Nerd For A Living: Recent Episodes
Nerd For A Living
Nerd For A Living explores the lives and careers of people working in pop-culture and genre entertainment industries, like Comics, Video Games, Animation, Publishing, Film, and Television. The bi-weekly episodes feature interviews with working professionals in nerdy career fields, plus N4AL speaker panels recorded live at major comic conventions across the US. Hosted by Adron Buske, with co-host Wendy Buske.
From the Archives / Comic Convention at Home 2020 Way back in 2017, we had the opportunity to do our very first panel completely devoted to careers in animation - The Animated Life: A Peek Behind the Cels. And, as much as we thought we understood about animation and how the industry was structured, these pros really opened our eyes. If you're someone who loves to see behind the scenes, or if you're seeking to work in the animation industry, this chat with Victoria Ying, Steph Laberis, and Mike Collins is definitely one for you. This conversation digs deep into the individual roles within animation teams, the importance of networking (spoiler: your "connections" usually start as friends, so be kind and genuine), and how truly collaborative the creation process is for anything in animation. As with everything in our current COVID-19 world, this industry has had to evolve and adapt to our new world - so everything from this conversation may not exactly be "of the moment." However, there's still a lot of valuable insight and relevant advice in this panel from these immensely talented pros. We hope you enjoy it. THE ANIMATED LIFE: A PEEK BEHIND THE CELS Recorded: Saturday, March 4, 2017 From the sacred Saturday morning rituals of yesteryear, to today’s storytelling masterpieces, cartoons and animation bring our imaginations to life. The animation industry is full of vibrant professionals working together across creative disciplines to tell exciting stories that we will cherish for years. Nerd For A Living podcast host Adron Buske talks with a of group of animation pros about their jobs, the collaborative process, and the joys and challenges of making cartoons. SPEAKER PANELISTS: Mike Collins – She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time, Ben 10: Omniverse, The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show Steph Laberis – DreamWorks TV, Sesame Workshop, Nick Jr., Disney Jr. Victoria Ying – Frozen, Tangled, Wreck it Ralph, Big Hero 6
Hey! If you're a longtime subscriber you're probably thinking, whoa, this podcast hasn't updated since 2017. What's going on? Well, you know, it's the summer of 2020, the COVID-19 era, and all our beloved comic conventions and entertainment expos have been cancelled. So, to help anyone who is missing their favorite cons, we decided to open our archive of live convention panel recordings and share some previously unreleased material. This is our How to be a Nerd for a Living panel from San Diego Comic-Con 2018. PLEASE NOTE: This panel was recorded live, and the audio is not as high-quality as we typically prefer—which is why we didn't share it sooner. But, in this time without Comic-Cons, we wanted to put some of the best conversations we've had out into the universe regardless of audio issues. So, please forgive any static. Our Wendy Buske chats with guest speakers Tomi Adeyemi (author, Children of Blood and Bone series), Susan Eisenberg (voice actor, Justice League, Masters of the Universe: Revelation), Travis McElroy (podcaster, MBMBAM, The Adventure Zone), Ben Blacker (writer and podcaster, The Thrilling Adventure Hour, Hex Wives), Jazzlyn Stone (comics marketing expert), and Jaimie Cordero (CEO, Espionage Cosmetics) about how each of them started out, ways they pursued careers in pop culture entertainment, and lessons they've learned through it all.
This bonus episode from our sister podcast, Animation Invasion, features composer Dominic Lewis. Dom studied at London's Royal Academy of Music, and has worked with Hans Zimmer and Henry Jackman. His animated work includes Big Hero 6, Wreck-It-Ralph, and How to Train Your Dragon. He scored 3 seasons of Amazon’s Man in the High Castle, and soundtracks for Rough Night, Fist Fight, and Money Monster. He contributed music to Captain America: Winter Soldier, and X-Men: First Class. He’s currently composing for Disney’s XD’s DuckTales, and working on the upcoming feature film Peter Rabbit.
This episode is a rebroadcast of our August 2016 conversation with Stranger Things star, David Harbour. Netflix’s massive breakout hit returns this week with Stranger Things season 2. David reprises his role as Sheriff Jim Hopper, the reluctant, brash, mess of a hero who mandates that mornings are for “coffee and contemplation”, and that difficult situations call for punching. His performance in season one earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Our guest this episode is Parry Gripp, frontman for nerd-rock band Nerf Herder, and an Emmy winning songwriter with numerous credits in animation. Nerf Herder performed the theme song to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, cementing their immortality with nerd fandom. Many of Parry’s humorous solo songs have gone insanely viral, including "Do You Like Waffles?” and “Raining Tacos”. He won the 2017 Daytime Creative Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for “I’m Not Very Nice,” from the Disney animated series The 7D.
We're joined this episode by Eli Craig, writer/director of Tucker & Dale Versus Evil, and Little Evil, an offbeat comedy about love, family, and The Antichrist, which just recently debuted on Netflix. Little Evil stars Adam Scott as Gary, a newlywed struggling to acclimate to the role of stepfather to his disturbingly bizarre step-son, Lucas. Even as his therapy sessions with other step-dads assure him that all step-children are a little evil, increasingly odd situations revolving around the boy drive Gary to believe Lucas might actually be the spawn of Satan. The film also stars Evangeline Lily, Bridget Everett, Donald Faison, Chris D’Elia, Kyle Bornheimer, Clancy Brown, and Sally Field. We talk with Eli about the long journey of Little Evil, from big budget Universal picture trapped for years in development hell, to a breakneck production for Netflix. He explains the challenges genre mash-up films face when finding distributors and audiences. And we discuss how he assembled a great cast of comedic talent on a small budget.
We talk with Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, about his new crowdfunded comic project, Drawing Blood. The darkly comedic drama follows a down-on-his-luck cartoonist whose life is in a tailspin after early mega success. Drawing Blood explores the darkest corners of a mad world only talked about in the hotel bars of Comic Con. Kevin talks about how this new project came together, the continued joys of working on the TMNT franchise, and how he is just as big a fan of toys and collectibles as the fans he creates them for.
Our guest is Tyler L. Cook, a film and television editor whose current work includes the AMC hit series, Preacher, and the new breakout Netflix series, GLOW. Preacher just premiered its second season. It’s based on the cult classic Vertigo comics series. The show follows Jesse Custer, a small-town preacher with a criminal past, who realizes God is absent from Heaven and sets out to find Him. On a wildly different end of the television spectrum is GLOW, which stands for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. The series, set vividly in the mid 1980’s, follows a group of floundering actresses and an acerbic filmmaker as they try to create a televised women’s wrestling program. Part comedy, part drama, GLOW features an incredible ensemble cast led by Alison Brie and Marc Maron. We talk with Tyler about how he got the jobs on Preacher and Glow, and the challenges of balancing the tones of these inventive, unconventional shows. We discuss the day-to-day life of a television editor, his gear and software, and a whole lot more.
