Creative Moonlighting

The Creative Itch — Highlights with Chad Peters

What happens when you’ve already built a successful career and a full life, but another part of you still wants to create?

This special highlights edition of Creative Moonlighting pulls together some of our favorite moments from our conversation with Chad Peters — chiropractor, business owner, lifelong reader, and author of the historical novel The Lone Star Fair.

Chad talks about realizing he needed a creative outlet outside of his professional life, becoming a beginner again after decades in another field, and finding ways to write around work, family, and everything else competing for his time.

We also get into the unexpected question from his son that sent him down the historical rabbit hole behind The Lone Star Fair, the challenge of getting historical details right, learning the craft of writing through trial and error, editors, adverbs, revision, and the strange experience of losing hours inside a creative flow state.

But the biggest idea may be the simplest: you don’t have to abandon the life you’ve already built in order to start creating something new.

Start somewhere. Let it brew. Follow the curiosity. Get better by doing it. And eventually, put the thing out into the world.

This is a condensed collection of highlights from our full conversation with Chad. You can hear the complete episode of Creative Moonlighting in the feed.

Buy Chad Peters’ The Lone Star Fair on Amazon:

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Welcome to the Highlights Edition
00:39 — Discovering the Creative Itch
01:40 — What Does Success Actually Mean?
02:46 — The Question That Sparked The Lone Star Fair
04:15 — Finding Time to Create Around Work and Family
06:27 — Becoming a Beginner Again
08:16 — Research, Historical Accuracy & the Texas Hold’em Problem
09:59 — Just Start — and Let It Brew
11:26 — Finding Creative Flow
12:18 — “You Can Do Both”
12:53 — Editors, Adverbs & Learning the Craft
15:08 — Put It Out Into the World
16:03 — Redefining Creative Success
16:46 — Final Thoughts with Chad Peters

What happens when you’ve built a successful career, raised a family, and created a life you genuinely value, but there’s still another part of you asking to be used?

In this episode of Creative Moonlighting, Denise and Matthew sit down with longtime friend Dr. Chad Peters, a Corpus Christi chiropractor, business owner, lifelong reader, and now six-time author whose newest book, The Lone Star Fair, takes him into historical fiction for the first time.

⁠Buy Chad Peters’ The Lone Star Fair on Amazon

Chad’s writing life didn’t begin with a master plan. It began with the feeling that something was missing. Blogging became television appearances, nonfiction books became experiments in storytelling, and eventually a casual comment from his son while crossing the Nueces River sent Chad down a historical rabbit hole that would become The Lone Star Fair.

The novel is inspired by Henry Kinney and the wildly ambitious 1852 fair staged in Corpus Christi, but the conversation quickly becomes about much more than the book itself.

Chad talks about finding time to create while running a chiropractic practice and raising kids—sometimes writing in short bursts before work, sometimes dictating scenes into his phone while driving. He describes the strange freedom of becoming a beginner again after spending decades as an expert in another profession, and why trying things he isn’t already good at has become increasingly important to him.

The conversation also digs into the craft itself: seeing scenes visually rather than as words on a page, learning from writers like Stephen King and Louis L’Amour, deciding when to follow feedback and when to trust your own taste, researching tiny historical details, killing a perfectly good Texas Hold’em scene because the game didn’t exist yet, and discovering just how many adverbs can hide inside a manuscript.

They also wrestle with some bigger questions: Does creativity change when it becomes your job? Does every creative project need a conventional definition of success? How much should criticism shape the work? When should you cut something—and when does cutting too much remove the very thing that gives a piece its personality?

Ultimately, Chad keeps returning to one simple idea: start. Put something down. Let it brew. Follow the rabbit hole. Make room for the creative part of your life instead of waiting for the rest of your life to disappear first.

And maybe not every seed has to become a giant oak tree.

