Brad Frost sits down with the enthusiastic and ultra-talented Rebecca Garza Bortman. As a story designer, Rebecca is known for her contributions like the iconic red YouTube play button and her current role at the Chan Zuckerberg Institute. The conversation covers a broad range of topics, from the importance of family and the influence of music on immortality, to creative inspiration, career paths for young people, and the significance of playing in everyday life. Rebecca also shares about her unique rock opera wedding and how her exuberance fuels her life and work. This episode is a joyful dive into the essence of creativity and the power of enthusiasm.
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Brad Frost sits down with legendary graphic designer Aaron Draplin to discuss his distinctive thick line style and extensive portfolio, ranging from logos to the iconic Field Notes brand. The conversation takes a deep dive into the complexities of work, hustle, and burnout, along with the struggle to overcome a scarcity mindset despite achieving financial stability. They also reflect on redefining success, simplifying life, and staying true to intrinsic motivators over external pressures. Topics include life transitions, the importance of family, and Brad's advice to Aaron on planning a sabbatical. Aaron also shares anecdotes about personal growth and the evolving nature of creative pursuits. Don't miss this insightful discussion on creativity, life balance, and the joy of authentic work.
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Books
Movies
TV Shows
Websites
People
Bands/Artists
Brad Frost sits down with the legendary Jeffrey Zeldman, a pioneer in web design and an influential figure in Brad's life. Jeffrey shares his journey, from writing 'Designing with Web Standards' to founding 'A List Apart,' and how these accomplishments impacted the web design community. The conversation delves into a variety of profound topics including the changing nature of family relationships, the power of vulnerability, creativity and its intersection with making a living, the role of artificial intelligence, and the ongoing influence of the early web ideals. They also explore personal anecdotes about the transformative power of music, the value of quiet resistance, and the importance of finding joy and purpose despite life's challenges.
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Brad talks with Jessica Hische who is known for her work ranging from illustrated children's books to designing iconic logos and her new venture, Studio Works, a software and community for creative professionals. We delve into a wide array of topics including the power of positivity, the challenges of ADHD and mental health, balancing personal and societal responsibilities, and fostering local community engagement. Jessica shares her personal journey, her insights about work-life balance, and her vision for the future of creativity.
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Brad chats with Aarron Walter, co-host of the Design Better and Reconsidering podcasts, and author of several design books. We cover topics like personal growth, the significance of curiosity, the philosophy of 'super activities', the role of money in achieving life goals, and the importance of living an examined life. Aarron shares his journey from his time as UX Director at MailChimp to his exploration of new skills and creative endeavors.
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Brad talks with author Denise Jacobs. Denise shares her insights on restoring cast iron, building connections between past and present passions, and navigating today's challenging environment. They also delve into the importance of empowerment through creativity and highlight Denise's incredible backyard garden as a sanctuary. Additionally, Denise discusses her journey in teaching and her philosophy of sharing knowledge.
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Hosted by enthusiasm enthusiast, Brad Frost, welcome to Wake Up Excited!
I believe that we experience this brief moment of truth in the morning when we first wake up before our calendars, our responsibilities, and the often depressing state of the world takes over and steals our attention away. We have this very brief window of time where we're excited about getting into something and I think that this actually tells us a lot about ourselves and how we should be spending our finite time on earth.
I feel that we all have the capacity to wake up excited and to cultivate that enthusiasm in order to live better lives.
