Best Hot Off The Press Podcasts (2024)

1
S6E8 - Cracking the (QR) Code 59:08

2h ago59:08

59:08

In this week’s episode we’re talking about something a little different… Modern technology! While century old equipment is usually what we’re discussing on the pod, this week we’re changing it up a bit and discussing some newer technology. We’ve encountered a growing number of requests for this little tool in the wedding stationery industry, as wel…

1
S6E7 - Systemize your Project 1:02:39

41m ago1:02:39

1:02:39

As a continuation of our episode from season 2 "Working on your Workflow" we discuss the processes and systems we use to keep jobs flowing smoothly through our studios. The three of us all have very different preferences and strengths when it comes to organizing our workflows. We hope you guys find it helpful to hear some examples, and that you tak…

1
S6E6 - Motors, Motors, Motors 46:00

7d ago46:00

46:00

As we recover from the 16th annual Los Angeles Printers Fair, we travel back in time to the summer of 2024 when Moriah and Jillian discuss one thing that had befuddled them for so long... Motors. This episode is *not* for the electricians or engineers (HAH)! It is for us entry level machinists who just need a better understanding oh how motors work…

1
S6 E5 - Creating Community in Alaska w/ Meghan Chambers 58:55

16d ago58:55

58:55

This week we’re journeying all the way up to Alaska to visit with our friend Meghan Chambers! Meghan has been pulling some incredible prints, and building an understanding & appreciation of Letterpress all the way in Juneau, Alaska. We invited her to join us on the podcast to celebrate the grand opening of her new art gallery (The Laundromat Galler…

1
S6E4 - Foiled Opinions 55:10

23d ago55:10

55:10

For years, acquiring a foil press for our shops was a hotly debated topic. Would it be worth the investment? How would we feel about doing foil in house? Where on earth will we put another press??? We discuss all of this and more with Cara Jo because she took the leap and bought the highly sought after Metallic Elephant KSF3. Tune in to find out wh…

1
S6E3 - Designing For Letterpress 57:16

1M ago57:16

57:16

There are so many things to consider when designing for letterpress. Knowing the process, limitations, and techniques can help you elevate your design and avoid surprises ($$!). In this episode we cover some of the main items you'll want to keep in mind while designing for letterpress (although there could possibly be a hundred more!). We've discus…

1
S6E2 - Moving Presses 53:14

1M ago53:14

53:14

This week, Moriah & Jillian have an episode that requires some serious heavy lifting… Moving presses! All jokes aside, it’s an intimidating process to move antique printing equipment. With several moves under our own belts, and plenty we’ve seen/heard about, we’ve gathered up our best advice all in one episode for you. If you’re looking at getting …

1
S6E1 - Three Peas in a Pod(cast) 36:35

2M ago36:35

36:35

Although we’ve been working behind the scenes on this season for quite a while, it felt so right to officially kick off season 6 on Type High Day! Hopefully 9/18 has some fun print projects in store for you, and you can get caught up on all our goings-ons while you get inked up. We have been through some big changes in our personal lives, our work …

1
S5E12 - Typecasting with Val Lucas of Bowerbox 1:08:42

1y ago1:08:42

1:08:42

Val Lucas is one of the few changing the game and carrying on the legacy of metal typecasting. We were introduced to her stunning work via her pattered border submissions to the APA, and we knew we had to have her on to walk us though this process! This episode covers Val's journey from printing classes to creating her own line of cast borders. We …

1
S5E11 - Book Club Pt 3 1:07:15

1y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Pricing and finances are two of the scariest parts of going into business. In the third edition of our Book Club series, we cover two amazing guides to setting yourself up for financial success. Books discussed: Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines This textbookesque guide covers so much information regarding t…

1
S5E10 - Press Maintenance 44:34

1y ago44:34

44:34

If you want to keep your press in tip top shape, regular maintenance is key. But we know how daunting this could feel, especially if you're brand new to printing and just acquired your press friend. In this episode we cover some of the standard maintenance procedures you'll want to take part in. Full disclosure: this episode favors those of us oper…

1
S5E9 - Sculpted Embossing Pt 2 w/ JR Press 1:26:58

1y ago1:26:58

1:26:58

For the second episode in this short series on Sculpted Embossing, we speak with Nick and Mac from JR Press in San Fransisco. JR Press is a family owned business that Nick's grandfather opened up in 1987. They have a hefty list of equipment and they've had the pleasure of working on some incredible projects. We pick up the sculpted embossing proces…

1
S5E8 - Book Club Pt 2 48:01

1y ago48:01

48:01

In our second edition of the "Book Club" series, we discuss some of our favorite and most popular technical handbooks. These are books that can directly enhance your knowledge of printing and print history that can be applicable to growing your press skills. Books covered: Elementary Platen Presswork by Ralph W. Polk (buy here on ThriftBooks) Print…

1
S5E7 - Sculpted Embossing w/ Metal Magic 1:01:45

1y ago1:01:45

1:01:45

If you've been oogling the beautiful results from sculpted emboss while scrolling through Instagram, you're not alone! We have been so intrigued by the process that we decided to set out and do a 2 part series on this seriously impressive print method! In Part 1, we speak with Mark Schumacher from Metal Magic, the #1 place to source brass and coppe…

1
S5E6 - Rush Fees 48:54

1y ago48:54

48:54

Ever since the great wedding surge of 2021, it seems like rush projects are the norm. How we handle those varies from company to company, but if you're just starting out and are curious on how other printers handle rush fees - this episode is for you! Prior to recording this episode, we polled our audience and the print community at large to gather…

1
S5E5 - Vandercook & Sons 48:32

1y ago48:32

48:32

In this episode we walk through the history of our favorite proof press manufacturer: Vandercook & Sons! Their story takes several twists and turns before it ends with a familiar name, in a completely different place. Want to follow along with some of the imagery we discuss? Here is a link to the very helpful timeline of all Vandercook presses, wit…

1
S5E4 - Book Club Part 1 1:15:12

1y ago1:15:12

1:15:12

Your favorite letterpress podcast is starting a book club! We have been inspired, influenced and encouraged by the writings of many authors, and we know there are so many more to hear from! We'll occasionally be sprinkling in Book Club episodes so that we can share our favorite readings with you! In this episode we discuss two books: The War of Art…

1
S5E3 - Screening & Screaming for Half Tones 52:33

1+ y ago52:33

52:33

After a fellow printer sent us a very intriguing photo of an unexpected print result, we reached back out to Shelley & Max Otto from Concord Engraving to discuss screening plates, half tones, and what happens when you submit plate artwork at anything less than 100% opacity! We are so thrilled to have Shelley and Max rejoin us, and this episode is a…

1
S5E2 - Delivering Bad News 1:08:49

1+ y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

We've all been there... Something is spelled wrong, the prints have a line running through them, the foil is subpar, or that color of envelope your client has been obsessing over is out of stock EVERYWHERE! No matter what the situation is, it SUCKS delivering bad news to a client. Our emotions will always want to get the best of us, so in this epis…

1
S5E1 - Chandler & Price 39:24

1+ y ago39:24

39:24

We’ve talked a lot about platen presses on Hot Off the Press, but in this episode we are diving deep the history of Chandler & Price in particular. C&Ps, as they’re commonly known, are one of the most popular presses still around, and they're one of our faves! We found some visuals that you might enjoy to check out as we talk through the history of…

1
Season 5 - Coming Soon!! 1:18

1+ y ago1:18

1:18

Life has been FULL of great things, but we are back and ready to bring you more of the letterpress content you love! Tune in next week 7/24 for the start of Season 5 of Hot Off the Press!

1
S4E13 - Large Print Areas 1:01:44

1+ y ago1:01:44

1:01:44

For those of us printing on a platen press, large print areas can feel very daunting or even impossible! We both have gone from total failure to complete success when it comes to printing bigger patterns on our presses, so this episode is dedicated to all the tips and tricks we learned to get us there! This episode concludes our fourth season! We'r…

1
S4E12 - Markets and Expos 59:39

1+ y ago59:39

59:39

Sunny weather is here, which means markets and expos are starting to pick up! If you've never done a market before, it may seem intimidating on where to start, and you might even be wondering "will this be worth is?" In this episode we talk about how to discern your ROI (return on investment) and how to get yourself show-ready! Are you doing any ma…

1
Learn Letterpress Open Registration 'til 4/16 4:23

1+ y ago4:23

4:23

Learn Letterpress is an online course taught by Britt Rohr of Swell Press. Britt covers everything from how to design for letterpress, to how to mix inks, and of course... printing! She does an in-depth demonstration on 3 different types of presses (a platen, flatbed and a windmill!) and even covers smart business practices like how to get the most…

1
S4E11 - Finding Inspiration 1:01:05

1+ y ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Nothing's more frustrating than feeling the minutes of an hour tick by while you stare at a blank art board begging for inspiration to hit. Creative ruts are no joke, no fun and can cost us a lot of time (which means they're costing us money!!). We've identified our #1 culprit for these creative ruts, and mapped some ways to get out of them! Tune i…

1
S4E10 - Packaging 101 1:25:45

1+ y ago1:25:45

1:25:45

If you're selling a product, you've probably given a lot of thought about how to package it. From it's pretty retail packaging, to the box it ships in... it all serves a bigger purpose! Finding our *flow* with packing up the various types of orders we ship out took some time, and a lot of experimenting, so this episode was made specifically because…

1
S4E8 - James Tucker | The Aesthetic Union 53:25

1+ y ago53:25

53:25

In this episode, we chat with James Tucker who, in 2013, founded the Aesthetic Union. James has an amazing background (including time spent on the presses at the infamous Hatch Printing!), and a love for exploring the art of printmaking beyond the surface of traditional techniques. He's also heavily inspired by the beauty in nature and landscapes. …

1
S4E7 - Maximizing Your Assets 1:17:51

1+ y ago1:17:51

1:17:51

Sometimes being a one-woman shop feels really limiting when it comes to how much you can "earn." However, more often than not, there's a way to expand your earnings with assets you have already worked on, acquired or built. While together in Minnesota, Jillian and Moriah sit down to brainstorm ways they can each leverage their own assets to create …

1
S4E6 - The Kickass Bruno Press 1:18:30

1+ y ago1:18:30

1:18:30

While on a field trip in Minnesota, we had the absolute pleasure of visiting Bruno Press and interviewing the kickass woman behind it, Mary Bruno. Mary came into letterpress thanks to her late father, Don, who was a college professor and printing enthusiast. He turned their modest-sized home garage into a printer's dreamland, and it's the same spac…

1
S4E5 - Vacationing as a Solopreneur 1:01:47

1+ y ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Listen... we all need a little getaway sometimes, but that can feel really hard, or even scary, when the only person keeping your business going is you. As two fully solo entrepreneurs, we walk you through the steps we've learned to take to prepare our studios for planned (and unplanned) getaways. This episode was inspired by a question from one of…

1
S4E4 - Leveling Your Platen 34:03

1+ y ago34:03

34:03

If you operate a platen press, knowing how to properly test and level your platen is a really handy skill to have! We're here to share the advice passed on to us from some of the kind souls we met at the LA Printers Fair, and walk you through the process of leveling that platen. Trust us... you can do it! Just be careful, and take your time! Resour…

1
S4E3 - Don't Go broke on Etsy 1:12:34

1+ y ago1:12:34

1:12:34

We firmly believe that if you're not on Etsy, you're leaving money on the table. However, if you're not paying attention to your real costs and the fees.. things can go wrong quickly! In this episode we cover the basics of setting up an Etsy shop, and how to make sure you don't fall victim to undercharging (Hint: Don't be looking at other shops!!).…

1
S4E2 Printing on Cardstocks 54:56

2y ago54:56

54:56

This is a conversation that we see, hear, and take part in A LOT: What kind of impression do you get on non-cotton cardstocks? Let's face it... in the world of cotton papers, the color selections are SLIM, and bright pops of pink or soothing shades of sage are an ever growing trend. So what options do we have? In this episode, we discuss our own ex…

1
S4E1 New Year Maintenance 1:07:17

2y ago1:07:17

1:07:17

It's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of your business, and put boring, routine maintenance items to the back-burner. Scheduling some time to take care of your studio, machines, and electronic files will go a long way in supporting your success throughout the new year. In this episode we take 3 main areas of your paper business and discuss 3 …

1
S3E12 2022 Wrapped 59:04

2y ago59:04

59:04

We'd like to end this season with a little reflection back on our first full year as a podcast, as well as sharing our plans and process for preparing for the year that lies ahead. We're determined to make the most out of 2023, so if you need some inspiration for getting into the goal setting mood... look no further. Want to close out your year wit…

1
S3E11 Emboss Like a Boss 40:07

2y ago40:07

40:07

We've talked about printing ... we've talked about die cutting ... it's time to add another tool to your letterpress belt: Embossing!! Embossing might seem simple on the surface, until you get to the first step of making the artwork for your plates. Sure, some manufactures will take care of all the work for you, but it's always great to have an und…

1
S3E10 Pantone - The PMS we actually like 51:45

2y ago51:45

51:45

Once upon a time, chaos ruled the world, and "color matching" was based solely on the discretion of whoever was creating the ink or dye for that product. Can you even imagine?! In this episode we give credit where credit is due: Pantone wins the award for being the most useful (though sometimes annoying) tool for those of us working in the visual a…

1
S3E9 The Better Mail Club 1:01:56

2y ago1:01:56

1:01:56

"Having a card on hand when you suddenly need one... it makes you feel like you have your sh*t together" While the tragedy of a global pandemic stopped most things in their tracks, the long days of being stuck at home opened the doors for unexpected opportunity. Today we take a look back at the creation of the signature greeting card subscription: …

