About
The Great Discontent (TGD) is a publication and creative community dedicated to sharing the stories of artists, makers, and risk-takers. Through candid, long-form interviews, we explore beginnings, creative journeys, and the risks people take along the way. Our interviews are published in beautifully crafted print editions, while our website serves as an archive of the stories we’ve shared over the past fifteen years.
We’re so glad you’re here.
The Team
The Great Discontent is published by WE MUST BE BOLD, a creative studio headquartered in Los Angeles, with a team based across the United States. Together, we collaborate with a worldwide network of talented contributors who share our belief in the power of storytelling and human connection.
- Our Shared History
Founded by Ryan and Tina Essamaker in August 2011, The Great Discontent began as a digital magazine dedicated to honest conversations with people who create. Their vision quickly resonated with readers seeking inspiration, connection, and new perspectives. Within three years, TGD had built a worldwide audience and published more than 130 long-form interviews.
In the spring of 2014, Ryan and Tina expanded TGD beyond the screen, transforming it into both an online and print publication. With the support of an enthusiastic community of readers, they launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, raising more than $100,000 to produce the magazine’s inaugural print issue. The Great Discontent, Issue One, debuted in July 2014, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from readers and attracting retailers around the world.
In 2019, Ryan and Tina passed the torch to Hugh Weber, who carried their vision forward with a deep belief in the power of storytelling and human connection. When Hugh passed away unexpectedly in March 2023, he left behind an unfinished sixth issue, Resilience, and a vision for the magazine’s future. In the years that followed, we completed the conversations he began and found our own way forward. Today, with the support of our community, we have launched a new Kickstarter campaign to bring Resilience into print and begin work on Issue Seven.
In many ways, this next chapter is a continuation of the invisible threads Hugh spent his life following. You can read more about that here.
Fifteen years after our first interview, our belief remains unchanged: that sharing honest stories of creative lives and shining a light on those who might otherwise be overlooked has the power to connect us, challenge us, and awaken us to possibility.