Shows
Jon of All TradesEp. 372: FINALE
This is it. The last episode. This show debuted on March 18, 2014 with three episodes – Mike Gaughan, Cindy Sovine, and Jason “Bird” Calloway were my guests – which means that this show has been active for a week shy of 11 years. 372 numbered episodes, 421 total episodes, and 444 blog posts later, it’s time to call it quits and move on to something else.
In this episode, here’s what you’ll find:
An explanation of why I haven’t done a show in more than six months
The real, honest-to-God goal of Jon of All Trades, and how I achieved it
Why...
2025-03-1234 minJon of All TradesEp. 371: Brian Forrester & Kris Rhody – Uno Mas Taqueria
Brian Forrester (left) and Kris Rhody lead Uno Mas Taqueria and they’re the guests on Ep. 371 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting September 4, 2024.
Tacos! We’re talking about tacos! And tequila! What else do you need me to write here to get you to listen to this?
Ok, fine. Uno Mas Taqueria has been on South Pearl Street in Denver and on Olive Street in Fort Collins for the last 11 years, and Brian has been with them the entire time. Kris has been there for more than 8, and that’s emblematic of the culture they’v...
2024-09-0453 minJon of All TradesEp. 370: Rob Rover Rushing – Co-Founder of Punk Rock Saves Lives
Rob Rover Rushing is the Co-Founder of Punk Rock Saves Lives and he’s the guest on Ep. 370 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting June 26, 2024.
Rob Rover Rushing is on the road more than 300 days a year, so it was with some effort and luck that I caught him while he was home in Denver and that we were able to meet at East Fax Tap and chat for an hour. He’s the Co-Founder of Punk Rock Saves Lives.
We talk about the organization’s origins, their upcoming festival, the challenges of running an event...
2024-06-261h 12Jon of All TradesEp. 369: Jason zumBrunnen – Co-Founder of Ratio Beerworks
Jason zumBrunnen is Co-Founder of Denver craft brewery Ratio Beerworks and he’s the guest on Ep. 369 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting June 19, 2024.
Jason zumBrunnen is Co-Founder and Head Brewer Emeritus of Ratio Beerworks, a Denver craft brewery with roots in the punk rock scene and a DIY spirit. I’ve visited Ratio more times than I can count whether I’m taking people from out of town there, seeing a concert, or just plain old enjoying a pint because I happen to be in the neighborhood. I also used to host my nonprofit Mile High 100 events...
2024-06-1957 minJon of All TradesEp. 368: James Hilovsky – Creator of The Fran Dream
James Hilovsky is the Creator of The Fran Dream and he is the guest on Ep. 368 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting June 5, 2024.
James Hilovsky is the Creator of The Fran Dream, a franchise consulting company that matches up existing and aspiring entrepreneurs with successful franchise business opportunities. Notably, he works with a lot of retired professional athletes to match them up with opportunities as their playing career winds down. We discuss how he got into this line of work, shares with me an absolute ton about the world of franchise business, and what makes him successful.
2024-06-0538 minJon of All TradesEp. 367: Jean Eddy – Author, President & CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA)
Jean Eddy is an author and the President & CEO of American Student Assistance, and she’s the guest on Ep. 367 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting May 15, 2024.
Jean Eddy is the President and CEO of American Student Assistance (ASA) and the author of the book Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World. During Jean’s tenure, ASA has pivoted from a 65-year history of helping students with college financing and repayment options to a new focus of helping students discover potential career paths earlier in their education journey, before financing or repay...
2024-05-1536 minJon of All TradesEp. 366: Shawn Drotar – Sports Media Personality of Mile High Sports
Shawn Drotar is Senior Editor at Mile High Sports and a longtime sports media personality and he’s the guest on Ep. 366 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting April 24, 2024.
Shawn Drotar is the co-host of Sandy and Shawn on Mile High Sports as well as its Senior Editor. He has an incredible resume having done turns at ESPN and USA Today nationally, and a couple of tours of The Fan and Mile High Sports here in Denver. He has incredible intellect, insight and a warm, friendly demeanor. We met just a couple of weeks ago and hit it...
2024-04-2456 minJon of All TradesEp. 365: Christopher Short – Quizmaster in Chief of Geeks Who Drink
Christopher Short is Quizmaster in Chief for Geeks Who Drink and he returns to the Jon of All Trades Podcast April 17, 2024.
Jeopardy! Superchamp Christopher Short returns to the show after first appearing 9 years ago in Episode 44 as part of #GeekMonth when he was but the Head Editor. I’ve always adored the whole vibe of Geeks Who Drink and used to play a ton. Then we had some damn wiener kids, go out a lot less than we used to, and I don’t visit nearly as much as I used to. But this has got me itching to get...
2024-04-1751 minJon of All TradesEp. 363: Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough – Director of The Body Politic
Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough is the director of The Body Politic, and he is the guest on Ep. 363 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting April 3, 2024.
Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough is the Director of The Body Politic, which airs as part of the ACT Human Rights Film Festival, presented by the Colorado State University Department of Communication Studies. Here’s a synopsis of the film:
Like many areas in the United States, the City of Baltimore has been plagued by gun violence. Amid the George Floyd uprising, Brandon Scott, a young reform-minded leader, is elected mayor. Hi...
2024-04-031h 00Jon of All TradesEp. 361: The Jon of All Trades 10-Year Anniversary Mailbag!
Jon Ekstrom celebrates 10 years of the Jon of All Trades Podcast with a special mailbag episode that airs March 20, 2024.
This is the humble space where I produce this little show of mine for 10 years and counting. I’ve got my laptop, a monitor, a mic, an ergonomic upright mouse because I think I’m getting carpal tunnel from all the podcast editing I do, my Zoom recorder, pictures of my girls, sunglasses, and some of their various knickknacks on my desk. There’s some various crap in the background – an old cat bed, a box I need to deliver to my pa...
2024-03-2038 minJon of All TradesEp. 360: Jeff Suskin & Shalisa Pouw of DiningOut
Jeff Suskin is Executive Producer at DiningOut and he’s the guest on Ep. 360 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting March 6, 2024.
Back in 2019, I reconnected with Shalisa Pouw – a friend from elementary school – and we talked about her work as a Denver Nuggets dancer, in the fitness industry, and for DiningOut. That episode can be found here.
She’s back, and she’s brought her husband Jeff Suskin with her as I talk to the two head honchos of DiningOut about the devastating effects of the pandemic on their live event business, how marketing is actually a...
2024-03-061h 02Jon of All TradesEp. 359: Aditya Varanasi – CEO of Awarity
Aditya Varanasi is the CEO of Awarity and he is the guest on Ep. 359 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting February 28, 2024.
Aditya Varanasi is the CEO of Awarity, a company that offers world-class advertising at affordable prices. They utilize banner ads on the most highly trafficked websites in the world and utilize connected TV all targeted by zip code to ensure businesses of all sizes are supercharging their marketing efforts.
