CYOP #79 - Taking Sabbaticals + Pursuing Parallel Careers with Author Karan Bajaj

Today’s guest is author Karan Bajaj. He’s written three books while being employed by various large companies and is currently the CMO of a startup. In the episode, we chat about his 4-1-4 rule (4 years working, 1 year off, 4 years working, etc.), which he uses to plan out his sabbaticals. We also dive in to the reason he feels compelled to pursue his parallel careers, his best advice to those considering a sabbatical, how his latest break inspired and allowed him to write his latest novel, why he thinks career pressure stifles creativity and much more...

CYOP #66 - Experimenting + Letting Your Career Take Time with Natalie Davis of Canoe

Today’s show brings to the home of Natalie Davis of the leather goods brand, Canoe, to chat about her career path, the growth she’s seen with her leatherworking business over the years and the magical land in which she creates—Austin, Texas. If you happen upon Natalie’s website, you may not realize that she also helps her husband with his business venture—a butcher shop and restaurant in Austin—and that up until recently, she was also a design professor. In the interview, we dive into all of her different roles and how each one feeds into her creativity in different ways...

InterviewsCreating Your Own PathDecember 10, 2015CYOP Road Trip 2015, Natalie Davis, Canoe, Leatherworking, Austin, Texas, Interview, Downloads, SouthComment

CYOP #64 - Diversifying your Work + Being Resourceful with Graffiti + Fine Artist Troy Duff

Today’s show brings me to East Nashville to chat with Graffiti and Fine Artist Troy Duff. He’s a Nashville native who has created an incredible career around his art, but he’s also worked as a model and actor—he was actually part of that iPod silhouette advertising campaign several years ago—and he created his own clothing line as well. In the interview, we talk about why Troy made the move back to Nashville after his time in Los Angeles, what it was like getting into the graffiti art scene without all of the tools and resources that are available these days and how he diversifies his work so that he is truly a working artist...

CYOP #58 - The Art of Collaboration + Understanding Your Place in the Market with Rich Arentzen of AO Glass

Today's show brings me to the Burlington, Vermont hot shop (or blown glass factory) of AO Glass to interview Owner and General manager Rich Arentzen, who has been in the glass blowing industry for decades. During the interview, I learned more about how he got started as a glass blower and just how winding his career path has been. We also talked a lot about the importance of reaching out to others—even if it’s a little scary—and why craft, community, collaboration and financial sustainability have to come together to maintain a successful business...

InterviewsCreating Your Own PathOctober 15, 2015CYOP Road Trip 2015, Burlington, Vermont, Rich Arentzen, AO Glass, Interview, Downloads, NortheastComment

CYOP #54 - Transitioning a Brand + Setting Goals with Katie Michels of Off Switch

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 with her big goals one step at a time...

InterviewsCreating Your Own PathSeptember 17, 2015CYOP Road Trip 2015, Katie Michels, Off Switch, Interview, Downloads, MidwestComment

CYOP #38 - Shifting Careers + Filling a Void with Fashion Designer Jenny Fort

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 rarely a linear exercise...

InterviewsCreating Your Own PathMay 7, 2015Creating Your Own Path 2015, Jenny Fort, Lu., Interview, Downloads, WestComment

CYOP #34 - Filmmaking + Teamwork with Ric + Jen Serena from Serena Creative + The Muir Project

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 together as a husband and wife team and why Burbank is the perfect creative hub for their work/life blend...

CYOP #25 - How to Really Shop Locally + Why our Choices Matter with Rita Mehta of The American Edit

On today's show I'm joined by Rita Mehta of The American Edit. If you're not familiar, The American Edit is one part incredible online resource for American-made products and one part retail consulting agency. Rita created the site to help highlight and celebrate American-made brands and—let me tell you—it's a wonderful resource. Listen in as we chat about Rita's background working with both large and small retailers, how she navigates the fine line between life and work, her thoughts on "shop local" campaigns and her advice for anyone looking to launch a new business...

CYOP #14 - Getting Out of Your Own Way + Creating Work that Matters with Rob Stewart from KVIE's Rob on the Road

Today's show brings me to ThinkHouse Collective to chat with Rob Stewart, host and producer of PBS shows like Rob on the Road and America's Heartland. Listen in as we chat about getting out of our own way when putting creative work out into the world, why fear is—in fact—a liar and how Rob's career path took him from TV news to public broadcasting...

CYOP #8 - Working in Public + Breaking Down Huge Projects with Artists Sofia Lacin + Hennessy Christophel

Please meet Sofia Lacin and Hennessy Christophel, everyone! These two incredibly talented gals have been hard at work making the Sacramento region a more beautiful place to live through public art. They're muralists and installation artists whose work can be seen on everything—from a four million gallon water tank in Davis, CA to smaller works inside some of Sacramento's hot spots. During the interview, we covered a lot of ground and chatted about why they love creating public art, the importance of collaborating with people whose skills complement your own and more...

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