Conversations with the biggest names and best-kept secrets of the creative world, spanning across industries. Learn about their origin stories and how they keep going when things get tough.
New episodes drop every 2 weeks.
Hosted by Rick Kitagawa and Digital Noir Studios.
EP 48 - Building a successful fine art career with Steven Russell Black
Being a full-time fine artist and illustrator is an aspirational dream for many, and is a reality for Steven Russell Black that he’s created for himself through discipline and mileage.
Steven Russell Black is a northern California-based painter who paints surreal figurative work that highlight the beauty in the horrific. He illustrates comic covers, books, and most notably, cards for Magic: the Gathering.
In this conversation, Steven shares how his love and prioritization of his craft has brought him to being a full-time artist, the way he uses social media and consistency to build up a fan base, and how he builds multiple streams of revenue from every painting he finishes.
Steven’s Links
Website: stevenrussellblack.com (http://stevenrussellblack.com/)
Instagram: @stevenrussellback (https://instagram.com/stevenrussellblack)
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney (https://www.instagram.com/originsacreativejourney/)
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com (https://rickkitagawa.com)
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com (https://www.digitalnoirstudio.com/)
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com (https://designercon.com)
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_ (https://instagram.com/noelbeltran_)
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_ (https://facebook.com/noelbeltran_)
TikTok: @noelbeltran (https://www.tiktok.com/@noelbeltran)
Youtube: @noelbeltran (https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)
(https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston (https://instagram.com/@father.bankston)
Tiktok: @father_bankston (https://tiktok.com/@father_bankston)
Youtube: @nathanbankston (https://youtube.com/@nathanbankston)
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen (https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)
(https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com (http://thekitchenrecordingstudio.com/)
5 Sept 2025
EP 46 - The Power of Asking For What You Want with Jordan Fuchs of Plastic Pizza
Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch an independent brand and immediately get a collab with Johnny Cupcakes? Jordan Fuchs knows, as he’s literally done just that.
Jordan Fuchs is the frontman of Plastic Pizza, an art-driven brand with a focus on creativity, imagination, and community. After selling his extensive lego collection to raise money for his brand, in just a few short years he went from having an idea to building a company that delivers cheesy bliss in the form of art toys, limited-edition apparel, pins, stickers, and more.
In this conversation, Jordan lays out the power of asking fearlessly for what you want, how he got to talk to Mr. Beast’s team about a collaboration, and how he used guerilla marketing to build hype for his brand.
Jordan’s Links:
Instagram: @theplasticpizza (https://www.instagram.com/theplasticpizza)
Popshop Live: Plastic Pizza (https://popshop.live/plasticpizza?c=zQO3oX2pz75mYe4CWERs)
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney (https://www.instagram.com/originsacreativejourney/)
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com (https://rickkitagawa.com)
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com (https://www.digitalnoirstudio.com/)
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com (https://designercon.com)
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_ (https://instagram.com/noelbeltran_)
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_ (https://facebook.com/noelbeltran_)
TikTok: @noelbeltran (https://www.tiktok.com/@noelbeltran)
Youtube: @noelbeltran (https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)
(https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston (https://instagram.com/@father.bankston)
Tiktok: @father_bankston (https://tiktok.com/@father_bankston)
Youtube: @nathanbankston (https://youtube.com/@nathanbankston)
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen (https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)
(https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com (http://thekitchenrecordingstudio.com/)
22 Aug 2025
EP 45 - The Drive to Find Success On Your Own Terms with Joseph Israel Raul Bullard
If you’ve ever wondered about the determination and confidence needed to come from humble beginnings and build a successful career in design, look no further than this conversation with Joseph Israel Raul Bullard.
Joseph Israel Raul Bullard has cut his teeth doing design work for companies like Hulu and Dell before building his own design studio where he focuses on branding and identity packages for small businesses. He also teaches design to college students both at Austin Community College as well as via his podcast Students of Design.In this frank conversation, Joseph shares his story of growing up in a household ruled by alcoholism and the grit, determination, and confidence to escape that future for himself by any means necessary. We talk about the power of mentorship and the overlaps teaching has with good design – and Joseph shares how to leverage curiosity and YouTube to build a career.
Joseph’s Links
Instagram: @josephbullard (https://www.instagram.com/josephbullard/)
Students of Design IG: @studentsofdesignpod (https://www.instagram.com/studentsofdesignpod/)
LinkedIn: Joseph Israel Raul Bullard (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephisraelraulbullard/)
Listen to Students of Design (https://linktr.ee/studentsofdesignpod)
Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: dconpodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney (https://www.instagram.com/originsacreativejourney/)
For more Rick: rickkitagawa.com (https://rickkitagawa.com)
For more Chris: digitalnoirstudio.com (https://www.digitalnoirstudio.com/)
For more DesignerCon: designercon.com (https://designercon.com)
Origins theme song: Noel Beltran
Instagram: @noelbeltran_ (https://instagram.com/noelbeltran_)
FaceBook: @noelbeltran_ (https://facebook.com/noelbeltran_)
TikTok: @noelbeltran (https://www.tiktok.com/@noelbeltran)
Youtube: @noelbeltran (https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)
(https://www.youtube.com/@noelbeltran)Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston
Instagram: @father.bankston (https://instagram.com/@father.bankston)
Tiktok: @father_bankston (https://tiktok.com/@father_bankston)
Youtube: @nathanbankston (https://youtube.com/@nathanbankston)
Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio
Instagram: @milfs.kitchen (https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)
(https://instagram.com/@milfs.kitchen)Website: thekitchenrecordingstudio.com (http://thekitchenrecordingstudio.com/)
Who has been a guest on Origins: A Creative Journey
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Howie Noel
Julie Parrish
P-A Lesperance
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
68
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