Creative Courage

By Matt Essam

Are you a creative business owner? Do you ever feel like you’ve got more to give or that there’s a bigger impact you could make?

Creative Courage is a creative business podcast hosted by awa

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FAQs about Creative Courage:

How many episodes does Creative Courage have?

The podcast currently has 106 episodes available.

Creative Courage episodes:

February 25, 2026How To Become The Go-To Expert In Your Industry with Sabrina Stocker
You do great work.
You have all the case studies and testimonials.
But you still feel invisible.
This is a problem most creative founders face. They want to be seen as the go-to expert. The name that gets mentioned in rooms they’re not even in.
But instead, they’re constantly chasing projects and wondering why people with less experience are getting all the attention.
In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Stocker, serial entrepreneur, Founder of Two Comma PR and former Apprentice candidate, to unpack what it takes to build visibility and authority as a creative.
Sabrina has built a powerful personal brand, spoken on some of the UK’s biggest stages and grown an audience of over 50,000 followers.
We explore the strategies and mindset shifts that separate leading authorities from talented but overlooked creatives, and how to position yourself so the right people start coming to you.
If you feel undervalued and overlooked, this episode will change the way you think about authority and how to build it.
Covered in this episode:
The 3 steps to becoming the go-to expert in your industry.
Why creatives should pay attention to AEO.
How to go from visibility to paying clients.
What most creatives get wrong about their offering.
How to build relationships and get into the right rooms.
How Sabrina has been able to speak on some of the UK’s biggest stages.
Operating at a high level as an introvert.
Simple ways to gain respect on a sales call.
What needs to be in place before seeking PR opportunities.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Two Comma PR - https://twocommapr.com/
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Sabrina Stocker on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinastocker/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
40min
February 18, 2026Scaling A Business Without Losing Your Creativity with Sam Ramsden
Most creative founders don’t struggle because their work isn’t good enough.
They struggle because the business they’ve built, or the role that they play within that business, isn’t right for them.
In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Ramsden, Founder of film production studio, Dojo Films.
Sam has been employed in the creative industry, he’s freelanced, and now he’s running an agency. But throughout his journey, Sam has found that success on paper doesn’t automatically mean fulfilment.
We dive deep into the shifts that Sam had to make within his business to allow him to do more of the work that he loves, while still scaling.
If you’ve ever found yourself losing the creativity that made you start your business in the first place, this conversation is for you.
Covered in this episode:
How Sam built a film production studio working across 16 countries remotely.
Can creativity truly be standardised?
How niching can allow a business to be more creative.
Choosing the role within your business that’s right for you.
Agency vs one-person studio and when each model makes sense.
When giving work away for free can make you more money.
The “fun, fame, fortune” test to decide which projects to say yes to.
What to do if you hate sales but still want to scale.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Dojo Films - https://dojofilms.co.uk/
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Sam Ramsden on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsden-sam/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id17215157999
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
52min
February 11, 2026Why An “Authentic Brand” Doesn’t Exist with James Martin
“Be authentic.”
You hear it all the time in the branding space.
But what if authenticity wasn’t actually possible?
In this episode, I’m joined by James Martin (Made By James) for a very different kind of conversation.
We dive into the idea of why “authenticity” when it comes to branding is misleading, why so many creatives end up bored of their businesses, the shifts happening in the creative industry and a whole lot more.
You’re either going to love this conversation, or hate it.
And if you’re a James Martin fan, and want to hear him take the p*ss out of me, you’ll probably love it.
Covered in this episode:
Why “authentic” brands don’t exist.
Evidence vs. perception and why you need both.
Why followers don’t equal success.
What a brand really is.
Why creatives get bored more easily than most.
The shifts that are happening in the creative industry.
Defining your own version of success.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.

PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
James Martin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-martin-3b594698
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
51min
February 04, 2026You’re Paying Too Much Tax (Here’s How To Fix It) with Pali Banwait
You’re probably paying more tax than you need to.
And for a lot of creative business owners, that extra tax can become a real burden and slow down growth.
In this episode, I’m joined by Pali Banwait, who shares some advice on how you can avoid paying more tax than you should be paying.
But our conversation goes a lot deeper than tax.
Pali is the founder of Strive, which helps entrepreneurs set up businesses in Dubai and he’s also founded and invested in many other businesses over the last 20 years, which has given him a unique perspective on what makes a business thrive.
We dive into how to run your business like an entrepreneur and not just a creative, how to spot risk early before things go wrong, and why so many businesses are moving overseas.
If you want to keep more of what you earn, build a healthier business and stop wasting money through avoidable mistakes, this episode is for you.
Covered in this episode:
Why you’re probably paying too much tax and how to fix it.
The biggest misconceptions people have about setting up a business in Dubai.
How to know if moving your business is worth it.
The hidden risks most founders miss when making financial decisions.
Why you need more than just a bookkeeper to manage your business finances.
How a SWOT analysis can help you avoid upcoming risks and capitalise on your strengths.
Why reporting is essential for any business and how to get it right as a creative.
Getting feedback from clients and using it to grow your business.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Strive - https://www.strivedubai.com/
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Pali Banwait on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/palibanwait/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
55min
January 28, 2026The VA Mistakes Most Founders Are Making with Richard Woods
Business is hard.
With delivery, sales, marketing, and everything in between, there’s too much to do, and not enough time to do it.
That’s why I tell creative studio owners that the first hire they should make is a virtual assistant.
And in this episode, I’m joined by Richard Woods - a three-time bestselling author, serial founder, and finalist on The Apprentice - to dive deep into how to leverage VAs to scale twice as fast.
Richard runs Million Dollar Sprint, where he helps small businesses get to a million dollars as well as Sprint VA, a global virtual assistant business with nearly 200 people.
If you don’t have a VA yet, this will help you figure out what to look for and where to start.
And if you already do, you’ll learn how to stop managing them so closely and get hours back each week.
Covered in this episode:
Why most creative business owners wait too long to hire a VA.
How to find the right VA.
The first task you should outsource in your business.
The common mistakes that cause outsourcing to fail.
Management strategies for those who hate managing people.
How to know when a team member isn’t working out.
What will separate businesses from the rest in 2026.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Sprint VA - https://sprintva.co/courage
Million Dollar Sprint - https://milliondollarsprint.com/
LinkedIn For Breakfast - https://www.skool.com/linkedin-for-breakfast/about
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Richard Woods on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardwoodsofficial/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts -
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
52min
January 21, 2026What Creatives Get Wrong About Content with Chris Do
Should you be creating content?
It feels like everywhere we turn, we’re being told we need to regularly pump out content to attract more clients.
And yet many creatives I talk to feel stuck when it comes to content.
They overthink it.
Or they post a couple of times and they decide it’s not for them.
But the reality is that most creatives don’t have a content problem.
They have a clarity problem.
In this 100th episode of Creative Courage, Chris Do returns for a conversation that goes way deeper than ‘how to get more followers’.
We talk about what people are missing when it comes to content, the first mistakes people make, why so much content gets ignored, and what stops people from sticking around.
We didn’t agree on everything… which made this one of the most valuable conversations I’ve had in a long time.
Covered in this episode:
Should every creative business owner be making content?
The first content mistakes most people make.
How to overcome the internal blockers that stop you posting.
What really makes people buy (and what doesn’t).
Why there’s more to content than marketing.
The missing “thread” in most content.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Chris Do on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt_Essam
...more
53min
January 14, 2026Freelance vs Agency: Which Model Gives You More Freedom? with Shoaib Ahmed
Should you run your business solo? Or is it better to build an agency?
It’s a question I hear often from creative business owners.
You started your business for more freedom and flexibility.
But somewhere along the way, things changed, and you end up with less freedom than you’d get from a 9 to 5 job.
In this episode, I’m joined by Shoaib Ahmed, who’s lived the agency life, and as a solopreneur. He built an agency doing £30k months with a full team, but realised he could never truly switch off.
So he burnt it down and went all in on his freelance business, where he specialises in helping people build their personal brand.
We break down the trade-offs between staying solo and building an agency and how to find real freedom in your business.
If you’ve ever felt torn between scaling up and simplifying, this is for you.
Covered in this episode:
The symptoms you’re building the wrong size business.
The ‘freedom trap’ most creatives fall into.
How to make a solo business work without doing everything yourself.
What people never measure when they talk about freedom.
How to structure your business so you can take time off.
The one thing more important than client acquisition that most creatives miss.
How to build trust and win business without constant outreach.
What most LinkedIn content gets wrong.
How to know when it’s time to change your business.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Shoaib Ahmed on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoaibahmed21
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts -
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
56min
January 07, 2026The 3-Step System For Getting Sh*t Done in 2026
If you want 2026 to be a 10/10 year, you don’t need resolutions.
And you don’t need SMART goals.
In 2025, I wrote a book, hit 100 podcast episodes and launched a new coaching programme, all while running my multiple six-figure coaching business (and still took two months off).
And in this episode, I’m sharing the 3-step process I followed to make this happen. This is the same process I use with my clients to turn vague intentions into measurable results.
If you want 2026 to be a year you can look back on and be proud of, this episode will give you the exact framework to make that happen.
Covered in this episode:
Why goals often fail.
How to get clear on what you actually want.
Mapping out the exact actions you need to take next year.
How to keep yourself from giving up on your goals halfway through the year.
Why SMART goals don’t work for most creatives and what to use instead.
Why it’s easier to show up for clients than for yourself and how to fix it.
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
17min
December 17, 2025Are You Building The Wrong Business For Your Personality Type?
Most creatives see stress and burnout as a time-management problem.
Or a team problem.
So they hire more people. They implement new systems.
But nothing changes.
And if you find yourself burning out regularly, you’re probably looking in the wrong place for an answer.
Stress can completely break your creativity. And if you’re like me, you probably compare yourself to the Hormozis and Bartletts of the world, wondering why you can’t handle stress and pressure like they can.
But what I’ve come to understand is that not all personalities are built to handle stress in the same way.
Yet so many of us are modelling our lives and businesses on these serial entrepreneurs who are wired completely differently.
In this episode, we dive into why this is dangerous for your business, and how to build a business that works for you.
Covered in this episode:
Why stress shuts down creativity.
How different personalities process pressure and why it matters.
Why comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs is burning you out.
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
9min
December 10, 2025AI Will Make Creatives Invisible Unless They Do THIS with Paul Fernandez
Most creative businesses aren’t struggling because they’re not good enough.
They’re struggling because they’re invisible.
And in a world where AI can produce decent deliverables in seconds, visibility is becoming the difference between the businesses that grow and the ones that get left behind.
In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Fernandez, Co-Founder of The Growth Guys and Social Pitch AI. We unpack the truth behind what exactly creative businesses need in order to stay relevant.
If you’ve been feeling shift in the creative industry, this conversation will give you the clarity you need to stay one step ahead.
Covered in this episode:
How to stay relevant with AI replacing creative work.
The real reason creative experts are going unnoticed and how to fix it.
Why “know, like and trust” isn’t enough anymore.
How “unconscious incompetence” silently limits your growth.
Will AI replace creative jobs?
How to use AI in a way that builds trust instead of eroding it.
What creative businesses must offer to clients to survive.
And more…
If you get value from this episode, follow Creative Courage on your favourite podcast app for more transformational content to help you thrive as a creative.
PS: If you want a custom roadmap to grow a creative studio that works for you, rather than the other way around. Click this link - https://resources.mattessam.co.uk/.

LEARN MORE
Work with Matt to grow your agency - https://www.mattessam.co.uk/creative-life-accelerator
CONNECT
Paul Fernandez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-a-fernandez/
Matt Essam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
LISTEN
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2LSpLIyYtBLe03JBC8LjvT
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-courage/id1721515799
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcf0CcYK3MtnITQCyGXoVVR-eTu8SEbAV
...more
56min

FAQs about Creative Courage:

How many episodes does Creative Courage have?

The podcast currently has 106 episodes available.

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