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PODCAST

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

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All Episodes

62:33

Jacob Betts: Once a Vagrant

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/11/04

Jacob Betts (singer-songwriter, The American Hotel System) joins Aaron McCall to talk about creativity as something to hold onto when life unravels, how grief reshapes how we see purpose, and what it means to rebuild belief in people when everything around you feels painfully divided. He opens up about faith, art, and the defiance it takes to choose hope over cynicism. Keep up with Jacob Betts: americanhotelsystem.com IG: @theamericanhotelsystem IG: @theconcussedcoffeegeek Writer/Producer/...

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63:07

Casey Lambert: The Other F Word

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/10/28

Casey Lambert (independent pro wrestler, marketing director) joins Aaron McCall to talk about life in and out of the ring, how strength and vulnerability feed off each other, and how connection shows up everywhere from the crowd to your opponent, and the relationships that matter most. They dig into storytelling in wrestling, learning how to take a hit and keep showing up, and what it actually looks like to lead with empathy in a world that keeps rewarding the cruelty. Keep up with Casey Lamb...

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58:40

Joy Rhine: Unhinged and Feral

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/10/21

Joy Rhine (visual designer, photographer) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about keeping creativity in your life without letting it become your whole identity. She opens up about being people-first in a screen-first industry, why she’d rather build community than chase trends, and how confidence came from doing hard things like running marathons and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro “for fun.” From travel and fitness to design and friendship, Joy proves you can be wildly creative, wildly active,...

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64:20

Mack Garrison: Everything in Motion

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/10/14

Mack Garrison (motion designer, co-founder of Dash Studio) joins Aaron McCall to talk about ADHD as both a curse and a creative advantage, building a studio rooted in empathy over ego, and what happens when you decide burnout isn’t a badge of honor. He opens up about the lessons that shaped Dash’s first decade, from mentorship and community to leading with transparency when things get hard and what it means to keep the work moving without sacrificing the humanity behind it. Keep up with Mack ...

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61:05

Scott Katsufrakus: Castles and Sirens

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/10/07

Scott Katsufrakis (founder of Flying House Threads, firefighter) joins Aaron McCall to talk creative entrepreneurship at the edge of whimsy and weight. They dig into building a Disney-inspired, punk-leaning apparel brand while working life-and-death shifts, the pressure of being “the face” on camera, and the mental health work behind staying steady. They touch on the role of community, the discipline it takes to keep quality high, and finding ways for a brand built on castles and monsters to ...

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60:37

Taylor Matteson: Beautifully Odd

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/09/30

Taylor Matteson (painter, experimenter) shares her story with Aaron McCall and discusses following creativity wherever it leads: painting, sculpture, and adding teeth to thrifted objects. She opens up about growing up shy in a loud, creative household and learning to embrace the unapologetically weird. From finding confidence through experimenting in her 20s to building a deep connection with animals in her work, Taylor leans fully into the strange energy that makes her art unmistakably hers....

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62:14

Ray Anne Barker: Noise and Stillness

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/09/23

Ray Ann Barker (painter, photographer, model, content creator) talks with Aaron McCall about anxiety as the root of her creativity, finding ground through photography and abstract painting, and how turning perfectionism on its head opened new doors. She opens up about modeling in her 30s, navigating motherhood, and creating space for community over competition in creativity. Keep up with Ray Anne Barker: rayannebarker.com IG: @rayannebarker IG: @rayanne.paints Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aa...

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58:26

Colin Russell: Oops, All Murals

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/09/16

Colin Russell (artist, muralist, Ghost Town) talks with Aaron McCall about moving from years in coffee to a life in art, stumbling into murals, and building a world in black and white. His work is bold, playful, and unsettling all at once—creepy cartoons that have made their way from Grand Rapids to Japan. Colin opens up about freelancing, anxiety, and what happens when the thing that used to be your outlet becomes the thing you depend on. Keep up with Colin Russell: ghosttownart.com IG: @gho...

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59:36

Virginia Anzengruber: That's Not Funny

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/09/09

To kick off Season 6, Virginia Anzengruber (comedian, filmmaker, writer) joins Aaron McCall for a conversation about grief, comedy, and what it takes to keep creating when life gets heavy. She talks about loss, writing scripts that hold both humor and heartbreak, the grind of freelancing across film and TV, and the uneasy balance between survival and art. Keep up with Virginia Anzengruber: IG: @virginiaanzengruber Tickets for “An Evening with Jim O’Heir” hosted by Virginia Anzengruber: https:...

