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The Iowa Idea: Devin Green

“Paint the world with good design.”

On this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Devin Green. Devin is a full stack designer working in the space of brand design, digital design, and development.

We talk about Devin’s journey from growing up in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan to moving to Iowa. Devin talks about his love of art combined with his early exploration and experimentation of Photoshop and Linux. With a nudge and inspiration from his uncle, Devin turned his love of design and art into a business.

We dig into Devin’s early influences and mix it up on how we think about art and design. Devin turns the table and asks me questions about art and design. I really appreciate Devin’s mission to “paint the world with good design.” A link to Devin’s site is included in the show description.

It was an honor having Devin on the show. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Devin

So, I’ve been in the field of graphic and web design for over 12 years. I’ve had the honor to work for many clients around the world. My goal is always to help my clients achieve their goals and make the world a better place through branding, UI/UX, and beautiful design.

Design, to me, is more than just putting pictures together. Your website, logo and marketing materials need to be based on your principles, mission, and goals. When you hire me, I will pull inspiration from you, your client or customer base, and other existing visuals to create designs that work and communicate for you and your brand.

Branding is mandatory. I want to make sure you look good from the ground up. Regardless of how many new tricks and tools I learn to bring your brand to life, I still have my favorites like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Webflow, Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo. Whether you need a full website overhaul for your OctoberCMS or WordPress site or full branding redesign, my toolbox is packed with solutions.

No matter what each job requires, I’m always up for new endeavors no matter how challenging.

Links

devingreen.me

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).

The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Angela Maiers 

“You Matter!”

On this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Angela Maiers. Angela founded the global movement, Choose2Matter in 2014, with a singular mission to help individuals recognize their value and potential contribution to change both their own lives and the world. The non-profit organization grew out of the impassioned response to a TEDTalk she gave on the power of two simple words: YOU MATTER! An educator for 30 years, Angela has shared her message of mattering not only with students and teachers, but with businesses and organizations of all kinds. Her work with industries is finding new ways to ignite the genius of employees, successfully addressing a $15 trillion employee engagement problem.

We talk about Angela’s journey growing up in a Shell Rock, Iowa to going to med school at The University of Iowa, to pivoting to education to becoming an entrepreneur and change maker. It was her time in rural Iowa that shaped her “invisible small town rules” which can guide powerful community engagement. We discuss how acknowledging and attending to those in our community can have a positive, transformative impact.

I appreciated Angela’s perspective of “mattering as a call to action, as the kind of person we bring to the world everyday.” We discussed how common sense is not common practice, and so much more regarding the ways we might better engage in all phases of our lives.

It was an honor having Angela on the show. I hope you enjoy the episode and know that you matter.

About Angela

Angela founded the global movement, Choose2Matter in 2014, with a singular mission to help individuals recognize their value and potential contribution to change both their own lives and the world. The non-profit organization grew out of the impassioned response to a TEDTalk she gave on the power of two simple words that went viral. YOU MATTER! An educator for 30 years, Angela has shared her message of Mattering not only with students and teachers, but with businesses large and small and organizations of all kinds. Her work has been shared in 78,000 classrooms across 100 countries that has rallied more than a million children.

Her work with industries is finding new ways to ignite the genius of employees, successfully addressing a $15 trillion employee engagement problem. Angela Maiers is considered one of today’s most influential thought leaders in education and transformative thinking.

She is the author of nine books, including the highly acclaimed Genius Matters and Classroom Habitudes. Futurist. Innovator. Educator. Entrepreneur. Change Maker. Angela Maiers is on a mission to disrupt the status quo and to empower every individual to change their own world, if not the world around them for the better.

Links

angelamaiers.com

choose2matter.org

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).

The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Abena Sankofa Imhotep

“Embrace books.”

On this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Abena Sankofa Imhotep. Abena is the director of Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group, which promotes works by black authors and is the principal consultant for Sankofa Strategies Consulting. An active advocate, Abena serves on several boards of directors. She’s a TEDx speaker, a published writer, a podcaster, and an undergrad at Drake University. Abena resides in central Iowa.

We talk about Abena’s journey growing up in Des Moines, her love of books, the power of community libraries, and how these things come together in her work in literary empowerment and providing greater awareness of Black authors. I appreciated Abena sharing her perspectives and insights and the spirit of the term Sankofa, and the positive potential we’re capable of as Iowans.

Please check out the links in the show description. I strongly encourage listeners to check out Abena’s Tedx Talk, “Iowa Nice Interrupted.” She uses the analogy of a bike lane to highlight the experience of Black Iowans. In our conversation, we also looked at RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, as a positive example of when Iowans are at their best – celebrating community, sharing the road, hosting strangers, etc.

It was an honor having Abena on the show. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Abena

Abena Sankofa Imhotep is the director of Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group, which promotes works by black authors and is the principal consultant for Sankofa Strategies Consulting. An active advocate, Abena serves on several boards of directors. She’s a TEDx speaker, a published writer, a podcaster, and an undergrad at Drake University. Abena resides in central Iowa.

Links

TEDx Talk: Iowa Nice Interrupted

Website: www.abenasankofa.com

Facebook: Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group

Podcast: Black & Privileged in America Podcast

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).

The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Bob Nastanovich 

“Lester P. Jenkins”

On this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I’m joined by Bob Nastanovich, a resident of Des Moines, IA.  Bob is an American musician and member of the indie rock band Pavement, as well as a former member of Silver Jews. In addition to his career in music, Bob is a thoroughbred enthusiast and works at Prairie Meadows racetrack in Altoona, IA.

We talk about Bob’s journey from growing up in Richmond, VA, driving buses in New York City, to touring with indie rock bands, to his work in horseracing, and running a record label. Bob also cohosts the podcast “3 Song Pod” with Mike Hogan. Bob shares how is interests in both music and horseracing were cultivated throughout his formative years Richmond.

I appreciated Bob sharing some fantastic stories and perspectives about his careers in music and horseracing, as well as his openness to my questions and playing along with as we nerded out about Vic Chestnutt. The title of this episode, Lester P. Jenkins, is in honor of Bob’s time as a bus driver in New York City.

Pavement will be touring Europe in 2022. As for Bob and I teaming up to write the next great arena sports anthem, we’ll have to wait and see.

It was an honor having Bob on the show. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Bob

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Nastanovich

Links

Bob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bnastanovich

The 3 Song Pod on Twitter: https://twitter.com/3songspod

The 3 Song Pod Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-songs-podcast/id1278507191?mt=2

Pavement – https://pavementband.com/

Vic Chestnutt “Little” because y’all should check it out – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_(album)

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/).

The Iowa Idea Podcast theme music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).