The Designated Designer 🔮

In this episode of The Designated Designer, I’m joined by the one and only Rick Franzo, Growth Coach of the Poconos. Join us for a powerful conversation about what it really means to get unstuck, both in business and in life.✦Rick shares his deeply personal journey from surviving multiple brain tumors to guiding entrepreneurs through their own seasons of overwhelm, isolation, and uncertainty. We explore why mindset is often the real bottleneck, and how coachability, community, and honest self-awareness can completely shift the trajectory of your business.✦This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen alone. The right guide, the right people, and the willingness to face reality can move you forward faster than sheer hustle ever could. So, if you’re feeling stuck, stretched thin, or unsure of your next step, this conversation offers the necessary clarity and encouragement for a grounded path forward.✦✦✦Connect with Rick Franzo:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-franzo-52948b26/• Website: https://www.thegrowthcoach.com/poconos/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcpoconos/• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rickfranzo3549

In this episode of The Designated Designer, I sat down with mortgage & lending expert Jim Gillespie to traverse a topic most creatives would rather sidestep: money, mortgages, and the financial systems that quietly shape our lives.Jim breaks down the evolution of the mortgage industry, from the predatory lending that led to the 2008 crash, to the guardrails created by the Dodd-Frank Act. He explains how today’s lending standards actually work in plain English.Together, we explore why so many creatives feel unprepared when it comes to home buying, what credit scores really measure, and how self-employed entrepreneurs can position themselves for approval.Whether you're dreaming of buying a home, repairing your credit, or simply trying to build a healthier financial foundation, this episode gives you clear steps, grounded wisdom, and a much-needed crash course in financial literacy for the creative mind.Perfect for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and anyone who wants their money self to finally catch up with their creative self!!

In this episode of The Designated Designer, I’m joined by the lovely Vickie Moore from Design Some Moore! She's a fellow creative spirit navigating the wild world of freelancing, design education, and community building!We talk about the messy middle of figuring it all out — from leaving the 9–5 to embracing self-discovery, learning the business side of design, and finding your creative rhythm along the way. Vickie opens up about how hosting co-working calls positively impacted her career, what design school didn’t teach, and why meaning matters more than just making things pretty.If you’ve ever felt alone on your design journey or unsure of your next creative step, this one’s a reminder that we’re all figuring it out together! One project, one client, and one breakthrough at a time 💖✨

Remember that episode I did where I tried to tackle finances as a creative? Well, after posting it I felt like I didn’t fully answer my listener’s question the way I wanted to. Why? Because I’m not a financial professional (shocking, I know 😅). So I decided to fix that.In this episode, I brought in financial expert Mike Braun to really dig into the money side of being a solopreneur. We talk QuickBooks vs. FreshBooks, invoicing, payment terms, how to avoid check headaches, banking choices, payroll, taxes, and all the unglamorous but totally necessary stuff that makes running your creative business actually sustainable.If you’ve ever felt like money management is the missing puzzle piece in your business, this one’s for you. Think of it as the follow-up episode you didn’t know you needed—but your bank account will thank you for.

What’s it really like to run a business before you’ve even tossed your graduation cap? In this episode, I sit down with Thomas (a web designer, entrepreneur, and yes, high school student) to talk about the ups, downs, and unexpected lessons of starting young. We get into everything from pricing with confidence (no matter your age) to navigating teen hustle culture, finding balance, and building a supportive community that actually gets you.Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting to dream up your first side hustle, Thomas’s story is proof that it’s never too early, or too late, to go after what you love!

In this solo episode, we're diving headfirst into the quiet burnout that so many creatives face behind the scenes and the inner work it takes to begin to recover from it. From the pressure to perform on social media to the guilt that sneaks in when you rest, we're unpacking all the tough but necessary lessons of reclaiming your time, your peace, and your priorities.I'll be sharing some honest reflections on what it means to care for your creative self without losing your ambition — and how small acts of self-kindness, from workspace makeovers to offline connection, can help reignite your spark. This episode is a soft reminder that the path to a fulfilling business starts with a balanced, well-supported you.For the burnt-out creatives, the overthinkers, and anyone learning to treat themselves with the same grace they give their work — this one’s for you. ✨

My first ever guest episode is here!! And it’s a Stankin' Good one.I brought on my high school bestie turned fellow business owner, Shelby Berger, to unpack the beautifully chaotic mess that is Year One of running your own thing. From the highest highs to the “wait what the hell are we doing?” moments, we’re spilling it all.We also dive deep into what it was like to brand her business together—what worked, what didn’t, and why knowing yourself and your business is crucial before hiring a designer (ask us how we know 👀).If you’re in your first year, headed into it, or just love a good behind-the-scenes convo on creativity, chaos, and clarity, this one is for you. 💫

This week’s episode didn’t go as planned—because growth rarely does.After accidentally filming an entire 30-minute podcast with no audio, I almost didn’t come back to re-record. But then I remembered: progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence. So here we are, messy, unscripted, and real.In this episode, I share an unexpected lesson in resilience through my attempt to save a dying braided money tree and how that journey mirrored the ups and downs of running my business. From failed propagation attempts to unseen forces (and nearly quitting everything), this story is about trusting the process, even when it’s ugly. Especially when it’s ugly.So if you're in a season where nothing seems to be working, this one's for you. Because sometimes the roots grow in the dark, and the breakthrough comes right after you almost give up.Link to reel mentioned in this episode: Credit to Chris Do