Can't Sell This: Recent Episodes
Hugh Elliott, Stefan Grambart
Can't Sell This explores creativity. We get advice from experts along with tips and tricks on how to get your projects seen and produced. Get show notes and more at cantsellthispodcast.com!
Richard Weiser, author of The Real Mystery of Tom Thomson, chats with Hugh about his book, his process and poetry.
Writing a children's book while opening a new brewery AND raising young children is not for the faint of heart. Join Hugh as he speaks with Sarabeth Holden about all these things and more!
Author and technologist, Christian Cantrell, discusses his writing, his work at Adobe and how they work hand in hand to complement each other.
Jermaine Douglas was a server a Jack Astor's in Toronto when the pandemic hit. After being laid off from the restaurant and wondering what he could do while off work, Jermaine started cooking for his friends. Their reaction to his food was overwhelmingly positive. At their urging, he started Spotty's TO on Instagram, selling soul food to order.
Co-host and co-creator of Can't Sell This, Hugh Elliott, chats with Stef about his lengthy career in marketing. From Flash to experience design and creative technology, it's a fun ride.
Following up on their 3rd anniversary episode, Hugh interviews Stefan for the first time. Stefan discusses getting his Masters in Digital Media, a huge change to his life in moving to Cairo, Egypt.
After three years of running Can't Sell This, Hugh and Stefan sit down and talk about where they started, where they went and where they're going.
Elize Morgan writes a lot. She's worked in television and digital series—even in the early days of the webseries boom! In conversation with Stef she shares her experience working in collaborative writers' rooms, ideas in development, creative pitching, and how a pitch can get ruined by an alpaca and a llama!
In episode 73, Hugh had a great conversation with Eric Fensler. Stefan was unavailable so Eric agreed to sit with them both and have a follow up conversation
Emily started out as a producer in the VFX industry, working on critically acclaimed long-format projects. After 4 years in an administrative position, she decided to re-evaluate her career and go into training as a 3D artist. After 3 years of independent learning and freelancing she's very proud to have re-invented herself as a 3D designer and artist, working in the fields of digital fashion illustration, 3D design, and art direction. Her goal is to make stunning visuals that push the expectations of what digital art can achieve.
From Edmonton to Ottawa to Seattle via New York and Vancouver, Stacey Mulcahy never shied away from the risky choices. After getting her start in project management at a games company, Stacey invested in her lifelong interest in learning and taught herself development. Her brand of frank speech, curiosity and a willingness to share her knowledge landed her in her dream role in the Microsoft Garage. Listen as she shares invaluable insights and gives a lesson in gratitude for the gift of experimentation.
Chelsea Klukas got her start organizing fashion tech events in the Canadian mid-west. From there, she found a calling to design her own wearable technology fashion items under the brand Lumen Couture. At the same time, Chelsea has a career in experience design and product development. Firstly for Amazon, then at Facebook. Hugh and Chelsea discuss the pitfalls of product development in the fashion tech space and competition from overseas. Can Chelsea make competitors allies?
Sean and Sarabeth Holden met over a love of beer. Sean had been independently brewing small batches of beer and slowly making his way into bespoke brewing. Sarabeth with a vision for expansion and the sense to lead the business side of things. Then the pandemic hit. Listen as Hugh chats with the couple about the perils of opening a brewery during a pandemic.
Hoss Gifford is a CTO and creative technologist. Hailing from Scotland and currently living in Toronto, Hoss has made a name for himself as a problem-solver and forward-thinker. Join Hugh as he and Hoss talk about the path from joke flash games to serious technological innovation.
Eighteen years after the G.I. Joe PSAs took the world by storm, their creator talks with Hugh. Eric Fensler followed his passion for creation from Chicago to New York to LA. From the world of comedy writing to advertising.
In this announcement, Hugh discusses the decision to move away from the multi-interviewer format.
Stef in conversation with Richard Rotter about indie productions, transmedia, and creating original content
Galit Ariel, futurist, technologist and PHD candidate speaks with Hugh and Stefan about living in the future ever since first seeing Star Trek at age 7.
Artist, gamer, DM and artist/idea guy The Deck Of Many, Jordan Richer! In conversation with Stef and Hugh about creating a Dungeons and Dragons based card system and what's next.
Studio Director at Stitch Media, Wayne Shipley, chats with Stefan and Hugh about the experience of working in a studio that creates its own intellectual property and client work.
Kim Wilson has built a storied and successful career in children’s entertainment, combining her passion for impactful narratives and her expertise in research-based content creation, she’s worked with the leading studios and broadcasters in the country. She’s currently heading up multiple initiatives to help academics and entertainers work together through universities, institutes, and her independent consulting agency.
Christy Dena (she/they) is a maker and interactive storyteller. Christy chats with Stefan and Hugh about her current projects of writing a book on redesigning narrative design away from complicity, an accessible VR project about radical friendship, and a co-operative improv storytelling card game.
