The Creative Business Community Podcast

Season One Wrap Up!

It’s our Season One finale and 30th episode! In this episode, Erin and Ronnie look back at the moments that mattered most, from the unexpectedly powerful chat on creativity and mental health to the lessons learned from an incredible line-up of guests.
They distil five big takeaways — why simple social media is worth it, how branding sets your foundation, the non‑negotiable admin, business plans that actually guide you, and why community always beats competition. You’ll also hear how structure creates space for creative play, why balance is a shared struggle, and how past life experience can supercharge your creative business.
Go behind the scenes with honest confessions about batching, editing mishaps, tech hiccups and those days when the vibes just aren’t vibing (plus the eternal studio debate: coffee vs Diet Coke). Then, a sneak peek at Season Two: deeper dives into the Instagram algorithm, influencers and AI, working with friends and family, real talk on money and accounting with expert guests, and fresh voices from across creative industries—yes, even a spicy romance author (well, a girl can dream anyway!).
We want your input to shape what’s next. Share your thoughts via the feedback form in the show notes for the chance to snag a free mini social media audit (or setup basics if you’re just starting out). Join the Creative Business Community Hub on Facebook and connect with us on socials. 
Let us know your thoughts about the Creative Business Community Podcast! We are busy planning season 2 and want to make sure we are hitting the mark. As an added incentive, if you fill in the feedback form, you go in the draw to win a FREE social media audit! Don't have your social media set up? No worries, instead we can offer you a FREE consult to get them set up!
 
Let Us Know Your Thoughts Here: https://forms.monday.com/forms/6f29a91726408721cb7f4963f9731789?r=use1

Going Viral - The Dream, The Myth, The Reality

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin is joined by our PR and marketing whiz, Renee, to unpack the hype around “going viral” — why it shouldn’t be your north star and what to focus on instead.
 
We dig into what viral really means across platforms (including the surprise rise of Facebook Reels), the metrics that matter most (views vs viewers, watch time and location), and the hidden downsides — trolls, admin blowouts and audiences that won’t convert. Renee shares a real-world case study from our client Women on the Tools, whose 1.6M-view reel delivered sold-out workshops, media attention and global enquiries — along with serious operational overwhelm.
You’ll come away with practical ways to prepare and profit: set up auto-responses and funnels, balance awareness and sales content, write emotion-led hooks, caption for sound-off viewing, and know when to boost or back off.
 
Plus, our Creative Business Spotlight!Creative Business Spotlight:
Seed StationWebsite: https://www.seedstation.com.au/ Instagram: @seed.stationFacebook: Seed Station

Creative Voice - What is it?

This week on the Creative Business Community pod, Erin and Ronnie are chatting all things creative voice — what it is, how to find it, and why it shifts as you do. Think of it as your creative fingerprint: the style, tone and vibes that make people go, “yep, that’s yours.” They talk inspiration vs straight-up copying (and why credit matters), plus simple ways to sharpen your style — revisit old work, follow your curiosity, have a play in low-pressure mediums, and come back to your why.
You’ll also hear how to navigate creative ruts, step away from the algorithm to protect your spark, and even build an “analogue bag” to reset when screens or sales pressure start to stifle your flow. Plus, the power of community feedback when friends and family don’t quite get it.
And of course, our Creative Business Spotlight!
Creative Business Spotlight:
Master and DameWebsite: https://www.masteranddame.com.au/ Instagram: @masteranddameFacebook: Master and Dame

In Conversation with Fizz Ink

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with Perth tattoo icon Fizz of Fizz Ink — the artist behind most of Erin’s own ink and a well known name for colourful work, big heart and making clients feel safe in a vulnerable process. Fizz traces her path from sketching designs and selling on Facebook as a teen to landing an apprenticeship in 2010, and unpacks how social media has reshaped portfolios, apprenticeships and the people skills needed to thrive.
We dive into the real cost of running a creative studio: navigating councils and health regs, commercial leases, tax, hiring friends, setting boundaries and protecting quality — plus the COVID surge of tattoo artists, today’s saturated market and skyrocketing insurance. Fizz gets candid about the physical toll of tattooing, the tough call to close her much-loved Midland studio in 2025, and how stepping back to focus on art at Hood Royals in Gosnells has rekindled her creativity.
You’ll hear grounded advice for aspiring tattooists — build a brand, nurture your socials and your soft skills, look after your body, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket — along with a playful quickfire round and our Creative Business Spotlight.
Connect with our guest! Find Fizz Ink:Website: https://fizzinktattoo.bigcartel.com/ TikTok: @fizzinktattooInstagram: @fizzinkHood Royals Tattoo StudioCreative Business Spotlight:
Ella MobbsWebsite: https://ellamobbsart.com/ Instagram: @ella_mobbs_artTikTok: @ella_mobbs_artFacebook: Ella Mobbs ArtPinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/ella_mobbs_art/ 

