CAPTN OffScript

What do you do when your wife is watching Downton Abbey, your newborn needs feeding, and your creative spark is burning out? If you’re Ian Barnard—you pick up a “Calligraphy for Dummies” book and unknowingly set yourself on a path that leads to Creative Market bestsellers, fonts spotted in Starbucks, and a global community of lettering lovers. In this episode, Ian shares how his journey from a loc...

In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I share the results of a simple challenge I gave myself last week: break the phone habit. After limiting Instagram to just 30 minutes a day, I quickly realized how much time I was wasting on mindless scrolling - and how little it actually impacted my business or engagement. But the experiment didn’t stop there. It led me to uncover another sneaky time-wast...

In this Monday Break(Through), I’m reflecting on a surprising insight I had after reviewing my digital wellbeing stats—I’ve been spending nearly 14 hours a week on my phone, with most of that time lost to mindless scrolling on Instagram. This episode isn’t about blaming tech or going off-grid. It’s about awareness. I talk about what sparked this realization (a powerful interview with Harbor), how...

In this deeply honest conversation, Harbor Bickmore — the creative force behind That That Type — joins The Type Convo to share his incredible journey from small-town beginnings to building a bold and distinctive design career. We dive into his early days of skating and graphic design, his decision to live without a smartphone, starting That That Type, preparing to launch Vanilla Type, and his bold...

In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I take you behind the scenes of a major milestone — the launch of my new Type Foundry website. But this isn’t just about celebrating a website going live; it’s about a deeper lesson I’ve learned over years of building creative projects: launch before you feel ready. I share why I decided to publish the site even though it wasn’t finished — with missing pro...

In this unscripted Monday Break(Through), I finally take a leap I’ve avoided since the start of this podcast—recording solo without a script. It’s raw, imperfect, and real. I talk about pushing through fear, showing up even when you’re unsure, and the underestimated power of side projects. From recording in a noisy apartment to learning new skills outside of font design, this episode is a love let...

We live in a world obsessed with the highlight reel — the bestselling book, the viral moment, the overnight success. But what if the real magic is in the volume of work no one ever sees? In this Monday Break(Through), I reflect on a single post by ⁠@mattgottesman⁠ that hit me hard — and how it led me to discover a feed full of wisdom, perspective, and quiet truth. From Frank Sinatra’s 1,300 songs...

In this episode, I’m talking about the one thing that keeps coming up in almost every Type Convo I’ve done so far—the so-called cliché of “loving what you do” and “having fun with it.” It might sound overused, but there’s a reason it keeps showing up. In just a few minutes, I explore why joy, curiosity, and play are often the real secret to creative longevity. A soft reminder to bring the fun back...

In this inspiring and laid-back conversation, I sit down with Tom Cunningham, the founder of Tropical Type, to talk about his seven-year journey from surf-loving freelancer to building one of the most recognizable font foundries on the internet. We explore how Tom’s “fast font” philosophy democratized high-impact typography for everyday designers, why he ditched clients for creative freedom, and h...

In this episode, I talk about something we don’t address enough: creative copying. After Jen Wagner shared a recent example of font theft, I reflected on my own experiences with people releasing work that feels too close to mine—and others, like Sam Parrett or Tropical Type. Copying might feel like a shortcut, but it leads nowhere meaningful. It’s not just unfair to the original creator—it’s empty...

In today’s Monday Break(Through), I’m sharing a simple principle that has shaped my entire creative journey: Build first, perfect later. Whether you’re designing fonts, launching a product, building a website, or creating anything from scratch—waiting for perfection will only slow you down. I’m sharing personal stories from my own path as a type designer, lessons from guests on The Type Convo, and...

In this episode of The Type Convo, I had the pleasure of chatting with Will Paterson—a logo & brand designer, lettering artist, and YouTube educator with nearly a million followers. 🎙️ We dived deep into: 🔥 The power of backengineering in design – how Will deconstructed work to teach himself design from scratch. 🎨 Why failing more makes you a better designer – embracing mistakes as part of t...

