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Artwork for The Illustration Department Podcast

The Illustration Department Podcast

Giuseppe Castellano
Illustration
Creativity
Publishing
Mental Health
Children's Books
Creative Process
Social Media
Children's Literature
Art Direction
Children's Publishing
Publishing Industry
Editorial Illustration
Character Design
Generative AI
Comics
The New Yorker
Picture Books
Art Education
Edward Gorey
Graphic Design

Giuseppe Castellano talks to folks in illustration, graphic design, publishing, animation, and other creative fields about the ups and downs of their careers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes383Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArtsBooks

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Artwork for The Illustration Department Podcast

Latest Episodes

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Sara Frazetta, co-founder of Frazetta Girls, and granddaughter of Frank Frazetta, about her relationship with her grandpa; who Frazetta influenced, and who influenced him; what illustrators today can learn from Frazetta; ... more

YouTube

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and educator, Marcos Chin about the one lesson he hopes all students of illustration take to heart; how illustrators can “keep the demons of jealousy away”; why asking “what is it like to be me” is an importan... more

YouTube

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and writer, Angie Kang about how winning a major award can affect one’s relationship with their creative process; what Angie’s bad (and good) art days look like; how illustrators can mi... more

YouTube

Giuseppe Castellano talks to literary agent and founder of The Anjali Singh Agency, Anjali Singh about how she brought Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Persepolis, to the U.S.; what common, subjective excuse is given for many rejections in publishing... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Marcos Chin
Illustrator and educator, guest on this episode
Independent artist/educator
Episode: Marcos Chin
Angie Kang
Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and writer
Freelance/Children's Book Illustration
Episode: Angie Kang
Anjali Singh
Literary agent and founder of the Anjali Singh Agency
Anjali Singh Agency
Episode: Anjali Singh
Brett Helquist
Illustrator known for The Series of Unfortunate Events
Shannon Associates / HarperCollins (publisher relationships mentioned)
Episode: Brett Helquist
Shawn Harris
Caldecott honor–winning illustrator and writer
Self-employed/illustrator
Episode: Shawn Harris
Sterling Hundley
Illustrator, educator, and creative investigator
Virginia Commonwealth University (Applied Arts Lab, co-director)
Episode: Sterling Hundley
Michael Dante DiMartino
Co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Korra, author of Both Here and Gone
Avatar universe / Avatar Studios
Episode: From the Archive: Michael Dante DiMartino
Catarina Sobral
Award-winning illustrator, author, and educator
Episode: Catarina Sobral
Emiliano Ponzi
Visual artist
Episode: Emiliano Ponzi

Host

Giuseppe Castellano
Host of The Illustration Department Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 628 ratings
  • Saviour and an inspiration

    I’ve Been listening since 2022. I’m very much a nervous, awkward behind-the-scenes kind of person and Giuseppe Castellano’s podcast has been my saviour, my inspiration and motivation to keep going on my illustration path. Life has thrown some difficult curveballs for me, slowing my progression and it’s been the amazing guests, stories, calm, mellow often funny moments in between the professional wisdom stuff, that has given me joy and insight, showing me the way to practice what I love outside o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    battie mcbateye
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Thank you for your company and advice!

    I really enjoy your interviews, and I appreciate the opportunity to better understand your viewpoint and your guests. Illustration is hard; I’m tough on myself! So listening to your podcast usually makes me feel like I’m okay and on the right path.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    valoirex
    United States7 months ago
  • perfect podcast blend!

    Having a lifelong interest in illustration I find The illustration department

    podcast to be an absolute goldmine. Giuseppe brings a perfect mix of creative guests, but it’s his honest and thoughtful interview style that makes it truly stand out. The format and content are highly enjoyable and interesting offering a an expert look at the professional world of art. A genuine must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PowerDoodler
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Best illustration professionals interviewed

    The best podcast about illustration, interviewing the top professionals from the field. The first thing I listen to every Tuesday morning.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LapizLazuli 2024
    United States7 months ago
  • Loved Selina Alko episode

    I really enjoyed the Selina Alko episode, I would love to hear more women illustrators (not just art directors/agents)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gracelin_bffpod
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts establish a thoughtful, respectful interview rhythm that favors depth over hype.
Consistently valuable interviews with top illustrators and editors.
Listeners praise the show for practical career advice and candid industry insights.
Strong sense of community and mentorship around illustration careers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#98
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#88
Canada/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#108
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#46
Australia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#69
Germany/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#131
Italy/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Anjali Singh
Q: How do illustrators and writers find a literary agent, and how do you assess fit?
She advises researching an agent's represented titles, understanding one's own inspirations, and trusting gut instincts, emphasizing relationship fit and shared vision over chasing trends.
Brett Helquist
Q: Is it true that the series of Unfortunate Events was your first publishing gig?
Yes, The Bad Beginning was Brett Helquist's first published book, and prior work had appeared in Cricket magazine, but the book itself marked his entry into publishing.
From the Archive: Michael Dante DiMartino
Q: What did you find most challenging about self-publishing?
The marketing side was the hardest part, followed by getting the book out there and finding the right channels; I focused on professional presentation with an editor and a designer, but selling it broadly requires ongoing outreach and stepping into new distribution channels.
Catarina Sobral
Q: What is the most common pain point students experience with narrative balance between text and image in their work?
The guests discuss the difficulty of aligning text and image so they speak the same message or intentionally create a deliberate gap; too many voices and conflicting advice from various mentors can confuse students, and the key is understanding the underlying mechanisms of balance rather than copying others.
Catarina Sobral
Q: But how do you know if your intuition is leading you in a direction worth going?
Catarina explains that intuition often signals a potential solution, but it needs time to settle; she suggests letting ideas sit for a day or more to see if they hold up, and using whatever feels like a meaningful solution as a starting point rather than blindly following a gut impulse.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Illustration Department Podcast

What is The Illustration Department Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights a wide range of creatives at the intersection of illustration, publishing, and visual storytelling. Across episodes, listeners encounter in-depth conversations with celebrated illustrators, editors, and designers, often unpacking career trajectories, craft, and practical steps for breaking into or sustaining a creative practice. The format blends personal storytelling with actionable advice on portfolio building, publishing processes, collaboration, and navigating industry shifts. A standout quality is its consistently candid interviews with top-name guests, plus a clear emphasis on mentorship, craft, and sustainable creative living that resonates with both emerging and established artists.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Illustration Department Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Illustration Department Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Illustration Department Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Illustration Department Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Illustration Department Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Illustration Department Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Illustration Department Podcast:

1. The Good Ship Illustration
2. 3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast
3. Creative Pep Talk
4. Windowsill Chats
5. Design Matters with Debbie Millman

How many episodes of The Illustration Department Podcast are there?

The Illustration Department Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 383 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Illustration Department Podcast?

Recent guests on The Illustration Department Podcast include:

1. Marcos Chin
2. Angie Kang
3. Anjali Singh
4. Brett Helquist
5. Shawn Harris
6. Sterling Hundley
7. Michael Dante DiMartino
8. Catarina Sobral

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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