businesses, and personal residences across the Phoenix metro area. In our conversation, we talk about Joe's path to becoming a full-time artist, constantly redefining his artistic style, the lessons he's learned from skateboarding, and much more!Instagram: @smokeyjoepaintcoWebsite: https://www.smokeyjoepaintco.com This episode was recorded on September 5, 2023.2023-11-082h 11Always Choose Orange#1: Jonathan Wilson of Fian - Linear Songwriting, Shading Your Darker Side with Fiction, and the Most Ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert Audition You’ve Ever SeenJonathan Wilson is the lead vocalist of Fian, a progressive rock band based out of Orcas Island, WA and the surrounding Seattle area. Fian's self-titled debut album came out in 2015 and their most recent album Notes from the Underground, was released in 2022. In our conversation, we talk about Jonathan's lyric writing process, the challenges in writing melodies to alternate time signatures, the intersection between social media and art, and how he helped put together one of the most ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert auditions you've ever seen. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fianmusic/Ban...2023-11-011h 23Always Choose Orange#1: Jonathan Wilson of Fian - Linear Songwriting, Shading Your Darker Side with Fiction, and the Most Ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert Audition You’ve Ever SeenJonathan Wilson is the lead vocalist of Fian, a progressive rock band based out of Orcas Island, WA and the surrounding Seattle area. Fian's self-titled debut album came out in 2015 and their most recent album Notes from the Underground, was released in 2022. In our conversation, we talk about Jonathan's lyric writing process, the challenges in writing melodies to alternate time signatures, the intersection between social media and art, and how he helped put together one of the most ambitious NPR Tiny Desk Concert auditions you've ever seen. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fianmusic/Ban...2023-11-011h 23Always Choose Orange#0: Paint SamplesWelcome to the first episode of Always Choose Orange! Today, you'll learn the story behind the podcast name and the vision behind the show. Hint: it has to do with spreadsheets, guessing games, and a humungous stack of paint samples.2023-10-2505 minAlways Choose Orange#0: Paint SamplesWelcome to the first episode of Always Choose Orange! Today, you'll learn the story behind the podcast name and the vision behind the show. Hint: it has to do with spreadsheets, guessing games, and a humungous stack of paint samples.2023-10-2505 min