Together with cofounder Polina Veksler, Alexandra Waldman created Universal Standard in 2015 to obliterate the dividing line of size—a style barrier which often determines who has the privilege and freedom to dress with quality and style. Starting with the premise that clothes should look and feel good on everyone, Alex and Polina set out to design a line of contemporary, elevated essentials for all women and allow a size 2 and a size 32 to shop in the same way – using style as the only filter. Available in sizes 00 to 40, Universal Standard is currently the most inclusive brand in the entire world. This week Alexandra Waldman sits down with The Creative Muscle Podcast to discuss the meaning of clothes, who pays the price for fast fashion, and the role of fearlessness in generous creativity.

Together with cofounder Polina Veksler, Alexandra Waldman created Universal Standard in 2015 to obliterate the dividing line of size—a style barrier which often determines who has the privilege and freedom to dress with quality and style. Starting with the premise that clothes should look and feel good on everyone, Alex and Polina set out to design a line of contemporary, elevated essentials for all women and allow a size 2 and a size 32 to shop in the same way – using style as the only filter. Available in sizes 00 to 40, Universal Standard is currently the most inclusive brand in the entire world. This week Alexandra Waldman sits down with The Creative Muscle Podcast to discuss the meaning of clothes, who pays the price for fast fashion, and the role of fearlessness in generous creativity.

Universal Standard Brings Elevated Fashion to All Bodies

Imagine you co-found something enormous and culture-shaping like, say, Kickstarter. Where do you go from there? How do you decide what to do next? Charles Adler is a designer and technologist who has dedicated his life to accelerating the creative work of others. In 2009, he co-founded Kickstarter, which has been catalyst to Academy Award-winning films, National Design Award-winning products, launched a satellite, created over 300,000 jobs, and distributed over $3.0 billion to creators across every continent. On this week’s episode of The Creative Muscle Podcast, Charles Adler discusses his process for determining what to create next, how to test your ideas, and the definition of terms you may not have heard before: “the ugly baby moment” and “flaneur.” You don’t want to miss this insightful interview! Note: Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode for an important announcement.

Imagine you co-found something enormous and culture-shaping like, say, Kickstarter. Where do you go from there? How do you decide what to do next? Charles Adler is a designer and technologist who has dedicated his life to accelerating the creative work of others. In 2009, he co-founded Kickstarter, which has been catalyst to Academy Award-winning films, National Design Award-winning products, launched a satellite, created over 300,000 jobs, and distributed over $3.0 billion to creators across every continent. On this week’s episode of The Creative Muscle Podcast, Charles Adler discusses his process for determining what to create next, how to test your ideas, and the definition of terms you may not have heard before: “the ugly baby moment” and “flaneur.” You don’t want to miss this insightful interview! Note: Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode for an important announcement.

How the Co-Founder of Kickstarted Decided What to Do Next

Peter Dunn

As we prepare to enter the third decade of the 21st century, fewer people than ever are working in traditional offices. Many of us do our work in coffee shops, airports, hotel rooms, on-location with clients, in co-working spaces, on trains and everywhere in between. We need to be able to fit our entire office into a bag. Peter Dunn spotted this trend from a mile away and created Topdrawer, a store that offers quality “Tools for Nomads” so people can do their best work wherever they are, using sustainably-made products that reduce landfill waste. Peter joined the Creative Muscle podcast to talk about the analog revolution, what our consumption habits are doing to the planet, and why gratitude is the key to everything. You don’t want to miss it!

As we prepare to enter the third decade of the 21st century, fewer people than ever are working in traditional offices. Many of us do our work in coffee shops, airports, hotel rooms, on-location with clients, in co-working spaces, on trains and everywhere in between. We need to be able to fit our entire office into a bag. Peter Dunn spotted this trend from a mile away and created Topdrawer, a store that offers quality “Tools for Nomads” so people can do their best work wherever they are, using sustainably-made products that reduce landfill waste. Peter joined the Creative Muscle podcast to talk about the analog revolution, what our consumption habits are doing to the planet, and why gratitude is the key to everything. You don’t want to miss it!

