This time, it’s just the three of us—Aaron, Joe, and Amber. No guest, no plan, just vibes and a theme: starting over. From lost files and ruined shoots to quitting jobs and creative resets, we get into the mess and momentum of starting fresh—when it’s your choice, and when it’s not. Technically, a bonus episode. Structurally, unsound—a freefall.Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netInstagram: @aaron_mccallLinkedIn: Aaron McCallCo-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coInstagram: @joe_dustinCo-Host/Sidekick/Manager:Amber GrayInstagram: @bad_ambellinaLinkedIn: Amber GrayMusic:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The BranchesHelp Support the Podcast:Buy MerchMake a DonationFollow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comInstagram: @badideasocialclubLinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club
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21:55
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21:55
Jenny Hearns: Ghost of a Ghost
Jenny Hearns (artist, graphic designer) talks with Aaron McCall about creative identity, chronic illness, and what happens when your body hits pause before your mind is ready. They get into creepy-cute aesthetics, the pressure to stay visible, and how she’s learned to make space for rest without losing her spark. It's the classic tale of a ghost, an onion and a perfectly reasonable emotional spiral.Keep up with Jenny Hearns:jennyhearns.comIG: @jennyhearnsWriter/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netInstagram: @aaron_mccallLinkedIn: Aaron McCallCo-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coInstagram: @joe_dustinCo-Host/Sidekick/Manager:Amber GrayInstagram: @bad_ambellinaLinkedIn: Amber GrayMusic:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The BranchesHelp Support the Podcast:Buy MerchMake a DonationFollow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comInstagram: @badideasocialclubLinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club
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1:01:28
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1:01:28
Craig Horky: Dusty Old Man
Craig Horky (illustrator, graphic designer) shares his story with Aaron McCall and talks about analog habits, unexpected upheaval, and the tension between making a living and making something that lasts. They cover brush pens, weird gigs, creative grit, and the strange freedom that comes with getting fired. Also, he really loves his cats.Keep up with Craig Horky:craighorky.storenvy.comIG: @craighorkyWriter/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netInstagram: @aaron_mccallLinkedIn: Aaron McCallCo-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coInstagram: @joe_dustinCo-Host/Sidekick/Manager:Amber GrayInstagram: @bad_ambellinaLinkedIn: Amber GrayMusic:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The BranchesHelp Support the Podcast:Buy MerchMake a DonationFollow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comInstagram: @badideasocialclubLinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club
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50:57
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50:57
Mitch Ermatinger: Where the Wild Things Sour
Mitch Ermatinger (brewer/founder, Speciation Artisan Ales) talks with Aaron McCall about building a life around wild beer—then no longer being able to drink it. They get into the art and science behind fermentation, the gut-punch of a celiac diagnosis, designing what he can’t taste, and staying creative inside sharp limitations. It’s about constraint, reinvention, and what it means to keep making things—even when the rules change.Keep up with Mitch Ermatinger:speciationartisanales.comIG: @speciationalesWriter/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netInstagram: @aaron_mccallLinkedIn: Aaron McCallCo-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coInstagram: @joe_dustinCo-Host/Sidekick/Manager:Amber GrayInstagram: @bad_ambellinaLinkedIn: Amber GrayMusic:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The BranchesHelp Support the Podcast:Buy MerchMake a DonationFollow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comInstagram: @badideasocialclubLinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club
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51:34
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51:34
Rae Lang: Outsider
Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop outrunning yourself.Keep up with Rae Lang:spreadingthewoosah.comIG: @woosahoutfittersoutsidecoffeeco.comIG: @outsidecoffeecoWriter/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netInstagram: @aaron_mccallLinkedIn: Aaron McCallCo-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coInstagram: @joe_dustinCo-Host/Sidekick/Manager:Amber GrayInstagram: @bad_ambellinaLinkedIn: Amber GrayMusic:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The BranchesHelp Support the Podcast:Buy MerchMake a DonationFollow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comInstagram: @badideasocialclubLinkedIn: Bad Idea Social Club
Bad Idea Social Club is an independent podcast of stories, insights, and creative foolery. Hosted by graphic designer Aaron McCall, with Joe Matteson and Amber Gray, BISC brings honest, unfiltered conversations that celebrate the messy, brilliant, and relatable sides of creativity, the creative process, and the stories that shape who we are. This is a space where humor and heart collide—where the creative process, personal struggles and growth, moments of joy, and mental health are all part of the story. Whether you’re an artist, a storyteller, a creative enthusiast, or just trying to make sense of the chaos, this podcast dives into life, creativity, and the stories that connect us all. Tune in—press play, subscribe, and share the stories with your friends.