Before founding Awarity, Aditya was a chemical engineer by schooling, but when he found himself working for Frito-Lay, he was fascinated by the marketing process...
2024-02-2851 minJon of All TradesEp. 358: Dr. Marcy Willard – Child Psychologist and Creator of CADEY
Dr. Marcy Willard is a child psychologist and creator of app CADEY, and she is the guest on Ep. 358 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting February 21, 2024.
Dr. Marcy Willard is the founder of Clear Child Psychology. Clear Child Psychology partners with families to provide diagnostic assessments, clarity and a customized roadmap for supporting their unique child. Their goal is to free families from the burden of unknowing and to connect kids with the help they need to find their own path to happiness.
She also created an app called CADEY. What is CADEY? In their...
2024-02-2156 minJon of All TradesEp. 357: Sun Roesslein – President of the Sports Field Management Association
Sun Roesslein is the President of the Sports Field Management Association and she is the guest on Ep. 357 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting December 6, 2023.
Sun Roesslein is the newly appointed President of the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA), based right here in the Denver metropolitan area. SFMA is a non-profit dedicated to empowering and providing resources for the professionals who oversee sports fields at pro stadiums, universities, K-12 schools, and local parks and recreation facilities. These are the highly-trained individuals who ensure that every sports surface from Empower Field at Mile High to local softball diamonds are...
2023-11-3048 minJon of All TradesEp. 356: Jon Eks Solo – Let’s Catch Up!
Me on Halloween? Or my new everyday look for the fall? Vote in the comments! Kidding. Don’t vote. I don’t give a shit.
Hi there! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been on this page. Where have I been? I’m glad you asked! I left one show I was doing back in July and decided I needed some anonymous downtime. I had some surgery. I’ve been focusing on client work. Mostly I’ve just enjoyed laying low and recharging my creative batteries.
Time to crank those back up! And what better way to...
2023-11-1521 minJon of All TradesEp. 355: Douglas Derrick – 100 Mile Race Finisher
Douglas Derrick is my friend from Portland, OR and he finished the Oregon Cascades 100. He’s the guest on Ep. 355 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting October 4, 2023. No idea what happened when I tried to get that screengrab.
Douglas Derrick is one of the coolest guys I know. He’s the inspiration for Negroni Week, which just happened. He has a Portlandia sketch that parodies his mixology chops from his time as a bartender. He’s a champion angler. Above all that, he’s just really fun to hang out with when I go to Portland and knows al...
2023-10-041h 14Jon of All TradesEp. 354: Ed Gazvoda – Creator of Fireless Cremation
Ed Gazvoda is the Creator of Fireless Cremation and he is the guest on Ep. 354 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting September 6, 2023.
After doing this show for 9+ years, I thought I’d pretty much covered it all. Buddy, the fact that this show can still surprise me is a gift.
Ed Gazvoda is the creator of Fireless Cremation, which is an alternative to the traditional, petrochemical cremation we’re probably all more familiar with. So, how is it different? Essentially, Fireless Cremation beneficially returns deceased remains to the earth via a process called alkaline hydrolysis. I’m...
2023-09-0749 minJon of All TradesEp. 353: Brenden Kumarasamy – Creator of MasterTalk
Brenden Kumarasamy is the Creator of MasterTalk and he’s the guest on Ep. 353 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting August 9, 2023.
Brenden Kumarasamy is the Creator of MasterTalk, where he has speaking engagements, leads workshops, and offers individual coaching. Here he is in his own words from his YouTube channel:
After coaching many business students on how to give amazing presentations for 2 years, I quickly realized that public speaking is a very difficult subject to master. There are many nuances and generalities that make people afraid to get on stage and present confidently. Because of th...
2023-08-1053 minJon of All TradesEp. 352: Josh Martin – Former NFL Player, Smoothie King Entrepreneur
Josh Martin, formerly of the NFL and currently of Smoothie King’s Northfield location is the guest on Ep. 352 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting July 26, 2023.
Josh Martin played seven seasons in the NFL and got an Ivy League education at Columbia University. He’s returned to Denver to open a Smoothie King franchise in the Central Park neighborhood.
He joins me to discuss his NFL career as we discuss a multitude of facets of it. What was his first day like? How did he establish his reputation through grinding on special teams? Who was the...
2023-07-2643 minJon of All TradesEp. 351: Stacey Dee, Lead Singer of Bad Cop / Bad Cop
Stacey Dee is the lead singer and guitarist for Bad Cop / Bad Cop and she’s the guest on Ep. 351 of the Jon of All Trades podcast, debuting July 19, 2023.
Stacey Dee (the one on the right in that picture, seen with her bandmate Linh Le), is the lead singer of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, one of my favorite bands. She joins me in advance of the Punk Rock Saves Lives Fest coming up on Saturday, July 22 at Ratio Beerworks in Denver.
We discuss the music of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, talk about Stacey’s “gnarly addiction to Xanax”...
2023-07-1952 minJon of All TradesEp. 350: Adrienne Ash, Lead Singer of Plasma Canvas
Adrienne Ash is the lead singer of Plasma Canvas and she’s the guest on Ep. 350 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting June 7, 2023.
Plasma Canvas is the self-professed “LOUDEST, GAYEST BAND IN THE WORLD.” And I can tell you personally that their new album DUSK is fantastic. I welcome their lead singer Adrienne Ash to the show to discuss it, what was in store for Plasma Canvas before the pandemic hit (it’s crushing), how existing as a lead singer in a punk band in a world where Laura Jane Grace blazed so many trails is a double-e...
2023-06-071h 01Jon of All TradesEp. 348: Peaches ‘n Diesel – Instagram Famous
Peaches ‘n Diesel has created two incredibly popular Instagram profiles and is the guest on Ep. 348 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting April 26, 2023.
I work out at the same time and same gym as Peaches ‘n Diesel. Of course, that’s not how I know her, but one of our instructors (thank you, Jackie!) hipped me to her Instagram page. I was instantly taken with it. I then found out her dog, Jolene the Dolly Doodle was even more famous than she was and had been around the world in viral fame.
She agreed to come o...
2023-04-2652 minJon of All TradesEp. 347: Drew Francis – Attempting to Break Colorado 14er Record
Drew Francis is attempting to break the Colorado 14er record and he’s the guest on Ep. 347 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting April 5, 2023.
According to Drew Francis, “The state of Colorado has 58 peaks that rise over 14,000 ft in elevation. The current record to climb all the peaks is 9 days, 21 hours, and 51 minutes. My goal for the summer of 2023 is to break this speed record, climbing more than 150,000 ft of elevation, 300 miles of trail running, and summiting 7-8 peaks every 24 hours over the course of 9 days!”
Well ok then! Please come and talk to me! And ta...
2023-04-0550 minJon of All TradesEp. 346: Vic Lombardi – 9 Year Anniversary Spectacular!
Vic Lombardi is the guest on Ep. 346 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting March 15, 2023.
