Chaos and Creativity

Until I met three time academy award nominee Tom Myers, it never crossed my mind that a blank page to a writer is total silence to a sound designer. That something as subtle as a dog barking in the distance in a movie is as intentional a choice as the more conspicuous murmuring of a populated cafe underneath the dialog of actors in a scene. The deeper Myers and I dug into what he does for a living at Skywalker Sound, the more I realized that sound design and sound mixing are forms of aural magic performed by wizards...

Close your eyes. Listen. Which sounds are soothing? Which ones drive you up a tree? Currently, outside my house there’s a mocking bird that’s making me a little crazy. But in the distance the sound of a freight train whistle is eliciting feelings of happiness. No doubt because of an experience I had around trains when I was 12. Bring that train sound two miles closer, it would probably annoy me to no end. Close, far, types of birds, types of trains, all of nature—this is Dr. Stéphane Pigeon’s world. And he’s built a way to brin...

Big changes are afoot at Chaos & Creativity, as our long time producer and good friend Claire Duncan moseys down the road of life to her next big thing. We wish her nothing but the best.

Lest Kimi and Lou be left alone too long without supervision, we’re excited to announce the arrival of our new producer Cheramie “CJ” Johnson. We’re also thrilled to welcome Alexandra Covey to the podcast editing bay. She’ll be cutting together Chaos & Creativity as well as our sister podcast Mothers of Creativity.

In this episode: Everything Feels Legit—everything e...

In this episode, Lou shares about a do-it-yourself project that flopped, revealing that 1) acoustics is an art form, and 2) he's terrible at acoustics. 

So Lou and Kimi talk about which skills are worth learning as creative professionals, and what's important to delegate out. Reflecting on their younger years, they wonder what happened to the time and energy they once had to learn new skills from scratch. Ultimately, they discover that creative maturity brings the very-punk discernment to know what's worth learning and what's best left to the experts.

Connect with the Show

This week on Chaos & Creativity, we’re joined by photographer and visual artist William Waterworth. His work feels like scenes from an old film — dark, cinematic, and full of emotion. We talk about why he prefers shooting out in nature instead of a studio, how literature and art inspire his photography, and why he looks for real character over the “perfect” model.

We also get into film vs. digital photography, creating timeless black-and-white images, and what it means to make art that actually feels something in a world full of content. If you’re into photography, fashion, creativity...

Do you have to choose between being cool and being rich?

In this episode, we talk about what it feels like to be creative right now. There’s so much content everywhere, and it can feel like you have to turn everything into money. But does that take away from what makes something cool?

We get into whether art is really valued today, how social media has changed things, and if you can actually make a living from your creativity.

Can you be both cool and successful? Or do you have to pick on...

In this episode, Kimi and Lou sit down with Annicka Ekvall, a Swedish-American DJ and producer making major waves in the minimal melodic house scene. Closely associated with Insomniac, Annicka has performed on the world's biggest stages, including EDC, Coachella and Burning Man. She joins us to discuss the magic of staying grounded while playing for thousands and why her newest role, being a mom to a baby girl is her greatest blessing and inspiration.

Key Highlights:

How do you handle criticism when you are deeply connected to your work?

In this episode, Lou and Kimi talk about what it really feels like to receive feedback as a creative. Whether you are an artist, producer, designer, writer or entrepreneur, learning how to take criticism can be the key to growing your ideas and your confidence.

Creatives often become emotionally attached to their work, which can make it hard to know if something is actually good or needs more development. Lou and Kimi share how they personally deal with criticism and why honest...

In this episode, we talk all things music, DJ culture, and the creative process behind electronic music with rising DJ and producer Kieran Kerwin.

Before the interview, Kimi shares exciting news from tour. She has officially joined a new band in France called Painmagazine, so be sure to check them out.

Kieran is not only a talented electronic music producer and DJ, he also created the intro and outro music for our podcast. In this conversation, he takes us inside his creative process and explains how electronic music is built, from the first idea to...

In this mini episode, Kimi and Lou talk about why staying organized is honestly one of the most important parts of being a creative professional. When you're juggling multiple projects, ideas, and deadlines, having some kind of system makes everything way more manageable.

They share what’s actually worked for them over the years, from simple habits to tools that help them stay on track and not feel overwhelmed. Organization doesn’t make you less creative, it gives you the space to be more creative.

Stay tuned for more Chaos & Creativity on Instagram. And remember, alwa...

In this episode, we talk with Michael Alan Ross, photographer, author of Porsche Outlaws: Stuttgart Hot Rods, and longtime creative professional. Michael shares his journey from a 25-year career as a musician to becoming a respected photographer after landing a singing role in a Ford commercial that introduced him to photography.

We explore the world of Porsche Outlaws, where Porsche models are customized through weight reduction, suspension upgrades, and performance enhancements to create personalized, high performance cars. Michael also dives into the creative process behind editorial photography, emphasizing storytelling, problem-solving under pressure, and the importance of lighting...

We’re kicking off the new year with some exciting announcements and big things ahead for the Chaos & Creativity universe.

