BONUS: Took Long Enough

Ahead of Season 7 on April 14, Aaron McCall and Joe Matteson sit down to show off the studio space, talk through what’s changing, and shake the rust off a bit. They get into the shift to video, what it’s doing to the energy of the show, how this next chapter already feels different, and why they’re both excited and a little nervous about it. It’s loose, it’s honest, and it’s a quick look at where things are headed and what it took to get here.

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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

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:53

This episode is supported by Creative Mornings Grand Rapids, our local chapter in the world's largest face-to-face creative community. Creative Mornings believes everyone is creative and everyone is welcome. Their monthly lecture series is free and spans over 240 cities across 69 countries. Visit CreativeMornings.com to see what's going on with your local chapter. And by Merchants and Makers, a collective of local artists, makers, and small businesses, Merchants and Makers puts on markets across West Michigan connecting people with real artists and makers at events that include food trucks, live music, and local shopping. Visit merchantsandmakers.com for information on upcoming events and how to get involved.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

I've gotten really good at being appreciative for where I am and how far I've come. Said that weird. Where I am and how far I've come.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

You said it exactly the same the second time.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

No, well then it was a it must have been a mouthfeel thing. Because that cum had a weird mouthfeel the first time around.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

I can't seem to make them go away.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

But like I know it's just gonna be a Netflix machine.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Yeah, yeah. I know that. You have like a romantic perspective of what it could be. But I know me. Being hopeless romantic with our technology is a really funny thought. I saw this going differently.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Well, hey everybody, welcome. I'm it's it's weird looking into this camera. Yeah. Everybody, welcome back to Bad Ideas. I'm not gonna do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. Anyways, welcome back to Bad Ideas Social Club. My name is Aaron McCall. I'm Joe Madison. Um, and we're in, I guess, the the studio. This is it, baby. Right? Uh it's it's my home office studio space where we will be recording most of the episodes coming up this season. And uh, dude, I'm stoked. I'm just stoked. Like, I like I love the space. And I'm and I'm and I'm excited to be able to like share it with people.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

I was just gonna ask, how do you feel about opening the door to this like pretty intimate space where you've built a business out of it's funny because it's like I I love this space, yeah, and I want to show it off and I want to have people in.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

But as you can tell, like I don't know if you could tell in the cameras or not, but like it's a pretty small room.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

And at least this way I get to share it without having a bunch of fucking strangers in my house. Hell yeah. Dude, I I renovated this room when we first moved in. I've actually renovated this room twice.

SPEAKER_01 3:38

What was this before you got here? A bedroom?

SPEAKER_00 3:40

It was a bedroom, and there was like a like a split heater, kind of not really a split, but it was just like a this weird heater thing. Yeah over here. Uh the area behind me, like they had turned into a like a closet. So like there was, yeah, and um it was baby blue. And like I like ripped up the floors and like found like there was like layers and layers and layers of stuff on the floor. So I ripped up the floors and I like obviously this used to be like some like teenage girl's bedroom. Yeah, because it was like, oh, Ashley loves Devin or whatever, like written on the floor. Yeah, it is cool. And then I put then I put like an actual floor on top of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

Man, talking about hopeless romantic, I love it. We're on theme. Yeah, I I love that. I look at our house all the time, Erica and I's house, and I just think about like all the different iterations and families that have moved in and out of there and what each room has been for each person. We our nursery used to be baby blue, but for some reason they decided to take like in or they decided to put paint on their hands and put hand prints everywhere. So very creepy, yeah, real creepy. Yeah, and every once in a while, because we painted it just white, but every once in a while I'll catch like a little just like a little flash of like a handprint or something. I'm like, man, the evolution that our spaces go through.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

Like, I I started over in this room, you know, painted everything white, had like a um like a like a horizontal wood on the wall and everything. And it it it looked sharp for like a long time. Yeah. And then I just got bored.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

I got bored with it and I was like, you know what, let's paint the fucking thing black.

unknown 5:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:17

And I remember like I had already like, you know, patched all the walls and you know, uh got things to a spot where where I was like, oh no, because I'm painting my room black. Yeah. And uh um I'm like, either this is gonna be really cool or like the most depressing room that I could possibly be in. And it turns out it's just fine. No, it's fine. Honestly, like getting things ready to get this season off the ground has taken a lot of time and energy, and I'm really, really stoked about it because there's like a different energy, like a different vibration in the room. Uh, you know, as we bring in video and um kind of refocus. I just feel I just feel really good. And you know what? I'm I'm fine saying this now. Go ahead. I fucking fought this for six seasons. I fought it and I fought it and I fought it. And uh honestly, I kind of think that that that we did what we were gonna do in in in audio only format. So that's part of why I think this feels so fresh and so um you know, I mean, it's a new chapter. It's a new, it's it's a new thing for us. It's it's it's like I think the video is breathing fresh life into us as creatives, and then through that uh into this project. I completely agree.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Yeah, I just that whole idea of things entering into like the next phase and what you gain from that and the work you put in to get there. Um it makes me just super grateful of like where my my business has gone over the course of the last year because I find myself after just about every shoot now, I'll have like one or two photos where I'm like, that that's my favorite photo I've ever I've ever taken.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

And that's a good feeling, and I feel like that's happening in the podcast right now, too. Is we'll leave I've been able to be a part of a couple of the shoots again. And after we leave that, it's just like, oh, there's there's something I've gained from that on an emotional level that is just I wouldn't have gotten that anywhere else.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Well, and and I'm glad that you've been coming to a few of them too, because it's a really great feeling to just kind of be in that room and one-on-one, because you're not like an intimidating, like you don't add a layer of like uh I don't know, nobody's uncomfortable that you're there.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

You know, I so I I actually took that differently when you started that statement. I'm grateful for that because that's how I want to be in any space. But I was I the way I took it was is just being a in the space of the conversation makes the whole experience of the podcast feel different to me. It is so like for example, topic hopping for whatever reason feels so much more important to me when I'm actually there in the moment. And our last question of the pod for some reason feels so much more important and impactful when I'm right there. I don't know what that is, what happens in translation of like being there in the space to like just the audio format.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Dude, it's what I was saying. It's it's there's a there's a different vibration in the room. Yeah, and uh I'm honestly like I'm a little nervous. Yeah, I'm a little scared. You know, I think getting in and editing some of this stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, oh man, you're making some faces that I do not like. You know what I mean? It's just like you could suck it in a little bit, get your shit together. But ultimately, I think it's gonna be one of those things that's gonna help me through um the way I see myself and the way I see my body and all of that.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

God, that that that is deep, bro. Are you um so when you do that type of self-criticism and whatnot, do you then just think to yourself, all right, here's what I do to solve that? Or do you end up in a space where it's like you kind of just throw your hands up and it's like, well, I guess it's just like how I look or what I'm doing or whatever.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

I just throw my hands up. Really? Yeah. It just is, because I mean, like, when I'm one-on-one having a conversation with somebody, you know, I'm not I'm yeah, there's a monitor right here. Yeah, I haven't looked at it one time. Yeah, right. You know what I mean? I'm I want to be here.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:28

So that's how people see me.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

I'm just gonna get on board. You know?

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Okay. I do think there there's like a really healthy side of acceptance there. Um But also I I I would hope there'd be a a side eventually of just like appreciation too of yourself and how far you've got sorry, this doesn't have to turn into that, but I just I I love you and I think you look fucking awesome. Oh, thanks, buddy. I know, I know. Thanks, dude. Um, how is just design and work in general going for you? Anything stand out?

SPEAKER_00 10:06

You know, I've it's been six years now since I've been on my own. Yeah. Uh and I feel like this is the this is the hill I've been climbing, and I feel like I'm either there or I'm really close.

SPEAKER_01 10:17

I really feel the same.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

But I know me, and I know soon I'm gonna end up moving a goalpost. Yeah, you know what I mean? Which why wouldn't you?

SPEAKER_01 10:25

You know, as long as you can find a space where you are just enjoying where you are, I don't think there's ever a problem with being like, all right, now we're going here. You know, now we're pushed even further. As long as that that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of where you are.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Which I've gotten really good at. I've gotten really good at being appreciative at for where I am and how far I've come. Said that weird. Where I am and how far I've come.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

You said it exactly the same the second time.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

No, well, then it was a it must have been a mouthfeel thing. Because that cum had a weird mouthfeel the first time around.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

It always does. I knew you were gonna love that.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

So, I mean, nothing concrete yet, but like we have in previous years, like we we have plans to attack this year and like do some really cool shit.

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Yeah, we're gonna do uh the holiday art market again. Yeah, that's gonna be great. Um, we're working through the details to have some kind of gallery show at uh Coopersville Brewing Company. Yeah. Um there is gonna be a uh there's gonna be a panel in there probably late summer. Um City Built will be hosting that. Uh they'll also be hosting our art market. Yeah. And then, you know, with with merchants and makers, we're gonna be tagging on to I think five or six of their um of their markets, and we're gonna go and have a good chance to meet people and um just kind of have a presence there and hopefully sell a t-shirt or two.

SPEAKER_01 11:59

That's really exciting. That's a that was an effective use of eye contact with the camera, but it was very good. Thank you. I don't know. That that just gets me really stoked. The thought of like how active the year is gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

It's gonna be exhausting, but I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

Yeah. If I look at our past experiences and the things that we've really attacked, yeah, it was exhausting leading up to and then right after, but also just so damn rewarding. I think about the holiday market constantly. That was such a incredible experience. The one in the summer, too. The one in the summer too was great. I loved it. Yeah, I just yeah, think about some of the people we connect with, and then yeah, the people you work alongside. And yeah, it's just that that's what is important right now, are are those connections with the people around us. Is there a new side of this thing that your brain has to switch on now that you're having thinking about editing video? Now that it's not you can just manipulate the sound to make a sentence make sense. Now it's like the visual has to make sense now too. Well, I'm not I'm not manipulating anything anybody's saying. Sorry, that's not what I meant. Yeah, you're right. I didn't mean to sound like that, but there's editing.

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yeah, there's editing. None of this stuff goes without editing, you know. Right. Uh sometimes people will say shit that they're like, oh no. I shouldn't have done that. We need an archive. And I'm not looking to like I'm not looking to fuck anybody's shit up. You know what I mean? Yeah, right. Um, but sometimes that happens, or sometimes like people will say names when they probably shouldn't have. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, you know, like we've always said that like this is uh uh you know without filters or judgment, but like there's some filters. Let's be honest. There's some filters. Yeah, there's gotta be.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

I think there's gotta be.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

And there's some judgment. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

It's a long tagline, but it's an effective one. It's no filters, no judgment. It's also apparently a lie. Yeah, right. Um, here's what I want. I want some clarity on a topic copy question. Okay. Um, one of the questions is what would your last meal be? Yeah. And I was thinking the other day, and I was like, well, my answer changes if is it my last meal because I'm being punished for something. Like, am I on death row? I'm gonna be honest with you. Yeah, it's not that deep. Oh, okay. Just what's the last thing I want to taste? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Before you. Oh my god, I'm old. I was gonna say, before you 22 skidoo. Whatever. Is that a blues clues thing? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

I think it's kind of a blues clues.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

I don't think it's a blues clues thing. Blue Skidoo weekend too. We've we've wandered down a strange. Oh man. All right. Yeah. I think we did what we came to do today. Same. Really just wanted to show off the space. Yeah. Um let you know that we're stoked. And uh I think I think you're gonna love it.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

I I think now more so than ever. I think so. Mo now more so than ever, I think the thing that's gonna help us out the most is gonna be reviews. Because we need like we need feedback. We need to know what this thing looks like to people and what could make it look better.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

And reviews are so much more valuable than yeah, I think anybody thinks they are because that's the thing that's gonna help us grow.

SPEAKER_01 15:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

Um, it's nice to sell a t-shirt.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

Right.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

That helps me buy and maintain stuff. Yeah. Um but uh the reviews is what gets us like that real exposure and and uh gets us in front of new people. So um if you if you do want to help support the podcast, reviews, that's the biggest thing you can do. Buy a t-shirt. Shipping's always free. Um that's kind of that's kind of it.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 15:59

You want to be done with this one? Let's do it. All right, April 14th, season seven.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

What was your original sign-off that you used to do all the time? Catch you later, baby. Catch you later, babies. Oh well, I guess it doesn't make sense without that the little outro, but without the outro. But still, I want I want it right now. We'll see, we'll catch you later, babies. Give me one.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Oh, you know what? That's funny. That's funny you bring up the outro. Okay, we can share that. Oh. Um, we we we looked at um some analytics and things, and it turns out most people who consume our podcast, yeah, they're done after the after the main conversation. Yeah. So we're just not gonna do the outros anymore. Yeah. It's not that we don't like doing it, it's just it's gonna save us a lot of time and energy, and it's gonna give us the opportunity to put that time and energy into other areas of the brand.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

Absolutely. And then also it's like if if the ending's not being watched, it's like, why waste anyone's time?

SPEAKER_00 16:53

That's it.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

I don't want to waste my time. Yeah, I don't want to waste their time. Totally.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

What was it? I don't know. Make one up. I just need a baby. Bye, babies. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

Getting tired of hearing all these noises in my head. I can't seem to make them go away.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

Bad Idea Social Club is an independent podcast made possible by merch sales, reviews, and listener support. It is created and hosted by me, graphic designer Ann McCall, and co-hosted by photographer Joe Madison. Music is noises by Mike Mains and the branches. Get Bad Idea Social Club wherever you get your podcasts.