Brush & Banter | A Zibra Podcast

Every creative starts in “yes mode.” Say yes to every project, every client, every opportunity, because that’s how you grow. But at some point, that pace stops working. In this minisode, Jen Talley, Courtney Wiesel, Alli K Designs, and the Off the Walls Murals team share what changed when they started getting more selective. Turning down projects that don’t fit. Referring work instead of forcing i...

Pricing your work is your favorite guessing game, you say? Don’t worry. For most artists, it’s their least favorite - and frankly, it shouldn’t have to feel like one. This minisode gets real about the messy middle between undercharging, overthinking, and learning the hard way, with honest perspective from Alli K Design, the Off the Walls Murals team, and Kyle Mosher. From showing up to walls way b...

Marketing advice online often pushes creators toward trends, virality, and constant output, but it turns out that’s not what actually builds a sustainable business. This minisode brings together insights from Shannon McKinstrie, Off the Walls Murals, and Alyssa Vilardi to show what really moves the needle: clear messaging, content that makes people feel connected, and paying attention to the metri...

Creators spend years trying to define “their style,” but what if it’s already there, just not fully formed yet? This minisode pulls together honest moments from Cyn, Alyssa Vilardi, and Lauren Hull with Olga Muzician, tracing the real path of finding your style: evolving through client work, pushing through the “ugly phase,” and slowly recognizing the patterns that make your work yours. It’s less...

When you’re flipping furniture, the biggest shift isn’t learning how to paint – it’s learning what’s actually worth your time. This minisode pulls together real-world perspectives from Jen Talley, Lauren Hull, Olga Muzician and Courtney Weisel on how they balance creativity with demand, choose pieces that will sell, and avoid projects that quietly drain profit. From simplifying your style to setti...

When you’re ready to turn your passion projects into income, it can be difficult and overwhelming to know where to start. Enter Kyle Mosher, Alli K., and Cyn Santos, working artists who have cracked the code to make more money as an artist without sacrificing your creativity. In this minisode, we’re rewinding the actionable and inspiring soundbites from their Brush & Banter interviews to help...

What does it actually take to build a mural business that lasts more than a decade… and still feels steady? Alli Koch shares the behind-the-scenes structure that supports her 11-year career: outsourcing before burnout hits, building a personal “board of directors,” charging for site visits, and pricing based on context instead of formulas. She talks candidly about setting boundaries even when it’s...

If Instagram feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. Shannon McKinstrie sits down with Lauren and Brie to break down what’s actually driving growth right now, and it’s not chasing viral spikes. It’s retention, belonging, and messaging that makes people feel seen. They talk strong hooks (and her REP formula), why talk-to-camera reels convert better than trends, how to repurpose conte...

Furniture flipping looks dreamy from the outside: paint, pretty pieces, a tidy before-and-after, but Jen Talley pulls back the curtain on what actually makes it sustainable. This conversation sits in the quiet middle between passion and burnout: learning when to say yes, when to say no, and why boundaries are just as creative as brushstrokes. Jen shares how her business evolved from late-night hob...

Billie Asmus was tired of plastic paint liners, half-used trays drying out overnight, and trying to save paint with foil and plastic bags, so she started messing around in her basement to see if she could make something better. That curiosity turned into a reusable paint tray, a lot of Google searches, a year of prototyping and manufacturing, and eventually a moment standing in the Shark Tank long...

Running a small business is hard. Running one with a friend can be even harder… and also incredibly rewarding. In this episode, Annie and Lauren sit down with Caroline and Tianna of Off the Walls Murals to talk about what it really looks like to build and grow a creative company together. From navigating money, pricing, and workload to handling conflict, communication, and long-term vision, this c...

Think of this as a creative yearbook you didn’t have to sign: the three of us looking back at 2025’s biggest lessons, strangest pivots, messy moments, and unexpected joys. We unpack how Rooted reshaped our year, how podcasting shifted our sense of community, what’s changing for us as artists and business owners, and the habits we’re absolutely not dragging into 2026. Add in your “Spilled Paint” ch...

What happens when you stop trying to be the “right” kind of artist and start becoming the truest version of yourself? This week, Annie and Brie sit down with Charlotte-based multidisciplinary artist and illustrator Kyle Mosher to talk about artistic evolution, trusting the long game, and the surprising places a creative path can take you. From studying fine art in Italy to designing sneakers at Pu...

What happens when “making do” turns into making magic? This week, Annie and Lauren sit down with DIY designer and content creator Alyssa Vilardi of The Things We Built to talk about transforming everyday spaces (and everyday chaos) into something beautiful, functional, and full of heart. From painting nurseries in military housing to running a thriving content business, Alyssa shares how she built...

What does it really mean to find your style, and your voice, as an artist? This week, Annie and Lauren sit down with muralist, lettering artist, and creative entrepreneur Cyn (“Cynno”) to talk about the messy middle of building a creative identity. All of the doubts, pivots, and dopamine hits that come with evolving your art and your business. From her early days painting chalkboards to designing...

You know that part of a project where it looks like total chaos and you start questioning all your life choices? Yeah… that part. We’re going there. In this episode, muralist & lettering artist Olga Muzician and furniture flipper-turned-content creator Lauren Hull join hosts Annie and Lauren to talk about the not-so-glamorous side of creative beginnings; the flops, the freak-outs, and the surp...

Life moves in seasons, and sometimes that means stepping away from the studio. In this episode, Brie and Lauren sit down with award-winning refinisher Courtney Weisel of Steel Birch Studios to talk about what it really looks like to pause, pivot, and then pick the brush back up again. Courtney Weisel is the artist behind Steel Birch Studios , known for reimagining vintage furniture into sculptural...

The Zibra podcast is back - refreshed, reimagined, and ready to celebrate every kind of creative. In this first episode of Brush & Banter , Brie, Annie, and Lauren pull back the curtain on the rebrand, introduce themselves, and share why this podcast is for anyone who picks up a paint brush and brings a vision to life.  Meet your new co-hosts! Annie Bolding (Founder of It’s a Disco Day Designs...

Sarah Bezanson of Sarah Bezanson Interiors shares her expert advise on things to consider when choosing a color. Welcome to Brush & Banter —the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We’re here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tip...

Main: Nine members of the refinishing community share their favorite Christmas decorations and the rooms they have them in.  Merry Christmas! Autumn Heseman - Prayed Over Pieces https://www.instagram.com/prayedoverpieces/ Christine Castray - Driftwood Home Furniture https://www.instagram.com/driftwoodhomefurniture/ Jennifer Marr - Jenni Ray at Home https://www.instagram.com/jennyraeathome/ Lauren...

Main: Zeb and Jami of Jami Ray Vintage share how they became successful upcycling thrift shoppers and how you can too! Zeb and Jami - Jami Ray Vintage https://www.instagram.com/jamirayvintage/ Zibra: Website: Zibra https://www.enjoyzibra.com/ Podcast Page: Zibra's Before & After Furniture Refinishing Podcast https://www.enjoyzibra.com/pages/the-zibra-podcast-season-5 Welcome to Brush &amp...

Main: Furniture refinishing success, Jennifer of Saved by Design, goes into detail on how she shops for furniture pieces to refinish. Jennifer - Saved by Design https://www.instagram.com/savedbydesign.tn/ Tip: Using Colors to Prime Lindsay - The Rural Legend https://www.instagram.com/therurallegend/ Studio: What's Happening in Your Studio? Heather - The Cozy Sunroom https://www.instagram.com/...

Lianne of Carey Us Home chats about mixing old and new decor and furniture to create a timeless home. Main: Lianne of Carey Us Home chats about mixing old and new decor and furniture to create a timeless home. Lianne - Carey Us Home https://www.instagram.com/careyushome/ Tip: Using Colors to Prime Lindsay - The Rural Legend https://www.instagram.com/therurallegend/ Studio: What's Happening in...

Three of our Zibra Review Judges chat about the nine winners of Zibra's July, August and September Review plus they share what they feel are the upcoming Home and Furniture Design trends headed our way for 2024! Judges: Katie - Katie Co + Home https://www.instagram.com/katiecloud/ Jen - Perfectly Imperfect Furniture https://www.instagram.com/perfectlyimperfectfurnitureres/ Laura - Portland Ro...

Kristen of Shackteau Interiors shares her secrets of shop ownership Main: Kristen of Shackteau Interiors shares her secrets of shop ownership Kristen - Shackteau Interiors https://www.instagram.com/shackteau_interiors/ Ad: Ellen Wuagneux - Vintage Key https://www.instagram.com/vintagekey_fl/ Tip: Using Colors to Prime Jenna - Happy Valley Restorations https://www.instagram.com/happyvalleyrestorati...