Minta Carlson is a seasoned Creative Director specializing in advanced Generative AI (GenAI) workflows, currently offering her expertise in consulting on integrations at Promptcrafted. With a keen eye for innovation and a deep understanding of AI's role in creative processes, she assists clients in harnessing the power of AI to enhance their artist…

Justine Clay is a seasoned business coach, writer, speaker, and ADHD coach dedicated to empowering creative professionals and entrepreneurs. With over 15 years of experience in representing top-tier creatives in New York City, Justine transitioned to coaching, utilizing her Profitable by Design framework to help clients stand out in their marketpla…

Katie DeMatteis is a dynamic marketing professional renowned for her expertise in crafting engaging narratives and utilizing digital tactics to boost brand visibility across various sectors. With almost ten years of experience, she has collaborated with a range of clients, from emerging startups to well-established corporations. Her proficiency enc…

Mackenzie Jackson is the CEO & Co-Founder of Alliance Studio which was founded in 2019. She is also operating within Epic Games Support a Creator Partner program, contributing to the development and design featured on Fortnite's expanding Creative Platform. Collaborating with external marketing firms and brands, she spearhead campaigns tailored to …

Ben Burns is a designer, entrepreneur, author, and leader who currently serves as COO at The Futur. Before joining The Futur, he founded Burnt Creative, a brand experience agency in Richmond, Virginia, and served as Vice President on the executive board of the Richmond AIGA chapter. With a BA in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina and …

Mark Jamnik offers a unique and interactive approach to abstract art through his innovative Subliminal Story Art, which connects below the threshold of consciousness, drawing inspiration from everyday life. With a mission to make art more approachable and meaningful, he engages corporate teams and entrepreneurs by embedding their contributions and …

Ryan Summers, originally set to become a chemical engineer, was inspired by Jurassic Park and Toy Story to pursue a career in animation. He has worked as a character animator on children's videos, created visuals for industry-leading slot machines, and designed opening titles for top-rated TV shows and popular feature films. Currently, Ryan is the …

Kristen Plescow, an illustrator and educator on sabbatical from full-time freelance work, joins the Pixel Retentive Podcast. She shares her journey from the furry art community to traditional fantasy illustration and discusses the challenges and opportunities posed by AI in the art industry. Emphasizing the importance of foundational art skills, Kr…

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, Carl is joined by guests Pamela Bebry and Olivia Combemale to explore the intricacies of licensing versus collaborations in the creative industry. They delve into the differences, legal considerations, strategies, and the emerging opportunities within Web3 and the metaverse. What You'll Learn: The key…

Lee-Sean Huang is a designer, artist, and educator. In 2013, he co-founded Foossa, a service design and strategy practice. Since then, he has worked with communities and organizations worldwide to tackle social innovation challenges. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Learning and Programs at AIGA, the oldest and largest professional design as…

Ruth Newberry is one of the founders and Creative Directors of Cream Studio, a boutique motion graphics studio based in Richmond, Virginia. With a strong background in animation and visual storytelling, Ruth leads the studio in creating dynamic and engaging motion graphics for a variety of clients. Under her direction, Cream Studio has garnered a r…

Episode Overview: Lizzie Mintus, as the founder of Here's Waldo, embodies the essence of personalized recruitment, where candidates are not just numbers but individuals with unique career aspirations. Specializing in the video game industry, Here's Waldo under Mintus's guidance ensures a tailored approach, connecting candidates with opportunities t…

Dave Philar, a distinguished footwear designer with a portfolio spanning major brands, shares invaluable insights into the nuances of building a successful career in the competitive creative industry. From harnessing the power of experimentation to infusing purpose and meaning into artistic endeavors, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of t…

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl and Ross are joined by animation industry veteran Dave Waite. With over 25 years of experience, Dave shares insightful anecdotes from his journey, from pivotal roles at ESPN and Nike to the founding of Zookeeper, a pioneering venture exploring the intersection of characters and emerging tec…

Steven de Zordo is a visionary leader whose passion for innovation and creativity knows no bounds. As the Founder and Executive Creative Director of Deckhand, he has spearheaded the company's success with his dynamic leadership style and unwavering dedication. With a proven track record as an accomplished toy inventor and entrepreneur, Steven inspi…

Join host Carl Cleanthes in this insightful episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast as they explore the dynamic world of creativity and freelancing with special guest Andrea Radeck. Discover the intricate journey of turning passion into a viable career amidst the challenges of the competitive creative industry. From leveraging technology to building…

