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 Digest...

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 stay grounded ...

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 Ludi's work for ...

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 discovered a certain a...

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 topics is to h...

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 Spottery in the C...

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: Original inter...

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 Instagram stories: W...

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 initial CYOP i...

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 Zahra on Instagram...

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 Ray Ortega Me on ...

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 Instagram The offi...

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 More Information: Me ...

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 Northern A...

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 Turshen CYOP #68: Sim...

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. Melanie also...

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 lot about the ma...

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 some pretty...

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 people in your worl...

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 others, and w...

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 beginning and lea...

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 more playful t...

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 tend to do man...

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 decides what platfor...