The Creative Business Community Podcast

It’s our Season One finale and 30th episode! In this episode, Erin and Ronnie look back at the moments that mattered most, from the unexpectedly powerful chat on creativity and mental health to the lessons learned from an incredible line-up of guests. They distil five big takeaways — why simple social media is worth it, how branding sets your foundation, the non‑negotiable admin, business plans th...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin is joined by our PR and marketing whiz, Renee, to unpack the hype around “going viral” — why it shouldn’t be your north star and what to focus on instead.   We dig into what viral really means across platforms (including the surprise rise of Facebook Reels), the metrics that matter most (views vs viewers, watch time and location), and the...

This week on the Creative Business Community pod, Erin and Ronnie are chatting all things creative voice — what it is, how to find it, and why it shifts as you do. Think of it as your creative fingerprint: the style, tone and vibes that make people go, “yep, that’s yours.” They talk inspiration vs straight-up copying (and why credit matters), plus simple ways to sharpen your style — revisit old wo...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with Perth tattoo icon Fizz of Fizz Ink — the artist behind most of Erin’s own ink and a well known name for colourful work, big heart and making clients feel safe in a vulnerable process. Fizz traces her path from sketching designs and selling on Facebook as a teen to landing an apprenticeship in 2010, and unpacks how social med...

This week we’re chatting AI — what it actually looks like for creatives in 2026, beyond just ChatGPT. Renee’s back to talk about on where it’s popping up (Canva, Adobe, your inbox, schedulers, even Meta ads) and how to use it without losing your voice or your values. We swap easy, time-saving wins — turning brain-dumps into clean copy, brainstorming post ideas, softening tone, proofreading, planni...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with El from Maple and Wren — the Perth floral studio renowned for intentional, timeless floral moments — and the brains behind the Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy. El talks with us about her move swapping her government comms and corporate events job to running her own business, going from market‑stall flower crowns to luxe weddin...

This week we’re talking social media scheduling software — what it is, whether you really need it, and how to use it without losing the human touch. We’ll cover batching and auto‑publishing, planning with calendars and feed previews, and why scheduling is a tool (not a strategy). You’ll hear why you still need to keep showing up (think engagement), how platform nuances matter, and which metrics ac...

This week, Erin sits down with Lucy, founder of Not Yet Perfect — a boutique pottery studio in Applecross known for soul‑soothing workshops and masterclasses — to explore how letting go can unlock your best creative and business work. Born in Norway, raised in WA’s southwest and forged in a decade of fashion, Lucy shares how a surprise stint teaching at‑risk teens led her to pottery as a grounding...

Note: In this episode we chat about reporting income, the idea of an income “threshold”, and when your creative pursuit is considered a business vs a hobby for tax purposes. After recording, we double-checked the details to make sure you have the most accurate information - please see the list at the bottom for links to relevant websites.    This week we’re talking about the unsexy side of creativ...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with artist and House of Hobby founder Emilie Otto again for a chat about keeping your personal creativity alive while you run a creative small business. They unpack what happens when you take a beloved hobby and turn it into a business — and how to protect the joy when the admin, timelines and “make what sells” mentality creep i...

Feeling a bit solo running your creative biz? You’re not the only one. This week Erin and Ronnie chat about finding your people and why real community beats those referral based networking nights. We share easy ways to meet fellow creatives; online groups, your local library, Eventbrite, Meet Up, and our own Creative Business Community. We talk about how to keep chats genuine, not salesy. Nervous?...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with Fremantle potter Rosie Button about her bold pivot from engineering to an 11‑year empowerment photography studio—then, 18 months ago, into full‑time clay. Rosie shares how a well‑timed redundancy sparked her first business, the organic way her portrait work transformed women’s confidence, and why she ultimately swapped the emoti...

