Dana Yurcisin is a multidisciplinary artist based in Asbury Park, NJ. As a songwriter, musician, producer, photographer & filmmaker, he enjoys building full auditory & visual worlds for his albums, from writing, mixing & mastering the music to shooting his own music videos & press photos to designing the album covers. Contrary to his preference for control, however, he loves collaborating with other like-minded artists.

In this episode of the Ben There, Doing That Podcast, hosts Ben and his brother Dana Why engage in a candid conversation about life, creativity, and pursuing fulfillment. Dana, a multifaceted artist involved in music production, mixing, mastering, and photography, shares insights from his recent tour with his band Yawn Mower and his journey in the music industry. The brothers delve into topics such as the importance of perseverance in the face of artistic struggle, the impact of manifestation in their lives, and personal anecdotes that highlight their creative processes and experiences. They emphasize the significance of following one's passion and eliminating toxic influences for a fulfilling life. The conversation also covers a light-hearted discussion on professional wrestling, showcasing their dynamic and varied interests.

00:00 Kickstarting the Podcast with Energy and Introductions

01:57 Diving Into Dana's World: Music, Tours, and Creative Passions

09:08 The Journey from Basement Shows to Big Stages

15:15 Navigating the Challenges of Creativity and Recognition

16:17 The Art of Not Giving Up: Persistence in the Creative Process

20:01 From Skate Videos to Music Albums: A Tale of Perseverance

26:53 Breaking Through: Gaining Recognition and the Power of Networking

30:40 Hustle Culture: The Grind Never Stops

30:56 Skateboarding: Lessons from the Asphalt

31:54 Music Breakthrough: The Joy of Being Heard

34:14 Pro Wrestling Nostalgia: Debating the Greatest Matches

36:38 Tour Life: The Highs and Lows of the Road

40:47 Maine Adventures: The Blood Man Encounter

51:33 Manifestation and Spiritual Encounters

55:50 Living a Fulfilling Life: Finding Your Passion

Connect with Dana Why:

https://www.instagram.com/dana.why/

https://linktr.ee/danayurcisin

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/

In this episode of the 'Ben There, Doing That' podcast, host Ben Yurcisin discusses the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone to lead a fulfilling life. Sharing from his personal experience, Ben records the episode outdoors in a crowded public park, highlighting his discomfort yet pushing through to exemplify the episode's message.

He emphasizes growth, overcoming fear, and seizing life's opportunities as key benefits of challenging oneself to do uncomfortable things. Ben shares stories of his own endeavors, including attending a solo event and turning what could have been a misdirection into a valuable lesson on adaptability and the unexpected joys of life's surprises. The episode encourages listeners to take risks, embrace failure as a step towards success, and remember life's fleeting nature as motivation to pursue genuine happiness and fulfillment.

00:00 Welcome to the Uncomfortable Podcast Experience

00:27 The Growth in Discomfort: Recording in Public

01:29 Why Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone Matters

04:21 Practical Steps to Embrace Discomfort

08:08 Personal Anecdotes of Growth and Discomfort

16:39 Navigating Life's Unpredictable Turns

24:07 Closing Thoughts: Life's Fleeting Moments and Taking Action

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/

In this episode, Ben interviews Sadie while getting tattooed by her.

Sadie is a handpoke tattoo artist out of Philadelphia, with a background in international travel, marketing and business. Sadie is mostly self taught and has focused the last ten years of her life to achieving her long term goal of being a full time artist. She currently works at Now and Forever Tattoo where she is learning to tattoo with a machine and develop her unique style.

Sadie shares her personal journey towards finding her passion in tattoo artistry with broader advice on embracing change within the tattoo industry and life itself. Sadie transitioned from various career paths to becoming a fulfilled tattoo artist, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, balance, and self-motivation. The narrative further explores the dynamics of modern tattooing, contrasting traditional methods with the adoption of digital marketing and social media, highlighting the importance of learning new skills and technology. It also touches on making progress through small steps, the power of journaling and community, and offers encouragement for those feeling stuck. The overarching message is one of finding one's passion, adapting to industry shifts, and the perennial journey of self-discovery and growth.

00:00 Kicking Off with a Tattoo Session: Introducing Sadie

00:33 Diving into Tattoo Artistry and Learning Curves

01:08 A Trip Down Memory Lane: Childhood Adventures

01:44 Exploring Music, Identity, and Childhood Rivalries

03:36 The Great Outdoors: Childhood Games and Life Lessons

07:35 From Art Classes to Teaching: Sadie's Journey

13:01 Embracing the Unknown: Teaching Abroad in Korea

17:35 Finding Community and Overcoming Challenges in Korea

20:03 The Australian Adventure: Au Pairing and Self-Discovery

28:40 A Series of Unfortunate Events: From Head Injury to Getting Run Over

32:22 The Journey from Job Hunting to Virtual Assistant

32:43 Diving into the World of Finance and Career Transition

33:48 The Struggle of Job Applications and Finding a New Path

34:09 Exploring Virtual Work and Starting with a Weight Loss Business

35:01 Gaining Business Experience and Learning on the Job

36:38 The Power of Mentorship and Personal Growth

40:08 Transitioning to Tattoo Artistry: A New Creative Venture

41:46 Embracing Hand Poking and the Tattoo Industry

44:27 Overcoming Challenges and Setting New Goals

51:11 Finding Success and Building a Clientele

57:03 Reflecting on the Journey and Looking Ahead

Connect with Sadie:

https://www.instagram.com/sadie_stix/

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/

In episode three of the 'Ben There, Doing That' podcast, Ben shares his journey of figuring out life and entrepreneurship week by week. From humble beginnings and learning the technical aspects of podcasting, such as adjusting microphone levels, to embracing the messy process of growing a project in its nascent stages, Ben reflects on the importance of starting before feeling fully ready.

