Best Dylan Menges Podcasts (2025)

1
The Final Episode - What Do You Wish You Could Do All Day? 51:23

6M ago51:23

51:23

Episode 100. On the final episode of The CMD-Z Show, Matt and Shelby explore the very first question ever asked on the show over two years ago. "What do you wish you could do all day?"By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
Content Alchemy - Our New Show! 31:30

6M ago31:30

31:30

Every era comes to an end, and we are nearing the final episode of The CMD-Z Show. But we're not going anywhere. We're just moving to a new show! Welcome, Content Alchemy, a show all about the ingredients that can make your content marketing a little more magical. Content Alchemy is available everywhere now and we will be posting new episodes every…

1
Can The Motion Industry Go Back to the Glory Days of 2021 - 2022? (w/ Hayley Akins) 1:03:36

7M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

In this conversation, Matt Vojacek and Shelby Hagerdon discuss the current state of the motion design industry with guest Hayley Akins from Motion Hatch. They explore the challenges faced by freelancers and studios in a competitive market, the impact of economic fluctuations, and the importance of self-reflection and niche marketing. Hayley shares …

1
How Has Your Third Year of Freelancing Been? (w/ Audrey Havey) 1:03:09

7M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

Matt and Shelby are joined by Audrey Havey to discuss the journey of freelancing and her experiences and insights gained during her first three years. Audrey shares her growth in confidence and understanding of the freelance landscape, while Matt reflects on the challenges and adaptations required in the freelance world. They explore the importance…

1
When Will the Drought End for the Creative Industry? (w/ Kevin Rapp) 1:03:16

7M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Matt and Shelby have Kevin Rapp back on the show to explore the current state of the creative industry and the challenges it faces. The main themes include the impact of budget constraints on content creation, the rise of AI technology, the need for experimentation, and the potential risks for freelancers and midsize companies. The conversation als…

1
Rapid Fire Questions! 1:05:28

7M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

This episode covers various topics related to the creative industry, including landing dream projects, growing client relationships, discovering creative missions, determining if the creative industry is the right fit, overcoming imposter syndrome, and knowing when to change paths or take a break. In this conversation, Matt and Shelby discuss the i…

1
Rapid Fire Questions! (w/ Saulo Nate) 1:16:27

8M ago1:16:27

1:16:27

Matt, Shelby, and Saulo Nate discuss various topics related to starting and growing a creative business. They touch on the importance of authenticity, understanding your target audience, and creating brand awareness. They also discuss the challenges of marketing and finding the most effective content strategy. Links to books mentioned by Matt: http…

1
How Do You Start When You're Not Good Enough? (w/ Jesse Gentry) 57:08

8M ago57:08

57:08

Matt and Shelby invited Jesse Gentry to the show to explore the theme of starting something new when you feel like you're not good enough. It touches on the importance of having a support system, confronting fears, and staying humble. The discussion also highlights the role of education and the need to adapt to changing circumstances.…

1
What Does the Current State of the Creative Industry Look Like for Recent Graduates? (w/ Gail Albright) 1:06:39

8M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

In this episode, Matt and Shelby discuss their experiences after school and the challenges they faced in finding jobs in their respective fields. They share their personal journeys and the lessons they learned along the way as well as discuss the challenges and uncertainties of finding a job in the animation industry.…

1
What are the Most Important Things You've Learned on Your Journey? (w/ Christopher Adornato) 53:21

8M ago53:21

53:21

In this episode, Matt and Shelby interview Christopher Adornato, one of the owners of Solari Creative. Chris shares his journey of starting as a 3D artist and working his way up to becoming an equity partner in the company. He emphasizes the importance of staying at one place and climbing the ladder, even in a field known for burnout. Chris also di…

1
How Do You Fall Back in Love with Your Portfolio? 46:49

9M ago46:49

46:49

In this conversation, Matt and Shelby discuss the topic of falling back in love with your portfolio. They share their personal experiences and insights on how to create work that you're proud of and passionate about. They emphasize the importance of periodically reassessing and updating your portfolio to reflect your current interests and goals. Th…

1
How Do You Build a Content Plan? (w/ Drysen Carsten) 31:09

9M ago31:09

31:09

In this conversation, Matt, Shelby, and Drysen Carsten discuss the importance of building a content plan that aligns with a brand's goals and target audience. They emphasize the need for a discovery process to understand the brand, its values, and its target market. By diagnosing the brand's needs and weaknesses, they can develop a customized conte…

