Montana Diaries Creative Business Blog
creative business resources, Shownotes, extra media, and links from the pod!
14 The value of support systems and creative communities w/ Dawn Jarvis!
In this episode of the Montana Diaries Podcast, we have one of my favorite photographers, I mean, one of my favorite people — she’s a badass business owner with the biggest heart, our twighlighty Myspace queen with a ridiculous amount of talent, and a super cool hang, Dawn Jarvis of Dawn Photo! This conversation went SO FAST you guys, we talked about so freaking much and I could have talked to this lady all day.
“Instagram is no longer a photo sharing app.”
When head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said that via an IGTV video this summer, I watched as photographers freaked the eff out on photography Facebook groups, on their stories, and yepppp my DMs.
Sooo… I wrote a free guide for YOU, photog friend. This guide is a DEEP DIVE into video marketing for photographers — not only do I provide tangible, actionable strategy for batching video content for YouTube, IGTV, Facebook, TikTok, and Reels, but I take the time to discuss the WHY of it all. Aannndddd this isn’t one of those guides where I throw up information on you that you have no hope of implementing during your busy photo season — I’m a working videographer and photographer, so I freaking get the struggle to implement a content creation strategy. As always, I’m here to meet you where you’re at with what you have
The value of support systems and creative communities w/ Dawn Jarvis!
psssttt…
join us in the Facebook group, your space for talking all things creativity + business!
Dawn Photo
In this episode of the Montana Diaries Podcast, we have one of my favorite photographers, I mean, one of my favorite people — she’s a badass business owner with the biggest heart, our twighlighty Myspace queen with a ridiculous amount of talent, and a super cool hang, Dawn Jarvis of Dawn Photo! This conversation went SO FAST you guys, we talked about so freaking much and I could have talked to this lady all day.
DAWN JARVIS
Dawn is an Oregon-based photographer who specializes in elopements and micro weddings in the Pacific Northwest annddd she’s freaking incredible. In this interview, Dawn and I talk about her journey from shooting fake weddings put on by her college sorority to becoming the badass business woman and photographer she is today. We talk growing in business, cultivating a community and support system, learning as you grow, creativity, and expanding into the education space. Dawn is an amazing educator and is super open, so this is a MUST listen!
Photo by Dawn Photo
Getting her start in college
Dawn went to school at Oregon State University and attributes Greek life to much of her early success with photography. Her heart was with working with people with special needs and horses, but then when her photography business took off, it was time to make a decision — she decided to dive full force into photography, knowing she could go back to her first passion later on in life. To me, this shows Dawn’s ability to follow her intuition.
The value of a support system & community
Dawn worked at a camera store throughout college, and credits social media and online education to helping her with the business side of photography. She was involved in a sorority and they supported her through the early days, even going as far as to put on fake weddings to help her portfolio build!
Fumbling through it
We chatted about the early days of photography, and how Dawn fumbled through the learning phase by doing. She joked that Myspace was her shit, and we bonded over the Twilight/Emo/Sepia filter photography days in the online space. “Learning by doing” connects Dawn to those going through the beginner state in their photography businesses — being able to relate to them helps her be a better educator.
Connecting with industry peers
Dawn and I both believe in the value of connecting with industry peers — we discussed how hashing out the insecurities we have in business, roadblocks we might be experiencing, and seeking out advice from friends can move the needle forward in business.
Shooting for story
Perhaps my favorite part of Dawn’s shooting style is how cognizant she is of capturing her clients’ experience — she talks about how she observes the way her couples experience the places she takes them to, what they take note of, and what intrigues when and she captures those things. Her galleries include a lot of landscapes and textures like close up photos of moss, leaves, and wood.
Moving into the education space
Dawn started putting on workshops in response to popular demand — her move into the education space is a good lesson for those looking to expand their offerings in that she responded to requests, so she knew their was a demand before launching. Her offerings also include gorgeous presets, an online client experience course, and a business coaching program.
