A Podcast for Creative People

Hear the full song "Different Clout" by Alfie DaGreat at the end of the episode!

Alfie DaGreat is one of the most powerful voices to come out of the Grand Rapids music scene. Strong lyrics and an amazing voice make his music stand out above the rest.

Listen in as we talk about his history with music, his writing process, how he got involved in The Trauma Project, The Black Rose Society, and much much more.

Follow Alfie DaGreatInstagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, &Threads. You can also find a few of his videos on YouTube.

Get some ADG merch at www.uplifenation.com.

S/o to Pharmhouse Wellness for helping create the vibe in the studio. If you're in Grand Rapids and looking for cannabis, there is no other.

Thanks for listening!

-CT

ps: all music in this episode is either owned by Christopher Tallon, or used with explicit permission from Alfie DaGreat. So there.

Originally aired 2-28-2022.

This is one of the most downloaded episodes of the show. It's a great story about putting it all out there to start a business and giving back to your community. Since this aired Pharmhouse has opened its grow facility and sells high quality weed at discounted prices. I love this place. Nice people, great cannabis, and a very cool story of how it all came to be.

Enjoy.

. . .

Follow Pharmhouse on Instagram or go straight to their website.

Follow me, Christopher Tallon, on all social media @tallonwrites or at www.christophertallon.com (where you can also get the cheapest copy of my ebook!)

Learn on your own. Network. Get a mentor. Do awesome stuff. If you've got your foot in the door somewhere, kick that bitch in! Bet on yourself!

Get ready to take the world by storm after you listen to this one, folks. Ivan Labra is a self taught photographer/videographer who graduated from YouTube University (not a real thing), and does cool stuff all over the country.

We recorded at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ivan shoots and manages the office. When he's not shooting content, he's making coffee at Has Heart Coffee Shop.

Topics range from creative process, inspiration, being self taught vs. classically trained, overcoming doubt, how to get into something without training, coffee, Carbon Stories, film (specifically Christopher Nolan), and music.

Follow Ivan Labra

Instagram: @ivan.labra_

Website

LinkedIn

Shout Outs

Carbon Stories

Has Heart Coffee Shop

Keep up with Christopher Tallon

@tallonwrites on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X

Buy my ebook or paperback

Go to www.christophertallon.com for news and updates about books, podcasts, appearances, and more.

J.B. Velasquez is an author in Arizona. He's written two novels, so far, and they're both worth a read. Whether you like metaphysical stories of people doing drugs and getting stuck in the afterlife, or futuristic dystopian stuff, give J.B. a try.

We discuss his books, his process, publishing, promotion, and writing about drugs. This was fun and informative.

Enjoy!

Visit JBV's website:

https://jbvelasquez.com/

Buy JBV's books:

Every Last One

Tourist Trapped

Follow JBV on social media:

Twitter/X

Instagram

Facebook

Threads

. . .

Keep up with the podcast and its host:

Visit www.christophertallon.com

Follow CT on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter

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

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).

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

www.christophertallon.com

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

• TekniqueAcademy
• Mike Logan
• Gwopped Up $peedy
• Michelle Dunaway

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!)

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: [email protected]

• 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