On this episode of In Love with the Process, Mike dives into one of his biggest obsessions outside of filmmaking, cooking.

We all hear it, “get a good chef’s knife.” But what does that actually mean? What goes into making one? And why does it completely change the way you cook?

Mike sits down with Justin Miller, a self-taught bladesmith and the owner of Running Man Forge, to break down the art and craft of knife making from the ground up.

They get into the process of forging steel, what separates a great knife from a bad one, and why your tools in the kitchen are just as important as your ingredients. Justin also shares how he built his business from scratch, how he found the money to start, and how social media helped him connect with customers… until the algorithm changed everything.

And because it’s In Love with the Process, the conversation takes some unexpected turns, mythology, UFO sightings, and the strange overlap between craft, obsession, and belief.

This episode is a perfect mix of practical knowledge and wild storytelling.

If you care about cooking, filmmaking, or the process behind anything made with intention, this one’s for you.

► Running Man IG

► Mike's IG

► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx & Code Elektro

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► Puget Systems

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On this special catch-up episode of In Love with the Process, Mike pulls back the curtain on something deeply personal, the making of his upcoming film.

For the first time, Mike breaks down the real process he and his writing partner Will Simmons used to bring this story to life. From early conversations to building treatments, to the detailed director’s prep that turns ideas into something you can actually see and feel.

This isn’t theory. This is the work.

Mike dives into how he approaches storyboarding, how he visualizes a film before a camera ever rolls, and the skills he’s developed over decades to translate emotion into images.

But this episode goes deeper than process.

Mike takes a moment to reflect on the fact that he’s never been this close to making a film at this level. He looks back on the last 25 years, the people, the risks, the failures, and the lessons that all led to this moment.

It’s honest. It’s raw. It’s the kind of episode that reminds you why you started.

If you’re a filmmaker, or just someone chasing something big, this one hits.

► Mu Pan IG

► Mike's IG

► ILWP's IG

Music: Mitch Murder & Code Elektro

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10

► Puget Systems

► Blackmagic Design

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On today’s episode of In Love with the Process, Mike dives into the surreal, violent, and wildly imaginative world of artist and illustrator Mu Pan.

Known for his massive, Boschian battle scenes filled with hybrid human and bestial figures, Mu Pan creates work that feels like a lost myth, somewhere between ancient history and a fever dream. His art pulls from Japanese manga, traditional Chinese scroll painting, American history, and Hong Kong cinema, blending them into something completely unique and deeply personal.

His work has been exhibited internationally, including a major retrospective at Espacio Solo in Madrid, and even appeared in the award-winning horror film Midsommar.

Mike first discovered Mu Pan through his book American Fried Rice, a collection that feels like a twisted children’s storybook, equal parts playful and disturbing, and it completely blew his mind.

In this episode, the two go deep into:

• Why art school can sometimes kill creativity
• How your true artistic voice is often formed in childhood
• The long journey of losing that voice and fighting to get it back
• The importance of constantly challenging yourself as an artist
• The influence of manga, monster movies, and cultural storytelling on Mu Pan’s work
• Why embracing the strange and uncomfortable leads to more honest art
• 
  

Mu Pan also discusses his sculptural work, “OrigaMu,” and how building physical versions of his characters expands his creative world beyond the page.

This is a conversation about art in its purest form, messy, violent, playful, and deeply human.

If you’re a filmmaker, illustrator, or creative struggling to reconnect with your voice, this episode is for you.

► Mu Pan IG

► Mike's IG

► ILWP's IG

Music: Betamaxx & Code Elektro

——SPONSORS——

► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10

► Puget Systems

► Blackmagic Design

Inlovewiththeprocess.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.