This year, we’re thrilled to introduce a new podcast hosted by Sabrina Sarl. Mothers of Creativity spotlights women who make a living through their creative work while also navigating motherhood. Becoming a mom can change everything, and this series explores how creative women continue to pursue their passions. Sabrina brings such a thoughtful, honest perspective to these conversations, and she has some truly special interviews planned for 2026.

We also share what’s next for Chaos...

We’ve made it to our last episode of the year and the season one finale.

To close things out, Lou and Kimi are sharing 12 things they’ve been loving lately. These are things that have inspired them, helped them slow down, or simply made life a little better as creatives.

This is our version of the 12 Days of Christmas. No endorsements, no sponsors. Just books, shows, tools, and ideas we genuinely enjoy.

We’re talking about what we’re reading, watching, and adding into our lives as we head into a new year.

Kimi and Lou explore the different “characters” we step into throughout our lives — the versions of ourselves that show up in different moments, relationships, and creative seasons. They talk about the parts of us that live quietly inside, the ones that guide our choices, and the ones we grow out of.

Lou shares what he’s learned from writing a stage play and how storytelling forces you to meet all these inner characters. They dig into collaboration, what it means to step into someone else’s creative world, how to add to it, and how to defend your own v...

Join Lou and Jeff Burkhart, award-winning writer, bartender, and columnist for the Marin Independent Journal, as they dive behind the scenes of Tale of a Barfly.

Inspired by Jeff’s bestselling book Twenty Years Behind Bars: The Spirited Adventures of a Real Bartender, Tale of a Barfly is a story of life, love, and cocktails. It’s a riches-to-rags journey that reminds us all of life’s greatest truths can be found while watching the world from behind a bar.

For over a decade, Jeff and Lou have collaborated on live, enhanced book readings performed to sol...

Kimi and Lou are back with their well-deserved opinions in this week’s minisode or what we’re now calling bitchsodes. 

When Amazon quietly erased guns from classic James Bond posters, it sparked a bigger conversation about censorship, revisionism, and the strange urge to “remaster” the past.

Why does art keep getting sanitized? Does censoring a movie poster really help anything?

Lou and Kimi unpack it all, reminding us that erasing symbols won’t erase reality.

Moral of the story: Bring back Napster...

Stay tuned for more Chaos & Creativity on Instagra...

Lou heads to London to chat with Joe Ingham, an award-winning producer and filmmaker who works in development and production across both the UK and US. Joe has helped bring projects to life with Amazon, BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Paramount, and more, and his films Baby Lies Truthfully and The Microcosm.

In this episode, Joe breaks down what “development” in TV and film actually means, taking an idea from its earliest spark and shaping it into something ready for the screen. He talks about the creativity, patience, and people skills it takes to make it happen, plus the impo...

In this mini-episode, Lou and Kimi talk about YouTube running AI filters over videos, without creators asking for it. Has AI ever automatically edited your content? What does that mean for creativity?

YouTube is one of the biggest living archives we have, but if AI starts changing our work, are we actually moving backward? Things are already at the point of overproduction, and social media feels exhausting. 

Lou and Kimi ask: should AI be making creative decisions, or do we need to bring back imperfection and stay connected to art?

Stay tuned for m...

In this episode, Kimi and Lou sit down with award-winning visual artist Natalie Lennard, also known as self-portraitist Miss Aniela, and surreal fashion photographer Natalie Dybisz.

Natalie reveals the genesis of her highly imagined photographic art and how she holds on to the joy of creating despite the sometimes difficult challenges of realizing her vision. Lou and Natalie talk about what it takes to follow inspiration with intention, how art evolves over time, and why exploring new directions keeps creativity alive.

As Natalie Lennard, she is best known for her powerful and groundbreaking Birth Undisturbed...

In this minisode, Kimi and Lou dive into the fascinating and sometimes unsettling world of AI. Sparked by the appearance of an AI model in Vogue, they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming art, fashion, and creativity. 

Is AI taking jobs from real artists and models? How is it impacting diversity and beauty standards? Could it be limiting the very creativity that inspires us?

Kimi and Lou also reflect on the moments of raw, human creativity that AI cannot replicate and what we risk losing as technology advances. Whether you are a creator, a fashion l...

In this episode, Lou and Kimi sit down with Ava Roy who is celebrating her 25 years at We Players, a theater company that brings productions to life in breathtaking outdoor locations. Ava has been transforming California’s parks, shorelines, and historic sites into epic stages for over two decades.

Known for crafting performances that merge place with play, Ava shares how physical space can ignite the imagination and shape the emotional arc of a show. She breaks down the deeply complex and alchemical process of creating a production that doesn’t just entertain but envelops, where the audi...

Join Lou and Kimi for a conversation that’s been on our minds lately: Is content the new spam?

With so much noise on social media, AI-generated posts, recycled trends, and endless “value-packed” videos, we’re starting to wonder... has content lost its meaning? 

It’s starting to feel like the internet is full of stuff that doesn’t really matter. And in the middle of it, the few pieces of truly good content stands out more than ever.

We also talk about how real-world connection is becoming more valuable in a world saturated wit...

Have you ever watched a movie and thought, “This song is perfect for this scene?” That’s the work of a music supervisor, and in this episode, Kimi and Lou talk to one of the best.

Terri d’Ambrosio is an audio post and music supervisor at MarcoCo. Studios, where she oversees projects from script to final mix. With experience in music production, licensing, editing, and sound design, she brings a rare depth of knowledge to every project she touches.

Recent projects include We Live in Public, The Revolutionary Optimists, The Rape of Europa, Inequality For All...

In this mini episode, Lou and Kimi revisit the story behind Chaos and Creativity and reflect on the power of origin stories. The ones that are messy. The ones that take time. The ones that remind us why we do the work. 

It started at the bar at The Buckeye Roadhouse. Lou and Kimi, a bottle of red, and a lot of chaos.

Now, many years later, we got to thinking… where does a creative journey really begin?

Do origin stories give us a sense of hope? Do they help us find happiness, or...

This week Lou catches up with Tracy Marcellino-Aubert in LA, chef, artist, and creative force of nature. We first met Tracy at the Creative Supper Club in New York and from the start she’s been one of those people who just gets it.

In this episode, Tracy takes us back to her early days in San Francisco, where the creative scene wasn’t about “making it” but just about being in it. At 22 she dove headfirst into "it" and hasn’t stopped.

Lou and Tracy talk about food as art that you can eat, where the...

In this episode of Chaos and Creativity, Kim and Lou explore the generational divide in the creative world and how it affects everything from career choices to collaboration. Whether you're a Gen Z content creator or a Gen X designer, you've likely experienced the tension between old-school expectations and today’s creative hustle. 

The Generational Stigma Around Creative Careers 

Older generations often value stability, leading to the belief that a 9-to-5 job is the only legitimate career path. But younger creatives are pushing back, or at least trying to. The reality is, many creatives today hold...

In this episode, we dive into the creative world of Marco D’Ambrosio, musical composer and owner of MarcoCo Music & Sound Art. Marco has spent his career shaping music and sound to enhance visual storytelling, drawing inspiration from films like Blade Runner, which he credits with changing his life.

Marco breaks down his creative process—from the spark of an idea to a full composition—explaining how he builds a palette of sounds to evoke emotional depth. He believes sound has color, and that storytelling through music is both an art form and a collaboration. We also explor...

Join us in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for a deep dive into the creative mind of Jaron Presant, veteran DP and one of the cinematographers behind the latest season of Poker Face. Jaron’s visual storytelling pushes boundaries, and in this episode, he unpacks the art of bringing light to story. 

From collaborating with Natasha Lyonne to crafting scenes that stick with you, Jaron reveals how cinematography is more than just visuals—it’s about setting a tone, influencing perception, and creating meaning. Jaron and Lou get into the cultural weight of color (why red means something entirely different in the...

Join Lou for an inspiring chat with Louis Posen, record producer and founder of Hopeless Records. Louis exposes his brilliant music brain with a personal dive into his world. Rare stories and perspectives explore the music community below the mainstream. He also talks about the balance between art, commerce, and how independent labels make a huge impact on the cultural zeitgeist. With more than 50% female artists, Hopeless Records diversity is greater than any other label in the alternative scene—a product of core principles that have existed since its founding. Hopeless Music Academy fosters a new wave of artists fr...

Lani Tice is a Zen master in one of the most chaotic subgenres of the marketing world. She leads the brand ambassador program at Every Man Jack, serving as the vital bridge between the brand and the extreme sports personalities they work with. As a former competitive skier, Lani brings a unique understanding of both the talent’s perspective and the brand’s goals. Through her patience, insight, and vision, she thrives in the tumultuous space where chaos meets creativity.

The fires in LA left us shocked and dismayed. We're checking in to let you know we're all good and forging ahead. We love you LA. 

Learn more & donate to the support of Los Angeles here: 

Direct Relief : https://www.directrelief.org

California Fire Foundation : https://www.cafirefoundation.org/

LA Fire Department Foundation : https://supportlafd.org

Give Directly : https://www.givedirectly.org

American Red Cross : https://www.redcross.org/

Coco Wolf quite literally rose from the couch as an uninspired teenager to become an executive producer at Making Pictures, London, in just over a decade. With her creative mind, calm demeanor, and detail-obsessed personality, Coco shares her journey to becoming an EP and offers inspiring insights on what it takes to be a successful producer in a chaotic industry.

Photographer, Director, and Founder Caydie McCumber is here for a candid conversation about how her art is deeply influenced by the things that frighten her. In this episode, Caydie opens up about confronting fear through creativity and how embracing vulnerability shapes her work. She also shares the story behind Creative Supper Club—a unique space where diners can leave their egos at the door and connect over meaningful meals, surrounded by kindred creative spirits. In a world where affectation often runs rampant, Caydie has created a sanctuary for authentic, inspiring conversations.