Welcome to Creative Business Real Talk!

Every week, I share a tactical business lesson + powerful brain reframe drawn from my 10 years of biz experience…to help you get unstuck. The perfect mix of strategy and warmth that never shies away from the truth.

New episodes drop every Wednesday


CHECK OUT THE LATEST EPISODES!

EPISODE 176 - You Are In A Calligraphy Bubble

In this episode of Creative Business Real Talk, I’m proving why your calligraphy is better than you think it is - and how the “calligraphy bubble” creates the Curse of Knowledge in our industry. Plus I’m sharing the details about how “good enough” calligraphy can land you more jobs than you thought possible, and how my courses can take you from basic to business owner faster than you think!

EPISODE 175 - UPDATE - She Made $5k In One Week With Calligraphy

In this episode of Creative Business Real Talk, I’m catching up with Crooked Calligraphy Alumni Mian - who enrolled in our classes after dabbling in calligraphy in both childhood & her adult life. Struggling with her confidence, Mian quietly honed her passion in our courses, until one day proclaiming to a fellow creative, “I’m a calligrapher!” - which opened the doors to working with luxury brands, live event calligraphy, and $5k weeks. Join me as I share an update on her story, and prove how one moment of bravery can lead to living a more fulfilled life.

EPISODE 174 - You Are Not Behind (Perfectionism Is Quietly Ruining Your Life)

If feeling “behind” leads to you disappearing... your perfectionism might be quietly sabotaging your life.  In this episode, I’m unpacking the hidden reason so many high achievers quit, disappear, or stay stuck in cycles of burnout and perfectionism (all from personal experience!).  Because the truth is that perfectionism doesn’t create success. It creates shame, overwhelm, and emotional freeze. And that IS NOT how you should feel. Join me to learn why there is no such thing as “behind” and you should not let one imperfection ruin your end goal.

EPISODE 173 - Teach Your First Calligraphy Workshop

Think you aren’t “good enough” to teach a calligraphy class yet? Think again. With just the basics under your belt, this episode shows you the concrete steps to take to prepare, plan, host, and nail your first paid calligraphy workshop! Teaching not your thing? Stick around as I also share other ways to maximize profits out of your calligraphy skillset too!

EPISODE 172 - Roadmap To Your First Engraving Gig

Calligraphy engravers are in high demand right now. And you don’t have to have YEARS of experience to get paid for it! In this episode, I’m breaking down the fastest, simplest path to landing your first paid calligraphy engraving job—even if you’re still a beginner. I’ve had SO many students with just a few months of experience book real gigs… and I’m showing you exactly how they did it.

EPISODE 171 - How to Become a Pro Calligrapher in 6 Months

Ever wanted to become a pro calligrapher, but not known where to start? In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I break down a 6-month roadmap to becoming a paid calligrapher—even if you’re starting from scratch. The key isn’t perfection… It's learning calligraphy and business skills at the same time. Join me as I share concrete tips to get you confidently on the road to achieving your dreams.

EPISODE 170 - A Hard Season In My Business

In this vulnerable episode of Creative Business Real Talk, I’m sharing how the last 2 months were some of the hardest for me - both personally and professionally. We’ll dive into how the negative voices in my head sent me in a downward spiral - only for me to finally realize none of it was really true. If you’ve ever lost confidence in your abilities & the path you have chosen in life, I hope this helps bring your inner confidence back to the forefront.

EPISODE 169 - The Best People to Pitch (to get more clients)

Have you ever tried to pitch yourself & market your business… but drawn a blank as to where you should be devoting your efforts? In this episode of Creative Business Real Talk, I’m breaking down the 3 most effective groups to concentrate your efforts on when pitching to grow your client base - and which one has the highest return for your efforts. I’m also sharing real life examples from my past client experiences, as well as those of my former students who have copied my exact formula (and how it directly effected their bottom line while growing their businesses). Listen in to learn my best tips and tricks for pitching yourself (and I promise you won’t feel sleazy doing it!).

EPISODE 166 - $10K In 2 Years - An Update With Crooked Calligraphy Alum Danielle Williams

Join me as I sit down with Crooked Calligraphy Alumni Danielle Williams as I hear about her journey going from total calligraphy newbie, to generating over $10K in revenue from her business in just under 2 years! If you have been stuck in a creative rut and looking to take charge of your life, hopefully this episode will remind you that sometimes success is just right beyond your comfort zone.

EPISODE 163 - From quitting…to booking Louis Vuitton (with Mian Barrios)

Ever found a hobby, then had to put it on the back burner because, well, life?? That’s what happened to one of my students, Mian, who found calligraphy in middle school, landed a few jobs later on, and then promptly quit due to her plate being too full. The great thing about calligraphy? It’s something you can ALWAYS return to. Join me as I sit down with Mian and hear about her return to her childhood hobby, and how it turned into a profitable business - all because of one moment of courage and one shaky “yes”.

EPISODE 162 - A Smarter Approach to Calligraphy Envelopes

Chances are if you have thought about starting a calligraphy business, envelopes have crossed your mind more than once! In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I share how I got my own business started with envelopes, and why you might want to take a chance on a few calligraphy envelope jobs as a beginner business owner (they could be a lot more profitable than you think!!).

EPISODE 161 - How to Build a Creative Portfolio that actually gets you clients

Wanna know how to build up your portfolio, even if you don’t have a ton of work under your belt?? On this episode of Creative Busines Real Talk, I’ll show you how to create this ‘sales tool’ to help you grow your reach & gain more clients. Whether you’re a calligrapher, illustrator, designer, or service-based creative, this episode will help you create a portfolio that builds confidence and attracts the right type of clients for your business.

EPISODE 160 - Your First Website Essentials

Ready to establish your business and build a website, but intimidated where to start?? In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I’m breaking down what your first website actually needs, what you can safely skip, and how to get something live fast—without an overwhelming to-do list, tech overwhelm, or perfectionism. Tune in to see how to get yourself up and running without the stress!

EPISODE 158 -From Uncertain to Booked. $1500 from calligraphy in just 2 months

Join me and my former student, Sophilia, as she shares her journey from worn out teacher, to finding her confidence as a calligrapher. Wondering how did she did it? Tune in as we discuss the 2 tasks I challenged her to take on that helped her gain the confidence she needed to land 4 paying calligraphy jobs totaling over $1500 in sales (in one a MONTHS time)! If you’re trying to find your own inner strength, you don’t want to miss this one!