Bad Idea Social Club

Mark Stein: If It Kills Me

Mark Stein (artist, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to talk about what it takes to go all in on your work and the cost of pushing too hard. He gets into growing up on cartoons, punk and skate culture, the wake-up calls that changed everything, and why being a lone wolf will only get you so far. They talk about finding creative community, imposter syndrome, getting out from behind your desk, and why if it’s not hard, you’re probably not trying hard enough. This is a conversation about the slow build, the kind that takes until your late 30s to really catch fire, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to keep it burning. Keep up with Mark Stein: steinbydesign.com⁠ [https://rhino-bellflower-r8yt.squarespace.com/content/steinbydesign.com] IG: ⁠@steinbydesign [https://www.instagram.com/steinbydesign/] —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids [https://creativemornings.com/cities/gr] Merchants & Makers [https://www.merchantsandmakers.com/] Revue [https://revuewm.com/] —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net [https://www.aaronmccall.net/] IG: @aaron_mccall [https://www.instagram.com/aaron_mccall/] —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co [https://www.themattesons.co/] IG: @joe_dustin [https://www.instagram.com/joedustin/] —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches [https://mikemainsmusic.com/] —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch [https://badideasocialclub.com/merch] —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com [https://badideasocialclub.com/] IG: @badideasocialclub [https://www.instagram.com/badideasocialclub/]

AB: Make Them Move

AB (DJ, creative) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about confidence, rejection, and how your sense of self evolves as you move through new experiences. He gets into music as both expression and connection, the push and pull of reading a room while staying true to your own voice, and how failure, fatherhood, and life experience shaped the way he moves through the world. They talk creativity, self-awareness, faith, the creative scene, and how to keep getting better without losing yourself in the process. Keep up with AB: everythingab.com [https://www.everythingab.com/] IG: @ab.everywhere [https://www.instagram.com/ab.everywhere/] —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids [https://creativemornings.com/cities/gr] Merchants & Makers [https://www.merchantsandmakers.com/] Revue [https://revuewm.com/] —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net [https://www.aaronmccall.net/] IG: @aaron_mccall [https://www.instagram.com/aaron_mccall/] —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co [https://www.themattesons.co/] IG: @joe_dustin [https://www.instagram.com/joedustin/] —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches [https://mikemainsmusic.com/] —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch [https://badideasocialclub.com/merch] —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com [https://badideasocialclub.com/] IG: @badideasocialclub [https://www.instagram.com/badideasocialclub/]

Joel Hoekstra: Bite and Sound

Joel Hoekstra (cook, musician, owner of Meyer Music) hosts Aaron McCall for dinner as they discuss creativity, instinct, and finding room to breathe inside the things that matter most. He gets into the connection between food and music, how growth comes from pushing beyond structure, and how both create joy, healing, and a real sense of community when they’re done with care. As a music education advocate, he speaks to the importance of access to music and why it matters. They talk about creative freedom, cooking as expression, and the version of yourself that starts to show up when you finally feel at peace. —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids [https://creativemornings.com/cities/gr] Merchants & Makers [https://www.merchantsandmakers.com/] Revue [https://revuewm.com/] —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net [https://www.aaronmccall.net/] IG: @aaron_mccall [https://www.instagram.com/aaron_mccall/] —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co [https://www.themattesons.co/] IG: @joe_dustin [https://www.instagram.com/joedustin/] —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches [https://mikemainsmusic.com/] —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch [https://badideasocialclub.com/merch] —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com [https://badideasocialclub.com/] IG: @badideasocialclub [https://www.instagram.com/badideasocialclub/]

Hannah Berry: Do Something About It

Hannah Berry (artist, founder of Lions & Rabbits) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about community, creativity, and the work happening between the cracks. She gets into turning art into real community impact, building something without a clear roadmap, and why creative people are often the ones holding solutions that nobody is listening to yet. They talk about collaboration, economic and community development, the tension between intention and execution, and how slowing down, letting go of control, and trusting the right people changed everything. Keep up with Hanna Berry: lionsandrabbits.com [https://www.lionsandrabbits.com/] IG: @bananasnhannahs [https://www.instagram.com/bananasnhannahs/] IG: @lionsandrabbits [https://www.instagram.com/lionsandrabbits/] —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids [https://creativemornings.com/cities/gr] Merchants & Makers [https://www.merchantsandmakers.com/] Revue [https://revuewm.com/] —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net [https://www.aaronmccall.net/] IG: @aaron_mccall [https://www.instagram.com/aaron_mccall/] —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co [https://www.themattesons.co/] IG: @joe_dustin [https://www.instagram.com/joedustin/] —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches [https://mikemainsmusic.com/] —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch [https://badideasocialclub.com/merch] —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com [https://badideasocialclub.com/] IG: @badideasocialclub [https://www.instagram.com/badideasocialclub/]

Ryan Wasson: Another Round

Ryan “Ryno” Wasson (brewer, Head of Beverage at Coopersville Brewing) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about beer, endurance, reinvention, and learning how to live inside your own wiring. He gets into brewing as both craft and creative outlet, the discipline it takes to keep refining your work, and how running became a way to process life when everything else felt too loud. They talk about curiosity, criticism, relationships, starting over, and the kind of self-awareness that only shows up after you’ve taken a few hits and kept going. Keep up with Ryan Wasson: IG: @feedtheryno [https://www.instagram.com/feedtheryno] —— This episode is supported by: Creative Mornings Grand Rapids [https://creativemornings.com/cities/gr] Merchants & Makers [https://www.merchantsandmakers.com/] Revue [https://revuewm.com/] —— Writer/Producer/Editor/Host: Aaron McCall aaronmccall.net [https://www.aaronmccall.net/] IG: @aaron_mccall [https://www.instagram.com/aaron_mccall/] —— Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer: Joe Matteson themattesons.co [https://www.themattesons.co/] IG: @joe_dustin [https://www.instagram.com/joedustin/] —— Music: "Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches [https://mikemainsmusic.com/] —— Support the Podcast: Buy Merch [https://badideasocialclub.com/merch] —— Follow Bad Idea Social Club: badideasocialclub.com [https://badideasocialclub.com/] IG: @badideasocialclub [https://www.instagram.com/badideasocialclub/]