Windowsill Chats

Margo Tantau
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Windowsill Chats is a podcast for artists and creatives who are curious about what it's like to live, work & walk a creative path. You'll find honest stories, refreshing tips, artistic business advice and real conversations with global artists & makers just like you. Host Margo Tantau, a 30+ year Creative Director, Product Designer & maker, is a cheerleader for your success. Come grab a cuppa & join her in her sunny windowsill.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Aging Out Loud: Caregiving, Creativity, and the Power of Beginning Again with Judith Henry

    Judith Henry joins Margo for a deeply honest and life-affirming conversation about caregiving, creativity, and what can unfold when we stay open to possibility at every age. A writer, artist, and podcaster, Judith shares how caring for her parents in the final chapter of their lives became the unexpected catalyst for an expansive creative journey—one rooted in humor, grit, color, and connection. At 61, Judith wrote The Dutiful Daughter's Guide to Caregiving, a practical and compassionate resource born from lived experience. In her late 60s, she picked up her mother's paintbrushes and fell in love with visual art. And at 71, she launched One Mouthy Dame, a podcast empowering women to embrace aging with honesty, gratitude, and good humor. Margo and Judith discuss: How caring for aging parents became a powerful (and unexpected) creative catalyst The emotional realities of caregiving, including grief, guilt, humor, and deep connection Writing The Dutiful Daughter's Guide to Caregiving as both memoir and practical support Using humor as a survival tool during difficult seasons Transitioning from writing into painting and mixed media later in life Letting go of judgment and reclaiming creativity at any age Launching a podcast in her 70s to speak honestly about aging, anxiety, and visibility Falling in love with Kawandi-style quilting and how stitching, mending, and making can be deeply healing Connect with Judith: Book & Writing: https://www.JudithDHenry.com Creative Work: https://www.JudithHenryCreative.com Podcast: https://www.JudithHenryCreative.com/One-Mouthy-Dame   Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1h 4m

  2. 14 JAN

    Reframing Creativity as a Necessity: How the Arts Heal, Connect, and Sustain Us with Daisy Fancourt

    Margo is joined by Daisy Fancourt—Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology at UCL and a globally recognized leader in understanding how creativity and social connection influence our health. From her early days designing arts programs inside hospitals to directing major WHO initiatives and publishing over 250 papers, Daisy has spent her career documenting the profound, measurable impact of creative engagement on stress, aging, recovery, cognition, and community wellbeing. In a world that often treats the arts as extra or a luxury, Daisy reframes them as essential—showing how even the simplest creative rituals can foster joy, resilience, health and a deeper sense of belonging in our everyday lives. Margo and Daisy discuss: How Daisy's early work in hospitals revealed the power of creativity as a health tool What research shows about the arts reducing stress and supporting cognitive resilience Why we're conditioned to see creativity as a luxury—and how to reframe it as necessity The role of music, movement, and environment in emotional and physical healing Innovative approaches like dance for Parkinson's and creative play for children with disabilities How small, accessible creative habits can improve daily wellbeing Why talent doesn't matter—process is what delivers the benefits Mentioned in this episode: https://sbbresearch.org/ Connect with Daisy: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/44526-daisy-fancourt Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1h 1m

  3. 7 JAN

    Nourishing Creativity: Building a Ritual-Based Creative Practice for the New Year

    In the first episode of 2026, Margo invites listeners to join her in a conversation about beginning the year with intention—rather than pressure. Inspired by a recent Substack article by writer Suleika Jaouad, Margo reflects on themes of release, gentleness, and honoring the creative process over rigid resolutions and why this approach is so important for creatives. She also shares real responses from the Windowsill Chats community about what they're letting go of this year, from comparison and self-doubt to perfectionism and "shoulds." Margo explores why finite, manageable containers—like daily sketching, journaling, or mindful walks—can create scaffolding for a sustainable and supportive creative life. Mentioned in this episode: The Isolation Journals (Suleika Jaouad's Substack): https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/ Against resolutions - Suleika Jaouad on ritual, repetition, and the fantasy of starting over: https://post.substack.com/cp/182964621 Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    21 min

  4. 31/12/2025

    Getting Out of the Screen and Into Your Life: A Heartfelt Conversation With Sarah Walsh on Dream Projects, Self-Sabotage, and Creative Ruts Part 2 (Replay)

    Margo is joined by Sarah Walsh for part two of their heartfelt conversation where they discuss finding inspiration, committing time and energy to yourself, slowing down, and Sarah's Domestika class amongst more. Sarah is an illustrator, painter and designer with home goods, children's books, socially conscious based projects, nature and loves tapping into mystical subject matter as the mainstays of her work. She is also the co-proprietor of the illustrative product based brand Tigersheep Friends. She collects books, new and old, plants, adores folk art and also loves cooking, thrifting, listening to records, haunting coffee shops with her sketchbook and spending time with her favorite humans. Connect with Sarah www.sarahwalshmakesthings.com https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tigersheepfriends www.instagram.com/sarahwalshmakesthings Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    51 min

  5. 24/12/2025

    Getting Out of the Screen and Into Your Life: A Heartfelt Conversation With Sarah Walsh on Dream Projects, Self-Sabotage, and Creative Ruts (Replay)

    Margo is joined by Sarah Walsh in this two part conversation where they go in-depth on finding motivation, leaning into intuition, how you can work on your true dream project today, by taking ahold of your time, and your yeses. Sarah is an illustrator, painter and designer with home goods, children's books, socially conscious based projects, nature and loves tapping in to mystical subject matter as the mainstays of her work. She is also the co-proprietor of the illustrative product based brand Tigersheep Friends. She collects books, new and old, plants, adores folk art and also loves cooking, thrifting, listening to records, haunting coffee shops with her sketchbook and spending time with her favorite humans. Margo and Sarah discuss: Her creative upbringing and the influence her mom and grandma had on her How having a child at a young age impacted her creative journey Why creative ruts are actually important to our process and story Being led intuitively Having compassion for ourselves and giving grace How to slow down and learning to say NO Social media and self sabotage What defines a dream project to Sarah Learning what we could accomplish if we treated ourselves like we do our clients Mentioned in this episode: I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeleine Dore I Just Like to Make Things: Learn the Secrets to Making Money while Staying Passionate about your Art and Craft by Lilla Rogers   Connect with Sarah Www.sarahwalshmakesthings.com https://www.etsy.com/shop/Tigersheepfriends www.instagram.com/sarahwalshmakesthings   Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1h 25m

  6. 17/12/2025

    Taxes for Humans: Hannah Cole on Self-Employment, Creativity, and Money Without Shame

    Margo Tantau is joined by artist, tax expert, and founder of Sunlight Tax, Hannah Cole, for a refreshingly human conversation about money, creativity, and her new book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You're Self-Employed. Hannah brings compassion, clarity, and humor to a topic many creatives carry shame, fear, or confusion around—and reframes taxes as something that can actually support creative, mission-driven work rather than stifle it. Margo and Hannah discuss: Why creative work is economically vital and plays a real role in shaping culture How the tax system is designed for humans—not perfection—and includes room for forgiveness Simple, realistic systems that make taxes easier for self-employed creatives Tax incentives that actually exist to support artists and independent workers How money shame shows up for creatives, and why it's completely normal Why making mistakes with taxes doesn't mean you're "bad at money" How compassion and clarity can coexist with practical financial systems Connect with Hannah: Book + Workbook: https://www.sunlighttax.com/book Website: https://www.sunlighttax.com Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn: @sunlighttax Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1h 6m

  7. 10/12/2025

    The Pull to Paint: How Juliene Sinclair Built Confidence, Color Skills, and Creative Joy as a Watercolor Artist & Muralist

    Margo is joined by watercolor landscape artist and muralist Juliene Sinclair, a creative whose passion for color runs as deep as the mountains she paints in. Juliene is dedicated to helping painters finally understand color—why it behaves the way it does, how to mix it with intention, and how mastering it can completely transform artistic confidence. She believes that once you grasp how color truly works, your entire creative world opens up. Juliene lives in the mountains with her husband, son, and two cats, and when she's not painting, she's likely geeking out about color theory or hiking steep trails with bear spray in hand. Together, they explore the emotional and technical layers of color, the courage it takes to follow your creative curiosity, and why making art—imperfect, vibrant, deeply human art—is essential to feeling whole. Margo & Juliene Discuss: Juliene's winding path to watercolor and murals, and how she found her creative voice Why color feels intimidating for so many artists—and how to move from confusion to confidence The power of intentional mixing and creating palettes that feel authentic to you How limiting your palette can actually expand creativity and harmony The emotional side of color—self-doubt, breakthroughs, and trusting the process Creativity as essential human expression, not just a career path Painting with her young son, and what kids teach us about fearless creativity Submit Your Questions for Margo Tantau & Emily McDowell Connect with Juliene: Website: www.julienesinclair.com Instagram: @juliene.sinclair YouTube: @julienesinclair Connect with Margo: Website: www.windowsillchats.com Instagram: @windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1 hr

  8. 03/12/2025

    Creating Joy on Purpose: Kate Smith on Reinvention, Creative Courage & Making People Smile

    Margo is joined by artist and joy-maker Kate Smith, the creative force behind Kate Smith Co.™, a brand dedicated to finding "the happy that's already here" in everyday moments. Kate has built a thriving career in greeting cards and art licensing, working with beloved partners in the U.S. and U.K. to create products that make people smile. From early success with her first brand, From Frank, to a full reimagining of her creative path, Kate's journey is filled with bold decisions, reinvention, and a commitment to following what feels joyful. She also spent seven years living and working full-time in an Airstream, a chapter that deeply shaped her artistic voice and philosophy. Margo and Kate discuss: Kate's early beginnings—from advertising to accidentally launching a greeting card line that landed in Target within a year The rise of From Frank, her wildly popular first brand inspired by her French bulldog, and what it taught her about licensing, growth, and creativity The pivotal decision to sell everything, hit the road in an Airstream, and shift her business fully into licensing How travel, imperfection, and "found letters" influenced her signature design style and approach to joyful, approachable art Navigating the fear phases of a creative career and learning to make decisions from hope instead of worry How she thinks about long-term partnerships in licensing, staying authentic, and evolving her brand without losing its heart What reinvention looks like now—new art prints, new mediums, and giving herself permission to embrace being an "artist" Submit Your Questions for Margo Tantau & Emily McDowell Connect with Kate: www.katesmithcompany.com www.instagram.com/katesmithcompany Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry

    1h 4m
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About

Windowsill Chats is a podcast for artists and creatives who are curious about what it's like to live, work & walk a creative path. You'll find honest stories, refreshing tips, artistic business advice and real conversations with global artists & makers just like you. Host Margo Tantau, a 30+ year Creative Director, Product Designer & maker, is a cheerleader for your success. Come grab a cuppa & join her in her sunny windowsill.

Information

  • Creator
    Margo Tantau
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    304
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Windowsill Chats

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