Our guest this episode is Matthew Jensen, director of photography for the worldwide hit film, Wonder Woman. As of this recording, Wonder Woman is sitting atop the US film charts for the second week in a row, with over $200 million at the domestic box office, and over $435 million worldwide. Directed by Patty Jenkins, the film has been enthusiastically received by fans and critics alike, with standout performances from Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. It's beautifully shot, with a very distinct visual identity that sets it apart, particularly from other super hero films. And that comes from the work of Matthew Jensen. We talk with Matthew about how he was brought on board for Wonder Woman by Patty Jenkins, the production's challenges and technical choices, and what it was like shooting their strikingly charismatic leads. He shares the advice from a college mentor that lead him to focus his entire career towards the goal of becoming a DP, and the path from humble beginnings to a worldwide smash.
Our guest this episode is Flora Lichtman, host of the new podcast Every Little Thing from Gimlet Media. It’s the kind of podcast we love - peeking through the keyhole to unlock the secrets and stories behind the obscure, seemingly mundane, or delightfully bizarre aspects of our world. Their episodes have explored the cult-like following of the solar eclipse, the weird supply stashes the US government hides around the country, and the fascinating origins of the common office plant. Every story is told with wit and whimsy, featuring interviews that inform and entertain. Before hosting Every Little Thing, Flora wrote for Bill Nye Saves the World on Netflix, worked for public radio’s popular Science Friday, and co-directed an Emmy-nominated series of short animated documentaries for the New York Times. She’s made her career creating compelling stories woven from science fact and fueled by endless curiosity. We discuss the fun and challenges of making Every Little Thing, and how she discovered that journalism and storytelling were her answer to an early aimless academic path.
We talk with Ildy Modrovich, co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer of Lucifer, which is about to wrap it’s second season on Fox. The show is based on the Vertigo comics series which spun out of the pages of Sandman. The TV series follows Lucifer Morningstar, the literal devil, having abandoned hell to live in modern day Los Angeles to run a bar called Lux. The show departs from the source material’s high fantasy mythology by grounding it as a police procedural, with the fallen angel assisting LA detectives - in his own unique, self-absorbed way - while combating supernatural conflicts and balancing a dysfunctional family of earth-bound celestials. We talk with Ildy about the themes, production process, and character evolutions on the show. Fans should enjoy our discussion of its humor, fantastic cast, and how much fun it is to create. We also discuss Ildy’s career path from musician to writer to producer.
Host Adron Buske talks with pop-culture icon, actor Ernie Hudson. Film fans know him from his role as Winston Zeddmore in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, and also as Sergeant Albrecht from the 1994 cult classic The Crow. Ernie has an enormous body of work in film, television, and also animation voiceover, and he's been very busy working across 3 different current television series - Grace & Frankie (Netflix), Graves (FX), and APB (Fox). APB is a police drama with a high-tech twist, produced by Len Wiseman. It follows a billionaire engineer who, after witnessing a violent crime, takes charge of a troubled Chicago police department and reboots it as a technically innovative force for 21st century challenges. APB stars Justin Kirk, Natalie Martinez, and Ernie as the skeptical police captain Ned Conrad. Adron and Ernie talk about his long history as an actor and how he keeps the work rewarding. They discuss being a steadily working professional whose name carries the weight of a beloved franchise. And Ernie talks about the fun of moving between different shows filled with fresh faces, and legendary veterans.
We talk with American Ninja Warrior breakout star Jessie Graff. Jessie is a Hollywood stuntwoman, with an amazing body of work in film and television, including Supergirl, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Men First Class, Iron Man 2, and many more. But while most stunt people are hidden faces behind the scenes, Jessie has become a very popular public persona through the television competition American Ninja Warrior. Through several seasons of amazing athletic feats, Jessie has broken barriers as the first female athlete to advance to the city finals, and the first to make it to Stage 2 of the national finals. She stands among the sport's most elite competitors.
Michael Wylie is the production designer for the Marvel television series Legion, airing Wednesday evenings on FX. His production design resume also includes such fan favorites as Marvel’s Agent Carter, Masters of Sex, Grimm, Californication, Pushing Daisies, and The Tick. Legion follows a troubled young man, a diagnosed schizophrenic, who may in fact possess incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. The show stars Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza, and Rachel Keller. It’s a remarkable series with a non-linear story, incredible design and music, and stellar performances. It’s by turns fascinating, disturbing, and intriguing, and it will keep you glued to the screen and constantly questioning reality.
Rachael Stott is a comic book artist, currently doing covers and interior art for the official Doctor Who series published by Titan Comics, which follows Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor. And while she’s only been a professional comic artist for about two years, she’s already racked up an impressive resume. She drew the Star Trek/Planet of the Apes crossover series for IDW. She did covers for the licensed Assassin's Creed and Heroes comics, and covers for Archie. She provided covers for the Green Lantern / Star Trek crossover series, as well as covers and interiors for Ghostbusters International. She won the 2015 British Comics Award for Best Newcomer.
Legendary comics editor Karen Berger talks with us about her new project at Image Comics, Surgeon X, with writer Sara Kenney and artist John Watkiss. We also talk about her work at Vertigo, the creator-driven, mature-readers publishing imprint she founded at DC Comics. Karen is well known in comics circles as the editor on massively influential comics work, including Swamp Thing, V for Vendetta, The Sandman, Preacher , Y: The Last Man, The Invisibles, Fables, and many, many more. Written by documentarian and comic-newcomer Sara Kenney, with art by John Watkiss, Surgeon X explores a near-future world where antibiotics are becoming ineffective and governments regulate their availability to patients. In a time when minor infections and previously treatable diseases are now deadly, hospitals are forced to withhold services from patients who fall low on a Productivity Contribution Index. The rise of increasingly autocratic governing parties who arbitrarily decide who is worthy of live-saving treatments provokes riots and violent counter-measures. And one doctor, sick of the restraints on the medical community, leaves her position at a hospital to pursue unregulated, underground surgery solutions. She becomes the titular Surgeon X, struggling against a corrupt system, and against her own growing god-complex as she controls who lives and who dies.
NaNoWriMo executive director Grant Faulkner joins us to discuss National Novel Writing Month. We discuss how the NaNoWriMo initiative promotes daily writing habits, community building, and leads to the galvanizing goal of a 50,000 word novel. Grant explains how social events and communication are at the core of the NaNo experience, how to survive writing obstacles - both situational and self-imposed - and how NaNo can jumpstart your efforts at a serious writing career.
