Best RYAN OTIS Podcasts (2024)

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#260 - Virtual teaching milestones & new horizons with Tzipporah Schvarcz from Sipor Ceramics (Pt 1) 1:44:37

2h ago1:44:37

1:44:37

Ryan & Becca welcome back Tzipporah from Sipor Ceramics to catch up on what's happening with her virtual workshops since we last talked. Virtual teaching was in it's very early stages the last time we talked in August of 2023 for Tzipporah and she's come a long way since. In the midst of balancing family life and the business, she's moving out of h…

1
#259 - Q&A Part IX 1:47:25

5h ago1:47:25

1:47:25

Ryan & Becca are back after a long time since their last Q&A episode nearly a year ago. They answer many of your questions related to business, studio practice, and a few random ones. Thanks to everyone who continues to send us questions on Instagram and by email! Listener Questions Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking a…

1
#258 - A new start for Bluebird Clay with Jordan Kloppe (Pt 2) 1:23:59

12d ago1:23:59

1:23:59

Ryan and Becca are back with Jordan Kloppe, owner of Bluebird Clay, for part two of our discussion. He shares more about new product development, manufacturing challenges, experiences at pottery conferences (Clay Con West & NCECA), fulfilling orders efficiently, building a small pug mill, and the future of Bluebird. Thanks to Jordan for chatting an…

1
Vensutra: This Side Show You Don't Want to Miss 1:04:10

11d ago1:04:10

1:04:10

The Breakdown In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan sits down with the band Venustra. The band has a unique theatrical show and incorporates elements of shock rock, Japanese visual Kei, and swing music into their sound. They have faced challenges in defining their genre but strive to create a bigger sound that sets them apart from other ba…

1
#257 - A new start for Bluebird Clay with Jordan Kloppe (Pt 1) 1:22:33

19d ago1:22:33

1:22:33

Ryan and Becca introduce listeners to Jordan Kloppe, new owner of Bluebird Clay. Bluebird is a name that’s been around our industry for decades and are most known for manufacturing pugmills, clay mixers, and Soldner pottery wheels. Jordan shares his outsider perspective as he recently purchased the business, brings it into a new era of manufacturin…

1
#256 - Moving out of a studio 2:24:37

23d ago2:24:37

2:24:37

Ryan & Becca come ready to chat all about what's involved in moving out of a studio, no matter the size. I think we can all agree, moving sucks! Both have experience in moving to larger and smaller studios over the years. With Becca's recent move, she's got a lot to say about selling equipment, tools, clay, etc so someone else can get a second life…

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Bat City Black Metal Fest: A chat with Eamon Danzig 43:45

22d ago43:45

43:45

The Breakdown In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan sits down with Eamonn Danzig, one of the creators of the Bat City Black Metal Fest. They discuss the origins of black metal, the message behind the festival, and the efforts to promote inclusivity and distance the genre from its tainted past. The festival will feature eight bands, live sw…

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#255 - Adapting to uncertain times with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks (Pt 2) 1:19:30

30d ago1:19:30

1:19:30

Ryan and Becca welcome back Link Henderson, the owner of Kentucky Mudworks and Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, for part two of our conversation from last week. They discuss switching to Shopify as a sales platform, running marketing campaigns/sales throughout the year, online and print resources for staying up-to-date on changes in our industry, and som…

1
#254 - Adapting to uncertain times with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks (Pt 1) 1:32:12

1M ago1:32:12

1:32:12

Ryan and Becca welcome back Link Henderson, the owner of Kentucky Mudworks and Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, for an in-depth conversation. They discuss the significant adjustments Link's businesses have made since their last chat 3 years ago, particularly in response to the uncertainty surrounding raw materials. Link also shares insights into their ri…

1
#253 - Becca's next challenge 2:07:49

2M ago2:07:49

2:07:49

Ryan & Becca are back to chat about Becca's next challenge as she's made her way back east for the summer. She's planning ahead for diving head first into online teaching in clay. It's not something too foreign for her, but she's been planning for months (maybe even years) to get to this point. There's a lot of unknowns still, but the plan is set i…

1
#252 - Making pottery for restaurants with Bethany Kramer from Bethany Rose Pottery 1:54:39

2M ago1:54:39

1:54:39

Ryan & Becca are happy to be joined by Bethany Kramer from Bethany Rose Pottery to answer all of our questions about working on orders with restaurants. Bethany has been working with various local and regional restaurants over nearly the last decade, finding success as she's grown. We're happy to get some answers regarding making orders in large qu…

1
Your Per Diem is 3 cigarettes: Dave Perry's rising success with Fear of Water 1:03:04

2M ago1:03:04

1:03:04

The Breakdown In this conversation, Ryan interviews Dave Perry of Fear of Water. They discuss various topics including the music industry, radio stations, and the success of Fear of Water's music. Dave talks about the secondary market for radio stations and how they have embraced his music. He also shares his experience with imposter syndrome and t…

1
#251 - What can you do when sales are slow? 1:55:43

2M ago1:55:43

1:55:43

Ryan & Becca discuss how they think about adjusting their business & finances when sales are harder to come by. We've seen slower sales to start the year online, at shows, and general sentiment around folks having less disposable income. We hope you get some valuable takeaways to get yourself prepared in the case of finances tightening or product b…

1
#250 - Finding the right shows 1:23:35

2M ago1:23:35

1:23:35

Ryan & Becca go in deep on finding shows early in your selling career. Becca plays interviewer on this one to ask Ryan all about his early shows, what he hopes to get sales-wise these days at a show, and how the progression has evolved year to year. There's also some discussion about where and how to find the shows for you. Thanks for the question …

1
"I Got that Radio Face": A sit down with Glass Grinder 1:14:29

2M ago1:14:29

1:14:29

The Breakdown: Glass Grinder is a metal band from Austin, Texas that combines elements of grindcore, deathcore, and heavy metal. They aim to stand out by not being confined to a single genre and experimenting with different styles. The band started as a three-piece improvisational group and eventually evolved into a five-piece band. They have relea…

1
Local Bands and Attention Spans: Say Hello to Josh Arnold 38:44

2M ago38:44

38:44

The Breakdown: In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan and Josh discuss their foray into the world of reaction videos and their love for metal music. Josh, also known as Drifter Voyages, is a metal reaction content creator on YouTube and the frontman of a metalcore band. They talk about what they look for in reaction videos, their favorite e…

1
#249 - Calculated risk-taking 2:10:59

3M ago2:10:59

2:10:59

Ryan & Becca are back together once again to discuss risk taking in our businesses. What's the most risk we've taken lately, how do we think through risks we're willing to take, how having a support system influences our decisions, and how do we prepare ourselves when something doesn't go right. We hope you enjoy our discussion today. Resources Sig…

1
#248 - Is your price right? with Isaac Shue and Heidi Fahrenbacher 2:23:45

3M ago2:23:45

2:23:45

Ryan & Becca have the whole crew here today, joined by Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery and Isaac Shue from Gallery Mostaza. They talk a lot more about our hot topic as of late: pricing. Heidi continues where we left off last time to ask Ryan about his approach to pricing and digging into Isaac's pricing philosophy. -----Find more about Is…

1
Interview with A Means To An End 1:07:31

3M ago1:07:31

1:07:31

The Breakdown: A Means To An End is a metalcore band from Corpus Christi, Texas. The band has been together for about eight or nine years, but started taking their music seriously about five years ago. The band consists of Storm Galindo on guitar and vocals, Noah Delos Rios on vocals, Ralph on drums, and Kyler on bass. They describe their sound as …

1
#247 - "Resources for your business" at NCECA 2024 1:07:17

3M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Ryan & Becca are proud to share the topic of "Resources for your business" live at the NCECA 2024 clay conference hosted in Richmond, VA. We hope you enjoy the discussion as we share how our friends and peers become some of the best resources for our businesses. Thanks to Ben Carter (Tales of the Red Clay Rambler) and NCECA for co-producing the pod…

