A design-focused podcast dissecting the journeys of artists, thought leaders, product managers, and damn good people.
Hosted by Howard Pinsky, this podcast dives deep into the creative process, career evolution, and behind-the-scenes moments that shape the work and lives of inspiring individuals across the design and tech industries. From navigating creative blocks to scaling big ideas, each episode offers candid conversations, valuable insights, and a healthy dose of real talk.
From Marvel to Making His Own Comics | Stephan Franck
What happens when a filmmaker who has worked on Marvel's What If…?, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Despicable Me decides to build his own comic book universe?This week on the Cosmic Sans Podcast, I'm joined by comic artist, animation director, and storyteller Stephan Franck for a fascinating conversation about creativity, independence, and the art of storytelling.Growing up in his parents' comic book store outside Paris, Stephan developed a lifelong passion for comics and animation. That passion eventually brought him to Hollywood, where he's contributed to some of the biggest animated projects in entertainment.But alongside his studio career, Stephan has been building something entirely his own.We dive into his graphic novel series Palomino, a neo-noir crime mystery set against the forgotten country music scene of Los Angeles, and explore what it really takes to create, publish, and grow an independent comic series.We also get into the importance of human connection in art, the realities of building an audience without going viral, and Stephan's fascinating (and occasionally spicy) thoughts on artificial intelligence.In this episode:- Growing up surrounded by comics in France- Breaking into the animation industry- Directing Marvel's What If…?- The creative freedom of independent comics- The story behind Palomino- Building an audience through conventions and Kickstarter- Stephan's comic creation workflow- Why AI-generated art doesn't worry him- The importance of keeping humanity in storytellingFollow for more conversations with artists, designers, and creative minds!00:00 Meet Stephan Franck00:54 Growing Up in a Comic Book Store04:07 The Comics That Shaped His Childhood07:26 How His Parents Encouraged His Creativity11:20 From Music to Animation School14:33 How Roger Rabbit Changed Animation16:17 Breaking Into Hollywood22:37 Directing Marvel's What If…?26:31 What Does an Animation Director Actually Do?31:47 The Art of Storyboarding34:31 Stephan's Dream Superhero Project38:28 Can Indie Comics Become the Next Batman?41:42 Why You Have to Love What You Create44:21 Stop Waiting for Permission to Publish47:45 Breaking Into Comic-Con50:12 Building an Audience Without Going Viral55:40 The Story Behind Palomino58:24 The Forgotten Country Music History of LA62:41 Why Palomino Became a Six-Volume Series65:07 Why Kickstarter Matters for Comics68:06 How Stephan Builds Trust With Supporters73:16 Switching From Paper to Digital77:19 Creating Comic Books With 3D Sets82:06 How AI Fits Into His Workflow84:09 Stephan's Biggest Fear About AI88:07 Can AI Replace Comic Artists?90:53 Why Art Is About Human Connection95:23 AI, Propaganda, and Storytelling97:35 The Future of Comics and Animation100:00 Where to Find Stephan and Palomino
5 Oct 2026
Designing Epic Books & More | Kieron Anthony Lewis
What does it take to build a creative career while still making time for the things that actually matter?In this episode of Cosmic Sans, I sit down with editorial and graphic designer Kieron Anthony Lewis to talk about his journey from studying video game design to creating beautiful, physical publications — including an ambitious two-year book project celebrating art and culture in Lagos, Nigeria.We get into how fatherhood has changed Kieron’s relationship with work, why designers should embrace AI without forgetting the fundamentals, the nerves that never completely disappear when speaking on stage, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your career is say no.Kieron also shares some great advice for younger designers trying to stand out in an increasingly crowded creative industry, including why following what already works can sometimes keep you from finding your own voice.And toward the end, the conversation gets a little more personal as we talk about family, loss, time, and the importance of making things — and memories — that last.Find Kieron:kieronlewis.comFollow Cosmic Sans for more conversations with artists, designers, and damn good people.
00:00 Meet Kieron Anthony Lewis
01:59 How fatherhood changes everything
06:38 Balancing freelancing, work & family
10:15 From comics and video games to graphic design
14:36 How the design industry has changed
20:19 How Kieron uses AI in his creative workflow
24:59 Raising kids in a world of AI
28:32 Learning to speak confidently on stage
34:25 The power of pausing before you speak
41:18 Designing a massive book about Lagos
45:59 Where Kieron finds freelance clients
49:51 How designers can carve out their own space
53:23 Why creatives are afraid to stand out
56:16 Turning online negativity into something positive
59:03 Knowing when to say no to a client
1:02:27 Time vs. money
1:03:16 Family, legacy & making things that last
2 Sept 2026
Neurodivergence, Sobriety & Finding Yourself with Matthew Matsuzaki
I sat down with designer and entrepreneur Matthew Matsuzaki — better known online as Whale — fully expecting to talk about design.
We barely did. 😅
Instead, we ended up having one of the most personal conversations I've had on the podcast.
Matthew opens up about neurodivergence, ADHD and OCD, learning how his brain works, nearly 10 years of sobriety, meditation, parenting, relationships, vulnerability, recovery and the process of tearing down what you thought you knew about yourself.
Eventually, we even talk a little design — including how those experiences influence Matthew's work as Head of Brand at Ghost, the origins of his career, and why he's building Wimp Decaf as an intentionally different kind of business.
This one went absolutely nowhere I expected it to go — and I'm really glad it did.
Who has been a guest on Cosmic Sans
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jesse Showalter
Cody A Banks
Elise Swopes
Brandon Groce
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
23
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.2 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
29
Social presence
0
YouTube
63
Engagement
0
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