Highlight Real

Do you feel overwhelmed with your life? Does the thought of achieving balance feel like a joke? Or do you think balance is only reserved for a select few - the super-human or those who have a perfect life and have it all together? Are you tired of hustling and falling short of balance in your life? I believe there’s another way. In this episode I share my thoughts about balance and how to achieve it. How to flip how we think about balance  on its head, and give you practical tools and questions to ask yourself so you can take back the reins of your life. Join me for a thought provoking episode! In addition - I share with you what’s next for the Highlight REAL podcast while I achieve balance in my own life.   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Define what balance means to you Define what is most important to you Get clear on what is actually achievable and what your next right step is Create a plan for your balanced life Stop shoulding all over yourself Gain clarity and courage so you can own the reigns of your life

Are you dreaming of one day starting your own business? Are you considering going into business with a friend but aren’t quite sure? Today’s guests Carrie Kiefer and Morgan Georgie of Ampersand Design Studio share their creative journey and how they are truly - better together. To call these girls close would be a serious understatement. For years it’s been Carrie & Morgan, Morgan & Carrie. The name of their design venture says it all — Ampersand, which is the symbol that with one single stroke, connects two formerly separate elements.    Ampersand quickly became known for combining graphic and handmade marks to create bold patterns in refreshing color palettes. Together they create and collaborate on every design with paint, pen and ink, cut paper and anything else they can get their hands on! Their artwork appears on products ranging from textiles to stationery to home décor to fashion for companies such as The Land of Nod, Windham Fabrics, Giggle, and Tiny Prints in addition to their own line of pr

Do you have a lot on your mind and on your heart? Are you having a hard time figuring out how to process it all? In this episode Jordan Sondler shares how visual journaling can help you work through your feelings.    Jordan Sondler is an illustrator living in New York City with her Pomeranian, Ramona Singer. She designs many things, including murals, television sets, 90s nostalgia diaries, and beyond. Jordan has a weakness for gummy candy, growing her plant family, and collecting soul records.    Her clients include The New York Times, Google, Nickelodeon, Simon Malls, Pottery Barn, Ban.do, Starbucks, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Resy, Urban Outfitters, Hallmark, Kotex, Maisonette, Papyrus, Food52, Adult Swim, Barkbox, Harper Collins, Random House, New York Magazine, Le Chocolat Des Francais, ABRAMS Books, Fishs Eddy, Fisher Price, Time Out New York, Artisan Books and more.    TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Work through your feelings with visual journaling Be more introspective Give therapy a chan

Do you feel yourself shifting and evolving yet are afraid to move into something new? Are there things in your life that are no longer serving you? Flora Bowley is an artist, author, and gentle guide whose soulful approach to the creative process has touched thousands of lives.   Blending over twenty years of professional painting experience with her background as a yoga instructor, healer, and lifelong truth seeker, Flora’s intimate in-person workshops and popular online courses have empowered a global network of brave painters, while creating a new holistic movement in the intuitive art world.   Her first book, Brave Intuitive Painting, provides a luminous documentation of this innovative approach, while Creative Revolution dives even deeper into the transformational potential inherent in this way of creating. Her third book, The Art of Aliveness, will be released in early 2021. Flora’s own vibrant collection of paintings can be found in galleries, shops, and printed on unique products around the world. Flo

Have you let someone’s negative opinion of your work hold you back? Do you have dreams of what you would like to put into the world but feel discouraged? Today's guest Andrea Pippins shares her story of how she broke through these two questions to take the reins of her creative journey to go after what she wanted for her life and make her dreams happen.   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Keep going after what you want, even after hearing “no” Discover your visual voice Go with the flow and let go of expectations Use your creative talents to empower others  Find ways to protect your spirit during Covid-19   FIND ANDREA PIPPINS HERE: Andrea Pippins Website @andreapippins on Instagram   ABOUT ANDREA Andrea Pippins is an illustrator and author who has a passion for creating images that reflect what she wants to see in art, media, and design. Her vision is to empower women and girls of color as well as people in under-served communities, with visual tools to own and tell their own stories. In addition to being an au

Do you feel like you are living small? Do you have ideas of what it is you want to do, but are afraid to take that step? Today, Meagan Morrison shares how she boldly defined what she wanted her life to look like and made it happen. You will leave feeling inspired and hopeful for your own path.   More about Meagan:  Meagan Morrison is a Canadian-born, New York-based fashion illustrator and the creator behind TravelWriteDraw, where she travels the world and illustrates her journey through a fashion-art lens. She received her Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in Montreal Canada as well as her AAS Degree in Fashion Illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She partners with the world's leading fashion and travel brands to create custom artwork for various campaigns, collections, products and installations. Select clients include Dior, DVF, Calvin Klein, Montblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, Emirates Airlines, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, E! and W Magazine. She has been featured as a

Do you feel like you are on a roller coaster in your creative business? Are you struggling to figure out your business's purpose and the north star? Today's sister duo Eunice and Sabrina of Hello!Lucky, an award-winning letterpress greeting card and design studio, pull back the curtains and share how they started and grew their business and let their passion and purpose guide them throughout the journey.  TODAY YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO Ride the ups and downs of a creative business Define your businesses north star Use your purpose to add meaning to others lives Use the skills you have to make a difference Figure out which of your clients to focus on most Stand up for yourself and say no when something is not a good fit FIND HELLO!LUCKY HERE: Hello!Lucky’s Website Hello!Lucky on Instagram Hello!Lucky’s Info for Small Business Owners Hello!Lucky at Paperless Post FOR MORE OF HIGHLIGHT REAL: Visit JOSEPHINEKIMBERLING.COM/HIGHLIGHT-REAL-PODCAST  for the show notes for each guest Follow @letshighlightreal on In

This episode focuses on host Josephine Kimberling's Top 5 Tools for Greater Self-Discovery and also shares with you the future of the Highlight REAL podcast. Do you struggle with trying to figure out what makes you unique? What your strengths are? What lights you up? The meaningful work you are put on this earth to do? Host Josephine Kimberling shares 5 tools that have given her a different piece of information about herself, and have each helped her in her life journey. They have helped her navigate career moves, opportunities to grow, and help her find and follow her own north star. In addition - after 1 year in to Highlight REAL, Josephine shares what's next for the podcast.   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Discover what type of Creative you are Discover your strengths  Discover what lights you up Discover what your blind spots are Discover what energizes you and what depletes you   VISIT THE SHOW NOTES AT LETSHIGHLIGHTREAL.COM FOR The TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS from today's episode Additional RESOURCES mentioned  V

Do you find fear gripping you and holding you back? Do you feel you are living a tiny life? Today’s guest, Meera Lee Patel will help you make fear your friend, so you can let it be your compass and source of encouragement. Meera Lee Patel - writes bestselling books that help explain who we are. She is a self-taught writer and artist from the east coast living and working in Nashville, Tennessee. Meera is interested in exploring the intricacies of human connection, and uses her work to unearth the small yet vibrant stories found in everyday life.  Meera Lee Patel is self-taught artist and writer who believes that anything is possible. She is the author of My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown a beautiful meditation on fear and how it can help us become who we really are--if we let it.  She is also the author of two journals: “Made Out of Stars, a journal for self-realization” that encourages the belief that we are already whole. “Start Where You Are” is a journal for self-exploration that is designed to

Do you get stuck when you hear negative feedback? Are you dealing with Imposter Syndrome? Today's guest, Lisa Congdon shares helpful advice for how to see pain points in your creative journey as opportunities to push yourself and grow. Lisa Congdon is an Illustrator and author who 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 eight 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" which recently hit shelves in August 2019.  Lisa was also named one of 40 Women Over 40 in 2015 and she is featured in the 2017 book, 200 Women Who Will Change the Way you See the World.  Lisa lives and works in Portland, Oregon.   TODAY YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO Conquer Imposte

Whether working for yourself or taking on freelance projects, how do you find clients and price your work? And how can you solicit feedback from your clients that doesn’t leave you hurt and defensive?  Today’s guest is Olivia Herrick, a Minnesota based graphic designer who’s client-centered business approach is thriving – allowing her to build a business that she loves and that works for her and her family. In this episode, Olivia shares what we don’t hear often - the upside for working for another company, and how the story you tell yourself about your 9 to 5 doesn’t have to be negative. From her beginnings of working in-house, to starting her own graphic design business, Olivia shares how she created a financial strategy before she took the leap, and offers tips for designers on finding clients, how to price your work, and how to solicit feedback that won’t hurt you but instead make the work stronger and your clients happier. In addition, Olivia dives into some of her life wisdom, including how the Enneagra

Do you find yourself stressing? Tensing up? Setting overly high expectations for yourself and your art? Today’s guests Sarah and Colin Walsh are going to have you get into some frothy goodness with your art and teach you to be your own friend aaaand give yourself a hug.   Sarah and Colin Walsh are co-creators of Tigersheep Friends, a husband and wife illustration duo that love to create fun and quirky products like art prints, enamel pins, tote bags, pillows and T-shirts. Reveling in the weird, listening to music, drinking coffee, people watching, eating tacos and partaking in kung fu pillow fight dance parties gives them the special blend of energy it takes to make the kind of art they feel proud of. Their hope is to be a positive force in the world with their art!   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Take a break when you get frustrated Have no cherished outcomes Be a good friend to yourself Pay attention to your FUN barometer Condition like an athlete    FIND TIGERSHEEP FRIENDS, SARAH & COLIN WALSH HERE: Ti

Do you find yourself stressing about “all the things” in your creative business and journey? My guest today will show you how to loosen up and gain perspective in your life! When it comes to art, Timree Gold isn’t your typical artist. She believes art should be approachable, imperfect and most importantly fun. Her art studio invites students of all ages into her whimsical world to paint all sorts of things she adores – from vintage sunglasses to summer popsicles. You’ll typically find her teaching art in her painted jeans and a statement necklace. The beauty of it all is that her paintings and crafts are bright, colorful but never perfect.    Adults and children from around the world come to a little studio in Newport Beach, California to learn the whimsical and charming painting techniques of Timree. As a self-taught artist she began by  painting custom dishes as a hobby. From live event paintings and murals, to teaching classes and designing product lines, Timree sparkles with creativity and makes art acces

Do you judge your work harshly? Do you want to create through your intuition, but don’t know how? Carrie Schmitt is a full time artist, art retreat facilitator, and author based in Seattle, WA. She began painting in 2009 after being diagnosed with a life threatening allergy to heat. Bedridden and unable to go outside for months, one day she heard a voice that said, “Now that your life is over, you might as well do what you want and paint.” Thankfully, she listened. In our conversation, Carrie talks about how art saves her every day. How it has brought the most beautiful things into her life – giving her a glimpse of hope amidst the darkness.  Her intuitive painting process is incredibly inspiring. Carrie shares about how we need to stop judging our art as either good or bad, and instead focus on the internal process and create through that place. Because what we create expresses who we are in that moment and the skills we have now, and how that HAS to be good enough. This episode is really going to speak to y

Are there things in your life that just feel hard, and you are having trouble moving past them? Are you holding onto expectations and things in your life that aren’t serving you anymore? Artist, Jessica Swift’s world completely changed when her husband Ryan died in August 2018 – leaving Jessica pregnant and with a toddler. As Jessica was grieving, art projects began to emerge. Today Jessica is going to share her story with us, including her grieving process, and how art has been helping her through this difficult time – helping her re-frame her expectations and realize that she CAN do unimaginably hard things. Jessica Swift is a 100% self-taught, full-time artist, surface pattern designer, painter and business owner, who has never had a “real grown-up job”. She hails from sunny Boulder, Colorado and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon. In 2008, she discovered how to create patterns, and fell in love with the process. Soon after, she began licensing her artwork and created the popular

Stasia Savasuk is revolutionizing how women think about their bodies. As a body-positivity advocate, Stasia teaches about “Inside-Out Congruency” – which is when who we are on the outside reflects who we are on the inside, a concept that has changed the lives of thousands of girls and women. Stasia is also a style coach and the creator of “Stasia’s Style School” which is a 5-week online class and lifelong sisterhood that ushers women from feelings of insignificance, body shame, and a perpetual state of “why-bother” into radically embracing who they are and who they want to be, all while encouraging them to fully show up in the world as the BRAVE, BOLD and BEAUTIFUL woman that they are! Therefore breaking down the body shame complex one woman at a time. Stasia recently amplified her message of “Inside-out congruency” on the Ted-x stage, and in this interview she shares with us her behind-the-scenes journey of how she bravely prepared for this event, giving us tips and examples as to how we can build our brave

Are you a freelance creative or do you create work in-house for a company? Are you curious about the benefits each world offers? Nate Williams, a creative force in both the freelance, solopreneur, and corporate spaces talks with us about how he has been able to navigate both worlds and why creating personal work is so important. As a is a visual thinker and a multidisciplinary Art Director, Designer and Illustrator, Nate has worked in-house for companies such as Microsoft, Xbox, and Starbucks. While his instantly recognizable illustration style has been tapped by clients such as Target, Urban Outfitters, Wired Magazine, the New York Times, Coca Cola, Oreo, Converse and the Cartoon Network – just to name a few. His curiosity and desire to learn has taken him all over the world where he has both lived abroad as well as traveled as a guest speaker – inspiring creatives along the way. For all this and so much more, be sure to join us for this inspiring conversation!   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Find your artisti

What if you chose to live with “Creative Abandon” – where you follow your passions and not follow money? Anahata Katkin, an Atlanta based mixed-media artist, mother, entrepreneur and boutique-maker, is the cofounder of PAPAYA! Inc, PAPAYA! Living Boutique, Jupiter Row, and Fireweed, which are all independently and family owned. In this episode Anahata shares how she successfully lives a life of purpose, passion & creative authenticity – all with Creative Abandon. She tells us how she started Papaya, how her role has shifted over the years as she’s hired more employees, how to treat new friendships like dating, and why it’s so important to take care of your health now. TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO See your “weaknesses” differently Know if an idea should to come to life Redefine your day in order to take care of your health Be yourself on social media Increase your creative productivity Build a community of friends FIND ANAHATA KATKIN HERE: Anahata’s Website Anahata on Instagram Anahata’s flagship brand

Have you ever come to the end of what you know and don’t know what to do next? Have you ever been afraid to try something completely different? Do you have unlived dreams? Fine artist Monica Lee Henell shares with us how she has pivoted in her multi-passionate creative journey – wearing such hats as a commercial illustrator, podcaster, luxury handbag designer, fashion illustrator and fine artist. Showing us that you don’t have to limit yourself to one passion. Monica walks us through the mindset shifts she’s made, and how powerful it can be in your life and career when you spend the time to dig deep, ask yourself the hard questions, and surrender when you don’t know what to do next.   TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Break through limiting mindsets Reframe how we think about money Pivot in our creative journeys Let go and move forward Surrender in order to find the answers Dig deep and find your authentic artistic voice   FIND MONICA LEE-HENELL HERE: Monica’s Website Monica's Mentoring Sessions Smart Creative Wo

What happens when you believe in yourself and focus on the positive you want in your life? Jessica Durrant, a freelance illustrator specializing in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle genres shares with us her creative journey and how tuning into her authentic voice allows her to create artwork that stands the test of time. With clients such as Jimmy Choo, Sephora, Lancôme Paris, and runway designer power houses such as CHANEL, Oscar de la Renta, and Elie Saab under her belt, she shares many tips on working with clients, the benefit of personal work and why it’s important to believe in yourself. TODAY WE WILL LEARN HOW TO Thrive in your art practice Deal with rejection Expand your business through personal work Evolve your artistic style Know when to say “no” to clients Work through creative block Turn around negative self-talk   FIND JESSICA HERE: Jessica Durrant’s Website Jessica on Instagram Jessica on Twitter Jessica’s Etsy Shop   VISIT THE SHOW NOTES AT LETSHIGHLIGHTREAL.COM FOR The TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS