A mirror that stares back at a goddess. A studio that runs on play. A maker who treats mistakes like maps. Walk with us and David Wiseman along the LA River as we trace the making of a seven-foot grotto mirror bound for Chatsworth House and the winding path that led from deer wall hooks to Dior ceilings. This story is about process as much as product, how a single wax drip can become a piece’s DNA, how deadlines sharpen invention, and how the right mold can multiply originality instead of cloning it. David opens the door to his compound and his philosophy. We get inside the feedback loop of an artist-run foundry, where modular stalactite “archetypes” allow real-time composition and patina chemistry compresses weeks into days. He threads myth and material with a light touch, Diana’s grotto meets peyote faces and desert toads, reminding us that wonder belongs in serious work. We talk Victorian follies, garden hermits, and the joy of looking at nature until it reveals itself, then building a form that feels discovered rather than imposed. The journey arcs through RISD, early “deer guy” days, and the aha of bronze, into collectible design, editions, and the practicalities of wiring, structure, and safe installation. Along the way, David shares how he builds a community of “no-people,” hosts Thursday art nights, and reframes failure as information. He’s candid about scaling a practice, balancing life around a 26-person studio, and the ambition to make beautiful, meaningful objects more affordable, yes, even exploring an IKEA collaboration, without extinguishing the spark that makes the work alive. If you care about craft, sculpture, design, and the slippery line where they overlap, this walk is a field guide. Hit play, then tell us where you find your spark.

<description>&lt;p&gt;A mirror that stares back at a goddess. A studio that runs on play. A maker who treats mistakes like maps. Walk with us and David Wiseman along the LA River as we trace the making of a seven-foot grotto mirror bound for Chatsworth House and the winding path that led from deer wall hooks to Dior ceilings. This story is about process as much as product, how a single wax drip can become a piece’s DNA, how deadlines sharpen invention, and how the right mold can multiply originality instead of cloning it.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;David opens the door to his compound and his philosophy. We get inside the feedback loop of an artist-run foundry, where modular stalactite “archetypes” allow real-time composition and patina chemistry compresses weeks into days. He threads myth and material with a light touch, Diana’s grotto meets peyote faces and desert toads, reminding us that wonder belongs in serious work. We talk Victorian follies, garden hermits, and the joy of looking at nature until it reveals itself, then building a form that feels discovered rather than imposed.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The journey arcs through RISD, early “deer guy” days, and the aha of bronze, into collectible design, editions, and the practicalities of wiring, structure, and safe installation. Along the way, David shares how he builds a community of “no-people,” hosts Thursday art nights, and reframes failure as information. He’s candid about scaling a practice, balancing life around a 26-person studio, and the ambition to make beautiful, meaningful objects more affordable, yes, even exploring an IKEA collaboration, without extinguishing the spark that makes the work alive.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you care about craft, sculpture, design, and the slippery line where they overlap, this walk is a field guide. Hit play, then tell us where you find your spark.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A mirror that stares back at a goddess. A studio that runs on play. A maker who treats mistakes like maps. Walk with us and David Wiseman along the LA River as we trace the making of a seven-foot grotto mirror bound for Chatsworth House and the winding path that led from deer wall hooks to Dior ceilings. This story is about process as much as product, how a single wax drip can become a piece’s DNA, how deadlines sharpen invention, and how the right mold can multiply originality instead of clo...

David Wiseman : Wonder As A Process.

