Working Class Creatives

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Part 2 of our interview with actor, author, podcaster, and all around bard Alyson Grauer. You can listen to part 1 of her interview here. Links Explore Warda at www.welcometowarda.com and check out the podcast at bit.ly/WardaPodcast. Personal website: http://www.dreamstobecome.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/WhimsyArtifice Episode Notes Understanding the fundamentals of story structure is vital to good RPG gamemastering. This can be learned through examination of the media we consume. Roleplaying games offer some of the purest immersive potential. This can help creatives learn to imbue their work with the same sort of quality. Tabletop roleplaying has really expanded the diversity of its core audience Warda is Drew and Alyson's current big project. It grew out of an impromptu worldbuilding conversation held while waiting in line for Disney World's Haunted Mansion. Alyson was reluctant at first but the conversation grew and blossomed and turned into the

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Alyson Grauer is an author, actor, podcaster, and ukulele bard who has been based out of Chicago for the last decade or so, but is soon to relocate to Orlando, Florida. Her novel, “On The Isle of Sound and Wonder” was released in 2014, she has several published short stories, and has written pieces for a handful of RPGs and online publications over the years. She is an audiobook narrator, blogger, amateur photographer, and dreamer of big dreams. Her current project is an original fantasy world-turned-live stream-turned-actual play podcast, Warda: an Edwardian fantasy world of fey races, social intrigue, and class struggles. Warda is co-created between Alyson and her husband, GM/writer/actor Drew Mierzejewski. Links Explore Warda at www.welcometowarda.com and check out the podcast at bit.ly/WardaPodcast. Personal website: http://www.dreamstobecome.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/WhimsyArtifice Episode Notes I reviewed Alyson's novel On the Isle of Soun

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Part 2 of our interview with Jon and Jef, the hosts of System Mastery. Listen to Part 1. System Mastery Podcast System Mastery on Patreon @systemmastery /r/systemmastery Notes When picking games to evaluate, Jef and Jon look for unique games with something fresh to discuss, regardless of actual quality. Strange is better than 'good' or 'bad.' Ambitious moves whether or not they work. Disconnects in thought between intention and implementation gives them a lot to talk about. One of Jef's favorites is when designers inject a lot of their own personal opinions inappropriately. Kevin Siembieda, creator of Rifts, is a sweet dude and fun to talk to. Jon has so many opinions on Herbert Hoover. Their next patreon goal will move Expounded Universe to a weekly show. Jon and Jef have been working with the author of Strike! to develop the Blimpleggers rpg. They are working with James D'Amato on a game where you build the rules as you go. They'd also like to grow the house b

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Jef and Jon are the hosts of System Mastery, a podcast dedicated to exploring the silly and sordid history of roleplaying games through the ages. In each episode, they pick a new strange old RPG to read, discuss, and more often than not, make fun of. Over the four years they've been doing this, they've branched out into movies, skits, live action roleplay, and most recently, making fun of Star Wars. Note: This is part 1 of a two part episode. Listen to part 2. System Mastery Podcast System Mastery on Patreon @systemmastery /r/systemmastery Notes System Mastery started when Jef approached Jon with the idea of doing a game review podcast in August of 2013. He was inspired by the movie review podcasts at the time. Jon had been considering doing youtube videos at the time. A lot of System Mastery's format choices come from a mixture of podcasts and YouTube inspirations. Both Jon and Jef consider themselves natural entertainers. Jon had previously tried to make it as

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS John McClain is the owner and lead sound designer for The Dog and Pony Show, a boutique audio house in Las Vegas, Nevada. They specialize in creative audio for all media but tend to work heavily in sound design, composition and mixing for long form and indie film. He was the recording engineer on George Carlin's "More Napalm and Silly Putty" which won a Grammy in 2001 and they've recently been nominated for a regional Emmy for a TV series they mix called Outdoor Nevada. Links: jmacvo.com www.dogandponystudios.net Show Notes: John started as a post audio engineer in the 1980s in Detroit working on car commercials He's been working in Las Vegas for the last 20 years for clients including MGM resorts. More and more of John's time is spent networking and chasing leads as competition in his industry increases. The key to building a client base is to find common ground and establish a relationship. He performs as the lead in Paul Sating's first season of Subject: Found

