Matt Vojacek is the Founder and Creative Director of Made by Things, where he merges his passion for creativity with his roles as an entrepreneur, husband, and father. He prides himself on being a creative thinker and continuously strives to live up to the aspirations of his 12-year-old self. Every day, Matt is dedicated to shaping a world that his younger self would be proud to see, driving innovation and leadership in the creative industry.

What You'll Learn:

• Different approaches to managing creative teams and processes.
• How personal experiences shape professional growth and creative output.
• Strategies for adapting business models in response to personal challenges and industry demands.
• The importance of creating a supportive and flexible work environment in creative industries.

Episode Overview:

In this engaging episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa sit down with Matt Vojacek, founder and creative director of Made By Things. Watch as they explore the intricacies of creative processes in digital studios, the journey of adapting to and overcoming professional challenges, and the personal stories behind the artists' inspirations and motivations. Key moments include a heartfelt discussion on personal losses and how these have influenced their creative outputs and business philosophies.

Brandie Grace Wong is the dynamic founder of Totally Brand It, an Operations and Strategy Agency that specializes in boosting agency revenues and optimizing operational efficiency. With a diverse entrepreneurial background that includes everything from selling healthy coffee to photography and custom t-shirts, Brandie's journey reflects a steadfast commitment to adding value and making a positive impact. An advocate for continuous growth and helping others build wealth, Brandie's multifaceted life blends intense business acumen with a passion for rugby, art, and living life to the fullest.

What You'll Learn:

• Transitioning skill sets from photography to filmmaking.
• The impact of AI on business operations and creative processes.
• Strategies for authentic business growth and efficient operation management.
• How to leverage AI for better efficiency and scalability in creative businesses.

Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl and Ross together with their guest Brandie Grace Wong dive deep into the nuances of running a creative business, with a particular focus on operations, strategy, and the effective integration of systems for scaling businesses efficiently. Brandie shares her journey from photography to filmmaking, discusses the pivotal role of AI in streamlining operations, and offers insights into sustaining authentic business growth through strategic innovations.

Beginning his career at just seventeen, Julien-Pier Bélanger started working with Daniel Leblanc at Lihu Photographie in Montreal, where he developed a deep passion for photography. His artistic journey took an exciting turn when he ventured into videography while shooting a music video for his band, discovering a newfound love for storytelling through film. Today, he is dedicated to helping artists and entrepreneurs showcase their authentic selves, capturing their unique visions through his compelling videography.

What You'll Learn:

• Transitioning Careers
• The Role of AI in Creative Industries
• Networking and Business Development
• The Essence of Business Partnerships
• Mentorship and Growth

In This Episode:

Join host Carl and guest Julien-Pier Bélanger as they dive deep into the nuances of launching and running a creative business in today's digital age. Discussing their journey from photography to filmmaking, insights on embracing AI, and strategies for authentic business growth.

Greg Walter, the owner and creative director of 2Tall Animation, brings excitement and community spirit to sports and lifestyle brands through dynamic animation. His studio not only serves major clients like Puma, FOX Sports, NFL, and ESPN but also creates captivating original content, such as the NBA "Playoffs KNOCKOUT" series, which has amassed over 200 million views. Before venturing into sports animation, Greg crafted original educational and scripted children's shows, achieving international recognition and widespread viewership.

What You'll Learn: Transitioning into Sports Animation Navigating Business Dynamics Creative Challenges in Sports Storytelling Personal Insights and Studio Management

Episode Overview: In this engaging episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl Cleanthes, founder of Epic Made, and Ross Ciuppa, Creative Director, sit down with Greg Walter, owner and creative director of 2Tall Animation. They delve into the world of sports animation and storytelling, exploring how it differs from more traditional branding and corporate projects. Greg shares his journey into sports content creation, revealing insights into the adventurous and innovative nature of the industry and the unique challenges it poses.

Minta Carlson is a seasoned Creative Director specializing in advanced Generative AI (GenAI) workflows, currently offering her expertise in consulting on integrations at Promptcrafted. With a keen eye for innovation and a deep understanding of AI's role in creative processes, she assists clients in harnessing the power of AI to enhance their artistic and operational outputs. Minta's leadership at Promptcrafted is marked by her commitment to blending technology with creativity to unlock new possibilities in the digital landscape.

What You'll Learn:

• How AI can augment the creative process and what this means for artists and creators.
• The distinction between black box and open-source AI models and how each impacts art creation.
• Ethical considerations and the future of copyright in AI-generated art.
• Practical insights on how artists can leverage AI effectively in their projects.

Episode Overview:

Join Carl and Ross on the Pixel Retentive Podcast as they engage in an in-depth conversation with Minta Carlson; intersection of AI and art. Minta, an artist and creative consultant, dives into how AI is reshaping creative workflows, the ethical implications of AI in art, and her own experiences with generative AI models.

Justine Clay is a seasoned business coach, writer, speaker, and ADHD coach dedicated to empowering creative professionals and entrepreneurs. With over 15 years of experience in representing top-tier creatives in New York City, Justine transitioned to coaching, utilizing her Profitable by Design framework to help clients stand out in their marketplace, effectively market their unique value, and build robust operational systems to enhance their business growth. Through a combination of one-on-one coaching, group programs, and workshops, she guides creative business owners in refining their marketing strategies, pricing their services appropriately, and leveraging their distinct talents to attract high-quality clients.

What You'll Learn:

• How ADHD impacts creativity and business strategies.
• Techniques for managing a creative company with a neurodivergent team.
• Personal insights from Justine on coaching neurodivergent creatives.
• Experiences and strategies for running a business tailored to neurodivergent needs.
• Benefits of a neurodiverse team and how to lead it effectively.

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Pixel Retentive, Carl is joined by Justine Clay, a seasoned business coach, speaker, and ADHD coach for creative freelancers and entrepreneurs. They dive deep into the unique challenges and strategies of building a creative company while managing ADHD. Justine shares insightful tips on harnessing the unique strengths of a neurodivergent workforce and optimizing business operations for creative minds.

Katie DeMatteis is a dynamic marketing professional renowned for her expertise in crafting engaging narratives and utilizing digital tactics to boost brand visibility across various sectors. With almost ten years of experience, she has collaborated with a range of clients, from emerging startups to well-established corporations. Her proficiency encompasses content creation, brand development, and strategic campaign planning. Throughout her career, Katie has made significant contributions to numerous organizations, showcasing her leadership in thought leadership, sales enablement, email campaigns, and B2B marketing, excelling in roles such as consultant, content marketing manager, and head of marketing.

• Creative content strategy approaches
• Overcoming fear of risk in creative content
• Memorable brand activations and campaigns

Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl hosts Katie DeMatteis, an expert in content marketing with over 11 years of experience in gaming, cybersecurity, and B2B tech. Discussing creative content strategy, highlighting the importance of testing unconventional ideas through A/B experiments. Katie addresses the fear of risk in creative content, advocating for starting small and validating ideas before scaling

Mackenzie Jackson is the CEO & Co-Founder of Alliance Studio which was founded in 2019. She is also operating within Epic Games Support a Creator Partner program, contributing to the development and design featured on Fortnite's expanding Creative Platform. Collaborating with external marketing firms and brands, she spearhead campaigns tailored to enhance the Fortnite Creative landscape.

What You'll Learn:

• Personal challenges and community support
• Insights into the transformation of gaming culture and community dynamics
• Exploration of Fortnite's innovative methods for brand engagement and community building
• Potential collaborations with industry leaders

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Pixel Retentive Podcast, Ross and Carl invite Mackenzie Jackson. She talks about her own Fortnite experience in 2018 starting from becoming a member of the game to establishing her studio in 2019; she also shares her thoughts on how it changed over that time, as well as its difficulties. In the same vein, it reveals how gaming culture has been transformed into a breeding ground for gaming creators and how Fortnite brand collaborations have revolutionized marketing. 

Ben Burns is a designer, entrepreneur, author, and leader who currently serves as COO at The Futur. Before joining The Futur, he founded Burnt Creative, a brand experience agency in Richmond, Virginia, and served as Vice President on the executive board of the Richmond AIGA chapter. With a BA in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina and a Masters Certificate in Cyber Security from Armstrong Atlantic University, Ben has collaborated with brands like DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, AMC, TBS, Team USA, Laika, and Hyatt, along with several startups.

What You'll Learn:

• The role and impact of AI in the creative process.
• Strategies to unlock and nurture creativity.
• Insights on valuing and pricing creative work.
• Recommendations from Ben Burns for resources and creators to follow.

Episode Overview:

In the Pixel Retentive Podcast episode with Ben Burns, Carl and John discuss the impact of AI on creativity, emphasizing the importance of leveraging AI tools without replacing human creativity. Ben, Carl, and John share insights on nurturing creativity, removing performance pressure, and valuing creative work appropriately, noting the challenge of finding clients who appreciate the creator's value. 

Mark Jamnik offers a unique and interactive approach to abstract art through his innovative Subliminal Story Art, which connects below the threshold of consciousness, drawing inspiration from everyday life. With a mission to make art more approachable and meaningful, he engages corporate teams and entrepreneurs by embedding their contributions and values into custom artworks. A seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse background, Mark has also coached over 400 CEOs and sales professionals globally, honing his strategies and fueling his creativity through various passions, including skiing and meditation.

What You'll Learn:

• The distinction between selling and genuine connection
• The concept and practice of subliminal story art
• The value of authenticity in business relationships
• The significance of mentorship and community support

In This Episode: In this enlightening episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa engage in a profound discussion with Mark Jamnik on the art of building intentional business relationships. They explore the nuances of connecting authentically in the creative industry and the importance of mentorship and community.