The Pen Addict 253/transcript

The Pen Addict Podcast Transcript
Episode:	253
Title:	Live from the Atlanta Pen Show 2017
Release Date:	April 23rd, 2017
Hosts:	Brad Dowdy Myke Hurley
Guests:	Ana Reinert
Additional Information
Official page:	Episode 253
Audio File:	Audio Episode 253
Podcast page:	The Pen Addict 253
Length:	6060 min <br />1 h <br /> minutes
Previous Transcript	Next Transcript

Ana Reinert: Welcome to The Pen Addict. And of course, the one and only person we can have join us to host these episodes, Anna Reiner.

Myke Hurley: Hi everybody! Hi guys! You get a clap! You get a clap!

Ana Reinert: Alright, so we have a big show today. We have some guests today, which is a first for the live shows. But before we start, we should just take a moment to thank everyone who backed the Kickstarter campaign. Because we literally wouldn't be here without all of you who have done this. And we're recording this episode on video, and that video will come out in a couple of weeks' time. So Brad, I guess you want to say something as well.

Atlanta Show

Brad Dowdy: Yeah, like this is a big deal. Like this is the event for me personally, for us as a show, for, you know, all the friends I've made. Get everyone in one place, see everyone, meet new people. And just to see the support we have, it's continually mind-blowing. I don't get it sometimes, but I'm glad it's there, and I appreciate all of y'all. So thank you for allowing us to do this. I mean, you're why we do it, so thank you very much.

Ana Reinert: Yeah, and we're, this is the first of three dates on our North American tour this year.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah, we did a little crazy on the Kickstarter this year.

Ana Reinert: But the Atlanta show will always be our home show. Yes. And being able to do this is amazing, so thank you. But that's not the only people we should thank.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah, I want to be sure to thank Jimmy and Suzanne Dola for allowing us to do this.

Brad Dowdy: Their support to give us a room to have a party for us, to call me and take me out to lunch, to say, what can we do for you? And the pins, yeah.

Myke Hurley: Hey, what, did you get in on the lunch? I didn't get in.

Brad Dowdy: We can't afford that many flights.

Myke Hurley: It's just the face.

Brad Dowdy: But they're awesome. Like, they, in my eyes, they hang the moon, and we would definitely not be doing this. We don't have the support of the show promoters who believe in this, and that's not an easy thing these days still, to allow us to do something like this at a pin show. So that's great. I just wanted to be sure to thank them.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. No one else understands what we're trying to do. And, like, we have, like, 80 or 90 people in a room right now with chairs, and they let us get everything set up. So can we just give them a round of applause, please? One of them is here. One of them is kind of hilarious. One of them is kind of hilarious. So whilst the show over its five years has moved from place to place, over time we lost some of the show notes with the feeds that were moving over. It's like the first 50 episodes of the show, there's no notes in the feed. Well, a couple of days ago, I found just a bunch of text files on my computer, which were all of the original show notes.

Ana Reinert: So they are now in the feed. So if you are a person who has ever listened back, or maybe you're one of these people that listens now and will go back, all of the links to all of the pens and the paper and the notebooks that we mentioned in those episodes is now there, which is great. And I found out two fun facts for the first 10 episodes. So episode 8 featured the first review of the Retro 51 tornado. All the way back in episode 8 is when I bought my first one. And episode 10 was actually Brad's review of the Atlanta pen shirt for the first time.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. So my first time walking these aisles way before any of this was even like a pipe dream. Yeah. It was like, I'm going to go to this pen show and I have no idea what's going on. It's totally bewildered. It's hilarious. It's so funny. I need to go back and listen to that now.

Myke Hurley: So we all have something to listen to on the car ride or the flight home is to go back and listen to episode 8 and see exactly how newbie you sound.

Ana Reinert: I expect that there's elements of me at that point being like, there's a pen show. A pen show?

Myke Hurley: Who's going to buy a fountain pen? Why would you want one of those? Why do you need more than one color ink?

Brad Dowdy: We did get an antidote from that episode. That's still a recurring theme with one of my good friends and vendors in the room. I'll leave her nameless for now. But I bought my first Pelican gold nib pen in that episode 10 show and we were talking about it. And I bought it from a gentleman who worked on the nib when I made the purchase. He worked on the nib for me. And I was so kind of green and didn't know what I was doing. I just like accepted that and I took it home and it was awful. Like I didn't know what to ask for. I didn't know what to do. And Myke said, so let me get this straight.

Ana Reinert: You paid him this money and he ruined the nib.

Ana Reinert: And that somehow Brad just accepted that and was fine with that. Yeah. But the moral of it. Well, the end of the story is you got it fixed, right?

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. Well, I sent it off to Myke Masayama, which is what you do when you need something really, really good. So I fixed that quickly. But, you know, my pain is your gain, I guess. I don't know. So, yeah, hopefully we've all learned from that. I certainly have. Yeah.

Stationery Wiki

Ana Reinert: But there is more. So we have spoken for so long about the idea of having a wiki. And you have something to say about the wiki.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. So it's kind of funny that Myke found these show notes right when a wonderful member of the community, a gentleman named Matthias from his blog is called Blystiff. He's in England and he runs a wonderful pencil blog. And we talked when we first started bringing up this wiki thing. He volunteered his time, which so many of y'all did. Like we want to help you build this wiki because we know when we first started listening to this show that we needed those show notes to go and find out what y'all are talking about. Well, Myke and I kept not putting it off, but that's hard to fit in our schedule. So there was a lot going on. We couldn't get that done. And then I get an email out of the blue from Matthias. He said, hey, I'm done. I'm like, what are you talking about? Here's a link. He had like episode 50 to 250 in a wiki linked, uploaded. Everything was perfect. So we'll share this in the show notes. Now the first 50 episodes are in there. And I know a lot of you wanted to contribute to the wiki. You can now go in. If you listen to an old episode, you can add notes. You can, you know, link, you know, threads like the Visionaire or the Scribble Pen. Like a lot of people, a lot of people, if they jump in in the middle and we're like four episodes into killing the Visionaire, I promise I won't do that to you guys today on the show, Vito and Jonathan. And, you know, when we're talking about them, someone doesn't know, hey, what do you mean Visionaire? We can now link all that stuff and send people to the wiki. So Matthias did some heavy lifting and there's already people working on the wiki to make it as good as it could be. And it's not just a pen addict wiki. It's a stationary wiki. It has erasable podcast episodes. It has general brand information. So this is a great community resource that anyone and everyone is welcome to contribute to. And it's ready to roll finally. So thank you, Matthias.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. So we'll have updates on that as it starts to grow. But the idea is that eventually you'll be able to go and like, I want to know about this pen. And you'll click into this pen and you'll get information about it. You'll get like what episodes of this show was it spoken about, what episodes of this. So I think it's going to be a real great resource that we'll be talking about a lot as time goes on. So we're really happy that, again, our amazing community has done something incredible for us. So there's been some new products that we actually want to talk about because, one, we thought it was funny. And then, two, we now have them in front of us. So there have been two new Field Notes products come up since the last show. The first is the Everyday Inspiration, which we have with us here. Ryan, who's in the audience, he actually received his just before he came to the show. So the Everyday Inspiration is a collaboration that Field Notes have done with Bellroy. And it's a leather case, right, to carry Field Notes and other related paraphernalia in. Now, Field Notes have made their own in the past, right? Yeah, they have. A couple of different, they've made a pocket.

Brad Dowdy: The Pony Express pouch was a pouch for like three. And then they have a regular standard leather cover that they make individual.

Ana Reinert: But this is something that they work in partnership with Bellroy. It's co-branded. And Bellroy make loads of cool wallets and stuff. I have a Bellroy wallet, which I really love. Their leather stuff is incredible. And you get a custom notebook set with it, too. It's really nice. I mean, I know you're getting one. So we'll have a full review. But we wanted to at least mention it, especially because we've got it here. Something I didn't know, which I think is super cool, is that there's like a magnetic clasp that keeps it shut and it opens flat. And it's really beautiful and it smells like lovely leather. And there's card wallets, holders and stuff. It's really nice. It's really nice.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah, so I have to spill some of Anna's secrets here. Myke and I are good friends with Brian Bedell at Field Notes. But they are like, it's funny to say like a stationary community is super secretive about their products. Like that sounds just like ridiculous to say, but they keep everything on lock. But someone sitting at this table not named Myke or Brad sometimes knows things. And I wanted to know, did you know about this before?

Myke Hurley: I did not. I did not.

Brad Dowdy: Because you and Brian go way back. Yeah.

Myke Hurley: Brian and I have been friends for years. But there's a lot of stuff that even when I poke and prod at Brian, I don't hear about until after the fact. And sometimes it's because their product cycles move very quickly. But sometimes he just cannot dish what's going on.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah, that's always tough. Knowing someone in the end and they can't give you the information.

Myke Hurley: Yeah, that happens a lot. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: And I'm really excited that the Pitch Black is an edition they've had for a while, which was just a black, one of the regular craft. And they now make a large Pitch Black, which is the Arts and Sciences size, which is something that I have been asking Field Notes to do for such a long time. So long, in fact, that I have replaced the need that I had for it with the Byline edition because they created the reporter's notebook. Right. So I was using them for my show notes and was asking and like stockpiling Arts and Sciences. Then they created the Byline, which was perfect for that use. Then they created, what do they call the Byline ones? The reporter's notebook. But the reporter's notebook size and now they make that. But now they do a large Pitch Black front page. And I'm so happy that I actually have this because Ryan, who I mentioned before, who's also mentioned, just gave me his. So thank you, Ryan, for doing that. So I now have it.

Brad Dowdy: This is the Myke edition.

Ana Reinert: So I've now got it. So I've got it in front. You're making all the stuff you love. Yeah. They listen to me, but just slowly. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: But I think that it's great. I think this is a good extension of their product line. So I said, like many times, this is a great size for a notebook. And I'm really pleased that they found a way to make it part of their line because I think that it is a really, really welcome addition. Yep. So I'm really happy about that. But we are in Atlanta. So we should talk about the pen show a little bit. Yep. So, Anna, how's the show going for you?

Myke Hurley: Really good. We've been super busy. I've been helping out the Venice pens table. So mostly I've seen the back of ink boxes and ink bottles for two days. I know that one. Yeah. Yeah. But it's been really fun. Been super busy.

Myke Hurley: But, you know, I mean, it's interesting because for the last two years I've been able to come to the show and shop and visit more. But this year I've been working. So it's just kind of seeing the other side of a pen show, which is also very fun and very interesting. It's nice I stay in one place. People come to me. Yep. Which is fun. But it's also a great experience because I learn so much about the products and what people are interested in and what they want to see more of. So for me, it gives me a good idea of what I need to go home and review. And, you know, like making sure like what everyone's bought and making sure that I get more reviews of those particular colors up on the blog.

Myke Hurley: So that's always interesting. Finding out what people like, what they don't like.

Brad Dowdy: So how are the, how is the, the color ring going at the Venice pens table? I know you've had them there. And so when people either say, I just can't, they don't say, I love you, Lisa Venice. I don't know if you're in here, but they say, I just came from seeing Anna or I'm going to see Anna. They don't say I'm going to the Venice.

Brad Dowdy: Because I have to get a coloring. So how are those?

Myke Hurley: They've been selling really well, which has been really exciting. And I, it's, it's just hard. It's like, it's been such a weird experience for me because I, I just didn't know how well they were going to do. So it's been, it's been interesting just to like release a product for the first time. And I, I mean, Brad, we've talked about this a lot over the last couple of weeks. This is my first experience with making and selling a product for the first time, like kind of a, a big release of something. So for me, it's like having people be like, I'm going to buy one. No, I'm going to buy two. And you're like, buy five. And so it's been really, you know, it's just been like, it's just fun. It's fun to see people get really excited about it. And, and yeah. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: I'm really bad for that. The knock table. I just like try and get people to buy six things. Just like, just, we have more pens. Just buy more. Yeah. I'm okay with that.

Brad Dowdy: So over.

Myke Hurley: You need to, you need to come sell some colorings for me. I'll pop over tomorrow. Awesome. Great.

Ink Testing Station

Brad Dowdy: Awesome. Awesome. So over by your table is the Van Espen's ink testing station. But this year it happened a little, something a little special happened on that table.

Myke Hurley: Oh, yeah.

Brad Dowdy: Someone did something. Someone's responsible.

Myke Hurley: Someone was responsible for some interesting coloring pages.

Brad Dowdy: I think someone who did some little additional coloring over there on the ink testing station. Ink station. Yeah, some magical. Anyone need to confess anything while we're talking? No, no.

Ana Reinert: No. Yeah. No one's coming clean. So the coloring book that Alex created, that we've been speaking about a bunch, has some additions. Now it includes an illustration of Anna.

Ana Reinert: Doug has just shown some incredible artwork that we'll put in the show notes, which is Doug's artwork that he has made, which is a Fright Night version of the three of us. Basically, somebody is responsible for printing out line art of the coloring book. We've been using a book, which has then been put at the ink testing stations. And people have been coloring us in. And the funny thing is when I walked past, I was in the room today. And you can see people that are basically just kind of scribbling because they don't, they're not, you know, maybe not. I'm assuming not everybody knows what this is in reference to. And it's funny because you can tell the people that are doing that because they don't scribble on the faces. It's around us. So like they don't color in the people because they're just like, I don't know what this is. So like they kind of just scribble around the edge of the art, which is kind of hilarious. But yeah, that has been a, that's a show highlight for me without question.

Brad Dowdy: It's amazing. I love every second of it. So please keep coloring and sharing them and posting on Instagram and making fun of us because that's what gets us through the day. We like to smile. We like to laugh. And this is one way to do it. I love it. Absolutely love it.

Myke Hurley: It's fabulous. Thanks, Doug. The scary voodoo people.

Brad Dowdy: Has your, of all the pictures I've seen, has your hair not been pink yet?

Myke Hurley: I don't think. Yeah. Everyone's been very consistent.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah.

Myke Hurley: Consistently pink.

Brad Dowdy: Consistency is good. So how is your show going, Myke? Like you, like we put you to work at this show.

Jeff: Yeah.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. Very tired. What do we start? 8 a.m. till 5. Well, we started Thursday night. Well, that's true. Yeah. So yeah, I always enjoy the show because I get to hang out with you and Jeff all day, which is great. And I love that because I love you both. And we get to see loads of people coming in and saying hi. And that's always fun. And we get to hang out at the table. And we get to sell stuff. This year, I know all the names of all the products. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah.

Brad Dowdy: So we discovered over the past two years, we learned and we discovered that Myke needs pictures. So, hey, look, so we got Myke pictures this year. Right.

Ana Reinert: The names of your products, right? They mean nothing to like if you called them like the three pen bag and the two pen case. Like, you know, but they're like lookout and fodder stack and brass. It doesn't mean anything, especially to me. Like, I don't even really know what these things are. Is it lakes and mountains or something? Yeah. Right.

Brad Dowdy: Georgia landmarks.

Ana Reinert: So, but this year, you did the pictures. I didn't even need it. The only thing I can't remember the prices now, though. That's the thing. So I have to keep checking them for the prices. Yeah.

Brad Dowdy: Okay. So I need to check receipts is what you're saying. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: Every time you and Jeff leave the table, I don't know why you think that's a good idea. Like, the price is slashed across the board.

Brad Dowdy: That's a pro shopping tip for any of y'all. If you see Jeff and I not there, go. No.

Myke Hurley: Well, last year, you left the two of us alone for like half of a Sunday. Yeah. So that was leaving the monkeys in charge of the zoo.

Ana Reinert: Oh, yeah. That was when all those interviews were happening. Yeah. That was bad for you, man. That's right. That's right. Yeah. So we did that.

Myke Hurley: He was complaining about all the money being the same size. Yep. Neither one of us.

Ana Reinert: So it's just whatever. You know, I just dip my hand in the bag and you get your change. It all looks the same. He's like, I have to read the numbers.

Myke Hurley: This is ridiculous. Oh, we did sort it all, though. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. But yeah, so but I enjoy it so much. It is great fun. It's tiring work. It's hard work. I do not envy you two for doing this more than once a year. Oh, no, I am this year, right?

Ana Reinert: Well, that's a whole thing. Yeah, that's a thing. But it is. It's great. It's great. But the thing that I'm maybe most excited about is my big purchases here. So I, well, so the Canalea pen company, we've been talking about them forever. And I've wanted to get one of their pens for such a long time, but decided that I wasn't going to do it until I could see them, right? Because I wanted to see the whole range. Now, where our table is, there's a doorway. And through the doorway is the Canalea pen company. So I was watching them set up. So like I was standing and I was watching and they started to take out some pens. I'm like, right, I'm going for it because I wanted to have the pick of them all, right? I wanted to see all the pens.

Brad Dowdy: So he's saying this in my ear, like while I'm setting up the table, he's like, okay, I'm watching them. All right. I think they have three pens out now. I don't. All right. I'm going. I'm going.

Ana Reinert: So I have to let Brad know. So I was going to be gone for a while. So I went over and saw Hugh and Carol, who are lovely people, absolutely lovely people. And I was kind of looking through what they had. And I was picking up a few and I was like, right, I'm going to get this one. So I picked the one that I wanted. And then so I'm chatting with Carol and she's getting more out. And then so Hugh's like, he's getting all the nib ready for me and I'm nearly done. I'm like, I want to change my order because they're getting more of them out. So the one that I ended up picking up, it's called the Maui Makai. And it's unbelievable. So like the pictures on the website don't do it justice, but it's like the seas and rocks type thing, right? So there's like this white and black swell together and then there's a bunch of blue. But the middle section is almost clear. It's like transparent. So now that thing's going to be eyedroppered. It's going to be incredible. I'm so happy. That presentation is just amazing too. So I cannot recommend these pens enough. They're absolutely beautiful. I'm sorry, but I got one. Yep. Yep. And that was right out the gate.

Brad Dowdy: So you blew the budget immediately. Are there more pens in here? It's all on buying. Yeah. Okay. So you were focused. Focused purchase. I like that. I like that. So I'm focused on not purchasing because now that I do this more often, I've already been to two pen shows this year. And it's only April and wow. Yeah. So I bought a $50 pen that I had to have this morning. So we'll talk more about that later.

Ana Reinert: Last night at the bar, Brad's showing all of his pens. And he's like, that's why I'm not buying anything this year. That's why I'm not buying anything this year. And there's just all these things that he's showing along with the sailor, the bung box sailor that I love so much. Fifth anniversary. Yeah. Which seems that everybody's got except me. Everyone had them. It's like, oh, I've got one. I've got one. But I didn't get one. Anna, have you had the time to buy anything? Are you buying anything this year?

Myke Hurley: I didn't actually get to buy any pens. I just keep sending people to buy pens for me because I haven't been.

Ana Reinert: This is a life hack right here. This is the way to do it.

Myke Hurley: So Julia got some lovely pens from Joe, who was at the Arkansas pen show, at the table next to me. So even at the Arkansas show, I didn't actually go anywhere to buy pens. I was literally like reaching into the tray next to me and like pulling them over and being like, how much for this one, Joe? So she had gotten some yesterday that were new old stock pilot pens from, as Casey pointed out, from Korea. And so I sent her over with a handful of cash and said, if he has any more, make a deal. Grab them and bring them back. And so she did. So I got, she brought back three of them and said, made a great deal. Here's your change.

Myke Hurley: That's how you make a deal. That was how you make a deal. So, and then I stood in front of the Franklin Kristoff table Friday morning before they opened. Which is the only time to stand there. Which is the only time. Waiting for prototypes, grabbed a pen body and literally threw my credit card at them and the pen and said, I'll pick out a nib later. And so it's still basically in hock until I can pick out a nib.

Ana Reinert: Did she still have your credit card?

Myke Hurley: She actually threw the card back at me and said, well, Audrey's like, I'll deal with you later. So.

Ana Reinert: I don't think that sounds as good as you hope it does. That sounds like a bad situation.

Myke Hurley: No. Oh, she still has the pen. And they're still holding it for me.

Franklin Kristoff

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. That's actually, frankly, Kristoff's new motto. They're so busy. I'll deal with you later. Yeah.

Myke Hurley: Pretty much. Pretty much. And I mean, it's to the point where it's like, I will see them in two weeks. So I'll deal with you later might be in Chicago at this point. Right. Right. So. Yeah. But it's really pretty.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. So that's where we are with the show right now. We'll talk more about this next week because we recorded another episode in like three or four days. So we have to save something.

Myke Hurley: So even me, you'll deal with me later. Yeah.

Ana Reinert: We'll deal with you later. And we have a couple of guests this week.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. So I wanted to do something a little bit different this time. You never know how to put these shows together. 253 episodes in. I still don't know exactly how I want to do a show on a daily basis. And I thought this year we have so many great people and great vendors and great people we've met over the years that I wanted to do some interviews this year. And I ran it by Myke and he said no because we don't know if we can do it technically. But what I love about you and Relay is we have the technical acumen to do what I want to do. Yep. And so I won. You won. Yep. And we're going to have two guests on this episode. We're going to have Vito from Story Supply and Jonathan from Carolina Pen Company coming up here momentarily. So I'm really excited to do something a little bit different this year. So yeah, it's cool.

Retro 51

Ana Reinert: But let me talk about something I'm so excited about. So our first sponsor for this week's show is Retro 51, which I cannot even explain how long I have been trying to make this happen. They got in contact a couple of weeks ago and said they wanted to do this. And I was like, I'm putting you on the pen show episode. So I'm so excited because this is a pen company that I have tried to become the face of for years.

Brad Dowdy: That would be a huge mistake on their part.

Ana Reinert: I appreciate that you got more oh's than laughs. The audience are turning against you. So a couple of things that they wanted me to say. So Retro 51, they started to release their 2017 designs. They're starting with three new Slim Tornado colors and two new Death Set colors. And they have more new designs coming at the end of May. And their limited edition Popper series has some unique and fun designs available for a limited time. So you can go check them out at retro51.com. That's R-E-T-R-O-5-1.com. Or you can follow them on social media so you can get a first look at this year's limited editions. And all of the links for their social media pages are on their homepage. So I now want to say a few things. So anybody that listens to this show knows that I will recommend this pen to everyone as their starter pen. Or as a gift for someone. Like if there's someone in your life you think they might be interested in this stuff. It's a great pen. Because I don't think I've ever given a Retro 51 to someone and then use it and not say something along the lines of, Wow, this is really nice. Or, Oh, this is unexpected. Like it just has a way of grabbing people. Because it's a great pen. It's made really well. And the refills that they use are just incredible. Like it happens without fail. And Retro 51 Tornadoes have become like my collection within a collection. And I counted before I left for Atlanta. And I have at least 35 now. And I say at least because I know that some of them have found their way from out of my drawers in my office to Adina's bag. Because every now and then she's like, Oh, I'll go do some work. And I'm like, Okay. And then she pulls her pen out. And I'm like, That's where that one went. But like I love these pens. I'm using one right now. I'm using the Surf Edition. I always have one in my bags with me. Like if for any reason you don't have a Retro 51, you should get one. There are tons available at the show. There are tons available at loads of stockists. You should go to Retro51.com. They have a great catalog. And you can see what they have. You should get one. You will not be disappointed by these pens. Because not only do they work well. They have so many designs. You will find one that means something to you in some way. Whether you think it's pretty. Or like it literally means something to you. Like this one. I'm such a big fan of the Beach Boys. I love all of the surfing theme ones as well. Right? Like they're just amazing. So life is too short to carry an ugly pen. Go to Retro51.com and find out more today. Thank you so much to Retro 51 for their support of this show at Relay FM. So let's bring up our first guest for this week. And it is Vito Grippy from Story Supply. Give him a round of applause.

Ana Reinert: Thank you.

Ana Reinert: Vito, thank you so much for joining us on the show today. Thank you guys. This is an honor. There are a lot of you. There's a lot of you. Don't look at them. Just look directly at my eyes. Oh man. Look at the pen out there.

Jeff: Yeah, no, this is awesome. I've been dreaming of being on The Pet Addict. And to be on this episode is pretty special. Thank you guys.

Ana Reinert: So Vito, can you tell our listeners if anybody doesn't know what Story Supply is, what you're all about?

Notebooks

Jeff: Yeah. So we are initially a stationary company. So we make notebooks and covers. It's pretty cool. We have like four of our products on this table. And that's sort of where things started. But, you know, Gabe, my partner, is a designer. So we sort of started branching out. We've been asked to do a lot of custom projects. And that's sort of branched into other avenues. So now we're doing custom shirts and custom products. But our heart is still in the things that we love to use, which is notebooks mostly.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. So I think we first started talking. I think you reached out to me when your Kickstarter launched. That was like 2015. That wasn't that long ago.

Jeff: This is August of 2015.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. And you said, hey, Vito, I've got this notebook. I want you to check it out. Can I send it to you? I'm like, well, yeah, absolutely. You can send it to me. And it landed in my mailbox. And I get a lot of things in my mailbox. And sometimes there's products that stand out like really quickly. And I was like, oh, okay. I need to email Vito back because this is pretty good. So I love your product. So tell everyone, like, why did you design these particular notebooks? So it's, you know, your basic three and a half by five and a half memo book. Not only is it a high quality, wonderful stationary product, there's more behind the story on why you decided to create these.

