Bad Idea Social Club

Hosted by Aaron McCall

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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 health, and everything else we don’t usually say out loud.

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60 recent

August 11, 2026Episode 1559 min

⏮ REWIND // Alyssa Pacheco: Mirror Mirror

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Alyssa Pacheco: Mirror Mirror" from Season 4.Alyssa Pacheco (poet, author, artist) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the deeply personal nature of her work. Alyssa opens up about the influence of her family dynamics, the vulnerability in her words, and how her lived experiences serve as a form of discovery, expression, and a vehicle for creativity.Keep up with Alyssa Pacheco:apachecopublishings.comIG: @lyss_poetry——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

August 4, 2026Episode 1441 min

⏮ REWIND // Scott Millington: Real AF

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Scott Millington: Real AF" from Season 5.Scott Millington (photographer) has always had an eye for real-life moments and in photography, he found the language to document them. Scott sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about how the camera gave him purpose, community, and a way to show the world as he sees it. From indie wrestling shows to coffee shops and protests, Scott shares what it means to document real life, connect with people, and stay grounded in your perspective.Remembering Scott Millington:IG: @sapmillington——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

July 28, 2026Episode 1347 min

⏮ REWIND // Rae Lang: Outsider

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Rae Lang: Outsider" from Season 5.Rae Lang (artist, Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.) talks with Aaron McCall about carving a life that’s slower, wilder, and closer to the woods. They get into Rae’s evolution as an artist and business owner, the decision to close her Grand Rapids shop, raising kids with muddy feet, and how success looks different than it used to. It’s about art, identity, and what it really means to stop outrunning yourself.Keep up with Rae Lang:spreadingthewoosah.comIG: @woosahoutfitters——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

July 21, 2026Episode 1258 min

⏮ REWIND // Trish Hadley: To Be Fuckable

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Trash Hadley: To Be Fuckable" from Season 3.Trish Hadley (boudoir photographer) shares her story with Aaron McCall as they discuss the mutual vulnerability and trust in boudoir photography, the varied motivations of her subjects to be photographed, and the ability to pivot when your path feels wrong.Keep up with Trish Hadley:trishhadleyboudoir.comIG: @trish.hadley.studios——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

July 14, 2026Episode 1142 min

⏮ REWIND // Marcel Fable Price: The Poet and The Price

Part of our REWIND summer series, we’re revisiting eight conversations that crawled into our brains and hearts, nested, and just live there now. This time, it’s "Marcel Fable Price: The Poet and The Price" from Season 5.Poet, storyteller, and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Marcel Fable Price joins Aaron McCall for a raw and deeply honest conversation about creativity, mental health, and the weight of grief. He opens up about loss, the complexity of love and regret, and how storytelling became both a survival tool and a calling. From founding a multimillion-dollar nonprofit to stepping into the deeply personal role of a death doula, Fable shares what it means to hold space for loss, transformation, and truth.Keep up with Marcel Fable Price:marcelfableprice.comIG: @marcelfablepriceBlog: marcelfableprice.com/thisjustin And get his book New American Monarch here.——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

June 16, 2026Episode 1054 min

Anna van Schaap: Hope and Tragedy // Part 2

In the conclusion of the season 7 finale, Anna van Schaap (fine artist, tattoo artist, curator) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about building a creative life that refuses to be small. She gets into finding her voice and claiming her space out of passion and defiance, and carving out something different for women and queer folks in an industry with a history of the opposite. They talk about art history, women in art created by women in art, and the cost of going all in on something you were told wasn't for you. It's about volition, visibility, and holding hope and tragedy at the same time.Keep up with Anna van Schaap:annavanschaap.comIG: @theother_twistedsisterIG: @theother_twistedsister_tattoosIG: @theother_twistedsister_photos——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

June 9, 2026Episode 956 min

Anna van Schaap: Hope and Tragedy // Part 1

To kick-off the two-part season 7 finale, Anna van Schaap (fine artist, tattoo artist, curator) sits down with Aaron McCall to talk about building a creative life that refuses to be small. She gets into finding her voice and claiming her space out of passion and defiance, and carving out something different for women and queer folks in an industry with a history of the opposite. They talk about art history, women in art created by women in art, and the cost of going all in on something you were told wasn't for you. It's about volition, visibility, and holding hope and tragedy at the same time.Keep up with Anna van Schaap:annavanschaap.comIG: @theother_twistedsisterIG: @theother_twistedsister_tattoosIG: @theother_twistedsister_photos——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

June 2, 2026Episode 857 min

Sara Pulver: Chaos and Whimsy

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, and a stationery shop where she hosts her own work alongside over a hundred vendors with a focus on women and queer creators. They talk about tackling murals, life as a neurodivergent artist, and why the AI crunch might be the best argument yet for going analog. About finding your people, protecting your whimsy, and keeping the whole thing moving.Keep up with Sara Pulver:sarapulver.comIG: @sarapulverdearollie.comIG: @dearollieandco——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

May 26, 2026Episode 71 hr 0 min

Luke Grill: Every Damn Detail

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 dangerous it is to follow the crowd, and why holding his convictions is non-negotiable. They talk about the tension between art and business, building spaces that satisfy more than just hunger, and why the details nobody notices are exactly the ones that matter most.Keep up with Luke Grill:1983restaurants.comIG: 1983restaurantsIG: @obstacleno1IG: @seventysixhollandIG: @publiczeelandIG: @lovejoyholland——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

May 19, 2026Episode 638 min

Mark Stein: If It Kills Me

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 why being a lone wolf will only get you so far. They talk about finding creative community, imposter syndrome, getting out from behind your desk, and why if it’s not hard, you’re probably not trying hard enough. This is a conversation about the slow build, the kind that takes until your late 30s to really catch fire, and the kind of stubbornness it takes to keep it burning.Keep up with Mark Stein:steinbydesign.com⁠IG: ⁠@steinbydesign——This episode is supported by:Creative Mornings Grand RapidsMerchants & Makers——Writer/Producer/Editor/Host:Aaron McCallaaronmccall.netIG: @aaron_mccall——Co-Host/Sidekick/Photographer:Joe Mattesonthemattesons.coIG: @joe_dustin——Music:"Noises" by Mike Mains & The Branches——Support the Podcast:Buy Merch——Follow Bad Idea Social Club:badideasocialclub.comIG: @badideasocialclub

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