Wil Thomas III rides a 1947 Harley he named 'So What' — after the Miles Davis song — because when he built it, bucking trends and going his own direction, nobody much cared. That name says everything about how Wil moves through the world: with complete conviction, full creative independence, and a quietly earned authority that tends to make people pay attention eventually. In Episode 8, the Gogh-Getters welcome one of the most fascinating creative figures in their orbit. Born in St. Louis, raised by a single mother who exposed him to everything — acting,athletics, music, art, and the world beyond North County — Wil has lived many chapters: Marine Corps veteran, Nike executive, competitive adventure racer, motorcycle builder, filmmaker, Harley-Davidson collaborator, and producer of music videos for Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys, and Major Lazer. He now lives intentionally in Alton, Illinois, in an 1881 home filled with objects that carry stories, with a motorcycle in the living room and a 1947 knucklehead in the garage that Jason Momoa has been trying to buy. He talks about building bikes the way painters approach a canvas, co-producing Sugar & Spade (screened in Morocco,Iceland, and France), filming The Passenger on Oregon salt flats during a pandemic while his kicker sheared off on day one, the DL Warfield 'Dope Show' he helped curate for hip-hop's 50th anniversary, touching a Basquiat in Antwerp, Frida Kahlo's chronic pain, and why staying true to your process — even when you fly to Africa with $100 to your name — is the only way great art gets made. Wil Thomas Instagram:@wordisjustaword The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: Shop, Instagram Kerry Smith: Artist Website, Instagram Steve Hartman: Artist Website, Instagram Juan Cruz: Instagram Dave Thomas: Instagram Produced by Creativille Journal: Website, Instagram Recorded atEaker's Family Barber Shop: Website, Instagram Edwardsville, Illinois Gallery Location: Sacred Grounds Cafe inEdwardsville. ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.
