Big Brands, Small Towns & Bold Stories: How P2X Studio is Redefining Creative Work in NCW | Networked Podcast Ep. 1

Episode 1: Jess & Dan Pappas | P2X Studio

What happens when two award-winning creatives leave NYC and LA to build a storytelling studio in Wenatchee, Washington? You get P2X Studio — and a conversation packed with inspiration, creativity, and heart.

In this episode, we chat with Jess and Dan Pappas, co-founders of P2X, about: 

🎥 Working with global brands like JetBlue
 🏆 Winning Cannes Lions and Telly Awards
 🌄 Bringing big-city experience to small-town impact
 📸 Telling meaningful stories for businesses and nonprofits in NCW
 🐾 And yes… their dog Abner does make an appearance

If you're building something bold in a rural place — or just love a good origin story — this one's for you.

Chapters

• 1:55 Intro
• 1:56 The Creative Journey
• 11:05 Creating P2X Studio
• 19:25 Storytelling That Matters - Uncle Vic
• 26:33 Signature Questions & Reflection
• 35:41 Closing

Transcript

00:00:06:05 - 00:00:31:24
David Mabee
Are you ready? Here we come with a network podcast. Ever wonder what it takes to turn big city experience into a small town? Impact. Today's episode is all about taking global talent and making it local. And how to award winning creatives are helping businesses and NCW tell stories that actually connect. Hey there and welcome to Networked Real Talk to inspire, invest and empower right here in North Central Washington.

00:00:31:25 - 00:01:04:14
David Mabee
I'm your host, David may be the marketing director at NCW Tech Alliance. Each episode we're going to sit down with the builders, dreamers and doers who are shaping the future of our region, one bold idea at a time. Today, we're joined by a powerhouse creative duo, Jess and Dan. Pop is co-founders of P2 X in Wenatchee. After years of working with global brands and big agencies in New York City, LA and Portland, earning accolades like cans, Lions and Telly Awards along the way, Jess and Dan return to their roots and NCW to launch a studio dedicated to storytelling that actually means something.

00:01:04:17 - 00:01:25:23
David Mabee
AP two they help businesses, nonprofits and individuals tell their stories through stunning video design and photography. But beyond the visuals, they're helping people connect with their mission, their audience, and their why. We'll talk about their journey from major cities to mountain towns, what it's like to build a creative business in a smaller market, and the power of the stories that come from the heart.

00:01:25:26 - 00:01:50:10
David Mabee
Also, fair warning there's a good chance our dog Abner is the unofficial mascot may just steal the spotlight. But let's bring in Dan and Jess from Peta x. Hi, Dan and Jess. How you guys doing today? Great. Good. Oh. Oh, it's going great here. The crowd fired up. You guys fired up. We're fired up. Oh, where's the crowd?

00:01:50:13 - 00:02:11:18
David Mabee
Oh, there. They're all behind me. You can't see them there. It's a little lit in here, as you can tell. Hey, just so you guys know, you're the first podcast network podcast interviewees we've ever had, so congratulations. It's an honor. Hey, and I appreciate you guys. You guys do amazing work for us. And I really appreciate having you here.

00:02:11:21 - 00:02:26:13
David Mabee
So I just want to be all right. I want to get into kind of your creative journey here. I know you guys tell us a little bit about your time in New York City, Los Angeles and Portland area and what stood out about some of the projects, and lessons that you've learned in those bigger markets?

00:02:26:13 - 00:02:45:23
Dan Pappas
Yeah, just just a quick kind of background for me and my, creative journey, if you will. I went to school for graphic design on the West Coast here in Pasadena, California. At Artcenter College of Design. And then after graduating, kind of made my way.

00:02:45:26 - 00:03:12:05
Dan Pappas
Different, different agencies and studios and shops. And I took a job in Portland, Maine, of all places, where I ended up then moving Boston, then ended up in New York and just from moving around across the country and working at big places. It was kind of interesting to just see the process of how creativity turns into a product.

00:03:12:08 - 00:03:34:11
Dan Pappas
And just the kind of different layers and checkpoints and just the overall process that that takes. It was pretty eye opening. And that's been I've learned a lot of how to create things and to me, how to be more efficient in the creative process along the way. Yeah. And Dan, you've worked with some pretty big names like JetBlue.

00:03:34:14 - 00:03:52:26
David Mabee
I think you guys are working with MLS. So what are those in the. And you even brought home a cans Lions bronze, which I'm not sure what that is. If you could tell it maybe to listeners what that is. But what was that experience like? It was kind of, honestly that that was a, a funny one because it was just kind of business as usual.

