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…
From Passion Projects to Paid Client Gigs: A Real Look at Growing an Art Career with Muralist Lisa Quine | The Typecast Episode 55
We’re joined by the wonderfully optimistic and multi-talented hand lettering artist & muralist, Lisa Quine, someone who has done everything from lettering murals for pro sports teams to designing custom hairbrushes for celebrities (Fergie included). We talk about her unique creative journey, how optimism fuels her freelance career, and how her Cleveland roots helped shape a dream path she never could’ve planned.
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).
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.
How to Monetize Your Creative Passion Without Dying Inside with Lauren Hom | The Typecast Episode 37
In this episode, Ilana and Katie chat with Lauren Hom, a celebrated freelance artist renowned for her distinctive lettering style and entrepreneurial prowess. Lauren is known for combining her passion for lettering with culinary arts, creating a unique recipe of creativity and business.
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.
Running a Lettering and Design Business with an Agent While Working a Full-Time Job with Cymone Wilder | The Typecast Episode 35
In this episode, Ilana and Katie dive into the world of Cymone Wilder, a lettering artist and designer. Cymone shares how working with an agent has positively impacted her career and what that relationship looks like.
A Deep Dive into Multiple Income Streams for Freelance Artists with Jessica Hische | The Typecast Episode 32
In this episode, Ilana and Katie delve into the world of diversifying income streams in the creative industry with Jessica Hische, everyone’s favorite OG lettering artist. They discuss the importance of financial stability and how incorporating various revenue streams can contribute to a more robust creative career.
Navigating Social Media as a Full-Time Artist with Fabiola Lara | The Typecast Episode 31
In this episode, Ilana, Katie, and Fabiola Lara explore the process of passion projects and merging different interests to create unique content. The conversation touches on cultural influences in creative careers and challenges in traditional job expectations, emphasizing the importance of embracing individuality in creative pursuits.
Finding Your Creative Community in the Design World with Dan Polyak | The Typecast Episode 30
In this episode, Katie, Ilana, and Dan had an animated discussion, explored the idea of introducing oneself with dislikes, dove into the Chicago pizza scene, and shared stories of how MTV and Nickelodeon shaped their creative journeys.
Designing for The Music Industry with Dan & Nate from DKNG | The Typecast Episode 29
In this episode, Ilana and Katie dive into the journey of graphic design and illustration with the creative minds behind DKNG Studios, Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman. They cover a wide array of topics, from the importance of creative freedom and the challenges of licensing to the benefits of business diversification.
Flip The Script: Liz Mosley Takes Over The Typecast and Interviews Us | The Typecast Episode 27
In this episode, Liz Mosley takes on the role of host and interviews Katie and Ilana. Despite living in different parts of the US, they share how they came to collaborate at Goodtype, discussing their journey into leadership roles and the team structure they've developed.