Warriors & Roses™ with Michelle Rose

In this episode of Warriors & Roses, host Michelle Rose talks with creative director, writer, and former colleague Morgan Love Thomas about what happens when a successful creative life collapses from the inside… and what it takes to rebuild from almost nothing.

Morgan and Michelle first knew each other at The North Face, where they both led creative teams and built a mutual respect through the work. Years later, they reconnected after Morgan shared a deeply personal post on LinkedIn about his mental health crisis, a moment he feared might be “career suicide,” but which instead opened the door to connection, honesty, and this conversation.

Morgan’s story moves through depression, undiagnosed bipolar disorder, misdiagnosis, mania, psychosis, psychiatric holds, incarceration, family rupture, and the failure of systems that were supposed to protect him. He speaks candidly about being unable to advocate for himself, being placed in unsafe environments, and discovering how quickly a person in crisis can be mislabeled, mishandled, and stripped of dignity.

But this episode is not only about what broke.

It is also about what returned.

Michelle and Morgan explore the deeper creative wound underneath the crisis: the lifelong feeling that his work.. especially work in graphics, apparel, and T-shirts… was somehow less serious or less valuable, even though it shaped culture, carried meaning, and connected people. When so much of his former life was stripped away, creativity became one of the few things Morgan could still recognize as his own.

They also talk about purpose-driven work, Morgan’s apparel project MAKELOVE™, his desire to give back to mental health advocacy, and the creative community in Leimert Park that helped him reconnect with art, humanity, and love. In that community, Morgan found not polish or prestige, but something more essential: real people, real creativity, and the kind of belonging that helps a person come back to themselves.

This is a conversation about mental health, creative value, family rupture, broken systems, midlife identity, and the kind of self-love that is not soft or sentimental but disciplined, hard-won, and necessary.

It is about what happens when everything familiar is taken away, and the only way forward is to rebuild from truth, purpose, creativity, and love.

A gentle note before listening: this episode touches on mental health crisis, suicidal ideation, psychiatric holds, incarceration, and family rupture, so please take care of yourself as you listen.

00:00 Welcome to Warriors & Roses01:47 The LinkedIn post that opened the conversation03:01 The North Face, creative work, and professional identity04:40 The hidden struggles midlife creatives carry08:32 Creativity, purpose, and Make Love10:48 Morgan begins his mental health story12:16 Misdiagnosis, mania, and psychiatric crisis25:56 What mania feels like from the inside29:04 Family rupture, sleeplessness, and psychosis37:36 Inside a broken psychiatric system50:49 The community that helped Morgan heal57:04 Creativity, belonging, and coming back to himself01:18:44 Learning to love yourself01:24:45 Closing the conversation

MORGAN LOVE THOMAS

Morgan Love Thomas is a Creative Director living in Portland, Oregon.

With over twenty five years of product, brand, and retail marketing experience, Morgan has the proven ability to lead design organizations across a variety of consumer segments, including cannabis (wellness), lifestyle, sport, and outdoor.

His work has been recognized and awarded by Communication Arts, The Type Directors Club, Print Magazine, Graphis, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).

Morgan is currently writing a book about his experience. You can join the waitlist here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

What would you do if the doctors you sought help from actually poisoned you?

The mental health system in this country is broken. Not metaphorically. Literally. Broken.

This book is one man’s proof.

After a misdiagnosis triggered a full psychiatric crisis in his undiagnosed bipolar brain, Morgan Love Thomas entered a system that was supposed to save him. Instead- it imprisoned, demeaned and ridiculed him. And continued to poison him.

California’s public psychiatric facilities — overcrowded, underserved, and indifferent — are jails for the mentally ill dressed in clinical language. Inside, there is no treatment, no dignity, no path forward.

Only forced medication, confusion, humiliation, fear, and the slow erosion of self.

I Flew Into the Cuckoo’s Nest is a first-person account of institutional failure told without filtering and without apology. It follows one man’s descent from misdiagnosis through mania to full on psychosis — and his time locked inside the wards of some of California’s worst psychiatric facilities as well as the notorious LA County Jail... Places that call themselves treatment centers, but offer nothing resembling care.

It is raw. It is specific.

And it does not look away.

This is not just one man’s story, it is a case for change.

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode has been brought to you by Struktur Society… a multimedia publishing and community platform tracking and translating how creativity, business, and technology shape culture in the age of AI, across design, art, and music. Through writing, podcasting, and live events, we share insights, prompts, and practices for modern creative leadership.

© StrukturSphere llc 2026. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode 01 kicks off the Struktur Mind Meld with a conversation that zooms out before we zoom in.

I sit down with Richard Campbell, a technologist who wrote his first line of code in 1977 and has spent decades across hardware, software, development, and operations. With founder experience (including Strangeloop Networks, later acquired by Radware) and a long track record as a builder, advisor, and host of shows like .NET Rocks, RunAs Radio, and Windows Weekly, Richard brings a rare “been there for every wave” perspective.

Together, we map the development of AI: how we got from there to here, where we may be headed next, and then get real about what’s underneath so many people’s reactions to this moment: fear. Fear of job loss. Fear of being replaced. Fear of not keeping up. Richard and I will unpack what AI is (and isn’t), how it actually functions as a tool, and why the more useful story for creatives isn’t replacement, it’s amplification: doing your work faster and better, and making things you couldn’t have made before. We’ll explore all of this and more.

If you’ve been keeping your distance because AI feels threatening or overwhelming, this episode is an on-ramp: grounded, human, and practical. And if you’ve joined past Mind-Melds and wished for a more technical edge, this conversation signals what’s next: we’re moving beyond the basics, widening the lens, and bringing in deeper expert perspectives while staying accessible.

RICHARD CAMPBELLRichard Campbell wrote his first line of code in 1977. His career has spanned the computing industry both on the hardware and software sides, development and operations. He was a co-founder of Strangeloop Networks, acquired by Radware in 2013, and was on the board of directors of Telerik acquired by Progress Software in 2014. Today he is a consultant and advisor to several successful technology firms and serves as the chairperson of Cloud Army, a consumer neuroscience company. Richard also hosts the podcasts .NET Rocks, RunAs Radio, and Windows Weekly. He is one of the producers of the DevIntersection series of conferences.

https://runasradio.com/

https://www.dotnetrocks.com/

https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

https://devintersection.com/

ABOUT THE MIND-MELDThe Struktur AI Mind-Meld is a collaborative gathering for artists, designers, musicians, and creative professionals to explore the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence through coversation, shared insight, lived experience, and open discussion.

Together, we’ll dig into the challenges, fears, opportunities, and ideas that AI brings to our work and creative lives. We’ll ask questions, exchange tools and resources, and share how each of us is navigating this fast-moving space.

Expect a space for:• Honest dialogue about what’s shifting and what’s staying grounded• Peer-to-peer stories and strategies• Leadership and clarity in times of rapid change• Collective insight into creative futures shaped by human + machine collaboration

This is creative community in action, not about mastering AI, but about shaping how we meet it.

ABOUT STRUKTUR SOCIETY

Struktur Society is a multimedia publishing and community platform tracking and translating how creativity, business, and technology shape culture in the age of AI, across design, art, and music. Through writing, podcasting, and live events, we share insights, prompts, and practices for modern creative leadership.

Follow Struktur Society on Substack, YouTube, Instagram, and now on Bluesky.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This episode dives into what it means to dedicate your life to an art form that’s constantly changing, even crumbling, beneath you.

Greg Brace, a lifelong metal musician, composer, and performer, began his creative journey in an era when music still lived in CDs, magazines, and sweaty live rooms. He watched the industry shift… from analog to digital, from albums to algorithms… and had to rebuild not only his career but his identity as an artist, all while staying true to the magic of music.

Now, finding new momentum and recognition in midlife, Greg’s story becomes a meditation on resilience, evolution, and the courage to stay devoted to human-created sound when the entire landscape changes around you.

Join me in conversation with my friend, guitar teacher, and partner in life as we dig into his creative path as a professional musician, artist, and performer.

00:00:34 Cold Open: “All my answers are provided by Claude.”00:01:00 Welcome + premise: the constant fight to stay creative00:01:33 Core question: the artist you are and the fighter you’ve had to become00:02:16 The calling: identity, instinct, and why you do what you do00:06:51 When the fight starts: band dynamics, limits, money, survival00:10:11 A break + the industry shift + “bursting out”00:11:28 “It’s not about the business” expression over fame00:14:06 Craft origins: composition degree00:18:08 The Skeleton Key: craft, theory, and creative freedom00:25:37 Play, language, Morning Pages: the mind that moves things around00:39:41 The modern fight: overload, comparison, finding traction00:46:31 Rituals that hold you: meditation and making space01:05:01 Armor, endurance, and keeping the flame alive01:15:36 AI era context: doubling down on the human process01:21:52 Closing words: trust intuition and tap into the subtleties

GREG BRACE

Greg Brace has had a multifaceted musical career spanning more than 25 years.

Based out of Oakland, CA, he is an active recording and touring musician across multiple instruments (guitar, bass, vocals) and is a film/media composer and music educator. Greg’s musical writing and design styles range from virtuosic and darkly cerebral to ambient and meditative to orchestral and cinematic.

In the recent past, Greg has worked in Dispirit as live and recording guitarist with John Gossard, known as the godfather of American Black Metal (Weakling, Asunder), and shared the stage with artists like Blood Incantation, Yob, and Drab Majesty.

His current focus is guitarist and backing vocalist for the band Vastum, where he serves as co-creative and pre production director for their upcoming sixth studio album.

As a music educator and mentor specializing in guitar, Greg helps students deepen their musical capabilities through a blend of self-directed creative exploration and thoughtful study of music theory and composition.

Drawing on his experience across vastly different musical contexts, he believes that adept musicians must develop their own voice through dedicated creative experimentation while grasping the core elements of music, and understanding what’s come before.

He emphasizes helping students understand themselves through music and connect with the world through performance, showing how the same foundational skills serve both crushing death metal riffs and delicate ambient soundscapes… and everywhere in between.

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode has been brought to you by Struktur Society… a multimedia publishing and community platform tracking and translating how creativity, business, and technology shape culture in the age of AI, across design, art, and music. Through writing, podcasting, and live events, we share insights, prompts, and practices for modern creative leadership.

© StrukturSphere llc 2026. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Warriors & Roses dives into the emotional reality of creative life... the loneliness, obsession, and persistence it takes to build something beautiful out of chaos.

Host Michelle Rose talks with musicians, designers, and writers who have fought for their art and found meaning in the struggle.

Through the fight, the ritual, and the release, these long-form conversations explore what it costs to stay open, inspired, and human in a world that often demands armor.

This is where the warrior meets the artist ... where courage and creation collideThis episode explores the dissolution and rebirth of identity... how creativity doesn’t end when a career does, but moves inward, reshaping who we are and how we serve.

Designer and former creative leader Daniela Caine built her career in the outerwear and performance world... at brands like Columbia Sportswear and Adidas... where design was equal parts art and endurance. But when layoffs, freelancing, and family health crises converged, her sense of self as a “creative professional” unraveled.

In that unraveling, she found something else: a new calling rooted in healing, breathwork, and coaching. Today she helps transform apparel brands from the inside out through Nervous System Regulation and Leadership Calibration for healthier teams, product, profits, and ultimately, a healthier planet.

This conversation is about transformation, embodiment, and the creative instinct to rebuild... not a career, but a self.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.

In this episode my co-host, Bob Smith, and I sit down with creative apparel designer Adrienne Mercante.

Adrienne has led design at some of the most innovative brands in the performance apparel space—including Outlier, Betabrand, Western Rise, Nathan Sports, and Skechers. Moving fluidly between concept and execution, her work blends aesthetic vision with hands-on problem-solving across startups and scaling companies.

We talk about the early sparks of her creativity, the subcultures that shaped her, and what it takes to keep evolving in an industry that often tries to pigeon-hole. From freelancing to leadership, menswear to 3D prototyping, Adrienne’s story is one of risk, reinvention, and the resilience built by forging your own path.

00:00 Introduction to the UnStruktured Podcast

00:05 Meet Adrienne Mercante: A Journey in Creative Apparel Design

02:02 Early Influences and Childhood Memories

05:16 Discovering a Passion for Sewing and Creativity

08:24 High School Subcultures: Goth and Raver Fashion

13:49 College Years: Balancing Columbia and FIT

17:01 Navigating the Post-College Job Market

25:26 Freelance Bookkeeping and the Mysterious Woman with an Eye Patch

37:04 Joining Outlier: Revolutionizing Performance Apparel

43:43 In-House Production and Pattern Making at Outlier

46:54 Meeting and Career Beginnings

47:03 Betabrand Experience

47:32 Challenges at Betabrand

50:31 Transition to Freelance

51:28 Niche Career Path

51:57 Industry Challenges and Pigeonholing

52:39 Leadership and Creativity

58:34 Men’s Wear Design Rules

01:20:10 AI and 3D Technology in Fashion

01:28:42 Risk Taking and Resilience

ADRIENNE MERCANTE

Adrienne Mercante is a creative apparel designer with both aesthetic and business credentials. She holds degrees in fashion, pattern making and art history, as well as an M.B.A.

Her background and capabilities in concept and color, technical design and product development, make her a preferred choice for a start-up apparel business or an apparel business entering a growth phase.

She has worked at many such businesses, including Betabrand, Outlier, Western Rise, Nathan Sports, and Skechers. She is always on the hunt for new technologies or skills to apply to her craft and is currently engaged with 3D prototyping.

When she isn’t in full on design mode, you may spot her and her partner, the one and only Bob Smith, out in the world cracking jokes and talking shop.

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation.

From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future. Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.

In this episode, Bob Smith and I sit down with Damien E-LOVE Matthias, award-winning producer, entrepreneur, and a powerful force in the early formation of hip hop.

We begin at the intersection of music, design, and cultural resistance with the story of how E-LOVE himself became immortalized as the figure in the iconic Public Enemy logo. From that lasting image, we trace his journey… from growing up in the Caribbean, South Bronx, and Queens, to shaping the early sound and message of hip hop alongside legends like LL Cool J, Chuck D, and Rick Rubin.

In this conversation, we open a window into how creativity moves culture, how identity is shaped across geographies, and how E-LOVE turned vision into venture, never losing sight of purpose or people.

00:00 Introduction to the UnStruktured Podcast

01:00 Hip Hop's Early Days and Influences with Bob and Michelle

04:32 E-LOVE joins in: Technical Difficulties and Personal Stories

08:29 E LOVE's Iconic Public Enemy Logo

11:34 E LOVE's Early Life and Influences

20:12 Meeting LL Cool J, Rick Rubin, and the Rise of Def Jam

25:40 The Evolution of Hip Hop

28:03 The B-Boy Stance and Breakdancing

31:43 Creating a Culture and Marketing Strategies

36:34 Hip Hop Movies and 'Krush Groove'

39:26 Taking Chances in the Creative Industry

41:14 The Political Evolution of Hip Hop

42:02 The Impact of 'Do the Right Thing'

43:08 A Life-Changing Incident in 1989

44:01 Transition to Politics and Bill Clinton's Campaign

01:00:03 The Role of Technology in the Future

01:03:09 Tokyo Comic-Con and Stan Lee

01:10:52 Final Thoughts and Inspirational Messages

AN E-LOVE STORY

E-LOVE is a multi-platinum award-winning writer, producer, director, and a Federally Registered Lobbyist who sold more than 40 million records as an Artist/Producer and marketing Guru since 1984. He was an integral player in the ascension of Hip Hop, where brand references became shorthand for aspiration and status with nothing more than references in a song or shots in a video.

E-LOVE is best known for co-producing and performing with LL Cool J, among Def Jam Records’ first artists, and was instrumental in launching the careers of Tupac and John Forte. E-LOVE was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 30, 2021, and is literally the symbol of hip hop, the Public Enemy Logo, the # 1 hip hop logo of all time. He is the silhouette of the man in a hat, standing, arms folded, with a crosshair positioned over the top.

E-LOVE was born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, the middle of eight children of Caribbean immigrants. He grew up in South Bronx and Queens, New York. At age eight, E-LOVE recognized the incredible power of the media after winning a prize on the nation’s number one kids’ show, Wonderama, earning instant fame that lasted a week, a feeling he would never forget. From dean’s office to favorite student, to a producer earning a Grammy and multiple MTV and Soul Train, to co-founder of VR Innovator, in 2014, a pioneering hardware and software/content creator for all media, gaming, television, film, VR, and AI.

By March 1984, while NYU students Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons were co-founding the independent, fledgling Def Jam Label, E-LOVE was in junior high school in Queens, creating demos in his parents’ garage. In his neighborhood, all the kids were into rap. Run D.M.C. from Queens just broke, about to drop their record, and on the radio with Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to sign a major record deal. All the kids were making demos to emulate Kurtis Blow and Run D.M.C. So E- LOVE purchased $3500 worth of recording equipment with money he won in a snow shoveling contest.

Around that time, E-LOVE and LL Cool J met as teenagers in Queens when the hip-hop scene was first “blowing up”. They teamed up, produced a single, “I Need A Beat” and “Dangerous” on the B side, and submitted their demo to numerous record companies with no response. E-LOVE and LL Cool J ultimately sent their demo to Rick Rubin. Rubin liked the single and invited them to a meeting in New York. E-LOVE and LL Cool J, with $5 between them for pizza, jumped the turnstile at the train station in Queens, rode to New York, met Rubin, and signed a record deal.

In 1984, Def Jam released LL Cool J’s debut single, “I Need A Beat”. This debut single sold over 500,000 copies due in large part to Def Jam’s cutting-edge innovative marketing strategies developed by E-LOVE based on the birth of the “Street Team” for Peter Gatien, known as the “King of New York City Nightlife” in the eighties and nineties. The “Street Team” brought out all the “A” listers who ran New York, from the sports, entertainment, and Wall Street, to Gatien’s clubs, including the Limelight, the gothic club for the Marilyn Manson followers; the Palladium, the pop club, the Madonna audience from Studio 54; and The Tunnel, the hip hop mecca – everybody from Run D.M.C., LL to the Notorious B.I.G. All were regulars and all performed at Peter’s clubs making him the “King of New York City Nightlife”.

In 1985, LL Cool J, DJ Cut Creator, E-LOVE, and the Fat Boys appeared as themselves in the feature film, Krush Groove, a fictionalized version of the early days of Def Jam produced by Jackson/McHenry Productions and distributed by Warner Bros, starring Kurtis Blow, Sheila E., Run D.M.C., the Fat Boys, and introducing TV Star, Blair Underwood, to film. This was one of the first hip-hop movies to go mainstream. LL Cool J performed the single Radio in Krush Groove that sold over one million copies.

E-LOVE developed a global fan base touring and performing internationally with icons and legends LL, Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, and other rising stars. His keen eye for recognizing, developing, and marketing untapped talent was instrumental in launching the careers of Tupac Shakur and John Forte.

In 1989, E-LOVE was shot 8 times during an attempted robbery and carjacking and rushed to the ER. After several days, he woke up in the middle of Last Rites being administered as he lay barely conscious, strapped to a hospital bed, tubes everywhere, nearly flat line vitals. E-LOVE was one of the first patients to be administered a treatment that consisted of an IV drip of CBD and THC. His recovery progressed over three years, with multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. E-LOVE miraculously beat all odds, his life transformed, Last Rites never forgotten.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, E-LOVE enrolled at the American Conservatory of Music (ACT) in San Francisco, California, majoring in directing, screenwriting, and producing. This life-changing decision was made after a deep conversation with music mogul, Lyor Cohen, former president of Def Jam, former Warner Bros. executive, and current global head of Music at YouTube, that E-LOVE return to school… he followed Cohen’s sage advice.

@eloveglobal

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation.

From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future. Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.In this episode my co-host, Bob Smith, and I dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence with creative director Allison Ross.

We explore the evolving landscape of AI in the creative industry, discussing its implications for designers, musicians, and artists of today and tomorrow. Allison shares her insight on AI's potential and the importance of maintaining human agency and leadership. We also address the fears and challenges AI presents, and look for balance at the intersection of technological advancement and human values.

Join us as we navigate the dawn of AI, its impact on different generations, and strategies for creatives to stay ahead in this rapidly changing field.

00:00 Introduction to the UnStruktured Podcast

00:58 Welcoming Allison Ross

01:41 The AI Landscape and Its Impact

02:24 Allison's Background and Creative Journey

05:08 Setting Intentions for the AI Discussion

10:57 Diving into AI: First Impressions and Experiences

15:02 The Evolution of AI in Creative Work

20:05 Exploring AI Tools and Platforms

33:55 The Dark Side of AI: Fears and Challenges

44:47 The Threat of AI in Apparel Design

46:50 Shared Reality and AI's Impact

49:21 Generational Perspectives on AI

51:00 AI in Education and Design

57:46 The Role of Agents in AI

01:07:09 Human Creativity vs. AI

01:14:40 Embracing AI: A Balanced View

ALLISON ROSS

Allison is a creative director and visual artist with almost 20 years of experience helping brands step up and shift culture for good.

Allison spent nine years at JDK Design, starting as a designer and rocketing up to design director. While at JDK, she worked with serious culture shifters like Burton, Nike, lululemon, Seventh Generation, and Planned Parenthood.

After leaving JDK, she spent two years as the Creative Director at Nau—a brand driven by the marriage of style and substance, fashion intertwined with sustainability and soul. Because she was on the leadership and senior management teams at nau, she was able to dive deep into retail, wholesale, e-commerce, supply chain, marketing, and learn from the inside what leading a brand really means. What she learned above all else is leading a brand is no joke, but that’s no excuse to be timid or safe.

She then spent 4 years as the head of creative at BBMG, a branding and social impact studio. While at BBMG, she worked with brands like ASPCA, OceanX, Taco Bell and Estée Lauder to find new and authentic ways to communicate and operate with the health of humanity at its core.

In 2020, Allison launched the branding consultancy Yesterday, a collective of creatives and strategists challenging the old-school approach to branding. Allison’s motto is “friends don’t let friends create boring meaningless shit” which has helped her build strong relationships with the right clients, and has done a great job at keeping the less-right ones out.

https://yesterday.rip/

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation.

From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future. Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.In this episode, my co-host, Bob Smith, and I talk with three young artists shaping music today....Musician and Studio Founder Harun Bonnett, Artist and Performer Lake Kyle, and Producer and Mix Engineer Juan Carlos Hernandez.

From growing up in the underground music scene, to studying at Juilliard, Berklee and the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, to working with major TV shows like La Voz Mexico, sharing the stage with legends like Stevie Wonder, and touring with the influential ska group The English Beat...... we talk with this next generation of creators about hustling in the modern music industry, the value of networking and community-building, and the importance of simply showing up.

00:00 Introduction to the UnStruktured Podcast

00:59 Meet the Guests: Juan Carlos, Lake, and Harun

01:35 NAMM Experiences and Networking

03:28 Community and Support in the Music Industry

07:14 The Power of Showing Up

08:25 Karen Dunn and the Experiment

26:03 Musical Influences and Backgrounds

31:44 Musical Family Influences

32:13 First Encounter with Drums

33:24 Live Music Experiences

34:43 Church and Early Music Education

36:57 Path to Professional Music

42:41 Classical Training and Beyond

59:09 TV Music Production Journey

01:02:20 Defining Roles in the Music Industry

01:03:04 The Evolution of Music Creation

01:05:32 The Importance of Collaboration

01:06:44 Technology's Impact on Music

01:15:14 Navigating Social Media as an Artist

01:23:57 Challenges and Opportunities in the Music Industry

01:29:24 Future Aspirations and Advice

Harun Bonnett is a versatile and accomplished musician, music director, and multi-instrumentalist whose passion for music began at the age of three when he started playing drums in church. A lifelong dedication to his craft led him to prestigious training programs, including Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program (MAP) and Mannes College, and he graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2019.

Harun’s artistry spans multiple roles, including producer, arranger, programmer, and performer, making him a sought-after collaborator in both the studio and on stage. His credits include working with renowned international artists such as Xin Liu, Karencici, and Tia Ray, where his arranging and programming skills have contributed to globally recognized projects. As a multi-instrumentalist, he is equally comfortable behind the drums, keyboard, and other instruments, showcasing his adaptability and creative vision.

Currently, Harun is a proud member of the New York Giants Drumline, where he delivers high-energy performances as part of Blue Devils Entertainment. He has also toured extensively as a keyboardist with the legendary ska band, The English Beat, performing at iconic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl.

In addition to his performance career, Harun is the founder of Pacobear Studios, a recording studio based in New York City with plans to expand to Los Angeles. Through Pacobear Studios, Harun not only provides a creative space for artists but also serves as a mentor and producer, fostering emerging talent while pursuing his own innovative projects.

Harun’s career reflects his dedication to pushing musical boundaries, his ability to seamlessly navigate different genres, and his commitment to excellence in every project he undertakes. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, Harun Bonnett continues to establish himself as a dynamic force in the music industry.

IG @harunthemastermind

Born and raised between the vibrant energy of Queens and the serene rhythms of Connecticut, Lake Kyle blends hip-hop, soul and electronic elements into a unique sonic experience reflecting his diverse roots.

His journey through music has led him to share stages with icons like Stevie Wonder, DJ Battlekat, and DJ Scratch, have music featured on playlists hosted by Red Bull Music, and land placements featured on major television networks and streaming platforms including Hulu, Netflix, Paramount, CBS Sports, international sports coverage on Ligue 1 Soccer. Fearlessly authentic and constantly evolving Lake Kyle is making his mark as an artist in the modern era.

IG @lakekyle

Juan Carlos Hernandez is a Mexican Producer and Mix Engineer based in Durango, Mexico. He has worked on major projects like La Voz Mexico and La Vecindad de El Chavo dPōrt, collaborating with artists such as Kike Jimenez, Lake Kyle, and Hans Halstead, as well as with companies like Line 6 (Yamaha Guitar Group), KMD Productions, TEC Awards, Casa Mexico Foundation and SHE-Q Audio.

Juan Carlos developed his skills early on, inspired and guided by his father’s and family's influence. He further honed his skills at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in Phoenix, Arizona, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and earning multiple certifications. His career has included key roles such as an intern at Westlake Recording Studios, assisting at the National Association of Music Merchants TEC Awards editions 37 and 38 in Anaheim, and Front-of-House engineering for churches in Mexico and the U.S.

In June 2024, he was invited by Casa Mexico Foundation and SHE-Q Audio to lead a workshop on music production, recording, and mixing at the National Music Centre in Calgary, Canada, aimed at supporting and inspiring the Latin community.

Juan Carlos is an expert in both contemporary popular music styles (pop, rock, EDM, etc.) as well as traditional Latin and regional styles, particularly from his home country of Mexico.

IG @jcsound

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation.

From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future. Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast!

In this episode my co-host, Bob Smith, and I talk with legendary artist and creative director Scott Clum. First Design Director for Sims Snowboards in the eighties, Co-Founder of Morrow Snowboards in the nineties, and early Design Director at Raygun Publishing.

A pioneer in the early days of snowboarding, Scott went from team rider to graphic designer to building brands, products, and periodicals that defined a culture. Scott's human-crafted style, mixing photography and typography with hand-torn edges and rough details, merges old school zine design with high art.

We talk with Scott about his early days in the world of skate and snow and how that shaped him as an artist. We dig into the lessons of his past, his vision for the future, and his advice for young creatives in this new age of technology and AI.

00:00 Introduction to the UnStruktured Podcast

01:01 Casual Banter and Setting the Scene

01:35 Scott's Early Days and Inspirations

03:54 The Evolution of Snowboarding and Design

06:42 The Art of Graphic Design in Snowboarding

30:08 Transition from Snowboarding to Morrow Snowboards

30:40 Early Days at Morrow Snowboards

31:41 Challenges in Graphic Design

33:56 The Evolution of Graphic Design Techniques

50:31 Magazine Work and Industry Impact

01:00:29 Breaking the Mold in Skateboarding and Graphic Design

01:01:30 Expressing Visceral Energy Through Design

01:04:31 Rebellion and Authenticity in Creative Work

01:11:43 Navigating the Impact of AI on Creativity

01:18:54 Encouraging the Next Generation of Creatives

SCOTT CLUM

Scott Clum is an internationally known Graphic Designer, Type Designer, and Creative Director. Recognized for his work in typographic treatments and graphic design arrangements in action sports and publication design, Scott's combination of classic design instruction and found materials has helped create a deeper pass into what design and graphics can be.

For over 30 years, Scott has had a deep history in action sports as a skateboarder/snowboarder and being one of the most prolific snowboard graphic designers across the industry, continuing to design and develop snowboard graphics still today. Scott spent 7 years at RAYGUN Publishing, co-founding and creative directing 3 separate magazine titles, “Bikini”, “Stick”, and “Nylon” with publisher Marvin Jarrett. With these publications, Scott and Marvin went on to push the boundaries of publication design even further.

