LA-based artist Christopher DeLoach and I talked about his path from class clown to intrepid traveler—walking the Appalachian Trail—to becoming an artist and creating the iconic bumper stickers you know and love. He shares a series of surreal encounters while hitchhiking, including rides with enigmatic characters that challenged his worldview. Our conversation spans time—from his childhood in NYC to adventures in his early 20s and how both continue to shape him today. We talked about identity, American culture, his painting process, collecting ideas, funding and sustaining a career in LA, becoming known for something, doubt, belief, and even death. It’s a humorous and earnest conversation that I really loved—let us know if you listen!

Show notes:

- Find Christopher on the Web | Instagram -The bumper sticker story we talk about

- My Substack | IG: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout

- Zine shop is here! - My Creative Clinic

If you liked this episode, try out from the archive:

Episode 393: Kismet Color with Artist Kimmy Quillin: Painting, Living in NYC as an Artist, and Highs and Lows of Creating

This is the second half of my conversation with my friend Blu Most, an artist who has worked in food styling, creative direction, and event design. We get into ADHD habits, community for freelancers, her best advice on relationships and anxiety, and how aging changes our perspective on it all. If you missed part 1 last week, we talked about embracing creative cycles, the tension between financial security and artistic fulfillment, and how personal branding intersects with authenticity.

Show notes:

- My Substack | IG: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout

- Find Blu on the Web | Instagram

- Ozma of California code: Katie15 for 15% off

- My Creative Clinic: book a call with me here

- Zine shop is here! or become a paid Substack member and I'll mail you a copy of Pivot!

- COMING 2025- FRESH NEW (!!) In Process: Experimental Creative Group semester coming up: sign up for the waitlist

If you liked this episode, try out from the archive:

Episode 353: Riding Waves: Surfing, Design, and Change with Heidi Baker, Founder of Ozma of California

In this first part of my conversation with the brilliant and wildly creative Blu Most, we dive into the life of a self-proclaimed “ideas person” and explore what it means to be a jack-of-all-trades. Blu shares her experience through art, food styling, creative direction, and event design—embracing creative cycles and navigating the tension between financial security and artistic fulfillment. We also get into stepping away from Instagram, marketing to niche communities, and how personal branding intersects with authenticity. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we get into ADHD habits, community for freelancers, shifting towards intimate gatherings, her best advice on relationships and anxiety, and how aging changes our perspective on it all.

Show notes:

- My Substack | IG: @letitouttt + @katiedalebout

- The reel we were talking about

- Find Blu on the Web | Instagram

- Ozma of California code: Katie15 for 15% off

- My Creative Clinic: book a call with me here

- Zine shop is here! or become a paid Substack member and I'll mail you a copy of Pivot!

- COMING 2025- FRESH NEW (!!) In Process: Experimental Creative Group semester coming up: sign up for the waitlist

If you liked this episode, try out from the archive:

Episode 353: Riding Waves: Surfing, Design, and Change with Heidi Baker, Founder of Ozma of California