I Am A Creator artwork

I Am A Creator

61 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago -

Hosted by Isa Adney, I Am A Creator brings you inspiring stories about what it really means to be a creator. Each story features a creator who found a way to connect with an audience and do work they love.

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Episodes

How This Doctor Turned YouTuber and Author Learned to Create on His Own Terms Again

March 08, 2024 08:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MB

Ali Abdaal never expected to leave his medical career to become a productivity expert with over 5 million YouTube subscribers (and a major book deal). But he thought teaching on YouTube was fun, and that changed everything. This is how he started and scaled his business to millions in revenue and a life he loves. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/a​li-abdaal for show notes and more information.

How This Creator Pivoted and Scaled His Business After Overcoming Personal Loss

January 05, 2024 08:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB

Dan Go’s journey is filled with heartache and growth—both personal and professional. Learn how he uses ConvertKit and the Creator Network to run a successful fitness business. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/dan-go for show notes and more information.

How This Author Used Email Marketing to Create a Passive Income Stream and Work 50% Less

October 27, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

Fed up with constant travel, Dorie Clark pivoted to work on her own terms, with her own audience, leading her to online course creation and Broadway. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/dorie-clark for show notes and more information.

YouTube Star, Netflix Presenter, and Founder: One Creator’s Journey From Undocumented to Documenting

September 15, 2023 07:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MB

From Brazil to Los Angeles, Jo Franco’s career included scaling a YouTube channel to 1.2 million subscribers until one day changed everything and inspired a major life and business pivot. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/jo-franco for show notes and more information.

How Drawing Changed This Artist’s Life and Led to a $45K Paid Newsletter

August 11, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MB

Danny Gregory triumphed in the advertising world before tragedy struck. But his resilience and passion for creating helped him bounce back to scale his newsletter to 20,000 subscribers and inspire artists around the world. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/danny-gregory for show notes and more information.

How This Creator Scaled Her Book Club From a Few Casual Readers to Tours of Literary Locations Across the Globe

July 14, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

Hayley Solano was born to read. But she had no idea her passion would take her across the world, building a community of book readers and leading a popular paid book club.  Visit https://convertkit.com/hayley-solano for show notes and more information.

Why This Storyteller Left the Corporate World and Scaled to 25,000+ Subscribers Using ConvertKit

June 12, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MB

From 21 friends to an audience of 25,000+ subscribers, this is how storyteller Lawrence Yeo went from corporate to creator. Visit https://convertkit.com/resources/creator-stories/lawrence-yeo for show notes and more information.

How This Baker Went From Sourdough Enthusiast to a Six-Figure, New York Times Bestselling Author

April 28, 2023 07:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

When software developer Maurizio Leo started baking sourdough bread as a hobby, he had no idea that one day it would lead to a six-figure business or a book deal. Visit https://convertkit.com/maurizio-leo for show notes and more information.

How a Travel Blogger Pivoted During the Pandemic to Rebuild a 7-Figure Business

March 24, 2023 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16.6 MB

When travel blogger Alexandra Jimenez burned out from the stress of her personal life and the pandemic, she took a break. Then the unexpected happened: her business jumped back up to seven figures. Visit https://convertkit.com/alexandra-jimenez for show notes and more information.

How a Fiction Writer Redefined Success for Herself and Helped Others Do the Same

February 10, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

Is there only one way to be successful? Becca Syme grew up believing there was. But when she realized that one-size didn’t fit all, she opened up a world of possibilities for herself and helped others unlock the same potential. Visit https://convertkit.com/becca-syme for show notes and more information.

How a Corporate Marketer Pivoted to Consultant and Landed a Hosting Gig for Entrepreneur Magazine

November 21, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

Terry Rice was on a good path with his business, speaking on stages around the country, and saying “no” to work that didn’t fit. But then his kid’s gymnastics class led to a chance encounter that changed the trajectory of his career. Visit https://convertkit.com/terry-rice for show notes and more information.

Why This Voice Actor Started an Email List

August 15, 2022 18:28 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MB

Like most actors, voice actor Carrie Olsen relies on multiple streams of income for stability. For her, building an engaged email list was the key to helping her build longevity into her creative business. Visit https://convertkit.com/carrie-olsen for show notes and more information.

How Creating Automated Courses Helped This Artist Kick Burnout to the Curb

June 13, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

Artist Chris Legaspi lived the hustle lifestyle creating caricatures and video game graphics until burnout made him step back and figure out how to monetize his courses on autopilot. Visit https://convertkit.com/chris-legaspi for show notes and more information.

How a World-Class Jazz Violinist Went From Lincoln Center to Building a Business at Home

May 17, 2022 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

When Chris Howes became a dad, his priorities changed. He traded in his fast-paced, highly successful NYC touring schedule to move back to Ohio and teach music online. Visit https://convertkit.com/chris-howes for show notes and more information.

How This PhD Candidate Ditched the Silicon Valley Formula to Start a Newsletter

April 04, 2022 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

Anne-Laure Le Cunff started a newsletter to help her study neuroscience. She had no idea it would turn into 40K subscribers and her own business. Visit https://convertkit.com/anne-laure-le-cunff for show notes and more information.