Scott’s unique style and aesthetic comes from keeping ideas unfiltered and working outside the computer to create typographic and graphic tensions that challenge the overall design convention. Scott is the creative director at quango where he works on tech and outdoor lifestyle clients, he also continues to freelance projects from his personal design studio ride.

scottclum.com \ @scottclum_design

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation.

From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future. Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.

Struktur Society is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome to the UnStruktured Podcast.

I'm Michelle Rose... musician, martial artist, and design leader shaping some of the largest brands in the outdoor industry from The North Face to Columbia Sportswear, former espresso slinger and barista trainer at Starbucks and stylishly badass girl.

In this episode I introduce you to my new co-host, the one and only Bob Smith... fellow musician, graphic designer, and creative leader defining iconic brands such as Nike, New Balance, and Pendleton, former band poster maker and slacker at Kinkos and still-ever-curious kid.

In this series, Bob and I connect with the creators behind the scenes of brands and bands across modern fashion and music. We'll bring you deep conversations and insights from the people behind the things you use, wear, and listen to every day.

00:00 Introduction to the Unstruktured Podcast

00:20 Meet the Co-Host: Bob Smith

01:00 Early Memories of Music

03:47 The Impact of MTV

04:45 The Evolution of Music Tastes

12:03 Discovering Jazz and Musical Journey

16:12 The Intersection of Music and Design

18:48 The Birth of Struktur

40:28 Challenges in the Design Industry

43:26 Creating the Event You Want to Attend

44:10 Sponsorship Challenges and Support

45:12 Networking and Outreach Efforts

47:06 Reflecting on the Golden Era

48:11 Interactive Events and Community Building

51:10 The Importance of Relevant Speakers

53:17 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges

01:01:35 Martial Arts Journey and Life Lessons

01:10:41 Portland in the 90s: A Magical Time

01:19:03 Intentions for the Podcast

01:25:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

BOB SMITH

Bob is an LA-born, Portland-based entrepreneur, brand, and apparel creative with 25 years of experience building and enhancing brands at venerable companies like Nike, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and New Balance, to name a few.

After spending his early years as a drummer in the burgeoning Portland music scene, he got his first real grownup job as a walk-on at Nike, armed with a handful of design-school credit hours and a portfolio full of band posters. While at what he fondly refers to as “The University of Nike,” he birthed the Nike Sportswear “re-issue” collection, which tapped into the company’s soul and history.

In 2017, he took the plunge to found Ore-Cal Sportswear, a loving mash-note to the West Coast culture of his youth. He now serves as Chief Creative Officer at Open Source Election Technology Institute and its public outreach, Trust The Vote. Bob also consults for brands global and unheard of with his partner Adrienne Mercante at BAD Idea.

MICHELLE M ROSE

Michelle is an American fashion designer, martial artist, musician, podcaster, writer, mother, and connector of creative minds who has spent over 30 years leading, training, and mentoring artists to find their path.

Starting down a rough road, Michelle turned to the martial arts and eastern philosophy to focus her future, earning a fifth degree black belt and putting herself through college studying design and international business. She became one of the highest-selling designers for top outdoor companies such as Columbia Sportswear and The North Face, eventually founding the first design conference for the outdoor, active and urban industries called Struktur Event.

Michelle co-founded Struktur Event and the original Struktur Podcast with Sam Ward in 2013 and 2015 respectively as a creative resource of professional development, community, and connection for professional designers in the active, outdoor, and urban space. In 2021 Michelle relaunched Struktur Society from her belief that artists, designers, musicians, and writers are the visionaries who shape our future, and from her understanding for what it means and takes to live in this world as a creative.

STRUKTUR SOCIETY

This episode was brought to you by Struktur Society, the community for creators in art, design, and music. For almost a decade Struktur has brought together creatives from across the industrial, apparel, graphic, and sound design industries, building professional relationships, creating a platform for knowledge sharing, and raising the bar of product creation. From live events and workshops, to publication and podcasting, Struktur continues to evolve to build the strong creator community needed to craft our future.

Find us at struktursociety.com and subscribe to our Substack at struktursociety.substack.com.

© StrukturSphere llc 2025. Original music by Greg Brace Music.