How do you make a feature film for less than $30,000 that attracts A-list talent? Pete Ohs reveals his unconventional approach to filmmaking that throws out the rulebook and returns to what makes creativity truly fulfilling. Pete shares how his journey began simply as a teenager making videos with friends, not aspiring filmmakers creating art, just kids having fun with a camera. This foundation of joy-first creation became the philosophical cornerstone of his professional methodology. After studying computer science and pivoting to video production, Pete developed a filmmaking approach that prioritizes creative freedom and enjoyment over traditional structures. What makes Pete&apos;s process remarkable is its radical simplicity. No scripts, just brief outlines. Minimal crews, often just himself handling camera, sound, and direction. Two-week shooting schedules in single locations with small casts who become co-writers. The first week is spent filming the first half of the story, then everyone takes a day off while Pete determines how it should end. This approach has attracted collaborators like Julia Garner and Charli XCX, who value the opportunity to create without the pressure of justifying massive budgets. Throughout our conversation, Pete opens up about recent personal struggles, his father&apos;s passing and a relationship ending, revealing a stark contrast between his professional confidence and personal insecurities. His mantra &quot;smaller is better&quot; applies not just to filmmaking but reflects a deeper philosophy about finding meaning in process rather than outcome: &quot;If the journey isn&apos;t enjoyable, the end result won&apos;t be worth it.&quot; Whether you&apos;re a filmmaker, artist, or anyone seeking a more fulfilling creative life, Pete&apos;s approach offers a refreshing alternative to the bigger-is-better mindset. Subscribe now to hear more conversations with creators who are redefining what&apos;s possible in their fields.

<description>&lt;p&gt;How do you make a feature film for less than $30,000 that attracts A-list talent? Pete Ohs reveals his unconventional approach to filmmaking that throws out the rulebook and returns to what makes creativity truly fulfilling.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Pete shares how his journey began simply as a teenager making videos with friends, not aspiring filmmakers creating art, just kids having fun with a camera. This foundation of joy-first creation became the philosophical cornerstone of his professional methodology. After studying computer science and pivoting to video production, Pete developed a filmmaking approach that prioritizes creative freedom and enjoyment over traditional structures.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What makes Pete&amp;apos;s process remarkable is its radical simplicity. No scripts, just brief outlines. Minimal crews, often just himself handling camera, sound, and direction. Two-week shooting schedules in single locations with small casts who become co-writers. The first week is spent filming the first half of the story, then everyone takes a day off while Pete determines how it should end. This approach has attracted collaborators like Julia Garner and Charli XCX, who value the opportunity to create without the pressure of justifying massive budgets.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Throughout our conversation, Pete opens up about recent personal struggles, his father&amp;apos;s passing and a relationship ending, revealing a stark contrast between his professional confidence and personal insecurities. His mantra &amp;quot;smaller is better&amp;quot; applies not just to filmmaking but reflects a deeper philosophy about finding meaning in process rather than outcome: &amp;quot;If the journey isn&amp;apos;t enjoyable, the end result won&amp;apos;t be worth it.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Whether you&amp;apos;re a filmmaker, artist, or anyone seeking a more fulfilling creative life, Pete&amp;apos;s approach offers a refreshing alternative to the bigger-is-better mindset. Subscribe now to hear more conversations with creators who are redefining what&amp;apos;s possible in their fields.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How do you make a feature film for less than $30,000 that attracts A-list talent? Pete Ohs reveals his unconventional approach to filmmaking that throws out the rulebook and returns to what makes creativity truly fulfilling.  Pete shares how his journey began simply as a teenager making videos with friends, not aspiring filmmakers creating art, just kids having fun with a camera. This foundation of joy-first creation became the philosophical cornerstone of his professional methodology. After ...

