Today I am chatting with documentary filmmaker Stephanie Wang-Breal. In this interview, we discuss the risks she has taken as she navigated her career, and the many ways that she make hard decisions that lead to more meaningful work. 

How does a career novelist make ends meet and navigate her way through a mid-career slump? Today I can’t even tell you how excited I am to share this interview with Tammy Greenwood, author of nine novels. If you are a writer — especially if you are a novelist — I beg you to listen to this podcast. Tammy takes us behind the scenes of her writing career, and provides an unfiltered view of the reality of what it means to write every day, and and publish nine books.

Today I am thrilled to share my interview with Jeremy Chernick, a special effects designer for Broadway productions, Cirque Du Soleil projects, museum installations, music videos, TV, and film. Basically, Jeremy makes it snow, rain, burn, bleed and explode on stage. He has worked with J&M Special Effects since 2006. In our discussion, we cover:

* Breaking big creative risks down into management moments.

* How lots of bad ideas are a part of the creative process.

* Communication, and the agreement you make with your audience.

* The pressure of creating the spectacular.

* The part of the creative process that no one wants.

* His creative career journey.

* How his personal life affects his professional life, now that he is a father.

Debbie Ridpath Ohi writes and illustrates books for young people.  In our chat, we discuss:

* How she took a huge risk in leaving her safe corporate job to pursue a creative career. 

* Her path to becoming a full-time writer and illustrator.

* How she got the opportunity to illustrate the most recent Judy Blume reissues. 

* How she deals with both positive and negative feedback.

* How she approaches social media, and why she finds it to be an essential part of her career.

* Her productivity tips and an in-depth look at her creative process. 

How does one person going from being a painfully shy child who barely spoke five words per day in school, to being a well-known children's book blogger, librarian and author? In today's interview, I chat with Betsy Bird, who takes us through her experience going from an introvert as a child, to someone who shares so much of herself online, and even — unintentionally — courts controversy in the book world.

For the past six years, Andrea Lekberg has run The Artist Baker, a boutique bakery & cafe in Morristown, New Jersey. In this interview, we discuss when she knew to take a big risk in her career, how she prepared for success, and the value of developing your art and community, not just your business.

Angie Pickman took a big leap, and completely failed. She opened a restaurant in Brooklyn that bled money, and closed six months later. What she did after that moment is inspiring: she turned that failure into a new opportunity, and then made a massive shift to do the unthinkable: make a living as as a cut paper artist. 

Today I'm speaking with Rachel Fershleiser, who describes herself this way, "I'm someone who gets really psyched about books on the internet, and I help others do it too." I am so inspired by not just the scope of Rachel's work over the years, but how much she is an enthusiastic champion for others. 

What Julia Fierro has accomplished is astounding, she is the author of Cutting Teeth and the forthcoming The Gypsy Moth Summer, she runs the Sackett Street Writers' Workshop which has had more than 2,500 writers pass through it in more than 12 years, she is a teacher, has been published in many prominent magazines & media outlets, and is a wife and mother of two. What makes her accomplishments so much more intriguing is how open she has been about her struggles with anxiety and OCD.

Sarah Bray is a living embodiment of the 1,000 true fans ethos; She has a thriving career as a creative professional, by catering to a small group of like-minds who know and appreciate her work. Just before we spoke, Sarah was thrust into a career transition when she was laid off from her job. In this discussion, we explore her process of working through risk, and how she is driven by creating a meaningful body of work.