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Artwork for Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice for Surface Designers and Creative Entrepreneurs

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice for Surface Designers and Creative Entrepreneurs

Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico: Surface Designer, Creative Career
Art Licensing
Surface Pattern Design
Trends
Creativity
Creative Entrepreneurship
Social Media
Surface Design
Mental Health
Etsy
Commercial Art
Chronic Illness
Tariffs
Creative Process
Graphic Design
Small Businesses
Color
Marketing
Artist Identity
Epilepsy
Bipolar Disorder

In Two Cranky Creatives, two seasoned creative entrepreneurs, Carrie & Toni, pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of building a creative business. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with being a creative entrepreneur. Whether you're a fellow creative or just curious about the creative hustle, join us for candid conversations th... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes80Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessVisual ArtsArts

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Artwork for Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice for Surface Designers and Creative Entrepreneurs

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, the Cranks dig into a truth that makes a lot of artists uncomfortable: the moment you sell your work, you are an entrepreneur—whether you asked for that title or not. They talk about why passion and skill don'... more

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, the Cranks sit down with illustrator and surface designer Ali Hooten to dismantle one of the most persistent myths in the creative world: that there's a single "right" way to build a thriving creative career. ... more

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, the Cranks break out the soapbox (and maybe a tiny megaphone) to challenge one of the most persistent myths in the surface design world: that you have to use Adobe Illustrator to succeed. They speculate about ... more

This episode is sponsored by Illustrators for Hire

CORRECTION: Thank you to Amy Feinburg of Amelia Scarlet Studio, who is a tax litigator, for reaching out. Some of my comments in this episode make it seem like sole proprietors don't need to have a... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ali Hooten
Founder of Quick Creative; children's repeat pattern designer
Quick Creative
Episode: Cranky and Uncharted: Why There's No Blueprint for Creative Success w/Ali Hooten
Elizabeth Silver
Professional surface pattern designer with two decades of experience
Episode: Cranky and Without a Compass: Real Talk About Building a Surface Design Business w/Elizabeth Silver
Stacie Bloomfield
Illustration brand Gingiber founder and author of The Artist's Side Hustle
Gingiber / Leverage Your Art
Episode: Cranky and Conflicted: When Your Dream Job Isn't a Dream Anymore w/Stacie Bloomfield
Lisa Bardot
Procreate educator; founder of Bardot Brush and Art Maker's Club
Bardot Brush / Art Maker's Club
Episode: Cranky and Chaotic: Finding Time to Make Art When Life Gets Messy w/Lisa Bardot
Hannah Cole
Artist first and tax pro, founder of Sunlight Tax
Sunlight Tax
Episode: Cranky About Taxes: Practical Tax Truths Every Creative Needs to Hear w/Hannah Cole
Ness Stoilova
Surface Designer and Art Business Coach
Art Business with Ness
Episode: Cranky, Creative, & Still Human: AI's Impact on Surface Design & What Creative Entrepreneurs Need to Know w/Ness Stoilova
Kay Wolfersperger
Designer and illustrator with 20 years of experience in creative fields.
Episode: How Cranky Creatives Stay Paid w/Kay Wolfersperger: Multiple Income Streams as a Creative Entrepreneur
Ana Bianchi
Artist, designer, and illustrator known for her vibrant use of color.
Ana Loves Color
Episode: Colorfully Cranky: Using Color in Design w/Ana Bianchi
Salli Swindell
Freelance illustrator with 46 years in the business and co-founder of Illustrators for Hire
Illustrators for Hire
Episode: Unpacking "Cranky": How to Stay Professional and Calm as a Creative Entrepreneur with Nate Padavik & Salli Swindell

Hosts

Carrie Cantwell
Host and co-creator of the show; provides examples and analysis on scams; co-host
Toni Federico
Host of the show; introduces topics and drives the discussion; co-host

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Fabulous interview

    I stumbled upon this podcast and have enjoyed every interview with artisans that share the real world experiences. Thank you for all the honesty and heartfelt encouragement.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lorirehn
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thank you! 💗

    Always a pleasure to hear their experiences, thoughts, suggestions and super-interesting special guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kathy Rupff
    United Statesa year ago
  • Genuine and Real

    I live Tony and Carry’s sense of humor, life and cranky. We all have those days and think a little negatively at times. There’s space for all of it, than gathere tools to acknowledge and move forward. Love you realness

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cookinaxx
    United Statesa year ago
  • Keepin’ it OG

    Carrie and Toni keep it real while discussing the art and design field. Their honesty and candidness are refreshing in an atmosphere of artistic fluff. I think I found my new favorite podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tannej86
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate real-world tips and guest variety.
Overall, hosts cut through the hype with candid, practical guidance.
Humor and honest take on the design industry feel refreshing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#196
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#241
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#155
Italy/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#24
Israel/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#28
Hong Kong/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#80
Finland/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cranky and Uncharted: Why There's No Blueprint for Creative Success w/Ali Hooten
Q: What do you mean by there not being one blueprint for every creative?
Ali explains that personal experience, biology, and life circumstances shape what works; a blueprint may be useful as a starting point, but individuals must test, adapt, and own what fits them.
Cranky and Chaotic: Finding Time to Make Art When Life Gets Messy w/Lisa Bardot
Q: What is Lisa Bardot's approach to balancing multiple creative ventures?
Lisa describes a structured approach that blends teaching, creating, and community-building, using batching, dedicated time blocks, and occasionally taking sabbaticals to prevent burnout while keeping art at the center.
Imperfect and Cranky: Breaking the Perfection Trap w/Cat Coquillette
Q: What was Cat's experience at the beginning of her career?
She worked as an art director and didn't share her watercolor paintings because she felt embarrassed about them. Eventually, she began to post her work on social media and transitioned to focusing on her art career.
A Cranky Creatives Guide to Facing Rejection w/Mable Tan
Q: Mable, do you feel the same tension of being true to who you are as an artist versus what the marketplace might be demanding?
Mable acknowledges the difficulty of creating art that resonates with her personally versus what the market wants, emphasizing the need to rediscover joy in creation.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two Cranky Creatives delivers unvarnished, practical guidance for people building a creative business around surface design and licensing. Episodes cover real-world topics like price integrity in education, scams targeting artists, taxes for creatives, royalties and licensing economics, seasonal design planning, and the tension between creative expression and marketing demands. The hosts—Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico—offer candid anecdotes, actionable tips, and a skeptical eye toward hype, often pulling in guest experts or industry peers to illuminate the craft of entrepreneurship in art and design. The show stands out for its no-bs, experiences-driven conversations, emphasis on contracts, time management, and building multiple income s... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Windowsill Chats
2. The Creative Jugglejoy Podcast
3. The Good Ship Illustration
4. Creative Pep Talk
5. The Mel Robbins Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 80 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ali Hooten
2. Elizabeth Silver
3. Stacie Bloomfield
4. Lisa Bardot
5. Hannah Cole
6. Ness Stoilova
7. Kay Wolfersperger
8. Ana Bianchi

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