🌙 Today, we're thrilled to have Jean Acuna - our beautiful friend and most trusted skincare and wellness therapist - joining us. With her mantra "FACE LIFE BEAUTIFULLY," Jean has dedicated her career to helping people unlock their inner radiance and achieve optimal well-being. 🌿 Jean's expertise lies at the intersection of skincare and wellness, where she combines holistic practices and cutting-edge skincare techniques to reveal your natural beauty. Her insights are a beacon of light for anyon...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 52
🎨 Episode Title: "Unveiling Artistry in Leadership with Luis Puron" 🎙️ Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of Mr. Luis Puron, the brilliant mind behind the transformation of the Rockport Center for the Arts. Luis, the Executive Director, is a storyteller at heart, and we invite all artists to be inspired as we explore his unparalleled expertise in building relationships, fundraising, and his unwavering commitment to providing artists with the canvas they need to share their voices ...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 51
Dive deep into the world of ocean art and conservation with our special guest, the renowned ocean artist, Guy Harvey! 🌊🎨 In this captivating episode, Denise and Matthew explore the life and work of Guy Harvey as he shares his extraordinary journey as an artist, teacher, researcher, and conservationist. Get ready to be inspired as we discuss a wide range of fascinating topics: PART I: Episode 49 🎨 Art & Inspiration | Kent Ullberg & Mentorship: Discover the creative process behind Guy H...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 50
Dive deep into the world of ocean art and conservation with our special guest, the renowned ocean artist, Guy Harvey! 🌊🎨 In this captivating episode, Denise and Matthew explore the life and work of Guy Harvey as he shares his extraordinary journey as an artist, teacher, researcher, and conservationist. Get ready to be inspired as we discuss a wide range of fascinating topics: PART I: Episode 49 🎨 Art & Inspiration | Kent Ullberg & Mentorship: Discover the creative process behind Guy H...
Aug 04, 2023•42 min•Ep. 49
Welcome to Episode 48 of the Creative Moonlighting Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Erik Flores to discuss his journey as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, and the making of the band's debut album, Nothing to Escape. Tune in for exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes stories as we explore the band’s inspirational blend of folk, rock, and Americana. Links: Fairbanks and the Lonesome Light's website: https://fairbanksandthelonesomelight.com/ Fairbanks and the Lonesome Li...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 48
Please welcome local filmmaker, artist, and creative moonlighter - Konstantin Belyshev. Konstantin graduated from Texas State University with a major in philosophy and a minor in English. Born to Russian immigrants and raised in San Marcos, Texas, he has worked as a data analyst, a media producer, concert photographer, cinematographer, and also currently leads a team that designs and leverages ontology and data modeling to help build Google's semantic understanding as it produces search results ...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 47
Episode 46 welcomes Kent and Veerle Ullberg. Over the past 46 years, this couple has built a life, a business, and a legacy with realistic wildlife sculptures, all serving to spread the beauty of nature and engage onlookers to recognize a need for the preservation of our natural environment. Kent makes the sculptures and Veerle runs the business. They have operated in exactly this way for nearly half a century! For more on Kent's work as a sculptor and naturalist, view his bio below. Also note t...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 46
Welcome back to Episode 45. No guests today, just Denise and Matthew chatting about the meaning of their mantra - Keep it Simple; Tell Your Story . For those who haven't heard, Griffyn.Co Productions is now a full-scale, full-time production company. Denise serves as the head of business development (aka - she handles the money) as well as the executive producer for all their projects, while Matthew maintains the role of creative director. And now that they are approaching their work as "profess...
Oct 22, 2022•44 min•Ep. 45
Please welcome Stephanie Macias, a senior at Round Rock High School, and an up and coming artist / musician (who also happens to be a former student to Matthew at Chisholm Trail Middle School :-) Stephanie joins Denise and Matthew to discuss all the exciting and challenging elements of being a young, but experienced musician - and especially, her process and experience in what it means to become an artist. Stephanie is currently recording her first album of original songs, so please follow her j...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 44
Please welcome Suzanne Heintz - photographer, filmmaker, and all around artist. Her work is described as equal parts photography and theater. And although it is taboo to most in the art world, humor is her third and most important medium. At the risk of being perceived as a form of “Artertainment,” Heintz employs satire because she feels that it is crucial to the digestion of what might be perceived as a bitter pill – social criticism. Please don't forget to scroll down and view the links below ...
Jul 12, 2022•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 43
Please welcome Chris Norkus - bartender, storyteller, and the owner of Cocktails from Home. Chris moved to Austin 10 years ago to explore bigger opportunities in the bar and restaurant industry. When the pandemic hit, he found himself an unemployed bartender. But it wasn't long before a friend hit him up to use his skills to entertain a virtual happy hour for a group of friends and co-workers. This simple concept spawned Chris's new business, which is now known as COCKTAILS FROM HOME. If you hav...
Mar 05, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 42
Please welcome Austin, Texas band, Yes Sir, No Sir. Tonight, Denise and Matthew had the pleasure of sitting down with all six band members, Kevin Brinkkoeter, Grant Chambers, Kyle Cox, Johnny Jeffers, Dave Dierksen and Ashton Acuna. While no strangers to the Austin music scene, the band explored the creative process behind their debut album, “ Bright White Light ,” recently featured on local Austin radio station KUTX. Free form conversation, a few beers, a bottle of vino and lots of laughter all...
Feb 04, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 41
Welcome back, Brian Cobos and Chris Thompson! We cover a lot of ground today, so choosing a title was difficult. However, don't be confused by the title we eventually landed on. One of the most important questions every filmmaker must face surrounds the idea of taking a "paint by numbers" approach to creativity: Is there a formula for filmmaking? Chris and Brian re-edited one of their old films and landed it in the Austin Revolution Film Fest. Amidst discussions about that experience, we also de...
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 40
Please welcome 8-time Lone Star Emmy award winning director, producer, editor, and our dear friend - Chelsea Hernandez. Chelsea is a Texas native Latina filmmaker who was born in San Antonio and raised in Austin. She studied film at Adelphi University and Brooklyn College, and then returned to Texas to complete her RTF degree at UT Austin. She began her career at PBS as an assistant editor and associate producer, a job that set her on a path to making a series of short films, and eventually, her...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 39
Saying "YES" to one thing in life often indirectly means to saying "NO" to something else. Denise and Matthew chat in Episode 39 about what they have learned through the experience of NOT being parents. Having children was at one time a part of their grand plan, but plans don't always work out. Today, they delve into the idea of what it means to fit in, to be "normal", and to live up to the images that are often carved out for us by society. As always, we hope you hear something that provokes th...
Aug 21, 2021•40 min•Ep. 38
Today Denise and Matthew talk about the importance of managing your mental state. Creative endeavors are difficult to pursue with the type of intensity that it takes to see the entire process through. We all know the feeling that washes over us when our mental state seems to want to zap our energy and kill our drive. Mental toughness is of key importance, but how do we maintain such a thing? Among the many scenarios they discuss, Denise discusses her experience in having to become mentally tough...
Jul 12, 2021•46 min•Ep. 37
Today Denise and Matthew talk about the value of the creative process - the ups, the downs, and the feedback you seek along the way. They discuss the trap of caring so much about the outcome of a project that the process of creating grows dull. And they question the proper ways to seek feedback without wearing out your sources (who are likely family, friends, and other artists you respect). As always, we hope you hear something that provokes thoughts of your own. And please send questions and co...
Jun 16, 2021•26 min•Ep. 36
Today Denise and Matthew talk about controlling the urge to control things. They discuss plans, broken, plans, and finding the will to be resilient. Creative Moonlighters will no doubt be able to relate. As always, we hope you hear something that provokes thoughts of your own. And please send questions and comments to Griffyn.Co@gmail.com . #controlfreak #control #resilience #griffyncoproductions #creative moonlighting #alwaysbecreative #creativity...
Jun 16, 2021•37 min•Ep. 35
Please welcome, Mike Greenlee - husband, father, and Moonlight Creator. Mike has a math brain trapped in an artist's mind. And it's a very very good thing. Matthew and Mike hash out the nuance of audience attention spans. Where are they today? Where did they come from? And how are they changing? Mike is the sole creator of Michael Greenlee Blackstone Cooking, a 1-minute a day episodic that can be found on just about any social media platform including his YouTube Channel: Michael Greenlee Blacks...
Apr 28, 2021•49 min•Ep. 34
Please welcome, Lawrence Stallings - husband, father, coast-to-coast actor, and all around creative. Lawrence has performed in numerous Broadway shows (The Book of Mormon, Hair, and Passing Strange) in NYC, as well as episodic television and films in Los Angeles. He is currently set to play the famous blues guitarist, Robert Johnson, in RL at the Crossroads - a one-man show that is to be filmed in Philadelphia this summer. Matthew and Lawrence met on the set of a television show they did for TLC...
