Imperfect Creatives

Michael Carruthers
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CAREERS
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

Exploring what it actually takes to build meaningful creative work in the real world either alongside or instead of traditional careers. Conversations with people at every stage of the journey, from side project builders to full-time creators and founders, about the practical and emotional reality of choosing purpose over default paths.

Episodes

  1. Catt Small on Juggling Creative Projects, Staff Design, and “Procrastiworking”

    12 HR AGO

    Catt Small on Juggling Creative Projects, Staff Design, and “Procrastiworking”

    Catt Small is a staff designer who's figured out something most of us struggle with: how to juggle multiple creative projects without burning out. She's written a book, runs online courses, organizes conferences, develops games, and somehow manages to be intentional about where she puts her energy even with all of these competing interests. Also interesting is that Catt climbed to director level as a designer, then consciously stepped back into individual contributor work because she knew what gave her the most energy. We talk about how to build influence without a manager title, why validation matters before you commit hundreds of hours to a project, and how to say no to some projects so you can say yes to the right ones. Plus, practical advice on making the leap from senior to staff level and navigating workplace politics as an Individual Contributor (IC). This one's packed with insights for anyone trying to level up in their day job or figure out how to balance multiple creative projects alongside a demanding 9-5. Resources mentioned Pre-order Catt's fantastic book "The Staff Designer" here: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-staff-designerCheckout Catt's websiteGame Devs of Color Expo (Sep 16–19, 2025)Catt's Staff Designer courseCatt's book choices: The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna and Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans More from Imperfect Creatives Subscribe to the newsletter:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠imperfect.email⁠⁠The website:⁠⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠ @imperfect.creatives⁠⁠⁠YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives Chapters (00:00): Intro(01:41): Catt's Early Programming Journey(03:31): From Web Dev to Graphic Design(06:05): Navigating Career Choices & Financial Realities(09:44): Evolving Relationship with Work & Side Projects(12:27): Balancing Multiple Projects & Avoiding Burnout(15:52): Saying No & Identity Beyond Projects(20:41): Handling External Perceptions & Self-Awareness(28:14): From Blog to Book(36:03): Staff vs. Management: Leadership & Influence(49:00): Building Influence as a Staff Designer(56:19): Game Devs of Color Expo(59:38): Resources & Final Takeaways

    1h 4m
  2. Follow the spark, not the score - with Paul Hughes

    20 AUG

    Follow the spark, not the score - with Paul Hughes

    In this episode, I sit down with Paul Hughes, who's career is far from the traditional 9-5, being that he's worked as everything from travelling salesman, military photography, radio host, to now running AFN Europe's radio programming across 15 stations, 8 countries, and 4 timezones. We talk about the struggle of finding work that's truly meaningful, following the spark of excitement in creative work without getting bogged down by the 'score' of ambition, and why putting yourself out there might be the only way forward, even when imposter syndrome keeps whispering that you don't belong. If you've ever decided it's too late to chase something that feels impossible, this conversation might change your mind. Resources mentioned "Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins - Paul's book recommendation "A Hard Kick in the Nuts" by Steve-O

    1h 1m
  3. Owning your story, saying yes to opportunities, & being authentic with Dr. Rod Berger

    6 AUG

    Owning your story, saying yes to opportunities, & being authentic with Dr. Rod Berger

    Dr. Rod Berger has a degree in clinical psychology, has interviewed over 4,000 people, and just wrote his first book "The Narrative Edge", but his real expertise is in finding the human behind the talking points. In this episode, we explore what makes storytelling important, how Rod breaks through people's scripted responses to get to authentic connection, and his philosophy that "if you're not telling your story, someone else is." Rod shares how his "Forrest Gump-like" career of saying yes to unexpected opportunities led him from psychology to refugee work to becoming a master interviewer. We dig into the vulnerable process of writing his first book, why he refuses to ask questions you could find in a press release, and how true presence and authenticity can change everything. Whether you're struggling to find your authentic voice or wondering how to connect more deeply with others, this episode will make you rethink how you show up in your own story. Links for this episode: Dr. Rod Bergers book "The Narrative Edge"Subscribe to the newsletter:⁠ ⁠⁠imperfect.email⁠The website:⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠⁠TikTok:⁠ @imperfect.creatives⁠⁠YouTube:⁠ ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives Chapters (00:00) The Journey of Storytelling (05:36) Embracing Opportunities: The Power of Saying Yes (13:43) Crafting Your Own Narrative (22:09) The Art of Authentic Interviewing (30:46) The Addictive Nature of Storytelling (36:52) The Impact of Connection (42:51) The Importance of Being Present (46:56) The Evolution of Storytelling (54:59) Capturing Stories with Integrity (01:00:18) Episode Wrap-Up

