Best of Grand Rapids, Michigan

ZERO is a fantastic beat producer in Grand Rapids, MI. His energetic performances are mesmerizing. I liken watching him play his drum machine to watching Stevie Wonder play the piano. Those performances, coupled with award winning music, are a can't-miss. Follow ZERO on his Instagram @zerodgaf to keep up with what's going on and to see some examples of his performing and musical abilities. He's on Twitter and Facebook as well, if you're not into the whole Instagram thing. . . . Thanks for listening. Check out more show stuff, listen to some original music, and take a gander at my time travel novel at http://www.christophertallon.com. Follow me on IG, FB, Twitter, & TT: @tallonwrites . . . Shout outs to Dante Cope, Wuzee, Beatrat, and DJ Phazer.

Some call him Brandon, some call him Dante, some call him Dante Cope. I'll introduce him by his full legal name, you call him want you want, I guess… Brandon Dante Copeland is a multi-talented musician (mainly sax, but other wind instruments, too), beat maker, rapper, producer, who also plays guitar, keys, and a little drums. Originally from Jackson, MI, he now lives in Grand Rapids and is a key member of the artistic and musical community. He also hosts art, music, and community events in the downtown GR area. A very cool guy doing very cool things. . . . Come to the 106 Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI, Thursdays thru mid-December 2022 (Except Thanksgiving, duh…) for THE THING TO DO THURSDAYS!!! . . . Catch up with the man here: IG: @dantecope FB: @dantecope Twitter: @dantecope Spotify: Les Créatif Apple Music: Dante Cope; Les Créatif  

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!    

Me n Kirk are always up to something groovy. We've collab'd on a few things but none to the scope of this project. We made a song AND a music video. Go to my YouTube to see the music video: Creative Ops on YouTube Then go to Kirk's YouTube to see the Behind-the-Scenes: A TALK IN THE ATTIC on YouTube And listen to A TALK IN THE ATTIC, why dontcha. They're everywhere podcasts can be found. Follow ATITA on social media, too: A TALK IN THE ATTIC on IG ATITA on Facebook And last of all, go to http://www.christophertallon.com for all things host and show. Thank you good people of Earth!

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!

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!

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

Abbey Hunter is the owner of The Mortals Cafe + Confection in Grand Rapids, MI. They serve Vietnamese coffee drinks (as well as popular American coffee drinks) with an overall theme of death. They host grief groups, death talks, as well as a number of other regular and one-off events. Visit The Mortals online, then visit the store at 111 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Follow The Mortals on Instagram and Facebook. Do it before you forget and die. . . . Keep up on the show by following its host, Christopher Tallon, on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. Check out Tallon's novel, Switchers, on his website. Bye!

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!  

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

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!

Jason Tieri (TEER-ee) is a podcaster from west Michigan. Actually, he's kinda my podcast mentor. (And beard guru.) He got me into podcasting. Hear what it takes to start a podcast, some techy stuff, some how-to, and us just kickin it.  This was a fun one, especially if you're a podcaster, you're thinking about podcasting, or you just like a peek at how it's done. (Recorded in the Hey Guys Media Group studio. Click the link to learn more about them and their podcast services!)

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!

Jason Tieri returns for the second time to represent Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered. His co-host, Mike Van Drie, is on the show for the first time. (He wasn't on the show yet the first time. (We get into all that. (Do these parentheses seem weird? (It's only weird if you make it weird…)))) We talk about the change in the hosting lineup, learn things about Mike that Jason didn't know, talk about what it's like discussing deeply personal things "publicly", how a podcast develops over time, having to poop while running, coming up with good titles for podcast episodes, and more. Go to http://www.threadspodcast.com and, as per the guys' recommendations, start listening to Threads Podcast: Life Unfiltered with episodes #167 and #171–if you haven't already been listening. .   .   . And please go to http://www.christophertallon.com to find out more about my novel, this podcast, and…other stuff. On all social media platforms: @tallonwrites

As a former Montessori teacher, Mallory Shotwell's interest in art and business make her a great person to start a group like CULTIVATE, a collection of artists, teachers, and industry folks. With the acquisition of their new space in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they'll be able to highlight contemporary artists and teach community-based art & business classes, while also serving as a "traditional" art gallery for art shows and installations. Get the HOLIDAY GUIDE: http://www.cultivategrandrapids.org/2022-local-artist-holiday-guide Keep an eye on the CULTIVATE Facebook and Instagram pages for events and fun info! Learn all about CULTIVATE at their website: http://www.cultivategrandrapids.org. And check Mallory out at http://www.malloryshotwell.com and on Instagram via @mallory.shotwell

Ashley Nash is a talented visual artist (illustration/painting/murals) with a degree in art (focus on illustration) from GVSU. She's originally from Muskegon, now living in Grand Rapids, and freelances as an artist while also working as the Head Creative Designer at Pharmhouse Wellness (which you already know of if you've been listening). She's part of the creative duo that puts together the Pharmhouse events, such as the Art Market from Ep.73. Check out http://www.PharmhouseWellness.com for more info on what they've got coming up, links, etc… Ashley talks about her youthful inspiration and support, winning over skeptical family with your art, getting screwed over as an artist, and finding your way in all the madness–professionally and otherwise, learning, and unlearning. You can find Ashley's creative work around various parts of west Michigan and/or on her Instagram, on which you can FOLLOW HER on Instagram: @nashleyillustration. You can click HERE for ALL of her links, and you can email her (business-related inquiries only, please) at Nashleysart@gmail. . . . Big shout out to Pharmhouse Wellness for letting me sell books at their art markets AND inside their lobby! If you're in Grand Rapids and you need a dispensary…Pharmhouse Wellness. Look for their cannabis-themed art and exercise events on their IG and FB pages.   . . . If you enjoy Creative Ops, support the show: -Buy SWITCHERS (a novel by Creative Ops' host Christopher Tallon) -Buy me a coffee (.com) -Follow us on Insta, FB, TikTok, and/or Twitter. -Follow CT's blog (it's the best blog you're not following (yet…))

Megan Smith is an artist who mainly works with natural materials and does beautiful stuff you can check out on Instagram @mossberrymarvels. We talk art, process, social media, mental health, events, tv (the name of the show was Wilfred…) and movies, run-ins with the law, local coffee, and other stuff! We recorded in bean bag chairs next to Pharmhouse Wellness, so you'll feel like you're out on the lawn with friends as you hear some of the sounds of the city of Grand Rapids intermittently. … You can check out more on the show, its host (me), and my suspenseful, time-travel novel at http://www.christophertallon.com. … Do something creative and have a great day!

Pharmhouse Wellness, Grand Rapids, Michigan's only locally owned and operated dispensary, had another art market. Again I sold books and (someone else's (my daugher's!)) art. This time, however, I brought my podcast gear and made a whole thing of it, talking to a little bit of every kind of person around: pot smokers, local celebrities, art enthusiasts, art vendors, budtenders, and one of the event organizers. And Mike Logan did a great read of the back of my book Switchers, which I encourage you to read. Your future self will thank you… .   .   . The interviewees are: Mike Logan | IG: @icecoldcomedian  Matt "soon-to-be from GR" Sweda | IG: @mattsweda Frankie | IG: @stolenchapstick K.C. | IG: @kcnextdoo_ & @nailzbykc_ Loyiso "Lou" Matanda | IG: @loyisomatandabey Ashley Nash | IG: @nashleyillustration ; nashleyillustration@gmail.com Kate Lewis | IG: @claykate ; http://www.katelewisceramics.com/shop Dean from BEDROOM CEILINGS | Insta and Facebook @bedroomceilings .   .   . Shout out to my tent sharing artists from the two markets: Los The Artist and Savannah Jade. One more to Michigrown for sponsoring the event and giving away some nice freebies! Hope to see you at the next one August 20, 2022, at Pharmhouse Wellness in Grand Rapids, Michigan!  

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

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