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22:15

BONUS: Social Media is a Lie

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/07/15

This time, we’re talking about the mess of being online. From LiveJournal drama to influencer marketing and the existential weight of Instagram captions, we dig into what makes social media feel necessary, fake, addictive, useful, and totally exhausting. We ask big questions about authenticity, attention, and the line between art and content. When the algorithm is hungry, we keep feeding it pieces of ourselves. Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccal...

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22:13

BONUS: Starting Over

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/07/08

This time, it’s just the three of us—Aaron, Joe, and Amber. No guest, no plan, just vibes and a theme: starting over. From lost files and ruined shoots to quitting jobs and creative resets, we get into the mess and momentum of starting fresh—when it’s your choice, and when it’s not. Technically, a bonus episode. Structurally, unsound—a freefall. Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall LinkedIn: Aaron McCall Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Mattes...

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61:18

Jenny Hearns: Ghost of a Ghost

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/05/20

Jenny Hearns (artist, graphic designer) talks with Aaron McCall about creative identity, chronic illness, and what happens when your body hits pause before your mind is ready. They get into creepy-cute aesthetics, the pressure to stay visible, and how she’s learned to make space for rest without losing her spark. It's the classic tale of a ghost, an onion and a perfectly reasonable emotional spiral. Keep up with Jenny Hearns: jennyhearns.com IG: @jennyhearns Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaro...

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50:47

Craig Horky: Dusty Old Man

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/05/13

Craig Horky (illustrator, graphic designer) shares his story with Aaron McCall and talks about analog habits, unexpected upheaval, and the tension between making a living and making something that lasts. They cover brush pens, weird gigs, creative grit, and the strange freedom that comes with getting fired. Also, he really loves his cats. Keep up with Craig Horky: craighorky.storenvy.com IG: @craighorky Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net Instagram: @aaron_mccall Linke...

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51:28

Mitch Ermatinger: Where the Wild Things Sour

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/05/06

Mitch Ermatinger (brewer/founder, Speciation Artisan Ales) talks with Aaron McCall about building a life around wild beer—then no longer being able to drink it. They get into the art and science behind fermentation, the gut-punch of a celiac diagnosis, designing what he can’t taste, and staying creative inside sharp limitations. It’s about constraint, reinvention, and what it means to keep making things—even when the rules change. Keep up with Mitch Ermatinger: speciationartisanales.com IG: @...

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56:56

Rae Lang: Outsider

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/04/29

Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop outrunning yourself. Keep up with Rae Lang: spreadingthewoosah.com IG: @woosahoutfitters outside...

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49:13

Scott Millington: Real AF

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/04/15

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 show the world as he sees it. From indie wrestling shows to coffee shops and protests, Scott shares what it means to document real life, connect with people, and stay grounded in your perspective. Keep up with Scott Millington: millingtonmedia.com IG: @sap...

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61:48

Courtney Romero: Sunshine

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/04/08

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 growing up fast, chasing stability, and refusing to play the starving artist game. From agency life to ed tech, she’s made her own rules, learned how to rest, and found unexpected freedom in pole dancing, puzzles, and houseplants. Keep up with Courtney Romero: IG: @thecourtneyromero Writ...

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56:11

Jon Bailey: Pour Boy

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/04/01

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 a straight line—from filming skate videos to shooting weddings to finding his place in coffee—but with grit, determination, and a willingness to bet on himself, he’s learned what it means to build something with intention. They discuss the challenges o...

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47:25

Mike Egan: A Brush with Death

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/03/25

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 haunting and approachable. Before becoming a full-time artist, Mike worked as an embalmer and funeral director, experiences that shaped his perspective on life and mortality. Keep up with Mike Egan: mikeeganart.com IG: @mikeeganart Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:...

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53:31

Jenny Berggren: Rawdogging

Bad Idea Social Club ·

2025/03/18

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 videos to crafting stories through film and photography, storytelling has always been at the core of who she is. Jenny has torn everything down and rebuilt from the ground up—walking away from a marriage, leaving behind evangelical Christianity, and stepp...

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71 results

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