Good People, Cool Things

Imagine you're making a video to share with the world. You've found the PERFECT song for it, one that'll get everyone's toes tapping and praising your musical knowledge. Only there's one problem: you didn't get the proper rights to use the song, and now your video has been taken down.

Thematic co-founder Audrey Marshall started her company to help creators and artists alike navigate this tricky world of music rights. And she's dropping all kinds of wisdom for you to maximize your creative endeavors, whether you're on the creator or musician side.

Want more cool episodes like this one? Check out goodpeoplecoolthings.com. 

Writing noir mysteries and stories about killers is a fine balance. You’ve got to build worlds that stay true to the setting while delivering characters that people still want to root for, even if they’re mired in some shady stuff.

Faye Snowden has honed this craft, writing several noir mystery novels, short stories, and poems. Her latest book, A Killing Rain, is the second of a four-part Southern Gothic series.

You want even more helpful resources? I GOT 'EM — simply visit goodpeoplecoolthings.com. 

Do you dig speculative fiction, steampunk horror, and kickass fantasy? Then you're going to be a fan of Morgan Quaid. But even if those genres aren't your favorite, this episode has plenty to help you thrive.

Morgan is a writer of comics, novels, and graphic novels. On top of that, he's a music composer and producer. He's done plenty of creative work, collaborated with great minds, and has tons of experience with crowdfunding campaigns.

If you're in ANY sort of creative field, Morgan shares solid advice throughout the episode. Come along and listen in, won't you? 

For more episodes and helpful resources, visit goodpeoplecoolthings.com. 

This may surprise you, but running a business is hard work. In fact, your to-do list probably just grew by about four tasks in the time it took to read this sentence.

With so much going on, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Maybe your operations are in need of updates, or you want to grow your business but aren't sure where to start. Jessi Burg felt the same way, and she was discouraged by how little information there was out there to help small business owners.

So, she did something about it. Jessi is the founder of Outgrow Your Garage, which offers self-guided courses, tips, and resources for owners looking to grow their business. No matter the type of company, if you offer a service, you'll find plenty of value here.

Want to check out other episodes with more helpful content? Visit goodpeoplecoolthings.com. 

As a performer, Elisa di Napoli enjoyed creating and sharing stories through her music. But with severe performance anxiety, it became nearly impossible to actually take the stage. Elisa tried drinking wine, using beta blockers, and taking improv classes, but nothing worked until she learned how to be kind to herself.

Today, she’s an artist coach, hypnotherapist, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, producing 12 albums under the stage name Elyssa Vulpes. She helps others approach their next journey with the right mindset, allowing them to overcome stage fright or whatever obstacles are in the way.

Psst, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. YOU have a ton of knowledge, and that knowledge is valuable. And I'd guess you probably know even more than you think. 

Musician Fabiana Claure realized this amid a period of burnout. But instead of trying to overwork herself, she learned to start being more protective of her time and more efficient with her offerings—and it's paid off big time. Now she's helping other musicians do the same thing.  

We're talking all about how musicians can earn more money, how to market your work, and a couple of near-disaster gigs she's played. 

Want to support the show? Head on over to the merch shop or buy a copy of my book!  

Writing might seem like a lonely and solitary practice, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, collaborating with others can often lead to better writing.

Francis Daulerio has written multiple books of poetry while also finding unique ways to collab. My particular favorite: a split collection of "covers" — he wrote poems based on another writer's short stories, and the other writer wrote stories based on Francis's poems.

He's also talking about his most bizarre reading, the top ways to market a book, and why existentialism can help you find meaning and joy.

If you were staring down a legend like Lionel Richie, how do you think you'd respond? Country singer Kate Watson was faced with that very situation. She performed one of Richie's songs during Season 19 of American Idol — and she's kept the good times going since then.

She co-writes music with her father Jesse and dropped her latest single "Highway" earlier this year. 

In this episode, Kate shares some of her top stories from her American Idol experience, some of the worst experiences in her life, her top tips for building a successful music brand, and why it's important to always give your all in any situation.

For perhaps her whole life, Annalisa Enrile has been an advocate for other people. She’s a social worker, professor at the University of Southern California, community organizer, and activist against human trafficking.

So, naturally, Annalisa was a great host for a show like Goodniks, which explores the journey and meaning of doing good in the world. It’s storytelling at its finest.

We’re talking about how you (yes, YOU) can change the world on a more day-to-day and less epic scale and why the next generation is bringing us a ton of hope.

Will Wood isn't like most musical artists. He incorporates standup comedy into his shows. He writes songs about topics most people overlook, like the life of a mouse that's been trapped. And he hates social media — even as it's brought him tons of new fans and millions of new listens.

Sure, social media might be the downfall of us all, but there's plenty of good out there, too. From connecting with fans at live shows to being more vulnerable in songwriting, things aren't SO bad. We're talking about all of that and more in this episode.