From Here 2 There

This week on From Here to There, we sit down with Leo Taylor, a creator who lives at the intersection of curiosity, collaboration, and pure play.

We get into

• How one career accidentally turned into another
• Why creative partnerships work when egos do not
• The joy and chaos of real people playtesting
• What improv and stand up can teach you about being flexible
• Growing up everywhere and how that shapes how you see the world
• A surprising career break that changed everything
• The game he would design about his life and the delightfully odd mechanic it would use 

Leo is smart, grounded, and genuinely funny, and the conversation is full of those moments where you recognize yourself in someone else's story.

Check out his work at JustPlayingGames.com!

This week on From Here 2 There, Annie and Jose sit down with Ellie Dix, award-winning British game designer, founder of The Dark Imp, author of The Board Game Family, and host of Behind the Cardboard. Ellie’s story is one of reinvention and creativity. From her roots in education to becoming one of the most influential voices in tabletop design, she shares how curiosity, failure, and play shaped her journey.

They dig into:

• The leap from educator to full-time game designer
• How games can strengthen family connection
• Overcoming fear of failure and sharing ideas freely
• What makes a good game great
• The value of bad ideas and building a creative community

Whether you’re a designer, creative, or just love a good story about following your passion, this conversation will leave you inspired to roll the dice on your next big idea.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and connect with Ellie at thedarkimp.com.

When your career becomes your identity…what happens after a layoff?

In this real-talk episode, Annie and Jose switch on the mics mid-conversation to unpack the messy middle: grief, doubt, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to “figure it out.” We talk dopamine lists, celebrating small wins, and staying open to unexpected pivots—from part-time retail to an auto-tech certification—while still honoring creative callings.

In this episode:

• Coping with industry-wide layoffs & rejection cycles
• Separating who you are from what you do
• Practical “dopamine list” ideas to reset your mood
• Taking bridge jobs without losing your long-term path
• Why being a “jack of all trades” can be a superpower
• The culture smart companies build (and why it matters)

Share your story / pitch a topic:
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Comment on this episode: 
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In this candid and hilariously relatable episode of From Here 2 There, we sit down with our longtime friend and creative powerhouse, Sara Erickson—a toy and entertainment industry leader who recently marked her one-year self-employment anniversary (a.k.a. life after layoff).

We dive into the emotional rollercoaster of navigating unemployment as a creative: the frustration, the freedom, the freelance hustle, and the little rituals that keep you sane (hello, yoga and happy hour). Sara shares her take on job-hunting burnout, the power of networking, and why sometimes putting on pants is the accomplishment of the day.

This is an honest, laugh-out-loud conversation about resilience, redefining success, and choosing optimism even when things feel uncertain. If you’ve ever been laid off, lost, or just “figuring it out,” this episode is for you.

"I just want to make cool sh*t with cool people. That’s it." – Sara Erickson

He’s a designer, storyteller, and builder of ideas—who does it all with a paper bag on his head. Ed Gartin’s career spans Toys R Us, Hasbro, Paper Bag Creative, and now Bestway where he mentors creators and comes up with Big Ideas that challenge the norm. In this episode, Ed joins Annie and Jose to explore:

• Why the best leaders act as coaches, not bosses
• How safe spaces fuel innovation and bold ideas
• The key to pitching—whether you’re inventing or job hunting
• How to fight creative fatigue when rejection piles up

Ed reminds us:

“We talk about resilience, but we don’t talk enough about creative fatigue. Sometimes it’s not about bouncing back. It’s about staying upright.”

Get inspired, rethink how you lead and create, and hear Ed’s take on where the toy and game industry is headed. Check it out now!

In this episode of From Here 2 There, Annie and Jose get real about rejection, growth, and the mentors who shape our lives—both professionally and personally. From honest feedback and corporate culture clashes to redefining what mentorship really means, they share hard-earned lessons from the job hunt and beyond.

Jose reflects, "I want to be the dumbest person in the room—because that means I’m learning," while Annie reminds us that "when you fail, if you take the moment, you can learn so much—about yourself and everything around you."

It’s a vulnerable, funny, and uplifting conversation for anyone navigating change, looking for guidance, or simply trying to grow without losing themselves in the process.

Dianne Lauble has helped shape some of the most beloved toys and games out there—and mentored countless creatives along the way. In this episode of From Here 2 There, Dianne shares how she stumbled into toy design with a creepy Pinocchio sketch, how she learned to invent on demand, and what she’s learned about collaboration, confidence, and trusting your gut. We also talk about the power of mentorship, the evolving role of women in the toy industry, and why sometimes the best advice is simply: “Take up space.”

Whether you're a designer, inventor, or just someone figuring out what’s next—this episode is for you.

In this episode of From Here 2 There, we talk with toy and game industry powerhouse Dougal Grimes, whose journey spans from inspecting potato crops in Aberdeen, Scotland to collaborating with Erno Rubik himself. Dougal shares how curiosity, creativity, and calculated risks shaped his path from Hasbro and Spin Master to launching his own venture, EightyTwo—a studio at the intersection of play, innovation, and creator collaboration.

We cover:

• How a 10-minute life audit reshaped his career
• The power of pivoting without fear
• The evolution of invention and what game inventors need to know now
• The role of AI and trend-savviness in staying relevant

Get ready to rethink the game—Dougal’s story starts now on From Here 2 There.

What happens when two creatives get laid off on the same day? A whole lot of WTF, reflection, and surprisingly—laughter. In this episode, Annie and Jose share the real story behind that October morning, from the moment they got the call to what they’ve learned (and unlearned) since. They talk gut instincts, survivor's guilt, the weird world of job applications, and the wild mental gymnastics it takes to stay hopeful when you're stuck in professional limbo. Whether you've been laid off, are job-hunting, or just love a good origin story—this one’s for you.

"Some of the most enjoyable things of my life thus far have been the ones that I didn’t see coming and I didn’t plan for." —Annie

In this episode, we sit down with Asa Mathat—renowned photographer, creative mentor, and master of reinvention. Asa shares how radical honesty changed his life, how failure shaped his success, and why even your darkest moments can become a creative spark. From photographing legends like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to empowering at-risk youth through Camp Enlightenment—and yes, there’s even a story involving peanut butter and a naked model—Asa proves that the journey is as powerful as the destination.

“Even in your darkest times, there will be a little bit of light that cracks through. You can find creativity in that moment, in that space.”

This episode is packed with humor, hard lessons, and heartfelt inspiration you won’t want to miss.

Check out Asa’s work at: asamathat.com

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