In this episode, we talk to small business owner Frankie McDonald about his journey from working in the corporate world to founding Boonton Coffee Company. He shares his philosophy of community-building and creating a low-stress work environment, as well as some fun community stories! We discuss the benefits and struggles of being your own boss, and Frankie gives us his best advice on making it work. Follow us on Instagram @creative.baggage to stay tuned for a very special giveaway!  https://www.boontoncoffee.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we open up about the realities of making a living in the music industry. Coming from the perspective of young (recently graduated) professionals, we discuss how we've navigated finding work opportunities, negotiating our pay, and gotten creative with the digital space. We also talk about the idea of having multiple streams of income and share the non-musical and music-adjacent ways that we make money. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we have a very special guest who wishes to remain anonymous. Our guest has a background in classical violin and music technology, and he writes music that fuses classical harmony with modern sounds. We discuss the importance of listening to and taking influence from all genres of music, concluding that having a hierarchy of musical genres only detracts from the realm of possibilities in creating music. *Please note that all thoughts shared in this episode are representative of only each person's view at the time of the recording. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we continue our conversation with John Littlejohn about his unique career path as both a musician and a pastor. He tells us that in both of these professions, the end goal is to teach people about life and help others succeed. We also discuss the importance of finding motivations beyond wanting validation, as well as holding the people in your life accountable and having them do the same for you. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we talk to violinist and pastor John Adidam Littlejohn about the boxes we put ourselves in when making music or thinking about our careers. John shares his journey learning the violin without a private teacher, describing the freedom of not being told what was difficult or easy, as well as the freedom of not being constrained by a single genre. John brings these ideas into his own playing and teaching, showing us that our musical careers can also be free. https://www.adidammusic.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

We are taking a short mid-season break, and we wanted to share this hilarious conversation our co-hosts, audio engineer, and biggest fan (allegedly). We are also launching our patreon, where we will be uploading exclusive content, including deleted scenes from our interviews and more after hours episodes! https://www.patreon.com/creativebaggage --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we talk to percussionist Gloria Yehilevsky about the value of interdisciplinary art. We discuss the benefits and challenges of working with people of other disciplines, as well as what it takes to manage ourselves and our teams. We also share our personal experiences coming up with ideas for and completing interdisciplinary projects. www.gloriaymusic.com www.soundingeye.com GY YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw09sHqVHdYu0GKBDSuuBCg Sounding Eye YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65ywr9KX1N7_07nsair1ww GY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriaymusic/ Sounding Eye Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundingeye/ GY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloriaymusic Sounding Eye Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundingEye --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we talk to cellist, educator, and activist Sasha Ono about changing the culture of classical music. Sasha tells us about her group, Lotus Chamber Music Collective, and how they tackle important issues such as racism and injustice through the lense of classical music in their programming, concert discussions, and book club. She also shares her personal journey constructing a new, healthier relationship with classical music, expressing the importance of teaching younger generations of musicians to do the same. https://www.lotuschambermusiccollective.com IG: @LotusCMC Facebook.com/LotusCMC https://sashaono.com IG: @CelloSasha Book Club Sign Up: https://forms.gle/nNoMXJzQYWLc6B5x5 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we talk to husband, father, children’s book author, and early childhood educator Christopher Singleton about the impact of parents and teachers on the trajectory of a child’s life. Chris tells us about his new book, “Chris & Frankie: Intro to Our Ebony & Ivory Keys,” which introduces the piano to young readers through a pair of relatable characters. He shares his journey and inspirations for becoming an author, and how he was able to make the book come to life with the tools at his disposal. Chris’s book: https://fflat-books.com/product/chris-frankie-intro-to-our-ebony-and-ivory-keys/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support

In this episode, we talk to multi-hyphenate Grayson Villanueva about his freelance career and pursuing multiple passions. We share our struggles with the societal expectation that we stick to one thing and discuss the benefits of having a variety of interests. Grayson also shares his strategies for being your own boss, including tips on how to stay motivated, manage your time, and take care of your wellbeing. - Grayson's Info: Websites: www.graysonvillanueva.com (Singer / Performer) www.graysonv.me (Vocal Arranging / Audio / Video Services) Instagrams: @hellocolorgray - (Singer / Performer) @graysonv.me - (Vocal Arranging / Audio / Video Services) - Resources Grayson shared: TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/emilie_wapnick_why_some_of_us_don_t_have_one_true_calling?language=en The book: https://www.audible.com/pd/How-to-Be-Everything-Audiobook/B06XD9642Y?source_code=GO1DH13310082090P1&ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&gclid=CjwKCAjw7diEBhB-EiwAskVi1xfGGmczH5qNw7pDFGLvwz74hFpr3BQ8GviPDk4KCH6gdvsLy1VtNxoCG3sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/creative-baggage/support