Michelle Gardella is an internationally recognized photographer who hustled her way out of poverty to become one of the top 30 photographers in the world by Rangefinder Magazine and one of the top ten photographers in the US by Professional Photographers of America. Today Michelle is a truth-teller who uses her camera and her words to ferret out the false and showcase the real through her River Story Sessions and her writing. She has launched two successful Kickstarter campaigns, self-published her book River Story, and is currently working on her memoir. Some things we talk about: how to rise above a life of poverty and abuse to become one of the top 30 photographers in the world photography as a truth-telling tool (coming out from behind the lens) how your brokenness leads right into your beauty launching her first, and second, successful Kickstarter campaign and playing the game of social media as only a truth-teller can

Susannah Conway's business was born out of grief. When her partner died unexpectedly of a heart attack thirteen years ago, Susannah turned to photography and writing as a way through. Photography brought her into the present moment while writing helped her sort through the past ones. But eventually, her photography and writing turned into a thriving online business helping thousands of women around the world feel less alone and more alive. Today Susannah runs a six-figure business, taking pictures, writes, and teaches courses including The Sacred Alone, Your Daily Guidance, and Journal Your Life. Some things we talk about: how creativity carried her through her biggest loss and healed her broken heart using language to change your reality and live into your biggest dreams the beauty of being an introvert and the power of accepting yourself exactly as you are and building a successful six-figure business from the heart one step at a time

Arielle Estoria never wanted to be center stage but sometimes life decides your path for you. In college Arielle stumbled into slam and spoken word poetry. Her words had power. They resonated and moved the audience. Arielle decided to devote one year after college to her creativity. One year turned into four and today Arielle performs on stages around the world, bringing people together through the power of vulnerability, truth, and love. Some things we talk about: Arielle’s alter ego, Erika Watson and how Erika gave Arielle permission to perform Arielle's years going silent in middle school the scary, messy path of pursuing your purpose ditching her college plan for six jobs and poetry and how to share all your brokenness and vulnerability with the world as a path to healing and greater humanity

Carrie Schmitt is a painter, writer, and teacher. Several years ago Carrie became so sick she couldn't move. Any physical exertion would cause her body to break out in hives and her entire system to overheat. The only thing left, the only relief she found, was in painting. Thus began Carrie's life as a full-time artist. Today Carrie teaches workshops, has several books, sells art around the world and has a clothing line coming. Some things we talk about: her painful descent in college into the world of partying, eating disorders, and bad relationships how a life-threatening illness brought her back to art finding self-love, connection, and the greater creative flow through the Rose Project turning a life of sacrifice into a successful art career and the power of a daily practice

Emma Louise Sophia is a writer, photographer, and teacher. Emma did not have an easy time of it growing up. She battled eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. But then she met and fell in love with her future husband and got pregnant and that changed everything. Emma sobered up, pulled what had come apart back together, and settled into a whole new life as a mom, an artist, and an entrepreneur. Today she lives in Marrakech, Morocco with her husband and three kids teaching personal development through personal discovery to thousands of men and women around the world. Some things we talk about: her father's sudden death, her own downward spiral and her way back home learning how to break free of other people's expectations to find her own discovering one's personal philosophy and how to identify your passions and pursue them with confidence

Multi-disciplinary artist, Liz Tran, makes joy for a living. Her art is big and colorful and full of play. It is about extroversion and experimentation and all the things that look like happiness. Art is where Liz escaped from anxiety and depression and found safety and freedom. Today Liz's work is all over the world. From Toronto to Miami, San Francisco to Iceland, her paintings and sculptures hang in galleries, museums, and the homes of private collectors. Some things we talk about: advice for starting an art career anxiety, mental illness, and art being a woman in a very male-dominated, often discriminatory, world how to get unstuck when you’re knee-deep in stuck hustle, persistence, and crafting your own career May it inspire you to make your thing and change your world.

Sheila Pree Bright is a photographer using the camera to change how we see the world. Her work has won numerous awards, she was a runner-up for the million dollar TED prize, her photographs have appeared in galleries and museums around the world and she lectures all over the country. Her images break down old beliefs, shake up stereotypes, and help us all see the “other” for what they truly are: people. Sheila's photography is more than art, it's activism, change, and love. Some of what we talk about: how to use art as activism the power of the lens to change what we see what it means to be black in a racist America how to build your own art business using social media to launch your career May it inspire you to make your thing and change your world.

Mati was 18 months old when her father died in a car accident. He was an artist, a woodcarver. As Mati got older, she made a lot of art but making art was hard because it reminded her of death. And then when Mati was 29, she went to art school and she gave her life to art. Mati got an agent. She wrote and illustrated children’s books. She started a blog and built an online following. Today, Mati leads workshops all over the world, her books include Daring Adventures in Paint and Painting the Sacred Within, she has over ten online courses, and her original art can be found in private collections around the world. Art is no longer about death for Mati. Art is what makes Mati come fully alive. Some things we talk about: losing her dad at 18 months old and her grandma when she was five going back to art school at 29 building trust in her own voice getting started in the art world and creating an art career

heads up: this conversation was recorded in Thailand. There is a clicking sound in the background. That is a gecko. Gabrielle Tesfaye has been making art forever. When she was little she knew she would be an artist. When she went to art school and people asked her what she planned to do with the rest of her life she simply replied, "make art." And that's what she does. All the time. Gabrielle has figured out how to devote one's life to doing exactly what one wants. In this conversation we talk about: making art no matter how much, or how little, you have – time, money, resources -how to price your art the pain of losing a child and the art that came out of it how to never give up on yourself – no matter what the world tells you

Amber is an illustrator who makes images of women all shapes and sizes. Hairy and big. Short and wide. Arms too long, legs too short. Women who are beautiful simply because they are women. Amber's work has appeared on the cover of numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine, she's partnered with big names like Conde Nast, Man Repeller and Gucci and she sells her art all over the world. All from taking a stand for what she believed in, resisting what she didn’t, and making art that is honest to who she is. Some things we talk about are: how to hustle and get your art out there even when no one’s heard of you or knows your work the best practices to grow your Instagram following disrupting a broken system how to make your own success and create your own career