Today's episode brings me to the beautiful studio of Art Director and Designer Christine Wisnieski . Based in Cleveland, Christine runs a multi-disciplinary studio where she and her team create everything from brand identities to special art projects. Christine’s work has always caught my eye, so it was wonderful to chat with her in person. During the interview we talked a lot about how changes effect a business over time and the benefits of working for someone else before striking out on your o...
Oct 01, 2015•36 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Today's show brings me to Chicago to chat with Jessica Murnane of the One Part Podcast . I have to warn you guys: Jessica dropped some big news during our interview—some of which I knew ahead of time and some of which I did not know about. One thing I did know about is that she and her family are moving to Charleston, South Carolina! If I’m not mistaken, they’re in the midst of all their move-related stuff right now so send them all of your good moving vibes. What I didn’t know before we started...
Sep 24, 2015•49 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Today's show brings me to the home of Katie Michels just outside of Chicago. I’ve been following Katie’s work for years and was super impressed as I watched her transition Off Switch , which used to be a gorgeous magazine, into an online shop full of cards, totes and other beautifully designed items—all of which she creates. During the interview we talk through that transition and what it meant for her as a business owner, the meaning behind the brand “Off Switch” and how she’s moving forward wi...
Sep 17, 2015•47 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Today's show brings me to the Dennison, Minnesota to the woodworking shop of Matt Eastvold . Matt makes beautiful modern furniture just south of Minneapolis and it was amazing to meet him in person and check out the space in which he works. In the episode we chat about how his business shifted during the recession and how he’s had to be resilient and somewhat nimble to keep his business growing. We also talked a lot about why he’s diversifying his products as a way to keep his varied customer ba...
Sep 10, 2015•49 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Today's show brings me to the Missoula, Montana home of professional photographer Jessica Lowry Vizzutti . I've been following her work for years and have loved watching her build a truly impressive body of work that includes everything from huge editorial spreads to stunning wedding photography. In the episode we chat about what it's like working with (and apart from) her photographer husband, why she decided to take on a full-time position outside of her photography work, her thoughts on being...
Sep 03, 2015•28 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Today's show brings me to the live/work space of Rosaura Unangst, who is the creative behind Pigment and Parchment —a calligraphy and illustration studio based here in Sacramento, California. She’s an incredibly talented artists and, though her work is tied mostly to the wedding industry, she also teaches workshops and is involved in several really fun collaborations. In the episode, we talk about why those collaborations are so important to her; how her experiences with art therapy have informe...
Aug 13, 2015•52 min•Season 1Ep. 51
On the show today, I’ve got another Sacramento creative in the hot seat. I came across the work of Omonivie Okhade and her jewelry brand Tula in Bloom thanks to some mutual friends and I’m so glad I did! Her work is incredible and she’s always learning new skills and incorporating new elements into her jewelry pieces. But what I didn’t know about Omonivie is that she has a lot of different creative talents. She sings, she’s a dancer, she’s a writer, she’s an illustrator—you name it. It was so gr...
Aug 06, 2015•57 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Today's show brings me to Sacramento's GoodWork HQ to chat with Caroline Wintata and Josh Daniels about all of their various businesses. Caroline is a photographer who focuses primarily on weddings , portraits and boudoir sessions and together they run Giggle + Riot , a photo booth rental company; GoodWorkHQ , a collaborative work space for event professionals; and they’ve even started a company with their photo booth designer— Brian Schmitt —that will allow them to manufacture their amazing pho...
Jul 30, 2015•55 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Today's show brings me to the Old Sacramento storefront of Ana Apple . As many of you know, I love chatting with people in my hometown of Sacramento, California and Ana Manzano is no exception. She's the mastermind behind the handmade children’s clothing and accessories brand and her company just expanded in a big way thanks to a local small business contest. In the interview we talk about how the contest has helped Ana become a better business owner, her recent trials and triumphs as she’s move...
Jul 23, 2015•56 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Rachel Smith is our guest on today’s show and if you know anything about the world of craft and DIY blogging, you’ve probably come across Rachel’s incredible corner of the internet. She currently runs her blog, The Crafted Life , full time and—though I don’t consider myself to be super crafty—I was completely drawn in by both Rachel’s aesthetic and by the simplicity of the projects she shares. In the interview we chat about Rachel’s big leap to take her blog full time, how she makes a living as ...
Jul 09, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 47
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...
Jul 02, 2015•55 min•Season 1Ep. 46
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 work...
Jun 25, 2015•31 min•Season 1Ep. 45
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 y...
Jun 18, 2015•32 min•Season 1Ep. 44
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 pas...
Jun 11, 2015•24 min•Season 1Ep. 43
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 ...
Jun 04, 2015•27 min•Season 1Ep. 42
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 o...
May 28, 2015•35 min•Season 1Ep. 41
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 ...
May 21, 2015•48 min•Season 1Ep. 40
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 p...
May 14, 2015•45 min•Season 1Ep. 39
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 r...
May 07, 2015•25 min•Season 1Ep. 38
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 maintainin...
Apr 30, 2015•34 min•Season 1Ep. 37
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 i...
Apr 23, 2015•31 min•Season 1Ep. 36
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 confe...
Apr 16, 2015•34 min•Season 1Ep. 35
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 togeth...
Apr 09, 2015•37 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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 A...
Apr 02, 2015•25 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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 quiltin...
Mar 26, 2015•23 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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...
Mar 19, 2015•32 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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 .
Mar 11, 2015•3 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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...
Mar 05, 2015•27 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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 crea...
Feb 26, 2015•53 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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...
Feb 19, 2015•29 min•Season 1Ep. 27
