In this special holiday episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike gather with longtime friend and visual effects artist Ryan Laux for a look back at a transformative year and a look forward into the creative landscape of 2026. From Ryan’s move to full-time freelance in Los Angeles to his strategic "rise" on social media, the crew explores the delicate balance between professional polish and the "scrappy" authenticity that actually drives engagement in the creator economy.

The conversation shifts from the technical to the theatrical as Chris recounts his first true Broadway experience seeing Wicked in New York, sparking a deep dive into the differences between stage spectacle and cinematic storytelling. The guys also tackle the "dumbed down" state of modern streaming, questioning if shows are now being written specifically for distracted viewers on their phones, favoring repetitive dialogue and shallow focus over nuanced "show, don't tell" artistry.

Whether it’s debating if Die Hard is a Christmas movie, pitching a Brendan Fraser-led "Christmas Planet" sci-fi epic, or critiquing the AI-generated "munchkins" at the Las Vegas Sphere, this episode is a blend of high-level industry insight and casual holiday shop talk.

• The Power of "Scrappy" Content: Why Ryan shifted from perfectionism to TikTok-style tutorials—and how it led to a 50,000-view spike and new client leads.

• The 2026 Freelance Blueprint: Ryan shares the realities of his first full year of independent work and the transition from studio roles to the creator economy.

• Wicked on Stage vs. Screen: A breakdown of vocal performances, character framing, and why some creatives struggle with the "campy" nature of musical theater.

• The "Distraction" Epidemic in Media: How modern cinematography and writing are evolving to accommodate viewers who are multi-tasking on mobile devices.

• AI and the Las Vegas Sphere: Ryan’s firsthand account of watching the Wizard of Oz enhanced by AI and rebuilt CG sets—and where the technology fell short.

• Defining a "Christmas Movie": The crew sets strict (and not-so-strict) criteria for what qualifies as a holiday classic.

• 2026 Creative Goals: From finishing "the movie" by NAB to finding a better balance between business growth and personal health.

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by perfectionism or wondered where the line is between "content" and "art," this episode offers a transparent look at making it in the modern visual industry.

What happens when creative grit meets a shifting digital world? In this episode of _Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with illustrator and character designer Keith Glidewell to explore the real-life evolution of an artist—pivoting majors in college, discovering a voice through compulsive sketching, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and finding the fire that pushed him into professional illustration. From Instagram-driven work and band art to producing animated shorts for Cat-e-Corner, Keith shares how life, family, and discipline completely reshaped his career path.

As the conversation deepens, the crew unpacks the state of modern creativity: the rise of AI art, what it steals, what it enables, and what it risks. They dissect client expectations, the temptation of shortcuts, whether “prompt artists” count as artists, and how much of the future belongs to genuine human collaboration. It’s honest, funny, vulnerable, and full of the kind of creative shop talk most people never get to hear.

Whether you're figuring out your own artistic path, wrestling with AI fatigue, or just here to laugh at raccoon-infested punk demos and parenting revelations, this one goes deep.

What You’ll Discover:

• How a single life pivot pushed Keith to fully commit to art
• Why daily discipline matters more than “talent” in illustration and animation
• How Instagram became Keith’s main driver for paid creative work
• The inside story behind the Cat-e-Corner animated world and Keith’s role in shaping it
• Why AI art divides creatives—and where it actually fits as a tool
• The hidden emotional cost of giving up on your dreams for stability
• How family, identity, and creative purpose overlap in unexpected ways

If you care about making things—honestly, imperfectly, and with as much humanity as possible—this episode cuts right to the heart of the creative process

00:00 - Catching up 01:52 - We suck at sports 04:15 - Other life updates 14:41 - Who's our guest? 17:44 - Keith's life updates! 20:33 - Keith's incredible illustration work 34:30 - What is Ditz and Bug Rock? 39:23 - Cat-e-Corner (Animated Shorts) 45:47 - Is AI killing collaboration? 01:12:42 - Does having a family impact your art? 01:19:43 - Sleep schedule nightmares 01:23:21 - Indie film vs Indie animation 01:33:56 - Camera nerd talk 01:37:37 - Mike's new "Fig Rig" camera system 01:48:33 - Surviving as a creative 01:59:06 - Voice Acting 02:01:12 - GAME TIME

What happens when your podcast name stops showing up on Google—and how do you rebuild your brand while still keeping the chaos alive? In this episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike dive into SEO struggles, The Bitterheat’s first single, and why they’re suddenly joining a flag football league. Plus, a new guest (designer Chris Rumeaum) joins the table to talk logos, merch, and turning coffee shop sketches into a creative career. transcript

Guest Chris brings stories of redesigning Hug A Mug’s brand, chasing clients through Instagram reels, and balancing graphic design with videography dreams. Add in talk of band merch, signature design fails, and playbook armbands for co-ed football, and you’ve got an episode that’s part rebrand therapy, part creative grind, and part comedy.

Whether you’re rethinking your brand, growing a creative side hustle, or just in need of some filmmaking banter—this episode mixes practical lessons with plenty of laughs.

00:00 – New Name? The SEO Struggles of Until You Make It 07:00 – The Bitterheat: First Release and Behind-the-Scenes Stories 14:00 – Guest Chris Joins: From Coffee Shops to Graphic Design 20:00 – The Process: Sketchbooks, Logos, and Finding Clients 27:00 – Creative Balance: Music, Merch, and Video Work 35:00 – Signatures, Branding Experiments, and Razor the Mattress Guy 42:00 – Passion vs. Profession: Why We Create (and for Who) 50:00 – Wrapping Up with Lessons Learned and Next Steps

Find out more at https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co