Bad Idea Social Club

Jason Ley (writer, author) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about healing through creativite expression, overcoming his abusive relationship with alcohol, and finding courage, strength, and forgiveness in putting pen to paper. Sometimes a laugh is the mask. And sometimes it’s the only real thing in the room. Keep up with Jason Ley: jasonley.com IG: @jasonley Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Marcus Assenmacher (musician, songwriter, producer, Twin Phase , SayHeySounds ) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about the magic and the broken business of making music, creative obsession, and the blurry line between making art and living life. Kinda funny how the thing you love most can make you forget why you loved it in the first place. But not haha funny. Keep up with Marcus Assenmacher: IG: @marcxxlee IG: @twinphasemusic IG: @sayheysounds Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Tanya Avoundjian (creative director, designer, Stout Collective ) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about wearing her Armenian-American identity and what it shaped in her, getting her hands dirty as a creative director who doesn’t fit the Don Draper mold, and the “what if” as a creative philosophy. She started by illustrating forum avatars for fake gold and look at her now. Keep up with Tanya Avoundjian: IG: @t.basmadjian Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Riley Dompierre (photographer, sewist, creative nomad) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about keeping creativity wild and untamed, the idealism and reality of living in a commune, and the relationship between creativity and humanity. Five foot two and completely unafraid. Keep up with Riley Dompierre: IG: @thimbleandgruff Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

David Martinez (drummer, Tidals , Second Body ) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they talk about rediscovering drumming after a decade, changing relationships with people, alcohol, and creativity, and not letting anybody or anything else define you. Dave and Aaron are old friends and bandmates from ~20 years ago; their music was loud and fast and their jeans were so tight. So. Tight. Keep up with David Martinez: IG: @davidmcmartinez IG: @tidalband IG: @second.body.band Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Abbie Lemke (comedian, writer, Off Air) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about living with and masking an invisible disability, comedy as survival, writing a TV show with little to no resources, and not changing who you are for anybody. She’s been on stage over 1,000 times and she’s just getting started. Keep up with Abbie Lemke: abbielemke.com IG: @abbielemkellc IG: @offairtheshow Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Kayla Turpin (film photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about living and capturing the real, messy, unposed moments, the hunger for internal and external validation, and weighing authenticity against posturing. Wind in the hair, tears on the lens, Kayla opens up about all of it. Keep up with Kayla Turpin: kaylaturpin.com IG: @kaylaturpinphoto Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Leigh Ann Cobb: Awkward Art Kid" from Season 4. Leigh Ann Cobb (photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss going from an awkward art kid to an awkward art grown-up, what it takes to keep her sense of self and identity in check, and the relationship between Leigh Ann and the camera, the camera and her subjects, and more importantly, Leigh Ann and her subjects. Keep up with Leigh Ann Cobb: leighanncobb.com IG: @leigh.ann.cobb.photo Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Courtney Lauer: The Hurry and The Harm" from Season 6. Courtney Lauer (graphic designer, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall and talks about survival, control, and the strength it takes to turn pain into something honest. She opens up about surviving and processing trauma, rebuilding identity through creativity, and using art to make sense of the things that don’t have easy answers. Keep up with Courtney Lauer: courtneylauer.me IG: @courtneylauer Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Khalid Ibrahim: In Love & Focus" from Season 2. Khalid Ibrahim (photographer, Eat Pomegranate ) opens up with Aaron McCall about connecting with his subjects, balancing his creativity with his life as an epidemiologist, and how his experiences growing up in both Pakistan and the United States have influenced his relationship with his camera. Keep up with Khalid Ibrahim: eatpomegranate.com IG: @eatpomegranate Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Alyssa Pacheco: Mirror Mirror" from Season 4. Alyssa Pacheco (poet, author, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the deeply personal nature of her work. Alyssa opens up about the influence of her family dynamics, the vulnerability in her words, and how her lived experiences serve as a form of discovery, expression, and a vehicle for creativity. Keep up with Alyssa Pacheco: apachecopublishings.com IG: @lyss_poetry Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Scott Millington: Real AF" from Season 5. Scott Millington (photographer) has always had an eye for real-life moments and in photography, he found the language to document them. Scott sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about how the camera gave him purpose, community, and a way to show the world as he sees it. From indie wrestling shows to coffee shops and protests, Scott shares what it means to document real life, connect with people, and stay grounded in your perspective. Remembering Scott Millington: IG: @sapmillington Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Rae Lang: Outsider" from Season 5. Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop outrunning yourself. Keep up with Rae Lang: spreadingthewoosah.com IG: @woosahoutfitters Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Trash Hadley: To Be Fuckable" from Season 3. Trish Hadley (boudoir photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the mutual vulnerability and trust in boudoir photography, the varied motivations of her subjects to be photographed, and the ability to pivot when your path feels wrong. Keep up with Trish Hadley: trishhadleyboudoir.com IG: @trish.hadley.studios Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Marcel Fable Price: The Poet and The Price" from Season 5. Poet, storyteller, and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Marcel Fable Price joins Aaron McCall for a raw and deeply honest conversation about creativity, mental health, and the weight of grief. He opens up about loss, the complexity of love and regret, and how storytelling became both a survival tool and a calling. From founding a multimillion-dollar nonprofit to stepping into the deeply personal role of a death doula, Fable shares what it means to hold space for loss, transformation, and truth. Keep up with Marcel Fable Price: marcelfableprice.com IG: @marcelfableprice Blog: marcelfableprice.com/thisjustin And get his book New American Monarch here . Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

