In this week’s episode, Laura and Nikki interview artist, illustrator, musician, self-proclaimed mad scientist and D&D geek, Tyler Thrasher.

Tyler has an undying love for nature and its respective curiosities, and there are few things Tyler's brain isn't obsessing over. Between his pursuits to crystallize the world, opalize everything and hunt down some of the most unique plants, his passion to combine art and science every step of the way is his fire and fuel. He applies his brand of hopeful, angry optimism to everything he does.

As you'll hear during this interview, Tyler has the ability to take his curiosities and quickly turn them into amazing products... from crystalized cicadas to plant-growing journals, custom art t-shirts and even plushies! He sees what's missing in the marketplace, courageously takes action, and puts his work out in the world for all of us to enjoy.

We know you'll love our conversation with him and be inspired to see where your own curiosities will lead you!

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Tyler's Startist story 
• How he began combining his interest in art and science and developed his unique crystallized insects
• What happened to Tyler's Instagram after requesting an art trade with an illustrator he loves
• Being spontaneous vs. planning things out
• Using Kickstarter and pre-sales to fund products
• Working with DFTBA for fulfillment, shipping and creating new products
• Making, selling and shipping t-shirts to raise money for The Bail Project and other black causes
• What Tyler's online community did when his house burned down
• How people react on social media when you focus on one thing vs following many different passions
• The process of designing his cicada plushie and the ridiculous number he sold in one week!
• Asking for what you want to grow your career
• Getting real about his anxiety and insecurity and how he doesn’t let that stop him from following through with his ideas… which led to his existential discussion with his cicada!
• Tyler shares a few product ideas he’s working on, including a whole bunch of plushies, his plans for a bigger lab and conservatory in partnership with a nanotech scientist in Tulsa.
• And caves, Tyler loves caves!
• Tyler shares his obsession with sour candy and Nikki gives him a brilliant idea for a new product!
• And finally, Tyler shares his best advice for people who are just getting started.

Read the transcript and find links to all mentioned resources in the

STARTIST SOCIETY SHOW NOTES: startistsociety.com/tylerthrasher

JOIN THE STARTIST SOCIETY FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/startistsociety/

FOLLOW STARTIST SOCIETY ON INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/startistsociety/

LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? BUY US A COFFEE BOURBON: buymeacoffee.com/startistsociety/