The Creative Asylum

In this episode, a conversation with Bootsy Holler — the lens-and-light maestro who captured the raw energy, the DIY grit, and the creative perseverance of Seattle's indie, rock and punk music. With her new book MAKiNG iT: An Intimate Documentary of the Seattle Indie, Rock & Punk Scene, 1992‑2008, Bootsy talks about her journey — from a young photographer showing up at clubs with a camera and her passion, to witnessing and framing a cultural moment that has since attained mythic status. We discuss some of the bands that defined the period, but also the artist behind the lens: how she navigated being a woman in that scene, how photography became her tool of memory and connection, and how her book is both a chronicle of an era and a personal blueprint to the unapologetic drive needed to make art.

From her early days as a founding member of the Riot Grrrl band, Bratmobile to an impressive career as a music executive, Molly Neuman has lived a life steeped in creativity, community, and change. As a musician at the forefront of a burgeoning musical subculture, she helped shape a movement that gave voice to a new generation of feminist artists; as President of CD Baby, she continues to champion independent musicians everywhere, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms.In this conversation, Molly reflects on her journey from the punk underground to the executive suite—sharing perspectives and insights about the evolving music industry, artist empowerment and maintaining a DIY perspective in all aspects of life and work. 

In this episode, an in-depth conversation with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Doug Pray, whose work over the past three decades has captured the raw spirit of several American subcultures.Doug’s films — including Hype!, Scratch, Surfwise, Art & Copy, Levitated Mass, and Love, Lizzo — have explored everything from the explosion of Seattle’s grunge scene to the pioneers of hip-hop DJ culture, the power of advertising, and the artists and outsiders who redefine what’s possible. His documentaries are celebrated for their empathy, energy, and authentic connection to the people and movements they portray.Doug reflects on his filmmaking journey, the stories behind his most iconic works, and how he finds truth and emotion through documentary storytelling. We discuss his process — from gaining trust with subjects to finding meaning in the edit room — and how decades of filmmaking have shaped his perspective on creativity and collaboration.Whether you’re a filmmaker, music fan, or creative of any kind, this episode is an inspiring look into the craft of storytelling from one of the best in the field.

Conan Neutron is a singular force in the world of indie music — a songwriter, performer, and overachiever whose creative restlessness has fueled his Protonic Reversal podcast which has been running strong for an impressive 11 years! We talk about his current band, Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends as well as his previous groups, Replicator and Victory and Associates. In this energetic conversation, we dig into his uncompromising approach to doing everything he does and the DIY ethos that fuels his ambition and seemingly endless reserve of infectious energy. 

In this episode, I sit down with an old friend, Nabil Ayers — music executive, host of The Identified podcast and author of an acclaimed memoir 'My Life in the Sunshine,' which explores his experiences growing up as the son of legendary jazz musician Roy Ayers, a father that he never knew as a kid. The book AND the podcast explore questions of identity, race, and what constitutes family in environments that don't necessarily conform to "traditional" expectations. From his early days as a drummer and record store owner to his current role as a major figure as a music business executive, Nabil reflects on the experiences, lessons and epiphanies that have help to define his creative life.

In this episode, a rare and unfiltered conversation with Laurie Lipton, the Los Angeles–based artist whose painstaking black-and-white pencil drawings have captivated collectors, critics, and art lovers around the world. Over decades, she’s built a reputation for works that blend obsessive detail, a wicked gravitas and dark wit — forceful visual meditations on mortality, consumerism, politics, and the absurdity of modern life.If you’ve seen Laurie’s work and felt drawn into their labyrinthine detail, this conversation will peel back the layers — revealing the philosophies, humor and emotional connections that make her work so haunting and luminous.Laurie’s Website: LaurieLipton.comLaurie’s Instagram: Instagram.com/LaurieLiptonDrawings LINKS TO BUY HER REMARKABLE BOOKS:=================================Day of the Dead / Dia de Muertos (2005): https://amzn.to/47ez6Mo The Extraordinary Drawings of Laurie Lipton (2010): https://amzn.to/4hgXWQhThe Drawings of Laurie Lipton (2013): https://amzn.to/4nh21FH Laurie Lipton Drawing (2022): https://amzn.to/3LeCYFM