Shows
Creating Your Own Path137: Changing Industries While Blending Your Interests with Fiber Artist Dani Ivesn this episode, you’ll hear from fiber artist Dani Ives who has managed to blend her early career of working at a zoo with her love of creating art out of wool. Dani not only dives into the changes she and her husband had to make in order for that career transition to work, but she also shares how she’s created multiple income streams for her business and why building community is becoming so important to her.
Dani's Website
Dani on Instagram
Dani's book
Technical production by Ray Ortega
Me on Instagram
The official CYOP Instagram acco...2019-06-2000 minCreating Your Own Path136: Stepping Into Who You Were Meant to Be with Educator and Comedian Amy EstesIn this episode, you’ll meet the incredibly talented and hilarious educator and comedian Amy Estes. Listen in as she talks about how she navigated a devastating experience at a former job, the steps she’s taken to be open and honest about who she is across all parts of life and why she is fiercely committed to prioritizing a creative outlet.
Amy's Website
Amy on Instagram
Amy's newsletter
More about the harassment Amy endured on the job
Technical production by Ray Ortega
Me on Instagram
The official CYOP Instagram account
Get the Creative Digest
For the full...2019-06-1300 minCreating Your Own Path135: The Art of Getting Started with Podcast Producer Ray OrtegaIn this episode, you’ll meet professional podcast producer Ray Ortega, who is currently helping out with technical production on CYOP. Listen in as we chat about what it’s like to produce audio and video for a large nonprofit, how Ray landed a creatively fulfilling day job and what it takes to start a podcast (or any creative endeavor) these days.
SHOW NOTES:
Ray’s Website
Podcasters’ Studio
Podcasters’ Roundtable
Ray on Instagram
Ray on YouTube
Ray on Twitter
Crooked Media
More Information:
Me on Instagram2019-06-0600 minCreating Your Own Path133: Welcome to Season 6: A Look Back + What’s AheadIn today’s episode, I’m excited to kick off the start of CYOP Season 6! First, we’re taking a trip down CYOP memory lane with 10 past episodes listeners have resonated with the most over the years. We’re also diving into some exciting updates about the show this season, some behind-the-scenes improvements, announcements about the company and more.
10 Shows Listeners Have Loved:
CYOP #1: Janna Marlies Maron + Jeremy Maron
CYOP #46: Lisa Congdon
CYOP #57: Grace Bonney + Julia Turshen
CYOP #68: Simone Anne
CYOP 76: Jen Hewett
CYOP #78: Trisha Hughes
CYOP #91: Tina Essmaker
CYOP #95: Rosa Ng
CYOP #121: Keah Brown
CYOP #124: Sami Abd...2019-05-0200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #132 - The One About the FutureIn this final episode of our mini Season 5, I’m sharing some future plans. I chat about what I’ve learned from having a day job, dreams for my business that I’ve haven’t told many people and why you can expect changes from CYOP in the coming months.
Have a great holiday season, my friends and happy listening!
You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.2018-12-1300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #131 - The One Where We Talk About ShameIn today’s episode, we’re talking about shame. It’s a topic that has shown up in so many of moments over the last year. It’s also something that’s come up in conversation with others pretty regularly, so I felt the need to address it here as it relates to both creative endeavors and life choices.
If you’re open to hearing how I’ve navigated the topic in recent months, please have a listen.
You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.2018-12-0600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #130 - What to Do When Life Takes a TurnToday's show is all about getting through a tough life event. In it, I share some of the issues I faced as I went through my divorce this past year and the tools and mindset shifts I used to handle my career transition through it all.
If you've ever had to try and keep your world together while it was also falling apart, this one's for you. I hope you'll find my story helpful as you navigate your own.
You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.2018-11-2900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #129 - Let's Call it a Rebuilding YearAfter a year off the air, CYOP is back! Tune in to find out more about what to expect in the coming weeks, what's been happening around here and why I'm calling this last twelve months a rebuilding year.
For full episodes from the Creating Your Own Path archives, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.2018-11-2300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #128 - The Between Seasons Update EpisodeI'm back with a quick update episode about what you can expect from me in the coming year, as both my life and my business evolve.
In the episode, I chat through my own impending career changes, an exciting (though daunting) rebrand, updates about the podcast, the shop, the artist residency, and much more.
For full episodes from the Creating Your Own Path archives, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.2017-11-2400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #127 - Lessons Learned from the First CYOP Artist Residency: A Chat Between Me + Melanie BiehleToday is the final episode of Season 4! I'm wrapping things up with a co-hosted chat with this year’s CYOP Artist Resident Melanie Biehle and we're talking all about the artist residency. When I launched the CYOP Artist Residency, I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted it to roll out, but I learned a lot throughout the season and Melanie did too.
In the episode, Melanie and I chat about what we loved about the residency, what we learned, and what we might do differently next time. Melanie also shares some really great advice for...2017-10-1200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #125 - The Importance of Side Projects + Why Personality Matters with Documentary Director Sami AbdouWe’re back with another episode featuring documentary director Sami Abdou. If you're just finding the show, I highly recommend you go back and listen to last week’s episode — episode 124 — before diving into this one. Everything will just make a lot more sense if you do.
On today’s show, I’m talking with Sami about his side projects, what they mean to him, and how he fits them in while he’s working some seriously long hours as a director for the show Intervention. We also talk a lot about the magic of Los Angeles and why being...2017-09-2800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #124 - Thinking Strategically About your Career Path + Making as Often as You Can with Documentary Director Sami AbdouToday we’re starting our final three-part series of the season and I’m really excited to be sharing this next guest with you. If you’ve been listening to the show for a bit, you may know that it actually started with a Q&A interview series on my blog before it became a podcast. I really wanted to bring back some of the people I interviewed in 2013 and today we’re getting some updates from my friend Sami Abdou.
Sami is a documentary director and he works on both small projects and some pretty notable on...2017-09-2100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #123 - The Art of Building a Support System with Writer Keah BrownToday we’ve got the final episode in my three-part series with writer Keah Brown. If you haven’t listened to the other two episodes — 121 and 122 — please go back and listen to those first. Everything will make a little more sense if you do.
Today, I’m chatting with Keah about all of the people in our lives who keep us moving forward. We talk about why it’s so important to have a support system, different places to find and build community these days, and why having the right people in your world will make it a little easi...2017-09-0700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #122 - Leaning into Advocacy + Speaking Your Mind with Writer Keah BrownI’m back today with writer Keah Brown and today we’re talking about something I haven’t spent much time on around here and that’s advocacy and the power of social media.
