Hey folks!

Thanks for stopping by to check out the podcast. I made it because 1) I wanted to connect with more creatives, 2) I wanted to spread some of their creative energy and know-how around, and 3) I wanted a chance to connect with you.

So, my next question is: Do you like podcasts? Great!

Do you like original music? That’s good, because I just happen to make and record music, and I use it in my podcast exclusively. If you haven’t already, go check out my music section. Most of the music from the podcast, plus music I made for other podcasts and YouTubers, is there. Enjoy!

Back to the matter at hand, it sounds like you should try A Podcast for Creative People. It’s over three years old now, has all the aforementioned traits, comes out Mondays, and is available on all podcast platforms!

(Yes, the show is currently in hiatus while Christopher Tallon is deep at work on his next novel, but he’s already got guests booked for when it returns.)

Not sure where to start and/or you’d like to see who’s been on and what they do?

Check out the…

Guest Breakdown by Category!

On A Podcast for Creative People, I talk to a lot of different kinds of folks across the creative spectrum. If there’s a certain type of creative you wanna listen to, here’s all the interviews sorted by category:

Thank you very much for listening.

My Book Team

This was from the week my debut novel dropped. Kirk Ross is my cover designer (and host of A Talk in the Attic, which I’ve appeared on several times). TJ Tranchell is my editor (and a fantastic horror writer), Jennifer Soucy is also a fantastic horror author (and she introduced me to TJ after she read my manuscript). And Brandon Scott is an author I met on the podcast–he read my manuscript and was one of my biggest cheerleaders as I went through the publishing process and everything since. We all talked about writing, publishing, how we met, and how the game works. It was great to talk with them.

Pharmhouse Wellness: The Only 100% Locally Owned And Grown Dispensary in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Pharmhouse Wellness is the only 100% locally owned cannabis dispensary in Grand Rapids, Michigan (and they grow their own cannabis right next to the store.

It is also the first physical location I ever sold books at during an art festival they hosted. Then they became the first store to sell my books. My relationship with this company began as a customer, then an art vendor, and now I’m going to do some professional work for them. I absolutely love these people and what they’re doing. Listen to find out about their holiday giveaways (turkeys and dinners, presents, pumpkins, school supplies), as well as the amazing story behind how a married couple quit their jobs and spent their life savings on a house they turned into a dispensary. Amazing people doing amazing things.

Musicians

I’m also a musician. I could host a podcast just about music and musicians. Maybe I will someday…

Ep.105 | Dante Cope Returns – GRAMMOTONES Grand Opening & Creating Cultural Spaces – A Podcast for Creative People

Dante Cope—previously on Ep.84 | Dante Cope does EVERYTHING—returns to discuss the grand opening of Grand Rapid, Michigan's newest business and cultural space, Grammotones. Grammotones is located at 120 S. Division in Grand Rapids, MI, and it is part clothing store, part music store, all cultural space. You can shop, listen to records, enjoy beautiful art, and pick up high quality used clothing as well as new clothing from local brands both big and small. (You can also buy a copy of my book there!) We talked about a lot of things and a lot of people. If there's something you heard about that you want to know more about, all the links are below. Email Grammotones for inquiries: info@grammotonesmusic.com     Dante’s World of Winter Ghost Town app in the App Store GR's go-to DJ: Adrian Butler aka AB Sir Manley "Library" by LILEL (ft Dante Cope) on YouTube LILEL on IG Artsauce Quartet on IG Travis Treadway (music/art) Sango Lady Ace Boogie George Eberhardt (muralist) Anthony Carpenter (illustrator) My sincere apologies if I missed anyone. You're all amazing, creative people and we're lucky to have you in this world. Be creative, be kind, and take care of yourself. -CT

Podcasters

Always fun to see how someone else does it.

Ep.60 | The FAMOUS Ashley Grant – Blogger Life, Podcasting, & the Quest for Internet Fame – A Podcast for Creative People

Ashley Grant is my "bloggy friend" and fellow podcaster. We talked about blog-centric stuff on her podcast The Bloggy Friends Show. Now she's a guest here and we talk about finding your path in life, blogging, ghostwriting, where to get writing gigs, freelancing, moving around the country, podcasting, and more. Find Ashley here: Twitter – @AshleyisFamous Facebook – @FamousAshleyGrant Instagram – @famousashleygrant Personal Website – FamousAshleyGrant.com Bloggy Friends Website – BloggyFriends.com Ashley would like to give a shout-out to Alex Fasulo and her Freelance Fairytales Podcast for anyone looking to get into freelance work.

Ep.65 | Jody Sperling – Writer & Host of (The Reluctant Book Marketer) – A Podcast for Creative People

Jody Sperling was successfully playing the real estate game when he decided to sell his properties one by one and commit to writing and podcasting. Crazy, right? Crazy like a FOX! Jody's podcast, THE RELUCTANT BOOK MARKETER, gives authors, new and experienced, tools to better market their books (thereby doing better business and growing their audience). Get a peek at some of Jody's writing that appeared in BULL called "Valesco". Find Jody on Twitter: @jodyjsperling  .   .   . Thanks for listening! For more info on Creative Ops, OR if you're interested in my novel Switchers, check out all the links and info at http://www.christophertallon.com.

Entrepreneurs

These people make the world more interesting.

Ep.105 | Dante Cope Returns – GRAMMOTONES Grand Opening & Creating Cultural Spaces – A Podcast for Creative People

Dante Cope—previously on Ep.84 | Dante Cope does EVERYTHING—returns to discuss the grand opening of Grand Rapid, Michigan's newest business and cultural space, Grammotones. Grammotones is located at 120 S. Division in Grand Rapids, MI, and it is part clothing store, part music store, all cultural space. You can shop, listen to records, enjoy beautiful art, and pick up high quality used clothing as well as new clothing from local brands both big and small. (You can also buy a copy of my book there!) We talked about a lot of things and a lot of people. If there's something you heard about that you want to know more about, all the links are below. Email Grammotones for inquiries: info@grammotonesmusic.com     Dante’s World of Winter Ghost Town app in the App Store GR's go-to DJ: Adrian Butler aka AB Sir Manley "Library" by LILEL (ft Dante Cope) on YouTube LILEL on IG Artsauce Quartet on IG Travis Treadway (music/art) Sango Lady Ace Boogie George Eberhardt (muralist) Anthony Carpenter (illustrator) My sincere apologies if I missed anyone. You're all amazing, creative people and we're lucky to have you in this world. Be creative, be kind, and take care of yourself. -CT

Ep.109 | Tyler D. Way – Custom Shoes, Painting for LeBron James, & HAS HEART Coffee Shop – A Podcast for Creative People

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimatley led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee but it's more than that. HAS HEART also allows veterans to connect with artists to tell their story. As a veteran myself, I love that there's a social space where people can share their military experiences and get a free cup of regular coffee, as well as discounted specialty drinks and food. . . . Follow my guest, Tyler D. Way: on Instagram and/or LinkedIn, check out his Bio Site, and for the love of God, check out HAS HEART on Instagram or their website. Follow me, Christopher Tallon: on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, check out my website where you can buy my novel, Switchers, about teens in 1996 who get into a time travel war against their adult selves. Thanks for listening. Hit me up on social media and let me know what you think of the show! . . . Shout outs to HAS HEART and every one of the wonderful people who work there, Cpl. Joshua Hoffman, Mike Posner, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, World Wide Wes, Chris Paul, Threadless, Treetops Collective, Brian Cousins at Wolverine Footwear, Phil Knight and Nike, Memorial Park, ArtPrize, and the City of Grand Rapids (MI).    

Ep.110 | Michael Hyacinthe – Entrepreneurship, Wimee's Words on PBS, and HAS HEART – A Podcast for Creative People

Michael Hyacinthe is an 8 year Navy Veteran who served around the world with the Seabees, the construction arm of the Navy. He left the military to pursue his interests in entrepreneurship. He currently has multiple ventures working in children's educational programs, a coffee shop, and works with veterans through the Grand Valley State University Veteran Entrepreneurship Lab.  Michael, along with my last guest, Tyler Way, created an initiative that wound up becoming a physical coffee shop of the same name, Has Heart, which connects injured/disabled veterans with artists to create designs that are sold in the shop. (And they serve great coffee. (As well as free and discounted drinks for veterans.)) Wimage, the app Michael created with his team, helps kids become producers, not just consumers, with the help of a character named Wimee, who has a TV show called Wimee's Words on PBS, as well as a bunch of books. When you're in Grand Rapids, check out what Michael's got going on by visiting The Wimee Store & Studio at 125 Ottawa Ave NW Suite 150 Grand Rapids, MI 49503. It's open Wednesday–Saturday from 12:00pm– 6:00pm, and on Sunday from 12:00pm–3:00pm. And grab a coffee from Has Heart at 22 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Writers & Poets

My PEOPLE!

Ep.60 | The FAMOUS Ashley Grant – Blogger Life, Podcasting, & the Quest for Internet Fame – A Podcast for Creative People

Ashley Grant is my "bloggy friend" and fellow podcaster. We talked about blog-centric stuff on her podcast The Bloggy Friends Show. Now she's a guest here and we talk about finding your path in life, blogging, ghostwriting, where to get writing gigs, freelancing, moving around the country, podcasting, and more. Find Ashley here: Twitter – @AshleyisFamous Facebook – @FamousAshleyGrant Instagram – @famousashleygrant Personal Website – FamousAshleyGrant.com Bloggy Friends Website – BloggyFriends.com Ashley would like to give a shout-out to Alex Fasulo and her Freelance Fairytales Podcast for anyone looking to get into freelance work.

Ep.65 | Jody Sperling – Writer & Host of (The Reluctant Book Marketer) – A Podcast for Creative People

Jody Sperling was successfully playing the real estate game when he decided to sell his properties one by one and commit to writing and podcasting. Crazy, right? Crazy like a FOX! Jody's podcast, THE RELUCTANT BOOK MARKETER, gives authors, new and experienced, tools to better market their books (thereby doing better business and growing their audience). Get a peek at some of Jody's writing that appeared in BULL called "Valesco". Find Jody on Twitter: @jodyjsperling  .   .   . Thanks for listening! For more info on Creative Ops, OR if you're interested in my novel Switchers, check out all the links and info at http://www.christophertallon.com.

SWITCHERS RELEASE CELEBRATION | Brandon Scott, my super-talented writer buddy & supporter – A Podcast for Creative People

Hey everyone! This is the last "book celebration" episode. After this it's back to normal. On that note, go to http://www.christophertallon.com/about-switchers/ for info, Amazon links, and even links for signed copies! You can hit the social links, too, and reach out that way. Aaaaaanyway–here's my writer buddy for today's episode… .  .  . Brandon Scott is a talented author of wonderfully weird tales that do a bit of genre bending, leaning heavy on the horror and dark fantasy. He wrote the Vodou series and is in several short story anthologies. You can see (and buy) all his work on the Brandon Scott Amazon page.  Also look for him on: Twitter: @BrandonScott_AU Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brandon.scottauthor.90

BOOK RELEASE WEEK | Jennifer Soucy – awesome writer, great giver of notes, and a badass lady! – A Podcast for Creative People

It's been a week since my book, Switchers, released for purchase. Jennifer Soucy really helped me get my sh*t together in regards to that novel. She was somewhere between beta reader and editor. Then she introduced me to fellow writer (and my ACTUAL editor) TJ Tranchell. We talk about other creatives like Brandon Scott, Kirk Ross, and Shawn Burgess. I'll put links to all their stuff, along with Jen's books, and…of course…MY BOOK down at the bottom. Thanks for listening. Thanks for checking out SWITCHERS, whether you buy it or read it on Kindle Unlimited. Thanks for being awesome. .  .  . Please buy my book, Switchers. I have info and links at http://www.christophertallon.com. There are paperbacks, ebooks, and, if you want one, autographed copies! I'm @tallonwrites on all social media! .  .  . CHECK OUT JENNIFER SOUCY! Jennifer Soucy: http://www.jenniferlsoucy.com @bansheetales on Twitter and Facebook @therealjenwah on Instagram .  .  . CHECK OUT THE OTHER PEOPLE WE TALKED ABOUT TJ Tranchell: http://www.tjtranchell.net Kirk Ross: http://www.youtube.com/c/ATalkInTheAttic Brandon Scott: Buy his books on Amazon Shawn Burgess: http://www.shawnburgessauthor.com

Ep.77 | Shawn Burgess, horror writer and author of THE TEAR COLLECTOR and its new prequel SOUR ROOTS – A Podcast for Creative People

Shawn Burgess is a horror writer from Jacksonville, FL. His first novel is The Tear Collector. I read it. It's fantastic. You should, too. He just release a prequel and has a sequel coming out in the fall of '22. This should be in your TBR (to be read) pile. Listen to us talk about horror as a genre, how we approach writing, and you might just catch the exact moment where we officially became friends… Thanks for listening, folks. Thanks for coming on, Shawn. . . . Here's Shawn's Socials: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter . . . Here's Shawn's Links: Visit http://www.shawnburgessauthor.com! Get his book Buy THE TEAR COLLECTOR here! Free e-book link for SOUR ROOTS . . . From Christopher Tallon (Host): Thanks for listening. I appreciate you. And thanks for spreading the word, subscribing to the show, and supporting me and my guests on social media. All music is by me, except the end song HAHAHA, which is by Kirk Ross, using samples from Creative Ops. Thanks Kirk! I write blogs, books, and do social media stuff. Here's proof: My Novel | Goodreads | Twitter | FaceBook | Instagram | TikTok | Podcast . . . Thanks! -CT

