Creatives Rule the World

Tracy Matthews
  • 4.9 (339)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

This show is for creators who are done playing small, the ones who know their ideas aren’t just a passion… they’re a portal  Here, we’re rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.Forget cookie-cutter blueprints and burnout culture, I’m here to help you grow a business that feels good, pays well, and the kind of personal freedom that only comes when you’re brave enough to do things your own way. Through solo episodes and honest conversations with creative entrepreneurs, artists, and founders, I’ll give you the mindset shifts, marketing moves, and business tools you need to grow with clarity, flow, and profitability. You’ll learn how to build wealth on your terms, show up with confidence, and finally trust that you don’t have to choose between creativity and success, you get to have both. So if you’re ready to step into your next level, grow your income, and build a business that actually works for your life, you’re in the right place.

  1. 4H AGO

    Episode #574: Why Most Creative Founders Build Busy Businesses Instead of Iconic Brands

    If you have ever felt like you are doing all the things, posting every day, showing up consistently, working late, and the sales are still not reflecting that effort, this episode is for you. I am diving into one of the most important distinctions I have made in my entire business journey: the difference between building a business and building a brand. A business sells things when people need things. A brand makes people want to be part of something, and they keep coming back without being chased. And if you have hit a plateau, I promise you it is not your work ethic that is the problem. After working with over 9,600 jewelry brands, I have seen this pattern over and over again. The designers who break through are not working harder, they are building from a stronger foundation. I am sharing why talent alone will never create demand, what iconic founder-led brands all have in common, and the identity shift that has to happen before any strategy will actually work. I am also sharing details on the Obsessed 21-Day Activation, my newest challenge designed to help you become the kind of founder people cannot stop talking about. In This Episode, You Will Learn: [0:00] Why being busy is not the same as building a brand, and the one question that reveals which one you have right now[5:00] The real difference between a business and a brand, and why it changes everything about how you show up and sell[6:00] What would happen to your sales if you stopped posting for 30 days? This question reveals everything[6:39] Why talent alone will never create demand, and the infectious founder energy behind the brands that actually sell out[12:00] The real reason you are busy but broke: it is a foundation problem, not an effort problem[16:29] The identity shift that is the single most powerful move you can make to scale your brand, plus how to join the Obsessed Challenge Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Join the Obsessed 5-Day Free Challenge + 21-Day ActivationThe Launchpad Daily Audio Coaching ProgramDesire AI for Jewelry Business Marketing Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    22 min

  2. FEB 12

    Episode #573: Why Going Viral at 50 Taught Me That Confidence Is a Practice, Not a Personality with Jen Polt

    After 25 years in corporate America, Jen Polt took the biggest risk of her life - quitting her executive job to become a full-time content creator and confidence coach. Three weeks later, her husband told her he didn't want to be married to her anymore. Instead of retreating, she used this devastating moment to build something even bigger and discovered that confidence isn't a personality trait - it's a practice. In this powerful conversation, Jen shares the raw truth about reinvention in midlife, why vulnerability became her superpower, and how going viral at 50 taught her that age is just a number when it comes to chasing your dreams. We dive deep into what it means to practice confidence like a muscle, how to handle people who can't grow with you, and why being "selfish" might be the most generous thing you can do. In this episode, you’ll learn: [08:30] The moment Jen realized she might actually be an influencer (spoiler: it involved the F-word and 40,000 new followers)[12:45] Why her boss told her "you're onto something" and became her biggest cheerleader for quitting[18:20] The kitchen island conversation that changed everything (and why timing is everything when someone doesn't believe in your dreams)[25:10] The "emotional Heisman" that strong women unconsciously give people (and why it's blocking the love we actually crave)[31:40] How a makeup disaster became content gold and why authenticity beats perfection every time[36:15] The childhood exercise that will remind you who you were before the world got in the way[42:50] Why "only let someone tell you they don't love you one time" became her new life motto Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Jen's Confidence Clubhouse Follow Jen @makingupforglossedtime on InstagramJoin the Launchpad ProgramApply for the Iconic Mastermind Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    53 min

  3. JAN 29

    Episode #572: How to Build a Founder-Led Brand That People Remember and Trust

    Are you the world's best kept secret? Ready to stop playing small and step into your iconic era as a creative founder? In this episode, I'm sharing my ICONIC framework for building a founder-led brand that people remember, trust, and buy from. We're talking about Identity, Conviction, Orientation, Narrative, Influence, and Cultural Imprint, and how these six pillars work with the 4V Frequency (Vision, Voice, Visibility, Vibration) to help you play a bigger game. I'm getting real about why founder-led brands are the future, how to know when you're ready for deeper mentorship, and what it really takes to step out from behind your work and become the front-facing leader of your brand. If you've been craving community, seeking a mentor, or feeling called to expand your container and build something iconic, this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: [00:00] Why founder-led brands are changing the game for creative entrepreneurs[09:53] The power of influence and magnetic presence (and how icons create it naturally)[11:26] What it means to leave a cultural imprint and build a lasting legacy[18:43] Three signs you're ready to be known for a body of work (not just another content creator)[26:42] The real reason people are afraid to invest in themselves (and how to move through resistance)[30:15] Why sustainable visibility matters more than viral moments Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Apply for Iconic MastermindJoin The Launchpad Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    35 min

  4. JAN 21

    Episode #571: Why Your Brand Feels Misaligned (And How to Realign Your Vision, Voice, Visibility, and Vibration)

    If your brand feels misaligned, this episode is your roadmap back. After a year of feeling completely disconnected from my business, I discovered the exact framework that helped me step into the most creative, wealthy, and aligned version of my brand yet. In this episode, I'm sharing the 4V Frequency with you: Vision, Voice, Visibility, and Vibration. Whether you're feeling out of sync with your work, uncertain about your message, or ready to stop hiding and start leading as a founder, this episode will show you how to realign with who you're becoming. In this episode, you’ll learn: [02:15] Three signs your brand is out of alignment[05:30] My story of complete business disconnection last year[09:17] The moment I realized I was letting everyone down (and why it was necessary)[12:45] Why execution beats consumption every time[15:20] The difference between personal brands and founder-led brands[19:08] Creating a vessel of resilience as a creative entrepreneur[21:30] The 4V self-audit that reveals what's pulling you down[24:15] Why storytelling is the secret to soft-selling Here are the resources mentioned in the show: The Breakthrough 21-Day ActivationMagnetic Story Selling Lab Desire AI: AI marketing tool for creatives Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    27 min

  5. JAN 14

    Epiosde #570: From Cringe to Cult Following: What Happens When You Stop Playing Small

    Your fear of being cringe is actually destroying your business. And I know you might not want to hear this, but the truth is: when you play small because you're worried about what people think, you become invisible to the people who actually need your transformation. In this raw and honest episode, I'm sharing what it really takes to build an iconic, founder-led brand with a cult following. You'll hear about the moment I realized I had to stop people-pleasing and step fully into my vision (even if not everyone came along for the ride). I'm pulling back the curtain on my client's breakthrough when she decided to show up "awkwardly" on social media and the surprising results that followed. And I'm revealing why some of your biggest supporters might not make it to your next chapter, and why that's actually okay. This episode is for you if you've been watering down your message, hiding your offers, or playing not to lose instead of playing to win. It's time to build something iconic. In this episode, you’ll learn: [02:12] The one quality all cult-following brands share (and it's not what you think)[15:29] Dismantling the myth about being "cringe" and what's really happening in your nervous system[17:33] What happened when my client decided to show up awkwardly on purpose[22:41] The hard truth about who won't come along when you step into your bigger vision (and why that's okay)[31:24] Why I'm documenting my journey to $1M in personal income this year[34:18] The four pillars of building a cult following around your founder-led brand Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Join The Breakthrough 21-Day ActivationLearn more about The Iconic BrandCheck out Desire AI for jewelry makers Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    38 min

  6. JAN 7

    Episode #569: The Pivot: Why I Refuse to Put Creatives in a Box (And What an Iconic Founder-Led Brand Actually Looks Like)

    Have you built a successful business but feel like it's trapped you in a box? If you're a creative entrepreneur feeling bored, resentful, or ready for something more, this episode is your permission slip to evolve. I'm pulling back the curtain on my biggest business pivot yet: from the Art of Reinvention to Iconic. This isn't just about rebranding. It's about refusing to put creatives in boxes and building founder-led brands that evolve with you, not against you. In this episode, I'm sharing why the "pick one thing forever" advice is dangerous for multi-passionate entrepreneurs, how I'm launching Desire AI as a standalone app this month, and the four pillars (Vision, Voice, Visibility, Vibration) that create truly iconic brands. In this episode, you’ll learn: [02:03] Why I've never been more excited about a new year since starting Flourish & Thrive Academy [05:00] The evolution of Desire AI and why we're launching it as a standalone app this month [09:21] Why I refuse to put creatives in a box just because it's more predictable on a spreadsheet [18:29] How multi-passionate creatives actually work and why "pick one thing" advice is killing your business [22:26] The truth about consistency vs expansion (and why you don't have to choose) [29:30] The four pillars that create an iconic founder-led brand (Vision, Voice, Visibility, Vibration) [38:21] Shirley's breakthrough story: From stuck with a dream to landing a retail store in South Africa's most prestigious safari lodge in 9 months Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Join The Breakthrough 21-Day Activation Learn about Desire AI Join the January Jumpstart (for Jewelry Designers) Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    43 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    Get Your Creative Energy BACK When You’re Burnt Out (New Year's Refresh)

    Feeling burnt out and wondering why another planner or goal list isn't fixing it? That's because more strategy won't help if you're still dragging the old version of you into the new year. In this episode, I'm breaking down why resolutions fail (they're behavior-based, not identity-based) and sharing the exact prompts I use to help creatives step into a higher capacity version of themselves. In this episode, you'll discover: [01:30] Why more planners and strategy won't help if your identity doesn't shift first[05:00] The real reason resolutions die by February (and what to do instead)[07:19] How to set intentions that come from desire, not lack (with a personal example)[08:39] The powerful question: What are you no longer available for in 2026?[10:00] How to choose your rooms and step into greater visibility[12:56] The exercise that helps you leave old versions of yourself behind[15:00] Vision prompts for radical honesty that will change everythingIf you're ready to stop playing small with your vision and actually embody the person who can hold your biggest dreams, this episode is your New Year's reset. Here are the resources mentioned in the show: The Breakthrough 21-Day Activation (Starting January 5th)Vision to Reality Jewelry Business PlannerJanuary Jumpstart ChallengeDesire AI Marketing Tool Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    18 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    The Breakthrough Year: Make 2026 The Year It All Clicks

    If you're the best-kept secret in your world and you know you're meant for a bigger year, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down what actually creates breakthrough years (hint: it's not better goal-setting). I’m sharing real transformation stories from my clients Shirley and Amelie, revealing the manifestation strategy that brought my partner into my life at 45, and challenging you to stop playing small with your vision. Learn how to collapse time between your vision and reality, tap into your creative frequency, and make 2026 the year you finally stop hiding your power. In this episode, you’ll learn: [00:00] Why being the "best-kept secret" is keeping you broke[02:15] The real story of how I manifested my partner Jason[07:45] Shirley's impossible dream that came true faster than expected[12:30] Amelie's conviction while building a business with two young kids[15:47] Why "realistic" goals are killing your breakthrough[18:20] How to tap into your creative frequency[20:15] Creating your audacious, unimaginable vision Here are the resources mentioned in the show: The Breakthrough 21-Day Activation Are you enjoying the podcast? We’d be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.  Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platformSelect “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”Share your favorite insights and inspirations If you haven’t done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won’t get elsewhere. xo, Tracy Matthews Follow on Social: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @iamtracymatthews  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook

    22 min
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4.9
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About

This show is for creators who are done playing small, the ones who know their ideas aren’t just a passion… they’re a portal  Here, we’re rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship.Forget cookie-cutter blueprints and burnout culture, I’m here to help you grow a business that feels good, pays well, and the kind of personal freedom that only comes when you’re brave enough to do things your own way. Through solo episodes and honest conversations with creative entrepreneurs, artists, and founders, I’ll give you the mindset shifts, marketing moves, and business tools you need to grow with clarity, flow, and profitability. You’ll learn how to build wealth on your terms, show up with confidence, and finally trust that you don’t have to choose between creativity and success, you get to have both. So if you’re ready to step into your next level, grow your income, and build a business that actually works for your life, you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Tracy Matthews
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    609
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Creatives Rule the World
  • Show Website
    Creatives Rule the World

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