1
How Do You Build a Creative Environment People Actually Want to Work In? 44:02

9M ago44:02

44:02

In this conversation, Matt and Shelby discuss how to build a creative environment that people actually want to work in. They touch on topics such as employee benefits, flexible working hours, recognition and growth opportunities, and the importance of a comfortable and stable work environment. Matt shares his insights and experiences as a small bus…

1
What is the Future of the Motion Design Industry? (w/ EJ Hassenfratz) 1:07:21

11M ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Matt and Shelby sat down with EJ Hassenfratz wo chat about the future of the motion design industry and the impact of AI. The guests discuss the potential of AI in motion design, the ethical implications, and the importance of maintaining artistic authenticity. They also touch on the role of clients and the need for artists to find personal outlets…

1
Can You Make $200k a Year as a Freelancer? (w/ Austin Saylor) 58:05

12M ago58:05

58:05

Matt and Shelby had Austin Saylor on the show to discuss how he was able to make $200k in a year as a freelancer. What were his steps and what made him successful? How can other freelancers find this kind of success as well? Hear all about it on this episode of The CMD-Z Show!By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
What Holds Small Studios Back From Reaching Their Full Potential? (w/ Joel Pilger) 1:04:56

12M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

In this episode, Matt and Shelby discuss the challenges that small studios face in reaching their full potential and are joined by Joel Pilger, a creative consultant. The main themes that emerge from the conversation are the importance of taking risks and going all-in, the need for studios to differentiate themselves and find their unique value pro…

1
What Should You Be Focusing On In Your Creative Career? 49:51

12M ago49:51

49:51

In this episode, Matt and Shelby discuss the challenges of staying focused as a creative and knowing what ideas to pursue. They explore the concept of being easily distracted and the importance of harnessing distractions in a productive way. They also discuss the need to commit to projects for a significant amount of time and the struggle of lettin…

1
What Should You Do When You're Feeling Creatively Stagnant? 52:24

1y ago52:24

52:24

In this conversation, Matt and Shelby discuss what to do when feeling creatively stagnant. They explore the importance of taking breaks, both relaxing and adventurous, to recharge and spark new ideas. They emphasize the need to get away from the usual way of thinking and consuming new experiences. They also discuss the balance between consuming and…

1
If You Had One Shot... Would You Capture It or Just Let It Slip? 44:57

1y ago44:57

44:57

In this conversation, Matt and Shelby discuss the concept of seizing opportunities and taking risks. They reflect on their own experiences and how they have created opportunities for themselves. They emphasize the importance of being flexible, not being afraid to try new things, and learning from each experience. They also discuss the idea that opp…

1
What Are the Big Challenges Affecting Studios Right Now? (w/ Amanda Russell) 54:18

1y ago54:18

54:18

The main theme of the conversation is the challenges affecting studios, particularly in relation to AI and the economy. Amanda highlights the lack of control over budgets and timelines, the uncertainty caused by AI, and the fear of job loss. Matt emphasizes the importance of building a strong creative community and adapting to change. They also dis…

1
How Do You Position Your Brand to Find Your Niche Audience? (w/ Shawna Poliziani) 54:30

1y ago54:30

54:30

In this episode, Matt, Shelby, and guest Shawna Poliziani discuss the importance of finding your niche audience and positioning your brand. They explore the role of emotion in the creative process and the value of human touch in art and design. They also touch on the limitations of AI in creating meaningful and emotionally evocative work. The conve…

1
What is the Best Business Model for Creatives? 53:20

1y ago53:20

53:20

In this episode, Matt and Shelby discuss the best business model for creatives. They explore different models such as standard employment, freelance, and the agency model. They also dive into the details of running an agency, using a retainer model, implementing a subscription model, and exploring e-commerce. They highlight the pros and cons of eac…

1
How Do You Build a Successful Marketing Strategy for Brands? (w/ Jess Fogal) 53:16

1y ago53:16

53:16

In this episode, the Matt and Shelby discuss building a successful marketing strategy and the importance of storytelling and empathy with their guest, Jess Fogal. Jess is the head of marketing and culture at Provide. They also explore the collaboration between marketing and sales teams and the significance of creating a supportive team environment.…

1
What Should be the Roles and Tasks of a Creative Producer? (w/ Katie Weger) 44:53

1y ago44:53

44:53

"What do producers even do?" Well, in addition to having Shelby (co-host and producer) on the show, we also brought on Kate Weger, our other producer at Made By Things, to chat about their roles as producers. From a producer's importance and organization within a project to their role as a fellow creative, we chat through everything that makes a pr…

1
How Do You Run a Profitable Creative Business and Still Have Fun? 57:25

1y ago57:25

57:25

"You ever just feel lost?" That was the how a question from one of our listeners started. And with a question so big and so relatable to so many creatives, you know we had to talk about it. This week on The CMD-Z Show, we discuss how we handle feeling lost and how we can still stay sane and happy doing what we love. From financial security to menta…

1
How Can Artists Avoid Being Exploited? (w/ Kevin Rapp) 1:06:16

1y ago1:06:16

1:06:16

"You should be grateful that you get to do what you love everyday." "It's not about the money." Sure, as creatives, we are grateful and we probably didn't get into this field for the money... But does that make it okay to exploit our time and talents? We discuss this and how we can change it on this week's episode of The CMD-Z Show with Kevin Rapp,…

1
Where Do You See The Creative Industry in 5-10 Years? (w/ Mack Garrison) 50:06

1y ago50:06

50:06

By this point, I'm sure we've all seen the latest updates to AI and the realistic video it can produce. So what does that mean for the creative industry? What will it look like 5-10 years from now? We sat down with Mack Garrison of Dash Studios to talk about it on this week's episode of The CMD-Z Show. This is a passionate episode with passionate c…

1
Why is Running a Creative Business So Damn Hard? 42:23

1y ago42:23

42:23

Why is running a creative business to damn hard? The creative industry is constantly evolving and it can be challenging to know when your business should evolve with it... Or to predict where the evolution is going to occur. Will it be within the market? With tech advances? Or maybe the services you offer? In this episode of The CMD-Z Show, we outl…

1
How Do You Know When It's Time to Innovate Within Your Creative Business? 44:53

1y ago44:53

44:53

How do you know when it's time to switch things up in a creative business? The industry is ever-changing and we are all currently in a period of transition. So what does that look like for your business? How do you know when to evolve? How can you overcome the fear of trying something new? And how do you choose to face it all?These are all big ques…

1
How Do You Create a Stand-Out Portfolio? 55:44

1y ago55:44

55:44

How do you create a stand out portfolio? Is there one trick that will make you rise above the other applicants? How do you make sure you're the one called back for an interview? And how do you get the job? We chat about all of this and more on the latest episode of The CMD-Z Show. And if you have a portfolio you think could use some help, visit mak…

1
What Level of Communication Should You Expect from Freelancers? (w/ Jeremy Thibodeau) 1:05:45

1+ y ago1:05:45

1:05:45

When it comes to working with freelancers, it can be tough to clearly define how quickly they should respond and how often they should send updates. Is an appropriate response time 10 minutes? An hour? A day? What are the expectations? And how does that impact your relationship with them? We discuss this with Jeremy Thibodeau, creative producer at …

1
How Do You Tell a Client They're Wrong? 37:52

1+ y ago37:52

37:52

How do you tell a client that they're wrong? No one ever wants to, but the sign of a healthy client relationship is being able to talk through any issues that might arise... Like whether something should be blue or red. But if you approach it right and collaborate, maybe you can come up with a solution that's purple.…

1
What Are Some Things You DIDN'T Learn in Art School? (w/ Melissa Lee Johnson) 41:08

1+ y ago41:08

41:08

By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
How Do You Get Back to Work After the Holidays? 32:22

1+ y ago32:22

32:22

By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
What Were Your 2023 Goals and What's Coming in 2024? 59:31

1+ y ago59:31

59:31

It's that time of year where we reflect on the past 12 months, the goals we made in January, how we did on those goals, and what the next year will look like. On this episode of The CMD-Z Show, we go through the goals we set at the beginning of the year for ourselves and Made By Things. We also chat about our 2024 goals... You might even hear about…

1
How Do You Start a Personal Project? 46:55

1+ y ago46:55

46:55

How do you make time for personal creative projects and how do you decide which one to pursue? On this week's episode of The CMD-Z Show, we discuss our processes when working on side/personal projects and how we view them. We also walk through how we decide what we should share and what is better kept to ourselves. These projects are just what the …

1
How Do You Have a Creative Career with a Disability? (w/ Jeffery Lawson) 43:50

1+ y ago43:50

43:50

We have a very special episode of The CMD-Z Show this week with a topic that doesn't recieve enough discussion. We sat down to chat with Jeffery Lawson about having a creative career while being disabled and how the military reinforced his love of art.By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
How Do You Negotiate Pricing? 54:51

1+ y ago54:51

54:51

A subject no one likes to bring up to their clients... pricing and budgets. How do you start the conversation and how do you negotiate once it's been brought up? How do you set appropriate pricing and how do set a plan in place for growth? And how do you get past the awkwardness of bringing up budgets? It's all in this week's episode of The CMD-Z S…

1
Do Studio Owners Work on Creative Projects? 37:41

1+ y ago37:41

37:41

This week we're answering what has been our most-asked question as of late... Do studio owners ever work on creative projects? From time management to finding new creative routes, we walk through how studio owners decide when to step into projects, if they prefer to stick to personal work, and how they balance it all.…

1
Why is it So Hard to Find a Job in the Creative Industry Right Now? 53:49

1+ y ago53:49

53:49

On this week's episode of The CMD-Z Show, we are going back to our roots and answering the question, "Why is it so difficult to find jobs in the creative industry right now?" From resumes to applications to seeking out new opportunities, this is an episode as timely as ever. And while we know every experience is different right now, we hope this ca…

1
What Would You Undo? (w/ CJ Casciotta) 49:09

1+ y ago49:09

49:09

On this week's episode of The CMD-Z Show, we sat down with CJ Casciotta to discuss his new book, "The Forgotten Art of Being Ordinary: A Human Manifesto in the Age of the Meteverse." We also dig deeper into AI and what it means to slow down during the creative process.By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
What Would You Undo? (w/ Kevin Rapp) 50:35

1+ y ago50:35

50:35

Aaaaand welcome back to The CMD-Z Show! On this week's epsiode Shelby and I sit down with Founder and Chief Creative Officer Kevin Rapp to talk about some of his "undo's" in his creative career. With topics ranging from overcoming insecurities, building self confidence, delegation, and understanding your worth, this is an episode you can't mess!…

1
What Would You Undo? - With Mack Garrison 40:17

1+ y ago40:17

40:17

Another week, another new episode of The CMD-Z Show. And we're thrilled to share our first guest of this new season. Let's welcome Mack Garrison to the studio! Mack is the co-founder and director of content at dash. On this epsiode, we chat about learning from mistakes, having confidence to lead as a small studio, williness to ask questions, and ha…

1
What Would You Undo? - Matt Vojacek and Shelby Hagerdon 30:35

1+ y ago30:35

30:35

Get ready for SEASON FOUR of The CMD-Z Show! We have a new format and we're kicking it off by asking our co-host, Matt Vojacek, what he wishes he could do "undo" about his creative career. On this episode, Matt and Shelby discuss the value of staying focused on one thing at a time and having "eras" during your career.…

1
How Do You Pitch to Get Work? 50:37

2y ago50:37

50:37

Pitching can be hard and timeconsuming for both sides when starting a project. With a lot of unspoken and unwritten rules, we dive deeper into the world of pitching and how we can make the industry better by finding a new alternative.By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
Special Episode! Make Create Club Questions 58:47

2y ago58:47

58:47

Get ready for a special episode of The CMD-Z Show! We invited members of the Make Create Club to ask questions LIVE in the “studio.” ;) We cover everything from developing your skillset to understanding software to getting started in the creative industry. And don't forget to join the Make Create Club at makecreateclub.com.…

1
Does Art Require Meaning? 46:39

2y ago46:39

46:39

“Art for art’s sake…” or so the old French slogan goes. A topic that’s been debated for centuries, Shelby and I ask the question, “Does art require meaning?” Philosphical and relatable, we dive deeper into what really makes art art and how we can define it in order to find its truth.By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

1
How Can Creatives Change the World Around Us? 29:35

2y ago29:35

29:35

As creatives, we’ve all heard the phrase, “We’re not curing cancer.” We’re told that what we do doesn’t really make a difference in the grand scheme of things. But how can we change that? How can we use our skills to change the world around us? That’s the question we decided to tackle in this week’s episode of The CMD-Z Show. From finding organizat…

1
How Do You Find the Right Stories for Clients? 49:18

2y ago49:18

49:18

Finding just the right story to encapsulate a client's brand and mission can be a challenge. From understanding your central themes to knowing the story's purpose to discovering how your voice works within the project, there are a lot of working parts to consider. On this week's episode, Matt and Shelby discuss how you can find those stories and, o…

1
What Do You Do When Business Slows Down? 44:53

2y ago44:53

44:53

Some seasons are slower that others… And sometimes seasons are impacted by recession and plague. Whatever is happening to make business slow down, you have to be prepared. And beyond just being prepared… How can you use it as an opportunity to grow?By Matt Vojacek & Shelby Hagerdon

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dylan Menges Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen