Shaping Stories: A Glass Artists Podcast

• 🎙 Episode 14 - Doni Hatz

  Meet Doni Hatz, a newly retired scientific glassblower whose life in glass has been nothing short of inspiring.Doni grew up in Portland, Oregon, and first discovered glass when she took a furnace glass class at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. That single class sparked a journey that led her all the way across the country to New Jersey, where she studied at Salem Community College from 1983–1985.In this episode, we hear about Doni’s path after school, her decades-long career in scientific glass, and the experiences and lessons that shaped her along the way.Listen now to hear her story, wisdom, and passion for the craft.

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• 🎙️ Episode 13 – Colton Machell (@canthave2much / 2much Glass)

  In this episode, I sit down with Southern NH-based glass artist Colton Machell, aka @canthave2much. When he’s not blowing glass, you’ll likely find him snowboarding or diving into his latest passion—mountain biking.Colton shares how his lifelong fascination with teeth (yes, really!) unexpectedly intertwined with his love for glass, especially after realizing that people actually make scientific lab equipment. That spark kicked off a journey into pipes, precision, and creative exploration.We walk through the evolution of his major design styles, how each came to be, and what he’s learned along the way. He wraps things up with a powerful message about cutting corners—one of the best pieces of advice we’ve had on the show.Follow Colton on Instagram: @canthave2much

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• 🎙️ Episode 12 – Interview with Destiny Miller of Siren Glass Studios

  This week, I chat with Destiny Miller, a glassblower and flameworker based in Ontario, Canada. ✨🔥Destiny first got into glass in 2020, just before the pandemic put everything on pause. In this episode, she shares her winding path—from starting school at Fleming College’s glassblowing program, to an abrupt shutdown, to eventually returning and graduating.We dive into:✨ Her journey to Corning, NY and when her class found out about COVID✨ Setting up a flameworking studio during lockdown without much guidance—and learning by doing✨ Building community in the glass world, and how she found the support and knowledge she needed✨ Working as a shop tech now at the very school where her journey began✨ What it’s like balancing her love for glass with dog life (she’s got a husky and her stepdad has two!) and time spent on trails and in the outdoors✨ Her advice on giving yourself space, staying creative, and asking for help when you need itYou can find her work under ‘@siren_glass_studios’ on Instagram.🎧 Listen now via the link in bio📲 Follow, comment & review on your favorite podcast platform📸 Stay connected @shapingstoriespod on Instagram, Facebook & YouTubeQuestions or kind words? Reach out anytime: [email protected] for tuning in! 🙏

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• 🎙️ Episode 11 — Katie Zeilman aka @zeilmanglass

  Katie grew up in rural Ohio and now calls western North Carolina home. She first discovered glass while studying art and illustration in Columbus, Ohio — but it wasn’t originally part of her program. Determined to follow her curiosity, she snuck into a glass class and never looked back.Today, Katie works full time in soft glass production and uses her off-hours to develop her own Borosilicate designs. In this episode, she shares her story of stubbornly carving out a path in glass, staying true to what she loves in the material, and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for future artists in the industry.Such a great conversation with lots of heart, reflection, and wisdom. 💛

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• 🎙️ Episode 10 – Raven Copeland aka @madglasser

  Raven has been blowing glass since the year 2000, and for the past 25 years, he’s been deep in the flame, exploring borosilicate glass. Now based in Pittsburg, Kansas, he’s best known for his large-scale marbles.In this episode, Raven shares his journey into glass, how he got started, and the path that eventually led him to carving out his niche vending in Renaissance fairs across the country. We also talk about life outside the torch—spending time with family and shooting pool—and how those moments fuel his creative fire. Tune in for an honest and inspiring conversation. 🔥

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