Filmmaker Hannah Donegan speaks with Hugh and Stefan about her documentary Sugar Sisters and working in the documentary film world.
Marc Thiele started working with community back in the C64 days. He went from making digital art to maintaining an active flash community to starting his first conference FlashForum. Now he runs beyond tellerrand.
Jared Ficklin shares his belief that humanity can only survive by spreading as much love and intellect throughout the universe.
Product commercial director Steve Giralt, of the Garage, chats with Stefan and Hugh about the recent Kickstarter for The Garage Learning. An effort to share the secrets of robotics and video together to create compelling imagery.
Jared Ficklin, co-founder of Argo Design and product designer chats with Hugh and Stefan about his history.
Uplift Kitchen TO co-founders, Antonia Lawrence and Emily Carson, speak about their food initiative created to serve the Black community in Toronto.
David Bastedo, offical photographer of the Tragically Hip talks about his career in digital, experiential and photography.
Wes Grubbs has spent 15 years with an eye on data and how it can be beautifully expressed.
From tagging to teaching to pursuing an art career, Aaron has walked his own unique path. Listen to his conversation with Hugh.
Andrew and his wife Michelle made custom fixtures for their own. After being asked by the venue for copies, they realized they could make a business out of it. Andrew chats with Hugh about the past, present and future of Agduzit.
Foam-smith and cosplayer Charles Xavier Conley of Ebony Warrior Studios. After a decade of experience, Charles Xavier has made a career out of recreating characters from video games and films.
Scott Judd, dairy farmer, winery owner and country music singer chats with Hugh and Stefan.
Jared Ficklin, founder of Argo Design and Dré Labre, futurist, speak with Hugh and Stefan about current events using the lens of a hopeful future.
Natalie Zina Walschots, author of Hench, returns to speak with Hugh and Stefan. Natalie joined Hugh in studio in Mar. Stefan loved the subject so much he asked for a follow up. While under quarantine for COVID-19, we sat down over Hangouts to do just that.
Stefan joins Hugh again to discuss the goings-on with the podcast and life, in general. Recorded on Mar 18th, 2020 at the beginning of social distancing restrictions for Covid-19
Embreate and Plai Factory co-founder Scott Nihill sits with Hugh to talk creative process and fund-raising.
Jeff Wright, recording engineer and director, sits with Hugh to discuss 20 plus years of working in audio.
SOOTSOAP Supply Co. co-founder, K. Dee Howard chats with Hugh about starting a new venture. From deciding to help firefigters' with the toxins they end up carrying around to launching a full-fledged soap company.
Natalie Zina Walschots discusses her novel Hench. From the inception of the idea to writing the novel to knowing its release date, Natalie chats with Hugh about villains and heroes and the costs of heroic interventions.
Director, director, experience-maker, Gmunk, chats with Hugh on a chill Friday evening. They talk about 20 years of innovating and inspiration AND inspiration for Gmunk.
Creator of Cinema Redux and Produced for Use, Brendan Dawes chats with Hugh about his career path from Flash to installations for Price Waterhouse Cooper.
Libs Elliott and Hugh sit down to talk about how she went from advertising to being a full-time textile artist and quilter.
NASA software engineer, Ben Feist, chats with Stefan and Hugh about his career path from the world of advertising to working for NASA. All thanks to a side project, Apollo 17 in real time.
Mario Klingemann in conversation with Hugh about his art, AI auctions, the process of creation using GANs (Generative Adversersial Neural Networks).
Laurie Petrou speaks with Hugh about her new novel, Love, Heather. In addition, they discuss the writing process and publishing and how to make it work.
Creators of the weekly Twitter meetup #womenwork, Meg Button and Shannon Hunter, join Stefan and Hugh in the studio to discuss freelance, running a business and women helping women succeed.
Hardware-maker and developer, Eugene Andruszczenko, sits with Hugh and Stefan to talk about product development. From a successful Kickstarter to a Retro ESP32
Anthea Foyer, Project Lead for the City of Mississauga's Smart City, speaks with Hugh and Stef. We discuss art, collaboration, creating a single-home music festival and being a lifelong creative.
Stef and Hugh sit down for a chat with John Rooney to talk about his career programming animation and kid’s content for some of the biggest channels in Canada, his insights into what to do—and what to avoid—when pitching ideas, and the crazy world of cartoon creators!
Scott Wilk, of Wilk Watchworks, talks about the life of a craftsperson. From a graduate of NSCAD to gemology to now watchmaking
Hugh and Stef take a call from Jason White, co-founder and executive creative director at Leviathan. Jason shares his experiences with being a super-talented artist, the pressures faced by those in leadership roles, imposter syndrome, and learning how to power through all that to get to success!
