In this episode, we sit down with lettering artist and illustrator Jason Carne. From haunted Airbnbs to growing up in a funeral home, we cover a lot of ground.

We also dig into how style and priorities shift over a 20-year creative career.

Here’s what we get into:

• How to survive as a freelancer for the long haul. Yes, the feast-or-famine cycle is real. But Jason’s picked up a few tricks along the way.
• How to deal with horrible clients. One of Jason’s early clients requested Nazi art. Hear how he handled it (and walked away with a win).
• Why you should stop stressing about your career path. Jason shares what he focused on early in his career, how it made the work feel enjoyable, and why that mindset ultimately paid off.

If you're starting your freelance journey, this one's for you. It’s like grabbing dinner with creative friends and getting the kind of advice that makes you feel grounded again. When you follow the work you love, things tend to fall into place.

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• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Bonus clips and tools
• A space to connect with fellow creatives

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Brad Woodard

Brad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like Nickelodeon, Target, USPS, and NASA. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.

View Brave the Woods

Dustin Lee

Dustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives — from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.

View RetroSupply

Credits

Audio/video editing: Clara Wright
Cover art: Brad Woodard
Intro animation: Seth Austin
Intro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström

In this episode, Brad and Dustin delve into the true meaning of risk and why most creatives have it completely wrong. From quitting safe jobs to launching businesses with no guarantees, they unpack what actually makes something risky.

Brad shares the story of nearly getting knocked out of the game after a big risk went sideways, while Dustin breaks down how false safety in traditional jobs can quietly wreck your career.

Stick around as they talk about risk mitigation, building a creative runway, and the underrated power of placing lot's of small bets.

Whether you’re dreaming of quitting your job or just feeling stuck, this episode will shift how you think about risk, and maybe what’s actually holding you back.

Join the Creative Slash Patreon

Want more than just the episode? Join our free Patreon community for:
• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Bonus clips and tools
• A space to connect with fellow creatives

It’s free, fun, and helps keep the podcast ad-free.

Join the Creative Slash Community

Brad Woodard

Brad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like Nickelodeon, Target, USPS, and NASA. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.

View Brave the Woods

Dustin Lee

Dustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives — from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.

View RetroSupply

Credits

Audio/video editing: Clara Wright
Cover art: Brad Woodard
Intro animation: Seth Austin
Intro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström

In this episode, Marisol Ortega joins Brad and Dustin to talk about embracing her cultural identity through bold color, designing for brands like Starbucks and Hallmark, and why she finally stopped toning herself down to fit in.

They cover everything from her early days hustling Craigslist gigs to turning her home into a plant-filled, Pepto-pink creative sanctuary. Marisol shares how meeting other Mexican designers in the industry gave her permission to be herself.

It’s a fun, honest conversation about staying weird, being collaborative, and creating work that actually feels like you. Enjoy!

Marisol's Website: https://www.marisolortega.com/
Palma Entertainment: https://www.palmaentertainment.com/

Join the Creative Slash Patreon

Want more than just the episode? Join our free Patreon community for:
• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Bonus clips and tools
• A space to connect with fellow creatives

It’s free, fun, and helps keep the podcast ad-free.

Join the Creative Slash Community

Brad Woodard

Brad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like Nickelodeon, Target, USPS, and NASA. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.

View Brave the Woods

Dustin Lee

Dustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives — from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.

View RetroSupply

Credits

Audio/video editing: Clara Wright
Cover art: Brad Woodard
Intro animation: Seth Austin
Intro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström