Creating Your Own Path

Today's show brings me to the Portland home of Lisa Congdon and Clay Walsh to chat with Lisa about everything—from her late start as a fine artist and illustrator to how she and Clay are managing all of the opportunities coming their way these days. In this incredibly honest interview, we chat about the strange concept of legitimacy when it comes to a creative career, why Lisa has purposefully chosen not to heed the “pick one thing and get really good at it” advice she’s heard over the years and the benefits of maintaining a daily creative practice. You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’s episode brings us to the amazing Portland-based shop and design studio of Betsy & Iya. Betsy Cross is the owner and creative director behind the incredibly successful jewelry and accessory brand and she was kind enough to take a little time to chat while I was in town. In the interview, we talk about how much Betsy & Iya has grown over the years thanks to many long discussions and leaps of faith. We also get into the details of how and why she and her husband decided to try working together, why Betsy doesn't think "shop local" campaigns really hit the mark and how she works through the urge to keep moving on to the next big goal by celebrating both small and large victories. You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’s interview brings us to the Portland studio of Anna Joyce of Anna Joyce Design. Not only is her work absolutely beautiful, but her story is pretty amazing as well. She is an artist, textile designer and soon-to-be author who hasn’t had the easiest road to success. During the interview, we get into some of the life events that really made her stop and think about her work. We also touch on how important it is to be persistent, the benefits of giving yourself the time and space to create your best work and why failure isn’t always a bad thing. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today I’m sharing my very last episode from my #CYOProadtrip to Seattle. Amanda Carter Gomes is the Executive Editor of Clementine Daily and, not only was she kind enough to share her story with us today, but she and her amazing family let me stay with them while I was in town! In our interview, Amanda and I talk candidly about the future of Clementine Daily, how Amanda’s many different jobs have all played a role in getting her to where she is today and why we all need to start valuing our past experiences more. You can find the full episode + show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to Essex Bar to chat with author and restaurant owner Molly Wizenberg. She’s been the voice behind the blog, Orangette, since 2004 and has since had her work published in well-known magazines, written two wonderful books, launched a very funny podcast called Spilled Milk and opened a restaurant and bar in Seattle with her husband. In the interview, we chat about how Molly tackled her first book and why the writing process didn’t quite go as planned, how her dad’s passing had a profound effect on her career trajectory, why opening a restaurant wasn’t on her radar at all and the importance of continuing to show up and do the work. Molly's story is incredible and I think we can all learn a great deal from her! You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today’s show is with another Seattleite, Jeni Nelson of Magniflora. She is a fine artist, professional photographer and floral designer whose work is absolutely stunning! In the interview we talk about how Jeni has been able to blend her creative pursuits together and how, more often than not, they actually inform one another. We also chat about the importance of keeping your creative tools accessible, how creativity expands when you work with limited supplies and why we should all stop being our own worst critics. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today on Creating Your Own Path, I'm chatting with Michael Ellsworth, co-founder and principle of the Seattle-based design firm Civilization. The firm is built on the idea that good design can help create social change in the world, which is something that drew me in right away. Their client list is impressive, but I walked away from the interview being even more impressed with their team. They’re an incredible bunch and chatting with Michael was super inspiring. In the episode, we talk about why process matters in just about everything they do at Civilization, how they sort trick their minds when they’re trying to come up with solution to design problems, the issues young designers are facing today, the importance of embracing discomfort and—my favorite part of the interview—why organizations and businesses should stop running crowd-sourced design contests. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's interview brings me to the Seattle office of Cassandra LaValle of Coco+Kelley. The lifestyle and design blogger started sharing her favorite inspirations online in the early days of the industry—in 2007—and has since expanded her brand to include interior design services, specialized event planning services, workshops and much more. Listen in as we chat about the blogging industry and why it’s important to stop and think about what might be going on behind the scenes when a blogger or platform looks as though they’ve had overnight success. We also touch on the importance of diversifying without feeling as though you have to do ALL THE THINGS and Cassandra gives some really great tips for those looking to dive in to a creative career. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's episode brings me to the beautiful Seattle studio of Fashion Designer Jenny Fort. After having multiple careers in various industries, Jenny has settled into the design world with her niche fashion brand, Lu. In the interview we chat about the evolution of Jenny's career path and why she still doesn't feel as though she's "made it." We also touch on how her fashion brand was built out of necessity, the avenues she's exploring to grow her business and how building a creative business is rarely a linear exercise. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com

Today's show brings me to the live/work space of Adina and Zeke Pease of RambleGood and Dog on a Boat Studios. The Seattle-based creatives work in various mediums like photography, videography, written content and, most recently, hand-made goods. Their journey to get to this point has been anything but a straight line and I think that's what I find most inspiring! In the interview, they go into detail about how they came to terms with keeping their day jobs and studies on track while maintaining fulfilling creative side hustles. We also chat about why they finally feel as though all of their creative passions are coming together through their current projects and why changing the world plays a role in just about everything they do. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's episode with Creative Director and Photographer Marissa Harrington is my final show from LA! I've been internet friends with Marissa for several years and I've always admired her work with Bourbon and Goose and Happy Hour Club. I'm so glad we finally had a chance to spend some time together in person! Listen in as we chat about the benefits of having a day job while pursuing your passion projects, why Marissa believes that all of her creative endeavors have helped her get to where she is today and how she's leveraging a stint on Instagram's Suggested User List to build a community of like-minded creatives. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

On today's show, I'm chatting with talented graphic designer and founder of The Yellow Conference, Joanna Waterfall. While I was in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to visit her Burbank office space to learn more about her career path, background and everything she's got in the works this year. Listen in as we chat about the importance of staying grounded when you're surrounded by fun and inspiring things, why The Yellow Conference is filling a void Joanna noticed in the world of women's conferences and the reason she and her team are taking to crowdfunding to help build, grow and support the female creative community. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to the Burbank studio of Ric and Jen Serena. While I was in Los Angeles last month, I had the chance to catch up with the two who, together with their collaborators, are still riding the wave of success that came with their beautiful documentary, "Mile... Mile and a Half." In the episode, we chat about their own winding career paths, how they coped when The Muir Project and "Mile... Mile and a Half" took over their world for a few years, their strategies for working together as a husband and wife team and why Burbank is the perfect creative hub for their work/life blend. You can find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to the home of Lifestyle Writer, Creative Director and Social Media Strategist Anne Sage. I've been a longtime admirer of her work, so I was thrilled when I found out we'd be able to meet up while I was in LA. In the interview we chat about Anne's new interiors book (out this fall) and how she dealt with the grueling (and rewarding) process of writing and publishing her first book. We also talk about the difference between our online selves and our real life selves, how Anne pieces together her income and why starting a creative career will force you to get to know yourself really, really well. You can find the full show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to the studio of Luke Haynes—a fine artist, designer and quilter living and working in LA. When I first heard about Luke's work, I was definitely intrigued. Not only was I very interested to chat with a man who quilts (they're a rare bunch!), but I was also fascinated to learn that his quilts are truly fine art pieces. They're meant to be more about form and conversation than they are about function. Listen in as we chat about how his work differs from traditional quilting, where he sees himself fitting in with the trendy return of handcrafted goods and the importance of having a deep understanding of the "why" behind any creative venture. You can find the full show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to the offices of Liquid Pixel in West Sacramento to interview Naia Kete. Naia is a singer, songwriter and super talented musician who, along with her band Kalyde, is creating a pretty unique sound. If her name sounds familiar, you might remember her from Season 2 of NBC's The Voice. Listen in as she chats openly about the show and how it helped her career, how she and her band mates approach their creative process and why music has been in her bones since the day she was born. You can find the full show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

In today's episode you'll hear from me about why I'm taking this week off from interviews, what to expect from my LA Podcast Road Trip and how you can follow along with the trip in real time. Find more at creatingyourownpath.com.

On today's show, I'm joined by Annabelle Needles of Evergreen Lane Productions. Unlike many of my recent guests, Annabelle runs Evergreen Lane—her video production company—alongside her full time job. Listen in as we chat about how her day job helped her launch Evergreen Lane, why she builds travel into just about every aspect of her life, what she tries to remember when the comparison trap comes knocking and much more. You can also find the full episode and show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to the Sacramento studio of fine artist Maren Conrad. Her incredible artwork is no stranger to both controversy and praise and Maren is the first to note that taking risks is just part of the job. Listen in as we discuss how she and her business partner Elizabeth Wood are creating opportunities for fine artists to enjoy new revenue streams, how she's dealt with public criticism of her work and the importance of supporting creatives. You can find the full show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.

Today's show brings me to Block Butcher Bar to interview Michael Hargis of TBD Fest. Not only did Michael and his business partner Clay Nutting found the incredibly successful music and design festival, they also own several restaurants in Sacramento (including Block Butcher Bar). Listen in as we chat about the always-evolving TBD Fest, why Michael and Clay decided to get into the restaurant game and how they put everything on the line to make their various businesses work. You can find the full show notes at creatingyourownpath.com.