Category: Interview

From an Apricot Orchard to the Sasquatch MegaTree: JR Mattos of Mattos Designs

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Before Mattos Designs, there was an apricot orchard in San Jose — over a hundred years in JR Mattos’ family, and the actual birthplace of the Sasquatch MegaTree, the Evo, and everything else you know his brand for.

In the newest episode of the guest interview series, JR tells the full story: the grandfather who got him into this hobby, the invention process behind one of the most-copied products in the space, and the gamble he made during COVID — betting a nonprofit’s last dollars on a drive-thru light show nobody thought would work.

It didn’t just work. It’s the reason Mattos Designs is a full-time business today.

Watch the full conversation above to hear it in JR’s own words — including the question he asked every furious visitor stuck in that two-hour line.

Guest: JR Mattos, Mattos Designs — mattosdesigns.com

This is part of an ongoing series introducing the people behind the products, shows, and displays across the holiday lighting hobby. [Link to other episodes in the series]

New Interview: Ron Howard on His Journey Into Holiday Lighting

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I’m excited to share the latest episode in my guest interview series — this time featuring a name a lot of you will already know: Ron Howard.

Ron’s route into the holiday lighting world isn’t the one you’d expect. He started out as a drummer in a band, moved into photography and sales, and eventually found his way into xTreme Sequences, where he’s become one of the driving forces in the sequencing community. In this interview, we talk through that whole journey — how he got started, what’s kept him in the hobby (and industry) all these years, and the perspective that only someone with his depth of experience can offer.

Whether you’re just getting started with xLights and pixel lighting, or you’ve been sequencing for years, there’s plenty in this conversation worth your time.

This is part of an ongoing series where I sit down with well-known figures across the holiday lighting industry to hear their stories — so if you enjoy this one, keep an eye out for more episodes coming soon.

Grab a coffee and give it a watch above ☕✨

Enjoyed this? Subscribe on YouTube to catch future episodes as soon as they land.

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