Episodios

  • All The Tips - Season 17

    All The Tips - Season 17
    Nov 25 2025

    In this final episode of The Sketchnote Army Podcast season 17, we’ve compiled the tips from nine great visual thinkers into a single All The Tips episode. We hope these tips inspire and encourage you on your visual thinking journey. Happy Holidays!

    Hear tips from: Dan Roam, Katya Balakina, Nishant Jain, Cara Holland, Ted Schachtman, Lindsay Wilson, and Andrew Park.

    Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video

    Have you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got?

    In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!

    This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice.

    All this for just $20.
    https://rohdesign.com/travel

    Buy me a coffee!

    If you enjoy this episode of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, you can buy me a coffee at https://sketchnotearmy.com/buymeacoffee

    Running Order
    • Intro
    • Dan Roam
    • Katya Balakina
    • Nishant Jain
    • Cara Holland
    • Ted Schachtman
    • Lindsay Wilson
    • Andrew Park
    • Outro
    Links
    • Dan's website
    • Katya’s LinkedIn
    • Nishant's Sneaky Art newsletter
    • Cara's Substack
    • Ted’s LinkedIn
    • Lindsay’s Ink Factory Studio Website
    • Andrew’s Hairy Hand Productions
    Credits
    • Producer: Alec Pulianas
    • Shownotes and transcripts: Esther Odoro
    • Theme music: Jon Schiedermayer
    Subscribe to the Sketchnote Army Podcast

    You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

    Support the Podcast

    To support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!
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    54 m
  • Andrew Park transforms complex ideas into compelling visuals - S17/E03

    Andrew Park transforms complex ideas into compelling visuals - S17/E03
    Nov 18 2025
    In this episode, Andrew Park shares how he crafts connected narratives across space and time using a range of tools. As the creator of the RSA Animate whiteboard animation series, Andrew shares how he’s used visuals to enhance learning in business and education.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got? In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice. All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Andrew Park?Origin StoryAndrew's current workSponsor: ConceptsTipsToolsWhere to find AndrewOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Hairy Hand ProductionsThe Visual Flaneur PodcastAndrew on InstagramAndrew on YouTubeToolsAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast. Whiteboard paint Red and black Office marker pens Staples Whiteboard Moleskine sketchbook Leuchtturm sketchbook Photoshop Wacom Cintiq tabletsTipsUse thinking visual German to go through ideas or solve problems.In a visual way, don't procrastinate, just draw, create.Don't be too precious with stuff. Find what works for you.CreditsProducer: Alec Pulianas Shownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everyone, it's Mike and I'm here with Andrew Park. Andrew, welcome to the show. Thanks for coming.Andrew Park: Thanks for having me on. It's a real pleasure.MR: We were chatting probably longer than I should have chatted with Andrew before the recording 'cause I'm a huge fan. So I'm excited to have you on. I think there's lots of fans who probably are in this podcast or watching the video that—and we were talking about that a little bit. The idea of when you do something that's notable, often you're blind to the impact on other people. I know that I am. I occasionally get these emails in, like, "Your book changed my life." Like, oh, really? It was just a book to me. So welcome to the show. And I guess we'll just start off, tell us a little bit about what you do for your day job. I guess I know you as the RSA animate illustrator or animator.AP: Yep.MR: Or both, I guess. Obviously, you do more than that, so I'd love to hear what you do.AP: Yeah, it's misnomer. Actually. I'm not a very good animator. I know the principles of animation, but I have a really talented team that actually bring my drawings to life. If I was gonna say anything, I probably would class myself as a cartoonist. Cartoonist illustrator. But then I'm a visual thinker as well. I know how to sort of join up concepts and, you know, build maps of things. A joined-up thinking cartoon is possibly, it's a bit of a mouthful, but that's kind. So in my day jobs, obviously, the RSA films were quite successful and it enabled me to build a company around the methodology. So in about 2008, we developed the methodology, the process. It weirdly hadn't existed before. There were a couple of little smatterings of it out in the world. I think they did, I think a UPS commercial used a whiteboard and had a guy drawing on it as a commercial, I think, early on.MR: Yeah, I remember that.AP: But the genesis of it was graphic recording or scribing. That's where I learned how to put my pictures together. And then literally had a camera over my shoulder. I think that hadn't been done before, surprisingly. And I think one of the innovations of that, and it wasn't me that came up with it, was actually RSA themselves. They sent me a video of someone taking notes in a journal for the New York Library, and they'd sped the hand up. It was really interesting actually. I thought that's the missing component, because I was trying to literally draw these things live, fast which wasn't really working. I had the missing thing in my brain that why can't I draw a hundred miles an hour? And I literally couldn't work out, oh, you can speed it up. It's video. You know?MR: Yeah.AP: So once I saw that, it all sort of fell into place. There's an author called Steven Johnson. Do you know him? Where Good Ideas Come From?MR: I need to find that book now.AP: It's really good. And he talks about ideas don't come as eureka moments. They often come as slow...
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    1 h y 9 m
  • Lindsay Wilson brings spoken words to life through visuals - S17/E06