In this captivating episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa engage with Myles Blasonato, a seasoned game designer with over 15 years of experience spanning mobile, casino, indie, and now web 3 gaming. Myles, currently leading the game design at Blowfish Studios, brings his expertise to discuss the transformative…

Duncan Alney is a passionate social media strategist and the founder of Firebelly Marketing, a company at the forefront of social media marketing. His work emphasizes the importance of being real and authentic in digital spaces, encouraging brands to experiment and iterate to find their unique voice. Dive into the essence of social media creativity…

In this engaging episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa explore the diverse landscape of the creative industry with guest Josh Hill. Listen as Josh shares his unexpected journey from athlete to creative generalist, offering a unique perspective on embracing versatility in a specialized world. This conversation …

In this compelling episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, join hosts Carl Cleanthes and guest co-host Eric as they explore the transformative potential of blockchain technology with our special guest, Chris Swenor. Dive deep into the challenges and opportunities presented by the blockchain industry, focusing on decentralization, wealth concentrati…

In this compelling episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, hosts Carl Cleanthes and Ross Ciuppa engage with guests Terrence and Dave, exploring the intersections of artificial intelligence and creativity. From the innovative use of AI tools like DALL-E and ChatGPT to the ethical considerations of AI in art, this discussion sheds light on the evolvi…

Maurice Cherry is a skilled creative professional with over 20 years of experience across tech, design, media, publishing, and entrepreneurship. He is the Founder and Creative Director of Lunch, a multidisciplinary creative studio in Atlanta, GA. As an active podcaster since 2005, he has hosted several podcasts and works as a creative strategist an…

Jacques Spitzer is the CEO of Raindrop, a creative agency combining the best elements of brand building and performance marketing. He is a 4x Emmy winner for Marketing People Love and has helped produce more than $1 billion in sales across his career. He is also a prolific investor and is a Partner at Mari + Gold. In this episode… The average consu…

Benjamin (Ben) Moffat is a Partner and CEO at Gantry, a Salt Lake City agency filled with talented designers, directors, animators, and producers. His expertise spans media production, finance, and business development. Previously, he served as the Director of Business Development at Vérité and as a Finance Broker at Citywide. In this episode… Runn…

Justin Alanís is an active entrepreneur and collaborator, serving as the Co-creator of StoryCo, an open platform designed to assist individuals in easily creating and publishing multimedia stories. Additionally, he is the Founder of Fedora Capital, actively investing in over 50 startups. Previously, he worked as a private equity partner before tran…

Amanda Russell is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Animation at Cream Studio, a boutique studio specializing in quality video for clients. She has extensive experience in advertising and marketing, including time working for television, social media, and branded content. In addition, she serves as a speaker and is an expert in motion design.…

Tyler Mose is the CEO and Co-founder of MatchPoint Studio, a video production and video content marketing agency. He is a marketing and video expert with skills in HR consultancy and a surprising proficiency in mixology. He scaled his previous video agency to a multi-million dollar business and replicated that success at MatchPoint. In this episode…

Dave Chaffey is an augmented reality expert and a Partner of Immertia.io, a startup specializing in implementing AR for customer experience and product packaging. He has an extensive career in digital marketing and entrepreneurship. He also offers his talents as a professional speaker and thought leader, with over 10 years as the Digital Expert for…

Fred Seibert is a renowned television and technology entrepreneur. He founded FredFilms and Frederator Studios, executive producing shows like Adventure Time, The Fairly OddParents, and Castlevania. In popular media, he was not only the initial investor and board member at Tumblr but also the Co-founder and original Creative Director of MTV. In thi…

Andrew Batey is an entertainment entrepreneur and the CEO of Beatdapp, an audit and fraud detection software for music labels and streaming services. For over 15 years, he raised $150 million for his startups and filed over 40 technology patents. Early in his career, he helped launch multiple top 10 artists and released his song that peaked at #4 o…

Ian Garlic is the Founder of STORYCREWS.COM and Video Case Story, both of which harness the power of video storytelling. He built his career in video marketing and consults service-based clients on how to use SEO and storytelling for customer engagement. Ian also hosts the Garlic Marketing Show podcast, blogs, and speaks at events to share his expe…

Jason Swenk is a digital agency coach, mentor, advisor, and marketing expert. He built and sold an eight-figure agency and now helps others scale efficiently. To complement this, he hosts The Smart Agency Podcast and shares his advice through speaking engagements. In this episode… The first instinct of most agencies is to appeal to the largest audi…

Raphael Paulin-Daigle is the CEO of SplitBase, a business helping fashion and lifestyle e-commerce companies sell more through its Testing Trifecta optimization program. They have worked with clients including L'Oréal, Kiehl's, BestSelf, Frank + Oak, and more. He has previously served as a digital marketing consultant and has founded several compan…

Duke Davis is a content creator and social media presence known for his One Shot Questers YouTube channel. The show focuses on Dungeons & Dragons, specializing in short campaigns and one-shot sessions. The show extends to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch. In this episode… In the present time, it's challenging to make yourself noticed on socia…

Linda Yuan is the Co-founder of Modd.io and has a history of various successful startups. Modd.io is a no-code multiplayer game maker that empowers creators to make their communities while working on a stealth startup. Before her work with budding companies, she worked in finance as an investment banker and a business development specialist. In thi…

Lisa Larson-Kelley is the Founder and CEO of Quantious, a NY-based marketing agency that works with leading brands in the tech industry. With an impressive portfolio that includes collaborations with tech giants like Meta, Google, Adobe, and Microsoft, as well as nurturing startups with a video-centric focus, Lisa and her agency are at the forefron…

Jim Fielding is a Partner and President of the Co-Lab Group at Archer Gray, a modern media company creating quality content, building businesses, and reimagining brands. He has had a long and distinguished career in retail, product design, global supply chain, team development, and content creation. From top global retailers to senior leadership po…

Tim Harris is the CEO of Paragon, an NFT experience platform and discovery engine working across a variety of digital media. He is also the Owner of AlleyCat Comics in Chicago, where they experiment with the retail comics space. As a pivotal member of the launch team for the iconic Pokemon Red and Blue, his influence on the gaming world is palpable…

Justin Ahrens is the Co-founder, Partner, and Chief Brand Officer of Rule29 and the Marrow companies, a firm that works with clients ranging from nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies. The agency is also a Certified B Corporation and has helped over 20,000 people access water through the Wheels4Water project. Justin is an international public speaker …

Adam Martin is a digital media, film, and TV producer with 20 years of experience. He is the Founder of Macroverse, an avant-garde web3 studio that has recently unveiled its comic reader app, a testament to Adam's forward-looking approach to shaping the future of storytelling. Adam has worked on countless media projects, writing, directing, and pro…

Gage Mitchell is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Modern Species, a strategic branding and design agency that works with sustainable product companies. He is also the Founder & Host of Evolve CPG, an online community and podcast for purpose-driven leaders. Gage's expertise extends beyond the realms of design and community building. He is …

Joe Weaver is an entrepreneur and the Founder of Oceanty LLC, a mobile gaming studio that makes games for all ages. He created and sold his spatial communication platform (Ario) in 2022 and secured $1M from Verizon to build the platform for 5G. He is a Unity-certified developer and even worked as a spatial computing specialist. Before these venture…

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and an entrepreneur, founding his creative studio, Epic Made, in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in animation, illustration, and design, the studio has worked with beloved brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and many more. In addition to his work with Epic Made, he volunteers for the H…

Rebecca Blake is a professional graphic designer with more than 30 years of experience. As the Design Director at Optimum Design & Consulting, she leads the creation of original graphic design, including logos, website interfaces, brochures, publications, mail, and advertising. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rebecca has dedicated herself to cha…

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and an entrepreneur, founding his creative studio, Epic Made, in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in animation, illustration, and design, the studio has worked with beloved brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and many more. In addition to his work with Epic Made, he volunteers for the H…

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and an entrepreneur, founding his creative studio, Epic Made, in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in animation, illustration, and design, the studio has worked with beloved brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and many more. In addition to his work with Epic Made, he volunteers for the H…

For the last 25 years, Marci Selsberg has specialized in representing animation, VFX, and motion design studios. She has spent most of her career as a Partner and Agent for BlahUSA, a brand that represents a variety of animation and visual FX studios. Her first positions were with an ad agency and as a live-action director before moving to animatio…

Carl Cleanthes is a lifelong artist and an entrepreneur, founding his creative studio, Epic Made, in 2006. With over 15 years of experience in animation, illustration, and design, the studio has worked with beloved brands such as SYFY, Nickelodeon, USA Network, WWE, TNT, and many more. In addition to his work with Epic Made, he volunteers for the H…