What happens when you feed your life’s work into an AI tool and let it tell your story? In this episode, I’m sharing something totally different—and honestly, a little wild. I recently discovered Google’s Notebook LM, a tool that can take your notes and turn them into a full-on podcast episode using AI-generated hosts. I gave it a shot with my own story as a crochet artist and creative entrepreneur… and what came out blew me away.

Tune in to hear what the AI came up with—and stick around afterward as I reflect on what this means for business owners, content creators, and anyone curious about the future of storytelling. Could AI be your next co-host? Let’s find out.

Are you stuck hoping your business will grow… instead of deciding it will? In this episode of Creative & Called, I’m sharing the exact mindset shift that flipped the script in my journey from overwhelmed mompreneur to confident business owner.

We’re talking about the difference between passive hope and powerful decision. Because hope sounds noble, but it won’t build your dreams. Deciding puts you back in control.

Let this episode be your reminder: You don’t need to hope anymore. You get to decide.

🧶 ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠ – now on Amazon

🌐 Visit ⁠marcymade.co⁠ for crochet patterns

Ever wish you had a marketing coach, copywriter, and business strategist in your pocket—ready to help 24/7? You do. It’s called ChatGPT.

In this episode of Creative & Called, I’m sharing 9 real ways I use ChatGPT to save time, write better, and grow my crochet business. From writing SEO-optimized Etsy listings and high-converting email funnels to brainstorming Pinterest pins, podcast episodes, and even mapping out six-figure strategies—I’m walking you through the exact prompts I use so you can try them for your own handmade or digital product business.

If you're a creative entrepreneur, pattern designer, or side hustler looking to work smarter (not harder), this behind-the-scenes episode will open your eyes to what’s possible when you combine your God-given creativity with the right tools.

🧶 ⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠ – now on Amazon

🌐 Visit ⁠⁠marcymade.co⁠⁠ for crochet patterns

Have you ever felt like you were meant for more—but couldn’t quite figure out why your business feels a little… off? In this episode of Creative & Called, I’m diving into one of the most transformational books I’ve ever read as a creative entrepreneur: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.

This book completely changed how I view my time, my talent, and the way I grow my business. If you’ve ever hit a ceiling in your success or found yourself burning out doing work you’re good at but not passionate about, you might be stuck in what Hendricks calls the Zone of Excellence—when you’re meant to be creating from your Zone of Genius.

I’ll walk you through the four key concepts from The Big Leap, including the “Upper Limit Problem” and the hidden beliefs that quietly sabotage our growth. We’ll explore the four Zones of Functioning—Incompetence, Competence, Excellence, and Genius—and I’ll help you identify which one you’re currently building your business from.

📚 Mentioned in this episode: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
🧶 Hooked on Growth – now on Amazon
🌐 Visit marcymade.co for crochet patterns

This episode isn’t polished. It’s personal.

I’m just days away from welcoming our second baby, and I’m holding so many questions close to my heart—about motherhood, creativity, identity, and how to carry it all with grace.

From the transition of loving two children to the invisible pressure of postpartum body image… from guilt over time and attention to wondering when it’s okay to work on my business again… this is a raw, honest reflection on the beauty and the tension of what’s to come.

This isn’t an episode full of answers—it’s full of real, vulnerable questions I hope you’ll respond to. Because we weren’t meant to do this alone.

Whether you’re in the thick of motherhood, anticipating a new season, or simply wondering how to keep showing up for your dreams with little ones underfoot—I hope this conversation reminds you: you’re not alone, and you were made for this.

💌 Have thoughts to share? DM me on Instagram or send an email—I’d love to hear your story.

Browse my crochet patterns at https://www.marcymade.co/

In this episode of Creative & Called, we meet Melinda—a woman who walked away from housekeeping after chemical exposure caused debilitating migraines... and walked straight into her God-given calling.

What started as a health crisis became the catalyst for a complete life pivot. Melinda didn’t just start over—she built multiple businesses rooted in creativity, service, and purpose.

Melinda’s story is raw, real, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most painful detours are the ones that lead us home.

If you're navigating a career pivot or wondering how your gifts could ever become a livelihood, this conversation will speak right to your heart.

Because here on Creative & Called, we believe your creativity isn’t random—it’s a roadmap.

VISIT MELINDA's BUSINESSES

Shiplap & Sage

The Stables Marketplace

Sacred Honor

SIMPLY HOOKED

Your first purchase at marcymade.co comes with a free downloadable donkey pattern—just our way of saying welcome!

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome to the very first episode under our brand-new name: Creative & Called! In today’s episode, I’m sharing the heart behind the change, why I felt led to shift the direction of this podcast, and how sometimes the best thing we can do in business (and life) is pivot.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to force something to work the way you thought it was supposed to—or if you’ve started a project that ended up evolving into something entirely different—you’re not alone.

This episode is your permission slip to change direction, follow the nudge, and trust that your God-given creativity will lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Let’s talk about why this podcast name changed, what that means moving forward, and how embracing the unexpected might be the very thing that sets you free.

SIMPLY HOOKED

Your first purchase at ⁠marcymade.co⁠ comes with a free downloadable donkey pattern—just our way of saying welcome!

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome to Threads of Wisdom, my mini-episode series within Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast. In this episode, I reflect on a powerful quote from Earl Nightingale: “You become what you think about.”

Inspired by his iconic recording, The Strangest Secret, I explore how our thoughts shape our actions, success, and overall quality of life. Just like in crochet, where each stitch builds something beautiful, our thoughts create the fabric of our lives. I share practical ways to take control of your mindset, set clear goals, and focus on positivity to guide you toward the life you love.

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

It’s the final episode of my 8-part mini-series on scaling a handmade business—and today, we’re talking about the most important lesson of all: mindset.

You can have all the strategies in the world—SEO, photography, email funnels, product design—but if your beliefs, energy, and inner world aren’t aligned, you’ll hit a ceiling every time. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the internal work that’s fueled my biggest growth. We’ll talk about how to shift from hustle to alignment, from fear to faith, and why your business can only grow as much as you do.

You’ll hear inspiration from Les Brown, Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, and Jay Shetty—and walk away with a renewed sense of purpose, belief in your dream, and confidence in your next step.

✨ If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really build something meaningful from my passion?”—this is your episode.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome back to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! In Part 7 of my 8-part mini-series on scaling a crochet business, I’m pulling back the curtain on the tools and systems that keep my creative business moving forward—while juggling a full-time job, a toddler, and a bustling household. From Canva and Trello to Shopify, Mailchimp, and even ChatGPT, I’m sharing the platforms and processes I rely on daily to stay organized, show up consistently, and bring my ideas to life without burning out.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your own handmade biz, this episode is full of time-saving tips and real-life hacks for working in pockets of time, keeping things simple, and building a business that fits your life. I also share how I batch content, record on the go, manage product shipping, and repurpose every ounce of creative energy. Let’s streamline your business so you can focus more on what you love—creating!

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