    Lindsay Wilson brings spoken words to life through visuals - S17/E06
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode, Lindsay Wilson reflects on her evolution as an artist… from sketching playful portraits at 7 to the defining moments when constructive feedback reshaped her career path. She discusses her role at Ink Factory, hints at upcoming projects, and offers thoughtful perspectives on the intersection of AI and visual art.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got? In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice. All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Lindsay WilsonOrigin StoryLindsay's current workSponsor: ConceptsTipsToolsWhere to find LindsayOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Ink Factory Studio WebsiteInk Factory Studio on IntagramInk Factory Studio on LinkedInLindsay on LinkedInInk Factory Studio on TikTokInk Factory Studio on Facebook Ink Factory Studio Chicago OfficeToolsAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast. Spiral bound sketchbook Sketching pencil Correction tapeTipsFind a community that's right for you, whatever your practice, and lean into it. Find feedback that could help you or give a direction on something that you could improve or work on, or even practice.Look for avenues to practice, or within the community.Warming up and giving yourself time to get prepared in that space whether you are sitting, standing, on a long day, or on a short day.CreditsProducer: Alec Pulianas Shownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everybody, it's Mike, and I'm here with Lindsay Wilson. Lindsay, welcome to the show.Lindsay Wilson: Hello. I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.MR: It's great to have you. I've been wanting to—the problem with having a show like this is the longer that I do the show, the more people I want to get on the show, and it's like impossible to get everybody all at once, so you just have to wait your turn, I guess. But [crosstalk 00:20].LW: Understood. Amazing, amazing. Happy to be here. And as we talked about in the preamble, have been following all the great work that you have been doing across the globe. I know you're going to the UK soon.MR: Yeah. LW: And, you know, just excited to be here and get to share a little part of my story.MR: That's great. Well, let's go ahead and get that started. Tell us a little bit about who you are, what you do, and then jump right into your origin story. Everybody's used to it now. The listeners know the origin story's coming. LW: Okay. Jump right in. Excellent. Well, I am Lindsey Wilson. I am one of the co-founders of Ink Factory. Some of you may know me as my—before I got married, Lindsay Rofe, but I go by Lindsay Wilson in a professional capacity. And as I said, one of the co-founders of Ink Factory, a visual note-taking firm located here in Chicago. Just about an hour—what would we be south, southwest, or Southeast of you in Milwaukee? MR: Yeah. Yeah.LW: But my origin story, woo hoo. I have listened to some of your podcasts, and I was like, how far back do we go here? And I'll just start at the beginning.MR: Yeah. Cool.LW: I was lucky enough to have parents in the military, and I was born in Germany, Heidelberg, Germany. And I share that with someone else that you've interviewed, Brandy Agerbeck. We were both born in Heidelberg, but soon transitioned to grow up in Texas, believe it or not, even though I consider myself to be a mid-Westerner, through and through, I have lived in Chicago longer than I have in Texas. But I grew up in Fort Worth, Dallas-Fort Worth area. And you know humble beginnings, I would say. And I know lots of people talked about if they were creative at a young age, and I have to jump in and say, yes, I love to draw. I feel that I came from some talented people. My father, although never practiced art, is very, very talented, as was my grandfather. So I get it through those genetics. But I was also encouraged to, and I know that maybe other people's experiences growing up didn't have maybe that much encouragement, but I was good at it. I was encouraged to do it, and it felt like I just followed ...
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    53 m
  • Ted Shachtman’s Mental Atlas Method uses imagination as a pathway to improve memory retention - S17/E05

    Ted Shachtman’s Mental Atlas Method uses imagination as a pathway to improve memory retention - S17/E05
    Nov 4 2025
    In this episode, Ted Shachtman talks about his discovery of the Mental Atlas Method, an imaginative new approach designed to strengthen memory retention. He explains how the method works, why it’s different from traditional techniques, and even guides Mike Rohde through a live trial so listeners can experience the process in real time.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got? In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice. All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Ted Shachtman?Origin StoryTed's current workSponsor: ConceptsWhere to find Ted ShachtmanOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Ted on LinkedIn(https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-shachtman-70930b239/)The Mental Atlas Method(https://www.mentalatlasmethod.com/)CreditsProducer: Alec Pulianas Shownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everybody, it's Mike Rohde again. Got my friend Ted Shachtman here. Ted, how are you doing?Ted Shachtman: I'm good. How are you?MR: I'm good, man. It's good to have you. So, Ted is a very unique guest for the Sketchnote Army podcast in that he is someone who has discovered and has been developing this concept called the Atlas Method. Is that the right way to describe it? TS: It's the Mental Atlas Method, but yeah, typically we just call it the Atlas usually.MR: Yeah, yeah. After a while, you just sort of, the thing. You know, the thing we do. And so, I'm gonna have Ted talk about what he does in his origin story so he can say what it is. But I've experimented with this technique. And it's a way of improving or retaining memory, or I guess both those things. And I found it really fascinating. And I thought for visual thinkers to have expanded memory is always a good thing because in the work we do, where we're trying to take information, complex information, process it, make sense of it, and then put it on a board or on a screen or on a page, is really hard. And anything we can do to expand our capacity, our cache, our whatever it is that we're using to process this is a benefit for us. And then additionally, the way that we're going to do a little demo, it actually gives the capacity for you to not have to draw anything, if you wish to. I think that would be a fair way to frame it, think? TS: Yeah.MR: Okay, so with that, Ted, tell us who you are and what you do.TS: Sure. So as said, Schachtman. I am an educator and software engineer, and cognitive scientist. I went to Vanderbilt University for elementary education and cognitive studies. I've been a teacher for the past three years, and I'm also getting a master's in computer science. So the story with the Atlas was, in around November, and I asked myself this question, which was, how do I become the most general smart person? Like, almost like by the time I'm 50, how can I become just the best leader, CEO, researcher? And I kind of just embarked on this question and led me to a bunch of research, just kind of explored different paths, started visualizing things, talking while I was visualizing. And then the end result after about like eight months of constant work and research is the Atlas Method.MR: So that leads me to the next question, of course, is tell us a little bit about the Atlas Method and how you developed it, in with the framing of an origin story like a superhero.TS: Yeah, yeah. Okay. So, I personally have a really, really bad part of my brain that takes what I'm currently thinking and writes it to long-term memory. You know those games where everyone goes around in a circle and is like, okay, name your name and something you eat, like your favorite food. I'm terrible at that. I'm really bad at watching lectures. I have to watch a video six times. And I wanted to get rid of that because I've always been pretty creative. And I was always looking for some technique or something that would allow me to, I guess, learn faster. And so, the actual origin story is I started talking out loud and visualizing at the same time back in October or November. And I would be analyzing some ...
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    46 m
  • Cara Holland turns stories into pictures to help people work visually - S17/E04

    Cara Holland turns stories into pictures to help people work visually - S17/E04
    Oct 28 2025
    In this episode, Cara Holland shares her move from social work to graphic recording and the development of graphic recording training in response to a need she identified at the beginning of her journey.She discusses how her art has evolved through various stages, provides insights into AI, explains why the unique process of graphic facilitation has yet to be fully captured by technology, and reflects on the story behind her book.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got?In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice.All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Cara HollandOrigin StoryCara's current workSponsor: ConceptsTipsToolsWhere to find CaraOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Cara's SubstackVisual Edits NewsletterThe Journey Of Tiny ThingsGraphic Recorder ClubGraphic Change AcademyCara on LinkedInCara on IntagramDraw A Better Business BookToolsAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Neuland graphic boardNeuland roll of white paperNeuland markersLeuchtturm small notebookMicron PenCopic marker penFountain penWater colourProcreateAffirnityiPadTipsBe clear on what it is you're trying to achieve. Don't overproduce or overcomplicate what you're doing.Ignore the rules.Find a community, pull from each other and find ways to collaborate.CreditsProducer: Alec PulianasShownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everyone, it's Mike Rohde and I'm here with Cara Holland. Cara, how you doing?Cara Holland: I'm doing good, thanks. How are you?MR: I'm doing well. So Cara, talk to us about who you are and what you do.CH: I'm Cara Holland. I'm based in the UK, and I'm a graphic recorder and a trainer.MR: Okay, and talk to me a little bit. I think we all in this audience know what a graphic recorder does. Tell me about the training part. I'm curious about that.CH: Well, I guess there's quite a lot to it.MR: That's what I thought.CH: It's probably, in one way or another, about 50 percent of my time. We have an online academy called the Graphic Change Academy, and we train people to do what I do.MR: Okay, got it. Yeah, because I mean, when you say trainer, that could go in a lot of different ways, right? You could be an athletic trainer.CH: Sure.MR: You could be all different, but obvious it makes sense that you would teach the skills you know well and help people enter the business right because graphic recording and graphic facilitation and those sketchnoting are tough to do. They demand a lot of you as a person.CH: They do. They do.MR: Primarily, you are listening. I would argue that listening is way more important than your drawing skills, personally.CH: I agree. Yeah, I agree.MR: And we're not trained to be good listeners. We're trained to flip our screens and listen for two seconds and move on. So it's gotta be kind of an intense thing, but I suspect a fun thing, right, when you see people learning and then applying those concepts.CH: Yeah, it's great. It is great. I think it comes from being in the business myself and in the early stages of my career, feeling that lack of training and feeling like I wanted somebody to give me some hints and some direction. And it sort of came out of that place really, a need that I had that I found hard to fill.MR: Interesting. Huh, and so do you tend to focus on a certain student kind of profile or you're open to anyone who comes to you? And maybe in that case, who are the kind of students that come to you? What are their backgrounds?CH: It's really varied. And so, we've trained people in 92 countries so far.MR: Wow.CH: So it's really widespread. And we have a suite of courses. I guess people come for different reasons and there are different courses to suit. The two big courses are be a graphic recorder and be a graphic facilitator and they're two distinct courses. So people come with different desires for both courses.MR: Got it. I would think that if someone who is a facilitator now but doesn't do the graphic part might be more interested in the graphic facilitation side of things...
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    57 m
  • Nishant Jain captures everyday life with his sneaky art - S17/E03

    Nishant Jain captures everyday life with his sneaky art - S17/E03
    Oct 21 2025
    In this episode, Nishant Jain shares his transition from being a neuroscience PhD student to the Sneaky Artist who translates the essence of everyday life through quick, expressive drawings of people in public spaces. He reveals how stories, laughter, and reflections became his loudest form of storytelling.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got?In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice.All this for just $20. Buy the videoRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Nishant Jain?Origin StoryNishant's current workSponsor: ConceptsTipsToolsWhere to find NishantOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army PodcastNishant's Sneaky Art newsletterNishant’s WebsiteNishant on IntagramMake (Sneaky) Art BookFind Nishant on his book tourJohn Muir Laws Sketchnote Army Podcast EpisodeToolsAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Lamy Safari fountain penStillman & Birn brown sepia toned sketchbookMoleskin sketchbookiPadApple PencilTipsCarry a small sketchbook.Give yourself permission to be curious.Get started as quickly as possible.CreditsProducer: Alec PulianasShownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everyone, it's Mike, and I'm here with my friend, Nishant Jain. Nishant, it's so good to have you on the show.Nishant Jain: Hi Mike, thank you for having me. It's such a pleasure to talk to you.MR: Yeah, we've been talking for not quite a year, probably six months, but we've been aware of each other longer. I've been a subscriber to your Sneaky Artist Substack for a while.NJ: Mm-hmm.MR: And I think our meeting story was we were at—what's the name of the event that John Muir Laws puts on? The Wild Wonder event.NJ: Yeah, Wild Wander Conference.MR: And I think, was I doing something, or you were doing something, and I said, "Oh, look, it's Nishant Jain" And you're like, "What?" And you knew who I was. It was a funny moment, I think.NJ: Yeah. I think it was your talk, and I was curious about sketchnoting, and so I jumped into it.MR: Okay, got it. Got it. And for those who are not aware Wild Wonder is an amazing organization. You can go back—I'll put a link into the John Muir Laws interview from years ago. He's a super fascinating guy. If you listen to that podcast, you'll want to grab a sketchbook and a pen and go outside and sketch birds or something. Seriously, he's very, very exciting and inspiring person, and they run a workshop every year, I think around September. And they just have amazing people, and you can learn so much, and it's worth going to.After that sponsorship by Wild Wonder Foundation which I'm happy with sponsoring because they're great. So that's how we met. And then we just started connecting and chatting, and you were a great advisor to me in my Sketchnote Lab startup. You gave me a lot of mindset around the way you handle your Substack, which helped me a lot. That really accelerated the way that worked, and I think the way I think about it, which has been encouraging. So, thank you for that.NJ: Mm-hmm. I'm glad to hear that.MR: I think you do a lot of things, so before I assume what you do, coz I don't know, even if I know, tell us who you are and what you do.NJ: Sure, sure. Okay, so I'm Nishant and I gave myself this job title a few years ago of Sneaky Artist. It turns out you're allowed to make up job titles completely from scratch.MR: Oh, yeah.NJ: I was delighted to discover this, but I'm not just an artist, although art has become my primary medium of expression. I'm a writer, I'm also a podcaster, and as one has to be in this independent career climate, you cannot just be one thing. Everybody is multi-hyphenate. So as an artist, what I do, it's a practice that I did not think would make me an artist. I did not start this practice in order to become an artist. I just did it as a distraction technique. I just did it as a way to maybe learn to draw a little better.I was trying to be a cartoonist and I was trying to be a writer. And before all of this, I was an engineer. So I completed a master's degree—I have a master's degree in mechanical engineering. ...
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    1 h
  • Katya Balakina transforms information into engaging visual storytelling - S17/E02

