Roberta Morris, a freelance designer and creative director, discusses with host Kaila Sachse how to foster creativity and productivity.

They journey Roberta's career through various cities, her experiences in nonprofit work, and the importance of creative spaces. Their conversation delves into managing time effectively, the significance of community support, and the lessons learned in communication and boundaries. Roberta shares valuable advice for aspiring freelancers, emphasizing the importance of networking and finding one's niche.

About Roberta Morris
Roberta Morris is a Memphis, TN-based designer and founder of Leave It to ’Berta, her own freelance design firm. Her passion is helping organizations to brand and promote their products in a consistent and thoughtful way.

With a long and varied career, she started out in advertising and boutique design in Dallas, TX. She then lived and worked in Paris, lived in San Francisco for 20 years, and recently relocated back to her hometown of Memphis.

Roberta has over 30 years' experience working for a wide-range of organizations, clients, and agencies, providing them with fully-integrated digital and print design.

She regularly dedicates her design talents to nonprofits and charitable causes. When she's not designing something, ’Berta enjoys writing about colorful and creative topics on her Martini Minute blog.

leaveittoberta.com

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Nick Slavik, founder and owner of the Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration Company, shares insights on managing relationships, the significance of purpose, and the strategies he employs for business growth, including effective marketing and sales techniques.

He discusses his journey from leaving a family business to starting his own, the impact of military experience on his perspective, and the importance of empathy in both business and family life. The conversation emphasizes the balance between personal growth, family, and professional responsibilities.

About Nick Slavik
Nick Slavik is the Proprietor of the Nick Slavik Painting & Restoration Co. and is the Host of Ask a Painter Live. Ask a Painter Live has aired weekly for over 9 years, instructing, answering questions, and championing the trades and entrepreneurship as an avenue for freedom. Nick has been a social media influencer and content creator for over a decade. His company will celebrate its 17th anniversary this year, employs +40 people, has a leadership team, and operates a full-scale finishing shop and training facility.

Nick has been a craftsman for more than 33 years. His company has been awarded more than 17 National awards for craftsmanship, including massive restorations of Victorian mansions. He has created a rigorous Apprenticeship program where he finds, trains, inspires, and mentors young people in his craft. Nick is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the PCA - the Painting Contractors Association. The PCA is a 140-year-old nonprofit whose mission is to build better contractors.

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youtube.com/@AskaPainterLive

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We've been MIA, and this is why...

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Bri West, co-founder of Somerled, shares her massively successful intersection of business and parenting.

Somerled has used market research and data analysis to design 700+ short term rentals that surpass the competition and maximize cash flow, with results that average 30-50% increase in revenue. Bri dives into her journey from long-term to short-term rental investments, the importance of asking for help, and the challenges of scaling a service-based business. They discuss financial management, pricing strategies, and the dynamics of working with a spouse. Bri also opens up about her plans for maternity leave and her dreams for her family and business.

About Bri West

Bri West is a co-owner of Somerled Designs with a strong background in marketing. From her experience in the marketing industry, she has the expertise to identify the right target audience and design tactics that will truly make an STR property shine.

Throughout her career, Bri has spearheaded countless impactful marketing campaigns, resulting in significant revenue growth and increased brand visibility for various organizations. Her exceptional ability to analyze market trends, target specific audiences, and come up with innovative solutions consistently delivers exceptional results. Now, Bri brings her expertise to the STR world, treating each design project as an opportunity to drive a higher return on investment for STR investors.

Bri is also an STR investor herself. Having purchased, set up, and managed over 10 successful STR properties, Bri understands the investor's point of view. At Somerled, she caters to these needs by focusing on efficient design for quick setup and cash flow, streamlined processes to accommodate busy investors, and smart furniture choices based on Bri's understanding of guest wear and tear. Her goal is to ensure that STR investors have a seamless and profitable experience at Somerled.

Overall, Bri is results driven with a proven ability to design STR properties that stand out from their competition, attract more bookings, and generate more revenue.

somerleddesigns.com

@somerled.designs

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Arlene Birt, a visual storyteller and educator, discusses the intersection of motherhood and running her own company with employees.

Arlene and host, Kaila Sachse, discuss practical parenting hacks, the challenges of balancing work and family life, and the importance of creating a supportive community.

Arlene also shares her journey from freelancing to running a successful design consultancy, emphasizing the need for financial health and effective communication in both parenting and business.

The conversation highlights the evolving nature of priorities and the significance of understanding complex topics in a relatable way.

More About Arlene Birt

Arlene Birt is a mom, and she creates visuals to help individuals connect emotionally to seemingly distant environmental topics.

A visual storyteller, information designer, and educator, her visuals explain the complexities of science and social topics to non-expert audiences. As graphics officer with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), she co-created figures with 60+ climate scientists – including one that landed on the front page of global news media. Birt is a professor in Creative Entrepreneurship at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), and founder and creative director of design consultancy, Background Stories.

Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Financial Times, Le Monde, Creative Review, U.S. News and World Report, and numerous other global media. She has published chapters in several books, including New Challenges for Data Design.

Birt was visiting fellow at Seoul National University (2023-’24), adjunct faculty of Wuhan University of Technology, Fulbright fellow in the Netherlands, and has held several artist residencies. Birt holds a master’s degree from Design Academy Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and runs workshops internationally.

backgroundstories.com

After Bedtime, “Why Doesn’t My Kid Listen? (And What To Do Instead of Yelling)”

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Nikolai Paquin, a creative solopreneur, discusses strategies for building a personal brand, the significance of understanding your MVP (Minimum Viable Product), and how failure can be a valuable teacher with host Kaila Sachse.

They also discuss Nikolai’s journey in self-employment and how he managed to pay off his student loans.

Nikolai shares insights on preparing for parenthood, the impact of upbringing on entrepreneurial mindset, and the value of self-education through online resources.

The conversation concludes with Nikolai's aspirations for his business and the transition towards teaching others how to succeed in entrepreneurship.

More About Nikolai Paquin
Nikolai Paquin build brands at the intersection of design and AI. With 10 years of experience across industries from food & beverage to SaaS, his specialty is creating scalable brand systems that work across every touchpoint, from packaging to paid ads. He’s particularly passionate about helping companies leverage AI tools without losing their human touch. Based in upstate New York, Nikolai is always experimenting with the latest creative technology while staying grounded in timeless design principles.

nikolaipaquin.com

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Brandie Nicole Adams, certified health coach and founder of Revealed Healing, discusses the importance of professional support in health and wellness.

They discuss Brandie's journey from a side hustle to a full-time entrepreneur, the significance of self-care, and the impact of negative self-talk on mental health. Brandie emphasizes the need for non-negotiables in wellness routines and the role of community in supporting personal transformation. The conversation highlights the balance between discipline and grace in parenting and self-care, encouraging listeners to recognize and address their negative self-talk.

More About Brandie Nicole Adams
Brandie Nicole is a Certified Health Coach and the founder of Revealed Healing and The Revealed Healing Blueprint, a transformational program helping women lose fat, build lean muscle, and reclaim their energy through faith-infused, sustainable strategies for full body wellness.

With over a decade of experience in health and fitness, Brandie specializes in guiding women to take confident ownership of their health—without restriction, confusion, or shame. Her holistic approach combines balanced nutrition, effective training, emotional wellness, and biblical principles to support women in honoring their bodies as the sacred temples they are.

Brandie’s mission is rooted in transformation—both physical and spiritual. She equips women with the tools and strategies to care for their bodies from a place of purpose, so they can show up with boldness in every area of life. Through her coaching, clients experience measurable improvements in energy, sleep, stress, and self-confidence while deepening their relationship with God and themselves.

Whether working with busy professionals, moms, or women navigating major life transitions, Brandie creates a safe, empowering space where real change can happen—and last.

Instagram @revealedhealingcoach
revealedhealing.com

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Interdisciplinary artist and designer Jose Cotto explores the intersections of creativity, design, and parenthood, discussing how we can break generational cycles through design and the significance of noticing in our environments.

Cotto offers valuable insights for new parents and highlights the role of community support in navigating the challenges of raising children.

About Jose Cotto
Jose Cotto is an interdisciplinary artist and designer, exploring relationships between people, place, and time. Often integrating poetry, fabrication, architectural design, mark-making, and lens-based media, his work has been featured by several galleries and museums. He has a Masters of Architecture from Tulane University and BFA in Design + Architecture from the University of Massachusetts. Cotto is a Salzburg Global Seminar Cultural Innovators Fellow and was an Artist In Residence at the Joan Mitchell Center and A Studio in the Woods.

josecotto.com
Instagram @jccotto
Book: The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
Substack: The Art of Noticing

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