This is How We Create

Martine Severin
  • 5.0 (26)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The This is How We Create podcast digs deeper into the creative life of contemporary artists of color. Discover what feeds their creativity and how they found (or are finding) their artistic voice. Through these intimate and candid conversations, you will gain insights into the lives of creative professionals of color that are hard to find anywhere else.

  1. 12/18/2025

    192. How to Do the Scary Things in Life - Martine Severin

    Want to find out the secret to doing the scary things in life? Are you waiting for the right time or for a surge of confidence to finally send that pitch or apply for that residency. In this episode, we explore the psychological traps of "waiting to be ready" and share research-backed strategies to move from stagnant avoidance to meaningful action. If you have been keeping a scary dream on hold, this conversation might be the gentle push you need to start before you feel brave. Chapters 00:00 The internal draft: Why we wait for the right time 01:05 A snowy reflection on the dreams we haven't touched 02:17 The confrontation: When "someday" meets the calendar 03:10 Unlearning the fear patterns that keep us stuck 04:39 The "No Fear Month" challenge and the science of action 05:40 Why feelings follow actions: Insights from cognitive behavioral therapy 06:20 Utilizing temporal landmarks for a fresh start 08:00 Step-by-step: How to schedule your breakthrough 10:30 Keeping promises to yourself: A lesson from my son 12:50 The Pomodoro technique and the power of twenty-five minutes 14:40 Overcoming the discomfort of the "not right now" 16:26 Body doubling and shifting your creative environment   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/ This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    20 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    191. Letting Go with Grace: When It's Time to Make the Hard Call - Martine Severin

    In our ongoing series about the creative process of building a studio, we've covered when and how to hire a team. But what happens when a hire isn't the right fit? I'm pulling back the curtain on a lesson that cost me months of energy and a piece of my confidence as a leader. You'll often know by week three or four when a new hire isn't going to make it, and waiting six months to act isn't just costly, it's a failure of leadership. I share the difference between a coachable skill gap and a fundamental values misalignment. Discover the two questions that immediately clarify your next move and the three clear, documented conversations you must have before making the final decision. This episode provides a clear, direct process to protect your creative work and act with grace and clarity, because your vision is worth protecting. Chapters 00:00 - An Expensive Lesson in Waiting: Why I Didn't Act for Six Months 01:30 - The Six-Month Rule: Knowing When It's Time to Make a Clear Decision 02:40 - Coaching vs. Cutting Loose: When to Invest in Skill vs. Values 04:05 - Making It Better or Just Different: The Two Defining Questions 04:55 - The Three Clear Conversations Before You Let Someone Go 07:05 - How to Have the Firing Conversation: Clarity is Kindness 08:45 - The Cost of Waiting and Why Acting Fast is Great Leadership 10:40 - Am I Coaching Because I Believe or Because I'm Afraid?   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/ This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    14 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    190. From Solo Hustle to Successful Delegation: The Art of Onboarding - Martine Severin

    You've made the hire and the contract is signed. Yay. Now we can begin the real work. In this final installment of our mini-series on hiring your first assistant, I'm pulling back the curtain on the first crucial 90 days and the art of proper onboarding. I'll be sharing the systems and intentional frameworks, honed from years of building teams in my photography business and overseeing a 120-person team in a co-owned company, that help a new hire fully absorb your vision, not just your tasks. I'll walk you through the 30-60-90 framework for ensuring your new team member is set up for success. Learn why the first 30 days are purely for learning, when to flip the script on task ownership, and what to watch for by day 60 to prevent costly misalignments. This episode will provide you with the blueprint for creating an operating document, using tools for clear process transfer, and course-correcting early to ensure your future self (and your entire creative business) is amplified, not diluted. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Series Recap 02:23 - The Crucial 90 Days: Onboarding vs. Orientation 04:44 - Breaking Down the 30-60-90 Framework 07:04 - Why You Must Encourage "Dumb" Questions 09:16 - Honesty Check: Are You Micromanaging? 11:37 - A Concrete Example: Onboarding for Client Communication 14:02 - Creating Your Operating Document and Role-Playing Scenarios 16:21 - The Week Eight Check-in and the Importance of Documentation 18:48 - Setting People Up for Success: Coaching Versus Cutting Loose   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/ This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    21 min

  4. 11/18/2025

    189. The Creative's Guide to Screening Your First Hire - Martine Severin

    Hiring your first helper is exciting, but it can also be terrifying. After keeping the wrong person on my team for far too long, I realized I had been focusing on all the wrong things. Skills on a resume are table stakes, but you cannot teach someone to care about the details the way you do. In this episode (Part 2 of our hiring series), I am pulling back the curtain on the screening process that saved me from making that mistake again. I share the specific, behavioral questions I now ask to uncover a candidate's true values, the red flags that signal a poor fit, and the single most important step I take before making any commitment: the paid trial project. This is the guide I wish I had when I started building my team.   Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back & The Hiring Journey 00:45 The Mistake I Made With My First Hire 02:05 Looking Beyond the Resume: Skills vs. Values 03:00 Why "Culture Fit" Is Everything for a Small Creative Business 04:00 The Pre-Screening Trick for Attention to Detail 05:50 How to Ask About Past Work (The "Prioritization" Question) 07:45 Asking About Mistakes and Listening for Ownership 09:30 How Do They Handle Critical Feedback? 10:30 The Importance of a (Paid) Trial Project 11:50 The Truth Revealed in the Trial 12:20 Red Flags: Badmouthing and Vague Answers 13:00 Why the Questions They Ask Matter 13:30 The One Question I Wish I Had Asked 14:00 Final Thoughts: Aligned, Not Perfect   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/ This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    15 min

  5. 11/13/2025

    188. Think you need to hire someone? Your exhaustion might be lying to you - Martine Severin

    Some creatives hire when they're overwhelmed, not when they're ready to lead. Before you bring on that intern or assistant, you need clarity on what you're handing off, bandwidth to train them, and rock-solid values they can execute on. I'm pleased to share the hiring frameworks that rocked my world when it came to bringing on new team members.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Four-Part Series on Hiring 01:06 The Mistake: Hiring When You Are Not Ready to Lead 02:08 Question 1: What Specific Work Are You Handing Off? 02:49 Question 2: Can You Afford to Train Someone (With Time)? 03:31 Question 3: Do You Know Your Non-Negotiables? 04:30 The EOS Framework and The People Analyzer 05:07 The Three Parts of the People Analyzer: Get It, Want It, Capacity 08:08 Journaling Prompts: Defining Your Core Values 10:30 The Key Advice: Hire for One Job, Not to Replace Yourself 13:10 Coming Up: The Interview Process   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/ This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    14 min
  6. 187. What an Afro Comb Can Teach You about Design - Jomo Tariku

    11/11/2025

    187. What an Afro Comb Can Teach You about Design - Jomo Tariku

    What does it take to change an entire industry? Thirty years ago, Jomo Tariku, then an industrial design student, noticed something profound missing in his university library: contemporary African furniture designers. This observation sparked a decades-long journey of persistence and vision. I sit down with Jomo to discuss his path from sketching designs in his garage while working other jobs to having his celebrated work featured in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He shares how his father's incredible story as a refugee gave him the hubris to persist through a 27-year wait for recognition. Tune in to learn how he translates his heritage (from the horns of the Nyala antelope to the powerful symbolism of the Afro-comb) into functional, modern art. Tune in to this story about patience, process, and the fight to redefine the creative canon. Chapters 02:22 The Collector's Home: Early Influences from a Father's Travels 05:13 Breadcrumbs: From Drawing Objects to Industrial Design 09:34 The Missing Narrative: A Thesis on African Furniture 14:14 The "Hubris" of an Orphan: A Father's Legacy of Courage 18:59 The Story of the Mito Chair: Connecting Continents with an Afro-Pick 24:37 A Commission for Seneca Village: The Met Afrofutures Room 26:08 The Designer's Process: Collaboration and Master Craftsmanship 31:40 The Balance of Beauty and Function 33:41 How 3D Printing Changed the Game 39:36 The Cost of a Prototype 42:18 The Nyala Chair: "The One That Put Me on the Map" 42:48 The 27-Year Wait and the Rise of BADG 45:10 Advocating for a More Inclusive Canon 47:33 Redefining Success: Joy, Research, and Community   Connect with Jomo: Follow Jomo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jomotariku Jomo's Website: https://jomotariku.com/   Support the Show Website: http://www.martineseverin.com Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

    52 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    186. The Quiet Persistence of Creativity - Martine Severin

    I have been thinking a lot lately about the difference between the loud hustle culture of constant visibility and the profound power of simply refusing to give up, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Join me in this episode as I share unexpected lessons in persistence, inspired by Death Valley.  Chapters 00:00 - The Unlikely Pairing: Death Valley and Dehydrated Shrimp 01:50 - The Persistence of Fairy Shrimp and Resurrection Moss 02:30 - Redefining Persistence: Why Dormancy is Not Failure 03:40 - When Your Rain Comes: Being Ready to Rise 04:30 - Nature's Pep Talk: The Audacity of a 50-Year Wait 05:30 - A Call to Action for Your Quiet Creative Work   Support the Show Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/   This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

    8 min
  8. 185. The Courage to Trust the Process - Bria Gladney

    11/04/2025

    185. The Courage to Trust the Process - Bria Gladney

    Every so often, we come across an artist whose journey reminds us that creativity is a promise of transformation. What started as a project to design graduation caps (that then went viral) evolved into a story of artistic evolution, mental health healing, and finding purpose through creativity. In this episode, mixed media textile artist Bria Gladney reveals how the most meaningful art comes from the intersection of personal healing, community impact, and the courage to trust the process. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bria Gladney and Her Journey 03:02 From Class Clown to Pencil: Early Creative Exposures 08:46 The Viral Spark: Designing Graduation Caps in College 11:06 The Decision to Become a Full-Time Artist 11:37 The Spiritual Journey and the Humbling Transformation 17:05 From Canvas to Crochet: The Genesis of the "Dear Cleo" Bears 21:08 Redefining Success: From Chasing Fame to Seeking Impact 23:10 The Craft: Creating Mixed Media Textile Art 24:41 Full-Time Art: Income Streams and Pricing the Work 27:47 The Healing Power of the 'Lovie': Bears as Adult Comfort 29:50 Finding Inspiration Through Conversation and Designated Thinking Time 36:37 Art as Philanthropy: Partnering with the Too Fly Foundation 41:36 Advice on Finding Your Artistic Voice: Stay True to You   Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQ Spotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs iHeart Podcast: http://bit.ly/4lRHms3   Connect with Bria:  Follow Bria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briagladney Bria's Website: https://www.briagladney.com/   Support the Show Website: http://www.martineseverin.com Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

    44 min
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About

The This is How We Create podcast digs deeper into the creative life of contemporary artists of color. Discover what feeds their creativity and how they found (or are finding) their artistic voice. Through these intimate and candid conversations, you will gain insights into the lives of creative professionals of color that are hard to find anywhere else.

Information

  • Creator
    Martine Severin
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Martine Severin
  • Show Website
    This is How We Create

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