The Most Creative People in Grand Rapids, MI

Derek Mohr is a Grand Rapids, MI based artist who works as a developer and designer. We talked about his early interest in art and technology, traced his path to professional status, talked about some of his projects, and stuff creative people deal with, go through, and chat about with other creatives. By day Derek works for an agency called Might In The Midwest. You can see more about Derek and the things he does at https://onemohrti.me/ .     .     . Catch Derek On.. Instagram: @onemohrtimedesign Twitter: @OneMohrTime Dribble: dribbble.com/OneMohrTime

Shatawn Brigham and his wife, Nadia, moved from fields in mental health and education into business with the idea of changing the culture of professional inequality in Grand Rapids from the inside. Listen to how he met his wife, how they've worked to help the city and it's negatively impacted communities, and how GR Noir–Grands Rapids' only jazz bar–came to be. . . . Check them out at http://www.grnoir.com, and on Facebook and Instagram!  

Casey Kornoelje is the sole owner of the only locally-owned cannabis dispensary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You might ask, "There are so many dispensaries…how is Pharmhouse Wellness the only local one?"  Great question. Listen for the answer to that, how Casey got into growing in the first place, how the shop came to fruition, and what his plans are for the shop and the community around it going forward. . . . Check out Pharmhouse Wellness on their website, http://www.pharmhousewellness.com, on Facebook @pharmhousewellness, and on Instagram @pharmhousewellness. . . . Follow the show and its host at http://www.christophertallon.com and on all social media @TallonWrites. . . . And leave a review AND a rating for the show wherever you download podcasts. Thanks!

Fable the Poet (aka Marcel Price) became the Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, MI in 2017. At the time, he was GR's first black PL. He was the first PL to not graduate from college. On top of that he was also the youngest PL in city history. Now he works with The Diatribe, mainly focusing on improving the south side and educating people about GENTRIFICATION and REDLINING. Check out The 49507 Project. Marcel Price / Fable the Poet: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter The Diatribe: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, SUPPORT!

My buddy and fellow podcaster|musician|writer Kirk Ross joined me (or rather I joined him (we were in his studio)) for a fun talk. Unlike the first time he was on the show, I actually interviewed him this time. Get to know the man. Learn about (then go listen to) his wonderful podcast, A Talk in the Attic. Maybe even follow @atalkintheattic on your favorite social media! The song from A Talk in the Attic was used with permission. Shout out to the inimitable HILTON (@hiltonallcaps on IG) for putting together such a badass tune for Kirk's show! Catch up with me, CT, on all social media @TallonWrites, and also on http://www.christophertallon.com. Later!

Joe Bockheim was kind enough to invite me to his house for a sit down. We talked about music, home ownership, having kids, and all kinds of fun stuff. Check out The Legal Immigrants here: The Legal Immigrants website Instagram: @legalimmis Facebook: @thelegalimmigrants Spotify (Want more? Google them…) . . . Thanks everyone. Go to http://www.christophertallon.com and/or follow me on your favorite social media platform, I'm @tallonwrites on all the big ones. If you like the show PLEASE rate AND review it wherever you download it. It means a lot. Thanks!    

Peter Spaulding is known on Twitch as Retep, the "plus-sized Dad-bod gamer." We met through podcasting–he formerly co-hosted the extremely popular Gig Economy Podcast, which is also under the Hey Guys Media umbrella. Peter's always been a self-described computer guy. We talked about his history with gaming (which consoles he likes, PC vs Consoles, Twitch, Steam, etc…) Discord, his history of fun internet antics, podcasting, DJing, and all things related to his past and present passion of gaming. If you like what you hear, you can get more at Peter's:  Official Website Twitch Channel YouTube Channel Instagram: @GamingWithRetep Facebook: @GamingWithRetep Twitter: @GamingWithRetep TikTok: @GamingWithRetep  . . . For more on the show and its host: @TallonWrites on all social media, http://www.christophertallon.com for news/updates/blogs/songs/stories/links/what-have-you… And you can support the show at http://www.buymeacoffee.com. . . . I also mentioned this book: Alone Together (Why Your Kids Are Watching Others Play) by RK Holliday. . . . Thanks -CT  

Got to sit down with the Ice Cold Comedian, Mike Logan…IN HIS HOUSE! (He's got a bad leg at the moment, so I came to him. You'll hear some neighborhood noise in the interview.)  I named this one "ADD & Homegrown Weed" because those were the main obstacles early in our conversation. But once it got going, Mike and I had a great talk. We, of course, covered creativity and the creative process, but we got into all kinds of other stuff: moving from place to place, racism, goal setting/changing goals as you age, classic art, how the media tries to convince us we're divided when, in Mike's opinion, we've actually been brought closer together in the last year and a half.  Mike tells stories from the entertainment industry, does a few impressions, cracks me up, and shares his fascinating perspective on a wide variety of topics.  Follow Mike Logan on all your favorite social media platforms @icecoldcomedian for updates on performances, a daily dose of wholesome, and some hard-but-necessary truths. Follow the host of Creative Ops at http://www.christophertallon.com and as @tallonwrites on all social media!

Liz Della Croce started a blog centered around healthy, delicious food. Several years later, that blog gets over a million hits a month. Liz turned that blog into a business, and started some other businesses, then partnered with some other businesses, and…you get it. She cooked on the TODAY Show, for crying out loud! She came into The Attic Studio (normally home to A Talk in the Attic (Thanks for the space, Kirk!)) and we talked about old-school online dating, parenting, kids, enneagrams, CHEESE!, her awesome hubby, successful weight loss, music, switching careers…. It was a good one. Want more of Liz? Read the article Liz mentions: Coping with Weight Gain after Weight Loss Visit: The Lemon Bowl Website/Blog and its Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. You might also enjoy The Irie Lemon and the Passion to Profit Podcast. . . . Thanks. Check out Christopher Tallon at http://www.christophertallon.com, and on Insta, FB, and Tweety.

Kyd Kane is a poet, artist, and educator. She was the first spoken word artist to make the finals in ArtPrize. Recently she became Grand Rapids' first black, queer, female poet laureate. Since then she's made her it mission to elevate poetry (and poets) in the city, do something different with (for) the laureateship, and challenge privilege. Check out Kyd Kane at http://www.kydsaidit.com Check out the show at http://www.christophertallon.com Buy the host a coffee at http://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeops   Thanks folks! -CT

As a young child of Jamaican immigrant parents, Vincent Mcintosh dreamed of being a businessman, owning 250 restaurants, and living life on his terms. Now in his mid-20s, he joined Creative Ops–online from the restaurant–to talk about his path on that journey. At 17 he dropped out college to pursue entrepreneurship full time. At 19 he founded IRIE Kitchen (organic, Caribbean street food) restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Not only is it the first fully-organic restaurant in the area, Vince is also the youngest restauranteur in Grand Rapids history! In 2019 he co-founded Irie Lemon, a media company with Liz (The Lemon Bowl) every week the give us tips on entrepreneurship and how to build the life you want. Together, they co-host Passion to Profit Podcast. … Shout out to Baby Farm Soaps, River Town Adventures, Hey Guys Media, and IRIE's social media genius, Corinne Bass (on IG @corinnesconnections)! … Thanks as always. -CT http://www.christophertallon.com

Randi Ford is a phenomenal talent in the world of painting. Her nature landscapes are beautiful and have a sense of depth and movement unlike anything else I've seen. We talk about her style, influences, creative process, business, hiking, camping, life, and all kinds of fun stuff. . . . Randi Ford: website: http://www.randifordart.com IG: @randi_ford_flow_paintings FB: @RandiFordFlowPaintings YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/RandiLynnFord   Creative Ops: Show: http://www.creativeops.podbean.com Host: http://www.christophertallon.com Support us: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/creativeops IG: @christopher_tallon FB: @TallonWrites Tweety: @TallonWrites

If you've ever thought, I should start a podcast, then listen to this show! (Or, if you just like podcasts and wanna see how one gets made, check it out.) Ben Kraker and Jason Tieri were my guests, and they are in the podcast game. Together they host a really cool show, Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered. Separately, Ben has his own show, The Root of All Ben, and Jason co-hosts GR Rideshare Adventures, and produces two podcasts – including this one! It was a lot of fun hanging out with these guys on my show for a change, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Listen to Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered, and check em out online: Instagram – FaceBook – Twitter – Website Learn more about Creative Ops, read my blog, and check out fun random facts at my website www.christophertallon.com, and reach out on social media: Instagram | @christopher_tallon FB | @TallonWrites Twitter | @TallonWrites Enjoy!