CosmoCast

Dalton Mitchell
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

CosmoCast is an introspective audio experience: conversations with creatives, founders, and entrepreneurs building something of their own. Hosted by Dalton Mitchell, founder of Cosmography, each episode traces a guest's journey — where they came from, what drives them, the setbacks and the wins, and the vision pulling them forward. Business talk with a cosmic lens, for the visionaries, the misfits, and anyone who sees the world a little differently. Building outward, peering inward. New episodes every other Tuesday

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    He Took On Arizona’s Water Crisis at 22 ft. YWWOT

    Three months before this conversation, Tommy had never given Arizona’s water a second thought. Then the idea wouldn’t leave him alone. One Instagram reel later, he was making a documentary about the state’s water future, and by his count more than 750,000 Arizona residents have now seen the project. In this episode, Dalton sits down with Tommy, a 22-year-old filmmaker and founder of YWWOT, to talk about building an audience fast, being dismissed for his age, and what he’s learning about Arizona’s water. They cover: going from Fortnite montages and a clothing brand to documentary filmmakingturning one Instagram reel into a statewide project in 90 daysgetting turned away at a DJ set, and being told he’s too young at Phoenix City Hallwhat he’s found so far about AI data centers, agriculture and Arizona’s watergetting stuck in elbow-deep floodwater in the desert on the way to an off-grid ranchwhy he’s asking whether there’s really a water crisis, and why he’s still investigatingsleep debt, self-funding, and why the finished film will be free on YouTubeThe documentary is still in production. Tommy’s views reflect his research so far. Chapters0:00 Cold Open0:56 Welcome + Meet Tommy2:03 From a Laptop Camera to Fortnite Montages5:20 Getting Paid at 16 & Starting a Clothing Brand11:48 “No Water, No Life”: The Idea He Couldn’t Shake14:00 Going Public With One Instagram Reel19:20 750,000 Viewers & 12,000 Supporters20:24 Starting Over From Zero in Tempe25:47 The ProtoStar Series29:01 50-Hour Weeks in Corporate America31:08 The Lost Art of Listening41:20 Standing Up for Creatives (and Your Invoices)44:05 Turned Away at a DJ Set47:46 Dismissed at Phoenix City Hall52:02 AI, Data Centers & Arizona’s Water55:16 Why This Story, Why Now59:31 From Fear to Field Research1:05:28 Stuck in Desert Floodwater1:10:15 Fish & Golden Watermelons in the Desert1:14:04 Is There Really a Water Crisis?1:16:12 Where to Start Learning About Arizona’s Water1:18:56 Field Notes & Shadow-Ban Concerns1:29:36 The Interview That Made It Real1:42:28 Sleep Debt & the Breaking Point1:49:18 Can AI Replace Creatives?2:01:06 Self-Funding a Documentary2:04:51 The Hardest Part: Getting in the Room2:08:16 The Bigger Vision2:11:26 90 Days From Idea to Reality2:15:48 The Release Plan: Free for Everyone2:19:00 Hopeful or a Warning?2:20:40 Rapid Fire2:28:34 Where to Find Tommy Resources mentioned Arizona Department of Water Resources: azwater.govFind Tommy: ywwot.com · @ywwotFind us: @thecosmocastpodcast · cosmography.studio #CosmoCast #ArizonaWater #Documentary #Filmmaking #CreativeBusiness

  2. Oct 27

    Creating Art That Resonates

    CosmoCast – Episode 8: Creating Art That ResonatesIn this episode, host Dalton Mitchell looks at what it takes to make branded content that doesn't just look good but connects with people. The key is balancing three things: technical mastery, brand identity, and emotional storytelling.Plenty of brands chase a perfect look and still leave people feeling nothing. Dalton breaks down his approach to branded art: start with the brand's core story, make the audience the hero, use cinematography, lighting, and music to serve the feeling (not just the look), lean into real human moments over corporate polish, and stay consistent with the brand while keeping things fresh. He also looks at brands getting it right, like Apple's work with musicians, artists, and photographers (plus its newer social content with the little Finder mascot) and Red Bull celebrating extreme sports and superhuman feats. He shares how Cosmography uses music, pacing, and cinematography to reinforce the emotion behind a brand.He closes with a challenge for brand builders and creatives: make a project where emotion leads and the marketing follows. That starts with knowing who you're talking to, which sets up a deep dive into the Ideal Customer Profile in the next solo episode.People don't just buy products. They buy stories, emotions, and experiences. Make your brand unforgettable.🔗 Follow CosmoCast:Instagram: @thecosmocastpodcastTikTok: @thecosmocastpodcast💬 Think about your last branded project. Did it look great but fall flat emotionally? Share your branding and storytelling struggles or wins in the comments, or send us a DM.🔔 Subscribe and follow CosmoCast so you don't miss the next episode.

  3. Oct 20

    Flipping Cars at 16, a House at 19 & Starting on YouTube | William Leufkens (WL Media)

    Will Leufkens bought a car for $2,000 and sold it 24 hours later for $4,000. He was 16, working minimum wage at Ace Hardware, and that one flip changed everything.In this episode of the CosmoCast, Dalton Mitchell sits down with his friend William Leufkens, the creator behind WL Media. Will started flipping cars at 16, bought his first house at 19 by saving his wildland firefighting income, and is now training to become a commercial pilot, documenting the whole journey on YouTube.We talk about his first flip, the $750 truck he got running with a new spark plug and sold for six grand, and how he saved enough on a hotshot crew to put $50K down on a house with no shortcuts. Will opens up about filming his first video in secret, being terrified of talking on camera, and the montage video that's now around 400,000 views.We also get into what didn't work: the two flips he lost money on, a video that flopped after he missed his audience and used an AI thumbnail, and what that taught him. From there, we talk about switching to DaVinci Resolve, why YouTube isn't a luck thing, and his plan to move WL Media into aviation, including aircraft detailing and ceramic coating private jets. Plus, the story of how he met the president while on a fire engine.This is what the CosmoCast is about: real people building out loud and showing the work, wins and setbacks included.CHAPTERS0:00 Intro0:47 Welcome + Meet Will2:56 His First Flip: $2K Profit in 24 Hours5:11 Wildland Firefighting & Becoming a Pilot7:13 From Secret YouTuber to WL Media8:46 The 15K-View Truck & the 6-Flip Limit11:08 Film What You're Already Doing11:48 DaVinci Resolve vs. Premiere Pro13:07 YouTube Isn't Luck15:48 The Mission Behind WL Media17:49 More Posts, More Home Runs21:03 How He Bought a House at 1924:19 Why School Didn't Click28:09 Building a Business Website With AI30:59 Who WL Media Is For32:13 Real Numbers, Real Risks35:53 Meeting the President on a Fire Engine38:58 His Proudest Flip40:06 The Montage Video That Took Off42:11 The Flips That Lost Money43:10 Facing the Fear of Talking on Camera50:03 The Video That Flopped54:26 The Unglamorous Side of Flipping Cars56:28 What's Next: Aviation Content58:12 Why Detailing Private Jets Pays1:04:49 His Next Challenge: Hungry for the Sale1:07:35 Real Estate & Using Debt Wisely1:13:15 The Money Books He Recommends1:15:01 Your 9-to-5 Isn't the Problem1:18:05 What "Made It" Looks Like1:24:26 Rapid Fire: Flipping Your First Car1:27:43 Where to Find Will1:28:34 Final Advice: There's Enough for EverybodyBOOKS MENTIONEDThe Richest Man in Babylon by George S. ClasonThe Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieRich Dad Poor Dad by Robert KiyosakiThink and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillFIND WILLYouTube: WL MediaAircraft detailing: AeroCrest DetailingFIND THE COSMOCASTInstagram & TikTok: @thecosmocastpodcastCosmography: cosmography.studioAlso on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music#CosmoCast #FlippingCars #SideHustle #Entrepreneur #BuildingOutLoud

