Creating Your Own Path

Today, I’m chatting with our CYOP artist resident Malia Tong as we wrap up Season 6 of CYOP. Listen in as we talk about what we’ve both learned over the course of the season, what’s changed in our lives and careers and some of the surprising things we see on the horizon for our respective work.SHOW NOTES:Episode 134 with MaliaEpisode 139 with MaliaMalia on InstagramMalia on EtsyTechnical production by Ray OrtegaMe on InstagramCYOP on InstagramGet the Creative Digest

On today’s show, we catch up with past CYOP guests Maritza and Roshaun Davis of the Sacramento Kings and Unseen Heroes, respectively, to talk about Maritza’s recent decision to take on a full-time role outside of Unseen Heroes and what it’s meant for their business, their family and their personal career goals. We also talk about what it’s been like for Roshaun as he’s taken the reins at Unseen Heroes, why he’s assessing how they want to scale the business next and what he does to stay grounded when both he and Maritza are moving a million miles a minute.Unseen Heroes websiteUnseen Heroes on InstagramRoshaun on InstagramThe Sacramento Kings websiteThe Sacramento Kings on InstagramMaritza on InstagramCapitol FloatsDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportArt by Malia TongTechnical production by Ray OrtegaMe on InstagramThe official CYOP Instagram accountGet the Creative Digest

On today’s show, I chat with illustrator and writer Ludi Leiva about how she’s transitioned from working in media full-time to working for herself. We also dive into what it means to be a creative in a place like New York (and why she’s decided to move out of the city), why she believes we all need to stop worrying about the perceptions of others, and why her family history has her dreaming of some really beautiful projects. SHOW NOTES: Ludi's website Ludi on Instagram + Twitter Ludi's work for Refinery29 Art by Malia Tong Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram CYOP on Instagram Get the Creative Digest

Today’s show is an interview with multidisciplinary artist Tia Keo. Her story is one I think many of us can relate to — especially if we’ve been working creatively for a while. In the episode, we discuss how she’s been playing with different mediums over the years to stay creatively inspired and to combat the burnout that comes with working in one medium for so long. We also chat about the dangers of the creative hustle — pushing and pushing to find success — and how she’s discovered a certain amount of flow that is opening up opportunities she may have never considered. I loved hearing how intentional Tia is about creating habits while also making space for the unexpected. I hope you’ll get just as much as I did from this interview. SHOW NOTES: Tia's website Tia on Instagram Tia's laser cut jewelry designs at Silvercocoon Art by Malia Tong Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

Today’s episode will get you a front row seat at my recent talk at Sacramento’s Creative Mornings event last month. In it, I discuss the challenges I’ve faced, both personally and professionally, as I’ve navigated significant losses over the last several years. The theme for this talk was END and I cover how I’ve worked to claim my narrative while I was going through the grief process surrounding my divorce and the death of a loved one. As always, my goal in sharing these kinds of topics is to help others who might be going through something similar. SHOW NOTES: My Creative Mornings talk (video) Sacramento Creative Mornings on Instagram Creative Mornings Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

On today’s show, I sit down with Meagan Lewis of Brown Pigeon and Alejandra Magana of Echeri Ceramics to talk about their respective businesses and a joint venture — the Spottery — they submitted to the Calling All Dreamers contest. In the short time between our conversation being recorded and this interview going live, they made some major decisions about their business. Listen in to hear all of the lessons they’ve learned since initially jumping into the contest. Vote for The Spottery in the Calling All Dreamers Contest! The Spottery on Instagram Brown Pigeon on Instagram Shop Echeri Ceramics Echeri Ceramics on Instargam Art by Malia Tong Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

Several months ago, I was lucky enough to be on my friend Non’s podcast called “You, Me, Empathy,” which is a show about mental health and wellness. He kindly shared the audio and today’s show is his interview with me as a guest. In the episode, I chat about my recent experiences with loss, both through death and divorce. We also discuss the importance of sitting with the uncertainty that is the grieving process and allowing ourselves to slowly make our way through it. SHOW NOTES: Original interview on You, Me, Empathy You, Me, Empathy on Instagram Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

Today’s episode is an interview with blogger, interior designer and content creator Shavonda Gardner. In the episode, we chat about how her military background actually helped her as she’s built her business, why she shares so openly about many different topics on social media, and the importance of choosing who and what we surround ourselves with every day. SHOW NOTES: Shavonda's interior design and lifestyle blog Shavonda on Instagram My favorite highlights from Shavonda's Instagram stories: White Women Do Work Race Resources Education System Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

Today’s show is a chat between me and our CYOP Artist Resident Malia Tong. The artist residency includes several co-hosted conversations on topics that are either timely, top of mind or both, and this is one of those chats. On the show, we catch up on what we’re working through in our careers right now, what previous jobs have taught us about life, work and everything in between, and what skills we feel like we’re collecting and perfecting on the job right now. SHOW NOTES: Malia’s initial CYOP interview Malia on Instagram Malia on Etsy Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

In this episode, you’ll meet Zahra Ammar, whose work can only be described as mesmerizing. She works primarily with paper and uses styles like quilling and origami to bring stunning imagery to life. Listen in as she talks about the big leaps she’s taken in her life and career, how important it is for her to watch people experience her art and why she believes that both taking breaks for outdoor adventures and sitting down to do the work have helped her succeed. Zahra's Website Zahra on Instagram More about paper quilling Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

n 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 account Get the Creative Digest For the full episode and show notes, visit creatingyourownpath.com.

In 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 episode and show notes, visit creatingyourownpath.com.

In 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 Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest For the full list of show notes, please visit [creatingyourownpath.com](creatingyourownpath.com).

In this episode, you’ll (finally!) meet 2019 CYOP Artist Resident Malia Tong — an artist and maker who currently calls Arizona home. I cannot wait for you all to get to know her and hear more of her story throughout the season. Like many of us, she has a lot of different facets to her career and we discuss everything from how she manages her energy while juggling multiple projects to why she rarely feels represented in the art world. SHOW NOTES: Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy Northern Arizona University Malia on Instagram Malia on Etsy Podcast technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest

In 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 Abdou More Information: Me on Instagram The official CYOP Instagram account Get the Creative Digest You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com

In 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.

In 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.

Today'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.

After 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.

I'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.

Today 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 those who might want to participate in any type of residency in the near future and some updates about her work as she prepares to close out the year. Please find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

We’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 a solid human being is crucial when you’re looking to be gainfully employed in the entertainment industry. For the full episode + show notes, visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today 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 ones. For example, right now he's a director for the TV show, Intervention. In today’s episode, we learn more about Sami’s background and the real story behind why he decided to get into filmmaking, what it’s like to direct documentary films and shows, how his career has evolved over the years and how he stays happy and healthy with his intense work schedule. For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today 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 easier to do the things that scare you. SHOW NOTES: Keah's work Keah on Instagram + Twitter #DisabledAndCute Roxane Gay Ashley C. Ford Tweet thread about writing/editing credits For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 community and beyond. SHOW NOTES: Keah's work + press Keah on Instagram + Twitter Cerebral Palsy #DisabledAndCute Million Dollar Baby Alex Slater, Trident Media Group For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today'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 the craft of writing. She also shares how she gets into the right frame of mind to write across different genres and outlets and why it’s important for everyone to let their voices be heard. SHOW NOTES: Keah's work Keah on Instagram + Twitter Sarah Dessen Tia Mowry-Hardrict Robert Jordan, Pianist Fredonia​​​​​ State University of New York For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today, 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 some of the best ways she’s been able to build relationships that cross the online/offline barrier. SHOW NOTES: Anne's portfolio Prêt à Voyager (Anne's blog) Navigate Paris (Anne's tours) Anne on Instagram, Twitter + Facebook Anne's classes on Skillshare My first interview with Anne Vayable Christine Herrin on CYOP #111, #112, #113 Adobe Max Creative Mornings Munich Herb Lester Map Project The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community) For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today, 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 things and why she doesn’t think she’d be very good at (or happy with) having a full-time job. SHOW NOTES: Anne's portfolio Prêt à Voyager (Anne's blog) Navigate Paris (Anne's tours) Anne on Instagram, Twitter + Facebook Anne's classes on Skillshare My first interview with Anne Design Sponge Meighan O'Toole Open Classrooms Sree Sreenivasa Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community) Find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today'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 never wanted to blog for a living — even though her blog is well-known and established. SHOW NOTES: Anne's portfolio Prêt à Voyager (Anne's blog) Navigate Paris (Anne's tours) Anne on Instagram, Twitter + Facebook Anne's classes on Skillshare My first interview with Anne Samantha Clarke (happiness consultant) Samantha in Forbes (portfolio careers) How to Be Everything by Emilie Wapnick Parsons Paris Wordpress Squarespace The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community) For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 production and promotion mode and give ourselves the opportunity to see the forest for the trees. SHOW NOTES: Check out Melanie's art Melanie on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Melanie's pop-up event in Seattle Me on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Episode 101 Episode 106 Episode 110 Saatchi Art Society 6 Minted Digital Kitchen The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) Find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’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 is so important to Moorea, what therapy has helped her realize over the years, a how discussions about mental health, wellness, and advocacy are approached within her business. SHOW NOTES: Moorea Seal Moorea's blog Moorea's 52 Lists books Pre-order Moorea's new book Moorea on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook + Twitter Suicide Prevention Hotline American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 when to take the next big steps with her business. SHOW NOTES: Moorea Seal Moorea's blog Moorea's 52 Lists books Pre-order Moorea's new book! Moorea on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook + Twitter Sasquatch Books Justina Blakeney Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess Julia Manchik Learn more about upcoming workshops here. See the new art prints in the shop here! The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) Find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today, 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 little bit of both over the next three episodes. I really hope you’ll take the time to listen to the underlying drivers that are at play in everything she does. While we may not all be able to relate to exactly what she’s gone through, her tenacity to just keep going and to trust her gut is one that I think we can all learn from. SHOW NOTES: Moorea Seal Moorea's blog Moorea's books Moorea on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook + Twitter Moorea's music on Myspace (!!) Artist John Grade Myers-Briggs Test Learn more about upcoming workshops here. See what art prints are coming to the shop here. The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today 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 process along the way, and how her experience taught her to be both a creative and a business person.   SHOW NOTES: Christine Herrin Everyday Explorers Christine on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Adobe Creative Residency Kelly Purkey Ali Edwards Sara Dietschy SXSW Festival Behance The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today 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’s found product design ideas in her travels, why she’s okay with both digital and physical types of memory keeping, and how she blends work and travel as a way to see the world and get stuff done at the same time. SHOW NOTES: Christine Herrin Everyday Explorers Christine on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Adobe Creative Residency Total Girl magazine Anne Ditmeyer's CYOP Interview Anne Ditmeyer's work Blurb Books The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

I'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 some really great advice about putting yourself in the way of cool people and projects. SHOW NOTES: Christine Herrin Everyday Explorers Christine on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Adobe Creative Residency Academy of Art University, San Francisco Kelly Purkey Albertson Design TED Talks Makeshift Society + Rena Tom Creative Live 100 Days of Discussion digtal sale! The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 think oftentimes all of those things go hand in hand whether you have a 9-5 or you run your own business. We talk about the challenges we both face, what’s worked for us in the past, and things we want to be better at moving forward.   SHOW NOTES: Check out Melanie's art Melanie on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Melanie's pop-up event in Seattle Me on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Episode 101 Episode 106 Pomodoro Technique Google Calendar TeuxDeux Swiss Miss Bullet Journal ​​​​​​Get to Work Book Elise Blaha Cripe on CYOP The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find more by visiting creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 event series, Meghan talks about what it’s been like trying to get sponsors on board, and they both discuss what the speakers have taught them over the last several months. SHOW NOTES: Creative Mornings Sacramento CM Sacramento on Instagram, Facebook, + Twitter Honey Agency Honey Agency on Instagram, Pinterest + Facebook Rebecca on Instagram Meghan on Instagram Amanda Sebastiani Tina Roth Eisenberg of SwissMiss + Tattly Amal Iqba Adam Federico The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes, along with all of the CYOP archives at creatingyourownpath.com.

I’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 implemented what they call “collaboration hour” at their office, how they believe in the fishbowl theory—which Rebecca explains quite well—and why they’ve had to shift their mindset so they can grow a business that will live on without them. SHOW NOTES: Honey Agency Honey Agency on Instagram, Pinterest + Facebook Rebecca on Instagram Meghan on Instagram MARRS Building Creative Mornings HQ Creative Mornings Sacramento The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can find the full episode + show notes for this episode, along with all of the CYOP archives at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today'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 incredibly talented people has driven much of their company’s success. SHOW NOTES: Honey Agency Honey Agency on Instagram, Pinterest + Facebook Rebecca on Instagram Meghan on Instagram Sonoma State Chico State Java City Cupcake Vineyards The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can also find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’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 Melanie's art Melanie on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter Melanie's pop-up event in Seattle Me on Instagram, Pinterest + Twitter My office hours Google Hangouts Slack Melissa Camilleri Anicich Steph Jagger Thanks to Sandra + Adina for asking awesome questions! The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) You can also find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’s show is our first Tuesday Tips + Tricks episode of the season and it’s sponsored by Twenty20, which is a stock photography site where creatives like us can go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. I was pretty excited when the team at Twenty20 reached out about sponsoring the show. I’ve been having trouble finding the time to stage all of the photos I need to go along with my written or audio content, but I was also really interested in finding out more about the company. So, I wrangled an interview with Co-founder and CEO Matt Munson to see if he could share, not only the company’s backstory, but also some best practices for using stock photography in our businesses. SHOW NOTES: Twenty20.com/cyop Twenty20 on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest + Twitter Tarte Yogurt More about the transition from Instacanvas Today’s episode is brought to you by Twenty20, where creatives go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. Head to Twenty20.com/cyop for a seven-day trial with five free photos!

On 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 option for them, how Micaela plans to juggle all of her passions and career goals, and some really solid advice for anyone out there who wants to start something from scratch. For more, head to creatingyourownpath.com. SHOW NOTES: Oh My Drifter Micaela on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Drifter Organics Drifter Organics on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Brit + Co. Remake Festival West Coast Craft Dandelion Post Be Clean Legion Good Earth Natural Foods Of a Kind The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) Today’s episode is brought to you by Twenty20, where creatives go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. Head to Twenty20.com/cyop for a seven-day trial with five free photos!

Today we’re back with Micaela and Dawn Marie Hoo, the mother-daughter team behind the skincare line Drifter Organics. In last week’s show, we heard how Micaela’s career began and what led the two to launch the new brand. If you haven’t had a chance to hear to that episode, I’d recommend going back and listening to it before you listen to today’s show. Today we’re getting into the funding model for Drifter Organics. Micaela and Dawn Marie opted to use crowdfunding to launch the company and they are going to be sharing a lot of the benefits and challenges involved with funding a business that way. We also chat about why crowdfunding isn’t always about money, why running a campaign can be such an emotional rollercoaster, and how the two prepared themselves to make their campaign successful. SHOW NOTES: Oh My Drifter Micaela on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Drifter Organics Drifter Organics on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Drifter Organics Kickstarter campaign Creative Live crowdfunding course Christopher Hawker's crowdfunding course Indiegogo Skillshare The Creative Digest (Extra interview snippets + the CYOP Slack Community!) Today’s episode is brought to you by Twenty20, where creatives go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. Head to Twenty20.com/cyop for a seven-day trial with five free photos!

Today’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 into how they work together as a team on Drifter Organics—especially since they have very different work styles and personalities—why they launched a skincare line when it was clear that Micaela’s first loves were photography and design, and why Micaela’s whole career is about asking—for help, for opportunities, for support, and more. SHOW NOTES: Oh My Drifter Micaela on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Drifter Organics Drifter Organics on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter + Facebook Tim Walker's photography Gretchen Ruben's Happier podcast 100 Days of Discussion (Use code: MOM17 for 25% off print books!) Subscribe to The Creative Digest Please find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com. Today’s episode is brought to you by Twenty20, where creatives go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. Head to Twenty20.com/cyop for a seven-day trial with 5 free photos.

We'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 to trying new things—from new mediums to interesting sales channels. We also talk about how that mindset was expressed in her application for the CYOP Artist Residency and why she was ultimately the best fit for the show’s fourth season.   She’s incredibly talented, kind, and funny and I’m really looking forward to working with her this year. SHOW NOTES: Check out Melanie's art Melanie on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter Alt Summit Minted Society6 RedBubble Saatchi Art The Creative Digest (w/ access to the new Slack Community!) As always, you can find all recent and past episodes of Creating Your Own Path at creatingyourownpath.com.

In 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 hear what's in store for the fourth season of the show. SHOW NOTES: Season 3 Finale 100 Days of Discussion CYOP Artist Residency Melanie Biehle The Creative Digest (w/ access to the new Slack Community!) As always, you can find all recent and past episodes of Creating Your Own Path at creatingyourownpath.com.

On 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.

Today 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 approved for start-up capital. I also really appreciated her honesty about the challenges she’s worked through as her business has grown, her dedication to quality in both her products and her team, and her ability to see both the big picture and the finer details of her work. For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

Today 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 the mistakes she made early on, how she keeps her creativity flowing while managing the business side of her business, why it’s critical to have a support system and how she’s built such an awesome team of employees. For the full episode + show notes, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.