Minding My Creative Business Podcast

Episode Summary Ron and Shy break down the topic listeners have been asking for: how do you actually move from "let's collaborate" to a real, structured business partnership? Drawing on their own 50/50 partnership building MMCB, they walk through three distinct partnership models — referral partnerships, co-creation partnerships, and platform partnerships — with real examples covering photography,...

Episode Summary Ron and Shy sit down with Lala Johnson — singer-songwriter, actress, vocal instructor, live performance event producer, and CEO of LWM Group — for a deep dive into what it actually takes to turn a single talent into a full performance business. An Army veteran and 13-year soprano background vocalist for Erykah Badu, Lala now leads three distinct ensembles: the all-woman Tina Turner...

Ron and Shy sit down with Devin Wilmott-Johnson — brand strategist, event producer, keynote speaker, event host, and founder of DWJ & Co. and the Girls Trip Society — for a wide-ranging masterclass on what separates creatives who plateau from creatives who scale. A recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at 29, Devin built her first six-figure business in college and now runs...

You Are a Brand: What It Actually Takes to Get Hired by a Corporate Client with Scottie Rodgers Episode Summary Part of MMCB's ongoing Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs series, this episode brings in Scottie Rodgers , Vice President of Communications for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic , with over 30 years of communications experience and 32 years working in college athletics. Scottie sits on...

Takeaways: Transitioning from a W2 job to full-time entrepreneurship requires careful planning and commitment. Diversifying income streams is essential for creative entrepreneurs to achieve financial stability. Embracing AI technology can enhance creativity rather than replace it, as it offers valuable tools. Collaboration among creative professionals can lead to shared resources, reducing individ...

What if being creative had less to do with what you make and more to do with how you build your life and business? In this episode of Minding My Creative Business , Ron and Shai sit down with brand strategist, marketing leader, creative entrepreneur, and North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee CMO Noelle LeVeaux for a conversation about what it really means to think like a creative entrepr...

What does it actually take to grow from a solo entrepreneur into a real business owner? Many creatives start with a skill, some turn that into freelance work — but only a few build a company that can run beyond themselves. In the Season 7 premiere of Minding My Creative Business, Ron and Shy sit down with Sammy Bivens , Founder and CEO of Digital Marketing Maven & Associates, to trace her path...

This podcast episode serves as a comprehensive recap of Season Six, wherein we delve into the transformative journeys of creative entrepreneurs who are determined to shift from mere survival to thriving within their craft. Central to this discussion is the invitation to engage in the Creative to CEO challenge, a five-day live coaching experience designed to cultivate a mindset that fosters both pu...

Your revenue didn’t drop because you need more clients. It dropped because your offer is broken. In Episode 48 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron break down one of the most dangerous beliefs in the creative space: “I just need more clients.” But the truth is: More clients + unclear offer = more chaos. This episode dismantles the “volume trap” and replaces it with a system that actually scales — the CR...

You don’t need PR — you need to get your foundation together first. In Episode 47 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron sit down with Rae Christine, a 20-year PR veteran and brand architect, to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in the creative space: people think they need PR… when they’re not even ready for it. This episode goes beyond branding theory. It exposes: what actually drives revenue...

You want bigger clients… but you’re not operating like someone who can handle them. In Episode 46 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron sit down with Briana Gallen, founder of Swank PR, to break down what it actually takes to run a high-level PR business after 18 years in the game. This episode is not theory. It’s not “motivation.” It’s real execution — from onboarding systems, to pricing structure, to p...

You’re getting inquiries… but the money still isn’t consistent. Why? In Episode 45 of Season 6, ShySpeaks and Ron break down one of the most overlooked reasons creative entrepreneurs struggle to scale: a broken client journey. You’re getting messages. You’re booking clients. You’re delivering work. But something still feels off. That “off” feeling? It’s profit leakage happening across your entire...

Episode Summary: Cindy Beasley didn't take the Hollywood route — she watched what happened to people who did, decided it wasn't for her, and built her own table instead. Now she's the founder of Morally Simple Productions and the newly appointed President of Creative Cipher, a Chicago-rooted creative ecosystem that hosts the XL Film Festival, attracts AMC executives, and is being built into the ne...