  4. Oct 13

    Building a Cinematic Legacy With Limited Resources

    CosmoCast – Episode 6: Building a Cinematic Legacy With Limited Resources In this solo episode, host Dalton Mitchell shares his vision for the future of Cosmography and makes the case that having resourcefulness matters more than having resources, especially in filmmaking. Dalton goes back to where it all started: a Canon G7X Mark II, an RS3 Mini gimbal, and a lot of reps. He talks about mastering the fundamentals (ISO, aperture, white balance, composition, lighting, audio levels, and story) before chasing better gear. He also tells the story of his first wedding shoot, when his SD card stopped recording during the walk-out and he had to get creative in the edit to still tell the story. From there, he breaks down how putting every dollar back into gear, software, and education built Cosmography one step at a time. He covers the upgrades that actually made a difference (the Sony FX30, DJI Mic 2, RS4 Pro, Amaran 150 RGB lights, Shark Nano slider, and Atomos Shinobi 2), why it pays to buy gear with intent instead of chasing the newest release, and how shopping for gear can feel like progress without moving you forward. He wraps up with practical advice for filmmakers and creatives starting out with limited resources: use what you have, storyboard before you shoot, build connections to get access to gear, and learn every tool inside and out before you upgrade. Building something meaningful is a marathon, not a sprint. You don't need all the gear in the world to build a cinematic legacy. You need vision, a strategy, and the courage to press record. 🔗 Follow CosmoCast:Instagram: @thecosmocastpodcastTikTok: @thecosmocastpodcast 💬 What's one way you can get more out of what you already have today? Share your filmmaking story or your biggest challenge in the comments, or send us a DM. 🔔 Subscribe and follow CosmoCast so you don't miss the next episode.

  5. Oct 6

    What My Dad Taught Me About Building a Business | David Mitchell (928 Wraps)

    In the 1990s, my dad flipped a coin. Heads, he'd go to motorcycle mechanics school. Tails, graphic design school. It landed on tails, and that coin toss turned into a career in design and, eventually, 928 Wraps.In this episode of the CosmoCast, I sit down with my father, David Mitchell, owner of 928 Wraps, a wrap, tint and sign shop serving Prescott, Prescott Valley and the Quad City area. Dave has more than 30 years of experience in graphic design, opened 928 Wraps in 2012, and has completed more than 4,000 jobs since.We talk about:- learning design right as Photoshop and Illustrator were being born- the fully wrapped bus that made him say "whatever that is, I'm gonna learn how to do it"- helping a Vegas print shop go from millions in the red to $3 million in the black- opening his own shop after the 2008 crash- why his small, local clients mean more to him than the big corporate jobs- how AI changed his design process, and why it can't replace people- leadership, giving your team skin in the game, and the Tesla roof story- why the trades are the new millionaire classIt's also a conversation between a father and son about building businesses, generations, and designing your future.CHAPTERS0:00 Intro0:50 Welcome + Meet My Dad3:01 Heads or Tails: The Coin Toss That Chose His Career4:49 Learning Design as Photoshop Was Born6:18 Why Copyright Matters in Design8:02 The Bus That Started It All8:29 Vegas: Ground Zero for Large Format9:47 From Millions in the Red to $3M in the Black11:09 Coming Home to Arizona11:54 Serving Local Businesses in the Quad Cities12:59 Opening 928 Wraps in 201215:54 Why He Went All In17:33 "You Design Your Future"19:36 Working With His Sons23:05 Doing Business With a New Generation25:40 Is Gen Z the Next Greatest Generation?29:20 Individualism, Noise & Knowing Your Values34:36 4,000+ Jobs: The Ones That Mattered Most36:52 Why Small Clients Mean the Most40:45 Your Taste Doesn't Matter, the Client's Does43:08 Who You Are, What You Do, How to Reach You44:12 How AI Changed His Design Process51:14 Can AI Replace Humans?54:49 What Happens When Robots Do Everything?1:00:24 Screens, Silence & Using Tech Intentionally1:05:42 Setbacks: Surviving the Pandemic1:09:07 Did He Ever Walk Away?1:11:05 Leadership: Giving Your Team Skin in the Game1:16:39 The Tesla Roof Story1:18:57 What Separates a Great Wrap From a Decent One1:20:27 The Sign Side of the Business1:21:35 Shooting for My Dad: My First Real Client1:23:59 Do You Still Need College?1:25:59 His Best Advice: Stay Flexible1:27:50 The Next Five Years1:32:13 Dream Jobs: Cruise Ships & Airplanes1:34:43 The Hardest Wrap: A Helicopter1:40:02 Why the Trades Are the New Millionaire Class1:41:39 Most Overrated & Underrated1:44:50 Where to Find 928 WrapsFIND 928 WRAPS928wraps.com@928wraps on Facebook & InstagramFIND THE COSMOCASTInstagram & TikTok: @thecosmocastpodcastCosmography: cosmography.studioAlso on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music#CosmoCast #928Wraps #SmallBusiness #Trades #Entrepreneur

