The Pencil Pushers Podcast

Hosted by MRC Brand Design's Mike Rosado

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Pencil Pushers Podcast celebrates the art of hand-drawing. Produced by MRC Brand Design Studio, it features interviews with illustrators, animators, comic artists, and other talented individuals. Hosted by Mike Rosado, an artist, musician, and designer, the Podcast aims to showcase artists' work and provide insights into their creative process. Join Mike as he chats with his friends and idols in the world of illustration, animation, and comic art.

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September 7, 2026Episode 251 hr 27 min

Michael Doret: Legendary Graphic Designer

We welcome the legendary lettering and graphic design artist Michael Doret, whose 5-decade career includes work for Kiss, the New York Knicks, Disney/Pixar, and Time Magazine covers now in the National Portrait Gallery. He talks about why he wrote Growing Up in Alphabet City, published in late 2024, and his wanting to tell his own story before someone else did. He also gets into how childhood visuals shaped his color and letterforms, often subconsciously, from a Good Humor truck decal to Coney Island signage. The conversation covers his path through tuition-free Cooper Union, mentorship under Ed Benguiat at Photo-Lettering, a formative Push Pin stint with Milton Glaser, his sketch-first process, declining standards in signage, skepticism about AI originality, the origins of the Knicks logo, and his advice to work less and live more. Listen to us Spotify , iTunes , Amazon Watch and subscribe on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Host: Mike Rosado Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company

August 24, 2026Episode 241 hr 7 min

Daniel Swartz: Letterpress Designer

Welcome folks as we interview letterpress designer, printer, and educator Daniel Swartz, who returned to rural northern Indiana after a 2020 life upheaval, building a new practice in his late grandfather's garage studio. Swartz describes growing up around creativity, studying art at Indiana Wesleyan, shifting from illustration toward design and typography, and teaching starting around 2007–2008. After layoffs in late 2019 and a stalled job search as COVID hit, his wife returned to education while he became a stay-at-home parent, then began carving linoleum type blocks and hand-printing large work that gained traction on Instagram and sold. He explains letterpress setup, inking, proofing, kerning, and manual gradient techniques, notes prints can take about two weeks, and argues hand craft, historical awareness, and imperfection still matter amid digital tools and AI. Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepencilpu... MRC Brand Design: https://mrcraleigh.com/ Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

August 14, 2026Episode 2350 min

Nathaniel Long: Comic Book Artist and Author

Host Mike Rosado welcomes illustrator/designer/comic artist Nathaniel Long, a South Carolina-based creator from the Winston-Salem area whose early Spider-Man obsession and grandfather's drawings sparked a lifelong pull toward hand-drawn craft. Long talks about choosing traditional tools for their tactile reality, studying cinema production at Bob Jones University to sharpen visual storytelling, and working full time at BJU Press on motion-graphic illustration projects like an animated "Mask of the Red Death." The conversation digs into how comics are built—outline first, then thumbnails, pencils, inks, and even physically cutting and gluing word balloons—while reflecting on shifting convention culture and the value of process. The episode spotlights Long's Kickstarter for "Moon to Earth," a 24-page, retro-inspired space adventure one-shot he writes, illustrates, and traditionally inks, aiming to raise $3,000 by August 29, with tiers including a $15 comic and a $30 comic-plus-exclusive print. If you're into comics, illustration, vintage sci-fi, or just seeing an artist take an idea all the way from their head to something you can actually hold in your hands, check it out—and consider supporting the Kickstarter. 🎙️ Listen to the new episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. 🚀 By supporting "Moon to Earth" on Kickstarter today, you're helping another creator show what the hand-drawn arts can do. Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepencilpu... MRC Brand Design: https://mrcraleigh.com/ Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

July 27, 2026Episode 221 hr 43 min

Andrew Fairclough: Illustrator & designer

Andrew Fairclough grew up skateboarding on the northeast coast of Australia, copying boards out of Rad Magazine, and winning a drawing contest in a skate publication at 12 years old. He went on to build a career designing for Nike, Billabong, and Rolling Stone before founding True Grit Texture Supply, whose brushes and textures are now used daily by some of the best illustrators in the world. In this episode we cover Andrew's winding path from a beach town in New South Wales through the snowboard industry in Canada, commercial design agencies in Sydney, and eventually into the illustration career and business he runs today. He breaks down how his signature pulp sci-fi and skateboard-influenced style developed, how a Skillshare class with 30 million Facebook views launched True Grit, and why delusion is the most underrated skill a young creative can have. We also get into what it means to build tools that empower artists without replacing them, the balance between running a business and staying creative, and where he sees the hand-drawn arts heading. Plus a Smashing Pumpkins deep cut that perfectly sums up why craftsmanship still matters. This episode is sponsored by Musgrave Pencil Company- use code PENCILPUSHERS at MusgravePencil.com for 10% off! 🎧 Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08WtvMb... Follow Andrew Fairclough: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindred_stu... True Grit Texture Supply: https://www.instagram.com/truegrittex... Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepencilpu... MRC Brand Design: https://mrcraleigh.com/ Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

June 29, 2026Episode 2153 min

Justin Rasch: Stop-Motion Master Animator

The Pencil Pushers podcast interviews stop-motion animator/director Justin Rasch, who has worked for 30 years across games, TV, and film, including ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning Pinocchio, and now directs/writes/supervises at Stump Puppet Pictures while sharing process online. Rasch recounts growing up in Florida inspired by comics, classic cartoons, Secret of NIMH, and practical effects artists, studying 2D and effects at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, then switching to CG after Jurassic Park. He describes breaking in by portfolio-hunting in 1990s LA, choosing Konami, and later leading animation at Luxoflux on projects like Shrek and True Crime: Streets of LA. Rasch explains how animation principles transfer across 2D/CG/stop motion, details his stop-motion workflow (blocking, shooting on twos, then final on ones), discusses why stop motion is hard to "control," and reflects on AI, audience interest in process, and working with Travis Knight and del Toro. He shares where to find him on Instagram and YouTube. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

