Penny Linn Podcast

Krista LeRay

From the desk of our CEO & Founder Krista LeRay we welcome you to the Penny Linn podcast. Tune in every Friday to hear about all things needlepoint, Penny Linn, running a small business and more.

  1. The Tide Loves Penny Linn: Everyday Natalie Jane | Penny Linn Podcast

    May 19

    The Tide Loves Penny Linn: Everyday Natalie Jane | Penny Linn Podcast

    This week on the Penny Linn Podcast, Krista sits down with Collective designer Natalie of Everyday Natalie Jane! 🪡✨ They chat about how she found needlepoint, designing some of the community’s favorite canvases, life in Birmingham’s booming stitch scene, and the story behind her iconic Christmas Countdown canvas. Natalie also opens up about stitching through grief, finding comfort in creativity, and shares some very exciting personal news 💙 Plus: rapid fire needlepoint takes, upcoming designs, and lots of laughs along the way!

    44 min
  2. Market Haul! The PL Team Goes to Needlepoint Spring Market | Penny Linn Podcast

    Apr 27

    Market Haul! The PL Team Goes to Needlepoint Spring Market | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista is recording on the go from needlepoint market — joined by Emily, Dylan, and Olivia for a chaotic, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to shop market. They break down their real-time haul, sharing what they bought, what they missed, and how they decide what actually makes it onto the Penny Linn site — plus a fun side conversation on Disney, dream designs, and what they wish they could find more of. From quick-fire buying decisions to limited inventory stress, they chat about balancing data, gut instinct, and customer demand, along with their favorite finds from the trip!

    35 min
  3. And Away We Go! Sydney, The Checkered Canvas | Penny Linn Podcast

    Apr 17

    And Away We Go! Sydney, The Checkered Canvas | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, things start a little differently — Krista is on vacation, so her mom steps in to kick off the episode with a special guest intro before handing things over. Then, Krista is joined by Sydney, the founder of The Checkered Canvas. Our newest addition to the Penny Linn Collective, whose path to needlepoint is anything but traditional. From growing up riding horses to nearly pursuing pre-med, she shares how she unexpectedly found her way into canvas design — and turned a creative hobby into a business. Together, they chat about: Turning niche interests (like equestrian life and Formula 1) into designsThe “why not make it a canvas?” mindsetBuilding confidence as a new designer They also dive into the stories behind her designs and how following your interests — even the unexpected ones — can lead to something much bigger.

    55 min
  4. Didn't You Quit This Job? With Bridget, Our Senior Manager of Licensing & Logistics | Penny Linn Podcast

    Apr 13

    Didn't You Quit This Job? With Bridget, Our Senior Manager of Licensing & Logistics | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista records live from New York City, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at Penny Linn’s Times Square billboard and a sneak peek at the upcoming NYC storefront! Then, she’s joined by Bridget, Senior Manager of Licensing and Logistics and one of Penny Linn’s earliest team members. Bridget shares her journey from advertising to joining Penny Linn in its early days, her transition to a remote role, and how she’s grown into overseeing wholesale, buying, the collective, and licensing. They chat about what it really takes to run a fast-growing business behind the scenes, balancing big ideas with execution, and why every team needs someone willing to say “no.” This episode is a candid look at the operations side of Penny Linn — and the people who make it all happen.

    48 min
  5. She's a Witch! Stephanie, Spellbound Stitchery | Penny Linn Podcast

    Apr 3

    She's a Witch! Stephanie, Spellbound Stitchery | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a quick life and business update, recapping the recent Mackenzie-Childs launch and sharing a behind-the-scenes look at prepping for Penny Linn’s New York City store opening — including a Times Square billboard moment. Then, she’s joined by Stephanie, founder of Spellbound Stitchery, for a conversation about building a creative business that doesn’t follow the rules. Stephanie shares how she went from working in local government to designing needlepoint canvases full time after COVID, starting with custom work and eventually creating a brand known for its bold, witchy, and unconventional designs. They chat about designing for a niche audience, trusting your creative instincts, and why staying true to your style — even when it doesn’t fit the traditional mold — can be your biggest advantage. This episode is a fun mix of creativity, business, and a little bit of magic. ✨

    1h 9m
  6. If Found, Please Return to: Kyra Cotter Designs | Penny Linn Podcast

    Mar 28

    If Found, Please Return to: Kyra Cotter Designs | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a candid solo update — and a big milestone. She shares the surreal experience of Penny Linn being featured in Forbes, reflects on the emotional high of that moment, and opens up about the challenges that came with it. Krista also gives a deep dive into the current state of the needlepoint industry, breaking down the unprecedented surge in demand and the very real growing pains behind the scenes — from supply chain bottlenecks to months-long production timelines and the pressure of predicting inventory nearly a year in advance. Then, she’s joined by Kyra of Kyra Cotter Designs — one of Penny Linn’s original Collective Designers and a close friend — for a conversation about growing alongside the brand and building a business within a rapidly evolving industry. Together, they dive into: What it was like joining the Penny Linn Collective in the early daysHow the designer–retailer relationship works behind the scenesThe realities of long production timelines and forecasting demandGrowing a creative business while balancing real lifeHow the needlepoint community has evolved in recent yearsTurning a side passion into something much biggerThis episode is equal parts behind-the-scenes business breakdown and honest conversation about what it looks like to grow — both as a brand and as a creative — during a time when the entire industry is changing in real time.

    58 min
  7. How Big Is Your Stash? With Emily, Our Senior Brand Experience Manager | Penny Linn Podcast

    Mar 20

    How Big Is Your Stash? With Emily, Our Senior Brand Experience Manager | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a behind-the-scenes update during a busy launch week at Penny Linn. She shares what it was like watching the highly anticipated Eloise collection sell through in real time and recaps a recent Eloise-themed event at The Plaza that brought the needlepoint community together for tea, shopping, and stitching. Then, Krista is joined by Emily — one of the early team members at Penny Linn — for a conversation about what it’s really like working behind the scenes at a fast-growing needlepoint brand. Emily shares how she got into needlepoint during COVID, how a DM from Krista turned into a job, and what it’s like helping manage everything from launches and product listings to customer service and analyzing what customers are actually buying. Together, they chat about: Managing launches that sell out in minutesThe data behind restocks and waitlistsWhy kindness toward customer service teams mattersAnd of course… the real question: how big is Emily’s stash?This episode is a fun, behind-the-scenes look at Penny Linn and a very relatable conversation about the joys — and dangers — of building a needlepoint stash. Enjoy!

    1h 12m
  8. NDLPT Cult: Harrison Wallace | Penny Linn Podcast

    Mar 13

    NDLPT Cult: Harrison Wallace | Penny Linn Podcast

    In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, Krista kicks things off with a solo life and business update. She shares a behind-the-scenes look at a recent Penny Linn photoshoot at the iconic Eloise Suite at The Plaza, where the team spent the day capturing content for the upcoming collaboration. Krista also celebrates hitting 100,000 followers on Instagram, reflects on how quickly the needlepoint world is growing, and gives listeners a peek at what it’s really like preparing for major launches and collaborations behind the scenes. Then, Krista is joined by Harrison Wallace — content creator, recipe developer, and enthusiastic newcomer to the needlepoint world. Harrison shares how he first fell in love with cooking and hosting (thanks to years of watching Food Network growing up), and how he eventually transitioned from balancing a traditional job with creating online content to pursuing it full time. The two dive into: How Harrison got pulled into the “needlepoint cult” by friends and quickly became obsessedLearning needlepoint through YouTube and local needlepoint shopsWhy the in-person community around stitching is such a huge part of the hobbyThe explosion of needlepoint’s popularity in recent yearsWhy creative hobbies are pulling people away from their phonesHarrison’s growing needlepoint stash (and dream of a fully ornamented tree)They also chat about social media, creating long-form content on YouTube, cooking and hosting culture, and how online communities are helping revive traditional hobbies for a new generation. This episode is a fun conversation about creativity, internet culture, and how a simple hobby can unexpectedly turn into a full-blown obsession.

    1h 19m
See All (19)

4.9
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

From the desk of our CEO & Founder Krista LeRay we welcome you to the Penny Linn podcast. Tune in every Friday to hear about all things needlepoint, Penny Linn, running a small business and more.

Information

  • Creator
    Krista LeRay
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Krista LeRay
  • Show Website
    Penny Linn Podcast

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