What does the advice, "Just be yourself," mean when you are still figuring out who you are as an artist? In this episode photographer, Martine Severin, shares her "prickly" journey to discovering her creative voice and why the path from imitation to authenticity is rarely a straight line. We discuss the "gap" between our taste and our abilities, the pressure artists of color face to be original yet palatable, and why a simple concept changed how she approaches her work. If you are tired of performing for applause and ready to find a voice that feels like home, this episode is for you.

00:13 The Taste Gap

02:29 The Portfolio Review

04:40 Imitation vs. Authenticity

07:02 The Trap of Originality

09:20 The Burden of Representation

11:38 Voice as a Garden

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

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Have you ever felt like your inability to master a technical skill was a sign you should quit? In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant painter Shaina McCoy, who transformed a moment of classroom frustration into a profound artistic breakthrough. Shaina opens up about the courage it took to bypass traditional art school to protect her voice, the surprising way she colors her memories, and why she believes making a viewer feel is the ultimate measure of success. If you are struggling to embrace your unique limitations, this conversation might just change your perspective on what it means to be a master of your craft.

00:00 Introduction to Shaina McCoy and Her Visual Language

02:16 Early Creative Roots and The Dream of Art School

05:54 The Assignment That Changed Everything: 30 Paintings in 3 Weeks

09:00 Finding Validation in Unexpected Places

11:09 The Choice to Avoid Art School to Protect the Work

15:33 Developing "Blind Faith" in Your Creative Voice

17:16 The Breakthrough: Permission to Stop Painting Faces

19:18 Sculpting with Oil: Mastering the Impasto Technique

20:56 Pop Pop's Archive: The Keeper of Family History

24:29 Color Theory and The emotional Weight of Memory

29:27 Redefining Success: Connection Over Prestige

Follow Shaina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallflowermccoy

Shaina's Work:

• https://goodmothergallery.com/exhibitions/53-nice-to-finally-meet-you-group-exhibition-curated-los-angeles/works/

• https://www.simchowitz.com/exhibitions/shaina-mccoy#tab:slideshow

• https://shop.simchowitz.com/products/harmonica-2023

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

• Share with fellow creatives

Welcome back, friend. We are stepping into Season Six with a fresh energy that I have been dying to share with you. Over the last nine months, my team and I have been working quietly behind the scenes, from the vibrant streets of Medellín to the design studio, to reimagine how this show looks, sounds, and feels. In this episode, I am pulling back the curtain on the major changes we have made, from our stunning new visual identity to the strategic shifts in our programming. I also share why we are pivoting away from our old format and the ambitious goals we have set for growing this community. If you have ever wondered what it takes to evolve a creative project while staying true to its core, this look ahead offers a glimpse into the joyful, sometimes messy work of leveling up.

00:00 Welcome Back: Kickstarting Season Six from Colombia

01:30 A Visual Renaissance: Collaborating on Our New Identity

03:28 Sonic Shifts: Choosing the New Sound of the Show

04:25 The Strategic Pivot

06:10 The Mission: Growing an Audience to Support Artists

07:45 Season Preview: Creative Crushes and Upcoming Guests

09:15 Solo Episodes: Tackling Paralysis and Finding Your Voice

10:30 Behind the Scenes: Batch Recording and Team Dynamics

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

Want to find out the secret to doing the scary things in life? Are you waiting for the right time or for a surge of confidence to finally send that pitch or apply for that residency. In this episode, we explore the psychological traps of "waiting to be ready" and share research-backed strategies to move from stagnant avoidance to meaningful action. If you have been keeping a scary dream on hold, this conversation might be the gentle push you need to start before you feel brave.

Chapters

00:00 The internal draft: Why we wait for the right time

01:05 A snowy reflection on the dreams we haven't touched

02:17 The confrontation: When "someday" meets the calendar

03:10 Unlearning the fear patterns that keep us stuck

04:39 The "No Fear Month" challenge and the science of action

05:40 Why feelings follow actions: Insights from cognitive behavioral therapy

06:20 Utilizing temporal landmarks for a fresh start

08:00 Step-by-step: How to schedule your breakthrough

10:30 Keeping promises to yourself: A lesson from my son

12:50 The Pomodoro technique and the power of twenty-five minutes

14:40 Overcoming the discomfort of the "not right now"

16:26 Body doubling and shifting your creative environment

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

In our ongoing series about the creative process of building a studio, we've covered when and how to hire a team. But what happens when a hire isn't the right fit?

I'm pulling back the curtain on a lesson that cost me months of energy and a piece of my confidence as a leader. You'll often know by week three or four when a new hire isn't going to make it, and waiting six months to act isn't just costly, it's a failure of leadership. I share the difference between a coachable skill gap and a fundamental values misalignment. Discover the two questions that immediately clarify your next move and the three clear, documented conversations you must have before making the final decision. This episode provides a clear, direct process to protect your creative work and act with grace and clarity, because your vision is worth protecting.

00:00 - An Expensive Lesson in Waiting: Why I Didn't Act for Six Months

01:30 - The Six-Month Rule: Knowing When It's Time to Make a Clear Decision

02:40 - Coaching vs. Cutting Loose: When to Invest in Skill vs. Values

04:05 - Making It Better or Just Different: The Two Defining Questions

04:55 - The Three Clear Conversations Before You Let Someone Go

07:05 - How to Have the Firing Conversation: Clarity is Kindness

08:45 - The Cost of Waiting and Why Acting Fast is Great Leadership

10:40 - Am I Coaching Because I Believe or Because I'm Afraid?

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

You've made the hire and the contract is signed. Yay. Now we can begin the real work. In this final installment of our mini-series on hiring your first assistant, I'm pulling back the curtain on the first crucial 90 days and the art of proper onboarding. I'll be sharing the systems and intentional frameworks, honed from years of building teams in my photography business and overseeing a 120-person team in a co-owned company, that help a new hire fully absorb your vision, not just your tasks.

I'll walk you through the 30-60-90 framework for ensuring your new team member is set up for success. Learn why the first 30 days are purely for learning, when to flip the script on task ownership, and what to watch for by day 60 to prevent costly misalignments. This episode will provide you with the blueprint for creating an operating document, using tools for clear process transfer, and course-correcting early to ensure your future self (and your entire creative business) is amplified, not diluted.

00:00 - Introduction and Series Recap

02:23 - The Crucial 90 Days: Onboarding vs. Orientation

04:44 - Breaking Down the 30-60-90 Framework

07:04 - Why You Must Encourage "Dumb" Questions

09:16 - Honesty Check: Are You Micromanaging?

11:37 - A Concrete Example: Onboarding for Client Communication

14:02 - Creating Your Operating Document and Role-Playing Scenarios

16:21 - The Week Eight Check-in and the Importance of Documentation

18:48 - Setting People Up for Success: Coaching Versus Cutting Loose

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

Hiring your first helper is exciting, but it can also be terrifying. After keeping the wrong person on my team for far too long, I realized I had been focusing on all the wrong things. Skills on a resume are table stakes, but you cannot teach someone to care about the details the way you do.

In this episode (Part 2 of our hiring series), I am pulling back the curtain on the screening process that saved me from making that mistake again. I share the specific, behavioral questions I now ask to uncover a candidate's true values, the red flags that signal a poor fit, and the single most important step I take before making any commitment: the paid trial project. This is the guide I wish I had when I started building my team.

00:00 Welcome Back & The Hiring Journey

00:45 The Mistake I Made With My First Hire

02:05 Looking Beyond the Resume: Skills vs. Values

03:00 Why "Culture Fit" Is Everything for a Small Creative Business

04:00 The Pre-Screening Trick for Attention to Detail

05:50 How to Ask About Past Work (The "Prioritization" Question)

07:45 Asking About Mistakes and Listening for Ownership

09:30 How Do They Handle Critical Feedback?

10:30 The Importance of a (Paid) Trial Project

11:50 The Truth Revealed in the Trial

12:20 Red Flags: Badmouthing and Vague Answers

13:00 Why the Questions They Ask Matter

13:30 The One Question I Wish I Had Asked

14:00 Final Thoughts: Aligned, Not Perfect

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

Some creatives hire when they're overwhelmed, not when they're ready to lead. Before you bring on that intern or assistant, you need clarity on what you're handing off, bandwidth to train them, and rock-solid values they can execute on. I'm pleased to share the hiring frameworks that rocked my world when it came to bringing on new team members.

00:00 Introduction: The Four-Part Series on Hiring

01:06 The Mistake: Hiring When You Are Not Ready to Lead

02:08 Question 1: What Specific Work Are You Handing Off?

02:49 Question 2: Can You Afford to Train Someone (With Time)?

03:31 Question 3: Do You Know Your Non-Negotiables?

04:30 The EOS Framework and The People Analyzer

05:07 The Three Parts of the People Analyzer: Get It, Want It, Capacity

08:08 Journaling Prompts: Defining Your Core Values

10:30 The Key Advice: Hire for One Job, Not to Replace Yourself

13:10 Coming Up: The Interview Process

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

What does it take to change an entire industry? Thirty years ago, Jomo Tariku, then an industrial design student, noticed something profound missing in his university library: contemporary African furniture designers. This observation sparked a decades-long journey of persistence and vision.

I sit down with Jomo to discuss his path from sketching designs in his garage while working other jobs to having his celebrated work featured in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He shares how his father's incredible story as a refugee gave him the hubris to persist through a 27-year wait for recognition. Tune in to learn how he translates his heritage (from the horns of the Nyala antelope to the powerful symbolism of the Afro-comb) into functional, modern art.

Tune in to this story about patience, process, and the fight to redefine the creative canon.

02:22 The Collector's Home: Early Influences from a Father's Travels

05:13 Breadcrumbs: From Drawing Objects to Industrial Design

09:34 The Missing Narrative: A Thesis on African Furniture

14:14 The "Hubris" of an Orphan: A Father's Legacy of Courage

18:59 The Story of the Mito Chair: Connecting Continents with an Afro-Pick

24:37 A Commission for Seneca Village: The Met Afrofutures Room

26:08 The Designer's Process: Collaboration and Master Craftsmanship

31:40 The Balance of Beauty and Function

33:41 How 3D Printing Changed the Game

39:36 The Cost of a Prototype

42:18 The Nyala Chair: "The One That Put Me on the Map"

42:48 The 27-Year Wait and the Rise of BADG

45:10 Advocating for a More Inclusive Canon

47:33 Redefining Success: Joy, Research, and Community

Follow Jomo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jomotariku

Jomo's Website: https://jomotariku.com/

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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I have been thinking a lot lately about the difference between the loud hustle culture of constant visibility and the profound power of simply refusing to give up, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

Join me in this episode as I share unexpected lessons in persistence, inspired by Death Valley.

00:00 - The Unlikely Pairing: Death Valley and Dehydrated Shrimp

01:50 - The Persistence of Fairy Shrimp and Resurrection Moss

02:30 - Redefining Persistence: Why Dormancy is Not Failure

03:40 - When Your Rain Comes: Being Ready to Rise

04:30 - Nature's Pep Talk: The Audacity of a 50-Year Wait

05:30 - A Call to Action for Your Quiet Creative Work

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.