Inside The Creators Lounge

Fil Wathen
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Inside the Creator’s Lounge is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the minds shaping today’s creative world. Recorded at The Creator’s Lounge Studio, each episode brings you into real conversations with photographers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and artists as they break down their process, struggles, wins, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts. No fluff, no filters, just honest insight from people doing the work.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Vibes with Lucy

    Inside the Creators Lounge — Lucy LeNoir In this episode of Inside the Creators Lounge, Fil sits down with Lucy LeNoir, a Houston-based tattoo artist, musician, and one of his oldest friends in the creative world. The two go all the way back to a chance meeting 11 years ago at Mayhem Fest, where Lucy's band landed a last-minute slot opening for Slayer and Fil was shooting the show as a young concert photographer. Neither of them was even supposed to be there that day, and that random collision turned into more than a decade of friendship, photo shoots, and supporting each other's grind. This one is a real, unfiltered conversation about what it actually takes to build a creative business from nothing. Lucy gets honest about the first seven or eight years of tattooing being a financial struggle, wondering how she'd pay a $300 electric bill, and the pressure to give up and take a "normal" desk job. She talks about tattooing her hand at 19 as her own way of burning the ships, the years of trial and error it takes to master something like fine line work, and why clients aren't paying for the tattoo itself, they're paying for the skill, the years, and the guarantee it won't blow out. Fil and Lucy dig into the parallels between tattooing and photography and videography. Both are crafts people underestimate, both take years to get good at, and both come with the same lesson: when you own the business, the actual art is only part of the job. They get into the tools that changed everything, like the Venue Ink app that streamlined Lucy's booking and tripled her business, and they compare notes on where their clients actually come from. For Lucy it's mostly Instagram and TikTok, for Fil it's surprisingly Facebook, which sparks a funny tangent about Facebook feeling like a dead internet full of bots and ads. TikTok comes up big. Lucy admits she resisted it for years thinking it was just for kids, then her very first video hit 150,000 views and TikTok quickly became around 85% of her business. They talk Gary Vaynerchuk, why follower counts don't matter, and how the platform pushes you out to people who've never heard of you. There's also plenty of metal talk along the way, from Thy Art Is Murder and Whitechapel to the wild story of Fil interviewing a sitting president and working shoots around Justin Timberlake and John Mayer. The episode closes on something heavier and more personal. Lucy opens up about working relentlessly to finally treat her beloved Nanny to a paid-for trip in the summer of 2026, and the grief of losing her before that could happen. It becomes the heart of the conversation about knowing your "why" in business, why that why can never just be money, and how the people who chase money first have already lost. This is two creatives who came up the hard way, talking shop, swapping war stories, and reminding each other that sticking with it is the whole game. Find Lucy:Website: lenoirtattoo.comInstagram and TikTok: @lucylenoirrr (L-E-N-O-I-R-R-R)Her band Haunter: stream the songs and catch them live.

    1h 4m

  2. Jun 1

    Work Life Balance with Lisa Wathen

    In this episode of Inside the Creators Lounge, Fil and Lisa get candid about running a photography and video business as a married couple. They cover work-life balance and how having a dedicated studio space helped Fil separate work from home life. They dive into how photography became the shared passion their therapist recommended to bring them closer, and how shooting together over 15 years built a near-telepathic communication on set. The conversation also covers collaboration vs. competition in the creative industry, why photographers should refer out instead of trash talk, social media as a client-building tool vs. audience building, and the importance of just starting to create content with whatever gear you have. Raw, real, and relatable for any creative business owner.

    32 min

  3. May 25

    Daniel Nichols

    n this episode of Inside the Creators Lounge, Fil sits down with Daniel Nichols, owner of Prino Outdoor Living, a Montgomery-based company specializing in custom pools, patios, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens. Daniel breaks down what separates Prino from the competition: a deep pre-construction process, top-tier subcontractors, and a design philosophy built around truly understanding each client's lifestyle and budget. He shares how his "measure twice, cut once" approach has helped avoid costly mistakes, and reflects on early lessons learned the hard way. The conversation also touches on Prino's selective clientele strategy and their expansion into markets like Houston and Huntsville, while staying rooted locally. If you're thinking about transforming your backyard, this one's worth a listen.

    46 min

  4. May 18

    Daphne Andrade

    Fil and Daphne sit down with a licensed aesthetician from Laurel Tree Aesthetics for a candid, unfiltered conversation about skincare and beauty. The episode kicks off with Fil admitting he has basically zero skincare routine, sparking a real discussion about whether men should even bother. The guest breaks down the basics, from keeping your skin clean to sun protection, while touching on how men and women age differently and the societal pressures behind it. They dive into the science of retinol and Vitamin A, the benefits and painful side effects of prescription Retin-A, and why hydration is the most underrated free tool you have. Fil also opens up about quitting alcohol and how it dramatically improved his overall health and skin. Funny, honest, and genuinely useful.

    46 min

  5. May 11

    The Fitness Journey

    In this episode of Inside the Creators Lounge, hosts Phil with Vanessa a personal trainer and nutrition coach, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about fitness. Vanessa shares how she resisted becoming a trainer for years before officially launching her business, Sweat Equity, in September 2021. The conversation covers the full picture of fitness, and why nutrition is just as critical as training, the difference between cutting and bulking, and why you can't out-train a bad diet. They also get real about the mental side, overcoming excuses, pushing through discomfort, and why growth only happens when you get uncomfortable. Vanessa offers both in-person training out of her fully commercial-grade home gym and online coaching for nutrition and fitness programs. Whether you're just starting or already in the game, this episode is a straight-talking breakdown of what it actually takes to see results.

    49 min

  6. May 4

    Confidence Episode with Jeannie

    Inside the Creators Lounge Confidence Episode Phil sits down with Jeannie Zindler, a self-described "hype person" and everyone's big sister, to talk about confidence in business and in life. Jeannie's mission is simple: help people recognize their own value and actually show it in a room professionally, personally, romantically. The conversation hits on how society conditions people to shrink themselves, and how the doubters in your life are really just projecting their own limits onto you. Phil shares that when he launched his studio, people said it wouldn't work but those same people ended up congratulating him later. Key takeaways: walk tall, own your space, and give yourself permission to think you're awesome. Use the word "yet" you're not great at it yet. Build a community that roots for you, and return that energy. Jeannie also points out that sometimes it's easier to believe a stranger's validation over a loved one's and that's okay too. Jeannie is launching her own podcast called I Do Like to Talk, focused on real conversations about confidence and everything in between. Find her on Instagram at beat.nick.disco.

    55 min

  7. Apr 27

    Kristi Griffin Realtor

    Fil sits down with Kristi Griffin, a full-time licensed realtor going into her 12th year, to talk about what it really takes to run a small business. They get into doing the hard things first, the loneliness of leadership, and why most entrepreneurs end up surrounded by other entrepreneurs. Kristi shares the turning points that changed her career, learning to leverage a team and committing to a daily-checked business plan, plus honest advice for anyone starting out: know your why, have savings, and never be the smartest person in the room.

    33 min

  8. Apr 22

    Taylor Rae Realtor

    Join realtor Taylor Rae as she shares insider tips, market insights, and real-world stories from the world of real estate—helping buyers, sellers, and agents navigate today's housing landscape.

    19 min

  9. Apr 8

    Canon C50 unboxing

    Come unbox the Canon C50 with me

    8 min

  10. Apr 8

    The first $10k you should spend as a photographer

    Here is a breakdown of what you should spend

    5 min

  11. Apr 8

    Our Origin Story

    In this episode we talk about our origin story and how we got into photography and videography.

    16 min

  12. Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    Welcome to The Creators Lounge!

    We want to highlight your small business!

    26 sec

Trailer

About

Inside the Creator’s Lounge is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the minds shaping today’s creative world. Recorded at The Creator’s Lounge Studio, each episode brings you into real conversations with photographers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and artists as they break down their process, struggles, wins, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts. No fluff, no filters, just honest insight from people doing the work.

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