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
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CHECK OUT THE LATEST EPISODES!
Everything you need to know about becoming a Live Calligraphy Artist: who to pitch, what rates to charge, and how to do an amazing job so you get hired again!
My 3 best and 3 worst moments in business, as I turn 45 and celebrate 10 years of Crooked Calligraphy
I took 2 allergy pills, passed out for most of the day... and it was still good for my business.
Time for our honest, behind-the-scenes Mid-Year Recap for this Rollercoaster Year of 2026!
From pseudo dream job to actual dream job! Join me as I chat with one of my (surprise) former student, Belle, as I learn how nursing propelled her into calligraphy, the sacrifices she made to pursue her new career path, and how her terminally ill patients inspired her to take the leap into owning her own creative business (and freaking rocking it!). If you’re ready to pursue a creative business, but fear the unknown, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
Ever wonder how people turn a calligraphy hobby into a full-time business? In this episode, I’m sharing excerpts from 3 of the business presentations happening during the “Art & Business of Modern Calligraphy Summit”. Don’t forget to join me plus 20 other speakers July 7-9, 2026 to watch ALL the art and business presentations for free!!
Fear gets the best of everyone - even me! While I might appear to be an extrovert on social media, my very introverted self has sat on a passion project for YEARS, fearing I wouldn’t bring it to fruition properly. Join me in this episode as I share the lead up to one of the biggest projects I’ve ever taken on - the Art & Business of Modern Calligraphy Summit - and why it almost didn’t happen (but luckily did, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store July 7-9, 2026!).
A personal update, proving that business isn’t meant to be linear… but you can grow as a person throughout the journey and end up loving yourself even more.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!).
In this episode, we bust the myth that clients are hiding somewhere and show you how to grow your client base by planting the right seeds through genuine, strategic outreach. You'll learn exactly who to reach out to, how to pitch without feeling sleazy, and why repeat clients might be your best-kept secret.
Join me as I sit down with Modern Calligraphy 201 Alumni Jessica Wofford - who turned her $497 investment into over $50K as a full-time luxury calligrapher.
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.
Tired of tracing the same worksheets & copying the same quotes over and over again?? You’re not alone! In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I’m breaking down why so many calligraphers get stuck in beginner mode…and the shift that helps you finally start feeling like more of a creative “pro”, and less of an “in-betweener”.
Have you ever wanted to land corporate calligraphy jobs, but had no clue where to start? In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I share my experience getting hired by corporate clients, the pro’s and con’s of working with big businesses, and what I would do as a new calligrapher in 2026 to make myself attractive to corporations and desirable to hire.
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”.
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!!).
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.
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!
In this informal episode I answer real student questions: What’s a realistic first-year income for a 5-10hr/week side hustle? Can a busy working mom really make this work? How can new calligraphers stand out and get clients?
Come join me this episode as I explain how calligraphers can go from making dollars per order to THOUSANDS per client! I explain the psychology behind package pricing, why per-piece/per-hour can make you feel interchangeable, when hourly still makes sense, and the key shift that changes everything: pricing based on value to the client, not how long it takes.