Earlier this year, Keah started a hashtag on Twitter — #disabledandcute — and it took off just a few days later, creating an entire community around the concept. She shares the story behind it all in the episode and we also get into the power of positivity, how Keah is using her platform to advocate for herself and others, and why representation matters within the disability c...2017-08-3100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #121 - Why Mindset Matters + the Importance of Sharing Your Story with Writer Keah BrownToday's episode is the first in a three-part series featuring writer Keah Brown. She is a journalist who also writes poetry, fiction pieces, and non-fiction essays. She is also the mastermind behind an incredible movement called #disabledandcute, which something we get into a little more on next week’s show. What you need to know this week is that the hashtag went viral on Twitter back in February and has been gaining momentum ever since.
In the interview, we’re starting at the beginning and learning more about Keah’s career and how she fell in love with t...2017-08-2400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #120 - Using the Internet to Create Offline Connections with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne DitmeyerToday, we’ve got the last episode in a three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. If you haven’t listened to the last two week’s worth of episodes, please do so before wrapping up the series with this episode.
In the interview, Anne and I talk about the magic of using online tools to make offline connections and how that’s been showing up in her work lately. She share’s the truth behind what we all see online these days, why she thinks work should be much more playful than it is now, and s...2017-08-1700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #119 - Handling the Freelance Ebb and Flow with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne DitmeyerToday, I’m back with the second in a three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, please do that first!
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Anne all about the ebbs and flows that come with working for yourself. She goes into how she handles the emotional roller coaster that can come from having too little or, in her case, too much work coming her way. She also offers advice on how to present your work if you tend to do many different types of th...2017-08-1000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #118 - How to Create Cohesively Across Multiple Platforms with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne DitmeyerToday's show is the first in a new three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. In 2013 I interviewed Anne for Creating Your Own Path before it was a podcast.
In the episode, I’m talking with Anne about how she has been able to successfully build a creatively fulfilling business across many different mediums and platforms. She chats about how living in France, and the constraints it put on her work situation, ultimately made her more creative, how she decides what platforms to use to showcase and provide access to her work, and why she’s nev...2017-08-0300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #117 - Taking a Step Back from Your Business: A Chat Between Me + Melanie BiehleI’m back with Melanie Biehle today for another co-hosted chat! As many of you know, Melanie is the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident and today we’re talking all about taking a step back from your business in an effort to gain clarity, do some strategic planning, and figure out what’s working.
In this episode, we cover a little bit about what taking a step back means to each of us in our respective businesses, what taking a break might look like from day to day, and what happens — both the good and the bad — when we get out of...2017-07-2700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #116 - When Mental Health, Advocacy + Business Mix with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea SealToday’s episode is the last in my series with Moorea Seal and it’s a powerful one. If you’re just tuning in, be sure to go back and listen to episodes 114 and 115 before diving into this one. If you’ve already listened to past episodes, you know that Moorea is an author, designer and shop owner and she has been very open about the experiences that have set her on her path.
This episode is no exception. We’re diving pretty deep into some serious topics. On the show, we chat about why mental health advocacy i...2017-07-2000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #115 - Putting in the Work + Handling Quick Growth with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea SealI’m back today with another segment with author, designer and shop owner Moorea Seal. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode yet, I highly recommend you go back and download that one first. It’s Episode 114 in the archives.
In today’s interview, we talk a lot about growth and what it’s looked like for Moorea both personally and in business. She goes into detail about how her multi-book book deal came to fruition, why Moorea Seal (the shop) wouldn’t be where it is today without a team of people, and how she's known...2017-07-1300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #114 - How to Stop Equating our Value to our Outputs with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea SealToday, I'm talking with Moorea Seal, who is an author, designer and shop owner based out of Seattle! In today’s interview, she walks us through the early days of her career and how blogging, art, and Pinterest all played a roll. We also chat about what it’s like to name your business after yourself, how early trauma in her life set her on her path, and why our identities don’t need to be tied to our outputs.
Moorea’s story is one that is full of both dark and light moments and you’ll hear a litt...2017-07-0600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #113 - Lessons Learned from the Adobe Creative Residency with Designer + Letterer Christine HerrinToday is our last segment with Christine Herrin, who is a designer and hand letterer who has launched her own line of memory-keeping products. She just recently wrapped up her time as an Adobe Creative Resident and today’s episode is all about her experience.
In the interview, we talk about her specific project and why she proposed it to the Adobe team. We also get into some behind-the-scenes stuff regarding how the residency works, why the public speaking aspect of the residency turned out to be huge for her, what it was like to share her pro...2017-06-2900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #112 - Boosting Creative Inspiration Through Travel with Designer + Letterer Christine HerrinToday we’re hearing once again from designer and letterer Christine Herrin. If you listened to last week’s show, episode 111, you know that Christine’s passion is memory keeping and she’s built a business around designing modern products for those who love to capture and save memories. She also has a full freelance schedule as a designer and hand letterer and just recently wrapped up her stint as an Adobe Creative Resident.
In today’s interview, we talk about how travel is essential for jolting her creative brain into action. We also discuss the surprising places she...2017-06-2200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #111 - Making Authentic Connections with Designer + Letterer Christine HerrinI'm back today with another three-part series and this time I’m talking with graphic designer, hand letterer, and product designer Christine Herrin. You may also know her from her recent stint as an Adobe Creative Resident where she launched her shop, Everyday Explorers Co.
In the interview, we talk at length about memory-keeping and why she feels that capturing bits of life is so important. She also opens up about her decision to move from Manila to San Francisco to go to grad school, why she decided not to finish her advanced degree, and she offers so...2017-06-1500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #110 - Focus, Motivation + Organization: A Chat Between Me + Melanie BiehleI’m back with Melanie Biehle today for another co-hosted chat! As most of you know, Melanie is the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident and is an incredibly talented artist and designer. If this is your first time listening to the show, I want to welcome you, but I also want to advise you to go back to episode 101 and 106 to learn more about Melanie, her work, and some topics we've covered in the past.
In today's episode, we cover a few topics that we both find a little bit challenging from time to time—motivation, focus, and organization. I th...2017-06-0800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #109 - Starting a Creative Mornings Series with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey AgencyI’m back one final time with Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency, a creative agency here Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. Today, however, I’m talking with them about starting Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter.
In the interview, we cover a lot of information that might be helpful for those of you who want to start a Creative Mornings chapter in your city. And honestly, it’s helpful even if you want to create an even that isn’t affiliated with Creative Mornings. Rebecca shares the reasons she wanted to start the...2017-06-0100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #108 - Hitting the Reset Button with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey AgencyI’m back this week with more from my interview with Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency, which is a creative agency here Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. Several months ago, they also led the charge to start Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter.
