The Creative Business Community Podcast

This week we’re chatting AI — what it actually looks like for creatives in 2026, beyond just ChatGPT. Renee’s back to talk about on where it’s popping up (Canva, Adobe, your inbox, schedulers, even Meta ads) and how to use it without losing your voice or your values.

We swap easy, time-saving wins — turning brain-dumps into clean copy, brainstorming post ideas, softening tone, proofreading, planning content, and setting up auto-replies so you can actually have a weekend. We also call out the traps: dodgy “facts” and made-up quotes, US vs AU spelling, AI images that misrepresent your product, ad “enhancements” that burn budget, and those uncanny celeb-style voiceovers.

Big picture: keep your creative muscles working — AI’s a tool, not the whole process. Be transparent when it helps, and flick off default AI settings that don’t serve you. Your ideal customers still want the real, human-made stuff (they can spot the AI ick a mile away).

Plus, super simple, ethical prompt tips to get started today, and of course, our Creative Business Spotlight!

Creative Business Spotlight:

Earthbound

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with El from Maple and Wren — the Perth floral studio renowned for intentional, timeless floral moments — and the brains behind the Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy. El talks with us about her move swapping her government comms and corporate events job to running her own business, going from market‑stall flower crowns to luxe weddings, big‑deal installs and a buzzing education arm.

We get into how she niched down and proved that what you show is what you attract, how she builds and trusts a team with clear briefs and mood boards (and lets go of the “my way” stuff when it doesn’t matter), and how she juggles being both creative and CEO — finding fresh spark in marketing, shop curation and new products. She also shares the real‑life rhythms keeping burnout at bay: crack‑of‑dawn walks, calendar blocking, Friday family movie night and the whole glass‑vs‑plastic balls mindset.

It’s a fun, practical, heart‑led chat about building a luxury creative brand without losing the joy of making. 

Connect with our guest!

Find Maple and Wren Floral Art Academy:

Find Zest Flowers:

Creative Business Spotlight:

The Dainty Co

This week we’re talking social media scheduling software — what it is, whether you really need it, and how to use it without losing the human touch. We’ll cover batching and auto‑publishing, planning with calendars and feed previews, and why scheduling is a tool (not a strategy).

You’ll hear why you still need to keep showing up (think engagement), how platform nuances matter, and which metrics actually count now — think watch time, saves, shares and carousel swipes over likes.

We touch on analytics, from native insights in Meta to when paid tools like Loomly make sense for multi‑brand workflows. You’ll learn how to align content to business goals with clear calls to action, write SEO‑friendly captions that can surface on Google, and free up headspace by setting a realistic posting rhythm.

Plus, practical ways to start: use free options and trials, lean on tutorials, ask the community—and choose the platform you’ll actually use. 

Creative Business Spotlight:

Modern Homewares

This week, Erin sits down with Lucy, founder of Not Yet Perfect — a boutique pottery studio in Applecross known for soul‑soothing workshops and masterclasses — to explore how letting go can unlock your best creative and business work.

Born in Norway, raised in WA’s southwest and forged in a decade of fashion, Lucy shares how a surprise stint teaching at‑risk teens led her to pottery as a grounding practice, first in her lounge room with wine and clay, then via Gumtree classes, and eventually into a thriving studio space of their own. We dive into separating creativity from business identity, building resilience by self‑educating (yes, even through boring books), growing organically, and getting radically honest — about money, motives and the mundane daily habits that actually move the wheel.

You’ll hear how community shaped her systems during COVID, why becoming your own cheerleader matters, and Lucy’s beautiful “vessel” metaphor for holding space, creativity and business without losing yourself. Plus a quick‑fire round: weekly Ghost references, meditation as a must, green juice, sewing comebacks and big clay vessels. If you’re a creative wrestling with perfectionism, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.

Connect with our guest! Find Not Yet Perfect:

Coralie Carosin of Coco Studio

Note: In this episode we chat about reporting income, the idea of an income “threshold”, and when your creative pursuit is considered a business vs a hobby for tax purposes. After recording, we double-checked the details to make sure you have the most accurate information - please see the list at the bottom for links to relevant websites. 

This week we’re talking about the unsexy side of creative business. Admin admin, systems and boundaries that help to turn a passion project into a profitable, sustainable venture.

Erin and Ronnie unpack how to shift your mindset, track money without tears, and stop your creativity from sliding into “expensive hobby” territory. Expect practical, low-cost ways to get organised. We also dig into project management tools, using automations and email templates to save hours, valuing your time, and setting gentle but firm boundaries.

You’ll also hear practical ways to avoid burnout: time-blocking “boring” tasks, creating rituals or rewards to get through them, and protecting play time so your creativity keeps flourishing. Our quick-start tip? Book just 10–15 minutes a week to tackle the task you dread most — consistency beats overwhelm every time.

Plus, a heads-up on our Small Business 101 workshop, and this week’s Creative Business Spotlight. 

Book Into our Small Business 101 Workshop

Creative Business Spotlight:

Not Yet Perfect Pottery Studio

From Our Note:

In Australia, there is no specific income threshold that determines whether you are considered a business. It’s based on a range of factors outlined by the ATO.

If you are operating as a sole trader, the first $18,200 is generally the tax-free threshold (subject to your individual circumstances).

For more detailed and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources below:

ATO – Are you in business?

Business.gov.au – Difference between a hobby and a business

ATO – Assessable business income

As always, we recommend speaking with a registered accountant or tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin sits down with artist and House of Hobby founder Emilie Otto again for a chat about keeping your personal creativity alive while you run a creative small business. They unpack what happens when you take a beloved hobby and turn it into a business — and how to protect the joy when the admin, timelines and “make what sells” mentality creep in.

They explore the very real guilt of “not creating enough,” the shift away from hands‑on everyday skills, and how reclaiming simple lifestyle making—mending, sewing, cooking—can rebalance your week.

Emilie also shares what she delegated first, why teaching fuels her own creativity, and a reassuring reminder that many “creative” businesses are, at their core, events or retail operations — so you don’t have to be wildly arty to run one well.

Connect with our guest! Find House of Hobby:

Connect with our guest! Find Emilie Otto Art:

Kalamunda Art Glass

Feeling a bit solo running your creative biz? You’re not the only one. This week Erin and Ronnie chat about finding your people and why real community beats those referral based networking nights.

We share easy ways to meet fellow creatives; online groups, your local library, Eventbrite, Meet Up, and our own Creative Business Community. We talk about how to keep chats genuine, not salesy.

Nervous? We’ve got low-pressure icebreakers (including a tiny script for introverts) and the “wear a conversation starter” trick. Plus quick, free ways to back each other—likes, shares and reviews. We also chat about outgrowing groups, collaborating without competition, and why community groups are rising as influencer culture fades.

Creative Business Spotlight:

Perth Clothes Swap

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with Fremantle potter Rosie Button about her bold pivot from engineering to an 11‑year empowerment photography studio—then, 18 months ago, into full‑time clay.

Rosie shares how a well‑timed redundancy sparked her first business, the organic way her portrait work transformed women’s confidence, and why she ultimately swapped the emotional load of that work for a slower, hands‑on life at the wheel. You’ll hear how she turned a much‑loved hobby into a sustainable business: choosing markets over online sales, keeping overheads lean, reusing materials, and regularly reviewing those sneaky subscriptions and insurance costs.

Rosie also opens up about her sketch‑to‑throw process, Japanese influences, firing weeks, and the real costs behind a “perfect” pot. Plus, practical tips on authentic social media, engaging at markets, and building loyal collectors. 

Rosie's mentor: 

Connect with our guest! Find Rosie - Fremantle Pottery:

Creative Business Spotlight:

Michelle Fleur Artist

In this episode, Erin and Ronnie kick off from their new studio — our first video episode on YouTube — and tackle a decidedly unsexy but critical topic: insurance for creative businesses.

We demystify what you actually need depending on how you work — whether you’re a market stallholder, maker, workshop host, hairdresser or service provider. We chat about why insurance is about peace of mind, not fear. You’ll hear how to run a quick risk assessment, what public liability typically covers (and why $10m is standard at Aussie markets), when product liability matters (especially for food, children’s toys and skincare), and the role of contents/equipment cover, workers’ compensation, income protection and professional indemnity.

We unpack one‑off event cover vs getting your own policy, why sole traders can be personally liable, how an insurance broker can save time, and the importance of updating cover as your business evolves. Plus, a nudge to review your policy today and a heartfelt shout‑out for this weeks Creative Business Spotlight.

Creative Business Spotlight:

Elia Balms and Blends

This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin chats with Perth-based bridal designer Sally of Sally Victoria Couture. From market stalls to her first custom wedding gown, Sally shares how a love of beading, corsetry and craftsmanship evolved into a couture brand built for modern brides—and a business designed to flex around life as a mum.

We cover her rebrand to a more scalable, sale-ready identity, why she keeps production in-house for quality and uniqueness, and how she’s expanding with virtual appointments for East Coast brides.

Sally lifts the veil on her process—sketch-to-toile-to-final with six to seven fittings and total transparency—plus the systems that keep creativity and business in balance, from time-blocking to carving out protected “play” time. She talks pricing and worth, defining her ideal client avatar, finding the right mentors, and the pinch-me moment of seeing her gowns on the Brownlow red carpet.

Connect with our guest! Find Sally Victoria Couture:

Creative Business Spotlight:

Curated by Georgie