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Artwork for Bad Idea Social Club

Bad Idea Social Club

Aaron McCall
Creativity
Mental Health
Grand Rapids
Art
Photography
Anxiety
Graphic Design
Social Media
Wedding Photography
Personal Growth
Poetry
Burnout
Social Connection
Motherhood
Creative Process
Coffee Industry
Grief
Human Interaction
Authenticity
Freelancing

Bad Idea Social Club is an independent podcast of stories, insights, and creative foolery. Hosted by graphic designer Aaron McCall with photographer Joe Matteson, the show brings honest, unfiltered conversations with creatives about the work, the mess, and everything that comes with it. This is a space where honesty meets the beautifully unhinged parts of creativity, process, struggle, joy, mental... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes81Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryArtsDesignSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Bad Idea Social Club

Latest Episodes

Sara Pulver (illustrator, muralist, Dear Ollie) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about knowing who you are and building something around it. She gets into a lifelong love of tactile, handmade things that eventually turned into markets, a grant, an... more

Luke Grill (chef, restaurateur, sommelier, 1983 Restaurants) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about what it means to build something people can feel. He gets into cutting his teeth in some of the most demanding kitchens in the country, how dangero... more

Mark Stein (artist, illustrator) joins Aaron McCall to talk about what it takes to go all in on your work and the cost of pushing too hard. He gets into growing up on cartoons, punk and skate culture, the wake-up calls that changed everything, and wh... more

AB (DJ, creative) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about confidence, rejection, and how your sense of self evolves as you move through new experiences. He gets into music as both expression and connection, the push and pull of reading a room while... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Luke Grill
Chef, sommelier, and restaurateur behind 1983 Restaurants (including Public, Lovejoy, Obstacle No. 1, 76)
1983 Restaurants
Episode: Luke Grill: Every Damn Detail
Mark Stein
Illustrator and graphic designer, Stein by Design
Stein by Design
Episode: Mark Stein: If It Kills Me
Adrian Butler
DJ, multi-project creator, uses AB as stage name
Episode: AB: Make Them Move
Joel Hoekstra
Co-owner of Meyer Music in Grand Rapids; educator and music advocate
Meyer Music
Episode: Joel Hoekstra: Bite and Sound
Ryan Wasson
Head brewer at Coopersville Brewing Company
Coopersville Brewing Company
Episode: Ryan Wasson: Another Round
Amy Carroll
Photographer, painter, and artist
Independent artist
Episode: Amy Carroll: The Problem
Ian Labardee
Principal Design Director at Mighty
Mighty
Episode: Creative Mornings GR: Growth is a Team Sport
Bailey Sell
Founder of Transvagar Print Co.
Transvagar
Episode: Creative Mornings GR: Growth is a Team Sport
Hannah Berry
Founder of Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts
Lions and Rabbits
Episode: Creative Mornings GR: Growth is a Team Sport

Host

Aaron McCall
Host and producer, and editor/writer for the show; brings design background and a collaborative approach to interview style and production.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • My favorite new podcast

    Love their voices and how easy it is to listen to. Then you get hit with the deep questions and content . The question style is genius and they are mega likable. If you are a creator of any sort I def recommend giving it a listen .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Artist Jeff Bertrand
    United Statesa year ago
  • Safe Space for Creatives

    The best interviews are conversations, and Aaron is a 10/10 people person, these are seamless. If you want to feel inspired to do what you love, listen to BISC to hear from others who are in the middle of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LucianaGoose
    United Statesa year ago
  • A must

    Love the energy and creative flow. It’s a must listen. Super engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AndiRichard
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such a natural, funny, honest listen!

    I first listened to this podcast when my friend Sabrina was on and it was such a delightful listen! Conversation was easy and flowed naturally. It was funny, but I also felt down to earth and real! There was a lot that I related to, there’s a lot that I learned, and a lot I appreciated! Looking forward to listening to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    S Hayn
    United Statesa year ago
  • Entertaining and inspirational

    I’ve never listened to a podcast that feels so naturally like a real conversation, in the best way. Very inviting and welcoming atmosphere created by the hosts, great banter, and thought provoking explorations of the creative process and mental health.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    poko toko
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging and authentic conversations that feel like real life, not scripted.
High production quality and insightful, deep dive into creative processes.
Guests open up about struggles and growth in a relatable way.
Hosts create a welcoming, human atmosphere with thoughtful questions.
Strong mix of humor and heart makes it easy to binge listen.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#148
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#47
Spain/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#205
New Zealand/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ray Anne Barker: Noise and Stillness
Q: What role does community and collaboration play in your growth as an artist?
She emphasizes sharing space with other women artists, lifting each other up, and shifting from competitive dynamics to supportive collaboration, which helped shape a collective exhibition and broadened the audience for diverse artists.
Ray Anne Barker: Noise and Stillness
Q: So how did you move from painting as a personal outlet to exhibiting your work and running a studio space?
She describes treating art as a structured, deadline-driven process—turning a personal practice into a public, show-ready body of work by setting series goals, securing venues, and building a support network to keep momentum even with family responsibilities.
Mack Garrison: Everything in Motion
Q: What was a pivotal moment that reshaped the company culture?
A burnout crisis following a successful conference led to a renewed commitment to HR, structure, and weekly check-ins, plus trialing a four-day work week and mental health days to protect staff well-being.
Mack Garrison: Everything in Motion
Q: What is Dash Studio's core philosophy in dealing with clients and team?
A people-first culture anchored in community and collaboration, where great work comes from strong relationships, empathy, and being a reliable problem-solver for clients.
Mack Garrison: Everything in Motion
Q: How did ADHD influence Mack's career and approach to design?
ADHD provided a constant influx of ideas and a drive to explore many disciplines, ultimately steering him toward motion design and entrepreneurship as a natural fit. It also fed his energy for building diverse skills and a problem-solving mindset.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Idea Social Club

What is Bad Idea Social Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, creative-focused show that centers on the messy, joyful, and sometimes challenging realities of making things. Conversations span art, design, photography, brewing, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, with a strong emphasis on authenticity, mental health, community, and the creative process under constraints. Episodes often explore how real people navigate passion projects, sustain creativity, and turn obstacles into meaningful work or community impact, all delivered with humor and a casual, interview-style vibe.

Where can I find podcast stats for Bad Idea Social Club?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Bad Idea Social Club. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Bad Idea Social Club and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Bad Idea Social Club get?

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How many subscribers and views does Bad Idea Social Club have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bad Idea Social Club has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Bad Idea Social Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bad Idea Social Club:

1. The Right Questions with James Victore
2. Today, Explained

How many episodes of Bad Idea Social Club are there?

Bad Idea Social Club launched 3 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bad Idea Social Club?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Bad Idea Social Club?

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What guests have appeared on Bad Idea Social Club?

Recent guests on Bad Idea Social Club include:

1. Luke Grill
2. Mark Stein
3. Adrian Butler
4. Joel Hoekstra
5. Ryan Wasson
6. Amy Carroll
7. Ian Labardee
8. Bailey Sell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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