Pete Ohs : Making Movies With (Almost) No Money

What happens when we&apos;re faced with our deepest vulnerabilities? Who guides us through those darkest moments when words fail and understanding seems impossible?  Meet Peggy Kelly, a hospital chaplain at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, whose extraordinary work places her at the intersection of life&apos;s most profound transitions. Far from the religious stereotype many might expect, Peggy reveals the nuanced art of spiritual care – a practice that serves people of all faiths and none, focusing not on conversion but connection. With disarming honesty, Peggy shares her unlikely journey from aspiring actress to &quot;soul doctor,&quot; sparked by witnessing children&apos;s existential questions after 9/11. She details the rigorous path to becoming a chaplain – a seven-year journey requiring clinical training, theological education, and thousands of hours of patient care. This isn&apos;t volunteer work; it&apos;s a calling that demands both professional expertise and profound humanity. The conversation takes breathtaking turns as Peggy recounts experiences with dying children whose wisdom transcends their years, including a five-year-old boy who, after watching his mother die, simply observed, &quot;I guess she&apos;s all done with school.&quot; Such moments reveal how even in our most broken times, unexpected beauty and clarity can emerge. What makes this exchange particularly powerful is its embrace of contrasting perspectives. As the host shares his atheistic viewpoint shaped by losing his mother at eleven, Peggy listens without judgment, demonstrating the very approach that makes her work so effective – meeting people exactly where they are. Their respectful dialogue creates a rare space where faith and skepticism can coexist, united by shared human experience. Whether you&apos;re grappling with mortality, supporting someone through illness, or simply curious about how we find meaning in suffering, this conversation offers rare insights into life&apos;s most challenging moments. Listen now to discover how spiritual care transcends religious boundaries to touch what makes us most human.

<description>&lt;p&gt;What happens when we&amp;apos;re faced with our deepest vulnerabilities? Who guides us through those darkest moments when words fail and understanding seems impossible? &lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Meet Peggy Kelly, a hospital chaplain at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, whose extraordinary work places her at the intersection of life&amp;apos;s most profound transitions. Far from the religious stereotype many might expect, Peggy reveals the nuanced art of spiritual care – a practice that serves people of all faiths and none, focusing not on conversion but connection.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;With disarming honesty, Peggy shares her unlikely journey from aspiring actress to &amp;quot;soul doctor,&amp;quot; sparked by witnessing children&amp;apos;s existential questions after 9/11. She details the rigorous path to becoming a chaplain – a seven-year journey requiring clinical training, theological education, and thousands of hours of patient care. This isn&amp;apos;t volunteer work; it&amp;apos;s a calling that demands both professional expertise and profound humanity.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The conversation takes breathtaking turns as Peggy recounts experiences with dying children whose wisdom transcends their years, including a five-year-old boy who, after watching his mother die, simply observed, &amp;quot;I guess she&amp;apos;s all done with school.&amp;quot; Such moments reveal how even in our most broken times, unexpected beauty and clarity can emerge.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What makes this exchange particularly powerful is its embrace of contrasting perspectives. As the host shares his atheistic viewpoint shaped by losing his mother at eleven, Peggy listens without judgment, demonstrating the very approach that makes her work so effective – meeting people exactly where they are. Their respectful dialogue creates a rare space where faith and skepticism can coexist, united by shared human experience.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Whether you&amp;apos;re grappling with mortality, supporting someone through illness, or simply curious about how we find meaning in suffering, this conversation offers rare insights into life&amp;apos;s most challenging moments. Listen now to discover how spiritual care transcends religious boundaries to touch what makes us most human.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

What happens when we're faced with our deepest vulnerabilities? Who guides us through those darkest moments when words fail and understanding seems impossible?   Meet Peggy Kelly, a hospital chaplain at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, whose extraordinary work places her at the intersection of life's most profound transitions. Far from the religious stereotype many might expect, Peggy reveals the nuanced art of spiritual care – a practice that serves people of all faiths and none, focusing n...

