Episode 163 - Torrey Valyvou (Foam Brewers)

Season 15 kicks off with Torrey Valyvou, the founder of New Duds based in Burlington, VT. We came to learn of him through the labels he has done for Foam Brewers, but upon our dive into his work and story we quickly came to realize that he is connected with some of our favorite artists, bands and people.

Learn about his story and adventures that I know inspired me and I’m sure will connect with you as well. A good man who loves his community, staff, clients and family that has had to deal with being a business owner during these tough times and is coming out on the other side with a great perspective and creating some amazing pieces. One of his newest creations and outlet that I love to watch grow is @squeegeeburger too!

A great feel good episode and a celebration of a good man, artist and dad. Don’t miss it.

Episode 162 - Sean Bodley (Timber Ales)

This week’s guest is Sean Bodley, who is a climate artist and label extraordinaire for Timber Ales. It is extremely fitting that we have this episode coming out with the alignment of the release of the Lumberjack Style this week at Twelve Percent.

Sean’s story is a great one, from his grandmother and her inspiring art to him traveling the country and finding his calling by using his gift to tell stories and evoke emotions. Using his powers for good some might say. The work that he does for Timber has been unexpected and integral in the branding and growth of one of the hottest breweries on the East Coast. The use of color and nature to tell stories creates a feeling and energy that has you waiting for his pieces to move and come to life off the can.

From unique paint to outdoor painting techniques learn about his journey, his process, and the tools he is using to share these. A good human who is doing what he loves and taught me a few things too. Learning about climate artistry was interesting and so important that once you learn about it you’ll have another level of appreciation for Sean and his work. One with nature.

Episode 160 - Corey Danks (Stolen Sun Craft Brewing)

This week’s featured guest is Corey Danks. We came to learn of his work through our good friend Phil of Paired Pints. He met Corey doing a recent collaboration with Stolen Sun Brewing. This episode is near and dear to my heart because of Corey’s love of my hometown because of its diversity and multicultural when he decided to come here years ago. His journey is one of self discovery and finding his calling, vision and style that he still continues to evolve today.

Part of the journey and timeline is his connecting with the team at Stolen Sun to do their labels and help to support their brand and vision. Also anytime a label utilizes the Grateful Dead and that vibe I’m all for it too, which has me excited for an in-person visit in the future. On top of that, Corey plays an active role in using his and the artwork of other artists to support social causes and business that are impacted by the current climate, Covid and injustice. One way that this is possible is through Mostly Unknown PHL and their fundraisers which most recently raised over $7500 dollars for the Black Lives Matter movement and their quarterly shows at Tattooed Moms in Philly. He’s active in the Philly art scene and regularly helps to facilitate drink and draws at Indy Hall too.

To understand the path, pain and struggle of people in all walks of life, careers and phases of life is something that we all can learn from Corey and should celebrate. Knowing his own professional pains and struggles Corey has used his network and connections to make it easier for individuals like himself to have opportunities to have a show, promote and network with other like minded individuals to grow. And then to use that network to help support underrepresented groups like BLM to raise funds and in turn make the world a better place.

Episode 159 - Garrett Morlan (Bellevue Brewing Company)

This week’s featured guest is Garrett Morlan. We came to learn about him through one of our favorite things, live music - remember that? He created the awesome concert posters for one of the shows we saw on the most recent Avett Brothers tour shows in Brooklyn. 

We traced down his work and began following along and realized we had been a fan for some time and loved how he captured his audiences and subjects through profiles and modern day caricatures. Our love of music and some of the icons throughout history are shared and what drew me into his work and journey. 

Learn how Garrett found his calling and found himself leaving Brooklyn after attending Pratt and his experiences in the big city to head west where he is now situated and working for @bungie. We also talk about the labels and work he did years ago with @bellevue and it should be noted he hasn’t done labels for them in the past, but this is a great example of why this podcast / project is bigger than beer and how we liberally use the connection with beer to showcase artists and designers from around the world. 

From the Avetts to BB King to Jerry Garcia to Willie Nelson and many others in between, Garrett has an amazing way of capturing each of them at different points in their careers, facial hair that make each piece a capture of that moment in time which I love.  I look forward to sharing this one with you.

Episode 158 - Darryl De Necker (Beerbliotek)

This week’s featured guest is Darry de Necker of Beerbliotek by way of Sweden, which is just one of the joys of this project to be able to connect with people from around the world especially during these unprecedented times. 

This episode is great for a reflection on journey and life as well as design and process. It is just what I needed right now and from the commentary I think you will see that. A reflection on the journey and shared experiences that wine and beer and friendship bring to all of us is important and obviously missed by so many of us right now. 

A phrase that I am actively working on adding to my vernacular is life list versus bucket list. We have to enjoy experiences and adventures as part of our lives and families and not look at them as something do to before we die but to do while we are living and enjoying life. I hope you will feel that and reflect on how you are living and what things you want to do when we are back to normal. What is normal? I get it and am smiling.

Learn that there is more to beer than you think and how through an intimate lesson and education on beer and it’s many flavors, colors and profiles that he realized that it wasn’t that he didn’t like beer but that the idea of beer to him was different and he was able to connect with beer and find his own connections and profiles. That’s important. What you think is beer might limit that connection and experience for another.

We reflect on how some of these sessions would be perfect over several rounds and bottles shared and obviously I’d love to visit Darryl and the Beerbliotek team in Sweden, but this is a perfect framework especially as we discussed sharing bottles that have aged and seeing how they stand up today. 

Listen, learn and use this episode as a reminder to reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t seen or spoken to in some time to reconnect and share a moment. We all could benefit from just one of these calls in our lives. 

Episode 157 - Paul Endres Jr. (Beer on Earth)

This week’s featured guest is Paul Endres Jr. , not to be confused with Sr. We came to learn of Paul and his work with Beer on Earth during a random and awesome encounter at the brewery while in town with friends for Phish back in November. Remember live music?!

We sat down at the bar for some pre-show drinks and I noticed the unique labels and asked the bartender who did their labels, which is a question that I commonly ask when the art or designs interest me. She pointed up to the wall and said he does. It was @Paulendresjr working on a mural live and in person. We would exchange pleasantries and later connected to get him on the podcast.

A great story of his work. his journey and the upcoming virtual art show @childsgallery (opening is on 7/16) that he is doing. Paul tells stories with his characters and captures their essence and story in his paintings. It is an interview that I think is human, relatable and shows his love and appreciation of his art and ability to tell stories doing something that he loves. 

There are wonderful and unique people all around us. I like to think that each week we introduce you to someone you may have never known about or whose work was something you appreciated from a distance. Taking time to talk about themselves and their path is one of the joys of the project and is what keeps us pushing forward to bring more content and introduce you to more of our friends.