    1h 4m
  4. How to Communicate: From Being Right to Getting It Right with Dr. Michael Gerharz

    23 JUL

    How to Communicate: From Being Right to Getting It Right with Dr. Michael Gerharz

    What if the biggest breakthrough in your communication isn't about being more persuasive, but about being more curious? Dr. Michael Gerharz, a communication coach with a computer science background, joins me to unpack why so many brilliant ideas die in boring PowerPoint presentations. We dive into his PATH framework (Plain & Simple, Actionable, Transformative, Heartfelt) and explore how empathy beats ego in every conversation that matters. From navigating blunt feedback in tech teams to making presentations that people actually want to listen to, Michael shares practical tools for anyone tired of dancing around topics or watching great ideas get lost in translation. Resources mentioned: PATH in a NutshellSpeak EasyDouglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Michael's book pickPresentation Zen by Gar ReynoldsStay in the loop: Subscribe to the newsletter: ⁠⁠imperfect.emailThe website: imperfect.club⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠TikTok: @imperfect.creatives⁠YouTube: ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives

    1h 3m
  5. From 0 to $10k ARR with Indie Hacker Orel Zilberman

    9 JUL

    From 0 to $10k ARR with Indie Hacker Orel Zilberman

    Orel Zilberman quit his job to become an indie hacker, and then built 9 projects and made… nothing. And then everything changed with his latest product, WriteStack, an AI writing tool now generating thousands in revenue. In this conversation, we dig into the messy reality of quitting your job to be an indie hacker and building in public. Orel shares how customer feedback completely pivoted his product direction, why he spends time daily DMing strangers who engage with his work, and how he balances running WriteStack with maintaining his Substack (the IndiePreneur) where he openly shares his journey every step of the way. Stay in the loop: Subscribe to the newsletter: ⁠⁠imperfect.emailInstagram: ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠@imperfect.creatives⁠YouTube: ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives⁠ More from Orel: The IndiePreneur (Orel's Substack newsletter) WriteStack Other Resources Mentioned: ⁠The Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan⁠ ⁠David Goggins - Can’t Hurt Me⁠ (Orel’s book choice)

    46 min
  6. Filmmaking with 3 Kids, ADHD, and a Full time Job - with Michael Box

    25 JUN

    Filmmaking with 3 Kids, ADHD, and a Full time Job - with Michael Box

    Michael Box is a filmmaker, writer, musician, juggling indie film production with a full-time job and family life. In this conversation, we dig into how he and his creative partner Patrick launched Echo Eterna Productions to create "Speakeasy”, a dystopian film about punk musicians in a world where self-expression is regulated. We talk about time management, writing scripts in parking lots, working with ADHD as a superpower, the emotional vulnerability of putting creative work out there, and more. ✉️ Stay in the loop: Subscribe to the newsletter: ⁠imperfect.news⁠The website: ⁠imperfect.club⁠Instagram: ⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠TikTok: ⁠@imperfect.creativesYouTube: @Imperfect_Creatives More from Michael Box & SpeakEasy: SpeakEasyTheMovie.comInstagram.com/EchoEternaInstagram.com/SpeakEasyTheMovieInstagram.com/MikeWritesMovies Other Resources Mentioned: Craig Maizen’s Scriptnotes podcast Masterclass.com Chapters: (00:48) Wearing multiple hats (01:00) Time management (03:02) Managing ADHD and Staying Motivated (05:47) The Importance of Creative Outlets (06:07) From Music to Filmmaking (10:04) Launching Echo Eterna Productions (17:21) Networking and Collaboration (21:12) Crowdfunding and Production Challenges (28:42) Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers (30:06) The Challenges of Shooting on Film (31:20) The Importance of Collaboration (32:06) Overcoming Creative Obstacles (33:40) Balancing Creativity and Mental Health (38:13) Managing ADHD in Creative Work (45:51) The Influence of Punk Music (53:18) Supporting SpeakEasy

