In this episode, Josh joins Brad and Dustin to talk about the highs, lows, and existential crises behind running a creative conference today. From calling out “designfluencers” to chasing real, human stories on stage, Josh shares why the best speakers aren’t always the most famous.

But don't worry, they also dive into important things like UFO conspiracies, wild Memphis experiences, and why post-pandemic creatives are craving connection, but not always showing up for it. Funny, honest, and full of “I feel that” moments, this conversation hits hard for anyone trying to stay inspired in mid-career creative life.

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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

Mike Jones joins Dustin and Brad to talk about the realities of building a creative career while staying true to what matters most. From running Creative South to juggling family, side ventures, and health, Mike shares hard-won lessons on intentionality, delegation, and why kindness always pays off.

This conversation isn’t about chasing likes or clout, it’s about learning to let go, be present, and build work and relationships that actually last. Packed with stories, laughter, and wisdom, it’s a reminder that success isn’t just what you make, it’s how you live.

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

Have you ever read a quote from someone influential and wondered: “Is this actually good advice or do we just think it is because a famous person said it?”

In this episode, we put that question to the test. Dustin presents Brad with a series of well-known quotes, without revealing who said them, and gets his unfiltered take on whether the advice holds up.

The results? Surprisingly nuanced.

Some quotes offer timeless wisdom. Others only work in very specific contexts. And a few directly contradict each other.

From designers to dictators, we explore how much weight we should give to creative advice (and why who said it, and when, changes everything).

Stick around as they unpack what makes advice worth following, why context is everything, and how to tell the difference between inspiration and distraction.

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