Fidz shares her plan to create the ‘Do Nothing Club’ as a way to reconnect with presence and simplicity, highlighting the healing power of doing nothing in a world that seems to demand constant productivity.

Scenes

03:23 Life Changes and Career Transition

09:05 The Concept of Ikigai

11:55 Shifting Career Paths and Generational Differences

14:44 The Impact of Stress and Modern Life

17:41 Desire for Slowness and Simplicity

20:27 Navigating Dreams and Manifestation

31:42 Personal Growth Through Distance

37:45 Positivity and High Vibration

39:53 Nature as a Source of Inspiration

44:38 Embracing Uncertainty and Letting Go

Guest & Host Information:

Guest, Renée Fidz

Host, Renee Garcia, CEO and Creative Director of Renee Lynn Creative

Connect with Renée Fidz:

On Substack

Connect with your Host, Renee Garcia:

Visit her website: https://www.reneelynncreative.com/

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-lynn-garcia/

In this thoughtful conversation, Randy Smith, founder of Oathic, shares insights on the importance of storytelling in branding, misconceptions surrounding brand strategy, and the transformative power of rebranding. He emphasizes the need for presence and mindfulness in entrepreneurship, illustrating his points with personal anecdotes and client success stories. The discussion highlights the importance of mindfulness in business, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique narratives and find balance in our digital world.

About your host

Renee Garcia runs a brand design studio rooted in Portland, OR called Renee Lynn Creative. Through the studio, she crafts memorable brands for people devoted to planting positive change. She loves spending time outside and connecting with people in the community.

Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-lynn-garcia/

Subscribe to RLC Roots to be the first to hear about new episodes.

View samples of my branding work on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reneelynncreative/

What starts as a discussion about finding your creative purpose quickly evolves into a masterclass on art direction, publishing, and building sustainable creative businesses. Ashwin opens up about his 10-year journey from graphic designer to full-time illustrator, sharing how the 2020 lockdown forced him to discover his “why” and pivot toward children’s book illustration. Renee explores the business side of creative freelancing, while Damion discovers the complexities of print production and screen printing techniques.

Creative Business & Career Topics:

* How to transition from art director to freelance illustrator (10:57)

* The 10-year creative evolution cycle across multiple disciplines (1:00:01)

* Building your illustration style around personal purpose (20:55)

* Starting a children’s book publishing house from scratch (48:30)

* Why scope of work documents prevent client disasters (38:34)

* Art direction secrets: managing teams and creative vision (31:02)

Children’s Book & Publishing Insights:

* Writing picture books: 500-word limits and brutal editing (50:51)

* Character development vs. story-first approaches (52:17)

* Self-publishing strategies that attract traditional publishers (13:40)

* Screen printing vs. DTG for book merchandise (25:57)

Art Direction & Client Management:

* Why clients always choose the “safe” option (34:43)

* Managing photographer and illustrator teams (32:06)

* The art of giving creative freedom within constraints (33:29)

* Communication strategies that prevent scope creep (38:57)

Going Behind the Curtain: This episode reveals the spiritual and strategic foundations behind successful creative careers. We witness Ashwin’s faith-driven approach to art, his honest advice about separating self-worth from creative output, and his ambitious vision for Bad Book Press. The conversation covers everything from screen printing techniques and DTG quality differences to the psychological aspects of creative growth, plus practical business advice for anyone building a creative career.

Whether you’re an illustrator considering children’s books, someone transitioning from corporate creative roles, or any creative professional seeking purpose-driven business strategies, this episode provides both spiritual guidance and practical frameworks for building sustainable creative careers.

Connect with Ashwin:

* Website: https://whackochacko.com/about/

* YouTube: http://youtube.com/c/ashwinchacko

* Social: @whackochacko (Instagram, X)

* LinkedIn: Ashwin Chacko

Perfect for: Art directors, children’s book illustrators, creative entrepreneurs, freelancers building client businesses, anyone interested in publishing, and creatives seeking purpose-driven career strategies.

What starts as an explanation of basic programming concepts quickly evolves into a deep dive on software architecture, data ownership, and building truly independent digital infrastructure. Adam walks through his journey from middle school coding competitions to architecting enterprise-level 3D visualizations that required massive GPU clusters just to render in browsers. Renee explores the creative aspects of software development, while Damion discovers the invisible complexity that makes every website function.

