Bad Idea Social Club

Hannah Berry (artist, founder of Lions & Rabbits) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about community, creativity, and the work happening between the cracks. She gets into turning art into real community impact, building something without a clear roadmap, and why creative people are often the ones holding solutions that nobody is listening to yet. They talk about collaboration, economic and community development, the tension between intention and execution, and how slowing down, letting go of control, and trusting the right people changed everything. Keep up with Hanna Berry: lionsandrabbits.comIG: @bananasnhannahsIG: @lionsandrabbitsCredits: Aaron McCall: Joe Matteson: Mike Mains & The Branches: This episode is supported by: ⁠Creative Mornings Grand Rapids⁠⁠Revue⁠⁠Merchants & Makers

Ryan “Ryno” Wasson (brewer, Head of Beverage at Coopersville Brewing) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about beer, endurance, reinvention, and learning how to live inside your own wiring. He gets into brewing as both craft and creative outlet, the discipline it takes to keep refining your work, and how running became a way to process life when everything else felt too loud. They talk about curiosity, criticism, relationships, starting over, and the kind of self-awareness that only shows up after you’ve taken a few hits and kept going. Keep up with Ryan Wasson: IG:@feedtherynoCredits: Aaron McCall: Joe Matteson: Mike Mains & The Branches: This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand RapidsRevueMerchants & Makers

Amy Carroll (photographer, artist) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about identity, ego, and the long process of figuring out who you actually are. She gets into building a career that looks good on the outside but feels empty, learning how to create work that people can actually feel, and the shift from chasing attention to chasing something real. They talk about aging, confidence, creative evolution, and what it takes to let go of control long enough to make something honest. Keep up with Amy Carroll: amycarroll.photography@amycarrollphotography Credits: Aaron McCall: Joe Matteson: Mike Mains & The Branches: This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers

Ahead of Season 7 on April 14, Aaron McCall and Joe Matteson sit down to show off the studio space, talk through what’s changing, and shake the rust off a bit. They get into the shift to video, what it’s doing to the energy of the show, how this next chapter already feels different, and why they’re both excited and a little nervous about it. It’s loose, it’s honest, and it’s a quick look at where things are headed and what it took to get here. Credits: Aaron McCallHost / Producer / Writer / Editor aaronmccall.net IG: @aaron_mccall — Joe MattesonCo-Host / Photographer themattesons.co IG: @joedustin — Mike Mains & The BanchesMusic mikemainsmusic.com IG: @mikemainsmusic

