Best NCECA Podcasts (2025)

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120. Studio Update: Japan and New York and New Glazes oh my! 1:01:42

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1M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Lindsey and Donte catch up after coming back from two very different trips. There’s talk of Lindsey’s aesthetic aspirations, Donte’s change of heart with Mason stains, and why sometimes sh*t feels so crazy you gotta have at least a few minutes of freshman poli-sci in a ceramics podcast. _____ About Your Hosts Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning ce…

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Episode 119: Teaching Tips: "The Dad effect." 48:48

3M ago48:48

48:48

Ever thought about teaching a workshop or class? Lindsey and Donte chat about their experiences teaching, and share some tips for both beginners and those with some experience. There’s talk of class structure, communication styles…and how a switch on your pottery wheel can make you a better teacher. Interested in mocha diffusion? In the Syracuse, N…

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118. Live from NCECA: Chat w/ Mayco 35:22

4M ago35:22

35:22

Clay types and cooling rates and glaze absorption oh my! Donte sits down with Carmen Allen (@shapethevoidstudios) of Mayco to chat about finding flexibility and customization through glaze testing. Donte also brings along questions from his students, and asks why those Mayco test tiles look like more than just teardrops.. Interested in mocha diffus…

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117. “You ded?” 54:11

5M ago54:11

54:11

We’re not. We promise. Here’s an update filled with new jobs, new glazes, and new things on the horizon. Interested in mocha diffusion? In the Syracuse, NY area? Sign up for Donte’s Workshop with Clayscapes! _____ About Your Hosts Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklor…

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116. Live from NCECA: Chat w/ Amaco Brent 1:00:46

6M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

Join Donte for a chat with Cory Brown (@corybrownceramics) and Stephen Creech (@creechoftheeast) of AMACO Brent. There’s talk of the behind-the-scenes of product development, wading through glaze mysteries, and dream projects for these ceramics nerds. Thank you so much Cory and Stephen for taking your time to chat with The Mud Peddlers! _____ About…

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115. Myth-busting mocha diffusion: “I wanna double – triple – check…” 52:06

7M ago52:06

52:06

Donte walks Lindsey along his road busting some myths about mocha diffusion. There’s talk of viscous fingering, authority figures and critical thinking, and curiosity. Have you ever tried mocha diffusion in your work? P.S. This video was recorded a week ago, so Donte’s video should be out next week, and Donte’s patrons should have early access now!…

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113. Live from NCECA: Chat w/ Skutt 1:10:54

8M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Donte chats with Jim Skutt and Chad Stewart of Skutt. Yes. That Skutt. There’s talk of firing best practices, the future of ceramics education, some really impactful new projects coming down the pipeline, Donte’s ultimate kiln feature wish list…and the definitive answer to how many peep holes to leave open during a firing. What would you have asked…

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112. NCECA Debrief: "Aren't you like...royalty?" 1:00:42

8M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Lindsey interviews Donte about his recent experience at NCECA, or the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. There's talk of new clays, celebrity meetups, how Donte managed his social battery...and some ceramics world royalty he got to meet >_> If you didn’t go to NCECA, were there any shared stories from the event that inspired you? I…

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111. The Tale of Red Lotus 53:38

9M ago53:38

53:38

It’s finally here. Head to Clayscapes and get yourself Donte's new glaze. _____ About Your Hosts Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatura…

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110. Replacing “Extinct” Glaze Materials: “It’s like a chocolate chip…” 58:41

9M ago58:41

58:41

Lindsey and Donte answer a question from listener @salnevarez_art about how to know what materials are going to become unavailable, and how to go about replacing an ingredient when it does. There’s talk of UMFs, glaze calculators, and way, way too many baking metaphors. Do you have a burning question for The Mud Peddlers? Send it to Lindsey at lind…

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19: Clay Doctors 59:49

10M ago59:49

59:49

Today's episode of NCECA 360 features The Clay Doctors panel moderated by Paul Blais, and featuring panelists Louise Deroualle, Jessica Gardner, Bobby Scroggins, and Rebecca Hutchinson. This conversation was recorded in person at the 2024 NCECA Coalescence Conference in Richmond, Virginia. Our 2025 Formation Conference is happening later this month…

