In this episode, we sit down with designer Josh Jevons to discuss what it actually looks like to build a sustainable creative career without burning out, cold-pitching nonstop, or doing everything yourself. We also get into real-world outreach strategies, including walking trade shows, pitching without being salesy, and why face-to-face connections still matter. Along the way, we talk packaging, brand strategy, work-life balance, and designing systems that allow you to grow without burning out.

In this episode, we sit down with illustrator, designer, and jill of all trades Marisol Ortega for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating a creative career.

Marisol talks about leaving full-time work (again!) to return to freelance life, why office-centric culture doesn’t support the way many creatives actually think and work, and how being a parent shaped her career decisions. We dig into the reality of juggling big-name clients, managing energy, working with a rep, and building a sustainable freelance practice that doesn’t drain your soul.

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.

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). 

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.

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.

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).

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.