Jeff: Yeah. I mean, we started out, obviously, a love of the products themselves. I mean, I've used pocket notebooks and other notebooks like everyone else in this room. I have drawers and drawers and closets full of them like people in this room. So I was kind of in a place where I started binding them on my own. And I was just playing around with some ideas. And I started thinking, I want to make some of these. But I was also very conscious of there are a lot of people making some of these. So initially, you know, we wanted to make something. We wanted fountain pen friendly paper. We wanted certain things that I thought were missing in the market. But I still wasn't convinced, you know, why does the world need another notebook? At the time, I was also, I teach creative writing at a college. And I was also teaching youth creative writing courses and that sort of thing. I mean, it occurred to me, you know, young people often, they're very creative, but they don't quite. Nobody ever asks, you know, what do you want to write about or what do you want to do? So I had that experience over time. So I started thinking, well, maybe if we could find a way that the product could support organizations that I was interested in initially, things like 826 Valencia and San Francisco and those sorts of things. Sorry. So we decided, well, let's see if we can do some kind of one for one model where the purchase of the notebooks would somehow support some of these organizations and help young people, especially in underrepresented communities, you know, find their own voice. Since notebooks have played such a large role in my own sort of development as a creative person.

Ana Reinert: Can you tell me a little bit more about what you guys do with this? So if I'm right, whenever somebody buys a pack, you donate something, right? How does that work? So I had to learn how to use spreadsheets.

Jeff: And I'm not quite good at it. It's a very sort of rudimentary, you know, the count of the notebooks that we've been selling. So I do it usually quarterly. I punch numbers in. Somebody showed me how you can connect spreadsheets. It's amazing. And it shows you here's what you sold. Here's what you have on hand. Here's what you've given. And so, I mean, it's that. And then reaching out to the organizations that we work with and just saying, hey, are you ready? Do you need some? So right now we give to five of the A26. So it's Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C., and Boston. And then we started working with local organizations in our own community. And it's just a hustle. And packing boxes and trying to get them out there. And then, you know, the best part is getting pictures back and seeing how the kids are using them. And they decorate and make them their own thing, which at one point I had posted pictures on our own blog, on the Stories of Plyco blog, of my original composition, Mead composition notebook. That was very heavily, like, grunge inspired. So there's, you know, like, black marker all over it. You know, and that was a big, that was my space. And it's cool to kind of see other young people adapting and using that in their own lives.

Brad Dowdy: So I know the product started to expand. It was the notebooks and pencils in the beginning. And then one of the first cool things I saw come across was Myke Hawthorne's work and your collaboration with him. And I know Anna had Myke on her podcast, Art Supply Posse.

Sketchbooks

Myke Hurley: How did you hook up with Myke to do the sketchbook?

Jeff: So we live, so York, Pennsylvania is sort of this little city rammed between Harrisburg and Baltimore. And strangely enough, I had worked on a literary magazine through the college, and Myke lives in York. He's kind of, he's not quite a hermit, but he doesn't come out much because he works and works. And if anybody follows him on social media knows, the guy is just sketching all day long. Yeah. And, I mean, sketching. And so he had done a cover for the magazine. And just through that, at one point, we realized that he and I both had a, I'm going to say, somewhat substantial interest in stationary objects. And we started having coffee. And it just became, I'd bring in pencils, and he'd bring me a notebook. And, you know, and it was just that. And then one day the conversation started, well, we should make a thing, you know, and he volunteered. He also, he graduated from York City Schools, which is, it's in pretty rough shape, especially their arts program. And his story, which is kind of, you know, part of why we did this thing in the beginning is, you know, he was extremely poor, living in a bad part of town. And his art teachers had just supplied him with sketchbooks. And that was it. And they supported him. And now he's, you know, the lead artist at Marvel for Deadpool, which is pretty cool. So that project specifically was those sketchbooks would donate directly to the school. And it was cool. We got to go in and hang out with the students. Myke talked to them. And then, you know, they just, the deal is we gave them at the time about 500 sketchbooks. When they're full, they just, they call us and we're going to keep giving them more.

Myke Hurley: So, yeah, he emailed me right after you guys dropped them off. And he was just, he, in the email, he's like, I practically cried, like giving them the sketchbooks. He was like so excited about it. But, yeah, if the interview that we did on Art Supply Posse, he like apologized profusely because you can hear him going through his sketches. You can hear him scrambling the paper in the interview. And afterwards, I guess he went back and listened to it. And he's like, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you could hear me moving the paper around. And I'm like, it's okay. It's all real life. Right. Like that's how frenetic he is.

Jeff: And he has a sketchbook in his hand.

Myke Hurley: Like all the time. He draws all the time.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. You were actually so moved by that response that you got from him that I remember you like, you like, I got to tell you this story.

Myke Hurley: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think I called Brad. I'm like, I got to tell you this story. It's like, he was so, he's so amazing. Yeah. I totally, I just think he's amazing.

Brad Dowdy: Like, so seeing what you do, like, to affect people, that, like, really means a lot. And that's such a cool thing to hear those stories. And it's through stationery. These are very simple objects, right? Mm-hmm. And we all, you know, sometimes put them up on a higher platform. But, like, getting these kids involved and giving them the tools to, you know, broaden their horizons a little bit and think is really, really cool. So that's awesome that you do that. So we have, since we've, I've been following you at least, you have expanded the product lineup. You've started to come out. You emailed me before the DC show last year and, like, I think we're going to be at the DC show. I was like, wow. Like, that's cool. So what made you want to go to, like, a pen show and bring Story Supply out there to tell your story?

Jeff: I mean, initially, I just wanted to go to pen shows. And, you know, the cool thing is coming home with actual money justifies it, you know. Makes it easier to leave for three, four days at a time and leave the family home when it's my job, which is strange to say. Because it's so much fun. But, you know, we wanted to, we knew that, you know, we were already in part of the community online and interacting with people online. But, you know, we just wanted to get out and start meeting people. DC is, strangely, you know, the biggest one is the closest one or one of the closest ones. So we're like, well, let's give it a shot. It was kind of scary. Yeah. And that's why I emailed you. Because I was like, you know, at least we'll have, are you going to be there? And is there somebody that can kind of hold our hand through this? You know, it was just good to have one person that, you know, knew the ropes. And it was awesome. Yeah.

Brad Dowdy: And apparently it wasn't, it wasn't, it didn't turn you off. So you didn't like, let's say, hey, let's do this again.

Jeff: No, it was, it was amazing. Yeah. Just meeting people, you know, just get so many new faces, people that, you know, I mean, you guys know, you run into people and introduce yourselves as you're like Instagram or Twitter handles, you know. And it was cool just to start putting, putting faces to those names and, and we sold a lot. So yeah, this is cool.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. That's super cool. So what's, uh, what's next for you? You've like, you've ramped it up like really quickly, like the Kickstarter, you know, that was a process and a project. And then like all of a sudden it's like the, like the light bulb switched on and it's like been full go. I've been watching you recently and it's just like been crazy, crazy hopping. And so what's, what's the plan?

Jeff: Um, well, kind of going in line with, you know, there are plenty of pocket notebooks. Um, we, and we're going to keep releasing those, but we've been playing around with some other ideas. Um, more, most specifically, I'd like to make a larger, closer to a five ish, I'll say notebook, um, that's stitch bound, either cloth or some, you know, not necessarily a hard bound book, but maybe like semi hard book. And I, I originally started making stitch bound books. Um, I probably, I'm going to embarrass myself by saying this, but my initial run at like hand sewing signatures ended with a needle stuck through my finger and blood. And there was lightheadedness, special edition, a concussion. Um, yeah. So if anybody wants a bloody notebook, um, so yeah, so that was my initial run. And so then after that, I was like, well, let's slow down a little bit and, uh, let's see some, what staples look like. Cause that's a little safer than needles. And so, you know, and, but I, I started doing it again and we have, you know, I posted a picture of a prototype, I think last week. And the response was enough to say, okay, maybe we should try it. So now it's just a matter of figuring out the logistics. Um, as Anna knows now and Brad, you know, when it comes to manufacturing and trying to manufacture things in the United States, it gets difficult quickly. So there's trying to work through some of those obstacles, trying to bring some of the process in house. Um, I'm getting better at sewing signatures, you know? So, um, so, I mean, I'd like to make as much of that process hands on and handmade as possible. So, yeah, kind of, yeah. So that'll be hopefully, my goal is DC to have some on the table.

Brad Dowdy: Wow. That's, uh.

Jeff: Maybe not a lot, but have some on the table. One. Yeah, there we go. One.

Brad Dowdy: One that's not bloody. Right, right. So yeah, go over, go over to the story supply table. He's got it hidden in the back. I let him bring it out so I could see it and I love it. Cool. Um, it's this great, great style, great design. That's a wonderful notebook. And so go tell him that you love it. So he'll make a bunch of them. Yeah.

Jeff: Not the bloody one. Not the bloody one. Just to be clear.

Brad Dowdy: Yeah. Just so we're clear.

Ana Reinert: So Vito, tell the Pen Act audience where they can find your products and find out more. Okay.

Jeff: So we are at storiesupplyco.com. Um, and we're also available at JetPens and a couple other smaller retailers. But probably JetPens is the easiest person other than ourselves to buy it from. I mean, they have most of the lineup. They started carrying the Myke Hawthorne sketchbooks. They've recently got the, uh, the leather covers. Um, so, yeah. That's some places. And I can be reached at. That's what you wanted me to say next, right? Mm-hmm. I listened to the show. I should know how this goes. Yeah. Um, so, uh, we are the storiesupplyco on Instagram and storiesupply on Twitter because there's somebody holding onto that name and not doing anything with it as that goes. Um, and also I'm available at, uh, Vito Groupie on, uh, Twitter and Instagram.

Ana Reinert: Big round of applause, Vito. Thank you so much for coming.

Jeff: Thanks, guys.

Ana Reinert: Thank you. One, two, three, two, three, two, three, two, three, two, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One, One

Ana Reinert: the wall in whatever you buy from them. But if for any reason you don't like your first pair, just keep them and they'll refund you. No questions asked. By pairing premium fabrics with meticulous attention to detail and a simple shopping experience, Mack Walden delivers a new level of daily comfort straight to your door. Mack Walden make undershirts that stay tucked, socks that stay up, and waistbands that do not roll. I'm wearing Mack Walden stuff today. I showed Brad this morning as we were getting ready. So I wanted to... So that's a thing. I showed Brad because I wanted him to be able to prove because I don't want to show you. This explains why you

Myke Hurley: guys wouldn't come down for breakfast. Yeah, we take a while. We were Mack Welding up in the room,

Ana Reinert: so we were late. Because I was like, you know, it's a big day today. I want to feel nice and

Brad Dowdy: comfortable. Yeah. So just for the record, everything was still in his hands. He's like,

Ana Reinert: I'm putting it all on now. We have a whole routine, you know, we roll over in the morning. He's like,

Brad Dowdy: good morning, buddy. But I will say the pants you rave about, I did pick up Myke from the airport and out bouncing from the international turban. He's talking about the sweatpants now, not underpants.

Ana Reinert: I was wearing more than my underpants when I came off the plane. But yeah, I was wearing those sweatpants. Nine and a half hour flight. Like, that is all I need and I am super comfortable. So anyway, Mack Walden's underwear, socks and shirts look good and perform well. Listeners of this show can get 20% off at MackWalden.com. That's M-A-C-K-W-E-L-D-O-N.com. Just use the code pen addict and you will get that 20% off at checkout. Thank you so much to Mack Walden for their support of this show and Relay FM. So please welcome to the stage, Mr. Jonathan Brooks from the Carolina Pen Company. You're a real star around these parts. It sounds like it. Yeah,

Brad Dowdy: this is big time, guys. Seriously. This is serious business right now. So I think the first time that

Ana Reinert: at least I came into contact with you was last year, right? In Atlanta. Right. Yes. When I bought the Sky at Night, right? That's the product name. Yes, the famous Sky at Night.

