This one's off the dome. I'm sitting down for an honest check-in on where things are at, what's been hard, and everything I wish someone had told me before I started.

Nobody actually has it figured out before they begin. It's a game of trial and error really, and that's the beauty of it! You learn what you love, what you're built for, and what will never be in your service offerings again. You'll only truly feel "ready" after you've done something once before.

In this episode we cover some founder crisis moments I've had recently, the client who ghosted me without paying, why I stopped billing hourly, how I landed on value-based pricing, and why "niche down immediately" might be the worst advice in the creative business space.

So please join me for a messy and honest discussion about what building your dreams actually look like :)

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Everyone is fighting for attention. Most brands are losing... and it's not because they aren't trying hard enough, but because they're fighting for the wrong thing.

In this episode:

— Why comfort is the slowest, most polite way to kill your momentum (and why it never looks like a problem until it's too late)

— What the attention economy actually is, why most businesses are still playing by the wrong rules, and the real difference between posting and positioning

— Why if AI could replace your brand voice tomorrow, that's not an AI problem — that's a brand problem

New episodes drop the first Tuesday of every month.

Grab the free Brand Personality Audit → unlesscreative.com/newsletter

In this episode, we'll cover the topic of knowing yourself on an introspective level. I've been putting a lot of thought into who I was before the world told me who to be- and what parts of my inner child really shine through now that I'm in a good place in life. Join me in this stream of consciousness as I explore the ins and outs of KNOWING WHO YOU ARE.

Instagram: @rileymelinaschmitz

Website: rileyschmitz.com

In the first episode of this is a draft, I take a more personal angle on reflecting on the events of 2025, sharing how I navigated interesting situations, and all the things I learned (and some things that I completely disregarded).

From spilling the tea on my first agency experience to discussing why believe in learning from other people's mistakes, I covered too many topics because I went off script! Oops! Anywho, thank you for watching :)

Instagram: @rileymelinaschmitz

On this episode of Digital Dopamine, we sit down with UX designer, dancer, and creative powerhouse Chris Nicdao, for a wide-ranging convo that’s equal parts vulnerable and insightful. From psychology, to the marketing world, to user experience design, Chris shares the winding path that led him to creative clarity—including burnout red flags, startup chaos, and the art of asking better questions.

Follow us on Instagram!

Chris: https://www.instagram.com/nvcdao/

Tuft Grove: https://www.instagram.com/tuftgrove/

Riley: https://www.instagram.com/rileymelinaschmitz/

Digital Dopamine: https://www.instagram.com/digitaldopamine.podcast/

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:32 - Meet Chris!

00:01:07 - Chris's Career Journey

00:03:35 - Transition to User Experience

00:05:51 - Overcoming Creative Blocks

00:11:18 - Productivity and Time Management

00:18:24 - Recognizing and Overcoming Burnout

00:27:04 - Design Trends: Likes and Dislikes

00:27:55 - Most Challenging Project Experience

00:33:08 - Learning from Mistakes

00:45:12 - Future of User Experience Design

00:50:55 - Tuft Grove: Hand Made Rugs

00:54:49 - Chris' Dance Accomplishments

00:59:27 - Goals for 2025

01:05:25 - Rapid Fire Questions

01:06:36 - Closing Remarks and Social Media Handles

This Episode, we talk to junior UX designer and industry Graphic Designer Ronald Atutubo. A lot of great insights here on managing creative burnout, what creativity really looks like, and minimalist design best practices.

• In case you missed it...
• Check out Ron's Podcast ‪ @ugoodhomiepodcast5196
• And Ron's Instagram @ronaldatutubo
• Also, Ron's Portfolio www.ronaldatutubo.com
• And finally, Ronald's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldatutubo/
• Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitz, @ugh.podcast

I took some time of from Digital Dopamine land to get myself set up for success on Instagram! Thank you for your patience, and see you soon, as we are switching to two part episodes on a weekly uploading basis!

This Episode, we talk to junior UX designer and industry Graphic Designer Ronald Atutubo. A lot of great insights here on managing creative burnout, what creativity really looks like, and minimalist design best practices.

In case you missed it... Check out Ron's Podcast ‪ @ugoodhomiepodcast5196

And Ron's Instagram @ronaldatutubo

Also, Ron's Portfolio www.ronaldatutubo.com

And finally, Ronald's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldatutubo/

Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitz, @ugh.podcast

I took some time of from Digital Dopamine land to get myself set up for success on Instagram! Thank you for your patience, and see you soon, as we are switching to two part episodes on a weekly uploading basis!

This week, we chat with my buddy Aaron about his journey to becoming a UX designer, starting a youtube channel, and staying productive with ADHD.

In case you missed it...

Check out Aaron's channel @AaronNicor

And Aaron's Instagram @aaron.nicor

And finally, Aaron's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-nicor/

Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitz

Thank you everyone for your continued support in this adventure! See you soon!

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/i-dont-need-your-love License code: FYTQP1MXBJJFCQXC