PODCAST

The Riley Black Project

Riley Black

Where we talk about lasers, life and all the ish in between!

arts design

All Episodes

51:29

5 Canceled Flights… Was It Even Worth It?

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/03/30

Send us Fan Mail Five canceled flights. Getting stranded in Baltimore. …And somehow, it was still worth it. In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal break down their full experience traveling to and from the Michigan Maker Summit—including one of the most chaotic travel stories they’ve ever lived through. But this isn’t just a travel horror story… It’s about community, showing up, teaching, and why events like this matter more than ever. We dive into: • The Michigan ...

72:28

From Universal Studios Pyrotechnics to APA President

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/03/23

Send us Fan Mail From pyrotechnics at Universal Studios to becoming President of the Awards & Personalization Association (APA) — Justin’s journey is one you don’t hear every day. In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Justin Varn of Awards4U to talk about growing up in the awards industry, stepping into a family business, and eventually becoming APA President. But the story goes deeper than that. Justin shares the emotional moment when his father pr...

64:47

Balancing Deployment, Kids, and a Growing Business

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/03/17

Send a text Breaking news in the laser world… and a powerful conversation you don’t want to miss. In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Brandon of Szuch Design to talk about: • The acquisition of Aeon Laser USA by Aeon China — and what it could mean for the industry • Building a woodworking and CNC business from scratch • Turning upcycled black walnut rounds into scalable, profitable products • Transitioning from hobby → CNC → laser → UV • Selling to the...

31:02

Inside APA Expo with Josh Perry

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/03/09

Send a text We’re back at APA Expo 2026 — and this year hits different. In this special on-location episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Josh Perry to talk about what can happen in just one year when you show up, shake hands, and lean into community. Last year, Josh walked into APA alone, looking for direction. This year? He’s speaking. He’s upgrading machines. And he’s up for Retailer of the Year. This episode dives into: • How attending APA ch...

35:37

He’s Back on the Podcast… And Some Things Changed

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/03/02

Send a text J.R. is back. In this special episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with their son J.R. for a follow-up conversation years after his first appearance on the podcast. What follows is equal parts hilarious, emotional, and eye-opening. From talking about school, Pokémon cards, football dreams, and YouTube creators like MrBeast… to opening up about what makes him proud, nervous, and excited for the future… this episode captures something rare: a real, unfiltere...

63:33

Building The Bar Society from the Ground Up

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/02/23

Send a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Victoria of The Bar Society for a deep, honest, and surprisingly relatable conversation about starting in the laser world, overcoming fear, finding your niche, and building a business rooted in community—not comparison. Victoria shares her journey from feeling completely overwhelmed by her first laser (the beeps, the keys, the nerves 😅) to growing The Bar Society into a trusted space for vendors, makers,

59:05

From Idea to Reality: The Michigan Maker Summit 2026

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/02/17

Send a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Blake from Great Lakes Laser Supply to talk about the Michigan Maker Summit—how it started, why smaller meetups matter, and what really happens when makers get in the same room without the pressure of massive expos. What began as an idea on a 17-hour drive home from Next Level turned into a full-blown summit planned in just three weeks—and it worked. This conversation digs into the power of community, inti...

60:59

From Teacher to Studio Owner | A Real Small Business...

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/02/09

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Becky of Get On Board Signs & More for a heartfelt, practical, and surprisingly funny conversation about community, creativity, resilience, and building a business that fits real life. Becky shares her journey from kindergarten teacher to creative entrepreneur, running mobile sign parties, opening a brick-and-mortar studio, navigating COVID pivots, and even walking through a cancer journey while con...

53:00

We Had to Rethink Everything!!!

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/02/02

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal dive into a real-life business and mindset update after returning from a private maker meetup in Amelia Island, Florida—where content creation, follow-up, and community took center stage. This episode is a mix of life, business, teaching, anxiety, growth, and clarity, as John reflects on stepping into more content-creation authority, navigating an identity shift, and realizing that knowing what to do isn’t the same a...

79:10

If You’re Skipping Events, Listen to This First!!!

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/01/26

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal are joined once again by Megan of Raymond’s Trophies & Awards to talk all things APA Expo, maker events, community, and why showing up in person still matters. With APA right around the corner, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what actually makes industry events valuable beyond just buying supplies. From procrastination confessions and teaching classes, to discovering new vendors, building real relatio...

89:12

Vendor Shows: What We Learned

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/01/19

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down for a raw, unscripted conversation about real life, business pressure, community, grief, and navigating uncertainty when things don’t go according to plan. What starts as a casual catch-up quickly turns into a deep reflection on survival vs thriving, the emotional weight of January, and the reminder that nothing is guaranteed. From losing someone whose message still echoes loud, to questioning every next mov...

69:39

From Nightclubs to New Businesses: Tanastadi's Story

The Riley Black Project ·

2026/01/12

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Tanastadi for a powerful, honest conversation about identity, reinvention, sobriety, and building multiple businesses without losing yourself along the way. From growing up immersed in music, landing a number-one radio show for nearly two decades, and DJing massive clubs and festivals… to watching everything disappear during COVID and choosing a completely new path forward—Tenacity shares what it really...

68:35

She Started with a Magnifying Glass… No Seriously

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/12/29

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Whitney of Whitney's Crafty Tings for a wildly inspiring conversation about resourcefulness, maker growth, and doing whatever it takes to get started—even if that means using a magnifying glass before you ever own a laser. 🔍🔥 Whitney shares her journey from burning designs by hand to running a full laser setup out of her garage in Florida, juggling machines, markets, dogs (yes… Great Danes 😅), and

62:34

He Wakes Up at 4 AM…How Lancaster Supplies Grew So Fast

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/12/22

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John & Crystal sit down with Jeff and Anna of Lancaster Supplies for a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes world of laser blanks, sourcing, scaling, and what it really takes to build a supplier brand from scratch. From waking up at 4 AM with no alarm, bowling in the 200s, and balancing multiple businesses… to accidentally engraving on your spouse’s belongings (we’ve all been there 😂)… this episode blends business strategy, maker

64:46

Markets, Machines & Margins: Pretty Pitty Design

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/12/15

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Stephanie of Pretty Pitty Design for one real maker conversation — covering craft shows, pricing pressure, brand loyalty, machine obsession, and why markets are about more than just sales. From starting with a Cricut and Glowforge to running multiple lasers, Stephanie shares the behind-the-scenes truth of doing vendor shows in different seasons, choosing machines you trust, and navigating an economy whe...

60:00

From Tattoo Shops to Jewelry Boss | The Hialeah Story

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/12/08

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Lanie & Alex of Hialeah Fine Jewelry for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about building a business, raising a family, and navigating entrepreneurship as a couple — all while welcoming a brand new baby into the mix. 👶💍 From launching a jewelry brand without formal training to selling out at conferences and moving across states to find balance, Laniey and Alex open up about the real side of

66:36

Salon Skills to Laser Success: Perry Design Tulsa’s...

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/12/01

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Joshua Perry, the award-winning creative behind Perry Design Tulsa — a laser business born from a long career in the salon industry. ✂️➡️🔥 Joshua shares his inspiring transition from 22 years as a salon owner to running a thriving design and laser engraving studio known for its next-level branding work, stunning shop décor, and signature custom pieces. We talk about: ✨ How a salon background built ...

47:46

Small Business Reality Check – Wins, Fails & Fresh...

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/11/24

Send us a text In this week’s episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal share a real-life business update—talking openly about burnout, shifting gears, and keeping momentum through the slow seasons. From dealing with canceled trips during the government shutdown to landing their biggest tumbler order ever, this episode is full of truth bombs and laughs. They also dive into: ✨ How a simple print-shop contract changed their business trajectory ✨ The emotional...

66:34

Collaboration Over Competition: The Glow-Up of Yay...

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/11/17

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal catch up with Desiree Townsend of Yay Gifts & Cards — a laser maker, designer, and longtime community member who’s taken her business to the next level with her first real studio space! 🎉 We talk about the highs and lows of expanding your creative business — from working out of your house (and spilling into every hallway 😅) to signing that first lease and making it official. Inside this episode: ✨ Desiree’s ...

28:19

UV Printers, Sandblasters & More: Inside Printing...

The Riley Black Project ·

2025/11/10

Send us a text In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we’re switching things up—recording from Riley Black Studios instead of the garage! 🎥 Join John and Crystal as they take you behind the scenes of Printing United 2025 in Orlando, one of the biggest print and laser industry events of the year. From mind-blowing UV printers to massive laser machines and live sandblasting demos, this episode is packed with new tech, vendor insights, and real talk about what’s next in the maker world.

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The Riley Black Project

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