1
#246 - Let's talk preorders 1:31:05

3M ago1:31:05

1:31:05

Ryan & Becca chat about preorders today! We cover a few pros and cons of doing a preorder, what we've preordered before, what we'd like to preorder in the future, and customer considerations when receiving an online preorder. Enjoy and good luck if you're planning to preorder anything this year. Resources Join the waitlist for Ryan's future Bookkee…

1
#245 - Pricing your work pt 2 & presenting at NCECA with Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery 2:18:42

3M ago2:18:42

2:18:42

Ryan & Becca welcome back Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery for third time to chat all things NCECA and catch up on Becca's pricing. They recap how NCECA went for them as demonstrators & presenters, what makes the conference so overwhelming, dig into Becca's pricing and sales since we last met with Heidi, and hunting apparently. Stay tuned …

1
#244 - Road trip home from NCECA! 2:29:00

4M ago2:29:00

2:29:00

Ryan & Becca are heading home to Cincinnati with Erica & Jessica from Richmond, Virginia after attending NCECA 2024. Enjoy the events that made this week special and some of our key takeaways as we get home, rest up, and get back into our studios soon. We hope to see everyone in Salt Lake City, Utah for 2025 and Detroit, Michigan for 2026! Follow E…

1
#243 - Getting better at in-person shows 1:38:54

4M ago1:38:54

1:38:54

Ryan & Becca are getting excited about NCECA, which just concluded at the time of this release, before answering a listener's question about gauging the shows they're selling at. Sandrine's in her second year of selling and wants to make sure the shows she's looking into are good fit for the potential customers out there for her. We get into how yo…

1
All things Canadian: An interview with Waterfront 1:25:20

4M ago1:25:20

1:25:20

The Breakdown In this conversation, I chat with members Dan and Tanner of the band Waterfront to discuss their background, education, and signing with Affiant Records. We talk about their musical influences and how they came together as a band. They also share their experiences in high school and university, particularly in relation to their music …

1
#242 - How we started & where we're going 1:31:13

4M ago1:31:13

1:31:13

Ryan & Becca share some stories today about how the podcast started and how it's changed over the years. We also get into how we see it progressing into the future and some dream scenarios we may see come to fruition at some point. Thanks for continuing to listen! Listener Questions On this episode: - How did the podcast start? How did we manage it…

1
#241 - Setting boundaries on social media with Melanie Westheiden from Swell Ceramics 1:52:37

4M ago1:52:37

1:52:37

Ryan & Becca are joined today by Melanie Westheiden from Swell Ceramics. Melanie shares about her business’ evolution from a home studio to brick and mortar, preparing for the holiday season, setting boundaries on Instagram, & shifting her body of work. Thanks so much to Melanie for taking the time to share with all of us. -----Find more about Mela…

1
#240 - Mobile studios 1:24:11

5M ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Ryan & Becca are back together once again and this week we're talking mobile studios! We received a question about the viability of using a mobile studio in a trailer, van, etc to assist in teaching small kid classes and selling at shows from it. Becca's insights may surprise you on this one. Thanks for the question Lilly! Listener Questions On thi…

1
#239 - Custom wholesale & clay buttons with Sara Davis from Golden Earth Designs 2:07:45

5M ago2:07:45

2:07:45

Ryan & Becca are joined today by Sara Davis from Golden Earth Designs. Sara shares about her process of making custom wholesale mugs, selling full time the past year, getting back to production after the holidays, and clay buttons! Thanks so much to Sara for sharing some time to chat about her work and business. -----Find more about Sara's business…

1
#238 - A path to full time ceramic artist with Em (Paz) Stevens (Pt 2) 1:48:51

5M ago1:48:51

1:48:51

Ryan & Becca welcome Em (Paz) Stevens to the show to discuss balancing a full time job in the service industry and part time pottery. We get into how her business did in 2023, how she's building out her home studio, funding the build through Kickstarter, setting realistic business goals, and digging into Etsy shop advice. Thanks again to Em for sha…

1
This is Art: DSGNS return with a new Record 1:20:21

5M ago1:20:21

1:20:21

The Breakdown In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan sits down with the band DSGNS to discuss their new record and their journey in creating it. They talk about the process of recording the album live and the challenges they faced. The band members also discuss their approach to playing chaotic music and their collaborative songwriting proc…

1
#237 - A path to full time ceramic artist with Em (Paz) Stevens (Pt 1) 1:50:19

5M ago1:50:19

1:50:19

Ryan & Becca Welcome Em (Paz) Stevens to the show to discuss balancing a full time job in the service industry and part time pottery. Em has a number of questions for us, especially related to how Ryan was able to sell $95k worth of work in a year that averages $35 while selling "part time." We cover a number of topics on this first installment of …

1
Blood on the Snare: 20 years of Chaos with Thumbscrew 1:18:21

5M ago1:18:21

1:18:21

The Breakdown In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan interviews the band members Daniel and Stephen of Thumbscrew and delves into their journey as a metal band. The conversation covers their early years, the evolution of their sound, the transition to a new vocalist, recording and promotion challenges, touring experiences, and memorable mom…

1
#236 - Clay Con West recap! 1:19:11

6M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

Ryan & Becca are back to chatting just the two of them on today's episode. Most of the discussion involves updating everyone about their busy lives the past few weeks before getting into their time at Clay Con West this January. It was another great year spent with new and old friends and we hope to see you at NCECA 2024 in Richmond, Virginia or ne…

1
Talking local music with Kevin Hellestad of The Chord Progression Podcast 58:36

5M ago58:36

58:36

The Breakdown In this episode of the ATX Metal Podcast, Ryan interviews Kevin Hellestad from the Chord Progression Podcast. They discuss the importance of supporting the local music scene and how to discover new bands. Kevin shares the origin story of his podcast and his passion for promoting local artists. They also talk about the challenges of be…

1
#235 - A peek inside the Maker's Playbook with Rebecca Ickes Carra 2:40:37

6M ago2:40:37

2:40:37

Ryan and Becca are joined by Rebecca Ickes Carra, host of The Maker's Playbook podcast and co-owner of Carra Terra, a small pottery business in Milwaukee, WI. Drawing from her 14-years as a self-employed photographer, Rebecca sheds light on the dynamics of building their pottery business alongside her husband Francesco. We cover the art of juggling…

1
It's time to tour with Tulip! 36:35

6M ago36:35

36:35

The Breakdown In this interview, I speak with Colin and Ashleigh of Tulip, a symphonic groove metal band from Dallas. We discuss the band's unique sound and influences, as well as their journey forming the band. The conversation also touches on the challenges of balancing music and relationships, finding time for music amidst family duties, and the…

1
#234 - Body care for long term success with Joshua Reed from Wellness with Joshua 3:23:40

6M ago3:23:40

3:23:40

Ryan and Becca are joined by Joshua Reed from Wellness with Joshua to talk how we can ensure our bodies can hold up long-term as potters and small business owners. Joshua has a varied background in physical therapy, biomechanics, physical training, nutrition coaching, and more to share his expertise with us for long term body care as potters. We ho…

1
Plumbers and Drummers with Dalton Kennerly of Levels 59:49

6M ago59:49

59:49

The Breakdown In this conversation, Dalton Kennerly from the band LEVELS discusses various aspects of the band's journey and music career. He talks about treating the band as a business, the band's influences and musical style, their collaboration with Landon Tewers (The Plot in You), and the sound shift in their new singles. Dalton also shares ins…

1
#233 - Is paid advertisement worth it? with Will Donovan from Donovan Pottery 2:23:30

6M ago2:23:30

2:23:30

Ryan and Becca welcome back Will Donovan of Donovan Pottery to discuss a range of topics, including: sharing end of year recaps, growing your business with help, using paid ads to sell your work, and geeking out on Lord of the Rings. We learn a ton from Will's second time on the podcast and we hope you take some good nuggets into your own practice.…

1
#232 - What do you look for in a workshop? 1:38:58

7M ago1:38:58

1:38:58

Ryan & Becca share insights about what they look for when seeking out workshop opportunities to expand their skills. We also share what valuable takeaways we typically come away with once we’re leaving a workshop. Join Becca or Ryan at a future workshop they are teaching soon: Throwing Efficiency with Becca - Jan 10 Selling at In-Person Shows with …

1
#231 - Analyzing your best & worst Instagram Reels 2:24:34

7M ago2:24:34

2:24:34

Ryan & Becca try a different approach on today's episode to discuss some of their top performing (and worst) Instagram Reels over the past 6 months. We chat about what we think made them so successful, some takeaways to think about as we produce content for future reels, and why some just completely flopped. We hope this is a useful discussion as y…

1
#230 - Starting a community studio from scratch with Noah Smith from NWS Ceramics 2:12:32

7M ago2:12:32

2:12:32

Ryan & Becca welcome Noah Smith to the show today to chat about getting a community studio up and running very recently in Portland, Oregon. Noah's been making pottery for a few years, but has recently embarked on opening Heirloom Ceramic Studio in the Sellwood neighborhood outside Portland. We chat about the growth so far, how he's enjoying the te…

1
GET UP! with Mike Evans of Profiler 37:48

7M ago37:48

37:48

Profiler is a Nu-Metal reawakening from the mind of vocalist and guitarist Mike Evans. This band is inspired by those who have incited change in genres, arts, and theories. It's a weight of legacy that Profiler is comfortable shouldering, backed by SharpTone Records, its home since 2020. After starting as a solo project in Bristol, UK, Mike stepped…

1
#229 - 2023 wrap up 2:01:51

7M ago2:01:51

2:01:51

Ryan & Becca discuss leaving early for in-person shows from a recent experience Ryan had at a show before wrapping up their key takeaways from their year, even though there’s still a few weeks left in it. They get into goals, money, & possible plans for next year. Thanks for listening and have a great holiday season everyone! Listener Questions Sen…

1
#228 - How do you handle negative feedback? 1:56:57

7M ago1:56:57

1:56:57

Ryan & Becca have some thoughts today about how to handle negative feedback, whether it's a customer, fellow business owner, business you partner with, or otherwise. Handling these situations can be pretty tricky and we hope you get some good insight from today's discussion. Thanks for listening! Listener Questions On this episode: - What's the bes…

1
#227 - Tiki Technical Talk with Henrik van Ryzin from VanTiki 2:34:43

8M ago2:34:43

2:34:43

Ryan & Becca welcome Henrik Van Ryzin today from VanTiki Studios. He shares a wealth of knowledge about his evolution from a special effects artist to a full time ceramic artist focused in mold making & slip casting. Henrik and his wife Denise focus on producing ceramic tiki mugs and other goods that share their love of tiki with customers all over…

1
Interview with Engineered Society Project 57:03

8M ago57:03

57:03

ESP was founded in 2015 by Timothy Moss. The band’s concept and music was inspired by Timothy’s travels in the Middle East and events in the US. The band’s first release, “Call To Arms” was produced by Wyn Davis at Total Access Recording Studios in Redondo Beach, CA . The release on Starwest Entertainment Records was well received and garnered indu…

1
#226 - Kiln size matters 1:58:32

8M ago1:58:32

1:58:32

Ryan & Becca get deep into kilns on today's episode to give some insight into how you may choose your next kiln based on your studio production. They cover a range of kiln body sizes from the L&L & Skutt lines, as well as a few others along the way. Good luck if you're in the market for a kiln and let us know if you have any questions to help you m…

1
#225 - What influences a buyer to purchase? 1:40:15

8M ago1:40:15

1:40:15

Ryan & Becca are back together this week to recap some of the points discussed last week on Becca's solo episode about her shows. To relate back to a more broad topic, Ryan get's into what he feels influences buyers to purchase from you at shows. Hopefully you were able to reflect on your booth set-up and interactions at shows to see where you're d…

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