#105 - Paul Pape: Santa for Nerds, Making the Things That Don’t Exist Yet

#105 - Paul Pape: Santa for Nerds, Making the Things That Don’t Exist Yet

From Was It Chance? by Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network

January 20, 2026 · 58 min · Episode 105

About this episode

Paul Pape discusses the intersection of creativity and business, emphasizing the importance of saying 'yes' and building sustainable artistic ventures.

What if saying “yes” before you know how is the real creative superpower? In this episode of Was It Chance, Heather Vickery and Alan Seales sit down with Paul Pape—creative problem navigator, TEDx speaker, author, and the man affectionately known as “Santa for Nerds.” From a studio in Nebraska, Paul has built custom props, collectibles, and prototypes for Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, Broadway, and The Tonight Show, becoming the go-to person when clients need something that doesn’t exist yet. Paul shares how a theater background, relentless curiosity, and a bend-don’t-break mindset led him from being told he’d never act again to designing iconic objects for film, television, and live entertainment. Along the way, he breaks down how creatives can build sustainable businesses without sacrificing their artistic soul—by charging for labor, reframing pricing, and even gamifying business strategy. This conversation is a masterclass in intentional risk, creative problem solving, and why the “starving artist” narrative deserves to be retired for good. Connect With Us: 📩 Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wasitchancepodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Follow Was It Chance? on your favorite podcast…

People in this episode

Hosts: Heather Vickery, Alan Seales

Guest: Paul Pape

Topics covered

  • creativity
  • business strategy
  • theater
  • problem solving
  • sustainable business
  • artistic integrity

Keywords

  • creative superpower
  • custom props
  • collectibles
  • prototypes
  • theater background
  • risk-taking
  • starving artist

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, Broadway, The Tonight Show

Places: Nebraska

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