Peggy Kelley : Walking with Death's Guide

What makes a movie star? In this captivating conversation with Matt Dillon, we discover it&apos;s about far more than just having the right look or landing the big roles. Dillon takes us behind the curtain of his remarkable five-decade career that began when he was just 14 years old and continues to evolve today. Starting with early breakthrough roles in classics like &quot;The Outsiders&quot; and &quot;Rumble Fish,&quot; Dillon reveals how director Francis Ford Coppola shaped his understanding of filmmaking and character development. He offers fascinating insights into his approach to acting, emphasizing what he calls &quot;character logic&quot; over &quot;plot logic&quot; – the idea that characters&apos; actions must remain true to who they are, even when irrational. &quot;If you don&apos;t understand why someone is doing what they&apos;re doing,&quot; he explains, &quot;then the whole make-believe shambles falls apart.&quot; Beyond his celebrated acting career, Dillon opens up about his directorial work, his documentary on Cuban music, and his daily practice as a visual artist. He speaks candidly about resisting being labeled as merely a &quot;sex symbol&quot; and his determination to take creative risks throughout his career. Whether discussing the challenges of working with Lars von Trier on &quot;The House That Jack Built&quot; or reflecting on playing Charles Bukowski&apos;s alter ego in &quot;Factotum,&quot; Dillon provides a masterclass in artistic integrity. What emerges is a portrait of a true creative force – someone who at 60 years old believes he&apos;s &quot;only skimmed the surface&quot; of his artistic potential. For anyone interested in film, acting, or the pursuit of authentic creative expression, this conversation offers invaluable wisdom from one of cinema&apos;s most enduring talents.

<description>&lt;p&gt;What makes a movie star? In this captivating conversation with Matt Dillon, we discover it&amp;apos;s about far more than just having the right look or landing the big roles. Dillon takes us behind the curtain of his remarkable five-decade career that began when he was just 14 years old and continues to evolve today.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Starting with early breakthrough roles in classics like &amp;quot;The Outsiders&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Rumble Fish,&amp;quot; Dillon reveals how director Francis Ford Coppola shaped his understanding of filmmaking and character development. He offers fascinating insights into his approach to acting, emphasizing what he calls &amp;quot;character logic&amp;quot; over &amp;quot;plot logic&amp;quot; – the idea that characters&amp;apos; actions must remain true to who they are, even when irrational. &amp;quot;If you don&amp;apos;t understand why someone is doing what they&amp;apos;re doing,&amp;quot; he explains, &amp;quot;then the whole make-believe shambles falls apart.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Beyond his celebrated acting career, Dillon opens up about his directorial work, his documentary on Cuban music, and his daily practice as a visual artist. He speaks candidly about resisting being labeled as merely a &amp;quot;sex symbol&amp;quot; and his determination to take creative risks throughout his career. Whether discussing the challenges of working with Lars von Trier on &amp;quot;The House That Jack Built&amp;quot; or reflecting on playing Charles Bukowski&amp;apos;s alter ego in &amp;quot;Factotum,&amp;quot; Dillon provides a masterclass in artistic integrity.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What emerges is a portrait of a true creative force – someone who at 60 years old believes he&amp;apos;s &amp;quot;only skimmed the surface&amp;quot; of his artistic potential. For anyone interested in film, acting, or the pursuit of authentic creative expression, this conversation offers invaluable wisdom from one of cinema&amp;apos;s most enduring talents.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

What makes a movie star? In this captivating conversation with Matt Dillon, we discover it's about far more than just having the right look or landing the big roles. Dillon takes us behind the curtain of his remarkable five-decade career that began when he was just 14 years old and continues to evolve today.  Starting with early breakthrough roles in classics like "The Outsiders" and "Rumble Fish," Dillon reveals how director Francis Ford Coppola shaped his understanding of filmmaking and cha...

