Standout Creatives: Business, marketing, and creativity tips for solopreneurs launching their ideas

What if the book you want to write isn’t waiting for the “perfect time” but for a version of you who’s willing to start messy?

Jennifer Locke helps people turn ideas into books.

Not someday books.

Real books that get written in the middle of family life, busy schedules, self-doubt, and the very normal fear of being seen.

In this conversation, Jennifer shares what it really looks like to follow through on a writing life, how nonfiction ...

What if the thing you thought was pulling you away from writing was actually preparing you for it?

Andy Hodges didn’t set out to follow a single creative lane. His path winds through anthropology, academia, fiction editing, and now novel writing, all held together by curiosity and a deep respect for story.

In this conversation, Andy and I talk about what it really means to balance structure and freedom in your creative work, why genr...

What if the thing you’ve been taught to ignore is actually the thing guiding you?

In this episode, I talked with Julia Carmen, a curandera, spiritual healer, and founder of the School Without Walls. Julia has spent her life walking between the physical and non-physical worlds. Seeing, sensing, listening. Not as a party trick, but as a way of being.

Julia talks about presence, self-worth, grief, choice, and the courage it takes to lis...

What if writing the story you’re afraid to tell is the exactly what your readers have been waiting for?

Leigh Carron, author of Fat Girl and other body positive romance novels, didn’t set out to follow trends, chase algorithms, or fit neatly into what the publishing world expects. She set out to tell her truth. And in doing so, she’s built stories centered on body diversity, biracial identity, desire, and authenticity, even when it ...

What if the thing you’ve been trying hide is actually the reason people remember you?

Rachel Lee is a brand stylist and designer who built her business by doing the opposite of what she thought “serious” creatives were supposed to do. From growing up as an imaginative art kid to hiding parts of herself in traditional design roles, Rachel spent years trying to fit in before realizing that belonging to herself mattered more.

In this c...

What if the story you’ve been holding onto is the one someone else has been waiting to hear?

Marc Cordon and I had a great conversation about the upcoming Book Summit. It will be a creative space built for writers, not-yet-writers, and anyone who feels a tug to put their story into the world. If you’ve ever felt like your experiences aren’t “big enough,” or you’re nervous about sharing something personal, this conversation might shi...

What if the thing that makes you feel “different” in business is actually the thing that makes you magnetic?

In this special conversation, I sit down with Aicila from the Business as Unusual, where we talked about what it’s like to build a business as an introvert. If you’ve ever felt drained by networking, overwhelmed by visibility, or unsure how to show up without feeling fake… this one will feel like a deep exhale.

We talk about w...

What if growing your business didn’t require grinding harder, but actually slowing down, tending to your nervous system, and building something that feels human and sustainable?

Heidi Weiland is a holistic business coach and strategist who went from burned-out freelance web designer to someone helping entrepreneurs blend smart strategy with real self-care.

Her work sits at the intersection of nervous system support, authentic market...

What if finding your creative voice wasn’t about adding more to your plate, but about slowing down, listening inward, and allowing yourself to realign with what feels true?

Britta Buchanan is the founder of Aligned and Undefined, where she helps spiritually conscious creatives reconnect with their authentic voice and creative flow.

After leaving her career as an elementary school teacher, Britta began guiding others through Human De...

What if the secret to impactful design isn’t talent or aesthetics, but responsibility to your community, the planet, and the people you’re building for?

As the co-founder of Reny, a certified B Corp agency, Ben Rennie has built his career around using design as a force for impact. The agency now works with global brands like Patagonia, Google, and Nike. But that wasn’t the starting line.

Ben started as a self-taught designer, shapin...

What if standing out means showing up fully and not shouting the loudest?

Felicia Iyamu’s creative journey has taken her from architecture and economics to Google, burnout, and back into the arms of poetry. Along the way, she’s been reflecting, writing, and reimagining what it means to live and work with purpose.

Her latest work, Poetry in Eden, explores identity, healing, and the unseen forces shaping our lives. In this episode, we ...

You ever get that gut feeling to do something wild — the kind that makes zero sense on paper but just feels right?

That’s how this Substack Live with Heather Vickery started.

Heather’s a Joy Warrior: coach, retreat host, and professional permission-giver for anyone tired of living by other people’s rules. We talked about what it means to lead with joy, why curating your circle matters, and how trusting your gut can lead you places yo...

I’m switching things up. No more intro or outros.

Just straight into the good stuff — the conversations.

Because honestly? The production side was slowing me down.

And I’ve got too many amazing people to talk to.

This new format means:

• Faster episode releases.
• More creative stories.
• Easier to share on YouTube.

Over the summer, I’ve been deep in three big projects:

• Moving to Costa Rica — adjusting to new rhythms and finding...

What if your next event didn’t have to feel overwhelming? What if it could actually be aligned, intentional—and even profitable?

Heather Black is here to show you how.

She’s the founder of Phoenix Collaborations and has spent 25 years in the event world, helping solopreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits turn events and speaking gigs into meaningful, money-making opportunities.

In this episode, Heather shares her signature S.O.P. ...

What if your next creative breakthrough doesn't come from doing more, but from doing what truly matters?

In this episode, I’m talking directly to you—the creative soul who sometimes wonders

Am I on the right path? Or worse, Am I behind?

Spoiler alert: you’re exactly where you need to be.

We’ll explore what it means to create intentionally, how to stop spinning your wheels, and how to start steering toward the life and work you actuall...

Today is my 40th birthday so I wanted to do something a little different.

I started thinking about what I’m grateful for, so I wanted to bring back the idea of my gratitude journal to celebrate.

Here are 40 things I’m deeply grateful for, broken down into themes that matter the most to me.

Personal Relationships

This is where everything starts.

• My wife, Anita — she’s my favorite person, a creative sounding board, and my bi...

What if the key to unlocking your creativity as a writer wasn't about perfection, but about embracing the messy process, taking risks, and finding support along the way?

Cynthia Morris is a writer, artist, and certified coach who has spent over two decades helping creatives finally get their ideas out of their heads and onto the page. As the founder of Original Impulse, she's guided countless writers to focus, follow through, and fi...

What if success as a creative wasn’t about being the best—but just showing up, experimenting, and giving yourself permission to start messy?

Bob Baker didn’t start out with a perfect plan or a polished resume. He was a former musician and “non-traditional” marketer who slowly found his groove by helping creatives find confidence, consistency, and clarity—without needing to go viral or wait for permission.

This episode originally aire...

What if the key to reigniting your creativity wasn't just talent, but embracing fear, experimentation, and community?

Steven Light, known as SLART, walked away from art for two decades. A single blog post reignited his passion, sparking a journey of artistic self-discovery, personal branding, and creative business growth.

Now, he's sharing the lessons he's learned about self-publishing, collaboration, and balancing art with commerce ...