Backend Development Topics Explored:

* What software architects actually do and how to get there (9:39)

* The middle school programming competition that started it all (12:22)

* UI vs UX: creating buttons vs. knowing where to put them (19:10)

* HTML vs. real programming languages: the heated debate (37:51)

* Everything that happens behind the screen that users never see (42:02)

Digital Freedom & Architecture:

* How federated networks could free your data from corporate control (55:07)

* The truth about digital “ownership” vs. licensing your content (23:33)

* Building your own media server with Jellyfin (26:52)

* Why Signal’s encryption protects even Signal from reading your messages (59:29)

* How Truth Social runs on Mastodon’s open-source code (1:02:28)

Technical Deep Dives:

* Kubernetes clusters running in basements explained (42:11)

* 3D visualization that cost tens of thousands per month in GPU costs (53:57)

* Why Chrome crashes after 20 gigs of memory (52:15)

* The “Federate the Masses” open source project breakdown (55:07)

Going Behind the Curtain: This episode reveals the staggering technical complexity hidden behind simple user interactions. We witness Adam’s passion for digital ownership and privacy, his three-screen setup that makes instant fact-checking possible, and his ambitious vision for a decentralized internet where users control their own data.

The conversation takes fascinating detours through Arthur theme songs, the ethics of digital piracy, and why Portland libraries offer 100 free prints daily. Most revealing is Adam’s honest admission about what keeps him up at night: either avoiding current events or obsessing over the next technical challenge in his federation project.

Whether you’re curious about what software architects actually do, concerned about digital privacy and corporate data control, or want to understand the invisible complexity that makes your favorite apps work, this episode offers insider knowledge that will change how you think about technology.

Connect with Adam:

* Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sparkstonepdx

* Liveframe: a free, photo sharing app for events

* Sparkstone website

Perfect for: Developers interested in software architecture concepts, anyone curious about backend systems. Or people concerned about digital privacy and data ownership, and those wanting to understand the infrastructure that powers modern applications.

What starts as a discussion about Angela’s transition from teaching quickly evolves into a masterclass on listening to your intuition in business. Angela opens up about her winding journey from middle school educator to entrepreneur, sharing how she’s navigated multiple business iterations—from product photography to systems strategy—before discovering her gift for supporting sensitive entrepreneurs. Renee brings her perspective on the challenges of niching down as a creative, while Damion explores how following childhood interests and curiosities can guide career decisions.

Key Topics Explored:

* Navigating “the messy middle” of entrepreneurship and creative careers

* How to recognize when it’s time to pivot (and trusting those subtle nudges)

* Building sustainable businesses that honor your natural energy rhythms

* The marketing burnout that signals it’s time for change

* Discovering unexpected gifts through life’s challenges (hello, animal communication!)

* Why tuning into yourself matters more than following business formulas

* Creating courses and offerings that reflect your whole self

* The power of support systems in sustaining creative work

Behind the Scenes: This episode truly pulls back the creative curtain to reveal the authentic moments that shape a creative’s journey. We witness Angela’s real-time reflection on her business evolution, Damion’s admission that his dream involves making chairs in Norway while running a radio station, and the touching story of how losing her cat Chewy revealed Angela’s unexpected gift as an animal communicator.

The conversation gets delightfully sidetracked by the great “niche” vs “neesh” pronunciation debate, and we get to hear Angela read a genuine testimonial from a recent course participant—complete with her excitement about finally creating something that truly resonates. Perhaps most revealing is Renee’s realization about manifesting her ice cream brand project after simply mentioning the dream in episode one, showing how putting creative intentions into the world can create unexpected opportunities.

Whether you’re a creative professional feeling stuck in your current iteration or a sensitive entrepreneur looking for a gentler approach to business building, this episode offers practical insights on honoring your whole self while creating sustainable income.

Connect with Angela:

* Website: https://www.angelaellison.com

* Substack

* Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/angelaecreative/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-ellison-creative

* Explore the Mini-Course for Sustainable Business Growth

Perfect for: Sensitive entrepreneurs, creatives navigating career transitions, anyone who’s ever felt like they’re standing outside looking in at work they admire, and those seeking a more holistic approach to business building.

Join hosts Renee Garcia and Damion Rowe for an insightful conversation about one of the biggest challenges creatives face: maintaining an authentic voice while building a consistent brand across multiple platforms and spaces.

In this episode, the hosts dive deep into the art of alignment—not just visual consistency, but staying true to yourself whether you’re speaking at an event, posting on social media, or writing copy for your website. Renee shares how she learned that clear, authentic messaging is what actually drives business success, while Damion opens up about his unique approach to content creation that honors his personal preferences (spoiler: he’s figured out how to build a brand without showing his face on camera).

Key Topics

* Why authentic self-expression trumps “proper” corporate speak every time

* How to adapt your brand voice for different platforms without losing yourself

* The evolution of social media and why so much content feels monotonous

* Creative strategies for standing out in oversaturated markets

* The importance of creating for yourself first, then finding your audience

* Why perfectionism kills more creative projects than failure ever could

The Creative Challenge: Renee puts Damion on the spot to commit to releasing one piece of content before their next recording—a perfect example of how accountability can push us past our creative blocks.

Whether you’re struggling with the dreaded elevator pitch, trying to figure out your brand colors, or just need a push to finally release that project you’ve been perfecting forever, this episode offers practical advice wrapped in an honest conversation about the realities of creative entrepreneurship.

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs building personal brands, creatives struggling with consistency, and anyone who’s ever held back from sharing their work because it wasn’t “perfect” yet.

Join hosts Renee Garcia and Damion Rowe as they sit down with Andrew Gibbs, VP of Operations at Soldier Fit, for a candid conversation about creativity, inspiration, and pushing through those inevitable creative blocks we all face.

Andrew opens up about feeling like a “suffocated creative” while working in the fitness industry, sharing his unique approach to content creation and how he finds inspiration in the everyday moments of his workouts. Renee, CEO of Renee Lynn Creative, brings her perspective on how stepping away from projects and connecting with nature helps her push through blocks, while Damion explores his process of diving deep into foundations—from typography to jungle music—as a way to break through creative barriers.

Takeaways

* The anatomy of creative ruts (yes, we use the constipation analogy)

* How movement and mental breaks can unlock creativity

* The difference between consuming content for development vs. pleasure

* Why intention matters more than following trends

* Finding creativity within seemingly mundane work

* The importance of curiosity and asking questions over seeking quick answers

* How authentic self-expression attracts the right audience

Behind the Scenes:

The conversation takes fascinating detours through podcast culture, hustle mentality, the value of silence, and why sometimes the best inspiration comes from simply being curious about the world around you—revealing the unscripted moments that happen when creatives truly connect.

Whether you’re a traditional creative professional or someone discovering creativity within your day job, this episode offers practical insights on staying inspired, pushing through blocks, and embracing the creative potential that exists in every role.

Perfect for: Anyone who’s ever felt stuck creatively, professionals exploring their artistic side, and those interested in the intersection of creativity and business.

Join hosts Renee Garcia and Damion Rowe as they pull back the curtain on their own creative journeys in this introductory episode. Get to know the people behind the podcast as they share their stories, struggles, and passions.

Takeaways

* The reality of creative freelancing and client relationships

* How AI is changing the design landscape

* The importance of claiming your expertise and setting boundaries

* Why small businesses deserve our support

* Building sustainable creative careers without selling out

Meet Renee: The CEO behind Renee Lynn Creative, a design studio specializing in branding and illustration for purpose-driven founders. In this episode Renee shares why she started the podcast; to spotlight undervalued creatives and help them own their expertise. From her passion for sustainability and conservation to her dream of working with ice cream brands, discover what drives this multi-faceted creative entrepreneur.

Meet Damion: An audio engineer who started out dreaming of being the next Pharrell Williams, Damion has evolved from music production to post-production work, podcast editing, and DJing. He opens up about the challenges of freelancing, undervaluing his skills, and his current mission to build his own personal brand through a radio station project. Plus, hear about his idea of DJing at all the national parks!

Whether you’re a seasoned creative professional or just starting your artistic journey, this candid conversation offers insights into the real world of creative work—from the struggles with perfectionism to the joy of finding your creative community.

Perfect for: Freelancers, designers, audio engineers, small business owners, and anyone curious about the creative process behind the brands and content they love.