CASE STUDIES

This interactive map plots out the 40 stories of full hustle artists I interviewed in my road trips in the Mobile Incubator (and just a couple extra that I never got the chance to meet but have inspired the hell out of me). Each case study includes docu-shorts, podcasts, and discussion questions, and corresponds to a lesson in Get Lost & Get Found. Now you can explore your own story through others’ voices.

Pssst… there’s a 50% off discount code inside each of my courses! Your support helps me write new stories and gives access to the following case studies.

[1] IDENTITY

CASE STUDIES

WHAT MAKES AN ARTIST?

What created your creativity? We asked 60+ artists in middle America, “We know you make art, but what made you an artist?”

DON'T TRY... BE

Authenticity was everything when Diego Orlandini dreamed up the Wynwood Coloring Book, bringing together artists from the block all the way to Banksy.

COURTROOM THEATRICS

Combining her love of the stage with a degree in law, Paola Ferrer has woven a unique path as an advocate for youth and poverty issues.

SAY MY NAME

Bethany Yellowtail’s fashions reflect her indigenous heritage stemming from Northern Cheyenne and Crow tribes.

[2] VISION & VALUES

CASE STUDIES

PROPHET & LOSS

Xulu Jones made a decision to be homeless rather than make a paycheck outside of his music.

MONEY SUCKS

Rocking with The Monsieurs, Fuzzy, Shepherdess, slinging vintage at 40 South Street, Hilken Mancini co-founded Girls Rock Campaign Boston and Punk Rock Aerobics.

THE ANSWER

11-time NBA All Star Allen Iverson is more than an athlete, his story became “The Answer” of overcoming a hard knock life.

[3] AUDIENCE

CASE STUDIES

SEX, POETRY & DETROIT

U want naughty or nice? As One Single Rose™ or Miss Detroit™, poet Rosemarie Wilson sells us both.

THE 1ST PODCAST

PRX and Radio Public co-founder Jake Shapiro takes us through revolutionary Russia, marketing Two Ton Shoe, and the founding of the podcast format itself.

VOICE OF THE CITY

Angie Martinez started as a 16 year old intern and persevered 20 years to become “The Voice of New York”, through radio, rap, books, podcasts, and more.

[4] COMPETITION

CASE STUDIES

DON'T HATE, COLLABORATE

Are creators doing it alone? We asked 100+ Tulsa artists, “How does collaboration expand your creativity?”

LEGALIZE BALLET

A ballerina and intellectual property lawyer, Allyn Ginns runs the Legal Link program in Miami.

THE ART OF SPOONING

Jim Grace literally wrote the book on spooning. Now he runs the Arts & Business Council and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

BEEF VS BATTLE

Did flame wars between hip hop artists and fans lead to the murder of both Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur?

[5] CREATION

CASE STUDIES

MAKE IT TIL U MAKE IT

His experience making NYC clubs like Pink Elephant led Shawn Kolodny to making fine art and immersive installations.

F*CK FEAR

Grant Henry (AKA Sister Louisa) dropped out of seminary and pursued his "search for truth" into art, bars, retail, and now a retreat center.

HOTLINE MIAMI

Jonathan Söderström & Dennis Wedin combined an arthouse storyline with a driving soundtrack into the violent video game Hotline Miami.

[6] PITCH

CASE STUDIES

COACHING WHILE BLACK

A three-time Olympic gold medalist, Dawn Michelle Staley is a Hall of Fame basketball player and coach who knows how to advocate for herself.

LOCATION MNGT

Working with Showtime, Warner Bros, and other studios, Ryan Cook has to talk with cops, mobsters, and celebrities to make a creative project happen.

DON'T BLAME THE AUDIENCE

Collaborating with Maron, Mirman, Gulman, Kirkman and other comedians, Rick Jenkins has run The Comedy Studio for 20+ years.

[7] CHANNELS

CASE STUDIES

LIVE AUDIENCE TO LIVESTREAM

How do artists pivot in a pandemic? COVID-19 cancelled live events worldwide, but can performers earn a living without a live audience?

A HOTEL THAT KICKSTARTER BUILT

Greg Hennes combined his photographic eye and his art friends to crowdfund a boutique hotel, The Jennings.

TIL DEATH

Graphic and apparel designers Clark Orr & Brittany Reagan "married" their talents in Hellcats Inc.

INFINITE COLLAB

The king of collaboration, street artist KAWS keeps finding new outlets like Nigo, Pharrell, Air Jordan, Uniqlo and MoMA.

[8] ASK

CASE STUDIES

PROJECT FUNWAY

Project Runway 15 winner Erin Robertson sells serious fun with her spirit of "What's the worst that can happen?".

THE ART OF ASKING

The Dresden Dolls became the first Kickstarter to reach $1 million but it began on the streets for Amanda Palmer.

THE PLATFORM

When Jadon Woodard was arrested while performing on a subway platform, in ended in $55,000 worth of studio money.

[9] ASSETS & ALLIES

CASE STUDIES

BOSS OF SAUCE

As boss of Mama's Sauce, Nick Sambrato has to scale a new business with century-old printing techniques.

A STITCH IN TIME

Samantha Shepherd & Dustin White threaded their talents together into a mom & pop embroidery business.

$3M BOWLING ALLEY

In Sante Fe NM, the collective of interdisciplinary artists Meow Wolf turned “do it yourself” into “let’s pay ourselves”.

[10] TIME

CASE STUDIES

10 BULLETS

Film maker, art maker, and mischief maker, Tom Sachs shares his secret recipe for time management.

ATHLETE 2 ARTIST

After a career ending injury, Blake McFarland retired from the Blue Jays and went full hustle on visual art.

HIT ESC ON 9-5

Ellen Rutt's escape plan from the 9-5 design job was not complete without a total breakdown.

[11] COST

CASE STUDIES

$100 MIX TAPE

Grammy winning rapper Nipsey Hussle’s musical and entrepreneurial mind knew no limits.

$9 JAR OF PICKLES

What makes local food twice the price? Over 50 farmers and foodies give their answers at Fermentation Fest.

$5K TO $200K

ArtPrize 10 winner Le'Andra Leseur turned a $5k grant into a $200k installation. Her work embodies the pain, the power, and the beauty of #blacklivesmatter.

[12] RELATIONSHIPS

CASE STUDIES

LIFE IS A TRIP

After Harvard, Charles T James & Daisy Chiu grew Crimson Bikes from a broom closet to multiple locations thru new tech.

TAXPAYER TIME MACHINE

How can public art be a bridge? The demolition of Seattle’s viaduct and all its nostalgia ushers a new $3.3 billion waterfront.

INVEST IN KINDNESS

Printmaker & public artist Bryce McCloud created Bryce Bux, a new currency to stimulate the Nashville economy.

$10/MONTH

Did I already mention… there’s a 50% off discount code inside each of my courses!