On today’s show, we get into a pretty real conversation about how they see their business partnership as a marriage and why they’ve had to seek help from third parties like therapists and coaches as they’ve grown the business. They also talk about why they’ve implement...2017-05-2500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #107 - Evolving a Brand + Hiring Talent with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey AgencyToday's show is the first in a three-part series featuring Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips. Together, they run Honey Agency, which is a creative agency based out of Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. They are also the masterminds behind Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter.
In the interview today, we talk about their past corporate careers and why working for a larger company helped them both develop professionally. We also chat about how a branding agency brands itself, why being too “on the nose” with your branding can be a turn-off, and why hiring incredib...2017-05-1800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #106 - Making Big Changes + Going with the Flow: A Chat Between Me + Melanie BiehleToday’s show is the first ever co-hosted episode of CYOP! I’m excited to bring the Melanie Biehle back on the show every so often as a cohost. She is an incredibly talented artist and designer and she’s also the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident.
In the episode, we step away from the interview format and just have an open discussion about what’s going on in our respective businesses right now, some of the big changes we’ve both made over the last few months, and how it’s all shaking out.
SHOW NOTES:
Check out...2017-05-1100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #104 - Pursuing Wholesale + Embracing Multiple Passions with Micaela + Dawn Marie Hoo of Drifter Organics + Oh My DrifterOn today’s show, we’re back one final time with Micaela and Dawn Marie Hoo, the mother-daughter team behind the skincare line Drifter Organics.
Last week, Micaela and Dawn Marie shared how they funded the launch of their brand and were incredibly generous in sharing the resources and tactics they found useful as they navigated their crowdfunding campaign. And after all of that, I was super curious to know what might be next for these two.
Today, we talk about their plans for Drifter Organics moving forward, why wholesale has become a pretty attractive opti...2017-05-0400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #102 - Working with Family + Asking for Help with Micaela + Dawn Marie Hoo of Drifter OrganicsToday’s show is the first in a series with mother-daughter team Dawn Marie and Micaela Hoo of Drifter Organics. Drifter Organics is an all-natural skin care line that launched after a very successful Kickstarter campaign. You may also know Micaela from her popular fashion and lifestyle blog, Oh My Drifter.
In the interview, we talk about how Micaela got started with her creative career at the young age of 14 and how her mom, who was at stay-at-home mom at the time, was able to be there for Micaela as she explored her creativity. We also get in...2017-04-2000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP 101 - Searching for Opportunities + Making Room to Experiment with Artist + Designer Melanie BiehleWe're officially getting into the swing of things this season and today’s show is our first full-length episode featuring the first ever CYOP Artist Resident, Melanie Biehle. Melanie is an artist and designer based in the Seattle area whose work is full of bright colors and bold patterns.
In the episode, we talk about Melanie’s long and winding path to becoming an artist, the process behind the work she creates, and why she isn’t emotionally tied to the term fine artist. One of the things I find most intriguing about Melanie is how open she is t...2017-04-1300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #100 - Sharing What's New in Season 4 + Celebrating 100 EpisodesIn today's episode—the first of Season 4—I'm sharing a few details about what you can expect from CYOP in the months to come, why I'm not throwing a huge party to celebrate hitting 100 episodes, a recap of everything that's gone down in the last several months, and a peek at next week's interview with CYOP Artist Resident Melanie Biehle.
From signing an office lease and writing a book to launching an artist residency and creating a new community for CYOP listeners, I'm sharing a lot of fun new projects. However, I'm really excited for you all to h...2017-04-0600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #99 - Mini Episode: Three Big Lessons Learned in Three Podcast SeasonsOn today's show—the 99th episode of CYOP and final episode of Season 3—I'm sharing three of the big lessons I've learned over the last three seasons of producing a podcast.
In the episode, I tell you my download numbers and why they matter, the original purpose of the show, the humbling side of podcasting and why getting to know those of you who listen each week has offered up the biggest lesson of all.
Thank you for another great season, everyone! For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.2016-12-0800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #98 - Staying Nimble + Paying Attention to the Details with Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth ChocolatesToday I’m chatting with Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates here in midtown Sacramento. In the interview, we talk about Ginger’s past and how it shaped her love for food. We also discuss the realities of going to culinary school and the many (many) jobs Ginger took on before starting her own brick and mortar business.
What struck me most during this interview is the way Ginger made things happen—even when she was stuck in the business catch-22 of needing start-up capital to launch something, but needing to launch something successful in order to be...2016-12-0100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #97: Growing a Team + Learning from Mistakes with Chandra Greer of Greer ChicagoToday I’m chatting with Chandra Greer, owner of Greer Chicago, which is a stationery store in the windy city. She was recommended to me by Jessica Murnane of the One Part Podcast and I’m so happy Chandra and I had a chance to connect. She is full of thoughtful advice and has a really simple, yet lovely goal that drives her brand.
In the interview, we chat about Chandra’s choice to leave a lucrative job in advertising to open her store and what she’s learned in the last 15 years. She also talks openly about th...2016-11-1700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP # 96 - Embracing Opportunities + Taking Big Leaps with Jewelry Designer Jen MoultonToday’s guest is jewelry designer Jen Moulton! She's been on the show before (Episode 65, if you want to catch up) and I was excited to snag just a little bit of her time to talk through a big announcement she made recently—she's just opened a physical storefront! I knew I wanted to chat about both the how and the why behind her decision to open this shop.
In the interview we talk about the type of retail shop she’s opening and how the opportunity came about. We also dive deep into the fear involved in tak...2016-11-1000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #95 - Testing Ideas + Setting Realistic Goals with Rosa Ng of Young & AbleToday’s guest is Rosa Ng of Young & Able. She's the first in a new segment focused on those who create physical retail experiences. Young & Able is both an ecommerce and pop-up retail experience full of carefully curated items.
In the interview, Rosa talks about the many facets of her brand and why she chose to build a platform for the creative community instead of diving into her planned career in fashion design after graduating. She also talks about the importance of testing our ideas, how she manages her pop-up shops—which are really one part...2016-11-0300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #94 - Stretching Yourself Creatively + Embracing Your Voice with Brooke Barker of Sad Animal FactsToday’s guest is Brooke Barker of the Instagram-account-turned-book, Sad Animal Facts. I’ve been following Brooke’s Instagram feed, which as you’ll hear in the episode, I came across while we were both participating in The 100 Day Project last year.
Sad Animal Facts is a project that is exactly what it sounds like; facts about animals that are a little bit sad or melancholy, but with Brooke’s quirky humor driving the treatment of each fact. Her illustrations are adorable and the facts are things that are funny-slash-sad because they’re true.
In the intervie...2016-10-2700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #93 - Infusing Personality into Your Work with Becky Simpson of Chipper Things + The Roommate BookToday’s guest is illustrator Becky Simpson, whose work is a little cheeky and a little quirky, and completely relatable—especially for the ladies tuning in today. If you spend any time on the internet you may have seen Becky’s hilarious “Should I Wash My Hair Today?” flow chart. She’s also created other flow charts that have become favorites, like “Should I Check Email Right Now?” and “Should I wear Pants Today?” I’ve been wanting to get her on the show since last year and I’m so excited to share her story with you!
In the interview, we t...2016-10-2000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #92 - Telling True Stories + Learning to Be Patient with Janna Marlies Maron of Under the Gum TreeToday’s show is one of the few episodes I’ve had so far with a repeat guest! If you’ve been listening to Creating Your Own Path from the beginning, you know that Janna Marlies Maron and her husband Jeremy Maron were the very first guests to be featured on the show in Episode 1. When Janna reminded me that she would be celebrating five years of publishing her literary non-fiction magazine, Under The Gum Tree, this month I knew I wanted to chat with her for this particular segment.
In the interview, we talk about how Janna’...2016-10-1300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #91 - Doing One Thing Well + Getting Out of Your Own Way with Tina Essmaker of The Great DiscontentToday I’m chatting with Tina Essmaker of The Great Discontent. Tina and her husband created the online and print publication because they wanted to talk to others about the highs and lows of creative work.
In the interview, Tina talks about the big changes she had to make in her own life before she could pursue the work that was right for her. She also talks about the importance of getting out of your own way, the realities of using crowdfunding to finance creative work, and why she believes in the power of picking one thing an...2016-10-0600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #90 - Creating Thoughtful Reader Experiences + Mixing Things Up with Chris Brown of Refueled MagazineI’ve got Chris Brown of Refueled Magazine on today's show to talk about his beautiful quarterly publication, which is all about community, heritage, and discovery. In the interview, we chat about the importance print publications as they fit into the context of truly experiencing the stories and art we consume.
Chris also talks about the balance between doing what fulfills us creatively and focusing solely on what the audience wants or needs, how successfully selling a neighborhood newspaper at a very young age cemented his love for storytelling, and why he has taken Refueled in a sl...2016-09-2900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #89 - Merging Creative Work + Business Smarts with Lizzy Okoro of Bunch MagazineLizzy Okoro of Bunch Magazine is joining me on the show today to kick off a series dedicated to those who create print publications. With Bunch Magazine, Lizzy has built entire company based on the idea that creative endeavors and business acumen are not mutually exclusive.
In the interview, Lizzy chats about how she came to the realization that her creative passions didn’t have to be relegated to hobbies—that she could actually build a sustainable business around them. She also goes into the details behind the growth of Bunch over the years, how she and her...2016-09-2200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #88 - Changing Your Mind + Redefining Success with Author (and Hollywood Expat) Lisa JakubToday's guest is actor-turned-author Lisa Jakub. If you’ve ever seen Mrs. Doubtfire or the original Independence Day, you’re likely familiar with her early work. I came across Lisa a few years ago on Twitter and she has since completely changed careers. She’s now a writer living thousands of miles away from Hollywood.
When I read Lisa’s book, You Look Like That Girl…, in which she details her major life and career shift, I knew I wanted to have her on this segment of the show. You might think the story of an actor-turned-writer would be c...2016-07-2800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #87 - Trying New Things + Overcoming Fears with Children's Artist Mishell LeongOn today’s show I’m talking with Mishell Leong, a children’s artist located in Singapore. She started her professional career as an accountant, spent some time in the restaurant industry, traveled a bit, overcame physical ailments and started a family before coming to the realization that she could actually paint!
In the interview we talk a lot about how Mishell worked through internal and external resistance as she embarked on her journey to becoming an artist. She also talks through the research she did as she was refining her style as an artist, why her years...2016-07-2100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #86 - Preparing for Big Changes + Finding What Lights You Up with Tattoo Artist Stephanie WashburnToday’s interview begins a new segment dedicated to those who have gone through a major career shift at some point in their lives. I’m kicking it off with Stephanie Washburn who is a tattoo artist in Roseville, California. However, what makes Steph's story so interesting is that she didn’t start pursuing art until she was almost 40 and found her way into the tattoo industry after that.
In the interview we talk about why she left her corporate nonprofit job of nearly 20 years and how she and her husband set themselves up financially to make it pos...2016-07-1400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #84 - Embracing Ethically Sourced Materials + Finding Your Customer with Katie Evans of Hart VariationsToday’s show is the first in a segment dedicated to those who create with uncommon or interesting materials and as soon as I landed on this theme, I knew I needed to reach out to today’s guest. Katie J. Evans of Hart Variations is a jewelry designer who uses things like butterfly wings, snake skin sheds, bones, entire insects, and feathers to create really stunning and unique pieces.
In the interview, we talk about how her materials are ethically and legally sourced, which is a process I wasn't familiar with. I envisioned her walking along and...2016-06-3000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #83 - Mini Episode: I'm Sharing Some BIG Career News!On today's mini episode, I'm announcing some big career changes that have been taking shape behind the scenes. I'm also talking about how those changes will affect certain aspects of my business like this podcast, my e-courses and consulting offerings, and the freelance work I'll be doing.
You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.2016-06-2300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #82 - Learning Your Craft + Making it Work with Photographer William ThompsonToday’s interview brings me to Common Space here in Sacramento, California to interview photographer William Thompson. Until recently, I actually had no idea that William had a day job. Because his photos are so stunning, I pretty much assumed he made a living taking them.
However, he doesn’t—at least not yet. He’s got a full-time job working in the banking industry and hopes to one day turn his side hustle into his main hustle. It was great talking to William because I think he’s currently in a place most of us can relate to...2016-06-1600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP # 81 - The Art of the Pivot with Shannon Washington of INVNT + Parlour MagazineI came across Shannon Washington’s work thanks to an article on Refinery29, in which they named her a "Next Gen CEO." She’s a self-proclaimed multi-hyphenate creative who currently works at live media company, INVNT, and runs the travel and lifestyle publication, Parlour Magazine.
In the interview, we talk about how Shannon has become someone who both loves stretching herself to learn new skills and someone who knows when to delegate. She also chats about the mindset shift that allowed her to view work in a more fluid way, why her career pivots have been...2016-06-0900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #80 - The Power of Routines + Why Company Culture Matters with Christine Amorose of C'est ChristineToday’s guest is a good one you guys! I’ve been following the career of Christine Amorose since I stumbled upon her blog C’est Christine about five years ago. She has not only filled the last six years with amazing travel experiences, but she’s also landed jobs with incredible companies (she currently works for Vimeo) and worked on really cool projects on the side.
In the interview we talk about how she carves out time for her creative side hustles and why schedules and lists are key. We also dive into what values she looks fo...2016-06-0200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #79 - Taking Sabbaticals + Pursuing Parallel Careers with Author Karan BajajToday’s guest is author Karan Bajaj. He’s written three books while being employed by various large companies and is currently the CMO of a startup. When he reached out to me, I immediately knew he needed to come on the show because he’s been able to pursue both corporate work and his worked as a published author by taking sabbaticals. I was incredibly curious to see how he's made it all work.
In the episode we chat about his 4-1-4 rule (4 years working, 1 year off, 4 years working, etc.), which he uses to plan out hi...2016-05-2600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #78 - Committing to Practice + Starting Before You're Ready with Trisha Hughes of Eat Your BeetsToday, I’m chatting with the very talented Trisha Hughes of the food blog Eat Your Beets.
Not only is Trisha food blogger, but she’s also become an incredible resource for those who want to learn more about the art of food photography. In the interview, we talk about how she got started as a blogger and why food photography did not come as naturally to her in the beginning as she had hoped.
She also goes into the reason she decided to teach others how to photograph food (rather than follow the trajectory of h...2016-04-2100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #77 - Getting to Know Your Community Through Workshops with Ashlee Gadd of Coffee + CrumbsToday’s episode brings me to Common Space here in Sacramento, which is a rentable space for events, photoshoots and other fun things, to chat with writer and photographer Ashlee Gadd. Ashlee is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs—a collaborative blog about motherhood—and she was kind enough to help me continue my segment on those who teach their craft to others. Recently, she and the team at Coffee + Crumbs launched a writing workshop that looked incredible! So, I knew I wanted to catch up with her to chat about the blog, the workshop and everything else she’s working...2016-04-1400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #76 - Teaching the Craft of Block Printing with Artist Jen HewettToday’s episode is the first in a new series focused on those who teach their craft to others and it brought me to the studio of Jen Hewett in San Francisco a few weeks ago.
Jen is an illustrator, printmaker and surface designer who has been teaching block printing to others over the last several years and she has just recently transitioned to working on her art full time. I was, of course, curious to see how adding the element of teaching to her business model made that transition possible.
In the interview we ta...2016-04-0700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #74 - Embracing Technology and Reaching Out to Others with Amy Stringer-Mowat of AHeirloomI reached out to Amy Stringer-Mowat of AHeirloom back in 2014 after winning one of their Instagram contests and told her I had big plans to take my show on the road and interview her in Brooklyn in 2015. As most of you probably know, Brooklyn did not make the cut during last year’s travels. Luckily, she was kind enough to hop on Skype to chat with me remotely after all this time!
A Heirloom creates beautiful home goods like cutting boards, cake stands and more—and they design, manufacture and ship from right here in the U.S. I...2016-03-3100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #73 - Building a Team and Increasing Efficiencies with Benjamin Schwartz of Benjamins ShoesToday’s episode is the third installment of the segment dedicated to those making physical products for a living and it brought me to Benjamins Shoes here in Sacramento to chat with Benjamin, himself! I’ve followed his work for a while now and have been really inspired by both his work and his story.
In the interview he talks about how NOT winning a start-up business contest actually lead him to a preferable outcome, which I thought was a great lesson for all of us out there who are worried about rejection or failure or simply havi...2016-03-2400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #72 - Sharing Your Story Through Media Outreach with Jennifer Snyder of Perfecting Your PitchToday's Tuesday Tips & Tricks episode is sponsored by me and my e-course Perfecting Your Pitch!
Perfecting Your Pitch, which starts on April 4, 2016, is designed to help fellow business owners understand the basics of reaching out to media. The three-week course covers topics like which media outlets to pitch, how to find and properly reach out to media contacts, press release basics, maintaining relationships with the media and much more.
My friend Melissa Camilleri of Compliment (a recent course participant) was kind enough to be a guest interviewer for today's show and in the episode...2016-03-2200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #71 - A Behind the Scenes Look at Product Development with Home Goods Designer Melanie AbrantesToday's episode brings me to the Oakland studio of woodworker and designer, Melanie Abrantes. Melanie has built a career around making and designing beautiful home goods out of different types of wood and cork.
In the interview she talks about her transition from studying product design in school to landing graphic design jobs after graduation and, eventually, finding her way back to product design with her current work. We also go into her connection to her materials, why focus is such a crucial part of her work and how she comes up with her various products.
2016-03-1700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #70 - Handling Favorable Press Coverage with Sarah Perez of Electric Sun CreativesWelcome to CYOP Season 3! I'm very excited to kick off this new season with a four-interview series focused on those who are making physical products for a living. Sarah Perez of Electric Sun Creatives is my first guest and I had an opportunity to chat with her in her beautiful studio at the Warehouse Artist Lofts here in Sacramento, California.
If you're not familiar with Sarah's work, she makes really striking wall hangings and mobiles using found driftwood (along with other wood products) and brass. In the interview, we talk through Sarah's recent press coverage through social...2016-03-1000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #69 - The State of the Podcast 2016Today I'm sharing details about what you can expect from Season 3 of the Creating Your Own Path podcast. In the episode, I chat about the future of my CYOP Road Trip shenanigans, some small (but important) changes to the content that will be coming your way and the new sponsorship opportunities I'll be introducing this year.
You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.2016-02-1600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #68 - The Benefits of Dabbling + Making Travel a Priority with Photographer Simone AnneToday I’m chatting with Simone Anne, a professional photographer and avid traveler based out of Berkeley, California. She’s very talented and offers up insight beyond her years. Truly—some of the things she says in this episode had me thinking deep thoughts about the meaning behind my work.
In the interview Simone and I talk about how she got started with photography at a fairly young age, why traveling makes her better at her job and what made her decide to pursue hobbies that have absolutely nothing to do with photography.
