The Unapologetic Designer Podcast

Latest Episodes:

HDS 3 - How To Stop Losing Clients to Cheaper Designers Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

Clients don’t always choose the designer with the prettiest proposal, lowest price, or biggest portfolio...they choose the one they trust.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what actually makes clients say yes, how to build trust before the sales call, and how to become the designer high ticket clients choose even when other designers charge less or have more experience than you. #hotdesignersummer

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HDS 2 - How One Post Booked Me Out For 3 Months Jun 27, 2026

Show notes

I’m breaking down the one post that booked out my design business for over three months and why it had nothing to do with posting more. The truth is, more content isn’t always the answer. Better messaging is.

I’m sharing what made this post convert so well, how it created a “wait… that’s me” moment for my audience, and why designers need to stop posting just to stay visible and start creating content that actually builds demand.

You’ll learn how to turn everyday moments into powerful content ideas, how to make your dream clients feel seen, and why your visuals should support your message... not carry the entire post.

Plus, I’m giving you a simple exercise to create your next intentional post! #hotdesignersummer

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

HDS 1 - How To Have A Hot Designer Summer Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

We’re kicking off Hot Designer Summer meaning over the next 10 weeks I am going to be in your ear helping you become the booked out designer everyone won’t shut up about.

If you’re ready to get visible this season, this series is for you.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Social Butterfly Club (Marketing Membership For Designers)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Six Ways 9-5 Jobs Poison Graphic Designers (who want their own business) May 25, 2026

Show notes

For most creatives, the voice in their head guiding their hesitations, fears, and decisions has actually been created by a 9-5 job.

That's how they end up saying "I want a successful design business" for 5 years with little to no progress... because every decision is still being filtered through fear, safety, approval, and the need for a guaranteed outcome.

At some point, the only way things change is by being willing to bet on yourself, take calculated risks, and slowly let go of the safety net that's been keeping you mentally stuck in the same place.

In this episode, I dive into the six most common ways 9-5 jobs create limiting beliefs in your mind that hold you back from pursuing your goals.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Resilience Booked Her First $10K Client (Not Another Strategy) May 01, 2026

Show notes

Andrea went from charging $800 to booking a $10,700 client within a year but it wasn’t a straight path. Her journey was full of pivots, investments, doubt, self-work, and showing up even when nothing seemed to be working.

This episode is about what it actually looks like to find your purpose… and the discipline it takes to stick with it long before the results catch up.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creative Director Breaks Down Print, Campaigns, and the Psychology Behind Ads Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

I sat down with Erika, Creative Director and CEO of Erika Maram, where she leads editorial design, creative direction, photography, and high-level campaign work. We dive into her journey from working with Goss Magazine to being on set with female astronauts, and how she’s built long-term client relationships in an industry that’s constantly evolving.

This episode breaks down the strategy, storytelling, and trust behind timeless work.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Why This Brand Strategist Charges a Fee for Public Feedback Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

I sit down with Naoma Serna-Zahn, brand strategist and principal behind Nuevo, to talk about the realities of high-level brand work.

We also get into:

Why public feedback can derail a branding project
The difference between brand strategy vs. visual design
How Naoma attracts B2B clients with projects starting around $18.5K
The different ways we each generate clients
What masterminds actually make sense depending on your dream clients

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How Much It Actually Costs to Host a Design Retreat Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

Everyone sees the aesthetic photos, curated dinners, and the dreamy locations… but no one talks about what it actually costs to host a design retreat.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the real numbers behind our retreat from venue and accommodations to marketing, experiences, and the unexpected expenses that add up fast.

If you’ve ever thought about hosting your own retreat, or you’re wondering why high-end experiences are priced the way they are...this episode will completely shift your perspective.

ATTEND SCALING SUMMIT RETREAT

Fixing Real Designer's Posts (Why They Aren’t Getting Clients) Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

I’m fixing real posts from designers inside our marketing membership and showing you exactly why they weren’t converting to clients… and what we changed to make them work.

A lot of designers are posting consistently, putting in the effort… and still not getting inquiries.

And it’s not the algorithm.

It’s how the content is built.

I walk through 3 real examples and break down: what’s not working, what’s missing, and how to fix it using emotional pull, storytelling, and actual buyer psychology (not just “post more” advice).

You’ll literally see the difference between a post that gets ignored… and one that can actually book a client.

YouTube Version Of This Episode

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She booked 80 design clients last year (these are her secrets) Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Have you seen the designer on Threads posting her $20K monthly roundups and a number of client projects most designers only dream about?

Today I'm sitting down with Rachel for an hour-long conversation about how she is hitting consistent high cash months, booking 80 + clients in a year, and what she’s actually doing behind the scenes to make it happen.

We get into how she markets, how she positions herself, what changed in her mindset, and the non-obvious decisions that have played a huge role in her growth.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Brief Collective Design Biz Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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