Before digital design had any kind of best practices, there were those passionate few who could see what wasn’t working, ignored what “you’re supposed to do” and just fixed it. Elegantly. With soul. And maybe a little magic.

Meet JD Hooge, of Instrument. He doesn't pursue awards, doesn't need the spotlight. But together, he and those around him have set the standard for what “best” can look like in digital design. Never the same. Inspired by everything, and always on to What’s Next.

Originally recorded on the plush and velvety couches upstairs at Portland’s classic Hollywood Theater, 5/12/15. See what Instrument is up to at Instrument.com 

JD Hooge / Have a Nice Idea

Debbie talks to therapist and author Esther Perel about marriage, polyamory, and adultery.

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: 2009-2017

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Esther Perel

At some point all of us will likely experience a job loss or some other big life setback. While it can feel like your world is crashing down, there’s one asset you'll hopefully have at your disposal which can help you weather the storm: your social circle. 

My guest today experienced the buoying power of relationships firsthand when he lost a job he held for over ten years. His name is Jordan Harbinger and we’ve had him on the podcast before. For 11 years he was the host of the Art of Charm Podcast, but recently found himself out of the host chair and without a job. But thanks to the social connections he’s built up over the past decade, Jordan was able to quickly get back on his feet and now has a new show.

Today on the podcast, Jordan shares what it's like to lose a job he held for a decade and what specific tactics he used to manage the roller coaster of emotions that come with that. We then dig into how his social circle was the key asset that helped him get back on his feet quickly and what you can do to start developing social capital today so it can buoy you up in a time of need.

Lots of actionable advice in this episode. You’ll want to take notes.

#393: The Importance of Building Your Social Capital

Chandra Brown is an educator, writer, and river guide who has worked on the West’s most iconic rivers, including many seasons below the rim of the Grand Canyon. She’s also the founder of the Freeflow Institute, a unique Montana-based program that offers multi-day river trips for writers and creatives that combine immersion in the natural world with instruction from some of the West’s most well-known, prolific outdoor writers. By combining creativity with adventure in some of the West’s most spectacular landscapes, Freeflow helps to "eliminate the barrier between artist and environment," resulting in creative inspiration and an increased desire to preserve our wild places.
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Growing up in Alaska, Chandra has always had close connections to the land and life in the outdoors. It was during a family trip to Montana during high school that she fell in love with rivers; since then, rivers have played a foundational role in both her personal and professional lives. She attended college in Bozeman, studied in Ecuador as a Fulbright Scholar, and spent extensive time on rivers in both places. Currently she burns the candle at both ends-- teaching high school Spanish during the school year and guiding rivers in the summer, all while working as a freelance writer and building the Freeflow Institute from the ground up.
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Thanks to her love of books, writing, adventure, and conservation, Chandra is a perfect guest for this podcast. We cover a lot in just over an hour, including the genesis of the idea for the Freeflow Institute and how she turned that idea into reality. We discuss some of the well-known writers who teach on Freeflow trips, including Hal Herring, Chris Dombrowski, and past podcast guests Alexis Bonogofsky and Brendan Leonard. We talk about lessons learned from her time in Ecuador, her creative process for writing, and her own writing heroes and mentors. We discuss conservation, adventure, and, of course, favorite books, films, and locations in the West.
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Chandra is an amazing woman who is pursuing her passions with an inspiring amount of focus and determination, and she’s created something very special in the Freeflow Institute. Check out the episode notes for links to everything, including a short film that gives an excellent overview of the project.  Enjoy!
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http://mountainandprairie.com/chandra-brown/
https://freeflowinstitute.com
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TOPICS DISCUSSED:
3:40 - Chandra describes her work
5:00 - Freeflow Institute explained
7:00 - Taking Freeflow from idea to reality
9:15 - Hal Herring
11:30 - Importance of open-mindedness
14:00 - Wilderness breaking down barriers
17:40 - Growing up in Alaska
19:00 - Outdoor experiences as a kid
22:00 - Falling in love with rivers
23:30 - College in Montana
26:30 - Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador
28:00 - Lessons learned from international living
35:40 - Writing as a focus of her life
38:40 - Life in Missoula and teaching
40:50 - The Grand Canyon
42:40 - Lessons from guiding
44:15 - Talent versus hard work in writing
47:30 - Chandra’s writing routine
52:00 - Heroes and mentors
57:30 - Conservation challenges
1:02:30 - Favorite books
1:05:00 - Favorite films
1:06:00 - Hobbies
1:07:50 - Most powerful outdoor experience
1:10:30 - Favorite location in the West
1:11:15 - Best advice ever received
1:12:00 - Request of the listeners
1:13:10 - Connect with Freeflow online

Mountain & Prairie Podcast

Chandra Brown - Fostering Creativity Through River Adventures

It was only a wee few years ago that our pal Angus, after a night dancing with loudmouth soup (Scottish ale, some whiskey, and surprisingly, a Diet Pepsi), decided to get a few things off his chest in an effort to champion one of his favorite bands, BIG COUNTRY!

Angus from KEXP's Morning Show Has Some Thoughts on "The" Bands

If you love the West and you love art, then you are likely already a fan of Logan Maxwell Hagege. He is a renowned painter whose depictions of the people and landscapes of the West have won him acclaim around the globe. His work is as stunning as it is unique, and when you see one of Logan’s pieces, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind as to exactly who painted it. He uses bold colors and striking composition to create a style that is entirely his own-- a style that continues to evolve, even after all of his success.
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Logan was born and raised in California, and he has been an obsessive artist for as long as he can remember. Whether drawing, playing music, surfing, or painting, Logan has always gone “all in” on his creative pursuits. And as you’ll hear, Logan’s tendency towards obsession is fueled by a tireless work ethic and deep commitment to continuing to grow as an artist-- he is always pushing himself and refuses to rest on his laurels. That’s not to say that Logan doesn’t suffer from artistic blocks from time to time. But when he does, rather than wallow, he’s developed hard-nosed, time-tested methods of summoning creativity and continuing to push forward.
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I’ve been a fan of Logan’s for many years, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to chat with him. We covered a lot, including his childhood creative obsessions and how his parents nurtured his artistic streak. We talk about his formal art education, and how he made the jump from art student to professional artist. Logan describes the evolution of his work, and how his early paintings are almost unrecognizable when compared to his current style. We chat about how he maintains focus after so many years of professional art, and he describes specific ways that he pushes himself to continue to evolve as an artist. He explains how he knows when a painting is finished, and how having a son has changed his routine and outlook. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and the best advice he’s ever received.
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There’s a ton of useful information in this episode so be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything.  Enjoy!
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http://loganhagege.com
https://mountainandprairie.com/logan-hagege/
•••
TOPICS DISCUSSED: 
4:00 - How Logan describes his work
6:30 - Logan’s childhood artistic endeavors
8:15 - Art education
10:00 - Transition from art school to professional artist
12:15 - Old work compared to new work
15:00 - Transition to a new style of painting
16:45 - Source of Logan’s independence
19:15 - Importance of work ethic
20:30 - How he keeps the artistic motivation alive
21:20 - When the southwest became a focus
23:15 - Logan’s daily creative schedule
25:00 - How parenthood affected Logan’s outlook
26:30 - Logan’s studio spaces
28:00 - The inspiration for Logan’s works
29:45 - How to know when a painting is done
32:00 - Thoughts on looking at others’ artwork
35:00 - What Logan listens to while painting
36:30 - The business of art
38:35 - Mentors and heroes
41:00 - Books on creativity
42:30 - Other non-art activities
46:30 - Favorite books
48:30 - Daily rituals and getting to work
51:00 - More favorite books
52:00 - Favorite films
54:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience
58:45 - Best advice ever received
1:03:30 - Request of the listeners

Logan Maxwell Hagege - Artistic Evolution

Hundreds of people were in the room when Derek Walker stood up and asked "how long do people of color have to wait?" Since then, must hasn't changed. Derek--the owner, janitor, secretary, and mailroom person of the advertising agency brown and browner--joins us to talk about the state of the industry and what needs to be done.

Episode 70: The Lie of Enough ft. Derek Walker

Saturday Nights with Gabriella and Adriana - 12/7/2019

Shimmy

A podcast spotlighting the creative soul of people with creative minds. And vice versa. 

Hear how some of the creative world's best got into the business, what keeps them in it and how great work gets to be that way. That, and whatever else comes up. 

Hosted by Andy Askren, ECD at Grady Britton in Portland, OR.

JD Hooge / Have a Nice Idea

Have a Nice Idea

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