Goooo check out Dawn Photo —
I hope you freaking loved this conversation with Dawn as much as I did! Please, if you want more amazing guests like Dawn, then rate and review the pod on Apple Podcasts. Then, run over to Dawn’s website and check out alllll of the amazing resources she has for creatives — you won’t regret it.
hey, photog friend!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
13 Silo Skincare Owner Morgan Ser Voss on Digital Sales and Social Media
Morgan Ser Voss is the owner of Silo Skincare, which is Montana-based skincare made for the wild women who lead an active lifestyle and want affordable, all-natural products that won't hold them back. How pithy is that tagline, like come on!? Morgan is the sweetest soul and I just know you’re all going to fall in love with her and her goats the way I have — in this episode, she talks alllll about following in her grandma’s footsteps and adapting a farmers’ market-style business to the digital age we live in. If you are in the weeds with growing your small business and navigating social media marketing and digital sales, this episode is for you — Morgan is incredibly honest and vulnerable about what it is to transition from a maker to a business owner while still working a day job, andddd what it is to be intentional about being content in your current circumstances without losing your ambition. She is amazing, so please please please review this episode and gas her up on social media!
“Instagram is no longer a photo sharing app.”
When head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said that via an IGTV video this summer, I watched as photographers freaked the eff out on photography Facebook groups, on their stories, and yepppp my DMs.
Sooo… I wrote a free guide for YOU, photog friend. This guide is a DEEP DIVE into video marketing for photographers — not only do I provide tangible, actionable strategy for batching video content for YouTube, IGTV, Facebook, TikTok, and Reels, but I take the time to discuss the WHY of it all. Aannndddd this isn’t one of those guides where I throw up information on you that you have no hope of implementing during your busy photo season — I’m a working videographer and photographer, so I freaking get the struggle to implement a content creation strategy. As always, I’m here to meet you where you’re at with what you have.
Silo Skincare Owner Morgan Ser Voss on Digital Sales and Social Media
psssttt…
join us in the Facebook group, your space for talking all things creativity + business!
content vs complacent
In this episode of the pod, Morgan Ser Voss talks about the difference between being content in the present and becoming complacent.
Morgan Ser Voss
Morgan Ser Voss is the owner of Silo Skincare, which is Montana-based skincare made for the wild women who lead an active lifestyle and want affordable, all-natural products that won't hold them back. How pithy is that tagline, like come on!? Morgan is the sweetest soul and I just know you’re all going to fall in love with her and her goats the way I have — in this episode, she talks alllll about following in her grandma’s footsteps and adapting a farmers’ market-style business to the digital age we live in. If you are in the weeds with growing your small business and navigating social media marketing and digital sales, this episode is for you — Morgan is incredibly honest and vulnerable about what it is to transition from a maker to a business owner while still working a day job, andddd what it is to be intentional about being content in your current circumstances without losing your ambition. She is amazing, so please please please review this episode and gas her up on social media!
It all started when Grandpa snagged some goats…
One day, Morgan’s grandpa spontaneously picked up some free goats he saw on the side of the road. Yepppp… that’s all it took for grandma to start her goat soap business! Morgan and I chat about creativity, and how following the smallest threads of curiosity can compound into something big.
Childhood Nostalgia
Some of Morgan's fondest childhood memories of her grandma include watching her work in the soap shop, and taking her products to the farmer's market every week. When it was time for Morgan to go into business for herself, however, she knew she couldn’t sell in the same way that grandma did. The way forward was to go into digital sales.
Getting Silo Skincare Online
Morgan created her own website and charged forward with learning social media marketing, and strives to bring the personal "Farker's Market" feel to her online space. Morgan documents her life and work for her customers, who know that they're buying authentic, natural, handmade Montana skincare products thanks to Morgan's daily behind the scenes look into the process.
hey, photog friend!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
12 Artist Abigael Tripp on Coming Home to Her Body
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Abigael Tripp: The artist behind Here Studio on becoming embodied in the creative process
psssttt…
join us in the Facebook group, your space for talking all things creativity + business!
what makes you feel embodied?
“riding my bike. hiking. drawing. doing yoga. swimming in the river.”
ABIGAEL TRIPP
Abigael Tripp is the Missoula-based artist behind Here Studio. Abigael focuses on landscape imagery and design inspired by the magic and beauty of the natural world. She joins the Montana Diaries podcast to talk about what art means to her — what art comes naturally, what it is to be a maker, and the feeling that her art evokes. I was drawn to Abigael and her art from the moment I stumbled across her, and it was a delight to speak to her about her process.
“Getting Into” Painting
Abigael was working her day job as a graphic designer in Portland, Oregon — a job that she loves, that for all intents and purposes was “the dream.” when she realized that her priorities were out of alignment. She felt creatively depleted and suddenly unable to meet deadlines that were manageable in the past. She went to her boss and mentor, distressed and apologetic, but then something amazing happened:
She was met with grace.
Her boss told her to take a beat, to figure out what she wants, and to find alignment with herself again. Abigail thought about what she wanted, and the answer surprised her a bit: she wanted to paint.
At the same time, she received an email from her college advertising a painting class.
“I forgot about joy. I forgot about enjoying this life — it’s my life, what’s the point if you’re not doing things that make you feel alive?”
Prioritizing joy
Painting was the catalyst for Abigael to make the decisions she wanted to make and to let the universe catch her — she felt it was finally time to be herself. Learning to paint was hard, but it was a new skill that enabled her to feel completely embodied. The physicality of the paintbrush and supplies grounded her in the earth.
What is it to feel IN one’s body?
Abigael opened up about how therapy made her realize how much time she spends in her head and detached from her own body. She is constantly reminding herself that she is a person present in a body — it’s why her studio is called “Here —“ a reminder to be rooted in the place that you are.
Run, don’t walk — RUN to check out Abigael’s beautiful work.
hey, photog friend!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
11 Brand photographer Rio Chantel on getting back to one's boundaries
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“Instagram is no longer a photo sharing app.”
When head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said that via an IGTV video this summer, I watched as photographers freaked the eff out on photography Facebook groups, on their stories, and yepppp my DMs.
Sooo… I wrote a free guide for YOU, photog friend. This guide is a DEEP DIVE into video marketing for photographers — not only do I provide tangible, actionable strategy for batching video content for YouTube, IGTV, Facebook, TikTok, and Reels, but I take the time to discuss the WHY of it all. Aannndddd this isn’t one of those guides where I throw up information on you that you have no hope of implementing during your busy photo season — I’m a working videographer and photographer, so I freaking get the struggle to implement a content creation strategy. As always, I’m here to meet you where you’re at with what you have
Rio Chantel: A brand photographer’s journey from high volume/high anxiety to boundaries and time freedom
psssttt…
join us in the Facebook group, your space for talking all things creativity + business!
“do you want fries with that?”
That’s what Rio’s aunt asked her in response when Rio said she was getting a liberal arts degree — she is now a successful brand photographer with her own beautiful studio, and she does want fries with that.
RIO CHANTEL
Rio Chantel is a Missoula-based brand photographer and the coolest person I know — everything about her is just rad and makes me want to live a more intentional, creative, aesthetic life. I’ve been drawn to Rio since the first photo I saw of her — platonic love at first sight, truly, so this was a freaking treat.
Rio also owns our favorite creative studio space, Oi Yoi, where we shoot all of our branding + educational video content. Go check it out and book it nowwww!
What do we hold space for?
Rio and I chat about our shared experiences as children of large, nomadic families. We dissect what it is to relate to others and hold space for people, to empathize, and to give grace — and how all of this relates to creativity and business.
The fear of being misunderstood
Rio and I also connect on having a deep, life-long fear of being misunderstood, and the challenges this fear creates in being ethical communicators. Rio speaks to her own personal journey with giving herself grace — grace, in relation to herself, means “forgiving herself for being human.”
Being human is hard.
Therapy has been a huge part of forgiveness + relationship mending for Rio over the past year and a half. She details her experience with therapy and how it has helped her.
From playing photographer to becoming “the worst boss in the world.”
Rio shares how high-volume and low-ticket her offerings used to be, and the anxiety that business structure caused. She mentions her early business “depleting (her) creative resources.” Rio’s process of niching down, raising her prices, and reconciling her business with the lifestyle she wants to lead will resonate with creatives of every niche.
Let’s end with some true wisdom
We all know by now that I’m trashhhh at ending these blog posts, but I want to leave you today with my favorite quote from Rio’s episode of the pod: “Part of my journey is that if I make a sacrifice of my integrity then the universe will tell me to get back to my boundaries.”