Peter Dunn Helps People Do Good Work On-the-Go

Six years ago Sarah Azzouzi and Kyla Embrey started a locally-owned, woman-owned and minority-owned small business called Lost Girls Vintage, a pop-up shop operating out of a 1976 Dodge RV Camper (and now a brick-and-mortar store in West Town), selling vintage clothing they source themselves. Their collection runs the gamut from Victorian garments to pieces any Spice Girl would be proud of, and everything in between. And the thing that ties it together is that they only sell what they love. They joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about owning your identity, giving others permission to express themselves, and the importance of starting before you know what you’re doing. Added bonus: take a listen to find out which Spice Girl Nathan Michael dressed up as in high school. :)

Six years ago Sarah Azzouzi and Kyla Embrey started a locally-owned, woman-owned and minority-owned small business called Lost Girls Vintage, a pop-up shop operating out of a 1976 Dodge RV Camper (and now a brick-and-mortar store in West Town), selling vintage clothing they source themselves. Their collection runs the gamut from Victorian garments to pieces any Spice Girl would be proud of, and everything in between. And the thing that ties it together is that they only sell what they love. They joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about owning your identity, giving others permission to express themselves, and the importance of starting before you know what you’re doing. Added bonus: take a listen to find out which Spice Girl Nathan Michael dressed up as in high school. :)

Two Lost Girls, One RV, and the Wild World of Vintage

So many people go into creative work because they want to make something that will be noticed or make an impression. But what about the kind of creativity that's meant to blend in with our everyday life? Industrial and product design is usually a success when we barely notice the way it seamlessly flows into our lifestyle. Providing alternatives to single-use plastic, Ello creates eco-friendly glassware products that are affordable, accessible and beautiful. They partner with a non-profit called H2OpenDoors, selling their products to raise money for a solar-powered water system in Kenya that will become the foundation for a women-run social enterprise. Director of Design Glen Gilmore and Director of Social Impact/Senior Industrial Designer Micaela McCabe joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about channeling your passion for social impact into meaningful work, how to vet partners, and why you should run your ideas by non-experts.

So many people go into creative work because they want to make something that will be noticed or make an impression. But what about the kind of creativity that's meant to blend in with our everyday life? Industrial and product design is usually a success when we barely notice the way it seamlessly flows into our lifestyle. Providing alternatives to single-use plastic, Ello creates eco-friendly glassware products that are affordable, accessible and beautiful. They partner with a non-profit called H2OpenDoors, selling their products to raise money for a solar-powered water system in Kenya that will become the foundation for a women-run social enterprise. Director of Design Glen Gilmore and Director of Social Impact/Senior Industrial Designer Micaela McCabe joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about channeling your passion for social impact into meaningful work, how to vet partners, and why you should run your ideas by non-experts.

Ello Combats Single-Use Plastic With Style

Do all craft brewery taprooms have to be industrial spaces with loud music blasting over guys drinking hoppy beers at tables made of reclaimed wood? Samantha Lee thinks not. She is the co-founder of Hopewell Brewing, a remarkable craft brewery in Logan Square, Chicago, known not only for its accessible beers, but also for the bright, welcoming design of its taproom, and generous, hospitable presence in the community. She joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about pink beer, living wages, and why your business plan doesn’t need to be 30 pages long.

Do all craft brewery taprooms have to be industrial spaces with loud music blasting over guys drinking hoppy beers at tables made of reclaimed wood? Samantha Lee thinks not. She is the co-founder of Hopewell Brewing, a remarkable craft brewery in Logan Square, Chicago, known not only for its accessible beers, but also for the bright, welcoming design of its taproom, and generous, hospitable presence in the community. She joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about pink beer, living wages, and why your business plan doesn’t need to be 30 pages long.

There Is No “I” in Beer

Nick Sandys

In many operas and plays you see characters get stabbed, shot or killed in a fight. Or course, no one’s really dying or getting hurt, but it has to look like they are. That’s where Nick Sandys comes in. Nick is a certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. His award-winning choreographed violence has been seen on Broadway in Steppenwolf's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, and all over Chicago, including 25 productions at Goodman Theatre and over 50 operas at Lyric Opera of Chicago. He gave The Creative Muscle Podcast a powerful masterclass on being a polymath, how to network through generosity, how to fund your creative habit, and the unexpected ways in which thoughtful, well-staged violence can save the human race.