Buy Chad Peters’ The Lone Star Fair on Amazon

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introducing Chad Peters
00:53 — Twenty years of friendship & where the creative itch began
04:39 — From blogging and TV to writing six books
10:10 — What does creative “success” actually mean?
14:14 — The accidental beginning of The Lone Star Fair
16:34 — Writing around a career, business & family
20:42 — Reading, influences & learning to see writing as craft
22:30 — Does Chad see words—or a movie?
25:49 — Becoming a beginner again
28:08 — Building The Lone Star Fair as historical fiction
32:42 — Research, accuracy & the Texas Hold’em problem
35:50 — Henry Kinney and the Lone Star Fair
42:18 — Advice for the person who keeps putting off creating
45:22 — Flow state and losing yourself in the work
46:49 — Could writing become the next career?
49:25 — Creativity as part of a healthy life
52:15 — The real family connections inside the novel
56:00 — Denise’s five creative takeaways
61:59 — Critics, editors, adverbs & getting better at the craft
64:48 — Should you really cut everything that isn’t necessary?
67:06 — Putting the work into the world
68:02 — Success beyond sales
69:29 — Closing thoughts & where to find The Lone Star Fair

Welcome to Creative Moonlighting — a podcast about building a creative life that actually works.

Hosted by filmmaker Matthew J. Thornton and producer Denise Thornton, Creative Moonlighting explores what it really means to pursue your craft while navigating careers, relationships, and the realities of making a living doing what you love. From film and storytelling to business, entrepreneurship, and creative identity, the show is built for independent artists, filmmakers, and creatives who are not just chasing passion — but learning how to sustain it.

Through honest conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, and educators, we dig into the real questions: How do you turn your skills into income? How do you balance multiple creative paths? How do you build something meaningful without burning out?

In Episode 53, we’re thrilled to welcome Julie Bonner, a designer, educator, creative entrepreneur, Adobe training expert, and advocate for sustainable creative careers. After meeting Julie at SXSW, where she appeared as an official speaker, we knew we had to bring her onto the show to share her wisdom on building a creative life with intention, flexibility, and multiple revenue streams.

In this conversation, Julie joins Matthew and Denise to talk about what it really looks like to turn talent into income, blend multiple skills into one career, and build a professional life that does not depend on a single lane. From freelance design and teaching to product creation, art licensing, and entrepreneurship, Julie shares how she has built a career across five to six different revenue streams without burning out. She opens up about time management, networking, showing up, valuing your experience, and why this may be the perfect time for creatives to experiment, diversify, and build something more resilient.

Julie also discusses the book she is currently writing, inspired by her SXSW talk, focused on helping creatives build careers from their multiple interests and passions.

Connect with Julie:
Website: juliebonnerdesign.com
Instagram: @julieannebonner

📬 Connect with us:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Produced by Griffyn.Co Productions

#CreativeMoonlighting#JulieBonner#SXSW#CreativeEntrepreneur#MultipleIncomeStreams#FreelanceLife#DesignBusiness#CreativeCareers#IndependentArtist#Filmmaking#Podcast#GriffynCoProductions#ATXCreatives

🌙 Today, we're thrilled to have Jean Acuna - our beautiful friend and most trusted skincare and wellness therapist - joining us. With her mantra "FACE LIFE BEAUTIFULLY," Jean has dedicated her career to helping people unlock their inner radiance and achieve optimal well-being.

🌿 Jean's expertise lies at the intersection of skincare and wellness, where she combines holistic practices and cutting-edge skincare techniques to reveal your natural beauty. Her insights are a beacon of light for anyone looking to rejuvenate their skin, boost their confidence, and embrace a healthier lifestyle.

🎧 Tune in as Jean shares her wisdom on listening to your body, nurturing your skin, enhancing your overall wellness, and, most importantly, embracing life's beauty at every turn.

Connect with Jean:

📷 JA_SkinTherapy

Get ready to face life beautifully with Jean Acuna, right here on Creative Moonlighting!

As always, email us with questions and comments at: 

[email protected] 

[email protected]

#Skincare

#Wellness

#Beauty

#HolisticHealth

#FaceLifeBeautifully

#NaturalBeauty

#SelfCare

#HealthySkin

#RadiantSkin

#Podcast

#CreativeMoonlighting

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#BeautyTips

#Mindfulness

#HealthyLifestyle

#SelfLove

#Inspiration

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#griffyncoproductions

#atxartists

🎨 Episode Title: "Unveiling Artistry in Leadership with Luis Puron"

🎙️ Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of Mr. Luis Puron, the brilliant mind behind the transformation of the Rockport Center for the Arts. Luis, the Executive Director, is a storyteller at heart, and we invite all artists to be inspired as we explore his unparalleled expertise in building relationships, fundraising, and his unwavering commitment to providing artists with the canvas they need to share their voices with the world.

🌟 Discover how Luis's upbringing, education, and career history have shaped his vision for the Rockport Center for the Arts, turning it into a vibrant hub of creativity and cultural enrichment.

💫 What sets Luis apart is his extraordinary ability to forge meaningful connections, and through his extensive network of artists, patrons, and community leaders, he has revitalized the arts scene not only in Rockport, Texas but beyond.

📈 Under Luis's 8 years of leadership, the Rockport Center for the Arts has witnessed impressive growth in membership, visitation (from all over the world), and funding. Learn how his commitment to fiscal responsibility ensures that every dollar is a step towards supporting the arts, a feat that is most impressive considering that the real transformation at the Rockport Art Center occurred after the destruction of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. 

🎨 At the heart of our conversation is Luis's dedication to providing artists with a platform to shine. Explore how he fosters an inclusive environment that empowers artists of all backgrounds and disciplines to thrive. Through innovative exhibitions and collaborative projects, Luis ensures that the Rockport Center for the Arts remains a space where artists can truly express themselves.

🌎 This interview is a celebration of Luis Puron's extraordinary journey from a passionate art enthusiast to a respected leader in the art world. His work at the Rockport Center for the Arts has enriched not only the local community but also left an indelible mark on the broader arts landscape.

🔊 Tune in to this insightful and inspiring episode as we uncover the artistry in leadership and learn from the visionary, Luis Puron, who continues to shape the world of art and culture from the small coastal town of Rockport, Texas.

📲 Email with Questions / Follow us on social media:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @creativemoonlightingpodcast

Visit www.rockportartcenter.com to see what is on the calendar! 

#ArtistryInLeadership #Podcast #LuisPuron #RockportCenterForTheArts #Inspiration #ArtCommunity #CulturalEnrichment #LeadershipJourney #Creativity #ArtisticExpression #FundingForTheArts #CommunityEmpowerment #ArtWorldVisionary #RockportTexas #CreativeMoonlightingPodcastEpisode #ArtisticLeadership

Dive deep into the world of ocean art and conservation with our special guest, the renowned ocean artist, Guy Harvey! 🌊🎨

In this captivating episode, Denise and Matthew explore the life and work of Guy Harvey as he shares his extraordinary journey as an artist, teacher, researcher, and conservationist. Get ready to be inspired as we discuss a wide range of fascinating topics:

PART I:  Episode 49

🎨 Art & Inspiration | Kent Ullberg & Mentorship: Discover the creative process behind Guy Harvey's stunning marine-themed artwork. Learn how his love for the ocean has shaped his artistic vision and what inspires him to capture the beauty of marine life on canvas. We also delve into the special friendship between Guy Harvey and world-renowned wildlife sculptor, Kent Ullberg. Learn about their collaborative research, world diving expeditions, and their shared passion for marine conservation.

👕 Apparel & Branding | ©️ Copyright & Licensing: Discover the story behind the iconic Guy Harvey brand and its connection to marine conservation. Learn about the journey of turning art into apparel and how Guy's brand has become a symbol of passion for the ocean. Furthermore, get insights into the world of art copyright and licensing from the perspective of a celebrated artist like Guy Harvey. Hear how he navigates the challenges and opportunities that come with protecting his artistic creations.

PART II:  Episode 50

🔍 Research & Conservation: Join us as we explore Guy's tireless efforts in marine research and conservation. Learn about the groundbreaking initiatives he's involved in to protect and preserve our oceans and the incredible marine species that call it home.

Don't miss this incredible episode filled with captivating stories, invaluable insights, and a shared passion for our oceans. 🐢🌊

🔊 Listen to the full episode on your podcast platform of choice or view it (this is our first video podcast!) on our official Griffyn.Co YouTube Channel.

🖼️ Check out Guy Harvey's breathtaking artwork, shop for apparel, and learn more about the Guy Harvey Foundation at GuyHarvey.com

📚 Interested in learning more? Explore his collection of Books for Sale.

