This is How We Create

Have you wondered about the gap between the beautiful work on artists' websites and the reality of making a living off of your creative work? Join three incredible artists: illustrator Andrea Pippins, illustrator Alex Cabal, and photographer Chris Charles, who share their "income pie." They reveal that making it is a result of royalties, commissions, speaking gigs, and consulting that supports the...

Ever feel trapped shooting the same bright, clean images everyone expects? Photographer Sage East knows that struggle. After landing her first big Puma campaign with perfectly lit, commercial-ready shots, she realized something was missing - soul.  In this episode, the photographer behind campaigns for Nike, Google, Netflix, and Dior reveals how she transformed her work from safe and sterile to mo...

Turns out most successful creative careers are funded by multiple streams.  If you've ever felt that cobbling it together means you haven't truly arrived, this episode is a reminder that you're building something sustainable, resilient, and entirely your own. Chapters 00:00 - The Secret Feeling of Being a Fraud  02:17 - The "Income Pie" Revelation  04:37 - Why Your Pie is a Source of Freedom, Not...

Discover how Violeta Encarnación balances freelancing, illustration, and creative evolution. She reflects on her journey from growing up in Cuba to becoming a book illustrator, her experience at SVA, and her shift into tattooing. Violeta opens up about the realities of freelancing, managing carpal tunnel syndrome, and honing her distinctive color palette. She also shares how nature inspires her wo...

What does it take to keep creating, even after dozens of false starts? In this deeply insightful encore episode, I'm sharing my conversation with the legendary author Edwidge Danticat.  Edwidge shares how she found her own voice as a writer and offers a candid look into her artistic practice today. We talk about the "dance with fear", and the "20 notebooks of false starts" for her current novel, a...

Have you ever felt the pull to leave a secure, conventional career for a more exciting path of as an artist?  In this encore episode, I'm revisiting my conversation with photographer Nolis Anderson, whose journey is a powerful lesson in following your creative intuition.  Nolis shares the incredible story of how he pivoted from pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree to building a full-time photograp...

When was the last time your creative energy faded away like mist? One season you're overflowing with ideas, and the next, you feel like you're trying to draw water from a dry well.  In this personal solo episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own creative rhythms. Tune in to hear how to use your natural creative lulls to your advantage. This episode is a gentle reminder that your river of cre...

Have you ever wondered how to turn a lifelong passion for art into a real, thriving career? In this episode, I'm delighted to sit down with Alex Craig, a self-taught artist, painter, and illustrator who embodies the spirit of creative determination. Alex shares her journey, from a childhood surrounded by artists to launching her first clothing line to eventually showcasing her work at prestigious...

Think back to your younger self. What advice would you give to that version of yourself? In today's episode, I'm sharing a powerful compilation of advice from three artists who have learned to quiet their chatty minds to be their best selves.  We'll hear from Murielle Banackissa, celebrated food photographer, stylist, and author of the cookbook Savoring. Nana Oduro, a visual artist. And from, Tiff...

How do you move from showing your art in group exhibitions to building a loyal circle of collectors who not only buy your work but champion it? In this conversation, we dive deep into the lived experience of an artist who has done exactly that. From humble beginnings in group shows to being invited into exhibitions in New York, Japan, and Europe, our guest shares how community, consistency, and se...

What's your relationship with money? Is it your friend, your enemy, or something much more complicated? In this episode, I discuss a topic we all think about but rarely talk about: money.   We'll explore the science of how money stress affects our creative brains and unpack the family stories that shape our financial habits. We'll guide you through actionable steps and a few mindset shifts, includ...

How do you find your creative voice when the world tries to quiet it? In this powerful episode, I sit down with artist Diana Hendrix, who shares her journey from Chicago's foster care system to carving a vibrant creative career. Diana reveals how to use your work to reshape a challenging world into something beautiful. We explore her path through a detour into law and how an unexpected health diag...

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with a client who wants top-tier, champagne-level results on a beer budget? We've all been there. But what happens when you realize you do the exact same thing in your own life?   We are digging into the messy, human psychology of why we all want more than we can sometimes afford. I explore the powerful "first impression effect" that sets our expectations an...

How do the roles we observe as children shape the art we create as adults? In this conversation, I connect with painter and curator Yannie Gu, whose creative vision was formed by the women in her life in Shanghai.  Tune in to hear how Yannie leveraged the power of community to create an experimental pop-up gallery. Yannie offers a beautiful perspective on her use of color and the symbolism of flam...

In this solo episode, I'm sharing a tough-love truth that might sting a little. It all started during a recent hiring process, where I was struck by how many candidates showed up unprepared for a life-changing opportunity. It got me thinking: how often do we, as creatives, fail to do the basic work our dreams require? I'm digging into the idea of "permission to play" as the baseline preparation an...

Have you ever given yourself a deadline to make a dream come true? For singer and actress Rashada Dawan, that deadline was one year. After being laid off and with bills piling up, she made a 12-month commitment to pursue her art full-time before turning to a more "practical" career. Just days before she was set to take an exam to become a police offer, she received a life-altering phone call.  In...

Have you ever been at a crossroads, wishing for that one piece of timely advice to light the way? Recently, a conversation with my nieces got me thinking about the incredible wisdom our guests have shared on this podcast. In this special episode, I'm doing things a little differently. I've gathered insights from three amazing creators: bestselling author Jasmine Guillory, photographer Amanda J. Ca...

What happens when your creative process becomes a mirror, reflecting back the deepest parts of your identity? I sit down with abstract artist Gina Tyquiengco to discuss her winding creative path, from teaching herself graphic design to finding her voice as a painter.  Gina explains how her signature black, white, and gold palette is a deliberate reflection of her Guamanian and African American her...

Have you ever felt like artist grants are just mysterious pots of money reserved for a select few? It's a feeling so many of us in the creative world know all too well. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the world of grant funding to show you that it's not about luck or secret connections.  Being awarded a grant has everything to do with understanding the system. I'll walk you throug...

Have you ever felt a divine nudge? Or maybe a full-on nudge that pushed you toward a life you didn't plan for? In this episode, I'm talking with the incredible interior designer Beth Diana Smith, who made the courageous leap from a successful career in corporate finance to founding her own celebrated design firm. Beth shares the story of how she went from being the kid who organized her toybox and...

Have you ever considered how success might change you? That as you grow, you might lose the very essence of what makes you, you?  In this solo episode, I share a story of a startling comment that made me confront my own evolution. We'll explore the balance between evolving and losing yourself, between growing your craft and abandoning your voice. Join me for a conversation about change, authentici...

What does it take to leap into the unknown for the sake of your creative calling? In this episode, I talk with Lori Tharps, a writer, educator, and creative catalyst who did just that.  Lori shares the powerful story behind her decision to leave a tenured professorship at Temple University to start a new life in Southern Spain.  We explore her journey to create The Sanctuary, a vital community for...

Ever wonder what a full week in the life of a professional photographer really looks like? I'm pulling back the curtain and taking you with me through a jam-packed week of creative hustle and real-life moments. From juggling four different photoshoots centered on Black Joy to managing client proposals and sneaking in family time, this episode is a raw, honest look at the daily dance of a working a...

How do we find the courage to build a creative career on our own terms? I'm so excited to share my conversation with Ashley Buttercup, a Brooklyn-based painter whose work beautifully captures the quiet, unguarded moments of life. From a childhood nurtured by creative parents to finding her own way through the bustling worlds of fashion and advertising, Ashley's journey is a masterclass in resilien...

Have you ever sat down to create, only to find yourself endlessly scrolling for inspiration and losing your voice in the noise?  In this episode, I introduce a concept for clearing out mental buildup to make space for your authentic ideas to emerge.  We'll explore the surprising science behind why our best ideas often emerge during moments of rest, and I'll offer you a few simple, actionable ways...