Ingrid Victoria Ruth Anderson of Chimera Lashes is a lash designer, makeup artist, and self-proclaimed “idea person” who realized she needed to focus on just one of her ideas in order to make a big impact. Before turning to lashes, she previously created a number of different handmade products include Panties with a Pocket and The Crocheted Beard. In this episode, we also talk about finding a business partner to help balance the business side of things with the more creative aspects of running a business.

Alexandra Franzen is a writer, consultant, and entrepreneur based in Portland, OR. While Alexandra has a significant online following of her articles and email newsletter, she no longer uses any form of social media. We talk about what led her to make that choice and how she runs a thriving business without being on social media. We also talk about scheduling “life” first, the importance and joy of tiny projects, and how to say “no” in a thoughtful, helpful way that can leave the other person better off.

Midori Tajiri-Byrd is a master at juggling multiple creative pursuits. As a descendant of Japanese samurai, she grew up in a family of artists and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. These days, she makes her living as a professional makeup artist and she performs drag as LibeRaunchy the BeauxQueen.

Robin Barnes, aka the “Songbird of New Orleans” grew up in a musical family and now sees herself as a cultural ambassador of New Orleans. In this episode, she shares how her background in business helped her to create a successful career in music, and how a life-changing health scare inspired her to start her second business, Move Ya Brass, a cardio fitness training program.

Dynamo is a sexual health and wellness focused romantic boutique based in New Orleans. On this episode, I chat with co-owners Hope Kodman Von Starnes and Nico Darling about business partnerships and the hurdles they overcame to open up a brick and mortar retail boutique, including using crowdfunding via IndieGoGo to fund the renovation of their building.

Monique Malcolm is the host of the Pimp Your Brilliance podcast and creator of the Visionary Journal, a goal setting system & planner. We talk about how she went from fashion blogger to t-shirt designer to goal setting guru. 

Beth Miller is the Executive Director of the Creative Education Foundation, a non-profit which produces CPSI, the world’s longest-running creativity conference. We talk about deliberate creativity, embracing vulnerability, and how a paper Beth wrote as an undergraduate has been adapted into a play. 

Gary Hirsch uses visual art and improv theatre to help communities and businesses be more creative. In this episode, he talks about letting other people steal his creative ideas, finding ways to offer value to people, and the logistics of creating large scale murals.

Curious about hashtags, growing your audience and driving traffic to your website from Instagram? This week’s episode is full of Instagram tips and tricks.

How do you get your creative momentum back after taking a break? How do you set your artistic intentions for a new year?

Melissa Capps works with creative businesses to help them understand their financials, from bookkeeping basics to their profit strategy. In this episode, she shares the money mistake she sees creative business owners make most often.

We’re getting deep on this week’s episode. From imposter syndrome to design thinking to mental models, let’s explore ways to rewire your brain and think about problems in creative ways. 

Nathan Allotey is a web designer and digital marketing strategist with a passion to teach others. On this episode, we talk about how freelancers and other creatives can successfully price their work and raise their prices.

How do creatives stay motivated and inspired, and how do you stick to your guns and true to your artistic vision?