We talk with Emmy-winning choreographer and comedienne Kathryn Burns. Kathryn has contributed dance numbers and movement direction to five seasons of Key & Peele, to the hit Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer, and to tons of productions with the Upright Citizens Brigade. She worked on Children’s Hospital and Another Period, and danced in a “Weird Al” Yankovic video. She also choreographed the Grammy-winning international megahit music video “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. Kathryn is currently working on the critically acclaimed CW series, Crazy Ex Girlfriend. It’s a comedy punctuated by impressive musical sequences that heighten the absurdity but also showcase an immensely talented cast and crew. And, as a show flying below the radar of mass audiences, Crazy Ex Girlfriend manages to be one of the most hilariously raunchy, explicit, subversive shows on network television. There’s nothing else out there like it. The series has won a number of awards, including a Golden Globe and a couple of Emmys - one of which went to Kathryn, for her choreography routines.
We talk with writer Bonnie Burton, author of Crafting with Feminism: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the Patriarchy. Crafting with Feminism arrives in stores and online retailers on October 18th, and features a forward from Felicia Day. The book contains projects ranging from merit badges to googly-eyed tampon puppets, and takes an enthusiastic, tongue-in-cheek approach to both crafting and defiance of the patriarchy. She has also written The Star Wars Craft Book, You Can Draw: Star Wars, and Girls Against Girls: Why We Are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change. She is the former Senior Editor for LucasFilm’s StarWars.com, and is currently a freelancer writer for CNET. Bonnie is the co-host of Vaginal Fantasy Book Club, a YouTube series with Felicia Day and Veronica Belmont. We talk with Bonnie about the often not-very-lucrative business of being an author, and supporting writer-y pursuits with other work. She walks us through the pitch process for a crafting book, creating a viable product for existing audiences. And we discuss her long career writing for magazines and websites, from the early days of the web to the current, cluttered blogosphere.
We have a really fun chat with comedy writer Rob Kutner. He’s a monologue writer for TBS late night show CONAN, and also has five Primetime Emmy’s for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Recently, Rob released a new audio mini-series called Runaway Brains, available exclusively on subscription-based podcast service Howl.FM. It’s a madcap comedic romp starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, Mayim Bialik, Michael Ian Black, Dave Koechner, and Ken Jennings. Rob has also partnered with Farrago Comics to produce the original series, Shrinkage, illustrated by John Lucas. Farrago Comics is a new free-to-read, ad-supported comics app, available now on Apple and Android devices. We talk with Rob about his career writing for TV, and how he broke into the late-night comedy business. We also discuss branching out into different media, exploring new distribution models, and how he attracted big names to indie projects.
We have a great conversation with Guy Birtwhistle, writer, producer and star of the indie science fiction movie Alistair1918. The film debuted at this summer’s San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival. In Alistair1918, a World War One soldier accidentally time travels to present day Los Angeles. Filthy and penniless, with no way to prove his identity, he struggles to find a way back to his wife in 1918. Guy talks in depth about the creation process for the film, and his method for dividing the production into small sections over time to diminish costs and work around the schedules of his team. We discuss his career as a working actor in LA. And we explore ways ambitious creatives can make their day jobs work for their endeavors, rather than against them.
We talk with Hugo-award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal about her new historical fantasy novel, Ghost Talkers, available now from TOR. We discuss how Ghost Talkers came together, and we also explore the other facets of her career, including her award-winning work as a puppeteer, and her side-gig as a voice over artist reading novels and short stories for other writers.
We welcome back Susan Eisenberg, the voice actor best known as the voice of Wonder Woman from Justice League / Justice League Unlimited. DC and Warner Brothers are currently celebrating 75 years of Wonder Woman, in anticipation of her big 2017 feature film. Susan has been playing the character in cartoons, animated movies, and video games for sixteen years. We talk with Susan about portraying an iconic character, the differences between voice acting in cartoons versus video games, and interacting with fans online and at conventions.
We talk with actor David Harbour, who plays fan-favorite Sheriff Jim Hopper in Netflix's breakout original series Stranger Things. David discusses how he became attached to Stranger Things, and his reaction to its surprising success and intense fan adoration. We talk about the differences between acting for stage and screen, and the sudden spotlight after years of character work. And we realize just exactly which type of adventurer Sheriff Hopper would be in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign party.
This is a super fun chat with the dynamic musical comedy duo Paul and Storm! We talk about their upcoming JoCo Cruise, an annual vacation event they host with internet superstar musician Jonathan Coulton. We also discuss their work on the upcoming revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Plus, the weird path that turned a couple of dudes from an a cappella group into touring comedians and W00tstock co-founders, and now has them creating their own board game.
We talk with Lawrence Grey, producer of Lights Out, an indie horror thriller from first-time feature film director David Sandberg. Lights Out began as an independent short film, created by Sandberg in his native Sweden. The super creepy 3-minute horror short caught fire online. Lawrence discovered it, decided to collaborate with Sandberg to bring it to the big screen, and enlisted help from James Wan, the director of horror mega-hits Saw, Insidious, and the Conjuring films, as well as international blockbuster Furious 7. They also assembled a talented cast, including Teresa Palmer, Billy Burke, and Maria Bello. Lights Out was produced for just $5 million dollars, but last weekend it opened with a stellar $21.6 million at the box office. With great reviews and word of mouth, it’s estimated for a $50 million domestic run, which is huge business for a little horror film. We talk about this remarkable Hollywood story, from YouTube short by an unknown director, to a silver screen success. And we discuss putting together a dream-team of professionals from big budget blockbusters who saw something special in this unique premise. Lights Out is in theaters and thrilling audiences now.
This episode features the return of Tony Kim. Well known on the convention circuit for his Crazy4ComicCon blog, which covers all things San Diego Comic-Con, Tony has recently launched a new and completely different business endeavor. Hero Within is a nerdy fashion line for guys, offering classy, stylish, and beautifully tailored clothing. Hero Within’s first line of blazers, peacoats, and jackets are themed with characters from the Justice League, and are officially licensed by DC Comics. These initial high end men’s fashion items are available for pre-order on HeroWithinStore.com until July 31st.
We talk with cross-genre author Quincy J. Allen, writer of the recently released Blood Curse from WordFire Press. A western steampunk epic fantasy, Blood Curse is the second book in his Blood War Chronicles series. Quincy also creates the book layout design for all of WordFire’s print and digital offerings, manages their warehouse, and is constantly on the road, working their impressive displays at cons. We discuss juggling multiple aspects of a demanding career, realistic goal setting to guide his progress, and life on the road as an introvert who talks to hundreds of con-goers at every show.
This episode was recorded live earlier this year at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, WA. Our Wendy Buske moderated this panel, titled How to Be a Nerd For A Living: Discovering Careers in Pop-Culture. It features a collection of great nerdy professionals, including Dane Ault, artist and co-founder of Monkey Minion Press; Samantha Kalman, creator of the video game Sentris, and previously one of the team-members behind video game engine Unity; Kevin Konrad Hanna, a film director and comic creator who was also the art director on Plants versus Zombies: Heroes; Janet Lee, comic artist and Eisner award-winning co-creator of The Return of the Dapper Men; and Jaimie Cordero, co-founder and CEO of nerd makeup company Espionage Cosmetics. Our speakers pull from a wide variety of professional and personal backgrounds to discuss how they got started, the ongoing challenges they face, and the successes that keep them going. The panel caps off with an audience Q&A with a number of really great questions from the packed room of attendees.