In many operas and plays you see characters get stabbed, shot or killed in a fight. Or course, no one’s really dying or getting hurt, but it has to look like they are. That’s where Nick Sandys comes in. Nick is a certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors. His award-winning choreographed violence has been seen on Broadway in Steppenwolf's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, and all over Chicago, including 25 productions at Goodman Theatre and over 50 operas at Lyric Opera of Chicago. He gave The Creative Muscle Podcast a powerful masterclass on being a polymath, how to network through generosity, how to fund your creative habit, and the unexpected ways in which thoughtful, well-staged violence can save the human race.

Lyric Opera Fight Choreographer Nick Sandys Makes Violence Look Real...for the Good of the World 

It’s no secret that there are astonishingly high levels of gun violence in Chicago, particularly among young people. Could creativity be part of the solution? Project Fire is an artist development employment program that offers healing through glassblowing. They’re a dauntless band of therapists, social workers and artists who combine glass arts education, mentoring, and psychoeducation to support trauma recovery and create jobs for youth injured by gun violence in Chicago. Psychologist Bradley Stolbach, PhD, glass artist Pearl Dick and trauma specialist Brittney Autry joined us in the studio to talk about processing emotions through art, failing safely, and the importance of adaptability.

It’s no secret that there are astonishingly high levels of gun violence in Chicago, particularly among young people. Could creativity be part of the solution? Project Fire is an artist development employment program that offers healing through glassblowing. They’re a dauntless band of therapists, social workers and artists who combine glass arts education, mentoring, and psychoeducation to support trauma recovery and create jobs for youth injured by gun violence in Chicago. Psychologist Bradley Stolbach, PhD, glass artist Pearl Dick and trauma specialist Brittney Autry joined us in the studio to talk about processing emotions through art, failing safely, and the importance of adaptability.

A Gunshot Victim, an Artist, and a Psychologist Walk Into a Glassblowing Studio

Victor Saad

If you want to learn and grow, do you have to go back to school and get a Master’s Degree? Victor Saad designed his own Master’s by completing 12 projects in 12 months. He called it The Leap Year Project and his experiences culminated with staging his own graduation at a local TEDx and publishing a book of stories focused on the power of learning through risk. He later launched Experience Institute, a program for college students and career professionals to learn and grow through short-term, real-world experiences. In 2015, he was inducted into Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in the field of education. In 2017 he joined the team at Stanford’s School of Engineering as a Lecturer in Design. This week he joins The Creative Muscle to talk about how to expand your comfort zone, how to keep a learner’s mindset, and how to decide what to do next.

If you want to learn and grow, do you have to go back to school and get a Master’s Degree? Victor Saad designed his own Master’s by completing 12 projects in 12 months. He called it The Leap Year Project and his experiences culminated with staging his own graduation at a local TEDx and publishing a book of stories focused on the power of learning through risk. He later launched Experience Institute, a program for college students and career professionals to learn and grow through short-term, real-world experiences. In 2015, he was inducted into Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in the field of education. In 2017 he joined the team at Stanford’s School of Engineering as a Lecturer in Design. This week he joins The Creative Muscle to talk about how to expand your comfort zone, how to keep a learner’s mindset, and how to decide what to do next.

Victor Saad Took the Leap

Teri Turner

If you’re freaked out by a recipe with more than ten ingredients, if you don’t know what to make for dinner tomorrow, if you’re ready to take your cooking game to the next level, Teri Turner is here for you. She is a master collaborator, blogger, food columnist, regular contributor to Whole30 and editor @thefeedfeed. In anticipation of her new cookbook No Crumbs Left (coming out May 21st!), she joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about the trouble with truffles, the importance of exploration, generosity, moxie, marinated onions, and not diluting yourself to become palatable to others.

If you’re freaked out by a recipe with more than ten ingredients, if you don’t know what to make for dinner tomorrow, if you’re ready to take your cooking game to the next level, Teri Turner is here for you. She is a master collaborator, blogger, food columnist, regular contributor to Whole30 and editor @thefeedfeed. In anticipation of her new cookbook No Crumbs Left (coming out May 21st!), she joined The Creative Muscle Podcast to talk about the trouble with truffles, the importance of exploration, generosity, moxie, marinated onions, and not diluting yourself to become palatable to others.

Teri Turner Wants No Crumbs Left On Your Plate

Creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the more it grows. We’re here to debunk the myth that creativity is JUST for artists: it’s not, it’s for everyone. Each episode, through various interviews, discussions and performances, hosts Nathan Michael, Jonny Mendez, Jon Guerra, Valerie Guerra, and Dan Sumpter take you on a deep dive into the process of channeling your creativity to make a better life for yourself and the world around you.

