Halfstack Highlights: Recent Episodes

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Hey everyone! Thanks for listening to Halfstack Highlights! I’m Jen Lezan, Editor in Chief of Halfstackmag.com. In today’s episode I am talking with Chicago based Film Director and Writer Brad Bischoff. We recently featured him and his latest feature film kickstarter project in our Kickstart a Kickstarter column.

Brad is such a humble guy with an amazing creative spirit and I knew his project would be perfect for our Explore series in Halfstack Highlights this season. We talk about his exploration of his craft and the journey from a kid hoping to be a pro skater making reels to pitch sponsors to a young adult finding joy in his passion of telling stories and making films.

Brad has an innate creative eye and knack for story telling and his latest project The Grasshopper really aims to push his creative ability to bring viewers a story that they can connect with. Throughout this episode we talk about his goals behind this project, how he goes about exploring characters in his work, what it’s like launching a kickstarter and so much more. Keep listening for the full interview.

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed this latest episode! If you would like to learn more about brad visit his site bradleybischoff.com and if you would like to learn more about The Grasshopper and donate to the Kickstarter campaign – visit www.thegrasshopperfilm.com - while you are at it, make sure to keep up with Halfstack at halfstackmag.com and you can follow us on snapchat, Instagram, facbeook and twitter all @halfstackmag

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Hi everyone! Jen Lezan here with halfstackmag.com. Thanks for listening to Halfstack Highlights! In today’s episode, I had the opportunity to speak with an amazing Latina entrepreneur who is truly a role model for every budding business woman and young girl with big dreams. Tina Aldatz is the founder and mastermind behind Foot Petals, those amazing cushions you put in your stilletos to keep the foot pain at bay.

| | | From L to R - Margie Flores & Tina Aldatz |

Tina's story is truly one of a survivor and fighter. Despite a tumultous upbringing, she decided to not allow herself to become a victim of circumstance and in the process she was able to break the cycle of poverty for herself and younger siblings. Tina's story touched close to home for me. I've talked about the hardships I faced growing up as a young Latina in a family that faced poverty, drug abuse and domestic violence and her story truly gave me hope. She is living testament that anyone from any socioeconomic, race or creed can truly succeed if they put their mind, body and soul into their opportunities.

Tina's story is even more inspiring because she is a self-made millionaire who is a woman and a minority - there are not many people like her out in the world right now. She didn't have a rich husband or parents to back her first business. It was not luck either. Her journey took her up and it took her down and she navigated it with the skill of a hardened sailor. She is a woman with a whole lotta gumption and it was her business savvy, relationship building skills and hard work that helped her create a multi-million dollar brand. I also love how she highlights she didn't build this brand all on her own -she connected with amazing friends who believed in her vision and had skill sets she lacked that helped her grow foot petals over the years - one in particular - her business partner and bestie: Margie Flores.

| | | Tina Aldatz holding her book: From Stilettos to the Stock Exchange |

She took some time post holidays to talk with me about her new book: from Stilettos to the Stock exchange which is a combo life story/business education book that is sure to empower many. I laughed, I cried and I related to her book. It helped me see that I am not alone in this journey and that as women, we have to not be afraid to take charge of our dreams. We talk about how she overcame her fear of sharing her lest than pristine past, her journey in the fashion world and what her plans are for her newest company: Savvy Travelers. Keep listening for more!

I hope you enjoyed this latest episode of Halfstack Highlights! If you are interested in learning more about Tina, you can visit her site: www.savvytravelers.com and also link up with her on twitter @savvy_travelers on Instagram at @taldatz and follow her public page on facebook! While you’re online make sure you visit at halfstackmag.com and keep up with us on social all at @halfstackmag

– Thanks for listening!!
Jen Lezan
Editor in Chief

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In today’s episode of Halfstack Highlights, I had the opportunity to interview Youtube lifestyle sensation – Kate Albrecht of the wildly successful channel and brand Mr. Kate. Kate has one of those personalities that breathes sincerity, but has a DGAF kind of attitude. Her humor keeps her channel grounded while her personality keeps her viewers coming back for more. What I think is most refreshing about her channel is that she keeps it real.

| | | Images courtesy of MrKate.com |

We talk about her journey from an etsy shop owner to a lifestyle brand and everything in between including her new book: A Hot Glue Gun Mess. She gives us some insights to her creative process, what’s so damn hard about running a business as a creative and even shares how she stays inspired while trying to juggle multiple jobs. Kate is a jewelry designer, youtuber, interior decorator and now author, we talk about how she handles it all with style and grace and what she would tell her 18 year old self. She even has some tips to share for those of you looking to turn your passions into a creative career. Click play below to hear the entire podcast and to learn more about Mr. Kate

Mr. Kate is an LA based lifestyle brand that celebrates creativity and the inner explorer. They curate and create fun DIY projects, amazing youtube videos and products designed to embellish your unique and inspired lifestyle. The brand is the brainchild of trained metalsmith and designer Kate Albrecht. The Mr. Kate jewelry collections feature unique, handmade gold, rose gold and silver dipped jewelry pieces accented with crystals and a touch of whimsy ranging from $12-200. In addition, Mr. Kate also designs the Mr. Kate BeautyMarks that she dubs “The New Makeup. Offered in metallic Gold, Silver, Black, Rose Gold and a stunning array of Watercolors, these innovative, hand-sketched designs are applied to the face and body to accessorize any look.

The Mr. Kate collections are sold on the Mr. Kate website and through exclusive partnerships with top retailers, the various Mr. Kate collections are individual pieces of art that are must-haves for your unique style! Mr. Kate is known for her #whynot?! tagline. This statement embodies all that the Mr. Kate lifestyle is about. #whynot take risks? #whynot explore? #whynot follow your dreams. This ideal is instilled in her videos, writing, design and she shares it so well with her fans.

Thanks for listening to todays episode! If you want to learn more about Mr. Kate, make sure to check out her youtube channel Mr. Kate and visit her online at: mrkate.com. You can also pre order her book which officially releases June 16th and get a free gift! She’s also on snapchat @mrkate, on instagram facebook and twitter. While you’re online make sure you stop by halfstackmag.com and follow us on instagram, twitter, facebook and snapchat @halfstackmag

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Hey Everyone! This week on Halfstack Highlights I am really excited to share an interview with a Midwest based entrepreneur and mother – Heather Shore of Nourish Collection. Small business Saturday is this upcoming weekend and it’s a great opportunity for us to show our support for local small businesses.

Nourish Collection designs stylish, fashionable, chic breastfeeding clothing for nursing mamas. Heather took some time out of her busy schedule to let me interview her about her line, her journey and what it's like running a biz while being a mom and why the topic of breast feeding has been so controversial as of late. Keep listening for the full interview.

Heather is a true inspiration for all of us midnight hustlers out there. Entrepreneurship is scary, being a mom is tough, but with a little flexibility we can make it work. I think that was probably the most poignant idea that I got out of my conversation with Heather. Yes, plans are important, but it is just as important to go with the ebb and flow of life because nothing ever goes according to plan and THAT IS OK!

| | | Images Courtesy of Nourish Collection |

I hope you all enjoyed this latest episode! If you want to learn more about heather and her line you can visit nourishcollection.com – their shoppable e-com site is coming soon! You can also visit them on Facebook, Instagram and on twitter and pinterest – while you’re at it, make sure to stop by halfstackmag.com and you can follow us on social media @halfstackmag

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Hey everyone! Welcome to the beginning of our 2016 series! Thank you for all who have listened and downloaded Halfstack Highlights over this past year! This season we are hoping to focus on the theme of explore. Whether that means to explore a new career, art, life journey, or anything that sparks your curiosity. Last season it was all about inspiration, but this season we are looking to go further with that and showcase how people are exploring the opportunities that life presents. We kick off this new season featuring an interview with artist Gerhardt Knodel who recently released his latest book: What if Textiles - this book gives us a one-of-a-kind look at all aspects of his internationally-renowned contemporary textile art work.. Gerhardt became widely known for creating huge “environments of cloth – He truly explores how textiles can be seen beyond functional form. In this podcast we really had a wonderful time just talking art and creating. Not just creating for what’s popular and what makes you money, but to also build a body of work and just get really good at what you do.Gerhardt brought some amazing insight to our conversation on how the art world has evolved over the last 40 years and the wonders of that as well as the potential pitfalls. Of course we also talked about his book and about his career, which mind you is vast! He went from studying art, to working in education, back to grad school to really figure things out and then onto working in higher education and finally into being a working artist again in the studio. Being able to use his hands and create again has been a beautiful opportunity to take his work to new places. We talk about what originally sparked his career direction and advice he would give young artists today about working in this industry. He keeps it real. Continue listening for the full interview. Make sure to check out What if Textiles if you are on the hunt for a cornucopia of a book filled to the brim with inspiration, creativity and beautiful imagery. Not only can you see the evolution of his work, but Gerhardt's showcases his personal collection of textiles collected from all over the world in a beautifully curated manner. He shares intimate thoughts and anecdotes along with a bit of history of each piece. Gerhardt's skill truly shines throughout the pages of this text. He goes beyond the world of artist, creator and maker and leads us through this visual story as a documenter of sorts. He is a collector of indigenous textiles that reflect meaning and craft as well as the ability to inspire and this book truly does inspire. What if Textiles is not only well curated, but the design is impeccable. The hardcover version of the book is of course bound in a beautiful canvas like textile with a burnout creative design that almost feels a bit like a jacquard fabric. It's luxurious and the perfect addition to your personal creative library or to add a something more robust to your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this latest episode of Halfstack highlights! If you’d like to learn more about Gerhardt, visit his site gknodel.com and you can get his book What if Textiles on amazon.com and while you’re surfing the web make sure to stop by halfstackmag.com and remember you can keep up with us on social: facebook - instagram - twitter. Thanks for listening!