Everyday Talent Podcast

We are starting 2024 with a very special studio visit conversation with nail artist and solopreneur Milica Dodic. For 17 years, Millie has been perfecting the craft of nail art, which she started as a childhood hobby and gradually evolved into a creative business.  In this episode, Millie shares the realities of transforming a passion into a viable business while managing her health and setting bo...

In this last episode of 2023, I share with you a sneak peek of my digital planning tool: A Better Bucket List for Independent Creatives. This preview offers essential insights into crafting a more fulfilling and intentional creative journey. I'll guide you through setting actionable and sustainable goals, evaluating them through the DVF framework, and reclaiming agency over your creative jour...

On today's minisode, I catch up with the incredible Erica Mattson to dive deep into her day-to-day routine. Erica, a consultant, coach, advisor, artist, and a mother of two, shares how she balances it all. She reveals her newly restructured workweek, including dedicated days for clients and personal time. We talk about how she starts her workday with her kids, finds her creative zone through...

It’s the end of 2023. How are we embracing the ever-changing seasons of our career and our creative selves? If we treat our creative practice like a garden, how are we feeding it and nurturing it from season to season?  Joining me for some juicy end-of-year reflection today is my client Erica Mattson, a parent, artist, coach, and strategic consultant. Erica shares her experience transitioning from...

If we are not intentional, taking the plunge into self-employment can feel like free falling without a parachute. But what if there was a way to harness the free spirit of the creative without losing sight of the reality of self-employment? In this episode, I'll share five key truths about self-employment: from setting boundaries, managing time, defining specific niche, to cultivating your cr...

Artist Yannis Lobaina shares her daily routine with us.  She loves starting her  day with a meditative shower, where she takes a few moments to relax and reflect. We delve into the details of her morning ritual, which includes enjoying breakfast with her daughter and tending to her beloved plants. Yannis also emphasizes the importance of disconnecting from technology and dedicating one hour of uni...

The experience of migration and immigration can forever alter an artist’s career trajectory and have a profound impact on one’s artistic influences.  In today's episode, we delve deep into the inspiring journey of Yannis Lobaina, a filmmaker, photographer, community art facilitator, and fellow podcaster. Yannis brings us her unique perspective as an immigrant artist who has bravely navigated...

In this enlightening minisode, we get a peek into Sasha's morning routine, the multi-passionate creative force behind the vibrant SteMargScot brand. From kick-starting her day with a structured yet flexible agenda to mindful habits that inspire gratitude, Sasha generously shares the secret ingredients that fuel her success. Get ready to be inspired by her empowering journey from a scientist t...

Can you be a scientist and an artist? Our society seems to put those two occupations at odds with each other. The guest on today’s episode shatters that dichotomy.  In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sasha, a multi-passionate creative who has had a successful career in science, and now has become a fashion entrepreneur. Her outerwear brand, SteMargScot, embodies the spiri...

In today’s solo episode, I get real with you and share my experience of navigating two major life decisions this past year - getting married and planning to work remotely overseas this coming winter! I'll be taking you behind the scenes to walk through my thought process, planning process, and lessons learned when it comes to managing life changes when running and growing my creative business...

Curious how the magic of projection mapping gets created everyday?  Emma López Hechem is back to spill the tea on her daily routine—trust me, you won't want to miss what keeps her creative juices flowing!  Plus, she shares with us a very endearing story behind a special item on her desk that's sure to warm your heart. Tune in! 🎧✨ #StartYourDayWithACreative" This episode is also on...

How can art be transformative and joyful? Today on the podcast, projection mapping artist  Emma López Hechem shares how she and her partner at Ava Animation & Visual Arts create magical moments in time and space that transport us to a world of colours, imagination, and childlike innocence.  Of course, as we get to know Emma’s craft and work, we are also going to dive into her career journey. E...

What is it like to be multi-passionate and running your own creative business?  Start your day with Lydia Li, founder of Plantish Future and multi-passionate extraordinaire.  About Lydia:  🌱 Boss Babe behind Plantish and the visionary rocking @plantishfuture! My mission? Cultivating a kickass, sustainable, plant-based future. I've got more layers than your fave cake – I channel emotions from...

If you’ve ever wondered how to mix creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, today's episode is a must-listen. I sat down with the amazing Lydia—also known as Mermaid—the founder of Plantish Future, a line of eco-friendly home and bathroom swaps that'll turn your daily routines green. Lydia's journey from employee to full-time entrepreneur is as inspiring as her mission. She...

For many of us, the path to creativity isn’t straight out of a storybook. Life comes with its turns, detours, and bumps, and, let’s face it, not all of us had that fairytale start in the arts. Today,  I’m thrilled to bring you the story of Robbie Finnegan - a truly inspiring independent musician who embraced his unique artistic voice. From navigating the challenges of bullying and understanding hi...

What is it like to leave a leadership job that you felt so attached to, and go on your own and explore your creative potential? No one can answer this question better than Ananya Ohri. In this episode, Ananya shares her experience of pivoting from the role of a film festival leader, to a self-employed writer, producer, and arts consultant.  Her journey is a testament to the power of doing deep inn...

Do you ever feel being pulled by many directions and interests? Have you tried to fit yourself into one professional label? Or, have you been beating yourself up with this question, "why can't I focus on one thing?" Well, you’re not alone. Join me, a fellow multi-passionate creative, as I explore the seven deadly mistakes we often make in our careers. Let’s name them so that we can...

Picture yourself in survival mode, just barely scraping by in your creative practice. Your brain screams "danger!" at every turn, inhibiting your ability to take risks and innovate in your craft. This was me,a few years back, when I was struggling to keep my creative practice afloat while being constantly on edge. Here's my promise to you - there is a way to break free of that cycle...

Do you struggle with taking a break? Does the thought of pausing your creative business or practice for a vacation fill you with anxiety and guilt? I've been there, too. There's this constant pressure of "I should be doing more" or "I can't afford to take a break." But guess what? It doesn't have to be this way. In this episode,  I'll be digging deep in...

In a world where most of us are still in go-go-go mode, VIBE Arts, a Toronto based arts charity, broke the mold and switched to a four-day workweek. How did they pull that off? Well, that's exactly what we're going to chat about today. In this conversation with Katie Hutchinson, Executive Director of VIBE Arts, she shares with us the “secret sauce” for her authentic leadership, her knack...

What do you want to be known for? How can you show up authentically on social media? On today’s podcast, I invited side hustle coach Cheryl Lau to share with us some practical tips on how everyone of us can develop our story and thought leadership and translate that to marketing content. Cheryl helped me at the beginning of my journey when I was building my coaching practice, and in this episode,...

Are you fed up with scope creep, rate negotiation, and being raced to the bottom when proposing a rate for your creative work? Or, you know that charging hourly rate is not sustainable for the long term, but you are stuck on how to actually shift away from it? In this episode, I share with you practical steps on how to shift away from hourly rates and establish a pricing structure that better refl...

On today's episode, we dive deep into the world and profession of film curation with two guests, Lucy J. Mukerjee and Shakira Refos. These two trailblazers have curated for film festivals around the world, and they’re also leading advocates for greater representation and diversity among film curators. Join us as we delve into the highs and lows of a film curator's life, and learn valuabl...

As we find ourselves in the middle of the year, it's only natural to feel a little overwhelmed by the goals we've set. Balancing our creative energy can become quite a challenge, but don’t worry, you’re not alone. I've invited my dear friend and registered yoga teacher, Kyra Tudlong, to join me in this conversation filled with deep insights and practical tips. Together, we'll e...

Becoming an arts manager or Executive Director of an arts organization is often the dream of many emerging professionals in the arts sector. But what goes on behind the scenes with this job? On today’s episode, I talk to Marta Keller-Hernandez, Managing Director of Mural Routes, a small and mighty arts organization in Toronto. We had a candid conversation about this extremely rewarding and challen...