AI - You Can't Ignore It

This week we’re chatting AI — what it actually looks like for creatives in 2026, beyond just ChatGPT. Renee’s back to talk about on where it’s popping up (Canva, Adobe, your inbox, schedulers, even Meta ads) and how to use it without losing your voice or your values.
We swap easy, time-saving wins — turning brain-dumps into clean copy, brainstorming post ideas, softening tone, proofreading, planning content, and setting up auto-replies so you can actually have a weekend. We also call out the traps: dodgy “facts” and made-up quotes, US vs AU spelling, AI images that misrepresent your product, ad “enhancements” that burn budget, and those uncanny celeb-style voiceovers.
Big picture: keep your creative muscles working — AI’s a tool, not the whole process. Be transparent when it helps, and flick off default AI settings that don’t serve you. Your ideal customers still want the real, human-made stuff (they can spot the AI ick a mile away).
Plus, super simple, ethical prompt tips to get started today, and of course, our Creative Business Spotlight!
Creative Business Spotlight:
EarthboundWebsite: https://earthboundstudio.org/ Instagram: @earthbound_studioFacebook: Earthbound Studio

In Conversation with Maple & Wren

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with El from Maple and Wren — the Perth floral studio renowned for intentional, timeless floral moments — and the brains behind the Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy. El talks with us about her move swapping her government comms and corporate events job to running her own business, going from market‑stall flower crowns to luxe weddings, big‑deal installs and a buzzing education arm.
We get into how she niched down and proved that what you show is what you attract, how she builds and trusts a team with clear briefs and mood boards (and lets go of the “my way” stuff when it doesn’t matter), and how she juggles being both creative and CEO — finding fresh spark in marketing, shop curation and new products. She also shares the real‑life rhythms keeping burnout at bay: crack‑of‑dawn walks, calendar blocking, Friday family movie night and the whole glass‑vs‑plastic balls mindset. Plus, she’s scaling with intention — acquiring Zest Flowers in Dunsborough and opening a new Beaufort Street store in Perth — and teaching the modern, on‑trend wedding design she wished existed when she started.
It’s a fun, practical, heart‑led chat about building a luxury creative brand without losing the joy of making. 
 
Connect with our guest! Find Maple and Wren:Website: https://mapleandwren.com.au/ Instagram: @mapleandwrenFacebook: Maple and Wren
Find Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy:Website: https://www.mwfloralartacademy.com.au/ Instagram: @mapleandwren_floralartacademyFacebook: Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy
Find Zest Flowers:Website: https://www.zestflowers.com.au/ Instagram: @zestflowersFacebook: Zest Flowers
 
Creative Business Spotlight:
The Dainty CoWebsite: https://www.thedaintyco.com.au/ Instagram: @thedainty_coFacebook: The Dainty CoYouTube: Coralie Carosin

Social Media Scheduling: Tools, Not a Strategy

This week we’re talking social media scheduling software — what it is, whether you really need it, and how to use it without losing the human touch. We’ll cover batching and auto‑publishing, planning with calendars and feed previews, and why scheduling is a tool (not a strategy).
You’ll hear why you still need to keep showing up (think engagement), how platform nuances matter, and which metrics actually count now — think watch time, saves, shares and carousel swipes over likes.
We touch on analytics, from native insights in Meta to when paid tools like Loomly make sense for multi‑brand workflows. You’ll learn how to align content to business goals with clear calls to action, write SEO‑friendly captions that can surface on Google, and free up headspace by setting a realistic posting rhythm.
Plus, practical ways to start: use free options and trials, lean on tutorials, ask the community—and choose the platform you’ll actually use. 
Creative Business Spotlight:
Modern HomewaresInstagram: @modernhomewares Facebook: Modern Homewares

In Conversation with Not Yet Perfect Studio

This week, Erin sits down with Lucy, founder of Not Yet Perfect — a boutique pottery studio in Applecross known for soul‑soothing workshops and masterclasses — to explore how letting go can unlock your best creative and business work.
Born in Norway, raised in WA’s southwest and forged in a decade of fashion, Lucy shares how a surprise stint teaching at‑risk teens led her to pottery as a grounding practice, first in her lounge room with wine and clay, then via Gumtree classes, and eventually into a thriving studio space of their own. We dive into separating creativity from business identity, building resilience by self‑educating (yes, even through boring books), growing organically, and getting radically honest — about money, motives and the mundane daily habits that actually move the wheel.
You’ll hear how community shaped her systems during COVID, why becoming your own cheerleader matters, and Lucy’s beautiful “vessel” metaphor for holding space, creativity and business without losing yourself. Plus a quick‑fire round: weekly Ghost references, meditation as a must, green juice, sewing comebacks and big clay vessels. If you’re a creative wrestling with perfectionism, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.
Connect with our guest! Find Not Yet Perfect:Website: https://www.notyetperfect.com/ Instagram: @nyperfectFacebook: Not Yet PerfectCreative Business Spotlight:
Coralie Carosin of Coco StudioWebsite: https://www.cocostudio.com.au/ Instagram: @coralie.carosinYouTube: Coralie Carosin

Systems That Set Your Creativity Free

Note: In this episode we chat about reporting income, the idea of an income “threshold”, and when your creative pursuit is considered a business vs a hobby for tax purposes. After recording, we double-checked the details to make sure you have the most accurate information - please see the list at the bottom for links to relevant websites. 
 
This week we’re talking about the unsexy side of creative business. Admin admin, systems and boundaries that help to turn a passion project into a profitable, sustainable venture.
Erin and Ronnie unpack how to shift your mindset, track money without tears, and stop your creativity from sliding into “expensive hobby” territory. Expect practical, low-cost ways to get organised. We also dig into project management tools, using automations and email templates to save hours, valuing your time, and setting gentle but firm boundaries.
You’ll also hear practical ways to avoid burnout: time-blocking “boring” tasks, creating rituals or rewards to get through them, and protecting play time so your creativity keeps flourishing. Our quick-start tip? Book just 10–15 minutes a week to tackle the task you dread most — consistency beats overwhelm every time.
Plus, a heads-up on our Small Business 101 workshop, and this week’s Creative Business Spotlight. 
Book Into our Small Business 101 WorkshopDate: Wednesday April 29th 2026Time: 10am - 12pmLocation: Goolugatup Heathcote, Applecross, PerthBOOK NOW
Creative Business Spotlight:
Not Yet Perfect Pottery StudioWebsite: https://www.notyetperfect.com/ Instagram: @nyperfectFacebook:  The Potters Market
From Our Note:
In Australia, there is no specific income threshold that determines whether you are considered a business. It’s based on a range of factors outlined by the ATO.
If you are operating as a sole trader, the first $18,200 is generally the tax-free threshold (subject to your individual circumstances).
For more detailed and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources below:
ATO – Are you in business?https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/starting-registering-or-closing-a-business/starting-your-own-business/are-you-in-business
Business.gov.au – Difference between a hobby and a businesshttps://business.gov.au/planning/new-businesses/difference-between-a-business-and-a-hobby
ATO – Assessable business incomehttps://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/income-and-deductions-for-business/assessable-income
As always, we recommend speaking with a registered accountant or tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

Keeping the Joy: Balancing Creativity and Business with Emilie from House of Hobby

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with artist and House of Hobby founder Emilie Otto again for a chat about keeping your personal creativity alive while you run a creative small business. They unpack what happens when you take a beloved hobby and turn it into a business — and how to protect the joy when the admin, timelines and “make what sells” mentality creep in.
They explore the very real guilt of “not creating enough,” the shift away from hands‑on everyday skills, and how reclaiming simple lifestyle making—mending, sewing, cooking—can rebalance your week.
Emilie also shares what she delegated first, why teaching fuels her own creativity, and a reassuring reminder that many “creative” businesses are, at their core, events or retail operations — so you don’t have to be wildly arty to run one well.
 
Connect with our guest! Find House of Hobby:Website: https://www.houseofhobby.net/ Instagram: @houseofhobbyauFacebook: House of HobbyTikTok: @houseofhobby
Connect with our guest! Find Emilie Otto Art:Website: https://emilieotto.com.au/Instagram: @emilieottoartFacebook: Emilie Otto ArtYouTube: Emilie Otto ArtCreative Business Spotlight:
Kalamunda Art GlassWebsite: https://artglasssupplies.com.au/ Books Mentioned in the Podcast:Craft for the Soul by Pip Lincolne Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert