The Unexpected Pains of Creative Growth

Rachael has a craving that could bring about a big lifestyle change. She discusses with Lauren coming to a realization that she no longer feels at home in the environment she’s settled into— and the choice between staying the course or starting a new adventure. The hosts share how they have gained clarity, direction, and the courage to embrace the unknown in the quest to continually live creatively. Rachael’s new book “Prioritize Play” is now available for pre-order! Grab your copy today. Post on desire by Yumi Sakugawa Poetry Unbound - Seventh Circle of Earth by Ocean Vuong All Fours by Miranda July Chaotic Creatives Ep 12 - The Spark: How Advice for Dating is Advice for Creating Check out Lauren’s Mural Mockups For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

What happens when pursuing a creative dream becomes a catalyst for major life changes? In this episode, Rachael and Lauren discuss instances when following the creative path has taken them into unexpected territory. Episode Mentions Rachael’s new book “Prioritize Play” is now available for pre-order! Grab your copy today. Learn more about Luis Barragán. Watch Rachael’s Bedroom Makeover Reel Filterworld - How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka Check out Lauren’s Mural Mockups here! We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected].  For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

We all experience periods of low energy and motivation; but as Chaotic Creatives, our ideas and goals never stop calling to us. Rachael and Lauren talk about the necessity of giving ourselves grace when we’re feeling drained. They outline some actionable approaches that might help us advance towards our passions even when we aren’t feeling up to the task. This episode invites us to willfully take the path of inefficiency as an act of self care in a world burning with urgency and the pressures of productivity. Episode Mentions Rachael’s new book “Prioritize Play” is now available for pre-order! Grab your copy today. If you enjoyed this episode, check out episode 21, “The ‘Bummed Hole’ Survival Kit,” episode 23, “Purpose, Process, and Embracing the Unexpected,” AND episode 30, “Staying Creatively Grounded While Grieving” Learn more about Rachael’s community “The Juicebox”! Check out Lauren’s Mural Mockups here! We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected].  For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

There are countless worries that come with self-promotion and marketing our offerings. Showing up consistently, sharing what we are working on, and selling can feel as if we are being annoying. BUT it’s necessary for our businesses and creative practices to thrive. Lauren and Rachael talk about overcoming apprehension when it comes to this challenging but critical aspect of being a creative entrepreneur. They also share the value of building “it” even when it’s not certain that “they will come.” Episode Mentions Rachael’s new book “Prioritize Play” is now available for pre-order! Grab your copy today. See Lauren’s presentation slide here.  If you enjoyed this episode, you might like Episode 17: Creating Offerings Without Crushing Your Spirit AND Episode 18: Making Sense of Making Money Check out Lauren’s Mural Mockups here! We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected].  For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

So many of us give the lion’s share of our capacity to our employers and have very little left for our creative passions. With only so much time, energy, and resources to do what we want in life how can we do more of what fills us up? In this episode, Lauren and Rachael talk about creative ways of reallocating our efforts towards what matters most to us. They discuss when it feels okay to half-ass, when to give it your all, and the importance of being intentional with your personal investments. Episode Mentions: Rachael’s new book “Prioritize Play” is now available for pre-order! Grab your copy today! Shout out to Kyle Scheele! See selections from Lauren’s Daily Dishonesty series. Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens. Check out Lauren’s Mural Mockups here.   For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

After a long period away, Rachael found herself packing it all in when she returned to Detroit. Lauren was there to bear witness and support Rachael through the overwhelm, which inspired today’s discussion. They debrief on Rachael’s chaotic week, and talk ways to do all of what you truly want, while incorporating guardrails to prevent spiraling into burnout.Episode MentionsThe Wedding People: A Novel by Alison EspachWatch a recap of our Marshalls Workshop in Detroit!Check out Rachael’s Online Community, The Juice Box here!We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected]. For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

Lauren and Rachael discuss the tools and rules they use to navigate running their creative businesses online. They talk about the line between convenience and spoon feeding, pitching clients, and accepting the pros and cons that come with going your own way.Episode MentionsCheck out Rachael’s Online Community, The Juice Box here!Please explore “River Scars,” the work of Robert Hodgin who presented at OFFF MX 2025If you liked this episode, check out Episode 12 “The Spark: How Advice for Dating is Advice for Creating”We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected]. For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

This episode is all about the “secret menu”, a concept that Lauren dreamed up for offering unprofitable skills that she still enjoys doing for herself and others. The hosts discuss the value of thinking of your own secret menu and how it can become a creative form of community care. This conversation is an invitation to pull your untapped abilities out of skill purgatory and put them to good use.Episode Mentions:Rachael’s Soup Gala Birthday PartyRachael’s Orange-Themed Birthday PartyWe are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected]. For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

Rachael is ready to get serious about being an artist; so she and Lauren discuss a common component of presenting yourself as one: a portfolio. When describing your creative work and ambitions, it can be extremely helpful to have a curated selection of pieces to back it up; but many questions arise when attempting to build an online portfolio. In this episode, you’ll gain some insight towards answering those questions for yourself. Is it okay to have one-off works vs a series? How can you focus your practice around certain theme or through-line while allowing yourself to follow all of your curiosities? Listen to learn more!Episode Mentions:Check out The Juice Box here!For more portfolio advice, watch Lauren’s Adobe course.We are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected]. For a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching

Lauren sold most of her things in the months leading up to moving back to BK and absorbed helpful lessons around sales, customer service, and communication that she brought back to her business. In this episode she shares these lessons with Rachael and reflects on how they were more easily absorbed when she was selling “stuff” (chairs, furniture, etc) as opposed to her creative work and services.Episode MentionsLauren’s NYC Bedroom Storage ProjectLauren at Creative Mornings NYCWe are now booking workshops and speaking engagements as a duo! To bring us to your conference or organization, reach out to us at [email protected] a transcript of this episode, contact us at [email protected] Cover art designed and photographed by Kristle Marshall for Hom Sweet HomIf you love what we are doing and want to support us, head to patreon.com/chaoticcreativesFollow the pod on Instagram @chaoticcreativespod and tag us in the projects you’re working on while listening!Say hi or tell us a silly lil joke: [email protected]’s links:WebsiteInstagramOnline ClassesRachael’s links:WebsiteInstagramThe Juice BoxCreative Coaching