The Maker's Playbook

Described as the most supportive guy on the internet by numerous people, today’s interview with Bill Schwenzer feels long overdue. Better known as Aliveguy Pottery, we talk about his career transition from corporate quality control to clay, his commitment to thoughtful encouragement online and his unique approach to delayed gratification all while continuing to push himself outside of his comfort zone and not get too bogged down in analyzing. Resources in this Episode:Bill's InstagramThe podcast needs your help! Please consider making a one-time or recurring donation to support the continuing creation of this show by visiting makersplaybook.com/podcast-support. Thank you so much in advance!If you feel you’ve gotten even just $5 worth of value from listening to our episodes, would you please consider making a small contribution to sustain this show? Every little bit helps us to continue to bring these stories to your headphones! Click here to choose a one-time donation of any amount or become a sustaining member with a subscription that allows you to submit questions to our guests in advance!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

I reached out to chat with Stanley after seeing his “Thoughts and Prayers” series - a powerful body of work creating strong visuals on the actual effects of a bullet striking a form. A series, he actually made more than a year ago. And yet, only recently and quite suddenly, has gotten quite a lot of recognition. We talk about how the series came about and what’s happened in the year since, as well as the time he’s taking to figure out the next steps, instead of letting the internet push him into a constant state of urgency. Not to mention, the decision to use a platform to express a message and what may or may not happen if that message changes. In other words: Do you keep making the work you know people want, or… Do you change?Come join the nearly 100 other makers talking all about these big subjects, and more, inside of The Community. Becoming a member also helps support the creation of this show! Learn more about all the perks of membership by visiting: makersplaybook.com/communityResources in this Episode:Stanley's Instagram Stanley's WebsiteIf you feel you’ve gotten even just $5 worth of value from listening to our episodes, would you please consider making a small contribution to sustain this show? Every little bit helps us to continue to bring these stories to your headphones! Click here to choose a one-time donation of any amount or become a sustaining member with a subscription that allows you to submit questions to our guests in advance!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

If you weren’t learning how to carve intricate designs in sourdough bread in 2020, odds are, you might have been learning how to make pottery. And while this is true for today’s guest, Tim Clark, that wasn’t all. Tim also was learning how to make pottery and navigate the rest of life after a spontaneous tear of the retina left him half blind. There seems to be quite the thru line for many of us finding pottery as a therapeutic thing, but Tim has taken this one step farther, in starting the Blindfold Challenge to help raise awareness and frankly, a bit of money, for an amazing cause called the Fun Eye Fund. In this episode, we talk all about that plus how Tim has found the Blindfold Challenge cathartic in ways he didn’t expect and his new endeavors into creating art that’s accessible not only for us sighted humans, but equally enjoyable for those in the blindness community.Resources in this Episode:Tim Clark on InstagramThe Fun Eye FundIf you feel you’ve gotten even just $5 worth of value from listening to our episodes, would you please consider making a small contribution to sustain this show? Every little bit helps us to continue to bring these stories to your headphones! Click here to choose a one-time donation of any amount or become a sustaining member with a subscription that allows you to submit questions to our guests in advance!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

How do you stay okay even when it doesn't feel like your business isn't going well? Because while we might feel pulled to log the long hours and push ourselves to "work harder" to "grind it out," in reality, we can't really come up with new, interesting, creative solutions when we're exhausted or stressed or frankly, freaking out. As foolish as it might feel to get up and go for a walk instead of "being productive" it might also be exactly that walk that brings you a clever idea to turn things around. Because as today's guest, Clare Barboza (who's been self-employed for about 25 years now), reflected, "It’s not going to stay this way. That’s what you learn as an entrepreneur. There are cycles. Nothing stays the same.”If you're looking for support amidst the roller coaster ride of those business cycles, whether your a side-hustler or full-timer, come check out The Community by clicking here. With makers from all around the world, at every stage of business, it just might be the perspective shift you've been needing.Guest Resources:Clare’s Instagram : @poppybeesurfaces If you feel you’ve gotten even just $5 worth of value from listening to our episodes, would you please consider making a small contribution to sustain this show? Every little bit helps us to continue to bring these stories to your headphones! Click here to choose a one-time donation of any amount or become a sustaining member with a subscription that allows you to submit questions to our guests in advance!Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more. Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybookHave questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com