Sponge Stories

Siobhan Byrd
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  • Personal Journals

Sponge Stories is a podcast for face painters who want to hear what the industry is really like from the people living it. Hosted by me, Siobhan from Theatrix Faces, each episode is a relaxed conversation with a working face painter. We talk about the good parts, the tricky parts, and everything in between. From finding your own style to dealing with comparison, confidence, pricing, and those moments where you question what you are doing, it all comes up. Some episodes are focused, some wander a bit, but that is where the real stuff tends to come out. If you have ever thought is it just me, this is for you.

  1. 1 day ago

    Lisa - Pop Stencils

    What starts with a 13-year-old charging 50p for face painting in her front garden somehow leads to architecture, nightclub face painting, a laser cutter in the living room and a physical face paint shop in Glasgow. In this episode of Sponge Stories, I’m joined by Lisa, the face painter and business owner behind POP Stencils and Face Paint Pro. Lisa shares how her early career took plenty of twists and turns before the skills she picked up along the way eventually came together to help her build multiple businesses within the face painting industry. We chat about the reality of going full time, why buying cheap can mean buying twice, learning to trust your gut, pricing yourself appropriately and why we shouldn’t make ourselves small just to appear more affordable. Lisa also takes us behind the scenes of POP Stencils, from designing and testing each stencil to the surprisingly complex process of laser cutting them herself in Glasgow. We talk about supporting independent suppliers, the impact of cheap copied products, the realities of retail, Brexit, stock, tiny profit margins and the pressure of balancing several businesses at once. And just when I thought we were safely into the quick fire round, Lisa casually revealed the biggest face painting disaster I have ever heard on this podcast… This episode is packed with business lessons, industry insight, unexpected career turns and a very strong reminder that you genuinely never know where face painting might take you. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

    52 min

  2. 30 Jun

    Nick Wolfe

    As one half of the legendary Wolfe twins, Nick helped shape modern face and body painting as we know it. From creating the iconic Wolfe FX paints and winning World Bodypainting Championships to teaching artists across the globe, his influence can be found in almost every face painter's kit and technique today. We chat about how he and his twin brother Brian transformed the industry, what it was really like building Wolfe FX, and the incredible journey from working in special effects makeup to becoming one of the world's most respected educators. Nick also shares his memories of Brian, reflects on the legacy they created together, and talks about the next chapter of his career with his wife Jade as The Witch and the Wolfe. Whether you've been painting for twenty years or you've only just picked up your first brush, this episode is packed with stories, history, inspiration and advice from someone who has witnessed – and helped create – the evolution of our industry. If you've ever painted with Wolfe White, learned from one of Nick's books, or simply wondered where so many of today's techniques began, you won't want to miss this conversation. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. If you enjoy the episode, please follow Sponge Stories, leave a review, and share it with another face painter. It really helps more artists discover the podcast.

    1hr 13min

  3. 23 Jun

    Michelle - ABC Parties

    This week on Sponge Stories, I'm joined by Michelle from ABC Parties. Michelle has had a remarkable year. After stepping away from the industry during a difficult period in her life, she returned determined to rebuild her confidence, reignite her creativity and throw herself back into face painting. Since then, she has won Face Painter of the Year, entered an international face painting competition in the Netherlands, signed up to multiple training programmes and competitions, and embraced every opportunity to learn and grow. We talk about pushing through self-doubt, navigating anxiety at industry events, dealing with comparison, investing in your skills and why sometimes the best thing you can do is simply put yourself forward. Michelle also shares her experience of being diagnosed with Tourette's and how that has impacted both her personal life and her work as a face painter. This is an honest conversation about resilience, confidence, creativity and finding your place in the industry again.

    1hr 3min

  4. 16 Jun

    Bethany - Brushed Beauties

    This week on Sponge Stories, I’m joined by Bethany from Brushed Beauties, a face painter based in Northampton with a background in branding, design and marketing. We chat about how Beth turned a weekend hobby into a thriving face painting business, the lessons she learned from those nerve-racking first jobs, and some of the most memorable events she's worked on, including the Women's Rugby World Cup. Beth shares practical advice on branding, marketing and sponsorships, including how she secured sponsorship for her branded gazebo, why LinkedIn is an untapped opportunity for face painters, and the marketing mistakes she sees small businesses making time and time again. We also discuss the importance of community, building a recognisable brand, attracting repeat customers, and why focusing on your own business is often the best thing you can do. Plus, Beth joins me for a quick-fire round where we find out her least favourite design to paint, her dream booking, and the one marketing hill she's prepared to die on. Whether you're a face painter looking to grow your business or simply curious about what goes on behind the sponge, this episode is packed with practical tips and honest conversation. Follow Beth and Brushed Beauties for more face painting and business inspiration. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brushedbeautiesfacepaint?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Website - https://www.brushedbeautiesfacepaint.co.uk/

