Where culture’s creatives are the celebrities.

This isn’t a panel talk or a podcast; its culture, live and direct in front of a studio audience.

The Umber Talk Show is a new cultural talk series spotlighting the brilliance of creatives across art, design, and music. Think late-night talk show vibes through the lens of culture. Hosted by Umber’s Founder & CEO Mike Nicholls, each event features intimate one-on-one interviews, live music, and our signature Group Chat segment. An unscripted conversation exploring creativity, culture, and community.

This is the first of its kind. The Umber Talk Show is an intentional experiment in how we gather, listen, and spotlight creative voices. And we’re just getting started.

Documentation by Aaron Miller for AM1 Creates

We’ve hosted events and panel talks before. But this is not that. We’re bringing you into our editorial process, live and in the flesh. These are the conversations that shape our print publications and digital content. Every guest will be featured in our upcoming releases.

We set out to deconstruct the typical panel format and give our guests room to shine. We’re here to elevate those leading with imagination, curiosity, and culture.

The first Edition

Umber Talk Show - June 7th 2025
Mama Dog Studios, Oakland, CA
Presented during SF Design Week

We launched our inaugural edition during SF Design Week, an essential festival that showcases the unique intersection of ideas, design, business & entrepreneurship. For one night only, we brought the Umber aesthetic to life with artists and innovators working at the edge of public art, game design, music, and more.

Featured Guests:

  • April Banks – Creator of Outlandish, bending worlds through public art, activations, and print

  • Damon Packwood – Founder of Gameheads, building tech pathways through game-based education

  • Vadia – Vocalist, songwriter, and spiritual force behind the #NoGraves movement

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Where We’re Headed

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Los Angeles

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New York

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STAY TUNED

• Los Angeles • New York • STAY TUNED

  • “Mike Nicholls is a genius. The event was a reminder of the talent & heart in Oakland.”

    Sabrina Mutukisna, Principal, Built Here

  • “I was blown away by the social insights and talent of Mike and his guests. The conversation was riveting and I walked away feeling inspired.”

    Adrienne Hogg, Co-Executive Director, Community Works West

  • “So amazing to be in a room filled with creative talent & energy from the Bay & beyond!”

    Becky Rath, Senior Art Director

  • “You + Umber = amazing!!!”

    Dawn Zidonis, Executive Director, SF Design Week

  • “It was EVERYTHING!”

    Dr. Aisha Mays, Founder + CEO, Dream Youth Clinic

  • “Thrilled to have you at Mama Dog Studios. Thank you for the opportunity to host our first SF Design Week event.”

    Carl Brown, Co-founder, Mama Dog Studios

let’s collaborate!

We’re actively seeking partners and collaborators for upcoming shows in LA and NYC.
Visit our Partnerships page to learn more.