The PHYS Podcast

What happens when photography becomes more than making beautiful images and becomes a way to better understand yourself, your creativity, and how you see the world?

On this episode of The PHYS Podcast, host Tyson Martin sits down with Brie Stockwell, a nature and landscape photographer, creative coach, and podcast host whose work explores the quiet beauty of wild places.

Brie is drawn to deserts, dunes, soft light, subtle colour, infrared black-and-white photography, and the small details we often overlook. Her approach to landscape photography is rooted in slowing down, paying attention, and developing a...

What does it take to create photographs that make people feel like they're standing in the middle of the adventure?

In this episode of The PHYS Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with award-winning adventure and action sports photographer Ben Girardi to explore a career built on documenting movement, wild landscapes, and authentic human connection.

Originally from upstate New York and now based in Pemberton, British Columbia, Ben shares how snowboarding first sparked his passion for photography, why moving west changed the direction of his life, and how becoming immersed in the sports he photographs allows...

What if great photography isn't about finding extraordinary subjects, but learning to see the extraordinary in the everyday?

On this episode I sit down with acclaimed Canadian photographer Peter Andrew Lusztyk, an award-winning editorial and commercial photographer whose work transforms overlooked objects and ordinary moments into striking works of art.

Freelancing since 2009, Peter has built an internationally recognized career creating photography for leading publications and global brands while earning multiple honours, including AACE Photographer of the Year. His work is celebrated for its precision, craftsmanship, and ability to challenge how we see the world around...

What makes a photograph unforgettable?

For filmmaker, photographer, and creative director Travis W. Keyes, it's rarely the perfectly posed moment. It's everything in between, the quiet expressions, genuine emotion, unexpected connection, and the stories that unfold when people simply allow themselves to be seen.

In this episode of The PHYS Podcast, host Tyson Martin sits down with Travis to explore a creative journey that has taken him from film and television production to becoming one of New York City's most respected cinematic portrait photographers and filmmakers. Together, they discuss...

What does it take to create work that truly means something?

In this episode of The PHYS Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with Ontario-based creative director, photographer, and filmmaker Kofi Yeboah for a conversation about creativity, culture, purpose, and the lifelong pursuit of meaningful storytelling.

Kofi shares how his experiences have shaped the way he approaches photography and filmmaking, why creating with intention matters more than chasing trends, and how developing your own perspective can become your greatest creative strength. Together, they explore the importance of building a body of work that reflects who you...

What draws someone to spend their life chasing forgotten roads, sleeping under the stars, riding strange bicycles, and documenting the world through a camera?

For Tucson-based photographer, writer, and bike touring advocate Spencer Harding, those pursuits have become a way of life.

A longtime contributing editor and writer for The Radavist, Spencer is widely recognized throughout the cycling and bikepacking communities for his distinctive film photography, adventurous spirit, and passion for unconventional bicycles. From the fixed-gear boom of early-2000s Los Angeles to riding a self-built tall bike across...

What if a single photograph could tell an entire story?

For New York-based documentary and portrait photographer Niikai Wells, that's the goal every time he presses the shutter.

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with military veteran, photographer, and visual storyteller Niikai Wells for a conversation about photography, healing, creativity, and the power of human connection.

Niikai's journey into photography began during one of the most challenging periods of his life. While navigating PTSD and searching for...

In this episode I sit down with Trent Mitchell, one of Australia's most respected photographers, authors, and visual storytellers.

For more than two decades, Trent has been creating work that explores the relationship between people, landscape, culture, and the environments we shape and that shape us. Whether working in black and white or color, film or digital, his photography reveals the beauty, complexity, humor, and contradictions of the modern world with a style that is instantly recognizable.

His work has earned international acclaim, including winning the prestigious Moran Contemporary...

In this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with commercial and editorial photographer Shayd Johnson, a visual storyteller based on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast whose work is rooted in authentic connection, environmental storytelling, and a deep respect for the natural world.

Over the years, Shayd has traveled by air, land, and sea documenting the diverse landscapes and communities that make British Columbia one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. From flying above the Monashee Mountains to photographing along the rugged coastline of Ucluelet and participating in First Nations...

In this episode I sit down with photographer, educator, filmmaker, and writer Andy Mumford.

Originally from the United Kingdom and now based in Lisbon, Portugal, Andy has spent years exploring some of the world's most remarkable landscapes, building a career that combines travel, photography, education, and storytelling.

Growing up, Andy traveled extensively throughout Europe with his family. Those early experiences sparked a curiosity about the world that would eventually shape both his creative life and career. Today, that same curiosity continues to guide his photography, taking him to remote...

What started in a high school darkroom shooting 35mm and medium format film eventually evolved into a career documenting the people, places, and culture that define outdoor adventure. Around the same time she discovered photography, Izzy watched her first ski film and instantly fell in love with action sports storytelling—a passion that continues to shape her work today.

Based in Bend, Oregon, Izzy works as a freelance photographer and staff writer for POWDER Magazine, her work explores the human side of skiing, mountain biking, and outdoor culture, capturing the experiences, communities, and landscapes th...

In this episode I sit down with adventure, lifestyle, and extreme sports photographer Natalie Carriere.

Natalie specializes in creating powerful visual stories for athletes, brands, events, and outdoor organizations, working in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. From remote alpine productions and backcountry expeditions to major sporting events and commercial campaigns, her photography is built on a deep understanding of movement, environment, and authentic human experience.

What makes Natalie's perspective unique is that she doesn't just photograph adventure, she lives it.

As a...

In this episode I sit down with photographer, filmmaker, writer, and creative director Megan Costello, a visual storyteller whose work captures the intersection of surf culture, adventure, creativity, and human connection.

Based on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Megan has built an impressive career documenting the people, places, and cultures that exist around the ocean. Through both photography and filmmaking, she has created powerful visual stories that take audiences into the worlds of big-wave surfing, travel, women's surf and skate culture, and life lived close to the water.

...

Kimberley Kufaas: Vancouver Island, Ancestry & Stories Rooted in Place

In this episode I sit down with Vancouver Island photographer and storyteller Kimberley Kufaas.

With more than a decade behind the lens, Kimberley has built a body of work shaped by the rugged landscapes, changing weather, and deep sense of place that define Canada's West Coast. Born and raised on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, her photography is influenced by her First Nations roots in Kwakiutl territory, along with her Métis and Scandinavian heritage.

What happens when you walk away from a successful career to follow a creative calling?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Chicago-based photographer Nolis Anderson, a visual storyteller whose work explores culture, identity, community, and the human experience.

Before becoming a full-time photographer, Nolis earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Chicago State University and built a career in medicine. From the outside, it looked like a stable and successful path. But deep down, he knew something was missing.

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To launch this new era, I sit down with Dan Tamarkin, owner of Tamarkin Camera and the Rangefinder Gallery in Chicago, one of the most respected Leica-focused galleries and camera showrooms in the world.

Photography has been part of Dan's life from the very beginning.

His father, Stan Tamarkin, founded Tamarkin Camera in 1971 from their family home in New Haven, Connecticut. After taking over the family business in 2010, Dan relocated the company to Chicago, where he expanded it into both Tamarkin Camera and the Rangefinder Gallery, creating a destination...

How many creative careers begin with a skateboard and a video camera?

Like many kids growing up around skateboarding, Caleb initially wanted to be the one landing tricks. But around the age of twelve, he realized something important: while some of his friends were progressing faster on their boards, he had discovered another way to contribute to the culture.

He picked up a video camera.

Officially, it was supposed to be for filming his younger brother's soccer games. In reality, it quickly became a...

What happens when the wilderness becomes more than a place to explore?

What happens when it becomes a place to heal?

Jillian's story is one of perseverance, courage, and transformation.

Raised on a small island in Northwestern Ontario, she grew up surrounded by wildlife, forests, and water. After receiving her first camera as a young girl, she began documenting the natural world around her, unknowingly laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with photography and storytelling.

Following an abusive...

Episode 100 of The P.H.Y.S Podcast is more than a milestone.

It's a celebration of a simple belief that started this entire journey:

For this special milestone episode, I sit down with photographer, filmmaker, and art director Scott Evans.

Based in California's Bay Area and originally from Santa Cruz, Scott's work blends cinematic storytelling with portrait and fashion photography, creating images that feel both timeless and deeply atmospheric.

After studying photography and earning a degree in English...

What gives a photograph a sense of timelessness?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist and photographer Liz Rosa, whose work blends movement, emotion, and elegance into imagery that feels both contemporary and timeless.

