The Maker's Playbook - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Ep 613: Where Are They Now with Kara Leigh Ford Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

As an avid podcast listener, long before I ever started this show, I was always curious about what had happened to entrepreneurs and small business owners after the interview was over. was everything still working the way they described during that interview or had things changed? On this "Where Are They Now" series, we answer that very question of some of our past podcast guests. This week, I'm sitting back down again with Kara Leigh Ford to discuss all that's changed since I last spoke with her back in January of 2021. Since then, her husband has left his corporate job to pursue his own passions, which has shifted the demands of Kara's business into being the primary source of economic support for their household. Through strategic pivots—balancing pottery-making, teaching, Patreon content, and publishing two books—Kara has discovered that success isn't always about exponential growth but intentional choices that protect joy and wellbeing. Their household has not only survived this transition but found new equilibrium, with Tom now signed to a record label and Kara experiencing greater clarity about her priorities as a maker. This chat with Kara is a great reminder that the true measure of success isn't necessarily constant expansion, but rather designing a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

Looking for more support in trying to figure out how to be create your own unique version of a creative life? The Community is the place to be. With now over 100 makers from all over the world, The Community is where you can dive deeper into any of the topics we’ve started talking about here on the podcast. Whether it’s the debate back on episode #509 about choosing between Etsy or your own website, or trying to sort out what type of side-hustle or full-time business works for your own personal life after hearing so many different kind of stories here on the podcast, if you’ve been listening along and find yourself wishing for more at the end of an episode, The Community is that more. Learn about more of the perks of membership by visiting makersplaybook.com/community or send me a message and I can put you in touch with one of our members to get an insider’s perspective.

Resources in this Episode:
Kara's Instagram

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 612: Being Your Own Boss with Amy Brummond of Pine Zen Potter Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

As makers transitioning from hobby to business, we often forget the most powerful perk of self-employment: you're the boss who makes the rules, not just the employee doing all the work. What if setting clear boundaries, creating a sustainable schedule, and giving yourself permission to evolve creatively are actually your responsibilities as a good boss to yourself? As Amy Brummond shares her journey of artistic evolution, we see how honoring her creative restlessness not only reignited her passion but actually strengthened her business when customers responded enthusiastically to her new work. Could the courage to follow your changing creative voice—even when it means risking established success—be what ultimately creates the sustainable making practice that allows you to thrive both creatively and financially?

Looking for more support in trying to figure out how to be your own boss? The Community is the place to be. With now over 100 makers from all over the world, The Community is where you can dive deeper into any of the topics we’ve started talking about here on the podcast. Whether it’s the debate back on episode #509 about choosing between Etsy or your own website, or trying to sort out what type of side-hustle or full-time business works for your own personal life after hearing so many different kind of stories here on the podcast, if you’ve been listening along and find yourself wishing for more at the end of an episode, The Community is that more. Learn about more of the perks of membership by visiting makersplaybook.com/community or send me a message and I can put you in touch with one of our members to get an insider’s perspective.

Resources in this Episode:
Amys' Instagram

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 611: When Things Need to Change with Megan Sward Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

Most of us dream of turning our craft into a thriving business, but what happens when achieving "the dream" — the large following, sold-out shop updates, and steady sales — still doesn't translate into a sustainable living? When former full-time potter Megan Sward faced this reality, she discovered that the gap between making work you love and building a viable business involves far more than just mastering your craft. What if the key to longevity isn't just about making better pots, but about developing a clear strategy for everything from production methods to pricing to self-care? The surprising truth is that thoughtful planning and honest self-assessment may matter more than pure creative talent when it comes to building a sustainable making practice.

Resources in this Episode:
Megans' Instagram

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 610: Business is... Boring? Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

There is an underlying current of anxiety about keeping up with the latest trends and strategies, especially when it comes to running your business online (and even more especially when it comes to social media). But what if the real secret to success isn't about chasing every new thing, but rather embracing the "boring" parts of business? Trying every new trending strategy often leads to scattered efforts and minimal results, not to mention most definitely leads to burn out. Embracing the boredom of consistency and repetition however, while perhaps not as exciting as the latest viral strategy, are often the key ingredients to building a sustainable creative business. And giving yourself permission to be boring might just be the most revolutionary thing you can do, not only for your business, but for your life.