June 8, 2026Episode 201 hr 44 min

Jon Contino: Iconic Brand Designer

Host Mike Rosado welcomes designer/illustrator/author Jon Contino to the Pencil Pushers podcast to discuss Contino's upbringing on Long Island, his parents' craft-driven influence, and his early path from band flyers, cassette art, and self-taught HTML to charging for creative work at 14. Contino explains how his lifelong obsession with lettering, failed graffiti attempts, Photoshop experimentation, hardcore/grunge culture, and New York's grime shaped his "organized chaos" style, later balanced by a problem-solving approach to branding inspired by figures like Paula Scher. He describes career growth from a 2005 studio and a handmade clothing brand to building Contino Studio, shifting from illustration trends into larger storytelling and branding work, including Toyota, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and sports. They debate commercialization of "handcrafted," carbon-copy styles, and AI's threat, emphasizing human mistakes and youth rejecting "AI slop." Contino shares his remote studio model, intense family-driven schedule, rare client friction, flexible discovery through live conversation, a move from paper to iPad/Procreate for speed, heavy use of Figma/Framer, and excitement about revitalizing Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's brand. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

May 19, 2026Episode 191 hr 2 min

Ian Wenstrand: Artist & Illustrator

Mike Rosado interviews Raleigh-based illustrator and designer Ian Wenstrand about his highly detailed, vibrant illustrations blending cityscapes, technology, and imaginative world-building. Wenstrand describes drawing constantly as a kid, studying studio art at University of the Cumberlands (recruited to swim), and moving from production artist retouching roles into graphic design before illustration work organically became steady freelance. He self-published a children's book inspired by artists like Graeme Base and cross-section illustrators, then gained momentum through public art opportunities including a 2018–2019 Citrix window mural and later a major Film NC tourism brochure project featuring five regional illustrations packed with 50+ movie Easter eggs. He outlines his process (two sketch phases in Procreate, then Photoshop for color), time demands, work-life balance with two kids, and the importance of tight contracts to prevent scope creep. Wenstrand shares influences (IC4 Design, Moebius, sci-fi film aesthetics), discusses collaborative "Easter egg" client input, and explains why he avoids using AI, adding an AI clause to contracts and valuing the human creative process. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

April 20, 2026Episode 181 hr 4 min

Jake Weidmann: Master Penman & Artist

Host Mike Rosado welcomes master penman Jake Weidmann to the Pencil Pushers Podcast to discuss his path from lifelong, largely self-taught drawing and sculpture to becoming the youngest certified Master Penman (at 26, in 2011). Weidman recounts being rejected from Biola University's art program, then regaining momentum through major commissions (including carving a family crest into moose antler) and learning how market feedback and viewer response complete the creative process. He explains discovering copperplate calligraphy after a classmate requested wedding invitations, attending penman conferences, and earning certification by executing his own ornate certificate. Weidmann details his process and materials (including gouache-based ink), handling mistakes (and a major vellum restoration), balancing intense work with raising four kids, collaborating with Apple for the first iPad Pro, and arguing that human craft and meaning remain vital amid digitization and Ai. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

April 6, 2026Episode 1859 min

Mary Blair: Celebrated Artist and Disney Legend

Host Mike Rosado interviews Maggie Richardson, niece of famed Disney concept artist and illustrator Mary Blair, about Blair's life, influence, and legacy. Richardson recalls childhood visits when Blair, living bi-coastally in New York and California, brought gifts and original art, and later memories tied to Disney's orbit, including Hazel George (Walt Disney's nurse and confidant) and riding the Disney plane. She describes Blair as warm, glamorous, and collaborative, noting Blair sought others' opinions while designing It's a Small World, and clarifies Blair was not an animator but a colorist, stylist, and designer whose bold modern style challenged studio norms. Richardson outlines efforts to preserve and share Blair's personal-art archive via the "World of Mary Blair" website, exhibitions including Tokyo's "The Colors of Mary Blair," and new apparel designs based on Blair's work, with products to be sold via MagicOfMaryBlair.com ; she also mentions a Mary Blair screenplay in development. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )

March 23, 2026Episode 171 hr 3 min

Musgrave Pencil Co: Family-Owned Pencil Manufacturer

Host Mike Rosado welcomes Scott Johnson, president of Musgrave Pencil Company, and Creative Lead Tim Delger to discuss running and reimagining one of the oldest and last U.S. pencil factories. Scott shares his unusual path from engineering and infrastructure to leading the family-owned business, focusing on preserving customer loyalty, product quality, and upgrading a 1930s facility without losing its character. Tim explains how they revived Musgrave's heritage through packaging, web, photography, and social media by "curating" historical assets and keeping the brand's charming imperfections, while acting as a strategic marketing partner. They cover why Musgrave retains a flexible, partly manual process, how pencils are made (about 24 hours at Musgrave), the global pencil-machine ecosystem, competing on value and customization rather than commodity price, new experiments like scented pencils, and why analog tools still matter in a tech-saturated world. Host: Mike Rosado ( mrcraleigh.com ) ( instagram.com/ekimodasor ) Post Production: Max Trujillo ( instagram.com/trujillomedia ) Sponsors: MRC ( mrcraleigh.com ) and Burny Wild's ( burnywilds.com )