15 Must-Listen Creative Business Podcasts

Editor’s Note: Looking for more inspiring podcasts? Check out our post on 16 must-listen podcasts for creatives.

Two years ago, I was driving alone for 10-hour stretches several times a year and I took a deep dive into the world of podcasts. After I’d finished every single episode of the storytelling podcast The Moth (the first podcast I ever listened to and the one that remains my all-time favorite – FYI if you love The Moth, check out their book The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the Unknown), I discovered podcasts for creative business owners and was pretty much immediately hooked. As a workaholic who comes from a long line of self-employed workaholic’s I was delighted to find out that there was a way for me to think and learn about work while I was driving. Business and creativity are generally my go-to conversation topics and spending 10 hours listening to people talk about them made the hours pass way more quickly than when I was singing along alone to a song I’d already listened to at least a dozen times that day.

But then more creative business podcasts started popping up and I found myself overwhelmed trying to catch up with all the ones I’d subscribed to (even with my long-haul-trucker-style trips). In an effort to keep up with new episodes, I listened to podcasts constantly – I even made my own “shower radio” by double-bagging my phone in a Ziploc and bringing it into the shower (I don’t why I didn’t buy one of these!). I was obsessed with creative business podcasts and if I missed any episode, I was sure that it was thee episode that had the missing piece of advice that I needed to make me the most productive and successful business owner that I could be. I was inches away from podcast overdose when I sat myself down for an intervention. I unsubscribed to almost every podcast I had frenetically been listening to for months. I gave myself permission to take a break from thinking about my business and instead got back to work.

It’s been nearly a year since this break and I recently started easing back into the world of podcasts. I know that there is no one podcast or one episode that has all the answers. But when I feel like I need a little camaraderie and inspiration, I scroll through iTunes and spend some time listening to one of my favorite business podcasts. I’m 99% sure that I’ll never hit rock bottom with my podcast obsession again but I’ve told my husband that if he sees me trying to sneak my phone into the shower in a plastic bag, it’s time for another intervention.

Whether you’re new to podcasts or a reformed junkie (like me) here’s a list of some of my favorite podcasts from my many many many hours of listening.

-Nicole S.

Dear Handmade Life

Okay, not to toot our own horns but we’re pretty in love in with our own podcast Dear Handmade Life: Conversations on Creativity, Business + Life. Each week we feature a drink (sometimes it will be a cocktail and other times it may be a favorite tea or juice) and interview an inspiring creative. Past topics include: the true costs of running a creative business, crafting a wardrobe that fits your body and style, perfection + passion projects, social media authenticity, marketing to the next generation, mastermind groups and more. You can catch up with all of our episodes here.

Raise Your Hand Say Yes

I’ve known Tiffany Han (the host of RYHSY) for years. She’s not only a friend but was my business coach and a multi-year presenter at our business and maker’s conference Craftcation. Just like in real life, Tiffany isn’t afraid to tackle emotional subjects like anxiety or personal ones like when she quit drinking, on her podcast but ultimately the podcast is about creativity and business and covers topics like reinvention, productivity, the imposter complex, money, authenticity and more. Tiffany describes Raise Your Hand Say Yes as “A podcast about the creative adventures of (extra)ordinary people”. Several Craftcation Conference presenters including Ashley Nickels, Lisa Congdon, Jesse Artigue, Amy Tan, Jennifer Lee, Michelle Ward, Kari Chapin and yours truly have been guests. Click here to listen to me on RYHSY and here to listen to Tiffany talk about rejection and taking risks on our podcast.

Being Boss

Listening to Being Boss (a podcast for creative entrepreneurs) introduced me to a whole new group of creative entrepreneurs that I wasn’t familiar with. Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon, the hosts of Being Boss know what they’re talking about when it comes to building a brand and running a business on your own terms. They describe Being Boss as: “Being Boss in work and life, is being in it. It’s being who we are, doing the work, breaking some rules, and even though we each have to do it on our own – knowing we’re in it together.” Catch the episode where I was guest on Being Boss and talked about the business of being a maker and an artist here.

The Crafty Planner

I first met Sandi Hazelwood, the host of The Crafty Planner, when she attended our Craftcation Conference a few years ago. Sandi’s in-person infectious positive energy comes through in her podcast. Craftcation presenters including Jen Hewett, Lisa Congdon, Kaari Meng and Diane Gilleland have been guests on The Crafty Planner. One of my favorite episodes features publishing industry leader and creator of Where Women Create Jo Packham talking about the reality of being a creative and running a business. You can listen to Delilah and me on The Crafty Planner here.

Create & Thrive

Jess Van Den helps makers turn their hobby into a full-time business through courses, her community (Thriver Circle) and her podcast Create & Thrive. Since her insight and advice comes from her own experience of running a successful jewelry business, she knows first-hand what works and what doesn’t. Delilah and I were guests on Jess’ podcast talking about our business partnership and we interviewed Jess on our podcast about running a business with her husband.

Elise Gets Crafty

Elise Blaha Cripe shares what she’s learned in her 10+ years as a blogger and maker as well as interviews inspiring creative professionals on Elise Gets Crafty. Topics include listening to your intuition, collaboration, slowing down, being busy, rapid business and more. You can listen to Delilah talk about building a creative community on Elise Gets Crafty here.

Profit. Power. Pursuit.

Business strategist Tara Gentile hosts the CreativeLive podcast Profit. Power. Pursuit. I took Tara’s CreativeLive class Market Launch and Sell Your Next Big Thing and was blown away by her marketing knowledge which led me to start listening to her podcast. On Profit. Power. Pursuit. Tara explores what it means to build a business and life on your creative drive and interviews a ton of really insightful creative professionals. You can listen to me talk about the behind-the-scenes struggles of producing Craftcation with Tara here.

Your Handmade Business

New to the podcast scene this year, Your Handmade Business is Academy of Handmade’s podcast hosted by AoH’s director Issac Watson. I agree with what our friend and Craftcation Conference presenter Holly Marshmuller said about Your Handmade Business, “While many podcasts stick to the hour-long, interview-style experience, Isaac strips down all the fluff and gets down to the nitty gritty (good and bad) when it comes to running a handmade business. I love the NPR-esque format where it tells a story, in some instances it’s a cautionary tale, and provides clarity to things that can get murky when running a handmade business.”

Making Oprah

When my friend Meighan O’Toole suggested this one to me, I was a little hesitant since I never really got on the Oprah bandwagon, but I’m SO glad I gave it a try! Whether you’re a die-hard Oprah fan or never really got the Oprah obsession – you have to listen to this. Oprah’s journey as a creative person and business owner offers so many jewels of wisdom on things we all struggle with –  marketing, branding, upscaling… One of my favorite parts was Oprah’s insight on competition with other talk shows. “I learned the greatest lesson of any competitor or anyone in business, and pass[ed] that on to the rest of my staff – you can only run your own race,” she said.

While She Naps

Past Craftcation Conference presenter Abby Glassenberg talks to designers and makers about what it really takes to build a creative business on While She Naps. Abby’s vast experience in the craft community and as a creative business owner come through strong on her show. She’s smart, professional and doesn’t shy away from covering controversial topics and saying what’s on her mind. She’s interviewed several Craftcation Conference presenters including Mimi G, Megan Auman, Luke Haynes, Diana Fayt and Malka Dubrawsky. You can listen to Delilah and me on Abby’s podcast here and Abby talking about the reality of running your own business on our podcast here.

Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield

I’m so glad my friend Kari Chapin turned me onto this podcast. Online Marketing Made Easy totally lives up to Amy’s promise of what to expect: “Expert interviews, mini execution plans, and intimate behind-the-scenes secrets from my biggest launches… all tied together by my mission to make EVERYTHING you listen to as actionable and profitable as possible.”

What’s Your Story

I was bummed when Meighan decided to put her podcast What’s Your Story on an extended hiatus but the good new for you new listeners is that she has bunch of inspiring episodes in her archives including interviews with previous Craftcation presenters like Megan Auman, Rosalie Gale, Emily McDowell, Courtney Cerruti and more. Meighan is a total pro, experienced business owner and a downright cool human being. You can listen to Meighan interviewing Delilah and me on What’s Your Story here and check out our interview with Meighan on our podcast here.

The Business Buzz Podcast

I was introduced to Mei through her CreativeLive workshops and in 2017 she presented at Craftcation. I wasn’t able to sit in on any of Mei’s workshops at the conference but she was one of our most-complimented presenters that year so I knew I needed to give her new podcast for makers, artists and designers a listen. The Business Buzz Podcast features actionable tips from Mei’s years running a successful business that will help makers boost their sales through her tried and true marketing advice.

The Merriweather Council Podcast

Danielle Spurge, the host of The Merriweather Council Podcast has been “helping entrepreneurial makers turn their hobbies into real-life profitable businesses” through her blog, courses and Facebook group for a while. In 2016, she released her first podcast episode to continue helping creatives through a venue. The “tips, insights and tough love” she shares on the podcast are invaluable for makers who run their own business or are about to take the leap into running turning their passion into their job.

Productive Flourishing (formerly The Creative Giant Show)

Charlie Gilkey’s Productive Flourishing podcast (formerly The Creative Giant Show) “dives behind the scenes to talk about what it takes to thrive as a creative person who’s actually making a difference in the world. This podcast is a mix of interviews, jams, and riffs with leaders, changemakers, creatives, and entrepreneurs at varying levels of success.” I was a guest on the show talking about how side projects are good for your business and before we even started recording Charlie and I were deep into a conversation of what it means and takes to be a creative entrepreneur. Charlie not only has a natural curiosity and passion for creative business and creative people but he also has tons of actionable advice. P.S. – I just ordered his book, The Small Business Life Cycle and I’m so excited to dive in!