Ep.78 | Marston Hefner – Author of ”High School Romance” Reflects on Writing, Gaming, and His Famous Last Name – A Podcast for Creative People

Marston Hefner (yes…son of Hugh Hefner) is an extremely talented writer. His upcoming book of flash fiction is called High School Romance. I was fortunate to get an advanced copy. It's fantastic. Yes, you get an insight into the private lives of famous people, but more than that, you get to see them as real people. And you get to see straight up fiction that ranges from avante garde to offbeat science-fiction/romance and many things in-between. . . . Check out Marston online: marstonhefner.com | Twitch | YouTube | Twitter . . . Get more info AND buy his book HERE . . . See Marston read live: September 1 at Book Soup in Los Angeles: https://www.booksoup.com/event/marston-hefner September 8 at Stories Books in Los Angeles: https://storiesla.com/events/19616   . . . Thanks for listening. Stop by http://www.christophertallon.com for my book info, social links, a blog, and more. See ya later!  

Ep.106 | Shayna “Akanke” Marie – Creativity, Culture, & Community Activism – A Podcast for Creative People

Shayna is a writer, poet, activist, radio host, filmmaker, and—in her words—a “textbook weirdo trying to figure things out." Shayna uses her creative powers to entertain as well as uplift. She’s a teaching artist with The Diatribe, runs an open mic, and is working on having a birthday party with Oprah Winfrey. We talk about creativity, culture, community activism, and more. Shayna is a fun person to hang out with and has a lot of good things to say. Enjoy. Check out: Shayna on Instagram (follow her for updates on her goings-ons) The Diatribe (where she teaches) Reaching Beyond Bias (a project she started) All Shayna's other links (she does SO much!)  

Ep.108 | Foster – The Emory & The Diatribe: Improvement without Displacement – A Podcast for Creative People

I met Foster for coffee and a podcast conversation. This episode was recorded at The Last Mile Café, which is a black & female owned, b-corp certified business, and they have the best “miel” of all time. (Try “the last miel.”) Foster is officially listed as the “Vibe Manager” of The Diatribe. He’s a poet, father, and a voice for his community. We met up specifically to discuss The Emory, but here’s a full breakdown of what we talked about: 00:00 – Cold Open 01:06 – Show Intro 03:28 – The Emory 20:04 – Upcoming Diatribe Events 22:13 – How to Get the Word Out 27:24 – Family Medical Emergencies 31:59 – Problems Facing GR 34:09 – Foster’s Origin Story 1:03:47 – Foster Reads His Poetry 1:23:47 – In Closing (The original conversation was almost two hours and has been edited for time and clarity.) Find Foster on Instagram and Facebook.   UPCOMING EVENTS Right Now! | Support the Diatribe Apr 28 | New Holland Brewing Co. | Annual Fundraiser w/ live entertainment June 20 | Broadleaf Brewing Co. | The Diatribe wsg Bedrock   SHOUT OUTS The Diatribe The Emory Well House Exalta Health Care Systems Catherine’s Health Center Gleason Bedrock Dominic, Ben, and Tony from back in the day Mr. C’s Deli IF YOU LIKE THE SHOW… …follow me on social media: facebook, twitter/x, instagram …rate and review the podcast wherever you listen …tell people about the podcast …consider buying my debut novel Switchers. Thank you! -CT http://www.christophertallon.com  

Experience Designers

Jeff Hull is amazing. So is Auggie. Probably why they work together sometimes. Jeff’s episode is the most downloaded. Very interesting guy. And Auggie wins international escape room competitions and does science stuff with Red Bull.

Comedians

I wish I was a comedian, but alas…I’m not funny enough. These people, however, are definitely funny.

Movies/Television/Digital Content

Visual Artists

Ep. 63 | Derek Mohr – Developer, Designer, Artist, & Good Dude – A Podcast for Creative People

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

Ep.104 | Tara McCrackin – ”Crisis President” of Kendall College of Art & Design – A Podcast for Creative People

Nothing is impossible if you have dreams, ideas, and a willingness to work towards them. And my guest, Tara McCrackin (president of Kendall College of Art & Design (KCAD) AND vice president of Ferris State University), has an inspiring creative journey which showcases that. She shares a bit about what her school has coming up, then we dive into her professional background, how she became a teacher, and how she then became president of a college just before the pandemic. Some cool and wild stuff. Check out Tara and KCAD: Tara's school profile KCAD homepage Tara's (short) bio: Tara McCrackin was named President of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) in the spring of 2021. She concurrently holds the office of Vice President of Ferris State University. Her design career began in 1997, working in corporate office interiors. She designed spaces for Steelcase, Inc., and was the lead designer on the initial WorkSpring in Chicago, Ill., a co-working space incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and focusing on hospitality in the corporate environment. Pursuing her passion for sustainability, President McCrackin had the pleasure of working on the Rackspace Headquarters space in San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, she worked on the interior for the Kids’ Food Basket building in Grand Rapids.

Ep.107 | SCOOB – The Trauma Project (Art, Music, Immersion) – A Podcast for Creative People

If you enjoy Creative Ops, please rate and review it wherever you listen to help the show grow! If you dig the vibe, also consider supporting the host by buying a paperback or ebook copy of his novel, Switchers. Thank you. . . . Today's guest is SCOOB, an artist, originally from St. Louis, MO, now living in Grand Rapids, MI. He's the mastermind behind the multimedia art project and album, The Trauma Project, which you can see at Muse GR (727 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, Michigan) March 2-3 & 9-10. SHOP FOR TICKETS NOW before it sells out! LINKS Trauma Project GR on Facebook MuseGR (Event Location) Radio Interview with SCOOB on 104.9 w/ Lisha B News Article about the Trauma Project SCOOB: Instagram | Facebook FIND SCOOB'S ART IN GR Della Soul Records Last Mile Cafe PERSONAL SHOUT OUTS Teknique Academy Mike Logan Gwopped Up $peedy Michelle Dunaway

Ep.109 | Tyler D. Way – Custom Shoes, Painting for LeBron James, & HAS HEART Coffee Shop – A Podcast for Creative People

Tyler D. Way is a soft spoken, brilliant creative. He got his start sneaking into NBA arenas and pitching custom shoes to any player who would listen to him, which ultimatley led to being invited to the Nike campus to meet LeBron and present him a painting. He's worked in graphic design, fashion, and most recently coffee. HAS HEART serves coffee but it's more than that. HAS HEART also allows veterans to connect with artists to tell their story. As a veteran myself, I love that there's a social space where people can share their military experiences and get a free cup of regular coffee, as well as discounted specialty drinks and food. . . . Follow my guest, Tyler D. Way: on Instagram and/or LinkedIn, check out his Bio Site, and for the love of God, check out HAS HEART on Instagram or their website. Follow me, Christopher Tallon: on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, check out my website where you can buy my novel, Switchers, about teens in 1996 who get into a time travel war against their adult selves. Thanks for listening. Hit me up on social media and let me know what you think of the show! . . . Shout outs to HAS HEART and every one of the wonderful people who work there, Cpl. Joshua Hoffman, Mike Posner, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, World Wide Wes, Chris Paul, Threadless, Treetops Collective, Brian Cousins at Wolverine Footwear, Phil Knight and Nike, Memorial Park, ArtPrize, and the City of Grand Rapids (MI).    

Other

Ep.99 | Trino – Magic in the Golden Age of Entertainment! – A Podcast for Creative People

"Trino the Magician" is the coolest. A super nice guy, talented, ambitious, and laser focused. You're going to want to get up and go do something cool after you listen to this. And you might have an itch to see a magic show. If so, check out http://www.trinomagic.com for info on Trino's monthly show "AMAZE & AMUSE", as well as anything else he might be up to. If you're the social media type, Trino is @trinomagic on most platforms. Also check out Luc's Light, a youth music and arts foundation set up in memory of Trino's brother. . . . Thanks for stopping in. Go to http://www.christophertallon.com for more on the show and its host, check out Christopher Tallon online @tallonwrites on social media, and make sure to read and review his novel Switchers. Go be creative!

Ep.100 | Dr. Lester Efianayi – Eyes, Athletics, & Diversity in Medicine – A Podcast for Creative People

This was a fun and fascinating conversation. We start with eye training and vision therapy as possibly the next big evolutionary step in athletic achievement. Starting out on the east coast with parents that immigrated from Nigeria, Dr. Lester has since given up his shoulder pads for a lab coat, which, ironically, may have greatly extended his career in professional sports. . . . Check out Dr. Lester Efianayi (ee-fee-ah-NIGH-ee) on Instagram: @eyesdontlie.vt . . . For all other things show/host related, go to http://www.christophertallon.com