Cadence: A Podcast for Creatives

Cadence: A Podcast for Creatives

by Hafsah and Yen

Design Education

Season 3

Reflecting through change and reclaiming creative direction

Yen and Hafsah open Season 3 with an honest check-in on career transitions, creative identity, and navigating uncertainty. They unpack AI’s growing role in creative work, personal values, and how to stay grounded while the industry shifts fast.

Finding your voice through theater and vulnerability

EMU student and stage actress Myranda Wiggins shares her path into theater, the challenges of performance, and the confidence that comes from creative practice. This episode focuses on growth, emotional honesty, and using storytelling to connect with others on and off stage.

Building community through theater and creative leadership

Neighborhood Theatre Group co-founder Kristin Danko discusses growing a theater company, leading creative teams, and building cultural momentum in Ypsilanti. The episode explores artistic risk, collaboration, and what it takes to sustain meaningful local arts spaces.

Turning creative ideas into sustainable businesses

Entrepreneur and business consultant Kristin Gapske shares practical lessons from entrepreneurship, nonprofit leadership, and community-centered business building. This episode covers mindset, funding, marketing, and time management strategies for creatives turning passion into long-term work.

Season 2

Where Practice Meets Practicality

Recorded live at the Ann Arbor District Library! Featuring Donald Harrison (featured in S1. E5) and Hien Lam (featured in S2. E3). In this live recording, Yen and Hafsah are joined by CadencePod alums Donald Harrison, filmmaker and owner of 7 Cylinders Studio, and Hien Lam, co-owner and designer at Huck Finch, to explore how creative practice can be effectively integrated into real-world applications and careers.

Merging Mediums and Staying Agile in a Changing Media Landscape

Multimedia artist and designer Martin Thoburn joins the podcast to discuss how curiosity has driven his diverse career. With a background spanning graphic design, motion graphics, animation, filmmaking, and projection mapping, Martin shares his unconventional journey from film and mixed media experimentation, to a career in corporate work.

Building Sustainable Spaces that Matter

Architect, entrepreneur, and community advocate Lisa Sauve shares her journey from early drafting classes to founding Synecdoche. As CEO, she blends architecture, policy, and placemaking to shape urban spaces, local policies, and community culture. Through projects like Do Good Work, she supports creatives and fosters civic impact. This episode explores how design intersects with responsibility, offering insights for architects, designers, and changemakers.

Thinking Like a Designer, Building Like a CEO

Hien Lam, co-founder of Huck Finch, a strategic design studio in Ypsilanti, joins us to talk about building a business with intention, the power of saying no, and creating a brand that resonates. Hien shares his unconventional career path from pre-med to design entrepreneur, and how travel has influenced his work and worldview. We also dive into client experience, pricing strategies, and why great design starts with strategy, not aesthetics.

The Exhibit Designer’s Playbook: Building Meaningful Spaces

Hafsah and Yen sit down with Jason Jay Stevens, a creative force in exhibit design and the founder of Flutter and Wow Museum Projects. With a career spanning decades, Jason has played a key role in designing and implementing museum exhibits, interactive technologies, and immersive storytelling experiences. Jason shares insights into how curiosity, adaptability, and storytelling shape the world of museum design. He also reflects on the challenges of leading a creative team, the importance of accessibility in exhibit design, and why history museums are more vital than ever.

Developing Digital Experiences with Heart

Creative director, web developer, and musician Chris Plumb shares his journey from a digital art-obsessed teen to leading web development at major tech companies like Duo Security, Cisco Systems, and Claroty. He dives into how his passion for music and visual storytelling shapes his approach to web design, breaking down front-end vs. back-end development, the power of hands-on learning, and the role of design thinking in user experience. vChris also offers practical advice for aspiring developers, covering community-driven resources, AI’s growing influence on creativity, and the challenge of balancing career ambition with personal fulfillment.

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