Matt Dillon : The Fox Not The Hedgehog

Valeria Luiselli&apos;s literary voice resonates with a rare intensity that comes from inhabiting multiple worlds. Born in Mexico but raised across continents—from South Korea to South Africa, India to Spain—she crafts stories that blur boundaries between reality and fiction, memory and imagination. In this conversation, Luiselli shares the intricate details of her six-year journey creating her forthcoming novel &quot;Beginning Middle End,&quot; which explores how stories shape our perception of reality through a mother-daughter relationship. With remarkable vulnerability, she reveals her writing process—rising at 5 AM to write by hand, starting with atmospheric feelings rather than plots, and collaborating with her teenage daughter to authentically capture a child&apos;s perspective. What makes Luiselli truly revolutionary is her multisensory approach to storytelling. For five years, she&apos;s been recording the entire Mexico-US border with sound engineers, creating what she calls &quot;a 24-hour sonic essay&quot; capturing everything from underwater whale songs to children interviewing rivers. This ambitious project reflects her belief that different mediums allow us to experience stories in complementary ways—her novels existing simultaneously as text, sound, and sometimes visual archives. Luiselli&apos;s perspective on fiction challenges conventional thinking: &quot;Fiction is not the opposite of truth,&quot; she explains, tracing the word to its Latin root fingere—&quot;to mold something out of clay, to give shape to something already there.&quot; This philosophy illuminates why her work feels so alive; she&apos;s not inventing from nothing but sculpting meaning from the raw materials of existence. The conversation culminates in a profound reflection on narrative&apos;s power in our lives. &quot;The value we give to our lives is determined by the way we tell the story of ourselves to ourselves,&quot; Luiselli observes. In her hands, storytelling becomes more than art—it&apos;s a way of making sense of our existence, of anchoring ourselves in an increasingly unmoored world. Dive into this episode to discover how one of literature&apos;s most innovative voices creates work that resonates with both intellectual depth and emotional truth. Then explore Luiselli&apos;s books to experience her singular vision firsthand.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Valeria Luiselli&amp;apos;s literary voice resonates with a rare intensity that comes from inhabiting multiple worlds. Born in Mexico but raised across continents—from South Korea to South Africa, India to Spain—she crafts stories that blur boundaries between reality and fiction, memory and imagination.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;In this conversation, Luiselli shares the intricate details of her six-year journey creating her forthcoming novel &amp;quot;Beginning Middle End,&amp;quot; which explores how stories shape our perception of reality through a mother-daughter relationship. With remarkable vulnerability, she reveals her writing process—rising at 5 AM to write by hand, starting with atmospheric feelings rather than plots, and collaborating with her teenage daughter to authentically capture a child&amp;apos;s perspective.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;What makes Luiselli truly revolutionary is her multisensory approach to storytelling. For five years, she&amp;apos;s been recording the entire Mexico-US border with sound engineers, creating what she calls &amp;quot;a 24-hour sonic essay&amp;quot; capturing everything from underwater whale songs to children interviewing rivers. This ambitious project reflects her belief that different mediums allow us to experience stories in complementary ways—her novels existing simultaneously as text, sound, and sometimes visual archives.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Luiselli&amp;apos;s perspective on fiction challenges conventional thinking: &amp;quot;Fiction is not the opposite of truth,&amp;quot; she explains, tracing the word to its Latin root fingere—&amp;quot;to mold something out of clay, to give shape to something already there.&amp;quot; This philosophy illuminates why her work feels so alive; she&amp;apos;s not inventing from nothing but sculpting meaning from the raw materials of existence.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The conversation culminates in a profound reflection on narrative&amp;apos;s power in our lives. &amp;quot;The value we give to our lives is determined by the way we tell the story of ourselves to ourselves,&amp;quot; Luiselli observes. In her hands, storytelling becomes more than art—it&amp;apos;s a way of making sense of our existence, of anchoring ourselves in an increasingly unmoored world.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Dive into this episode to discover how one of literature&amp;apos;s most innovative voices creates work that resonates with both intellectual depth and emotional truth. Then explore Luiselli&amp;apos;s books to experience her singular vision firsthand.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Valeria Luiselli's literary voice resonates with a rare intensity that comes from inhabiting multiple worlds. Born in Mexico but raised across continents—from South Korea to South Africa, India to Spain—she crafts stories that blur boundaries between reality and fiction, memory and imagination.  In this conversation, Luiselli shares the intricate details of her six-year journey creating her forthcoming novel "Beginning Middle End," which explores how stories shape our perception of reality th...

Valeria Luiselli : Memory, Fiction, and Reality

Go for a walk with Halli as he chats with creative people about their life and work.

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