Unpacking “Cranky”: How to Stay Professional and Calm as a Creative Entrepreneur with Nate Padavik & Salli Swindell

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Nate Padavik and Salli Swindell of Illustrators for Hire. Together, they break down what’s really behind those cranky moods we all experience as artists and entrepreneurs. Spoiler alert: crankiness is usually a cover for something deeper.

They discuss why self-awareness is crucial for navigating creative careers, how our emotional state affects our professional relationships, and most importantly—how to get unstuck when you’re feeling irritable. Because let’s face it, being cranky might be part of the creative experience, but making it a habit? Not a good look.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

😤 How crankiness is often a mask for deeper emotions like fear, frustration, or burnout.
🧐 The importance of self-awareness in managing your emotions as an artist.
🤝 Why professionalism includes making collaborations pleasant—even when you’re in a mood.
🚪 Practical strategies for shifting out of crankiness and getting back into creative flow.

Whether you're feeling stuck in a rut or just need a reality check on handling artistic frustration, this episode will help you reframe your cranky moments and turn them into something productive.

Notable Mentions

Avatar Papyrus SNL Skit

 

Nate’s Playlist
Useful Music #024

Secret Life (Album)

Anthropocene (Album)

 

Nate Padavik …

Nate Padavick is a freelance illustrator and the co-founder—along with his sister Salli Swindell—of the sites .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}