This week on the Creative Business Community Podcast, Erin is joined by Renee and intern-turned-team-member Kyah to explore how internships can supercharge creative businesses. We dive into mentoring styles that spark confidence and creativity, the real-world pace of marketing beyond uni, and smart ways to use AI without sounding robotic.

You’ll hear how the team tackles newsletter fatigue, brainstorms better ideas, and leverages cross‑generational perspectives to reach younger audiences (hello, student happy hour). We unpack practical steps for hosting interns ethically and effectively, from setting clear objectives to building portfolios, plus why going through universities can make placements smoother.

Kyah shares her biggest takeaways, what’s next as she heads into advertising design, and a sunny shout‑out to small business Salty Dunes. Tune in for actionable advice on mentoring, marketing and making the most of internships in a creative business.

Creative Business Spotlight: Salty Dunes. You can find them on: Instagram: @salty.dunes Facebook: @salty.dunes Website: https://saltydunes.com.au/

In this episode, Erin Madeley sits down with Perth photographer and educator Tanita Seton who shares how she built a people-first creative business and why she’s leaning into smartphone photography.

After returning to study at TAFE and earning her Advanced Diploma, Tanita has built a career capturing women in business and wellness retreats — before following her gut into teaching photography, especially smartphone skills. She shares what it’s really like to shoot branding sessions versus retreats (think “silent ninja”), how COVID derailed travel and nudged her towards workshops and online delivery, and the milestones that kept her going.

Expect candid lessons on resilience and mental health in business, selling through relationships, tuning out the noise, and practical tips like showing your face in your marketing and asking for better testimonials. Plus, Tanita’s dream collab (smartphone photo travel tours, anyone?) and a Creative Spotlight to wrap things up.

Connect with our guest! Find Tanita Seton: Website: https://www.tanitasetonphotography.com.au/ Instagram: @tanita_seton_photography Facebook: @tanitasetonphotography

Creative Business Spotlight: Spaniels & Co. You can find them on: Instagram: @spaniels_and_co._craft Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SpanielsAndCo

This week on the Creative Business Community podcast, Erin and Ronnie are joined by Renee, MarketLife’s marketing and PR coordinator, to unpack what branding really is—and why it’s far more than a logo and a colour palette.

Branding is more than a logo — it’s how your business makes people feel. Erin, Ronnie and Renee break down practical steps to sharpen your brand and stand out online and at markets.

Together they explore the pillars of powerful branding for creative small businesses: getting crystal clear on your values and writing them down, knowing your audience and speaking directly to them, and choosing trends that genuinely align with your brand identity (yep, even when the internet goes all-in on Taylor Swift). They talk about showing up consistently across every touchpoint—from your stall display and packaging to fonts, colours, captions and customer interactions—and why repetition is essential for recognition. You’ll also hear a practical take on when AI helps and when it hurts, how to handle pop culture and political moments through a brand lens, and why searchability, legibility and simple naming conventions matter more than you think.

Creative Business Spotlight: Solyte Website: https://www.solyte.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Solyte-61572628515969/ Instagram: @solyte__