    55 min
  7. From Frustration to Founding: Toni Finnimore on How to Actually Make a Difference

    11 JUN

    From Frustration to Founding: Toni Finnimore on How to Actually Make a Difference

    What does it take to walk away from a broken system and build something better? In this episode, I talk to Toni Finnimore, founder of The Social Society, about her journey from “climbing a mountain of treacle” in the charity sector to creating a platform that actually helps people give back in more human, meaningful ways. We talk about founder life, compassion fatigue, and how to actually make a difference when you don’t know where to start. 🔗 Mentioned in this episode: Toni’s org: The Social SocietyThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoThe Do Book Co ✉️ Stay in the loop: ⁠Toni on LinkedIn⁠Subscribe to the newsletter: imperfect.newsThe website: imperfect.clubInstagram: @imperfect_creativesTikTok: @imperfect.creatives Chapters: (0:00) Intro (01:22) What Is The Social Society? (04:14) Toni’s Background (08:33) Leaving the Sector vs. Building Something New (11:07) The Reality of Starting From Scratch (13:29) Volunteering That Actually Works: Skills, Not Guilt (17:01) Micro-Volunteering and Making It Frictionless (20:22) Founder Burnout and Setting Boundaries (23:10) Gender Bias in the Founder Journey (26:05) Growing Slow, Staying Rooted (30:41) Balancing Strategy with Intuition (35:18) Rebuilding Local Connection in a Remote World (38:50) Holding Space Without Absorbing Everything (41:55) Starting Small to Beat Overwhelm (45:30) Why Good Events Aren’t About Glitter and Hay Bales (48:00) Finding Purpose in the Chaos (49:38) Final Thoughts and Book Recommendations

    1 hr
  8. From Corporate to Creator: Ditching the 9-5 to go full-time on YouTube with Evelyn (tapiocapress)

    21 MAY

    From Corporate to Creator: Ditching the 9-5 to go full-time on YouTube with Evelyn (tapiocapress)

    If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching your 9–5 to pursue something more creative, this one’s for you. In this episode, I chat with Evelyn (aka tapiocapress) about her transition from a corporate tech job to full-time YouTuber. Evelyn shares what it was like to feel misaligned in the world of work, how she began building her channel on the side, and the pivotal moment she decided to go all-in. We chat about the emotional and practical sides of creative independence: the fear of leaving security, how to “job-craft” your way into alignment, and what it’s really like to share your life with an audience that’s still growing. We also discuss goal setting, how to deal with the ups and downs of being a content creator, the importance of staying honest with yourself, and the impact of finding community and support within the creator space.  A huge thanks to Evelyn for openly sharing her experience, which I think provides super valuable lessons and encouragement for anyone considering a similar path! More from Evelyn Checkout tapiocapress on YouTubeCheckout tapioca.press on Instagram Resources Mentioned Evelyn’s book choice: The body keeps the score - Bessel Van Der KolkPodcast: How I built this with Guy RazBook: The Pathless Path - Paul Millerd More from Imperfect Check the website for more episodes & notesOr subscribe to the newsletter  Chapters (02:32) Evelyn's YouTube Beginnings (05:03) Dealing with Transparency and Audience Growth (12:00) Balancing YouTube and a Full-Time Job (12:47) The Reality of Burnout (13:06) Finding Inspiration from Other Creatives (15:45) Navigating the Decision to Quit Corporate (22:09) The Importance of Community and Support (27:49) Job Crafting: Molding Your Job to Fit Your Passions (30:29) The Dissonance of a Corporate Job vs. Personal Goals (32:41) Balancing Productivity and Personal Fulfillment (36:42) Navigating Corporate Culture and Personal Pursuits (42:16) Aligning Goals and Expectations (46:25) The Journey to Self-Understanding and Balance (49:08) Setting Goals and Reflecting on Progress (55:22) Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

    58 min
  9. Burning Dark Energy, Understanding Identity, and Learning to Detach - Paulo André

    17/06/2024

    Burning Dark Energy, Understanding Identity, and Learning to Detach - Paulo André

    The work of knowing yourself is never over, and our identity, as well as what matters to us, constantly shifts and changes over the course of our lives. In this episode I talk with Paulo André, a former VP of engineering turned leadership coach, about how we can better understand our personal identity, and be aware of common pitfalls that can so often lead to burnout, like allowing our work to consume our identity to the point that we rely on burning dark energy to get by.  This episode was like a personal therapy session for me, and we dive into many deep topics such as dealing with anxiety, learning to detach from what we cannot control, and being aware of the narratives that are driving us forwards. We also talk about Paolo’s fantastic newsletter “The Hakagure” plus the practicalities of going from a 9-5 role to starting your own business. I certainly learned a lot in this episode and I hope you will too!  CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction (02:26) From Engineer, to Leader, to Coach (08:20) Why Start a Coaching Business? (14:54) Burning Dark Energy (21:39) Following your Intuition (24:24) Dealing with Anxiety & Doubt (31:36) Journaling  (36:13) Personal vs Work Identity (43:12) Self-Worth & The Stories we tell ourselves (48:39) Isolating Personal Identity and Professional Growth (53:11) How to detach (57:54) Understand, then be understood (1:06:40) Focus on what you can control (1:08:29) Connect on a human level (1:10:30) Anxiety is future-facing (1:17:32) Negative visualisation (1:19:45) The different kinds of stress (1:25:49) Take yourself less seriously (1:26:23) Taking action & fearing failure (1:32:50) Nobody’s looking (01:35:15) Key takeaways and Book recommendations RESOURCES MENTIONEDGood Reasons for Bad Feelings - Randolph M. NesseConscious Business - Fred KaufmanOne from Many: Visa and the Rise of Chaordic Organization - Dee Hock The Courage to Be Disliked - Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga The Upside of Stress - Kelly McGonigalThe Science of Storytelling - Will StorrThe Mind Architect - Peter Crone MORE FROM PAULO ANDRÉPaulo on LinkedInThe Hagakure  MORE FROM MIKESign-up to the Imperfect NewsletterMike on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 40m
  10. Creating Handpicked Berlin with Igor Ranc

    15/03/2024

    Creating Handpicked Berlin with Igor Ranc

    In this episode, I talk with Igor Ranc about his journey as an online creative and writer, from his first online newspaper in 2008 to his newsletter Handpicked Berlin, which now has over 6,000 subscribers. We dive into everything from dealing with fear and the spotlight effect, to Igor’s experience taking an active sabbatical and creating his own startup, to the challenge of “hamster wheel content creation”, and the importance that distribution plays as a creator and entrepreneur.  MORE FROM IGOR RANC Handpicked BerlinContribute to the Startup & Salary Survey for 2024EightyFourBook recommendations: The Scout Mindset, Founder Vs Investor MORE FROM IMPERFECT CREATIVES Sign-up to the Imperfect NewsletterMike on LinkedIn CHAPTERS  (00:00) Introduction (03:34) The origin of Handpicked Berlin (05:26) Defining success & traction as a creator (06:54) The evolution of Handpicked Berlin (09:08) Why keep going? (10:45) Balancing passion projects with full-time work (17:56) Embracing the journey & finding balance (22:53) Survivorship bias & compounding (26:00) Nothing happens without persistence (28:58) Compounding leading to growth (31:40) Community is the key (34:00) How things change when you have an audience (37:20) Metrics and growth traps (39:12) The urge to scale (42:56) The pressure to have side-hustles (45:00) Just start, nobody cares (49:14) Asking is free (52:00) Know the game you're playing (57:40) What to ask companies in interviews (01:01:17) Mastering salary negotiations (01:09:02) Book recommendations & final takeaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 14m
  11. The realities of taking a sabbatical and its impact on your personal growth, your professional identity, and building a blended career - Vinamrata Singal

    26/02/2024

    The realities of taking a sabbatical and its impact on your personal growth, your professional identity, and building a blended career - Vinamrata Singal

