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Pottery
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Pot Swap

Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespottery) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time studio potter, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring yo... more

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Artwork for Wheel Talk

Latest Episodes

Isaac Shue of Gallery Mostaza joins Ryan to discuss taking big risks and making difficult decisions as a creative business owner. Isaac shares his journey from leaving a full-time teaching career to pursue pottery, opening a 2,000-square-foot gallery... more

Ryan and Becca discuss gearing up for the busy holiday season and finding a balance between production demands, creative work, and personal time. They share practical tips for preparing your studio, keeping your kiln running, planning seasonal worksh... more

YouTube

Curt Hammerly of Hammerly Ceramics returns to Wheel Talk to share how his pottery business has evolved over the past eight years. He discusses moving away from high-demand product drops toward a more diversified sales model, including permanent inven... more

YouTube

Becca and Taylor share their experiences with depression and the challenges of navigating mental health as artists and small business owners. Becca reflects on a recent severe depressive episode and hospitalization, while Taylor shares their own expe... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Curt Hammerly
Potter and owner of Hammerly Ceramics
Hammerly Ceramics
Episode: What’s the Best Way to Sell Pottery? with Curt Hammerly
Taylor Swilley
Potter and maker who shares personal experiences with depression, treatment, and therapy.
Backyard Kiln
Episode: Talking Honestly About Depression (with Taylor Swilley)
Jon Schmidt
Potter and entrepreneur, Jon The Potter
Jon Schmidt Pottery
Episode: Building a Pottery Business That Fits Your Life with Jon Schmidt
Zipporah Sipor
Tzipporah from Sipor Ceramics
Sipor Ceramics
Episode: Everything You Need to Know About Pot Swap 2026
Rachel Durbin
Ryan's wife, joined the team this year
Pot Swap Team
Episode: Everything You Need to Know About Pot Swap 2026
Natalie Wagner
Ceramic artist and organizer of Boys & Girls Club ceramics program in Chicago
Self-organized program with Chicago Boys & Girls Club
Episode: Reviving a Community Ceramics Program with Natalie Wagner
Heidi Fahrenbacher
Recurring guest on Wheel Talk, potter
Episode: Scaling Your Pottery Business Without Breaking It (with Heidi Fahrenbacher)
Tim See
Potter, educator, and community-builder known for Clay Buddies, online streams, and extensive pricing/workshop experience
Independent potter; Clay Buddies; ClayScapes
Episode: Finding success with Tim See (Replay)
Laura Hall
Ceramics artist with masters in arts administration; expert in grant writing
Southern Utah University (education), independent artist
Episode: How to Write Better Grant Applications with Laura Hall

Hosts

Ryan Durbin
Host of Wheel Talk
Becca Otis
Co-host of Wheel Talk

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 227 ratings
  • Thank You

    Your mental health episode was great. Thank you so much. Such great tips for interacting with someone dealing with depression.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    noelsargeant
    Canada17 days ago
  • A Great Potter Hang

    I’m a potter and what do potters love most? Talking about pottery! This podcast feels like hanging out with friends and chatting about all things clay which is honestly a dream. I love the casual nature of the show and I feel like Becca and Ryan create a truly relaxed and laid-back atmosphere that allows guests to simply be themselves. This is not a slick show, it’s a comfortable one - in the absolute best way possible. The hosts are disarming and human and I love how they approach topics a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RedheadedPatti
    United States2 months ago
  • My favorite Pot-Cast

    This is my favorite podcast of all time! I’ve learned so much and furthered my ceramic career vastly by being involved with the podcast. Because of Ryan and his soda fire workshop shop I attended because of the pot-cast, I started to build my own soda kiln and can’t wait to have it up and running. I can’t put into words how much I appreciate Ryan and Becca’s knowledge and advice they share on this podcast. Additionally, as much as I like to hear Ryan’s analytical answer I always look forward to ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CoolGuy_Charlie
    United States2 months ago
  • My Fav Pottery Podcast

    I love Wheel Talk. I’ve been listening to Becca & Ryan for a while now & they’re definitely my favorite pottery podcast. I feel like I learn something from pretty much every episode. I love how both of them are willing and happy to share knowledge and information with others, and how honest they are about the business side of ceramics. As someone who is building a ceramics business myself, their suggestions have been so helpful over the years.

    I’ve met both Becca and Ryan in person, and they a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessi ANF Pottery
    United States3 months ago
  • The best!

    I listen every Saturday!! Love how happy they are to share info and insights. My favorite pottery podcast by far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Honeybeepottery
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audiences value the community feel and guest expertise, often noting the show helps with pricing, selling, and studio management.
Many enjoy actionable business tips mixed with candid studio banter, though a few wish for tighter editing or more pottery-focused content.
Listeners praise the hosts' knowledge and chemistry, calling it a relatable, inspiring pottery resource.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Surviving the Holiday Season as a Potter
Q: Why, if I am dip glazing, is it only one coat? But when I'm brush, it's two to three coats and thicker even. Can you help me reconcile how those two things are the same but different?
Ryan explains that brushing glazes contain CMC gum to make them brushable, while dipping deposits glaze according to immersion time and the glaze's properties. Becca adds that she thins some brushing glazes and pours them inside cups for faster, even coverage.
Surviving the Holiday Season as a Potter
Q: What would you have someone wanted to commission four mugs, each with a different name on it?
Becca would accept the commission while setting clear expectations and remaking only any failed pieces. Ryan recommends using familiar glazes, collecting at least a 50% deposit, accounting for firing and shipping timelines, and declining the work if the deadline is unrealistic.
What’s the Best Way to Sell Pottery? with Curt Hammerly
Q: Are there certain models that you genuinely think don't require a large audience or that do require a large audience that someone can take advantage of with a smaller but really engaged audience?
Hammerly says hype drops can work well for makers starting out or working alone because they organize production into focused batches and leave time for experimentation. A constant made-to-order model may be more stressful for a solo maker, while the right approach depends on capacity, audience, and working style.
What’s the Best Way to Sell Pottery? with Curt Hammerly
Q: Could you walk us through how they've evolved, the sales models have evolved for you over the years and maybe how you've made those changes?
Hammerly began with Etsy hype drops of kiln batches, then reduced the size and frequency of launches as photography and listing work became exhausting. He added standing inventory, made-to-order products, periodic collection launches, and wholesale, ultimately favoring a diversified model that balances demand with manageable production and fulfillment.
Talking Honestly About Depression (with Taylor Swilley)
Q: What would you want someone that is not struggling with depression, and hasn't had the same experience as you all, to understand most about that experience?
They emphasize that depression cannot simply be switched off, is a medical condition, and may take time and different treatment approaches to manage. They also encourage seeking help and asking friends to assist with appointments.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wheel Talk

What is Wheel Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show blends hands-on pottery wisdom with practical small-business guidance, often pairing everyday studio life with deep dives into pricing, production planning, and marketing. Episodes frequently feature guests who bring community-focused perspectives, craft entrepreneurship, and studio practice expertise, ranging from planters and kilns to nonprofit ceramics programs and grant writing. The format leans into candid conversations, real-world tips, and long-form discussions that cover scaling a studio, selling at shows and online, and building sustainable practices around time, pricing, and staffing. Studio updates and maker-focused guest insights make it a practical listen for potters, makers, and small studio owners seeking tangible ta... more

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How many episodes of Wheel Talk are there?

Wheel Talk launched 7 years ago and published 371 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 Wheel Talk?

Recent guests on Wheel Talk include:

1. Curt Hammerly
2. Taylor Swilley
3. Jon Schmidt
4. Zipporah Sipor
5. Rachel Durbin
6. Natalie Wagner
7. Heidi Fahrenbacher
8. Tim See

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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