Make It. Share It.

He’s a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and performed on Good Morning America with Lecrae. He’s a mechanic who worked on the Black Hawk helicopter and a carpenter who has made custom furniture for rappers like TI and T-Pain. He’s a sponsored artist by companies like Home Depot, Timberland clothing and Kilz paint and recently starred in a Kilz sponsored Reality home improvement show. 

You’ll love hearing about his eclectic journey in this episode of Make It. Share It. with J Paul The Carpenter.

J shares his story of being adopted, his mom and step dad’s profound influence on his life, and his experiences in music and carpentry. We discuss overcoming fear, perfectionism, and impostor syndrome and finding fulfillment in creating things that bring people together. His story highlights unexpected success, like his venture into carpentry during the pandemic, and embracing the opportunities right in front of us.

It’s another beautiful story of what happens when creativity meets courage.

J Paul’s Website: https://www.jpaulthecarpenter.com/

Follow J Paul On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpaulthecarpenter/

J Paul’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@jpaulthecarpenter

Chapters:

00:39 Introducing J Paul: The Multifaceted Creative

04:04 J Paul's Creative Journey and Overcoming Challenges

05:33 The Turning Point: Life Lessons and Family Influence

11:27 Embracing Work and Finding Passion

16:27 Navigating Multiple Creative Avenues: Music and Woodworking

26:15 Recent Projects: From Concept to Creation

30:51 Crafting with Creativity: The Art of Building Beyond Expectations

31:07 Musical Analogies: Visualizing Creativity in the Studio

34:00 From First Builds to Favorite Projects: A Journey Through Craft

35:53 The Blackhawk Helicopter: A Favorite and Formative Experience

39:32 Discovering a Passion for Woodworking: From Pallets to Projects

42:37 The Power of Music: Transforming Songs into Hits

48:07 Sharing Creations: The Joy and Challenge of Letting Go

54:30 Embracing the Unexpected: How Small Projects Can Lead to Big Opportunities

57:24 Encouragement for Creatives: Just Start Making

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We all need a guide to help us make things and share them, but it can be hard to ask for help or even where to start.

Our goal with this episode is to talk through our individual experiences with creative guides in hopes that it helps you find the right guide at the right time.

And…incorporate Rick Rubin (as usual), Milli Vanilli (first time), Jon Acuff (also first time), and the movie Ratatouille.

Rick Rubin 60 Minutes Interview

Duffer Brothers Master Class

https://www.masterclass.com/classes/the-duffer-brothers-teach-developing-an-original-tv-series 

Jon Acuff “Finish”

https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Give-Yourself-Gift-Done/dp/1591847621 

Ratatouille

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

01:59 Discussion on Milli Vanilli

06:12 Guides and Mentors

07:14 Coop's Experience with Guides and Mentors

14:27 Lauren's Experience with Guides and Mentors

21:24 Understanding Your Inner Critic

21:59 The Power of Collaboration in Overcoming Perfectionism

23:00 The Role of Collaboration in Songwriting

24:20 The Artist and the Critic: Ratatouille

25:07 The Importance of Community in Creativity

27:25 The Journey of Creativity: From Bad Ideas to Masterpieces

28:10 The Role of Guides in the Creative Process

29:27 The Importance of Routine in Creativity

30:08 The Power of Persistence in Creativity

36:02 Teaching Songwriting to the Next Generation

39:55 The Power of Stream of Consciousness Writing

41:41 Closing Thoughts on Creativity and Guides

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This episode of Make It. Share It. features filmmakers Ean Verdugo and Caleb Davis. Ean and Caleb discuss their journey of making and sharing a TV pilot for a show called Restorage, which won the Audience Award at The Austin Film Festival and is playing at The Slamdance Festival as this podcast goes live.

This sci-fi dramedy revolves around a dysfunctional family with an unusual inheritance—a mystical storage unit. 

We talk about personal turning points in their respective creative journeys, starting small, the power of boundaries in creativity, mystery boxes, the unknown power of TikTok casting, (don’t knock it until you try it), ranking Season Two of Stranger Things, sharing Restorage, and more.

Mentioned During The Show:

Virtual Slamdance Pass

Olympic National Rainforest (true to our word, Caleb!)

More about Ean and Caleb:

Ean’s Site

Caleb’s Site

Follow Ean

Follow Caleb

Chapters:

00:03 Introduction to the Podcast

00:39 Meet Ean and Caleb

01:27 Favorite Vacation Spots

05:08 Turning Points in Creativity

11:54 The Genesis of Restorage

12:10 The Synopsis and Concept of Restorage

19:18 The Creative Process Behind Restorage

29:57 Discussing Stranger Things and Movie Budgets

34:20 The Unexpected Success of TikTok Casting

41:36 The Journey to Film Festivals

44:00 Sharing Restorage And Its Future

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Writer, Actor, and Producer Jake McEntire joins the show to discuss the decade-long journey of writing and producing the film RUN THE RACE as it nears its 5-year anniversary.

Jake's love of filmmaking started when he was young, watching the power of a beautiful story unfold on a screen, giving hope and joy to his family in difficult times. He started working on a script in college that snowballed into a remarkable rollercoaster ride that led to making a movie with Tim Tebow, walking the red carpet, and more.

But what happened next may surprise you. Jake shares about an unexpected dark night of the soul after the credits rolled and how he has navigated the aftermath of achieving a lifelong goal.

This episode hits on persevering to fulfill a calling, the essential role of a community in creating, the power of imitating masters of the craft, and the challenges you confront after you've realized a dream.

Links From The Show:

Watch RUN THE RACE

Rising Light Ridge - Tim Tebow Foundation

Follow Jake On Instagram

00:03 Introduction and Welcome

00:46 Guest Introduction: Jake McEntire

01:42 What Movie Scene Would You Choose To Relive?

04:10 Jake's Turning Point

08:08 Origins of 'Run the Race'

10:26 Challenges in Making 'Run the Race'

22:02 Pivotal Meeting with Tim Tebow

24:40 Reflections on the Journey

26:43 The Calling of Creativity

27:14 The Race of Life and the Power of Community

29:00 The Journey of Making a Film

30:03 The Challenges of Film Distribution

30:47 The Unexpected Costs of Sharing a Film

34:10 The Joy and Struggles of Film Success

35:18 The Aftermath of Achieving a Dream

38:07 The Reality of Creative Success

41:04 Creative Projects On The Horizon

51:08 The Struggles of Balancing Creativity and Life

53:57 The Power of Perseverance in Creativity

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We are thrilled to have Matt Brown as our guest to talk about his latest project: The Timekeeper. Matt wears many hats as a writer, creative director, and strategist. As he humorously notes in his bio, he's had a diverse career spanning startups, agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, with the unique distinction of never having started a startup that's been acquired by a Fortune 500 company.

During our conversation with Matt, we delve into various aspects of his life and work:

* Prioritizing Friendship Over Competition: Matt shares a pivotal moment from his high school days when he made the decision to prioritize friendship over competitive sports. This decision had a profound impact on his life, and we explore how it shaped him.

* "The Timekeeper" Project: We take an in-depth look at Matt's latest project, "The Timekeeper." It’s a fascinating blend of an online event experience and a horror podcast. Matt shares the creative process behind it, the challenges of bringing such a unique concept to life, and the inspiration that drove him to create it.

* Navigating the Knowledge Gap: Matt discusses the hurdles he faced in bridging the knowledge gap in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

* The Power of Adaptability: We emphasize the importance of maintaining an adaptive mindset in the face of technological changes. Matt shares insights into staying relevant and thriving in an ever-changing creative landscape.

* Applying Gravity To Marketing: Matt elaborates on strategically positioning one's work to create a gravity-like pull, attracting an audience to the content's narrative. He provides valuable tips on how creators can make their work more compelling and engaging.

Resources From The Show:

The Timekeeper Wrap Report

Timecode Chapters:

00:40 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:10 Getting to Know Matt Brown

02:15 Holiday Traditions and Memories

06:20 Turning Points and Life Decisions

16:45 The Concept of Timekeeper

23:05 Challenges in Creating Timekeeper

26:07 Breaking into the Oil Business: A Personal Journey

26:37 The Power of Personal Ability in Job Interviews

26:53 Drawing Parallels: Oil Business and Music

27:32 Overcoming Fear of the Unknown: A Key to Success

28:24 The Importance of Asking Questions and Seeking Help

28:49 Avoiding the Masterpiece Mentality: The Art of Moving On

35:37 The Challenge of Sharing in the Digital Age

39:44 The Art of Marketing in the Modern World

41:24 The Gravity of Narrative and Storytelling in Marketing

47:43 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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Rachel Joy joins the show to talk about big dreams, bold faith, and the long journey of making and sharing Sparrow.

Rachel is the founder of Sparrow, a non-profit that exists to help women learn their gifts, talents, and passions through connecting with content, collaborating with community, and catalyzing into calling. 

Rachel shared how one of her favorite and most formative memories is the safe place her grandmother provided for her to create. This led to Rachel wanting to create that same space for others, which helped launch Sparrow years later.

We talk about seeing people well with great questions, the long journey of making and sharing Sparrow, the Father’s delight in creating, the mark of a great leader, and much more.

Listen through your favorite podcast app and watch on YouTube.

Links From The Show:

Sparrow Collective

Sparrow and Co.

Sparrow On Main

S Coaching

Produced by Lauren Chandler, Steven Cooper, and Kent Rabalais

Music by Steven Cooper

Edited by Kent Rabalais

Chapters

00:00 Bumper 

00:38 Welcome

02:09 What’s Your Favorite Cheat Meal?

06:42 The Power Of A Safe Place To Create

09:13 Seeing And Knowing People With Great Questions

15:00 Big Dreams And Bold Faith 

16:59 Creating A Welcoming Place To Catalyze Identify, Gifting, And Purpose 

18:18 Retail Is Hard But This One Is Unique And Rewarding

20:27 Launching S Coaching

21:49 The Long Journey Of Making And Sharing

22:36 The Father’s Delight In Creating

23:10 Creativity Meets Courage And Community With Sparrow

26:14 The Mark Of A Great Leader: Empowering Others

34:39 Big Things Start Small And Take A Long Time To Grow

39:38 It’s Impossible To Grow Without Help

44:54 Sharing Takes Courage

49:02 The Great Tradeoff Of Making And Sharing In A Creator’s Economy

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Kent, Lauren, and Steven talk to Melanie McWhorter about launching Edison Coffee Co. ten years ago with her husband, J. We explore how Mel and J were both formed by their parents’ hospitality, the power a teacher can have with a few words of encouragement, the influence of servant leadership from a mentor in college, the dream to create a local space for coffee, ideas, and people to converge, learning through failure, major ups and downs in the Edison journey, how the Night Is Normal and much more.

Links:

Edison Coffee Co.

Edison Instagram

The Body Keeps The Score

The Night Is Normal

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Kent, Lauren, and Steven are joined by artist, songwriter, composer, and producer Nathan Nockels to discuss his new solo album, Everywhere The River Goes.

We talk about the epic Lego Home Alone house, a couple of powerful turning points in Nathan’s musical career, Ethan Hawke’s Ted talk on creative storytelling, crafting a soundtrack that can inspire creativity and depth without being distracting, the painful process of defeating “resistance,” Rick Rubin’s reducer philosophy, and more.

Links:

Everywhere The River Goes

Lego Home Alone House

Ethan Hawke - Give Yourself Permission To Be Creative

Steven Pressfield - The War Of Art

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In this episode, Lauren, Steven, and Kent are joined by author Craig Cunningham to talk about his coming-of-age novel, One Night In A Thousand Years.

Our discussion moves from the original true story that inspired the novel, why it sounds so much like a real-life Dead Poets Society, Craig’s journey in trying to make One Night, the problem with a “masterpiece” mentality, the challenge with sharing this story with the world, and how Kent first got involved with producing the film and upcoming audiobook.

Content referenced in today’s episode:

Craig’s Website

Dead Poets Society

Kent’s One Night Spotify Playlist

Craig’s One Night Spotify Playlist

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Lauren, Steven, and Kent have a discussion about "why" they wanted to create Make It. Share It. This episode includes stories from each of their journeys in the creative process, their hopes in hearing from other creators of all kinds, why it's encouraging to hear about people in their 40s and older continuing to create, a crazy story involving The Chainsmokers, thoughts on The Taste Gap, and advice from Billy Corgan. Here are some links that are referenced in today's episode:

The Taste Gap

Whatever Is Lovely with Lauren Chandler

Let's Play Heardle on Instagram

Story Script with Kent Rabalais

Kent Studio

Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers

Produced by Lauren Chandler, Steven Cooper, and Kent Rabalais

Music by Steven Cooper

Edited by Kent Rabalais

Chapters

00:00 Bumper 

00:40 Introduction

02:08 Why Make It. Share It. - Lauren

06:11 Why Make It. Share It. - Steven

09:50 Why Make It. Share It. - Kent

13:00 Share It! No Matter What

23:20 The Taste Gap 

27:23 Billy Corgan's Advice (Smashing Pumpkins)

32:25 What To Expect In Future Episodes And Closing

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