Episode Summary: Isabel Bora didn't wait until she was ready — she started in her bathroom, pregnant, modeling wigs at night while her baby slept, and reaching out to 40 companies before she got her first yes. In 14 months, she built Sugar Bridals into a premium bridal hair brand serving brides of color, closed 62 brides in year one, assembled a 5-person team, and used her creative business income...

Episode Summary: Most creatives are still playing small because they think collaboration is competition in disguise — this episode dismantles that lie in real time. Recorded live at CreativeCon Chicago, Ron and Shy sit down with bestselling author and Motivation Champs founder Dominick "Dom" Domasky and small business powerhouse Ramon Ray to unpack what it actually takes to build events, publishin...

Episode Description Two years in. Five seasons deep. And we are just getting started. In this Season 5 Wrap-Up episode of Mind My Creative Business, hosts Ron Lee Jr. and Shai Speaks take you on a full-circle journey through one of the most powerful seasons yet — recapping the game-changing conversations, frameworks, and strategies shared by this season's guest experts. Whether you are a creative...

The central theme of our discussion revolves around the imperative of automating mundane tasks to liberate oneself for pursuits of greater significance. We delve into the concept of a workflow audit, a critical exercise designed to identify areas of inefficiency within one's business processes. By implementing strategies to automate, delegate, and eliminate repetitive tasks, we can subsequently el...

AI isn’t replacing creatives, those who embrace AI are. In this eye‑opening episode of Minding My Creative Business, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks chat with Kierra Dotson, an AI engineer, data conversationalist and entrepreneur. They explore how creative business owners can leverage data and AI to work smarter, not harder. A 2025 survey found that AI adoption among small businesses jump...

Talent alone won’t build a thriving business—you must value yourself and your craft. In this episode of Minding My Creative Business, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks sit down with acclaimed photographer Tolulope Berry (T Berry Pictures) to explore how he turned a gift from his mother into a flourishing photography empire. The conversation covers valuing your work, building sustainable sys...

In this podcast episode, we delve into the transformative journey of Shadira Nesmith, co-founder of Stacked Up Academy, who passionately advocates for early exposure of youth to technology and essential skills such as financial literacy and coding. With a wealth of experience in the educational technology sector, Shadira articulates her commitment to bridging the gap for students, ensuring they ac...

Our latest podcast episode dives into the creative journey, offering insights for every creative professional looking to build an online business. We discuss effective business strategy and the power of collaboration within the industry. It's all about navigating the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur. 🕒 Episode Chapters: 0:00 – Team sync for social media 5:50 – Establishing rhythm &...

Join hosts ShySpeak and Ron Lee Jr. as they dive into a compelling conversation with Terry Williams, a Harvard-trained neuroscience and mindset coach. This episode explores the transition from running a successful fitness business to becoming an executive mindset coach. Terry shares invaluable insights into building a growth mindset, understanding life purpose, and the importance of rest for high...

From Media Icon to Creative CEO: Jaleah's Entrepreneurial Journey In this episode of Minding My Creative Business podcast, hosts Ron and ShySpeaks sit down with Jaleah Davis, a self-proclaimed media icon, to discuss her inspiring journey from eighth grade media enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur. Jaleah opens up about her ventures including her television network - Eyeconic Television, her pr...

Welcome to a special episode of the Minding My Creative Business podcast, where we’re celebrating the end of an incredible Season 4 with a live recap! Join your hosts, ShySpeaks and Ron "iRonic" Lee Jr., as they reflect on four seasons and over 33 episodes of inspiring conversations, candid challenges, and major wins in the world of creative entrepreneurship. In this episode, we revisit some of ou...

EPISODE SUMMARY: Welcome back to Minding My Creative Business , the go-to podcast for creative entrepreneurs ready to level up their strategy, structure, and self-development. In this episode, hosts Ron “iRonic” Lee Jr. and ShySpeaks shine a spotlight on a side of creative business that doesn’t get nearly enough love: event curation—with a twist of culinary arts. We’re joined by Eric Grayson, Dall...