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Gordon Dymowski is a New Pulp writer whose work is published by Pro Se Productions, Airship 27 Productions, and Space Buggy Press. He's also a blogger for Chicago Now and I Hear of Sherlock, and runs the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup. Links Amazon Page Gordon Dymowski's Personal Page Follow Gordon on Facebook Pulpternative Hollywood Mystery The Crimson Badge at Last Ember Press Notes Gordon is a New Pulp writer. He has been featured in Legends of New Pulp, Tall Pulp, and Black Bat Mystery vol. 3 Pulp is turn of the century writing by authors such as Burroughs, Lovecraft, Howard, etc It's simple, direct, straightforward prose. New Pulp approaches the same style but avoids problematic tropes Media companies are hungry for intellectual properties suitable for tent-pole projects Moving to longer works has allowed Gordon to grow as a writer. Pulp forces the author to write efficiently. Gordon does a lot of freelance copywriting and blogging, forcing him to keep to a reg

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Robert Cudmore is a radio lecturer who specialises in audio drama. Formerly one half of the Audio Drama Production Podcast team with Matthew McLean, they recently handed the reins over to Fiona Thraille and Sarah Golding. He's starred in several Audio Dramas including Edict Zero, Hadron Gospel Hour, The Shadow of Lavenhan, and The Fiona Potts Interview. He's also the main character, podcaster Lee Powers, in `A Scottish Podcast.` Links Audiodrama Production Podcast A Scottish Podcast Show Notes For the first few years he was writing and acting, but for the last few years he's been mostly acting. Acting is easier, but he missing the writing Robert has a degree in radio, which helps him with the production side. His day job is that of a lecturer. He co-wrote Aftermath with former guest Matthew McLean inspired by their mutual love of the game Fallout 3 and the audiodrama We're Alive There's nothing wrong with fanfiction, but it's not conducive to the growth of the me

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS James D'Amato is the host of the ONE SHOT Podcast, co-founder of the ONE SHOT Network, and half of Paracosm press. Links: One Shot Podcast One Shot's Youtube Twitch One Shot Network's Patreon The Dungeon Dome Kickstarter Show Notes: James views his creative work as using tabletop roleplaying as a storytelling medium. It's harder to build an audience than it was 5 years ago, but the podcasting buy-in is lower. Marketing is one of the primary challenges. James learned about and fell in love with RPGs in college. James practiced stand-up comedy in high-school. Other comedians just seemed like sad tired old men, and that didn't look like it led to a good place. He took an improv class and saw that the instructors didn't seem unhappy. He moved to Chicago to improve improv, and was introduced to Earwolf's "Improv for Humans." He and his friend Alex decided to create a show of their own Podcasting doesn't require passing through a rigid system to book gigs, and allowed

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Natalie Santiago is a professional henna artist and Phd. candidate interested in the rhetoric of body art. Links Bodhi Tree Mendi Bodhi Tree Mendi on Facebook Show Notes Henna (or Mendi) is a natural dye made of Henna Leaf mixed up with water or lemon juice, essential oils, and sugar, and applied via cones to create intricate patterns on various parts of the body. Different skin complexions take henna applications to different degrees. Some people don't take them at all. Patterns must be adapted to suite the individual's body contours. Henna art involves a great deal of research and large communities of practitioners. Professional artists mix their own pastes, and this is what separates them from the hobbyists. Pattern books are sold and patterns can be replicated to internalize the nature of the art, but Natalie prefers to design her own, and has numerous sketchbooks full of potential patterns. She will do henna at street fests for up to 10 hours a day. Henna ar

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Lainie Petersen is the bishop of a small, independent church and a full-time freelance writer and podcaster. She is a founding member of Hard Lens Media, a new media group based in the Chicago area.  Links www.lainiepetersen.com www.necessarystrivings.com www.hardlensmedia.com Show Notes Lainie was one of the first guests I considered when conceptualizing the podcast. She's day job is as a web content development freelancer, largely blogging and news aggregation. This day job allows her to pursue activities with her church and with Hard Lens media. She just started a blog called Necessary Strivings. Freelancers need to treat their day job as a business to develop skills and command higher rates. Lainie has been building her freelancing career since 2010. Creative professionals must accept their situations to get out of their predicaments. Your day job, if managed correctly, can be your liberation. You have skills that someone is willing to pay you for, and this is

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Joe Griffin’s work as a recording engineer, sound designer, and composer over the past 25 years encompasses a wide variety of media, including theatre, film, music, and advertising. He’s one of the founders of Toxic Bag Productions, which in 1996 pioneered the field of sound effects specifically designed for use in tabletop roleplaying. Links Griffin Sound Design Toxic Bag Productions The Toxic Bag Podcast @griffinsound on Twitter Donny Who Loved Bowling on Bandcamp Show Notes Joe's company Toxic Bag has been producing audio products for use with tabletop roleplaying games since the 90s. It grew out of their desire to add an audio element to their home Call of Cthulhu campaigns. Initially they intended to produce audio-enhanced scenarios, but chaosium didn't have the budget for it. They stripped away the scripting and actors and focused on sound effects. They put together their first CD, the 20th century, in 1996. They would sell these physical CDs at GenCon. Ba

