Shows
Neon NonsenseS.2 Ep. 4 Phosphor Party with Mike Sweet of FMSWe invite you to join us for the second episode of our supply chain series this season. In this episode, DJ and Alleson interview Mike Sweet from FMS Sign Company. They will discuss the intricacies of our specialized supply chain, the changes in phosphor availability, and the various developments his family has observed over nearly a century of business in our industry.
2024-12-1148 min
Neon NonsenseS.2 Ep. 3 Art is the Way Through w. Zoelle NagibOn this episode of Neon Nonsense, we welcome our friend, artist, and all around cool person Zoelle Nagib. Zoelle was raised on neon. She grew up in her family's neon shop (LightWriters Neon) and spent much of her life exploring many artistic mediums. Art sustained her and eventually brought her back to neon in 2020. Now she's building something new and special in Chicago. Tune in for her beautiful story, a little astrology and hope for the future of Chicago neon.2024-06-0851 min
Neon NonsenseS.2 Ep.2 Thinking Beyond the Finished Product w. Steve PettitThe highly anticipated second episode of our second season is here! In this episode, we chatted with the wonderful Steve Pettit from West Coast Custom Designs in Phoenix, Arizona.
This episode kicks off our new Suppliers Series, where we will be featuring various suppliers and behind the scenes folks in the neon industry. We covered so much with Steve: Everything from phosphors in glass, electrode production, Mercury staining and monster trucks!
We had such a blast learning about the fascinating world of neon supply chains, and we hope you enjoy listening...2024-03-2152 min
Neon NonsenseS.2 Ep.1 Best Coast: Welcome to Season 2Aaaand we're back!
Happy New Year and happy second season of Neon Nonsense to you! Ring in the new year with your favorite neon besties! On this episode we share a bit of what we've been up to the last several months and try to convince each other to move to the opposite coast.2024-01-0129 min
Neon NonsenseEp.14 Live Laugh Lava w. Jacob FishkowWelcome back! In this episode we have the pleasure of interviewing Jacob Fishcow of Ozone Gifts, a lava lamp extraordinaire who has been fascinated with these mesmerizing light fixtures since a young age. Jacob shared with us his insights on the lava lamp community, history, as well as his work of crafting completely unique lava lamps. Lava lamps have been a cultural icon for over 50 years, rising and falling in popularity throughout the decades just like neon. We hope you enjoy.
Neon Nonsense is sponsored by FMS Sign Products
https://www.brillite.com...2023-06-251h 35
Neon NonsenseEp. 13 Be My (Neon) Valentine w/ Amy Zachariah & Bill Horwood
Happy Valentine's Day Neon Nonsensers! We're celebrating the Hallmark holiday with our crush, Neon Valentine! Amy Zachariah and Bill Horwood are learning to make neon in the UK. We talk through their journey from musicians to neon makers, their experience trying to find a space to set up shop and one of their largest barriers to entry - a genuine lack of professionals to teach new neon folks in the UK. We're so proud they're sticking with it and keeping the neon torch lit across the pond!2023-02-141h 11
Neon NonsenseEp 12. Viva Las Vegas w. Ash MelendezNeon Nonsense does VEGAS!!!!
DJ and Alleson met in Las Vegas for an adventure a few months back. We reunited at the Neon Boneyard where we met our amazing tour guide and new bud Ash Melendez. They gave us our most favorite tour of the Boneyard to date and so we invited them to join us to talk all things neon. Ash is a terrific historian, podcast guest, new parent and general human! We invite you to enjoy some amazing neon knowledge from Ash and a bit about our ridiculous neon escapades in Sin City...2022-12-311h 10
Neon NonsenseEp. 11 Lights, Camera, Poo Poo w. Nick McKnightWelcome to the new and improved Neon Nonsense. We finally figured out our microphones and nailed down a respectable intro. Sampled from this cool video here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhv_6tg71bc)
But more importantly we had the oppertunity to sit down with our good friend and fellow guild member Nick McKnight to shoot the poo poo. Nick is a neon bender in Providence Rhode Island. He makes killer neon signs for the silver screen and gallery walls alike and we are very excited to chat with him.
https://www.instagram.com...2022-11-121h 06
Neon NonsenseEP. 10 "I've always been a science guy" w/ Mike PoultonWe have been a little quite for the past few months over hear in the Neon Nonsense neighborhood. We were shocked and heart broken to learn that a few short weeks after our interveiw with Mike, he passed suddenly. We first met Mike the day before the GAS conference in Tacoma and immediatly upon our first interaction, he re-wired Alleson's old bombarding equipment and threw so much techincal knowledge as us....we knew he was probably one of the most brilliant people we've ever met. Mike loved to teach and loved neon so that is what this episode is...2022-11-0334 min
Halloween Art and TravelDanielle James: Neon – The Brightest ArtArtist Danielle James (DJ for short), is conjuring up neon lights in her Durham, NC shop. Under the name Hex Neon, she creates custom work, restorations, and teaches classes. Her shop name and logo were inspired by the hex signs on Pennsylvania Dutch barns in Lancaster, PA. DJ studied metalsmithing and jewelry making in art school. As a student, she got the desire to make small wearable neon pieces. This desire took her to a neon company in Atlanta, where she discovered neon is a VIP pass to really cool historic places. She also loves that she ca...2022-10-311h 00
Neon NonsenseEp.9 Neon Supplier Bingo!