  6. Sep 29

    Establishing The Foundations Of A Strong Brand

    CosmoCast – Episode 4: Establishing the Foundations of a Strong Brand Welcome back to CosmoCast — the Introspective Audio Experience. In this episode, host Dalton Mitchell breaks down what it actually takes to build a brand that lasts, moving past logos and color palettes into the deeper work of purpose, audience, and identity. Dalton walks through the three pillars every strong brand needs: The Why (the purpose driving it), The Who (the people it's really for), and The How (the visual identity, voice, and experience that make it stand out). Along the way, he shares personal insight into how Cosmography's own why has shaped its growth, how its storytelling is tailored to brands seeking high-end cinematic production, and how authenticity and boldness play a role in building something irreplaceable — pointing to Nike, Bloom, and Apple as brands that have mastered that kind of differentiation. Branding isn't a one-time decision — it's a continuous journey of refinement and storytelling. This episode is a reminder that your brand is more than a name; it's a story waiting to be told. 🔗 Follow CosmoCast: @thecosmocastpodcast 💬 What's your brand's why? Drop it in the comments or DM us — we might feature it in a future episode. 🔔 Subscribe/follow so you don't miss the next episode.

  7. Sep 22

    Ansel The Amazing

    CosmoCast – Episode 3: Ansel the Amazing Welcome back to CosmoCast — the introspective audio experience from Cosmography. In this episode, host Dalton Mitchell sits down with actor and content creator Ansel for a conversation that traces back to where the two first crossed paths: the Be Kind card project. We dive into that origin story, what shifted for Ansel to start creating his own kindness-focused content, and how he balances the craft of acting with the day-to-day muscle of content creation. We also get into his personal style — how it shows up on camera versus in real life — before landing on the heart of it: using a platform for good in a cynical internet, and what it takes to keep doing it anyway. This is what CosmoCast is about — real conversations with people building something honest. 🔗 Follow CosmoCast: Instagram/TikTok: @thecosmocastpodcast 💬 What does kindness look like in your world? Drop a comment or send a DM — we'd love to hear from you. 🔔 Subscribe/follow so you don't miss future episodes.

  8. Sep 15

    The Ultimate Goal Of The CosmoCast

    CosmoCast – Episode 2: The Ultimate Goal Of The CosmoCast Welcome back to CosmoCast — the introspective audio experience from Cosmography. In this episode, host Dalton Mitchell pulls back the curtain on his own journey — from the early spark that led him into filmmaking, to the vision, struggles, and defining moments that gave birth to Cosmography. We talk about the gap he saw in the industry, the brand philosophy of storytelling & cosmic expansion that shapes every project, and where Cosmography is headed next — from personal brands and high-end content to building a full ecosystem where creatives, brands, and storytellers thrive. Plus, the lessons he's learned along the way and advice for anyone out there building something of their own.No matter where you are in your creative journey, the universe is always expanding — and so can you. 🔗 Follow CosmoCast: Instagram/TikTok: @thecosmocastpodcast💬 What's the moment that set you on your own creative path? Drop a comment or send a DM — we'd love to hear from you. 🔔 Subscribe/follow so you don't miss future episodes.

  9. Sep 3

    A New Beginning

    CosmoCast – Episode 1: A New Beginning Welcome to the first episode of CosmoCast — the introspective audio experience from Cosmography. In this episode, host Dalton Mitchell introduces the vision behind the show: a space for deep, unfiltered conversations about storytelling, branding, creativity, and human connection. We dive into what CosmoCast is, how it ties into Cosmography's mission of telling human stories & building cosmic brands, and what you can expect going forward — solo deep dives, interviews with visionaries and creatives, and behind-the-scenes looks at real client work. This is just the beginning. Let's build something cosmic together. 🔗 Follow CosmoCast: Instagram/TikTok: @thecosmocastpodcast 💬 What does storytelling mean to you? Drop a comment or send a DM — we'd love to hear from you. 🔔 Subscribe/follow so you don't miss future episodes.

  • 9 Episodes

About

CosmoCast is an introspective audio experience: conversations with creatives, founders, and entrepreneurs building something of their own. Hosted by Dalton Mitchell, founder of Cosmography, each episode traces a guest's journey — where they came from, what drives them, the setbacks and the wins, and the vision pulling them forward. Business talk with a cosmic lens, for the visionaries, the misfits, and anyone who sees the world a little differently. Building outward, peering inward. New episodes every other Tuesday

Information

  • Creator
    Dalton Mitchell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dalton Mitchell
  • Show Website
    CosmoCast