In the conclusion of the season 7 finale, Anna van Schaap (fine artist, tattoo artist, curator) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about building a creative life that refuses to be small. She gets into finding her voice and claiming her space out of passion and defiance, and carving out something different for women and queer folks in an industry with a history of the opposite. They talk about art history, women in art created by women in art, and the cost of going all in on something you were told wasn't for you. It's about volition, visibility, and holding hope and tragedy at the same time. Keep up with Anna van Schaap: annavanschaap.com IG: @theother_twistedsister IG: @theother_twistedsister_tattoos IG: @theother_twistedsister_photos Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

To kick-off the two-part season 7 finale, Anna van Schaap (fine artist, tattoo artist, curator) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about building a creative life that refuses to be small. She gets into finding her voice and claiming her space out of passion and defiance, and carving out something different for women and queer folks in an industry with a history of the opposite. They talk about art history, women in art created by women in art, and the cost of going all in on something you were told wasn't for you. It's about volition, visibility, and holding hope and tragedy at the same time. Keep up with Anna van Schaap: annavanschaap.com IG: @theother_twistedsister IG: @theother_twistedsister_tattoos IG: @theother_twistedsister_photos Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Sara Pulver (illustrator, muralist, Dear Ollie) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about knowing who you are and building something around it. She gets into a lifelong love of tactile, handmade things that eventually turned into markets, a grant, and a stationery shop where she hosts her own work alongside over a hundred vendors with a focus on women and queer creators. They talk about tackling murals, life as a neurodivergent artist, and why the AI crunch might be the best argument yet for going analog. About finding your people, protecting your whimsy, and keeping the whole thing moving. Keep up with Sara Pulver: sarapulver.com IG: @sarapulver dearollie.com IG: @dearollieandco Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Luke Grill (chef, restaurateur, sommelier, 1983 Restaurants) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about what it means to build something people can feel. He gets into cutting his teeth in some of the most demanding kitchens in the country, how dangerous it is to follow the crowd, and why holding his convictions is non-negotiable. They talk about the tension between art and business, building spaces that satisfy more than just hunger, and why the details nobody notices are exactly the ones that matter most. Keep up with Luke Grill: 1983restaurants.com IG: 1983restaurants IG: @obstacleno1 IG: @seventysixholland IG: @publiczeeland IG: @lovejoyholland Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub

Mark Stein (artist, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to talk about what it takes to go all in on your work and the cost of pushing too hard. He gets into growing up on cartoons, punk and skate culture, the wake-up calls that changed everything, and why being a lone wolf will only get you so far. They talk about finding creative community, imposter syndrome, getting out from behind your desk, and why if it’s not hard, you’re probably not trying hard enough. This is a conversation about the slow build, the kind that takes until your late 30s to really catch fire, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to keep it burning. Keep up with Mark Stein: steinbydesign.com⁠ IG: ⁠@steinbydesign Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Monthly lecture series. Everyone's creative and everyone's welcome. Find your local chapter. Merchants & Makers West Michigan artists, makers, and small businesses. Shop local with food trucks and live music. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids Merchants & Makers —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co IG: @joe_dustin —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com IG: @badideasocialclub