Love neon!? Doy, so do we! On this episode of Neon Nonsense, let's play Supplier BINGO! Walk through some of our favorite neon suppliers and generally cool neon adjacent companies too. On our socials you'll find a “BINGO card” to note which suppliers you've used. Share it to your stories, note which you've used and tag your favorite suppliers. Without supplies we're sunk. Join us in showing our suppliers a little love and keep'em supplying us. Did we mention we're talking about supplies?2022-06-2950 min
Neon NonsenseEp.8 Artists Teaching Artists: 40 Years of MONA w. Corrie SiegelJoin us on our galavant around The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) with Corrie Siegel! The Museum of Neon Art was founded in 1981 and is one of the longest running artist run museums in the world. We had the pleasure of teaching a class at MONA and after, we wandered the gallery with our travel recorder. Corrie wandered the gallery with us and shared the history and stories behind many of the signs in their collection. We bathed in the glow and basked in the chorus of mechanical animators throughout the MONA gallery.
We want...2022-04-061h 05
Neon NonsenseEp.7 The Great Plumbing Episode
On this episode, DJ and Alleson walk through the brass tacks of setting up neon burners for working with soft glass. We walk through the differences between using natural gas or propane, the types of manifolds and how many trips you should expect to take to the hardware store. It's important to note that we're sharing our experiences based on our local rules and regulations. Be sure to check your regional rules and regulations before setting up your shop - if you listen to this episode it means you agree to not sue us or hold us...2022-02-111h 11
Neon NonsenseEP 6. Hot Takes and Helium Tanks w/ Shawna PetersonOn this episode of Neon Nonsense, we're excited to have Shawna Peterson of Peterson Neon. Shawna is an amazing neon bender, a self proclaimed working stiff, former soccer player and sometimes fine artist. Shawna tells us all about her neon origin story. She schools us on everything from helium flushing, to how to save your hot glass from sneezes and offers hot takes on sign making vs craft vs fine art.2022-01-111h 22Neon NonsenseEP 5. Strange MentorsIn our first episode we mentioned that sometimes we find neon mentors in strange places, “Strange Mentors” if you will. So on today's episode we invite you into our libraries - allow us to share some of the sources that help us on our neon journey.
We have exciting news! Neon Nonsense now has a #Patreon! If you wanna send us a cuppa' or help upgrade our technology, we'd be honored. Check it out, link in bio.
As always we want to thank our OG sponsor Ventex Technologies. We're so grateful you...2021-12-0453 min
Neon NonsenseEp 4. Electrode School w/ Robert Haus
Episode 4, Electrode School w/ Robert Hause
On this episode of Neon Nonsense, we welcome fellow neon nerd, historian, and collector of all things niche, Robert Haus.
Robert's knowledge of neon runs the gamut. He's been a guest lecturer at The Museum of Neon Art. He has personally helped both of us shore up our shops. We really like how generous he is with his knowledge. This episode he gives us a much needed lesson on electrodes and how Georges Claude's competitors may have circumvented his original patent. Including Moore...2021-10-101h 44
Neon NonsenseEp 3. The Mothership w/ Morgan CrookMorgan Crook is an amazing tube bender, author, general helper, and teacher extraordinaire of all things neon!
He's been an amazing support for us both and can usually talk us down from our neon related panic on a given project. He's also casting a vision for a neon journeyperson mothership program with the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. Look for updates on our social media and at AmericanSignMuseum.org.
Also catch Morgan and DJ on the last day of Neon Speaks this Saturday and Sunday, September 17 - 18th for an amazing...2021-09-141h 11
Neon NonsenseEp 2. The many talents of Eve HoytToday we get to chat and talk shop with Philadelphia neon bender, artist, mom and badass Eve Hoyt!
The Eve links we promised:
https://www.eveningneon.com/
https://www.shebends.com/eve-hoyt
https://www.instagram.com/eveningneon/?hl=en
Check out the digital versions of The Neon News here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNeonNews
Order yourself The Neon Engineers Notebook and learn something, it is available on Amazon.
2021-08-111h 06Neon NonsenseEp 1. WomanifoldWelcome to the Neon Nonsense neighborhood?
A PLACE WHERE THE CITY CODE ENFORCER CAN'T HEAR YOU SCREAM!
Our goal with this podcast is to bring to light the trials and tribulations of building your own neon shop from scratch, making long-lasting units, and keeping the neon fires going for future generations. Won't you join us?2021-07-171h 03