Apr 22, 2021•57 min•Ep. 33
Today Denise and Matthew talk about Main Character Syndrome and what it means to "have a sonder." They discuss why Main Character Syndrome is seemingly so prevalent in the lives of creatives and artists and they ponder ways in which to overcome it. #griffyncoproductions #creative moonlighting #alwaysbecreative #creativity #maincharactersyndrome #sonder Please send questions and comments to Griffyn.Co@gmail.com .
Apr 04, 2021•20 min•Ep. 32
Denise and Matthew delve into the idea that creativity improves mental health. They discuss the notion that mental health (or lack thereof) has historically led to great works of art, and they work through ideas about why being creative can give you an edge in mind, body, and spirit. #griffyncoproductions #creative moonlighting #alwaysbecreative #creativity #mentalhealth #selfhelp #artandmentalhealth Please send questions and comments to Griffyn.Co@gmail.com ....
Apr 04, 2021•40 min•Ep. 31
Denise poses yet another big question this week (she has been on fire) about the role of sex in art. Why is it so often such a prevalent factor in the things we create? Is there a proper balance or place for sex in the artistic endeavors we pursue? Again, no right or wrong answers... Just questions, thoughts, and interesting conversations. #griffyncoproductions #creative moonlighting #alwaysbecreative #creativity #sexinart #sex #art Please send questions and comments to Griffyn.Co@gmail.com ....
Feb 20, 2021•29 min•Ep. 30
Denise poses a question today about the struggles of collaboration and how to handle resistance when operating in a "teamwork" setting. She and Matthew discuss possibilities for ways in which creative minds might remain both open and assertive during collaborative negotiations. #griffyncoproductions #collaboration #resistance #negotiation #neversplitthedifference #creative moonlighting #alwaysbecreative Please send questions and comments to Griffyn.Co@gmail.com . For those who are interested in ...
Feb 13, 2021•35 min•Ep. 29
Denise was faced with a big work meeting this week that found her speaking on a panel of educators at MIT. The Challenge: 5 minutes. 1 slide. How do you get your point across in a way that is short enough to hold their attention, but in-depth enough to stir their thoughts? How do you work through imposter syndrome when speaking in front of a group of your most elite peers and colleagues? As always, if you have a question, reach out via email at: Griffyn.Co@gmail.com . Enjoy! #atx #atxartists #cr...
Feb 12, 2021•39 min•Ep. 28
Welcome back our neighbor, family, and friend... Ashton Acuna! Ashton has finished his first semester of college (COVID-college) in virtual mode. When he was here last spring, his senior year had been shutdown by the pandemic. That day, we were talking about how to get started on a new creative project. Today, we are flipping it around and talking about when you should walk away. Ashton had been helping us record episode 25 and was intrigued to speak about his own creative process a bit further....
Dec 22, 2020•27 min•Ep. 27
Please welcome keynote speaker, executive speech coach, and writer - Jim Comer. Jim is both a neighbor and a friend, and we are extremely thankful he made the time to come down and join us on the podcast. For all you writers out there, this one's for you! In this nearly two hour episode, Jim, Denise, and Matthew traverse the wild world of using your life as a prompt for your work. Along the way, they not only discuss ideas for finding something to say, but also for getting your thoughts on paper...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 26
Welcome to EPISODE 25! Thank you to all of you who have stuck with us through the first 25 episodes. Your participation has been greatly helpful in keeping the momentum going. Today, Denise and Matt will be discussing how to handle tense situations. As artists and creators, we all have to learn the art of collaboration. But as we all know, the sun doesn't always shine on our collaborative relationships. In this episode, we attempt to deconstruct some practical ways in which you might be able tak...
Dec 10, 2020•46 min•Ep. 25
We all know that inspiration is at the root of creativity. But we often forget that creativity also becomes the root for new inspiration. And the cycle continues. Today, Denise and Matt welcome Dave and Magda Acuna to talk about their latest creative venture, Three-Legged Pig Creations . Magda is an artist and Dave is a business-mind. Both have full-time jobs and two children who are now young adults. Both are grounded and comfortable (as comfortable as anyone can be in 2020) in their day-to-day...
Oct 17, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 24
Today, Creative Moonlighting welcomes storyteller, businessman, father, and all around creative, Torrey Kiolbassa. We have often heard the concept that failure cuts the path toward success. But most axioms are easier said than lived because they are usually only discovered by those who take the time to stop and look back on the journey in its entirety. Torrey reminds us that success is not only made possible by taking the opportunity to fail, but it's also sweeter after you've experienced enough...
Oct 09, 2020•50 min•Ep. 23
