Kites and Strings

Julie Carrick Dalton has written countless articles in Business Week, the Boston Globe, The Hollywood Reporter and many more, but what she is really passionate about is the environment, her forest, her farm and her kids.  All the passions culminated into a pretty darn successful first novel, Waiting for the Night Song, which in 2021 was identified as the most anticipated book by the likes of  Newsweek * USA Today * CNN * Parade * Buzzfeed * GoodReads  * The Nerd Daily * SheReads and more.  It did not disappoint having become a best seller and winning many literary awards.  In this episode, we learn about her single-handedly saving a forest, creating a farm, raising bees, and raising kids, even though we learn that she has been called to the mat regarding some of her parenting practices.  She was a joy to meet with and to learn of how she grabs that string and flies that kite. 

Julie's Website: https://juliecarrickdalton.com/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Yes, maybe this episode should have been dropped at the very beginning of Season 2, but as we amply share in this episode, we're still learning.  We do some reflecting,  som e introspection, some looking forward and some planning, but  more than that, we have a fun, funny and interesting discussions about the creative process and stuff.  We share about a few upcoming guests and we talk about other guests that we would like to bring onto the show.  A charge is put out to the listenership to throw some suggestions our way as well.  



Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Our Sponsor:  Team Transplant.   https://www.teamtransplant.com/

In this episode, Steve is very clear in his sharing that he finds guitars to be the sexiest of all instruments, and we're pretty stoked that we were able to find Andy Manson, who makes arguably makes some of the sexiest guitars ever.  We get to hear about how his creative journey started and where it has taken him.  Andy's made guitars for John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Andy Summers of the Police  and Don Henley of the Eagles to name a few.   We have such fun talking with Andy and came to love his approach to buiding guitars. He really does let the wood lead the way as he listens to the wood and trusts it to guide the process.   Andy shares too about just about the coolest guitar project ever.  He is one of six master guitar builders who have gotten their hands on wine barrels from the age of enlightenment with its own amazing story.  These guitar makers are enhancing those stories and in the end, there will be six incredible musical instruments documenting the story.  Please keep an eye of Andy's websites below and enjoy this eposode of Kites and Strings.


Andy's Website - https://www.andymanson.com/
The Guitar Barrel Project - https://www.theguitarbarrelproject.com/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Our Sponsor:  Team Transplant.   https://www.teamtransplant.com/

In this episode of Kites and Strings, Steve and Catherine have the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lady Pink.  Although she informs us that there were many women who came before her, she has been called the first lady of New Your City Graffiti Art back in the 80's, when street culture (think hip hop, break dancing and graffiti art) were just entering the mainstream. This is such an interesting and informative conversation about that culture, the inherent dangers and just how similar it was to sports.  For decades now, street art is considered one of most extensive art movements and its not just for the cultured, elite.  Lady Pink asks why art can't art be brought to the street and made accessible to everybody.  We also learn how Lady Pink has evolved to teach and mentor younger artists and how she exhibits worldwide and  continues to tag her community with amazing artwork.

Lady Pink's website:  https://www.ladypinknyc.com/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

To start off Season 2 we're excited to introduce you to Dr. Cala Coats.  She teachers art teachers to be art teachers, but you'd be hard pressed to find her teaching somebody the perfect pinch pot technique.  You're more likely to catch her discussing ideas and how to develop creativity.   Cala is an Assistant Professor of Art Education in the School of Art at Arizona State University and she has published in numerous books, articles and the like to the degree that her CV is literally 9 pages long, But rather than dig in to all that academic stuff too much, we simply found ourselves having a super fun conversation with somebody who is passionate about ideas.

Dr. Cala Coats At Arizona State University,   https://art.asu.edu/content/cala-coats
Dr. Cala Coats via Google Scholar, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=vOc4QZIAAAAJ&hl=en

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

In this episode we roll out the big welcome mat for Justin Lamb.  He's dabbled in many creative endeavors but started off chasing music to the west coast and has over the last five years, jumped into podcasting.  However, Justin has a hard time recognizing his podcast work as creative.  Nevertheless, he initially produced and aired two seasons of the podcast, Craft Beers and 90's Nostalgia and more recently he created and and is nearly 90 episodes in with his most recent offering, Friend Request with Justin Lamb, where he sets off to interview all of his Facebook friends. Brilliant.   Catherine and I were actually interviewed in May for Episode 66.  It was a blast.  It was also a blast having Justin on Kites and Strings.  He shares candidly about his fits and starts in the arts, life struggles and about how things have been turning around.

So this is the end of season 1 for Kites and Strings. we didn't have an idea as to how many episodes a season should have and we maybe went a bit over what is typical with 42, but that is ok because we had so much fun.  Moving forward, we are way excited about the shows already in store for season 2 and we look forward to exploring new ideas for back and front-end endeavors, like finding sponsors, trying to get a better handle on social media and continuing to bring a wide variety of creative types who successfully grab their strings and fly their kites all over the world.  So stay tuned and take a moment to catch up on some back catalog episodes. All good stuff.

The Friend Request Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FriendRequestPod/
Justin's Website:  https://www.justinlambmusic.com/friend-request.html
Twitter: @FriendRequestJL
Instagram: @friendrequestpod

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Today is a special episode. We interview Marci Mundo and Nicole Renee Dalton from Evoke Tattoos, one of the classiest tattoo shops in Chicago.  They have each needled Catherine multiple times and it becomes quite evident in this episode that Catherine is a fan girl. Steve even declares that his next tattoo will be executed at Evoke.  Marci is a co-owner at Evoke and Nicole is a past apprentice of Marci's. so we get cool information about that relationship. We learn just how messy  and unregulated the industry of tattooing can be, and we get a glimpse inside the workings of a quality shop where their principles, work ethic and sense of responsibility to the customer and respect for the artist is exceptional.  Whether you bring a dated attitude about tattoos as art and/or are brand new to the world of tattoo art, or you sport a sleeve  (or two) and have endured many hours in a tattoo shop, we guarantee  you will learn something about tattooing and will walk away with increased respect for the industry and the artists.

https://www.evoketattoos.com/
Instagram - @evoketattoos

Marci's Instagram - @marci.mundo
Marci's  website https://www.evoketattoos.com/tattoos/marcimundo/c3pcrqgmadglrm4n4bsiu9djnx4wp6

Nicole Renee Dalton website -  https://nicolereneeart.net/
Nicole's Instagram - @nicole_renee_art

McGill University article on the history of tattoos https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-you-asked/what-history-tattoos

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Today's episode is with Lisa VonKurvink.  She's been a finalist and and winner at the North American Hairstylist Awards (NAHA) twice, which is a big deal.   NAHA has been called the Oscars of hair and its probably the most prestigious in North America.  Lisa's work is amazing and just one look at her pics, especially her Avant Garde and her texture work, will tell you that she is not your typical hair stylist.

Lisa was raised in Minnesota and was initially a drama-nerd.  She followed that dream to  Los Angeles where she ultimately ended up in school to be a hair stylist and well on her way tp being a hair nerd.  After seeing her first Avant Garde hair show she was hooked.  Since, she has made quite a name for herself within the growing community of Avant Garde hairstylists.  Of course those that can call her their hairstylist in Phoenix AZ know of her work and are proud to be under her scissors, but Lisa's Avante Garde work also helps them as she finds inspiration and confidence through doing her Avant Garde work.

In this episode, Lisa shares how she is inspired, about her process, and where her past pieces current reside.

https://www.lisakurvink.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lisavonkut/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/LisaVonKurvink/about/


Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Today's guest is Spike Spencer, he's a voice actor who has an impressive resume , including an extended, ten-year run voicing the lead character, Shinju Ikari, the lead character in the HUGE in Japan Anami francise, Neon Genesis, Evangelion.  He has amazing range and his list of credits, include titles ranging from RainBow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty to God Eater to League of Legends, to Barbie's Dreamhouse Adventures and everything in between.  He also does motivational speaking, has authored some books, and has a podcast called The Mindscrambler Podcast.   In his Kites and Strings interview, Spikes shares candidly about his family, his choice to pursue acting, how he fell in voice acting anime and harnessing his voice as a voice actor, a messy divorce and the process of manifesting a better life for himself.  He shares how he learned quite late that he was kind-of famous in the anime and video game world. He's a pretty hot comodity at comic-cons worldwide.  That realization, we learn, mixed with zombies, witches, Tom Hanks and a little pandemic has landed him in Australia with his young family, walking the beach and eating good food.   

Spike website:  https://www.spikespencer.com/ 
Spike's Imbd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0818111/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com

Today's guest is Megan Watters - she is a successful scenic artist making her way in New York City.  In this episode we learn a great deal of how Megan's work has graced many a large and famous department stores' windows, stage , TV and film, but we also learn about the work itself, Megan's branching out into project management and how she considers what she does more a trade than an art.  She shares how she has been shaped by the her blue collar upbringing and she brings some very funny stories involving psychology, theatre, summerstock, killing the magic of Disney, teaching and how football affords her opportunity to work on her own artwork. 

Megan's website:   https://www.watterscreative.com/
Instagram - @meganewatters -
https://www.instagram.com/meganewatters/

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
​Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings

Kites and String's is produced and edited by Steve Ploum at Turning Stones Counseling, Inc.
Our theme music is by Harrison Amir, and all other original music by purple planet music at https://www.purple-planet.com