Welcome to Episode 22 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with lifelong entrepreneur and founder of Hera Hub, Felena Hanson.
“It’s not about segregation, we have men in the space every day. It’s about creating that environment and that community where women can flourish.”
What do you do when you experience three layoffs before the age of 30? Unleash the “entrepreneurial spirit” and become a solopreneur!
Today we chat with Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub: a spa-inspired coworking space for female entrepreneurs. Felena tells us about growing up in an entrepreneurial family; the decision on whether or not to go to college; and the struggle of being a professional marketer in the tech industry.
We’ll learn about how Felena’s trials and tribulations as a marketer initiated her desire to create something new, and how her successful “something new” brought more trials and tribulations. Felena discusses the challenges associated with franchising, and how commercial real estate can be a roadblock for entrepreneurs and startups.
What is a coworking space? How does Hera Hub differ from executive suites and other office environments, and why is this such a valuable need? There’s a “prediction that 50-60% of knowledge-based workforce will be independent by 2020…where will all these people work (besides Starbucks)?” Tune in to find out!
Links and honorable mentions:
Musical Bonus
In honor of Leap Day, this episode includes the song “2/29” by Rookie Card. Thanks to Rookie Card guitarist/singer/songwriter Adam Gimbel for giving us the OK to play the song. Click here to buy it in iTunes.
Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind!
If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.
Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes.
The Credits
Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi.
The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud!
This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram
Welcome to Episode 21 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with musician and activist Peter Yarrow.
“I wasn’t about being the center of attention that was so exciting and rewarding. There was a magic going on in the village at the time…This was a crucible of change where in the air was this spirit that something dramatically was changing. Something was going to happen in the world to challenge all the points of view with which we had been handed society’s rules… The sixties was a search for authenticity.”
Today we speak with Peter Yarrow, musician, activist, and member of Peter Paul and Mary. It’s always fascinating to learn about how musicians and artists get inspired, and Peter’s story does not miss the mark.
Peter takes us back to his childhood as a Jewish New Yorker and the strong cultural influence his mother had on him. From not having money for new clothes, but always having money for arts and culture, Peter takes us back to his first instrument…the recorder, and how his love of folk music stemmed from his mom’s 78 records by musicians such as Paganini, Josh White, and Burl Ives.
Peter tells us about teaching English as an undergrad at Cornell, and how singing in the classroom helped catapult his love for music and community. Learn about how musical inspirations such as the Everly Brothers, The Weavers, and Pete Seeger influenced the folk group that became Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Peter describes the seemingly magical time in 60’s Greenwich Village, a place of musical inspiration and hope social and political change. Peter discusses the role of music and musicians in social activism, and how society attempts to restrict the art of music during times of social upheaval. Hear about how the Red Scare influenced artists and musicians when the threat of communism was at the social and political center stage; and naturally how those musicians fought back.
Of course we couldn’t talk with Peter and not ask about Puff the Magic Dragon. What is the song about? What is the inspiration behind the music? Get the answer straight from the source, and so much more on today’s episode.
Peter’s Homepage
Honorable mentions from this Episode:
Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind!
If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.
Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes.
The Credits
Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi.
The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud!
This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram
Welcome to Episode 20 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with multitalented artist Bryan Landers.
“I think that’s the underlying design and art challenge that I love; it’s sort of just finding your way to the impossible through some very logical process.”
Not many musicians leave L.A. for another place in order to get gigs, but when they do, that musician plays the banjo…and that other place is Nashville!
Today’s talk is with Bryan Landers: an athlete who gave up skiing in order to protect his hands for banjo playing. Bryan talks about his inspirations Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Page, and Bela Fleck; picking out an instrument for the first time; and how you get to ski every day at boarding school in New Hampshire.
As an artist who utilizes multiple media, learn about how his not-well-received art portfolio pushed him a little closer to music; and how he ultimately leveraged one talent to support another. Well also talk a bit about the importance of getting in on things from the ground up (or not getting in on new ventures like Pinterest).
Also on this episode: learning to code in the internet age; making money as a freelance web developer; learning the hard way which career path you don’t want; how “idea validation” can save you time, money, and heartache; and of course: the musical talents of Steve Martin.
All this and much more today with Bryan Landers.
Links and honorable mentions:
Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind!
If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.
Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes.
The Credits
Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi.
The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud!
This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram
Welcome to Episode 19 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with comic book writer, shop owner, and entrepreneurial innovator Mike Wellman.
Today’s talk is with Mike Wellman: a comic book artist, shop owner, and a man who is always looking to expand his business by helping others. Mike talks about growing up in North Carolina and being perceived as the bad kid for having comic books. And what do comic book bad boys from North Carolina do? Move to L.A. of course!
Hear about Mike’s many jobs from street marketing to doing coverage of scripts. Not a fan of American History X? Apparently Mike wasn’t either… he gave the original script a big thumbs down! Learn about how Mike’s aspirations to become a screenwriter halted in a failed job interview with Tim Daly, and how that fall-through led him to his job at Geoffrey’s Comics.
It’s all downhill after that, Mike now owns the Comic Bug in L.A. Tune in to learn how his shop sets themselves apart from other comic book vendors, and why The Comic Bug is a great place for aspiring new artists and entrepreneurs.
Other Topics: Tribulations of publishing comics; how small opportunities can open big doors; and supporting Bernie Sanders.
Links and honorable mentions:
Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind!
If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.
Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes.
The Credits
Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi.
The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud!
This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram
Welcome to Episode 18 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with artist N.C. Winters.
“Anything I wanted to learn I just started doing it. You figure out why the wrong ways don’t work by doing them, and you figure out the medium by using it. It’s not about your brushes and your paint; it’s about picking anything and starting, and failing a whole bunch.”
What do you do when you can draw Ninja Turtles in elementary school? Charge a quarter of course!
Today we talk with fine artist N.C. Winters about growing up as an artist and making his way into the art world. Hear about N.C.’s excursion through the New York art scene, majoring in art, working as a solo artist, and getting his foot in the gallery door. N.C. and I discuss the relationship between pop culture and art, and we get into the details of how technology and society impact our pop culture.
Also discussed: working at a New York design firm; making something your own thing; navigating the social media world; and of course…intellectual property in art and music.
This and more on today’s episode with N.C. Winters.
N.C.’s Homepage
N.C.’s Instagram
Twitter: @ncwinters
N.C.’s Tumblr
Honorable mentions from this episode:
Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind!
If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one.
Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live.
Here are instructions on how to subscribe, rate, and review the show in iTunes.
The Credits
Products of the Mind is produced by Mana Monzavi.
The theme music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud!
This episode and these show notes © 2016 David Lizerbram