Author Rachel Van Dyken's series, "The Elite" has been described as "Gossip girl meets Godfather". Sound interesting? Rachel may be a Romance Novel writer, but she's also a boundary pusher in the genre, launching young adult romance, "mafia romance", and more niche blends of storytelling. Tosca Musk (yes, Elon Musk's sister) is even working with Rachel on a live action version of "The Matchmakers" for Passionflix, the Netflix of romance. We got to her about how she gets into the writing groove, fearlessly toggling projects to stay energized, and her transition from student councelor to #1 NYT, WSJ, and USA Today bestseller.

Will Bryant is an artist that sparks 100% fun for clients like Nike, Facebook, Levi's, and more. His illustrations have scaled buildings, walls, shorts, and sandals alike, evoking an undeniable vibe fusing quirky embellishments, vibrant colors and phrasing. Lately he's even designing clothing for brands like The Quiet Life and Poler. We covered the good times DJing in full costume at Mississippi State, and how he delivers consistently and creatively, thanks to family, Friends (the 90s TV show), and the new found glory of trail running.

Ami Plasse is one of the most sociable illustrators to bless the streets of New York and Austin, TX. From live music to around-the-town scenes, his sketches capture interesting personalities in a style that everyone spots as Ami's. He's even published a book, Ami Underground — a kaleidoscope of sketches from New York’s subway system. Did we mention he’s also a seasoned creative director? We talked about why it’s okay to be an extroverted artist, his grind at Parsons, riding bikes, and where his company, Gonzo Viz, is headed!

Amanda Rockman is a pastry chef who’s competed on Top Chef: Just Desserts, and has triumphed by Beating Bobby Flay with her Tiramisu. Today, she’s Executive Pastry Chef over New Waterloo’s network of Austin, TX restaurants, including Cafe no sé, Sway, and General Standard. Her career and training has taken her through the cut-throat culinary meccas of Chi-town, San Fran, and NYC, but her solid work ethic and “I-got-this” personality paves the way for a creative character that’s built to last. Hear our discussion on mentorship, the hustle, and why doing your passion isn't always sweets and smiles.

When it comes to personal brands, ShowYouSuck (aka Clinton Sandifer) is a true beacon both online and throughout the Chicago scene. He’s worked with fellow rappers Sims, Mr. Muthaf@#kin eXquire, and more recently, Steve SLV from The Hood Internet with Air Credits, a dystopian musical project. He even has his own clothing company, Slushcult, inspired by a love for slurpees. We chatted about writing, mistakes, putting your world into the work, and how he’s kept a sense of humor about it all for the past 7 years.

Now Arby’s and The Neverending Story have something in common. One half of Chicago-based mashup pioneers The Hood Internet, Steve SLV (aka Steve Reidell) is a prolific music producer with a network that spans the globe. TBH, most musicians in the northern midwest kinda need just know him as a rite of passage (plus he’s funny). Hear us discuss teamwork and wisdom, fantasy-fueled 80s in the Twin Cities, and his new project Air Credits with rapper Showyousuck. It’s a geeky goodie!

Today we chat with Fat Tony, aka Anthony Obi. He has been working for over 10 years as a rapper/musician, holding down a solid, independent career thanks to his talent, honest demeanor, and self-aware habits. He’s worked with everyone from A$AP Rocky to brands like Volcom, while consistently working on projects that shine a light on his hometown, Houston, TX. We talked about creative sprints between projects, building an organic community in places like Mexico City, and we can’t forget about the 90s Polo.

We're back with the Texas-based artist, illustrator, and all-around maker Alyson Fox. This round, we learn how Alyson found comfort embracing uncomfortable projects and mysterious mediums, while still managing to collaborate with H&M, West Elm, and Lulu Lemon, and hold the title as a pioneer in the self-made maker movement. Hear about her transition from track runner in college to creative, her time at Anthropologie, and what put her in the Guinness Book of world record!

For our first-ever episode of the The Petty Pod, we sit down with Ben Aqua, a household name for electronic music, art, video, and so many other mediums. Ben gives us a recap of why music was perfect timing for so many things going on in his life, and expands on how he's able to toggle so many mediums at once, including his t-shirt endeavors that has resulted in some big name retailers attempting to steal his ideas. This is a exactly how we'd love to celebrate our first episode and I'm lucky to have Ben in the house for this one. Check out Ben Aqua here:

http://benaqua.org/

IG: @b3naqua

https://www.etsy.com/shop/b3naqua#_=_

Like the intro music? Visit http://soundcloud.com/pettypod to download it for free!