Why Did I Put Makeup On For This with Samantha Walker

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
There was a TikTok Leah sent me,and she's like, why were we
grinding on each other in front of our English teacher?
A lot of dances. And I was like, Oh my God, yeah.
Like why did I think it would beappropriate to grind with
someone in front of Mr. It's so weird.

(00:23):
I wasn't grinding in high school.
I was very in the closet, so I was doing none of that.
Yeah, I just spent a lot of timewith the sausages hanging in
your basement. You're going to kill me?

(00:46):
Sorry, that was kind of. That's hilarious.
No, I fucking love it. What I put makeup on.

(01:23):
Welcome to another episode of Graphic Content, the podcast
where we talk all things who, why and the what the fuck
moments along the way. Today's guest is the founder and
owner of The Art Lab, a children's art studio based in
Windsor, ON. Recently transforming her brick
and mortar space into a fully mobile creative service, she now
brings her passion for process based art play to kids across

(01:43):
Ontario. A firm believer that art is for
everyone, she creates hands on art experiences that spark
imagination and joy. She is an artist.
She is a dream. She's been the wind beneath my
wings for over 20 years. Welcome to Graphic Content,
Samantha Walker. Thank you, I've been waiting for
this moment. Since when did you start this?

(02:04):
In March. Since March.
From this moment. Since we've been together, I
don't know the words. That's not that's not our strong
point. No.
Well, speak for yourself. OK, Yeah.
Yeah, I just like, love the factthat you took the time out of

(02:26):
your schedule to do this. Like I, I know this is like a
new venture for me and I don't know, like I knew eventually I'd
get you on. And finally at the end of almost
season 1, we are here. So thank you so much.
Always have time for you. GL Always.
I mean, how much time? How much time has there been
now? Too much.

(02:49):
My mom wants to adopt you so. I mean, she honestly could at
this point. Maybe she should be on your
podcast. I would die be like hi Kathy
talk to me like. Let's talk about you.
How's your life? You know, I was, I honestly was
thinking about for like the nextbatch of content that I do, I
want to have one episode where somebody interviews me.

(03:10):
I think it would be an interesting like switch yes, you
know what I mean? Just like 1.
I don't care about more than onebut just one or even I want to
bring on a therapist and have them put me through therapy on.
I think that would be an amazingepisode that I would like to
watch cuz even one of your episodes someone was analyzing
you and talking about your personality and I was like only
of the people that know Gio knowthe level of truth as this

(03:33):
person is speaking right now. The level of crazy that I have.
Right. I love this first batch, like I,
I love the fact that I've been able to talk to so many people
about their work and what they do and I'm going to keep that
going. But I also am like, how do I
make it different? Like maybe like a different
series or something. And I think it would be really
fun. Like maybe you and I could do
something where we like create art and we like just like shoot

(03:54):
the shit and then can like make art.
And I want to do this like an inperson thing.
Yes, even this interview, I was like, should we do this in
person? I know, I know.
This setup is so complicated like I don't have that.
I don't have the resources. Episode would be 5 hours long
and we'd just be talking over each other the whole time so I'm
going to try not to do. That well, I eventually I think

(04:15):
I want to get into twitch like do live like live art and I
would love it would be so fun todo like live interviews.
I think that'd be really fun andpeople like call in.
People love that. People love to watch you like
doing something, even if it's like the most mundane thing and
then add in a conversation even better.
Do you ever get into that, like did?
Were you ever watching stuff online where you're like, I'm
not like a mukbang or something?Yeah, I watched this one girl on

(04:38):
live TikTok and she just paints like she just paints stuff and
she goes so slow and like I just, I watch it.
I don't know. I mean, she's hot.
So I think that's part of it. I don't think she's hot.
OK, but. She's objectively hot.
Yeah, and she's just like painting.
I just feel like I'm just like hanging out with someone that

(05:00):
likes the same thing as me. And there's the guy that has the
drill with the canvas that spinsand you can like pick colors and
then he'll squirt paint on it. And then he turns the drill on
and it like spins around and sprays everywhere.
And then you can buy the. Painting.
That's fun. These are the kind of lives I've
made to. Do people make money off that?
Because that's the thing I'm like, yes.
Is that like, OK, Americans? Not I.

(05:23):
But we can make money on, I think we can make money on
Twitch. Right.
Yeah, I think so. I don't know, like the whole
digital thing, like I mean, obviously, you know, like we're
I'm not like 20 and so for me toget into it is like a different
realm. But like I'm like, how can I,
how can I like expand the brand in a way that actually makes
sense there? And I'm not like hustling for
money in a way, you know what I mean?

(05:45):
Like the whole online thing is like, I mean, this process has
been interesting because I'm like, here I am to the world and
it's like, I've already gotten hate comments, so I tell you.
Hey, you're not doing anything if you're not getting hate
comments. I know.
You might as well turn it off now if you're not getting hate
comments. I know anybody who's done
anything. They hate you.
That's one valuable lesson I've learned in this process.

(06:09):
Yeah, it is a good sign, honestly.
Like I told it to a couple of friends and they're like, Oh my
God, that's so awful. I'm like, no, like, that's
engaging. Yeah, this is what we want.
Please, I can handle it. You were already bullied for a
good portion of your childhood. Ask people to keep it going
with. Yes, it literally like my armor

(06:29):
is so thick like there's no way.Oh no, it's sad.
OK, This interview is gonna haveme crying the whole time.
It's like I laugh, I cry and youjust make me laugh.
I love it. This is the thing you're gonna
be editing out of me is this. I do that in real life too.
OK Anyways. No, listen, I like I, I love the

(06:50):
fact that when I started this venture, and I say this almost
every episode, like I was like, I have so many interesting
people in my life. They are doing such amazing
things. I really am galvanized by seeing
people carve their own path out,you know, like they're like, I
don't want to go about life in the way that I'm told I'm
supposed to because it's just like sometimes for, for, not for

(07:12):
everybody. Like I'm not poo poo in his
life. But for people like us, we're
like, not for me, you know? We could never.
We tried and we just didn't workout for us.
Miserable, miserable. So like going back to that, like
'cause I do want to go back a bit.
So for you, like we've always been creative.
So like even in high school we met like I think 21 years ago I

(07:34):
was, I was 14. I remember grade 9 so and no
wait, 23 years ago. Oh shit.
Oh my God. I shaved off a couple of years.
People shaved, yeah. Yeah.
So 23 years ago and like we werealways creative like in school,
we both were in art class, like we, we kind of bonded over that

(07:55):
to on some level. And then once we went to post
secondary, we both went our waysinto like creative industries,
like you working with children. You were in ECE and at Ryerson.
So like going back to that time that was like AI think that like
shifted for you, right? Like, what was like a pivotal
moment during that era of your life that made you feel like,
oh, there was like a magic around working with kids.

(08:17):
It was 1 experience in general that always sticks out to me.
Not like one day, but the experience of working for the
before and after school program at the YMCAI.
Remember just doing things that I wanted to do.
I loved Pinterest. I'm the biggest Pinterest bitch
on the planet. All the I want to make this, I
want to do this, I'm going to like all day.

(08:38):
Like that was fun for me. So I would just translate that
into my job where I was like, you know what, I really want to
make these weird little mouse sculptures or something random
and I'll. So I would just bring the stuff
to my class and be like, you guys want to make these mouse
things. And they were always down and
they were always excited about it.
And the result of that was whereI was like, holy shit.

(09:02):
Like this is something because Iremember every kid wanted to be
in my class. They wanted to be in my daycare
and they didn't want to go home either.
So their parents would come to pick them up and instead of
being like mom, like I can't wait to go home like they were
like, what are you doing your. Mom, get out busy.

