What's up, y'all?!

We actually did it! Two Monday's in a row! This is real proof of what can happen when you set your mind to somthing.

Today's guest practices a nearly extinct form of photography, renovated a church into a studio / living space, and is an all around bad ass renaissance woman. If you're already inspired, that's okay, we are too!

We're SO excited to share this episode with you, as it's been eating away at my soul to have held this conversation for as long as I have. Well over a year ago now, I sat down with the indelible Margaret Muza, the guest described above, to start off our second season of HCCS. Long story short, life got crazy, time went by, and now, FINALLY, we get to share this little time capsule with you all.

Listen in for a deep dive into the magic of wet plate photography, how Margaret discovered this nearly lost art, the core tenants of her practice as an artist who creates truly timeless heirlooms, and the madness of purchasing and renovating an old church (a dream I've personally held for years).

What's up, y'all?! We know, we know, it's been a while. We had the best intentions of posting a new episode every Monday (we promise), but sometimes life throws you punches and there is nothing you can do but roll. We stressed on it for a while before we realized that this podcast is supposed to be FUN! So, you'll likely see episodes dropping every Monday from here on out. But also, maybe you won't. Only time will tell.

ARE YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT?

We explain the calamity that led to our brief hiatus at the top of this episode, which feels akin to being a fly on the wall for a conversation between two dear friends; raw, vulnerable, authentic, and packed full of the truth bombs that we all need, but rarely hear from those we aren't incredibly close to.

Join us this week for a deep dive into the origins of Discourse Coffee, a pioneer of the fourth wave of the American coffee movement, with founder and creative director Ryan Castelaz. In this hour long conversation, Ryan and Laura discuss everything from starting Discourse in a town of just 600 people with under $15,000, to valuing your business and the process of seeking investment. Whether you're on about to make the leap, have just started your entrepreneurial journey, or are ready to take your company to the next level, this episode is a must listen.

We'll see y'all next week! Maybe...

Y'allllll! Laura and I are so, so excited to be putting this episode out into the world. The minute we cut recording on this interview, we scooted up our entire production timeline by two months so y'all could have THIS episode in your ears.

An artist, musician, lyrical storyteller, and true Milwaukee legend, The Fader describes WebsterX's music as "a personal dive into the rapper's psyche". One of the most successful Milwaukee based musicians, WebsterX was awarded Solo Artist of the Year by Radio Milwaukee in 2016, and his album "Daymares" was voted album of the year the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2017. Nationally, he's contributed music for a Super Bowl ad, gotten signed to Vic Mensa's prior label, opened for Lil Yachty, and been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Pitchfork, TimeOut, Paper Magazine, and PBS among dozens of others.

Alongside his solo success, WebsterX was a founding member of legendary Milwaukee-based music collective New Age Narcissism, co-founder of FreeSpace, a free, monthly, all-ages music showcase that invites Milwaukee's young creatives to come together and collaborate, and the organizer of Black is Beautiful's 3,000 rider strong bike ride in honor of mental health for people of color.

On a personal level, WebsterX was one of Ryan's first friends in Milwaukee, and has been a long time inspiration and collaborator. This is a truly special episode with dozens of invaluable insights on the magic of being alive; including the power that rests in growing from our mistakes, harnessing alter egos, leveraging our platforms as creatives, marketing our magic, and where WebsterX is headed in the future.

Friends, nobles, countryfolx, we're backkkkkkk!

After a two year hiatus, Season 2 of Hot Coffee for the Creative Soul is finally here, and y'all, do we ever have an exciting season ahead for you! And yes, WE: I've brought on a co-host!

Enter Laura Bavlnka, the new co-host of Hot Coffee for the Creative Soul, and the subject of Episode 2.1! Laura is a visionary designer and the founder of Bavlnka Brand, an incredibly exciting sustainable fashion house tucked into the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee.

Laura and I talk about her journey with fashion and design, the importance of mentors, championing sustainability in a world obsessed with fast fashion, what the hell haute couture means, taking the leap from paycheck to purpose, and the changing nature of entrepreneurship in your 20's and 30's.

And just like that, we've reached Episode 10 of Hot Coffee for the Creative Soul, and the Finale of Season 1! If you've been with me since Episode 1, or have enjoyed any, or every, episode that followed, there aren't words to express how much I appreciate you. Thank you for taking this journey with me, and I absolutely cannot wait to share what I have in store for Season 2 with y'all. Rest assured, it will be bigger and better than ever!