Working across both digital and analog photography, Liz has developed a distinctive visual language inspired by old-world aesthetics, the natural world, and the expressive power of movement. Her photographs often feel cinematic and poetic, balancing modern fashion and portraiture with a deeper sense of emotion...

On Episode 98 of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Hailey Elise, a professional mountain bike athlete, photographer, and filmmaker whose life is built around adventure, creativity, and the outdoors.

Raised in the mountains surrounding Vancouver, British Columbia, Hailey developed a deep connection to nature, exploration, and pushing her limits. That passion eventually led her to Whistler, where mountain biking and visual storytelling became the foundation of her career.

What makes Hailey's perspective unique is that she lives the stories she documents. As both a professional...

Can a photograph change the world?

For Ben Horton, that question isn't theoretical. It's something he's spent his entire career proving.

For more than sixteen years, Ben has worked with National Geographic, creating stories across Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, China, Haiti, the Canadian Arctic, and remote coastlines throughout the Pacific and Central America. His work exists at the intersection of exploration, environmental conservation, documentary storytelling, and commercial production.

But what makes Ben's career remarkable isn't simply where he's traveled. It's the impact his work has...

What if photography isn't really about photographs?

What if it's about the relationships we build along the way?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Portland, Oregon–based street photographer Ryan Aanderud, whose work is a powerful reminder that photography can be an act of service, connection, and community.

Like many photographers, Ryan has carried a camera for most of his life. But over time, photography became something much bigger than making images. Today, his work exists at...

What keeps photographers coming back to the ocean?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with photographer, traveler, and wave chaser Daniel Alberdeston for a conversation about photography, bodyboarding, travel, and the pursuit of moments that can't be repeated.

Daniel's story is one that many photographers will relate to. At the center of it all has always been a camera. From disposable film cameras to modern digital systems, photography has been a constant companion throughout his life. But for Daniel, the camera has...

What happens when twenty years of cinematic storytelling meets the real, unscripted human experience?

In this episode of The Life of Phys Podcast, Tyson sits down with Los Angeles–based portrait and documentary photographer Afonso Salcedo. Before stepping into still photography, Afonso spent two decades as a Lighting and Compositing Artist at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, helping craft the emotional atmosphere behind films like Toy Story 3, WALL-E, Encanto, and Moana 2. Today, he brings that same cinematic mindset into the world of portraiture and documentary storytelling.

In this co...

What happens when photography becomes a bridge between the life you imagined and the life you eventually find yourself living?

Born and raised in West Germany and now living in California for more than sixteen years, Jens brings a unique perspective shaped by two very different worlds. Growing up surrounded by centuries of history, architecture, and tradition, he developed a deep appreciation for permanence and the passage of time. That perspective would later collide with the constantly evolving landscapes of Southern California.

Rather than focusing on famous landmarks or...

What happens when you return to the same place, not to find something new, but to see it differently?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Toronto-based photographer Nick Spector for a conversation about street photography, creative growth, and the power of staying committed to the process.

While Nick's professional work spans fashion, portraiture, documentary, corporate, and wedding photography, it's on the street where his most personal work lives. After more than a decade as a semi-professional photographer, street photography has become...

What if the most meaningful photographs aren't waiting somewhere far away?

What if they're already right in front of you?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with photographer and YouTuber Matt Day, whose black-and-white documentary photography has inspired a global community of photographers to slow down, pay attention, and find meaning in everyday life.

Matt and I connected instantly through shared passions, skateboarding, creativity, storytelling, and the realities of navigating loss. What began as a podcast interview...

What does it take to create photographs in places where most people would never dare to stand?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Krystle Wright, an Australian adventure photographer and director whose work has redefined what is possible in action and adventure storytelling.

Her images and films have been featured in National Geographic, Outside Magazine, GQ, The Times, Red Bull, and The Huffington Post. She has also appeared on the National Geographic series Photographer and was named the winner of the...

Amy Horowitz is a New York City–based street photographer whose work transforms everyday public spaces into powerful, human stories.

Any Studied at the International Center of Photography (ICP), Amy has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary street and documentary photography, with her work exhibited and awarded internationally across major photography festivals and institutions.

In 2025, she released her debut photobook, A Walk in the Park?, published by Schilt Publishing, a long-form portrait project created in and around Washington Square Park in New York City. The book explores young adulthood, identity, vulnerability, an...

What makes a portrait truly memorable?

Is it the fame of the person in front of the camera—or the honesty revealed in the moment?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with Los Angeles-based photographer and former cinematographer Dennys Ilic, a world-class portrait artist whose work bridges Hollywood, cinema, and deeply human storytelling.

Before becoming one of the most sought-after portrait photographers in the entertainment industry, Dennys built a career behind the motion picture camera. His cinematography wo...

What does it take to keep showing up for your creative work year after year?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with photographer, videographer, and YouTuber Brandon Talbot, a creator who has spent years openly sharing his photography journey while, as he likes to say, making "incredibly adequate videos for the internet."

Before photography became a central part of his life, Brandon built an impressive background as a professional volleyball player, NASM Master Trainer, and jiu-jitsu competitor. The lessons he learned through...

What happens when photography becomes part of the healing process?

On this episode of The PHYS Podcast, I sit down with Bryanna Bradley, a Tofino-based surf and outdoor photographer whose work captures the raw beauty, emotion, and human connection found both in and out of the water.

Professionally trained as a photojournalist, Bryanna has built a career rooted in documentary storytelling while evolving into the worlds of surf, outdoor, and wedding photography. No matter the subject, her approach remains the same: create honest images that reflect genuine moments, authentic...

What does it mean to photograph people and places with care?

JuanCarlos Gonzalez is a Puerto Rican photojournalist and visual storyteller whose work is rooted in authenticity, human connection, and a deep sense of place.

Based in Plymouth, Vermont, his work across portraiture, documentary photography, events, and landscapes, creating images that bridge cultures, celebrate resilience, and honor the stories that often go unnoticed. His thoughtful approach to storytelling has earned international recognition, including being named one of Leica's 100 Photographers in 2025.

Raised in the coastal...

What happens when you stop chasing photographs and start paying attention to the moments unfolding right in front of you?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I welcome back Raheem Nelson for a conversation about creativity, patience, and the ongoing process of developing a photographic voice.

Since his first appearance on the podcast, Raheem has continued to evolve as a photographer by focusing on what matters most: showing up consistently, trusting the process, and allowing his work to develop naturally over time.

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What if growth as a photographer has less to do with making better images and more to do with learning how to see?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I welcome back Jonathan Pitts-Wiley for a thoughtful conversation about creative growth, long-term commitment, and the quiet discipline required to build meaningful work over time.

Since his first appearance on the podcast, Jonathan has continued refining both his photographic voice and his relationship with the creative process. Rather than focusing on immediate results, recognition, or external...

What does it take to create meaningful work in a world constantly demanding attention?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I welcome back photographer Larry Everage for a conversation about growth, authenticity, and the responsibility that comes with documenting culture.

Since his first appearance on the podcast, Larry has continued to build a body of work rooted in patience, trust, and long-term storytelling. Whether documenting everyday life in New Orleans or working alongside some of the most influential figures in music and culture, his approach...

What happens when you stop chasing photographs and start paying attention to the process itself?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I welcome back photographer Michael Taylor for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, patience, and the evolution that happens when you commit to the work for the long haul.

Since his first appearance on the podcast, Michael has continued to refine not only his photography, but his relationship with creativity itself. His approach has become less about results and recognition and more about presence, consistency...

What happens when you stop searching for photographs somewhere else and begin paying closer attention to where you already are?

I welcome back photographer Ben Tobin for a deeper conversation about place, presence, and the power of long-term storytelling.

Based in Spokane, Washington, Ben has continued to develop a body of work rooted in community, documenting the people, neighborhoods, and everyday moments that often go unnoticed. His photography isn't about chasing destinations or trends. It's about commitment, observation, and building a deeper relationship with the place he calls home.<...

What can a forgotten town, an empty road, or a quiet landscape reveal about who we are?

On this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with documentary and landscape photographer Kyle McDougall, whose work explores the intersections of place, history, memory, and time.

Originally from Ontario, Canada and now based in the United Kingdom, Kyle has built a reputation for thoughtful, long-form photographic storytelling. His images focus on rural environments, overlooked communities, and landscapes shaped by generations of human presence, inviting viewers to slow...