The Jon of All Trades Podcast is officially 9 years old! If you had asked me when I started if I would still be doing this show 9 years later, I don’t think I would have said yes. But the truth is, while this show didn’t achieve the heights I wished for it when I started, it’s served to make me what I always wanted to be. I am a professional podcaster, and, more broadly, a professional content producer. My dream came true...
2023-03-1554 minJon of All TradesEp. 345: Kip Wilson – Stoned Appetit
Kip Wilson of Stoned Appetit is the guest on Ep. 345 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting February 8, 2023.
Kip Wilson is one of the creators and co-hosts of Stoned Appetit, a podcast where he and his co-host learn something new every episode, but “cover food, booze, weed and live music.” Sounds like a damn good time! He’s also my compadre at Mile High Life where he blogs and makes video content, and I, of course, co-host and co-produce Happy Friday.
So how did this guy manage to turn the things so many people love to do for...
2023-02-0855 minJon of All TradesEp. 344: Tom Breihan, Author of The Number Ones
Tom Breihan, Senior Writer at Stereogum and author of The Number Ones once again joins the Jon of All Trades Podcast for Ep. 344 debuting January 25, 2023.
When Tom Breihan was my guest two and a half years ago on Episode 253, we talked primarily about movies and how PR people can stand out in an endless swirling sea of crappy pitches. It was an incredibly fun chat, and although I had been a weekly reader of his prior to that, after that chat I picked up his column The Number Ones on Stereogum and have been reading him at bare minimum...
2023-01-2550 minJon of All TradesEp. 343: Joe Vostrejs – Partner and Principal at City Street Investors
Joe Vostrejs is a Partner at City Street Investors and he is the guest on Ep. 343 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting December 28, 2022.
Joe Vostrejs is Principal, Partner, and Founder of City Street Investors, whose “custom crafting philosophy” means the firm creates projects that synchronize the needs and desires of the community with investment in under-appreciated assets. It also means, the places they create, in particular the restaurants in their portfolio, are unique, tailored toward the local community, and are designed to be community gathering places.
I came upon Joe and City Street after reading this...
2022-12-2852 minJon of All TradesEp. 338: Bruce Lambert – Owner of Dog House Denver
Bruce Lambert is the founder of Dog House Denver and he’s the guest on Ep. 338 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting October 12, 2022.
Bruce Lambert is the owner of Dog House Denver, Denver’s premiere doggy day care. From their website: “At Doghouse Denver your dog will enjoy constant care and supervision from our loving, skilled, and knowledgeable handlers. Our team is passionate and experienced in interacting and engaging with dogs of all temperaments. Dog House Denver is not only THE spot to physically exert your four-legged friend, we are also focused on appropriate socialization between dogs.”4
On...
2022-10-1237 minJon of All TradesEp. 337: Kersti Bryan – Director of Egg Party, Actor, Longtime Friend
Kersti Bryan returns to the Jon of All Trades Podcast to discuss her role on Tales of the Walking Dead, her short film Egg Party and a lot more on Ep. 337 debuting September 28, 2022.
Kersti Bryan has appeared on this show before. In fact, it was exactly 300 episodes ago when she was my guest on Episode 37. Weird, right? She’s back again and this time we talk about her recent role on Tales of the Walking Dead largely opposite Terry Crews and her short film Egg Party, which was recently released to the public for free. You can find it he...
2022-09-2857 minJon of All TradesEp. 336: David Roth – Editor at Defector
David Roth is an Editor at Defector and he’s the guest on Ep. 336 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting September 21, 2022.
David Roth is an Editor at Defector.com, one of my absolute favorite websites (and, by their own tagline “The last good website), and he’s in that photo showing me a baseball card for Lastings Milledge, who is a definitely a guy some of us remember. David is a superlative writer and while the bulk of his recent work is about baseball and former President Trump, I’m pretty much in on anything David writes.
Si...
2022-09-211h 15Jon of All TradesEp. 335: Jon Eks Solo – An Ode to Summer
My wife and I boogeying at our annual beer pong tournament, one of the premier events of the summer.
Summer is my favorite season by far. And it’s this time of year that I start to feel a tinge of melancholy because I know this magical time is ending, which also happens to coincide with my birthday. Why do I love summer so much? I answer that question from as many angles as possible on this week’s show where I talk about everything from how much I hate socks to how I grew spending every day at the...
2022-08-1730 minJon of All TradesEp. 333: Ryan Estes – Co-Founder of Kitcaster
Ryan Estes is the Co-Founder of Kitcaster, the premier podcast booking agency, and he’s the guest on Ep. 333 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting July 20, 2022.
Ryan Estes is the Co-Founder of Kitcaster, the world’s premier podcast booking agency. He’s also a podcasting OG whose podcasting origin story goes back to 2008, so he’s been through virtually this entire industry’s evolution.
More importantly, Ryan is someone I consider both a professional friend and role model. I can go months or even years without talking to Ryan, and we pick back up right where we l...
2022-07-201h 01Jon of All TradesEp. 332: Stacey and Josh Davis – Co-Founders of JAD’s Mile High Smoke
Josh Davis is one of the Co-Founders of JAD’s Mile High Smoke, the first cannabis bar in Colorado and he’s the guest on Ep. 332 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting July 13, 2022.
Stacey and Josh Davis (pictured) are the Co-Founders of JAD’s Mile High Smoke, the first Cannabis Bar in Colorado. What is that? It’s just like any other bar, except you order cannabis products instead of alcohol products. Cool, right? Josh and Stacey certainly think so as they’re the very first ones to establish such a place and are thus dealing with all of the...
2022-07-1353 minJon of All TradesEp. 331: Conor McGahey – Radio Broadcaster for the Colorado Avalanche
Conor McGahey is the radio voice of the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche and he’s the guest on Ep. 331 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting July 6, 2022.
Conor McGahey is the radio voice of the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche for Altitude Sports. I talked to him the day after the celebratory parade that brought 500,000 people into the city (and no arrests!) about this insane Cup run, his career, and our mutual friend Reed Saunders (who is directly responsible for this show, and was my guest way back on Ep. 26). He’s an amazingly talented and kind dude...
2022-07-0629 minJon of All TradesEp. 330: Jon Eks Solo – 40 Is a Mindf*ck
I’m not going to bore you with a lot of text here. I’ve been 40 years old for about 10 months and it’s a total mindfuck for two reasons:
Ideally you have the freedom to be who you most want to be and the resources to achieve that;You are out of excuses for your own bullshit, and if you continue to lie to yourself, that will only lead to regret.
Tune in to hear me opine about how I was frequently the youngest guy in most rooms during my career (and how that’s now over), w...
2022-06-1535 minJon of All TradesEp. 329: Justin Duran – Lead Singer of The Frickashinas and Center Scenes
Justin Duran is the lead singer of The Frickashinas and Center Scenes and he’s the guest on Ep. 329 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting June 8, 2022.
I first met Justin Duran in like 2002 when he was fronting a band called Dysarranged. He was a guest on my college radio show in preparation for a big, all-day punk rock festival one of my colleagues was putting on. We hit it off immediately. When Dysarranged broke up, Justin (and his co-lead Brian, whom I was also friendly with) moved on to a band called A Void, whom I liked ev...