Oof. Yes. Thank you, Rio.
Check out Rio’s website
If you want to learn more about Rio, click here to check out her website!
hey, photog friend!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
10 Meet our brand + web designer, Nikki Fanshaw!
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Nikki Fanshaw: From Fashion to Design for Purpose-Driven Brands
psssttt…
join us in the Facebook group, your space for talking all things creativity + business!
MEET OUR BRAND + WEB DESIGNER
Nikki Fanshaw is an Arizona-based designer serving small creative businesses. Her design style is rooted in simplicity + purpose.
NIKKI FANSHAW
In this episode of the Montana Diaries podcast, I sat down with Nikki Fanshaw to chat about her path to becoming the wildly talented brand + web designer that she is today. From a Midwest farm girl, to a growing career in the fashion industry, to product design, to running her own successful design firm — Nikki knows a thing or two about pivoting in creative business.
The brand + web design process
I was lucky enough to work with Nikki on our brand + website this year. We broke down the process of working together from the inquiry stage through the final delivery — Nikki outlined her process, and I chimed in from the clients’ perspective on how everything felt. We were super candid about creatives’ insecurities and roadblocks to working with a professional brand and web designer.
Work with madebynf
If you’re a creative ready to uplevel your brand + web design, then check out Nikki’s work on madebynf.com — be sure let her know that you listened to this episode of the pod!
hey, photog friend!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
9 Making Montana Diaries: My husband interviews me!
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Making Montana Diaries: My husband Brandon interviews me about my creative business
I'm so excited to present this behind the scenes chat with everyone's fave husband, Brandon! We do a deep dive into the creation of Montana Diaries -- Bran leads the conversation by taking "the people," as he calls you sweet listeners, through my creative ~journey.~ LET ME KNOW if you liked this interview and if you have any questions at all that we can address in future! I want to do more tangible creative business episodes and the interview format might be the move; whatever you want, ha!
Don’t forget to screenshot this episode for your IG and follow us @shayna_lloyd so we can chat further about creativity, business, and life!
HAVE YOU JOINED THE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY YET!? Come on over and say hi! It’s for creative business owners and listeners of the pod. You’ll love it as much as you can love a Facebook group.
Montana Diaries Education
Did you know we have tonssss to offer our photog friends!? Yesss — ESPECIALLY photogs who want to learn VIDEO. Head over to our Resources page to snag our paid course, Videography for Photographers, or schedule a mentorship call. We also have freebies for those of you who want to get started with video on your own, and our tools of the trade!
8 Chris Mai's Burning Itch: A Filmmaker's POV on Innovation and Staying Creative
Chris Mai is an incredible Portland, Oregon based filmmaker serving the PNW + beyond. On episode 8 of the Montana Diaries Podcast, Chris and I discuss everyyyything from balancing family and entrepreneurship, to looking toward the future and trying to envision an end point. Chris has some incredible heart-centered takes on ambition, innovation, creativity, and “the dream.” This is a MUST LISTEN.
Chris Mai's Burning Itch: A Filmmaker's POV on Innovation and Staying Creative
What is it to innovate?
Staying creative — creating to create. Keeping yourself on your toes. Avoiding “the template.”
We’ll see if Chris kills me for that title, ha!! You’ll have to listen to our chat to know what that’s about.
Chris Mai is an incredible Portland, Oregon based filmmaker serving the PNW + beyond. On episode 8 of the Montana Diaries Podcast, Chris and I discuss everyyyything from balancing family and entrepreneurship, to looking toward the future and trying to envision an end point. Chris has some incredible heart-centered takes on ambition, innovation, creativity, and “the dream.” This is a MUST LISTEN.
Be sure to go give Chris all the love on Instagram and review the pod on your fave platform! We appreciate it so much.
heyyy, photog friends!!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
7 Bailey Anselme: YOU IS ME!? All about contentedness and growing where you're planted
BAILEY ANSELME is an Iowa-based photographer, videographer, and graphic designer serving the Midwest United States and beyond. I felt compelled to pull Bailey on the pod to show what it looks like to offer multiple creative services within one business, and she didn’t disappoint!
Bailey Anselme: YOU IS ME!? All about contentedness and growing where you're planted
BAILEY ANSELME is an Iowa-based photographer, videographer, and graphic designer serving the Midwest United States and beyond. I felt compelled to pull Bailey on the pod to show what it looks like to offer multiple creative services within one business, and she didn’t disappoint!
Bailey is the sweetest lil human in the entire world — she is ALL about finding contentedness in the situation she’s in and crafting a life of comfort. I know listeners will get a lot from her mindset and I can’t wait to hear what you think! Go give her some love on Instagram and be sure to review her episode on your fave podcast platform.
LINKS
Montana Diaries Videography for Photographers Waitlist
Hybrid Handbook: Starter Guide for Photographers Ready to Learn Videography
Montana Diaries Creative Vision Workshop
6 Mary Kantner: Human-centered business and keeping the art sacred
Mary Kantner is a portrait photographer based out of Los Angeles, CA. She is inspired by “imperfections”, in-between moments, and telling a story in her photographs. She uses both film and digital photography fluently within her work.
Mary Kantner: Human-centered business and keeping the art sacred
From Mary Kantner’s website: Mary Kantner is a portrait photographer based out of Los Angeles, CA. She is inspired by “imperfections”, in-between moments, and telling a story in her photographs. She uses both film and digital photography fluently within her work.
Mary joins the Montana Diaries podcast to discuss, well, everything. We talk about being multi-passionate artists in an industry that demands niching down, and how we must allow our human selves to be more complicated than our brands. Mary attempts to put words to what draws her to photography legend Annie Leibovitz, which prompts a fumbling talk where we dissect the difference between technical excellence and emotional authenticity.
This conversation is one of my favorites so far on the podcast, and I can’t wait to hear what you take from it.
5 Shyla Hadley: A candid conversation about what it is to be a person with my college roommate
In this episode, I interview my college roommate Shyla Hadley. Shyla is one of my dearest friends, and was the star of many of my dumb YouTube videos that prompted people to start inquiring about paid photo and video projects. We walk down memory lane a bit before diving into what it meant to support and protect one another over the years, and what it meant to shift roles as long distance friends and merge our lives with romantic partners. This is a fun one!
Shyla Hadley: A candid conversation about what it is to be a person with my college roommate
In this episode, I interview my college roommate Shyla Hadley. Shyla is one of my dearest friends, and was the star of many of my dumb YouTube videos that prompted people to start inquiring about paid photo and video projects. We walk down memory lane a bit before diving into what it meant to support and protect one another over the years, and what it meant to shift roles as long distance friends and merge our lives with romantic partners. This is a fun one!
Links
Montana Diaries Videography for Photographers Waitlist
Hybrid Handbook: Starter Guide for Photographers Ready to Learn Videography
Montana Diaries Creative Vision Workshop
4 Leanna Krenik: How Her Personal Style Shaped Her Mindset and Career
Leanna Krenik is my dear friend and a Bozeman, Montana based photographer. In this episode of the Montana Diaries podcast, Leanna gets craazzzyyyy vulnerable about her feelings about her personal style and social perception shaped her creativity and career. Keep listening until the end because Leanna's mindset around keeping her personal life and marriage sacred paired with her thoughts about protecting her time are pure gold.
Leanna Krenik: How Her Personal Style Shaped Her Mindset and Career
Leanna Krenik is my dear friend and a Bozeman, Montana based photographer. In this episode of the Montana Diaries podcast, Leanna gets craazzzyyyy vulnerable about her feelings about her personal style and social perception shaped her creativity and career. Keep listening until the end because Leanna's mindset around keeping her personal life and marriage sacred paired with her thoughts about protecting her time are pure gold.
LINKS
Montana Diaries Videography for Photographers Waitlist
Hybrid Handbook: Starter Guide for Photographers Ready to Learn Videography
Montana Diaries Creative Vision Workshop
3 Dawn Charles: Photography, Education, and Entrepreneurship
Dawn Charles is an adventurous wedding and elopement photographer turned educator and the founder of Rise Photo Academy, which Dawn calls "Netflix for photographers." She is the creator of multiple digital products and resources for photographers, including her wildly popular DC presets. Dawn joins the Montana Diaries podcast to talk about her progression from photography student, to intern, to business owner. These days, Dawn's main passion lies with helping small business owners find success in their niche.
calling all photographers!
join me for my FREE masterclass: HOW TO UPLEVEL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS USING VIDEO
EVERYTHING you need to know about integrating video into your photography biz without buying new equipment, getting super techy, or wasting your precious time!
