Creating in the Margins Kat Brendel

Is there a topic you’re super passionate about that you feel isn’t getting covered enough or properly? Feel like your unique perspective is missing, but don’t feel ready to jump in the ring?
Brand Strategist & Content Marketer Cassandra Le was in the same spot. After months of standing on the sidelines though, they decided to do something about it and launched the “I'm lost, so what?” podcast to explore the nuances of “belonging” and carving your own path as multicultural, hyphenated folx.
If you too are wondering how to step up and use your voice, this episode is for you: Tune in as we deconstruct Cassandra’s journey to uncover why creative expression is a fab life (and yes, even business) goal worth investing in.
We dig into:
What the frequency illusion is and why it’s a good thing if you’re experiencing itThe key step that’ll help you get clarity and take actionHow focusing on having fun and what’s in it for you is not selfish, but actually super helpfulWhy investing in your idea, even if – or actually, especially if – it’s “just” for you makes all the difference
- - -
Getting motivated to create or grow your own podcast, but getting stuck on the HOW? If you’re a bold business owner ready to leverage a podcast to become the orca of your industry's ocean (aka the biggest, baddest, most big-hearted thing around), I’ve got you: Grab your hot beverage of choice (milk with coffee for me ;)) and let’s map out how you can reach your podcast goals. Book a free game plan call at tellonpurpose.com/gameplan -– no pressure or strings attached.
- - -
One thing that is kinda necessary no matter what creative project you’re undertaking? A home for it. AKA a website! I’ve been creating websites for over a decade (bananas) so I have tried everything under the sun. In recent years, though, every time an envy-worthy website came across my screen, the site credit read “Design by TONIC”. After drooling over their beautiful templates, I finally made the jump and can honestly say: I wish I had done it sooner. Fully customizable, gorgeous on any device, with a seamless Wordpress blog to match, and SEO power for days. Go make your old website jealous and grab 15% off your new design on me by going to tellonpurpose.com/tonic
- - -
Featured voices in this episode:
Kat Brendel (she/her): Hi, I'm your host, a journalist + marketer turned podcaster + storyteller. After launching my first podcast in 2017, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve not only become a serial podcaster but have helped a bunch of awesomesauce people & orgs not to just ride the audio wave, but to create their own as a podcast strategist. If making something that’s genuinely GOOD and not just a thinly-veiled sales pitch is what you’re into, we’re each other's kind of person. Explore working together by heading to tellonpurpose.com
Cassandra Le (she/they): Cassandra is a first-generation Vietnamese-American, immigrant living in Spain. She works as a Brand Strategist & Content Marketer and runs her marketing agency, The Quirky Pineapple Studio for DEI, Leadership, & Culture brands, from her home office in Toledo, Spain. She is also the host of the podcast “I'm lost, so what?” exploring the nuances of “belonging” and carving your own path as multicultural, hyphenated folx. When not working, you can find her exploring neighborhood cafés, watching trailers of movies on YouTube (that she'll never watch), or learning to knit and crochet (her goal is to make her own clothes)!
a href="https://thequirkypineapple.com/" rel="noopener...

Users are thinking about it even when not using it. Their mood is changed when on it. They need to get more and more of it to get the same happy hit. They have fights about its use. And, when trying to quit, have withdrawal symptoms and often relapse.
What is “it”? Social media.
Now, before you tune out: No, this is not a sermon on the evils of social media. Like most things, it's not a black-and-white issue.
Case in point: After 9 months off social media, I'm dipping back in. Is it a relapse? A doomed-to-fail-test? Or an intentional re-engagement? I'd like to think it's the latter – but I can't be sure. 
If, like me, you're unsure about your relationship with social media – whether to call it quits, have a break, or try to work it out – this episode is for you. 
Tune in to discover how mental health expert Daria, Influencer Marketing Consultant Christo, and I are conquering six social media challenges to help you boost your creativity and mental health – practical tips included.
- - -
Want a chance at an extra-special shout-out on the Inside Story newsletter? Then make sure to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and you might just get featured! Not sure how to leave a review? I created a quick video walkthrough for you at creatinginthemargins.com. Can’t wait to hear from you!
- - -
Are you an online business owner loving the thought of spending less time on social or – gasp – no time at all? But then this next thought immediately follows: “How will people discover me – won’t that hurt my business?” Good news: It’s not just possible, but even profitable, to lessen your death grip on social media! When I decided to make the transition, one of the first things I did was turn to online business veteran – and social-media-free entrepreneur – Leonie Dawson. She’s got a great – and inexpensive – course on Marketing Without Social Media that’ll give you 150 ways to market your biz off social! Head to tellonpurpose.com/socialfree to build your business and market in a more joyful and sustainable way.
- - -
Featured voices in this episode:
Kat Brendel (she/her): Hi, I'm your host, a journalist + marketer turned podcaster + storyteller. After launching my first podcast in 2017, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve not only become a serial podcaster but have helped a bunch of awesomesauce people & orgs not to ride the audio wave, but to create their own as a podcast strategist. If making something that’s genuinely GOOD and not just a thinly-veiled sales pitch is what you’re into, we’re each other's kind of person. Explore working together by heading to tellonpurpose.com
Daria Kyrilova (she/her): Daria is a Russian-born, UK-and-Spain-raised Berliner. By day, she helps badass Millennials bounce back from tough experiences through coaching; helps purpose-driven startups develop great cultures by hiring the right talent; and helps folks improve their mental health literacy for topics like resilience, trauma, and burnout. By night, she is a self-taught cook and food writer who loves to prep food in restaurant kitchens and document her own culinary experiments on her food blog.
LinkedIn | Instagram
Christo (they/them): Christo, 28, energetic, active, mindful human queer & non-binary living in Berlin – even though originally French. Fashion, people, emotions & nature-driven. I work as...

Could you imagine not just moving in general, but moving between continents, and launching a podcast at the same time? Me neither!
And yet, Danelle Cloutier did just that: In the middle of their move from Germany to the US, they launched Stranger Than Usual, where they bring listeners to exceptional locations around the world to get to the heart of people in places of history. From war bunkers in Germany to Vancouver’s first morgue, they tour inside these spaces and learn how people today deal with delicate stories of the past that affect the present.
Sounds incredible, right?
Getting this podcast out there wasn’t easy, though: Danelle’s plate wasn’t exactly empty, putting it mildly. They are an award-winning journalist and audio engineer currently working as a podcast producer and editor. So on top of the cross-continental move, they also had a full roster of clients, not to mention internal thought demons all conspiring from holding them back from making their passion project come alive.
Wondering how they did it anyway? That’s what this episode is all about: Tune in to discover what role accountability and healthy selfishness play in powering you up to give your creativity space, no matter how busy you might look on paper.
- - -
Want to be one of the featured voices on the podcast? There's an easy-peasy way to do that! Head to creatinginthemargins.com and leave me a voice note about your challenges with creating in the margins + any and all tips you might have!
- - -
Are you a fellow podcaster or soon-to-be podcaster? Then you know that music and sound effects give your episodes that extra lil’ something to make them stand out. Finding great music and sound effects, though? Not that easy. I don’t know how many days I lost going through 765 options until I found THE ONE: Artlist. They offer unlimited creative assets for content creators, including royalty-free music from world-class artists and super realistic sound effects. And if you’re a video person, they ALSO have beautiful stock footage, video editing software, and more. Check them out and get two extra months (!) for free on me by heading to tellonpurpose.com/artlist
- - -
Featured voices in this episode:Kat Brendel (she/her): Hi, I'm your host, a journalist + marketer turned podcaster + storyteller. After launching my first podcast in 2017, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve not only become a serial podcaster but have helped a bunch of awesomesauce people & orgs not to ride the audio wave, but to create their own as a podcast strategist. If making something that’s genuinely GOOD and not just a thinly-veiled sales pitch is what you’re into, we’re each other's kind of person. Explore working together by heading to tellonpurpose.com
Danelle Cloutier (they/them): I'm a queer, award-winning journalist and audio engineer. Currently working as a podcast producer and editor. I'm from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and I'm living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Before settling here, I lived in Southern California and Germany. I just launched my own podcast called Stranger Than Usual, where I bring listeners to exceptional locations around the world to get to the heart of people in places of history. From war bunkers in Germany to Vancouver’s first morgue, we’ll tour inside these spaces and learn how people today deal with delicate stories of the past that affect the present. These significant places hold clues to how we got here, where we’re at and where we might go or shouldn’t go. 
a...

Comparisonitis: The compulsion to compare yourself in what you're doing with others to determine where you rank. 
Yeah, sounds as fun as it is!
Comparisonitis is not just decidedly unfun, but it’s also a bona fide creativity killer. I experienced it first hand: For a year and a half, it tortured me and stalled my progress on a podcast idea I’d been on fire about AND had already started to put into motion!
But no little red thought devils will stop me from making my passion project come alive, and they shouldn't stop you from pursuing yours either:
In this episode, uncover the 4 strategies two bomb women, graphic designer & health coach Oriana Guedez and sales development manager Natalie Turner, and I use to fight comparisonitis.
- - -
Want to be one of the featured voices on the podcast? There's an easy-peasy way to do that! Head to creatinginthemargins.com and leave me a voice note about your challenges with creating in the margins + any and all tips you might have!
- - -
One of the biggest things that kickstarts my creativity is being inspired by others – especially by seeing the gritty behind-the-scenes of their journey! If that sounds right up your alley, check out MasterClass. You get to learn straight from world-class instructors: From Roxane Gay teaching writing for social change to Issa Rae’s class on creating outside the lines. Fall in love with Masterclass like I have AND support this podcast (at no extra cost to you) by heading to tellonpurpose.com/masterclass. Happy learning!
- - -
Featured voices in this episode:
Kat Brendel (she/her): Hi, I'm your host, a journalist + marketer turned podcaster + storyteller. After launching my first podcast in 2017, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve not only become a serial podcaster but have helped a bunch of awesomesauce people & orgs not to ride the audio wave, but to create their own as a podcast strategist. If making something that’s genuinely GOOD and not just a thinly-veiled sales pitch is what you’re into, we’re each other's kind of person. Explore working together by heading to tellonpurpose.com
Oriana Guedez (she/her): I'm from Caracas, Venezuela. I have been living in Berlin for 8 years now (wow!). I'm a grafic designer and health coach, currently working in the world of online gambling games (yes, crazy hahaha) and raising my brand new baby Gabriel, he is 4 months old and having him is the greatest challenge yet. I had a very difficult pregnancy that forced me to stop everything I was doing and concentrate only on the top priorities, I lost control of everything and that in itself made me evolve into this version of myself, one that I'm still getting to know.
Natalie Turner (she/her): I’m Natalie. I’ve been living in Berlin for the last 6 years with my family and newly adopted dog. Previously we lived in Budapest. I joined Contentful as their Manager of Sales Development for DACH.
Danelle Cloutier (they/them): I'm a queer, award-winning journalist and audio engineer. Currently working as a podcast producer and editor. I'm from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and I'm living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Before settling here, I lived in Southern California and Germany. I just launched my own podcast called Stranger Than Usual, where I bring listeners to exceptional locations around the world to get to the heart of people in places of history. From war bunkers in Germany to Vancouver’s first morgue, we’ll tour inside these spaces and learn how...

Zoom calls. Perfectionism. Walking the dog. Feeling like a fraud. Between busy schedules and inner demons, creativity is easily drowned. The Creating in the Margins podcast is your lifeline:
Tune into the bi-weekly episodes to hear interviews with diverse creatives making their passion projects a reality in the margins of their lives. They’re also not just creating in the margins of their lives, but they (or the topics they cover) are also often marginalized, making it all the more important we hear and see them.
Plus, I – your host, storyteller, and globetrotter Kat Brendel - slay pesky doubts alongside you, covering everything from feeling like a shadow artist to toxic productivity in solo episodes.
Let’s add some color to your margins!
P.S. Want exclusive access to bonus tidbits that didn’t make it on the episodes? Then head to https://creatinginthemargins.com to sign up for the Inside Story newsletter.