A Podcast for Creative People

Ep.91 | Pablo Eskobear - Jammie Award Winning Producer (Best Instrumental Album)

Pablo Eskobear is well known in Grand Rapids, Michigan, having recently won INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the Jammies. He produced tracks for a bunch of artists locally and nationally, including past guest Sonny Ski (listen to "The Grandest").

 Among other things, we talk about:

• Pablo's "standard" musical beginnings
• his deviation from school band into metal drumming
  • listen to Slow Croak
• how he got into hip hop
• collaborating vs solo projects
• performing
• making his studio
• building your brand
• promotion
• social media jail
• AI in music

And at the end there's a rough cut of some music we made (based on an idea Kirk Ross and I had, which may possibly turn into something...).

Check out Pablo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and his website to find out when he has new stuff coming out. Listen to his award-winning music  on SPOTIFY as well.

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Ep.90 | Chris LaPorte - From Theme Parks to ArtPrize Glory

In this episode Chris LaPorte, the Grand Rapids-based artist who won the second ArtPrize competition and currently teaches at Aquinas College, shares the personal and creative journey that led him from one year of being an engineering student to award-winning artist—and yes, there’s an '80s cover band involved.

Chris opens up about his decision to leave engineering school to attend art school, mostly to follow his creative passion. (Partly to join an '80s cover band.) He reflects on his early work drawing caricatures in theme parks, the years of dedication behind his large-scale pencil drawings, and the emotional power of art in times of grief.

Chris also talks about how loss has shaped his work, and how art can be a powerful form of therapy—a way to process pain and find connection.

Topics Covered:

• Dropping out of engineering school for art (and music)

• Early days drawing caricatures at theme parks

• The creation and impact of his ArtPrize-winning piece

• Teaching art and staying creatively motivated

• Coping with loss and using art as a therapeutic outlet

Chris brings humor, vulnerability, and insight to this episode—a must-listen for anyone who creates, teaches, or turns to art for healing.

Connect with Chris LaPorte:

www.chrislaporte.com

@chris.laporte.art on Instagram 

See his art:

Chris's newest piece is up at Silva, in Grand Rapids, MI. His ArtPrize winning piece is on display at the Aquinas College Library.

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Ep.89 | Hot Sauce Challenge! - w/ Ivan Labra

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE on Ivan's youtube channel. Ivan who, you ask?

Ivan Labra, the photographer from episode 78 (who also took my author photo for my most recent book, Sleepwalker Angel), returned with the Hot Ones Season 25 hot sauces. We consumed hot wings at Carbon Stories in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filming and recording audio as we went along.

It's kinda like my normal podcast, but we try to do this episode while our mouths are on fire. Enjoy!

 

Ep.88 | Working GalaxyCon Richmond with the Pop-Up BookShoppe

The GalaxyCon in Richmond, Virginia, was a ton of fun. I carpooled with Rich Hosek, and together we drove through the night—taking shifts at the wheel—until we arrived in Richmond, Virginia, at day one of this four-day event to sell books with the Pop-Up BookShoppe for the first time.

The Pop-Up BookShoppe is run by an author I first met at the GalaxyCon in Columbus in 2024—C.R. Rice, who was a guest on episode 86. We talked about the Pop-Up BookShoppe then, and this time I went and worked it. In short, it's like an author co-op: we work the table together and try to sell the books that might connect most with the readers' interests, rather than only pitching our own books.

I spoke with the other authors who came out to sell books. In order of Pop-Up BookShoppe seniority, the authors (with their links) are:

C.R. Rice - YA Fantasy (Pop-Up BookShoppe Bosslady)

Scott Clark - Sci-fi, Action Adventure

Heidi Nickerson - Horror

KN Timofeev - New Adult Fantasy, Romance

Benjamin Kamphuis - YA Fantasy

Rich Hosek - Suspense

Christopher Tallon - Horror, Thriller

There were a couple authors who were there but had to leave early so they weren't interviewed (but you should totally check them out, their books look really cool):

Leslie and Janice Sommers - YA Fantasy, Celtic Mythology

Ashley Grant - Mystery, Thriller

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Thanks for checking this episode and supporting creative people!

Follow Christopher Tallon on IG, FB, and/or Threads. And sign up for the newsletter for author news, podcast updates, and other cool stuff.

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Thanks to any and all attendees of the con who caught this episode. You rock.

Ep.87 | Carlos "Los the Artist" Sampson - painting and tattoos

I sat down with Carlos Sampson--also known on social media as Los the Artist--at the tattoo shop he works at, Cielo Ink in Jenison, Michigan. We were joined by our good friend (and Carlos' old neighbor) Mike Logan (comedian, actor, producer, and VO artist).

We chatted about Carlos' journey as an artist, including winning Art Battle, live painting in front of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and how he got into tattooing. It's a fun story that will give you tips and encouragement in your own endeavors. And he gives some insider knowledge on tattoos, like ideas, placement, and how to get started in the biz.

You're gonna love his story and his energy. It'll make you want to paint, learn new skills, and maybe get a tattoo.

Shout out to JP Cielo for letting us use his shop for the recording!

 

If you need a tattoo, check out Cielo Ink.

You can see some of their work here:

IG | FB | YT | TT

 

Ep.86 | Chelsea Rice aka C.R. Rice - author and founder of the Popup Book Shoppe

Chelsea Rice, known professionally as C.R. Rice, is a fantasy/sci-fi writer, currently immersing you in the Realm Series.

She also founded the Pop-Up BookShoppe, which helps authors sell book (and make money doing it!) at GalaxyCons across the country.

If you're an author looking to expand your audience, this might be the best way to do it. If you're a Con-goer and book lover--keep an eye out for the Pop-Up BookShoppe at a GalaxyCon near you!

Also, shout out to Has Heart coffee shop for letting me record in their space, and allowing me to have events and sell books there. You guys rock!

Final shout out to Sonny Ski and Gwopped Up $peedy from the clip of the song "Grand Rapids, Michigan"

Ep.85 | Sonny Ski - Artist of the Year Nominee ('25 Jammie Awards)

Sonny Ski met me at HAS HEART coffee shop downtown Grand Rapids to talk creativity. Sonny Ski's album, States of Mind, features a song called "Grand Rapids, Michigan" (that I refer to as Welcome to GR to avoid confusion) that is the new anthem for the city.

Sonny Ski has been nominated for the Jammie Awards best album and artist of the year. Help him out and vote here!

We talked about creativity, songwriting, getting yourself out there, and more. Great insights for all creatives looking for opportunities and/or trying to create their own.

Shout out to HAS HEART coffee shop for letting us record inside. Shout out to Gwopped Up $peedy and Ja'Leeyna (from the track "Grand Rapids, Michigan"), and also to SCOOB for putting together the Trauma Project that Sonny and I were proud to be a part of. And shout out to WYCE for recognizing local artists.   

Follow Sonny Ski on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, and YouTube.

Ep.84 | Tylor Paige — author of the whorror novel Slash Or Pass

That's right, I said whorror. It's a term one of her fans came up with to describe the blending of the romance and horror genres in Tylor's books.Now she uses it to lovingly address her fans as her Whorror Babies.

Her most recent novel, Slash Or Pass, has sold a ton of copies, forcing/allowing her to build a small team of professionals to help her with many of the non-writing elements of being a full-time professional novelist.

Listen while Tylor and Tallon discuss (among other things):

• creative beginnings
• creative process
• putting yourself out there
• finding out who your friends are
• going viral on social media
• cool marketing stuff
• making money
• the idea of putting real people from our lives in a book
• tattoos

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About Tylor Paige:

After watching Heathers and listening to My Chemical Romance one too many times in her teens, Chicana author, Tylor Paige, was drawn to the darkness where the villains were still villains, but deserved love stories too.

Shifting her focus to Horror Romance, Tylor writes snarky, psycho vampires, troubled but beautiful Goblin Kings, and slashers so sexy you’ll be begging your partner to buy a mask.

When she’s not writing about women railing the villains, she enjoys watching horror films, sewing, comic books, and performing with her local community theatre. At the time of this podcast Tylor has now written and published eleven full length novels.

Visit www.tylorpaige.com, and check her out on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Buy her latest book Slash Or Pass now!

 

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About the host:

Christopher Tallon mainly writes and has two dark, fast-paced books available at www.christophertallon.com.

Tallon produced two comedy tracks on the ArtPrize winning Trauma Project. In addition to making the music for this podcast, he has also made and contributed to music for other podcasts, YouTube channels, and television shows.

Tallon performs all the hosting/production duties at A Podcast for Creative People as a passion project. It's done with the intention of getting more people to explore their creativity and/or help creatives with anecdotes and advice from people in cool spaces doing cool things.

Find Tallon on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads: @tallonwrites

Ep.83 | Jody J. Sperling on Becoming a Household Name

Jody J. Sperling is an author (the Luke in Time Series (and others)) and podcast host (Becoming a Household Name). Together we've traveled around the country a bit going to Comic-Cons and Galaxy-Cons to sell books.

This is a great episode for authors trying to find ways to get their books out to more people, but also for anyone interested in marketing, promotions, and live selling (whether it be books or something else).

Check out Jody J. Sperling, read his books, listen to his podcast (start with one of my episodes!), and send him fan mail telling him how great he is. Do it.

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For more info on the show, its host, and/or the host's books, go to www.christophertallon.com. Thanks. You rock. Like...so hard. People are starting to complain.

Ep.82 | Alex Anest - Music, Connection, & Creativity

Alex Anest is a guitar player based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Currently touring with his jazz trio, Alex is a skilled musician in many genres, a band leader, and a music teacher.

Through our discussions--favorite bands, musical influences, legendary musicians, and the creative process--you'll learn a bit about music history (like who influenced Paul McCartney's bass playing the most), and how important connection is, both with your collaborators and your audience.

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FOLLOW ALEX!

Look for Alex on Instagram, check out the tour dates on his website, and check out some of his music on YouTube.

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FOLLOW ME!

Christopher Tallon is on most social media: @tallonwrites

www.christophertallon.com