
The Lightning Rod
By The Creative Folks
Project powered by: The Creative Folks
www.thecreativefolks.org

The Lightning RodMay 17, 2021

Tips for Moderators: Interviews and Questions
Empower Asian America is one of our greatest projects to date. We've connected creatives and creators in one platform. Minh as a co-host has advice for you if you want to run your own interviews. Plus tossing in tips on coming up with questions!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Raya and the Last Dragon: What Does It Mean For Asian America (Prediction)
In honor of AAPI Month! We can't pass on talking about Raya and the Last Dragon! What does this Disney animated film contribute to the Asian American community? What does it mean moving forward with AAPI in animation?
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Episode 100 Special
In honor of AAPI Month, what a time to celebrate our 100th Episode! Today we're discussing the final updates with our Stop Asian Hate Campaign, express our gratitude, and talk about AAPI Month! The organization we chose to donate to: https://www.instagram.com/napawf_atl/
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Story Time: The Worst Week at TCF
It's story time! Remember when we talked about protecting energies for 2021? Yeah...here's an update on how life is going at TCF! Let's talk!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Biz Fears Pt. 3: Clients & Obtaining Work
Part 3 of our series, we're diving into client work and obtaining client work! One of the stressful parts of our careers as freelancers and creatives is finding the work so we can live, let's dive into a bit of the process and some advice!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Explaining Our Stop Asian Hate Art Piece
Our campaign is well underway and we want to take this opportunity to explain the meaning behind the work itself. Today's episode is a deep dive into the main art piece, developed by TLR's Minh Huynh. https://www.etsy.com/listing/986768601/pre-order-stop-asian-hate-love-asian
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Stop Asian Hate, Love Asian People Campaign
Disclaimer: This was recorded earlier before the posted date. During a time in Atlanta where Asian Americans across the state and nation mourn for the 8 lives lost during an Atlanta shooting, we felt like we couldn't sit back. While there was a protest, we wanted to contribute our creative labor. Thus we present our campaign: Stop Asian Hate, Love Asian People. https://www.etsy.com/listing/986768601/pre-order-stop-asian-hate-love-asian
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

So You Want to Public Speak + Pitch?
A big part of our business is constantly public speaking and pitching our business. Whether that means to you guys on a podcast or to newcomers to TCF. Public speaking is a skill set we're all trying to improve on and we have some tips that helped us bit by bit along the way!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Been There, Done That, Business Fears! TAXES
We got a name for the series! Been There, Done That, Business Fears! This week we're talking about taxes. Full disclosure that we are not professionals and not licensed. Today's episode will talk about our favorite accounting tool: Quickbooks! We encourage you to seek professionals to help you complete your business taxes.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Tips to Moderating Panels
If you been catching up with us on social, we've been hosting our panel: Empower Asian America. Hosting panels or workshops is not all fun and easy as they seem. Minh has been working with Tammy to host Empower Asian America and would love to share some tips with you in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Art Magazines
Have you ever spent money on an art magazine? Was it a "worth it" spend? Minh shares their experience with Art Magazines and how it helped their career.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Business Fears: Starting A Business
As we know, business is not easy and there's a lot of fear. One of the biggest fears is starting a business, but let's chat. Today we're starting our series about business fears. Our first episode will be about starting a business and our advice on where do you start!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

One Year of Social Distancing, What Did I Learn?
WHEW! A year already since the Pandemic and Social Distancing? Let's chat about some things Minh has learned!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Hiring a Creative
Hiring a creative is something we're well versed in, additionally, we also get hired out as creatives for other companies too. Being on both sides of those tables, we're here to educate! Here are some tips for hiring a creative!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Imposter Syndrome Is Back!
New Year, Same Fears. Let's talk a bit more about imposter syndrome today. With the new year in front of us, everyone is setting up their "new year resolutions", but why does it feel so odd this year? Tammy has some thoughts to share!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Setting Up Boundaries for 2021
As 2021 is getting a bit more comfortable for us, don't let anyone ruin your new year's energy. Let's talk about clients today and setting up boundaries with those clients! Today is storytime with Tammy, so enjoy! Let's hustle!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

