Loading...

PODCAST

The Pencil Pushers Podcast

MRC Brand Design"s Mike Rosado

The Pencil Pushers Podcast celebrates the art of hand-drawing. Produced by MRC Brand Design Studio, it features interviews with illustrators, animators, comic artists, and other talented individuals. Hosted by Mike Rosado, an artist, musician, and designer, the Podcast aims to showcase artists" work and provide insights into their creative process. Join Mike as he chats with his friends and idols in the world of illustration, animation, and comic art.

arts visual arts

All Episodes

01:39:20

Luke Flowers: From Farm Life to NYT Bestselling...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/09/21

Welcome folks as we sit down to chat with illustrator-author Luke Flowers, who's illustrated more than 60 children's books, including the million-selling Moby Shinobi series, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers, and storybook adaptations of The Muppet Christmas Carol and Jim Henson's Labyrinth. Flowers shares the story of growing up on a Colorado farm, discovering illustration through local illustrator Ron Adair, developing his craft at Rocky Mountain College of

en

01:27:19

Michael Doret: Legendary Graphic Designer

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/09/07

We welcome the legendary lettering and graphic design artist Michael Doret, whose 5-decade career includes work for Kiss, the New York Knicks, Disney/Pixar, and Time Magazine covers now in the National Portrait Gallery. He talks about why he wrote Growing Up in Alphabet City, published in late 2024, and his wanting to tell his own story before someone else did. He also gets into how childhood visuals shaped his color and letterforms, often subconsciously, from a Good Humor truck decal to Coney

en

01:07:31

Letterpress Designer: Daniel Swartz

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Welcome folks as we interview letterpress designer, printer, and educator Daniel Swartz, who returned to rural northern Indiana after a 2020 life upheaval, building a new practice in his late grandfather's garage studio. Swartz describes growing up around creativity, studying art at Indiana Wesleyan, shifting from illustration toward design and typography, and teaching starting around 2007–2008. After layoffs in late 2019 and a stalled job search as COVID hit, his wife returned to education while

en

50:25

Nathaniel Long: Comic Book Artist and Author

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/08/14

Host Mike Rosado welcomes illustrator/designer/comic artist Nathaniel Long, a South Carolina-based creator from the Winston-Salem area whose early Spider-Man obsession and grandfather's drawings sparked a lifelong pull toward hand-drawn craft. Long talks about choosing traditional tools for their tactile reality, studying cinema production at Bob Jones University to sharpen visual storytelling, and working full time at BJU Press on motion-graphic illustration projects like an animated "Mask of the

en

01:43:45

Andrew Fairclough: Illustrator & designer

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/07/27

Andrew Fairclough grew up skateboarding on the northeast coast of Australia, copying boards out of Rad Magazine, and winning a drawing contest in a skate publication at 12 years old. He went on to build a career designing for Nike, Billabong, and Rolling Stone before founding True Grit Texture Supply, whose brushes and textures are now used daily by some of the best illustrators in the world. In this episode we cover Andrew's winding path from a beach town in New South Wales through the snowboard

en

53:19

Justin Rasch: Stop-Motion Master Animator

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/06/29

The Pencil Pushers podcast interviews stop-motion animator/director Justin Rasch, who has worked for 30 years across games, TV, and film, including ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning Pinocchio, and now directs/writes/supervises at Stump Puppet Pictures while sharing process online. Rasch recounts growing up in Florida inspired by comics, classic cartoons, Secret of NIMH, and practical effects artists, studying 2D and effects at the Art Institute of

en

01:44:42

Jon Contino: Iconic Brand Designer

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/06/08

Host Mike Rosado welcomes designer/illustrator/author Jon Contino to the Pencil Pushers podcast to discuss Contino's upbringing on Long Island, his parents' craft-driven influence, and his early path from band flyers, cassette art, and self-taught HTML to charging for creative work at 14. Contino explains how his lifelong obsession with lettering, failed graffiti attempts, Photoshop experimentation, hardcore/grunge culture, and New York's grime shaped his "organized chaos" style, later balanced by a

en

01:02:30

Ian Wenstrand: Artist & Illustrator

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/05/19

Mike Rosado interviews Raleigh-based illustrator and designer Ian Wenstrand about his highly detailed, vibrant illustrations blending cityscapes, technology, and imaginative world-building. Wenstrand describes drawing constantly as a kid, studying studio art at University of the Cumberlands (recruited to swim), and moving from production artist retouching roles into graphic design before illustration work organically became steady freelance. He self-published a children's book inspired by artists

en

01:04:43

Jake Weidmann: Master Penman & Artist

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/04/20

Host Mike Rosado welcomes master penman Jake Weidmann to the Pencil Pushers Podcast to discuss his path from lifelong, largely self-taught drawing and sculpture to becoming the youngest certified Master Penman (at 26, in 2011). Weidman recounts being rejected from Biola University's art program, then regaining momentum through major commissions (including carving a family crest into moose antler) and learning how market feedback and viewer response complete the creative process. He explains

en

59:06

Celebrated Artist and Disney Legend Mary Blair

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/04/06

Host Mike Rosado interviews Maggie Richardson, niece of famed Disney concept artist and illustrator Mary Blair, about Blair's life, influence, and legacy. Richardson recalls childhood visits when Blair, living bi-coastally in New York and California, brought gifts and original art, and later memories tied to Disney's orbit, including Hazel George (Walt Disney's nurse and confidant) and riding the Disney plane. She describes Blair as warm, glamorous, and collaborative, noting Blair sought others'

