New York-based actor and writer Ashlee Renz-Hotz is neck-deep in creative work. She joined us in the Pyragraph studio to chat about her work on stage and in film, her post-apocalpytic Greek tragedy screenplay, living and studying in England and Australia, and whether 50 Shades of Grey is worth the hype. We didn't let her leave without promising to write more about the actor/writer's life for Pyragraph ! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinte...
Feb 13, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast You may or may not know that Self-Employed Happy Hour is produced by Pyragraph , an online creative career magazine for creatives worldwide. It's Pyragraph's second birthday, so we thought it would be a grand idea for Pyragraph's founder Peri Pakroo to chat with the other editors and core Pyragraph folks about Pyragraph's first two years, and how Peri found herself launching an online magazine after a couple decades working in publishing. We also talk about Albuquerque's burgeoning creative scen...
Feb 04, 2015•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Zach Sutton has built his professional photography business not just on crack photog skills, but by becoming an in-demand writer and speaker about photography as well. We share mimosas and burritos with Zach at the Pyragraph studio to talk about his client work, his writing gig at Fstoppers, his workshops across the US, and how he fits it all together. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter ....
Jan 28, 2015•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Actor MorningStar Angeline and Production Designer Kevin Pierce join us in the Pyragraph studio to chat about their film Drunktown's Finest , about life in and around Gallup, New Mexico. Writer and director Sydney Freeland calls in from Sundance to talk about the long screenwriting process and how she eventually scored Robert Redford as an Executive Producer. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editor Josh Stuyvesant and Outreach Manager Cara Tolino....
Jan 22, 2015•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast The 15th annual Revolutions International Theater Festival , put on by Tricklock Company, is just getting underway, bringing incredible productions from all around the world to Albuquerque for a 3-week orgy of theater! Tricklock's Hannah Kauffmann, Erin Phillips and Shastyn Friedman come to the Pyragraph studio to tell us all about it—from the history of the festival to the logistics of getting everyone here, to the inevitable mental health breakdowns in trying to pull off an event of this magni...
Jan 16, 2015•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast To close out the year we figured why not throw a party—hell, why not our very own Awkward Holiday Office Party for us creatively self-employed? We went and did it—and what a party it was! We invited everyone who appeared on the show this season—plus new guests Andy Lyman and Adrian Toto from The Tan, painter Laila Cola Weeks and artist Billy Joe Miller —to talk about what's going on in their creative worlds...from starting an unofficial Appl'e Store to painting floaty cubes to wizard duels! We a...
Dec 10, 2014•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast All-around creative volcano Crispin Hellion Glover (Willard, River's Edge, Rubin & Ed, Back to the Future) lays it down on how to be an independent artist in a corporate funded world. In this extended interview we chat about his self-financed films ( What Is It? and It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine ), his books ( Rat Catching and Oak Mot , among others), his frustration with sanitized media, his craft as an actor, and more. A whole lot more. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Editors Sage Har...
Dec 04, 2014•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Beth Moore-Love paints amazing, disturbing, reality-shattering artworks. Documentary filmmaker Larry Wessel made a film about her, LOVE: The Art of Beth Moore-Love , which is currently showing across the US. Beth joins us at the Pyragraph studio to talk about her work, her evolution as an artist, working and showing internationally, and what it was like to be the subject of a documentary. Keif Henley, owner of The Guild Cinema, also joins us to talk about the film, and about Beth's amazing work....
Nov 20, 2014•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sex shop talk! Owners of Self-Serve Toys/Sexuality Resource Center Molly Adler and Matie Fricker chat about starting and running a progressive, sex-positive adult business in Albuquerque. They also share the history of Pornotopia , the adult film festival they founded in 2007, and what's on the bill for this year's fest which starts Nov. 13! Keif Henley, owner of The Guild Cinema , also joins us to talk about hosting Pornotopia and the legal drama that went on for years — with a recent victory f...
Nov 13, 2014•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Think you understand how to develop a winning brand? Len Romano—who along with his wife Donna founded the award-winning marketing and branding design firm Ripe Inc. —takes us into the mind of marketing, how Ripe went about creating Marble Brewery's new look, how Albuquerque seduced him and his wife, and more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant , Jeremy Kinter and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue ....
Nov 06, 2014•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you find your way through the brambles of online galleries to find the one that offers what you're looking for—as a buyer, or as an artist? OAC Gallery founder Sarah Biondi talks about starting an online contemporary art gallery, the business of art consultants, and her background in the film industry and in marketing. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue ....
Oct 30, 2014•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast We get to the raw, bloody heart of filmmaking today. Emily Best of Seed&Spark , a crowdfunding and streaming distribution platform for independent filmmakers, talks about her new magazine Bright Ideas, adventures in filmmaking, and why artists are more crucial now today than ever. Catch her on her informational cross-country #StayIndieTour to learn how to make the most of your crowdfunding campaign! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter an...
Oct 24, 2014•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Commercial sensibilities combined with artistic imagination equal workable success! Artists Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters , founders of Stranger Factory , join us to talk about the art business, running a gallery, the history of Stranger Factory and Circus Posterus , Kathie and Brandt's personal work and career backgrounds, and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing-Editor-At-Large Eva Avenue ....
