This is How We Create

Martine Severin
  • 5.0 (31)
  • 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. 3h ago ·  Video

    How Saying No Will Save Your Creative Career - Polly Irungu

    Could your biggest career breakthrough come from a time of isolation? Photographer Polly Irungu bought her first camera with money from working at McDonald's to cope with moving to a new place. She didn't know then that she was starting a global movement.   In this episode, I talk with Polly about how she started Black Women Photographers, worked with big brands like Nikon and Adobe, and learned that saying yes to every low-paying job was hurting her health.   You will learn how to find your own artistic style, build a community from scratch, and set strong boundaries to avoid burnout.   Chapters 00:19 The McDonald's Paychecks and the First Camera  01:18 Surviving Culture Shock in Oregon  04:52 Turning Isolation Into Human Connection  07:33 Gravitating Toward Black Joy  10:10 Photograph Everything to Find Your Niche  14:08 Building Partnerships with Major Brands  18:01 The Unexpected Allyship Behind Black Women Photographers  23:41 Setting Boundaries and Protecting Your Peace  24:57 The Danger of Saying Yes to Everything Connect with Polly Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pollyirungu Website: https://blackwomenphotographers.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

  2. 6d ago ·  Video

    Best platforms for creating community as an artist - Lina Monterrey (Part 2)

    You spend countless hours perfecting your work, yet your posts keep tumbling into a sea of silent scrollers and soul-crushing algorithms.    In this episode, our podcast marketing specialist, Lina, joins me to unlock the exact digital strategy we used to transform a modest following into a devoted community of over eleven thousand supporters.    Hit play right now to steal our exact marketing blueprint and turn passive scrollers into lifelong champions of your creative journey.    Chapters 00:00  Best Platforms for Different Types of Creatives 01:45  How Artists Should Engage Online 03:08  Spotting AI vs. True Authenticity 03:46  Building an Audience: Instagram to Substack Strategy 05:50  Essential Tips for Standing Out Online 08:24  Sponsor Message: iCode 08:52  YouTube and Multi-Platform Distribution 09:46 Must-Have Tools for Social Media Growth 11:44  Major Social Media Mistakes to Avoid 13:35  Building Genuine Relationships with Your Audience 16:43  Wrapping Up with Lina Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQ Spotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs 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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

  3. Aug 12 ·  Video

    How to Conquer Rejection - Octavia Clahar

    What's the missing key to your biggest artistic breakthrough? You might feel trapped in a demanding day job or paralyzed by fear of rejection, yet your tightest constraints can become your ultimate creative advantage.   Screenwriter Octavia Clahar, reveals how she directed her debut TV pilot inside a video game when traditional funding fell through.    Tune in to discover how you can stop waiting for outside permission, transform your daily routine into creative leverage, and build the resilient support system your dreams demand.    Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Directing TV Pilots in The Sims 4 01:03 - Brooklyn Roots and Caribbean Storytelling Traditions 04:06 - Pitching Yourself: Treating Your Identity as the Brand 05:43 - Overcoming Rejection and Refining Your Artistic Voice 08:34 - Reframing Loss: From Corporate Grind to Creative Commitment 11:29 - Mentorship and Ava DuVernay's Core Collaboration Rule 15:46 - Building Story Co-op Across Brooklyn and Paris 21:10 - Navigating Production Constraints and Budget Realities 27:35 - Lessons from Studio Pitch Meetings and Script Revisions 33:50 - Strategies for Sustaining Creativity Through Burnout 39:15 - Creating Sustainable Support Networks for Independent Artists 44:00 - Final Reflections and Closing Remarks   Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQ Spotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs YouTube:  Connect with Octavia Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octavia.nicole.clahar/ Website: https://bio.site/oclahar   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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

    How to Conquer Rejection - Octavia Clahar

  4. Aug 5 ·  Video

    Stop Posting to Nobody and Claim Your Audience - Lina Monterrey (Part 1)

    We accidentally unlocked a strategy that skyrocketed our own community from three hundred quiet listeners to over 11,000 fiercely loyal fans in less than six months. I sit down with our brilliant social media specialist, Lina Monterey, to expose the mistakes that are stopping you from reaching your audience.  Lina shares the exact methods she uses to carve irresistible hooks out of everyday conversations. This is the episode you didn't know you needed. Chapters 00:00 The terrifying reality of rapid community growth  04:16 Why building a massive platform matters for creatives of color  08:20 Hitting 10,000 followers in under six months  10:57 Overcoming the creative block of self promotion  12:13 Crafting emotional hooks that stop the scroll  14:12 The brutal mistake ruining your audience connection  16:18 Aligning your aesthetic cues with your true target market  18:36 Mapping the customer journey for sustainable growth   Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQ Spotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs YouTube: https://youtu.be/vZdiy5DfKx8 Connect with Lina Follow her on Instagram: Lina's website:   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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

  5. Jul 29 ·  Video

    A Corporate Layoff Sparked a Design Revolution - Hadiya Williams

    Feeling stuck in a safe job while your creative dreams take a backseat? Sometimes an unexpected plot twist is just what you need to leap. In this episode, I'm chatting with artist Hadiya Williams about how getting laid off helped her build a thriving studio on her own terms. Hear how a 100-day challenge sparked her signature style, how she got into art school without a traditional portfolio, and how she blends AI with handcrafted ceramics. Hit play and get ready to turn life's scariest curveballs into your next big creative breakthrough!   Chapters 00:18 - Meet Hadiah Williams: Craft as Living Archive 01:39 - DC Roots, Elizabeth Catlett, and Cultural Memory 04:11 - Accidental Tech Career: Computer Science by Default 05:35 - The Mass Layoff and the Pivot to Graphic Design 07:18 - Applying to Art School with Maxwell Fan Art 11:23 - The Wedding Invitations That Sparked Black Pepper Papery Co. 15:24 - Harnessing Corporate Stress for Entrepreneurial Freedom 20:21 - Finding a Signature Voice Through the 100-Day Challenge 24:34 - Scaling an Art Practice Without Losing Your Soul 28:25 - Blending Generative AI, Clay, and 1970s Analog Nostalgia   Connect with Hadiya Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hadiyawilliams/?hl=en Hadiya website: https://www.hadiyawilliams.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

    A Corporate Layoff Sparked a Design Revolution - Hadiya Williams

  6. Jul 22 ·  Video

    The Mistake That Cost Me My Brand Name - Martine Severin

    If you want to start a podcast but are paralyzed by the fear of sounding stupid, you may be paying the high price of waiting. In this episode, learn the steps to start your podcast.  Stop letting the illusion of readiness stall your momentum; tune in to claim your voice, launch your project, and find and build your dedicated tribe today.    Chapters 00:13 - Confession: Ten Years of Stalling and Fear 02:10 - The Hidden Power of Podcasting for Creators 04:15 - Finding Your Unique, Obsession-Driven Topic 07:02 - The Power of Hyper-Specificity: Niche Down 08:15 - Naming Your Show: The 50-Name Exercise 09:55 - The Five-Day Warning: Register Your Brand Immediately 11:15 - Fast Artwork and Brand Photos on a Budget 11:58 - Demystifying the Gear: The Twenty-Dollar Microphone Rule 14:24 - Embracing the Bad First Episode and the Dunning-Kruger Effect 15:58 - Your Action Plan for This Week   Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform! Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQ Spotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs YouTube: https://youtu.be/xx3cVK1DuQA 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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

  7. Jul 15 ·  Video

    How to Unlock Your Truest Creative Voice - Nicole A. Taylor

    What does ultimate creative freedom look like? What boundaries do you need to have in your life for this freedom to propel you forward? In this conversation with cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor, we talk code-switching, what it takes to write a book, and how personal ethics might be the fuel for your career. Hit play to hear how drawing your own hard lines can unlock your truest, most powerful creative voice.    Chapters 00:18 - Introduction to Nicole A. Taylor 01:05 - Sponsor Spotlight: iCode School 01:48 - Finding Freedom in a Georgia Kitchen 04:03 - The Power of Early Confidence and Family Grace 07:59 - The Origin Story of Watermelon and Red Birds 12:01 - Non-Negotiables and Embracing Your Authentic Vernacular 17:10 - The Unvarnished Truth of the Cookbook Publishing Process 22:37 - Rituals, Discipline, and Protecting Your Peace 24:53 - Closing Notes and Substack Support   Connect with Nicole: Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodculturist Website: https://www.nicoleataylor.com/ Support the show: Website: Martine Severin Follow on Instagram: Martine | This Is How We Create Subscribe to the Newsletter: Martine's Substack This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite. show   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

    How to Unlock Your Truest Creative Voice - Nicole A. Taylor

  8. Jul 10 ·  Video

    The Ancient Answer to Your Burnout - Martine Severin

    What should you do about burnout? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on nearly 200 episodes to reveal the psychological shifts and structural changes that rescued me from burnout. These shifts transformed how I approach delegation and audience building.   Listen to this milestone episode to discover the practical, battle-tested blueprints you need to stop merely surviving your creative career and start building a sustainable artistic framework that thrives over the long game. Chapters 00:13  The Bedside Book That Challenged My Excuses  02:35  Finding Practical Wisdom Under Fire  04:57  The True Purpose of This Podcast Journey  07:18  Breaking the Cycle of the One-Person Operation  09:38  Shifting Mindsets Through Lived Knowledge  11:59  The Long Game of Building True Community  14:24  Ancient Solutions for Modern Creative Struggles    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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives

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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    224
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Martine Severin
  • Show Website
    This is How We Create