For HCCS's final episode of Season 1, I've put together a cumulative review of the greatest moments from my nine conversations thus far. Throughout the course of these chats, five recurring themes made themselves apparent. This episode, with insights from HCCS host Ryan Castelaz, Owner and Creative Director of discourse | a liquid workshop, offers words of wisdom from all of our past guests in a condensed and consolidated form. If you listen to just one episode of HCCS, make it this one.

The Five Lessons

1.) The heart of creativity is storytelling, regardless of the medium.

2.) Start small to maximize your creative freedom.

3.) Fail fast, fail forward.

4.) Adopt a mindset of "Yes, and..." - or "No, but...".

5.) Distance yourself from the narrative of the starving artist.

Have you ever gotten a latte at your favorite shop, and spent a few moments wistfully admiring the beautiful latte art adorning it's cusping crown? Me too. This week, host Ryan Castelaz, Owner & Creative Director of discourse | a liquid workshop, sat down with coffee industry legend Derrick Wessels, who took 1st place at the USCC National Latte Art Throwdown in 2018, and 4th place at the World Latte Art Open in 2016, to discuss his journey in coffee, and the feels associated with competing at the industries highest levels. Over the course of this inspiring conversation, Ryan and Derrick also chat about the origins of Derrick's first coffee company, which he started for a total investment of under $300, his winding and wonderful road to co-owning 5Bar, an incredible craft cocktail lounge in Beloit, WI, and the trouble you're in for if you spend too much energy chasing cool, and not enough chasing cash.

Huge shouts out to Luke Rivard, who composed our opening theme, and to our Executive Producer Brogan Molloy.

Welcome back, Hot Coffee community! This week, join host Ryan Castelaz, Owner & Creative Director of discourse | a liquid workshop, for an in-depth look at one of the most accessible ways to build a solid foundation for your business from home: starting a blog! Ryan sits down with Alicia Eckstein, Founder of Nosh Fox Valley, a hyper-local food blog with over 3,000 unique visitors each month, to assemble and dissect a fail safe guide to your first six months of blogging, and beyond. Ryan and Alicia discuss the importance of consistency, finding your niche, defining and aligning to your values, and the magic that lies in truly engaging with your community.

HCCS fam, do we ever have a treat for you this week! Joe Dolan is a nationally celebrated architect, designer, and educator responsible for some of the nation's most beautiful spaces: from massive sports stadiums, to intimate spaces like Chicago's rum-centric cocktail haven, Sparrow, and the Alinea group's casual fine-dining hot spot, Roister. Ryan and Joe discuss the tremendous impact of design on the modern world, the reconciliation of money and creativity, the pros and cons of perfectionism, and the quintessential importance of storytelling in any creative medium. For creatives working in the world of design, or for anyone interested in taking their creative practice to the next level, this episode is essential listening.

Welcome back for week six of Hot Coffee for the Creative Soul with host Ryan Castelaz, Owner & Creative Director of discourse | a liquid workshop! This week, Ryan had the opportunity to sit down with a long time friend and role model, Sam Brown, the Co-Founder & Roaster of Coffee Wizardz based in Green Bay, WI. For the the last twenty years, Sam has involved himself in nearly every facet of the coffee industry: from washing dishes and building sandwiches, to pouring gorgeous latte art and serving inspired signature beverages at regional competitions. In this heart-to-heart conversation, Ryan and Sam discuss the origins of Coffee Wizardz, the power of crowd-funding, the fleeting yet beautiful nature of coffee, and what may be the most valuable tool in any professional creatives tool belt: drive. 

Welcome back to Hot Coffee for the Creative Soul, authentic conversations with professional creatives living at the intersection of passion and profit. This week, join host Ryan Castelaz, Owner & Creative Director of discourse | a liquid workshop, and Lee Carter of Five Watt and Big Watt Coffee fame for the epic conclusion of their two part conversation. In Part 2, Ryan and Lee discuss the power of play, best practices for building your team, the importance of adopting a "yes, and...", or "no, but..." mentality, and the journey towards discovering your true purpose, beyond your current medium. This episode is a terrific listen for shop owners in any retail or service-based industry, as well as for those who have recently changed, or are thinking about changing their field.