Creative Playdate

Are you pursuing a creative career while also raising children? Creative Playdate is dedicated to bringing you stories from people navigating the world of parenthood while maintaining their own creative business. The show is produced by Michelle Kondrich with theme music from Thomas James. Learn more about the show at www.michellekondrich.com/creativeplaydate.

Cultivating Creative Communities with Andrea Pippins 01/29/2019

Cultivating Creative Communities with Andrea Pippins Today's interview is with the wonderful illustrator and author, Andrea Pippins. She is passionate about empowering young girls and also about helping us all create our own communities for support and inspiration. She even wrote a book about it, called We Inspire Me. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/8424338

Four Starts with F for a Reason: Tom and Amanda Froese 12/20/2018

Four Starts with F for a Reason: Tom and Amanda Froese The last episode of 2018 features an interview with the lovely Tom and Amanda Froese. Tom is a commercial artist whose work can be seen in publications like The Walrus and Harvard Business Review. He also creates illustrations for children's books, beer labels and even ceramics. Amanda is a Design Director at Partners & Hawes and is able to work from home alongside Tom. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/7982234

Episode 24: Steve Folland and Being Freelance 11/13/2018

Episode 24: Steve Folland and Being Freelance After chatting with Steve Folland on his podcast, Being Freelance, last year I knew I wanted to get him onto Creative Playdate. If anyone is mastering the art of freelancing while parenting, Steve is. Steve started working freelance full-time when his children were young. We talk about Steve's work and how he managed to take off the entire month of August, while his kids were on vacation from school and how sometimes saying no is the best thing for YOU, not just your business. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/7545215

Episode 23: Selina Alko 10/24/2018

Episode 23: Selina Alko In episode 23, I interview children's book author and illustrator, Selina Alko. Selina grew up in Canada and lives in Brooklyn, NY. She has two children who are in the middle of adolescence and we talk about what that looks like at home. We discuss the challenges and benefits of raising biracial children in New York and we also talk about whether or not being a mother slowed down her career. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/7298777

Episode 22: Interview with Debbie Millman 10/03/2018

Episode 22: Interview with Debbie Millman Debbie Millman, everyone! This episode of Creative Playdate is a bit different than all the other episodes so far because this one is NOT about parenting. Debbie Millman is many things, including a designer, brand consultant and founder and host of one of the world's longest running podcasts, Design Matters. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/7124694

Episode 21: Interview with Michael Byers 09/17/2018

Episode 21: Interview with Michael Byers Episode 21 of Creative Playdate features an interview with Canadian illustrator and super nice guy, Michael Byers. His editorial illustration is whimsical and colorful and always includes a touch of humor - as is Michael, himself. We talk about whether or not we should be properly dressed to take our kids to school and Michael mentions a lot of great writing on creativity that is worth checking out. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/7055492

Interview with Francesca Tortora 08/07/2018

Interview with Francesca Tortora You are going to LOVE this episode with Francesca Tortora of Doing It For the Kids (DIFTK)! She has created an incredible community of freelance parents and I only wish she could do some meetup events in the US. We learn about her journey to being a parent, freelance graphic designer and founder of DIFTK. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6898045

Episode 19: Interview with Regina Flath 07/19/2018

Episode 19: Interview with Regina Flath I am back from ICON with a great new episode featuring book designer and art director Regina Flath! She gives a nice overview of how Penguin Random House chooses illustrators, what they are looking for and how often they use stock images, illustration or their own photoshoots for book covers. One of her latest, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White is among her favorite recent projects. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6829221

Episode 18: Interview with Melinda Beck 06/26/2018

Episode 18: Interview with Melinda Beck I am super happy I had the chance to interview Melinda Beck for the show. She's an incredible illustrator and graphic designer who showcases a wide range of styles. And you can certainly see the graphic design influence in her illustration. We talk about what it's like to be a freelance illustrator while raising two teenage girls and what childhood in New York City is like. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6743366

Episode 17: Interview with Dan Santat 06/05/2018

Episode 17: Interview with Dan Santat I am very pleased to have children's book illustrator and author, Dan Santat on the show. We talk about his career and the effect that winning the Caldecott Medal has had on the way he approaches his work and his place in the children's book industry. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6671520

Episode 16: Interview with Merlin Strangeway 05/13/2018

Episode 16: Interview with Merlin Strangeway I'm thrilled to be back with new episodes and I'm kicking off the season with medical illustrator, Merlin Strangeway. Her work is incredibly varied in both style and technique, which is necessitated, somewhat, by the field. The work Merlin does with clients is fascinating and I think you'll enjoy learning more about the world of medical illustration. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6578779

Episode 15: Interview with Jessica Abel 02/01/2018

Episode 15: Interview with Jessica Abel This week's episode features the incredibly talented Jessica Abel. Her list of accomplishments is far too long for these show notes but you may know her from her graphic novels, like La Perdida or Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars, her textbook Drawing Words & Writing Pictures (written with husband, Matt Madden) or she may even be your teacher. Somehow she's been able to do all of these things all while raising two children. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6210236

Episode 14: Interview with Chris & Jennifer Sickels 01/18/2018

Episode 14: Interview with Chris & Jennifer Sickels The penultimate episode of Creative Playdate is an interview with Chris & Jennifer Sickels! You likely know Chris as Red Nose Studio. I was thrilled when Chris suggested his wife, Jennifer, join in the conversation. It's the first time I've had a partner one who is not also working as a creative. It's important that the people behind the scenes who support these crazy careers we've chosen get all the respect and gratitude that they deserve. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6136438

Episode 13: Interview with Santiago Uceda 12/15/2017

Episode 13: Interview with Santiago Uceda The last episode of Creative Playdate for the year is a wonderful interview with illustrator, motion graphics artist, and designer Santiago Uceda. His work has so much character. He talks about how is illustration used to be very dark but that his family has helped to inject more hope into the work. You can read a great interview with Santiago and his partner, Jen Bell, in Family Circle about their blended family and lives. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/6049362

Episode 12: Interview with Jannie Ho 11/30/2017

Episode 12: Interview with Jannie Ho Episode 12 features an interview with children's illustrator Jannie Ho. Her work is everywhere - books, educational magazines, toys, games, stickers, even dinnerware! She is the mother of a six year old daughter and has her debut author/illustrator picture book, Bear and Chicken, out now! /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5991856

Episode 11: Interview with Andi Butler - Part 2 11/16/2017

Episode 11: Interview with Andi Butler - Part 2 This week I've got a special, two-part episode with illustrator and surface pattern designer Andi Butler. We had a lengthy conversation about both her experience in the surface pattern design industry as well as her experience raising two boys, one of whom is autistic. I've split the conversation into two parts - the first part covers more of her work life and the second goes into parenting much more. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5951495

Episode 11: Interview with Andi Butler - Part 1 11/16/2017

Episode 11: Interview with Andi Butler - Part 1 This week I've got a special, two-part episode with illustrator and surface pattern designer Andi Butler. We had a lengthy conversation about both her experience in the surface pattern design industry as well as her experience raising two boys, one of whom is autistic. I've split the conversation into two parts - the first part covers more of her work life and the second goes into parenting much more. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5951474

Episode 10: Interview with Britt Wilson 11/03/2017

Episode 10: Interview with Britt Wilson Today's episode was a supper fun, casual conversation with illustrator, comic artist and hand letterer, Britt Wilson. We have children who are almost the same age and are at similar stages in our lives and careers. We jump right into the conversation with little preamble, so if you like to commiserate with other toddler parents and listen to their crazy stories you will LOVE this episode! /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5907283

Episode 9: Interview with Jacqui Oakley and Jamie Lawson 10/19/2017

Episode 9: Interview with Jacqui Oakley and Jamie Lawson For the first time EVER, I've got a couple on the show! Jacqui Oakley and Jamie Lawson are both freelance creatives (she's an illustrator, he's an illustrator and designer) with an energetic three-year-old. We talk about their childcare situation and dividing up time with their son when deadlines don't always coincide with day care. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5854060