In this episode of Monday Breakthrough, I’m talking about the power of conversations—how they shape careers, relationships, and unexpected opportunities. Inspired by my chat with James Martin on The Type Convo, this is a reminder that every big moment starts with a simple conversation. So, what’s stopping you from starting the convo that could change everything? This week, I challenge you to reach...

In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I reflect on a simple but crucial question: Are you truly in control of your time, or is it slipping away unnoticed? A recent conversation with Martina Flor left me thinking—time is the only resource we all have in equal measure, yet how we spend it defines everything. I dive into the quiet moments when I catch myself asking, ‘Is this really the best use o...

In this episode of The Type Convo, I’m joined by the incredible Martina Flor—lettering artist, author, mentor, and someone who’s built a life and career through bold moves and quiet dedication. We talk about her journey from Buenos Aires to Berlin, how she found her voice in lettering, and what success really means after 15 years in the industry. Martina opens up about the power of side projects,...

After I shared why I stopped setting New Year’s resolutions in this episode , so many of you reached out asking “Okay, but how do you actually plan your weeks?” So here it is—a full breakdown of how I structure my time running a digital product business. I’m talking about my recurring weekly tasks, how I manage releasing new typefaces, balancing content, podcasts, client work, emails… and how I st...

Effort doesn’t have a price tag, but it changes everything. In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I dive into a powerful mantra from my recent chat with James Martin: the idea that effort is completely free—but also the most valuable thing you can invest. No excuses, no waiting for the perfect moment. Just showing up and putting in the work. If you’ve been overthinking, hesitating, or waiting...

In this episode of The Type Convo, I sit down with one of the most influential voices in branding and logo design—James Martin, better known as Made by James. We dive into his incredible journey from struggling with self-doubt to becoming a creative powerhouse behind some of the most recognizable logos in the industry. James opens up about: • The truth behind his 20+ years in the design world • Na...

In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I reflect on a simple yet powerful question that hit me out of nowhere during lunch the other day: Am I in this for love, or am I in it for money? As creatives, we all navigate that balance between passion and practicality, but what happens when one takes over completely? Can creativity survive if it’s only about the paycheck? And if it’s fueled purely by...

Burnout is something every creative faces at some point, and yet, we rarely talk about how to handle it. It’s not just about working too much—it’s the mental exhaustion of constantly creating, staying relevant, and chasing perfection. In this episode, I share what’s helped me avoid burnout over the years, from stepping back without guilt to finding the right creative pace. Plus, I break down my ow...

In this episode of The Type Convo, I sit down with Jack Chitty, the designer and creative force behind ChittCo ( www.chitt.co ). Jack’s journey into design is far from conventional—he started in linguistics and advertising before making the leap into branding and graphic design. We dive into: ✅ How he transitioned into design with no formal education ✅ The impact of personal challenges on his cr...

In this Monday Break(Through), I’m diving into a feeling we’ve all faced at some point—imposter syndrome. But what if I told you it’s not a sign of failure, but actually proof that you’re growing? I’ll share my own experiences with self-doubt, from launching new fonts to starting ‘The Type Convo,’ and how those moments of uncertainty weren’t roadblocks—they were indicators that I was stepping into...

Tired of setting New Year’s resolutions that fall apart by February? In this episode, I dive into the game-changing concept of The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. I’ll share how adopting this system helped me go from releasing 20 fonts in 2023 to 41 fonts and updates in 2024—all without working more hours. Learn how to break free from the traditional yearly goal-setting trap...

In this episode of The Type Convo, I’m joined by two incredible creatives who’ve inspired me for years: Adam Vicarel, the mastermind behind Vicarel Studios, and Carly Salzman, an incredibly talented type designer. This was such a special conversation as we dove deep into their journeys, challenges, and creative philosophies. Adam shares his story of discovering hand-lettering while backpacking in...

In this episode of Monday Break(Through), I talk about the challenges of dealing with change and how embracing it can lead to creativity and growth. Using Instagram’s recent profile design update as an example, I share my thoughts on why stepping out of the familiar and leaning into discomfort can open up new possibilities, whether in design, work, or life. Change might be uncomfortable, but it’s...