Deogracias Lerma, Polly Magazine (www.pollymagazine.com) Founder--and Editor-in-Chief/Creative Director/Chief Photographer-- talks about working with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz in New York, what it takes to start a print magazine in an increasingly digital world, and the importance of taking the initiative to create what you want to see. For Deo (his nickname literally means God), growing up with three sisters meant there were a lot of women’s magazines around the house. He was smitten, ...
Jun 22, 2016•35 min
In 2015, CityBeat Senior Editor Maija Zummo added another bullet to her resume: Cofounder of shopmadeincincinnati.com, a (very literal) online resource for Cincinnati-based makers. The site is like a hyper-local, well-curated Etsy, built to help people discover and shop locally made home goods, food, jewelry, ceramics, and more. We talked about starting a business based on a personal need (Maija needed to find local makers for CityBeat editorials, and with a little help from a People’s Liberty P...
Jun 15, 2016•23 min
Photographer and CEO of The Lodge (thelodgeky.com) Scott Beseler talks turning a masonic lodge into a multi-use creative studio, collaborating with Walk the Moon, and the importance of combining word-of-mouth marketing with one—to-one outreach. Scott and I talked about his vision: creating a space where his mutual friends—photographers, graphic designers, painters, screen printers, and musicians-could have a creative outlet (and stop making excuses). It took five years(!), but creative space and...
Jun 09, 2016•26 min
Regina Russo, Director of Communication for the Contemporary Arts Center, talks about helping people find and share their cultural voice, her experience working for “the Oprah of Detroit” after college, and the importance of always being connected to the community. As a child, Regina knew she wanted to be like Phil Donahue even before she understood what that really meant. She’d always been fascinated by conversation and the exchange of ideas, by the electrifying feeling that comes when you’re a...
Jun 01, 2016•32 min
I’m back with a Very Special Episode (no, not the one where Jessie is addicted to caffeine pills) of the Creative City podcast. This time, I took my portable studio - aka laptop and mic - on location to MORTAR’s Life’s a Pitch event, where I talked to four of the program’s recent graduates about their businesses and future aspirations. Since the venue was a bar, I set up shop on the “quiet” back patio, only to be thwarted by a monsoon that decided to roll through anytime I hit record. Can you sa...
May 05, 2016•12 min
Event Stylist Christina Christian (somethingchicdesign.com) talks about how her business evolved from planning events for friends and family to working with national clients, what she does to give her work that “wow factor”, and how she balances being an attentive mom and a driven entrepreneur. And yes, that’s her real name! As a one-woman operation with a weekly news segment under her belt (and the discipline to wake up at 4am to answer emails!), I found her desire to make educating young peopl...
Apr 06, 2016•25 min
Interior Designer and HighStreet (www.highstreetcincinnati.com) Co-founder Leah Spurrier talks about how she launched her career with a clear vision and a solid plan, how her one-person business grew into a nationally recognized lifestyle brand, and why she intentionally chose to come to Cincinnati to pursue her dreams. Visit www.CreativeCityPodcast.com for more information and additional episodes! Music by The Passion Hifi
Mar 30, 2016•35 min
MORTAR Co-founder and Branding Gladiator Allen Woods (justcallmeallen.com) talks about shaping a rough idea into a refined diamond, the importance of inclusion and diverse perspectives, and the initial pitch he received from his business partners (hint: “It was pretty terrible.”) Visit www.CreativeCityPodcast.com for more information and additional episodes! Music by The Passion Hifi
Mar 23, 2016•25 min
Multi-hyphenate James Marable owns Original Thought Required (otrfresh.com), works as a Social Media Strategist/Recruitment Marketer at Macy’s, and produces events all over the city, but what is the glue holding all of those things together? In this episode, he talks about building a brand story, the importance of being able to lean on your network, and his time as the kid who ran a successful candy enterprise (every school had one!). Visit CreativeCityPodcast.com for more information and additi...
Mar 16, 2016•27 min
UI/UX Designer and AIGA Cincinnati President Ryan Cayabyab talks about building his first website (hint: it was pre-GeoCities), collaborating with other passionate professionals, and the best ways to become invaluable to the creative community. More episodes at creativecitypodcast.com. Music by The Passion HiFi.
Mar 09, 2016•27 min
Entertainment Editor Tasha Stewart explains how she got started as a journalist, what it’s like to manage a digital content team, and the best way to find All The Fun (it’s an actual job!). Warning: there’s a fair amount of giggling (because that’s what girlfriends DO, okay?) and a short choir interlude in praise of Fetty Wap. Visit CreativeCityPodcast.com for more information and additional episodes!
Mar 02, 2016•33 min
Corporate’s Matt Tomamichel reveals how dealing with the death of a friend pushed him to pursue his dream of entrepreneurship, why he still interns with other companies, and the importance of building a network. Turns out he really is a cool guy. Visit www.creativecitypodcast.com. Music by The Passion Hifi.
Feb 24, 2016•35 min
Cincy Chic founder Amy Scalia talks about working on your own dime, launching a multimedia brand, and what a difference it makes when you’re passionate about what you do. Visit www.creativecitypodcast.com
Feb 17, 2016•41 min
Micah Paldino of Fallon Thatcher talks making up your own job title, how Blaise Bender was born, and what it means to have the support of your private #squad.
Feb 10, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Grace Dobush of Crafty Supermarket and Midwest Craft Con talks crafty entrepreneurship, how to pitch freelance stories, and trend predictions for 2016 (hint: get your Shrinky Dinks ready). Intro & outro music: Untouchable by The Passion HiFi
Jan 29, 2016•30 min