Episode 8: Interview with Daniel Hertzberg 10/05/2017

Episode 8: Interview with Daniel Hertzberg Episode 8 of Creative Playdate features an interview with illustrator Daniel Hertzberg. We have an interesting conversation in which Daniel is very open about his and his wife's experience with trying to get pregnant and with having twins who were very premature. They had a first year that, fortunately, many of us have no experience with. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5808297

Episode 7: Interview with Allison Cole 09/21/2017

Episode 7: Interview with Allison Cole Episode 7 is an interview with illustrator and surface pattern designer Allison Cole. Her incredibly playful work has appeared on products for clients like Target and West Elm. In fact, when I met her in person after our interview, I discovered that the Camelbak water bottle that my daughter uses was sporting one of her designs! /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5761748

Episode 6: Interview with Kyle T. Webster 09/07/2017

Episode 6: Interview with Kyle T. Webster In this episode, Kyle T. Webster and I talk about his work and his experience as a parent of two children. His wife is the primary caregiver to their children which allows him to keep very regular work hours. We talk about how he is able to stick to that schedule without being tempted to work tight deadlines during times when he should be with his family. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5713554

Episode 5: Interview with Maria Fabrizio 08/24/2017

Episode 5: Interview with Maria Fabrizio In Episode 5 we talk about that process and how that process has changed now that she is a mother. She is also a natural early-riser so we talk about the adjustments she has made to her work schedule to accommodate the new early-riser in the house. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5670110

Episode 4: Interview with Renee Kurilla 08/10/2017

Episode 4: Interview with Renee Kurilla Today's episode of Creative Playdate is an interview with children's book and graphic novel illustrator Renee Kurilla. She has illustrated a new children's book, The Pickwick's Picnic by Carol Brendler, that will be released on September 5th of this year. Renee's daughter is still under a year old so we chat about the initial transition to parenthood and how to find ways to keep sketching. She's also got me drooling over the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5624764

Episode 3: Interview with Keith Negley 07/27/2017

Episode 3: Interview with Keith Negley Episode 3 of Creative Playdate features on interview with editorial illustrator Keith Negley. We talk a lot about how he found himself writing children's books and his experience writing a book like Tough Guys Have Feelings Too, which is very male-centric. It was great to hear his perspective as a father and Keith shares a bit of good news. You can find more of Keith's work at www.keithnegley.com. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5580864

Episode 2: Interview with Jaime Zollars 07/12/2017

Episode 2: Interview with Jaime Zollars In Episode 2 of Creative Playdate I have a wonderfully candid conversation with artist and illustrator Jaime Zollars. She is the author of Il-List-ration: Improvisational Lists and Drawing Assists to Spark Creativity and she is the mother of two. Her website is www.jaimezollars.com. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5568481

Episode 1: Interview with Lucy Knisley 07/08/2017

Episode 1: Interview with Lucy Knisley Episode 1 is an interview with the incredibly talented Lucy Knisley. She is a New York Times Bestselling author, not to mention a prolific cartoonist. Her insightful comics can be found on her website. Together we discuss her use of comics as a way to process the world and, now, to process motherhood and about how difficult it can be to work in the same house as a small child. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5568482

Introducing Creative Playdate 06/28/2017

Introducing Creative Playdate I have been hinting at this for a while now, but I am happy to announce a release date for my new podcast: Creative Playdate. On July 17th, Creative Playdate will be released into the wild and I hope you all will listen and share. The show focuses on what it's like to be a parent while also pursuing a creative career and all the unique challenges that come along with it. I have a great batch of interviews lined up and will be releasing two episodes on launch day (sorry, you'll have to wait to find out who the guests are!). When the idea first came up I received a lot of support from friends and peers and it began to feel like my duty to pursue this. Since then, people have continued to be supportive and others have agreed to be guests on a podcast that didn't technically exist yet. My aim is to release new episodes every two weeks. And if there are any specific topics you'd like me to cover or people you think I should interview, I'd love to hear it all. And, of course, please share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thank you in advance for listening! Me and my lovely daughter in 2015. /episode/index/show/creativeplaydate/id/5568483

Creative Playdate

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