In this episode, Kate Christy chats with Heather Hathaway, a web and brand designer from Southern California. Heather shares her experiences of balancing motherhood while growing her design studio and creating a membership program for web designers. From working through the chaos of raising young kids to taking on bigger projects as her children got older, Heather offers relatable and honest insights.

Kate and Heather discuss the challenges of juggling work, family, and personal goals, emphasizing the importance of finding a rhythm that works for you rather than sticking to rigid expectations.

Heather’s stories about embracing imperfections and learning as she goes show that success doesn’t have to be picture-perfect.

Whether you’re in the early years of parenting or finding your stride in a new phase of life, this episode is filled with practical advice and encouragement. Join Kate and Heather for an inspiring conversation about giving yourself grace, staying adaptable, and making each stage of life count.

Highlights

• Surviving the Early Days: Heather shares how she juggled motherhood and work, focusing on flexibility over perfection.
• Parenting Evolution: How life changes as kids grow, opening space for personal and business growth.
• Breaking the Rules: Heather discusses ditching traditional advice to create her own work methods.
• Membership Success: Launching a thriving program for web designers and digital product sellers.
• Work-Life Realities: Honest talk about working from home and setting boundaries with family.
• Love-Centered Parenting: Heather’s approach to raising confident, creative kids with love and support.
• Adapting and Thriving: Embracing change and finding joy in every phase of life.
• Building Community: Creating meaningful connections through her membership and personal life.

Mentioned in the Show:

• White Label Website Insiders
• White Label Website Insiders Community

Connect with Heather Hathaway online:

• Website
• Instagram

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

In this episode, Hollei Anne Hayes, a talented surface designer and mom who’s mastered the art of balancing business and creativity shares how she turned her passion for design into a thriving career, moving from posting on Instagram to working with top clients in the art licensing world. She gets real about her early struggles and how taking a proactive approach—like cold pitching and building connections—helped her grow her business.

Hollei also dives into her love for teaching other creatives the ropes. She’s created a free mini-course on mood boards and has a new 8-week program in the works to guide surface designers from inspiration to marketable collections. We talk about the importance of mockups, building a portfolio that resonates with buyers, and why strategic marketing beats relying on algorithms.

Whether you’re an artist, a small business owner, or just looking to make your work stand out, this episode is packed with actionable tips and encouragement to help you take your creative career to the next level.

Highlights

• Hollei’s Career Journey: How she transitioned from sharing her art on Instagram to building a thriving surface design business.
• Cold Pitching Tips: Strategies for reaching out to companies and art agents without feeling “salesy.”
• Educational Offerings: Hollei’s free mini-course on creating mood boards and her upcoming 8-week program for surface designers.
• Visual Storytelling: The importance of using mockups to showcase your designs and attract clients.
• Motherhood and Creativity: Balancing and running a business with raising her kids.
• Marketing Smarts: Why relying solely on social media algorithms isn’t enough and how to take a more strategic approach.
• Building a Portfolio: Creating product-first artwork that appeals to buyers and tells a compelling story.
• Networking in the Industry: The role of industry events and personal connections in growing your creative business.

Connect with Hollei Anne Hayes online:

• Website
• Instagram

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

In this episode, Becca Wood, a creative entrepreneur and project management enthusiast, talks about the ups and downs of parenthood and balancing business life. Becca opens up about the everyday challenges of raising a child, like the infamous coffee spill in a stroller caddy, and how these little hurdles are just part of the journey.

The conversation shifts to Becca’s entrepreneurial side, where she dreams of launching tech companies that could revolutionize project management tools and help busy creatives and parents like herself.

With humor, heart, and actionable insights, this episode is a celebration of both motherhood and the creative hustle. It’s about finding joy in the present while looking ahead to what’s next—whether that’s solving everyday problems or dreaming up big tech innovations.

