Pixel Retentive Podcast

Danielle Letayf is the powerhouse founder and CEO behind Badassery HQ, a podcast guest booking agency that champions bold visionaries. With a background in community building, marketing, and events spanning over a decade, Danielle’s journey from AOL corporate life to full-time founder showcases her deep commitment to personal branding and authentic connection. Since 2018, she’s taken fearless strides through multiple pivots - speak...

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with the endlessly creative Jon Kane, founder of Optic Nerve and an early trailblazer in the MTV visual revolution. Jon has spent over four decades at the bleeding edge of motion graphics, editing, and multimedia experimentation. From shaping the visual identity of MTV and Nickelodeon to helping legendary directors bring their visions to life, Jon’s career reads like a love letter to the int...

This week on Pixel Retentive, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Nico Fara - an accomplished product leader, strategist, marketer, and engineer whose career has spanned over a decade of groundbreaking work in AI, XR, gaming, and digital fashion. Nico’s entrepreneurial vision is rooted in empowerment, and she’s built and led innovative ventures that bridge tech and community in powerful ways. With a network of ov...

Aron Nels Steinke is a celebrated Eisner Award-winning cartoonist best known for his best-selling children’s graphic novel series Mr. Wolf's Class and his latest work, Speechless. Formerly an elementary school teacher, Aron channels his experiences into stories that resonate with young readers and inspire literacy through visual storytelling. His creative journey spans over two decades, marked by persistence, growth, and a steady p...

Today on Pixel Retentive, I had the privilege of chatting with the talented Alex Krokus - an established cartoonist in comics and animation whose work has appeared in Vice, BuzzFeed, and The New York Times. His recent collection Loud and Smart in Color and In Color debuted in February via Silver Sprocket, and his deeply personal, watercolor-illustrated graphic novel Talking to My Father’s Ghosts is set for release from Chronicle Bo...

Nam Nguyen is the founder of Supervillain, a creative agency known for its sharp aesthetic, distinct narrative edge, and refusal to play by anyone else’s rules. After a defining chapter at Intel - where he built and led a global creative team - Nam chose principle over prestige, walking away when his team was let go. That decision became the foundation of Supervillain, a studio formed by camaraderie, creative guts, and a passion fo...

This week on the Pixel Retentive Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jack Siler, a creative director and design strategist whose career spans over 15 years in the tech, gaming, and consumer brand spaces. Jack’s journey from marketing analyst to creative director has gifted him with a rare perspective that bridges strategy and execution. He’s worked with giants like Sony during the PlayStation 2 era and continues to lea...

On this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, I sat down with Cynthia Huang, an absolute powerhouse at the intersection of Web3, travel, and innovation. As the cofounder and CEO of DTravel, Cynthia is reimagining how vacation rentals can thrive in a decentralized world. She’s no stranger to the startup grind, having launched Altcoin Fantasy, a crypto trading game with over 350,000 users, and the Airhost Forum, now the largest com...

This week on the Pixel Retentive Podcast, we’re honored to welcome back a true living legend - Fred Seibert. Fred’s influence is so deeply woven into the fabric of animation, television, and tech that it’s nearly impossible to summarize. As a co-founder of MTV and its first creative director, the founder of Frederator Studios and FredFilms, and an early investor in Tumblr, Fred’s fingerprints are on the evolution of modern pop cult...

This week, I sat down with Dan Nelken - a guy I immediately vibed with. Dan is an award-winning advertising creative turned author, speaker, and trainer. He’s the mind behind A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters, a modern classic for creatives trying to build with heart and clarity. With over 20 years in the industry, Dan has worked with powerhouse brands like McDonald’s, Nintendo, and Lululemon. But what really fuels him now is helpi...

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Jeremy Shuback, a multifaceted creative whose work spans editing, motion design, map animation, and writing. Jeremy’s journey started in Hollywood as a visual effects artist and has since taken him into the world of YouTube, where he collaborates with some of the most influential journalists on the platform. His thoughtful visual storytelling and ability to turn dense...

In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alex Valdivia, tech visionary, designer, and co-founder of Alice Wonders. Alex has spent over two decades pushing boundaries at the intersection of technology, art, and retail. From hacking espresso machines to designing immersive brand experiences for Nestlé, Samsung, and Dior, Alex’s journey is anything but conventional. He’s also the Experience Director at the Retai...

On this episode of the Pixel Retentive podcast, we welcomed Keith Burkinshaw, the founder and executive producer at KB Creations. With over a decade of experience in the corporate and live event production space, Keith has led his team to orchestrate large-scale experiences for some of the most recognizable brands in North America - including Amazon. What began as a broad attempt to “do everything” eventually became a refined and f...

This week on the Pixel Retentive Podcast, we had the privilege of sitting down with Andy Arkin, a legend in the animation and visual effects industry. With over 32 years of experience, Andy built and ran Blah Blah Blah, the first boutique repping agency dedicated to animation, design, and visual effects. His career has been nothing short of iconic, and now, in retirement, he’s watching the industry evolve from a well-earned front-r...

In this episode of the Pixel Retentive Podcast, I sat down with Tom Bolger, Executive Creative Director at RBB. Tom’s career has taken him through powerhouse agencies like Anomaly and Wieden+Kennedy, where he’s crafted award-winning campaigns for brands like PETA, Oreo, and Project Gutenberg. A practicing visual artist, his work has been exhibited in New York, LA, and Miami, including at Art Basel. Tom’s insights into creative dire...

This week on Pixel Retentive, I had the pleasure of speaking with Derek Smith, an international master of ceremonies and public speaking coach. Known for his contagious energy and sharp wit, Derek has spent over 15 years helping professionals master the stage, whether at live events, virtual conferences, or networking engagements. With experience hosting global events and even winning a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics (but not for ...

This week on Pixel Retentive Podcast, I sat down with Ben Levy, an advertising creative director with a unique talent - turning awful presenters into great ones. Once a self-proclaimed terrible speaker himself, Ben has mastered the art of pitching creative ideas and now helps others do the same. With years of industry experience, a new book on the way, and a knack for cutting through the noise, Ben shares the secrets to selling the...

In this episode, we sit down with Liam Martin, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Time Doctor, a leading productivity tracking tool designed for remote teams. Liam is also the founder of Running Remote, one of the largest conferences dedicated to remote work, and the author of the best-selling book, "Running Remote." With nearly two decades in the industry, Liam has been a driving force behind the asynchronous work revoluti...

In this episode, I sit down with Alexei Falin, the CEO and co-founder of Rarible, one of the top NFT marketplaces supporting both emerging and established creators. Since launching Rarible in 2019, Alexei has been at the forefront of Web3, helping brands like Mattel, Forbes, and Lamborghini navigate the NFT space while also empowering independent artists to take control of their work. He’s seen the ups and downs of the crypto world...