In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Sheena Mays, a music teacher, sketchnoter, and lettering artist about her journey from music to sketchnoting to hand-lettering.

Learn how hand-lettering as therapy for multiple sclerosis led Sheena to launch a hand-lettering and sketchnoting company — in the pandemic — and how this challenge strengthened her mindset and her business.

Sponsored by Concepts

This episode of the Sketchnote Army Podcast is brought to you by Concepts.

An infinite canvas sketching app built for tablets with a stylus, like the iPad Pro, Microsoft Surface, and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Concepts’ infinite canvas lets you spread out and sketch in any direction. Draw and take notes with liquid pens, markers and brushes in your favorite Copic designer colors.

Everything you draw in Concepts is a flexible vector, so you can move your notes around the canvas, or change their color, tool or size with a simple gesture.

Drag and drop images onto the canvas, and use layers and grids to organize your creative space. When you’re ready to share, export straight to your friends or team.

SEARCH ”Concepts” in your favorite app store for infinite, flexible sketching.

Learn more: Concepts App

Running Order

• Intro: Who is Sheena?
• Sheena’s origin story
• How Sheena’s business emerged
• Musical sketchnotes
• Sketchnote workshops in schools
• Business and the importance of finding balance
• The pros and cons of social media
• Creating sketchnotes from recordings vs. live
• The importance of regular practice
• What doers Sheena do to keep sane in a pandemic
  • Walking her dog
  • Playing music on the keyboard
  • Reading
• Tools
• 3 tips
• Outro

Links

• Sheena’s Website
• Sheena on Instagram
• Sketch Notes School on Patreon
• Sheena on YouTube
• Sheena on LinkedIn
• Sheena on Twitter
• Sheena on Facebook

Tools

Amazon affiliate links support the Sketchnote Army Podcast.

• Blackwing Slate Medium
• Blackwing Pencils
• Tombow Lettering Tools
• Tombow Fudenosuke
• Sharpie Gel Pens
• iPad Pro
• Apple Pencil
• Procreate
• Adobe Creative Suite

Tips

1. Do something different.
2. Teach.
3. Practice. Practice = Progress. It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something.

Credits

• Producer: Alec Pulianas
• Theme music: Jon Schiedermayer

Subscribe to the Sketchnote Army Podcast

You can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast listening source.

Support the Podcast

To support the creation, production and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde’s bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!

Subscribe to the Sketchnote Podcast

You can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source.

Support the Podcast

To support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde's bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off!

Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. You don’t need to be an artist to think visually. Join Mike and learn to use sketchnotes to clarify your thinking, solve problems, and move forward. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab.

Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start sketchnoting and build a regular sketchnoting practice.

He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick.

Mike teaches recorded, live, and in-person workshops to accelerate your sketchnoting practice and provides personalized coaching for your specific visual-thinking challenges.

He is the illustrator of bestselling books like REWORK, REMOTE, The $100 Startup, Honest SEO, The Culture Playbook, and The Future Begins with Z.

Become a Supporting or Founding Lab Partner to support Mike’s work.

Some links in Sketchnote Lab posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I use and believe in.

©2026 Mike Rohde, Sketchnote Lab