(09:22):
And like all the other kids, like at the end of the day would
be like, what's Sam's group doing today?
I want to be in daycare. I'm like, you want to be in
daycare? Are you kidding me?
And it was just their joy. And just there was, I'm serious.
I was like in a downtown Torontolow income neighborhood school.
So there was a lot of behavioralissues due to, you know,

(09:43):
different circumstances and things like that.
And these activities and things were literally stopping the kids
from being bad and getting in trouble.
There was no time to punch anybody.
There was no time to throw something at me.
There was no, you know, and so Iwas able to have like such good
like control over my group in terms of behavior management

(10:08):
where the other teachers like kind of just like gave up
because it's like every day was just kind of like just chaos.
And the parents, I remember theywere seeing like what I was
doing. They're like all the kids want
to switch to Sam's class. And I was like, your kids like
your bad kids, like we're doing crafts over here.

(10:29):
But you know, and then some theywould come over and then they
all those behaviors would be gone.
So I was like, Oh my God, like the key to all of the chaos and
everything is to find something that the kids really enjoy
that's going to keep them engaged for a long longer period
of time. Everyone's different.
And that was a way of doing it because that everyone's kind of

(10:51):
looking for that, right? Every every teacher wants to
have that. It's not like they're just lazy
and they don't want to do it. They don't know the answer.
And I was like, this is the answer for me.
This is a tool that I have that I can actually do that can help
me survive and have fun. That was definitely the that
experience. And then I really just took off
from there where my whole interest, like everything I was

(11:12):
interested in, everything I wanted to do was just art with
kids. My Pinterest level really took
off at that point. It shot out.
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, they should give me royalties, but.
Honestly, I I hope that for you.That would be my dream.
Maybe I should put that on my goal list?
I feel like for you and like having known you now for so
long, like we're besties, like we fucking, we've been in each
other's lives forever, almost half our lives.

(11:35):
It's I I think about the fact that your approach to it is so
authentic. It's so you like you're that
adult that goes in and hangs outwith the kids and can relate to
them in a way where it's like they see you and they're like,
oh, this older person, but your energy, this goes right in with
them. And you, it's almost like you,
you disarm them from being like,this is an authority figure
because you're like, Hey, I'm cool and I'm chilling and we're

(11:56):
here to make art and let's just,let's just let down our hair for
the day and have a good time. And having worked with you, like
and run some of the classes, thesummer programs at the
university, like I see it in action.
And it's like, to me, I'm like, I, this is somebody who is
exactly where they need to be. It's, it's, it's thank you.
But like, for real. Like, come on.
That means so much coming for you because I know you're very

(12:17):
observant and you don't bullshitso.
Yes. That means a lot and thank you
for noticing because that is howI feel like I do feel like I, I
do need that moment to kind of show the kids to be like this
isn't a teacher student moment. It is, but it's not like a a
power construct or whatever the word is that and just we're just

(12:39):
here to make art. Exactly.
And I feel like that's what me and you linked together a bit.
We both remember what it we feltlike as children.
I still hold on to that so much that I think that that's come
through in my job where it's like I remember how I felt and I
remember adult influences of my life and what that felt like.

(13:01):
And now I want to change that with also keeping in mind that
there is a difference between adult and child.
Like I'm not your friend, you know what I mean?
Like there also has to be that boundary of respect.
But like that happy medium of like I'm not here to ruin your
freaking day and I don't alreadyhave negative thoughts of you

(13:21):
and this is just supposed to be something fun and not that
serious. So thanks for noticing.
Well. And I'm sure you get a ton of
feedback from people like think about it, you've now been
operating for 8:00. Seven years.
Seven years. Yeah, seven years in July.
Congratulations 7. Years, yeah, I didn't tell
anyone. I forget every year I.

(13:42):
Don't. I didn't post.
I hit 8 years this year and I didn't post it.
I was. Like years, whatever, but I'm
still here. But no, but like the amount of
people that you've connected with over especially in the
Windsor, Essex area, cuz that's where you're based.
Yeah, think about how many. Sorry, go ahead.
No, it's just cuz the audio. I'll cut this out.
But it's cuz the audio. Every time I speak, if we speak

(14:03):
at the same time, it cuts you off.
And I hate that my audio cuts you off.
So I'm like, say it again. And I'm a cutter offer so.
So am I. I can practice that.
But but no, like the amount of people that I've seen in the art
lab who have like shifted their perspective on art because like,

(14:24):
you know, I remember running classes with you and like visits
from schools and you see a lot of the boys are like, I don't
know. And then by the end of the day,
they're like, so in it. And they're like, art is cool.
Like we can have fun. Yes.
I didn't want to say I told you so, but you had fun, didn't you?
And always, it's not like every once in a while that happens.

(14:46):
It is each and every time. And even camp some boys like
this was actually really fun. And then like one of the people
that worked there, they were like, yeah, like everyone always
likes this camp. And I thought about it and I was
like, there's not one child thathas been like, no, this isn't
for me. Not one Geo.

(15:07):
Like, you know, I would be like,you know, there's the couple.
Never, never. We're on to something here, you
know? It's you as a person, though, I
think like, and I get the same, I get the same feedback when it
comes to like my own work where it's like you're, you make this
a fun experience. Like like a lot of times I get
clients who come in and they feel so overwhelmed because it's
something creative. It's not what they're used to.

(15:27):
They don't know they, they thinkof it much bigger than what it
actually is when it comes to creating a brand or creating a
website, whatever. And I always say that I'm like,
this is fun or this is a, the creation.
Like once this is established, you got to hit the ground and
like hustle to make keep this going.
But in the beginning like this is the time where it's like Co
creation, right where and also our personalities, like we were

(15:48):
easy to get along with. Like if somebody doesn't get
along with me, like that's on you bitch.
Like I don't know what to fucking say to you, but like you
are the problem, not me. Sometimes I see things about
fake niceness and people who arelike fake nice, like they're the
worst people out there, whatever.
And I sometimes wondered to myself, I'm like, am I that fake

(16:08):
nice person that's like, I'm actually a bitch?
But like, I just act so cheerfuland nice and whatever.
But no, I know that's not true because I've thought about it.
And I'd be like, well, my actions speak louder than
whatever person who's like, I don't know, miserable saying
that people who are kind are actually fake.

(16:29):
Like, so then I guess we're all just supposed to be rude.
I just want to have fun all the time.
Like I want to have as much, it's cheesy, but as much
positivity as I can possibly have because that is what makes
me feel good and what people around me feel.
And when I'm working with kids, if you don't keep the energy
high and the energy good, thingsgo down really fast.

(16:52):
And when you're having an experience, even when I was at
work and I'd work at Starbucks, like, let's put on some good
music. Let's talk about each other's
lives. Tell me about your ex.
Like, let's let's talk some sometea.
Let's joke around. Let's enjoy this day, you know,
and the thought of that being portrayed as something like, oh,
she just, you know, like. But if they, if somebody thinks

(17:14):
that, I'm sorry, I'm going to cut you off.
If people, if somebody thinks that fuck them, like that is not
accurate. Like that's their perception of
you. That is false.
Like at the end of the day, like, and I'm, this is what I'm
working through in therapy rightnow is like my perception of
self is so different from certain people's perception to
me. And I'm at a point where I'm
like, I am not that thing. I I am not the thing that people

(17:36):
not, and I don't really get thisa ton.
Like, I'll be honest. But like when there are those
moments of like, I can be, you know, this, that and the other,
it's like, hey, that's old, that's old Geo Geo's evolved
Geo's not that person anymore. I'm and if you can't meet me
where I'm at, I saw this thing online where it was like people
who continue to not pigeonhole, that's not the word, but people
who continue to put you in that image of who you've been in the

(17:59):
past. And they can't accept the fact
that you have evolved because it's a reflection of them not
evolving either. It's, it's their way of trying
to have power over you or control over you because they
are trying to perceive you and who you've been because the new
version of you is they can't do the same thing.
They can't have that same thing.And it's like, because like I
used to be a bitch. We know like I was never.
I was not like a super. You had your you had your armor

(18:21):
on. Yes you had your armor on.
I knew the real you in. The only bitch part about you is
your honesty and your no bullshit which take it or leave
it you know what I mean? Like if you want me to walk on
egg shells, I. Guess 100%.
Then, you know, maybe. And some people can't handle it,
and then you're not for them, right?
And like, that's fine, that's fine for everybody, but that's

(18:45):
just who you are. And if people aren't gonna
accept that, well, I guess you have to hang out with me.
Then those other bitches can go.Away but like, but listen.
No, but it's true. Like, to me, I'm like, why would
you want to be friends with somebody who's not gonna tell
you the truth? And it's not like it.
And like, I think the evolution of Geo has been where I can
deliver the same message in a much more diplomatic way.

(19:08):
Yeah, before I'd be like. You need to fucking.
Dump his ass, he's a piece of shit or whatever it is, you
know, and then now I'm. Like, OK, we're still like that.
I have to, I have to say I the first like bit, especially when
it's like I'm interviewing somebody I don't really know,
like I'm, I, I notice that I'm like a little bit less like me,

(19:29):
but like having you on. I'm like this is like this is I
need this on a daily basis. I know I'm already, I got my
legs crossed. I'm already like getting
comfortable. I need to remember, Oh my God,
actually can I grab a let me grab a Kleenex?
Yeah, yeah, go for it. I'm making Sam cry.
I don't know why liquids just leave my body every time I

(19:50):
laugh, It's just all of them. Sometimes I even pee in my
pants, like I'll do it if I'm laughing.
Harder I I I want that under shirt liquids leave my body.
I am not a drive in. So I want to go back a little
bit and, and just a little bit because this has not that this
hasn't been that long since you've done this.

(20:11):
So you've been operating the ArtLab for what, 5-6 years before
you made the big leap? Yes, six years, just in February
is when we closed. And so you went from a brick and
mortar, you had your location onOttawa St. here in Windsor to a
fully mobile creative service. So what was the talk to me a

(20:34):
little bit about the catalyst oflike the that change and like
what was the most like, what thefuck moment that made you
realize like this way we're doing things is like not working
anymore. The big dream was always to have
the brick and mortar. I always wanted to have a
studio. It just this was, I thought that
was completely out of my reach. First of all, like I would just
dream about it and like, but nothing else like that existed

(20:56):
nor was like thriving somewhere.I was like, how are you going to
do that? So that was like the big dream.
Slowly that turned into instead of the art lab being for me, it
felt like I was doing everythingfor the art lab.
So like every waking moment was spent thinking about the art

(21:16):
lab, even if I didn't want to, asubconscious worry in the back
of my mind, like just about my staff, about like just ever the
operations, the ideas, the supplies, like the bills, of
course, the rent, all that stuff.
It just kind of made me, I don'tknow, I just I stopped being who

(21:36):
I was. I was exhausted Every day it
would start from the minute I opened my eyes till the minute I
went to bed. And I'm like an emotional person
as you know. So like being big boss of a
company that's making X amount of dollars, like for someone
like me that doesn't know, you know, kind of what?

(21:56):
So I need to turn the light up on my screen that doesn't know
how to run business things or whatever.
I don't have a degree in that. So it just became really
overwhelming. And when my lease was coming to
an end and he wanted to, my landlord wanted to increase the
rent. It wasn't anything crazy and the
rent was already pretty reasonable considering even

(22:18):
though there's all issues with the building.
But I just thought to myself, like, maybe this is time to
stop. And then I just started to
explore the idea of like losing the stress.
That's literally the main point.It wasn't about money, although
money was definitely a factor. You know how things are going
today, Rent is through the roof,bills are through the roof,

(22:41):
paying staff through the roof and still an unfair wage in my
opinion. And just the, all the
technology, the keeping up with social media, it was consuming
media. So I just the thought of having
that go away, I knew that was the answer to a lot of the
issues that I have been constantly talking about.

(23:03):
And I knew that if I didn't makethis move, all the issues that I
have were just going to continueto go on.
Even though I felt like I was intoo deep.
And it was like almost like throwing my dream away or
whatever. I was like, this needs to stop
at some point. This needs to end.
And after going through the different pros and cons, I saw

(23:25):
that like I needed to make my life smaller in every way.
I plan on moving to a smaller house.
I don't want to have 20 Netflix,Disney, this that subscription.
I don't want to have this lesson.
I don't want to have this sign up for this program and this all
this stuff. There's just like, it's crazy.
Like it's like I have ADHD but Ithink I just have a 2 full

(23:49):
schedule of too many things thata human needs to manage.
So I felt like just like with opening the art lab, I would not
get a result unless I made a move that I was afraid to make.
And then once again, I made the move I was afraid to make.
And now I'm just thrilled with my decision because all of the

(24:12):
issues I was having, everything I was constantly complaining
about, feeling bad about every day.
Hey, I took it away. I took it out and I let some
people down, mostly myself honestly, but like in the end it
was it was worth it and I'm still here and I'm still doing
it in my own way that works for me and it's just a step, just

(24:33):
like everything you're. Gonna make me cry.
I'm so happy for you. Do you feel me?
I'm so happy for you. Like I cuz I've been with you
along this. Sorry I've been with you.
Yeah, I've been with you along this whole thing and I don't
know how much it caused anguish.And like The thing is like,

(24:53):
yeah, we are so like we, we're so programmed to like just like
hustle and push and and grow andexpand.
Sometimes it's like that's not the answer.
Like, and for you to listen and actually like, I know this was a
big step for you and it was likeyou, you was like what like a
year, 2 years, like you were kind of like thinking about it.

(25:14):
I've been talking to you about this for a while, like when I
was really down in the dumps. That's why I'm getting
emotional. I'm like I.
Call Uncle Geo. Exactly.
I know and stop because you're gonna make me cry.
But it's I know that you've seenme like just struggling through
all this and trying to guide me and.

(25:35):
Yeah, when I have to ride for myself, like.
No, but you did. You did having like a very
motivated friend that likes to think in black and white and
that likes to think practically and in the best interest of the
human being, not just me, but like just overall, well, mental

(25:55):
health and all that stuff. You've always pushed me like
towards that direction and you've always kept me
accountable for the choices I'm making.
So I can't just give up or just be a bum.
Even though, listen, I would, I on some level I'm like, yeah, it
would be so nice to never work again, but that's just not an
option. But no, like, no, The thing is
like, you're, you made a decision that made sense for you

(26:17):
that could keep it going. And like, sometimes the vision
that we have for ourselves changes.
It's like once we achieve the thing that we want, then we're
like, how do we keep it going? You can't be the same forever.
An example of that was when I went to school and I was like,
oh, I want to work in advertising, I want to work in
marketing, I want to work at an agency.
And then I did it. And when I got there, I was
like, I don't like this. Like this is not for me.

(26:39):
So how do I take this vision that I had and adjust it to keep
this going in a different way? And it's like, I'm our
generation also is the type thatwe're not, we're not doing the
same thing for 30 years. Like we just can't.
This is not a thing, you know what I mean?
I'm just glad that, you know, wehave a nice circle of therapy
going here where we can hash these things out and figure out

(27:01):
what we want to do. And we need to accept both you
and I that it's not always goingto be the same.
Things are just changing, especially in your industry.
You can just keep doing the same.
You have to be able to pivot as well as make money during this
process. We can't just be pivoting around
just not paying our bills. That's not a thing.
So at this point you've been nowhow long has it been that you've

(27:25):
been mobile? Since February, so March, April,
May, June like 6 months roughly.And how's it been going?
Cuz now you're kind of like a free bird to basically go
anywhere. Yeah, and I like pick and choose
what I want to do. And it's really awesome.
It's going really good. I've been fortunate enough to

(27:46):
like, I've been doing all those things at Kalasanti's.
And our market is like the same,like we, it's moms that want to
do stuff with their kids. So we've been selling out every
time. And it's like, I just go, I
bring my stuff and all my stuff is here.
Before, it's like when I had to go to a field trip, I'd have to
go into the studio, wait for theparties to be over so then I

(28:06):
could pack my stuff. Otherwise I'd be really
distracted and whatever. So now it's like I have my,
everything's here and if I thinkof something, I have a lot of
ideas while I'm like in the shower and stuff, I can just
like run down and like start chopping stuff up or making
things for it and I arrive at the correct time.
It's not the wrong. I set up, I do my thing.

(28:31):
It's like, and we're all here for fun.
So it's just so then I, we had our fun.
I pack up my stuff and I leave at the right time.
You know, before it's like you're supposed to come at a
certain time before the birthdayparty is set up.
People are showing up two hours early because they're excited.
There's every different type of person out there and like the
leaving part, some people like stay like so late and I'm like,
OK, I want to go home now. I just like, all right, bye

(28:53):
everyone, That's my time. Bows are the clowns out here.
So and same with the camp. It's like I just before I felt
like I was so limited to being creative when I was like in the
studio. Now it's kind of just become my
whole life and like, if I don't want to work a weekend, the

(29:15):
studio is not open. So I just I don't book a
birthday party. And that now all of a sudden I
get to hang out with my kids again.
So. It's who would have thought?
Who would have thought? That was another pivotal moment
too, where I was like, hey, they're 9:00 and 8:00 or 7:00
and 10:00 or I'm sorry, 10 and eight now.
Holy crap, where's the time gone?
I opened this when Josephine wasborn.

(29:35):
I was like, I've been so distracted and even though I
feel like because of what the business was, I was able to
incorporate them a lot into my work, which was fortunate.
You don't usually get to do that.
But I still was always just so distracted and I wasn't as calm
and fun as I think I used to be just as a person in general,

(29:57):
just because of all the stress. So I was like, this is my last
chance to also cut that off so that I can reconnect at what
really matters. Because when we're on our
deathbed, what are we going to be thinking of?
Not the business. Think about the people we love.
So that was like a an awesome part of going mobile.
That has been good for me. I think having kids too is like

(30:19):
a different energy for you because that will make you
connect with that energy in the sense of, oh, I do need to
actually like be a part of my life.
Like I don't have kids. So like for me, like my business
is my child. And so that child is a whiny
attention seeking an individual.And so I'm constantly giving it

(30:41):
energy and I'm like, I even it'sfunny the timing of you saying
this, because yesterday I was listening to a podcast with
Paloma Faith and she was interviewing Trixie Mattel and
she was talking about her regrets in like her career.
And she was like, one of my biggest regrets is the fact that
I didn't spend enough time in the early days when I really
like picked up my career with myfamily.
Like I miss birthdays. I would because of work.
I would miss, you know, holidaysbecause of work.

(31:02):
I would not see people because of work.
And this past year I've been like ramping up my life,
especially because the podcast, I've been working way more.
The first six months I'm like, Ibarely did anything.
Like I've been so in, I've been in this room working, you know
what I mean, Not glued to my computer.
And I'm like, I can't get that back.
And I'm like, and it's not like I'm, you know, 25.
I have my whole life ahead of me.

(31:22):
Not to say I'm old, but you knowwhat I'm saying?
Like a decade less of life is isa decade, right?
Yeah, well, that was just you going through the motions though
of life, right? So it's, yeah.
And I feel like between you and I, it's like our we never know
what's coming next. And we're always trying to
figure that out when we we really need to step back and

(31:44):
like just make the observation of where we are now, because
that's that's what joy is, right?
It's living in the moment and just noticing what we already
have versus what we want. But you need to make a conscious
choice to do that. It doesn't just happen.
How would you advise anyone who's like, listening, that has

(32:05):
their own business, has their own like side hustle, whatever,
to actually be able to separate the mind and the heart and like
really make a decision that makes sense for them as a person
and not just be like, oh, this is the thing I think I need to
do. I don't think it's a choice for
a lot of people and I don't think it's something that a lot
of people can do. I feel like if you're going to

(32:26):
choose to have a family and you're going to choose to have a
relationship or in a business, Ifeel like in order to be
successful, you need to you're going to have to cut out one of
those areas where you're going to lack.
Because as much as I wanted to choose, you know, to be more
present at home and to be more, have more time for myself and

(32:47):
have more relaxation, I think you just, you can't do it.
Because like, look at you, look at me, look at Sawyer.
It's like we're these three different personalities.
We couldn't be more different from each other.
And we all struggle with the same thing.
And especially separating the heart.
Geo, it's like if you say 1 bad thing about me, even though I

(33:08):
think you're stupid and ugly andhorrible and terrible worst
person ever. You hurt my feelings but I don't
like it. And I would think about it for
like 72 hours and beat myself upover it and wish, you know,
death on you and all these horrible things that I don't
really feel, you know. But so to like try to give

(33:28):
someone advice on how to separate that.
The only thing that's helped me was to lessen my load and was to
step away from the area that wasn't serving me or the area
that was kind of making things not go well for me.
My advice is just to clear your plate.

(33:49):
And I know that's something me and you have been talking about,
clearing our plate, taking things off our plate because we
always just have so much to do, especially being creative.
Oh my gosh, I have 40 ideas since we've started this
conversation. So to tell ourselves to stop
doing that or to, I don't know, I feel like you have to choose.
Give yourself less, less stuff to do.

(34:11):
And if you don't want to be overwhelmed, we'll go work for
someone else and be sad about other things.
Yeah, in a previous episode, episode 21, so Jose Maldonado,
he was talking about how I thinka mentor of his said that as a
creative or as an entrepreneur, like in order to, I'm
paraphrasing here, I can't remember the exact verbiage, but

(34:32):
in order to like hit your strideor succeed like you need,
there's like two women that you need in your life and one of
them is boredom. And then I'm I'm blanking on the
other one, but this specifically.
Was I wanna know? And it was and he oh shit, now
I'm what? Boredom and what?
Why don't you look it up? Do you remember?
Oh God, hold on. Yeah, let.

(34:53):
Me. I need to know the two women
now. I'm gonna look it up.
OK, well, you're looking it up. I'm gonna murder this fly.
My lights are too strong. It wants to hang out with me.
Oh, that's honestly fair, I never thought of that.
Oh, OK, I got it. So he said.

(35:15):
So it was boredom and lonelinessas and to me, I think like the
boredom piece, like I'm never bored in the sense that I'm
always adding more to my plate. And I realized that like I do
need like space. I need time and space away from
work and and doing things in order to like get recharged and
like. I don't do that much.

(35:35):
You don't and neither neither doI like mentally.
I feel like both our brains are just always going and I would
love for someone to give me the answer on how to do that.
Because you were asking me like about my ideas or something
earlier or maybe it was in the intake, but you were just saying
moments of solitude and things like that.
And I was just thinking about when I'm not on my phone when

(35:57):
I'm in the shower. That's what I said.
I was said I was in the shower and I'll think of an idea.
It's like that one part of my day where I'm not being
stimulated by something and I'm just alone with my own thoughts
and that's when the ideas are coming to me.
So it just, it says a lot that the silence, the loneliness, the
boredom is when I can actually function, if that makes sense,

(36:23):
because there's just so many distractions that I feel like
that's true. So the two women, loneliness and
boredom, you need to know them to be able to be more creative.
Yeah, to me, I'm like, I don't ever.
My boredom is like when I'm I close my laptop at the end of
the day and then I have dinner and then I subsequently pass out

(36:45):
like I'm becoming my father where I'm falling asleep like
every night because I just can'tstay up because I'm so like.
I feel that. I don't even know the word
boredom anymore. Like it's just it's not a thing.
And yeah, that's crazy to think we're never bored anymore.
And. No, and like that's.
Crazy kids are not bored anymoreeither because there's too many

(37:06):
things to distract them from having to think or having to be
bored and having to come up withindependent ideas and things
like that. And our lab is a good thing for
that. I think it's almost like
entertained boredom. You're taking your boredom and
you're doing things to stimulatethat.
That's not your phone or a show or your stress.

(37:31):
It's the best. 100% And so like now that you're mobile, like you
had kind of mentioned before this that you are dreaming on
like traveling more with with the art lab.
So like what's the ultimate likeart lab on the road adventure
that you are envisioning currently?
And like, what kind of projects are you most excited about
bringing to new places? I'm not like a huge travel bug

(37:53):
person that wants to go like, you know, backpacking through
trenches of sorts, but I'm a robe in a hotel kind of gal.
But my original message with theArt Lab was that art is for
everybody, right? Remember we were talking about
that, coming up with a branding and stuff like that.
And that still holds so true to this day, where art is for

(38:15):
everybody. And I want it to get out of
Windsor, not just Windsor, because I've gone and I've done
camps in Toronto. There's just nothing else like
it in my opinion. And it's this experience that I
feel like so many people are missing out on where it's just
so important because of all the reasons we already discussed on
how important it is to incorporate creating and process

(38:38):
making art making into children's lives.
And everybody's missing out on it because there's a bunch of
people in charge that don't understand, they don't know.
And it's. Yeah.
So I would love to be able to just kind of branch out.
I go to a little town up in wherever in Canada and bring my
stuff and do that. The ultimate dream would be to

(39:01):
have like a camper or trailer ofsorts, not something motorized
like not like a bus, OK, I don'tdo repairs, OK.
I need it to be and just like have it fun decorated and just
take it around and like have kids see it because parents, you
get it, but you don't get it. OK, When they see this through
their eyes, if they saw this colorful thing where I get to go

(39:22):
up to that thing and like make stuff, it's like she's got all
these colorful things and all these tools and all this clay
and whatever. That is pure magic for a child.
And for a lot of adults similar to you and I who still remember
that and still and really had positive influences in our life
in like kind of like the art department.
And I would love to just kind ofspread that out and not just be

(39:45):
stuck here. Not that I'm stuck here.
I love it here and see how our dreams have really changed, but
just bring it out and possibly, you know, get some free trips
out of it. If I'm being real, like I would
love to travel and I would love for this to be something that
can help me do that. You know, I've done it where
I've gone to like Toronto, I've said and.
It's like I got, I paid for my hotel and I paid for everything,

(40:07):
all my stuff and whatever. But because I did the field
trip, it like offset the cost. So I was able to have a vacation
while doing what I love. So that's kind of what I mean by
the traveling thing. It's like I just kind of want to
be able to live my life, go where I want to go, be with my
family, go visit friends and also be able to have my work go
with me. So like whatever that may be, a

(40:28):
conference out somewhere where Italk about process art and
things and that would be ultimately the goal in terms of
travel and going around. You know, it's so funny we go
through these moments in our lives, like you said, like we
talked about the shifting from the brick and mortar to the
mobile. And like in the moment you're
like, Oh my God, this is this big decision.
It's this big thing. And it's like causing you stress

(40:49):
and then now you're feeling really from it.
But if you look, if you know, having known like our
conversations from 15 years ago to now and like looking at it
from a bird's eye view, I'm like, oh, that was all meant to
be because you are literally manifesting your vision of you
becoming Miss Frizzle with the magic school bus.
Like like. I love her.

(41:11):
You're literally becoming that image that you've had in your
head of like, yeah, like I you've Miss Frizzle has always
been something that has come up and like, you're, you're that
cool art teacher that's like connecting with the kids and
bringing them on adventures. And now you're going to have a
mobile version of that. Like how fucking fun is that?
Really, truly. And like, that's the kind of
thing where I need to step back and like, appreciate that I'm,

(41:33):
I'm actually living what feels like my purpose.
But do you remember Mr. Dress Up?
Yeah. OK, I know you're only like a
year younger than me, but Mr. Dress Up, OK, So Mr. Dress Up,
he was my boy, OK? He I thought he was the coolest.
He was a grandpa, OK, And he wasmy idol.

(41:53):
And he would do a craft time every episode.
Sometimes he wouldn't. And I'd storm up the stairs.
I'd be like, Mr. Dressup didn't even do a craft today.
And I'd be so mad. And my mom, she still like
laughs at me for that because I'd be so pissed that he didn't
do a craft. But when he would do the craft
OK, he would sit at his desk andinside his drawers and cupboards
and things. He had tape and scissors and

(42:15):
whatever. As I was watching this, I would
mimic him. So I would open a pretend drawer
and pull out scissors from underthe coffee table and, like, open
pretend things and, like, mimic him.
And as I'm getting older, the more I, you know, like
manifesting. I felt like I was manifesting my
future. Like my, my body was going

(42:37):
through the motions of this thing that was so dear to me.
It's just come full circle. Not even on purpose.
I wasn't like going to school being like, yeah, I want to be
like Mr. Dress Up. I want to be Mr. Dress Up.
I'm gonna, you know, start doingthese things.
I want to work with kids so I can eventually become Mr. Dress
Up. No, but I ended up becoming Mr.
dress up somehow and I was like,that is the power of the

(42:58):
manifestation that people talk about and just and how do you
just come full circle if you listen to yourself?
So not everybody has the opportunity, though, to do a lot
of things right. Like I was fortunate enough
where just the way things workedout with having, you know, a
great circle of friends and positive influences, I was able

(43:19):
to like look within and do things, you know, not everybody
has that, which that's another part of the art lab that I want
to be able to reach kids with. Once again, super cheesy, but a
lot of the kids can't come into the studio.
They would have never got to come into the studio.
And the mobile aspect of it takes that out of it.

(43:39):
So now I'm reaching kids who would have never had this
experience and it, I, I believe it's a positive impact.
So. You're connecting with more
people like in a way that maybe wasn't possible before.
And you know, you're showing up with your cheery self and you're
you're it's literally like, let's have a good time.
Let's Yes, that's what it is, right?

(44:00):
That's the basis of my belief system, I think, like, let's
just have a good time because life is hard enough as is and I
just don't like serious stuff. It's just not for me.
There's a place for. There's a place, but like, and
this is the thing that I can't, I don't like connect with.
Is this this constant like, well, there's all this info.

(44:21):
We're being thrown so much information 24/7.
And I'm like, if we're so focused on this and like, yeah,
we have to, we know what's goingon.
Like we, it's not like it's not something that's like shoved
down our throats. But at the same time, I'm like,
that approach doesn't necessarily leave room for play
or for joy or for, you know, exploration in a way that is

(44:44):
human. Like we need that in our.
Lives truly, it's like part of our genetics or whatever you
would call that. It's literally we are made-up,
we're meant to create, we're meant to play and we don't do
enough of it to be honest. And it's, I feel like it's the
foundation of life, but I'm super passionate about it.
So it's hard to understand. But especially after my seven

(45:08):
years of doing this, I've reallylike, I've gotten proof through
the this whole process of havingthe art lab, I've proven my
original belief that art is important.
Creating art is important. And that is the foundation of
childhood and learning and self esteem and all these things.
And every time I do a workshop, I get proven that and it's clear

(45:30):
as day. It's not like, oh, maybe I think
they're getting this and no, it's happening.
The words are being said, the actions are being taken, and it
matters so. So you mentioned workshops, I
know you do a lot of birthdays as well.
And so one of the things that I noticed in your intake form when
you had written a little bit of info on like what we wanted to
talk about, like you talked about how like 99% of your

(45:53):
birthday parties were planned and implemented by moms.
Like, what is it about women showing up for their kids that
you find so inspiring? Well, that's, that's just one of
the things that I noticed, you know how you kind of gather data
on people and experiences after you've done the same thing over
and over again. And that was one of the things

(46:13):
that kind of was eye opening forme.
Once I looked back and I saw everything, I was like, I don't
remember if I was having a conversation with someone, but I
was like looking back, every single birthday party that I've
ever had at the art lab has beenput on by a mom.
It's always a mom or a grandma or it's always a mom.

(46:37):
I don't know. Obviously there's like the great
dads, the great grandpas that are involved.
I had a grandpa once, like signed up his granddaughters.
He thought they would love it. They ended up being lifers and I
still love them to this day. Like there's obviously there's
always that exception, but the fact that looking back and now
being a mom myself and I'm realizing that it was always the
mom, it was so inspiring to me. Just the fact of how much magic

(47:04):
moms make and like, when you think back to your childhood,
what do you think of like the Christmases you had the and not
like the the presents you got, but like the tree like my mom
used to like put tinsel on the ground and like you would see
that when you woke up in the morning and like your birthday
party like. Tinsel on the ground.
My mom's nightmare. Never.
She'd be following you with a vacuum.

(47:26):
Swiffer. I remember she walked in your
room one day and was like, this room is disgusting.
There was one sock on your bed. One sock.
I was like, this is the cleanestroom I've ever been.
So to anyone listening, if you think I'm a crazy person, This
is why blame Angela. Angela was the best looking

(47:49):
back, but that's another thing. Your mom, everything these moms
are doing all comes back to how much they freaking love you.
Of course, every crazy thing your mom ever did was because
she wanted you to have the best,succeed and just have a great
life. And she was like, this is what
you need to do and I'm going to make you do it because I love
you that deeply that I'm going to stress the fuck out over what

(48:12):
you're doing because I love you so much.
And all while doing that, she created magic in so many ways,
signing you up for your art lessons when your dad wanted you
to work on the construction sitelike it was your mom, you know,
that was like a. 100%. Doing all that stuff in yeah.
And it's crazy just because it'sjust so inspiring.

(48:33):
Like I was saying that the moms,they don't.
It's not about the price of the cake.
It's not about what you spent. It's not about what you bought.
It's about the fact that they see you and they know something
you love and they make it happenfor you.
They want you to have the best day.
That's all about you. And as we get older, part of

(48:55):
holding on to the childhood magic is these moments that, you
know, moms are just putting on. And I just, it's so cool to see
how badass women are with their kids and how much they, they
really rich or poor, do whateverthey can.
And it's, it's just really cool.And that was a nice thing I

(49:15):
noticed about our lab. Yeah.
And the thing too is like, I andI, you know, now that we're at
an age where a lot of you and our friends have, are having
kids, you see that. And like I've seen it with women
in my own family where a lot of times, most of the time, like
women will put themselves secondbefore everybody else in their

(49:36):
lives and in some way, shape or form.
The way that especially and likeI speak for myself, like I only
know like my mom, the reason I'min a creative industry is
because of my mother. Like she's the one that was
like. Exactly my point.
Yeah. And like, I'm, I'm here.
Here I am now, you know, 20 plusyears later.
And I'm like, the reason I'm here is because my mom was like,

(49:56):
yeah, we're going to put you in our classes outside of school at
the age of 10. And then that was that.
And it was like I had a moment where I was like, I'm going to
be a lawyer. And then that died very fast.
And, and then I was like, she, she literally came to me.
She's like, I have this, there'sa school in Toronto OCAD that
does graphic design. Like I think you should go
there. Even though she was like, I
don't want you to leave. But I did it anyway.

(50:19):
And it's yeah, all cuz of her, right?
I had a similar moment where my mom said something to me, which
was kind of shocking coming fromher.
You know, my mom, I remember when I wanted to move to
Toronto, like what would you think she would say?
Probably no, right. Or like that would be my at that
time. Obviously I'm old now, but like
at that time I would, I assumed the answer would be no.

(50:43):
What did she say? She said just go.
She's like, if you don't like it, then just come home.
And I was like, oh, you're right.
Like I was scared. But if I don't like it, I'll
just come home. And now I've like used that
quote when I'm trying to encourage other people to do

(51:04):
things. I'm like, if this doesn't work
out, you just stop. You don't you're nervous to try
these lessons. Like if it doesn't work out,
just go home. And like that has kind of like,
you know, like stuck with me. It's.
Also something almost like they are telling them like
themselves, like, like if if they were like a little version
of themselves to you and to me as their kids, like saying just

(51:27):
try it. Like maybe it's something that
they wouldn't have done, you know what I mean?
But they're like, and now they're like, you're the next
Gen. Go do the thing that I didn't
do. And and yeah, like that's and
that's, I feel like that's how everybody should approach life.
Let's like try and if it doesn'twork, it's OK.
Except, yeah, some of us just take.
It hard, yeah. And some people can't go home,

(51:47):
some people can't go home. And some people it's like if
you're putting everything on thetable, you're not, you don't
have a home anymore because you put the home on the table.
So, but in the appropriate, you know, scenario, I feel like it's
a really good analogy or like a really, was that the word
analogy? Or I'm not an English teacher.

(52:09):
No, you know our English teacher.
Let's do a podcast about her. Oh, I thought you were talking
about. I thought you were talking about
the tall one, The man. Oh my God, I was laughing the.
Other day symbolism. There was a TikTok Leah sent me
and she's like, why were we grinding on each other in front

(52:30):
of our English teacher? A lot of dances.
And I was like, Oh my God, yeah.Like why did I think it would be
appropriate to grind with someone in front of Mr. It's so
weird. Well, I wasn't grinding in high
school. I was very in the closet, so I

(52:51):
was doing none of that. Yeah, I just spent a lot of time
with the sausages hanging in your basement.
You're going to kill me? Sorry, I was kind of.

(53:13):
That's hilarious. No, I fucking love it.
What I put makeup on. Oh my God.
I was the one eating the sausage.

(53:36):
That was the best part of your dad.
What? Every time I come over, he'd
slice me off a couple of rounds.He still does, honestly.
Off the best. Super shoot Oh.
OK, now I'm crying. I'm clipping this.
Oh my God, I'm so hot. What were we talking about?

(54:02):
I I'm gonna switch gears yeah cuz OK, so we're we're talking
about our friendship and so likeI wanna be, I wanna go a little
off script and say like we've known each other now over 20
years not to like talk about me,but with you, I feel like I can
do this Yeah I'd love. To.
So like, no, having known each other now over 20 years, like

(54:24):
what is the most unexpected way our friendship has impacted your
creative journey or your business?
Like we kind of touched on a little bit, but.
This kind of goes back. I know we've met on the bus and
we kind of just our humor reallyaligned.
So like we really just clicked instantly in that way.
But there was one incident in particular where for me it was

(54:47):
it was impactful. It was the board game we made.
And when I'm Bail J's class, I remember you and I were
partners. OK.
And what was it? What kind of class history or
something boring or something that I don't know, something.
You were getting an A and you were my partner for everything.
So I didn't fail. And the assignment was to make a

(55:10):
board game. And you and I got together that
night and two creatives, we wentabove and beyond.
We like built all this shit. We decorated, we painted.
We had a treasure box that you broke in the parking lot with
the Do you remember that with the candies?
You probably forget he brought adish anyways.

(55:30):
And I remember just having so much fun, like making that game
with you. And I just felt like I was with
a kindred spirit. Like, is that the right word?
Where you feel like you're just with someone that vibes with
you. And it was so fun.
And then the next day we broughthim to class.
No one else gave a fuck. Everyone had like a cereal box

(55:52):
with like squares drawn on it. Like they did not give a fuck
me. And it was like this colossal
sculpture of a board game. She even called the principal,
who also didn't give a fuck. He was like, oh, cool.
I'm like, you don't get it. But anyways, we made this and we
had so much fun. And I just remember that sticks
out my mind to me because we were being creative together, we

(56:14):
were doing school together and we were just like having so much
fun, just like making stuff and coming up with the ideas.
And I felt like after that we kind of like kept that going
with our art where we were both just like feeding off of each
others creativity all the time. So and that's what I loved and
that's what I cared about. And you also loved and cared
about that. So I think you kept that alive

(56:35):
in me even throughout our 20s when, you know, we're partying,
we're thinking about boys and, like, just drinking and like,
doing whatever. And that when that was so
crowded in our lives, you and I still always had that creative
element that we always kind of held onto.
I didn't have that with Sawyer. I didn't have that with Leah.

(56:56):
I didn't have a little mark. I didn't have, you know, all my
other friends, my siblings. You were the person that, you
know, we always just loved art in all shapes and forms, whether
that be performance or whether that be, like, makeup, hair,
fashion, whatever. It was like, we always had an
opinion, you know? Yeah.
And I feel like that part of my friendship really kind of

(57:17):
cultivated my artistic side as well as you just encouraging me
and just like manifesting it in me.
And like that it was huge, had ahuge impact on art lab and
everything. And just, you know, you're like
a therapist. So you always getting to channel
my inner feelings and believing in me and things like that.

(57:37):
Although I did have that from our other friends.
It's like coming from an artist and a tough critic like you.
It was like good, it was really helpful.
And even not on the creative side, Gio, like the the more
technical side, the more the more orderly side of things.
You always kept me in line whereI was like, I'm not going to be
some burnt out starving artist, you know, like, oh, nobody cares

(58:02):
about my art and I can't make money.
I'm an artist. It's like, no, that's not an
excuse. You're going to fucking wash
your face, put your shoulders back, and if you want to do this
art thing for a job, then we're going to figure out how.
And I feel like we did that eventhrough starting the art lab,
who was sitting at me at the table with me having a coffee

(58:24):
waiting for me while I'm late. And.
You know, and we're planning outour our lives, right, and
planning out our dreams and stuff like that.
So huge impact. Gigi, I appreciate you.
I appreciate you too. Honestly, it's, it's like it
just comes down to like the things that we have seen for

(58:45):
ourselves from when we were kids.
And by kids, I mean like teens. Mm hmm.
That wasn't something that was like public or like super
promoted like creative paths. And like now it's a different
like there's it's it's a very different landscape.
But you know, 20 years ago it was something where I'm like, we
both have these things that we bring to the table that are I'm

(59:06):
not going to be a nurse. That's just never going to
happen. I can't deal.
I can't even look at the Neil when I'm getting giving blood,
like, you know what I mean? Like is this never going to
happen? Uh huh.
Knowing you and seeing like you have at the time, you give so
much potential to do this thing you bring, you have everything
you need to make it happen. And when there's that like that
slight like waffling of like, oh, I don't know.

(59:27):
And I'm like, no, I'm like you, this is viable.
Like you can do this. The things that you see for
yourself, you can achieve it. And it's almost like I'm talking
to myself when I say it because it's like, yeah, you know what I
mean? Because it's like the same thing
where it's like we know the paththat we've taken is not.
It's not easy. No.
And I do feel like that's a big thing with you and I converse in
our conversations. It's a lot of why aren't I

(59:49):
taking my own advice when I'm speaking to you, Jio?
Like, why aren't you taking yourown advice when you're telling
me things? And we do say that to each other
sometimes. It's like, yeah, you should
follow your own advice with that.
So it's nice to have like that kind of outside person.
You, you can't see you, you know, it's like so.
It's nice to have someone who can see you and know you and

(01:00:12):
like exchange information and guidance with that information.
It's it's a gift, I'll say. That and think about it, just
that in itself, you having done gotten to where you are now and
having created the Art Lab, so many people have interacted with
you through the Art Lab, you're inspiring a new generation of

(01:00:32):
people to say like, this is something that I can do.
This is something that is a viable career path.
Thousands and thousands of families you've affected like
you've dealt with. That's really crazy to think.
Oh yeah, it's in the thousands for sure at this point.
Yeah, I've sent out 1000 kits ingeneral, just one shot.
So that's 1000 kids right there.So it's a lot of people that,

(01:00:57):
you know, have been able to be impacted by the art lab,
hopefully in a positive way, butnot everything's perfect, but.
Nothing is perfect but the fact that you're able to do it.
And so like right now, where youare in this new phase of the
business to anyone listening who's either knows who you are
or doesn't know who the what theArt Lab is, like, what would you

(01:01:17):
want them to know about what theArt Lab is now that it is in its
new form? Our mobile art service will go
to your house, we'll go to an Event Center, we'll go to your
school, we'll go to a park, we'll go to community centers,
pretty much anywhere and bring bright, colorful art and fun to
you. So if that's something you're
looking for, we are the perfect person for that.

(01:01:39):
We're really good at keeping kids entertained, having fun,
and making memories essentially.Cheesy, but it's true.
And I'm flexible with things if you have a theme in mind or want
to do something special. I'm pretty much open to anything
so don't be afraid to ask me anyquestions or I also love giving
out business tips and ideas. There's so much to do and I can

(01:02:03):
vouch first hand of all of the the excitement and the
engagement that the kids do, even the adults get involved in.
Like I remember going to the artLab and we were, we had like
adult parties where we were doing art.
So Oh yeah, I can't stop. I still do the same activities
we've been doing over and over again just cuz I like it.
Like the salad spinner art. Like, let me, let me just make
one more of these. It's a good time.

(01:02:25):
What would you say has been the most rewarding part of building
the business that's all about sparking imagination and joy?
It's definitely the positive experiences that kids are having
going back to us talking about remembering when we were kids
and just the experiences we had,knowing that I'm giving these
kids these awesome memories and making them feel valued.

(01:02:48):
You know, at times where maybe you or I didn't feel valued or
not noticed or anything like that.
Now I'm able to be the adult that gets to make sure you're
noticed. You know, sometimes the kids
will show me something. It's just like a smear, it's
ugly, whatever it is. And I say that's amazing, good
job. And then another adult would be
like, why do you lie to them? Like why do you tell them?

(01:03:08):
It's amazing. I'm like, I gave them the task.
I gave them the tools. They stayed, they did the task
and they were proud and they showed it to me.
They did a good freaking job. They did it.
They and it doesn't. There wasn't a right way, like a
skill level or whatever. So I love that I can be that
person to step in front of the person that says, you know, I'm

(01:03:31):
not going to lie to you that sucks and just tell you you're
doing a good job because it's not that serious.
And the good job you did was enjoying yourself.
You put your hand to the paper and you, you, you tried
something, you did it and you did a good freaking job.
Because sometimes that in itselfis starting at a very young age.
We stop ourselves from doing because of fear, because of what

(01:03:52):
someone said to us in the past. So it's just like one of the, I
love being able to be that person to not fucking ruin your
good time and not step on your dreams and not be the person who
takes away what it is to be an amazing human.
So I think that's probably just the impact I've had on kids and

(01:04:14):
even on families. Just giving them a positive
experience in any shape or form is an amazing gift you can give
to someone because we all so deeply need it as humans that I
think that's probably what I'm most proud of anyways.
You're giving people a chance tocheck out of reality in a way
that is not a distraction, like that is not scrolling on your

(01:04:37):
phone. That is engaging with parts of
ourselves that we ignore a lot. Yes.
And at the same time, going backto what you said about, you
know, telling them like they dida great job, that in itself is
you're showing these kids that not everything is about the
result. It's about the process.
It's all about the process. Everything in life is about the

(01:04:58):
freaking process. Everything.
Unless we're going to pay attention to that, we're going
to constantly be disappointed inourselves or feeling like we're
not enough because we're always trying to look at this end
result. There is no end result.
You know, happiness is not an end result.
There's no finish line where it's like, oh, I'm just trying
to be happy. I just want to be happy.
There's no finish line. And happy is on the other side

(01:05:20):
of it. Happiness is in small moments of
time that come and go. And then if you don't pay
attention to them and you don't actively seek out these moments
of happy, you won't be happy. You'll never be happy.
And that's an unfortunate thing to miss out on.
So happy moments where it's at. Honestly, that's like such a

(01:05:42):
good way to wrap up. I love it.
It's like sounds legit. No, you do it it, but it is
legit. Like let's be real, like, yes, I
said this in a previous episode.I'm like, what are we,
especially as adults, like we lose that, that wonder, that
curiosity and like technology iskilling that in kids
prematurely. Oh, it's so bad.
It's, it's so bad. And so it's like if there's

(01:06:03):
something that sparks joy and like, not to sound cheesy and
like repeat what everyone else is saying, but like if it's
something that you actually liketo do, why are you not doing it?
Yes. The world is literally falling
apart. Like we don't have much time.
Like let's get. We don't.
We don't. And you really don't know how
much time you have. It's, yeah, it's crazy to think
that we just spend our whole lives just doing all these

(01:06:25):
things that make us unhappy. And, and that's it's, it's hard
not to be like that, though. You have to actively seek out to
not be like that. So that's just annoying in
itself, but it is what it is. So listen, Sam.
You're doing the damn thing. Like, truly.
Thank you, you too inspiring. Me.
You inspire, I already told you.You always inspire me.
You always have inspired me and I'm grateful for you.

(01:06:47):
I love. You.
Love you. Now kiss.
Yeah, now kiss. Oh my God.
So I have one last segment that I ask everyone of my guests.
And so because I'm a branding podcast, or at least like I, I

(01:07:11):
do branding, but I wanna know, like if you look at your life,
you look at your, at the trajectory of your life, what
would you say is the most on brand thing about you?
OK, so I've heard you ask this question before to different
people and I always thought my answer was going to be that I
close the business because I always like change what I'm
doing. But I was thinking about it and

(01:07:32):
this is, I think you'll appreciate this because you know
me personally, but I think the most on brand thing I've done
was make a career out of making a mess.
Because you know, I'm a mess, messy bitch.
I'm a messy bitch. I'm a fucking mess all day.

(01:07:54):
Look at me right now. I'm mess.
You should see my setup. It's a hot mess.
Everything is a mess. And now I've literally created a
career out of making a mess. So that's why it's working
'cause I'm just, you know, goingwith.
You're on brand. And as a person, insert picture
of Sam's high school room here. You'll have to send me that.

(01:08:18):
Be a messy person. I've always been scattered.
I've always been doing a millionthings at once, not putting
things away and just cuz I want to try it all at once, I want to
do it all at once and I I know that there's other kids like
that. Most kids are like that until we
learn to like kind of control ourselves and realize that if we
want to live in utter chaos and everything's going to be chaos,
we need to dial back. But I'm kind of encouraging the

(01:08:40):
chaos and saying it's OK, you know, it's OK.
We're going to make a mess because we're trying to do
something right now. And like, because I, I relate to
that on such a deep level, like spilling things and just just
fucking up in general. Like I feel like I'm, I'm good
at that. Like it's a natural thing for
me. So the fact that I made a career

(01:09:01):
out of doing that is like prettyAunt Brand, I guess you could
say so. That is the perfect answer.
Honestly, thank you. I was like, you know what, Gio
would appreciate you. Love it that's.
Why? You're like, yeah, like that's,
that's what you're like. It's on the money.
My mom's gonna watch this. Hi, Kathy.

(01:09:21):
Yeah. Hi mom, she's definitely
watching before anyone else. First viewer.
Oh yeah, Honestly, I, I appreciate it so much.
Right. But no, honestly, I love you so
much. Thank you so much for being part
of this you. Too, Yes.
Because we have history, the vibe I feel like is so because I

(01:09:43):
can just kind of let my hair down and chill.
So I appreciate that so much. Yeah, Well, I feel like our
friendship has so much to do with our current employment and
just growing up together, two kids on the short bus from the
country who weren't meant to be in the country.
Like we kind of clinged on to each other.
And now, like, even when you're saying like, oh, not to talk

(01:10:03):
about myself, I was like, no, I'd love to talk about this.
Like, let's go back, Let's decode how we got here.
And like, it's just, it's crazy how things work, but yeah.
I know you who knew all those years ago, burning, burning,
pressing lighters into the back of the bus seat.
I thought you were going to say burning CDs.

(01:10:23):
We did that too, but yeah. Oh, that too, you know.
On the bus all. The the all the mixtapes.
Yeah, we weren't bad, though. You and I wouldn't dare get in
trouble. So that was like another thing.
I feel like we vibe together. So it's like we burned the seat,
but like we did it once and we would not get caught because
like. But that's also because you have
a Chinese mother and I have an Italian mother.

(01:10:43):
And so yes, there's that. Like we don't, we follow the
rules. Like we're both suffering
together. They're crazy moms not allowed
to do anything. But we could ride our bikes to
each other's houses, so it was OK.
We made it 100%. My God, we're studying a coffee
in your homework. Still never.
Even when we get together, we don't do our work.

(01:11:05):
No, it's a problem we have, but we did something.
We did this right now. Here we are.
Yeah, we're doing this. So on that note, so if anyone
listening wants to get in touch with you when it comes to like
booking a party or having you beat like their school event, like
where can they reach out to you?E-mail.

(01:11:25):
E-mail me, I'm taking away all my messages, all my things, my
20 forms of communication where we talk to each other and it's
just e-mail. If you wanted to DM me on
Instagram or something like that, that's totally fine too.
It just takes me a little while to get back.
Sometimes I go through like phases where I'm like, I'm not
answering anybody right now justbecause I'm overwhelmed and I'm

(01:11:48):
just. But e-mail for sure.
It is Team TE AM at the Art Lab Windsor dot com.
And where's the Instagram? Where can they follow you?
My Instagram is just at Art Lab.ARTLABI somehow managed to get
just the the six letters. I'm on TikTok, the art Lab.

(01:12:10):
It's the art Lab on TikTok. I'm trying to get into that
more. I have a lot of followers on
there somehow from a few viral videos, but I'm really just old
for that. Facebook's annoying anywhere
else, yeah. And to anybody who wants to
reach out to me, you can reach out to
methroughmywebsite@geographic.comfor any design inquiries.

(01:12:32):
Follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio.
I'm on YouTube. I would love to subscribe
subscription, whatever it's called.
Help me with the algorithm. Leave a comment any of the
above, I would be appreciated. Sam, I want to thank you once
again for being part of graphic content.
It means the world to me. I love you so much and I cannot

(01:12:53):
wait for what the next couple years looks like for the Art Lab
and for yourself. Thank you Gio, you are the best.
I love you so much as well and I'm just so grateful for your
friendship and for you putting me on this and always making me
shine and always just having my back.
I love you so much. I wish you the best of luck on
this podcast. I've watched a bunch of episodes

(01:13:14):
already now and I've gotten to know all these new people
through watching this and learn things.
I've gotten even quotes that I'malready thinking of that I've
heard some of your guests say. So just the power of that of
this community location that you're creating in Windsor.
I know as someone who I don't know, I've been on Instagram for
a long time now and I've been inthe public eye for a long time

(01:13:36):
now. I know how much this can mean to
someone like I'm like your bestie.
So it's like, yes, you asked me,but like to be asked to do
something like this and to for you to give people an
opportunity to highlight what they do is, is an impact in
itself. So anything else you were to do
on this planet, just doing theseinterviews amongst a billion

(01:13:59):
other things you've done, you'remaking an impact in a positive
way. So just kudos to you and I'm
super proud of you and just quitblowing smoke up so there's
asses. Yeah, that's my job.
That's my job. Yeah.
OK, bye. OK, bye.

(01:14:21):
OK, bye.

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