In this episode, Michael Janda and Jena (“the Gribbler”) break down Matthew Inman’s (The Oatmeal) comic about AI art and what it means for creatives. They talk about that weird “deflated” feeling when you realize something you liked was AI-generated, why artists feel threatened, and how AI both democratizes creativity and risks devaluing hard-earned craft. They compare AI tools to things like Photoshop and digital cameras, dig into why process and struggle matter in art, and ultimately land on a nuanced view: AI-generated stuff is here to stay, but it’s different from human-made art—and creatives can still win by doubling down on their humanity, story, and point of view.

About Jena:

Jena Gribble is the owner and creative lead of Blush Cactus ( ⁨@BlushCactus⁩ ) Design Studio, a Phoenix-based branding and design agency. Originally from a small town in South Dakota, she moved to Arizona after studying at the University of North Dakota. With over 12 years of experience in graphic design and several years running her business, Jena empowers fellow creatives by offering not just design services but also education, community and mentorship to help them turn their passion into a viable business.

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🤝 Connect with Michael Janda

Michael Janda is an award-winning creative director, designer, and agency veteran. In 2002, he founded the creative agency Riser, which provided design and development services for clients that included Disney, Google, Warner Bros., Fox, NBC, ABC, National Geographic, and many other high-profile brands. Michael sold his agency in 2015 and now spends his time speaking, developing books, courses, and social media content to help creatives level-up. He is the author of “Burn Your Portfolio” and “The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.”

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In this candid conversation, Becca Berg—founder and CEO of Dubsado—shares the real story behind building one of the leading client-management platforms from the ground up. From her scrappy entrepreneurial childhood to launching Dubsado with zero funding, Becca opens up about competition, burnout, mental health, and the relentless drive that fueled her journey. She and Michael Janda dive into marriage, business, motherhood, and the mindset required to build a company that lasts—without losing yourself along the way.

In this episode learn how:

• How Becca built Dubsado from scratch without outside funding and why bootstrapping shaped the company’s culture and product.

• The power of deep automations and branded client experiences—and how they differentiate Dubsado in a crowded market.

• Becca’s real entrepreneurial journey, from childhood businesses to juggling motherhood, marriage, and a fast-growing tech startup.

• The role of competitiveness, mindset, and community in building a successful business.

• Candid insights on burnout, mental health, and finding balance after nearly a decade of nonstop hustle.

About Dubsado:

Dubsado is an all-in-one client management platform designed to help entrepreneurs and small businesses streamline their workflows. It combines proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, forms, and powerful automations into one customizable system—allowing users to manage leads, onboard clients, and run projects without juggling multiple tools. Known for its deep automation capabilities and fully branded client experience, Dubsado helps business owners save time, stay organized, and create a seamless, professional process from first inquiry to final payment.

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About Becca Berg:

Becca Berg is the founder and CEO of Dubsado, the popular client-management platform built to help entrepreneurs streamline their businesses. A lifelong creative with deep entrepreneurial roots, Becca launched Dubsado in 2015 with her husband, bootstrapping it from a simple idea into a leading software company known for its powerful automations and customizable client experience. Passionate, competitive, and candid about the realities of entrepreneurship, Becca is committed to helping business owners save time, build better systems, and grow with confidence.

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🤝 Connect with Michael Janda

Michael Janda is an award-winning creative director, designer, and agency veteran. In 2002, he founded the creative agency Riser, which provided design and development services for clients that included Disney, Google, Warner Bros., Fox, NBC, ABC, National Geographic, and many other high-profile brands. Michael sold his agency in 2015 and now spends his time speaking, developing books, courses, and social media content to help creatives level-up. He is the author of “Burn Your Portfolio” and “The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.”

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• Community

Michael Janda discusses Affinity Designer's huge announcement that their software is now completely free to download and use forever. He shares his thoughts and reactions to this surprising move and what it means for the design community.

What's your hot take on the new announcement?

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🤝 Connect with Michael Janda

Michael Janda is an award-winning creative director, designer, and agency veteran. In 2002, he founded the creative agency Riser, which provided design and development services for clients that included Disney, Google, Warner Bros., Fox, NBC, ABC, National Geographic, and many other high-profile brands. Michael sold his agency in 2015 and now spends his time speaking, developing books, courses, and social media content to help creatives level-up. He is the author of “Burn Your Portfolio” and “The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing.”

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/morejanda
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/morejanda
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/morejanda
• Website: https://michaeljanda.com
• Courses: https://morejanda.teachable.com
• Community: https://morecreativeacademy.com