Steven Estrella – Illustrator and Designer

Inside the Mind of Mexifunk | Orlando Arocena

Illustrator and creative strategist Orlando Arocena joins Cosmic Sans to discuss building the “Mexifunk” identity, breaking the limits of Adobe Illustrator, and working on franchises like Spider-Man, Terrifier, SpongeBob, Power Rangers, and John Wick. We also dive into the business side of creativity — licensing, contracts, creative ownership, AI, branding, and why artists need to understand far more than just making great work.

From Doubt to Designing for Nike & The Vegas Sphere | David Oku

David Oku’s work is bold, vibrant—and deeply personal. From facing rejection early in his career to working with brands like Nike and designing for the Vegas Sphere, David shares his journey, his creative process, and his honest thoughts on AI, identity, and the future of art.

Dave Baker — Comics, Creativity, and Betting on Yourself

Comic artist Dave Baker (TMNT, Star Trek, Godzilla) joins Cosmic Sans to break down the realities of building a career in comics. We dive into self-publishing vs. working with publishers, why understanding contracts is critical, how social media is changing the game, and the balance between making money and making meaningful work. Dave also shares honest insights on creative identity, originality, and why artists need to stop playing it safe if they want to stand out. If you're a designer, illustrator, or creative trying to build something of your own—this one’s for you.

Tom Muller on Designing X-Men, Building a Studio, and Creative Direction

Tom Muller is a creative director who’s worked with Marvel, Disney, Google, and major AAA game studios, but his path wasn’t linear. In this episode, we dive into: * Building a career through side projects and connections * Designing for Marvel’s X-Men * The reality of creative direction vs. hands-on design * Why every designer still needs a website * How AI is impacting the creative industry If you’re a designer, creative, or just curious how big creative careers are built, this one’s packed.

Goldie Chan: Personal Branding for Introverts

In this episode of the Cosmic Sans Podcast, Howard Pinsky sits down with personal branding expert, author, and speaker Goldie Chan to unpack what it really takes to build a meaningful presence online — especially as an introvert. Goldie shares the story behind creating 800 consecutive LinkedIn videos, writing her book Personal Branding for Introverts, and navigating burnout, public speaking, and even a life-changing cancer diagnosis. The conversation dives into the realities of content creation, why consistency beats bursts of effort, and how personal branding can open doors you didn’t even know existed. They also explore the role of AI in branding, why copying others is bad advice, and how introverts can thrive without pretending to be extroverts. If you’ve ever struggled with putting yourself out there, growing an audience, or finding your voice online — this episode is for you.