Meditations with Ryan Zlomek

Cataloging Quality Through The Decades with Vintage Shop Owner Jaina Shaw

On Episode 35, Jaina Shaw, owner and operator of Dino-Mite Vintage!, comes to chat with Ryan about her shop in Wantagh, NY. Jaina is a professional retro and vintage reseller who opened the doors of her business and community gathering space in 2024. Specializing in quality plus-sized clothing, bed linens, and table coverings, as well as all things dinosaurs, Dino-Mite Vintage! strives to add a sense of play to the retail experience. Though she’s known in Nassau County as an archeologist of the fashion of yesteryear, she has a deep-rooted career in librarianship that actively plays a role in the day-to-day operations of Dino-Mite.

In this conversation, Jaina talks about growing up in Minnesota and discovering a passion for organization and archiving in early adulthood. She discusses her time as a Teen Librarian in Connecticut and using her resources to bring gaming, physical activity, and new energy into her library through the use of a “Black Market Wii.” With a focus on work/life balance she moved on from librarianship and found herself in the world of vintage pop-up markets before opening her own brick and mortar shop. Jaina also shares humorous insights into the culture of Long Islanders, the beauty of repurposing items that we regularly take for granted, and describes how Pee Wee’s Big Adventure played a major part in design design aesthetics.

For more information on Jaina, check out @dinomitevintage on Instagram and TikTok.

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram and TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

The Business Of Creative Problem-Solving with Designer Tommy Lincoln

On Episode 34, Tommy Lincoln, owner of Stay Fresh Design, comes on the show to talk about his career in creativity. Tommy started Stay Fresh in 2014 and has transported his small shop into a sought-after agency offering design, photography, websites, public art, and everything in between. Located on the first floor of the Delevan Studios building, Stay Fresh’s work bursts outside of Syracuse’s west side into pop culture in the form of beverage containers, mayoral campaigns, fitness centers logos, restaurant menus, donut characters, public murals, and so much more.

In this conversation, Tommy talks about growing up in Liverpool, NY and trying to find the balance between having fun and getting into trouble. He tells of his time studying and teaching at Cazenovia College and Syracuse University, then making his way into the various marketing firms around Central New York. He shares the idea behind the name “Stay Fresh” and explores the growth of his company over the last decade. Additionally, he uncovers his three-tier plan for Stay Fresh including forming the design studio, expanding to include an art gallery, and the beginning stages of educational opportunities for the public. It’s a fun chat that includes some anecdotes about filmmaker Kevin Smith and the design of “Jay And Silent Bob’s Vegan Dogs.”

For more information on Stay Fresh, you can visit www.stayfresh.design, find StayFresh.Design on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find @TommyLincoln and @Jessica.StayFresh on Instagram. 

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram and TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

Dedicating Your Life To The Animals with Vegan Activist & Restaurateur Joel Capolongo

This week Joel Capologo, co-owner of Strong Hearts Café and Strong Hearts 716, chats with Ryan about his life in the vegan sphere. Strong Hearts is an all vegan café with two locations in Syracuse, NY and Buffalo, NY. Starting in 2008 by Joel and his friend Nicholas Ryan, Strong Hearts has been made waves in the culinary world showcasing the comfort food (and milkshake) possibilities that exist without the need for animal products. In this conversation, Joels talks about growing up in Central Square, NY and finding his work ethic and grit as well as starting his vegan journey in 1993. Finding inspiration from the Syracuse hardcore punk scene and bands like Earth Crisis, Joel dedicated himself to animal activism while still in high school. He shares stories of disrupting animal production supply chains and even battling Japanese whaling ships that were illegally hunting. He talks about the origin story of Strong Hearts and sheds light behind the scenes of a New York culinary beacon for vegans and omnivores alike. Details of other Strong Hearts related initiatives come to the forefront including the culture of Strong Hearts tattoos and the success of the Strong Hearts Vegan Power running team.  

For more information on Joel and Nicholas’s work with Strong Hearts, you can find them online at https://stronghearts315.com/ (Syracuse) and https://www.stronghearts716.com/ (Buffalo), as well as on Instagram (@strongheartscafe @stronghearts716) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/StrongHearts315/ https://www.facebook.com/stronghearts716).

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram and TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

Finding Stories For The World with Tor Fiction Editor Jen Gunnels

Jen Gunnels, fiction editor for Tor Books and its various imprints, comes on the show to chat with Ryan about her life in literature. Jen is an energetic personality who is known for discovering rich stories in the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy space. A Michigan native, Jen talks about honing her imagination and discovering a passion for theater at a young age. She recounts spending her academic career developing and implementing theories into live theater, including renaissance fairs. Transitioning into the editing space, Jen talks about moving to New York City, working with famed anthologist Martin Greenberg, and learning the ins and outs of the editor role before taking the reigns herself. She also shares insights into the relationship between editors and writers, editors and literary agents, and editors and the publishers they represent. It's an informative chat full of lots of fun facts and banter, especially about the dreaded "book blurbs."

For more information about Jen Gunnels, you can find her on LinkedIn or visit https://us.macmillan.com/torpublishinggroup/ to scope out the books that she has helped shape into the publishing world. 

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram and TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

 

Sharing Stories Around The Globe with Media Executive Aunrée Houston

For episode 31 Aunrée Houston joins Ryan to go behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. Aunrée has a long history in media development having worked for HBO, Paramount, and mostly recently Netflix. As a Media Executive, he project manages various aspects of marketing and communications on some of the world’s biggest TV shows and movies. Having started on the film Wit at HBO then eventually working on properties as big as The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, Insecure, Westworld, and The Leftovers, Aunrée has developed creative solutions to ensure this media has a lasting impacts in countries all over the world. Now at Netflix, he is applying his talents to properties like 3 Body Problem, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton.

 

Outside of the studio world, Aunrée owns the company Aunrée Jac where he provides life coaching strategies to those in need of a life realignment. He is an NYU trained therapist and applies what he learned to new clients on a regular basis. He is also an east coast and west coast socialite famed for his dinner parties which habitually become venues for open dialogue. In this conversation he talks about his upbringing in NYC, attending SUNY Oswego and exploring the world of drama, making his way through various departments at HBO, transitioning to Paramount and Netflix, and the various ways he works to give back to his community.

For more information on Aunrée Houston you can find @aunreejac on Instagram, Aunrée Jac on Facebook, Aunrée J L Houston on LinkedIn or visit his website at www.aunreejac.com.

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram, and TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

Supporting Your Music Community with Record Label Owner Mike Park

Mike Park joins Ryan in conversation to talk about his dedication to the musical life, from performing to running the label Asian Man Records. Mike is no stranger to the underground music scene having played in such bands as Skankin’ Pickle, The Bruce Lee Band, and The Chinkees, and Ogikubo Station. In 1996, he shifted his focus away from performing in order to start a record label in his parent’s garage, Asian Man Records. Now spanning multiple decades, Mike maintains his world-class Asian Man Records label in the same quaint manner despite it being the launching point for such bands as Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake, Lemuria, AJJ, and Joyce Manor among hundreds of others. Asian Man holds high status in the world of ska, punk, hardcore, and indie music. To be discovered by Mike Park is the highest form of praise.

In this conversation, Mike talks about growing up in California, being one of the few Asian males in his graduating class, discovering ska music in a movie theater, forming bands at a young age, feeling empowered releasing music, and trying to demonstrate to parents the importance of creative careers. He describes the surprise success of Asian Man Records in its first year and talks about the inner-workings of the label, including the encouragement of musical acts to pursue bigger opportunities when they have outgrown how he can support them. Mike demonstrates himself to be the humblest personality in the music business. Plus he announces his new radio show, Music. It's Powerful Stuff, on KPCR.

For more information on Mike’s amazing work you can find @asianmanrecords on Instagram and Facebook or visit https://asianmanrecords.com/. You can also hear Music. It's Powerful Stuff at https://kpcr.org/event/music-its-powerful-stuff/2026-05-27/.

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram, @ryanzlomek on TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

The Chemistry of the Beverage Business with Director & Distiller Nicole Austin

On Episode 29, Nicole Austin joins Ryan in conversation about her career in alcohol and spirits production. Nicole works as the Director of Luxury for Diageo but made a name for herself when she took over as the Director of the historic George Dickel whiskey brand in 2018. With a background in chemistry, Nicole started her career in water treatment but discovered the world of spirits by chance and has devoted her life to focus on sustainable production. She has been a game changer in the distilling industry, having joined with Kings County Distillery in 2010 (the oldest distillery in New York City). She then helped found the New York State Distillers Guild in 2013, worked internationally for William Grant & Sons, and was brought in to work with Cascade Hollows Distilling Co. (makers of George Dickel Whiskey) after proving herself as a mainstay. Her hard work has been internationally recognized as well. Nicole was named “Distiller Of The Year” in March 2020 by Artisan Spirit Magazine, she won “Distillery Manager” as part of the Icons of Whiskey Awards in 2021, and helped usher in George Dickel as the “Spirit Brand of the Year” in 2023 through the Wine Star Awards.

In this conversation, Nicole discusses her almost accidental career move into chemistry, learning how to network and build a strong community with other distilling professionals, and ensuring that her ethical beliefs tie into the global visioning of the companies she works for. She also discusses her love of horses, the differences in working conditions in spirits around the world, and why the IRS has become an important historic tool for distillers.

For more information on Nicole Austin, you can find her on Instagram at @nicolemarieaustin and follow her products at on Instagram @georgedickel and @cascadehollowdistillingco as well on the web at www.georgedickel.com.

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram, @ryanzlomek on TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.

The Impact of Positive Dialogue with Keynote Speaker & Author Greg Bennick

Traveling in from Seattle, Greg Bennick joins Ryan in conversation to share his experience as a professional public speaker for over two decades. Greg is a renaissance man who started his career as a juggler in early life and eventually transitioned to giving professional keynote speeches for companies such as Nintendo, Cornell University, Microsoft, HP, Bank of America, Boeing, and Starbucks to name a few. He is also a master Rubik's Cube solver, coin collector, spoken word performer, writer, and vocalist in the bands Trial and Between Earth And Sky.

In this conversation, Greg talks about growing up in Connecticut and the inspiration he found in his parents, studying at Syracuse University, discovering the performance work of mask maker Larry Hunt, starting his career on the west coast by blending the art of juggling and public speaking, transitioning his business through COVID, and his path to writing the book Reclaim The Moment. It's an engaging conversation for those in search of a way to transformer their hobbies, passions, and ethical beliefs into a way of living.

Check out Greg online at https://www.gregbennick.com/ or on @GregBennick on Instagram. 

For more information on the Meditations with Ryan Zlomek podcast, you can find The World of Ryan Zlomek on Facebook, @ryanzlomek on Instagram, @ryanzlomek on TikTok, or email meditations@ryanzlomek.com.