Chris Martin doesn’t sugarcoat what it takes to survive as a modern creative. From the highs of building a design career to the struggles of burnout, identity, and starting over, he opens up in ways you rarely hear on podcasts.

In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast- hosted by Heather Crank- we talk about:

• The human side of working in a “make it or break it” industry.
• Why leaving projects behind can be the most liberating thing you do.
• The importance of curiosity, play, and honesty in staying relevant.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or invisible in your creative journey, this episode is a must-watch.

Check it out:

• Chris' Podcast gettingworktowork.com
• Chris' Substack chrismartinwrites.substack.com

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

After designing album covers for icons like the Rolling Stones, Stefan Sagmeister sensed his work growing stale. He took a radical step: shut down his studio for a year—every seven years.

In this Developing Life Podcast episode, Sagmeister explains how that sabbatical transformed his career, leading him away from commercial work and toward a new practice mixing data and art.

We unpack the risks and rewards of micro‑retirements (mini‑sabbaticals Gen Z is searching for) and why letting go of success can unlock deeper meaning.

Continue Your Journey:

• Get Stefan’s book Now Is Better and see his data‑driven art
  Explore his evolving portfolio and exhibitions → Stefan Sagmeister official site
• Connect with Stefan on Linkedin → linkedin.com/in/stefan-sagmeister

🙏 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the Developing Life Podcast. Your support helps us bring you deeper dives with world‑class creatives.

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

What happens when creativity becomes a way to reimagine how we experience the world?

In this episode of The Developing Life Podcast, Ryan Summers — whose career spans Pacific Rim, Person of Interest, Blizzard, and Warner Brothers — opens up about his journey from chemical engineering to motion design, the lessons of resilience after being laid off, and why obsession, voice, and vision are the true moats for creatives in an age of AI and rapid change.

Together with host Heather Crank, Ryan explores:

• How to turn uncertainty into a superpower.
• Why input matters more than output for artists.
• The aversion to decision-making, and how bold choices fuel growth.
• Why curated, human-crafted experiences will always outshine trends.

This episode is about finding your voice in a world that never stops shifting.

Perfect for thoughtful creatives, lifelong learners, and anyone who believes design is more than what we see — it’s what we feel.

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Mentioned in this episode

Ryan's Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrryansummers/

Keys & Curves (Substack) – by Ryan Summers
https://www.keysandcurves.com/

School of Motion – premier motion-design training
https://www.schoolofmotion.com/

ShotDeck – cinematic HD screenshot reference library
https://shotdeck.com/

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

Who Are We Now? Petrula Vrontikis on Design, Identity & Staying Human in the Algorithm Age -

Welcome to one of the most soul-shifting conversations we’ve ever had on the Developing Life Podcast.

What happens to authorship, intuition, and creative power when algorithms shape our every move?

Petrula Vrontikis—renowned educator, speaker, and creative coach—joins us for a powerful and poetic exploration of how designers can reclaim their identity, voice, and humanity in an increasingly automated world.

From teaching at ArtCenter for over 30 years to redefining what it means to thrive as a creative, Petrula shares:

💥 The hidden emotional toll of algorithmic design
💥 Why identity is no longer fixed—and that’s a good thing
💥 Her personal journey to becoming a creative authority
💥 The transformational tension between growth and anxiety
💥 How to rediscover your joy and your confidence

If you’ve ever felt lost in the noise, this episode is your compass.
If you’ve questioned your worth in the face of fast content, this is your permission slip.
If you’re craving honest, real talk about design, life, and meaning—you’ve found your people.

LISTEN NOW
And don’t forget to hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment about what part hit you hardest.

🔗 FOLLOW PETRULA
Website: https://www.rebld.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petrulavrontikis

#PetrulaVrontikis #DesignPodcast #CreativeResistance #DevelopingLife #ChrisDo #DesignEducation #HumanCenteredDesign #AlgorithmCulture #CreativeAnxiety #RickRubin #TransformationalTension #DesignWithPurpose #ArtCenter #VoiceNotVolume #RebuildWithPetrula

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

What if the future of creativity wasn’t about doing more, but becoming more?

Dave Zaboski—former Disney animator (The Lion King, Beauty & the Beast, Fantasia 2000), expedition artist, startup founder, and creative philosopher—joins The Developing Life for one of our most powerful episodes to date.

🔹 From painting for the Dalai Lama
🔹 To sketching at 16,500 ft in search of a lost Incan temple
🔹 To developing the Universal Laws of Creativity...

...Dave’s story is a masterclass in aligning imagination, risk, and purpose.

In this conversation we explore:

⚡ The difference between knowledge and wisdom in the age of AI
⚡ Why care is the missing element in artificial intelligence
⚡ The “Socratic Prompting” method that turns AI into a thinking partner—not a crutch
⚡ How to reclaim your narrative when speed and pressure try to define you
⚡ Why creativity isn’t just for artists—but for everyone turning thought into form

This episode is for anyone who’s ready to slow down, go deeper, and step fully into their role as a creator—with courage, clarity, and care.

📩 Invite a friend who’s questioning the future.
🔥 Bookmark this one. You’ll want to come back.

🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

In this powerfully human episode of the Developing Life Podcast, host Heather Crank sits down with Hayley Akins—motion designer, business coach, and founder of Motion Hatch—to explore what it really takes to build a sustainable creative career in an AI-driven world.

With over 15 years in the motion design industry and deep expertise in freelance coaching, Hayley shares the key systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that have helped hundreds of creatives grow profitable, authentic businesses.

From overcoming imposter syndrome to building scalable processes and cultivating community, this conversation is packed with real-world advice for motion designers navigating a changing industry.

Whether you're a solo freelancer, small studio owner, or transitioning creative looking for more freedom and purpose, this episode offers a human-first roadmap to creative entrepreneurship in the age of automation.

Key Topics Covered:

• The evolution from motion designer to creative business leader
• Building networks and finding clients in a post-COVID world
• Pricing, client communication & positioning as a creative
• Sustainable workflows, burnout prevention, and personal routines
• How AI is disrupting the industry—and what to do about it
• The power of community and in-person connection in a digital world

Perfect for:

• Freelance motion designers
• Small creative studio owners
• Creative entrepreneurs
• Creatives interested in business strategy & automation
• Anyone building a values-driven, scalable creative career

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

What if financial literacy was the missing key to unlocking your creativity?

In this heartfelt and high-impact episode of The Developing Life Podcast, we sit down with Bayleigh Laster—licensed occupational therapist turned financial educator—to explore how money mindset shapes our identity, work, and freedom.

·

Bayleigh shares her powerful transition from healthcare to financial mentorship after seeing how one medical event could devastate a family. She breaks down emotional barriers, busts myths around the “starving artist,” and teaches why treating yourself as an asset is the most radical creative move you can make.

·

We unpack:
✅ Why financial education is missing from our upbringing
✅ How to build an emergency fund with intention
✅ The Rule of 72 (and why it matters)
✅ Real-world strategies to stop reacting and start planning
✅ How shame blocks financial progress—and how to release it
✅ Replacing fear with future-focused clarity

If you’re a creative, freelancer, or independent thinker struggling with financial insecurity, this episode is your permission slip to feel empowered.

·

🧠 Your future self will thank you.
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & Buzzsprout

·

#FinancialLiteracy #CreativeEntrepreneur #MoneyMindset #EmergencyFund #BayleighLaster #DevelopingLifePodcast #WealthBuilding #FinancialConfidence #ArtistFinances #FinancialFreedomForCreatives

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast

Guest: Phillip J. Clayton – Strategic Brand Consultant, Creative Advisor, and Founder of PJC

What does it mean to redefine yourself through design, survive the gates of hell, and emerge with clarity?

In this soul-stirring episode, Davron Bowman sits down with Phillip J. Clayton—renowned brand consultant and creative strategist—to explore the deep intersection of identity, resilience, and brand-building. With over two decades of global experience in advertising, fine arts, and brand development, Phillip opens up about:

🔹 Surviving creative burnout and the five-year evolution that changed everything
🔹 How to build a brand that begins at the moment of real-life experience, not the moment of launch
🔹 The six disciplines Phillip uses daily to strengthen confidence, creativity, and self-trust
🔹 Why boundaries, kindness, and purpose are non-negotiable in modern business
🔹 Navigating trauma, legacy, and the quiet power of choosing meaning over metrics

Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, agency founder, or just navigating your next chapter, this episode is a masterclass in emotional intelligence, design leadership, and redefining success on your own terms.

Connect with Phillip and follow his journey

https://www.instagram.com/phillipjclayton/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipjclayton

https://phillip-clayton.medium.com/

Suggest topics, guests, show your love or tell us how we can improve!

Support the show

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPING TEAM AND CONTINUE THE CREATIVE CONVERSATION

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/groups/14310677/
• WEBSITE: thedevelopinglife.com/

FOLLOW TEAM MEMBERS

• Heather Crank | crahmanti.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/heather-crank-crahmanti/
• Tru Adams | truatart.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/tru-adams/
• Davron Bowman | thedevelopinglife.com/ | www.linkedin.com/in/davron-bowman/

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#Design #Creativity #Technology #AIinDesign #HumanConnection #CreativeBusiness #HumanStories #Podcast