The band dude to print dude pipeline is real, and the path is usually pretty predictable… but Luke took a little detour in between. Before landing at Real Thread, he built a career at Publix that gave him an outside the box perspective on this industry. Not only has it helped him thrive in his role as Director of Operations, but it also made for a great conversation. Topics of discussion include: Apparel Decoration Summit, having fresh eyes on operations, applying outside wisdom into a different industry, being an engaging leader, how culture affects productivity, overestimating your own capacity, self-auditing your life, trading one bottleneck for another, finding a balanced approach to management, utilizing AI, The Midnight, and Toy Story 5.

Building a business is a lot like going to the gym. You get stronger with every rep, and if you’re doing something wrong… you’re in for a world of hurt. Cody Klimper got into this industry through the fitness world, and his journey has been full of HARD lessons, long hours, and plenty of reps. Topics of discussion include: vlogging, international shipping, growing local business, building a fitness apparel brand, going out on his own, getting burnt by partnerships, learning screen printing and embroidery, used equipment nightmares, taking risks, working after hours, manufacturing blanks, shiny object syndrome, and people standing.

Josh NSFW Wheeler is back on the pod to catch us up on what he’s been up to for the last 5 years, how his shop has evolved, and how he’s ensuring SURVIVAL in this business. Topics of discussion include: Keeping it simple, automation, prioritizing quality, maintaining relationships, the Jerry Maguire approach, maintaining your humanity in business, Righteous Gemstones, and tRuStInG tHe UnIVeRsE.

Dave's back, and he's here to stop fulfillment from keeping us up at night. We walk through a bunch of real-world scenarios, from shops looking to scale, to shops just trying to keep their heads above water, and how Fulfill Engine can help us take back control of our business. Topics of discussion include: FESPA, social media glory days, experiential marketing, print media marketing, getting creative with printing, fulfillment headaches, failing, being supportive and collaborative with your peers, maintaining balance in your life, and hobbits.

Raise your hand if you've ever spent an unreasonable amount of time hunting down product images, making mockups, or trying to convince an online store to look the way it does in your head... same here. Seddi was originally built to create 3D models of fabrics and garments for the fashion industry, but somewhere along the way they realized their tools could help printers and decorators work smarter. Julianne and Harrison are here to share how the company got started, and how they're collaborating with printers to help make our wildest dreams come true. Topics of discussion include: auto mockups, tech packs, online stores, turning physical fabric into digital fabric, the importance of collaboration, and good old-fashioned survival reality TV.

TeeJay is a certified shirt head. Print Engineer at Pine Printshop by day, and your friendly neighborhood garage printer after hours. His enthusiasm for this craft is infectious, and while his story has only just begun, it's pretty damn good so far. Topics of discussion include: Graphic design education, 4 day work weeks, Dads, his journey to becoming lead printer at Pine Print Shop, finding out management isn’t for everybody, painful lessons in sales, learning the business beyond printing, printing with water based inks, the bandana market, gatekeepers, appreciating automation, and Mind Freak.

Jared has had a long career in screen printing, which was always the plan from the start. From growing the family business at GSG, to eventually selling the company, and now diving back into the print world with ROQ, Jared has seen this industry from a lot of different angles. So naturally… we unpacked a bunch of them. Topics of discussion include: shop scooters, business finances, growing and operating a family business, golf and business, flexible manufacturing, listening to customer input, the importance of industry events, taking ownership of your workspace, the painstaking process of selling your business, finding like-minded people, being vulnerable, good culture, and being a real person.

SUPERBASE 2026 TICKETS: https://shirtshowofficial.com/pages/superbase-2026You’ve probably seen Dan’s work a million times without even realizing it. Lincoln Design Co. has been a favorite of ours for a long time, and it was really cool hearing how Dan came up through SoCal surf and skate culture before going on to build a studio that’s worked with some of the world’s biggest brands. Running a creative business in today’s climate isn’t easy, and Dan was kind enough to share his approach.Topics of discussion include: working live events, getting started as a designer for DC Shoes, going freelance and starting his own design studio, building a design team vs hiring freelancers, pitching to clients, knowing your market, leveraging your own brand, The Chop Up, making books, fostering good company culture, and surf robbers.

SUPERBASE 2026 TICKETS: https://shirtshowofficial.com/pages/superbase-2026There’s been a lot of turmoil and mental health issues with printers and shop owners in our community as of late. This podcast is just two printers sharing their personal experiences, and what they’re seeing and hearing from their peers. Bottom line, you’re not alone. Topics of discussion include: Long drives, business plateaus in our industry, stress and uncertainty, the experience of closing shop, how business affects family and relationships, commiserating with peers, counseling, how John found his way back into the industry, post tear clarity, isolating yourself from your company culture, shop music, SUPERBASE ’26, and zombie apocalypse plans.

SUPERBASE 2026 TICKETS: https://shirtshowofficial.com/pages/superbase-2026Printer turned digitaler, Brian Richards is here to provide perspective from the other side. And yes, *deep sigh* the machines have gotten even better. Topics of discussion include: education fails, Brian growing and selling his print shop in his 20s, moving away to work at Ryonet, leading sales and marketing for ROQ US, the depressing yet exciting reality of digital printing, the cultural disconnect between digital and traditional printing, footwear decoration, and scannable prints.