Everyday Talent Podcast

Join me in this mini =-episode of “Start Your Day with…” as I sit down with the incredible Javelin, a multi-talented creative who juggles coaching, film industry advocacy, and acting. Javelin shares their secrets to crafting an intentional workday that embraces flexibility and prioritizes well-being.

About Javelin: 

Javelin Laurence is a Coach, Educator, and Storyteller with a special interest in neurodivergent world building. They consider themselves an alchemist, transmuting the raw material of life into something uniquely their own, and are passionate about working with humans who live outside the box. Javelin brings over a decade of experience as an actor and storyteller to their coaching work, along with a Diploma in Life Skills Coaching and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. They also are proudly neurodivergent and trans-nonbinary, bringing this lived experience into their work as a coach, ensuring that they create a safe space that works with unique identities instead of against them. They have a special interest in working with late-diagnosed ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD. As an eccentric professor type, they embrace their own idiosyncrasy, and champion others to do the same.

Connect with Javelin:

Website: www.alchemy-coaching.ca 

Instagrams: @alchemydivergencecoaching @javelinlaurence

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

Have you ever felt like you're not allowed to have more than one passion? Or that you have to choose just one creative endeavour to be successful? If so, this episode is for you. My guest today is Javelin, an actor, coach, educator, and storyteller. Javelin knows firsthand what it's like to feel like you have to choose just one path. For years, they focused solely on their acting career, believing that was the only way to be successful. But eventually, they gave themselves the permission to break the perceived norm and pursue more than one path. 

In this episode, Javelin shares their story of how they embraced their multifaceted self and built a career that is uniquely their own. They also share some valuable insights on how to coach and work with neurodivergent humans.

If you're a multi-passionate creative or artist, or if you're simply curious about how to embrace your whole self, this episode is a must-listen. Javelin's story is sure to inspire and empower you to create a career that is truly fulfilling.

Ever felt the thrill of ditching the 9-to-5 for the freedom of freelancing, only to realize it's not all rainbows and butterflies? If your creative hustle is feeling more like a never-ending grind, you're not alone. I've been there, and so have many of the amazing creatives I work with. But here's the good news: freelancing doesn't have to be another soul-sucking job.

In this episode, I'm diving deep into the three telltale signs that your freelancing career is veering into toxic territory. We're talking about the burnout, the financial stress, and the nagging feeling that you're not truly in control. If you're a creative freelancer feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your path, this episode is for you. It's a candid conversation about the challenges we often face, but more importantly, it's a roadmap to creating a fulfilling and sustainable freelance career that truly nourishes your creative soul.

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:00) - Freelancing as a Toxic Job
• (05:04) - Signs of a Toxic Freelance Career
• (10:00) - Managing Time
• (12:00) - Effort and Return on Investment
• (16:00) - Mental Space Boundaries
• (22:00) - Seasonal Time Management
• (33:00) - Income as Business Revenue
• (39:00) - Creating Your Work Culture
• (46:00) - Transitioning Back to a Job
• (49:36) - Structural Integrity of Your Practice

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:

https://youtu.be/fw8Yh4AwtOk 

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and a career coach for creative. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

Sign up for my newsletter Gentle Signals for regular and raw reflection on the creative path: 

https://xiebetty.ck.page/enews

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

In this episode of Start Your Day with a Creative, I sit down with the amazing Cristal Buemi to explore her daily routine and how she stays inspired and productive. From her morning rituals to her end-of-day practices, Cristal offers a glimpse into how she structures her workweek and maintains her creative energy. Whether she's teaching, working on personal projects, or taking care of client work, Cristal's approach to balancing her diverse roles is both insightful and inspiring.

About Cristal:

Cristal Buemi is a Puerto Rican Canadian multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art, photography, collage and digital design). Her work pushes frame by frame boundaries by exploring the materiality and inherent beauty found in the minutia, through an experimental, and ecological lens. Her collaborative and individual works have been exhibited worldwide including: Animac, Harbourfront Centre’s CoMotion Festival, Fashion Art Toronto, and broadcasted on AMC and HBO. Cristal’s passion for creative expression has enabled her involvement in art education with various organizations such as OCADU, TIFF, TAIS, North York Arts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada. Supporting a diverse group of participants in the advancement of their own creative practices. Most recently, she co-founded Frame by Frame, a research and programming initiative that through the magic of stop motion animation creates flexible and adaptive artistic opportunities accessible to participants of all abilities.


Connect with Cristal:

Instagram: @cristalclear_
Website: cristalbuemi.com


About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

Have you ever felt trapped in a career that drains your creativity rather than fuels it? Meet Cristal Buemi, a Puerto Rican-Canadian multidisciplinary artist whose work spans from stop motion animation, video art, photography to collage and digital design.  In this episode, I chat with Cristal about her incredible journey of career transformation. Cristal shares her early experiences working in broadcast TV, the challenges she faced, and the pivotal moment when she realized her true calling lay elsewhere. We dive deep into how she navigated this transition, found her artistic voice, and built a thriving creative career that feeds her soul. Tune in to hear how Cristal turned her career around and learn how you can do the same. 

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 Introduction to Cristal Buemi
• 03:00 Early Career in Broadcast TV
• 10:50 Realizing Her True Calling
• 17:30 Overcoming Challenges
• 22:40 The Importance of Community
• 30:00 Balancing Multiple Roles
• 40:00 Self-Care and Sustainability
• 52:00 Final Advice and Encouragement

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:

https://youtu.be/mcmG5NYGZ_g

About Cristal: 

Cristal Buemi is a Puerto Rican Canadian multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art, photography, collage and digital design). Her work pushes frame by frame boundaries by exploring the materiality and inherent beauty found in the minutia, through an experimental, and ecological lens. Her collaborative and individual works have been exhibited worldwide including: Animac, Harbourfront Centre’s CoMotion Festival, Fashion Art Toronto, and broadcasted on AMC and HBO. Cristal’s passion for creative expression has enabled her involvement in art education with various organizations such as OCADU, TIFF, TAIS, North York Arts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada. Supporting a diverse group of participants in the advancement of their own creative practices. Most recently, she co-founded Frame by Frame, a research and programming initiative that through the magic of stop motion animation creates flexible and adaptive artistic opportunities accessible to participants of all abilities.

Connect with Cristal:

Instagram: @cristalclear_

Website: cristalbuemi.com 

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

Subscribe to my e-news: Gentle Signals 

https://xiebetty.ck.page/enews

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

Today, we're chatting with Kar, also known as sketchykarr, who juggles her role as an illustrator and running a unique bottle shop in London. In this new episode of Start Your Day with a Creative, Kar shares insights into her non-typical weeks that blend job hunting, managing her business, and finding time for creativity.

Listen in to learn how Kar starts her day to fuel her creativity, the strategies she uses to wind down, and her personal tips for getting into the creative zone. Whether you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, or artist, you'll find practical advice on balancing a busy life while staying true to your creative spirit. 

About  Kar:

Kar is a holistic marketer, creative, and small business owner based in London, UK. Despite her over 9 years of experience in the drinks and startup industry, she is perhaps better known as aspiring illustrator and storyteller "sketchykarr."

As sketchykarr, Kar creates art inspired by her cross-cultural upbring and HongKonger heritage. She uses humour to create cute, and sometimes crude, art to promote Cantonese culture and to discuss deeper societal issues.

As co-founder and co-owner of Delay No More, Kar runs a bottle shop with her brother that focuses on low-intervention wines, craft spirits, and snacks from local businesses. You can find the shop (and her dog) in Bermondsey, London.

Connect with Kar:

Instagram: @sketchykarr 

Website: sketchykarr.com

Email:  [email protected]

Kar’s bottleshop: https://www.instagram.com/delaynomore.bs/ 

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

Are you at a crossroads in your career, feeling stuck or unfulfilled?  This episode explores the challenges and rewards of reinventing one's career with artist and small business owner Kar Wong. In this episode, Kar opens up about the highs and lows of leaving a stable job to pursue her creative and entrepreneurial aspirations. She shares the reality of managing a growing art account on social media, the complexities of working with family in a new business, and the ongoing challenges of aligning personal identity with professional life.

If you're an aspiring artist, creative, or anyone considering a career change, listen to this episode to gain insights and inspiration from Kar's experiences. 

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 Introduction to Kar Wong (sketchykarr) 
• 02:22 Career Transition to Freelancing and Launching "Delay No More" Bottle Shop
• 10:09 Story behind sketchykarr’s content 
• 14:10 Navigating Job Market and Corporate Challenges
• 23:44 Personal and Professional Growth
• 47:56 Future Aspirations and Projects

About Kar: 

Kar is a holistic marketer, creative, and small business owner based in London, UK. Despite her over 9 years of experience in the drinks and startup industry, she is perhaps better known as aspiring illustrator and storyteller "sketchykarr."

As sketchykarr, Kar creates art inspired by her cross-cultural upbring and HongKonger heritage. She uses humour to create cute, and sometimes crude, art to promote Cantonese culture and to discuss deeper societal issues.

As co-founder and co-owner of Delay No More, Kar runs a bottle shop with her brother that focuses on low-intervention wines, craft spirits, and snacks from local businesses. You can find the shop (and her dog) in Bermondsey, London.

Connect with Kar:

Instagram: @sketchykarr 

Website: sketchykarr.com

Email:  [email protected]

Kar’s bottleshop: https://www.instagram.com/delaynomore.bs/ 

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

Subscribe to my e-news: Gentle Signals 

https://xiebetty.ck.page/enews

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

In the first episode of the new season, I am going to share with you the 5 key tips to mindfully reinvent your career. These are tried and tested tips that I’ve used with my coaching clients when supporting them to go through a major career change or switch. 

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 Intro 
• 4:31 Embracing Mindful Reinvention 
• 10:21 Dangers of Reinvention 
• 12:20 Key Tips on Mindful Reinvention 
• 13:54 Tip 1: Don’t burn everything down
• 16:38 Tip 2: Dare to dream 
• 21:05 Tip 3: Broaden your perspective
• 26:52 Tip 4:  Tell your story like you're telling your friend's story
• 31:37 Tip 5:  Give yourself a buffer 
• 35:26 Recap 

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:

https://youtu.be/YU_xzE4R9hk 

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and a career coach for creative. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

Sign up for my newsletter Gentle Signals for regular and raw reflection on the creative path: 

https://xiebetty.ck.page/enews

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

I am back from travels and bringing back to you a new beginning of the podcast. On Season 2 of the Everyday Talent Podcast, we are thinking, talking, and exploring a much needed topic: career reinvention.

Stay tuned for more episodes to come.


About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and a career coach for creative. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.

On this bonus episode, the table is turned and I am being interviewed by Cheryl Lau, coach and host of the Thought Leader Club podcast. I open up about the experiences of quitting in my life and career journey. For the first time on the podcast, I take you back - way back - to my back story of how I chose the creative path, and my struggle between choosing that seems to be sure path to “success”, and what I truly wanted to do. 

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 Intro 
• 06:55 From Pressure to Freedom: Navigating Career Paths Post-Immigration 
• 10:51 Reframing Success: The Shift from External to Internal Goals 
• 14:12 The Courage to Shift: Making Major Career Changes
• 34:38 Entrepreneurial Journey: Embracing Risk and Identity 
• 44:22 The Art of Quitting: Redefining Success and Embracing New Paths 

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:

 https://youtu.be/CLRwcnaZtb8
 
About the Interviewer: Cheryl Lau 

Cheryl Lau is a Side Hustle Coach and hosts The Thought Leaders Club Podcast. Cheryl believes that creating a successful side hustle is not only a lifelong skill that all of us should have, but it is also the first step to creating a career that you are proud of. Cheryl quit law school in 2018 because she knew that her life's work lies outside of the law AND she quit her PhD in 2022 to be with her loved ones and to pursue her business full-time. Today, Cheryl is highly committed to helping individuals do work that they're proud of and ultimately create more options for their career and life through their online business.

Listen to The Thought Leader Club Podcast hosted by Cheryl Lau on Itunes, Spotify, and Youtube

About Betty

Betty Xie is a creative and career coach for creatives. Her 1:1 coaching program has helped photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, arts leaders, and arts consultants to design and implement intentional growth in their practice so that they can make their art and make happier money. Check out her 1:1 coaching programs here: www.xiebetty.com/coaching

Subscribe to my e-news: Gentle Signals 

https://xiebetty.ck.page/enews

*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz

The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.