Photographer Brian Kelly creates a portrait of his guest at his production studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan...and then they sit down and have a candid conversation.
Episodes
Monday Nov 04, 2019
Monday Nov 04, 2019
Rob Bell - *ON LOCATION
*Los Angeles, California
Rob Bell was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential people in the WORLD in 2011; a global list that included the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Beyoncé, The Koch Brothers, Oprah, Ai Wei Wei, Michelle Obama, Larry Page from Google, and Julian Assange of Wikileaks among others. If that’s not enough, Rob’s also toured with Oprah and has been profiled in the New Yorker.
And to really set the stage for this episode I have to take you back to before this podcast started earlier this year. I had begun to imagine a wish-list of people I wanted to talk to as potential guests. A crazy variety of names would flash across my mind. Most of the early names that I came up with seemed entirely plausible; mostly people local to Grand Rapids like my artist friends or a whole host of interesting people that I’ve crossed paths with as a photographer over the last 20+ years.
Eventually, right next to the “plausible” list, I started another column of names that seemed like a complete stretch…or at least really IM-plausible people to have on as guests. As both of these lists grew, this exercise of filling the “implausible” list seemed more and more silly to me. I mean, I didn’t even technically HAVE a podcast yet. And at that point I could have written ANYBODY’s name down because absolutely NOTHING was at stake. And I remember saying to myself, “yeah, right” immediately after I wrote the name “Rob Bell” down on the page.
Rob founded one of the largest mega-churches in Michigan in Mars Hill. He had written internationally best selling books while a pastor there. But eventually Rob left the church he started and moved to Los Angeles to pursue “other opportunities” after elders began challenging that his teachings were no longer “biblical” enough for traditional evangelicals to stomach. He was labeled a “heretic” when his book “Love Wins” came out and was more or less unanimously ostracized by Christian leadership across the country.
Rob is a complicated figure where I come from. For some people he’d become an iconic spiritual hero or renegade. And for others he was a cautionary tale of someone who had lost their way in Christianity. And despite the fact that I often have to photograph people making an impact around our community, Rob and I had never crossed paths despite having many mutual acquaintances for years.
Roughly eight months after writing Rob’s name down, I found myself in Los Angeles shaking hands with him on the sidewalk in front of his home. And it felt a bit surreal. We talked for just over an hour and then we made some portraits together in his backyard. Have a listen.
“THE HERETIC” Official Trailer - Documentary by Andrew Morgan
This *ON LOCATION episode is exclusively sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Dwele - *ON LOCATION
*Detroit, Michigan
With one Grammy Award in his pocket and multiple Grammy nominations in his acclaimed career, Dwele has been a Detroit legend and R&B artist for nearly two decades. He started making waves in the Detroit music scene in the late 90’s while hustling his own cassette tapes. He quickly found himself tapped to sing some hooks on “Tainted” for Slum Village in 2002. The timing was perfect and the attention he received pushed his record label to get behind his first major label album.
In 2007, Kanye West called on Dwele to contribute to the song “Flashing Lights” from his epic album “Graduation.” It became a global smash hit and a Grammy Winner. In subsequent years, high profile collaborations with Drake, Common and Big Sean catapulted Dwele to an even higher orbit.
After five successful solo albums of his own, Dwele consistently tours around the globe with sell-out crowds in his wake. His fans are eagerly anticipating what his next move will be…but just don’t comment on his Instagram feed and ask when the new album is coming out. Dwele’s not saying.
I first got to know Dwele in 2013 when I photographed him for my “Detroit Portraits” project. This portrait project was probably the most influential series of images I’ve ever made. I say that because nearly all of the people I photographed in Detroit for that project are still very much in my life today in one way or another.
I think you’ll enjoy this conversation about Dwele’s music, bonsai trees, golf and the impact the death of his father at the age of ten had on his music. Dig in!
This *ON LOCATION episode is exclusively sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Sunday Oct 13, 2019
Sunday Oct 13, 2019
“If I had a super power, it would be curiosity.”
Eric Hultgren is a social media content and marketing expert. And he’s also a videographer, photographer, podcaster, keynote speaker and all around great guy…not to mention a husband and father.
Eric always seems to be “in the know” about how all the latest tweaks and changes to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn are going to affect your business and those changes might make it harder (or easier) for your audience to find your content.
Eric’s also one of the reasons I started this podcast. Eric invited me to be a guest on The Incredible HULT, and that experience got me thinking more seriously about making up my mind to launch my own.
So, basically…this is all Eric’s fault. And I can’t thank him enough.
This episode is sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Will Jackson is known professionally as “Willie The Kid,” he’s an American rapper, songwriter, film producer, serial entrepreneur and tech investor from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Will represents Grand Rapids harder than most artists that find success in their hometowns and then go on to achieve even more success nationally and internationally. Willie The Kid is an even busier entrepreneur with recently launched spirits company Motu Viget, GRUSA apparel and outerwear, plus a restaurant and cocktail lounge in downtown Grand Rapids called Ambiance GR that will open later in 2019.
All of these business efforts are inspired by his hometown and his desire for all races, nationalities, cultural and idealogical backgrounds to lift each other up and support one another. Motu Viget means “Strength in movement.”
If that’s not enough, Will also keeps a base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Clark Atlanta University; a historically black college that helped to sharpen his internal compass and vision.
This conversation will get you inspired…Will is someone I truly admire and am very grateful to have him in my orbit.
This episode is sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Thursday Sep 12, 2019
Thursday Sep 12, 2019
Faith Kelly has been a bright light in countless people’s lives after launching herself into the world with a splash of drama. She had suffered a brain hemorrhage inside the womb and required emergency surgeries to save her life just a week or so after being born.
Very little has kept her spirits down ever since. Faith is constantly working to improve many of the lifelong physical and cerebral ramifications from those touch-and-go first few weeks in the hospital.
Faith Kelly is now a fourteen year-old eight grader and also my daughter. She loves “hanging out” with her friends and cousins, cooking, playing UNO and going to the movies. After this podcast started earlier this year, Faith began asking me if she could be a guest. This caught me off guard. I really thought it was just a passing impulse and she would forget about it after a few weeks and then never bring it up again. But month after month Faith would ask, “Dad, when can I come on your podcast?”
Well, that time is now. Our only agreement was that she would have to do a portrait session before we sat down for the podcast just like every other guest…I mean, it IS the premise of the entire podcast. I’ve mixed portraits from our podcast shoot but also from a favorite session of mine from about a year ago in the gallery below.
Admittedly, this isn’t a typical Full Exposure Podcast episode, but I’m proud of our conversation and am glad Faith and I agreed to put it out into the world and see what happens.
This episode is sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Kevin Buist has been the Artistic Director at ArtPrize since its inception over 10 years ago. Over the years, I’ve had a front row seat and watched how Kevin seemingly effortlessly handled some of Artprize’s most passionate and vitriolic critics. These critics could be a noisy bunch over the years, and ArtPrize has successfully weathered a few controversies from time to time. The way in which Kevin was always searching to find ways to improve the organization when the criticism was the strongest was nothing short of admirable. I can definitely say that ArtPrize would not be as successful as it has been without his calm demeanor, constant curiosity and deep knowledge of contemporary art.
ArtPrize is now a biennial event, and with every odd numbered year it will morph into something called “Project 1”, which can presently be seen across Grand Rapids from September 7 - October 27, 2019. Kevin has been at the forefront of planning this huge scale event encompassing three locations and curating five very different artists around the city to install ambitious large-scale works. Kevin has curated Project 1 under the theme of “Crossed Lines.”
In this episode we dive deep into Kevin’s evolution at ArtPrize, what he’s learned about West Michigan over 10+ years at ArtPrize, why his favorite curator is also one who had one of the largest failures. We also cover “Crossed Lines” and all the commissioned artists exhibiting during the inaugural Project 1.
Visit Project 1 for more information.
This episode is sponsored by:
Metro Health | University of Michigan Health and Dr. Peter Hahn
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
This episode is presented by:
Sunday Jul 28, 2019
Sunday Jul 28, 2019
Adrian “AB” Butler is a DJ, streetwear designer, rapper and music producer based in West Michigan. He’s successfully merged all of these diverse natural talents into a business enterprise that continues to grow and evolve year after year.
So what keeps a multi-faceted guy like AB up at night? Turns out I’m really glad I asked him during this episode…because it’s a mix of a lot of different stuff. Sometimes it’s the constant fountain of ideas running through his head, or the pressures of running a business, and at times it’s the adjustment to recently becoming a “sit-com dad” with three children of very diverse ages.
AB’s legendary DJ sets are a cool mix of timeless classics, underground bangers, and everyone’s favorite songs that can often turn the stiffest corporate parties into a late night rager. He seamlessly blends the new and the old, criss-crossing genres and tapping into a deep understanding of what gets people up out of their seats and onto the dance floor.
But the heart of this episode is his love of Grand Rapids and his desire to continue to grow outside of the region…something that is both a huge challenge and frustrating at times. Every entrepreneur can relate to different facets of AB’s journey, and I know you’ll find new ways to relate to this conversation.
Follow AB: Instagram / Website
This episode is presented by:
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
Tuesday Jul 16, 2019
I’m so stoked, you guys. This the premiere episode of “Full Exposure: ON LOCATION.” This is where we take the podcast on the road, travel to our guest, create the portraits and record the podcast in a location that is significant to them.
In Bill Schwab’s case, I traveled deep into the woods to his home and the epicenter of his photography workshops in one of the most beautiful places in the world; Harbor Springs, Michigan. I hope to do many more episodes like this where we escape the walls of my studio from time to time.
Bill Schwab’s poetic photographs will likely be forever associated with Detroit, his hometown of Dearborn…and Iceland. Check out a cross-section of his amazing work in the photo gallery below. In my opinion, he’s one of the finest living photographers working today.
Bill and I have enjoyed a long and rich history. For nearly 20 years, Bill’s been a very influential friend that was instrumental in encouraging me in the earliest years of my shaky, naive, professional start as a photographer.
In this conversation, Bill and I talk at length about the current state of affairs in Detroit, the dangers of the fine art art world, how Bill has pivoted with technology over the years, and his deep love of Iceland that spurred him to regularly lead spectacular photography tours on the island.
Follow Bill here on Instagram / Website
Explore Iceland with Bill on a tour of a lifetime.
This episode is presented by: Brian Kelly Photography & Film and Brian Kelly Productions.
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Without any hint of hyperbole, I can say that Michelle McKormick is a Michigan morning radio legend. She started her career when she was only 19 years old way back in the 80’s. Michelle’s been a trailblazer in an industry that is still often deeply misogynistic and a boys club to say the least.
Michelle admits she’s part “cheeseball” but has always been deadly serious about her career. Over time, she learned to call her own shots and to fight gender pay disparity wherever she can. Her long career has depended on people liking her on air…and the audiences have always embraced her. As a result, she has both thrived and survived in an extremely tough business. Today, Michelle loves to mentor women at any stage in their broadcasting careers and is deeply committed to the West Michigan community.
In this episode, we unpack a lot of great celebrity stories about David Lee Roth, Barbara Streisand, and I also share one about Whoopi Goldberg. We also spill some dirt on her current radio partner Tony Gates on 96.9 WLAV. Ultimately, this conversation highlights many of the pillars of her success that we can all learn from.
Check out our amazing new website: www.fullexposurepodcast.com