In Part 3 of the Dawn Dusk series, where Margo explores the creative forces behind the documentary, she sits down with Emmy-winning composer Silas Hite, whose music spans blockbuster films, hit TV shows, museum installations, bestselling video games, and award-winning commercials. With over two decades of experience and an unmatched ability to move between genres, Silas shares how an early love of rhythm and melody grew into a multifaceted career in composing and recording.

They explore how the industry has shifted over the years — from strikes to the rise of AI — and how Silas balances commercial projects with deeply personal creative work. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at his collaborative process, translating visual stories into sound, and the joy of creative experimentation.

Margo and Silas discuss:

• Silas’ early inspirations and how his musical path evolved from performing to composing
• Navigating major industry shifts and the impact of AI on music creation
• The art of translating visual storytelling into sound, including scoring Dawn Dusk
• Balancing commercial projects with personal artistry and creative fulfillment
• Why being a musical generalist has been key to Silas’ success
• Insights into composing for short formats like commercials and TV segments
• The inspiration and creative process behind Chicha Macabre and My Happy Place
• Upcoming projects and how personal work keeps his creativity thriving

Connect with Silas:
https://www.silashite.com/
https://www.instagram.com/silas_hite
https://soundcloud.com/satincowboy
https://www.facebook.com/SilasHiteComposer/

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

In Part 2 of a special Dawn Dusk series, Margo sits down with designer and maker Chelli Look, whose story is at the center of the documentary Dawn Dusk. Directed by Jason and Blue Gerber, the film follows Chelli’s journey through grief and healing after the devastating loss of her sister to domestic violence.

In this conversation, Chelli shares how creating leather handbags under her brand CHC became both a lifeline and a language for navigating profound loss. She offers her perspective on how the documentary came to be, what it means to create beauty amidst grief, and how creativity continues to shape her work as a designer, advocate, and visual storyteller. Through her story, we’re reminded of the resilience found in making and the quiet strength of simply being.

Margo and Chelli discuss:

• How the documentary Dawn Dusk unfolded from Chelli’s perspective
• The role of creativity and design in navigating grief and emotional recovery
• Why beauty is a necessity—not a luxury—in the healing process
• How CHC handbags became a vessel for processing and storytelling
• The evolution of Chelli’s work as an advocate for domestic violence survivors
• Learning to slow down, be present, and allow healing to unfold over time

Connect with Chelli:
https://www.dawnduskfilm.com/trailer
https://www.chellilook.com/
www.instagram.com/chelli_look
www.instagram.com/dawnduskfilm

In this episode of Creative Current Events, Margo and Abby dive into a whirlwind of fascinating stories and fresh perspectives from the worlds of creativity, tech, and everyday life. They chat about the accidental invention of the snow globe and the surprising rise of art fairs hosted in U-Haul trucks — celebrating human resourcefulness and the scrappy side of creativity.

They also dig into AI and authenticity — from lawsuits against media companies accused of data theft, to AI-generated actors in Hollywood, and the ethical gray areas of algorithm-driven platforms like Spotify. Together, Margo and Abby unpack how these developments are reshaping creative industries and what it means to stay human in a data-driven world.

Whether you’re a maker, dreamer, or just looking for a new lens on today’s creative headlines, this episode proves that inspiration is everywhere — sometimes in the most unexpected places.

Articles Mentioned:

• AI Lawsuits: Japanese Media Giants vs. Perplexity
• AI Actor Sparks Outrage in Hollywood
• Cities & Memory: Global Sound Mapping Project
• The Sphere: Wizard of Oz Experience
• Magnopus: Storytelling Through Immersive Tech
• Banana Republic’s Vintage Catalog Revival
• Carhartt x Bethany Yellowtail Collaboration
• Coach’s Coffee Shops Connect with Gen Z
• Ugmonk: Intentional Design Meets the Analog To-Do List

Connect with Abby:

https://www.abbyjcampbell.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ajcampkc/

https://www.pinterest.com/ajcampbell/

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by husband-and-wife directing duo Jason & Blue Gerber, an award-winning team working across films and commercials. Their creative synergy has led them to direct for brands like Walgreens, 7UP, Chipotle, Intelligentsia, and LOEWE, while also producing heartfelt storytelling work for organizations such as The Boys & Girls Clubs, Athletes Unlimited, and Lincoln Park Community Services. Their short film Otis’ Dream, about voter suppression, was shared by Oprah as an official Super Soul Sunday short film, and their commercial and nonprofit work has been recognized with industry honors including a Silver Telly Award. Together, Jason & Blue bring both tactful precision and deep feeling into everything they create, evoking imagination and authentic human narratives as one voice.

In this conversation, Margo, Jason, and Blue dive into the power of collaboration, storytelling that heals, and the journey of their new feature documentary, Dawn Dusk.

Margo, Jason & Blue discuss:

• From college pals to co-directors: how their friendship at Columbia College Chicago grew into a collaborative career.
• What it takes to truly direct as a duo—prep, trust, communication, and playing to each other’s strengths.
• Choosing projects that center the human spirit, resilience, and creativity.
• How a short five-minute idea evolved into the four-year feature documentary Dawn Dusk, following artist Chelli Look’s journey of grief and healing through her leather goods business, CHC.
• The role of composer Silas Hite’s score as the “unseen narrator” guiding the emotion of the film.
• Why experimentation, patience, and deep listening are essential for creative work that connects.
• Lessons from navigating both commercial and narrative filmmaking, and how storytelling always comes back to empathy.
  
  

Connect with Jason & Blue
Website: jasonandblue.com
Film Website: dawnduskfilm.com/trailer
Instagram: @jasonandblue, @dawnduskfilm

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by the ever-creative and generous Tamara Honaman. Tammy is a passionate jewelry artist, educator, mentor, and connector who has spent more than 30 years inspiring others to explore their creativity. From publishing and television to workshops, books, and now her own podcast and maker community, Tammy’s career has been defined by helping others feel empowered to make something beautiful.

As the host of Heart & Hands of a Maker and founder of the Mixed Media Makers community, Tammy shares stories, resources, and techniques that make art more approachable for everyone. She’s also the author of several books—including her newest release, Projects and Techniques for Metal Clay Jewelry—and continues to teach across the U.S. and internationally. With a brand-new studio space and a full calendar of workshops and shows ahead, Tammy is embracing this next chapter with her trademark heart and enthusiasm.

Margo and Tammy discuss:

• How one color-filled polymer clay project (and a “no torches in the house” rule!) changed the trajectory of her life

• Decades in publishing: from Lapidary Journal and Interweave to producing 13 series of Beads, Baubles & Jewels for PBS

• Why teaching and mentorship are at the heart of everything she does—and how she helps others feel confident and creative

• Tips for aspiring teachers and anyone who wants to carve out more time for creativity

• The story behind her brand-new studio and her latest book, Projects and Techniques for Metal Clay Jewelry

• Why “permission to try”—and to fail—is one of the most powerful tools a maker can have
  
  

Connect with Tammy:
www.tamarahonaman.com

instagram.com/tamarahonaman

https://www.facebook.com/TamaraHonaman

https://open.spotify.com/show/1DRnpkazZDNFScrZ03pLnU?si=8f110053efc1445d

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAUEiuRH8Q-bykMuxsnJAnA

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Anna Holzman, a therapist-turned-coach who helps sensitive creatives and entrepreneurs move through the fear of visibility and launch the work that feels most true to them. After 15 years in TV and publishing—and many false starts on her own creative dreams—burnout and chronic pain led Anna to discover nervous system tools that helped her unblock her voice and show up for the work she loves. Now she helps others melt through imposter syndrome, bring their creative visions to life, and share them boldly. She also hosts the podcast How to Trust Yourself.

Margo and Anna discuss:

• What’s happening in your nervous system when you want to launch something but feel stuck

• How to dialogue with fear instead of fighting it

• Why squashing fear often backfires

• The importance of social support and safety when showing up visibly

• Why sensitive voices are needed in today’s noisy world

• The perniciousness of comparison among creatives

• Graded exposure therapy

• Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and creative blocks

• Understanding customer's perspectives
  
  

Connect with Anna:
www.annaholtzman.com
https://www.instagram.com/anna_holtzman/
How to Trust Yourself podcast: https://pod.link/1679033028

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by artist and founder behind Beenanza Design, Bethany Andrews Nichols. A returning friend of the show, Bethany shares how her creative practice has evolved over the past few years—expanding her Burlington, Vermont studio into a hub for block printing workshops and collaborations with brands like King Arthur Flour and Cabot Cheese, developing her new DIY printing kit Coverall, and launching a block-printed fabric line with Stash Fabrics. Along the way, she opens up about navigating feedback, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the persistence it takes to keep moving forward.

Margo and Bethany discuss:

• How Bethany’s studio has evolved into a creative hub for workshops and collaborations

• Developing a DIY block printing kit

• Using feedback (even tough feedback) to refine ideas and keep creativity alive

• Building accountability and creative connections that move projects forward

• Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and creative exploration

• Why starting before you’re “ready” is often the best way forward
  
  

Connect with Bethany:

https://www.beenanzadesign.com/partnerships
https://www.instagram.com/beenanza.design/
https://www.beenanzadesign.com/monthly-calendar/sept-25

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Margo is joined by Cassie McDaniel, Head of Design at Medium, where she leads product design, brand, and research. Cassie has also brought her design expertise to companies like Lattice, Webflow, Glitch, and Mozilla Foundation, and she’s passionate about simplifying complex workflows while creating space for more meaningful design. Beyond her professional roles, Cassie is a painter, writer, DIY renovator, and environmental conservation group member—someone who embodies the importance of building a life rich with creativity both in and outside of work.

In this conversation, Cassie and Margo explore what it means to be a well-rounded creative leader, how personal passions fuel professional innovation, and why design belongs at the leadership table. Cassie also gives us a peek behind the curtain at Medium’s evolving design approach, including how her team thinks about content consumption, new UX navigation, and experiments with AI.

Margo and Cassie discuss:

• The case for doing things outside your job and how hobbies unlock new creative potential

• How writing serves as “exercise for the brain” and a counterbalance to a busy design career

• Cassie’s approach to mentorship, including hiring, coaching, and guiding designers at all levels

• A behind-the-scenes look at design at Medium, from flat minimalism to layered storytelling

• How a family legacy of persistence, from chicken farming to dentistry, shaped Cassie’s approach to creativity and leadership

• Lessons from Cassie’s career across Webflow, Glitch, Mozilla, and Medium, and why foundational creative skills translate to digital spaces

• What makes Medium unique as a platform for authentic stories, connection, and community

• The value of saying yes to new opportunities, co-designing with communities, and learning from every experience

• Balancing leadership, writing, and motherhood while still making time for passion projects at home
  
  

Learn more about Cassie here:

• Website: cassiemcdaniel.com

• Medium: cassiebegins.medium.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cassiemc

• Instagram: @cassiebegins
  
  

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

Save the date for Medium Day 2025: https://medium.com/blog/save-the-date-for-medium-day-2025-50b1f15de07d