00:03:52:26 - 00:04:16:28
Dan Pappas
I was working on, a project for JetBlue Z kind of mini campaign, and we filmed a couple spots for it, and that got submitted to Cannes. And yeah, we got, I guess, the bronze and film craft. So it was kind of just news to me at the end of the day. But a byproduct of just just doing it.

00:04:17:00 - 00:04:30:25
David Mabee
Yeah. It's awesome. When you win an award for something you didn't even know, right? Like, I won an award at Mission Ridge for, like, best use the video for this national ski area. And I was like, oh, my boss submitted it, and he did all the work, and and we won. And he was like the, you know, the executive producer.

00:04:30:25 - 00:04:56:01
David Mabee
So for him, like, we won it together, it was like, oh, we won. Sweet. At that agency level, there's there's people that that's kind of their job is to be in charge of submissions and finding where work can get submitted and awards are a big deal in that world. Yeah. But, I guess creating, have you ever tried to create a piece of work to try to win an award?

00:04:56:04 - 00:05:26:18
Dan Pappas
I've never had that goal. I've just always wanted to do the best I can. Kind of figure out the best kind of form of communication solution for a brief that that we're given. But I do think that's almost kind of like having, like a lot of Instagram followers, like having a lot of awards, like on your resume. Is there something like that kind of like makes you more people taking more serious or like, you know, like just looks more impressive, but like, yeah, it's one of those things where it's like you kind of get those built up and it's like, oh, cool.

00:05:26:18 - 00:05:46:02
Dan Pappas
But like usually that's not the intention. Yeah, I feel like if you're going for that attention, it's not going to work. It's like trying to make a viral video. Like it usually doesn't work exactly. So just talking about that, you move from between commercial work, and to teaching and kind of how does that shape your voice as a storyteller and how did that journey happen?

00:05:46:04 - 00:06:13:17
Jess Pappas
Yeah. So I after grad school and my grad program was masters of fine art. And so it was a very like conceptual program. I thought I was going to go into the art world and be showing in galleries and doing weird performance work, but that didn't happen. And, so but all of my skill set, everything I was learning was video production and are using video as art, as a tool, photography and design.

00:06:13:17 - 00:06:33:08
Jess Pappas
And so then, I took that and got a teaching job teaching at an alternative high school in Portland, teaching kids who had dropped out of high school who were trying to get their did, but also get some kind of experience that they could take into the creative, realm. There was two programs and Art kind of focus program and then a construction program.

00:06:33:12 - 00:06:58:29
Jess Pappas
So I got all the cool art kids, and, it was awesome. I thought this teaching job was going to be like a kind of stepping stone six months to a year. And I ended up being there for four years because I just really loved what I was doing. And then after that, we, I ended up moving to New York City, getting a job, a really, like, entry level grunt job at, production, like a sporty production company.

00:06:59:02 - 00:07:13:08
Jess Pappas
And quickly, like, realized. Okay, I think I can, like, I just had to kind of prove myself in a new way, even though that was all the things I knew how to do. I had never done them, like in the city, or for a production company. So I really had to, like, prove myself. And I worked really hard.

00:07:13:08 - 00:07:36:13
Jess Pappas
I worked a lot of hours and kind of just kept like very quickly going up this ladder. And within a couple of years, I held the title of creative director and, and was producing and directing shows for the Olympics for BBC sports, doing editing for, NBC sports. So it was it was a fast and furious few years of, life.

00:07:36:13 - 00:07:58:14
Jess Pappas
And then we met and kind of decided that we didn't really like this, like big corporate production company, agency game. We had learned a lot, but I think we learned a lot about what we didn't want to be doing and how we didn't want to be creating video content and, and art. And, and so that's kind of how that started.

00:07:58:16 - 00:08:18:04
David Mabee & Jess Pappas
So you guys met in New York. So how does this journey of you, you and Dan meeting in New York, doing all this agency work? How does that lead you guys to moving to Wenatchee? I mean, Covid, yeah, the short answer is a little thing called the pandemic. Yeah. And I grew up in cashmere, so that's kind of my parents, were are still here.

00:08:18:06 - 00:08:38:24
Jess Pappas
And we're living in cashmere, and we decided to, spend a little bit of our pandemic time in cashmere when. But since we met, we we always had the idea kind of kicked around the idea of what it would look like to go out on our own and combine our skill sets and see if we could make a go of it.

