Windowsill Chats

Creating Joy on Purpose: Kate Smith on Reinvention, Creative Courage & Making People Smile


Listen Later

Margo is joined by artist and joy-maker Kate Smith, the creative force behind Kate Smith Co.™, a brand dedicated to finding "the happy that's already here" in everyday moments. Kate has built a thriving career in greeting cards and art licensing, working with beloved partners in the U.S. and U.K. to create products that make people smile. From early success with her first brand, From Frank, to a full reimagining of her creative path, Kate's journey is filled with bold decisions, reinvention, and a commitment to following what feels joyful. She also spent seven years living and working full-time in an Airstream, a chapter that deeply shaped her artistic voice and philosophy.

Margo and Kate discuss:

  • Kate's early beginnings—from advertising to accidentally launching a greeting card line that landed in Target within a year
  • The rise of From Frank, her wildly popular first brand inspired by her French bulldog, and what it taught her about licensing, growth, and creativity
  • The pivotal decision to sell everything, hit the road in an Airstream, and shift her business fully into licensing
  • How travel, imperfection, and "found letters" influenced her signature design style and approach to joyful, approachable art
  • Navigating the fear phases of a creative career and learning to make decisions from hope instead of worry
  • How she thinks about long-term partnerships in licensing, staying authentic, and evolving her brand without losing its heart
  • What reinvention looks like now—new art prints, new mediums, and giving herself permission to embrace being an "artist"

Submit Your Questions for Margo Tantau & Emily McDowell

Connect with Kate:

www.katesmithcompany.com

www.instagram.com/katesmithcompany

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com

www.instagram.com/windowsillchats

www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Windowsill ChatsBy Margo Tantau

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

342 ratings


More shows like Windowsill Chats

View all
Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood by Antrese Wood

Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

891 Listeners

Untangle by Untangle

Untangle

848 Listeners

Creative Pep Talk by Andy J. Pizza

Creative Pep Talk

2,007 Listeners

Daily Creative with Todd Henry by Todd Henry

Daily Creative with Todd Henry

520 Listeners

On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

On Being with Krista Tippett

10,398 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,724 Listeners

3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast by SVSlearn.com

3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast

730 Listeners

I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists by Erika b Hess

I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists

227 Listeners

Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers by Louise Fletcher/Alice Sheridan

Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

712 Listeners

The Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel

The Great Women Artists

558 Listeners

Learn to Paint Podcast by Learn to Paint Podcast

Learn to Paint Podcast

304 Listeners

The Good Ship Illustration by The Good Ship Illustration

The Good Ship Illustration

59 Listeners

Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen by Elise Loehnen

Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen

1,107 Listeners

The Professional Creative by Bonnie Christine

The Professional Creative

434 Listeners

Art + Audience by Stacie Bloomfield

Art + Audience

191 Listeners