Do I need school to be...

Alex Villacís

Talking to diverse individuals and amazing minds about their journey through education. Who are they? Who made them and what experiences shaped them? Also, what comes next? We also talk abot how can we continue growing and changing and influencing each others with the pros and cons of technology.  Basically, we have a fun time! 

  1. a print design legend? with Dave Hopkins

    2022-11-03

    a print design legend? with Dave Hopkins

    Have you heard the expression “Never meet your heroes”? Well, I met one of my podcasting heroes and he surpassed my expectations! Dave is the founder of the Print Design Academy, teaching Graphic Designers how to print and how to fall in love with print. His story is a whirlwind of learning experiences, getting chances and taking advantage of them, following passions and showing them to others. From learning on the job to becoming a teacher, Dave tells us his tale. On this interview we spoke about: Our shared obsession with paper and printed goods Getting up at 4am to workout (I mean damn!) because Discipline over Motivation How an ex-girlfriend’s dad had a major impact in Dave’s life Learning print on the job at a printshop His other podcast (the low key inspiration for this show) The Print Design Academy and the Colour Bar Challenge The Design Community born out of a challengeWant to learn more about Dave and the Print Design Academy? Here are some useful linksPDA WebsitePDA PodcastPDA InstagramPDA on YouTubeThe Quickie Podcast Here are Dave’s recommendations:The 4-hour work week by Tim FerrisNever Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss‘Don’t wait for the motivation to do something, have the discipline to do something.’ Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show! Want to support the pod?Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here.

    57 min
  2. a head of engineering at Engineered? with Ray Lawlor

    2022-10-28

    a head of engineering at Engineered? with Ray Lawlor

    This week, I had the pleasure of learning more about my wonderful colleague Ray Lawlor. Ray and I both work at The Customer Bureau (Helping iconic brands become customer centric) and a while back Ray approached me with an amazing story, his story. In his words, he didn’t know what he wanted to do until he was 30. Ray believes that learning and figuring out what you want to do is a constant process of life and that change is wonderful and nothing to be afraid of. This story is truly wild and I can’t wait to share it with you. On this interview we spoke about: Ray’s selftaught journey From music to television to advertising to engineering (I mean, what?!) Celebrating scholarship programs A wonderful woman named Anne Not being made for formal education Supporting partners during freelancing and jumping from freelancing to company team member The importance of having awesome colleagues Giving kids the chance to be lifelong learners A chat about priviledgeWant to learn more about Ray Lawlor? Here is how you reach him and where you can find his work! LinkedIn Engineered’s Website Here are Ray’s recommendations: The Customer Bureau Rory’s Story Cubes Irish Language Broadcast Fund Emma Fanning’s episode (one of Ray’s favourites) Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show! Want to support the pod?Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here.

    1h 6m
  3. a visual artist inspired by biological science? with Rafael Martig

    2022-10-20

    a visual artist inspired by biological science? with Rafael Martig

    Staying in line with the environmentalist topic, this week we have another warrior for the earth but who uses a physical medium and not a digital one. Rafael Martig, has a fascinating story of combining the logical and emotional to advocate for conservation of flora and fauna. From a young age, he loved nature and learned to observe and learn from it. Born into a family of creatives, he took the science path before getting back to his roots and picking up a brush to make his audience think about the role they play in the future of the planet. A true pleasure to talk to such a rare bird (that joke will make sense after you listen to this episode, trust me it’s brilliant) On this interview we spoke about: Going from scientist to visual artist A lifelong fascination with birds and being known as the bird guy Doing what you can with the skills you have The voting pencil that inspired a super long painting (literally, it’s super long) How impact can start in your own backyardWant to learn more about Rafael? Here is how you reach him and where you can find his work! Website Instagram LinkedIn Here are Rafael’s recommendations: Ask an artist Podcast ‘100 Ways to Draw a Bird and Make a Living from Illustration by Felix Scheinberger Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show! Want to support the pod?Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here.

    48 min
  4. an entrepreneur and CEO? with Thom Wernke

    2022-09-01

    an entrepreneur and CEO? with Thom Wernke

    And we made it to the C-suite! Yes, my guest this week is the Founder and CEO of Startdock, Thom Wernke. Funny enough in this episode we’ll question the role of CEO and what it actually means, spoiler it’s just a role. For those thinking, what is Startdock? Startdock is a coworking space where community is everything. Startdock and its Dockers believe it takes a community to grow a company. At StartDock, tenants are promised flexible contracts and the ability to scale up and down with their workspace adapting to their journey. With 4 amazing locations (5th one is on the way), an active startup community and that believe that your business will grow because of the StartDock environment, it truly is the place to be for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. On this interview we spoke about: How Startdock selects the cities for their locations Starting a company with multiple founders Thom’s organic journey into becoming CEO The weight (or lack of weight) of a title Accelerator programs? Yey or Nay? Being an eternal student, the situational aspect of teaching Startdock’s journey into becoming a B-corp Want to learn more about Thom and Startdock? Here are some links: Startdock’s Website Startdock’s Instagram Thom’s Linkedin Thom’s blog post about the event in London B-corp and the B-lab certification Here are Thom’s recommendations: ‘Scaling-Up, how a few companies make it and why the rest don’t’ by Verne Harnish ‘Over Routines’ a podcast by Arie Boomsma ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie ‘Sapiens, A brief history of Humankin’d by Yuval Noah Harari ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, a podcast by Joe Rogan Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show! Want to support the pod?Follow us on Instagram, Linkedin and support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here.

    47 min
  5. a graphic design PAL? with Carolina Cristallo

    2022-08-18

    a graphic design PAL? with Carolina Cristallo

    On this week’s episode I’m talking to the talented Carolina Cristallo, a fresh graduate from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. Carolina and I actually graduate together from Graphic Design on July of 2022 (which feels like a decade ago) and on this episode we talk about out experience at the Academy, how formal education shaped us, being a working student working at the institution you study, being an international student sand much more. BONUS! This episode was recorded at the podcasting room of the WdKA using a RodecasterPro meaning we have sound effects :P On this interview we spoke about: Carolina’s Graduation project about gentrification and the role of creatives in it Finding your position as a creative Using your privilege to have impact on others Building trust and connection during the design process Studying and working as a PAL at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, Netherlands The value of exchanges as part of creative process and creative educationWant to learn more about Carolina and her graduation project? Here are some links: Carolina’s Instagram Carolina’s Graduation Project Linkedin Willem de Kooning Academy’s Graphic Design Program WDKA’s Publication Station’s Instagram Wanna get to know other Summer ’22 Willem de Kooning Graduates? Here you go! Arimit’s Episode Georgina’s Episode Kristian’s Episode Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show! Want to support the pod?Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here.

    47 min
  6. the founder and managing director of paper republic? with Jérôme Bacquias

    2022-08-11

    the founder and managing director of paper republic? with Jérôme Bacquias

    This week, on the second episode of season 2, we have Jérôme Bacquias who is the founder & managing Director at paper republic. Don’t know this awesome brand? In short, it’s a company making notebooks and fine leather goods based out of Vienna, Austria and my personal private addiction (hey, I could have worst addictions) At paper republic, they are committed to respect & authenticity. They aim to respect our environment by creating products that are made to last and are crafted from sustainable and natural materials. They are beautiful and they are awesome! On this interview we spoke about: Jérôme’s journey to start paper republic His love for books are reading Looking for people to learn from sometimes without the intention Learning by trial and error, having the courage of just walking in and asking Surrounding yourself with people of skill The value of interactions with teachers and other learners Supporting colleagues in Ukraine Want to learn more about Jérôme and Paper Republic? Here are some links: Jérôme’s Linkedin paper republic’s Website  paper republic’s Instagram paper republic’s Manifest paper republic’s Analogue Shop in Vienna Notebooks for Ukraine Illustrator of the notebooks for Ukraine Jerome’s recommendations: Notes by Albert Camus Kolyma Tales by Varlam Shalamov The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann The violence and the sacred by René Girard Want to support the pod? Follow us on Instagram or support the show on Buy me a Coffee. We are currently looking for sponsors, if you know someone or are a local businesses in the Rotterdam area that would like to know about our sponsoring plans, reach out to us here. Special thank you to Ro Halfhide for the music on this show.

    45 min

About

Talking to diverse individuals and amazing minds about their journey through education. Who are they? Who made them and what experiences shaped them? Also, what comes next? We also talk abot how can we continue growing and changing and influencing each others with the pros and cons of technology.  Basically, we have a fun time!