    54 min

  5. 9 Jun

    Jane - Daisy Jane's Face Painting

    This week on Sponge Stories, I'm joined by Jane from Daisy Jane Face Painting. With nearly 10 years in the industry, Jane has built an instantly recognisable brand, a thriving business and a reputation as one of the most loved painters in our community. In this episode, Jane very generously shares her ongoing experience with grief and the realities of running a business built around joy when life behind the scenes is incredibly difficult. We talk about resilience, finding a way forward and the support that can be found within our industry. Alongside these more personal conversations, Jane also shares some of her favourite face painting memories, lessons learned from a decade in business and advice for painters at every stage of their journey. It's an honest, thoughtful and uplifting conversation that reminds us there is a real person behind every paintbrush. Find more from Jane here: https://www.instagram.com/daisyjanesfacepainting?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

    55 min

  6. 2 Jun

    Rachel - Fierce Fun Faces

    Rachel Connolly discusses the importance of networking for business growth, the challenges of operating a rural business, and the significance of inclusivity in face painting, providing valuable insights and practical tips for each topic. The conversation delves into the importance of inclusion in the face painting industry and the challenges and opportunities for neurodiverse individuals. It also explores the standout qualities of a face painter and discusses proudest moments and business success in the industry. Takeaways Networking for business growthDiversifying services for rural businessInclusivity in face painting Inclusion in the face painting industryChallenges and opportunities for neurodiverse individuals Chapters 00:00 Networking for Business Growth09:10 Challenges of Rural Business Operations26:35 Inclusivity in Face Painting47:55 Advocacy for Inclusion and Empowerment55:56 Standout Qualities of a Face Painter01:06:56 Proudest Moments and Business Success

    1hr 1min

  7. 26 May

    Milly Rose - Fantastic Faces

    Millie Rose, founder of Fantastic Faces, transformed her passion into a flourishing business after winning the Prince's Trust Enterprise Award in 2019. From facing challenges as a single parent to building a creative team, Millie's story is a true testament to resilience. She started out with just a dream and a scabby old box of paints, and now she’s redefining face painting across Yorkshire. It’s not just about art; it’s about connection, joy, and the magic of seeing a child’s face light up.

    58 min

  8. 19 May

    Daze - Moonlight Bodyart

    The conversation explores the power of social media for creatives, the journey from imposter syndrome to authentic content, the balance between content creation and face painting gigs, the evolution of content and face painting, and a discussion on a favorite face painting gig. The conversation covers a range of topics including the world of events and corporate gigs, the transition to adult clientele, the impact of location and community, working with other face painters, subcontracting work and business ethics, dealing with nightmare clients, challenges faced as a woman in business, navigating professionalism and gender bias, the impact of social media on business, community and mental health, and content creation and planning. Takeaways Social media as a tool for creative entrepreneurshipThe journey from imposter syndrome to authentic content Diversifying ContentBuilding a Personal Brand Chapters 00:00 The Power of Social Media for Creatives19:26 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Authentic Content25:00 The Evolution of Content and Face Painting30:36 Location and Community Impact35:48 Challenges Faced as a Woman in Business53:49 Community and Mental Health01:10:13 Content Creation and Planning Find all of Daze's links here! https://linktr.ee/moonlightbodyart?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnE2u7vt0FeB_-4ws5VZijHcnnYk6Q__r2uNNdcKkHsspVhVifUH9AX5hUCUc_aem_RmwEO-UTkfI69Vyd6X5O4g

    58 min
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About

Sponge Stories is a podcast for face painters who want to hear what the industry is really like from the people living it. Hosted by me, Siobhan from Theatrix Faces, each episode is a relaxed conversation with a working face painter. We talk about the good parts, the tricky parts, and everything in between. From finding your own style to dealing with comparison, confidence, pricing, and those moments where you question what you are doing, it all comes up. Some episodes are focused, some wander a bit, but that is where the real stuff tends to come out. If you have ever thought is it just me, this is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Siobhan Byrd
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Siobhan Byrd
  • Show Website
    Sponge Stories
  • Provider

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