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109. Chat with Sue McLeod: “It’s not just information, it’s actually experience…” 58:54

10M ago58:54

58:54

Lindsey and Donte chat with Sue McLeod, a giant in the online ceramics education world. There’s talk of transitioning to full time ceramic work, creating a marketing approach that meets your needs, and how non science majors can experience an inviting approach to glaze chemistry. Donte also finally gets to ask Sue his burning questions about iron o…

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108. Chat with Ben Carter of The Brickyard Network: “Trial and error and panic…” 53:24

11M ago53:24

53:24

Lindsey and Donte chat with Ben Carter – host of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler, founder of The Brickyard Network, and general artist and podcaster extraordinaire! There’s talk of how Ben got into clay and podcasting, how he’s made his career work for his mental and financial health, and why it’s important to “look at the footnotes”. Plus, some of the…

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18: Rethinking Technology 57:02

11M ago57:02

57:02

Today's episode of NCECA 360 features a discussion on rethinking technology moderated by David Jones, and featuring panelists Bri Murphy and Del Harrow. This conversation was recorded in person at the 2024 NCECA Coalescence Conference in Richmond, Virginia. Special thanks to the Brickyard Network for co-producing this episode and supporting podcast…

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107. 2024 Year Review: “I have to stop...actually that's a lie.” 52:23

11M ago52:23

52:23

Lindsey and Donte return after a break for the first episode of 2025! They chat about the highlights and lessons learned from 2024, as well as what 2025 has in store. There’s talk of changing work/life balances, glaze development, new classes, new glazes, the upcoming NCECA clay convention, and how to bring a little bit of Star Wars energy into you…

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17: The Changing Landscape of Ceramic Education 1:01:22

12M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

This episode features a discussion on the changing landscape of ceramic education with Brian Kakas, Lisa Giuliani, and Ben Carter. They talk about demographic shifts and closures in higher education, craft school education, and helping an arts community survive after a core institution downsizes its ceramics program. This conversation was recorded …

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106. Working with local businesses: “That’s not the skill tree I chose…” 45:28

1y ago45:28

45:28

Lindsey and Donte chat about their experiences working with local businesses as another way to get their work out there. From pros and cons to best practices, these mud peddlers hope their stories will help you decide whether and how to tap into this part of your local creative economy. Have you ever sold your work through a local business? What’s …

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16: Resources for your small business 1:02:11

1y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

This episode features a conversation about business, with ceramic artists and hosts of the Wheel Talk podcast- Ryan Durbin and Becca Otis. They share resources for starting and maintaining a small business, including the value of creating a community of entrepreneurs to share your experience. This conversation was recorded in person at the 2024 NCE…

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105. Holiday Gift Guide for Clay People: “I. Want. Pretty. Buckets!” 52:45

1y ago52:45

52:45

Lindsey and Donte put together a list to help out with holiday gifts for clay people– whether you have a clay person in your life, or you are the clay person in your life. From classic quality-of-life picks to some potentially surprising suggestions, these mud peddlers hope you can find some inspiration in this holiday medley. What’s one of the mos…

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15: Making it work: The Modern Studio Potter 56:21

1y ago56:21

56:21

Today, we are featuring a conversation with Carole Epp, Naomi Clement, Diana Adams, and Sarah Pike about their approach to making a living as a potter in the digital age. Each of these three trailblazing artists has figured out how to make a living as a full-time potter on their own terms. From sold-out online shop updates to setting up a virtual s…

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104. Adding Sculptural Elements to Functional Work: “Usually I’m the tangible one…” 53:59

1y ago53:59

53:59

**Election Day is Nov. 5th! Go to Vote.gov to find your local polling place and do a democracy!** Lindsey and Donte discuss the many ways you can use sculpture to expand the way you decorate your functional ware (whether wheel-thrown or hand-built). There’s talk of clay types, sculptural techniques, and how you might avoid some common pitfalls – as…

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103. Meet the Ingredients - Bentonite: “You disperse so good…” 33:07

