Creatively Eccentric

Heather Ebanks - Graphic Designer | Empowering Creatives

Bold Voices. Unconventional Creativity. Zero Apologies. A podcast about creative thinking, original work, and building a career without fitting the mould. Creatively Eccentric is a podcast for designers, artists, makers, founders, and creative professionals who do things differently. Each episode explores the unconventional ideas, creative processes, projects, and career decisions that help people build original work and lasting success on their own terms. Rather than focusing on hardship alone, the show dives into how creative difference shows up in the work — from unusual methods and bold experiments to niche businesses, distinctive design philosophies, and careers that refuse to follow the standard path. Join Graphic Designer and host Heather Ebanks, alongside conversations with talented creatives, and practical tools for thriving outside the traditional path. Creatively Eccentric doesn’t ask you to “find your niche” or play to the algorithm — it encourages you to build a career by being more of yourself.

  1. Sep 2

    The Truth About Success: What Creatives Are Sacrificing Without Realising with Jo Hooper

    Many traditional business models prioritise profit and growth over the personal well-being of the entrepreneur. This often leads to burnout and dissatisfaction. Jo Hooper believes that the conventional mindset of working tirelessly for success can be detrimental. She highlights that many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking that long hours equate to success, which is not true. Instead of sacrificing their personal lives for work, she encourages entrepreneurs to design their businesses around their lives.   Topics Life-first business model Unconventional choices and authenticity Pricing realities and mindset shifts Social media authenticity and visibility Societal conditioning and work culture Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com Podlink Subscribe & Listen Apply to be a guest - Waitlist Instagram YouTube Playlist Buy a Ko-Fi Guest Jo Hooper's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getwildlyfree Jo Hooper's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@joiswildlyfree Guest links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/getwildlyfree YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@joiswildlyfree Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jo Hooper's Coaching Philosophy 00:46 Target Audience and Coaching Approach 03:16 Embracing Unconventional Choices 05:19 Leaving Corporate for Mental Health 07:37 Balancing Life and Business 10:38 Redefining Work and Life Priorities 10:55 Recognising Sacrifices for Success 14:51 Challenging the Status Quo in Work 17:40 Uncomfortable Truths for Creatives 20:46 Confronting Criticism with Humour 21:47 The Challenge of Specificity in Communication 23:31 Embracing Authenticity and Personal Growth 24:30 Finding Joy in Content Creation 25:47 Uncovering Your Creative Voice 26:50 The Importance of Authentic Expression 29:07 Overcoming Fear of Visibility 32:51 The Need for Self-Validation 36:13 Backing Yourself for Success 37:54 Navigating Life Changes with Grace 41:19 Valuing Time and Expertise Creatively Eccentric ™️

    The Truth About Success: What Creatives Are Sacrificing Without Realising with Jo Hooper
  2. Jul 13 ·  Bonus

    From Design Talks to Real Connections: A Birmingham Design Festival 2026 Debrief (Bonus)

    Is networking really about making connections, or can it sometimes feel transactional? Are design festivals built for extroverts? In this bonus episode, I'm joined once again by graphic designer Bhavini to reflect on our experiences at Birmingham Design Festival 2026.  We share honest reflections on attending events as designers, overcoming networking anxiety, finding confidence in creative spaces, the hidden costs of attending festivals, and why it's important to choose events that work for you. Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com Podlink Subscribe & Listen Apply to be a guest - Waitlist Instagram YouTube Playlist Buy a Ko-Fi Guest Info Ep21 From Almost Quitting to Finding Joy Again B81 Designs Instagram Mentions Birmingham Design Festival - https://birminghamdesignfestival.com Sisterland Festival - https://sisterlandfestival.com All Flows Milton Keynes - https://allflows.co.uk Cannes Lions - https://www.canneslions.com The House of Oddities - https://hoodares.com/ Ellmer Stefan - https://www.instagram.com/ellmer.stefan/ Key Takeaways Networking as introverts and creativesBuilding genuine creative communitiesAccessibility, affordability and inclusivity at creative eventsTips for attending design festivals for the first timeWhy it's okay to leave events that don't feel right for you Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Birmingham Design Festival 12:48 Networking Experiences and Insights 17:56 Navigating Networking Events 22:27 Accessibility and Inclusivity in Design Festivals 27:26 Financial Barriers to Participation 31:53 Diversity in Speakers and Opportunities 35:25 Final Thoughts on Event Participation Creatively Eccentric™️

Trailers

About

Bold Voices. Unconventional Creativity. Zero Apologies. A podcast about creative thinking, original work, and building a career without fitting the mould. Creatively Eccentric is a podcast for designers, artists, makers, founders, and creative professionals who do things differently. Each episode explores the unconventional ideas, creative processes, projects, and career decisions that help people build original work and lasting success on their own terms. Rather than focusing on hardship alone, the show dives into how creative difference shows up in the work — from unusual methods and bold experiments to niche businesses, distinctive design philosophies, and careers that refuse to follow the standard path. Join Graphic Designer and host Heather Ebanks, alongside conversations with talented creatives, and practical tools for thriving outside the traditional path. Creatively Eccentric doesn’t ask you to “find your niche” or play to the algorithm — it encourages you to build a career by being more of yourself.