For a similar conversation check out episode 313 on the Myth of Growth.

Want to keep this conversation going? Come join the over 100 fellow makers from all around the world inside of The Community!

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 609: Where are They Now? - Restarting through Trauma with Sarah Wells Rolland Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

When I last spoke with Sarah Wells Rolland, The Village Potters in Asheville, North Carolina was 13 years into it’s incredible, communal existence. And frankly (at least from my perspective) was a well oiled machine. With a residency program, community classes, a gallery, and 17 kilns it wasn’t on my short list wondering “gee, I wonder where they are now?” That is, until Hurricane Helene hit. And absolutely everything changed.

Introducing: Where are They Now? A new series on The Maker's Playbook podcast where we check back in with past guests to see where this journey of making a living from the things they make has taken them.

The Village Potter's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b08bbe30

Sarah's Instagram: @sarahwellsrolland

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 608: The $20 Mug with Isaac Shue Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

The ways in which our decisions in life are so interconnected it feels endless. The same is equally true in business, especially a ceramics business. And there's no way you stay in business, as a fully self-employed household with kiddos, while offering a $20 mug without thinking through all of that interconnectedness. My chat with Isaac Shue on this week's episode perfectly highlights how every step of our making process can also inform the endless steps of our small business (or side-hustle).
Resources in this Episode:
Isaac's Instagram

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

EP 607: Financial Systems with Seanin Rosario Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

When it comes to the topic of money, for many of us, it stirs up less than happy feelings. But in many ways, money is just data. Yes, it has an outsized effect on our lives and the decisions we do (or can) make, and that’s annoying as stepping on Legos. But, as much as we can feel a variety of emotions around money, finances are actually just neutral data points for us to track, recognize, and use to make decisions. In this conversation with part-time potter and full-time finance professional, Seanin Rosario, we talk about the basics of some immediate, quick actions you can take to get your side-hustle or small business finances more organized and how to at least start tracking your income and expenses.
Resources in this Episode:
Seanin's Instagram
If you're looking for more support in building your own Financial System, join us inside of The Community for a custom Masterclass with Seanin. Learn more and join by visiting makersplaybook.com/community

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 606: Not your usual year end recap {The Launch} Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

I had thought this solo episode would be some nice big grandiose end of year recap for you. I also, had intended it to actually air in 2024, but alas… here we are, kicking off 2025 with it. The plan was lists of what worked and what didn’t in our ceramics business this year and a nice, reflected wrap-it-all-up and make-it-make-sense so you can apply the lessons we learned to your own life in whatever way works for you. The kind of thing you perhaps have come to expect from these Launch episodes. But... that’s not exactly what this episode is going to be...

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 605: Finding Your Niche with Sue McLeod Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

A self-described “failed production potter” Sue McLeod still very much makes her living from ceramics. Yet, she doesn’t make her living from actually making pots… As is true with any industry, we often forget just how many different supporting and tangentially related sub-topics and professions there are available to us. And, at least for me, when we start to see those, a whole myriad of options opens up to how we just might make this crazy dream - of making a living from the things we make - actually work.
Resources in this Episode:
Sue's Instagram

The next 6 months is the make it or break it time for the Maker’s Playbook! Please consider supporting the creation of this show by becoming a sustaining member. Click here to make a contribution of whatever amount you are comfortable.

The Maker’s Photography Styling System is coming back in 2025! Get on the waitlist by clicking here.

Check out Sue’s Glaze Classes here: suemcleodceramics.com

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Ep 604: Working with Intention with Bill Schwenzer of Aliveguy Pottery Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

Described as the most supportive guy on the internet by numerous people, today’s interview with Bill Schwenzer feels long overdue. Better known as Aliveguy Pottery, we talk about his career transition from corporate quality control to clay, his commitment to thoughtful encouragement online and his unique approach to delayed gratification all while continuing to push himself outside of his comfort zone and not get too bogged down in analyzing.
Resources in this Episode:
Bill's Instagram

The podcast needs your help! Please consider making a one-time or recurring donation to support the continuing creation of this show by visiting makersplaybook.com/podcast-support. Thank you so much in advance!

---

Looking for support in building your own creative life? Come join over 100 other makers from around the world, having these very discussions, inside of The Community. Click here to learn more.

---

Love this podcast? Support an episode!
Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Maker’s Playbook

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected