The Riley Black Project

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a handwritten recipe, a small-town move, and one laser turn into a full engraving business?In this episode of **The Riley Black Project**, John and Crystal sit down with **Michael and Flora from Havet Engraved** to talk about their journey from Port St. Lucie, Florida to Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, and how they went from one machine in a basement to a growing engraving business with lasers, UV printing, sandblasting, metal marking, apparel, and more.Michael and Flora share how a sentimental engraved cutting board sparked...

Send us Fan MailNext Level is almost here, and we are officially in conference prep mode.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal go live in the Riley Black Project Community to talk all things Next Level Maker Conference, booth prep, content creation, networking, health updates, and how we’re trying to stay consistent even when life keeps getting chaotic.We talk about what we’re bringing to Next Level, including Keychain Thingies, UV DTF stickers, portable fans, jewelry samples, and a shared booth setup with Katy from Mona...

Send us Fan MailWe’re finally back!After a short break, The Riley Black Project returns with a guest who has been dodging us for years: Kristen Thompson of Kristen Thompson Designs.Kristen joins John and Crystal to talk about her journey from corporate work at Lowe’s, to Cricut crafts, Etsy digital designs, sublimation tumblers, laser engraving, full wrap tumbler designs, Photoshop mockups, and building a creative business around the products and designs she actually loves making.We get into the real maker-business stuff too: trying new things, getting over...

Send us Fan MailCrystal bought a new laser… so naturally, we had to talk about it.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down for a life update episode packed with maker business pivots, laser talk, content creation lessons, ADHD updates, travel plans, and a major Riley Black Studios website refresh.Crystal shares her first impressions of the xTool F2, why she chose it for jewelry and small personalized gifts, and how the camera alignment has already made engraving tiny pieces easier. We also talk about using la...

Send us Fan MailThe rivalry is BACK.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal welcome back David and Blake for David vs. Blake: Round 2.What started as a friendly feud in the Michigan maker community has turned into one of the funniest ongoing rivalries in the laser world. This year, the battle is headed back to Next Level, where votes, bragging rights, giveaways, and embarrassing ads are all on the line.We talk about:• The return of...

Send us Fan MailWhat do epoxy cups, DTF transfers, UV DTF, lasers, entrepreneurship, and pet monkeys all have in common?Apparently… 143 MTD. 😂In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Ashley and Bethany from 143 MTD for one of the most unexpected and entertaining conversations we’ve had yet.Ashley shares how her business started as a side gig making epoxy cups, evolved into vinyl, sublimation, DTF transfers, UV DTF, laser engraving, embroidery, slick crewnecks, and eventually grew into a full creative business. We also talk ab...

Send us Fan MailSometimes business growth looks less like a huge breakthrough……and more like admitting, “I don’t want to keep doing it this way.”In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down for a no-guest, real-life update episode about pivoting, product ideas, custom order stress, laser business decisions, and figuring out what actually feels sustainable.Crystal talks through her possible shift into custom laser engraved jewelry using Monarch Pine jewelry blanks, why she’s considering moving away from certain custom products, and how small person...

Send us Fan MailBraden from GS2 Awards is back on The Riley Black Project!In this episode, we dive into the world of custom awards, sandblasting, UV printing, laser engraving, and the growing demand for premium personalized products. Braden shares how a simple shift into awards helped transform his business, why sandblasting remains one of the most powerful tools in the industry, and how the new Beyond the Beam Learning Center is helping makers, engravers, and business owners level up their skills.We also discuss pricing strategies, custom award design, production workflows...

Send us Fan MailShe showed up wearing a mask...And somehow things got MORE chaotic from there. 😂In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we're joined by none other than Emily That Mom with a Laser for a conversation that starts with Laser Maker Con 2025 and quickly turns into entrepreneurship, burnout, creativity, health, ADHD, community, and one of the wildest stories we've heard in the maker space.We dive into:🔥 Everything you need to know about Laser Maker Con 2025🔥 The incredible speakers, classes, giveaways, and new features...

Send us Fan MailWant better content without spending hours editing, stressing over algorithms, or trying to go viral?In this special compilation episode of The Riley Black Project, we're bringing together two incredible conversations from Facebook Live appearances with Emily (That Mom With A Laser) and Will (Crazy Laser Dad).The focus?Content creation that actually works for makers and small business owners.As part of the launch of the new Content Creation Playbook Mini Course, we dive into the biggest mistakes makers make with content, why consistency...

Send us Fan MailLife hit HARD this week.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal finally sit down after a whirlwind couple of weeks involving a totaled car, injuries, family loss, traveling to Virginia for Jamboree, teaching content creation classes, and somehow still trying to keep business moving forward.This episode gets real.We talk about:• Crystal’s car accident and recovery• Navigating grief, stress, and entrepreneurship at the same time• The emotional side of running a business during hard seasons• Jamboree 2...

Send us Fan MailNext Level is back… but this year, it’s bigger than lasers.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Will and Mark to talk all things Next Level Maker Con 2026, the shift from Next Level Laser Conference to a broader maker-focused event, and why this year’s theme of “Refreshed” matters more than ever.We dive into:• Why the event changed from laser-focused to maker-focused• What “Refreshed” means for makers, creatives, and business owners• Why taking care of the maker matters ju...

Send us Fan MailRunning a business is hard enough…Now try doing it while your co-host is out of state, your kids are running wild, and you’re juggling multiple businesses at once 😅In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John holds it down solo (barely 😂) before being joined by Srishti & Arpit from Esenay Digital — a global agency helping makers and small businesses scale online the right way.From Mexico City to Colorado to Florida, this episode is a true remote podcast experience packed with real talk, real struggles, and real solutio...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal record from two different states while juggling real life, real business, and everything in between.But this episode isn’t just a life update…We’re joined by Sumita & Anuj to break down UV Ink Fest, a brand-new virtual conference designed to bring real education to makers—without the need to travel.We dive into:• Why UV Ink Fest was created and who it’s for• The growing demand for UV printing education• Brand-ne...

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to scale a creative business… without burning out or losing everything?In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Chantz from Custom Grains to talk about the real side of growth — the wins, the stress, the risks, and the lessons that come with building multiple businesses at once.From losing a massive TikTok following overnight…to investing hundreds of thousands back into his business…to launching a brand new hat company…This episode is packed with raw, hones...

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when frustration turns into innovation… and that innovation turns into an entire company?P.S. We lost Power at the end In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Jenna from AP Lazer to break down how their machines were born out of a real problem engraving massive granite pieces that simply wouldn’t fit into traditional laser beds.That frustration led to something different…open architecture laser design.And now?They’re hosting L...

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when two creators turn chaos into content… and accidentally build a movement?In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Kim & Garrett to talk about their journey building a brand through live content, community, and a little bit of “figure it out as we go” energy.From late-night prep sessions and sweaty live streams… to launching their Loot Box subscription and hosting their own maker conference (Jamboree) — this episode is packed with real moments, lessons, and laughs.We dive into:• The...

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you stop trying to be everything… and finally lean into what makes you different?In this episode of The Riley Black Project, we sit down with Jordan from Oak & Embers to talk about her journey from sewing business → laser artist → full-time creator building a brand rooted in custom, one-of-a-kind work.This isn’t just a maker story… it’s a masterclass in finding your lane, trusting your creativity, and building a business that actually fits your life.We dive into:• How she went from Glow...

Send us Fan MailFive canceled flights. Getting stranded in Baltimore.…And somehow, it was still worth it.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal break down their full experience traveling to and from the Michigan Maker Summit—including one of the most chaotic travel stories they’ve ever lived through.But this isn’t just a travel horror story…It’s about community, showing up, teaching, and why events like this matter more than ever.We dive into...

Send us Fan MailFrom pyrotechnics at Universal Studios to becoming President of the Awards & Personalization Association (APA) — Justin’s journey is one you don’t hear every day.In this episode of The Riley Black Project, John and Crystal sit down with Justin Varn of Awards4U to talk about growing up in the awards industry, stepping into a family business, and eventually becoming APA President.But the story goes deeper than that.Justin shares the emotional moment when his father presented him with APA Speaker of the Year, making histor...