The Other Side of the Windowsill: Self Reflection, Reinvention, and Helping Other Recognize Their Potential With Margo

https://www.instagram.com/lisacongdon/

See full show notes at www.windowsillchats.com/podcast

Recent Episodes from Windowsill Chats

What It Really Means to Have Creative Freedom: Lisa Congdon on Embracing Hobbies, Cultivating Discipline, and Making Space for Joy and Ease

The one and only Lisa Congdon is back in the windowsill for an honest conversation on work life balance, creating harmony and ease in life, and what she’s given up in order to have more of what she wants. Illustrator and author Lisa Congdon is best known for her colorful, graphic drawings and hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including Comme des Garçons, Crate and Barrel, Facebook, MoMA, REI, and Harvard University among many others. She is the author of ten books, including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist and her latest book Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic.

Margo and Lisa discuss:

The notion of work life balance and Lisa’s current take on it
The process of engangling herself from being a workaholic
Creating a self care and wellness practice
The importance of non-monetized hobbies
The learning lessons that come from decision making
Why she always says “every mistake is progress”
The 80/20 rule when it comes to business income
Print on demand
How being disciplined has allowed her more freedom in her life

Connect with Lisa:

https://lisacongdon.com/

Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon

Connect with Margo:

Exploring the Interwoven Journey of Spirituality and Creativity: Jade Chen on Shamanic Practices, the Potency of Nature, and Personal Evolution (Episode 174)

enMarch 13, 2024

Unleashing Authenticity and Baring It All: The Art of Empowerment Photography and Retreats with Sarah Leader

Margo is joined by California photographer and retreat creator and host, Sarah Leader. Sarah received her first camera at the age of 8 and hasn’t stopped photographing since but her why and who she photographs has evolved several times over while still saying true to her own style and uniqueness. She found a passion for empowering women through the art of photography in 2010, which evolved into a retreat offering called "Persephone Unleashed.” Persephone Unleashed was born from Sarah’s belief that women are magic, as well as her fiery passion to document beautiful creatures as they break free of their chrysalis. Her approach to photographing women is founded on authenticity & self-compassion, and she practices it by showing up to that space with you, unapologetically herself — awkward, messy bits and all.

Margo and Sarah discuss:

Her personal journey with creativity and photography
The inspiration and story behind Persephone Unleashed (stemming from her own Postpartum Depression) and how it’s evolved since its inception
Using photography as a form of storytelling
How she approaches photographing women with authenticity and self-compassion
How she uses photography as a tool for empowering women and how self portraiture contributes to their sense of self and liberation
Margo’s experience at Persephone Unleashed
Creating an environment that encourages women to break free and embrace their authenticity
Tips for how individuals can embrace their own unique beauty and tell their stories through photography (even if they're not professional photographers)
The incredible team at Persephone Unleashed
Upcoming events and more

Mentioned:

Connect with Sarah:

www.persphoneunleashed.com

www.instagram.com/persephoneunleashed

https://sarahkathleen.com/

Connect with Margo:

http://www.instagram.com/lorisiebert.studio/

enMarch 06, 2024

The Interplay of Health and Art: Prioritizing Self-Care while Discovering New Creative Passions with Lori Siebert

Margo is joined by former Windowsill Chats guest, Lori Siebert. Lori, an accomplished artist with a rich background in graphic design and art licensing, shares the evolution of her creative journey, reflecting on the major shifts in her life post turning 60, from handling significant losses to prioritizing joy and self-care. Together, they share insights into recent personal health discoveries and why they’ve decided to prioritize their health now and how they hope to encourage you to do the same. Lori also shares on the shift in her career, choosing projects that resonate personally after selling her studio building and relieving financial pressures. She discusses how this pivotal decision, along with a newfound pursuit of happiness through self-care, led her to acknowledge her chameleon-like adaptability as a signature mark in her art.

Margo and Lori discuss:

The intersection of creativity and health and why you can’t have one without the other
Discovering new creative passions that aid in wellness such as cooking
Plank contests and pilates
Unique art challenges and how they infuse their lives with inspiration
How intergenerational relationships impact Lori’s creative process
Prioritizing sleep
Managing time and maintaining a healthy balance between work, self-care, and creativity
Upcoming events and plans for Lori
And more!

Connect with Lori:

http://www.pinterest.com/lorisie

http://www.facebook.com/lorisiebertstudio

www.lorisiebert.com

Connect with Margo:

www.instagram.com/sunlighttax

enFebruary 28, 2024

Paint Brushes to Balance Sheets: Financial Literacy, Tax Knowledge and How to Break the Starving Artist Stereotype With Hannah Cole

Margo is joined by tax expert Hannah Cole who specializes in working with creative businesses and mission-driven solopreneurs. A long-time working artist herself, she’s helped tens of thousands of self-employed people skill up with accessible tax and money education, through her Money Bootcamp program, speaking engagements from Florida to Alaska, and on the Sunlight podcast. She is the founder of Sunlight Tax. As artists carve their paths through various industries, they encounter a myriad of challenges, yet financial literacy is rarely addressed, leading to feelings of failure and shame. Today's conversation with Hannah sheds light on this systemic failure and turns it into a journey of empowerment and self-compassion (something all creatives should have)!

Margo and Hannah discuss:

The responsibilities that come with being a small business owner in the US
Navigating self-employment taxes and optimizing deductions
Personal struggles that Hannah faced within her own creative career and financial literacy
What propelled her towards accounting education
How she acts as a translator between the creative and tax worlds
Simple advice artists can implement today when it comes to money management
Her Money Bootcamp program and podcast
How to save more money
And more!

Connect with Hannah:

www.sunlighttax.com

www.sunlighttax.com/podcast

Make Taxes Easier and Stash an Extra $130k in Your Savings https://go.sunlighttax.com/free

Connect with Margo:

www.instagram.com/suzyultman

enFebruary 21, 2024

Infusing Identity into Art and the Power of Personal Beliefs in Professional Projects with Suzy Ultman (Part 2)

In part two of this two-part episode, Margo is joined by illustrator, product designer, toy creator, and bookmaker of sophisticated and simple objects that inspire and delight young and old alike, Suzy Ultman. from graphic design to creating educational content for children, Suzy emphasizes the importance of infusing personal beliefs into professional projects and how hardships in her life such as her divorce and the loss of her sister played a role in her own creativity and imparting it on children. Make Time for Play is the main philosophy behind everything that she does as an artist and her signature products celebrate play, creativity, connection, and community in the world around us.

Margo and Suzy discuss:

Her desire to create more Jewish products to represent her culture and heritage
How personal struggles influenced her creative process and approach to life
The self-growth and happiness that comes alive through creativity
Using social media as a creative tool
Rediscovering the joy of Shabbat and what it brought back in to her life
The importance in finding time for creativity, self-reflection, and relationships
Her new kids stationery collaboration
And more

Connect with Suzy:

www.suzyultman.com

Connect with Margo:

www.instagram.com/suzyultman

enFebruary 14, 2024

creative collaboration

Infusing Identity into Art and the Power of Personal Beliefs in Professional Projects with Suzy Ultman (Part 1)

In this two-part episode, Margo is joined by illustrator, product designer, toy creator, and bookmaker of sophisticated and simple objects that inspire and delight young and old alike, Suzy Ultman. from graphic design to creating educational content for children, Suzy emphasizes the importance of infusing personal beliefs into professional projects and how hardships in her life such as her divorce and the loss of her sister played a role in her own creativity and imparting it on children. Make Time for Play is the main philosophy behind everything that she does as an artist and her signature products celebrate play, creativity, connection, and community in the world around us.

Margo and Suzy discuss:

Suzy’s creative path: transitioning from studying accounting to pursuing a career in graphic design
Her experience of working in design for Adidas
Prioritizing handwork, creativity, and inspiration in the creative process
How personal identity and cultural heritage plays a role in her creative process
Challenges she’s faced when integrating her Jewish identity into her work
Lessons learned from finding representation and building artistic vision
The importance of connection and community when it comes to doing creative work
Staying true to one's story and identity

Connect with Suzy:

www.suzyultman.com

Connect with Margo:

Learn the art of PROCreate with Beth Buffington by visiting https://www.bdi-create.today/windowsill

enFebruary 07, 2024

Coloring Outside the Lines: Inspiring "Smileishness" Through the Art of Jules Gissler

Margo is joined by fantastical and whimsical artist, Jules Gissler. Jules doesn’t color in the proverbial lines, and she is proud to create art that has a voice and a story. Over the years, my work has taken different shapes, as has she. Jules believes in being braver, bolder, and unafraid to take up space and also the important role humor and connection plays in our evolution. Jules' art is an embodiment of who she is. It’s how she lives her magic, the combination of vulnerability, attachment to nature, courage, and her voice that make her unlike any other being under the sun. She is grateful to have discovered these qualities and hopes the many layers of emotions and experiences she has, shows up in her work in a way that inspires smile-ish-ness (her Dr. Seuss made-up word) and connection.

Margo and Jules discuss:

Attending Montana State University to discovering her passion for art and jewelry design
The significance of music and its impact on her creativity
How she’s embraced new opportunities and takes initiative in business
Vulnerability, connection, and natures role in her creative journey
How she continually pushes forward in trying new things (artistic endeavors, life, etc.)
Storytelling through her art
Collaborating with a designer like Michael Grey for Birkenstock
Advice for artists navigating their own creative journeys

Connect with Jules:

https://www.julesgissler.com

https://instagram.com/julesAgissler

https://www.facebook.com/julesGisslerArtist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-gissler

https://www.pinterest.com/julesgissler/

https://www.amazon.com/Save-Earth-Daisy-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B09NTQ2SZW/

https://www.illustratorsforhire.com/featuring/jules-gissler-illustrator-for-hire

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com/

Learn the art of PROCreate with Beth Buffington by visiting https://www.bdi-create.today/windowsill

enJanuary 31, 2024

Champagne Fabulous: Living Unapologetically, Aging Inappropriately and Embracing Individuality with Mandi Blackford

Margo is joined by the cheeky glam ma'am behind the Champagne Fabulous brand of gifts and home decor, Mandi Blackford. Through her brand, Mandi encourages people of all ages to unabashedly be exactly who they WANT to be with her motto "Age Inappropriately.” A watercolor & acrylic artist previously selling under the brand Jetset Barbie Art, Mandi took her creative career to the next level in 2022 when she launched the Champagne Fabulous brand with her first two original products on Amazon in the US, UK, and Australia. A pool float in the shape of a champagne bottle, and a doorbell frame that says "Press for Champagne". All while maintaining her demanding full-time day job as a hotel software product manager. Mandi recently launched The Age Inappropriately Show – a weekly video podcast where hilarious content will always come back to the underlying message of encouragement to have self-love, confidence, and live authentically.

Margo and Mandi discuss:

Her Arkansas upbringing, Baptist background and her evolving desire to be a preacher's wife to becoming an artist
The unique path and many jobs that took her to Las Vegas, Austin, Dallas, and Chicago before moving to Longview, TX
What traveling taught her and how it inspired her first creative business name, Jetset Barbie
Finding a new form of creativity through painting at the age of 46
Making art profitable
The Amazon FBA program: learning the ins and outs to sell her products on Amazon
Learning to embracing her individuality and overcome societal norms
Her new podcast and video show, Age Inappropriately
And more!

Connect with Mandi:

https://champagnefab.com/

https://youtube.com/@champagnefab

https://www.instagram.com/champagnefabulousllc/

https://www.facebook.com/ChampagneFabulousLLC

https://www.tiktok.com/@champagnefab

https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/mandiblackford

https://twitter.com/champagnefaboo

Connect with Margo:

www.windowsillchats.com/

Learn the art of PROCreate with Beth Buffington by visiting https://www.bdi-create.today/windowsill

enJanuary 24, 2024

The Bold-Faced Truth: Deep Diving Communication, Emotional Intelligence and Self-Worth With Amy Green Smith

Margo is joined by certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and courageous communication expert Amy Green Smith. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth. With acute focus on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style of irreverence, wisdom, and humor.

Margo and Amy discuss:

Her life crisis moment that led her to leave an industry she had great success in

The importance of effective communication and emotional well-being
Learning to find your voice and powerfully say 'No' as an artist
Combatting people-pleasing in business
Finding the right words, creating boundaries, and cultivating self-worth as an entrepreneur
Navigating uncomfortable conversations
The science behind our four fear responses (and how they hold creatives back)
Her amazing Free-sources
And so much more!

Connect with Amy:

Amygreensmith.com

http://amygreensmith.com/free

http://instagram.com/heyamygreensmith

http://facebook.com/heyamygreensmith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyamygreensmith

http://twitter.com/heyamygreen

Connect with Margo: