Bad Idea Social Club
Bad Idea Social Club is an independent podcast of stories, insights, and creative foolery. Hosted by graphic designer Aaron McCall, with Joe Matteson and Amber Gray, BISC brings honest, unfiltered conversations that celebrate the messy, brilliant, and relatable sides of creativity, the creative process, and the stories that shape who we are. This is a space where humor and heart collide—where the creative process, personal struggles and growth, moments of joy, and mental health are all part of the story. Whether you’re an artist, a storyteller, a creative enthusiast, or just trying to make sense of the chaos, this podcast dives into life, creativity, and the stories that connect us all. Tune in—press play, subscribe, and share the stories with your friends.
Episodes
56 episodes
Scott Millington: Real AF
Scott Millington (photographer) has always had an eye for real-life moments—and in photography, he found the language to document them. Scott sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about how the camera gave him purpose, community, and a way to sho...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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49:13
Courtney Romero: Sunshine
Courtney Romero (graphic designer, co-founder of Class) didn’t set out to co-found a tech company, but when the opportunity came, she ran with it. Courtney shares her story with Aaron McCall about growi...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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1:01:48
Jon Bailey: Pour Boy
Jon Bailey—photographer, videographer, and co-owner of Lantern Coffee Bar & Lounge—joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about reinvention, embracing uncertainty, and the realities of running an independent coffee shop. His path hasn’t been...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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56:11
Mike Egan: A Brush with Death
Artist Mike Egan joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about art, death, and building a life on his own terms. Known for his bold, macabre paintings of skeletons, coffins, and religious iconography, his work is unmistakable—equal parts h...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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47:25
Jenny Berggren: Rawdogging
Filmmaker and creative director Jenny Berggren (Wondergold Pictures) joins Aaron McCall for an unfiltered conversation about reinvention, creative freedom, and breaking away from the structures that no longer fit. From growing up making home vi...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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53:31
Marcel Fable Price: The Poet and The Price
Poet, storyteller, and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Marcel Fable Price joins Aaron McCall for a raw and deeply honest conversation about creativity, mental health, and the weight of grief. He opens up about loss, the complexity of l...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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51:09
Back for More: Sabrina Dahlgren, Jacob Rosenburg, and Mike Mains
Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with singer/actor Sabrina Dahlgren (S3 Ep5), graphic designer Jacob Rosenburg (S2 Ep12), and musician Mike Mains (S1 Ep3) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps movi...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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57:56
Back for More: Lydia VanHoven-Cook, Jill Deiters, and Edwin Collazo
Ahead of Season 5, we're catching up with Lydia VanHoven-Cook (S1 Ep1), Jill Deiters (S1 Ep5), and Edwin Collazo (S4 Ep1) to hear what they’ve been up to since they were first on the podcast. Life keeps moving, and we’re here for all the storie...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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59:03
Bailey Sell: Transfigure
Bailey Sell (screen printer, graphic designer, Transfigure Print Collective) shares his story with Aaron McCall and discusses the love/hate relationship between creativity and time, the roles that i...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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58:54
Daphna Sebbane: Hell Bent
Daphna Sebbane (graphic designer, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to share her story, discussing her multicultural upbringing and creative inspiration rooted in mysticism, tattoo art, and the occult. Daphna opens up about developing her distinc...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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52:26
Sean Cook: Golden Retriever
Sean Cook (wedding photographer) shares his story with Aaron McCall, diving into his struggles and growth with social anxiety, the lengths he goes to capture meaningful images, and how his camera has served as a conduit, a security blanket, and...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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1:05:05
Mark Condupa: An Empty Chair
Mark Condupa (songwriter, singer, writer) shares deeply personal stories with Aaron McCall as they discuss creativity born out of love and grief, the effects of trauma on creativity and decision-making, and the role music plays in our day-to-da...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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1:13:17
Josie & Michael Herman: Characters
Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman (actors, writers, podcast creators, Acorn Arts & Entertainment, The C...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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1:22:30
Alyssa Pacheco: Mirror Mirror
Alyssa Pacheco (poet, author, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the deeply personal nature of her work. Alyssa opens up about the influence of her family dynamics, the vulnerability in her words, and how her lived exper...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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1:06:37
Nicholas Hartman: Macabre & Medicated
Nicholas Hartman (painter, illustrator, Chapel of Ghouls) shares his story with Aaron McCall and opens up about his death anxiety as well as other mental health challenges and how those things present themselves in his work. Nick balan...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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1:05:26
Leigh Ann Cobb: Awkward Art Kid
Leigh Ann Cobb (photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss going from an awkward art kid to an awkward art grown-up, what it takes to keep her sense of self and identity in check, and the relationship between Leigh Ann and...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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1:05:44
Marley Soden: Good Bones
Marley Soden (letterer, illustrator, muralist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss breaking off from agency life, her need for control in creativity and presentation, playing with food, and how she uses TikTok and Instagram as th...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:02:27
Edwin Collazo: Sins In Booth 6
Edwin Collazo (brewer, business owner, City Built Brewing Company) shared his story with Aaron McCall and 70-something other people at City Built Brewing Company for a LIVE recording session ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:14:17
Amber Gray: Mama Likes Her Ghosts
In this BONUS episode, we officially welcome Amber Gray to the Bad Idea Social Club team. She's a multi-faceted creative with a background in graphic design, creative direction, photography, performance art, and probably 20 other things. Amber ...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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1:00:40
James Victore: The Weight Of The Chorus
To wrap up season 3, James Victore (artist, graphic designer, art educator, creative coach) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they get into discovering your voice as an artist and a person, the line between creative block and being bored, a...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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1:05:39
Dan Wiltshire: Left-Handed House Cat
Dan Wiltshire (motion designer, Chop & Hue) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the energy that creativity gives and takes, catching influence from film and thin air, and ove...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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58:32
Steph Harding: Drinks Well With Others
Steph Harding (photographer, marketer, creative nomad) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they talk about chasing down creative ambitions, surrounding yourself with people who energize instead of drain, and turning the creative switch on and...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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56:46
Jack Muldowney: Thirsty For Change
Jack Muldowney (graphic designer, Studio Malt) shares his story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the intersection of design and beer, environmental and social responsibility in his work and his space, and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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1:22:29
Curt Prudden: Comparison, The Thief
Curt Prudden (artist, painter) opens up with Aaron McCall about using creativity as a tool for both expression and survival, comparing himself to other people and artists, and his story from his time in the military to solo trips of self-discov...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:18:39
Lainey Yehl: Lose Or Draw
Lainey Yehl (freelance graphic designer, illustrator) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss her crooked and colorful path to graphic design, the love/hate relationship with hunting down new business, and overdue invoices, and Insta...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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1:08:32
