AS WE CREATE

As We Create is a podcast exploring the fascinating thought process of those working in creative fields.

Bob Handelman 07/16/2026

Bob Handelman started on the account side of things at in Chicago before finding his way back east to pursue commercial photography. Bob’s early work focused on marketing and communications for colleges and universities and he shares how that work took him around the world. We also talk about the current state of the photography industry as well as his newest venture , which will have Bob traveling once again. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/42111110

Kimberly Lewis 07/02/2026

Kimberly Lewis Growing up outside of Philadelphia presented many challenges for and she had no choice but to grow up fast. She always found comfort in drawing and shares how she began to understand graphic design and the potential for a career path. Kimberly shares some experiences and lessons she learned after graduation and what lead her to UX design and her current role at . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/41928030

Melanie Uribe 06/18/2026

Melanie Uribe Pursuing a creative career was not a popular option in home country of Venezuela, though having family in Florida, she was able to attend college in the States and pursue her ambitions of becoming a graphic designer. We discuss her early roles working in editorial and how her love of package design took shape over the years. Melanie also talks about her position at Southern Connecticut State University and the current state of design education. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/41691405

Matthew Cherry 06/04/2026

Matthew Cherry came from a strong musical family and spent his early years playing different instruments before settling on the bass. After finishing his music education and working as a freelance musician, Matthew was diagnosed with a medical condition which forced him to limit his live performing. Still needing to make a living, he had the opportunity to help score a short film and we talk about how that experience began his path into photography. We also talk about how digital affected the imaging world and the current state of Ai and CGI in the creative industry. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/41529375

Nancy Ruzow 05/21/2026

Nancy Ruzow grew up being surrounded by the arts and fashion through her parents and eventually developed a fascination for advertising. Nancy shares how she got started working for publishing companies creating ads and when she decided to go off on her own. We talk about the the mindset of running your own studio and how she is currently embracing the tools of Ai. Nancy also talks about , a community effort she has been leading for many years. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/41373085

Brian Pike 05/07/2026

Brian Pike Growing up in rural Maine was a great experience for though when it came time to research advertising schools, he took the opportunity to head to the West Coast. Brian shares how he began his career as a copywriter as well as knowing when to push an idea beyond a clients comfort level. We also talk about the current state of advertising as well his role at . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/41199285

Ilona Somogyi 04/23/2026

Ilona Somogyi Initially focusing her education on becoming an actor, quickly discovered it was not going to be a good fit. While still having a fascination with theater, she turned back to her seamstress skills instilled by her grandmother. Ilona shares many stories of her career as a freelance costume designer as well as her involvement with the . We also hear about the journey Ilona has taken co-founding . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40988315

Chris Knopf 04/09/2026

Chris Knopf Reading was something that came to at a very early age and had him pursue his education in creative writing. Before becoming a published author, Chris shares how his career began working in public relations as a copywriter and what lead to him taking over the creative agency . We also talk about the relationship of strategy and creativity as well as the current state of publishing. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40779170

Jeff Jahnke 03/26/2026

Jeff Jahnke A few career paths were considered before set his sights on architecture and he shares how things went after he served in the Navy. We talk about the creative freedom of architecture and how it can often be suppressed by tradition. He also shares how a longterm project while he was working for , became a foundational element to launching his own firm, /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40629545

Anne Cubberly 03/12/2026

Anne Cubberly always had a love for drawing and creating, though when she experienced a performance for the first time, she fell in love with giant puppets. We talk about the many creative chapters of her life before coming back to Connecticut, and how all of those experiences influenced and the power of community collaboration. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40407790

Anthony Marsilio 02/26/2026

Anthony Marsilio 's fascination of graphic design was inspired by the automotive industry. He began teaching himself, though his self assigned design projects remained a part time effort as he began a career in engineering. While working for a civil engineering firm, they needed to improve their marketing efforts and his part time hobby started to become his full time role. Anthony shares how his creative career unfolded, his willingness to always further his education, and what goes into being a creative lead for . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40240315

John Suscovich 02/12/2026

John Suscovich is an independent author and marketing professional. After receiving a theater production degree from the University of Connecticut, he moved to New York City to work as a lighting tech for the Howard Stern Show. While in living in New York, John began cycling more and developed a curiosity for nutrition and agriculture. He and embarked on a two year cycling trip to bring awareness to where our food comes from and the choices some farmers make. John began farming on his own and also helped start . All of this created the foundation for his company, . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/40079795

Jeanne Criscola 01/29/2026

Jeanne Criscola made her way into graphic design through textiles and museum curation. We talk about what lead her to start her own design studio and much of the work she’s done over the years, especially with . We also discuss the current state of education and the value of creativity. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39921795

Brad Collins 01/15/2026

Brad Collins is the founder of . He shares how his love of science faded in college which eventually lead him to create his own curriculum. We talk about his love of the written word, how Group C came to be, and his methods of listening that help present his clients stories in unique ways. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39736630

Remembering Carissa Decelles 01/01/2026

Remembering Carissa Decelles This is a special posting of a Episode 9 - a conversion with Carissa Decelles from October 2022. Carissa was an award winning designer and a friend whose life was taken from her much too soon. This is a great episode that conveys just how resilient and inspiring she was. Thank you Carissa. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39583220

Catherine Casalino 12/18/2025

Catherine Casalino love of photography and writing came together when she was exposed to the publishing world after college. We talk about her time at and , and how that compares to running her own studio. She also walks us through some recent projects, including her contribution to the award winning film, . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39453485

Daniel Sheridan 12/04/2025

Daniel Sheridan is an illustrator and designer. Growing up in the hardcore and metal music scene, it was the visual aesthetic and grit that influenced the style Daniel is known for. We talk about staying motivated, raising a family, and how his love of motorcycles and design come together to produce . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39262535

Dead Rabbit Design Co. 11/20/2025

Dead Rabbit Design Co. and are the principals behind They share how each of their professional careers began and the collaboration that lead to them moving forward as a team. We talk about some of their clients in the craft beer industry and how technology has impacted creative integrity. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/39104770

Richard Sachs 11/06/2025

Richard Sachs While perusing his next adventure after high school, traveled abroad to work for in London. Having earned the trust of the companies family, he helped bring the brand to America. As bicycle racing became more popular here in the states, Richard went out on his own and he shares the mindset behind Richard Sachs Cycles and the unique value of a craftsman. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/38936260

Emily Russo 10/23/2025

Emily Russo creative path began after taking one look at a commercial design portfolio in high school. After she finished art school, Emily shares what she learned working at a small boutique agency and how that influenced her own . We also talk about her time at the and her current role at . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/38724750

Jeremy Staub 10/09/2025

Jeremy Staub has come a long way from his beginnings as a one person studio and we talk about his growth and how began focusing on hospitality. He also shares some experiences working with new clients, keeping his team inspired, and what went into the recent Box 8 rebrand. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/38523960

Tom Francesconi 09/25/2025

Tom Francesconi When 's early dreams of playing in the NBA started to fade, he developed an interest in sports branding and advertising. This began Tom's path into the commercial creative world and he talks about his time at , , and his current role at . We also talk about a with the WNBA and the value he sees in mentorship. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/38344065

Amanda Roy 09/11/2025

Amanda Roy childhood was filled with many creative efforts, though her time was spent elsewhere once her professional life began. Amanda shares how she reawakened her artistic side after nearly 20 years and how she is allowing herself to be more vulnerable in how she goes about creating. We also talk about the importance of supporting artists and communities and her role as CEO of . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/38178640

Margaret Bodell 08/28/2025

Margaret Bodell In her pursuit to gain more knowledge to become a better artist herself, realized her true passion was to better understand other artist’s work. After working for well known art collector Sammy Ofer, Margaret needed to step away from the business side of fine art and focus on curating the work of lesser known artists. We talk about running her own gallery, the , and her current role at the . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/37999495

Angela Belt 08/14/2025

Angela Belt Angela Belt's aspirations of working in politics quickly changed when she realized her authenticity was being compromised. While deciding where she wanted to focus next, a job at ignited her appreciation for interior design. We talk about her time at , working on a with her sister, and building her . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/37815755

Hugh Elliott 07/17/2025

Hugh Elliott As the son of a carpenter, has been building since he was very young. Eventually, he pursed a career in computers and graphics which had him designing websites, though reproducing similar ideas one after another eventually became stale. Hugh shares how he started connecting his trade craft skills with his technology sense to solve unique problems and help others create new experiences. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/37439690

Ed Johnetta Miller 07/03/2025

Ed Johnetta Miller is an accomplished quilt and fiber artist. Her love of textiles began when her family moved out of the south for a better life in the 1950's. Since then, she has become a respected artist, educator, and social justice advocate with work reflecting the riches and struggles of African and African American people. She has works in the permanent collections of the , the , and many other international institutions. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/37270690

Nikita Prokhorov 06/19/2025

Nikita Prokhorov is a letter artist and designer who was influenced by architecture and painting through his Grandfather when he was young. After emigrating from Russia with his family, he shares what lead to his focus in design, his experiences teaching, and why he often keeps the computer off and starts an idea on paper. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/37042830

Michael Fiedler 06/05/2025

Michael Fiedler enlisted in the Navy after high school and that lead to a camera being put into his hands for the first time. We talk about the early days of his career working at the offices and various newspapers, as well as his ongoing personal project, . /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/36853400

Suzanne McKenzie 05/22/2025

Suzanne McKenzie Suzanne McKenzie is an entrepreneur, strategist, and designer. A brand has the ability to have social impact and Suzanne shares how her understanding of this came to be. We talk about her time in advertising at , starting a in memory of a loved one, and how is creating things responsibly while supporting city-youth empowerment and health education. /episode/index/show/5690d1ff-e5a4-4214-a82f-0c035b131ce7/id/36668870

AS WE CREATE

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