My Big Story with Christopher Swan

How an Artist Transformed His Career with Alex Babajanyan

Alex Babajanyan is an artist. But art alone wasn't the right fit. He opened an art academy—to teach his students art and how to see the world in a new way. His journey to founder was far from ordinary, including a project for the band U2, an illustration project at Disney, running a design company, and even working with Sean Penn on a documentary film. Alex now runs his academy in Los Angeles, CA and teaches art at a local elementary school. In the first episode of My Big Story (previously titled Living Your Journey), Christopher and Alex discuss his career journey diving into details and the things that helped him discover his larger passion.   See more about this episode and the show at: MyBigStory.show JOIN CHRISTOPHER’S ADVENTURE & SEE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICS, FUN AND MOREInstagramTwitterFacebookChristopherSwan.info GET MORE STORIES, INSPIRATION, IDEAS, AND MY BIG STORY UPDATES Subscribe to Christopher’s newsletter: Be Inspired LOVE THE SHOW? Tell a friend (literally, go text them right now!), and then give me an awesome rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This helps others find the show too!

Prioritizing a Passion for Storytelling and Filmmaking with Tony Tharae

You can have a creative life, on your terms. Just ask Tony Tharae. He made it happen. Tony's a filmmaker, storyteller, a creative powerhouse, dabbling in all sorts of media, from film to illustration to branding and beyond. He has a background in Fine Arts and Mechanical Engineering, and has created work for major companies like Yahoo!, The Walt Disney Company, Qualcomm, Allergan, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Condé Nast, and Sony—as well as independent filmmakers, musicians, and more. Tony shares his journey of film and storytelling with details about his leap from a steady brand job to focusing on his independent creative ventures. We discuss his recent projects including the film 2081, RIFT, and a graphic novel The Ninth Minute. Also, we have a great conversation about storytelling. Tony is doing what he loves. That includes raising his daughter as a single father.    See more about this episode and the show at: MyBigStory.show JOIN CHRISTOPHER’S ADVENTURE & SEE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICS, FUN AND MOREInstagramTwitterFacebookChristopherSwan.info GET MORE STORIES, INSPIRATION, IDEAS, AND MY BIG STORY UPDATES Subscribe to Christopher’s newsletter: Be Inspired LOVE THE SHOW? Tell a friend (literally, go text them right now!), and then give me an awesome rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This helps others find the show too!

When a Cake Designer Followed Her Aha Moment with Tina White

Tina White, an independent event cake designer shares how she started and grew her business, Willow Tree Bakery. She also reveals how believing in herself was the key to success, and what things helped her stay creative and inspired. Tina also 'real talks' about a rough patch when she had to stop her business, and what she did to get it back.   See more about this episode and the show at: MyBigStory.show JOIN CHRISTOPHER’S ADVENTURE & SEE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICS, FUN AND MOREInstagramTwitterFacebookChristopherSwan.info GET MORE STORIES, INSPIRATION, IDEAS, AND MY BIG STORY UPDATESSubscribe to Christopher’s newsletter Awesome Finds LOVE THE SHOW? Tell a friend (literally, go text them right now!), and then give me an awesome rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This helps others find the show too!

A Former Celebrity Escort Follows His Curiosity for Life with Chris Gaida

Chris Gaida is best known publicly for the #1 Amazon bestselling book, Arm Candy: A Celebrity Escort’s Tales From The Red Carpet; but there is so much more about Chris. He has held various roles in the entertainment world as producer and development producer, applied to law school, and more. Chris shares why he wrote his book, responses to it, his path through the entertainment world, and the lessons he has learned paying his dues. But most importantly, he talks about his passion to learn and you’ll hear how curiosity plays the main role in his journey.    See more about this episode and the show at: MyBigStory.show JOIN CHRISTOPHER’S ADVENTURE & SEE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICS, FUN AND MOREInstagramTwitterFacebookChristopherSwan.info GET MORE STORIES, INSPIRATION, IDEAS, AND MY BIG STORY UPDATES Subscribe to Christopher’s newsletter: Be Inspired LOVE THE SHOW? Tell a friend (literally, go text them right now!), and then give me an awesome rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This helps others find the show too!

A Cognitive Science Nerd Becomes a Hairstylist with Melanie Celis

Melanie Celis (and Adrianna St. Clair) are co-owners of a hair salon. At first look, that doesn't seem so uncommon. But soon Melanie reveals how very uncommon both her business and approach are to the hairstylist world. Having felt empty and unfulfilled in her career trajectory, she decided to pivot and follow the vision she had as an 11-year-old girl in a shopping mall, to become a hairstylist. Much to the chagrin of an early non-supporter, Melanie opened her now blossoming business. She not only found value in the personal connections made, opportunities to help others grow, and discovery of “flow state” cutting and coloring hair, she also picked up many of the hard lessons and rewards that opening a new business brings. Melanie clearly loves what she does and uses it to help others and this how this former cognitive science major followed her passion for hair and people.   This episode was recorded under the previously used show name, Living Your Journey. See more about this episode and the show at: MyBigStory.show JOIN CHRISTOPHER’S ADVENTURE & SEE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PICS, FUN AND MOREInstagramTwitterFacebookChristopherSwan.info GET MORE STORIES, INSPIRATION, IDEAS, AND MY BIG STORY UPDATES Subscribe to Christopher’s newsletter: Be Inspired LOVE THE SHOW? Tell a friend (literally, go text them right now!), and then give me an awesome rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This helps others find the show too!