Highlights

• Parenthood Reflections: the joys and challenges of raising young children, from potty training to watching them grow out of their stroller phase.
• The Spilled Coffee Dilemma: light-hearted but relatable discussion on how small, everyday problems (like coffee spilling in a stroller caddy) become part of the parenting experience.
• Embracing Life’s Phases: embracing each phase of her child’s development with excitement and curiosity, without dwelling too much on nostalgia or past phases.
• Tech Dreams and Innovation: her aspirations to launch tech companies, particularly in the realm of project management software, and how she envisions making life easier for creatives.
• Entrepreneurship and Creativity: importance of creative thinking and problem-solving in both parenting and business.
• Parenting Milestones: excitement over her daughter’s achievements, like crawling and reaching new milestones, while Kate talks about her own experiences with her older children.
• The Search for the Perfect Product: love for innovative ideas—like an anti-spill coffee cup holder for strollers or a universal project management tool.

Connect with Beca Wood online:

• Website
• Instagram
• Tiktok

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

In this episode, Caton Vance, founder of Vance & Co., and Kate dive deep into the messy reality of entrepreneurship, perfectionism, and trusting your gut.

He talks about the importance of listening to your inner voice, especially when navigating client relationships and making business decisions. He also discusses how modern work culture pressures us to keep growing.

Whether you’re a creative or a business owner, this episode is packed with real talk about balance, intuition, and redefining what success looks like—without sacrificing your well-being along the way.

Highlights

• Embracing Imperfection: how trying to avoid mistakes can derail progress in both life and business. Perfectionism isn’t the goal—learning from failure is.
• Gut Instincts Matter: listening to your inner voice can be crucial in business.
• Looking Foolish is Part of Success: the importance of being willing to look foolish when starting something new, whether it’s creating art, launching a business, or even navigating relationships.
• The Pressure to Grow: societal pressure to always pursue growth, but they agree that a steady, sustainable plateau can sometimes be the healthiest and most fulfilling path.
• Balancing Work and Life: rejecting the "grind yourself to dust" mentality that’s so prevalent in modern work culture.
• Client Relationships: importance of clarity and communication with clients, especially when it comes to managing expectations, is a recurring theme.
• Final Thoughts on Success: sharing that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal well-being or family time. For him, choosing how to move forward in business is very much a "choose your own adventure" moment.

Connect with Caton Vance online:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Justin Wieners, a Midwest dad whose love for baseball cards, vinyl records, and old film cameras shapes his unique wholesome-quirky-retro design style. After being laid off from his tech job in 2023, Justin seized the opportunity to pursue his dream of owning a design studio, *Hot Dog!*, where he now focuses on helping "underdog" clients thrive.

Throughout our conversation, Justin shared how his passion for retro aesthetics and storytelling fuels both his work and personal life. He discussed the transition from working for large agencies to running his own studio, highlighting the joy he finds in empowering others to achieve their business goals through creative design. We also explored his role as co-owner of Monstera Books, an independent bookstore he runs with his wife in Overland Park, Kansas.

Justin’s journey is filled with valuable lessons on taking risks and trusting the universe. This episode offers insights into his creative process, balancing multiple ventures, and his dedication to helping clients chase their dreams. If you’re looking for inspiration in your own creative or entrepreneurial journey, this episode is for you!

Highlights

• A career-defining moment: getting laid off in 2023 led Justin to follow his dream of starting Hot Dog!, his own design studio.
• Retro inspiration: Justin’s love for baseball cards, vinyl records, and old film cameras shapes his unique wholesome-quirky-retro design style.
• Big name to underdog: fulfillment in helping smaller, mission-driven businesses.
• Community roots: Justin and his wife run Monstera Books, an independent bookstore in Overland Park, Kansas, reflecting their passion for local community and connection.
• Embracing change: transitioning from agency work to owning his own studio gave Justin the freedom to pursue creative projects aligned with his values.
• Empowering the underdog: supporting smaller clients, helping them chase their dreams with the power of good design.
• Life lessons: insights on risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and how trusting the universe can lead to unexpected, fulfilling opportunities.

