There is something almost embarrassing about the relief that comes from owning a thing entirely. Pete self-published his first novella,
Lattice, and what he keeps coming back to is not the early reader responses or the question of whether people will like it. It is the dashboard. The group digs into what gatekeepers actually do (less line editing than you think, more echo chamber than you would hope), what self-publishing opens up and what it absolutely cannot guarantee, and why Ryan Dalton's first question to any aspiring author is not about craft but about goal.
Mandy is in Greece, surrounded by ruins built for gods that still feel alive, and she wants to know what makes a hero, how thrasheth the gods, and whither our monsters. Everyone has opinions and nobody picks the same examples, and yet somehow the whole conversation keeps circling back to the same question: what are you actually worshipping? We are haunted by the forces that guide us this week. We thrive in the chaos.
Mandy does not like horror movies and would like to understand why everyone else does. The group obliges with a theory about indifference that is genuinely unsettling, a taxonomy of monsters that ends somewhere near Eldritch horror and the insect kingdom, and a merch opportunity. Meaning is for hats.
- (00:00) - Welcome to Craft and Chaos
- (02:02) - The Creative Brief
- (15:42) - What Makes Your Heroes
- (34:14) - "Sponsor" Gibberish
- (35:12) - Our Gods
- (50:41) - "Sponsor:" Hit Send
- (51:35) - Monsters
What is Craft and Chaos?
A Weird Show for Weirdos Who Make Things
How do you make art when the world feels like it’s on fire?
Welcome to Craft and Chaos, the podcast for creative minds trying to thrive in the madness. Whether you write, paint, build, perform, or daydream ideas that keep you up at night, this show is your companion through the wild ride of making something out of nothing.
Join Misty, Pete, Kyle, and Ryan — a ragtag team of creative types — as they dive into the joy, frustration, and beautiful mess of the artistic process. From the spark of inspiration to the reality of “I actually made this,” they’ll share honest stories, epic wins, total flops, and the weird, wonderful chaos that comes with being possessed by a new idea.
This isn’t just about craft. It’s about surviving the noise, embracing your weird, and making cool stuff anyway.
Wherever the strangest podcasts are found.