She’s an incre...2015-12-1700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #67 - Looking at the Big Picture with Lisa Jackson of Good on PaperToday’s show brings me to Berkeley, California to chat with Lisa Jackson of Good on Paper. As a stationery and print goods designer, Lisa creates both ready-made collections for companies like Tiny Prints and Wedding Paper Divas and does a ton of custom work for freelance clients.
What you might not know about Lisa, however, is that she has a full-time job with an environmental consulting firm and she’s a self-taught designer. In the interview we chat about why Lisa has kept her full-time gig even though she has nearly a full-time workload with Good on P...2015-12-1500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #66 - Experimenting + Letting Your Career Take Time with Natalie Davis of CanoeToday’s show brings to the home of Natalie Davis of the leather goods brand, Canoe, to chat about her career path, the growth she’s seen with her leatherworking business over the years and the magical land in which she creates—Austin, Texas.
If you happen upon Natalie’s website, you may not realize that she also helps her husband with his business venture—a butcher shop and restaurant in Austin—and that up until recently, she was also a design professor. In the interview, we dive into all of her different roles and how each one feeds in...2015-12-1000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #65 - Taking a Business Break + Rethinking Online Sales with Artist + Designer Jen MoultonToday's show brings me to Austin, Texas to visit with artist, designer and maker Jen Moulton who creates everything from jewelry to leather goods to ceramics out of her home studio. Of course, I’ve been following her journey for some time and when I started to notice a shift in her work and the way she was approaching her art, I knew I needed to sit down and talk with her.
In the interview we cover her journey from having a "real job" to being a full-time artist, how she’s shifting her business mode...2015-12-0300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #64 - Diversifying your Work + Being Resourceful with Graffiti + Fine Artist Troy DuffToday’s show brings me to East Nashville to chat with Graffiti and Fine Artist Troy Duff. He’s a Nashville native who has created an incredible career around his art, but he’s also worked as a model and actor—he was actually part of that iPod silhouette advertising campaign several years ago—and he created his own clothing line as well.
In the interview, we talk about why Troy made the move back to Nashville after his time in Los Angeles, what it was like getting into the graffiti art scene without all of the tools and...2015-11-2400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #63 - Creating with a Point of View + Monetizing Storytelling with Chuck Reece of The Bitter SouthernerToday’s show brings me to The Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia to chat with Chuck Reece—Editor & Chief of The Bitter Southerner. If you’re not familiar with the storytelling platform, not to worry. Chuck and I talk a lot about the website and how it’s evolving during in the interview.
We also chat about some of the misconceptions about the South that seem to pop up time and time again, how Chuck and his team are working to keep The Bitter Southerner up and running, why he thinks the project had so much...2015-11-1900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #62 - Finding Your Community + Sharing what Matters with Stephanie Duncan of Her New TribeToday's show brings me to the Atlanta home of Stephanie Duncan, the creator of Her New Tribe. She’s a freelance writer, stylist and art director whose work is focused primarily on the fashion industry. I met Stephanie thanks to the work we’ve done with the online lifestyle publication Clementine Daily and I was immediately drawn to her style and fascinated with how she’s building a career for herself.
There’s a lot of talk in the news lately about social media and whether or not it represents real life. I’ve always seen social media as a...2015-11-1200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #61 - Easing Into a Creative Career + Exploring New Collaborations with Fine Artist Emily JeffordsToday’s show is a good one, you guys. After leaving Philadelphia I headed for Greenville, South, Carolina. The city is not only incredibly charming, but it’s also home to the studio of Fine Artist Emily Jeffords. Like me, many of you may be familiar with her work thanks to her blog and social media presence and it was so exciting to meet her, tour her beautiful space and chat about her career.
In the interview we cover Emily’s tips for easing into a creative career, her thoughts on collaborating with larger brands, the importance of hav...2015-11-0500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #60 - Breaking the Mold + Venturing Beyond your Industry with Floral Designer Sullivan OwenToday's show brings me to the Philadelphia floral design studio of Sullivan Owen. There’s no doubt that Sullivan is incredibly talented in the realm of floral design, but her business sense is what truly reeled me in as we were chatting.
During the interview, we cover her start in retail design and visual merchandising and how planning her own wedding turned her on to floral design. We also talk at length about the importance of innovation in creative work, the dangerous temptation of creating what already exists and the benefits of looking outside of your industry fo...2015-10-2900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #59 - Turning Negatives Into Positives with Writer + Pastry Chef Klancy MillerToday’s episode brings me to Philadelphia to the family home of pastry chef and food writer Klancy Miller to talk about everything from Klancy's professional training as a pastry chef to the lost art of informational interviews. In the interview, we cover her long journey to becoming a food writer and the process behind her forthcoming book titled, Cooking Solo: The Joy of Cooking for Yourself.
I loved that she decided to tackle such a fun and interesting take on cooking, because I’ve just experienced a whole lot of time spent alone! There’s something truly...2015-10-2200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #58 - The Art of Collaboration + Understanding Your Place in the Market with Rich Arentzen of AO GlassToday's show brings me to the Burlington, Vermont hot shop (or blown glass factory) of AO Glass. Rich Arentzen is the owner and general manager of AO Glass and has been in the glass blowing industry for decades.
During the interview, I learned more about how he got started as a glass blower and just how winding his career path has been. We also talked a lot about the importance of reaching out to others—even if it’s a little scary—and why craft, community, collaboration and financial sustainability have to come together to maintain a succes...2015-10-1500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #57 - Writing the Next Chapter with Grace Bonney of Design Sponge and Food Writer Julia TurshenI’m pretty excited to share today’s episode, because it brings me to the lovely home of Grace Bonney and Julia Turshen in upstate New York.
I’ve been following Grace’s work with Design Sponge for a long time and have come to truly appreciate Julia’s work as a food writer along the way. Of course it was wonderful to meet the two of them in person and in the interview we actually talk a lot about the wonders of the internet and how important it is to use it as a tool to connect wi...2015-10-0800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP # 56 - Learning from Others and Being Open to Change with Designer Christine WisnieskiToday's episode brings me to the beautiful studio of Art Director and Designer Christine Wisnieski. Based in Cleveland, Christine runs a multi-disciplinary studio where she and her team create everything from brand identities to special art projects. Christine’s work has always caught my eye, so it was wonderful to chat with her in person.
During the interview we talked a lot about how changes effect a business over time and the benefits of working for someone else before striking out on your own. We also had a pretty honest discussion about being open to new ideas by...2015-10-0100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #55 - Switching Careers + Sharing Great Content with Jessica Murnane of the One Part PodcastToday's show brings me to Chicago to chat with Jessica Murnane of the One Part Podcast. I have to warn you guys: Jessica dropped some big news during our interview—some of which I knew ahead of time and some of which I did not know about. One thing I did know about is that she and her family are moving to Charleston, South Carolina! If I’m not mistaken, they’re in the midst of all their move-related stuff right now so send them all of your good moving vibes.
What I didn’t know before we start...2015-09-2400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #54 - Transitioning a Brand + Setting Goals with Katie Michels of Off SwitchToday's show brings me to the home of Katie Michels just outside of Chicago. I’ve been following Katie’s work for years and was super impressed as I watched her transition Off Switch, which used to be a gorgeous magazine, into an online shop full of cards, totes and other beautifully designed items—all of which she creates.
During the interview we talk through that transition and what it meant for her as a business owner, the meaning behind the brand “Off Switch” and how she’s moving forward with her big goals one step at a time.
...2015-09-1700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #53 - Taking Advantage of Opportunities + Maintaining Your Resiliency with Matt Eastvold of Eastvold FurnitureToday's show brings me to the Dennison, Minnesota to the woodworking shop of Matt Eastvold. Matt makes beautiful modern furniture just south of Minneapolis and it was amazing to meet him in person and check out the space in which he works.
In the episode we chat about how his business shifted during the recession and how he’s had to be resilient and somewhat nimble to keep his business growing. We also talked a lot about why he’s diversifying his products as a way to keep his varied customer base happy and how he’s stream...2015-09-1000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #52 - Taking Control of Your Freelance Career with Photographer Jessica Lowry VizzuttiToday's show brings me to the Missoula, Montana home of professional photographer Jessica Lowry Vizzutti. I've been following her work for years and have loved watching her build a truly impressive body of work that includes everything from huge editorial spreads to stunning wedding photography.
In the episode we chat about what it's like working with (and apart from) her photographer husband, why she decided to take on a full-time position outside of her photography work, her thoughts on being a visual storyteller and much more.
You can find the full episode + show notes at...2015-09-0300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #51 - Staying Organized + Understanding the Power of Art with Rosaura Unangst of Pigment + ParchmentToday's show brings me to the live/work space of Rosaura Unangst, who is the creative behind Pigment and Parchment—a calligraphy and illustration studio based here in Sacramento, California. She’s an incredibly talented artists and, though her work is tied mostly to the wedding industry, she also teaches workshops and is involved in several really fun collaborations.
In the episode, we talk about why those collaborations are so important to her; how her experiences with art therapy have informed the way she approaches not only her client work, but also her approach to teaching others; and...2015-08-1300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #50 - Working Through Fear and Exploring Your Creativity with Omonivie Okhade of Tula in BloomOn the show today, I’ve got another Sacramento creative in the hot seat. I came across the work of Omonivie Okhade and her jewelry brand Tula in Bloom thanks to some mutual friends and I’m so glad I did! Her work is incredible and she’s always learning new skills and incorporating new elements into her jewelry pieces. But what I didn’t know about Omonivie is that she has a lot of different creative talents. She sings, she’s a dancer, she’s a writer, she’s an illustrator—you name it.
It was so great to hear...2015-08-0600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #49 - Working with Your Significant Other + Building Intentional Brands with Caroline Winata + Josh Daniels of Giggle + RiotToday's show brings me to Sacramento's GoodWork HQ to chat with Caroline Wintata and Josh Daniels about all of their various businesses. Caroline is a photographer who focuses primarily on weddings, portraits and boudoir sessions and together they run Giggle + Riot, a photo booth rental company; GoodWorkHQ, a collaborative work space for event professionals; and they’ve even started a company with their photo booth designer—Brian Schmitt—that will allow them to manufacture their amazing photo booth designs for others.
In the interview we dive into the realities of working with a significant other, how Josh and Ca...2015-07-3000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #48 - Building a Solid Plan + Creating a Space to Learn with Ana Manzano of Ana AppleToday's show brings me to the Old Sacramento storefront of Ana Apple. As many of you know, I love chatting with people in my hometown of Sacramento, California and Ana Manzano is no exception. She's the mastermind behind the handmade children’s clothing and accessories brand and her company just expanded in a big way thanks to a local small business contest.
In the interview we talk about how the contest has helped Ana become a better business owner, her recent trials and triumphs as she’s moved from an online and wholesale business to a brick and...2015-07-2300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #47 - Making DIY Approachable + Blogging for a Living with Rachel Smith of The Crafted LifeRachel Smith is our guest on today’s show and if you know anything about the world of craft and DIY blogging, you’ve probably come across Rachel’s incredible corner of the internet. She currently runs her blog, The Crafted Life, full time and—though I don’t consider myself to be super crafty—I was completely drawn in by both Rachel’s aesthetic and by the simplicity of the projects she shares.
In the interview we chat about Rachel’s big leap to take her blog full time, how she makes a living as a blogger and some...2015-07-0900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #46 - The Benefits of Practice + Creating a Diverse Body of Work with Fine Artist + Illustrator Lisa CongdonToday's show brings me to the Portland home of Lisa Congdon and Clay Walsh to chat with Lisa about everything—from her late start as a fine artist and illustrator to how she and Clay are managing all of the opportunities coming their way these days.
In this incredibly honest interview, we chat about the strange concept of legitimacy when it comes to a creative career, why Lisa has purposefully chosen not to heed the “pick one thing and get really good at it” advice she’s heard over the years and the benefits of maintaining a daily cr...2015-07-0200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #45 - Jumping In with Both Feet + Supporting Indie Brands with Betsy Cross of Betsy + IyaToday’s episode brings us to the amazing Portland-based shop and design studio of Betsy & Iya. Betsy Cross is the owner and creative director behind the incredibly successful jewelry and accessory brand and she was kind enough to take a little time to chat while I was in town.
In the interview, we talk about how much Betsy & Iya has grown over the years thanks to many long discussions and leaps of faith. We also get into the details of how and why she and her husband decided to try working together, why Betsy doesn't th...2015-06-2500 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #44 - Embracing Rejection + Giving Yourself the Space to Create with Textile Designer + Artist Anna JoyceToday’s interview brings us to the Portland studio of Anna Joyce of Anna Joyce Design. Not only is her work absolutely beautiful, but her story is pretty amazing as well. She is an artist, textile designer and soon-to-be author who hasn’t had the easiest road to success.
During the interview, we get into some of the life events that really made her stop and think about her work. We also touch on how important it is to be persistent, the benefits of giving yourself the time and space to create your best work and why fail...2015-06-1800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #43 - Creating Timeless Content + Valuing Your Past Experience with Amanda Carter Gomes of Clementine DailyToday I’m sharing my very last episode from my #CYOProadtrip to Seattle. Amanda Carter Gomes is the Executive Editor of Clementine Daily and, not only was she kind enough to share her story with us today, but she and her amazing family let me stay with them while I was in town!
In our interview, Amanda and I talk candidly about the future of Clementine Daily, how Amanda’s many different jobs have all played a role in getting her to where she is today and why we all need to start valuing our past experiences more...2015-06-1100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #42 - Going Where Your Path Takes You + Doing the Work with Molly WizenbergToday's show brings me to Essex Bar to chat with author and restaurant owner Molly Wizenberg. She’s been the voice behind the blog, Orangette, since 2004 and has since had her work published in well-known magazines, written two wonderful books, launched a very funny podcast called Spilled Milk and opened a restaurant and bar in Seattle with her husband.
In the interview, we chat about how Molly tackled her first book and why the writing process didn’t quite go as planned, how her dad’s passing had a profound effect on her career trajectory, why opening a rest...2015-06-0400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #41 - Blending Your Creative Pursuits + Keeping Your Tools at Hand with Jeni Nelson of MagnifloraToday’s show is with another Seattleite, Jeni Nelson of Magniflora. She is a fine artist, professional photographer and floral designer whose work is absolutely stunning!
In the interview we talk about how Jeni has been able to blend her creative pursuits together and how, more often than not, they actually inform one another. We also chat about the importance of keeping your creative tools accessible, how creativity expands when you work with limited supplies and why we should all stop being our own worst critics.
You can find the full episode and show notes at...2015-05-2800 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #40 - Designing for Social Change + Getting Uncomfortable with Michael Ellsworth of CivilizationToday on Creating Your Own Path, I'm chatting with Michael Ellsworth, co-founder and principle of the Seattle-based design firm Civilization. The firm is built on the idea that good design can help create social change in the world, which is something that drew me in right away. Their client list is impressive, but I walked away from the interview being even more impressed with their team. They’re an incredible bunch and chatting with Michael was super inspiring.
In the episode, we talk about why process matters in just about everything they do at Civilization, how they so...2015-05-2100 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #39 - Blogging Behind the Scenes + Productivity with with Cassandra LaValle of Coco+KelleyToday's interview brings me to the Seattle office of Cassandra LaValle of Coco+Kelley. The lifestyle and design blogger started sharing her favorite inspirations online in the early days of the industry—in 2007—and has since expanded her brand to include interior design services, specialized event planning services, workshops and much more.
Listen in as we chat about the blogging industry and why it’s important to stop and think about what might be going on behind the scenes when a blogger or platform looks as though they’ve had overnight success. We also touch on the importan...2015-05-1400 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #38 - Shifting Careers + Filling a Void with Fashion Designer Jenny FortToday's episode brings me to the beautiful Seattle studio of Fashion Designer Jenny Fort. After having multiple careers in various industries, Jenny has settled into the design world with her niche fashion brand, Lu.
In the interview we chat about the evolution of Jenny's career path and why she still doesn't feel as though she's "made it." We also touch on how her fashion brand was built out of necessity, the avenues she's exploring to grow her business and how building a creative business is rarely a linear exercise.
You can find the...2015-05-0700 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #37 - Keeping Your Day Job + Staying Focused with Adina and Zeke Pease of RambleGood + Dog on a Boat StudiosToday's show brings me to the live/work space of Adina and Zeke Pease of RambleGood and Dog on a Boat Studios. The Seattle-based creatives work in various mediums like photography, videography, written content and, most recently, hand-made goods. Their journey to get to this point has been anything but a straight line and I think that's what I find most inspiring!
In the interview, they go into detail about how they came to terms with keeping their day jobs and studies on track while maintaining fulfilling creative side hustles. We also chat about why they finally...2015-04-3000 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #36 - Collaboration + Being Kind on the Internet with Marissa Harrington of Bourbon and GooseToday's episode with Creative Director and Photographer Marissa Harrington is my final show from LA! I've been internet friends with Marissa for several years and I've always admired her work with Bourbon and Goose and Happy Hour Club. I'm so glad we finally had a chance to spend some time together in person!
Listen in as we chat about the benefits of having a day job while pursuing your passion projects, why Marissa believes that all of her creative endeavors have helped her get to where she is today and how she's leveraging a stint on Instagram's...2015-04-2300 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #35 - Building a Supportive Community with Joanna Waterfall of Waterfall Creative and The Yellow ConferenceOn today's show, I'm chatting with talented graphic designer and founder of The Yellow Conference, Joanna Waterfall. While I was in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to visit her Burbank office space to learn more about her career path, background and everything she's got in the works this year.
Listen in as we chat about the importance of staying grounded when you're surrounded by fun and inspiring things, why The Yellow Conference is filling a void Joanna noticed in the world of women's conferences and the reason she and her team are taking to crowdfunding to...2015-04-1600 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #34 - Filmmaking + Teamwork with Ric + Jen Serena from Serena Creative + The Muir ProjectToday's show brings me to the Burbank studio of Ric and Jen Serena. While I was in Los Angeles last month, I had the chance to catch up with the two who, together with their collaborators, are still riding the wave of success that came with their beautiful documentary, "Mile... Mile and a Half."
In the episode, we chat about their own winding career paths, how they coped when The Muir Project and "Mile... Mile and a Half" took over their world for a few years, their strategies for working together as a...2015-04-0900 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #33 - Becoming an Author + Getting Out of Your Own Head with Lifestyle Writer Anne SageToday's show brings me to the home of Lifestyle Writer, Creative Director and Social Media Strategist Anne Sage. I've been a longtime admirer of her work, so I was thrilled when I found out we'd be able to meet up while I was in LA.
In the interview we chat about Anne's new interiors book (out this fall) and how she dealt with the grueling (and rewarding) process of writing and publishing her first book. We also talk about the difference between our online selves and our real life selves, how Anne pieces together her income and...2015-04-0200 min
Creating Your Own PathCYOP #32 - Quilts as Fine Art + Finding Your Creative "Why" with Fine Artist, Designer and Quilter Luke HaynesToday's show brings me to the studio of Luke Haynes—a fine artist, designer and quilter living and working in LA. When I first heard about Luke's work, I was definitely intrigued. Not only was I very interested to chat with a man who quilts (they're a rare bunch!), but I was also fascinated to learn that his quilts are truly fine art pieces. They're meant to be more about form and conversation than they are about function.
Listen in as we chat about how his work differs from traditional quilting, where he sees himself fitting in wi...2015-03-2600 min