Creating Your Own Path

147: Navigating This Season of Change: A Final Chat Between Me + Malia Tong

Today, I’m chatting with our CYOP artist resident Malia Tong as we wrap up Season 6 of CYOP. Listen in as we talk about what we’ve both learned over the course of the season, what’s changed in our lives and careers and some of the surprising things we see on the horizon for our respective work. SHOW NOTES: Episode 134 with Malia Episode 139 with Malia Malia on Instagram Malia on Etsy Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on Instagram CYOP on Instagram Get the Creative Diges...

146: Innovating with Intention and Staying Present with Maritza Davis of the Sacramento Kings and Roshaun Davis of Unseen Heroes

On today’s show, we catch up with past CYOP guests Maritza and Roshaun Davis of the Sacramento Kings and Unseen Heroes, respectively, to talk about Maritza’s recent decision to take on a full-time role outside of Unseen Heroes and what it’s meant for their business, their family and their personal career goals. We also talk about what it’s been like for Roshaun as he’s taken the reins at Unseen Heroes, why he’s assessing how they want to scale the business next and what he does to s...

145: Taking the Unexpected Route and Finding the Right People with Writer and Illustrator Ludi Leiva

On today’s show, I chat with illustrator and writer Ludi Leiva about how she’s transitioned from working in media full-time to working for herself. We also dive into what it means to be a creative in a place like New York (and why she’s decided to move out of the city), why she believes we all need to stop worrying about the perceptions of others, and why her family history has her dreaming of some really beautiful projects. SHOW NOTES: Ludi's website Ludi on Instagram + Twitter ...

144: Stepping Away from the Hustle and Finding Flow with Multidisciplinary Artist Tia Keo

Today’s show is an interview with multidisciplinary artist Tia Keo. Her story is one I think many of us can relate to — especially if we’ve been working creatively for a while. In the episode, we discuss how she’s been playing with different mediums over the years to stay creatively inspired and to combat the burnout that comes with working in one medium for so long. We also chat about the dangers of the creative hustle — pushing and pushing to find success — and how she’s discover...

143: Claiming Your Narrative When You’re Going Through the End of Something

Today’s episode will get you a front row seat at my recent talk at Sacramento’s Creative Mornings event last month. In it, I discuss the challenges I’ve faced, both personally and professionally, as I’ve navigated significant losses over the last several years. The theme for this talk was END and I cover how I’ve worked to claim my narrative while I was going through the grief process surrounding my divorce and the death of a loved one. As always, my goal in sharing these kinds of t...

142: Lessons Learned Through Collaboration with Alejandra Magana of Echeri Ceramics and Meagan Lewis of Brown Pigeon and The Spottery

On today’s show, I sit down with Meagan Lewis of Brown Pigeon and Alejandra Magana of Echeri Ceramics to talk about their respective businesses and a joint venture — the Spottery — they submitted to the Calling All Dreamers contest. In the short time between our conversation being recorded and this interview going live, they made some major decisions about their business. Listen in to hear all of the lessons they’ve learned since initially jumping into the contest. Vote for The Spo...

141: Dealing with Traumatic Life Events While Managing Your Career

Several months ago, I was lucky enough to be on my friend Non’s podcast called “You, Me, Empathy,” which is a show about mental health and wellness. He kindly shared the audio and today’s show is his interview with me as a guest. In the episode, I chat about my recent experiences with loss, both through death and divorce. We also discuss the importance of sitting with the uncertainty that is the grieving process and allowing ourselves to slowly make our way through it. SHOW NOTES: ...

140: The Art of Showing Up as Yourself with Interior Designer and Content Creator Shavonda Gardner

Today’s episode is an interview with blogger, interior designer and content creator Shavonda Gardner. In the episode, we chat about how her military background actually helped her as she’s built her business, why she shares so openly about many different topics on social media, and the importance of choosing who and what we surround ourselves with every day. SHOW NOTES: Shavonda's interior design and lifestyle blog Shavonda on Instagram My favorite highlights from Shavonda's Ins...

139: To All the Jobs We’ve Known Before: A Chat Between Me + Malia Tong

Today’s show is a chat between me and our CYOP Artist Resident Malia Tong. The artist residency includes several co-hosted conversations on topics that are either timely, top of mind or both, and this is one of those chats. On the show, we catch up on what we’re working through in our careers right now, what previous jobs have taught us about life, work and everything in between, and what skills we feel like we’re collecting and perfecting on the job right now. SHOW NOTES: Malia’s...

138: Balancing Creative Discipline and a Sense of Adventure with Paper Artist Zahra Ammar

In this episode, you’ll meet Zahra Ammar, whose work can only be described as mesmerizing. She works primarily with paper and uses styles like quilling and origami to bring stunning imagery to life. Listen in as she talks about the big leaps she’s taken in her life and career, how important it is for her to watch people experience her art and why she believes that both taking breaks for outdoor adventures and sitting down to do the work have helped her succeed. Zahra's Website Zah...

137: Changing Industries While Blending Your Interests with Fiber Artist Dani Ives

n this episode, you’ll hear from fiber artist Dani Ives who has managed to blend her early career of working at a zoo with her love of creating art out of wool. Dani not only dives into the changes she and her husband had to make in order for that career transition to work, but she also shares how she’s created multiple income streams for her business and why building community is becoming so important to her. Dani's Website Dani on Instagram Dani's book Technical production by ...

136: Stepping Into Who You Were Meant to Be with Educator and Comedian Amy Estes

In this episode, you’ll meet the incredibly talented and hilarious educator and comedian Amy Estes. Listen in as she talks about how she navigated a devastating experience at a former job, the steps she’s taken to be open and honest about who she is across all parts of life and why she is fiercely committed to prioritizing a creative outlet. Amy's Website Amy on Instagram Amy's newsletter More about the harassment Amy endured on the job Technical production by Ray Ortega Me on...

135: The Art of Getting Started with Podcast Producer Ray Ortega

In this episode, you’ll meet professional podcast producer Ray Ortega, who is currently helping out with technical production on CYOP. Listen in as we chat about what it’s like to produce audio and video for a large nonprofit, how Ray landed a creatively fulfilling day job and what it takes to start a podcast (or any creative endeavor) these days. SHOW NOTES: Ray’s Website Podcasters’ Studio Podcasters’ Roundtable Ray on Instagram Ray on YouTube Ray on Twitter Crooked Media ...

134: Representation and Energy Management with 2019 CYOP Artist Resident Malia Tong

In this episode, you’ll (finally!) meet 2019 CYOP Artist Resident Malia Tong — an artist and maker who currently calls Arizona home. I cannot wait for you all to get to know her and hear more of her story throughout the season. Like many of us, she has a lot of different facets to her career and we discuss everything from how she manages her energy while juggling multiple projects to why she rarely feels represented in the art world. SHOW NOTES: Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy...

133: Welcome to Season 6: A Look Back + What’s Ahead

In today’s episode, I’m excited to kick off the start of CYOP Season 6! First, we’re taking a trip down CYOP memory lane with 10 past episodes listeners have resonated with the most over the years. We’re also diving into some exciting updates about the show this season, some behind-the-scenes improvements, announcements about the company and more. 10 Shows Listeners Have Loved: CYOP #1: Janna Marlies Maron + Jeremy Maron CYOP #46: Lisa Congdon CYOP #57: Grace Bonney + Julia Turs...

CYOP #132 - The One About the Future

In this final episode of our mini Season 5, I’m sharing some future plans. I chat about what I’ve learned from having a day job, dreams for my business that I’ve haven’t told many people and why you can expect changes from CYOP in the coming months. Have a great holiday season, my friends and happy listening! You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

CYOP #131 - The One Where We Talk About Shame

In today’s episode, we’re talking about shame. It’s a topic that has shown up in so many of moments over the last year. It’s also something that’s come up in conversation with others pretty regularly, so I felt the need to address it here as it relates to both creative endeavors and life choices. If you’re open to hearing how I’ve navigated the topic in recent months, please have a listen. You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

CYOP #130 - What to Do When Life Takes a Turn

Today's show is all about getting through a tough life event. In it, I share some of the issues I faced as I went through my divorce this past year and the tools and mindset shifts I used to handle my career transition through it all. If you've ever had to try and keep your world together while it was also falling apart, this one's for you. I hope you'll find my story helpful as you navigate your own. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

CYOP #129 - Let's Call it a Rebuilding Year

After a year off the air, CYOP is back! Tune in to find out more about what to expect in the coming weeks, what's been happening around here and why I'm calling this last twelve months a rebuilding year. For full episodes from the Creating Your Own Path archives, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

CYOP #128 - The Between Seasons Update Episode

I'm back with a quick update episode about what you can expect from me in the coming year, as both my life and my business evolve. In the episode, I chat through my own impending career changes, an exciting (though daunting) rebrand, updates about the podcast, the shop, the artist residency, and much more. For full episodes from the Creating Your Own Path archives, please visit creatingyourownpath.com.

CYOP #127 - Lessons Learned from the First CYOP Artist Residency: A Chat Between Me + Melanie Biehle

Today is the final episode of Season 4! I'm wrapping things up with a co-hosted chat with this year’s CYOP Artist Resident Melanie Biehle and we're talking all about the artist residency. When I launched the CYOP Artist Residency, I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted it to roll out, but I learned a lot throughout the season and Melanie did too. In the episode, Melanie and I chat about what we loved about the residency, what we learned, and what we might do differently next time...

CYOP #126 - Confronting Stereotypes, Speaking Up + Using Your Craft for Good with Documentary Director Sami Abdou

CYOP #125 - The Importance of Side Projects + Why Personality Matters with Documentary Director Sami Abdou

We’re back with another episode featuring documentary director Sami Abdou. If you're just finding the show, I highly recommend you go back and listen to last week’s episode — episode 124 — before diving into this one. Everything will just make a lot more sense if you do. On today’s show, I’m talking with Sami about his side projects, what they mean to him, and how he fits them in while he’s working some seriously long hours as a director for the show Intervention. We also talk a lo...

CYOP #124 - Thinking Strategically About your Career Path + Making as Often as You Can with Documentary Director Sami Abdou

Today we’re starting our final three-part series of the season and I’m really excited to be sharing this next guest with you. If you’ve been listening to the show for a bit, you may know that it actually started with a Q&A interview series on my blog before it became a podcast. I really wanted to bring back some of the people I interviewed in 2013 and today we’re getting some updates from my friend Sami Abdou.  Sami is a documentary director and he works on both small projects and ...

CYOP #123 - The Art of Building a Support System with Writer Keah Brown

Today we’ve got the final episode in my three-part series with writer Keah Brown. If you haven’t listened to the other two episodes — 121 and 122 — please go back and listen to those first. Everything will make a little more sense if you do.  Today, I’m chatting with Keah about all of the people in our lives who keep us moving forward. We talk about why it’s so important to have a support system, different places to find and build community these days, and why having the right peop...

CYOP #122 - Leaning into Advocacy + Speaking Your Mind with Writer Keah Brown

I’m back today with writer Keah Brown and today we’re talking about something I haven’t spent much time on around here and that’s advocacy and the power of social media. Earlier this year, Keah started a hashtag on Twitter — #disabledandcute — and it took off just a few days later, creating an entire community around the concept. She shares the story behind it all in the episode and we also get into the power of positivity, how Keah is using her platform to advocate for herself and...

CYOP #121 - Why Mindset Matters + the Importance of Sharing Your Story with Writer Keah Brown

Today's episode is the first in a three-part series featuring writer Keah Brown. She is a journalist who also writes poetry, fiction pieces, and non-fiction essays. She is also the mastermind behind an incredible movement called #disabledandcute, which something we get into a little more on next week’s show. What you need to know this week is that the hashtag went viral on Twitter back in February and has been gaining momentum ever since. In the interview, we’re starting at the beg...

CYOP #120 - Using the Internet to Create Offline Connections with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne Ditmeyer

Today, we’ve got the last episode in a three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. If you haven’t listened to the last two week’s worth of episodes, please do so before wrapping up the series with this episode. In the interview, Anne and I talk about the magic of using online tools to make offline connections and how that’s been showing up in her work lately. She share’s the truth behind what we all see online these days, why she thinks work should be much ...

CYOP #119 - Handling the Freelance Ebb and Flow with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne Ditmeyer

Today, I’m back with the second in a three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, please do that first!  In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Anne all about the ebbs and flows that come with working for yourself. She goes into how she handles the emotional roller coaster that can come from having too little or, in her case, too much work coming her way. She also offers advice on how to present your work if you...

CYOP #118 - How to Create Cohesively Across Multiple Platforms with Designer, Writer + Educator Anne Ditmeyer

Today's show is the first in a new three-part series with designer, writer, and educator Anne Ditmeyer. In 2013 I interviewed Anne for Creating Your Own Path before it was a podcast. In the episode, I’m talking with Anne about how she has been able to successfully build a creatively fulfilling business across many different mediums and platforms. She chats about how living in France, and the constraints it put on her work situation, ultimately made her more creative, how she decide...

CYOP #117 - Taking a Step Back from Your Business: A Chat Between Me + Melanie Biehle

I’m back with Melanie Biehle today for another co-hosted chat! As many of you know, Melanie is the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident and today we’re talking all about taking a step back from your business in an effort to gain clarity, do some strategic planning, and figure out what’s working.  In this episode, we cover a little bit about what taking a step back means to each of us in our respective businesses, what taking a break might look like from day to day, and what happens — both the...

CYOP #116 - When Mental Health, Advocacy + Business Mix with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea Seal

Today’s episode is the last in my series with Moorea Seal and it’s a powerful one. If you’re just tuning in, be sure to go back and listen to episodes 114 and 115 before diving into this one. If you’ve already listened to past episodes, you know that Moorea is an author, designer and shop owner and she has been very open about the experiences that have set her on her path. This episode is no exception. We’re diving pretty deep into some serious topics. On the show, we chat about wh...

CYOP #115 - Putting in the Work + Handling Quick Growth with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea Seal

I’m back today with another segment with author, designer and shop owner Moorea Seal. If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode yet, I highly recommend you go back and download that one first. It’s Episode 114 in the archives.    In today’s interview, we talk a lot about growth and what it’s looked like for Moorea both personally and in business. She goes into detail about how her multi-book book deal came to fruition, why Moorea Seal (the shop) wouldn’t be where it is today ...

CYOP #114 - How to Stop Equating our Value to our Outputs with Author, Designer + Shop Owner Moorea Seal

Today, I'm talking with Moorea Seal, who is an author, designer and shop owner based out of Seattle! In today’s interview, she walks us through the early days of her career and how blogging, art, and Pinterest all played a roll. We also chat about what it’s like to name your business after yourself, how early trauma in her life set her on her path, and why our identities don’t need to be tied to our outputs. Moorea’s story is one that is full of both dark and light moments and you’...

CYOP #113 - Lessons Learned from the Adobe Creative Residency with Designer + Letterer Christine Herrin

Today is our last segment with Christine Herrin, who is a designer and hand letterer who has launched her own line of memory-keeping products. She just recently wrapped up her time as an Adobe Creative Resident and today’s episode is all about her experience. In the interview, we talk about her specific project and why she proposed it to the Adobe team. We also get into some behind-the-scenes stuff regarding how the residency works, why the public speaking aspect of the residency t...

CYOP #112 - Boosting Creative Inspiration Through Travel with Designer + Letterer Christine Herrin

Today we’re hearing once again from designer and letterer Christine Herrin. If you listened to last week’s show, episode 111, you know that Christine’s passion is memory keeping and she’s built a business around designing modern products for those who love to capture and save memories. She also has a full freelance schedule as a designer and hand letterer and just recently wrapped up her stint as an Adobe Creative Resident. In today’s interview, we talk about how travel is essentia...

CYOP #111 - Making Authentic Connections with Designer + Letterer Christine Herrin

I'm back today with another three-part series and this time I’m talking with graphic designer, hand letterer, and product designer Christine Herrin. You may also know her from her recent stint as an Adobe Creative Resident where she launched her shop, Everyday Explorers Co. In the interview, we talk at length about memory-keeping and why she feels that capturing bits of life is so important. She also opens up about her decision to move from Manila to San Francisco to go to grad sch...

CYOP #110 - Focus, Motivation + Organization: A Chat Between Me + Melanie Biehle

I’m back with Melanie Biehle today for another co-hosted chat! As most of you know, Melanie is the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident and is an incredibly talented artist and designer. If this is your first time listening to the show, I want to welcome you, but I also want to advise you to go back to episode 101 and 106 to learn more about Melanie, her work, and some topics we've covered in the past. In today's episode, we cover a few topics that we both find a little bit challenging from t...

CYOP #109 - Starting a Creative Mornings Series with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency

I’m back one final time with Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency, a creative agency here Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. Today, however, I’m talking with them about starting Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter. In the interview, we cover a lot of information that might be helpful for those of you who want to start a Creative Mornings chapter in your city. And honestly, it’s helpful even if you want to create an even that isn’t affi...

CYOP #108 - Hitting the Reset Button with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency

I’m back this week with more from my interview with Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency, which is a creative agency here Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. Several months ago, they also led the charge to start Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter. On today’s show, we get into a pretty real conversation about how they see their business partnership as a marriage and why they’ve had to seek help from third parties like therapists and coa...

CYOP #107 - Evolving a Brand + Hiring Talent with Rebecca Plumb + Meghan Phillips of Honey Agency

Today's show is the first in a three-part series featuring Rebecca Plumb and Meghan Phillips. Together, they run Honey Agency, which is a creative agency based out of Sacramento that focuses specifically on food and beverage brands. They are also the masterminds behind Sacramento’s Creative Mornings chapter. In the interview today, we talk about their past corporate careers and why working for a larger company helped them both develop professionally. We also chat about how a brandi...

CYOP #106 - Making Big Changes + Going with the Flow: A Chat Between Me + Melanie Biehle

Today’s show is the first ever co-hosted episode of CYOP! I’m excited to bring the Melanie Biehle back on the show every so often as a cohost. She is an incredibly talented artist and designer and she’s also the 2017 CYOP Artist Resident. In the episode, we step away from the interview format and just have an open discussion about what’s going on in our respective businesses right now, some of the big changes we’ve both made over the last few months, and how it’s all shaking out. ...

CYOP #105 - Creating Great Content Using Stock Photography with Matt Munson of Twenty20

Today’s show is our first Tuesday Tips + Tricks episode of the season and it’s sponsored by Twenty20, which is a stock photography site where creatives like us can go to find inspiring, authentic stock photos taken by real-world photographers. I was pretty excited when the team at Twenty20 reached out about sponsoring the show. I’ve been having trouble finding the time to stage all of the photos I need to go along with my written or audio content, but I was also really interested i...

CYOP #104 - Pursuing Wholesale + Embracing Multiple Passions with Micaela + Dawn Marie Hoo of Drifter Organics + Oh My Drifter

On today’s show, we’re back one final time with Micaela and Dawn Marie Hoo, the mother-daughter team behind the skincare line Drifter Organics. Last week, Micaela and Dawn Marie shared how they funded the launch of their brand and were incredibly generous in sharing the resources and tactics they found useful as they navigated their crowdfunding campaign. And after all of that, I was super curious to know what might be next for these two. Today, we talk about their plans for Drift...

CYOP #103 - Crowdfunding Your Launch with Micaela + Dawn Marie Hoo of Drifter Organics

Today we’re back with Micaela and Dawn Marie Hoo, the mother-daughter team behind the skincare line Drifter Organics. In last week’s show, we heard how Micaela’s career began and what led the two to launch the new brand. If you haven’t had a chance to hear to that episode, I’d recommend going back and listening to it before you listen to today’s show. Today we’re getting into the funding model for Drifter Organics. Micaela and Dawn Marie opted to use crowdfunding to launch the com...

CYOP #102 - Working with Family + Asking for Help with Micaela + Dawn Marie Hoo of Drifter Organics

Today’s show is the first in a series with mother-daughter team Dawn Marie and Micaela Hoo of Drifter Organics. Drifter Organics is an all-natural skin care line that launched after a very successful Kickstarter campaign. You may also know Micaela from her popular fashion and lifestyle blog, Oh My Drifter. In the interview, we talk about how Micaela got started with her creative career at the young age of 14 and how her mom, who was at stay-at-home mom at the time, was able to be t...

CYOP 101 - Searching for Opportunities + Making Room to Experiment with Artist + Designer Melanie Biehle

We're officially getting into the swing of things this season and today’s show is our first full-length episode featuring the first ever CYOP Artist Resident, Melanie Biehle. Melanie is an artist and designer based in the Seattle area whose work is full of bright colors and bold patterns. In the episode, we talk about Melanie’s long and winding path to becoming an artist, the process behind the work she creates, and why she isn’t emotionally tied to the term fine artist. One of the...

CYOP #100 - Sharing What's New in Season 4 + Celebrating 100 Episodes

In today's episode—the first of Season 4—I'm sharing a few details about what you can expect from CYOP in the months to come, why I'm not throwing a huge party to celebrate hitting 100 episodes, a recap of everything that's gone down in the last several months, and a peek at next week's interview with CYOP Artist Resident Melanie Biehle. From signing an office lease and writing a book to launching an artist residency and creating a new community for CYOP listeners, I'm sharing a lo...

CYOP #99 - Mini Episode: Three Big Lessons Learned in Three Podcast Seasons

On today's show—the 99th episode of CYOP and final episode of Season 3—I'm sharing three of the big lessons I've learned over the last three seasons of producing a podcast. In the episode, I tell you my download numbers and why they matter, the original purpose of the show, the humbling side of podcasting and why getting to know those of you who listen each week has offered up the biggest lesson of all. Thank you for another great season, everyone! For the full episode + show not...

CYOP #98 - Staying Nimble + Paying Attention to the Details with Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Today I’m chatting with Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates here in midtown Sacramento. In the interview, we talk about Ginger’s past and how it shaped her love for food. We also discuss the realities of going to culinary school and the many (many) jobs Ginger took on before starting her own brick and mortar business. What struck me most during this interview is the way Ginger made things happen—even when she was stuck in the business catch-22 of needing start-up c...