00:08:39:02 - 00:08:58:02
David Mabee
Where you come back to the West Coast, you know? Okay, I was gonna say, were you guys thinking, you know, you you're in New York. Are you thinking, hey, we could do this here? Are you thinking, hey, this is something we could do, maybe in a smaller market, but for any reason, I mean, what I guess what surprised you about coming back and working in a smaller market after you guys worked in these major markets for these major campaigns?

00:08:58:05 - 00:09:16:06
Jess Pappas
I think community is a big one. There definitely was a sense of community in, in New York of a bit, but not the same as it is here. You just there's something really rare in Wenatchee and, and I think in maybe smaller cities like this, I've never really lived anywhere else like Wenatchee. But there's something like, really special here about the community.

00:09:16:08 - 00:09:36:05
Jess Pappas
We're not our clients aren't just our clients. They're also our friends. They're people we run into when we're out to dinner. They're people that they run, businesses and organizations that we really care about and support. Outside of just being a client studio relationship. So I think that, like, creates a richer story, a richer experience for both us and them.

00:09:36:07 - 00:09:56:03
Jess Pappas
And, yeah, I just don't think that's something we would have gotten in New York. And, I mean, the obvious is also price, right? I think it would been really difficult to take a risk, being in Manhattan, in New York City with our rent is our rent for our 400 square foot apartment was like, twice as what?

00:09:56:03 - 00:10:14:29
David Mabee
Our mortgage is here. That's great. I lived in LA, so yeah, I get it. We are our one bedroom apartment cost more than our three story house here. Yeah, yeah. So it just it felt a lot easier to take a risk here. Right. And a place we wanted to, like, be long term. I don't think either of us ourselves, we both kind of.

00:10:14:29 - 00:10:37:13
Jess Pappas
I mean, I guess I'm speaking for free. We wanted the experience. Yeah, we got it. I think we we thought we were big city folk. And then after, after a couple of years, it's like, you know, I, I enjoy the space, enjoy being able to hop in the car and and I totally get it. I grew up in a, I grew up in a small town and I was like, I'm never moving a small town again.

00:10:37:13 - 00:10:55:06
David Mabee
I moved to LA. I lived in L.A. for 14 years. And then, you know, I convinced my wife, who's born and bred in L.A., to move to an AG and rough times there for a bit, but she's, she's adjusting, I think. I think now that we have kids, it's a little easier. But. So getting into getting in and creating P2X studio, first off, what does P2X stand for?

00:10:55:06 - 00:11:24:29
David Mabee Jess Pappas and Dan Pappas
Is there is there any specific meaning to it? Is there anything? What? How did you guys come up with that name? We always say that we should probably come up with, a more elaborate story, but it's actually really simple. It's just our acronym for our last name. So Pappas and Pearson, and instead of having, like, Pappas Pearson production, but, like, making it sound like a law firm or something, we want the kind of quicker acronym a P2.

00:11:25:01 - 00:11:51:10
Unknown
Yeah. And PPE wasn't cute. Yeah, but since then, we've kind of tried to use the the two P's as a way to like, expand some kind of like language for us. Like we've made little merch tchotchke things that have. She's that does these really cool little illustrations where have like pizza Palmer just kind of a way to play with the language a bit.

00:11:51:12 - 00:12:08:23
Unknown
And then I noticed you guys always have. Hi. Like, on your coffee cups right there. You always have hi as well. What does the high mean? And how does it change your guys's brand? Well, Dan always says when people ask, like, what does high stand for? He always says that to say, oh, it's, shorthand for hello.

00:12:08:25 - 00:12:30:24
Unknown
But I mean, really, it's just like, a way to, like, be fun. I think when we started, we had kind of we actually kind of started the idea of our company when we were in New York. Still, we rented, like, a, what's that called? Like a a meeting room workspace. And we, like, spent a full day, like, dreaming up, like, what would our business look like if we ever started a business?

00:12:30:24 - 00:12:53:29
Unknown
I don't know if this is what you do for fun, but, So we kind of started the idea there, but then when we actually kind of made it a reality, we started building collateral, like business cards. And it was like, if you're going to give your business card to someone, it should be something that makes them smile or something that they remember, not just like another standard, you know, Canva built or whatever business card that you stick in your pocket that looks the same as everyone else's.

00:12:54:02 - 00:13:11:22
Unknown
Right? So that's kind of where we were like, what would we want to see on a business card? And I think every conversation, every email, every pitch deck we send out, it always starts with our hi. And I think that's like something that's kind of important for us. Yeah. Because I think you guys, you've been around for about two years right?

00:13:11:24 - 00:13:26:25
Unknown
Yeah. 2 or 3. Yeah. Okay. We're in there. But I noticed you guys do some events for the Tech Alliance, but I've also seen you at other events and I've. And then I've seen some of your gear around town, like must have been handed out at events and I see the pinkeye and it's like instantly. Now I know that that's a P2 x piece of swag.

00:13:26:25 - 00:13:42:24
Unknown
So subconsciously it's I mean, I think it's great marketing like you, you or you're not putting P2 x in the face, but you, you are, in the minds of everybody in a subtle way. Well, at the end of the day, no one wants to like, carry around merch that has logos on it. That's just my opinion. Logos.

00:13:42:24 - 00:14:00:28
Unknown
It's just you'd rather have something fun. Yeah. From a company that, you know, like a Nike logo is different than, like our logo. So it means it like, holds different, like weight but like. Yeah. So we just kind of thought if, if we're going to make merch for people, like we should make something that maybe they would want to use, that's like more fun.

00:14:01:00 - 00:14:15:10
Unknown
And we've gotten some pushback. Like some people said, well, your logo is not on it, so how will anyone know? But like, you know, you know what I mean? So but that's what I'm saying that they don't they don't get the long I think the long term goal here is now you're associated with high and like that's brilliant.

00:14:15:12 - 00:14:46:17
Unknown
So yeah like pretty soon somebody is going to say hi. And when that and you'd be like P2 x right. It's going to be like some subliminal thing. I must hire them, I must know. So geniuses, you guys are geniuses. What's something you think people misunderstand about creative work here in smaller communities? I think so, one of the things I think is like being in a smaller town, I think there's this, like, misconception that they're the talent isn't going to be as good as someone from a city.

00:14:46:23 - 00:15:05:20
Unknown
And I just think that's like, so not true. I think a lot maybe, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like I've noticed some companies, here hiring out from, like, a bigger city, thinking that they're going to get better work. And, you know, I guess it's case by case, but I don't necessarily think that that's true, especially post-Covid.

00:15:05:23 - 00:15:32:27
Unknown
I think, you know, a lot of people are relocated to smaller town life, and there's a lot of. But even before Covid, like coming here, I did not expect there to be other video production companies and so many creative people. And we have met so many talented people, so many talented designers, photographers, tons of talented videographers. And it's really cool because there's a ton of work that needs to be done and there's plenty of work for everyone, I think.

00:15:32:27 - 00:15:55:23
Unknown
And everyone kind of has their own style. But I think before you as a business, think the only way you can get a professional video done is to hire out from Seattle or elsewhere. I think there's, a lot of really cool opportunities right here in our valley, which is pretty exciting. So, yeah, I think anybody has to do to check out your work as just check out your website and you can see your guys is top notch stuff.

00:15:55:23 - 00:16:14:01
Unknown
So, it's awesome to have it in the Valley. Yeah, there's it's crazy. When I moved here, the production companies like the video, there's North 40, there's all these guys and you're like, yeah, yeah. And a lot of those guys were at the same company and they've kind of ventured off and done their own thing. But like weddings, there's all sorts of stuff to do around here too.

00:16:14:05 - 00:16:40:08
Unknown
And so you get some really amazing creative people, and it's a beautiful place to live. Yeah. It it can't complain. Yeah. So what's your guys's approach to helping small businesses? Or nonprofits kind of tell their story visually? I think we kind of start from like, our goal is every project we take on, even if it's a client we've worked with multiple times, we kind of take each project from a blank piece of paper.

00:16:40:08 - 00:17:12:08
Unknown
We don't have a template, we don't have a set standard of questions that we ask in the intake call. And our intake calls maybe aren't even like intake calls. It's more of like, let's grab a cup of coffee and get to know a little bit about what the story you're wanting to tell, because I think, you know, if you start getting into this, like, template ized way of working, you lose the like, spark and the magic and the uniqueness that like each each project that we work on is super unique, and we want to tell those stories in the best way that's going to highlight them, whether that's sometimes it might be like, hey,

00:17:12:08 - 00:17:31:01
Unknown
we should just do a photo series, not a video, but like, or we should there should be more design heavy than video heavy. So it's like it kind of depends on, the project. But we really try to approach one, each one like special, you know, it's like for us we have the advantage of it's it's really it's just us to.

00:17:31:02 - 00:18:01:18
Unknown
So there's no like layers or bureaucracy or kind of checkpoints that like internal checkpoints that we need to hit so we can we have the ability to just have sit down and have a honest conversation with, with a client and just collaborate. And just what, what's what's your goal and how can we best kind of serve you and do the come up together, come up with the best solution for for either business need or communication need, right.