en

01:03:09

Musgrave Pencil Co - Family-Owned Pencil Manufacturer

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/03/23

Host Mike Rosado welcomes Scott Johnson, president of Musgrave Pencil Company, and Creative Lead Tim Delger to discuss running and reimagining one of the oldest and last U.S. pencil factories. Scott shares his unusual path from engineering and infrastructure to leading the family-owned business, focusing on preserving customer loyalty, product quality, and upgrading a 1930s facility without losing its character. Tim explains how they revived Musgrave's heritage through packaging, web, photography,

en

01:01:11

Will Carsola: From Mr. Pickles to Creative Director...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/02/23

In this episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado sit down with artist, writer, and creative director Will Carsola of Liquid Death to trace his path from drawing for laughs as a kid to shaping one of the boldest brands in modern marketing. Will talks about growing up mostly in Virginia, early influences like Garbage Pail Kids, and how humor became central to his voice as an artist. He shares stories of leaving Virginia Commonwealth University, bartending to get by, and spending years

en

01:34:47

Walter C. Barnett: Art Director and Multidisciplinary...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/01/26

In this inspiring episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews Walter C. Barnett, a designer, art director, and multidisciplinary creative known for his work in theater, sports, and entertainment. Walter shares his journey from growing up in Portsmouth, Virginia and Wilmington, North Carolina to discovering his passion for art and design in high school. He details his college experience and internship at Clean Design, which led to various roles, including a position at ESPN and

en

01:55:32

Darryl Young: Illustrator, Toy Designer, and Comic...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2026/01/05

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews Darrell Young, an illustrator, toy designer, and comic artist based in Chicago. Darrell shares his journey from a childhood passion for comics, cartoons, and toys in the 70s and 80s to becoming a professional artist with over 25 years of experience. He discusses his time in animation working on General Mills commercials, his transition to toy design for brands like McDonald's and Wendy's, and his eventual shift to freelancing

en

01:07:02

Illustrator Travis Knight

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/12/23

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews illustrator Travis Knight, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Travis's work, inspired by vintage comics, punk zines, horror, and sci-fi, spans multiple mediums including painting, digital illustration, and sculpture. After a decade as a graphic designer, Travis transitioned full-time to illustration, landing clients such as Netflix, Metallica, DC Comics, and the Washington Post. Notably, his viral fake Cracker Barrel logo was

en

01:12:22

Charly Clements: Illustrator, Online Educator,...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado engages in a detailed conversation with Charly Clements, a successful illustrator and educator. Charly shares her inspiring journey, starting from her university rejections in the UK to becoming a digital nomad currently based in Thailand. She discusses her transition from struggling to get into university due to a lack of direction, to refining her portfolio, and eventually starting a thriving illustration career. Charly talks about

en

01:52:59

James Lopez: The Journey of An Animation Master

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Host Mike Rosado sits down with veteran animator James Lopez, celebrating his 35+ years in animation. Lopez shares stories from his illustrious career at top studios like Disney and DreamWorks, touching upon classics like 'The Lion King' and 'The Princess and the Frog.' He dives into his advocacy for 2D animation, details the creation of his independent steampunk project 'Hullabaloo,' and offers a glimpse into his mentorship efforts and future aspirations. This episode is a treasure trove for

en

01:17:55

Studio Muti - The illustrative journey of the Cape...

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/11/04

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado talks with Clint Campbell, Miné Jonker, and Brad Hodgkiss from the renowned Cape Town-based illustration studio, Studio Muti. The discussion covers the studio's origins, creative processes, and the team dynamics that make them successful. Founded in 2011, Studio Muti has become a powerhouse in global design, collaborating with brands like Apple, Nike, and Google. The trio shares insights into their journey, the importance of

en

01:23:47

Armando ‘Mondo’ Roque - Toy Designer & Creative Director

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Welcome to The Pencil Pushers Podcast. In this episode, I chat with the multitalented Armando “Mondo” Roque about his incredible journey from childhood robot doodles to designing iconic toys.Mondo takes us back to the ’80s, reminiscing about sketching RoboTech battles as a kid and getting his start as a caricature artist at Knott’s Berry Farm. He shares his winding educational path through multiple art schools and how he eventually made the leap from corporate graphic design to a creative role at By

en

01:52:56

Seth Kearsley - Animation Director & Writer

The Pencil Pushers Podcast ·

2025/09/22

In this episode, I sit down with Seth Kearsley, a veteran animation director, writer, and producer, to explore his incredible career. With over three decades in the industry, Seth has worked on fan-favorite shows like The Maxx, The Simpsons, and Dilbert, and directed Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights. We talk about his beginnings, discovering pencil and paper in his dad’s truck, and the path that led him to major animation projects.From wild CalArts parties to life advice from Dustin Hoffman, Seth

en

37 results

Similar Podcasts

Stage Whisper

Andrew Cortes and Hope Bird

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Choice Classic Radio

Wild West Tales - Old Time Radio Westerns

theaterofthemind-otr.com

Voice of the Arts

WQED Multimedia