Ana Reinert: I don't know if you're aware, Brad, but that's the product name now. Yeah. I'm aware. I'm aware. So many people know that you make your own pens, right? This is what you do. And I wanted to kind of find out how and why. Like, how did you start making your own pens? Why did you start making

Pen Making

Speaker 01: your own pens? How did this become a thing? Oh, well, without going too far back, I pretty much started when I was a young kid growing up with my grandfather. He used to be a woodworker and such. I was too young to do anything as far as working with the tools. But, you know, just working with your hands, working with wood, he would turn on a lathe. He would make, you know, spindles for chairs and tables and such. And he passed it when I was very young. So I never got to learn much from him. But, you know, 20 years later, I get a bug to, you know, try my hand at it. And I wanted to, you know, during my researching and things like that, pens was never an option. It was, well, I want to look into a bowl turning, you know, as an option. And I found a local store that was teaching classes, called him up. They said, well, that's not for another three months. But this weekend, we have a pen making class doing the component style pens. So my wife and I said, you know, okay, we'll try it out. And kind of got the bug from it, bought the lathe, bought just about everything needed, right?

Ana Reinert: Was that like off the one session?

Speaker 01: Oh, five minutes after walking out of it. Really? Yes. Oh, yeah. Right there. Right there. And because it's addicting. It really is. I mean, just working with your hands and making something, regardless of what it is, you know, it's rewarding. And, you know, I've never made a bowl. So I never got that far. And so I started in the component pens and quickly got bored. There's not a whole lot of variety, especially with, you know, the components themselves, materials, the wood, wood's always fun to work with. But the commercial acrylics, not so much. Everybody has it, everybody can use it. So I started getting into making my own materials. And when I made my own materials, I said, well, I want to start making pens from scratch. You know, so I do fully custom made, cut all the threads, do everything myself. And it just kind of snowballed from there about nine years ago now.

Myke Hurley: So when you say you make your own materials, you are you talking about like making your own resins?

Speaker 01: Exactly. Yes. I started again with the components and I'm self-taught with everything I do. Yes, I did take the pen making class. That was one, I think it was about an hour long session. And after that, it was... That's all it takes, folks. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. That's all there is to it. One hour with a bunch of material spinning 2000 RPM in your face. That's all there is to it. Stick it with a sharp object and you've got a pen. That's all there is to it. And so, you know, after months and months and months of practice and learning how to, teaching myself how to make the resin materials, I would post some of that work online and just get some feedback from other pen makers. And it was, hey, do you have any more of that material? Where can I get it? And it quickly snowballed into a full-time job. And I did that for many years, just making the material. And it was just for pen makers, doing the components and stuff like that. And when I started getting into the custom work, I really started to focus on designing resin specifically for that application. So the resin, it's machinable, you can thread it, everything like that. And, you know, over time, I just developed my own techniques and my own style. And again, that again, snowballed into Carolina Pen Company and

Brad Dowdy: everything I do now. Can you give us, as someone who is very familiar with your work and sees like the amazing materials you create, it still doesn't work in my brain. I'm a very simple man.

Brad Dowdy: How these materials start from liquids or powders or whatever. Well, do they even? Whatever. Yeah. Or magic in your case a lot. Do you bring them down from Mordor? Yeah. Yes. Like, yes. Can I get like a technical 101 without, you know, you don't have to go into all the secrets. Yeah, don't get all your secrets. But I don't know how you go from, I need materials and here's a primary manipulation.

Speaker 01: Yeah. The simplest way to put it is the resin, it's a polyurethane blend. You mix it one, it's a part A and a part B. You mix it one to one ratio by weight and only by weight. And once you mix the A and B together, the clock starts, you have about seven minutes before it turns solid. So once you mix your, and it's clear, it's a clear base to start with. And there are so many different types of pigments you can do. My favorite one to let everybody know about that I'm almost ashamed to admit is I use women's makeup.

Ana Reinert: Oh, yes.

Speaker 01: Oh, perfectly. Yes, yes. I have a giant collection of women's makeup. I buy it by the pound. Yes. If you need some eyeshadow, I can hook you up.

Ana Reinert: I would have never, you could have had me sit here all day and guess I would like food coloring.

Speaker 01: Like, I never would have guessed. Women's makeup. It's a, it's a mica powder and there are different vendors. You can buy it in all different.

Ana Reinert: Every color under the rainbow.

Speaker 01: All the different colors. Also, also different micron size. So you can have it very fine, which will give you more of a mother of pearl look, or you can have it in large flakes, which will give it more of a, like a custom car paint job flair.

Myke Hurley: But you're, but you're probably buying it like from like a commercial vendor. You're not like going to the five and dime. No, I'm not going to Mac or anything like that.

Speaker 01: Yet. No, not yet.

Ana Reinert: He's like, I just run out. I'm going to go.

Myke Hurley: I'm envisioning you like scraping it out of those little, those little dishes. You're not doing that. You're like getting in by the pound.

Speaker 01: It's all loose powder. It's all loose powder. And so that's where, that's where a lot of the shimmer, a lot of the shine comes in, but there's also dyes. There's, Myke, you're messing me up.

Ana Reinert: It's just the shimmer and shine. And I imagine like a commercial comes on the TV and it's like,

Speaker 01: Ooh, I'm going to get, there are days I come in looking like I've been at a strip club.

Speaker 01: I am covered in, I'm covered in glitter.

Myke Hurley: You and our, our jobs are not all that different. I come, I come home covered in glitter too.

Resin Pigments

Speaker 01: And so, I mean, there's transparent dyes. There are, uh, what I call paste pigments, which are opaque, uh, which sometimes are used in fiberglass gel coat. It's pretty much anything that's not water-based. If it's water-based, it's not going to be compatible with the resin. Um, so to answer your question, finally, uh, the easiest way to describe it is once I mix the, the clear resin together, I will separate that into separate containers, pigment them however I need. And before the clock runs out and it turns solid, I have to pour it into my mold in whatever layers I want, swirl however I need to and get it. And the kicker is it has to be cast under pressure because if I don't, there's air bubbles all throughout. So it has to go then go into a giant pressure container, which is about 10 gallons in size and use air compressor to shrink the bubbles. How did you learn that part? I taught myself. I don't, but... No, they didn't.

Speaker 01: Whatever.

Speaker 01: But like the stuff about doing it under pressure and stuff like that. Right. Did that come from anyone? Uh, the recommendation from the resin manufacturer because it's, it's used for a lot of prototyping stuff for, you know, movie props and stuff like that. So it, it, it has a lot of uses.

Ana Reinert: Yeah. So the science, like you would find that out, but I mean, obviously I get the idea, like the, the materials that you use and the way that you swirl them and mix them, that's your,

Speaker 01: yeah, that's all, yeah, that's all self-taught. That's all no outside influence on really on how to do that part.

Brad Dowdy: And I think that's what sets you apart and why you've become such a big thing in this community that we're in. You don't know the limitations. Right. No, there aren't. Yeah. Yeah. And we see things that we haven't seen before. And like, you know, I'm not, you know, long in this industry myself, but you know, you look through history and you see, you know, all these pins that people have made and recently, you know, a lot of different, you know, manufacturers doing things with acrylic and then you see Jonathan's work and you go, that's Jonathan Brooks. You can tell, like, you know, when you see a Jonathan Brooks pin and there happens to be one on this table, more than one, but there's some, uh, some stealth things that you do that you're actually, you know, I've been, uh, kind of picking your brain for a while on and we can actually talk about them now. And I think we want to, uh, be able to spill a few beans on this show if that's okay with you.

Speaker 01: That's absolutely right. Uh, would you like the honors or? No, I would like you to do it. This is, this is your show, man. Spill your beans. Yes. I'm going to bare my soul here. Um, so for many years I worked with many different, uh, pin makers, pin manufacturers, and the one I am the most proud of to date is the, kind of lay a pin company. Uh, Hugh and Carol came to me years ago with their vision, their dream and asked what I could do to help. Uh, he, she was, he was familiar with my work and, uh, we, we talked endlessly and he would provide some of the, uh, inspirational photos that you now see on their, on their table and asked me to make that into something that can be tangible, that can be taken home, made into a pin. So for what I do with them on a, you know, I bring the vision to life is the best way to describe it. And it's, you know, it's, it's really cool because it's something that I've never done before. And part of the agreement is, you know, I'm only going to do it for them. It's something that they approached. It was their idea, their, uh, their vision that, uh, they asked me to help them create. And it's been an awesome partnership there. Hugh and Carol are awesome. Uh, we chat at least a couple of times a week, you know, and, uh, best part is, is this is just the tip of the iceberg with what you guys have seen. And it's, it's, there's a lot more to come and I'm excited for it. And well, if it's anything

Brad Dowdy: like what you've done so far, we are all in for a treat. Yeah. Oh, you are definitely most definitely. Yes. Um, so what's, what's the latest, um, Brooks materials and design? What, what's kind of, so, I mean, you're essentially a mad scientist, right? Yeah. You're not, you're not a pen maker. You're a mad scientist. Oh yeah. I love to experiment. So you get in there, like you'll send me pictures or you'll tell me I'm doing this. I'm like, my head explodes a little bit. So what's, what's the latest on the mad scientist rack, um, Brooks farm? The, uh, the most recent,

Speaker 01: but the resins is the, uh, the new primary manipulation. Uh, we call it a 3.0, uh, only

Ana Reinert: because I'm can't think of a better name. I mean, you, you already kind of knocked out of the park with primary manipulation, right? Like you can't really change that name. It's a cool name

Speaker 01: and it's, uh, you know, it's very much like the original except it's, you know, it's a little bit more, uh, that was the best word, vibrant, you know, instead of using mostly solid colors, it's very trans translucent, transparent, but at the same time, I wanted it to be a little bit more pop and, you know, kind of, you know, if I, if I can get it any more, uh, you know, vibrant, I know I've said it twice now, but that's the best word I can think. Yeah. That's, and it's, uh, so instead of using, you know, solid and opaque colors, I threw in, uh, what everyone's been calling a unicorn horn. It's, uh, it's this, it's, it's a makeup counter. Yes, yes, exactly. It's a, uh, it's a mother of pearl, uh, die, super expensive, very hard to find. I, it took me forever to find it, but once I found it, I was like, I gotta try it. Yeah. I was going to say, you know, I've got to try this and it just, it's killer. Uh, it's, there's not a single one left, uh, on my table. And anytime I post one, it's gone and within a couple of minutes and, uh, that's just the tip. It's, you know, it's the first one I've tried. I've got more ideas. I've got endless ideas. So there's a whole lot more to come on that front. But we can, we can't wait to see it. I know. Oh yeah.

Brad Dowdy: And Myke can't wait to name another pen. Weirdly and incorrectly. If you want, I could just come

Ana Reinert: by the table tomorrow and I can just, you want. Absolutely. Great. Cool. So I'll post some follow up about that. Uh, Jonathan, where can people find your work and keep up to date with what you're

Speaker 01: up to? Uh, the best way to keep up to date with everything I've been doing is on my Instagram account. It's a Brooks underscore eight zero, excuse me, eight zero three. And you can also, uh, check out my website. It's carolinapencompany.com. And, uh, that's pretty much all I, uh, all I put out because it's so hard to keep up with everything else these days. Yeah. Thank you so much for

Ana Reinert: joining us. A big round of applause for Mr. Brooks. All right. So I think that, uh, that brings us to the end of this week's episode. This was a really good idea actually having people, having guests on the show. Hashtag Brad was right. Again. So I just want to, I just, uh, I, you know, it, my issue wasn't having these fine people on the show. I was just worried if, if the technical things would work out. It was wonderful. Um, yeah, we have the amazing Hackett brothers doing that as they always do. Yes. So I think that brings us to the end of this week's episode. Um, if you want to find our show notes for this week, head on over to relay.fm slash pen addict slash two five three Brad, where can people find you on the

Brad Dowdy: internet? Uh, I am on Twitter at dowdyism, D O W D Y I S M and on Instagram at pen addict.

Myke Hurley: And Anna, I am at well appointed desk.com and add, uh, well, a P P T desk on Instagram

Ana Reinert: and Twitter. This was, that's why I asked him. Yeah. I didn't have to say yours cause I can't never do it either. Cause I'm not trying, you know, not to look at my screen too much. Cause this is what happens when I do, when you're on the show, I bring it all up in front of

Myke Hurley: me and I just read it out. I can't do that. Well appointed desk.com and the links to everything else or there. Yes. Perfect. It solves a lot of problems. Uh, thanks again to retro 51

Ana Reinert: and Matt Quoden for support in this week's episode. Uh, if you want to find me online, I'm at I Myke, I am Y K E. Most of all, uh, thanks to everyone who helped get us here, make this possible, bring us all together. Uh, thanks to our guests, Vito and Jonathan. Thank you to our lovely studio audience. Thank you for listening. We'll be back next week. Until then say goodbye guys. Goodbye guys.

Ana Reinert: Goodbye live stream.

Ana Reinert: All right. Let's open that door cause I'm gonna die. All right. We got goodies.