Never Work a Day

On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Michael Ventura, founder of the strategy and design firm Sub Rosa and author of Applied Empathy and the upcoming Constellation Thinking. For nearly two decades Michael helped organizations like Google, Nike, GE and the United Nations turn purpose into practice, and he has taught empathy at Princeton and West Point. We talk about why a company should make its story true before it tells it, what leading 40 soldiers from every walk of American life teaches about management, why selling his company was a way to honor his 24-year-old self, and why a constellation of pursuits serves us better than a single North Star.

Learn more about Michael: https://www.michaelventura.co

Pre-order Constellation Thinking, out January 5, 2027: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Constellation-Thinking/Michael-Ventura/9798893311211

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCDDNN7G

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/1688/9798893311211

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/constellation-thinking-michael-ventura/1147850005

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On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Adam Lehman and Jason Bacher of What Else, a fully remote brand design studio built around utility, kindness, and creativity. Adam founded the studio after more than a decade in corporate branding and brand strategy. Jason joined as partner and head of strategy. Rather than keeping a permanent staff, they assemble a custom team around each client problem. We talk about why design cannot save the world, what a brand shares with a friend walking into a room, why asking a client what they hate works better than asking what they want, and why they treat their own company as an ongoing experiment.

Learn more about What Else: https://whatelse.studio

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Terry Guy has spent his career turning the art world's rules upside down — and he's not done yet. As the founder of Secret Walls, the global competitive art event that's redefined what it means to watch someone create, Terry has had a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic cultural shifts of our time: the moment graffiti stopped being a crime and started becoming a career. In this episode, he traces that journey from the guerilla marketing tactics he used to discover raw talent on the streets, to scouting the next generation of competitors through Instagram, to taking his boldest idea yet straight to the LA28 Olympic committee. He also pulls back the curtain on what makes Secret Walls team battles so uniquely compelling: strangers paired together, forced to strategize and co-create on the clock. It's a conversation about art, competition, community, and what happens when you refuse to let creativity stay inside the lines.

Check out Secret Walls: https://secretwalls.world/ 

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On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Shantell Martin, a visual artist, performer, and cultural facilitator whose iconic line based work sits at the intersection of art, identity, and technology. From teaching at MIT Media Lab and NYU Tisch to collaborating with brands like The North Face, Tiffany & Co, and Vitra, Shantell has built a multidisciplinary practice rooted in exploration and play. Through her installations, performances, and global exhibitions, she continues to challenge how we think about creativity, storytelling, and self expression, empowering others to find their own line and path.

Check out her work:

• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube

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On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Tracey Baker-Simmons — a pioneering producer and entertainment executive whose 25+ year career helped shape modern music video culture and reality television. From her early days in marketing at Warner Bros. and producing alongside Organized Noize, to creating iconic visuals with artists like Nas, Brandy, and Queen Latifah, Tracey went on to break new ground with Being Bobby Brown, one of reality TV’s most influential series. Today, she continues to lead as a showrunner and executive producer across film, television, and unscripted storytelling, with projects spanning A&E, Peacock, Hulu, Showtime, and Hallmark — building a legacy rooted in culture, access, and powerful narrative impact. 

Check Out Traceys website: http://www.traceybakersimmons.com/

Traceys Substack: https://substack.com/@tbakersimmons

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One year ago, Never Work a Day began as a search for fulfillment in work and grew into honest, generous conversations about creativity, community, reinvention, and moving forward when the world feels uncertain.

In this special episode, we revisit favorite moments from the past year exploring world building, truth telling, designing people first systems, making space for joy, and using new tools (including AI) without losing our humanity.

We close with a short guided meditation to reset, breathe, and return to yourself.

Please follow the incredible guests featured in this episode, and thank you for listening.

Featured:

:56 Nickey Frankel – https://previewmedia.com/

3:00 Noor Tagouri – https://www.noortagouri.com

11:08 Eleni Simos – https://www.thecleaneatingchick.com/

12:45 Arana Hankin Biggers – https://www.thetravelagency.co

Kanene Ayo Holder – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaneneayoholder

17:41 Paul Jun – https://pauljun.me

22:43 Mica + Noah Scalin – https://www.anotherlimitedrebellion.com/

28:49 Atiba T. Edwards – https://www.brooklynkids.org

33:25 Solonje Burnett – https://www.solonjeburnett.com/

36:15 Joe Lazer – https://www.joelazer.com

44:00 Emily Joffrion – https://www.emilyjoffrion.com

48:08 Amber Godfrey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4npwdPXO4Vc

50:00 Marisa Löwenstein – https://marisalowenstein.com

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In this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with legendary creative thought leader James Victore — the artist, designer, and renegade educator known for pushing people to live boldly and create with purpose. Described as “part Darth Vader, part Yoda,” James has spent his career helping others find clarity, courage, and their true creative voice. From apprenticing under Paul Bacon at 23, to exhibiting at MoMA and the Louvre, to working with global brands like Adobe, MailChimp, Bobbi Brown, and The New York Times — James’ journey is a masterclass in choosing yourself and making a living doing what you love. We dive into his philosophy, his rebellious design ethos, his teaching years at SVA, his move to small-town Texas, and the dangerous ideas behind his life-changing book Feck Perfuction. This episode is a must-listen for anyone craving creative freedom, personal truth, and a reminder that your voice is your superpower.

Learn more about James: https://yourworkisagift.com

Instagram: @jamesvictore

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On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Vaughn Terry Jelks — a fashion designer, bespoke tailor, and cultural architect whose roots in Gary, Indiana shaped a lifelong belief that style is identity, dignity, and storytelling. From discovering his craft at home to training at FIDM and breaking into the industry under legendary costumer Bill Whitten, Vaughn went on to design for Earth, Wind & Fire, Prince, and countless music icons. His work helped define the Purple Rain era, evolved through major fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta and J. Mendel, and was recently honored in The Met’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition. Today, he continues building his legacy through his couture atelier, new collaborations with Paisley Park, and the upcoming Purple Rain stage musical.

More about Vaughn:

www.vaughnterryjelks.com

@vaughnterryjelks

@vaughnterry_official

Mentioned:

Earth, Wind, & Fire 

Prince

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style

Purple Rain - Prince

Street Unicorns by Robbie Quinn

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On this episode of Never Work a Day, we sit down with Atiba T. Edwards, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum — the first museum in the world created just for kids. From his early days on Wall Street as a top-ranked Fixed Income Research Analyst to leading one of Brooklyn’s most beloved cultural institutions, Atiba’s journey is one of purpose, reinvention, and impact. We talk about leadership, community, creativity, and how the power of play can shape future generations.

Learn more about Atiba and the museum at https://www.brooklynkids.org 

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This week on Never Work a Day, Kanene Ayo Holder sits down with Arana Hankin‑Biggers, co-founder of The Travel Agency: A C*nn*bis Store — New York’s premier legal retail brand. Arana shares how she helped elevate the brand through design, social equity, and community-first values while scaling multiple flagship locations across NYC. We explore the changing landscape of the legal C*nn*bis market, the importance of inclusion and justice-involved ownership, and how building an experience-driven retail brand can redefine an entire industry. Tune in to learn how Arana turned vision into impact — and why in today’s world, authentic purpose and consumer trust matter more than ever.

To learn more visit: https://www.thetravelagency.co

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