🌐 Learn more about Guy Harvey's Research Institute. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring conversations with fascinating personalities making a difference in the world of art and conservation. 🌍🎙️

#guyharvey 

#griffyncoproductions

#creativemoonlighting 

#OceanArtist

#aquaticartist

#Art

#Inspiration

#Research

#Conservation

#Copyright

#Licensing

#Apparel

#Branding

#WildlifeSculptor

#KentUllberg

#MarineLife

#Oceans

#MarineConservation

#ArtisticVision

#MarineSpecies

#CreativeProcess

#ArtCopyright

#GuyHarveyBrand

#MarineResearch

#MarineFoundation

#WildlifeArt

#OceanConservation

#MarinethemedArt

#MarineArtwork

#MarineWildlife

#ArtandConservation

#ArtistInterview

#MarineConservationist

#Art Licensing

#OceanConservationist

#GuyHarveyBooks

#MarineArtistry

#OceanWildlife

#ArtandResearch

#ArtandBranding

Dive deep into the world of ocean art and conservation with our special guest, the renowned ocean artist, Guy Harvey! 🌊🎨

In this captivating episode, Denise and Matthew explore the life and work of Guy Harvey as he shares his extraordinary journey as an artist, teacher, researcher, and conservationist. Get ready to be inspired as we discuss a wide range of fascinating topics:

PART I:  Episode 49

🎨 Art & Inspiration | Kent Ullberg & Mentorship: Discover the creative process behind Guy Harvey's stunning marine-themed artwork. Learn how his love for the ocean has shaped his artistic vision and what inspires him to capture the beauty of marine life on canvas. We also delve into the special friendship between Guy Harvey and world-renowned wildlife sculptor, Kent Ullberg. Learn about their collaborative research, world diving expeditions, and their shared passion for marine conservation.

👕 Apparel & Branding | ©️ Copyright & Licensing: Discover the story behind the iconic Guy Harvey brand and its connection to marine conservation. Learn about the journey of turning art into apparel and how Guy's brand has become a symbol of passion for the ocean. Furthermore, get insights into the world of art copyright and licensing from the perspective of a celebrated artist like Guy Harvey. Hear how he navigates the challenges and opportunities that come with protecting his artistic creations.

PART II:  Episode 50

🔍 Research & Conservation: Join us as we explore Guy's tireless efforts in marine research and conservation. Learn about the groundbreaking initiatives he's involved in to protect and preserve our oceans and the incredible marine species that call it home.

Don't miss this incredible episode filled with captivating stories, invaluable insights, and a shared passion for our oceans. 🐢🌊

🔊 Listen to the full episode on your podcast platform of choice or view it (this is our first video podcast!) on our official Griffyn.Co YouTube Channel.

🖼️ Check out Guy Harvey's breathtaking artwork, shop for apparel, and learn more about the Guy Harvey Foundation at GuyHarvey.com

📚 Interested in learning more? Explore his collection of Books for Sale.

🌐 Learn more about Guy Harvey's Research Institute. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring conversations with fascinating personalities making a difference in the world of art and conservation. 🌍🎙️

#guyharvey 

#griffyncoproductions

#creativemoonlighting 

#OceanArtist

#aquaticartist

#Art

#Inspiration

#Research

#Conservation

#Copyright

#Licensing

#Apparel

#Branding

#WildlifeSculptor

#KentUllberg

#MarineLife

#Oceans

#MarineConservation

#ArtisticVision

#MarineSpecies

#CreativeProcess

#ArtCopyright

#GuyHarveyBrand

#MarineResearch

#MarineFoundation

#WildlifeArt

#OceanConservation

#MarinethemedArt

#MarineArtwork

#MarineWildlife

#ArtandConservation

#ArtistInterview

#MarineConservationist

#Art Licensing

#OceanConservationist

#GuyHarveyBooks

#MarineArtistry

#OceanWildlife

#ArtandResearch

#ArtandBranding

Welcome to Episode 48 of the Creative Moonlighting Podcast!  In this episode, we sit down with Erik Flores to discuss his journey as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and the making of the band's debut album, Nothing to Escape. Tune in for exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes stories as we explore the band’s inspirational blend of folk, rock, and Americana.

Links:

Fairbanks and the Lonesome Light's website: https://fairbanksandthelonesomelight.com/

Fairbanks and the Lonesome Light's Instagram

Fairbanks and the Lonesome Light Facebook

Enjoy and as always, send questions and comments to [email protected] or [email protected]

#FairbanksandtheLonesomeLight #ErikFlores #NothingtoEscape #podcast #music #folkrock #Americana #storytelling #interview #behindthescenes #creativemoonlightingpodcast #griffynco #griffyncoproductions

Please welcome local filmmaker, artist, and creative moonlighter - Konstantin Belyshev.  Konstantin graduated from Texas State University with a major in philosophy and a minor in English. Born to Russian immigrants and raised in San Marcos, Texas, he has worked as a data analyst, a media producer, concert photographer, cinematographer, and also currently leads a team that designs and leverages ontology and data modeling to help build Google's semantic understanding as it produces search results across various places on the globe. (A lot of deep thinking involved in his life!)

