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Every music fan has a handful of albums that become more than just records. They're bookmarks. They're attached to seasons of life, friendships, road trips, heartbreak, new beginnings, and moments that quietly change who we are. Years later, all it takes is hearing the opening notes of a song, and suddenly you're transported back to that exact moment. That's exactly what inspired the latest episode of Judged by the Cover. Instead of focusing on one album, Phil and I decided to have a conversation about a few Christian records that left a lasting impact on us—not necessarily because they're the greatest albums ever made, but because they became part of our stories. More Than Just Christian Music One thing we wanted to make clear from the beginning of the episode is that this isn't really an episode about Christian music. It's about music that shaped us. Whether your favorite albums come from rock, country, hip-hop, jazz, or worship music, most people can point to a few records that influenced the way they think, create, or even see the world. For me, that album is Paradoxology by Elevation Worship. For Phil, it's a much more unexpected choice—a Willie Nelson gospel record that arrived in his mailbox at exactly the right moment in life. Neither story is really about genre. They're about timing. The Album That Changed My Creative Perspective When Paradoxology was released, I had just moved to Chattanooga. Life was changing. I was beginning to take JW Creates seriously as more than just a hobby, and creatively I was looking for examples of people doing things differently. That's where Paradoxology comes in. Paradoxology is so fascinating because it isn't simply the music. It's the creative process behind it. Elevation Worship took songs that had already become successful on their previous album and stripped them down into something completely different. Instead of trying to make everything bigger, louder, and more polished, they intentionally removed the excess. The visual album follows the same philosophy. Long, uninterrupted camera movements. Minimal editing. Beautiful lighting. Intentional imperfections. Even the album artwork tells the story. Rather than relying on perfectly clean digital graphics, the artwork was physically printed to capture the texture and imperfections that only real materials can create. As someone who spends his days thinking about design and storytelling, that kind of intentionality was incredibly inspiring. It reminded me that creativity isn't always about adding more. Sometimes it's about stripping things back until only what matters remains. The Album That Found Phil Phil's story couldn't be more different. Years before returning to church, he and his wife received a sampler from a record label they were working with. Buried inside was a Willie Nelson gospel album. Neither of them were looking for faith. Neither of them were searching for Christian music. They simply loved the songs. Years later, Phil still points to that record as one of the unexpected moments that helped lead him back to faith. It's a reminder that great music has a funny way of finding us before we're looking for it. The Albums We Actually Remember One of the biggest conversations we had during this episode had nothing to do with faith at all. It was about the way we consume music today. Streaming has made music more accessible than ever, but it's also made it incredibly disposable. We build playlists. We save singles. We skip songs after thirty seconds. Very few of us spend a month living with an album anymore. That's one of the reasons we're excited about launching the Judged by the Cover Record of the Month Club later this year. The goal isn't to tell people what they should like. The goal is simply to slow down and experience albums the way they were originally intended—as complete works of art. Because sometimes your favorite song isn't the single. Sometimes it's track nine. Creativity Deserves a Second Life One final idea from the episode has stuck with me. As creatives, we often feel like once a project is finished, we have to move on. But Paradoxology challenged that idea. Instead of abandoning a successful album, Elevation Worship revisited it. They reimagined it. They gave it a second life. That isn't limited to music. Designers can revisit old branding projects. Filmmakers can expand short films. Writers can rewrite old ideas. Artists can create new work from existing work. Sometimes your next great project isn't something completely new. Sometimes it's seeing an old project with fresh eyes. What Albums Shaped You? We'd love to know. What album immediately takes you back to a specific season of life? It doesn't have to be your favorite record. Just the one that changed something in you.

There’s something special about discovering music completely blind. No algorithms. No playlists. No “fans also like.” Just you, a record bin, and a cover that catches your attention enough to take a chance on it. That’s exactly what happened on the latest episode of Judged by the Cover. Every once in a while, Phil and I like to do what we call a “music discovery” episode — where we head to local record stores, dig through crates, and buy an album purely based on the artwork and packaging. No research. No previews. No idea what the music sounds like. Just curiosity and cover art doing what great cover art is supposed to do. This time, the album was Cold Roses by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. And man…we found another winner. A Record Convention Find I originally picked this record up during a local record convention hosted by Yellow Racket Records here in Chattanooga. Vendors from all over the area showed up with crates full of vinyl, CDs, posters, merch, and all kinds of musical treasures. The moment I pulled Cold Roses out of the bin, I knew there was something different about it. The cover immediately stood out because of the texture. This wasn’t just a flat printed jacket. The artwork had this embossed, almost vintage pressed-metal feel to it. Phil compared it to old decorative ceiling tiles you’d see in historic southern buildings or drugstores, while I thought it almost looked like old leatherworking textures or hammered copper craft art from when we were kids. Whatever it was, it felt premium. That tactile experience mattered. And honestly, it’s a perfect reminder that album art is more than just decoration. Great packaging creates curiosity. It invites people into the music before they ever hear a note. “This Sounds Like The Grateful Dead…” One of my favorite moments from the episode happened about 15 seconds into the first track. Phil immediately looked over and said, “This sounds like the Dead.” At that point, we still barely knew what we were listening to. As it turns out, that instinct was dead on. Released in 2005, Cold Roses was heavily inspired by The Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. Ryan Adams had recently recovered from a serious wrist injury after falling off a stage in 2004, and during rehab he reportedly relearned guitar by playing along to artists like Black Sabbath while diving deep into Dead-inspired improvisation and songwriting. And you can absolutely hear it. The record has this warm, organic, live-band energy that feels timeless. Loose in the best possible way. The kind of album that sounds less like a polished studio production and more like a group of musicians genuinely vibing together in a room. Which…is basically what happened. The album was reportedly recorded and mixed live in the studio, and honestly, you can feel that while listening. The Experience of Physical Music One thing we kept coming back to throughout the episode was how different this experience felt compared to streaming. We literally sliced open the plastic wrap, dropped the needle on the turntable, sat back, and experienced the album together for the first time. That matters. Streaming is convenient. I use Apple Music all the time. Phil uses Spotify. But there’s something about physically interacting with music that changes the experience completely. Holding the artwork.Reading the liner notes.Looking at the inserts.Hearing the crackle of the vinyl.Listening to a full album front-to-back instead of skipping tracks. It slows you down in the best possible way. And honestly, I think Cold Roses is one of those albums that benefits from that kind of listening experience. Why This Cover Art Works As someone who designs cover art for musicians and podcasters through JW Creates, I couldn’t stop thinking about why this album pulled me in so quickly. The design itself is actually pretty simple. A deep blue background, a rose in the center, vintage-inspired typography, and beautiful texture work. But together, it creates an emotional feeling before the music even starts. That’s powerful design. What’s also interesting is how differently the artwork translates digitally versus physically. On vinyl, the embossed texture and glossy finish completely elevate the experience. But when you pull the album up on a streaming platform, a lot of that magic disappears. It’s a good reminder for artists creating cover art today. You have to think about where people are going to experience your music. Is your audience mostly streaming? Will they see your cover as a tiny thumbnail on a phone? Or are you creating physical products where texture, packaging, and materials become part of the experience? Those decisions matter more than ever. The Joy of Musical Discovery One of the coolest things about these “music discovery” episodes is realizing how much incredible music is still out there waiting to be found. Cold Roses came out over 20 years ago. Yet for us, it felt brand new. That’s one of the beautiful things about music. Great albums don’t expire. They just wait for new listeners to discover them. And honestly, that’s part of why I love physical record stores so much. You never know what you’re going to stumble across. Sometimes all it takes is a great cover. Could We Start an Album of the Month Club? During the episode, Phil and I started throwing around an idea that honestly sounds more fun the more we think about it: What if there was an “Album of the Month Club”? Kind of like a book club…except everybody listens to the same record for a month and then gets together to talk about it. The artwork.The lyrics.The production.The stories behind the music. The physical packaging.The listening experience. Honestly, that sounds like a blast!! So if that’s something you’d be interested in, let us know. We may actually make it happen. Final Thoughts This episode ended up becoming about way more than just Ryan Adams or Cold Roses. It became a conversation about slowing down., experiencing music together supporting local record stores, and rediscovering the joy of finding music through curiosity instead of algorithms. And honestly, I think we all need a little more of that. If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, go check it out on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you’ve got a favorite album discovery story — especially one you found purely because of the cover art — I’d love to hear it.

A real story about new podcast cameras, technical issues, and pushing through a failed recording... You ever invest in something you’re convinced is going to take your content to the next level… and then it completely falls apart the very first time you use it? Yeah… that was me recently. For the Judged by the Cover podcast, I decided it was finally time to level up our video setup. Up to this point, I had been running a single DSLR-style camera, which got the job done, but I knew there was another level we could reach visually. So I made the jump to a three-camera setup using OBSBOT PTZ cameras. 4K video, AI tracking, full pan/tilt/zoom control, the whole deal. In my head, this was THE upgrade. The thing that would give us more flexibility, more engaging visuals, and a more polished, professional look across the board. And honestly, the timing felt perfect. We were recording an episode on Thriller, one of the most iconic albums of all time, and with a new Michael Jackson movie on the horizon, it felt like a real opportunity to reach new listeners and viewers. Everything about it felt like it was lining up exactly the way it was supposed to. At least… on paper. The Setup (AKA: The First Red Flag) The first sign that things might not go as smoothly as I imagined came during setup. What I thought would be a quick dial-in turned into nearly an hour of adjusting camera angles, tweaking zoom levels, and trying to get lighting to cooperate. Even then, I wasn’t too worried. New gear always comes with a bit of a learning curve, so I figured once we hit record, we’d settle in and everything would be fine. We hit record… and within the first five minutes, everything started to unravel. The main camera threw an error almost immediately, and the worst part was not even knowing if it was still recording. At the same time, the two auxiliary cameras decided to show off just how “smart” they really were. These cameras have AI tracking features that can be triggered by hand gestures, which sounds great in theory, until you realize both me and Phil naturally talk with our hands the entire time. So instead of holding clean, consistent shots, the cameras were constantly trying to adjust and track movement mid-conversation. At one point, the main camera even tilted downward and started tracking what looked like our knees, which was about as helpful as it sounds. WHAT ARE WE FOCUSING ON HERE...? AND YES THIS IS A SCREENSHOT FROM THE ACTUAL RECORDING.... On top of that, there were lighting shifts happening throughout the recording that I didn’t even fully notice until I got into the editing process later. So now I’m sitting there, trying to have a meaningful conversation about one of the greatest albums ever made, while also mentally troubleshooting three cameras that are doing their own thing in real time. It pulled me completely out of the moment. The Moment It Almost Fell Apart We actually had to pause and take a break...not because we ran out of things to talk about, but because the technical issues were becoming too distracting to ignore. I was frustrated, scatter-brained, and honestly a little embarrassed. This episode was supposed to be a step forward for us, something that reflected growth and progress. Instead, it felt like everything was working against that in real time. There was definitely a moment where I considered scrapping the whole thing and starting over. But Phil, being Phil, kept it simple. He wasn’t overly phased by any of it and just said, “Let’s push through.” No overthinking, no spiraling, just keep going. And that shift in perspective made all the difference. We leaned into the situation a bit, made a few jokes about the chaos, and kept the conversation moving. And underneath all the technical issues, the actual content of the episode was still strong. That’s what mattered. Done Is Better Than Perfect (For Real This Time) From the very beginning of Judged by the Cover, I’ve had to constantly remind myself that done is better than perfect. As someone who tends to overthink, it’s not hard for me to find reasons why something isn’t quite ready to be released. This episode just forced me to live that out in a very real way. Was it perfect? Not even close. We ended up only using the main camera angle, the AI tracking goes rogue a couple of times, and there are definitely moments where you can tell I’m a little distracted by what’s happening behind the scenes. But we released it anyway. Because at the end of the day, the conversation still had value. The topic still mattered. And the imperfections didn’t take away from that nearly as much as I thought they would in the moment. Looking back, it honestly wasn’t as bad as it felt while we were recording. It didn’t match the vision I had when I bought the cameras, but it also wasn’t a complete disaster. At the time of writing this, the episode is performing pretty normally. No major drop-off, no negative feedback...just another episode out in the world doing its thing. And that in itself was a good reminder. What This Actually Taught Me What this experience really reinforced for me is that new gear doesn’t automatically create better content. It just introduces a new set of variables, and usually a new set of problems to work through. There’s a learning curve that comes with it, no matter how advanced the equipment is. I also learned pretty quickly that not every “smart” feature is actually helpful in a real-world setting. Those AI tracking and gesture controls sounded great, but for our setup, they created more problems than they solved...so they’re off now. More than anything though, this experience reminded me not to take all of this too seriously. At the end of the day, this is a podcast. It’s meant to be fun. It’s me and my friend Phil sitting down and talking about music, cover art, and albums we love. We’re not saving lives here. And when the technology starts to overshadow the reason you started in the first place, it’s worth taking a step back and resetting that perspective. Keep Showing Up If you’re a podcaster, or really any kind of creator, and you’ve had an experience like this, where things just don’t go the way you planned, don’t let that be the thing that makes you quit. That moment, as frustrating as it is, is often where the most growth actually happens. It might hit your pride a little bit, but it also teaches you what you need to do better next time. Take the lesson, make the adjustment, and keep moving forward. I’m in a season right now where showing up consistently matters, and this episode was part of that. It wasn’t perfect, but it was done...and sometimes that’s exactly what needs to happen to keep the momentum going. Thinking About Starting a Podcast? And if you’re thinking about starting a podcast, or maybe you’ve already started and hit a wall like this, just know you’re not alone in it. This kind of stuff happens more than people talk about. That’s a big part of why communities like Podnooga exist, to help people push through those moments and keep creating, even when things don’t go according to plan. Because at the end of the day, the only way this really fails… is if you stop.

RECORD OF THE MONTH CLUB In a world of playlists, algorithms, and endless scrolling, what happens when you sit down and spend a month with a single album? The Record of the Month Club is an upcoming community built around intentional listening. Together we'll explore one album at a time, discussing the music, cover art, packaging, stories, and cultural impact that make records worth revisiting. Think of it as a book club for people who love music. We're currently planning for a Fall 2026 launch. Interested in joining us? Fill out the form below to receive updates and early access information as the club takes shape. First name* Last name* Email* Phone (optional) Let's spin some records. Add me to the list. Submit Like, follow, and share the JW Creates page on Instagram and Facebook using the links below!

Podnooga is a growing community built for podcasters, content creators, and the people who support them. We believe podcasting thrives when creators are connected to the right people and the right resources. Whether you're recording in your garage or producing a full-scale show, Podnooga is here to help you grow, collaborate, and feel less alone in the process. COMMUNITY - RESOURCES - NETWORK Welcome to Podnooga a growing community built for podcasters, content creators, and the people who support them. We believe podcasting thrives when creators are connected to the right people and the right resources. Whether you're recording in your closet or producing a full-scale show, Podnooga is here to help you grow, collaborate, and feel less alone in the process. FOLLOW US ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIALS COMMUNITY PODCASTERS Whether you're a hobbyist recording for fun or a professional podcaster building a brand, Podnooga is for you. We know podcasting can feel isolating but it doesn’t have to be. We’re creating space for podcasters to sharpen their skills, and connect with others in the same lane. CONTENT CREATORS If you create, you belong here. Podcasters, video creators, social media pros — we’re all telling stories in different formats. Podnooga is a home for content creators who want to collaborate, grow their audience, and build new opportunities together. RESOURCES Great podcasts need great support and that’s where you come in. Podnooga is building a trusted network of studios, editors, designers, producers, and more. If you offer a service that helps creators bring their ideas to life, we want you to be part of the Podnooga community. JOIN THE COMMUNITY Email* JOIN THE COMMUNITY I want to subscribe to your mailing list. EVENTS 5 days to the event Podnooga Community - June 2026 Sat, Jun 27 Be Caffeinated (Enclosed Patio) This Podnooga Community meetup is focused on podcast marketing ideas and creative ways to grow your show, especially for podcasters and content creators looking to reach new listeners and build stronger connections with their audience. RSVP MEET THE TEAM JOSH WILHELM I’m the owner and lead designer of JW Creates, where I specialize in cover art, logos, and website design. I’m also the host of Judged by the Cover, a podcast exploring cover art design and music discovery. Since starting in podcasting in 2019, I’ve produced, recorded, and launched shows from the ground up, which eventually led me to take over leadership of Podnooga. Now, I’m passionate about helping other podcasters and creators in Chattanooga grow and thrive through community and collaboration. ERIC CLAJUS I’m a video editor rooted in the Apple universe with a passion for helping people tell their stories. My background in broadcast news gave me years of experience interviewing, recording, and editing stories that gave a voice to the unheard. Today, I bring that same storytelling focus to podcasts, short-form narratives, and social media content. From producing podcasts to creating marketing pieces and testimonials, I help individuals and businesses amplify their voice and make a bigger impact. PHIL HYLAND Phil has a passion for bringing people together and connecting creatives with each other and to valuable resources. He launched his first podcast, Originals, in Los Angeles and has been featured multiple times on Freightwaves’ What the Truck. Today, he co-hosts the music discovery podcast Judged by the Cover. Phil is excited to collaborate with and support the creative community in Chattanooga. RESOURCES Behind every great podcast is a team of skilled creatives from audio editors to branding experts. At Podnooga, we’re creating a directory of trusted resources to help podcasters and content creators find the right people to help them grow. It’s about building relationships, not just contracts. When Your Podcast Upgrade Becomes a Headache (And Why You Shouldn’t Quit) A real story about new podcast cameras, technical issues, and pushing through a failed recording... You ever invest in something you’re convinced is going to take your content to the next level… and then it completely falls apart the very first time you use it? Yeah… that was me recently. For the Judged by the Cover podcast, I decided it was finally time to level up our video setup. Up to this point, I had been running a single DSLR-style camera, which got the job done, but I Josh Wilhelm Introducing Pawdnooga: A New Era of Podcasting in Chattanooga Podcasting is growing. Community matters. And new voices deserve to be heard. But as we’ve continued to look at the podcasting landscape, both locally and beyond, we’ve noticed something… missing. An entire category of voices has been overlooked. Underrepresented. Undervalued. Dogs. Josh Wilhelm Signs Your Podcast Cover Art Needs an Update Podcasts live or die in the scroll. When someone is browsing shows in apps like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, your cover art is often the very first thing they see before deciding whether to learn more about your show. Josh Wilhelm Creativity Needs more than Prompts The fear everyone has of AI is, it will replace creativity. It will do it cheaper and maybe better. Anti-AI proponents will say it will never be better. Is that true? Eric Clajus Your Podcast Niche Matters, But Your Video Setup Matters Just As Much! Most podcasters spend a lot of time shaping their niche, and that’s important. A niche should be focused, clear, and broad enough to carry you through fifty episodes without running out of ideas. But there’s another part of podcasting that deserves the same level of attention, and it’s the part many people overlook: your video setup. Eric Clajus Best Podcast Gear for Beginners: My Setup + Budget and Pro Alternatives Starting a podcast can feel overwhelming, especially when you fall down the rabbit hole of gear videos, reviews, and people arguing online about what microphone is “right.” Josh Wilhelm NETWORK As Podnooga grows, so does the opportunity to build something special a network of like-minded creators who elevate each other. When podcasts with shared purpose and passion come together, everyone wins. WANT TO LEARN MORE...? No matter where you are on your podcasting journey behind the mic, behind the scenes, or somewhere in between, Podnooga is your creative home base. Join us as we build a stronger, smarter, and more connected podcasting community. JOIN CONTACT US First name* Last name Email* Write a message Submit

JW Creates specializes in graphic design for logos, websites, cover art, branding and so much more. JW CREATES COVER ART - LOGOS - WEBSITES WHO AM I You can call me Josh, JW, or even JDub. I am a graphic designer that works with small businesses, musicians, non-profits, podcasters and more to create custom designed cover art, logos, and websites to promote their work. As a musician, I fell in love with album covers, and this fueled a passion to visually tell stories and promote branding through the art of graphic design. I personalize the process to accommodate almost any project. I believe that the process should be more than just a transaction of money for a digital file. I want to get to know you, learn about your project, and partner with you to bring it from idea to reality. You focus on what you do best, and let me handle the design. COVER ART Good music sells albums, but so does great cover art design. Don't get lost in the sea of music, make sure your album or single will stand out with custom single and album artwork, as well as pre-made cover designs. LEARN MORE WEBSITES Custom websites, turned around in weeks not months, for a lot less than you might think. JW Creates is a proud Wix partner which means you will get a website that is secure, and easy for you to run and manage after it's built. It's important for people to be able to easily find you and your work. Having a great website to showcase your newest work, and allow people to get connected with you is imperative in this digital age. LEARN MORE LOGOS JW Creates focuses on logos and branding for musicians, bands, individuals, businesses, and podcasters. Click the link below to see my process, and to learn more about the different logo packages and services we provide. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. LEARN MORE IN THE NEWS NASHVILLE VOYAGER INTERVIEW What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again? Music, without a doubt... READ NOW JOSH ON THE TAKE 148 PODCAST Click the image below to check out my interview with the Take 148 Podcast , where we discussed cover art, creativity, and a lot of other fun things. CANVAS REBEL INTERVIEW My hope is that when someone works with me, they leave feeling like I cared about their project just as much as they do.... READ NOW NASHVILLE VOYAGER INTERVIEW Today, I have the privilege of helping individuals, bands, and businesses create their... READ NOW BOLD JOURNEY INTERVIEW I grew up in a very small, rural town in southeast Wyoming. My parents both worked modest blue collar jobs... READ NOW JUDGED BY THE COVER - ON THE DAILY REFRESH Click the image below to check out my interview with The Daily Refresh, on News Channel 9 in Chattanooga TN, where we discussed the Judged by the Cover podcast. JW Creates is a graphic designer in Chattanooga, TN and serves the surrounding area. Also providing services to clients nationwide and around the world. We have the tools to work with anyone, anywhere. LET'S WORK TOGETHER