State of the Union

• Episode 5: Amy Hood

  In this episode, Josh Horton talks with Amy Hood—designer, co-founder of Hoodzpah, and one half of the sister-duo that’s helped shape everything from startup brands to global campaigns with their bold, unmistakable style.Together, they dig into Amy’s Southern upbringing, how it shaped the way she sees people and work, and the differences she and her sister Jen have noticed between design scenes across the country—from the Heartland to Silicon Valley to the East Coast. They talk candidly about creative community, startup culture, the tension between conversion and brand integrity, and what it really takes to build a career rooted in conviction instead of algorithms.If you’re a brand designer, a small-studio creative, or someone trying to find your footing in a changing industry, this episode is for you.✊ Support the ShowHelp spread the word by sharing this episode with someone who needs it—it makes a real difference. Tag us using #StateOfTheUnionPodcast🎙️ Podcast CreditsPresented by Creative Workers UnionHosted by Josh HortonEdited by Sydney GlahdooArtwork by MUTI🔗 Relevant LinksHoodzpah: hoodzpahdesign.comAmy on Instagram: instagram.com/amyhoodlumHoodzpah on Instagram: instagram.com/hoodzpahdesign——CWU Website: creativeworks.coCWU Newsletter: creativeworks.co/newsletterCWU Beta Member Sign Up: members.creativeworks.co📖 Your StoryGot a story about your creative life—a win, a struggle, a breakthrough, or just a moment that captures what it’s like right now? 📩 Email us at [email protected] Include your name and location—we may feature it in a future episode.📲 Follow & ConnectInstagram → @creativeworksThreads → @creativeworksLinkedIn → Creative Workers Union🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes.

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• Episode 4: Matt Stevens

  In this episode, Josh Horton talks with designer and illustrator Matt Stevens—longtime friend, collaborator, and the creative mind behind projects like Max 100 and Good Movies as Old Books. They explore how personal work can reshape a career, what it takes to stay inspired as a one-person studio, and how curiosity, clarity, and consistency have guided Matt’s path for more than a decade.Together, they get into the realities of client work, the value of over-communicating, and how a simple Air Max obsession turned into a book, a Nike commission, and a whole second creative lane.If you’re a designer, illustrator, or studio-of-one trying to build the kind of career you actually want, this episode is for you.✊ Support the ShowHelp spread the word by sharing this episode with someone who needs it—it makes a real difference. Tag us using #StateOfTheUnionPodcast🎙️ Podcast CreditsPresented by Creative Workers UnionHosted by Josh HortonEdited by Sydney GlahdooArtwork by MUTI🔗 Relevant LinksMatt’s Portfolio: hellomattstevens.comMatt’s Instagram: instagram.com/mattstevenscltGood Movies as Old Books: goodmoviesasoldbooks.com——CWU Website: creativeworks.coCWU Newsletter: creativeworks.co/newsletterCWU Beta Member Sign Up: members.creativeworks.co📖 Your StoryGot a story about your creative life—a win, a struggle, a breakthrough, or just a moment that captures what it’s like right now? 📩 Email us at [email protected] Include your name and location—we may feature it in a future episode.📲 Follow & ConnectInstagram → @creativeworksThreads → @creativeworksLinkedIn → Creative Workers Union🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes.

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• Episode 3: Brian McDonald

  In this episode, Josh Horton sits down with Brian McDonald—an award-winning screenwriter, director, and author of Invisible Ink and Land of the Dead. With over 30 years in film, television, and comics, Brian’s storytelling wisdom has shaped generations of writers and filmmakers.Together, they talk about the craft and truth of storytelling—why good stories last, how AI challenges creativity, and why authenticity still matters more than ever. They also explore how film and story can reconnect us to our shared humanity in a time when speed and spectacle often win over substance.If you care about story, truth, and what it really means to be a creative in a changing world, this episode is for you.✊ Support the ShowHelp spread the word by sharing this episode with someone who needs it—it makes a real difference. Tag us using #StateOfTheUnionPodcast🎙️ Podcast CreditsPresented by Creative Workers UnionHosted by Josh HortonEdited by Sydney GlahdooArtwork by MUTI🔗 Relevant LinksBrian’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeinvisibleinkStory First Studio/Podcast: https://www.storyfirst.studioBooks by Brian McDonald: Invisible Ink & Land of the Dead——CWU Website: creativeworks.coCWU Newsletter: creativeworks.co/newsletterCWU Beta Member Sign Up: members.creativeworks.co📖 Your StoryGot a story about your creative life—a win, a struggle, a breakthrough, or just a moment that captures what it’s like right now? 📩 Email us at [email protected] Include your name and location—we may feature it in a future episode.📲 Follow & ConnectInstagram → @creativeworksThreads → @creativeworksLinkedIn → Creative Workers Union🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes.