Connect with Justin Wieners online:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

In this episode, Brie Pointer, a talented designer, farmer, and mother shares her journey of balancing her many passions.

Brie strongly delves into the challenges of managing multiple roles, from freelance design projects to farming and motherhood, and the importance of self-care and setting realistic expectations.

She also discusses the joy and purpose she finds in growing food and fostering community through her involvement in the farmer's market.

Despite the workload, her passion has led her to transition the market into a charity, aiming to offer more pop-up markets and pay market managers for sustainability.

The episode touches on the emotional journey of parenting without her parents and how she finds fulfillment in community activities. It is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, community, and finding balance in a busy life.

Highlights

• Transformative Road Trip: a family trip to Prince Edward Island realigned her priorities and deepened her love for community, family, and food.
• Scattering Parents' Ashes: an emotional recount of fulfilling her parents' dream by taking their ashes on the trip.
• Farmer's Market Passion: joy and purpose Brie finds in growing food and fostering community through the farmer's market.
• Transition to Charity: plans to turn the market into a charity to ensure sustainability and community support by paying market managers.
• Balancing Multiple Roles: insights into managing freelance design projects, farming, and motherhood.
• Self-Care and Realistic Expectations: strategies for maintaining balance and giving oneself grace amidst a busy life.
• Parenting Without Parents: emotional journey and challenges of raising children without her own parents' support.
• Perpetual To-Do Lists: light-hearted discussion on the never-ending nature of to-do lists and the importance of a positive mindset.

Connect with Brie Pointer online:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Wayward Farm Instagram

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

Gabriella Keys, a multifaceted entrepreneur and creator behind Rella B Books, dives into the challenges and joys of blending motherhood with content creation.

Gabriella shares her journey from aspiring motherhood at a young age to founding her brand, emphasizing the importance of maintaining personal passions alongside parenting responsibilities.

She also discusses how she engages her children creatively, weaving their imaginative play into her content, which includes podcasts and YouTube channels focused on screen-free reading experiences for kids.

Throughout the episode, Gabriella's authenticity shines as she navigates the complexities of building a business while nurturing a young family.

Highlights

• Creativity in Childhood: importance of fostering creativity and imagination in young children.
• Balancing Act: manages the energy demands of content creation with being a present mother and partner.
• Lessons from Parenting: integrating personal passions with family life and setting boundaries.
• Rella B Books: inspiration behind the brand and its mission to promote literacy and creativity in kids.
• Challenges of Content Creation: reflections on the highs and lows of producing engaging content while raising children.
• Advice for New Moms: empowering advice on self-care and the value of personal time for new mothers.
• Future Aspirations: vision for expanding Rella B Books and the impact she hopes to have in children's literacy.

Connect with Gabriella Keys online:

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

Kristen McGuiness, a book publisher, coach, and mother of two, opens up about the intricate balance between her entrepreneurial endeavors in book coaching and publishing through Rise Writers and Rise Books, and her family life.

She reflects on her path from non-profit work to entrepreneurship, the pursuit of sobriety, and embracing a flexible, adaptive mindset.

Kristen also explores themes of managing professional responsibilities alongside motherhood, creating meaningful moments with children, and maintaining a healthy marriage.

Highlights

• Kristen McGuiness's Candid Parenting Journey: reflects on navigating challenging times in her marriage while prioritizing stability and joy for her children.
• Managing Marital Conflicts with Grace: strategies for maintaining a supportive co-parenting relationship amidst relationship challenges.
• Creativity Amidst Chaos: practical tips for balancing writing and creativity alongside the demands of parenting and entrepreneurship.
• The Concept of Conscious Uncoupling: transformative impact on maintaining strong familial bonds post-separation.
• Practical Advice for Aspiring Writers: insights into navigating the complexities of book proposals and manuscript development.
• Reflections on Personal Growth and Resilience: anecdotes and wisdom on humor and perseverance in facing life's unexpected trials.

Connect with Kristen McGuiness online:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram