The Developing Life Podcast
The Developing Life Podcast is your go-to destination for creative minds, entrepreneurs, and leaders striving to grow and thrive in today’s ever-evolving world. A collaborative effort lead by Davron Bowman, Heather Crank and Tru Adams- each episode dives deep into the intersection of creativity, community, and strategy, offering actionable insights and inspiring stories from industry experts, visionaries, and innovators. 🎙️ What You’ll Gain: Proven strategies to elevate your creative and professional journey Insights into building community and fostering collaboration Practical advice for turning passion into purpose and profit Real stories of overcoming challenges, scaling success, and staying inspired From navigating the complexities of running a business to exploring the transformative power of human connection in the age of AI, The Developing Life brings you honest conversations, thought-provoking ideas, and the tools you need to unlock your full potential. 🔑 Who It’s For: Creatives seeking clarity and growth Entrepreneurs looking for actionable business strategies Community leaders and collaborators who value connection Anyone passionate about blending creativity, commerce, and purpose Join us and discover how to build a life—and a career—that inspires, connects, and creates lasting impact.
Episodes
After designing album covers for icons like the Rolling Stones, Stefan Sagmeister sensed his work growing stale. He took a radical step: shut down his studio for a year—every seven years.
In this Developing Life Podcast episode, Sagmeister explains how that sabbatical transformed his career, leading him away from commercial work and toward a new practice mixing data and art.
We unpack the risks and rewards of micro‑retirements (min...
Chris Martin doesn’t sugarcoat what it takes to survive as a modern creative. From the highs of building a design career to the struggles of burnout, identity, and starting over, he opens up in ways you rarely hear on podcasts.
In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast- hosted by Heather Crank- we talk about:
- The human side of working in a “make it or break it” industry.
- Why leaving projects behind can be the most liberating ...
What happens when creativity becomes a way to reimagine how we experience the world?
In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Ryan Summers — whose career spans Pacific Rim, Person of Interest, Blizzard, and Warner Brothers — opens up about his journey from chemical engineering to motion design, the lessons of resilience after being laid off, and why obsession, voice, and vision are the true moats for creatives in an age of AI...
Who Are We Now? Petrula Vrontikis on Design, Identity & Staying Human in the Algorithm Age -
Welcome to one of the most soul-shifting conversations we’ve ever had on the Developing Life Podcast.
What happens to authorship, intuition, and creative power when algorithms shape our every move?
Petrula Vrontikis—renowned educator, speaker, and creative coach—joins us for a powerful and poetic exploration of how designers can reclaim th...
What if the future of creativity wasn’t about doing more, but becoming more?
Dave Zaboski—former Disney animator (The Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, Fantasia 2000), expedition artist, startup founder, and creative philosopher—joins The Developing Life for one of our most powerful episodes to date.
🔹 From painting for the Dalai Lama
🔹 To sketching at 16,500 ft in search of a lost Incan temple
🔹 To developing the Unive...
In this powerfully human episode of the Developing Life Podcast, host Heather Crank sits down with Hayley Akins—motion designer, business coach, and founder of Motion Hatch—to explore what it really takes to build a sustainable creative career in an AI-driven world.
With over 15 years in the motion design industry and deep expertise in freelance coaching, Hayley shares the key systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that have helped...
What if financial literacy was the missing key to unlocking your creativity?
In this heartfelt and high-impact episode of The Developing Life Podcast, we sit down with Bayleigh Laster—licensed occupational therapist turned financial educator—to explore how money mindset shapes our identity, work, and freedom.
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Bayleigh shares her powerful transition from healthcare to financial mentorship after seeing how one medical event could deva...
Guest: Phillip J. Clayton – Strategic Brand Consultant, Creative Advisor, and Founder of PJC
What does it mean to redefine yourself through design, survive the gates of hell, and emerge with clarity?
In this soul-stirring episode, Davron Bowman sits down with Phillip J. Clayton—renowned brand consultant and creative strategist—to explore the deep intersection of identity, resilience, and brand-building. With over two decades of globa...
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From Amsterdam to art school, from corporate design to poetic activism—Jing Foon Yu has always asked the hard questions. But when she started asking them of herself, everything changed.
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In this deeply honest episode- hosted by Heather Crank-- Jing opens up about her battle with depression, the creation of Crybaby, and the journey from silence to sove...
In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Maya Geo, a leader in fashion tech, talks about her journey from art student to founder of a design studio that specializes in fashion tech and branding. Maya shares how she combines creative design with emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality to revolutionize the fashion industry.
If you're passionate about the future of digital fashion and branding, this conv...
🎙️ From Punk Rock to Design Revolution: The Radical Mind of Rick Griffith
What happens when you mix punk rock rebellion, radical design, and a relentless commitment to community? You get Rick Griffith—a typographer, cultural instigator, and creative force reshaping the future of design.
In this episode of Developing Life, Rick takes us on a journey through his evolution—from growing up in the underground punk scene to challenging th...
"What if the thing you struggle with the most could actually be your greatest strength?"
Today’s episode of The Developing Life Podcast is a special one.
We’re sitting down with someone whose story is a powerful reminder that creativity, resilience, and self-discovery often come from the toughest moments.
Meet Hana Ateeq—a DJ, data analyst, and mental health advocate who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2023.
But this...
In this deeply personal and transformative episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Davron Bowman shares his raw and unfiltered journey from a life of control, trauma, and self-doubt to a path of clarity, confidence, and grace. Reflecting on his upbringing in a restrictive cult, the painful experiences that shaped his self-worth, and the emotional scars left behind, Davron opens up about the moments that brought him to his lowest an...
🎙️ Episode Title: The Rise of the Creative Phoenix: Heather Krank’s Story of Resilience and Innovation
In this powerful and personal episode of The Developing Life Podcast, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Heather Krank, a trailblazing creative whose work has captivated audiences across the globe.
Heather’s story is one of rising from the ashes of adversity to craft a career rooted in resilience, authenticity, a...
🎧 Unleashing Your Authentic Voice and Living Boldly
What happens when you stop running from your truth and start leaning into the person you were meant to be? In this inspiring episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Tru Adams takes us on a journey through her evolution—from a 20-year career in fitness to building a design business rooted in authenticity and empathy.
💡 Key Moments to Listen For:
- Tru’s powerful realizat...
How can community help creatives overcome isolation, grow professionally, and achieve financial independence? In this episode of The Developing Life, Joel Pilger—visionary advisor and founder of Forum—shares his journey of building successful creative businesses and communities.
Discover the challenges Joel faced during his 20-year career running Impossible Pictures, how he turned competitors into collaborators, and why focusing on ...
In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Host Heather Crank dives into a unique and personal conversation with celebrated designer, illustrator, and creative storyteller, Stefan Bucher.
Known for his quirky daily monster illustrations and powerful visual storytelling, Stefan opens up about how embracing the unexpected has been the key to building a brand and creative career that truly resonate.
🎧 Highlights You Won...
Imagine a career where your work not only fuels your bank account but genuinely fulfills you—where your purpose drives every project, and impact matters as much as the final design.
In episode 26 of The Developing Life Podcast- special guest Terri Irwin challenges creatives to do exactly that. She shares how aligning your skills with a mission gives you the unique power to create work that resonates on a deep level, offer...
In this episode of The Developing Life, we sit down with Kung Pik Liu, founder of Design Angel and a leading voice in FemTech and women’s empowerment through design.
With over two decades of experience in branding and graphic design, Kung shares her journey from Hong Kong to New York and how she pivoted her career into health and wellness to support female entrepreneurs.
We dive deep into the challenges of level...
Join us on The Developing Life Podcast as we welcome Rebecca Martin, a PhD candidate at Rutgers University and a senior research specialist.
In this episode, hosted by Tru Adams, Rebecca shares her unique journey from visual merchandising and design to social work, focusing on inclusive design and the power of language in fostering social justice and human connection.
Learn how Rebecca's innovative approach...
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