    In this episode I chat with Vinamrata Singal about her decision to take a sabbatical after seven years in the tech industry. We delve into the motivations and fears people have when thinking of taking a sabbatical, as well as the impact a sabbatical can have on your life and your career.  As always we dive into the deep stuff - we explore what it means to relinquish your professional identity and deal with the battle of the ego and status that comes with that. We also talk about the challenges of publishing work online and the struggles of marketing yourself. Vinamrata also shares a bunch of great resources for online creatives and for anyone thinking of taking a sabbatical. I’m a big fan of Vinamrata’s writing so it was an absolute pleasure to have her on the show - hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! - Mike. CHAPTERS  (00:00) Introduction (01:15) The decision to take a Sabbatical (05:06) What even is a sabbatical? (07:45) Planning a sabbatical (11:30) The journey to quitting (13:18) Scarcity mindset & financial anxiety (14:22) Struggling with losing your identity (15:10) The “what do you do?” question & investing in yourself (16:00) Is taking a sabbatical “brave”? (18:20) The pebble in your shoe (19:40) Advice for people considering a sabbatical (22:45) The door is more open than you think (25:40) It’s easier to feel the downsides (27:05) Struggling with professional labels (30:10) Pride and ego (35:40) Pursuing a Blended Career (37:05) Is success as a full-time creative in your control? (42:30) What is failure for creative work? (44:00) Does having an audience matter? (47:20) Self-promotion vs doing the work (50:10) Starting a coaching side-hustle (55:00) Growing intentionally & the Sh**ty Marketing Ratio (58:12) Book Recommendations (61:55) Key Takeaways  MORE FROM VINAMRATA SINGAL The Next Chapter (Vinamrata’s Blog) Get Coaching with Vinamrata Vinamrata on LinkedIn MORE FROM IMPERFECT CREATIVES Sign-up to the Imperfect NewsletterMike on LinkedIn RESOURCES MENTIONED https://moretothat.com/take-the-leap/ The Pathless Path - Paul Millerd VINAMRATA’S BOOK PICKS The Bhagavad GitaThe Catcher in the Rye - J. D. SalingerIn Other Words - Jhumpa LahiriThe Stranger - Albert CamusTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zavin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m

  12. 04/02/2024

    How being a punk leader can transform your career - Phil Bennett

    In this episode, I chat with Phil Bennett (Director of Engineering, speaker, and author) about his new book “Punk Leadership”. Taking inspiration from the spikey-haired, loud-mouthed Punks of the 70s, Phil calls on all of us to take a boot to the status quo and fix broken corporations from the inside-out. We dive into the juicy details on what this means and how to do this - figuring out your personal values by building a “personal manifesto”, using Phil’s core pillars (“people, cash, planet”) to build a positively impactful career, and challenging dodgy decisions in the workplace. We also dive into how tech has influenced the creator economy, as well as some practical tips on how Phil tackles writing with Dyslexia. I hope you enjoy the show! - Mike. Chapters(00:00) Introduction (01:09) What is Punk Leadership? (08:20) The influence of punk on creative culture (09:28) The impact of disruption in tech (12:14) Conscious decision making when choosing a job (21:46) How to create a Personal Manifesto (24:57) Challenging decisions in the workplace (33:23) Reassessing your manifesto over time (49:43) Exploring entrepreneurship and indie hacking (52:32) The reality of content creation and the creator economy (56:00) How tech platforms impact the creator economy (01:00:00) YouTube niches and how hard it actually is to be a YouTuber (01:05:19) Tech isolation (01:09:58) Does online privacy matter? (01:16:40) The Prog-Rock phase of the tech industry (01:21:10) The challenges of writing a book with Dyslexia (01:26:53) Balancing a full-time job with creative side projects (01:30:41) Key takeaways More from Phil Bennett Buy the Punk Leadership Book here Phil on LinkedinSoftware is Easy, People are Hard - Newsletter More from Imperfect CreativesSign-up to the Imperfect NewsletterMike on LinkedIn About the showThis podcast isn't perfect, and neither are you. And that's okay! This show is for imperfect creatives and entrepreneurs who want to embrace shipping their work without the trappings of perfection. Leadership and career coach Michael Carruthers chats with creatives of all kinds - be it engineers, product managers, YouTubers, authors, or solopreneurs - to understand how they grapple with the challenges that come with building a fulfilling creative career, along with all of the glorious imperfection that comes with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 34m
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Exploring what it actually takes to build meaningful creative work in the real world either alongside or instead of traditional careers. Conversations with people at every stage of the journey, from side project builders to full-time creators and founders, about the practical and emotional reality of choosing purpose over default paths.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Carruthers
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Carruthers
  • Show Website
    Imperfect Creatives