Hugh tells Stefan the story of a consultation for a new product launch. The consultation was to come up with ideas to support the launch. In keeping with the original theme of this podcast, those ideas went nowhere.
Hugh and Stef are joined by Kim Alpert, creative strategist and founder/director at Make Amazing. In a conversation that spans everything from risk aversion to ice sculptures, they’ll explore the highs and lows of being a modern creative professional.
Natalie Ramtahal, along with Nick and Kim Wong-Kwo of The 3 Spoons, partake in the “foodies” episode. Hosted by Nick and Kim in their lovely condo.
Natalie Ramtahal, along with Nick and Kim Wong-Kwo of The 3 Spoons, partake in the “foodies” episode. Hosted by Nick and Kim in their lovely condo.
Stefan and Hugh welcome guest Mike Heneghan. Mike shares his story idea about life in the IP ghetto. He also has some questions and suggestions concerning the A.R.K. idea from episode 18!
Hugh's attempt at a documentary, Influential: The Age of Digital, failed. Why? What insight does Stefan have that could possibly resurrect this idea?
Jon Friedman, creator and host of The Rejection Show, chats with Hugh and Stefan. The show was a monthly comedy show in New York City that ran for 10 years and the Can't Sell This podcast's initial concept bears similarities without knowing it!
Stefan gets an earful concerning Hugh's idea for a mockumentary. The subject of the film is Linda, a highway sign-wrtier. Her poetic signage has been tapped as great works. This makes her Canada's next Poet Laureate.
As the Research Writing Assistant in the Catalyst for Ryerson University FCAD, Natalie is well-positioned to give advice and knowledge related to grant applications and funding in general.
Hugh writes the short story he discussed in the Halloween episode. Read the book on Apple Books or find it on BookFunnel. Check out the show notes.
Jennifer Shiman, animator and creator, shares stories of her long-running 30 Second Bunnies Theatre and her "can't sell this" project Baldwin P. Leninforth, Ombudsman. Check out the show notes.
Stef explores the duality of Superman and Clark Kent from a psychological perspective. Check out the show notes.
Josh Garratt and Damien Boyes — two authors at different stages of their respective careers — join Hugh and Stef in our first DOUBLE GUEST episode to discuss self-publishing and the importance of editing. Check out the show notes.
Stef gives feedback as Hugh introduces his concept for a web-series about an unsuccessful scientist. Or is he? Check out the show notes.
Sagan Yee of the Hand Eye Society and indie game dev discusses her journey to today. Check out the show notes.
It’s not what you think. Stef discusses a modelling agency that deals exclusively in hands. Check out the show notes.
Gillian Hyde shares advice and anecdotes from running her business, Pip Robins, for 10 years. Check out the show notes.
Dark as always, Hugh tells Stefan about his idea for a 'close to the end of the world' story with SpaceX echoes, interstellar travel, genocide and conspiracy. Check out the show notes.
Hugh had some additional thinking and wants to correct his initial assumption of Black Creek being two shows. In addition, this is the first episode recorded at Studio 306. Check out the show notes.
Stef revisits an idea he and Hugh riffed on that ended up being one of the catalysts for this very podcast! Check out the show notes.
John, a children's book writer and editor, was a willing reader of Hugh's children's Christmas poem: Santa Quits. His reaction? "Poetry is hard." Check out the show notes.
Hugh helps Stef expand on an idea for a short skit, and really… what’s in a name? Check out the show notes.
Guest David Rowan shares his idea for a time travel story with no time travel. Check out the show notes.
Hugh treats us to a very visual psycho-thriller script that he had some success with in early development. Check out the show notes.
Guest Josh Manricks gives Hugh and Stefan a rundown of his ideas for a VR experience and a split-screen space game. Check out the show notes.
Stef looks back at an idea he had for an audio drama before podcasting really became a thing. Check out the show notes.
The first episode of The Hired Goon is debuted by Hugh and Stefan. In this episode, the goon is hired by Two-Face. Check out the show notes.
Hugh and Stef both dig up dead ideas for this spooky Halloween double-header. Check out the show notes.
Stefan and Hugh discuss where the podcast is and where it's going. Check out the show notes.
Breaking the mold, Hugh brings up two ideas that evolved together. Check out the show notes.
Hugh invites Stefan to brainstorm further into the short film concept of The General from episode 2. Check out the show notes.
When asked to take a brand's aging image in a new direction, Stef gets told his idea is too different. Check out the show notes.
Stefan revisits the subject of Episode 1, Memory Leak aka Forget-Me-Not. He has an idea to retcon the character. Check out the show notes.
Hugh's idea for a short film gets wrongfully accused of being a reskin of a childhood favourite. Check out the show notes.
Stef comes up with the idea of a totally forgettable member of the X-Men, only to learn that he may have become victim to his own creation's mutant power! Check out the show notes.