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172. Is Money Your Friend or Your Worst Enemy? - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

Release Date: 09/18/2025

189. The Creative's Guide to Screening Your First Hire - Martine Severin show art 189. The Creative's Guide to Screening Your First Hire - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

Hiring your first helper is exciting, but it can also be terrifying. After keeping the wrong person on my team for far too long, I realized I had been focusing on all the wrong things. Skills on a resume are table stakes, but you cannot teach someone to care about the details the way you do. In this episode (Part 2 of our hiring series), I am pulling back the curtain on the screening process that saved me from making that mistake again. I share the specific, behavioral questions I now ask to uncover a candidate's true values, the red flags that signal a poor fit, and the single most important...

info_outline 188. Think you need to hire someone? Your exhaustion might be lying to you - Martine Severin show art 188. Think you need to hire someone? Your exhaustion might be lying to you - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

Some creatives hire when they're overwhelmed, not when they're ready to lead. Before you bring on that intern or assistant, you need clarity on what you're handing off, bandwidth to train them, and rock-solid values they can execute on. I’m pleased to share the hiring frameworks that rocked my world when it came to bringing on new team members.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Four-Part Series on Hiring 01:06 The Mistake: Hiring When You Are Not Ready to Lead 02:08 Question 1: What Specific Work Are You Handing Off? 02:49 Question 2: Can You Afford to Train Someone (With Time)? 03:31...

info_outline 187. What an Afro Comb Can Teach You about Design - Jomo Tariku show art 187. What an Afro Comb Can Teach You about Design - Jomo Tariku

This is How We Create

What does it take to change an entire industry? Thirty years ago, Jomo Tariku, then an industrial design student, noticed something profound missing in his university library: contemporary African furniture designers. This observation sparked a decades-long journey of persistence and vision. I sit down with Jomo to discuss his path from sketching designs in his garage while working other jobs to having his celebrated work featured in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He shares how his father's incredible story as a refugee gave him the hubris to...

info_outline 186. The Quiet Persistence of Creativity - Martine Severin show art 186. The Quiet Persistence of Creativity - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

I have been thinking a lot lately about the difference between the loud hustle culture of constant visibility and the profound power of simply refusing to give up, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Join me in this episode as I share unexpected lessons in persistence, inspired by Death Valley.  Chapters 00:00 - The Unlikely Pairing: Death Valley and Dehydrated Shrimp 01:50 - The Persistence of Fairy Shrimp and Resurrection Moss 02:30 - Redefining Persistence: Why Dormancy is Not Failure 03:40 - When Your Rain Comes: Being Ready to Rise 04:30 - Nature’s Pep Talk: The Audacity...

info_outline 185. The Courage to Trust the Process - Bria Gladney show art 185. The Courage to Trust the Process - Bria Gladney

This is How We Create

Every so often, we come across an artist whose journey reminds us that creativity is a promise of transformation. What started as a project to design graduation caps (that then went viral) evolved into a story of artistic evolution, mental health healing, and finding purpose through creativity. In this episode, mixed media textile artist Bria Gladney reveals how the most meaningful art comes from the intersection of personal healing, community impact, and the courage to trust the process. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bria Gladney and Her Journey 03:02 From Class Clown to Pencil: Early...

info_outline 184. How to Find Your Own Creative Mantra - Martine Severin show art 184. How to Find Your Own Creative Mantra - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

I recently spent time hiking the Four Corners (you know, the area in the US where the states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico form corners). After pushing my body to its limits, I ended up on a massage table where an unexpected mantra changed my perspective.  This mantra made me ask: if we have mantras for meditation and our bodies, why not for our creative practice? We, as creatives, spend so much time battling imposter syndrome and the endless feelings of "not enough". Why not use mantras to help us dip into the springwell of our creativity.   Chapters 00:00 Welcome: A...

info_outline 183. The Art of World-Building as an Author - Navi' Robins show art 183. The Art of World-Building as an Author - Navi' Robins

This is How We Create

How does a creative professional build a portfolio of 18 books? My guest today, Navi' Robins, is a Chicago-born author and graphic designer who does just that. His creative perspective was shaped by a childhood spent living across five continents. In our conversation, Navi' shares the inspiration behind his new Black Lotus trilogy, a futuristic world where men have been eradicated, and how real-world political events sparked the idea. We dig into his process as a "freestyle writer",  his secrets to dynamic world-building, and the fearless habit he relies on to push the boundaries of his...

info_outline 182. How Creatives Really Make a Living - Martine Severin show art 182. How Creatives Really Make a Living - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

Have you wondered about the gap between the beautiful work on artists’ websites and the reality of making a living off of your creative work? Join three incredible artists: illustrator Andrea Pippins, illustrator Alex Cabal, and photographer Chris Charles, who share their "income pie." They reveal that making it is a result of royalties, commissions, speaking gigs, and consulting that supports their creative life.  Chapters 00:00 - The Reality of Paying Rent as an Artist  02:15 - Understanding the "Income Pie" (Feat. Andrea Pippins)  04:28 - Andrea Pippins Shares Her Income...

info_outline 181. Capturing Authentic Emotion in Photography - Sage East show art 181. Capturing Authentic Emotion in Photography - Sage East

This is How We Create

Ever feel trapped shooting the same bright, clean images everyone expects? Photographer Sage East knows that struggle. After landing her first big Puma campaign with perfectly lit, commercial-ready shots, she realized something was missing - soul.  In this episode, the photographer behind campaigns for Nike, Google, Netflix, and Dior reveals how she transformed her work from safe and sterile to moody and magnetic. Learn how she developed her mantra "I don't shoot what it looks like, I shoot what it feels like" and discover the specific techniques she used to find her signature warm,...

info_outline 180. More Slices, More Freedom: The Income Streams of a Multipassionate Creative - Martine Severin show art 180. More Slices, More Freedom: The Income Streams of a Multipassionate Creative - Martine Severin

This is How We Create

Turns out most successful creative careers are funded by multiple streams.  If you've ever felt that cobbling it together means you haven't truly arrived, this episode is a reminder that you're building something sustainable, resilient, and entirely your own. Chapters 00:00 - The Secret Feeling of Being a Fraud  02:17 - The "Income Pie" Revelation  04:37 - Why Your Pie is a Source of Freedom, Not Failure  06:55 - How Bridge Work Sustains the Dream Work  09:09 - Homework: How to Draw Your Own Income Pie  11:34 - You Are Building Something Sustainable   Book...

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More Episodes

What's your relationship with money? Is it your friend, your enemy, or something much more complicated? In this episode, I discuss a topic we all think about but rarely talk about: money.  

We'll explore the science of how money stress affects our creative brains and unpack the family stories that shape our financial habits. We’ll guide you through actionable steps and a few mindset shifts, including the powerful "Honey Money" concept, that have helped me build a healthier, more abundant relationship with my finances.

 This episode is for any creative who's ready to rewrite their money story and build a life that feels not just creatively fulfilling, but financially safe and expansive.

Chapters

00:00 - My Money Story: From Haiti to a Scarcity Mindset

03:05 - The Science of Money Stress: How Scarcity Affects Your Brain

05:15 - Unpacking Your Family's Money History

07:00 - The Five-Step Journey to a New Mindset

11:10 - Books That Will Change Your Relationship with Money

15:30 - Meet 'Honey Money': A Simple Practice for Abundance

18:18 - A Gentle Warning and Where to Find Help

 

Here is the list of books and resources to help you reframe your relationship with money:

Mental Health & Crisis Resources

Please remember, your well-being matters more than any amount of money. If you are struggling, please reach out to these resources for support.

  • Crisis Text Line: For immediate support, text HOME to 741741.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: You can call or text 988 to connect with the prevention line.

  • Psychology Today: A resource to help you find a therapist in your area.

 

Support the Show

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

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This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

 

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