00:18:01:19 - 00:18:27:26
Unknown
That's awesome. And then do you guys have like, stand out project that you've worked on here or a favorite group you've worked with? I mean, we like all of our clients. We really do. Like we're really lucky. And like I said, like all of our clients have become our friends. We do a lot of work with Confluence Health, and we've really enjoyed getting to know, like, their marketing team and the really rich stories that are right here, kind of within Confluence Health.

00:18:27:26 - 00:18:53:07
Unknown
And so we've been doing a lot of work with them. We've been working a newer client is Cashmere Veterinary Clinic. They're amazing. They're providing resources to our community that are hard to find in the state of Washington. And, it's pretty cool. Like people are coming from all over the state of Washington and even Canada to come to cashmere to get services for their pets, acupuncture and, light therapy and hydrotherapy.

00:18:53:07 - 00:19:14:08
Unknown
So we've been getting to do that. And plus, we love dogs. So, so it's been fun to get a film with, other doggies and stuff like that. So that's been a fun one. But we also love Wellness Place and Sage Advocacy Center. Yeah. We just all of our clients are amazing. The tech Alliance, obviously.

00:19:14:11 - 00:19:22:27
Unknown
Thanks. And what's up, Abner? How are you doing, buddy? He's been very well behaved today. Yes he is. I think he's still asleep.

00:19:22:27 - 00:19:31:03
Unknown
Okay. So, Yeah, you guys, we're talking about storytelling and storytelling that matters. You guys just wrapped up a project, a documentary about your great Uncle Vic.

00:19:31:03 - 00:19:53:29
Unknown
Can you tell us a little bit about that and how that project came about? Yeah. So, my great Uncle Vic served in Vietnam, and he fought in a battle, called the Battle of Asco. And it's a pretty, intense story and one that my gramps would always tell my brother and I, and it, Vic, a great Uncle Vic is.

00:19:53:29 - 00:20:11:21
Unknown
Gramps is was Gramps is, brother in law. So that's kind of how the connection is. And, you know, you kind of got these people in your life, like your great, your step grandpa's great uncle, blah, blah, blah. And you don't really see those people that often, but still someone that you care about and love and a part of your family.

00:20:11:23 - 00:20:32:12
Unknown
And so when my gramps passed away, my brother and I kind of realized that those stories about our great Uncle Vic kind of left with with him, because that was something we had never really talked to our great uncle about. We never really spent enough time outside of, like, weddings or anything like that and family reunions to actually hear these stories from him.

00:20:32:14 - 00:20:52:26
Unknown
And so we kind of had this idea and with Dan and the rest of my family of like, we should really go down, we've got the video equipment, why not go down and like, learn the story? And so, we kept like, every time we'd get together, like, right out in our backyard, we'd be having dinner. And that would always kind of become part of the conversation, like, oh, yeah, we really should do this.

00:20:52:26 - 00:21:07:24
Unknown
How cool would that be to tell this story? To document. And, finally it was my mom who was like, let's get this on the calendar because I think we all have those projects in mind where it's like, would it be cool if we did this? But then you never do it, right? I we have a lot of those.

00:21:07:26 - 00:21:32:26
Unknown
But this was one I didn't really want to let slip by, because time goes by really fast, and you can miss your opportunities to, like, connect with your older family members. And, so my mom was like, let's get it on the calendar. So we did. So we packed up, us and my brother and his wife, Alison and my parents, and we went to Idaho and we rented a house and we stayed there for a long weekend, and we filmed every day.

00:21:32:26 - 00:21:56:29
Unknown
And the story is about my brother going on a journey to learn about our great Uncle Vic. So, it was really special, and just a really cool experience. And I'd recommend whether you have the skill set, the equipment, whatever. You can film things on your iPhone, you can film things, you can record audio on anything and, capture the stories of the people in your life.

00:21:56:29 - 00:22:21:11
Unknown
So you want to want to know about and capture and record, 100% agree and the time's fleeting. And as you get older, like, yeah, some of those things you think you can do in a week could be gone. Just from personal experience. So if you're thinking about it, just do it. It doesn't have to be high quality, but those are stories and and things you can tell and share, with the with your future family and your kids and your kids can pass down.

00:22:21:14 - 00:22:44:08
Unknown
So that's amazing. So how did this project did it? Did it shift your view of storytelling at all, or did anything change throughout the process? Like, did you guys go in with a specific thing you wanted to do? And did that change? Or how did the process work with the and especially with family being involved? Yeah, I think for this one, we knew we we kind of had a general sense of, of his story.