    Katya Balakina transforms information into engaging visual storytelling - S17/E02
    Oct 15 2025
    In this episode, Katya Balakina shares her incredible journey from drawing in her early years to becoming a journalist in Russia during a hard time for the country. She shares her discovery of graphic recording at art school and winning an art contest, which gave her the confidence to pursue art full-time. In this discussion, Katya offers valuable tips and insights from her career as a graphic recording artist.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got? In the Reflective Travel Sketchnote Workshop Video, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice. All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Katya Balakina?Origin StoryKatya's current workSponsor: ConceptsTipsToolsWhere to find KatyaOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Katya on LinkedInKatya On InstagramToolsAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast. Neuland Markers Procreate Adobe FrescoTipsStop overthinking. You are good enough.Simplify your work.If your drawing can be a photograph, you are not pushing.You are doing everything right.It's good to remember that you are not going to one day just create a perfect board.CreditsProducer: Alec Pulianas Shownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everybody, it's Mike Rohde, and I'm here with Katya Balakina. Katya, it's so good to have you on the show. Thanks for coming.Katya Balakina: Hi, Mike. Thanks so much for having me. That's very exciting.MR: Yeah, I've seen your work around mainly on—not Instagram, I think LinkedIn, actually. And really liked how clean and simple, and clear your work was. We were talking about this before we started recording. How did I find you? I'm not totally sure. I suspect it's the algorithm on LinkedIn that sees other graphic recorders and visual thinkers and puts them in our feed.KB: I guess.MR: I'm not totally sure, but I'm really happy I did because you seem like a really fascinating person with really nice work, and that's the kind of person that fits really well on the show. So, thank you for being here.KB: Thanks so much, Mike, and thanks for your kind words about my work. and I guess I didn't waste my time on LinkedIn if it helped you to find me.MR: Yeah, for sure. For sure. So, the way this podcast works is we first understand who you are and what you do, and then we go right into origin story, sort of bring us back from when you were a little girl and your experiences that brought you to where you are. I think in those origin stories, which I love we can learn a lot about you as a person and how you got where you are, but also, I think it can be beneficial for listeners to think, oh, I'm so different. I can't do that. And then you hear the origin stories and think, oh, wow, you know, Katya actually has a lot of similarities to me, and she's doing it, so maybe I can do this, right? So that's the thinking around origin story. Let's just jump right in. Tell us who you are, what you do, and then go right into your origin story.KB: Sure. As you mentioned, I'm on LinkedIn, so I do graphic recording, visual notes scribing. I dunno the right way to call it. They're just old terms we use.MR: Yeah, yeah.KB: I've been doing that for, I would say, about eight years. Maybe I can say 10, but exclusively more than eight. I've been working as a graphic recorder here in the States for last two years. And before that, I used to work with Scriberia. Your audience probably knows about that company.MR: In the UK, yeah.KB: In the UK. Yeah, they're very inspirational. Their work, I would say it's what defines word scribing and graphic reporting for many people. And a lot of people start learning about scribing from like Googling Scriberia stuff. And before that, I graduated art school back in Moscow. And that's where I learned for the first time about graphic recording from my art teacher there. So that's kind of my journey from just hearing about graphic recording and being full-time graphic recorder here in the States.MR: So, I'm kind of curious, going into your origin story, when you were a little girl, did you always draw since you were little...
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    1 h
  • Dan Roam, The Journey of a Visual Storyteller - SE17/EP01

    Dan Roam, The Journey of a Visual Storyteller - SE17/EP01
    Oct 8 2025
    In this episode, Dan shares how his childhood love for drawing led him to discover surprising parallels between visual thinking, biology, and organic chemistry.He reflects on his journey from the analog days of graphic design to the digital era, drawing comparisons to what is currently happening in the AI space. Dan also reveals the origin stories and ideas behind his bestselling books and how they came to life.Sponsored by The Reflective Travel Workshop VideoHave you ever wanted to create travel sketchnotes from an experience you’ve had, just using the photos and memories you’ve got?In the Reflective Travel Workshop Video Replay, I’ll guide you through my process for creating travel sketchnotes and then help you reflect on your own photos and memories so that you can make travel sketchnotes of your own trips, too!This 2-hour recorded video includes a set of downloadable, printable sketching templates and a process to kickstart your own travel sketchnoting practice.All this for just $20.https://rohdesign.com/travelRunning OrderIntroWelcomeWho is Dan RoamOrigin StoryDan's current workSponsor: ConceptsWhere to find Dan RoamOutroLinksAmazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.Dan's websiteDan on LinkedInDan on IntagramBack of the Napkin 2.0The Back Of The NapkinBlah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don't WorkShow & Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary PresentationsDraw to Win: A Crash Course on How to Lead, Sell, and Innovate With Your Visual MindPop-Up Pitch: The Two-Hour Creative Sprint to the Most Persuasive Presentation of Your LifeCreditsProducer: Alec PulianasShownotes and transcripts: Esther OdoroTheme music: Jon SchiedermayerSubscribe to the Sketchnote Army PodcastYou can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.Support the PodcastTo support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!Episode TranscriptMike Rohde: Hey everyone, it's Mike and I'm here with Dan Roam, the Dan Roam calling to us from his studio. You can see he's got whiteboards and he's got paintings. He's drinking tea, it looks like.Dan Roam: Absolutely.MR: So welcome to the show. Thanks for being here, Dan.DR: Mike, it is always, always a pleasure. You and I've been talking for a long time, and every time we get to, I enjoy it. So this is fabulous. Thanks for having me.MR: Same here. Same here. So our history is in 2016-ish, I recorded a podcast with you, and I lost it. Something happened with the audio, and that's bugging me for like forever. And so, having Dan Roam on the show is like a huge get for me. So I feel really excited to have you here. Even though you know, I've been on your sessions and stuff and we've done stuff together. Like, it's always bugged me that I lost this, and we had a really good discussion, which I can't prove. So now we're just got to do it again.DR: Oh, we'll just do it again and we'll take it into completely different way. And the other thing, Mike, just if I might, is just the fact the nature of our careers and our passion is so interwoven, if you will. Like we keep popping up.MR: Yes.DR: I just keep seeing you everywhere. It's like, hey, there's Mike, you know.MR: Same thing with you.DR: Yeah, exactly. So it's a pleasure.MR: So, the couple things I wanted to talk about were your books, of course. I'm kinda curious about your painting.DR: Hmm.MR: But we always sort of start the show off with origin story. So I think we all know what you do, but you can start with what you do and then go right into like how did you end up here? Like as a little kid, what drew you into this visual thinking stuff? I think we're both also user experience people. So maybe that had some impact. I'm really curious about that trend. Like how did you get here?DR: Wow. Well, that's a fantastic question, Mike. And what a great place to start. And the simple, simple answer is, I actually drew something out in anticipation of this.MR: Nice.DR: As a little kid, you know, there I am like everybody else, I'm looking at the world and it's awfully confusing.MR: Yeah.DR: People are telling you to do things and here's how to act and here's what to learn. And a lot of it was very confusing. And I've spent everything, this is the entire summary of what we're gonna talk about. How can I figure out a way to go from that to that so that things are clear. So, like every kid I drew a lot, but like many kids, I never stopped the drawing part. So I've learned to draw badly really, really well. And I'm sure that people who follow you probably have similar types of stories.MR: Yeah.DR: Like the visual thinking side, the visual storytelling side. Maybe can I have, you know, mom, dad, school teacher, maybe could I have a few less words and maybe a few more pictures. And so, that's really the origin story. Nothing ...
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