Explore the mysteries of creativity with Jon Tilton as he interviews a variety of artists, from writers and painters to musicians and filmmakers.
... moreShare Cause of Craft: Why We Create
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
By Jon Tilton
Explore the mysteries of creativity with Jon Tilton as he interviews a variety of artists, from writers and painters to musicians and filmmakers.
... more5
1212 ratings
The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.
Have you ever wanted to create something but felt intimidated by trying a new craft? On this week’s episode I talk with Melissa Schwenk who has dabbled in a variety of creative endeavors. She describes herself as a non-professional crafter, and she’s explored everything from pottery to gardening. We discuss the interconnectedness of creative activities, advice for trying new things, and how we can all make the world a more beautiful place with the right mindset.
Topics Covered:
Links:
Melissa’s Instagram: @melissa.tries.things
We often wish we could make things with a simple snap of our fingers—but it takes a lot of work to create and improve our craft. Mixed Media Artist Amanda Spence joins the show to discuss her journey. She shares how consistent practice and reflection helped her grow as an artist.
Topics Covered:
Links:
Brittney Jackson creates beautiful character illustrations—both original ones and others that you’ll recognize from your favorite franchises (from the office to Star Wars). We discuss fan art, traveling to conventions, why nature inspires, and how we can tackle new challenges, even when they’re intimidating.
Topics Covered:
Links:
www.jontilton.com
Read Jon's short story "Doomed Dune" for FREE here.
This is a rebroadcast of Episode 23 with Miller Mark Fischer. New episodes will now release on a monthly basis, with Episode 45 premiering on July 4. Thanks so much for supporting the podcast!
Food production has changed drastically over the years, and not always for the better. But is there any hope for returning to the old ways of doing things?
This week’s guest, Miller Mark Fischer runs Castle Valley Mill — a stone ground mill where he uses machines that are hundreds of years old to produce quality flour, cornmeal, and more. By using age-old techniques on local grain, Castle Valley is able to produce a product that’s not only better for you, but tastes better too.
Mark shares how it all works in our conversation, and I’m excited to share this episode with you. I think it’s both incredibly interesting and incredibly important. These things not only impact our health, but also our local economies and the environment. So if you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing with a friend, because the more people who understand the value of how our food is made and where it comes from, the healthier we’ll all be in the future.
Topics Covered:
Links:
Castle Valley Mill Website and Store: www.castlevalleymill.com
Instagram: @cvmllc
Facebook: @CastleValleyMill
No Kneed Overnight Bread Recipe: No Kneed Bread
My guest this week is Artist Amy MacHale. Over the years she’s been involved in a variety of artistic endeavors, from graphic design to even creating a dress out of paper—but recently her focus has been in painting, both with oil and alcohol ink. She shares the unique process of creating art with moonshine, the joy of creating with other people, and raising awareness about epilepsy through her art.
Topics Covered:
Links:
My guest this week is Ashley Wellman, an author and owner of the aMUSEd gallery in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We talk about what goes into producing a quality book, finding a creative process that works for you, and, of course, the reason behind why she creates.
Topics Covered:
Links:
www.jontilton.com
My guest this week is Dan Taylor, a Classical Singer who has performed in a wide variety of groups, from Opera Philadelphia to The Crossing, a Grammy award-winning choral group. Together we cover a fun range of topics, from the intricacies of opera singing to tabletop gaming. We also discuss how challenging creative work can be, especially when that voice inside your head keeps reciting that endless stream of self-doubt. Dan shares his methods on combating those thoughts, including impostor syndrome.
Topics Covered:
Links:
www.jontilton.com
Listen to DOOMED DUNE for FREE: www.jontilton.com/signup
This week’s guest is Talon David. She’s been passionate about music for her entire life. She shares her story, from growing up in a musical home to winning the Grammy Foundation’s Teens Make Music Contest for her song Deep Snow, which became part of her debut album, Miscellaneous. Talon is also a VoiceOver artist and has recorded over thirty audiobooks, including my short story Doomed Dune, which you can listen to for free by subscribing to my newsletter at jontilton.com.
Topics Covered:
Links:
Here's a special bonus episode for you: a preview of my short story "Doomed Dune."
The full work is available for free to all newsletter subscribers, so if you’d like to hear more, head over to jontilton.com and sign up for my mailing list. I’ll send you an email with download links for both the ebook and audiobook.
I hope you enjoy Melina's story.
Subscribe to my newsletter: jontilton.com
Cover art by Megan McCullough: meganmccullough.com
Read by Talon David: talondavid.com
Some creatives concentrate on one goal and master a specific craft. But others like to explore the great variety life has to offer. This week’s guest is Brett Rounsaville—he’s done everything from writing screenplays and comic books to designing theme park attractions and creating startups. He shares with us how he chooses which project to pursue next, why chasing a goal is both satisfying and necessary, and what keeps him creating even on the days where it’s difficult.
Topics Covered:
Links:
Follow Jon on Instagram @jontilton and follow the show @causeofcraft.
www.jontilton.com
www.causeofcraft.com
The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.