Talking to Trees and Dealing with Depression: D’Arcy’s 2025 Reflection
Play It Brave Podcast
Welcome to the final episode of 2025 — the year of the snake, the year of shedding skins that no longer fit. If this year felt like a raw unraveling, a call to deeper truth, a refusal from the Universe to let you live inside half-truths or “good enough,” this episode is for you. As has become tradition, I invited one of my wisest, most grounded friends — Casey — to interview me about my year. She’s someone who’s seen my behind-the-scenes, the unglamorous parts, the sacred parts, the parts that never make it to Instagram. And because this was a year of immense change, grief,...
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The Art of High-End Weddings with Dawn Weisberg of Tularosa Flowers
Play It Brave Podcast
In today’s episode, I’m talking with my friend Dawn Weisberg of Tularosa Flowers about what it actually takes to create and book large-scale luxury weddings — not just from a “pretty” standpoint, but from a strategic, energetic, and logistical one. Dawn and I both came to the wedding industry later in life with long creative careers behind us — mine in directing and acting, hers in costume design for film and television. We get into how those backgrounds shaped the way we approach weddings as world-building: cinematic, intentional, immersive, and deeply rooted in storytelling. We...
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Live Coaching: When Marketing Feels Like Too Much (And What to Do Instead)
Play It Brave Podcast
On today’s episode of Play It Brave, I’m bringing you behind the scenes for Part Two of my coaching call with photographer Staci Addison. In Part One, we focused on nervous system safety, trauma, and getting her out of chronic fight-or-flight so she could actually show up for her business. In this Part Two, we shift into strategy – creating a marketing plan that feels simple, sustainable, and true to who she is, instead of a giant pile of “shoulds” that leave her frozen and overwhelmed. I walk Staci through how to narrow her focus to just a few key marketing channels, how to build...
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Live Coaching: When You Want to Grow, But Your Body Says No
Play It Brave Podcast
Today I’m sharing something different: a real coaching call with my client, Staci Addison. Instead of jumping straight into marketing, we start where sustainable growth actually begins—helping your nervous system feel safe after grief, burnout, and a long, hard season. Most creatives don’t get stuck because they lack strategy; they get stuck because fear, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and old money stories keep their bodies from feeling safe enough to take action. When we rebuild safety and self-trust, the execution part finally clicks. On this call, I guide Staci to separate the...
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The Price of Status: What It Really Takes to Get Published with Sandra Åberg
Play It Brave Podcast
Today I’m joined by my brilliant friend, fashion-and-wedding photographer Sandra Åberg, for a real talk we’ve both been having off-mic for years: does being “published” (Vogue, Harper’s, Martha) actually mean you’ve arrived—or is it another industry illusion that keeps creatives chasing validation? We swap origin stories (Milan fashion sets, Sports Illustrated mayhem, and stumbling into weddings), talk integrity lines, and share the unseen mechanics behind advertorials, vendor lists, and “top” roundups—what’s paid, what’s earned, and what actually moves the needle in a...
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The Myth of the Perfect Leader with Jessica Drogosz
Play It Brave Podcast
If you’ve ever paused on your next chapter because you think you need to be “more ready” or “more perfect,” this one’s for you. My dear friend, multi-hyphenate creative and mentor Jessica Eileen Drogosz joins me to dismantle the myth that leaders must have it all together before they lead. From building associate teams and separating brands to launching a heart-led coaching offer, Jessica shares the real (and often messy) middle—where clarity, courage, and connection are forged. So many of you are standing on the edge of your next season—coaching, teaching, creating a course,...
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How to Get Published: PR Strategies for Creatives with Meghan Ely
Play It Brave Podcast
I almost never say yes to cold pitches. But one late night, I opened an email from Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting—and instead of deleting it, I hit reply. It was researched, personal, and actually useful. That same energy comes through in this conversation, where Meghan shares how she’s helped creatives land features in The New York Times, Brides, Martha Stewart, People, and more. This episode will shift how you think about PR—not as something reserved for celebrities or giant corporations, but as a powerful tool for any creative entrepreneur ready to be seen. In this episode, we cover: ...
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How to Build an Aligned Business with Brad & Jen
Play It Brave Podcast
Have you ever built something that looked incredible from the outside…but didn’t actually feel good to live in? I’ve been there, and so have today’s guests, Brad & Jen. Brad & Jen are a husband-and-wife photography duo with over a decade of experience behind the camera and in business. When I first came across their words on Instagram, I was struck by how different their perspective was from the usual “grow faster, do more” business advice. Their work and their message are both rooted in something deeper: artistry with intention. In this conversation, we dive into what it...
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From Scarcity to Confidence: Collaboration in the Creative Industry with Carrie Moe
Play It Brave Podcast
On today’s episode of Play It Brave, I’m joined by my dear friend, the incredible creative and leader, Carrie Moe. Carrie is someone I deeply admire—not only because of her talent (she’s styled for brands like Ritz-Carlton, Fujifilm, and Berta Bridal, and been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and Brides), but because of the way she approaches her work with confidence, creativity, and so much integrity. We dive into: ✨ Why collaboration is more powerful than competition in the creative industry. ✨ The myth of “falling behind” and how to release the pressure to keep...
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How to Write Your Story with Marion Roach Smith
Play It Brave Podcast
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Marion Roach Smith—author, memoir coach, and one of the most no-nonsense, truth-telling voices in the writing world. We talked all about memoir writing—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s one of the most powerful tools for making sense of your life and sharing your story with the world. Marion shares how her background in journalism shaped her writing process, and how she developed what she calls the “memoir algorithm”—a simple but profound method to help you find the universal themes in your...
info_outlineThere’s still time to join D’Arcy’s Profitable Portfolio course and five-week mastermind, starting October 9. Think of how your business can grow in just five weeks, with personalized coaching and portfolio review from D’Arcy herself, live accountability and community support from an incredible group of like-minded photographers, proven strategies for booking higher-paying clients, confidence and clarity about your pricing and positioning, and comprehensive resources and implementation support for everything you learn. Don’t delay - we start October 9!
Join now: https://darcybenincosa.com/profitable-portfolio-bonuses
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In this episode of the Play It Brave podcast, D’Arcy Benincosa dives deep into the often overlooked but critically important topic of business energetics. She explains that business strategy and execution are just one piece of the puzzle - the energy and mindset you bring to your business is equally, if not more, impactful.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode offers invaluable wisdom on harnessing the power of business energetics. Don't miss it!