New Year Update
Welcome back and welcome 2021! Here’s an update from Tammy about The Lightning Rod!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Have a Productive Holiday
The holidays are no joke because it's all about the hustle. We get that work is work, but we want you to take you away from your work desk and instead reinvest the time back into yourself. Tips to have a productive holiday this season with Tammy!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Setting Goals for 2021
2021 is getting closer and it's no better time than now to start setting your goals. Tammy has tips today on setting goals so that 2021 is prosperous for you!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Things We're Thankful For
2021 is making it's way around the corner. What a year it's been. We're excited for 2021 but we have a lot of thanks to give 2020. We know it's been a tough time this year, we want to bring some joy to our listeners - thank you for being on this journey with us this year!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Some Days We Want to Quit Too!
You read the title, yup! We have days where we feel like we weren't meant for the space either. Let's talk about imposter syndrome today and some tips to get through the phase.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Attitudes That Won't Get You Far in the Art World
The art industry like any other has its fair share of elitism, selfishness, and pride toward their craft. Here are a few pointers on adjusting our attitude when working in a creative field.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

What's it Like Being an Art Mentor
While finding a mentor could be a scary journey, being one isn't as easy as one thinks. Minh as a mentor has tips & advice to help aspiring mentors.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Finding an Art Mentor
Finding an art mentor can be incredibly intimidating. Minh as an art mentor themselves share a few tips to find a good mentor! They could be anywhere!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Wellness Wednesday
Content Warning: Today's episode is hosted by Minh who will discuss their panic attacks. At The Creative Folks, we believe that better mental health requires conversations. We want to be that platform to encourage conversations when YOU'RE ready. Feel free to skip today's episode if it's too much for you to hear, it will always be here for you to revisit.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Automating Your Business
Automating your business sounds so good right? You no longer have to do the little tasks because it's all being done automatically. However, what is that doing to your business. Let's discuss!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

4 Tips to Jumpstart Your Freelance Career
The pathway of freelancing is obviously not easy, but it's also not crazy hard either. A lot of the freelance journey is time, place, and good practice. Today Tammy guides you on 4 tips to really start freelancing on the right foot!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Concentrating On One Thing
When you're just starting out, is it important to stick to one thing? Tammy has some advice for you today using TCF as a business model. Enjoy today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Tracing in Art. Ethical or Nah?
The right and wrong ways to trace art. When you trace it should be a learning tool. Tracing is also a common act in a lot of fields like Illustration, Graphic Design, and so forth that helps build the art as we go. Minh gives you advice today on tracing!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

New Segment: Wellness Wednesday
We're introducing a smaller segment to the show: Wellness Wednesday. Minh tackles wellness tips from experience (not professional advice). At The Creative Folks, we care a LOT about mental health. It's important to us as creatives who serve creators like you, to do wellness checks! We'll periodically push Wellness Wednesday episodes and maybe bring on a guest in future episodes
Submit questions or let us know if you're interested by emailing us: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Support Your Artist Friends, For Free!
While art is something we should all as creatives should invest into, especially if we know our friends are creatives/artists as well. However, it doesn't always have to be a monetary transaction. The key to today's episode is keeping your friends at the forefront and keeping them in mind. Tune in to today's episode to learn more.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Is Perfectionism Good?
When it comes to getting things done. What is your mentality? Are you the type to make sure every detail is absolutely perfect or do you let things slide? Let's talk about perfectionism in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Loneliness in Freelancing
The world of freelancing is not a smooth ride, even with pros of having creative freedom. The job of a freelancer is often involving the freelancer in a very lonely environment and there may not be support groups available all the time. Tips from Minh in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Landing Your First Gig
The first step to anything is not easy, as you may know. Tammy's advice on landing your first gig so that it sets you up for your future ones!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Cons to Freelancing
Yep! To every pro there's a con! While we know there's a huge amount of creative freedom as a freelancer, but what about job and financial security. More advice in today's episode.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Pros to Freelancing
Freelancer Lifestyle has a lot of creative freedom. You set your own pricing, you set your own schedule, and you work the clients you want to work. More pros to freelancing in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Freelancing & Unpaid Internships
We're introducing to you Freelancer month, where we really dive into our freelancer experiences. On top of that, everyone has to start somewhere. Our student creators have always battled the world of unpaid internships to begin their journies, but what about the bills? What about basic survival? We have some advice for you in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Do Creatives Need Awards?
A flashy award is...well, flashy! It's great to have it under your belt, but is it a make it or break it point for creatives? Both Minh and Tammy are considered award-winning, tune in to hear how this impacted their creative journey.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Creative Work for Family & Friends
We've all had the case where friends are asking for creative favors, family too! Where do we set those boundaries personally as creators. We share with you the rules we set for ourselves, so if you're looking for advice you know where to start. We'd love to hear what boundaries you're setting for your business! Let us know!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Personal Logos vs. Start Up Logos
An essential to branding is the logo. The logo is the front-facing image for you as freelancers and startups in general. But! Just how important is it and when do we need to change it for personal brands & startups? Is there even a set timeline? We learn this in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Personal Branding vs. Start Up Branding
Branding seems simple to the average because it's just colors & logos right? Today Minh & Tammy dive in to give you a closer understanding of branding on a personal freelance level versus branding as a start-up company.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Should I Run That Ad?
Putting up Ads has always been very common business advice towards anyone even those who are just starting up. But Tammy wants to talk more about how to give value to that Ad by giving value to your skills first. So let's dive into that, shall we?
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Tips to Starting a Business (Different Advice!)
Starting a business could get really confusing, overwhelming, and even frustrating especially when you don't know what in the world you're doing. Don't worry. We got you! We've been there and now we're here to light your way up with some simple tips in order for you to get going with your business.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Critiquing JK Rowling
Should we separate JK Rowling from her art of creating the world of Harry Potter? A big fan favorite however she's been in the spotlight for controversial statements. Today we discuss. This is solely opinionated and we encourage you to listen with an open mind.
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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One of the Best Business Investments We Made
In the business world, connections are too vital to even say. Not just connections towards your audience but connections to your fellow businessmen/businesswomen wherein you can help each other grow in the business world. And so today, Tammy talks about a business group for women that she's very passionate about. Hear the reasons why she's passionate about them and find out what group that is!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Colorism in the Art World
Colorism is not only a real-world issue, but it's prevalent in the art world as well. Today, Minh covers the topic as we acknowledge that colorism is real and affects artists across the board.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
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Do I Sound Cringey?
Ever had your own ideas, your own concept, your own passion but then thought to yourself, "Am I cringey for having such ideas?" DON'T! Embrace those thoughts because that's what makes you unique, original, and happy!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Fan Art
Can you make a profit in doing fan art? Minh says it's definitely...YES! Tune in as we talk about the concept of fan art and original art as well. Which is better?
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Stay In Demand
Tactics, strategies, methods, and steps on how you can stay in-demand for the job market in these times or whatever times we'll be in, we got you covered on that!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Art School
What are your thoughts on going to Art school? Can you benefit way more in going rather than learning for yourself? Is there a catch or is it more likely to have the same results to where you are now? Hear out our thoughts today as we discuss these and more!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
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Your Hosts, Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

What is a Logo?
Our brands deserve to be recognized. With the perfect logo, it heightens your chances of being recognized. So let's talk about that today and learn what difference does a logo really bring to the wholeness of your brand.
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Hustle Culture
Rise, grind, repeat? Well, sure. But don't forget, you're still a human being that needs to take breaks, have fun, and just learn more about yourself. You are what's more important, okay? Stay tuned as we talk about this more on this segment!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Social Media During Quarantine
As business owners, we have to think about our customers all the time, right? Especially in times like these, how should we be able to cater to their needs? And better yet, how can we do that online in the social media space?
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Zoom and Mental Health
Zoom fatigue. It's a thing now. Being locked up inside your home, having meetings done on Zoom can be your only choice. And for many of you who are working from home these days, maybe you've experienced this too. So how do you manage this? Find out here in this episode!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Talking to Professors about Mental Health
Bringing up your mental health to anyone isn't easy, we get it. As students however it's especially important to be transparent to your professors early as possible so that it doesn't affect your education. We encourage you to seek professional help and if you're not ready for it yet, then bring it up to those around you who are comfortable for you.
Minh dives into today's episode with advice on bringing it up to your professors.
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Mental Health in the Asian-American Community
For Mental Health May and Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we always get so excited because our passions really revolve around these two topics and they hit home close for the both of us in many ways. Today we're going to discuss Mental Health in the Asian-American communities.
While we do NOT represent all Asian-Americans, their opinions, and their communities, but we tuned in to the responses from our experiences, immediate circles, peers, teammates, and our local communities in general and we want to bring that to light this month.
Article(s) mentioned in today's episode:
tinyurl.com/y8rdt883 | ADAA.ORG tinyurl.com/y75p4pl9 | APA.ORGWe'd love to hear your comments, email us: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Focusing in on Asian-American Businesses here in Atlanta
We're in an interesting time now May 2020.
COVID-19 is scattered across the nation, the world, and of course our newsfeed. We're not here to speak on how to wash your hands or how to stay sanitized, we know you get it already. As a business that's Asian-American owned, we want to speak on a variety of touch points between COVID-19, the Asian-American community, Mental Health May, and Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
Asian-American businesses in Atlanta (needless to say across the country) are battling a variety of things and we want to bring that awareness to you, our listeners.
Article(s) mentioned in today's episode:
tinyurl.com/y7fcxglp | Atlanta Journal Constitution
We'd love to hear your comments, email us: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

How is Business Going?
As the whole world seems to be stopping, is your business? Ours....tune in to find out what we're going through during COVID-19!
Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in with us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Apps to keep on your phone as a creative
Your phone is essential to your life as a creator. True or False? If true, today's episode is all about getting your phone to start working more effectively for you!
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The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Work-life Balance
How do you set boundaries for yourself between work, friends, family, and creative endeavors? Here are some practical tips on how to have that balance.
Submit a Lightning Question or email in about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Maintaining Branding Consistency
The very essential part to any small business or company is their branding. However, it's often over looked and branding can go in many directions. Consistency is a word that's often preached but is it practiced? Let's talk about it today.
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Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Share Less, Do More
When does (too much) sharing become counterproductive in terms of accomplishing more tasks? Are your goals for sharing still in line with your goals of doing more?
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Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Dealing With Hard Clients
Difficult clients are part of the cost of doing business. In this episode, we'll talk about the types of difficult clients that you'll encounter in your creative business, and how you can possibly avoid them.
Submit a Lightning Question or email in about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Must-haves for Artists
There are several mediums used in traditional art. Digital art also has pro tools. Regardless of what you want to specialize on, here are some essential tools that can get you going with your art endeavors.
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Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

What to look for in a pro designer?
If it wasn't obvious, not every designer is the same. A pro designer also comes in many different forms from skills to delivery. Here are things to look for when seeking a pro designer.
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
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www.thecreativefolks.org/contentlibrary It's a free online content library for you to feed your hustle.
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Self-care Tips
When does the thing that you love become an ultimate source of stress in your life. Do you always have to make money from your creative hobbies?
Submit a Lightning Question or email in about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

How To Deal With Failure

Efficiently Working From Home
And just like that, COVID19 pandemic has brought the world into a screeching halt. Working from home is the new normal. How can you make sure that important tasks are still done on time when you have all the freedom of taking unlimited breaks at home?
Submit a Lightning Question or email in about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Why invest in Adobe?
One question we receive a lot is about ADOBE. Is it worth it? Why should I invest to it as a creative?
If you're asking those questions for yourself, we encourage you to listen in to today's episode.
Submit a Lightning Question or email in about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
---
www.thecreativefolks.org/contentlibrary It's a free online content subscription for you to feed your hustle.
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Imposter Syndrome in Art School

Importance of Taking Breaks
It seems like an obvious that taking a break is important, but have we learned to practice that in our own creative journey? Today we talk about taking breaks and how important it is to define that moment where you tell yourself, "Stop, I need a break."
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Artstagram, is it worth it?
Minh here! Another day, another episode! Today we dive into Artstagram. We still believe this is one of the best platforms for creatives, do you agree?
Let us know!
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Finding and Defining Style Re-Do!
Minh here! I'm back on Season 2 of The Lightning Rod. Today to continue our anniversary celebrations, we're revisiting episode 1. There were a lot of things we covered in style and we want to re-share what we'e learned in the industry. Join us on today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

What are branding assets?
Not to be confused with collateral, assets these are foundational to brand building. You can easily tell another designer, new employees, or explain your brand better to someone by placing all the assets into a branding guide/style guide that lists the specifics about using brand assets. All in today's episode!
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
---
www.thecreativefolks.org/contentlibrary It's a free online content subscription for you to feed your hustle.
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

Self Designed Logos
Ah, so you need a logo but don't want to pay the price. What you'll end up seeing is you may the price later for self-designing your own logo! What's up about self designed logos, is it worth it to self design? All in today's episode!
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh
---
www.thecreativefolks.org/contentlibrary It's a free online content subscription for you to feed your hustle.
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks

What Does it Mean to Rebrand?
Like a lot of brands are popping up everywhere, the term rebrand is also tossed so often. What does it mean to truly rebrand? Does it mean I have to keep changing out everything? Let's talk about it in today's episode!
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

What is Branding?
This is the official first episode of season 2, and it'a bit rocky but we hope you hear us out. Branding is a lot more than what meets the eye especially when it seems like everyone wants a brand, to build a brand, or to be a brand nowadays. Here are some things we learned as Marketers & Branders.
Submit a Lightning Question: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

SEASON 2 - The New Lightning Rod is Here!
Welcome back and happy 2020! Tune in to hear about our new format for the podcast. You spoke, we heard.
We understand that interviews may not be for everyone. For those of you who still love the interviews, they can still be heard.
When new interviews come out, we'll load them to our content library: www.thecreativefolks.org/contentlibrary
It's a free online content subscription for you to feed your hustle.
Our new format is all about being fast + accessible with the content. You can now learn new things with our shorter episodes that will come out more frequently.
Thanks for tuning in to us today!
The Lightning Rod is powered by The Creative Folks
Your Hosts,
Tammy & Minh Huynh

Ep. 25 | Being Young & Creative ft. Inari Briana
Today's conversation is led by Tammy featuring Inari Briana. Inari is an Atlanta based photographer who has a lot of advice for the modern day creative. Today we talk about our hustle and grind as young creators, the mental impact of comparing ourselves to others around us, and our ALMA MATER: Georgia State University, home to creators and innovators.
Let's Talk!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Inari on IG: @inaribriana
https://www.inaribriana.com
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
Minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 24 | Power of Networks ft. Aries Purnell
Today's conversation is led by Tammy but co-hosted by TCF's Brand Director, Sheena! We welcomed Aries, Founder of Purnell Film & Media to the podcast to talk about his creative work and the importance of networking. Aries since the age of 14 has built a great network of people around him and those people have built him up to where he is today! In today's episode, not only will we talk about networking BUT we're also going to tap into mental health.
Let's Talk!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Aries on IG: @iamaries
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
Minh: @banh_minh_
Sheena (today's cohost): @ipatelthetruth
Let's hustle.

Ep. 23 | Marion Silverman on Branding
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! Marian Silverman is a financial educator with a passion for sharing her knowledge about financial literacy to high school and college level students through her workshops and demonstrations. She is currently working on accumulating her knowledge into a manuscript to publish and is currently in the works of building her brand.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
-
Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 22 | How to Define Success with Nikon Papi aka Wildy Civil
Today's conversation is led by Tammy but co-hosted by TCF's Brand Director, Sheena! We're interviewing Wildy (pronounced: WILL-DEE) Civil, more known as Nikon Papi. Nikon is a well known photographer in Atlanta who covers all styles. With today's episode, he shares about his beginnings, his inspirations, that one post that went viral, and his way of defining success in his career. Let's talk!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Nikon Papi on IG: @nikonpapi
https://www.civilcreations.com/
Post referenced in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/BaXdgjvF27_/
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
Minh: @banh_minh_
Sheena (today's cohost): @ipatelthetruth
Let's hustle.

Ep. 21 | $2,000 Later, a New Mural on the Atlanta Beltline
Today's episode is hosted by Minh! Cherry Virginia Chandra is a foreign exchange student from Indonesia currently residing in Atlanta. She is a graduate student studying at SCAD Atlanta.Cherry has a passionate love for the environment that she expresses in her vivid and captivating murals depicting whales.
Today's episode covers Cherry's recent mural work for the Atlanta Beltline, a mural that's almost 3 times her size!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Cherry on IG: @mikhaelacherry
Post referenced in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0b3vUJnIxl/
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 20 | Meet Alex Seidenberg and His World of Photography - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Tammy! We're diving into Alex's life on how he moved from Florida up to Atlanta and he'll drop some gems about doing concert photos! Alex is a landscape and concert photographer, but don't let it fool you! Alex is currently in school for a masters for a totally different field, but it's definitely a field he's passionate about.
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Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Alex on IG: @poseidenberg
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 19 | Let's Talk About Rise & Grind Culture - The Lightning Rod
You probably saw this coming but we're back, together, with an episode about rise and grind culture. We talk about what it is, how have we seen it interpreted in the world, and our overall thoughts on it. Do you have a "rise and grind" mentality? How do you implement it in your daily life?
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
-
Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 18 | Meet Marion Silverman & Learning Financial Literacy - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! Marian Silverman is a financial educator with a passion for sharing her knowledge about financial literacy to high school and college level students through her workshops and demonstrations. She is currently working on accumulating her knowledge into a manuscript to publish and is currently in the works of building her brand.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
-
Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 17 | Start Up to Start Up, Let's Talk Business ft. The Cork Bros Studio - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Tammy Huynh! We invited The Cork Bros, Andrew McCorkle & Mike Corkrum, to come drop some knowledge about business. Tammy shares some business struggles to get their opinions and they came through with really valuable advice. If you're looking to start and want to hear about the kinds of things you'll run into as a business, today's episode is just for ya!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Andrew on IG: @andrew__mccorkle
Mike on IG: @sir_corkrum
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Find our team on IG!
TCF: @thecreativefolks
Tammy: @huynher__
minh: @banh_minh_
Let's hustle.

Ep. 16 | Why Art Teachers Hate Anime - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! They'll discuss about looking at anime with a critical creative eye. How anime portrays different races and how it doesn't provide the basis of human anatomy are just a few critiques Minh has about anime. Let us know your thoughts on today's episode by emailing us!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Social media episode that was mentioned in today's episode.
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 15 | Art School vs. Self Taught - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! Minh's experience stems from a self taught artist into an art student at SCAD. They will talk about the pros and cons of being self taught and the learning curve it took to become an art student!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 14 | The New Little Mermaid: Where Do We Stand? - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! You've heard the tea these past few weeks about the announcement of Halle Bailey casted as The Little Mermaid. The internet was going nuts, as usual, and there were definitely sides to this debate. However, should it even be a debate? Hear out our thoughts about the casting choice and where we stand in this decision.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 13 | Art Habits to Break - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! We're going to talk about art habits you need to break; some include avoiding social media, marketing, and branding. Let us know what kind of art habits you have that you can't break out of? letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Social media episode that was mentioned in today's episode.
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 12 | Interviewing Our Founder - Re-Meet TCF
We're just a bit past 10 full episodes of The Lightning Rod, so we figured why not interview our internal staff so you can learn more about us as a company. The Creative Folks was founded by Tammy Huynh and she works along side with the TCF staff to create content for the creative community.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 11 | Explore the World of Agency-Level Photography with Freddy at Imagine Media
Today's conversation is about working as a "corporate photographer" in Atlanta. While a lot of photographers typically consider freelance as their route, we wanted to be able to cover the other side too. Freddy worked for Imagine Media, a marketing agency in Atlanta, as their lead photographer. He gives us some details on how he landed the job, which we think is just inspiring and out of the box!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Freddy's IG // Imagine Media IG // Imagine Media Website
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 10 | Taking a Mental Break and Better Your Time Management with Mike Glatzer
Mike is not your typical wedding photographer. He's actually a Product Development Engineer here in Atlanta! We found out in today's episode that his full time job as an engineer takes just as much creativity as it does any other creative job. Today's conversation, we touch on the importance of taking a mental break. Mike also talks about better time management and if multi-tasking is a myth?!
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Mike's IG // Mike's Website // Mike's blog on Time Management
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 09 | Minh Shares Their Experience Part Two
NOTE: Today's episode can/may contain triggering words, phrases, and/or scenarios.
In this episode, Minh continues to share their past mental breakdown experience, which resulted to them giving up art for quite some time. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we really wanted to dedicated this month's content to this. Please continue to be self-aware of your mental health and take care of it.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 08 | Minh Shares Their Mental Breakdown Experience
NOTE: Today's episode can/may contain triggering words, phrases, and/or scenarios.
In this episode, Minh will share their past mental breakdown experience, which resulted to them giving up art for quite some time. We understand that mental breakdowns range in levels and one mental breakdown cannot be compared to one another. We encourage you to seek professional help if you experience this level of extremeness.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 07 | Understanding Therapy and Practicing Self-Care
Today's conversation with our first guest, Tameika Cheek, a local Atlanta therapist. In honor of Mental Health Month, we recognize that many people, creatives being a big part of this number, go through a lot of emotional and mental break downs. The creative industry itself is a beast to maintain. We welcomed Tameika in to speak about therapy and the myths around it.
Disclaimer: We will always encourage you to research for better understanding on any topic. On this note, we highly encourage you to speak to a professional when it comes to the decision to undergo or to not go to therapy, because TCF and The Lightning Rod are not licensed professionals in this industry. However, Tameika is a licensed therapist who went under intense training and education to be part of the private practice world. Please visit her website for more information.
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Tameika's IG // Tameika's Website // Therapist Code IG
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle. www.thecreativefolks.org

What's happening with The Lightning Rod
The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks.
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Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.

Ep. 06 | What to Expect with Critiques - The Lightning Rod
We're all about touchy subjects. Today's conversation is about constructive criticism and taking on critique to your work. We talk about the differences, what are good ways to constructively critique, how to control your emotions when you're receiving critique, and building that tougher skin.
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Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Article mentioned in today's episode.
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 05 | The World of Freelance - The Lightning Rod
Today's conversation is all about the freelance career! Our hosts Minh and Tammy dive in to help you understand more about the freelance lifestyle and career pathway. From pricing to when it's the right time to do free work, and they'll even throw a couple of clients stories.
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Questions, comments, sponsors, interested guests can contact us directly: letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 04 | Can my work be stolen? - The Lightning Rod
In today's conversation, we're hitting the topic of stolen work. As creatives, this is something we face, since we're constantly posting in a public space. Though Minh and Tammy are not legal experts, they want to shed light on this topic and talk about how can work be stolen and how important it is to protect yourself as a creative.
This podcast project is powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Article mentioned in today's episode.
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 03 | Social Media for Artists - The Lightning Rod
Today's episode we cover SOCIAL MEDIA! We dive a bit deeper about social media and how useful it can be as a tool for artists and creatives. We talk about feed, aesthetics, followers, and content curation. Share with us your social media profiles and let us know what you think about today's episode!
This podcast project is powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 02 | Art Portfolios and Why We Need One - The Lightning Rod
In this conversation, we talk about that one thing every artist probably already has, is in the process of making, or will be getting soon. Art portfolios have definitely transformed over the years, but is still relevant in today's time. Without one, are you really putting your work to its full potential to get clients? Thanks for tuning in to episode two!
This podcast project is powered by The Creative Folks.
-
Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Disclaimer: Links contain affiliate links.
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
AskLorem -- Our review of AskLorem
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org

Ep. 01 | Finding & Defining Style - The Lightning Rod
Welcome to our very first episode! In this conversation, we cover a topic that can be difficult for other artists to identify: style! Both Minh and Tammy believe that style is ever changing but it doesn't mean we shouldn't be consistent.
This is an introduction to our podcast format, we hope to spark your next creative project.
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Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly:
letstalk@thecreativefolks.org
Fun clickables and mentions:
Tammy's IG // Tammy's Portfolio
Let's hustle.
www.thecreativefolks.org