He recounts his experiences starting 'FunFinders' with a friend after gatecrashing a VIP event, leading to an unintentional interview that kickstarted his entrepreneurial career. Despite the venture not being completely successful, it was a crucial learning curve. Through networking, attending events, and embracing every failure as a growth opportunity rather than a setback, Ben navigates through various ventures, including a stint in social media marketing and a dip into the cryptocurrency world.

Each experience, whether a failure or a lesson, propels him to the next opportunity, illustrating the unpredictable but rewarding nature of entrepreneurship. The episode is a candid look at the highs and lows of starting businesses, the importance of persistence, and the belief that no effort goes unrewarded if you keep pushing forward.

00:00 Welcome to Episode Three: The Journey Continues

00:20 Learning from the Podcasting Process

00:58 The Power of Starting Before You're Ready

01:41 Embracing the Chaos: Finding Structure in Podcasting

02:38 Diving into Entrepreneurship: The Birth of FunFinders

04:19 The Entrepreneurial Journey: From Idea to Reality

05:23 Networking and the Unexpected Path to Success

13:35 Taking Over the Jersey City Tech Meetup

16:50 Rising Through Challenges: The Entrepreneurial Journey

17:03 The Pivot to Virtual Events and Beyond

17:49 From Layoff to Pure Joy: Embracing Entrepreneurship

19:45 Building BeYu Media: A Social Media Success Story

21:24 Exploring Startups and the Revelation to Lead

22:18 Diving Deep into the Crypto World

22:37 The Highs and Lows of Crypto Investments

24:55 Creating BeYu Labs: A Community for Entrepreneurs

26:12 Learning from Failures and Finding a Mentor

28:27 The Power of Persistence and the Future Ahead

30:19 Reflections and Advice for Fellow Entrepreneurs

Watch the FunFinders Interview with ParlayMe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxH6LqNdrKA&t=102s

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/

Mark Braham is one of the Best Realism Tattoo artists in Philadelphia. Mark is a skilled tattoo artist with a passion for realism, black and grey, and surrealism. Since 2016, he's been turning ideas into stunning works of art. Mark specializes in floral and landscape tattoos, capturing the beauty of nature with some of the greatest realistic tattoos the city has to offer. Animals, skulls, and pop culture icons also find their place in his diverse portfolio.

This episode of 'Ben There, Doing That Podcast' introduces host Ben Yurcisin and his first guest, tattoo artist and musician Mark Braham. Broadcasting from Philadelphia, they dive into Mark's artistic and musical journey, the impact of COVID-19 on their previous ventures, and the stories behind their early, crude attempts at podcasting. Mark shares his upbringing and evolution as an artist and tattooist, emphasizing the role of family support, experimentation, and raw passion in his career.

They also ponder over the challenges of feeling stuck, the importance of tough conversations for progress, and the significance of pursuing what one loves. Ben and Mark highlight Philadelphia's best cheesesteaks, concluding with insights into Mark's aspirations for the future, emphasizing growth, communication, and continued passion for his crafts.

00:00 Kickoff: Introducing the Podcast and Our First Guest

02:28 Diving into Mark's Artistic Journey: From Childhood to Tattoos

06:55 The Path Less Traveled: Choosing Art Over Conventional Careers

14:45 Mark's Tattooing Tales: Early Days, Failures, and Growth

22:45 Celebrating Success: Awards, Recognition, and Self-Worth

30:15 Reflections on Growth, Pricing, and Dreaming Big

35:11 Navigating Success and Innovation

35:59 From Art to Music: A Creative Journey

39:23 The Birth of First Watch and Musical Evolution

46:31 Overcoming Stagnation: A Personal Growth Story

56:32 The Ultimate Philly Cheesesteak Guide

01:00:29 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Next Steps

Connect with Mark:

https://www.instagram.com/markbtattoos/

Listen to First Watch:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1VQgt3QVnLJd0SAitUEsSV?si=8zjprPQDQT-a3qt7jYf5EA

Follow First Watch:

https://www.instagram.com/firstwatchpa/

Connect with Ben:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/

In the inaugural episode of 'Ben There, Doing That', Ben shares the motivations and inspirations behind starting the podcast. He discusses the challenges and realizations that come with initiating a creative project, emphasizing the importance of taking action over endless planning. The episode also covers Ben’s background, including a career filled with diverse experiences in technology, entrepreneurship, and creative ventures.

Ben expresses a desire to make the podcast a space for engaging conversations with a variety of guests, from business leaders to artists, aiming to share insights and stories that energize and inspire listeners. Through a mix of solo and guest episodes, the podcast seeks to explore accomplishments, failures, and the continuous journey of learning and growth.

00:00 Kicking Off the Journey: The Why Behind the Podcast

01:39 The Spark: From Beach Walks to Podcast Dreams

03:01 Content Creation and Finding Joy Beyond Algorithms

06:22 Embracing Creativity and the Power of AI

06:42 The Making of 'Ben There, Doing That': A Community Effort

08:06 The Vision: Weekly Episodes, Solo Insights, and Diverse Guests

14:27 Unfiltered Conversations and the Art of Drifting

16:29 Leveraging AI for Growth and Creativity

18:08 A Call to Action: Living Beyond the 75% Unhappy

20:47 Wrapping Up and What's Next

Connect with Ben:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benyurcisin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benyurcisin/