Wheel Talk

Ryan Durbin & Becca Otis
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Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespottery) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time studio potter, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring you helpful tips we've learned over the years, learn from each other, and share expertise from a number of guests with you also. Please join us for some Wheel Talk!

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    #336 - Looking Back to Move Forward

    Ryan and Becca reflect on the past year’s highs and lows, from personal challenges to major business milestones. Becca opens up about mental health, burnout, and the impact of a 9-to-5 job, while Ryan shares hitting a six-figure sales milestone and rethinking how he spends his time. Together, they discuss setting boundaries, supporting each other, and focusing on what matters most moving forward. 📬 Join the Wheel Talk Email List We’re starting a new email list to share occasional updates, listener questions, and book giveaways. Sign up by mid-January for a chance to win our first giveaway. 👉 Sign up here Maker of the Moment Maree and Paul Allitt - @mapmapartAya Tortosa - https://www.instagram.com/orangeboy.ceramicsSponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 43m

  2. 27/12/2025

    #335 - Is paid advertisement worth it? with Will Donovan from Donovan Pottery

    Note: This episode is a replay from our archive, originally released in 2024.  Ryan and Becca welcome back Will Donovan of Donovan Pottery to discuss a range of topics, including: sharing end of year recaps, growing your business with help, using paid ads to sell your work, and geeking out on Lord of the Rings. We learn a ton from Will's second time on the podcast and we hope you take some good nuggets into your own practice. 📬 Join the Wheel Talk Email List We’re starting a new email list to share occasional updates, listener questions, and book giveaways. Sign up by mid-January for a chance to win our first giveaway. 👉 Sign up here Previous episode with Will Wheel Talk #181 - Meeting customer demand with Will Donovan of Donovan Pottery -----Find more about Will’s business below----- Instagram - @donovanpottery Website - https://www.donovanpottery.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/donovanpottery/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@donovanpots Clay King - https://www.clay-king.com/ Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    2h 25m

  3. 20/12/2025

    #334 - Building Consistent Etsy Sales Without Driving Your Own Traffic

    Ryan and Becca open with personal updates before shifting into a deeper conversation about generating consistent Etsy sales over time. Ryan breaks down a repeatable listing strategy designed for makers who aren’t driving their own traffic, emphasizing the importance of creating evergreen listings built around a single form with multiple color variations rather than one-off products. He explains how strong photos, thoughtful titles and descriptions, and positioning items as highly giftable can help listings gain early momentum. The discussion also covers using Etsy’s Marketplace Insights and strategic sales as visibility tools to build trust with the algorithm, earn reviews, and steadily improve search ranking. Ryan shares how these approaches have played out in his own shop this year and how they’re shaping his Etsy strategy heading into 2026. 📬 Join the Wheel Talk Email List We’re starting a new email list to share occasional updates, listener questions, and book giveaways. Sign up by mid-January for a chance to win our first giveaway. 👉 Sign up here Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 55m

  4. 13/12/2025

    #333 - Chat GPT Still Has Questions. We Still Have Thoughts.

    In continuation of our ChatGPT-led conversation, we go deeper into the human side of running creative businesses, talking openly about burnout, balance, and the tools and habits that have helped us stay grounded. We share what’s improved our workflows and the boundaries that make juggling making and real life more sustainable. We also get more personal—touching on lingering insecurities, overlooked parts of our identities outside of clay, and a few big ideas we’re considering but haven’t shared publicly yet. Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 36m

  5. 06/12/2025

    #332 - Chat GPT Has Questions. We Have Thoughts.

    Ryan and Becca flipped the format on this episode and answered a set of thought-provoking questions generated by ChatGPT—sparking a really honest conversation about how our businesses have evolved, what we’re learning, and where we’re feeling challenged. We talk about shifts we’ve made this past year, goals that no longer serve us, experiments that surprised us, and the habits we wish more potters would adopt early on. We also reflect on how hosting the podcast has shaped our creative and business growth. It’s a candid, wide-ranging chat that pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes. Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 34m

  6. 29/11/2025

    #331 - What Happens When Pottery Becomes the Day Job

    Ryan and Becca recap Ryan’s two-week “pottery vacation,” where he stepped away from his day job to experience what full-time pottery could feel like. They talk through the technical challenges he tackled, the shows he prepared for, and the sales strategies he experimented with. Ryan also reflects on managing his health, energy, and work-life balance during the break. They wrap up with how the experience shaped his outlook on future goals and how pottery fits alongside his career as a UX engineer. Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 30m

  7. 22/11/2025

    #330 - Building a Creative Business from the Ground Up with Rachel Durbin

    Ryan & Becca sit down with a very special guest — Rachel Durbin, Ryan’s spouse and the creative force behind Decades NKY. Rachel is in the early stages of growing her small business, which focuses on upcycling vintage textiles into unique, handmade goods. In this episode, they talk about how Decades NKY has evolved — from reselling vintage home decor to designing and sewing most items by hand today. Rachel opens up about the challenges of finding the right shows, developing new products, and what she’s learned from years of working alongside Ryan’s pottery business. It’s a thoughtful conversation about building a handmade business from the ground up, pivoting with purpose, and embracing the messy, exciting early stages of growth. -----Find more about Rachel’s business below----- Instagram - @decades.nky, @traverseinstyle Etsy - decadesnky.etsy.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/100093852360399/ Maker of the Moment Cristin - @ckhelenstudioSponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    1h 23m

  8. 15/11/2025

    #329 - Let's Talk About Clay with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks

    Note: This episode is a replay from our archive, originally released in 2021.  Ryan & Becca sit down for a conversation with Link Henderson, owner of Kentucky Mudworks & Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, to go in depth about clay & tools. We learn how Kentucky Mudworks begun almost 20 years ago and how Dirty Girls Pottery Tools came about. We also answer a number of listener questions related to finding the right clay body for you, reclaiming clay, properties of various clays, and studio cleanliness. We hope you enjoy Link's entrepreneurial spirit, vast knowledge in our clay space, and many laughs that she shares with us. -----Find more about Link's businesses below----- Kentucky Mudworks Instagram - @kentuckymudworks Website - https://kymudworks.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kentuckymudworks Facebook Group - Ky Mudworks Clay & Glaze Group Dirty Girls Pottery Tools Instagram - @dirtygirlspotterytools Website - https://dirtygirlspotterytools.com/ Sponsors L&L Kilns - The durable kiln that potters trust to fire evenly & consistently. Find your L&L kiln at hotkilns.com Soolla® - The brand-new Studio Pouch from Soolla is the perfect sidekick to your studio bag, designed to keep your favorite tools organized and close at hand. Available in eleven colors and durable, machine-washable canvas. Find your new studio bag at soolla.co and save 15% at checkout with coupon code "WHEELTALK" (exclusions may apply). Support the show on Patreon for as little as $3 per month: https://patreon.com/Wheeltalkpodcast Follow us on Instagram: @wheeltalkpodcast @rdceramics @5linespottery Visit our website: www.wheeltalkpotcast.com Wheel Talk YouTube Channel

    2h 6m
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About

Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespottery) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time studio potter, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring you helpful tips we've learned over the years, learn from each other, and share expertise from a number of guests with you also. Please join us for some Wheel Talk!

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Durbin & Becca Otis
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    340
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wheel Talk Podcast
  • Show Website
    Wheel Talk

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