1
S3E8 Just my Type 26:26

2y ago26:26

26:26

In this episode, Moriah walks you through the process of composing and setting type! Things to remember when composing, tips & tricks on locking up your form and handling wood type… It’s all here in one package, just for you. If you’ve ever wanted to get started printing with wood or metal type, consider this a guide to help you learn on your own, …

1
S3 E7 Letters from Santa w/ Knapp Design Co 59:57

2y ago59:57

59:57

Every now and then you see a product launch that just blows your mind. The cleverness and level of detail leave you absolutely swooning. That's how we felt after seeing the 2022 Letters from Santa offered by Knapp Design Co. You might remember our friend Cara Jo from Season 2, and we are so excited to have her back to walk us through this brilliant…

1
S3 E6 - Business to Business 54:25

2y ago54:25

54:25

Doing work for other stationers has played a pretty big role in getting our businesses off the ground, whether we planned on doing that from the beginning or not. While our social media algorithms may make it seem like everyone has access to a letterpress, it's actually very rare to have one sitting in your studio or your garage. So you might be th…

1
S3E5 - Ghosts of Printing Past 56:47

2y ago56:47

56:47

Not to be typecast as a Halloween bore, we're locking up an hour of your time with a little haunting of ghosts of printing past. o0o0oo0oOo0oh .... In this episode we dive a little deeper into the lives of three printers who helped set printing history in motion. There's tales of being abandoned abroad, a few scandalous marriages, and of course, so…

1
S3E4 - Printer's Fair Recap!! 49:13

2y ago49:13

49:13

Over the weekend of October 22-23, we had the absolute pleasure of being one of the many talented vendors at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Printers Fair hosted by (and at!!) the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA. This episode recaps some of our favorite highlights of the fair, and we hope hearing these stories inspires you, not only to stre…

1
S3 E3 - Die Cutting 37:31

2y ago37:31

37:31

We all love custom shapes & custom envelopes… And we’ve watched them become massively popular in stationery design. Well, in this episode covers all the common questions about die cutting, and what you’ll need to get going! Tune in to learn about the differences between steel rule dies, rotating drag knife & lasers, their pros & cons, as well as wh…

1
S3 E2 - 2 Wrongs Don't Make a Copyright 43:12

2y ago43:12

43:12

If you’re a printer or stationery designer, like us, you’ve probably encountered similar scenarios: a client wants you to replicate another designer’s work, a customer wants you to print something with a well-known brand on it, or you’ve found this amazing font you want to use for a brand design. Well, in this episode we’re talking about copyright,…

1
S3 E1 - Preparing for the Holiday Rush! 57:28

2y ago57:28

57:28

October is here, which in the small business world means it’s time to get ready for the inevitable craziness of the Holiday season! Whether you’re ahead of the game or still deciding what you want to offer this year, Jillian has a 6-step plan to make sure you’re ready for your launch day. As this is the first week of PRINTMAS, we are doing a giveaw…

1
S2E13 It's About Time - Knapp Design Co 1:08:50

2y ago1:08:50

1:08:50

Thanks to the wonderful world of social media, we’ve had the opportunity to meet so many other amazing printers, and on this episode we are thrilled to share the story of one of our faves: Cara Jo Knapp from Knapp Design Co. Cara Jo has long been interested in the world of print making, and patiently waited until the time was right for her to take …

1
S2E12 Q & A 1:05:05

2y ago1:05:05

1:05:05

We’ve had some of these questions come up several times, so we KNOW you’re going to want to hear what we have to say during this Q & A episode! We’re covering: press recommendations for someone wanting to print greetings whether or not to remix an ink that’s separated why Illustrator is SO hard when to oil your press and more! Links: We mention die…

1
S2E11 - What's the Point (System)? 23:51

2y ago23:51

23:51

There are some terms in modern design & typography that actually originate in letterpress. Having a better understanding of these terms - and where they came from - will help you level up your designing game! Tune in to learn about points, picas, kerning, tracking and more! While you listen, be sure to browse our Instagram for the graphics to go al…

1
S2E10 - Opaque vs. Transparent White Ink 31:03

2y ago31:03

31:03

If you’ve ever mixed ink for letterpress or even LOOKED at a Pantone Formula Guide, this episode is for you! We discuss the pros & cons of the different white ink options… And tell you our favorite tips, tricks and what to look out for with both. Tune in to learn more about transparent white, opaque white, and which one to use for YOUR project!…

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