Why an Insurance Agent Became a Secret Bird Blogger

March 07, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

Bird blogging may not have seemed like the “smart” choice, but Scott Keller loved it and put in hard work to create a community and new way of earning a living. Visit https://convertkit.com/scott-keller for show notes and more information.

How to Be a Creator With 200k YouTube Subscribers and Work a Full-Time Job

January 31, 2022 18:59 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

Find out how design expert Charli Prangley keeps both passions running as ConvertKit’s Creative Director and creator of her design-focused YouTube channel, CharliMarieTV. Visit https://convertkit.com/charli-prangley for show notes and more information.

How a Dog Mom Turned Her Blog Into an Award Winning Pet Business

December 06, 2021 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MB

Find out how Tori Mistick of Wear Wag Repeat turned her love of fur babies into a full-fledged business supporting other women in the pet industry. Visit https://convertkit.com/tori-mistick for show notes and more information.

How to make music you love and find the right audience

November 01, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MB

Drew Holcomb thought his music career was over until he trusted his instincts, sat in his grief, and wrote his first hit song in 10 minutes. Visit https://convertkit.com/drew-holcomb for show notes and more information.

Untangling Self-Worth From Audience Size

October 04, 2021 07:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MB

Learning that a number doesn’t define success or worth helps Aileen Xu continue creating out of authenticity, even when the numbers are down. Visit https://convertkit.com/aileen-xu for show notes and more information.

Building a Home for the Business of Hip-Hop

August 30, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

When Dan Runcie began sharing the why and how of hip-hop mogul’s business moves, he found a devoted audience—and a thriving business. Visit https://convertkit.com/dan-runcie  for show notes and more information.

Keeping a Travel Blog Afloat During a Global Pandemic

July 26, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

After quitting her engineering job and taking her travel blog full-time only two weeks before the pandemic shut down travel, blogger Gabby Beckford wasn’t about to give up on her dream. Visit https://convertkit.com/gabby-beckford  for show notes and more information.

The Beauty of the YouTube Community

June 21, 2021 07:00 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MB

Serein finally found true joy when she stepped out of the background of TV cameras and found her spot front and center as a beauty vlogger. Visit https://convertkit.com/serein-wu for show notes and more information.

How a Journalist Quit Her Job to Become a New York Times Bestselling Author

May 17, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MB

Rejection couldn’t stop Jennifer Keishin Armstrong from taking any road possible to realizing her dream of becoming an author. Visit https://convertkit.com/jennifer-armstrong for show notes and more information.

From Eviction to 30 Million Views on TikTok

April 12, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MB

Music producer Kato On The Track never gave up on his music. From working side jobs as an exterminator to learning the music business, Kato turned his dream into a career. Visit https://convertkit.com/kato-on-the-track for show notes and more information.

An Education in Food and Community

March 29, 2021 17:10 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MB

How Chef Daniella Malfitano niched down her audience to stay true to herself and her food philosophy. Visit https://convertkit.com/daniella-malfitano for show notes and more information.

The True Meaning of Financial Freedom

March 15, 2021 15:03 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MB

It’s not just about budgeting. For Nick True, sharing his lifelong passion for finances is about helping people win the game of life.  Visit https://convertkit.com/nick-true for show notes and more information.

“The cloth I’m cut from”

February 15, 2021 08:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MB

Not even the slow-paced fashion world of the Midwest could keep Whitney Manney from dreaming big and creating freely, boldly, and brightly. Visit https://convertkit.com/whitney-manney for show notes and more information.

Giving in to “Irresponsible” Art

February 01, 2021 08:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

When Shelby allowed herself to do the “irresponsible” thing and add some color to her bullet journal, a small rebellion of art turned into a career. Visit https://convertkit.com/shelby-abrahamsen for show notes and more information.

The Power in Telling Your Story

January 18, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MB

Rebecca Dekker wanted to focus on the data, but quickly learned that if you really want to make an impact and connect with your audience, you just have to tell your story.  Visit https://convertkit.com/rebecca-dekker for show notes and more information.

Fight or Flight: When Resistance Feels Worth It

January 04, 2021 15:38 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

When Noa Kageyama realized he didn’t love the thing he’d dedicated his life to, it was time to decide if the resistance he felt was the kind you push through or the kind that helps you choose a new path.  Visit https://convertkit.com/noa-Kageyama for show notes and more information.

The 5 Month Runway

December 28, 2020 08:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MB

What happens when you give up traditional expectations to fund your biggest dreams? Find out how Teela from Every Tuesday went from crying during her commute to covering her family’s living expenses for a year with one launch.  Visit https://convertkit.com/teela-cunningham for show notes and more information.

The Magic of Having No Other Choice

December 21, 2020 08:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MB

Cara had always let her analytical side run the show. But when her government job of 10 years slowly deteriorated her health, Cara knew it was time for a change. She never could have guessed that in a short time she’d not only be handling her favorite band’s social media, but that she’d find the freedom to be creative.  Visit https://convertkit.com/cara-chace for show notes and more information.

Empty Nesters

December 14, 2020 08:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

When the illusion of security leaves you feeling trapped, how do you break free? Find out how author coaches Steve and Azul turned down big career advances, packed their life into 2 suitcases, and found their freedom 10 years in the making.  Visit https://convertkit.com/azul-and-steve for show notes and more information.

Slow and Steady Makes the Dream

December 07, 2020 16:41 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB

When an unknown illness took Mayank out of work, he and his wife Prerna bet on themselves. Instead of sticking with traditional jobs, they took an intentionally different path to build something of their own - a lifelong dream coming true. Visit https://convertkit.com/prerna-mayank-malik  for show notes and more information.

Giving Yourself Permission

November 30, 2020 08:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

How watercolorist Angela Fehr, a girl from a small town in the middle of nowhere, learned to trust the process of believing in herself.  Visit https://convertkit.com/angela-fehr for show notes and more information.

How To Thrive in Business as a Sensitive Person

November 23, 2020 08:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MB

To find true success, you need to push past the standards of what you’ve always seen and lean into who you truly are. When Austin Church gave himself permission to be the fully-feeling creator he is, he connected more deeply with his audience and built a successful business helping creatives achieve their dreams.  Visit https://convertkit.com/austin-church  for show notes and more information.

Focusing on the Work You Were Created For

November 16, 2020 08:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB

Changing perspectives and unveiling clarity are qualities that can’t be taught. While creator Vannesia Darby was successfully building her digital marketing business, her innate ability to draw people out started bringing her new clients and more joy.  Visit https://convertkit.com/vannesia-darby for more information and show notes.

Getting Comfortable With Instability

November 02, 2020 08:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MB

How parenting blogger Nina Garcia dreamed the impossible dream and quit her job.   Visit https://convertkit.com/nina-garcia  for show notes and more information.

How To Follow Your Dreams by Googling “How to be a …”

October 26, 2020 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MB

How do you start your journey to your dream job when it feels too big or you have no idea what it even means? Bonnie Christine first googled “How to become a fabric designer” and then learned that with 10 seconds of courage, you can take on big goals one step at a time. Visit https://convertkit.com/bonnie-christine for show notes and more information.

Fireproof Optimism

October 19, 2020 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

How muralist Eric Friedensohn owes his success to losing everything.   Visit https://convertkit.com/eric-friedensohn for show notes and more information.

The 4 Lives of Heavyweight Pro Boxer Ed Latimore

October 12, 2020 07:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MB

Depending on luck alone may have worked for a young Ed Latimore. But when this writer and former Heavyweight pro boxer learned to bet on himself, he found self-respect and the capability to dictate his own future. Visit https://convertkit.com/ed-latimore for show notes and more information.

“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

October 05, 2020 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

How web designer Chaitra Radhakrishna found the beautiful side of failure. Visit https://convertkit.com/chaitra-radhakrishna  for show notes and more information.

Single Mom on a Mission

September 28, 2020 07:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

Designer Kelsey Baldwin had two life-changing events happen on the same day. But instead of letting the weight of a world-turned-upside-down keep her down, she looked to the one thing she knew she could control — her business.   Visit https://convertkit.com/kelsey-baldwin for show notes and more information.

Never Say Never

September 21, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MB

How embarrassment gave motion designer Austin Saylor the motivation and courage to overcome procrastination and perfectionism. Visit https://convertkit.com/austin-saylor for show notes and more information.

Audience Over Ego

September 14, 2020 07:00 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

When Srini Rao turned a blog into a WSJ bestseller, he thought his life was set. But when faced with setback after setback, he had to learn to let go of the opinions and expectations of the world and get back to the man who was happy to sell 300 copies of his book.  Visit  https://convertkit.com/srini-rao for show notes and more information.

Chasing Dreams

September 07, 2020 07:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MB

When you have no one to look to, you blaze your own trails. This is the story of how travel blogger Gloria Atanmo went for her dreams and paved the way for others to follow.  Visit https://convertkit.com/glo-atanmo show notes and more information.

How To Survive as an Indie Musician

August 31, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

Musicians today have to be multifaceted creators. Ryan Baustert of Throw the Fight learned that building a music career was a lot like building a business.  Visit https://convertkit.com/ryan-baustert for show notes and more information.

The Lifecycle of Creativity

August 24, 2020 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MB

How fine artist Kimberly Brooks continues to embrace the digital age by seeing technological shifts as an opportunity to communicate the things that never change.  Visit https://convertkit.com/kimberly-brooks for show notes and more information.

The Fashion Outsider

August 17, 2020 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MB

When you’re burnt out on your calendar, but not on your mission, what’s your next play? For fashion designer, Brandice Daniel, stepping back with a “if it’s meant to be” mindset brought the biggest opportunity of her life — leading a team of women designers to create a shoe for Nike.  Visit https://convertkit.com/brandice-daniel for show notes and more information.