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN…
1. Why video is KING online, AKA why YOU should incorporate video into your business strategy
2. The leg up that hybrid shooters have in the photo + video industries and why it IS possible to learn with your existing equipment
3. Action steps you can take RIGHT NOW toward incorporating video content!
3 Dawn Charles on Photography, Education, and Entrepreneurship
Meet Dawn Charles, creator of Rise Photo Academy and DC Presets
“I’m a former intimate wedding and couple photographer (and a total editing nerd) based in Bend, Oregon, who spent years fine-tuning my craft and struggling to figure this whole business thing out.
But along the way, I realized I didn’t have to do it all on my own. And neither do you.”
Dawn Charles is an adventurous wedding and elopement photographer turned educator and the founder of Rise Photo Academy, which Dawn calls "Netflix for photographers." She is the creator of multiple digital products and resources for photographers, including her wildly popular DC presets. Dawn joins the Montana Diaries podcast to talk about her progression from photography student, to intern, to business owner. These days, Dawn's main passion lies with helping small business owners find success in their niche.
I know you'll get as much out of this chat as I did -- make sure to let us know what you thought after you listen!
“What if I made an all-in-one platform where people from any experience level or any budget can come in and pick and choose what they want to learn about?”
heyyy, photog friend!!
If you’ve been wanting to learn videography with the gear you already own, I have a free guide just for you!
2 Elise Perpignano: How Glacier National Park Inspired Her Creative Life and Career
Elise Perpignano is a Montana-based artist who specializes in graphic design and oil painting. Elise joins the Montana Diaries podcast to talk all things creativity and business. We discuss the freedom of trying things in childhood, what it feels like to try to cast a practical creative vision and monetize making things, and living outside Glacier National Park.
2 Elise Perpignano: How Glacier National Park Inspired Her Creative Life and Career
Elise Perpignano is a Montana-based artist who specializes in graphic design and oil painting. Elise joins the Montana Diaries podcast to talk all things creativity and business. We discuss the freedom of trying things in childhood, what it feels like to try to cast a practical creative vision and monetize making things, and living outside Glacier National Park.
LINKS
Elise’s Headshot by Mary Kantner Photo
Montana Diaries Videography for Photographers Waitlist
Montana Diaries Creative Vision Workshop
1 April Sky: Following Intuition in Business, Life, and Motherhood
April Sky is a Montana-based photographer and business coach for moms. She joins the Montana Diaries podcast to discuss her journey from stay-at-home mom to thriving owner of two businesses. In this chat, April gets personal about her divorce and the mindset hurdles she faced as a single mom faced with providing for her son financially for the first time.
1 April Sky: Following Intuition in Business, Life, and Motherhood
April Sky is a Montana-based photographer and business coach for moms. She joins the Montana Diaries podcast to discuss her journey from stay-at-home mom to thriving owner of two businesses. In this chat, April gets personal about her divorce and the mindset hurdles she faced as a single mom faced with providing for her son financially for the first time.
April Sky is the owner of Moms Made for More, which is both a community for moms to share their challenges without fear of judgement and a coaching service for mom-entreprenuers lead by April herself.
LINKS
Montana Diaries Videography for Photographers Waitlist
Montana Diaries Creative Vision Workshop
Montana Diaries Hosted by Shayna Lloyd
The Montana Diaries Podcast hosted by Shayna Lloyd || Channel Trailer
Montana Diaries Podcast Channel Trailer
The Montana Diaries podcast is all about storytelling and getting to the heart of creativity, entrepreneurship, and the drive it takes to build a full life for oneself. Host Shayna Lloyd dives into all things creativity, lifestyle, and business, and also sits down with many incredible creatives who come ready to open up about what the "dream" is. Let's talk pleasure and where this all fits into practicality, money, and lifestyle.