Aaron McCall moderates a Creative Mornings Grand Rapids panel discussion on “Growth,” recorded at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre with more than 200 people in attendance. Joined by Ian Labardee, Bailey Sell, Hannah Berry, and Leigh Ann Cobb, the conversation gets honest about what growth actually looks like once momentum builds—imposter syndrome, uncertainty, shifting priorities, burnout, community, and the small, often invisible changes that shape us over time. Recorded by Green Frog, this episode isn’t about tidy success stories. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and understanding how growth is rarely linear and rarely done alone. Keep up with Creative Mornings GR: creativemornings.com/gr IG: @creativemorningsgr Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courtney Lauer (graphic designer, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall and talks about survival, control, and the strength it takes to turn pain into something honest. She opens up about surviving and processing trauma, rebuilding identity through creativity, and using art to make sense of the things that don’t have easy answers. Keep up with Courtney Lauer: courtneylauer.me IG: @courtneylauer Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jacob Betts (singer-songwriter, The American Hotel System) joins Aaron McCall to talk about creativity as something to hold onto when life unravels, how grief reshapes how we see purpose, and what it means to rebuild belief in people when everything around you feels painfully divided. He opens up about faith, art, and the defiance it takes to choose hope over cynicism. Keep up with Jacob Betts: americanhotelsystem.com IG: @theamericanhotelsystem IG: @theconcussedcoffeegeek Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Casey Lambert (independent pro wrestler, marketing director) joins Aaron McCall to talk about life in and out of the ring, how strength and vulnerability feed off each other, and how connection shows up everywhere from the crowd to your opponent, and the relationships that matter most. They dig into storytelling in wrestling, learning how to take a hit and keep showing up, and what it actually looks like to lead with empathy in a world that keeps rewarding the cruelty. Keep up with Casey Lambert: IG: @thereal_djchewy IG: @ppwpower Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy Rhine (visual designer, photographer) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about keeping creativity in your life without letting it become your whole identity. She opens up about being people-first in a screen-first industry, why she’d rather build community than chase trends, and how confidence came from doing hard things like running marathons and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro “for fun.” From travel and fitness to design and friendship, Joy proves you can be wildly creative, wildly active, and wildly human at the same time. Keep up with Joy Rhine: joyrhinedesign.com IG: @vikkichosethisusername Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mack Garrison (motion designer, co-founder of Dash Studio) joins Aaron McCall to talk about ADHD as both a curse and a creative advantage, building a studio rooted in empathy over ego, and what happens when you decide burnout isn’t a badge of honor. He opens up about the lessons that shaped Dash’s first decade, from mentorship and community to leading with transparency when things get hard and what it means to keep the work moving without sacrificing the humanity behind it. Keep up with Mack Garrison: dashstudio.net IG: @dash_nc Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Katsufrakis (founder of Flying House Threads, firefighter) joins Aaron McCall to talk creative entrepreneurship at the edge of whimsy and weight. They dig into building a Disney-inspired, punk-leaning apparel brand while working life-and-death shifts, the pressure of being “the face” on camera, and the mental health work behind staying steady. They touch on the role of community, the discipline it takes to keep quality high, and finding ways for a brand built on castles and monsters to also do real-world good. It’s about craft, perspective, and the strange balance of survival and play. Keep up with Scott Katsufrakus: flyinghousethreads.com IG: @glyinghousethreads Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Matteson (painter, experimenter) shares her story with Aaron McCall and discusses following creativity wherever it leads: painting, sculpture, and adding teeth to thrifted objects. She opens up about growing up shy in a loud, creative household and learning to embrace the unapologetically weird. From finding confidence through experimenting in her 20s to building a deep connection with animals in her work, Taylor leans fully into the strange energy that makes her art unmistakably hers. Keep up with Taylor Matteson: IG: @taylorjewelldraws Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ray Ann Barker (painter, photographer, model, content creator) talks with Aaron McCall about anxiety as the root of her creativity, finding ground through photography and abstract painting, and how turning perfectionism on its head opened new doors. She opens up about modeling in her 30s, navigating motherhood, and creating space for community over competition in creativity. Keep up with Ray Anne Barker: rayannebarker.com IG: @rayannebarker IG: @rayanne.paints Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colin Russell (artist, muralist, Ghost Town) talks with Aaron McCall about moving from years in coffee to a life in art, stumbling into murals, and building a world in black and white. His work is bold, playful, and unsettling all at once—creepy cartoons that have made their way from Grand Rapids to Japan. Colin opens up about freelancing, anxiety, and what happens when the thing that used to be your outlet becomes the thing you depend on. Keep up with Colin Russell: ghosttownart.com IG: @ghosttowndraws Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To kick off Season 6, Virginia Anzengruber (comedian, filmmaker, writer) joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about grief, comedy, and what it takes to keep creating when life gets heavy. She talks about loss, writing scripts that hold both humor and heartbreak, the grind of freelancing across film and TV, and the uneasy balance between survival and art. Keep up with Virginia Anzengruber: IG: @virginiaanzengruber Tickets for “An Evening with Jim O’Heir” hosted by Virginia Anzengruber: https://grcmc.org/event/an-evening-with-jim-o-heir/1135 Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, we’re talking about the mess of being online. From LiveJournal drama to influencer marketing and the existential weight of Instagram captions, we dig into what makes social media feel necessary, fake, addictive, useful, and totally exhausting. We ask big questions about authenticity, attention, and the line between art and content. When the algorithm is hungry, we keep feeding it pieces of ourselves. Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time, it’s just the three of us—Aaron, Joe, and Amber. No guest, no plan, just vibes and a theme: starting over. From lost files and ruined shoots to quitting jobs and creative resets, we get into the mess and momentum of starting fresh—when it’s your choice, and when it’s not. Technically, a bonus episode. Structurally, unsound—a freefall. Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny Hearns (artist, graphic designer) talks with Aaron McCall about creative identity, chronic illness, and what happens when your body hits pause before your mind is ready. They get into creepy-cute aesthetics, the pressure to stay visible, and how she’s learned to make space for rest without losing her spark. It's the classic tale of a ghost, an onion and a perfectly reasonable emotional spiral. Keep up with Jenny Hearns: jennyhearns.com IG: @jennyhearns Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Horky (illustrator, graphic designer) shares his story with Aaron McCall and talks about analog habits, unexpected upheaval, and the tension between making a living and making something that lasts. They cover brush pens, weird gigs, creative grit, and the strange freedom that comes with getting fired. Also, he really loves his cats. Keep up with Craig Horky: craighorky.storenvy.com IG: @craighorky Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitch Ermatinger (brewer/founder, Speciation Artisan Ales) talks with Aaron McCall about building a life around wild beer—then no longer being able to drink it. They get into the art and science behind fermentation, the gut-punch of a celiac diagnosis, designing what he can’t taste, and staying creative inside sharp limitations. It’s about constraint, reinvention, and what it means to keep making things—even when the rules change. Keep up with Mitch Ermatinger: speciationartisanales.com IG: @speciationales Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co Instagram: @joe_dustin Co-Host/Sidekick/Manager: Amber Gray Instagram: @bad_ambellina LinkedIn: Amber Gray Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches Help Support the Podcast: Buy Merch Make a Donation Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com Instagram: @badideasocialclub LinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.