1y ago33:07

33:07

**Do you have your voting plan? ^_^ Grab a buddy and participate in democracy together (then go get some ice cream or cake or some cheese, cuz you deserve it ;) ) Check your voter registration and find your polling place at Vote.gov** Lindsey and Donte introduce you to bentonite, a common ingredient in glaze-making. From basic traits to baking anal…

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14: Glaze Doctors - For Flux Sake Live! 1:02:03

1y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

This episode features a conversation about glaze development and troubleshooting with Kathy King, Matt Katz, and Rose Katz. Listen as the panel of experts answer audience questions in this fired-up live recording of the For Flux Sake podcast that happened in person at the 2024 NCECA Coalescence Conference in Richmond, VA. Special thanks to The Bric…

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102. SacAnime Summer 2024 Review: “Are you a real Pokemon fan???” 59:29

1+ y ago59:29

59:29

Lindsey and Donte chat about SacAnime Summer: the good, the bad, and the gross – gross income, that is… There’s talk of table positions, the price of goblets, and the never-ending challenge of figuring out what fandom to focus on. How do you evaluate your experience selling at an event? Do you sit down and write things out, have a discussion with f…

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101. Reevaluating Patreon: “Crunchyroll and chill…” 1:11:55

1+ y ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Lindsey and Donte sit down to reflect on their experiences with Patreon. What’s been working? What have they changed? How can Patreon be useful for more than the income? They also dive into their perspectives on creating free community content vs content that’s behind a paywall, and what they want to bring their members in the future. What do you t…

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13: Growing a Thriving Community 57:56

1+ y ago57:56

57:56

Today we are featuring a conversation on growing a thriving community that was moderated by Cammi Clamico, and features Holly Hanessian, Dallas Roquemore and Heather Mae Erickson. The group talks about building communities through nonprofit programming, education curriculum, and project-based social practice. This episode was a live recording of th…

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100. The 100th Episode 1:33:10

1+ y ago1:33:10

1:33:10

Big episode. Bigger career shifts. Biggest lessons learned. Join Lindsey and Donte for the 100th episode of The Mud Peddlers for where they’ve been and where they’re going. What’s your clay journey like been so far? Where would you like to go next? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us a message @earthnationceramics or @lindseymdillon Join…

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12: Clay Roots: Exploring Ceramics Across the Black Diaspora 1:19:56

1+ y ago1:19:56

1:19:56

Today we are featuring Clay Roots: Exploring Ceramics Across the Black Diaspora with Malene Djenaba Barnett, Lydia C. Thompson, David MacDonald, and Ashlyn Pope about the rich tapestry of ceramics across the Black Diaspora. From the ancestral lands of Africa to the vibrant Caribbean and the diverse cultures of African Americans, join us as we explo…

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99. Heat Work (+ Selling Your Glazes): “Heat plus things in physics…” 42:59

1+ y ago42:59

42:59

Lindsey and Donte do their best to define the tricky thing that is heatwork. What is it? What things affect it? Why is it making Lindsey crave cake? They also talk about a big business development for Donte. Curious for more information? Check out Sue McLeod’s blog about heatwork and pyrometric cones and Glazy’s article about heatwork: https://suem…

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98. Non-clay things that impact clay things: “It’s almost as though we live in an interconnected world!” 52:44

1+ y ago52:44

52:44

Lindsey and Donte talk about some of the things that might not seem ceramics-related, but actually make an impact on us in the studio. From the fear of small, irregular holes to EV’s, these mud peddlers have plenty to talk about… What non-clay thing has had an impact on your clay journey in terms of inspiration or tools? Drop your thoughts in the c…

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97. Meet the Ingredients: “It’s science!” 1:05:10

1+ y ago1:05:10

1:05:10

Lindsey and Donte introduce you to a few of the ingredients that make up a glaze. From talk of why Lithium isn’t just an Evanescence song to why you shouldn’t try and order “Rio” from your local clay store, they hope to give you a better understanding of these arcane ingredients that make glazes so dang pretty… Have you ever looked at a glaze recip…

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96. Translating Your Ceramics Skills onto a Resume: “It’s a whole other language…” 1:01:10

1+ y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Lindsey and Donte talk about how to describe the skills you have in ceramics in language that goes on a resume. From keywords and imposter syndrome, to business English and code-switching, these mud peddlers have a lot to debate when it comes to describing what they do all day. Have you ever put your ceramics skills on a resume? Do you find it diff…

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95. Life Update: “I love Astarion and now I’m engaged…” 51:45

1+ y ago51:45

51:45

Lindsey and Donte are havin’ a week. So while they wait for the coffee to kick in, they chat about what’s been occupying their minds recently, from the wildly unpleasant to the gloriously sublime. And like every geek these days, they’re spending some time talking about Baldur’s Gate. Join them at the 25:10 mark to skip the life updates and get to t…

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94. Questions to ask before saying “Yes” to an event 41:07

1+ y ago41:07

41:07

Lindsey and Donte go over the questions they ask themselves before agreeing to sell at an in-person event. It’s great to live in an area with lots of event options, but it can be hard to decide which one will be worth your valuable time and effort. While being a vendor is always a learning process, these questions are here to help you narrow down y…

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92. Navigating Short, Medium, and Long-Term Goals: “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” 57:31

1+ y ago57:31

57:31

Lindsey and Donte chat about how they handle goals with multiple timelines. There’s talk of monetary investments vs time investments, risk tolerance, saving mental energy, and working with what makes your brain tingle. What’s the main way you get your sh*t done when you’re juggling multiple goals? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us a me…

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92. From the Archives: NCECA 2023 Wheel Talk Collab. 1:07:06

1+ y ago1:07:06

1:07:06

In this blast from the past, Lindsey and Donte chat with Becca and Ryan from Wheel Talk Podcast in the NCECA 2023 Podcast Room. Have you ever been to an NCECA? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send us a message @earthnationceramics or @lindseymdillon _____ About Your Hosts Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who m…

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91. Paperwork: “I spent this much on toilet paper…” 55:47

2y ago55:47

55:47

Lindsey and Donte chat about a few of the different kinds of paperwork they’ve dealt with as professional artists. From the different tax forms to contracts and what counts as a business expense, these Mud Peddlers give an overview of some of the most confusing parts of being a working artist. What was the most confusing part of getting your busine…

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90. Teaching Tales at Sun City: “More money, less work, I’m out.” 47:24

2y ago47:24

47:24

Lindsey and Donte chat about Donte’s big life news, and what his experiences and learning moments have been at his new teaching gig. There’s talk of age factors in teaching, politics in the classroom, and why it’s important to teach the “why” along with the “how”. Do you have a burning question about teaching you’d like us to discuss? Drop your sug…

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89. A Brief History of Famous Glazes: “Is there a trademark on celadon?” 40:16

2y ago40:16

40:16

Shinos and celadons and tenmokus oh my! Lindsey interviews Donte about some of the most famous glazes you’re likely to hear about in the ceramics world. There’s talk of when and where they come from, what makes them unique, and why they’re different from the bottled glazes of the same name you can buy today. Is there a historical topic within ceram…

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88. ClayCon West 2024 Review: “We want it to feel cozy and interconnected...” 34:31

2y ago34:31

34:31

Lindsey interviews Donte in this low-key chat about his solo adventures at ClayCon West. There’s talk of crowd sizes and artist talks, expectations and infrastructure… And why there might be a new Hogwarts-style sorting ceremony to be had. Do you like going to big festive events? Or do you gravitate towards those that are more small and low-key? Te…

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87. SacAnime Winter 2024 Review: “Uuuhh…I made some poor decisions…” 1:09:42

2y ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Lindsey and Donte chat about their experiences at their first event of 2024! There’s talk of navigating price changes, successful and failed plans for inventory management, creating an efficient booth setup, avoiding wifi struggles, and what to do when there are just some things that are out of your control. Oh, and what these mud peddlers think of…

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86. 2023 Year Review Part 2: “You’re psyop-ing yourself!” 44:02

2y ago44:02

44:02

Lindsey and Donte look forward into 2024. There’s talk of taking care of our bodies, the fun to be had while procrasti-planning, and why Donte just can’t stop experimenting with glazes. What are you most looking forward to in 2024? Tell us in the comments or tag us using @earthnationceramics or @lindseymdillon _____ About Your Hosts Lindsey M Dillo…