In this episode, Erin and Ronnie kick off from their new studio — our first video episode on YouTube — and tackle a decidedly unsexy but critical topic: insurance for creative businesses. We demystify what you actually need depending on how you work — whether you’re a market stallholder, maker, workshop host, hairdresser or service provider. We chat about why insurance is about peace of mind, not...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with Perth-based bridal designer Sally of Sally Victoria Couture. From market stalls to her first custom wedding gown, Sally shares how a love of beading, corsetry and craftsmanship evolved into a couture brand built for modern brides—and a business designed to flex around life as a mum. We cover her rebrand to a more scalable, sale-...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, we’re getting real about market stalls. Erin and Ronnie share what actually works — from telling your own audience you’ll be there (don’t just rely on the organiser) to packing smart with a labelled setup and a trusty Market Go Box. Think battery pack and cables, your card reader plus bank details if tap-and-go fails, a mini first-aid kit and w...

In this episode of the Creative Business Community podcast, Erin chats with artist and workshop leader Emilie Otto, owner of Perth’s House of Hobby. Emilie shares how she went from graphic design to illustration to lounge-room workshops — and then took she the leap to buy an existing business during COVID. Emilie unpacks the pros and cons of stepping into someone else’s setup, why she moved from a...

Erin, Renee and Kyah break down how Gen Z behaves online and what that means for creative businesses. Get practical tactics to reach younger audiences while staying authentic.   This week on the Creative Business Community podcast, Erin is joined by Renee and our resident Gen Z voice, Kyah, to unpack how younger audiences actually show up online—and what that means for your creative business. We d...

Work–life balance is a myth for many creative small business owners; here’s how to build a realistic work–life blend. Erin and Ronnie share straightforward tactics for boundaries, time, support and mental health. This week on the Creative Business Community podcast, Erin and Ronnie unpack the myth of work–life balance and lean into a healthier work–life blend for creatives, parents and anyone jugg...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, hosts Erin Madeley and Ronnie Motroni chat about the powerful link between creativity and mental health. In a world of fast-paced living and doom scrolling, we explore how making with your hands slows you down, boosts dopamine, lowers stress, and helps you drop into that restorative “flow” state. From pottery, knitting and scrapbooking to makeu...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with Tracey, founder of Margaret River Made — a natural skincare and haircare brand born in Margaret River and now based in Perth. Tracey shares how a love of plants, sustainability and wellness took her from soap-making to salon-quality shampoo and conditioner bars, including a chemo-friendly formula created for a friend, and an...

This week on the Creative Business Community podcast, we’re diving into how to talk about what you do—with confidence, not arrogance. Struggle to answer “So, what do you do?” without cringing? This episode gives practical ways to talk about your creative business with confidence—without tipping into arrogance. If you’ve ever stumbled over “So, what do you do?”, felt the pinch of imposter syndrome...

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin is joined by Renee and intern-turned-team-member Kyah to explore how internships can supercharge creative businesses. We dive into mentoring styles that spark confidence and creativity, the real-world pace of marketing beyond uni, and smart ways to use AI without sounding robotic. You’ll hear how the team tackles newsletter fatigue, brains...

In this episode, Erin Madeley sits down with Perth photographer and educator Tanita Seton who shares how she built a people-first creative business and why she’s leaning into smartphone photography. After returning to study at TAFE and earning her Advanced Diploma, Tanita has built a career capturing women in business and wellness retreats — before following her gut into teaching photography, espe...

This week on the Creative Business Community podcast, Erin and Ronnie are joined by Renee, MarketLife’s marketing and PR coordinator, to unpack what branding really is—and why it’s far more than a logo and a colour palette.  Branding is more than a logo — it’s how your business makes people feel. Erin, Ronnie and Renee break down practical steps to sharpen your brand and stand out online and at ma...

This episode breaks down the real value of handmade — for you, your community and the planet. We share quick examples, clear benefits and simple actions you can take today. This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin and Ronnie dive into the handmade difference—why choosing handmade matters for your home, your community and the planet. Kicking off with a sneaky bowl buy and the hunt...