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• Episode 2: Theresa Fitzgerald

  In this episode, Josh Horton sits down with Theresa Fitzgerald — a mission-driven designer, educator, and creative leader behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in children’s media. Together, they explore the evolving role of education in a fast-moving world. From the global influence of Sesame Workshop to the principles of designing for children, they discuss the power of play, nostalgia, and storytelling to shape culture and create connection. The conversation also touches on the shift from fun to purpose in creative work, the rise of AI, and the need for community in a time when craft matters more than ever.If you’re navigating change, chasing purpose, or looking for ways to stay grounded in your work — this episode is for you.✊ Support the ShowHelp spread the word by sharing this episode with someone who needs it—it makes a real difference. Tag us using #StateOfTheUnionPodcast🎙️ Podcast CreditsPresented by Creative Workers UnionHosted by Josh HortonEdited by Sydney GlahdooArtwork by MUTI🔗 Relevant Links Theresa Fitzgerald — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theresa-fitzgeraldSelected Brands: Sesame Workshop • Nickelodeon • Peanuts • Scholastic——CWU Website: creativeworks.coCWU Newsletter: creativeworks.co/newsletterCWU Beta Member Sign Up: creativeworks.co/members📖 Your StoryGot a story about your creative life—a win, a struggle, a breakthrough, or just a moment that captures what it’s like right now? 📩 Email us at [email protected]. Include your name and location—we may feature it in a future episode.📲 Follow & ConnectInstagram → @creativeworksThreads → @creativeworksLinkedIn → Creative Workers Union🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes.

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• Episode 1: Miné Day, Brad Hodgkiss, and Clinton Campbell of MUTI

  In this episode, Josh Horton sits down with Miné Day, Brad Hodgkiss, and Clinton Campbell — the partners behind MUTI, a Cape Town–based design and illustration studio known for its stunning range of styles, collaborative energy, and deeply human approach to creativity. They talk about how the studio formed through trust, friendship, and a shared vision — and how it grew organically into one of the most respected illustration shops in the world.Together, they explore how collaboration can lead to exponential growth, how leadership and humility shape studio culture, and how craft, connection, and curiosity keep their work evolving. The conversation also digs into team dynamics, emotional intelligence, commercial versatility, the limits of AI, and why human connection still wins in a world chasing speed and scale.If you're building a creative practice, leading a team, or trying to stay grounded in your work — this episode is for you.✊ Support the ShowHelp spread the word by sharing this episode with someone who needs it—it makes a real difference. Tag us using #StateOfTheUnionPodcast🎙️Podcast CreditsPresented by Creative Workers UnionHosted by Josh HortonEdited by Sydney GlahdooArtwork by MUTI🔗 Relevant LinksMUTI Website: https://studiomuti.co.zaMUTI Wallpapers: https://www.creativeworks.co/greetings-from-seattle——CWU Website: creativeworks.coCWU Newsletter: creativeworks.co/newsletterCWU Beta Member Sign Up: creativeworks.co/members📖 Your StoryGot a story about your creative life—a win, a struggle, a breakthrough, or just a moment that captures what it’s like right now? 📩 Email us at [email protected] your name and location — we may feature it in a future episode.📲 Follow & ConnectInstagram → @creativeworksThreads → @creativeworksLinkedIn → Creative Workers Union🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes.

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