From Kentucky to SXSW

From Kentucky to SXSW

Season 3 is here, and we’re kicking it off with a story we’ll be talking about for a long time. In this episode, we recap our trip to SXSW in Austin, where we were invited to the screening of Self Custody by producer Royal Malloy. We’re sharing the full experience — from travel mishaps and red carpet nerves to celebrity interviews, unforgettable conversations, Adrian Grenier’s house party, and our thoughts on the film itself. Along the way, we met Garrett Patton, Henry Cejudo, Sean “Poopies” McInerney, Michael Monk, Thomas Malloy, and Ema Redden, and came home with stories we couldn’t wait to tell. It’s a fun, behind-the-scenes look at an experience that took us far outside Kentucky — while somehow feeling exactly like us.

Great Batch of Cookies: NYC Dreams, Kentucky Roots, and Staying Real with Taylor Greatbatch

This week on Finding Friends, we’re joined by Kentucky theatre artist, filmmaker, and arts educator Taylor Greatbatch—aka “Great Batch of Cookies.” From Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts to New York City stages and big creative dreams, Taylor shares the stories behind the sparkle: culture shock, learning to stop being “too nice,” building community, and navigating mental health with honesty (and humor). Expect laugh-out-loud moments, real talk, and the kind of energy that makes you want to put on a wig and book a karaoke room immediately. Highlights: • The “Great Batch of Cookies” origin story 🍪 • Kentucky vs NYC: what the city teaches you fast • Being unapologetically yourself (even when it’s messy) • Mental health + movement as medicine • Rapid fire fun: bourbon vs tequila + Grinch impression • Tokyo Kitty karaoke dreams 🎤 If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who needs a laugh and a little hope.

The Bus Stops Here: Great Crossing AP Dustin Busler on School Culture Today

This week on Finding Friends, we’re joined by Dustin Busler, Assistant Principal at Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Kentucky—aka “The Bus.” 🚍 We talk about the reality of school leadership today, including how Kentucky’s restrictions on phones during instructional time have changed focus, attendance, and hallway behavior. Dustin shares the creative solutions Great Crossing uses in classrooms—and why it’s made a noticeable difference for students and teachers. We also dive into Great Crossing’s career pathways—from welding and 3D printing to CAD drafting, family & consumer science, and medical assisting—and how students can graduate with valuable skills, certifications, and a head start whether they choose college or the trades. Plus, Dustin shares a school story that proves educators could write a sitcom and never run out of material.

Crystal Booth of Fizz Facial Bar: The “No Fuss” Facial Concept That Scaled to 10 Locations

This week, Christina and Catie are joined by Crystal Booth, founder and CEO of Fizz Facial Bar, for a fun, honest convo about building a modern skincare brand that makes facials feel easy, approachable, and consistent—not intimidating or “only for special occasions.” Crystal shares how she adapted the facial bar concept (think: “a facial in a New York minute”) into something more accessible, why time and money are the biggest barriers to skincare, and what it takes to scale a service-based business to 10 locations across TN, KY, MO, AR, and TX—plus launching a skincare line and opening Louisville in a packed July. We also talk bridal skin prep, how often you should actually book facials, why every appointment should be customized to “the face in front of you,” and how TikTok has helped amplify Appalachian women and entrepreneurs. Links + mentions: Follow/Find Crystal + Fizz: • Fizz Facial Bar: https://www.fizzfacialbar.com/ • Crystal on TikTok/IG: @missfizz_ Follow Finding Friends: •TikTok: @findingfriendspodcast Not medical advice—just friends chatting skincare + entrepreneurship.

The Masked Artist Who Paints With Blood (with J-Blood Art)

On this week’s episode of Finding Friends, host Christina Lee and co-host Catie Wilkes sit down with the enigmatic, masked artist behind J-Blood Art — a tattooer who paints with his own blood. J shares how his blood paintings started as curious experiments, why he keeps such clear boundaries around his personal life, and what it means to create art that might only be fully understood long after he’s gone. He talks about leaving his old career as a corrections officer, becoming a full-time tattoo artist, and building a private studio experience that focuses on safety, psychology, and true bedside manner. We dive into his book Ramblings of a Madman, which pairs his paintings with raw journal entries, the science and experimentation behind preserving blood on canvas, and how people project fear, “satanic” labels, and their own beliefs onto his work. J also opens up about fatherhood, legacy, and the kind of love and loyalty he wants his daughter to recognize and expect. In this episode you’ll hear: * How J-Blood Art began painting with his own blood * Why he wears a mask and separates the persona from the person * The ethics, safety, and psychology behind his tattoo studio * How scent, ritual, and a signature cocktail shape the client experience * The story and structure of Ramblings of a Madman * How BookTok discovered him (and what they sometimes get wrong) * His definition of real friendship, understanding, and legacy Content note: This episode includes discussion of blood, medical topics, and tattoos (no graphic descriptions). Hosted by: Christina Lee & Catie Wilkes Podcast: Finding Friends Connect with J-Blood Art 🔗 TikTok: @jbloodart  🔗 Instagram: @jbloodart 🔗 Book: Ramblings of a Madman – linked in his bio