We Never Met

In this episode Sam meets designer and owner of Midwest Native, Patrick McConaughey. They chat about being from and living in West Virginia, designing his first brands, Midwest Native, middle school, Native American culture, his personal style, being self taught, goals, creating everything from start to finish, making pocketless shorts and being a dad.

In this episode Sam meets the amazing artist known as dwellephant. They chat about where the name dwellephant came from, going to art school, finding his unique style, drawing on coffee cups and produce, redefining success, why he loves creating posters, moving to Milwaukee, happiness, burn out, creating comics from memories, and people getting tattoos of his artwork.

In this episode Sam meets Kate Kelly a singer-songwriter, musician and artist from Nashville, Tennessee. They chat about being from Mobile, getting her first guitar, writing emotional music, music teachers, mental health, persistence with your passion, self worth, pandemics, learning new skills, canceling a tour and recording new music.

In this episode Sam meets the founder of Plain Spoke Cocktail Company and co-founder of Young Blood Beer Company, Tom Dufek. They chat about creating canned cocktails, the pillars of the brand, traveling around the world making cocktails, having a law degree, starting a brewery, family home brewing, cocktail beer, where the name Plain Spoke came from, the challenge of the packaging industry and getting into Pick ’N Save.

In this episode Sam meets the talented artist, illustrator, graphic designer, and hand letterer, Charity Ekpo. They chat about what inspired her to first start drawing, art classes, early childhood artwork, her mom creating cakes, siblings, expressing herself through art, developing a style, balancing work and passions, the bus art project and diversity.

In this episode Sam meets the head coach of Bradley University Men’s Basketball, Brian Wardle. They chat about playing collegiately at Marquette University, building championship basketball programs, getting coached by Tom Crean, consistency in coaching, the importance of trust, coaching at UW-Green Bay, vulnerability, international recruiting, getting automatic bids to March Madness, why he loves coaching and competitive spirit.

In this episode Sam meets the founder and editor-in-chief of HerStry, Julia Nusbaum. They chat about why she started HerStry, empowering women through storytelling, growing up on a farm, being dyslexic, the lack of women in historical literature, motherhood, Me Too and creative writing with women who survived trafficking, prostitution and addiction.

In this episode Sam meets Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. They chat about how Phil got into collecting bobbleheads, the history of bobbleheads, working with charities, having over 11,000 unique bobbleheads, starting the museum, creating a Dr. Fauci bobblehead, Flo from Progressive, corporate finance, and 7 foot bobbleheads.

In this episode Sam meets Arts @ Large Founder and CEO, Teri Sullivan. They chat about Arts @ Large impact on arts education in schools, moving to Milwaukee from LaCrosse, helping artists with business, working with Milwaukee Public Schools, learning from her entrepreneurial father, using creativity to reinvent yourself, working with her son and helping immigrant and refugee students.

In this episode Sam meets the incredibly talent singer, musician, songwriter, artist, illustrator and writer, Nick Shoulders. They chat about growing up and living in Arkansas, the shortcomings of traveling, throwing your back out, whistling and yodeling, the recent wave of new fans and listeners, New Orleans, gratitude, the history of country music and illustrating all his album covers.