Creative Muscle has kept me going as a freelancer. Literally the only podcast I listen to and I often tell others about it. I feel like I’ve had supportive friends along my journey!

Creative Muscle Podcast

Interesting topics, great guests and amazing hosts.

One of my favorites

The Creative Muscle

What should you do when no one’s hiring you to do the kind of work you want to do? How do you find the balance between creating things that make money vs. the things you personally love and want to see? This week the co-hosts of the Creative Muscle sort through interesting and important questions about navigating passion projects, how to be present to your “yes” when accepting an opportunity, knowing when it’s time to make a change, and thinking intentionally about the three forms of payment: money, experience, and influence.

What should you do when no one’s hiring you to do the kind of work you want to do? How do you find the balance between creating things that make money vs. the things you personally love and want to see? This week the co-hosts of the Creative Muscle sort through interesting and important questions about navigating passion projects, how to be present to your “yes” when accepting an opportunity, knowing when it’s time to make a change, and thinking intentionally about the three forms of payment: money, experience, and influence.

Hire Yourself

Audrey Assad

Audrey Assad is the daughter of a Syrian refugee, an author, speaker, producer, and critically lauded songwriter and musician. She releases music she calls "soundtracks for prayer" on the label Fortunate Fall Records, which she co-owns with her husband. She is also one half of the pop duo LEVV, whose debut EP peaked at #17 on the iTunes Alternative chart. In her interview with The Creative Muscle, she discusses the relationship between art and commerce, faith and doubt, trauma and the body, sexism in the music industry, catharsis, and the discipline of stillness.

Audrey Assad is the daughter of a Syrian refugee, an author, speaker, producer, and critically lauded songwriter and musician. She releases music she calls "soundtracks for prayer" on the label Fortunate Fall Records, which she co-owns with her husband. She is also one half of the pop duo LEVV, whose debut EP peaked at #17 on the iTunes Alternative chart. In her interview with The Creative Muscle, she discusses the relationship between art and commerce, faith and doubt, trauma and the body, sexism in the music industry, catharsis, and the discipline of stillness.

Interview: Audrey Assad

Seth Godin

In this week's episode, author, entrepreneur and marketer Seth Godin exposes the cultural systems and societal pressures that keep everyday people from being creative. Godin draws upon decades of experience and critical thinking to unspool the power and possibility of the connection economy, offering exciting advice for habits and useful practices to overcome the resistance so many would-be creators feel when setting out to make something new. Don't miss this opportunity to hear one of the most influential voices of our time discuss technology, generosity, emotional labor, and so much more. We were floored, and know that you will be, too!

In this week's episode, author, entrepreneur and marketer Seth Godin exposes the cultural systems and societal pressures that keep everyday people from being creative. Godin draws upon decades of experience and critical thinking to unspool the power and possibility of the connection economy, offering exciting advice for habits and useful practices to overcome the resistance so many would-be creators feel when setting out to make something new. Don't miss this opportunity to hear one of the most influential voices of our time discuss technology, generosity, emotional labor, and so much more. We were floored, and know that you will be, too!

Interview: Seth Godin - Pt. 1

Jason Peterson

Maybe you have a creative side hustle and you aren't sure if you should tell your employer about it. Well, this week's guest won't hire you if you DON'T have a side hustle. Jason Peterson is the Chief Creative Officer of Havas, an award-winning global advertising company. He has over a million followers on Instagram, and he thinks you should listen to millennials.

Maybe you have a creative side hustle and you aren't sure if you should tell your employer about it. Well, this week's guest won't hire you if you DON'T have a side hustle. Jason Peterson is the Chief Creative Officer of Havas, an award-winning global advertising company. He has over a million followers on Instagram, and he thinks you should listen to millennials.

Interview: Jason Peterson - Havas

Amy Grant

Signed to a label just few weeks before her 16th birthday, iconic pop legend Amy Grant has sold 30 million albums worldwide, earned 6 Grammy Awards, 22 Dove Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even after all that, she tells the Creative Muscle that she thinks her talents are only average. Take a listen as Amy unpacks the power of a curious mind, the interconnectedness of all things, the importance of playfulness in making art, and why you should do the thing you're most afraid of.