Simon Whistler is a YouTuber who hosts 2 popular YouTube channels. He makes content that aims to both educate and inform on TodayIFoundOut and TopTenzNet. He also recently launched a third channel which focuses on global politics. Further, he also hosts a bi-weekly podcast where he interviews leading indie authors about their journey to success.  Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Links http://simonwhistler.com/ Follow @simonwhistler on Twitter TodayIFoundOut TopTenz The Rocking Self Publishing Podcast   Show Notes I had a co-host for this episode, in the form of the woodchipper outside my apartment. It makes periodic appearances throughout the interview. I've been on Simon's Rocking Self Publishing Podcast twice, episodes 37 and 154. He juggles multiple content-heavy projects by prioritizing his time carefully. After 150 or so RSP episodes he felt it was slowing down, and moved to a biweekly schedule. His youtube channels were picking up, so he focused on them, and produces 14 episodes a week. B

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Paul Sating is the creative force behind no-less than 4 audio dramas, including Subject: Found, Diary of a Madman, Atheist Apocalypse and a new one on the horizon, Family Portrait. An aspiring writer since he was 8 years old, Paul has a number of short stories he's self-published and he's also putting the finishing touches on his first novel. Links http://www.paulsating.com/ Subject: Found Diary of a Madman Atheist Apocalypse Support Paul on Patreon Follow @paulsating on Twitter Show Notes One of the auidodrama's draws is the creative collaboration and supportive community. Paul started out without knowing anything, and hearing problems from his time in the military. The barrier for entry in audiodrama is very low with the tools and support available. Subject: Found was born from Paul's interest in American Horror Story's structure, which helps it stay fresh in with his tendency to get bored with long-term projects. Bigfoot happens to be the story's hook, but it

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Bill Bullock is a comedian. He is a comedian based in Chicago. That's pretty much what you need to know about him, right?  Links http://billbullockisacomedian.com/ Follow @BillRBullock on Twitter Show Notes Bill compares the situation with his last day job to the movie Office Space. After finding an agent, he came to the understanding that he didn't care about the job, and that brought him a degree of serenity. He acquired an voice acting agent with NV Talent after a booking at the Laugh Factory; she was impressed with his performance and offered to represent him. He had contacted them seeking representation in the past, but did not get any response. He's further certain that they were not in the club looking for him specifically. You have to be ready for those opportunities as they arise. It's important to stay healthy; it's easy to fall into bad habits and neglect self-care. The creative community is rife with un-diagnosed mental health issues; everyone can ben

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS C.J. Julianus is a veteran actor, speaker, and theatre director, a tireless champion and performer's advocate dripping with altruism and self-deprecation. Show Notes I've personally worked with CJ on multiple projects, and have learned a lot from the experience. Give a listen, and you will too. Like this episode? Subscribe, rate, and review it on iTunes. If you appreciate what we're doing, please consider supporting us through the Patreon.  

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Leslie Kung was born in the 80’s, a child of immigrants. She survived speech delay as a child, Sensory Integration Disorder, the Chicago public school system, growing up Asian in America, the upheaval and reinvention of college (earning a dual bachelor’s of English and Philosophy), the traumatic birth of her first child, domestic violence and PTSD. She writes a variety of fiction, all enriched with cultural, social and experiential depth drawn from lived experience. She resides in Iowa with three small humans, two leopard geckos, and a mysteriously self sustaining tank of guppies. Links Leslie's Patreon Read her works in progress, support her here Click Here to go to the first chapter of her serial Follow Leslie Kung on Facebook Show Notes Author Leslie Kung shares with us her story as an author and single mother trying to make it as a creative professional. You'll have to forgive me if the audio is a little wonky; there was a little bit of lag on the call, but

Subscribe via: iTunes | Google Play | RSS Ruth Kaufman is the Amazon bestselling author of the Wars of the Roses Brides trilogy (At His Command, Follow Your Heart and The Bride Tournament) and My Once and Future Love. Accolades include 2016 Booksellers Best Award Best Historical and Best First Book winner and Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award winner. An actor, storyteller and speaker with an M.S. and J.D, Ruth's credits include independent feature films, web series, pilots, national TV commercials and hundreds of voice-over projects. Links  www.ruthtalks.com www.ruthkaufman.com http://rjkaufman.blogspot.com/ Show Notes We launch Working Class Creatives with an interview of author and actor Ruth Kaufman. I've had the pleasure of working with Ruth on several audiodrama projects, including the production of Synesthesia Theatre's Cold Reboot, where she put her excellent vocal skills to work recording the majority of artificial intelligence-delivered lines. It was a joy to have her as my f