Bad Idea Social Club

Bad Idea Social Club is an independent podcast of stories, insights, and creative foolery. Hosted by graphic designer Aaron McCall with photographer Joe Matteson, the show brings honest, unfiltered conversations with creatives about the work, the mess, and everything that comes with it. This is a space where honesty meets the beautifully unhinged parts of creativity, process, struggle, joy, mental health, and everything else we don’t usually say out loud.

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Bad Idea Social Club

Jacob Betts: Once a Vagrant

November 04, 2025 • Season 6 • Episode 9

0:00 | 1:01:56

Jacob Betts (singer-songwriter, The American Hotel System) joins Aaron McCall to talk about creativity as something to hold onto when life unravels, how grief reshapes how we see purpose, and what it means to rebuild belief in people when everything around you feels painfully divided. He opens up about faith, art, and the defiance it takes to choose hope over cynicism.

Keep up with Jacob Betts:
americanhotelsystem.com
IG: @theamericanhotelsystem
IG: @theconcussedcoffeegeek

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This episode is supported by:
Creative Mornings Grand Rapids
Merchants & Makers
Revue
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Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:
Aaron McCall
aaronmccall.net
IG: @aaron_mccall
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Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:
Joe Matteson
themattesons.co
IG: @joe_dustin
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Music:
"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches
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Support the Podcast:
Buy Merch
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Follow Bad Idea Social Club:
badideasocialclub.com
IG: @badideasocialclub

Aaron McCall

Host

Joe Matteson

Co-host