The Typecast
Welcome to The Typecast, a podcast hosted by Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo of Goodtype. Listen as we geek out over anchor points, our favorite typefaces, and how to grow an art business. For more of this duo, follow us on Instagram @goodtype.
SAYING WORDS ABOUT DRAWING WORDS
We’re two self-employed lettering artists who met by sliding into each other’s DM’s.
Now…we’re sliding into your headphones.
About
Dear hand letterers, designers, and artists of all sorts—despite what your grandma thinks, we know there’s a whole lot more to what you do than just “drawing pretty pictures.” This podcast, hosted by Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo of Goodtype, is about what it *really* means to be a working creative. From finding clients to pricing your work and nerding the heck out about kerning, we’re covering everything that goes into building a successful and sustainable business around your passion.
And we’re not just doing it alone! We’ll be tapping some of your current (and soon-to-be) favorite artists for inspiration, insight, and laughs. We’re big on giving takeaways that you can actually put into action, and we’re even bigger on having a good time while we do it. Tune into the Typecast twice a month for a tittle-ating time (yep, we’re gonna type-pun your face off), and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so we can show our moms how famous we are!
Want to be on an episode of The Typecast?
We’re always looking for guests who want to help our audience of artists grow their creative careers (while sharing a few laughs, of course). Submit yourself, a friend, or a topic you want us to cover on an upcoming episode!
Want to get your brand in front of our listeners?
We’re focused on creating long-term partnerships that go beyond a quick feature during an ad break. We’re looking for brands that will stick with us, form deep relationships with our community, and help our artists take real, actionable steps towards their goals.
Because our partnership philosophy is different, our sponsor opportunities look different as well, including touch-points across all of Goodtype’s content. Interested in talking about what a partnership with us could look like? We’d love to chat.
Tune into the latest episodes…
What If We Shared Every Tool We Use to Run Our Business? | The Typecast Episode 70
Ever wonder what’s actually running behind the scenes of a creative business? We’re pulling back the curtain. In this episode, we’re breaking down every tool and platform we use to run Goodtype. From our website and course platform to payroll, bookkeeping, email marketing, and everything in between. We’re keeping it real: what we love, what gives us the sweats (hi, Zapier), and how we built a functional system over time without losing our minds.
What If Your Side Hustle Paid Your Mortgage?
What does it actually look like to run a thriving creative business? One with branding projects, murals, fonts, and a coffee company in the mix?! In this episode, we’re joined by the endlessly curious and wildly productive Adam Vicarel, who is proof that creative experimentation paired with smart systems can take you a long way.
Whether you’re figuring out how to balance creative freedom with financial stability, trying to find the headspace for things that aren’t immediately due, or just wondering if LinkedIn is worth your time, this one’s for you.
What If You Built a Design Studio With No Rules? with Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz | The Typecast Episode 67
What happens when a journalist from Venezuela becomes a self-taught designer, typeface foundry founder, and curator of one of the most ambitious graphic design exhibitions in recent memory? You get Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz, and our conversation with him does not disappoint.
Lope is a partner and project lead at In-House International, a design studio and typeface foundry. He’s also a TED Fellow, a Knight Fellow at Stanford, and the curator behind One Hundred Points.
In this episode, we dig into what it actually looks like to build a creative practice rooted in curiosity and systems–not just style. Lope shares his take on design rules (and whether you should bother learning them) and how his journalism background still shapes every creative decision he makes. We also get into the realities of working with nonprofits, font piracy, and how he pulled off a massive exhibition without taking a sabbatical.
What if We Ran an Instagram Account with 1 Million Followers: with Emily Lynn Caulfield | The Typecast Episode 53
What actually goes on behind the scenes of a 1-million-follower art account? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like for us to manage one of the biggest creative communities on Instagram. Joining us this episode is our teammate Emily (who wears many hats, from social media management to content strategist and Notion organization wizard). We’re digging into the strategy, challenges, and surprises that come with running an account of this size.
What if We Shared Openly About Mental Health: with Katie & Ilana | The Typecast Episode 52
We’re getting real in this episode, talking openly about what it means to be a creative with mental health struggles, from panic attacks and perfectionism to ADHD and burnout. Whether you’ve felt overwhelmed by your to-do list, stuck chasing an impossible standard, or just totally unmotivated and scattered, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.
What If I Worked Less and Had More Fun: How Art Licensing Can Change Your Life with Krissy Mast | The Typecast Episode 49
The past few years have been a rollercoaster of hard lessons learned, creativity, and pivots. In this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain with Krissy Mast, sharing her struggles with creative burnout after building a 7-figure design business and how she redefined success by deciding to close the doors and start fresh. From the projects that lit her up to the ones that drained her, Krissy gets REAL about what it means to build a sustainable creative business (again).
What If I Started Saying No to My Clients and Yes to Myself: With Radim Malinic | The Typecast Episode 48
In this episode, Katie and Ilana talk with Radim Malinic, a creative powerhouse whose journey spans graphic design, music, branding, publishing and building a business that celebrates visual storytelling.
What If I Made Joy My Biggest Priority in My Art Business: With Kate Smith | The Typecast Episode 47
In this episode, we sit down with Kate Smith, an artist and author who’s proof that you can build a thriving creative business without selling your soul.
What If I Tried to Make $100k/Year as an Artist in 2025 | The Typecast Episode 45
Can two artists build a $100K art business in one year? In this episode, Katie and Ilana share their unfiltered journey as they create and conquer bold experiments to combine their love for art and education into a thriving creative business.
What If We Went All In On Making Art In 2025: Reflections and Plans with Katie & Ilana | The Typecast Episode 44
In this episode, we’re hitting pause to reflect on the highlights, the hiccups, and how we’ve grown as creatives and entrepreneurs. We’re sharing the moments that made us feel on top of the world, the challenges that tested our limits, and the lessons we’ve learned about chasing creative fulfillment (and why it’s so important).
Type Talk, Dream Work, and Studio Shenanigans with Hoodzpah Design | The Typecast Episode 43
In this episode, we chat with Amy and Jen of Hoodzpah Design about dream jobs, type design, running a small studio, and pretty much everything in between.
The Evolution of a Design Career with Lettering Artist and Illustrator Jamie Clarke | The Typecast Episode 42
In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Clarke, a designer who's worn all the hats—from web design to founding his own type foundry.
Rethinking Marketing & Pricing Strategies for Fonts with Harbor Bickmore | The Typecast Episode 41
In this episode, Katie and Ilana catch up with graphic designer and type aficionado Harbor Bickmore, as he takes us through his journey from design student to thriving type designer.
Creative Exploration and Mental Health Advocacy Through Art with Annica Lydenberg | The Typecast Episode 40
In this episode, Katie and Ilana sit down with Annica Lydenberg, aka Dirty Bandits and explore her creative journey through lettering, sign painting, and mural art. Annica also shares about her co-founded non-profit, the deeply personal “You Are Not Alone” Mural Project.
We’re Making Changes: What to Do When You Get the Sunday Scaries & You’re Self-Employed | The Typecast Episode 36
In this episode, Ilana and Katie get real about the tricky balance between productivity, creativity, and finding joy in their work and life. They discuss how society’s focus on accomplishment can lead to burnout, and how they’re working to navigate this.