As filmmakers, it is always a pleasure to meet a fellow artist who has similar interests, but in this case, it was very enlightening to speak in-depth with Konstantin who brings a completely different background to the world of film as we know it. We hope you enjoy this talk as much as we did.

To view and follow more of Konstantin’s work, please use the following links:

Konstantin Belyshev - Website

Konstantin Belyshev - Instagram

Enjoy and as always, send questions and comments to [email protected] 

#konstantinbelyshev #filmmaker #atxartist #atxfilm #austinfilmmaker #ontology #mediaproducer #philosophy 

#creativemoonlighting #griffynco #griffyncoproductions

Episode 46 welcomes Kent and Veerle Ullberg.  Over the past 46 years, this couple has built a life, a business, and a legacy with realistic wildlife sculptures, all serving to spread the beauty of nature and engage onlookers to recognize a need for the preservation of our natural environment. Kent makes the sculptures and Veerle runs the business. They have operated in exactly this way for nearly half a century! 

For more on Kent's work as a sculptor and naturalist, view his bio below. Also note the headline quote by the late Roger Tory Peterson who, himself was an author, artist, and educator, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary work in the field of ornithology. 

"No one during the latter half of this century has celebrated the animal form with greater enthusiasm and virtuosity. Very simply, Kent's public monuments have come close to symbolize an age of environmental awareness that is a stepping stone to the next millennium."

–––––– Roger Tory Peterson

A native of Sweden, Kent Ullberg is recognized as one of the world's foremost wildlife sculptors. He studied at the Swedish University College of Art in Stockholm and worked at museums in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Africa and Denver, CO. After living in Botswana, Africa, for seven years he has made his home permanently in the United States where he now lives on Padre Island, Corpus Christi, TX. He also maintains a studio in Loveland, CO.

Ullberg is a member of numerous art organizations and has been honored with many prestigious awards. In 1990 his peers elected him a Full Academician (NA), thus making him the first wildlife artist since John James Audubon to receive one of the greatest tributes in American art. A selection of his memberships include the National Sculpture Society; the American Society of Marine Art; the Allied Artists of America; Nature in Art, Sandhurst, UK; the National Academy of Western Art in Oklahoma City, OK which awarded him the Prix de West, the foremost recognition in Western Art. In 2010 he received the Briscoe Legacy Award and in 2016 the lifetime achievement award from the Society of Animal Artists.

Best known for his monumental works executed for museums and municipalities across the globe, his Fort Lauderdale, FL, and his Omaha, NE installations are the largest bronze wildlife compositions ever done, spanning several city blocks. Both earned him the coveted Henry Hering Medal Award from the National Sculpture Society, NYC. His most recent monumental installation is "Snow-Mastodon," a life-size bronze Mastodon placed outside the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Kent's work is nothing short of "larger than life". His Spirit of Nebraska in Omaha, NE for instance, consists of 67 bronze and stainless steel works.  This site occupies the Bank properties on all four corners of the 16th and Dodge intersection as well as works on 15th Street. This wildlife monument includes 3 bulls standing at 8' and weighing nearly 1,400 pounds, several yearling bulls, and 2 cows with their calves, as well as a large water feature with 8' Canada Geese in bronze taking flight. As the geese fly across the street they are attached to 18' bronze trees, a traffic signal, the corner of a building, a light post, 2 other poles, and culminate with several stainless steel geese suspended within the glass atrium of the Bank's headquarters. Each of these works has been strategically placed to engage visitors, particularly children, as they pass.

To say that Kent and Veerle have built a "successful" life in the world of art and creativity would be a complete understatement. While their days as Creative Moonlighters passed back in the 1970’s, hearing their story is awe-inspiring for any creative who is currently looking for a way to make the transition from moonlighting to daylighting. 

Enjoy and as always, send questions and comments to [email protected] 

Visit www.kentullberg.net

#kentullberg #sculptureandartist #becominganartist #spiritofnebraska #orinthology #naturalist #nature #realismart #wildlifeart #wildlifescuptures #environment #preservation #conservation #corpuschristi #padreisland #corpuschristimonument 

#creativemoonlighting #griffynco #griffyncoproductions