The wonderful Jamie Cordero and Christal VanEtten from Espionage Cosmetics return to the Nerd For A Living Podcast! Espionage Cosmetics is a nerd makeup company based out of Tacoma, Washington. They make a line of beautifully designed nail wraps and makeup products, and have been adding a number of really cool licensed properties to their offerings, including Borderlands 2, Clive Barker’s Cenobites, and The Wicked and the Divine. Jaimie is Espionage’s co-founder, CEO and Glitter Jedi. Christal is their PR and Social Media Oracle. When we last talked to them, they were in the middle of a giant Kickstarter campaign that eventually raised over $144,000. That crowdfunding success paved the way for a new bi-monthly subscription service, Boom!Box, and a brick-and-mortar retail location, the Geek Boutique. Now Espionage Cosmetics spreads their nerd domination with an additional subscription service, Nexus. And they’re appearing at pop culture conventions around the country, bringing the joy of glitter and the best squad of nerd ambassadors around. Adron talks with Jaimie and Christal about the expansion of the Espionage business model, the power of a great team, how they leverage social media, and the excitement of creating a product that makes their customers so happy.
Adron talks with New York Times Bestselling author Dayton Ward. A prolific writer with dozens of books, novellas and short stories spanning a twenty-year career, Dayton is probably best known as one of the core writers of the Star Trek novels. Along with his frequent co-author Kevin Dilmore, Dayton writes within the canon continuities of the original Star Trek series, Next Generation, and more. He has also developed new crews and characters to boldly explore the well established Star Trek universe with fresh perspectives. We talk about how Dayton kickstarted his writing career by entering a publisher’s contest back in the ‘90s. We explore the pros and cons of writing licensed work, while having to please the fanbase and the protectors of the intellectual property. Dayton explains how he works with a co-author while balancing numerous projects, and we talk about Twitter and the social media styles of professional creators.
Adron and Wendy talk with Sam Coster and Seth Coster from indie video game studio Butterscotch Shenanigans. Together with their brother Adam, they created the hit platform-crossover game, Crashlands. Crashlands is an outlandish, story-driven action-adventure set in a world of hidden magic and high technology. The game combines classic RPG elements with crafting mechanics with vibrant, whimsical characters and a distinct sense of humor. Available on both desktop and mobile devices, Crashlands took iTunes, Steam, and Google Play by storm, with great reviews and instant popularity. We talk with Seth and Sam about the two-year development cycle for Crashlands, a project they estimated early on would only take them a few months. We discuss how their studio came together, and all the ways their college educations did NOT put them on the path to careers in video games.
Adron talks with author Todd McCaffrey, son of science fiction / fantasy legend Anne McCaffrey (Dragon Riders of Pern novels). Todd’s latest release is City of Angels, a near-future sci-fi thriller available now from WordFire Press. We’re also joined in this conversation by City of Angels editor Bryan Thomas Schmidt, who was an editor on the breakout Andy Weir novel The Martian. We discuss Todd’s new book, working with his mother and taking over the Pern legacy, and the many iterations a book takes before it finally lands at a publisher.
Adron talks with voice actress Linda Ballantyne, who is best known as the voice of Sailor Moon from the english language version of the anime television series. She has also provided voices for Air Master, Avengers: United They Stand, Care Bears, Ying! Yang! Yo! and many more series and movies. They discuss how she got the job on Sailor Moon (replacing the original voice actor), working in the fast-turnaround environment of adapted cartoons, and why original animation programming is far more lucrative for voice actors than adaptions.
Adron talks with John Ottman, composer and film editor on the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse from director Bryan Singer. John was also the composer on the recently released Shane Black film, The Nice Guys. They discuss the challenges of doing double duty on a huge project like X-Men, his long history working with Bryan Singer, the tools John uses to compose music, and why he does not conduct the orchestras performing his scores.
Adron talks with screenwriter and award-winning comic creator Brandon Easton. Brandon was a staff writer on the second season of Marvel’s Agent Carter on ABC. He’s also written for animated TV shows Thundercats and Transformers: Rescue Bots. His biographical comic Andre The Giant: Closer To Heaven was a 2015 critical darling, and IDW Comics just released his Transformers: Deviations one-shot. IDW also recently announced that Brandon will be the writer on their upcoming M.A.S.K. series, rebooting the beloved Hasbro 1980s toy and cartoon franchise. We explore Brandon’s journey from school teacher to professional screenwriter, navigating the turbulent world of Hollywood staffing season, and working on life-long beloved properties.
Recorded live at Emerald City Comicon 2016 in Seattle, this episode features our Marketing (Isn't) Magic panel, a discussion of practical advice for promoting your small business or other creative endeavors. Our guest speakers included Jaimie Cordero, the CEO and Glitter Jedi of nerd makeup company Espionage Cosmetics; Danielle Davis, the founder of Lady Killer Marketing & PR; and Jen Vaughn, a marketing professional who has worked with a number of notable comic book publishers. She's also a comic book creator, and is currently a colorist on the new Archie comic series. Nerd For A Living's Adron Buske moderated the panel.
Ellen Wright is the senior publicist at Orbit Books, which is the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group. Orbit's authors include Joe Abercrombie, James S.A. Corey, Karen Miller, Lilith Saintcrow and Brent Weeks. They publish approximately 60 titles each year from both established and debut authors. Ellen has been in the publishing industry for over a decade, working on both nonfiction and fiction. As a passionate genre fiction fan working at Orbit, her job is spread the word about exciting new sci-fi and fantasy releases and their authors. We explore exactly what that entails, from office communication to social media connections, fan outreach at conventions to building personal relationships with both authors and notable reviewers.
Recorded live at Wizard World Comic-Con St. Louis 2016, Nerd For A Living’s Adron Buske moderates our panel, "How to Be a Nerd For A Living: Finding Your Career in Pop Culture”. Our guests speakers include best-selling author Ellie Ann, Doctor Who comic artist Rachael Stott, video game creator and studio co-founder Carol Mertz, and Eisner Award-winning comic book artist Rick Burchett.
In this announcement episode, Adron talks about the ongoing evolution of the N4AL podcast, including updates to our format and overall brand, plus upcoming events at Wizard World St. Louis and Emerald City Comicon in Seattle.
Jim Zub is a Canadian comic book writer best known for his creator-owned series at Image Comics, Skullkickers and Wayward. This spring, Jim has two new comic series hitting shelves - Thunderbolts for Marvel, and Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of the Vampire for IDW. Jim is also the program director for Seneca College‘s award-winning animation program in Toronto.
In this episode, Andy Schmidt drops by again, this time to talk about writing for video games. Andy is the founder of Comics Experience, an online school that connects students with industry professionals to learn the craft of making comics. But beyond his vast experience in comics, Andy has also written for a number of video games - most notably, the recent hit Activision game, Transformers: Devastation. A love-letter to fans of classic Generation One Transformers characters and stories, Devastation features legendary voice actors including Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. Adron talks with Andy about the experience of writing dialogue for the characters and actors he’s loved since he was a kid growing up with the Transformers animated franchise. They discuss the storytelling challenges of writing for video games, how the writer interfaces with the production teams, and elements unique to gaming like “battle chatter”. There’s also a fair amount of geeking out about Transformers in there as well. This April, Andy will be teaching a 5 week online course called If you’re a writer who’s interested in the video game industry, you should definitely check it out. Space is limited, so This is a really fun chat full of great info, both for game writing hopefuls, and fans of Transformers and gaming in general.
In this episode, we talk with comic creator and animator, Otis Frampton. If you’ve ever been on YouTube, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve been exposed to his work, because he’s the background artist on the massively popular animated parody series, HOW IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED. Otis is also the creator, writer and artist on the all ages Image Comics series, ODDLY NORMAL. Two trade paperback volumes of Oddly Normal are available now, with volume three coming in April. We talk with Otis about juggling the demands of his mostly one-man-show comic series with work on How It Should Have Ended, along with his webcomic ABCDEFGEEK, commissions and convention appearances. And we discuss how his love of TV and film led him to work in comics, and how, excitingly, that work is now taking him right back to television.
Adron talks with film, television and voice-over actor Cas Anvar. Cas has over 70 major film & TV credits, including a Screen Actor’s Guild ensemble win for Argo, and he’s currently on the award show circuit for this year’s indie darling Room, staring Brie Larson. The gamer crowd may recognize him as the voice of Altair from Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, as well as roles in Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Halo 4. And now he embodies the role of pilot Alex Kamal is SyFy’s massively popular series The Expanse, based on the best-selling science fiction novel series by James S.A. Corey.
In this episode Wendy and Adron talk with Marlene Bonnelly, the editor-in-chief of Comics.Tumblr.com. She also works in Tumblr’s legal department, and is a content creator and YouTube partner. Marlene has worked for Marvel, MTV, and Wizard World, and is known across social media channels by her handle @ilikecomicstoo. She's an advocate for diversity and anti-harassment in media, and has done panels at SDCC and NYCC discussing both. During this conversation, Marlene shares some valuable tips for how creators can best use Tumblr's attributions, and how users can get help from Tumblr's team when your work starts being shared without credit.
Aaron Mahnke is the creator, writer and narrator of the LORE podcast. Lore explores real life scary stories, examining disturbing historical events and how they intertwine with folklore and the origins of superstition, all delivered in an engaging, creepy narrative. Densely packed with atmosphere and ideas, Lore brings to life very human stories with decidedly bizarre circumstances. Launched in early 2015, Lore rocketed to popularity and the top of the iTunes Podcast charts, and is now Aaron’s full-time job, displacing his web design business as primary source of income.
Wendy and Adron talk with Drew Chapman, author of the new thriller novel The King of Fear, published by Simon & Schuster. It’s the sequel to his first novel, The Ascendant. Drew is also an established writer from the world of television and film. He co-wrote and executive produced the second season of TNT’s Legends, starring Sean Bean, as well as the ABC limited series The Assets. He wrote and directed the feature film Stand Off, starring Dennis Haysbert and Robert Sean Leonard. Drew has written for Fox, Universal, Warner Brothers and Sony, and a notable stretch at Disney Animation, during which he was the first writer on Pocahontas.
Monkey Minion Press's first Kickstarter campaign, for their book Eureka! The Art of Science, just blew past their initial funding goal of $8,500, and will close at more than $32,000. We talk with founders Dane Ault (artist, graphic designer) and Ashlie Hammond (copywriter, crafter) about how Monkey Minion Press got started, how they both quit their day jobs to run their business full-time, and life on the road exhibiting at a ton of conventions every year. And, of course, we discuss Eureka, and what went into the creation of a very successful Kickstarter campaign.
We talk with comedy writers Geoffrey Golden and Amanda Meadows, the founders of The Devastator. Formerly a bi-annual humor anthology, The Devastator is now an all-comedy publishing company producing new novels, comics, magazines, and activity books every month. We discuss the genesis of The Devastator, the reasoning behind their move away from anthologies to one-off publications, the challenges facing independent publishers in the Direct market, and much more.
We talk with comic book writer Erica Schultz, one of the writers on Dynamite Entertainment’s massive crossover series, Swords of Sorrow. She also lettered every issue in that series. Erica has written for Marvel (Revenge: The Secret Origin of Emily Thorne) and DC (Vertigo Quarterly: SFX), and has produced several independent books, including the acclaimed crime thriller M3, comedy adventure The Unauthorized Biography of Winston Churchill: A Documentary, and comedic romance Cheese: A Love Story, all from Vice Press. She is also an animator and production artist, who works includes the Marvel motion comic, Astonishing X-Men: Gifted.
In this episode, Adron and Wendy talk with PixelPop founders Carol Mertz and Jeremy Johnson. PixelPop Festival celebrates gaming and gamer culture, and explores careers and hobbies in game development. This includes traditional video games, mobile gaming, and also tabletop gaming. This year's event is September 12th-13th in St. Louis, MO.
Nerd For A Living's Wendy and Adron talk with Danielle Davis, founder of Seattle-based transmedia marketing, public relations, and event company Ladykiller. Danielle and Ladykiller serve the pop culture and gaming industries with marketing strategy, talent management, publicity and event services.
Adron and Wendy talk with fine artist and filmmaker Chris Peters about his new short-form horror movie, To Dust Return, starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon A Time) and Sam Jaeger (Parenthood). Chris is an LA-based painter known for his emotive paintings of skeletons, and his previous films The Soul Never Sleeps and Day of the Spectre.
Author Daniel Wilson is co-editor of the upcoming video game inspired short story anthology, "Press Start to Play", available in stores August 18th. Daniel's career spans books, television, and comics, and includes a PhD in Robotics. He’s the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse, which was optioned by DreamWorks and is being adapted for film by Steven Spielberg.
Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con International 2015, this speaker panel includes costume designer Kristin Burke; Cinema Makeup School director Lee Joyner; feature film director Zach Lipovsky; voice actor Hal Lublin; animation artist Sarah Marino; and writer and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt. Many people dream of working in pop-culture entertainment related industries, but most are not sure of how or where to start. This panel of professional “Nerds for a Living” share insights into how they got to where they are, and discuss career paths that exist within fields like animation, film, comics, makeup, costume design, and more. Our guests offer actionable, realistic career advice and anecdotes that may provide the advantage needed for those trying to “break in”. Topics include education/training, resources and communities, networking, industry “realities” (i.e. time commitment, job relocation, etc.), and tactics to use or avoid when seeking out a job in your dream industry.
We're getting ready for San Diego Comic-Con International 2015! In this episode, we talk with SDCC expert Tony Kim, who blogs under the name Crazy4ComicCon. He’s been documenting and examining the San Diego experience for 10 years. His blog features one of the most comprehensive resources for advice and Comic-Con information. SDCC is an experience like no other, and can be very confusing and even harrowing for the first time con-goer. Tony’s work is a huge help for both regular attendees and enterprising nerds looking to network and advance their careers.
At Emerald City ComiCon 2015, we talked with superstar author Kevin J. Anderson about his work, and his publishing imprint, WordFire Press. We also spoke with WordFire authors Peter J. Wacks and R.J. Terrell, and event manager Alexi Vandenberg.
N4AL's Wendy Buske presents our How to be a Nerd for a Living panel at Wizard World Comic-Con 2015, featuring guest speakers Warren Dion Smith (Weta Workshop), Carol Mertz (Happy Badger Studio), Lorenzo Lizana (Lion Forge Comics), Britta Buescher (freelance graphic artist), and Amanda Nuckolls (GnomeAcres). They discuss careers in comics, gaming, make-up and costume design, art and graphic design, small business ownership and more.
At Emerald City Comicon 2015, we talked with Dark Horse Comics creators Adam Warren ("Empowered") and Joelle Jones ("Lady Killers") about their current projects, making a living as a comic creator, getting original properties off the ground, and much more.
N4AL's Wendy Buske caught up with voice actor Hal Lublin at C2E2 to discuss his work on Thrilling Adventure Hour and Welcome to Night Vale, how he got his start in voice acting, his additional career in marketing, and how he once worked for Disney without getting paid.
N4AL's Wendy Buske talks with artist Janet Lee about the Kickstarter campaign for her new adaption of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. They also discuss her Eisner-award winning book Return of the Dapper Men, and other comic book projects.
We talk with popular illustrator and t-shirt designer Karen Hallion about her career as an artist, the transition from her previous jobs as a school teacher and waitress, and how she has employed her family to help balance her business. We discuss the influence social media has had on her popularity, the opportunities presented by online retailers, the challenges of working conventions, and the fellow artists that still leave her starstruck.
We talk with Zach Lipovsky, director of Dead Rising: Watchtower, an adaption of the popular Dead Rising Capcom video game franchise. The film, produced by Legendary Pictures, will be released exclusively on Crackle starting March 27th.
We talk with Mark Kolpack, the visual effects supervisor for Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC. Mark shares the day-to-day process of working on SHIELD and the career path that led him from film editing to VFX.
Kevin Mellon is a storyboard artist for Floyd County Productions, where he works on the hilarious animated spy comedy ARCHER, currently in its sixth season on FX. A graduate of the Kubert School, Kevin is also an accomplished comic artist. His work includes GEARHEAD and LOVESTRUCK with Dennis Hopeless, HEART with Blair Butler, and his own series, SUICIDE SISTERS.
Sarah Marino is a character designer and background painter at Nickelodeon Animation Studios, working on the upcoming cartoon series SHIMMER AND SHINE. She was previously at animation studio Reel FX, as a visual development artist working on the stunning animated feature film BOOK OF LIFE. We talk about Sarah’s education and artistic background, and how she transitioned from an early production coordinator gig into an artistic career.
Episode 31: Wendy and Adron have a delightful discussion with artist and YouTube breakout star Mary Doodles. You may have seen Mary’s gorgeous, hypnotic, and often hilarious time-lapse paintings and drawings on her YouTube channel. She also produces art tutorials in her “How to Art” videos. Her artwork and engagingly whimsical personality have earned her main YouTube channel almost 247,000 subscribers. She also has a secondary channel, “More Mary Doodles”, which hosts her video blogs about art and entertainment, which has almost 27,000 subscribers of its own. Mary was also recently featured in the "Ghostbusters vs Mythbusters" episode of Epic Rap Battles of History. (She played Mythbuster Kari Bryon.)
Episode 30: We talk with serial entrepreneur, writer and comics artist Josh Blaylock, founder and publisher of Devil’s Due Entertainment. Devil’s Due currently publishes a number of creator-owned comic book titles, including Squarriors, Plume, Drafted, Solitary and Josh’s own Mercy Sparx. Josh also recently launched Blockhouse - his nerd-trepreneur incubator and umbrella for business endeavors outside and alongside comics.
N4AL's Wendy and Adron talk with professional costume designer and author Kristin M. Burke! Kristin just finished a two season run on the immensely popular Fox television series Sleepy Hollow. And though that show has exposed her work to a broad new television audience, she’s better known for a resume of over 50 films, including The Conjuring, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Insidious (1 & 2), Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, Sex Drive, Crazy, Bring it On Again and many, many more. Kristin is the co-author of Costuming for Film: the Art and the Craft, a college-level textbook on the ins and outs of designing costumes for films. This book is also intended to reach industry professionals looking to broaden their understanding about the role of costumes in the collaborative medium of film. Her second book, Going Hollywood: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Not Turn into a Sleaze, is in use at film schools and universities in 7 countries.
Wendy and Adron talk with New York Times bestselling comic creator Cullen Bunn, writer of The Sixth Gun, Deadpool, The Damned, Magneto, Helheim, Lobo, and many, many more. He also wrote the middle reader horror novel Crooked Hills, and has produced numerous short prose stories. Cullen has been nominated for the Eisner Award, Bram Stoker Award, and Ghastly Awards, and won Broken Frontier’s Best Writer Independent Award. We discuss the process of breaking into the world of comics via the independent press, working to establish his personal brand and fan-base via personal appearances and social media, and how he maintains a prolific production schedule.
Recorded live at GeekGirlCon 2014, our How to be a Nerd for a Living panel features guest speakers Susan Eisenburg (voice of Wonder Woman, Justice League Unlimited); Jaimie Cordero (CEO, Espionage Cosmetics); Heidi Gaertner (technology director, Big Fish Games); Jina Heverley (VP/general manager of PC, Mac & Cloud at Big Fish Games); and Rebecca Hicks (creator of Little Vampires). Moderated by N4AL's Wendy Buske.
This episode captures one of our N4AL panels from GeekGirlCon 2014, The Business of Self Promotion: Marketing Your Art or Small Business Online. Nerd for a Living’s marketing director Wendy Buske hosted this discussion of how an individual or small business can work to establish their brand and promote themselves online. She was joined by Amanda Nuckolls, owner of GnomeAcres, and Christal VanEtten, the press and social media coordinator for Espionage Cosmetics.
We talked with voice actress Susan Eisenberg at GeekGirlCon 2014. Susan is best known as the voice of Wonder Woman from the DC animated universe's Justice League cartoon, video games and direct to DVD movie releases. She is also an in-demand voice-over artist working in commercials, and has provided voices for video games like Skyrim and Destiny.
N4AL talks with Jason Anarchy, the creator of the tabletop RPG card game "Drinking Quest". We discuss how he created this very popular, social game experience, designed to merge D&D-esque questing with easy to learn rules and the extra (optional) complication of alcohol. Jason tells how how he used a background in sales and business management to help him bootstrap the initial marketing of the game, followed by successful crowdfunding campaigns to produce the sequel editions. Jason is currently in pre-orders for a new expanded Trilogy Edition of the game, and has released a comic book based on the Drinking Quest world.
We talk with the co-creators of the new illustrated children's book, "Archibald's Next Big Thing" - including co-writer Tony Hale (Emmy-Award winning actor for his role on HBO's "Veep", and Buster Bluth from cult-hit "Arrested Development"), co-writer Tony Biaggne, and artist Victor Huckabee. This funny and delightful conversation covers the creative collaborative process by a group of poeple (including artist Misty Manley) working together from around the country whilst juggling day jobs and other commitments. We talk about the real commitment required to take an idea to fruition, and the joy of seeing all that work fully realized and in print.
We talk with Jaimie Cordero, Chad Downing, and Christal Summer from innovative, woman-owned Espionage Cosmetics. Espionage creates make-up, nail wraps and more products aimed at the underserved female nerd market. Based in Tacoma, WA, Jaimie stepped aside from her award-winning professional career in makeup for film, TV, and web to start a business around her interests, quickly recruiting an intensely passionate, hard-working team to make awesome niche makeup accessories. A year ago, they crowdfunded a new line of products via an immensely successful Kickstarter campaign. Now they look to do it again with an ambitious new campaign, new product licenses, new innovations and a growing staff devoted to making awesome makeup for awesome fans.
This episode, N4AL’s Wendy and Adron talk with Lee Joyner, sculptor and special effects make-up artist, and director of admissions for Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles. Cinema Makeup School is dedicated to educating the next generation of makeup artists for the film, television, fashion and entertainment industries. They aim to provide students with all of the skills needed to succeed as makeup artists and to give them a solid foundation for any job they seek. In addition to makeup techniques, CMS students are taught professionalism, ethics, business, and history.
N4AL's Adron Buske talks with Robin Linn of The Third Floor, a previsualization studio that creates animatic storyboards for Hollywood film and commercial productions. Previs helps directors and producers pitch and plan films, saving money in the production by pre-planning shots, pacing and CGI needs. Robin is an artist manager, supervising, training, and recruiting animators for the Third Floor team. He has an extensive background in art, animation and film. But he started as a bank manager who only did sculpting as a hobby. Learn how a chance opportunity turned into a 25 year career in the film industry.
N4AL talks with Dark Horse Comics editor-in-chief Scott Allie. Scott has been an editor on some of Dark Horse’s most popular books, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity, Hellboy, B.P.R.D., Star Wars, and many more. He gives us a really in-depth perspective on what that job is, the other editorial departmental positions that support it, and how he and Dark Horse hire their editors. Scott's been at Dark Horse for about 20 years, and he's still a hands-on editor even as he guides the ship. He also stays involved in the marketing and PR strategies with the company.
From a packed room at San Diego Comic-Con 2014, we present the How to be a Nerd for a Living panel with guest speakers Lee Joyner (director of admissions, Cinema Makeup School); Tom Kurzanski (art director, TeeFury); Claire Hummel (production designer, HBO); Pat Loika (host, Loikamania Podcast); Brad Herman (lead product designer, DreamWorks Animation); and Karen Hallion (illustrator and T-shirt/apparel designer). Want to work in a fandom-related industry you're passionate about, but not sure where to start? These professionals discuss careers within gaming, film, comics, illustration, podcasting, and more. Our speakers share their career-building experiences. Topics include training, online resources, networking, and tactics to use (and avoid) for breaking into your dream industry. Moderated by Nerd For A Living's Wendy Buske.
N4AL's Wendy and Adron Buske talk with indie comic creators Rebecca Hicks (Little Vampires) and David Accampo (Sparrow & Crowe: The Demonaic of Los Angeles) about the craft of making and marketing comics, how to build and sustain a loyal audience, and how to carry over skills from your day jobs into your nerd passion projects. Networking and selling at San Diego Comic Con is a hot topic, and we veer all over the nerd culture landscape in this highly entertaining discussion.
N4AL's Adron Buske talks with Dana Huth and Carol Mertz, co-founders of design and development firm Rampant Interactive and indie game studio Happy Badgers. Rampant Interactive is a St. Louis-based digital production company creating websites and mobile apps. But while this 4 person operation primarily pays the bills with client-focused online products, their real passion is game development. We talk about the joys and challenges of starting up your own business; developing your game plan over time to focus on what makes you happiest; the current state of indie game development; the obstacles an indie studio faces trying to make money in the casual gaming market; and the experience of being women in the gaming industry. Also of note: Carol is the chairman of the St. Louis chapter of IGDA, the International Game Developer’s Association.
We talk with Marisa Stotter, director of the upcoming Respect Films documentary "She Makes Comics" about the genesis of the project, the successful funding of their Kickstarter campaign, and the challenges facing women creators - and fans - in the comics industry. Respect Films has previously produced documentaries on Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison and the founders of Image Comics.
Tom Kurzanski, art director for massively popular online T-shirt store Tee Fury, talks with N4AL's Wendy and Adron about his career in design and illustration. We discuss Tee Fury's method for artist support and community cultivation, the challenges facing freelance artists, the necessity for constant learning, and the power of customer feedback as a marketing resource.
N4AL's Adron Buske talks to Andy Schmidt, owner of Comics Experience, the online school for comic creators. Andy is a former Senior Editor for IDW Publishing, and a former editor for Marvel Comics, where he worked on most of their notable properties, including Guardians of the Galaxy (soon to be a major motion picture in Summer 2014). We discuss his path to working in comics, the creation of Comics Experience, benefits of a stay-at-home career, juggling different roles and businesses, and the power of having cool nerd jobs on your resume.
N4AL's Adron Buske talks with Canadian author Rhiannon Paille, creator of the young adult paranormal romance series 'The Ferryman and the Flame', including currently available novels 'Surrender', 'Justice', and 'Vulture'. Rhi recently signed to Kevin J. Anderson's publishing imprint Wordfire Press. We talk about self-publishing, online promotion of your work, Rhi's process and work habits, the challenges facing indie authors in a saturated media landscape and juggling other careers with writing.
Recorded at Chicago's C2E2 2014, this panel of nerd industry professionals discusses different types of jobs that exist within pop-culture. Each speaker talks about their career path, from education to on-the-job experience. Topics include small business start-up, the challenges of working for yourself versus corporations, networking and more. Panelists include Lorenzo Lizana (art director, Lion Forge comics), Andy Schmidt (owner, Comics Experience and Brand + Entertainment Solutions), Jaimie Cordero (CEO and art director, Espionage Cosmetics) and Pat Loika (Comixology, the Loikamania Podcast). Moderated by Nerd For A Living's Wendy Buske.
Recorded at Chicago's C2E2 2014, this panel of professional artists, illustrators, writers, business owners and web consultants discusses marketing and selling your art and services online. Guests speakers Karen Hallion (illustrator and T-shirt designer), Andy Schmidt (founder of Comics Experience and former editor for Marvel and IDW), Janet Lee (Eisner award-winning artist of Return of the Dapper Men), and Kelly Stephenson (SEO consultant for SSM Healthcare, social media expert at SageLark) talk about starting an online business, their experiences with different vendors, licensing, intellectual property and engaging their audience via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and more. Moderated by Nerd For A Living's Wendy Buske.
At C2E2 2014, we spoke with the wonderful Abbie Heppe of Respawn Entertainment. Respawn is the independent gaming company that brought us TITANFALL. Abbie is Respawn's Community Manager, as well as the voice of 'Sarah' in the Titanfall video game. Her gaming career started in 2006 as an editor at Tips & Tricks magazine. Later she was the Senior Games Content Producer for G4, the co-host of the Feedback podcast with Adam Sessler and a reviewer for X-Play.
We talk to writer and illustrator Drew Blank, a veteran of the convention and expo scene with a highly recognizable, humorous art style that attracts a crowd in every city. We discuss how the loss of his previous job kickstarted his career selling fan art, and how he juggles that with his true passion, writing. Drew is the author of the hit indie novel 'Memoirs of an Anti-Hero'. Find out more about him at DrewBlank.com
This panel of professional writers, crafters, business owners and marketers provides helpful tips on promoting your art, and yourself, online. Topics such as starting your business, targeting your audience through advertising and social media, protecting your designs, time-management, and how to maintain an online shop are discussed. Moderated by N4AL's Wendy Buske, speakers include Ashley Schonberg (owner of Jayne Danger), Rhiannon Paille (author of "The Ferryman & the Flame"), Amanda Nuckolls (owner of GnomeAcres), and Adron Buske (owner of Armadian Creative; writer of "Loop & Hoodie" and "Good Intentions"). Recorded at Wizard World St. Louis Comic-Con 2014.
Recorded at Wizard World St. Louis Comic-Con 2014. This panel of professionals discusses different types of jobs that exist within pop-culture entertainment, gaming, film-making, writing and more. Get tips on finding a way to a new career from those already working in the industry. Moderated by N4AL's Wendy Buske, panel speakers include: Rachel Rieckenberg (Sass and Slash Creations), Jeremy Corray (Coolfire Studios, Voltron), Amanda Nuckolls (GnomeAcres), Matt Raithel (Graphite Lab), and Genese Davis (author of The Holder's Dominion).
At GeekGirlCon 2013, N4AL's Wendy Buske had the opportunity to interview television producer and screenwriter Jane Espenson - along with Husbands director Eli Gonda, as part of a group conversation. Jane is an award winning writer whose credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, Once Upon a Time, Husbands and Warehouse 13. This group interview explores her entry into the male dominated world of writing for television, advice on pursuing a job in tv and film, how she juggles multiple projects, and more.
N4AL's Wendy Buske talks with professional cosplayer and FUNimation brand manager Chaka Cumberbatch at GeekGirlCon 2013. They discuss self-promotion, costuming and gaining recognition in a niche industry.
N4AL's Wendy and Adron Buske talk with Paul Horn, writer/artist of webcomic Cool Jerk, and Darlene Horn, food blogger for My Burning Kitchen and writer of Girl with the Donut Tattoo.
This Wizard World Chicago 2013 panel discussion with professional marketers and independent artists & writers offers helpful tips on creating your own online brand. The panelists provide artists, creatives and DIYers an overview of and advice for promoting your art. We examine how to get your small business started online, how to grow your audience, legal consideration for your business, and how to market yourself in the digital space. Moderator Wendy Buske of Nerd For A Living leads the panel with social media strategist Kelly Stephenson, and comic writer and Armadian Creative owner Adron Buske.
For our first Nerd for a Living interview, we sit down with Amanda Nuckolls, owner and Chief Executive Gnome of fiber, yarn and craft company GnomeAcres. If you are a crafter, artist, DIYer or small business owner, you'll definitely want to hear what Amanda has to say.
Welcome to the introductory Nerd For A Living (N4AL) podcast. Get acquainted with your hosts: Wendy Buske (N4AL's Marketing Director, and a Digital Producer for St. Louis advertising agency Rodgers Townsend) and Adron Buske (N4AL's Creative Director, owner of Armadian Creative, and writer of the Loop & Hoodie comic series). We explain the purpose of Nerd For A Living - both the website and the podcast - and why we created it. We also do a quick recap of San Diego Comic Con 2013 and share some of the awesome nerdy things we're currently geeking out about. Interviews start next episode! Nerd For A Living is dedicated to helping nerds like you discover fulfilling, profitable and sustainable career paths in the industries you love - like comics, gaming, anime, genre film and tv, publishing, and more. Whether you’re an artist or an accountant, a developer or DIYer, N4AL provides tools and information to help you pursue and achieve those goals.
N4AL’s Adron Buske sits down with artist and writer, Josh Hagler, to discuss art, comics, self publishing and the history of his recently collected graphic novel from Markosia, The Boy Who Made Silence. Originally produced for Rocketbot Radio, a podcast for comic creators of all ages, skills and genres on Rocketbot.com.
Several years ago, while working in broadcast radio, Adron received the amazing opportunity to interview comics luminary Alan Moore. The acclaimed British scribe was promoting his then-latest book, the controversial Lost Girls. Adron’s 40-minute interview with Moore covers that 3-volume work of “literary erotica” as well as his other comic masterworks Watchmen, V for Vendetta and much more. Writers and sequential artists should be particularly interested to hear Moore’s thoughts on creating comics, artist collaborations and the time investment to produce Lost Girls. The original interview was recorded in 2008, but Moore is a fascinating speaker and his comments are still relevant to comic creators – and the greater comics audience – today. Nerd For A Living podcast host Adron Buske was previously the producer for Rocketbot Radio, a podcast for comic creators of all ages, skills and genres at the now defunct Rocketbot.com. This episode, with Rocketbot cohost Gene Kelly, originally ran on Rocketbot Radio.