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Artwork for Windowsill Chats

Windowsill Chats

Margo Tantau
Creativity
Art
Mental Health
Community Building
Entrepreneurship
Creative Entrepreneurship
Community
Burnout
Personal Growth
Surface Pattern Design
Grief
Authenticity
Art Education
Community Support
Taxes
Motherhood
Interior Design
Photography
Mindfulness
Storytelling

Windowsill Chats is a podcast for artists and creatives who are curious about what it's like to live, work & walk a creative path. You'll find honest stories, refreshing tips, artistic business advice and real conversations with global artists & makers just like you. Host Margo Tantau, a 30+ year Creative Director, Product Designer & maker, is a cheerleader for your success. Come grab a cuppa & jo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes347Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Windowsill Chats

Latest Episodes

Margo is joined by artist, watercolorist, and educator Catherine Jennifer for a conversation about the power of play, the freedom of imperfection, and making space for creativity in everyday life. Originally from South Africa and now based in the UK,... more

Longtime friend of Windowsill Chats and beloved artist, author, and creative entrepreneur Lisa Congdon is back for another heartfelt conversation. This time, Lisa is sharing a major shift in her creative career: the decision to step away from her thr... more

Margo is joined by Jennifer Smelker, the engineer-turned-artist, product designer, and founder of Tandem For Two. Since 2013, Jen has been creating colorful, travel-inspired artwork and gifts that celebrate the places we love and the moments that mak... more

Abby is back on the Windowsill for another round of Creative Current Events! This week, she and Margo are diving into the latest headlines making waves in art, design, branding, and retail—and, as always, there's plenty to unpack.

From collectible ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lisa Congdon
Portland artist, illustrator, author, and creative entrepreneur
Episode: Just Because It's Working Doesn't Mean You Have to Keep Doing It with Lisa Congdon
Jennifer Smelker
Engineer-turned-artist, product designer, and founder of Tandem For Two
Tandem For Two
Episode: The Art of Figuring It Out: Permission to Pivot and Building a Creative Life at Any Age with Jennifer Smelker
Abby Campbell
Episode: Creative Current Events: Dogs, Designer Bags & Digital Detoxes with Abby Campbell
Jane Ward
Novelist, author of four novels, including Should Have Told You Sooner
Episode: What's Done Is Done, Or Is It?: Family Secrets, Bread Baking, and a Life in Books, with Jane Ward
Tania Willis
Illustrator, designer, cartographer, educator; co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration
Good Ship Illustration
Episode: Stop Being a Good Girl: Maps, Reinvention, and the Case for Texture, with Tania Willis
Abby Jacobs
artist and art therapist-credentialed creator
Colorado-based artist
Episode: How Making Art Can Become a Way of Life with Abby Jacobs (Replay)
Nosheen Ahmed
Illustrator specializing in hand-drawn book covers
Nosheen Designs (self-employed)
Episode: Full Circle: Reinventing Your Creative Identity Later in Life, with Nosheen Ahmed
Melissa Moore
New York Times bestselling author, executive producer, true crime documentary filmmaker
Independent/Various networks
Episode: You're Not Alone: Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani on the Hidden Costs of Loving Someone the World Hates
Michele Matrisciani
Award-winning author, founder of Bookchic LLC
Bookchic LLC
Episode: You're Not Alone: Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani on the Hidden Costs of Loving Someone the World Hates

Host

Margo Tantau
Host of Windowsill Chats

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 626 ratings
  • My Go-to Listen

    I love Margo’s interviewing style - I feel part of the conversation. She brings in creatives from all disciplines. I learn so much about their approaches, challenges, passions, and backstories. Very relatable to me, a graphic designer for 30+ years. I do long drives often and Margo is with me for the ride! I joined The Foundry for more Margo.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HelloHelenSeeWhy
    United States2 months ago
  • What a fantastic arts podcast!

    I just listened to the episode with Daisy Fancourt on the healing power of the arts and I was so inspired! I love the thoughtful questions Margot asked her and the way she held the space for such a warm, lovely conversation. I listened as I sat in my art studio working on a slow stitching project and found that I went from anxious about some health related issues in my life to calm and happy with a more positive outlook by the time I was done listening. Thank you, Margot and Daisy for sharing yo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    So helpful and insightful!
    United States3 months ago
  • This podcast has lost all credibility

    I was absolutely shocked to listen to the latest podcast. Using AI in any form as an artist is completely unethical and I’m horrified that you are encouraging the use of a cognitive decline machine, built on the theft of creatives to enrich billionaires. Not to mention the environmental impacts and waste of resources. Normalising the use of ai in this manner is disgusting. As someone with a large platform you have a responsibility to maintain ethical standards and this is truly shameful.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    IronMaven80
    Australia9 months ago
  • A Masterpiece

