So, you've been hearing about the power of branding.

Maybe you read a blog recently that mentioned "brand".

Or, perhaps your boss or client is asking you to invest in brand identity and create a digital brand presence.

The only thing is, you aren't quite sure where to go from here. And you know what? That's fairly common in business today. People confuse the words brand and branding quite often, and if you aren't clear in the difference, it could lead to less than desirable results for your client.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve break down the differences between brand and branding, discuss why your logo is not your brand and shine a light on why strong brands, much like strong relationships, don't just happen overnight.

It's the very first "Ask Us Anything" episode! We often receive lots of great questions and comments from listeners, but those questions don't always require a full podcast to answer. So we decided, in recognition of our 20th episode, we would turn our show over to our listeners and answer your burning professional (and personal!) questions.

Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

We're all incredibly grateful to be working in a creative industry, but it can be tricky to stay enthusiastic and inspired all the time. Is there a worse feeling as a creative than staring at a blank document and not knowing what the project needs?

In this episode, we explore the frustrations of creative block. It's something we all suffer from. It's annoying, but there are many steps you can take to overcome it.

Do you avoid change or run to it? The one constant thing in life is change, but that doesn't mean we get used to it or fully embrace it, though.

Whether you look forward to a change or dread it, the fact is change triggers powerful effects, both physically, mentally and emotionally.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve talk about how they've dealt with change (not always well), strategies for understanding your personal response to change and how your strengths as a person can help dictate how you deal with change.

The behaviors and patterns of people play a more significant role in our creative work than we may even realize.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve are joined by Kim Lear (founder of Inlay Insights), an expert in generational studies and the future of the workplace. In this enlightening conversation, Kim shares her knowledge of cultural trends, human behavior and the impact that different generations have on us as creators.

This conversation will give you a fresh perspective on the way people think, act and consume content— better positioning you to serve them.

There is no greater emotional bond than shared experiences, and thanks to the internet, we are able to revisit some of our fondest and sweetest memories, on demand. Whether it be through a YouTube video or a song, we can be transported back to simpler times, to remember who we were with, and to share those old stories with new people in our lives.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve reflect back on some of their favorite tv shows, songs, and artists. They also share their affinity for the mid-20th century and discuss whether or not it's possible to be nostalgic for a time that you haven't lived through.

Their conversation is a reminder that memories can be instrumental in growing brands, creating movements and connecting with your audience on a deeper level.

At the heart of any community is support and creatives are no different. Episode 15 redefines what community is and how online and social have changed everything about it.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve share what their own communities have meant to their professional growth, and discuss how communities can help push our limits, provide support, breed new ideas, hold us accountable and more.

Love sharing this episode with you! Episode 14 is raw and deeply personal. We all go through challenging times in life, and those difficult moments don't go away when you have to go to work. Handling grief, and, as a result, stress at work – and how you go about taking care of yourself in the aftermath, is an art form.

In this episode, we touch upon this issue, and a few more lighthearted themes, including the power of Influencers, taking compliments, dealing with design envy and thinking for yourself.

It's Volume 2 of Are We Recording This?

You're an optimist. She's irrationally driven. He's laid back.

As humans we are drawn to authenticity. We value the ones who are different. But, in the professional ranks, sometimes we feel like we need to hide who we are in order to better fit in. Is that being true to ourselves? To be authentic is to honor who we are at our very core and share these best talents with others.

In this episode, Michelle and Steve talk about why being your true self in all situations will help you to be more consistent in life and hear from PFC listeners, who share stories about how staying true to who they are paid off.

We're super excited to share this interview with Laura Tropiano and Sierra Kiarsis, the creative brains behind the brand, Sie and Explaur.

Laura (Michelle's sister!) and Sierra decided to combine their mutual photo taking obsession and turn it into a trendy and successful Instagram account.

Their mission is to share beautiful places and the stories behind them.

In this episode, we discuss building your brand on Instagram, the importance of developing brand voice and how to take your passion and turn it into purpose.