Northern Colorado artist Jessica Kuddes (JMK) creates one-of-a-kind paintings that feel like windows into redemption—visual “spiritual landscapes” that hold out hope when life is hard. In this conversation, we talk about protected margin, art born from grief, and why imagery can carry us when words can’t.

She challenges my conviction that play doh should never be mixed (but really, how many shades of brown can you make?!?) and talks about how early influences shaped her belief that she is an artist and using that gift matters.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Colossians 1:24–27 (ESV)
• Philippians 3:7–14 (ESV)
• Itzhak Perlman — “Greatest Hits (Spotify listing)

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What makes a story actually move people—without resorting to hype or manipulation? In this episode, Heather Winchell sits down with HR Sweat (Lampstand Story Company, Oklahoma City) to talk about the craft of storytelling, why “the first draft is garbage” can be a gift, and how critique becomes a creative superpower. They explore Lampstand’s approach to bespoke work—listening long enough to find the true thread—along with storytelling guardrails like honesty and respect for the audience. Along the way, you’ll hear stories from HR’s early days in video, the leadership feedback that changed his life, and why focusing on the good and beautiful can widen the circle in a divided world.

Key ideas you’ll hear:

• Bespoke storytelling starts with listening long enough to find the connecting thread.
• Honest storytelling often gets simpler with each revision (less “juice,” more truth).
• Respecting the audience means trusting them with complexity and hard realities.
• A compelling “ask” stays tethered to the why, not the swag-bag moment.
• Criticism isn’t the enemy—defensiveness is.

Mentioned in the episode:

Loud Cloud Animation Studio
Johnny Harris (channel)
BibleProject
The Moth
Huberman Lab gratitude episode

Catch more of the story @thanks.for.doing.that.podcast!

Since launching her cottage bakery earlier this year, Tori Aaker has been delighting Northern Colorado with sourdough loaves, cinnamon rolls, baking mixes, and what many now call the best chocolate chip cookie they’ve ever had - aka "The Number One". Around here, most people don’t even say “Tori” anymore—they just say Baker Aaker.

In this cozy conversation, Heather and Tori talk about what a cottage bakery actually is, how Tori set up her porch hutch, and why her background in photography, design, and branding made it easier to launch quickly. They also get honest about pricing homemade goods, baking at altitude, the joy of feeding people, and the freedom to try things without having to stick with them forever.

Whether you’re a home baker, a small business dreamer, or just someone who loves a good cookie, this episode is a warm invitation to try, taste, and enjoy the season you’re in.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What a cottage bakery is and how the Colorado cottage food law works for home bakers
• How Tori’s upbringing—watching her mom cook for hundreds at church events—shaped her love of serving people through food
• The story behind the now-famous “number one cookie” and the neighbor who insisted she start selling it
• Why the biggest challenge isn’t always pricing, but deciding how much to bake and what sizes to sell
• Baking at altitude in Colorado (including Tori’s tip to slightly reduce butter in cookies so they don’t spread)
• The hidden time cost of cookies versus other baked goods
• Tori’s favorite kitchen tools, including those magnetic measuring spoons and restaurant-style sheet pans with lids
• How her background in photography, branding, and web design made Baker Aaker quicker and easier to launch
• The emotional side of pricing your work and facing imposter syndrome when you sell what you can “just make at home”
• Tori’s fast-start personality, why she’s had multiple businesses, and her permission slip to stop something when it’s no longer right for your season
• Encouragement for kid (and grown-up) bakers: reading the recipe, trying again when it doesn’t work, and learning from mistakes

Where to find Tori / Baker Aaker:

• Website: bakeraaker.com
• Instagram: @bakeraaker

Catch more of the story @thanks.for.doing.that.podcast!