Oct 17, 2014•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey, you gonna smoke that? Editors from Pyragraph , Humbird and Nightly Noodle Monthly gather at Pyragraph Studios to talk about Albuquerque's writing scene, art-career author Jackie Battenfield , writer Mike Smith, and other people and happenings in our writers' worlds. We also chat with call-in guest Brendan Doherty, the Weekly Alibi's former music editor, about leaving the self-employed life to serve the Man. All this, and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Edi...
Oct 08, 2014•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast I know Billy! Billy McCall joins us to talk about refereeing the imminent Zine Olympics at ABQ Zine Fest , his band Rudest Priest , pinball, stories from the casino floor and so much more! Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter and Contributing Editor At Large Eva Avenue ....
Oct 04, 2014•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Eryn Bent is a fiery singer-songwriter who plays indie folk originals with both power and softness. Eryn joins us to chat about being an independent musician, recording her latest album Firefly , and building her music career one lesson at a time. She sings some gorgeous songs for us to boot. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter . Theme song: "Brainless Job" by Grand Canyon (featuring Sam Miller ). The video is rad....
Sep 26, 2014•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Eric Renz-Whitmore is a ninja-level organizer, networker and promoter within Albuquerque's tech scene, and just wrapped an amazing Tech Fiesta ABQ week. He is Community Manager at the NM Technology Council , Organizer at One Million Cups , and Organizer at Startup Weekend New Mexico . We chat about cool stuff happening with art and tech, news on start-ups in NM and more. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter , and Contributing Editor at La...
Sep 22, 2014•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kendra Crooks and Austin Madrid are a year into their photography business, JAK Media , and besides developing an impressive reputation and body of work, they've also gone through ownership changes and are in the middle of a rebranding campaign. They share their story and lessons learned with Pyragraph's editors Peri, Josh and Jeremy, including tips on how to deal with kooky clients and what details to make sure to spell out in client contracts. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Contributi...
Sep 12, 2014•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fresh off the plane from a summer in Europe playing backup in another band's tour, Sam Miller comes to the Pyragraph Studios to shake off his jet lag with mimosas and breakfast burritos. He tells us about the recording of his debut solo album You Need to Hear It , how he uses social media platforms for his music, and how his previous bands morphed into the solo career he's pursuing today. Host Peri Pakroo is joined by Pyragraph Senior Contributing Editor Sage Harrington , Contributing Editors Jo...
Sep 04, 2014•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a two-year hiatus, we are re-booting Self-Employed Happy Hour! Host Peri Pakroo is now Publisher and Editor of creative career magazine Pyragraph , so her co-hosts, guests and topics will focus on creative careers and the many ways creative workers manage self-employment. In this Reboot Edition, Peri is joined by Pyragraph Senior Contributing Editor Sage Harrington , Contributing Editors Josh Stuyvesant and Jeremy Kinter , and Contributing Editor at Large Eva Avenue . Theme song: "Brainles...
Aug 28, 2014•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast I chat with the owner of one of my very favorite shops, The Octopus and the Fox , Jessi Campbell. (Her co-owner Belita Orner couldn't make it. :( ) Nicknamed OctoFox, their über-sweet boutique showcases handmade (and way-affordable) art, fashion and gifts from dozens of local artists and designers. I get the scoop from Jessi on how she started, how she merges art with business, and how we love the sweet small business scene in Albuquerque....
Oct 04, 2012•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast I chat with Marie Abaya, owner/operator of Simeona Gardenaire , a landscape design firm specializing in art- and pet-friendly xeriscaped gardens. Marie has had an eclectic career as a designer and artist, including working in architecture and fashion (and making an amazing pair of handmade leather boots!). We talk about working with plants, earth, art, and clients....
Sep 27, 2012•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast I chat with Miriam Ortiz y Pino, a certified professional organizer who owns and runs More than Organized . Miriam has worked with many a self-employed person looking to tame home office chaos. As she kindly overlooks the clutter in my house we talk about organizing a home business, using social media and working with hoarders....
Sep 20, 2012•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast I chat with Linda Hussey Goble who owns/runs See Yourself Teaching with her husband Cameron Goble. They've also been involved with Ignite New Mexico and ABQ Sprout AND she just became a mom, so we had plenty to talk about! Three-month-old Marion makes her debut as well so it's a banner show.
Sep 13, 2012•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast I chat with Elissa Breitbard, owner and founder of Betty's Bath & Day Spa — not only a perennial favorite spa in Albuquerque, but recipient of several business awards since its launch in 2000. Elissa (FYI, there is no "Betty") started Betty's after a career in teaching, and quickly established herself as a savvy businesswoman and networking ninja. We talked about how she started, how she developed such a strong brand and role in the community, and how she balances business ownership with being a...
Aug 30, 2012•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our guest is Giovanna Rossi, owner and President of Collective Action Strategies , a consulting firm that works with public and private organizations on women's health and other issues affecting families and communities. Giovanna specializes in developing women's health policies and went out on her own two years ago, after various positions with nonprofits and government agencies for many years. Like me Giovanna has two little kids so she's also intimately familiar with the self-employed mom jug...
Aug 16, 2012•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our very first stab at making this podcast happen! I talk with my longtime collaborator and friend David Dabney, principal of Red Rooster Creative , about small business websites, clients with unrealistic budgets, and why WordPress is the bomb.
Aug 09, 2012•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