2022-06-0849 minJon of All TradesEp. 328: Megan Carvajal – Executive Director of The Blue Bench
Megan Carvajal is the Executive Director of The Blue Bench and she is the guest on Ep. 328 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting May 25, 2022.
Megan Carvajal is the Executive Director of The Blue Bench, the Denver Metro Area’s comprehensive sexual assault prevention and support center, and an organization to which I have given money for many years. If you’d like to give money yourself, you can do that through this link.
On this week’s episode, we discuss how Megan got involved with The Blue Bench, the origins of the organization, the work it doe...
2022-05-2557 minJon of All TradesEp. 327: Joe O’Dea – Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate from Colorado
Joe O’Dea is seeking to be the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Colorado and he’s the guest on Ep. 327 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting May 18, 2022.
Joe O’Dea is currently running for a seat in the United States Senate representing Colorado and seeking to defeat incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet. Here are the first few sentences from his “Meet Joe” page on his campaign website:
Joe’s a political outsider, and a conservative.Joe O’Dea is the CEO of a Colorado construction company running for the United States Senate....
2022-05-1839 minJon of All TradesEp. 326: Kyle Ryan – Creator of Band Name Bureau
Kyle Ryan is a former writer for the AV Club and the creator of Band Name Bureau, and he’s the guest on Ep. 326 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting May 11, 2022.
If you were a fan of The AV Club, as I was and largely still am, then it’s safe to assume one of the features you looked forward to at the end of each year was The Year in Band Names. The creator of that delightful and staggering annual piece of work was Kyle Ryan. And he’s taken that feature and turned it into a Subs...
2022-05-1155 minJon of All TradesEp. 325: Julio Trujillo – Co-Founder of Colorado Trivia League
Julio Trujillo is the Co-Founder of Colorado Trivia League and he’s the guest on Ep. 325 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting May 4, 2022.
Julio Trujillo made his first appearance on this show more than 7 years ago on Episode 42 as part of pub quiz juggernaut team The Slumpbusters. Since then, he’s gone on to be a runner-up on Jeopardy! and a winner of the ABC game show The Chase, while still kicking ass at pub quiz all over the Denver area. He’s taken all that knowledge, along with his substantial winnings from The Chase, and bet on him...
2022-05-0450 minJon of All TradesEp. 322: Ed Vincent – CEO of FestivalPass
Ed Vincent is the CEO of FestivalPass and he’s the guest on Ep. 322 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting March 2, 2022.
Ed Vincent is CEO of FestivalPass, a new startup that offers subscriptions to live event ticketing. Here’s how they describe themselves on their website:
festival Pass believes you deserve transparency. We will never add fees at the end of your purchase. Price you see is the price you pay. No added fees AND up to 30% less than you will pay elsewhere. You have an Amazon prime membership to get free shipping and other uniq...
2022-03-0236 minJon of All TradesEp. 320: Jenny Cavnar – Broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies
Jenny Cavnar is an alumnus of Colorado State University and student media, is currently a broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies, and is the guest on Ep. 320 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting February 16, 2022.
Jenny Cavnar first caught my attention when I watched her do “Sportsfest” with my friend Chris Dittmer on CTV at Colorado State University. She has since gone on to a professional career in sports broadcasting that’s taken her to Los Angeles, Flint, MI, San Diego, and back home to Denver where she’s currently a broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies.
In 2018 Jenny wa...
2022-02-1646 minJon of All TradesEp. 319: Andrew Novick Returns!
Andrew Novick is the coolest Denverite I know and he returns to the Jon of All Trades Podcast for Ep. 319, debuting February 9, 2022.
When I interviewed Andrew Novick a little more than 4 years ago, I described him this way:
Andrew Novick is the director of JonBenet’s Tricycle, a documentary premiering at Denver Film Festival 40. Intrigued? I certainly was. Here’s the synopsis: “Andrew Novick – a Mile-High legend as the man who collects almost everything – forges all sorts of emotional connections to the objects he acquires: either memories, curiosity or interest in the darker side of humanity. He was living in...
2022-02-091h 15Jon of All TradesEp. 316: Jon Eks Solo – Death to Snark
Two snarky jerks
As we roll into 2022 in earnest, the cultural mood seems to be pure shit. Beloved celebrities are dying, a huge chunk of our state turned into a damn tinderbox, grocery workers are on strike, and this godforsaken virus continues to hang around like a party guest that just won’t fucking leave even though we’ve stopped refilling its drink and have done all the dishes already. Everyone seems pissed all the time, and in many cases, rightfully so.
So what am I doing about it? I’m trying to bring some joy into the wo...
2022-01-1227 minJon of All TradesEp. 313: Jeff Kass – Author, Private Investigator, Former Journalist
Jeff Kass is author of Columbine: A True Crime Story and a private investigator and he’s the guest on Ep. 313 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting December 15, 2021.
Jeff Kass is a former journalist at the Rocky Mountain News and other outlets, wrote the definitive book about the Columbine tragedy, and is now a private investigator and head of Kass Research Group. I was introduced to him by my friend and guest on Episode 306 Jonathan Stine.
On this week’s show we discuss his work as a journalist covering the Columbine tragedy and his book Colu...
2021-12-1545 minJon of All TradesEp. 312: Molly Smith – Professional Copywriter, Host of “Did That Age Well?”
Molly Smith is a professional copywriter and the Host of “Did That Age Well?” and she’s the guest on the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting December 8, 2021.
Molly Smith is the Creator and Host of Did That Age Well? a show I was privileged enough to guest on a few short weeks ago talking about the hilariously droll 1999 comedy Office Space. I was introduced to Molly by my good friends at Discussion Combustion and it was during my delightful chat with Molly on her show that I knew I had to have her on mine.
Molly is whi...
2021-12-081h 02Jon of All TradesEp. 310: Pete White and Brandon Kramer from The First Step
(L to R) Pete White is the Executive Director of LA CAN, Brandon White is the Director of The First Step documentary and they join the Jon of All Trades Podcast Ep. 310 from the Denver Film Festival to discuss the documentary, debuting November 17, 2021.
Brandon Kramer (pictured center) is the Director of, and Pete White is a participant in, The First Step, a documentary that follows CNN correspondent/progressive Van Jones, as he controversially crosses party lines to fight for bipartisan support for criminal justice reform and a more humane response to the addiction crisis during a divisive administration. The f...
2021-11-171h 06Jon of All TradesEp. 307: Zach Eastman – Podcaster, Filmmaker, Old Time Hollywood Enthusiast
Zach Eastman is a podcaster and filmmaker and he’s the guest on Ep. 307 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting October 20, 2021.
Zach Eastman is my good buddy. Chief among the reasons he’s a good buddy of mine is that he’s just about the only person I’ve ever known (besides my own father) who can talk about W.C. Fields for three hours with me. Which we did on his show! You can find that right here.
Zach is host of the Yesteryear Ballyhoo Revue, formerly of The Shamley Silhouette, and a co-host of The R...
2021-10-201h 18Jon of All TradesEp. 306: Jonathan Stine – Managing Partner at The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm
Jonathan Stine is someone I met because our kids became friends in preschool. Turned out we had a lot in common, and the two of us and our two wives hit it off pretty much immediately. When we’d have parties, he’d ask my friends weird questions like, “Which insurance company do you have?” For the briefest of moments, I thought he was some sort of broker, which I found to be unspeakably tacky. But there was a reason for this line of questioning, and it’s actually a public service.
Jonathan is Managing Partner at The Paul W...
2021-10-1356 minJon of All TradesEp. 304: Jon Eks Solo and in a Creative Funk
This show has grinded to a halt. Literally, I’m having a hard time generating any momentum with potential guests, my writing process is laborious and tortured, and while I have plenty of TIME, the ideas simply ain’t coming.
So, this week is an attempted exorcism. I turned on the mics before I could mentally set an agenda and just let ‘er rip. And in this week’s 25 minutes, here’s a sampling of what I talk about:
Why I’m always melancholy at the end of summer Why I’m particularly bummed about the end of this su...
2021-09-2226 minJon of All TradesEp. 303: Dana Shierstone – Chemical Engineer, Geochemist, Cannabis Entrepreneur
Dana Shierstone is a cannabis entrepreneur and she is the guest on Ep. 303 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting September 8, 2021.
I reconnected with Dana Shierstone at my 21st high school reunion and I’m glad I did because this is a conversation with a delightful surprise around every corner. When Dana and I started talking, I knew she worked in the cannabis space, but I had no idea she had a background as chemical engineer for a NASA contractor, became a geochemist that modeled complex groundwater systems, or has gone to Burning Man multiple times. Dana and I...
2021-09-091h 03Jon of All TradesEp. 300: Jon Eks Solo – Celebrating a (Quasi) Milestone
Me outside El Camino in The Highlands with my two delightful girls.
Since we’re sort of at a milestone, I thought it a good time to pause and reflect on where we are and where we’ve been. In truth, this is my 351st episode which doesn’t usually warrant any kind of notable extra action. But since we’re at 300 in terms of the ones I’ve numbered, let’s take a minute here.
On this week’s stream-of-consciousness, fugue state, circuitous edition of “What the hell is Jon going to say?” (alternately titled – “Just how profane is Jon whe...
2021-08-1136 minJon of All TradesEp. 298: Courtney Brewer – Huntington’s Disease Advocate
Courtney Brewer is an advocate for Huntington’s Disease and dying with dignity and she is the guest on Ep. 298 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting July 14, 2021.
Courtney Brewer is a fellow alumnus from my same class and high school. As our reunion approached, we reconnected and I’m so happy we did because I feel privileged to get to bring this show to you. Instead of talking about Courtney’s career journey – which, admittedly, we do a very little bit – we focus on her renewed purpose: Advocacy work.
Courtney lost her dad just over a year ago...
2021-07-1443 minJon of All TradesEp. 297: Carson Bartsch – A Perfect Line Painting and One of My Best Friends
Carson Bartsch is one of my oldest friends and the Founder of A Perfect Line Painting and he’s the guest on Ep. 297 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast debuting July 8, 2021.
Carson Bartsch is Head Honcho at A Perfect Line Painting, which provides headache-free painting services in the Denver, CO area. They’ve been in business for more than three years and their crew has over a decade of experience under their belts. They’re masters in their trade and have all of the resources needed to paint your home or office building effectively. As a customer, I can at...
2021-07-081h 00Jon of All TradesEp. 296: Michael Trundle (aka Boyhollow) – Creator of Lipgloss
Michael Trundle (aka Boyhollow) is the creator of Lipgloss, one of Denver’s best DJ nights and he’s the guest on Ep. 296 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting June 30, 2021.
Michael Trundle and two others created Lipgloss 20 years ago. He’s still there getting everyone to dance, and it’s still one of the absolute best parties in Denver. Here’s their description from the website:
Lipgloss is the USA’s longest running indie dance party and takes place every Friday night at Milk Bar in Denver, CO. We play the best in indie & alternative, both old & n...
2021-06-3059 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 14: Public Relations Representative
A perfect summation of my time in corporate: Me (left), in an out of focus candid photo, politely listening to someone of prominence whose name I can no longer remember at an event I spent months planning that no one I reported to was happy with.
Welcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my 14th job.
Job: Public Relations Representative, Noble EnergyDuration: December 2010 – April 2015Pay: $72,000/yr. + bonus (starting...
2020-08-1945 minJon of All TradesEp. 261: The Mazlows – Denver Punk Band
Nate Hout and Colton Kooker comprise half of Denver pop punk band The Mazlows, and they’re the guests on Ep. 261 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting August 5, 2020.
If the year 2020 has proven one thing to me – well, one thing that’s positive anyway – it’s that punk rock is what soothes my soul more than anything else. So, when I became aware of The Mazlows, a pop punk band out of Lakewood, CO – just next door to my hometown of Golden – I knew I had to talk to them.
Their debut album Community Locker was entirely s...
2020-08-0540 minJon of All TradesEp. 212: Ryzin – Professional Wrestler
Ryzin is an independent professional wrestler and author of Helluva Confession, and he’s the guest on Ep. 212 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting April 4, 2019.
(Rob) Ryzin is an independent professional wrestler who I talked to on Episode 59 of this show. A lot has changed in the nearly four years since he appeared last, and we get into all of it here on this week’s show.
For starters, Ryzin earned himself an official WWE tryout, which, as he explains to me, is one of the most physically intense boot camps you could ever experience. Desp...
2019-04-0458 minJon of All TradesEp. 211: Michael Roberts – Denver Westword
Michael Roberts, reporter for the Denver Westword, is the guest on Episode 211 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting March 27, 2019.
Michael Roberts has been writing for the Denver Westword since 1990. He began as a Music Editor, but has written about pretty much everything ever since. He’s a dynamite (and incredibly prolific) reporter, but I’d argue one of his finest qualities is his long form interviews.
As an interviewer myself, I’m always fascinated by others who are good at this form. Check out this 7,000 word profile of Kathy Sabine. I’ve watched Kathy Sabine for abou...
2019-03-2754 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 13: Marketing Manager, Energy Drink
Welcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my 13th job.
Job: Marketing Manager, Energy Drink Company (will remain unnamed)Duration: March 2010 – May 2010Pay: $45,000/yr.Did I get along with my boss(es)? Fuck and no. This place was a sewer.
Christ almighty. Here we go.
This is like a lost episode of my life. I spent two miserable months here and I almost never tal...
2019-03-1330 minJon of All TradesEp. 209: Shalisa Pouw – Event Planner, Entrepreneur
Shalisa Pouw is an entrepreneur, event planning, and professional fitness instructor. She’s the guest on Ep. 209 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting February 27, 2019.
Shalisa Pouw is someone I met when I was 12. We were pals, and then she went to a different high school and we didn’t reconnect again until a few weeks ago. I’m so glad we did, because she’s got a fascinating work history. Thanks to Ginna Santy and Mel Ulle for bringing Shalisa back into my consciousness!
After college, Shalisa was a dancer for the Denver Nuggets for two year...
2019-02-2752 minJon of All TradesEp. 206: Ed Sealover – Reporter, Denver Business Journal
Ed Sealover is a reporter with the Denver Business Journal covering a number of beats, including craft beer, and he’s the guest on Ep. 206 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting February 6, 2019.
Ed Sealover covers government, economic development, transportation, hospitality and brewing for the Denver Business Journal. He’s someone I’ve worked with professionally on behalf of my clients, and someone I’ve bumped into more than a few times at beer festivals and enjoy a fun personal rapport with on account of our affinity for craft beer.
This episode covers three of my favorite...
2019-02-0658 minJon of All TradesEp. 196: Meow Wolf Origin Story Filmmakers
Alessandra Dobrin Khalsa (center) and Morgan Capps are the editor and director (respectively) of the Meow Wolf Origin Story documentary playing at Denver Film Festival 41. They’re the guests on Ep. 196 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting November 6, 2018.
When Denver Film Festival 41 was announced, one of the films I was most excited to see was the Meow Wolf Origin Story. If you’re at all interested in art, culture, and live in the American Southwest, you’ve probably heard a ton about Meow Wolf and how it’s changing the art world for the better.
With all...
2018-11-0652 minJon of All TradesEp. 192: Dr. Clare Ennis DVM, Owner of Canyon View Animal Hospital
Dr. Clare Ennis, owner of Canyon View Animal Hospital, is the guest on Ep. 192 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting October 10, 2018.
Dr. Clare Ennis, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and the owner of Canyon View Animal Hospital, a small, locally-owned veterinary clinic serving Littleton and the Ken Caryl area. From their website:
“We take pride in knowing our clients and their pets by name. Here at Canyon View, you can always see the same veterinarian, allowing us to develop a real relationship with you and better serve your pet’s health needs. We also understand that...
2018-10-1053 minJon of All TradesEp. 184: Kathy Walker – News Director, KOA NewsRadio
Kathy Walker, News Director at KOA NewsRadio in Denver is the guest on Ep. 184 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting August 1, 2018.
Kathy Walker is the News Director at 850 KOA NewsRadio in Denver. She has worked there since 1990. Any time I get to talk journalism, and radio in particular, I’m excited.
Kathy’s had a fascinating career path having left college early to work as Marketing Director for a shopping mall in San Jose, winding through Idaho, and back to Denver, which led her to where she is now. A Colorado native, she’s seen Denver...
2018-08-0157 minJon of All TradesEp. 183: Tucker Gumber – The Festival GuyI know him as Tucker Gumber, a good buddy from my days working at KCSU fm during college. If you know Tucker these days, it’s probably as The Festival Guy. You see, Tucker has gone to 137 festivals across seven years (seven in 2018 alone as of this writing in July), and participated from basically every angle possible. He’s been an attendee, a volunteer, a media member, an exhibitor, and a part of artist teams. He even knows how to get the “fuck you light” turned off to benefit a crowd.
On this week’s show we discuss ou...
2018-07-2500 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 11 – Lobbying and Public PolicyWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my 11th job.
Job: Communications Specialist, Policy Communications, Inc.
Duration: October 2006 – April 2007
Pay: $35,000/yr.
Did I get along with my boss(es)? Well enough, but I was in no way mature enough not to resent the shit out of them, anyway.
Back at it, with a job that I was not really qualified for. So at this point I’m 25 yea...
2018-07-1800 minJon of All TradesEp. 169: Dave Sevick – Vice President, Firefly Autism (4-Year Anniversary Show)
Dave Sevick, Vice President of Marketing and Development of Firefly Autism, is the guest on Ep. 169 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting March 21, 2018. This is the 4-year anniversary of the podcast.
Dave Sevick is the Vice President of Marketing & Development for Firefly Autism, Colorado’s premiere autism therapy and behavioral support program. Featuring Applied Behavior Analysis techniques, in the classroom, and in your home. And this is the 4-Year Anniversary of the Jon of All Trades Podcast!
Dave is a special guest because we met only about nine months ago collaborating on a joint campaign bet...
2018-03-2159 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 10: Administrative AssistantWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my tenth job.
Job: Administrative Assistant, Colorado Oil & Gas Association
Duration: August 2006 – November 2006
Pay: $15/hr
Did I get along with my boss? Yes! Great guy!
As I finally graduate college in this series, let’s take a look at my first real grown-up job answering the phones, getting the mail, and doing a bunch of unglamorous work that felt like a...
2018-02-2100 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 9: Public Speaking TeacherWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my ninth job.
Job: Public Speaking Teacher at Colorado State University
Duration: 2004-2006
Pay: Full graduate school tuition, ~$1,100 per month stipend
Did I get along with my boss? Technically, it’s the taxpayers, but in terms of my department, yes, I liked our teaching mentor.
This job set me up for my entire career. And, as one might expect of...
2018-02-1400 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 8: LifeguardWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my eighth job.
Job: Lifeguard
Duration: Summer of 2004
Pay: $8/hr (I honestly can’t remember, but what I can remember is the pay was pretty crappy)
Did I get along with my boss? Yes. They were high school kids, and I was 22.
This job always seems like it’s going to be more fun than it inevitably is. Mostly it’s...
2018-01-3100 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 7: AlaskaWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my seventh job.
Job: Alaska State Fair booth construction and staffer
Duration: One week in August 2003
Pay: $1,000
Did I get along with my boss? This job was ridiculously easy, and everyone was nice, so yeah.
Easiest job I ever had, and what a gift! I was 21 years old, and the oil and gas company my dad worked for sent me...
2018-01-2400 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 6: RetailWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my sixth job.
Job: Vehicle accessories salesman and installer
Duration: College breaks from summer 2001 – summer 2002
Pay: $8.50/hr. + commission
Did I get along with my boss? In the Denver store moreso than in the Golden store, but generally, yes
And we finally complete the holy triumvirate of types of jobs I believe everyone should be required to have. We’ve covered m...
2018-01-1700 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 5: Property MaintenanceWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my fifth job.
Job: Property Maintenance Grunt
Duration: June – July, 2001
Pay: $10.00/hour
Did I get along with my boss? No, he was a fucking asshole.
God, this job sucked. And I’ve got to qualify that by also stating I’m immensely grateful to our family friend who hooked me up with this job (he and his company owned all the...
2018-01-1000 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 4: City of GoldenWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my fourth job.
Job: Ballfield Worker, City of Golden
Duration: May – August, 2000
Pay: $9.00/hour
Did I get along with my boss? Yes! Although in all fairness, he should’ve hated us way more than he did.
My all-time favorite job! I got to work in the sun with my friends, goof off in a truck all day and listen to...
2018-01-0300 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 3: Food ServiceWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my third job.
Job: Salad Bar Worker, Chart House
Duration: November – Decemberr 1999
Pay: $6.50/hour (I think, I honestly can’t remember)
Did I get along with my boss? Meh, well enough.
My friend Carson were talking at one point – we were high school seniors at the time – and he told me he heard the busboys at The Chart House made a t...
2017-12-2000 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 2: Door-to-door SalesmanWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and here is my second job.
Job: Door-to-door salesman
Duration: September 1999
Pay: $5/lead
Did I get along with my boss? Surprisingly, yes! (An old swim team buddy.)
After one of my swim team friends asked my Spanish teacher to post a message on her whiteboard announcing a job that paid $5 per lead, I called him and signed right up! How hard could it...
2017-12-1300 minJon of All TradesJon’s Audio Resume Vol. 1: BinderyWelcome to Jon’s Audio Resume, the Jon of All Trades solo exploration of all the weird ass jobs I’ve had in my life. This series runs in chronological order and we start with my very first job.
Job: Bindery worker
Duration: May 1998 – August 1998
Pay: $6.50/hr.
Did I get along with my boss? No! He was a real dick.
This was a weird job for a 16 year-old kid to have considering it was basically factory work primarily held by blue collar folk who somehow made a living off of it. But in this we...
2017-12-0600 minJon of All TradesEp. 146: Jack Ekstrom – Founder of PolicyWorks America, My DadJack Ekstrom has had an extraordinarily impressive career working in public and government for the oil and natural gas industry. He retired in January of this year, and, like the relentless advocate with an inexhaustible work ethic he is, immediately founded PolicyWorks America. He also happens to be my dad.
This show is a real privilege to bring to you because I not only have nothing but the best things to say about this man as my father, but I’m an admirer of his professional career as well. It’s been an unusual road to navigate as I...
2017-09-1300 minJon of All TradesEp. 129: Jason “Bird” Calloway – Three-Year Anniversary Pt. 3Jon of All Trades is celebrating its 3-Year Anniversary by re-visiting our first 3 guests and seeing how their lives have changed since this show launched!
Our final installment of the 3-Year Anniversary features Jason “Bird” Calloway, who first appeared on Episode 3 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast. I’ve written at length about my affection for Rooster & Moon, but the key post is this tribute I wrote shortly before it closed in September of 2016. So, like with my other two anniversary episodes, I spend time in this edition digging into endings, rather than beginnings, which is usuall...
2017-03-1538 minJon of All TradesEp. 126: Jon Eks Solo – Westword Best of Denver 2017This week it’s just me once again, and I go completely unfiltered. In a profanity-filled and expletive-laden 30+ minutes, I make the case not only for why you should vote for me in the Westword Readers’ Choice 2017 Best of Denver Awards, but why you should listen to my show at all.
Why does this episode include so much profanity? I recorded it after my youngest daughter was up from 12:45-4:15 the previous night and in the midst of dealing with it the following day by drinking. So, needless to say, my defenses are down and I have neit...
2017-03-0800 minJon of All TradesEp. 121: Nick Gossert – Creator, Booker and Referee at Lucha Libre & LaughsNick Gossert, the creator, booker, and referee at Lucha Libre & Laughs is the guest on Ep. 121 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting January 18, 2017.
Nick Gossert is the creator, booker and head referee for Lucha Libre & Laughs. If you’re a fan of both Mexican style lucha libre wrestling and stand-up comedy, this is the show for you. Winner of two prestigious Westword Best of Denver Awards for Best Comedy Night – here’s the writeup for their 2016 award – you’ll find hilarious color commentary from the inimitable Sam Tallent and former Jon of All Trades gue...
2017-01-181h 03Jon of All TradesEp. 116: Jim O’Heir – Actor, Parks and Recreation, Middle ManJim O’Heir, best known as Jerry Gergich from Parks and Recreation, and starring in the indie comedy Middle Man, is the guest on Ep. 116 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast from the Denver Film Festival 2016, debuting November 23, 2016.
Jim O’Heir brought life to Jerry Gergich on Parks and Recreation which ran for 7 seasons and 125 episodes. Since Parks and Recreation is one of my all-time favorite things in the history of the universe, the opportunity to sit down with Jim O’Heir for an hour was an enormous thrill.
Just like Jerry, Jim is...
2016-11-2358 minJon of All TradesEp. 115: Lalo Molina and Gregg Barbanell – Director and Subject of Actors of Sound
Gregg Barbanell (left), and Lalo Molina and the subject and director of Actors of Sound, a documentary about the art of foley effects, live from the Denver Film Festival. They’re the guests on Ep. 115 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, debuting November 17, 2016.
If you’ve ever watched a movie, a television show, or played a video game, you’ve consumed the art of foley. You may not have appreciated it, but you experienced it nevertheless.
Actors of Sound is a documentary about the art of foley. What is that? From footsteps to bone cracks, Foley artist...
2016-11-1751 minJon of All TradesSpecial Ep: Jon Eks Solo – ParentingIt’s been awhile since I’ve forced myself to talk into a mic and talk stream-of-consciousness for half an hour, so let’s do that.
I went into this week’s episode with only one pre-determined question I wanted to address. It’s a question I get frequently both from parents and norms alike – “Is it harder going from zero children to one; or from one child to two?” And in my own circuitous, free-flowing way, I answer just that. And since there was a microphone in front of me, no one else around (a real rarity these day...
2016-09-1400 minJon of All TradesEp. 100: Jon Ekstrom – Host and Creator of the Jon of All Trades PodcastJon Ekstrom is the host and creator of the Jon of All Trades Podcast. He’s also this week’s guest, as he enlists former guest Simon Lomax, to turn the tables on him and answer questions about himself. Simon was a guest two years ago (Episode 18) and talked about his career as a journalist, an advocate, and shared his story about immigrating to this country and becoming a full citizen. He’s agreed to dust off his interview skills and ask Jon about his life, the origins of this podcast, what he does when he’s not working on the p...
2016-07-0600 minJon of All TradesEp. 88: Jes Ward – Executive Director of cityWILD
Jes Ward, Executive Director of cityWILD is the guest on Ep. 88 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, March 23, 2016.
Jes Ward is Executive Director of cityWILD, whose mission is to engage youth in experiential learning opportunities that boldly address issues of inequity in education, economic opportunity, and access to the outdoors. cityWILD motivates participants to reach their potential at school, at home and in their communities – and they succeed!
On this week’s show, Jes shares with Jon the challenges of running a successful, scrappy nonprofit. She talks about how the concept “clean money” in terms of corporate...
2016-03-231h 03Jon of All TradesSpecial Ep: Jon Eks Solo – 2015 Wrap-UpWhere the hell have I been?
That’s an important question, and one I answer in this week’s special episode, which, incidentally, is the last one of 2015. It’s amazing how quickly things can unravel when you’re producing a weekly show when you have a few scheduling snafus with guests, you end up traveling, the plague takes over your house and renders everyone incapacitated with the stomach flu, and, oh yeah, we’re in the thick of holiday season.
So we delve into where we stand with the show on this week’s solo adventu...
2015-12-0700 minJon of All TradesEp. 83: Zoe Bell and Josh Waller – Star and Director of CaminoThis interview is part of our coverage of the 38th Denver Film Festival. We are proud to bring you five different interviews in five days. Check out the Denver Film Festival category on the Jon of All Trades homepage for all the interviews.
Zoe Bell and Josh Waller are the star and director (respectively) of Camino, set for release in early 2016. I sat down with both of them at the Denver Film Festival, and we chatted about the film, how the process of filming in the Hawaiian jungle differs from filming on a soundstage, how Zoe and...
2015-11-1800 minJon of All TradesEp. 66: Chuck Fryberger – Action Sports FilmmakerChuck Fryberger is a man of many passions. He’s a climber, a filmmaker, a creative professional and an entrepreneur (he’s the head honcho of Sparkshop). He’s also this week’s guest on the Jon of All Trades Podcast.
On this week’s show Chuck talks with Jon about how a hobby of filming his friends on climbing trips evolved into a full-time career making feature length action sports movies and working with commercial clients on all manner of creative projects. He also gives Jon a short lesson in climbing 101, recounts some of the many places all...
2015-07-2900 minJon of All TradesSpecial Ep: Jon Eks Solo – Severance Is Over!When you get laid off, if you’re lucky, you get a severance payment. When I got laid off three months ago, I got just such a payment worth three months of my salary. That was April 7. I am now out of my severance payment period, and it thought it apropos to check in with myself (and you) to see how it’s going. So this episode features me, and me alone (an exercise I was not excited about undertaking).
As I approached this episode, I wanted it to be unvarnished, so I made the deliberate decision to d...
2015-07-1500 minJon of All TradesEp. 56: The Laid Off Special with Neil and Kyle!
Ep. 56 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast is the Laid Off Special with Kyle and Neil
What’s it like to be laid off? I now know. I was laid off last week. As I thought about it, I wondered if others’ experiences were the same. So why not ask? I put the word out through my social networks and wondered if anyone would be willing to share their layoff story with me. Lo and behold, I got two takers.
This is the Jon of All Trades Laid Off Special!
On the left of that...
2015-04-1559 minJon of All TradesEp. 51: Jesse Crock – Fine Artist
Jesse Crock Art is the guest on Episode 51 of the Jon of All Trades Podcast.
You can find Jesse Crock’s art, fittingly, at Jesse Crock Art.com. You can also find him on this week’s episode of the Jon of All Trades Podcast, where he gives Jon insight into the world of a practicing artist. Jesse provides an interesting look at the journey his art takes from beginning inside of him, getting applied to the canvas, finding its way to one of a multitude of places where it’s available for purchase, and then eventually into the posses...
2015-03-1159 minJon of All TradesEp. 48: Ryan Nee – World Traveler, Blogger (Part 2)Ryan Nee returns for part 2 of his conversation with Jon of All Trades, and this week’s episode picks up right where the previous one left off. Ryan shares a story about visiting his brother Bill in Chile, and describes an impromptu adventure visiting an active volcano, and then sledding back downhill for several miles, that gave him the travel bug.
From there, we delve into Ryan’s year-long solo adventure through Asia and Europe, and spend a great deal of time talking about what might be Ryan’s most unusual (at least by Western standards) travel… his trip...
2015-02-1800 minJon of All TradesEp. 47: Ryan Nee – World Traveler (Part 1)Ryan Nee world traveler, has been to 58 countries, which gives him a lot of interesting experiences to draw from. That’s why when he sat down with Jon of All Trades, we had to break this episode into two parts. This week’s episode largely focuses on Ryan’s recent journey to Cuba, where travel by U.S. citizens has been limited. Ryan recounts the strange way he had to book his travel there while in Mexico, gives a harrowing description of what it’s like to get robbed at knifepoint, tells an amusing anecdote about jaunting through the Havana b...
2015-02-1100 minJon of All TradesEp. 46: Deirdre Wildman – HospitalitarianDeirdre Wildman is a hospitalitarian at Four Five One Events. She is “someone who supports, advocates and practices the hospitality doctrine through philanthropy, culinary arts and event sciences.” And on this week’s show, she not only gives us a peek into her always-on mind by walking Jon through a hypothetical event consultation (Ed note: I did not speed up the tape here, Deirdre is just that dialed in to what she does.), she takes us on a walk through various points of her life where she acquired many of the skills she uses everyday. She talks about being fearle...
2015-02-0400 minJon of All TradesSpecial Ep. – 2014 Wrap-UpIn this very special edition 2014 Wrap-Up of Jon of All Trades, you get a very intimate session with Jon Eks. I talk about favorite thing about doing the podcast, my least favorite thing about it (and there is one element that I very intensely dislike about doing this podcast), answer viewer mail and much more. I also digress constantly as this is a unique look into the way my mind works without editing. I tend to focus much better when I have someone across from me, so this is likely the only time you’ll get to see my cr...
2015-01-0100 minJon of All TradesEp. 41: Jeff Bontrager – Founder of NeckitectureJeff Bontrager is the founder and creative force behind Neckitecture, an online shop featuring one-of-a-kind, custom neckties. Jeff talks about why he created Neckitecture, the inspiration for the name, and why in the increasingly-casual working world, he has a passion for neckties. Jeff also shares his vision for what the future of neckties holds (perhaps edible material?), how he would like to grow this side business, and what it’s like creating something from scratch.
You can listen to the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, and the Jon of All Trades homepage as Jeff and Jon have an ea...
2014-12-1700 minJon of All TradesEp. 9: Zach Knaus – Campaigner, Social Media Expert, and Owner of 4Degre.es
Zach Knaus with Jon outside his office in Denver
Zach Knaus is founder of 4Degre.es, a full service online communications firm, delivering results with precision messaging, and also the founding sponsor of Jon of All Trades. Having spent more than 10 years working in campaigns, as Director of Communications for the Senate Majority in the Colorado State Capitol, and as an account manager at MGA Communications along with Jon, Zach has a bounty of political stories to tell. He also provides lessons learned in starting his own firm and offers surprising insight into some of the challenges associated with...
2014-04-3049 minJon of All TradesEp. 4: Rogue Edwards – Entrepreneur and Founder of Rogue’s Bolder Beans
Rogue Edwards is the founder of Rogue’s Bolder Beans, a pickled vegetable company founded right here in Colorado. Rogue and Jon go back a long way, and you can tell because Rogue calls him “Jonathan” throughout the episode. In this podcast, Rogue and Jon talk about Rogue’s entrepreneurial background beginning with Rogue slinging t-shirts at concerts in Los Angeles. After a very successful career spanning from self-started ventures to corporate America, Rogue launched Rogue’s Bolder Beans after blowing away his friends with a dynamite Christmas gift several years ago. He offers insights about starting your own venture an...
2014-03-2652 min