Everyday Talent Podcast

What is it like to leave a leadership job that you felt so attached to, and go on your own and explore your creative potential? No one can answer this question better than Ananya Ohri. In this episode, Ananya shares her experience of pivoting from the role of a film festival leader, to a self-employed writer, producer, and arts consultant. 

Her journey is a testament to the power of doing deep inner work. We all owe it to ourselves to build and rebuild a healthier relationship with work. 

Key Highlights: 

• 03:51 Exploring Ananya's Journey
• 07:32 Transitioning Mid Career
• 10:04 The Power of Play
• 14:26 Combatting Creative Exhaustion
• 18:08 Tuning into Intuition
• 21:56 Blending Creativity and Play
• 30:05 Leadership with Impact
• 32:16 Guidance for Creatives who are Considering a Career Pivot

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

https://youtu.be/YQBhnQAg1sw

About the guest: 

Ananya is an Arts Management Consultant, Writer and Producer in Toronto. She was the Executive Director at the Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF) for 7 years, where she founded and directed the Lieutenant General Award winning storytelling and preservation project, Home Made Visible. Motivated by her experience programming for school aged children and consuming media alongside her own kids, Ananya is currently Producing/Writing/Creating content for children that centres BIPOC narratives.

Connect with Ananya:

Email: [email protected] 

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/therealananyaohri/?hl=en

Website: http://www.ananyaohri.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ananya-ohri-42337836/

Watch Ananya’s pilot Mixed Up on CBC Kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3oCD8OGO2U

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. Book a free consultant call today here: https://app.practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/fundraising-discovery-call

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

Do you ever feel being pulled by many directions and interests? Have you tried to fit yourself into one professional label? Or, have you been beating yourself up with this question, "why can't I focus on one thing?" Well, you’re not alone.

Join me, a fellow multi-passionate creative, as I explore the seven deadly mistakes we often make in our careers. Let’s name them so that we can take less detours. From perpetually feeling bad about not fitting in, trying to do everything at once, to forgetting to plan for "link-switching" energy costs, and many more, I will be sharing from my own journey and experiences.

Key Highlights: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:49 Mistake 1: Feeling perpetually bad that we don't fit in a box or label.
• 05:09 Mistake 2: Trying to do everything at once. 
• 06:06 Mistake 3: Planning too rigidly
• 07:23 Mistake 4:  Forgetting to plan for link switching energy costs.
• 08:42  Mistake 5: Wanting to tell everybody about your complicated story all at once
• 11:48  Mistake 6: Abandoning your new ideas too fast and expecting resource to come too fast 
• 13:06 Mistake 7: Saying yes to things that are not actually truly aligned with you

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

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. Book a free consultant call today here: https://app.practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/fundraising-discovery-call

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

Picture yourself in survival mode, just barely scraping by in your creative practice. Your brain screams "danger!" at every turn, inhibiting your ability to take risks and innovate in your craft. This was me,a few years back, when I was struggling to keep my creative practice afloat while being constantly on edge.

Here's my promise to you - there is a way to break free of that cycle. In this replay episode, I'm offering you the chance to join me on a journey beyond survival mode. This episode condenses a two-part series from last year into a single, powerful guide, offering you the support you need to move beyond merely surviving in your creative business or career. I've been there, and the difference in my practice since I've moved out of survival mode is staggering. But don't just take my word for it - many of my clients have repeatedly expressed how valuable they found this series. Now, it's your turn. Take the plunge, listen to this episode, and begin your journey from survival to thriving in your creative endeavor.


Key Highlights: 

• [00:00:31] Episode Overview
• [00:08:09] How to identify if you’ve been operating in a survival mindset
• [00:11:52] Why some of us continue to operate in a survival mindset even after we gain some success in our career
• [00:14:12] The first and most important step moving beyond the survival mindset
• [00:24:30] Setting expectation in the change process
• [00:27:36] Two types of change: subtle and structural change
• [00:39:42] Signs to watch out for if you're breaking the survival cycle

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/O2C-OyrmHjw

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. Book a free consultant call today here: https://app.practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/fundraising-discovery-call

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

Do you struggle with taking a break? Does the thought of pausing your creative business or practice for a vacation fill you with anxiety and guilt? I've been there, too. There's this constant pressure of "I should be doing more" or "I can't afford to take a break." But guess what? It doesn't have to be this way. In this episode,  I'll be digging deep into a topic close to everyone's heart - TIME.  I share how I manage to take not just a few days, but entire months off my work without causing any chaos. I'll guide you through my process, sharing strategies and insights that will help you find balance and reclaim your time. So, hit that play button and let's get started.

Key Highlights: 

• [00:02:40] Overview of the episode
• [00:06:22] Flexible planning
• [00:13:11] Giving yourself permission
• [00:18:11] Conscious Creatives Group Coaching Program
• [00:22:36] Two significant insights I've gathered during my travels
• [00:23:19] The collective consensus 
• [00:26:28] Multi-lane passion

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

https://youtu.be/k6x-pklO3ug

The Conscious Creatives Group Coaching Program is officially launched! This is a one-of-kind, intimate group coaching program that supports creatives to design intentional growth in their practice so that they can move beyond aimless hustle, make their art and impact, and make happier money. Apply today at:

www.xiebetty.com/groupcoaching/

About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

In a world where most of us are still in go-go-go mode, VIBE Arts, a Toronto based arts charity, broke the mold and switched to a four-day workweek. How did they pull that off? Well, that's exactly what we're going to chat about today. In this conversation with Katie Hutchinson, Executive Director of VIBE Arts, she shares with us the “secret sauce” for her authentic leadership, her knack for fostering trust in her team, and the ways she assesses growth and success as a leader of a small nonprofits. It's a discussion you won't want to miss!

Key Highlights: 

[00:02:35] Background as an Executive Director of Arts organization

[00:09:04] Secret sauce for creating a good work culture 

[00:13:28] Leadership style as an Executive Director

[00:16:02] Implementing a 4-day Workweek 

[00:26:32] Balancing passion and paycheck

[00:32:35] Redefining Growth and Success

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

https://youtu.be/XtPhBNb-7wM

About the Guest: 

Katie Hutchinson is the Executive Director at VIBE Arts. As a young leader, she accepted the position six years ago. Katie has experience throughout the not-for-profit sector with a focus on providing recreation and culture opportunities to children and youth. Katie has always worked in the public sector. Beginning in shelters and youth work early in her career, Katie has worked at all levels of program delivery and now uses that experience to lead the VIBE team to cultivate the creative edge youth need to succeed in an ever changing world. Katie’s focus is to bring the highest standard of operations to VIBE and implementing human centred and authentic approaches to leadership. Katie has a Bachelor of Arts in City Studies from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from York University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership in Organizations from TMU. Katie has a passion for cultivating and creating diverse teams and developing equitable high performing work cultures that are mission driven. Out of the office, Katie empowers youth on the volleyball court as a coach, club leader and President of the Ontario Volleyball Association.

Find out more about Katie’s work at: 

@VibeArtsTO: https://www.instagram.com/vibeartsto/
@Leasidevbc: https://www.instagram.com/leasidevbc/

Announcing my very first Conscious Creative Group Coaching Program! This program supports self-employed creatives to design flexible structures to intentionally grow their creative practice so that they can show up as their unique self, make their art, and make happier money. Full program details to come in July 2023. Join the waitlist today so that you will be the first to know about the full program details when it is launched:

www.xiebetty.com/groupcoaching/waitlist 

About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

What do you want to be known for? How can you show up authentically on social media? On today’s podcast, I invited side hustle coach Cheryl Lau to share with us some practical tips on how everyone of us can develop our story and thought leadership and translate that to marketing content. Cheryl helped me at the beginning of my journey when I was building my coaching practice, and in this episode, we walked through how to deal with some real life hiccups that I’ve heard from clients and other creatives in the realm of developing online content. Listen as Cheryl shares her inspiring journey of shifting from law and academia to a committed coaching role, in which she now emboldens fellow side hustlers and entrepreneurs to develop their unique thought leadership. 

Key highlights of this episode: 

• [00:04:15]  Quitting the traditional career path and building her own coaching business
• [00:08:57]  How to develop thought leadership? 
• [00:14:15]  Self-validation in building your own thought leadership
• [00:19:46]  Transforming your identity online 
• [00:26:35]  Vulnerability on social media
• [00:28:58]  4 Types of Content Framework
• [00:42:09]  Cheryl’s journey to burnout recovery as business owner

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

https://youtu.be/aQoCHSo7HJk

About the Guest: 

Cheryl Lau is a Side Hustle Coach and hosts the Side Hustle 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.

Find Cheryl at: Instagram | Website

Listen to The Side Hustle Podcast hosted by Cheryl Lau on Itunes, Spotify, and Youtube

Announcing my very first Conscious Creative Group Coaching Program! This program supports self-employed creatives to design flexible structures to intentionally grow their creative practice so that they can show up as their unique self, make their art, and make happier money. Full program details to come in July 2023. Join the waitlist today so that you will be the first to know about the full program details when it is launched:

www.xiebetty.com/groupcoaching/waitlist 

About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

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

Are you fed up with scope creep, rate negotiation, and being raced to the bottom when proposing a rate for your creative work? Or, you know that charging hourly rate is not sustainable for the long term, but you are stuck on how to actually shift away from it?

In this episode, I share with you practical steps on how to shift away from hourly rates and establish a pricing structure that better reflects your value. Shifting your pricing model isn't just about changing the way you charge - it's about enhancing your value proposition and setting the stage for long-term success. Tune in to this episode. You’re more ready than you think in walking away from the precarity of getting paid by the hour.

Key highlights of this episode:

[00:05:31] Who this is for and who this is not for
[00:08:10] Why charging hourly rate is not conducive for your growth?
[00:12:36] Addressing problems of hourly rate and the alternative pricing models
[00:17:44] Three steps to shift to alternative pricing models
[00:20:19] How to approach clients with new pricing model
[00:28:00] Addressing mental objections in shifting to alternative model

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:
https://youtu.be/nwfpV3XkHLA


Announcing my very first Conscious Creative Group Coaching Program! This program supports self-employed creatives to design flexible structures to intentionally grow their creative practice so that they can show up as their unique self, make their art, and make happier money. Full program details to come in July 2023. Join the waitlist today so that you will be the first to know about the full program details when it is launched:
www.xiebetty.com/groupcoaching/waitlist


About Betty
*FREE Resource* Discover your creative career archetype today: https://www.xiebetty.com/quiz
Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 


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

On today's episode, we dive deep into the world and profession of film curation with two guests, Lucy J. Mukerjee and Shakira Refos. These two trailblazers have curated for film festivals around the world, and they’re also leading advocates for greater representation and diversity among film curators. Join us as we delve into the highs and lows of a film curator's life, and learn valuable advice for anyone considering a career in this field. 

Key highlights of this episode: 

• Life as a film curator and programmer [00:02:22] 
• The importance of advocacy and impact in film programming [00:05:32]
• Different paths and entry points into the world of film curation [00:06:54]
• What support do film curators and programmers need? [00:13:10]
• Challenges and milestones for programmers and curators [00:17:49]
• Managing energy and boundaries in the film festival industry [00:24:48]
• Finding your values and impactful opportunities  [00:37:57]
• Career advice from both guests [00:48:30]

About the guests: 

Shakira is an educator from The Netherlands who joined the California Film Institute’s Education Department by way of the Sarasota Film Festival, Sundance Institute and is additionally programming documentaries for 2023 Tribeca Festival. With a deep passion for storytelling Shakira attributes her drive for community, justice and common sense from the cultures of her Mother and Father hailing from Suriname and Trinidad respectively. Her career has been dedicated to empowering young independent thinkers through the exploration of art history and creative expression—prioritizing equitable praxis through engagements with film as well as demystifying the path for BIPOC students to becoming film fest administrators and curators.

Connect with Shakira on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shakira-refos-7449b35b/

Lucy J. Mukerjee is a queer British-Indian community builder and programming disruptor. With two decades of experience producing and programming films around the world, Lucy is a trusted voice on the film festival circuit, and a vocal advocate for transparency and accountability across the film industry ecosystem. Lucy is passionate about connecting filmmakers with opportunities, elevating underestimated artists and making space for untold stories. She is the Co-Founder of the Programmers Of Colour Collective, a global group of BIPOC film curators advocating for programming inclusion on-screen, on-stage and on-staff at film festivals around the world.

Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymukerjee

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

https://youtu.be/Fx8y7IQfC1w

About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

My 1:1 coaching program is OPEN! I help creatives to build a dream career that matters to them, their community, and the future. My clients have successfully pivoted their career, made their art, and made happier money. Book a free consultation call here: 

https://practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/coaching-free-consultation

Learn more about the program at xiebetty.com/coaching

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

As we find ourselves in the middle of the year, it's only natural to feel a little overwhelmed by the goals we've set. Balancing our creative energy can become quite a challenge, but don’t worry, you’re not alone. I've invited my dear friend and registered yoga teacher, Kyra Tudlong, to join me in this conversation filled with deep insights and practical tips. Together, we'll explore how to incorporate yoga into your everyday life and make it a catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth. Tune in and discover your own way of recentering your creative self.


Key highlights of this episode

• How yoga transcends physical practice and becomes a life philosophy [00:05:11]
• How Kyra balances multiple roles and responsibilities while maintaining her yoga practice [00:12:12]
• The importance of meditation in understanding your energy [00:16:15] 
• The power of consistency and authenticity on social media [00:19:38]
• Giving yourself permission to rest and recharge [00:25:09]

Don’t forget to check out this complimentary video where Kyra demonstrates three easy yoga techniques you can starting doing today to ground yourself:
https://youtu.be/SeYyecjoR_E

About the guest:

Kyra Tudlong is a fundraiser, yoga guide, and advocate for soul care for social change. In her professional role she manages fundraising at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. On the side she is a registered yoga teacher (RYT), yoga content creator, and small business owner of a martial arts gym. Just as yoga supports her own mental health and wellbeing, her goal is to support others wherever they are on their own wellness journey by sharing the ancient, transformational practices of yoga to bring more ease and compassion into our daily lives. Kyra believes that in the face of change, yoga can be a powerful tool that all people should have access to.

Follow Kyra’s on Tiktok and Instagram @thepeacepursuit_

Interested in exploring yoga as a way for healing? Here’s a curated list of resources that Kyra prepared for you.

This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:
https://youtu.be/zLtVQyXruE8


About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

My 1:1 coaching program is OPEN! I help creatives to build a dream career that matters to them, their community, and the future. My clients have successfully pivoted their career, made their art, and made happier money. Book a free consultation call here: 
https://practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/coaching-free-consultation

Learn more about the program at xiebetty.com/coaching

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

Becoming an arts manager or Executive Director of an arts organization is often the dream of many emerging professionals in the arts sector. But what goes on behind the scenes with this job? On today’s episode, I talk to Marta Keller-Hernandez, Managing Director of Mural Routes, a small and mighty arts organization in Toronto. We had a candid conversation about this extremely rewarding and challenging career. Marta shares valuable insights for aspiring and newly-appointed arts managers, delving into topics often left unspoken in the journey of arts leadership.

Key highlights of this episode

• Marta's background and journey into arts administration [00:04:30]
• Key qualities for a successful arts administrator [00:13:50]
• Tackling the challenges of funding, sustainability, and diversity in the arts sector [00:18:46]
• Avoiding burnout and maintaining a healthy work-life balance when working as an Executive Director [00:30:10]
• The crucial role of decision-making and gaining experience in arts leadership [00:35:29]

About the guest: 

Originally from Spain, Marta Keller-Hernandez is an arts administrator who moved to Toronto in 2012. She holds Degrees in Tourism and Humanities, and a Masters in Social Media Marketing from the University of Alicante (Spain), and became an international student of the Culture and Heritage Site Management program at Centennial College in 2013. In Toronto, Marta has worked with a wide range of arts and culture organizations such as Black Artists’ Networks Dialogue, Latin American Canadian Art Projects and Sur Gallery, Heritage Toronto, and Art Starts. Currently, she is Managing Director at Mural Routes. Marta is the co-founder and Director of Programming of Paralia Newcomer Arts Network. She is also the recipient of the 2017 & 2022 Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant from the Toronto Arts Council in the capacity of mentor and a 2018 Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab fellow.

Connect with Marta:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/martakellerh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martakellerh/

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

https://youtu.be/W_eodCtkRpE

About Betty

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

Follow me on Instagram @bettyxcoach for more resources and my behind-the-scenes story working as a creative and a coach for creatives. 

My 1:1 coaching program is OPEN! I help creatives to build a dream career that matters to them, their community, and the future. My clients have successfully pivoted their career, made their art, and made happier money. Book a free consultation call here: 

https://practice.do/me/betty-xie/book/coaching-free-consultation

Learn more about the program at xiebetty.com/coaching

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