Signed to a label just few weeks before her 16th birthday, iconic pop legend Amy Grant has sold 30 million albums worldwide, earned 6 Grammy Awards, 22 Dove Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even after all that, she tells the Creative Muscle that she thinks her talents are only average. Take a listen as Amy unpacks the power of a curious mind, the interconnectedness of all things, the importance of playfulness in making art, and why you should do the thing you're most afraid of.

Interview: Amy Grant

Jeni Britton Bauer

Another James Beard Award-winning author and entrepreneur, Jeni Britton Bauer has been making splendid ice creams for the past two decades. Combining her love of physical work, her background in art school and her serious hobbies of blending perfumes and collecting essential oils, Jeni single-handedly sparked the birth of the artisan ice cream movement in 2002 and continues to innovate to this day. Jeni has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in the business world. You might be thinking, "But what about the listeria thing?" Oh yeah, we go there. And so does she, all with incredible insight, vulnerability and industry-standard-setting transparency. Take a listen, to get your tastebuds tingling and your creative mind churning.

Another James Beard Award-winning author and entrepreneur, Jeni Britton Bauer has been making splendid ice creams for the past two decades. Combining her love of physical work, her background in art school and her serious hobbies of blending perfumes and collecting essential oils, Jeni single-handedly sparked the birth of the artisan ice cream movement in 2002 and continues to innovate to this day. Jeni has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in the business world. You might be thinking, "But what about the listeria thing?" Oh yeah, we go there. And so does she, all with incredible insight, vulnerability and industry-standard-setting transparency. Take a listen, to get your tastebuds tingling and your creative mind churning.

Interview: Jeni Britton Bauer - Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

It's 2018, and we're back with a special episode on New Beginnings! Featuring three mini-interviews with people who are using creativity to move forward through grief and turn their trauma into something beautiful. You'll hear from a former Bhutanese refugee, an 18-year-old who started his own non-profit, and a young widow using art to process her tragedy. Take a listen to start your year off right with stories of forging ahead, making a difference, and choosing gratitude.

It's 2018, and we're back with a special episode on New Beginnings! Featuring three mini-interviews with people who are using creativity to move forward through grief and turn their trauma into something beautiful. You'll hear from a former Bhutanese refugee, an 18-year-old who started his own non-profit, and a young widow using art to process her tragedy. Take a listen to start your year off right with stories of forging ahead, making a difference, and choosing gratitude.

Kicking Off 2018: New Beginnings

Creative people are not forged in a vacuum. All of us have been shaped by important relationships that set us on a course for the creative life or tried to steer us in another direction or maybe even some alchemy of the two. Debuting an exciting new occasional format for the show, the hosts discuss the interplay and influence of relationships on creativity from parents to significant others to friends. We all need relationships in order to thrive and be healthy, and this episode offers some tips on how to harmonize the important people in your life with your mission as a creative person.

Creative people are not forged in a vacuum. All of us have been shaped by important relationships that set us on a course for the creative life or tried to steer us in another direction or maybe even some alchemy of the two. Debuting an exciting new occasional format for the show, the hosts discuss the interplay and influence of relationships on creativity from parents to significant others to friends. We all need relationships in order to thrive and be healthy, and this episode offers some tips on how to harmonize the important people in your life with your mission as a creative person.

Group Discussion: Creativity and Relationships

Maxwell Ryan

What, exactly, is an apartment therapist? Is that a thing? This week, in a surprisingly moving interview with Maxwell Ryan, the founder and CEO of Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, we learn about the definition of home, the effect of warm and cool colors on your psyche, how to adjust your living space to suit your life stage, how to manage clutter, and just how many light sources you need in each room. Everyone wants to know how to transform their space without breaking the bank, and it can take a lot creativity to figure it out how to do that. We're here to help guide you through it!

What, exactly, is an apartment therapist? Is that a thing? This week, in a surprisingly moving interview with Maxwell Ryan, the founder and CEO of Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, we learn about the definition of home, the effect of warm and cool colors on your psyche, how to adjust your living space to suit your life stage, how to manage clutter, and just how many light sources you need in each room. Everyone wants to know how to transform their space without breaking the bank, and it can take a lot creativity to figure it out how to do that. We're here to help guide you through it!