00:22:44:08 - 00:23:15:13
Unknown
And so we wanted to interview him and kind of get all the details. But after filming with him and having conversations with him, his wife, and there we kind of got a more of their own personal journey through that whole experience, and that kind of became their relationship, kind of became the anchor of the story. And really, like his kind of experience was almost the like supporting kind of piece to it.

00:23:15:13 - 00:23:35:01
Unknown
So it was kind of interesting how even if you do set out with a goal, just if you kind of just be open to the process, I guess you can, you can say, it'll kind of start to reveal itself. And if you're not open to it, you can miss some of that stuff, which would be really unfortunate.

00:23:35:01 - 00:23:52:15
Unknown
So we weren't even really planning on. We were planning on doing like a really small interview with my Aunt Diane. But then, the way she spoke about Vic and their love, you know, it was pretty powerful. I think, like after her interview, we all looked at each other in tears and just said, like, this is the film.

00:23:52:15 - 00:24:08:20
Unknown
Like, this is it. She's she's kind of there love story. Yeah. We went we went to tell a war story and we came back and told a love story. And I think that was kind of a cool experience. That's very cool. How could somebody check that out if they wanted to check it out? Just just to plug it here real quick?

00:24:08:22 - 00:24:30:24
Unknown
We have a website. I think it's Uncle Phil film.com. I'll have to double check that. Yeah. We do have a website. You can find it on our website as well under our originals. Okay. It'll take you to the website right now. The, film is private. It's a private link. But I think within the next, like, couple months, because we kind of have it out in, like, this, the film festival circuit.

00:24:30:29 - 00:24:48:15
Unknown
Oh, cool. It's going to be public. So that'll be the next. That's gonna be the next question. Really? Do. Yeah. So have you guys heard anything back from any of those, film festivals, or is that just in the process as of right now? Yeah, we, we got into two, but, we haven't really, like, announced anything yet, but.

00:24:48:15 - 00:25:10:19
Unknown
So stay tuned. We'll kind of announce some of that coming up. So awesome. It sounds like we're set ourselves up for a follow up, podcast with you guys. Yeah. So on that, as you're talking about, crafting stories and things like that. So how what's your philosophy with crafting stories that resonate for, for brands or clients?

00:25:10:21 - 00:25:44:27
Unknown
I mean, a I think it's like we were saying for, for us just having that initial conversation with them being open and honest with each other and really working with them to tell the story that they want because we don't I mean, we're we're kind of here to help. You have how can we help you? We can be as creative as they want, but whatever kind of fits with their their own vision and yeah, and we do a lot of personal projects to kind of work out a lot of our like own creative ideas.

00:25:44:27 - 00:26:00:09
Unknown
And we can really like, be creative and kind of take some chances that maybe, like, our clients aren't wanting. So that way when we do approach client work, we're just ready to like, tell the story that they want in the way that they are wanting so that we don't really have an ego when it comes to you.

00:26:00:12 - 00:26:22:27
Unknown
If the style is off and they want something totally different, like cool, all of our if like our kind of like the way we measure success is if our client's like super stoked and can't wait to share their their story, you know, it's a good way to do business. Yeah. Awesome. So now we're just getting into the the signature questions and reflection part of the network podcast that we're trying out here.

00:26:23:00 - 00:26:48:21
Unknown
So this first one is going to be, Jess or Danny. Either of you can take it. What's one piece of advice that you'd give to someone starting a creative business in North central Washington, or just in general? I would say for us, just you kind of just got to take the leap, really. I mean, you can think through every scenario and kind of calculate when would be like the perfect time.

00:26:48:21 - 00:27:12:04
Unknown
But in reality, that time's always pretty fleeting and there's never really a right time. I think just time itself is probably one of the most valuable things. And in building any kind of business is going to take time. So just go right, right to take the leap. Let's. Yeah, let's just do it. One thing you don't get in life is more time.

00:27:12:04 - 00:27:27:08
Unknown
So and it's with everything. Like people ask, like, how did you know it was the right time to have kids? It's like, you don't, I don't I don't know if there's a right time to have kids. I don't know if there's a right time to start a business or any of that stuff. And I don't think, I mean, we don't have kids, so I can't quite compare it, but I think it's kind of similar in the way.

00:27:27:08 - 00:27:43:03
Unknown
Yeah, you can plan and plan and plan, right. Like I'm going to wait till I have this much money in my bank account or this much blah, blah, blah. And if you do that, you kind of end up maybe missing out or. Right. Yep. So it's like you can never be fully prepared. It's just you should just do it.

00:27:43:11 - 00:27:53:11
Unknown
Yeah. So the next question here is, is is there a skill you're still trying to master as a founder and creative leader?

00:27:53:13 - 00:28:20:03
Unknown
I mean, I think the thing that we're we're every day we're learning new stuff, especially on the, the business side of things. This is the first business that we've both ran and, there's always something new to learn. The that I gotcha as being being kind of go to art school and being like the arty kids growing up.

00:28:20:06 - 00:28:39:23
Unknown
But running the business is a whole nother animal. It's a different side of the brain, right? Well, that's cool. And I know you guys, when you when you do your own stuff too, you always try different creative things. So I know you guys are always like learning and trying to do new things, but yeah, we're like the nerds who, like, are constantly doing like tutorials and like watching the new stuff.

00:28:39:23 - 00:28:58:24
Unknown
I mean, and I think in our industry, especially since we use so much technology, like you have to be staying up on it, otherwise you're going to get behind. And, you know, I've heard a lot of people who are like, I'm not going to use AI. And I think that's dumb. And it's like, you're going to get behind really fast and it's going to start taking you a lot longer to do things that other people can do really quickly.

00:28:58:24 - 00:29:16:04
Unknown
And I think if you if you sit back and don't do it, you're like, but you're setting yourself up for not to be in a great position in the future. Yeah, 100% agree you should be trying different things. And there's so many videos on YouTube and anything, if you're trying to learn anything, you can go down the rabbit hole all day and learn new stuff universally.

00:29:16:04 - 00:29:40:13
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, even Instagram, like you can watch like, in 60s you can learn a new tool. Abner really wants to go sit in the sun. It's okay. Abner, we only have a couple questions left, but, So what do you guys. What would you consider your guys's superpower as creators? I think I'll answer for Dan.

00:29:40:13 - 00:30:08:03
Unknown
I think like he is. You know, his beginnings is as a designer and I think he brings that design into our, every project that we do, whether it is a design project or if it's video or whatever it might be, even crafting our decks that we send out to clients, I think having that really sophisticated design, is sets us apart in a different way, and I'm just really grateful for it because it's like a skill set that I don't necessarily have.

00:30:08:06 - 00:30:30:16
Unknown
I can try, but it's not the same. Like, Dan's got this, like, really cool creative design sense, but, I've never really met anyone with that kind of level of design, so. And I've worked with some pretty great designers. But yeah, Dan is pretty impressive. So I think that's like a really big asset. I agree, Dan, you're pretty impressive, but he's a yeah, shucks.

00:30:30:18 - 00:31:01:11
Unknown
The crowd agrees. You hear the crowd there. They they love you Dan. Okay. Yeah. We got the crowd going. I'll just add on that real quick is, I think one thing that we, we really intentionally try to do with design is have it be incorporated kind of from the foundation and throughout every phase of a project and kind of consider what the you know, what the art direction is, what typography will look like across the deliverables.

00:31:01:13 - 00:31:20:13
Unknown
And I think for and I mean, this isn't throwing any shade, but I have seen it in big, like in the big agency world a lot of times even designs kind of the last up at the very end. It's like, okay, we've got the messaging down and the, the core idea, and then in the 11th hour, okay, now how's it going to look?

00:31:20:20 - 00:31:51:01
Unknown
Right. And I think the bigger the agency or the company gets to, the harder that stuff is because everybody's trying to prove their worth on throwing in their $0.02. Totally, usually at the last minute. But it wants to get back to to your question, all answered what I think just is super power is is just patience, empathy and just she has this really unique gift to make people feel comfortable.

00:31:51:01 - 00:32:19:08
Unknown
And so whether we're doing an interview with someone or filming a scene, a majority of the times it's, you know, local business owners and, and people like that that aren't necessarily that don't have a lot of camera experience, and they'll be pretty nervous. But within a couple minutes, she knows all the right things to say and just allows people to kind of be themselves.

00:32:19:11 - 00:32:38:18
Unknown
You just get kind of the I think it just calls for a better video or story. You are really good to just I've seen you in action. You're really good at it. And thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that because it's it's as filming a lot of people as well, people are always ready off camera. As soon as that camera lens is on them.

00:32:38:18 - 00:32:55:27
Unknown
Something happens your first couple times and. Right. And honestly, if you're about to be on TV or film, just hold up your phone and practice a couple times. It's not that bad. Yeah, just pretend nobody's watching. Those are the advice I'd give. I don't know what other advice you give just to help people out through that. Yeah, yeah.

00:32:55:27 - 00:33:14:21
Unknown
And I, you know, I do the same thing. I'm like, practice in the mirror, film yourself, watch it back. It's very painful. No one likes to watch. Well, maybe some people do, but majority of the people I've talked to, you don't like to watch themselves on camera. They don't like to hear their voice, but practice it. So that way you can see like, oh, I sound kind of dorky when I say it out that way.

00:33:14:21 - 00:33:31:25
Unknown
Or oh, I sound super cool when I turn my head that way or whatever it might be. So you kind of learn even like with taking photos, I'm like, practice, practice in the mirror. Practice the faces that you like. It's there's nothing wrong with practicing, but I've always kind of added a philosophy to you. If you have a fun set, it's going to be a fun project.

00:33:31:28 - 00:33:59:24
Unknown
And I've been on so many sets that aren't fun. And, back in the day that were stressful and chaotic and not fun and those video products and turn out really cool. So it's like if you're if you have fun, for sure. I always try to just build in time for that. I'd rather like, you know, do something silly and like, have fun and everyone remember it then, like, get that last shot that, like, you may not even use, you know what I mean?

00:33:59:24 - 00:34:21:17
Unknown
So for sure, 100% I think you get to this for it. Yeah, a little airhorn. I mean, that's I'm trying to bring a little bit of fun to network podcast here. You know, I don't know if the crowd's going to like it, but. Oh, it sounds like they do like it. I the last question here I have for you guys before we get going, is if you guys were a business was a reality TV show, what would it be called?

00:34:21:19 - 00:34:24:12
Unknown
And why?

00:34:24:14 - 00:34:50:28
Unknown
I think it would have to be something about Abner. Abner? Yeah. Just his little face popping out. I'm not sure. He's way behind the tree. It's awesome. Like Abner's world or, something like that, where you just follow Abner around all day and then, like, in the maybe background, blurry, like we're back there, like, making something or doing something I hear, like an 80s theme song to to it like the the the the Denton.

00:34:51:00 - 00:35:05:13
Unknown
Yeah. We we always say, he's got, he's got main character. He has main character. Oh, yeah. So Abner is a character. I love that little guy. He he's I think he's going, I think warming up to me, but I don't know, the last time he barked at me quite a bit, but we'll see. Abner, you're going to come around, buddy.

00:35:05:13 - 00:35:21:01
Unknown
I just love it's it's his way of saying I love, you know. And I told you, I have two hours to, so I know how they act. Well, I want to thank Jess and Dan for being on our show today and network, thank you for being our first guest here on the network podcast. I hope you guys had fun real quick and real quick.

00:35:21:01 - 00:35:42:08
Unknown
How could somebody get Ahold of you guys? Or where do you want to drive people to check you out? I think our website is the best way to check us out, and everything's there. Like we could give you our email address and our social, but it's all on our website. And oh well, studio.com. Yeah, P-2 dot studio and insta anagram on Insta.

00:35:42:10 - 00:35:57:17
Unknown
Hi peter@studio.com. We're we're around. Yeah, we're easy. Don't call us because I won't call you back. I am pretty bad at calling and texting. But you know what? It's okay. I'm really bad at texting, too. Yeah. Thank you for calling me out for that. No, it's okay, it's okay. I've heard it's not just me. I thought it was just me.

00:35:57:17 - 00:36:16:14
Unknown
So I've heard you're not very good with other people as well, so I don't take offense to it, but. But I will email you back. So. No you're awesome. You get back. I just partially poking funny you because I know you well. Anyways, thank you for joining us here on the network podcast. Justin Dan from P2 studio. Amazing interview.

00:36:16:14 - 00:36:34:11
Unknown
Thank you guys for being our first guest. You know, that's going to do it for today. Make sure to check us out. We're going to be on, YouTube on our, YouTube slash NCW tech. We'll have it up there on our website. This will also be, going out as an audio podcast on all the major platforms.

00:36:34:17 - 00:36:56:00
Unknown
So look for us, this hopefully it'll be posted here in the next couple of weeks, and then we'll be posting these once a week, the network podcast. So we are going to get get out of here, Jess Dan, thank you guys so much. We're bringing the fun back to podcasting David. Maybe here we're sending it out. Enjoy the day.

00:36:56:02 - 00:37:11:00
Unknown
We'll see you next week here on the network podcast.