Creative Ops is a podcast for creative people, by creative people. We talk to artists, musicians, writers, small business owners, and more, finding out about the awesome things people are making, and learning about their creative processes.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Find me, Christopher Tallon, slinging my novel Switchers in-person the next few weekends:
- September 8 & 9, 5p-11p, After Dark Art Market, Canal Park in Grand Rapids, MI (shout out to Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts for the event)
- September 16, 10a-1p, Author's Alley, Hyne Alley, Brighton, MI (thank you to 2 Dandelions Bookshop for the opportunity)
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Goodbye, folks! (For now...)
I'm not "ending" the show. Let's be clear there. I just need to free up time. I'm in the middle of writing another novel and I still have yet to record the audiobook for my first novel. So I'm going to be doing those two things mainly in the time previously spent booking, recording, editing, and promoting the podcast.
HUGE THANKS to all the listeners who got a copy of my debut novel Switchers. You guys are amazing, creative, supportive people. I appreciate you very much. For the first few months, you were the only audience I had. I hope you'll stay subscribed so we can catch up when the show returns. And I might do an episode here or there while on hiatus. There are people and things I still want to talk to and/or about. And I'll probably use the podcast to give updates on the new book as it progresses and whatnot.
Stay creative. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you again.
Your friend in creativity,
Christopher Tallon
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
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 (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.
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
After this one, this idea will resonate with you: You can figure it out; it's only over when you quit.
Whether or not you're an engineer, thinking like one can help you as an entrepreneur, a creative, or just as a person. Adam Truckey's story embodies that. Adam is an engineer who successfully started his own business, AJT DESIGN, centered around something he's passionate about. But it wasn't all downhill. Listen for the ups, downs, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
If there's something in this world you love and/or love to do, go for it. Keep figuring it out and moving forward!
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FOLLOW MY GUEST
Adam Truckey
WEBSITE: www.ajtdesign-llc.com
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ajt_design
. . .
FOLLOW THE HOST
Christopher Tallon
WEBSITE: www.christophertallon.com
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/tallonwrites
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/tallonwrites
ALL OTHER LINKS: linktr.ee/tallonwrites
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
If you were in Grand Rapids and you missed the Pharmhouse Wellness Art Market in July, may god have mercy on your soul...
Here's a some of what was going on, via 6 interviews conducted outdoors at my booth. If you hear people in the background, that's just the toke tent folks having fun. Make sure you don't miss the next Pharmhouse Market AUGUST 19, 2023!!! (10a-3p)
Pharmhouse Wellness is the ONLY 100% locally owned dispensary in Grand Rapids, MI, and they are located at 831 Wealthy St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Go to www.pharmhousewellness.com for more.
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KEEP UP WITH THE SHOW
Follow Christopher Tallon on social media: @tallonwrites
Check out the website and blog: www.christophertallon.com
Buy Switchers
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INTERVIEWEES
- Ben W: wood artist - www.thespartanartisan.com
- Alby Blazo: romance writer (aka Leesa Mason) - www.lovelunapress.com; @albyblazo (look her up on Kindle and Vella)
- Henry: collage artist - facebook: @henryarthurbrown
- Eva Finley: fantasy writer - @thatwritinglife; www.evafinley.wordpress.com
- Maude Winters: princess fiction - tiktok @thatbikemom; www.linktr.ee/maudewinters
- Jason: artist/graphic novelist/market goer - @strutzart; www.strutzart.com
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
This one's a fun listen that will inspire you to call a buddy and make something silly together. Kirk Ross (host of our brother podcast, A Talk in the Attic, and one half of Trophy Husbands) and Christopher Tallon (host of Creative Ops, and the other half of Trophy Husbands) talk about Trophy Husbands' latest music video, "PINK"--now out on Youtube--and what goes into collaboratively making music (and music videos).
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Look for Kirk's next podcast episode about his Electric Forest experience. It will be on A Talk in the Attic's YouTube page, follow them on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download them thangs.
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For info, visit www.christophertallon.com. For links, try my linktr.ee.
Thanks everyone. MWAH!
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
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.
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Check out Dr. Lester Efianayi (ee-fee-ah-NIGH-ee) on Instagram: @eyesdontlie.vt
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For all other things show/host related, go to www.christophertallon.com
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
"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 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 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!
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Tuesday Apr 18, 2023
Abbey Hunter is the owner of The Mortals Cafe + Confection in Grand Rapids, MI. They serve Vietnamese coffee drinks (as well as popular American coffee drinks) with an overall theme of death. They host grief groups, death talks, as well as a number of other regular and one-off events.
Visit The Mortals online, then visit the store at 111 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Follow The Mortals on Instagram and Facebook. Do it before you forget and die.
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Keep up on the show by following its host, Christopher Tallon, on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter. Check out Tallon's novel, Switchers, on his website.
Bye!
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Tuesday Apr 04, 2023
Jason Tieri (TEER-ee) is a podcaster from west Michigan. Actually, he's kinda my podcast mentor. (And beard guru.) He got me into podcasting. Hear what it takes to start a podcast, some techy stuff, some how-to, and us just kickin it.
This was a fun one, especially if you're a podcaster, you're thinking about podcasting, or you just like a peek at how it's done.
(Recorded in the Hey Guys Media Group studio. Click the link to learn more about them and their podcast services!)
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Hello everyone!
Please feel free to use this episode as a "creativity playlist" for when you're drawing, running, painting, going to the store...
It's all the original music from the podcast strung into one easy peasy playlist, with most songs ranging between 1-2 minutes, and the entire playlist coming in at just under 38 minutes.
Enjoy.
(By the way, you can hire me to make music for your project via my website www.christophertallon.com. Hit me up on Instagram @tallonwrites...I dare ya.)