Interview: Maxwell Ryan - Apartment Therapy

Steven Dyme

A lot of people have developed their skills and passions into successful careers that bring satisfaction and profit. But what if businesses could be more than just profitable? What if they could play a bigger and more meaningful role in the world? Flowers for Dreams CEO Steven Dyme has built a socially conscious company that not only brings smiles to the faces of people receiving flowers delivered by bicycle, but also contributes to the greater good by donating a quarter of their profits to amazing local charities. With hand-written notes accompanying the bouquets, blooms sustainably sourced from local farmers, and the all-around good vibes that come from working hard at something that benefits the community, Steven’s story is a case study in profit and purpose working together. He sat down with the Creative Muscle team to discuss the value of starting out with no money, the importance of tackling one thing at a time, and why some businesses choose to be great instead of big.

A lot of people have developed their skills and passions into successful careers that bring satisfaction and profit. But what if businesses could be more than just profitable? What if they could play a bigger and more meaningful role in the world? Flowers for Dreams CEO Steven Dyme has built a socially conscious company that not only brings smiles to the faces of people receiving flowers delivered by bicycle, but also contributes to the greater good by donating a quarter of their profits to amazing local charities. With hand-written notes accompanying the bouquets, blooms sustainably sourced from local farmers, and the all-around good vibes that come from working hard at something that benefits the community, Steven’s story is a case study in profit and purpose working together. He sat down with the Creative Muscle team to discuss the value of starting out with no money, the importance of tackling one thing at a time, and why some businesses choose to be great instead of big.

Steven Dyme Thinks Flowers Can Do More Than Just Make You Smile

James McLaughlin

James McLaughlin didn't happen upon a job posting on CareerBuilder.com or wait around for a position to open up at the coffee company he admired most. He made the first move, cold-sent an email to Intelligentsia explaining why he wanted to work for them, got hired, and eventually became the CEO. He sat down to talk with the Creative Muscle about finding a company whose mission you believe in, why prioritizing quality over quantity pays off, and how coffee is a seasonal product. Who knew? Prepare to get a caffeine buzz just by listening...

James McLaughlin didn't happen upon a job posting on <a href="http://careerbuilder.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CareerBuilder.com</a> or wait around for a position to open up at the coffee company he admired most. He made the first move, cold-sent an email to Intelligentsia explaining why he wanted to work for them, got hired, and eventually became the CEO. He sat down to talk with the Creative Muscle about finding a company whose mission you believe in, why prioritizing quality over quantity pays off, and how coffee is a seasonal product. Who knew? Prepare to get a caffeine buzz just by listening...

Interview: James McLaughlin - Intelligentsia

Ok, we can’t avoid it any longer. It’s time to talk about the F word. Probably not the one you’re thinking of. We’re finally broaching the dreaded topic of...finances. Specifically, the Top 5 Financial Mistakes Freelancers Make. Why is it so taboo to talk about money? Why is there so much shame around what is or isn’t in our bank accounts, especially for people in creative fields? This week the Creative Muscle hosts get vulnerable and open up about their failures and mistakes, tips and tricks, and things they wish they’d known when they first went freelance. Don’t bury your head in the sand! Instead, listen to this episode to wise up about zero-sum budgets, tax write-offs, pricing yourself accurately, subscription audits, saving for retirement, and why it’s never too early to start being generous.

Ok, we can’t avoid it any longer. It’s time to talk about the F word. Probably not the one you’re thinking of. We’re finally broaching the dreaded topic of...finances. Specifically, the Top 5 Financial Mistakes Freelancers Make. Why is it so taboo to talk about money? Why is there so much shame around what is or isn’t in our bank accounts, especially for people in creative fields? This week the Creative Muscle hosts get vulnerable and open up about their failures and mistakes, tips and tricks, and things they wish they’d known when they first went freelance. Don’t bury your head in the sand! Instead, listen to this episode to wise up about zero-sum budgets, tax write-offs, pricing yourself accurately, subscription audits, saving for retirement, and why it’s never too early to start being generous.

The F Word

Do plumbers get plumber's block? Is a banana hemp shake with cashew milk the key to creativity? In Part 2 of our discussion with extraordinary author and entrepreneur Seth Godin, he cracks open a few more mysteries of the universe, such as the definition of emotional labor and the difference between a job and a vocation. Plus he includes some incredible anecdotes about Stephen King, Aaron Sorkin, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Isaac Asimov. Take a listen!

Do plumbers get plumber's block? Is a banana hemp shake with cashew milk the key to creativity? In Part 2 of our discussion with extraordinary author and entrepreneur Seth Godin, he cracks open a few more mysteries of the universe, such as the definition of emotional labor and the difference between a job and a vocation. Plus he includes some incredible anecdotes about Stephen King, Aaron Sorkin, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Isaac Asimov. Take a listen!

Interview: Seth Godin - Pt. 2

Jonathan Neman

Every day, Jonathan Neman and his friends asked themselves the same question: "What are we going to eat?" They felt limited by the options available, so they took things into their own hands and started Sweetgreen, a fast casual phenomenon that has received accolades from The Washington Post, USA Today, Food &amp; Wine, Forbes, Bloomberg, CBS, and more. Jonathan sat down with the Creative Muscle to discuss the restaurant's humble beginnings, how to choose partners, how to not mess up what nature got right, where the most food waste happens (and what to do about it), the battle for real food and sustainability, and the key components of what they call "The Sweet Life."

Every day, Jonathan Neman and his friends asked themselves the same question: "What are we going to eat?" They felt limited by the options available, so they took things into their own hands and started Sweetgreen, a fast casual phenomenon that has received accolades from The Washington Post, USA Today, Food &amp; Wine, Forbes, Bloomberg, CBS, and more. Jonathan sat down with the Creative Muscle to discuss the restaurant's humble beginnings, how to choose partners, how to not mess up what nature got right, where the most food waste happens (and what to do about it), the battle for real food and sustainability, and the key components of what they call "The Sweet Life."

Interview: Jonathan Neman - Sweetgreen

Alicia Haywood

Have the words "connection" and "engagement" been hijacked by social media? How can we be responsible, discerning citizens of a connected world? What questions should we ask about the media we consume? For answers we turned to Alicia Haywood -- an award winning producer, writer, and speaker who has worked in the professional media industry for 23 years. She is also a media literacy educator who helps adolescents better understand their relationship with the media. She spoke to The Creative Muscle about establishing calm environments for creative work, the danger of over-producing your life, and how to identify bias in media content. Her message is more urgent, important, and needed than ever.

Have the words "connection" and "engagement" been hijacked by social media? How can we be responsible, discerning citizens of a connected world? What questions should we ask about the media we consume? For answers we turned to Alicia Haywood -- an award winning producer, writer, and speaker who has worked in the professional media industry for 23 years. She is also a media literacy educator who helps adolescents better understand their relationship with the media. She spoke to The Creative Muscle about establishing calm environments for creative work, the danger of over-producing your life, and how to identify bias in media content. Her message is more urgent, important, and needed than ever.

Interview: Alicia Haywood

Jack Berdan

We all want the flashy gig, the high profile project, the notable client, the award-winning work. But what about the unsexy business that fills most our time and lives? Jack Berdan came from a tribe of highly artistic friends and associates and through a series of twists and turns found himself applying the principles of creativity to jobs and spheres not traditionally thought of as glamorous or creative. Like, say, owning a chain of carwashes. This week Jack sits down with the Creative Muscle crew for a live discussion on how to show love to people through business, how to change the way you think, how to listen, and prioritizing practicing good customer service instead of just talking about it. Take a listen!

We all want the flashy gig, the high profile project, the notable client, the award-winning work. But what about the unsexy business that fills most our time and lives? Jack Berdan came from a tribe of highly artistic friends and associates and through a series of twists and turns found himself applying the principles of creativity to jobs and spheres not traditionally thought of as glamorous or creative. Like, say, owning a chain of carwashes. This week Jack sits down with the Creative Muscle crew for a live discussion on how to show love to people through business, how to change the way you think, how to listen, and prioritizing practicing good customer service instead of just talking about it. Take a listen!

Interview: Unsexy Business - Jack Berdan

Marty Neumeier

Most designers go to art school. But should they go to business school instead? On the one year anniversary of the Creative Muscle we interview award-winning author Marty Neumeier, whose books Zag, The Brand Gap, and The Brand Flip have shaped the ethos of companies around the world, including our very own Low Res Studio. Take a listen to hear about the time the president of Apple hated all of Marty's design ideas, why he bought a 400 year-old stone cottage in France, how a person can go from customer of a company to CEO of that same company, and why people buy products in tribes. 

Most designers go to art school. But should they go to business school instead? On the one year anniversary of the Creative Muscle we interview award-winning author Marty Neumeier, whose books Zag, The Brand Gap, and The Brand Flip have shaped the ethos of companies around the world, including our very own Low Res Studio. Take a listen to hear about the time the president of Apple hated all of Marty's design ideas, why he bought a 400 year-old stone cottage in France, how a person can go from customer of a company to CEO of that same company, and why people buy products in tribes.

Interview: Marty Neumeier 

Ainsley Arment

Ainsley Arment is the trailblazing leader of a counter-cultural collective of hip parents who have made bold choices about raising their children in non-traditional ways that foster creativity and imagination. This interview is not just for people who have kids! Far from a mere parenting manual, Ainsley's principles for unstructured time, cultivating wonder, brushing up against nature and allowing the wild to rough you up are meaningful endeavors that extend to people in all walks of life.

Ainsley Arment is the trailblazing leader of a counter-cultural collective of hip parents who have made bold choices about raising their children in non-traditional ways that foster creativity and imagination. This interview is not just for people who have kids! Far from a mere parenting manual, Ainsley's principles for unstructured time, cultivating wonder, brushing up against nature and allowing the wild to rough you up are meaningful endeavors that extend to people in all walks of life.

Interview: Ainsley Arment - Wild + Free

Jahmal Cole

Jahmal Cole thought his only career options were to be a basketball player or a rapper because that’s all he could see in the neighborhood where he grew up. It wasn’t until a Greyhound bus trip to Texas took him outside the city that he realized there was a great big world out there waiting to be discovered. Decades later, Cole is a multiple award-winning youth mentor, author and community organizer who has been named “Chicagoan of the Year” and one of the “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans.” His organization My Block, My Hood, My City takes youth from under-resourced Chicago schools on field trips around the city in order to overcome isolation, boost educational attainment, and open them up to new possibilities for their lives. In one of our most inspiring interviews to date, Jahmal Cole tells the Creative Muscle his harrowing story of overcoming obstacles, using creativity to beat seemingly insurmountable odds, the importance of mentors, the need for the long game, and power of goals.

Jahmal Cole thought his only career options were to be a basketball player or a rapper because that’s all he could see in the neighborhood where he grew up. It wasn’t until a Greyhound bus trip to Texas took him outside the city that he realized there was a great big world out there waiting to be discovered. Decades later, Cole is a multiple award-winning youth mentor, author and community organizer who has been named “Chicagoan of the Year” and one of the “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans.” His organization My Block, My Hood, My City takes youth from under-resourced Chicago schools on field trips around the city in order to overcome isolation, boost educational attainment, and open them up to new possibilities for their lives. In one of our most inspiring interviews to date, Jahmal Cole tells the Creative Muscle his harrowing story of overcoming obstacles, using creativity to beat seemingly insurmountable odds, the importance of mentors, the need for the long game, and power of goals.

Jahmal Cole Used to be Homeless. Now He’s a World-Changing Social Entrepreneur.

Andrew Belle

Winner of MTV's Chicago Breakout Artist of the Year, local singer-songwriter Andrew Belle has been awarded a John Lennon Songwriting Contest trophy, released critically-acclaimed albums, has more than 100 film and televisions licenses to date (including Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars), and garnered a worldwide fanbase --  all without signing to a major label. A fascinating combination of artist and entrepreneur, Belle's highly anticipated third album Dive Deep is slated to drop in Fall 2017. We talked to Andrew about his workflow processes, jumping between left and right sides of the brain, telling the truth, how to get started in low-stakes environments, and much more.

Winner of MTV's Chicago Breakout Artist of the Year, local singer-songwriter Andrew Belle has been awarded a John Lennon Songwriting Contest trophy, released critically-acclaimed albums, has more than 100 film and televisions licenses to date (including Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars), and garnered a worldwide fanbase --  all without signing to a major label. A fascinating combination of artist and entrepreneur, Belle's highly anticipated third album Dive Deep is slated to drop in Fall 2017. We talked to Andrew about his workflow processes, jumping between left and right sides of the brain, telling the truth, how to get started in low-stakes environments, and much more.

Interview + Musical Performance: Andrew Belle

The best podcast episodes on global issues affecting everyone. Covering topics such as the #metoo movement, climate change, the impact of technology and some of the biggest global issues facing us right now. For anyone interested in learning more about the world, and some of the issues we're facing, pick an episode below and start listening! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Global Issues

The best podcasts on investing. For anyone interested in the stories in the investing industry, whether it's an interview with Ray Dalio or Ed Thorp to the writer of The Big Short. This topic includes the most fascinating stories from all the best investors. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!