The Maker's Playbook

Rebecca Ickes Carra
  • 4.8 (11)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
The Maker's Playbook

A podcast where we talk all about what it's really like to make a living from the things you make. Featuring candid interviews with other ceramicists and makers, as well as helpful business tips to make your side-hustle into a life-giving, viable business.

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 615: The Importance of Mentorship with Lisa Orr

    Send us a text Here on the podcast, we often talk about the delicate balancing act between creative fulfillment and business sustainability - a struggle that can feel overwhelming without guidance. What if finding the right mentor could be the pivotal moment that transforms your creative practice and career trajectory? When Lisa Orr sought out Betty Woodman as a mentor, it completely shifted her perspective on materials, giving her permission to pursue colorful earthenware despite the stonewa...

    1h 16m

  2. MAR 21

    Ep 614: The Aligned Potter with Elizabeth Schlatter

    Send us a text Many of us learn to accept the aches and pains of making as just part of the creative journey, assuming sore wrists and "potter's back" are inevitable companions to our craft. What if the physical discomfort of creating could be significantly reduced through simple awareness and intentional adjustments to how we work? Elizabeth Schlatter, creator of The Aligned Potter, draws on her experience to show how small changes—from joint inventory checks between tasks to understanding y...

    1h 7m

  3. MAR 14

    Ep 613: Where Are They Now with Kara Leigh Ford

    Send us a text As an avid podcast listener, long before I ever started this show, I was always curious about what had happened to entrepreneurs and small business owners after the interview was over. was everything still working the way they described during that interview or had things changed? On this "Where Are They Now" series, we answer that very question of some of our past podcast guests. This week, I'm sitting back down again with Kara Leigh Ford to discuss all that's changed since I ...

    1h 23m

  4. MAR 7

    Ep 612: Being Your Own Boss with Amy Brummond of Pine Zen Potter

    Send us a text As makers transitioning from hobby to business, we often forget the most powerful perk of self-employment: you're the boss who makes the rules, not just the employee doing all the work. What if setting clear boundaries, creating a sustainable schedule, and giving yourself permission to evolve creatively are actually your responsibilities as a good boss to yourself? As Amy Brummond shares her journey of artistic evolution, we see how honoring her creative restlessness not only r...

    1h 11m

  5. FEB 14

    Ep 611: When Things Need to Change with Megan Sward

    Send us a text Most of us dream of turning our craft into a thriving business, but what happens when achieving "the dream" — the large following, sold-out shop updates, and steady sales — still doesn't translate into a sustainable living? When former full-time potter Megan Sward faced this reality, she discovered that the gap between making work you love and building a viable business involves far more than just mastering your craft. What if the key to longevity isn't just about making better...

    1h 44m

  6. FEB 7

    Ep 610: Business is... Boring?

    Send us a text There is an underlying current of anxiety about keeping up with the latest trends and strategies, especially when it comes to running your business online (and even more especially when it comes to social media). But what if the real secret to success isn't about chasing every new thing, but rather embracing the "boring" parts of business? Trying every new trending strategy often leads to scattered efforts and minimal results, not to mention most definitely leads to burn out.&n...

    35 min

  7. JAN 24

    Ep 609: Where are They Now? - Restarting through Trauma with Sarah Wells Rolland

    Send us a text When I last spoke with Sarah Wells Rolland, The Village Potters in Asheville, North Carolina was 13 years into it’s incredible, communal existence. And frankly (at least from my perspective) was a well oiled machine. With a residency program, community classes, a gallery, and 17 kilns it wasn’t on my short list wondering “gee, I wonder where they are now?” That is, until Hurricane Helene hit. And absolutely everything changed. Introducing: Where are They Now? A new series...

    1h 19m

  8. JAN 17

    Ep 608: The $20 Mug with Isaac Shue

    Send us a text The ways in which our decisions in life are so interconnected it feels endless. The same is equally true in business, especially a ceramics business. And there's no way you stay in business, as a fully self-employed household with kiddos, while offering a $20 mug without thinking through all of that interconnectedness. My chat with Isaac Shue on this week's episode perfectly highlights how every step of our making process can also inform the endless steps of our small business ...

    1h 19m
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    4.8
    out of 5
    11 Ratings

    About

    A podcast where we talk all about what it's really like to make a living from the things you make. Featuring candid interviews with other ceramicists and makers, as well as helpful business tips to make your side-hustle into a life-giving, viable business.

    Information

    • Creator
      Rebecca Ickes Carra
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      159
    • Rating
      Explicit
    • Copyright
      © 2025 The Maker's Playbook
    • Show Website
      The Maker's Playbook

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