    Margo’s collection of interviews is a masterpiece! Listening to them is inspiring. I enjoy how Margo supports and encourages her guests as she brings out the best of their knowledge and experiences to share with the rest of us. I appreciate the work of this very genuine host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AKHS13
    United States9 months ago
  • Creative Reality

    Your show has a lovely authenticity that plops the listener right into the conversation. I particularly enjoyed listening to your recent episode with the fabulous Ashley Lohr. Tenacity and flexibility are key to making a creative life that looks like you wish.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lisa Schramek Adams
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners voice concerns about ethics around AI in creative work and perceive occasional misalignment with their values, though this is not the majority view.
Listeners praise the host and guests for authentic, warm conversations that feel like a friendly, inspiring chat with fellow creatives.
Audience benefits from practical takeaways and mindset shifts for building a creative practice.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#199
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#238
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#209
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#118
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#149
Finland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Just Because It's Working Doesn't Mean You Have to Keep Doing It with Lisa Congdon
Q: For the artists listening whose shop or product business has quietly swallowed their art practice, what do you think is the first honest question they should ask themselves?
Congdon recommends asking whether the work brings joy and whether the person feels excited to go to their studio, office, store, or fulfillment center. She says persistent worry may reflect both a personal tendency and a mismatch with the life they want, and she chose more freedom, flexibility, and time for personal art.
Just Because It's Working Doesn't Mean You Have to Keep Doing It with Lisa Congdon
Q: Can you share a little bit about the decisions you made to change how your business looked this year?
Congdon had been considering downsizing or closing her retail business for years because it brought ongoing financial, operational, and managerial pressure. A stressful moment while handling employee-benefit paperwork made clear she wanted to act sooner, and she chose to close the retail operation while keeping a limited online shop and pursuing art, client work, and teaching.
The Art of Figuring It Out: Permission to Pivot and Building a Creative Life at Any Age with Jennifer Smelker
Q: What would be a mindset shift or a way to maybe break through that you might suggest if somebody is wishing they could take that next step?
Smelker recommends finding a supportive creative community and giving yourself permission and time to experiment. She says making art for practice rather than immediate productivity helped her feel less blocked.
The Art of Figuring It Out: Permission to Pivot and Building a Creative Life at Any Age with Jennifer Smelker
Q: What do you think helped that breakthrough?
Smelker says setting aside dedicated time and working alongside other creative people made the difference. The retreat gave her room to practice without everyday business distractions and encouragement from artists at different experience levels.
Full Circle: Reinventing Your Creative Identity Later in Life, with Nosheen Ahmed
Q: I would love to know a little bit more about your new book, Living Creatively in a Non-Creative World. Who is it for, and what do you wish someone had handed you 20 years ago?
The book is for people who feel typecast or like they don't belong in their creative world, showing that you can still be creative in a non-creative job and that you can blend both worlds with grace. It emphasizes accepting dual identities, giving yourself permission to be creative where you are, and finding everyday moments of creativity even when life is busy.

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 Windowsill Chats

What is Windowsill Chats about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A warmly hosted show that centers on creative livelihoods, crafts, and the practicalities of building a life around making art. Episodes frequently explore publishing, storytelling, collaboration, and turning passion into a sustainable business, with guests spanning illustration, design, photography, ceramics, textiles, and curatorial practice. The host tends to spotlight community, joy, and slow, deliberate growth over hype, often inviting guests to share tangible strategies for creative entrepreneurship, career pivots, and the emotional realities of creative work. A notable strength is the diverse roster of guests from multiple art disciplines, plus a calm, encouraging interview style that helps listeners feel part of a creative community... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Windowsill Chats?

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How many listeners does Windowsill Chats get?

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What are the audience demographics for Windowsill Chats?

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How many subscribers and views does Windowsill Chats have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Windowsill Chats 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 Windowsill Chats?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Windowsill Chats:

1. Creative Pep Talk
2. Learn to Paint Podcast
3. The Laura Horn Art Podcast
4. The Good Ship Illustration
5. 3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast

How many episodes of Windowsill Chats are there?

Windowsill Chats launched 6 years ago and published 347 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Windowsill Chats?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Windowsill Chats?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Windowsill Chats from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Windowsill Chats?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Windowsill Chats. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Windowsill Chats?

Recent guests on Windowsill Chats include:

1. Lisa Congdon
2. Jennifer Smelker
3. Abby Campbell
4. Jane Ward
5. Tania Willis
6. Abby Jacobs
7. Nosheen Ahmed
8. Melissa Moore

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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