Best Melissa Hartfiel Podcasts (2024)

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Prep for the Holidays EP2: Planning Out Your Products and Services for the Holidays! 9:17

2h ago9:17

9:17

It's really hard to get a jump on the busy holiday season if you don't actually know what you're going to be making and selling! So in Episode 2 of our Prep for the Holiday series, Melissa walks you through figuring out what you're going to be putting your focus on - whether you're an artist, maker, creative services provider or a content creator. …

1
Prep for the Holidays EP1: Creatives, Warm Up Your Email List BEFORE Market and Selling Season! 13:12

5d ago13:12

13:12

Episode 1 in our new minisode series - Prep For the Holidays - is all about email. It's time to work on growing and warming up your email newsletter list before the holiday selling season! Kickstart your holiday sales strategy with actionable email marketing tips and suggestions to get you going. Don't have an email list? We tell you how to get sta…

1
Prep for the Holidays Minisode Series Trailer - Stress-free Holiday Prep for Creatives! 6:14

14d ago6:14

6:14

What if you could seamlessly prepare for the holiday rush without the stress? That's where our special "Prep for the Holidays" mini-sode series comes in! Melissa is here to provide you with a straightforward, actionable game plan so that come November & December you put all your focus on selling, shipping, and customer service. Whether you're an ar…

1
🔒 0624 Subscriber Soundbite: What I'll be Listening to This Summer! 42:45

18d ago42:45

42:45

Subscriber-only episode The main podcast is on hiatus for the summer but I'll be launching a minisode series in July to help everyone prep for the holidays! In the meantime, here's what I love to listen to and watch to keep my creative juices and entrepreneurial/marketing brain feeling inspired through the summer months (plus a few things that are …

1
EP158: Leaning Into Rest - and Why It's SO Important for Working Creatives 1:20:58

1M ago1:20:58

1:20:58

With the Season 5 finale, Melissa and Heather talk about rest and why it's so critical for self-employed creatives. What does rest look like (no it's not sleep - but that's critical too!)? It's not a "one size fits all" concept. It may be a two week vacation but what if a "leave the house" vacation isn't possible? We dig deep into ways we can ensur…

1
🔒 0524 Subscriber Soundbite: 3 Things That Help Me Stop Procrastinating 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

Subscriber-only episode Nothing fancy here this month - just the three biggest, solid anti-procrastination strategies that work for me. The key there being "for me". They might not be new to you, they may not work for everyone, but, I'm hoping that one of these strategies might be something you can adapt and use for yourself! You can connect with t…

1
EP157: Creative Canadian Women - Photographer Heidi Richter 1:21:43

2M ago1:21:43

1:21:43

Canadian photographer, recipe developer and blogger Heidi Richter joins me to talk about her work as both a commercial and editorial food and nature photographer. We discuss her early steps as a self-taught photographer who wanted to take better photos of her first child all the way through to earning a coveted spot on Nikon's annual creator team -…

1
EP156: Rent or Own? The Dangers of Building a Creative Business on Rented Land 51:35

2M ago51:35

51:35

No this is not a real estate episode! Today we're talking about the dangers of building your business on the backs of other businesses - namely social media platforms and marketplaces - like Etsy. These are platforms where the customers and users are not yours, where you can be removed at any time and where algorithms are created to support the pla…

1
🔒 0424 Subscriber Soundbite: Collaboration & Play 30:47

3M ago30:47

30:47

Subscriber-only episode Play is an important part of a creative practice and creating for a living. It's also hard work (that doesn't sound right, does it? But it is!). Collaboration can be a form of play for creatives and has it's own set of benefits aside from play. Collaboration and play (together or separately) can have a huge influence on keep…

1
EP155: Creative Canadian Women: Alexandra Newbould - Illustrator & Courtroom Sketch Artist 45:59

3M ago45:59

45:59

Alexandra Newbould is an artist whose work you know. As a Toronto based freelance courtroom sketch artist and fashion and architecture illustrator, her work has appeared all across North America on newscasts, in newspapers and print, online and in brand marketing campaigns. She joins the show this week to talk about the challenges and rewards of be…

1
EP154: Makers, Artists and Creatives: Here's How to Find Your Customers 1:35:58

3M ago1:35:58

1:35:58

You’re an artist or a creative or a maker. You’ve made or created the thing, you’re selling the creative services. You’ve put it on social media and your website or Etsy. But nobody has bought it. So how the heck are you supposed to find your customers?? Melissa and Heather do a deep dive into how to find your people - and how to sell to them witho…

1
EP153: REPLAY: Words of Wisdom for Creatives from Past Guests 1:17:39

4M ago1:17:39

1:17:39

I'm going back into the archives this week because it's been a bit of madness around here this month (in a good way!). This is a replay of EP 128 from last year where Heather and I asked past guests and audience member to share some words of wisdom that they've learned through being working creatives and/or running their own businesses. And they di…

1
🔒 0324: Subscriber Soundbite: A March Mixed Bag 25:30

4M ago25:30

25:30

Subscriber-only episode I have a great podcast recommendation for you this week that also tied into three big things I've had on my "to talk about" list: marketing goals, the line between positivity and negativity and gatekeeping creativity. Hope you all enjoy! You can connect with the podcast on: Instagram at @andshelookedup Facebook YouTube Tik T…

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EP 152 Creative Canadian Women: Demi Winters - Indepdendent Fantasy Romance Novelist 1:06:22

4M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Best selling Canadian independent fantasy romance novelist Demi Winters joins us in this episode of the show to talk about all things relating to being a self-published fiction author - including the release of her new book, her writing process, world building, Book Tok and building community around her work, seeking help to take her work to the ne…

1
🔒 0224: Subscriber Soundbite: My Keys to Living with AI as a Creative 33:20

5M ago33:20

33:20

Subscriber-only episode This was such a tough episode to record! I've had it swirling in my head for months and I did multiple takes at recording it (it's why I'm so late with it!). It's still a bit rambly but I think I got there in the end. AI does freak me out but it piques my curiosity at the same time. And I've learned that it doesn't make me r…

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EP151: Creative Canadian Woman: Songwriter & Author Gail Taylor is Using Kickstarter 1:06:30

5M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

Gail Taylor left behind a successful career as an investment advisor to go all in with music - in her 50s! Now, as a Canadian songwriter, author, keynote speaker and entrepreneur, she's a passionate advocate for the power of music to inspire change. Her new book, Curve Balls, is coming to shelves soon thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign tha…

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EP150: Trends We're Paying Attention to in Our Creative Businesses in 2024 1:36:19

5M ago1:36:19

1:36:19

This week, Melissa and Heather do a brief recap of what they did in their creative businesses in 2023 and what they are focusing on for 2024. But at the heart of the episode we get into the trends we're paying attention to in our creative businesses - including a very frank (and possibly surprising?) discussion about generative AI and how we feel a…

1
EP149: Leaning into Change for a Life of Creative Fulfillment with Geneviève Retzlaff 59:10

6M ago59:10

59:10

Transformational Coach Geneviève Retzlaff joins the show this week as part of our short January series on staying optimistic and energized in a month that can be dull, cold and dreary. In this episode, Gen is here to help us lean into change in order to have fulfilling creative careers and lives. Whether you're thinking of leaving a traditional car…

1
EP148: The Law of Vibration and Your Creative Practice with Sara Fisher 1:13:04

6M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Inspirational speaker and certified life coach Sara Fisher joins the show this week to talk about the Law of Vibration and how we can use it to foster both personal growth and growth in our creative practices. We all start January off with the best of intentions but when the winter blues set in, it can be easy to get sidetracked and and feel like n…

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🔒 0124 Subscriber Soundbite: It's a Marathon, not a Sprint 17:01

6M ago17:01

17:01

Subscriber-only episode The year is 365 days long (366 this year because it's a leap year!). Here's your reminder that a year is a marathon. You don't have to sprint out the gate in January and do all the things or make all the changes - because guess what? That's not realistically feasible - and it's also not sustainable. Let's talk about embracin…

1
EP147: Getting Started with Podcasting For Your Creative Business 1:20:04

7M ago1:20:04

1:20:04

With so many of this season's guests asking me off air whether or not they should start a podcast and how to get started, I thought it might be time to do an episode on the ins and outs of podcasting for a creative business. So today, with 140+ episodes under my belt, I take a deep dive into the pros and cons of podcasting for creatives, and how to…

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🔒 1224 Subscriber Soundbite: Planning For Your Values 26:09

7M ago26:09

26:09

Subscriber-only episode It's the end of the year and that inevitably leads to a lot of podcasts and blog posts on reflection, planning and goal setting. I know that as creatives, a lot of us get very uncomfortable with making concrete plans or setting solid goals because... what if we fail? But planning is what allows us to build a business that re…

1
EP146: So, You Think You're Ready to Go Viral? 1:19:48

7M ago1:19:48

1:19:48

We've all thought about how great it would be to have a piece of content go viral on social media. There's that whisper deep down that if we could just get a million eyeballs on our business, everything would change - for the better. But what really happens when you go viral? And are you - and your creative business - actually prepared for it if it…

1
EP145: Own Your Age and Your Wisdom with Zannat Reza 1:04:03

8M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

This week, healthy aging advocate Zanna Reza joins the show to talk about shaking up the system so we can grow older on our own terms. In a world where getting older (at any age) can come with a lot of stereotyping and discrimination, we talk about why we, as women, need to own our age - and the wisdom we've earned every day. In this conversation w…

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🔒 1123 Subscriber Soundbite: Let's Burn the Follower Count Number 26:10

8M ago26:10

26:10

Subscriber-only episode It feels like every day I see another announcement from a creator who is leaving social media. While some of the reasons they give are extremely valid, very often the conversation comes down to the fact that it's too much work for not enough new followers. The algorithm doesn't help them get seen. It's a popularity contest w…

1
EP144: Creative Canadian Woman - Jacqueline Nicosia of Ardo Hospitality 58:52

8M ago58:52

58:52

Creativity shows up in many forms and this week Jacqueline Nicosia, the co-owner of Ardo Hospitality Group, joins the podcast to chat about the creativity that goes into crafting the perfect guest experience - and the perfect cocktail! This busy mom of two who co-owns her business (which includes 3 Toronto restaurants and a food import company) wit…

1
EP143: Overcoming Perfectionism and Burnout with Psychotherapist Yu Tong Hannah Lin 1:08:34

9M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

Toronto based registered social worker and psychotherapist, Yu Tong Hannah Lin, joins Melissa to explore how we, as working creatives, can manage and overcome the ongoing challenges perfectionism and burnout present to our work. Hannah shares valuable insights that will help us understand and identify when perfectionism and/or burnout are creeping …

1
🔒 1023 Subscriber Soundbite: Embracing Discomfort - An Unexpected Path to Growth and Success 27:39

9M ago27:39

27:39

Subscriber-only episode Have you ever felt that prickling discomfort when you think about trying something new in your business of your creative practice? You're not alone. We've all been there - the nervous anticipation, the self-doubt, and the fear of the unknown. But, what if you sat with that discomfort? What if, instead of being a barrier, it …

1
EP142: Shaky Economy? Navigate the Holiday Selling Season & Plan for 2024 1:41:15

9M ago1:41:15

1:41:15

Slow September sales and signs of a flagging economy have a lot of Canadian creatives worried about the upcoming holiday selling season. Even Etsy has made efforts to boost sales on behalf of shop owners! And, with no real relief in sight, what does 2024 have in store? Melissa and Heather tackle this head on with lots of practical strategies and ti…

1
EP141: Stepping Out From Behind Your Work with Photographer Michele Mateus 1:21:47

10M ago1:21:47

1:21:47

As working creatives, giving our audience, clients and supporters the opportunity to connect with us on a deeper level is so important to building a healthy business. But equally important, as women, we need to get past our fear of taking up space and instead, embrace being seen. Intimate portrait and personal branding photographer Michele Matues j…

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🔒 0923: Subscriber Soundbite: Do You Have a Marketing Plan... or a Marketing Schedule? 27:29

10M ago27:29

27:29

Subscriber-only episode Listening to a podcast a few weeks ago, I got a slap in the face when the guest stated that most small businesses don't have a marketing plan, they have a marketing schedule. (hello, it's me!) To be fair, I usually start the year off with a plan and it just kind of... dissolves into a social media posting schedule - usually …

1
EP140: Behind the Scenes of a Solo Art Exhibition with Heather Travis 1:26:37

10M ago1:26:37

1:26:37

Have you ever wondered what goes into planning and executing an your own art exhibition? This week Heather Travis joins Melissa to talk about the behind the scenes journey to her upcoming, 3 month solo exhibition at Ontario's Bruce County Museum and Cultural Center. She shares how the opportunity arose, how she developed her very personal exhibit t…

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SUMMER REPLAY From Fashion Concept to Launch: The Birth of Gallola with Katrina and Lexi von Hahn 1:04:52

11M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

Toronto based sisters Katrina and Lexie von Hahn have known for years that they wanted to create a business that reflected their Latin American roots and that has resulted in Gallola - a fashion and lifestyle brand they recently launched with their first product: a shoe they designed that's inspired by the timeless Argentine carpincho style and han…

1
🔒 0823: Subscriber Soundbite: This One Thing Has Completely Revitalized Me and My Business 19:14

12M ago19:14

19:14

Subscriber-only episode Earlier this year, in May, I agreed to meet virtually meet up for a co-working session with one of the women in my small business mastermind group. Other members regularly join us now in what has quickly become a turning point in our businesses this year. Find out how and why this all came about, what we do and how we do it …

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SUMMER REPLAY: Branding For Multi-Passionate Creatives with Diane Foy 1:20:34

12M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

As a multi-passionate creative herself, creativity coach and host of the Superfan Attraction Podcast, Diane Foy understands how difficult it is for multi-passionate creative entrepreneurs to present themselves to the world. In this summer replay episode we talk about the power of personal branding and showing the world all the wonderful things you …

1
SUMMER REPLAY: Embracing Age and Passion: The Musical Journey of Sharon Marie White 1:02:48

1y ago1:02:48

1:02:48

Alberta singer/songwriter Sharon Marie White joins Melissa to talk about her deep roots as a musician and performer and how she let her music move to the background as she found other ways to contribute to her family. Now, after putting her music on hold for decades, she's back and she's just getting started - in an era where women are no longer wi…

1
🔒 0723: Subscriber Soundbite: Taking Stock of Q1&2 and Prepping For Q3&4 20:34

1y ago20:34

20:34

Subscriber-only episode In this month's subscriber only episode I'm talking about some of the tasks I like to do at the half way point of the year - including reviewing how the first half of the year went, making adjustments where necessary and, prepping myself for the second half of the year. Find out more in this month's exclusive episode. You ca…

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SUMMER REPLAY: Your Logo is NOT Your Brand (so what the heck is??) 1:22:08

1y ago1:22:08

1:22:08

Do you get caught in the branding trap that many creative businesses find themselves falling into? The one where you get so wrapped up in the physical assets of your brand that you forget about what branding actually is? Your logo? Not your brand. Your website colours? Not your brand. They're physical assets OF your brand. So what is your brand? Me…

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EP135: Blogging To Drive Traffic (And Build SEO) For Your Creative Business 1:08:13

1y ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Whether you sell paintings or photography sessions, hand poured candles or graphic design services, getting traffic to your website or even your Etsy shop is probably one of the biggest challenges you face. No traffic, no sales! Enter the world of blogging... One thing professional bloggers know how to do is drive traffic - their income is directly…

1
🔒 0623: Subscriber Soundbite: My Best Tip To Weather a Topsy Turvy Economy 26:15

1y ago26:15

26:15

Subscriber-only episode In this month's subscriber only episode I'm sharing what I think is the best way to weather a topsy turvy economy where it's hard to predict what's going to happen. After having lots of conversations with fellow creative business owners the consensus always seems to come back to one thing that seems to work, no matter what. …

1
EP134: Creative Canadian Women: Phyllis Ellis - Documentary Filmmaker 1:01:10

1y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Award winning documentary filmmaker and former Canadian Olympian, Phyllis Ellis, joins me in this episode with the release of her latest film, Category: Woman. We dive into the big themes of the documentary (gender and gender equality, body autonomy racism) as well as the power and challenges of telling stories - whether they're your own or belong …

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🔒 Subscriber Soundbite: April 2023 - Pitching Your Business the Right Way 19:22

1y ago19:22

19:22

Subscriber-only episode Welcome to our first subscriber only episode! This month's subscriber soundbite is about how to pitch your business the right way. Over the last 12 years I've received a tremendous amount of pitches and about 90% of them are really... not great... But they so easily could have been great if the pitcher had done one very simp…

1
EP133: Photographer Darina Kopcok: Generating Quality Client Leads 1:13:29

1y ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Food photographer and photography educator Darina Kopcok joins Melissa for this Creative Canadian Women episode where they discuss how to generate quality client leads for your creative services business OR your product business as well as how to grow your revenue streams by offering education resources to other creative service providers and maker…

1
EP132: Scarcity, Urgency or Always Available? Inventory & Marketing Models For Creative Business 1:20:36

1+ y ago1:20:36

1:20:36

How do you manage inventory and demand in your creative business? Do you use and market a scarcity model? An urgency model? Or an always available model? This week Melissa and Heather walk you through each of these and outline the pros and cons of each as well as showing you how you can use a mix of all three in your creative business! This episode…

1
EP131: Copyright and Creativity - With Copyright Lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris 1:40:58

1+ y ago1:40:58

1:40:58

Can I use that in my work? Have you ever asked yourself that question about somebody else's work? Or has somebody asked you that question about your work? What happens when somebody uses your stuff without asking you? How do you get copyright? Is it different in Canada from the US? What does it mean to sell your rights to somebody? What is licensin…

1
EP130: Creating Products for Your Creative Services Business 1:17:24

1+ y ago1:17:24

1:17:24

Are you a photographer, designer of any kind, writer or other creative services provider? This week Melissa and Heather are talking about how you can create products to sell alongside your creative services and open up new revenue streams - great for your slow season, to have earning income while you continue to serve clients or to help you break t…

1
EP129: Creative Canadian Women: Stefanie Henderlin of Mangata Apothecary - Growth From Failure 53:38

1+ y ago53:38

53:38

When Stefanie Henderlin first started formulating her products it was with an eye to helping her midwife clients. But, she quickly discovered just how much she loved the process and the result was the birth of Mangata Apothecary where she's 'bringing botanicals back" to a new generation of families and individuals. Stefanie shares her journey and h…

1
EP128: Words of Wisdom For Creative Business Owners 1:15:25

1+ y ago1:15:25

1:15:25

Melissa and Heather, along with past guests and current listeners, share some of the business advice and wisdom they would give their younger selves if they had the chance. Did you know you can now directly support the podcast and help us keep creating great content you want to listen to? You can help here. This episode is brought to you by Fine Li…

1
EP127: Etsy, Your Own Website or... Both? 1:01:54

1+ y ago1:01:54

1:01:54

When you have an Etsy shop, you wonder if you should open a stand along shop on a platform like Shopify or Wix. When you have a stand alone website you wonder if you should open an Etsy shop. When you're first starting out, you don't know which to pick. And if you're a creative services provider you might be wondering if this episode is even worth …

1
EP126: Money Mindset Matters For Working Creatives with Pamela George 1:16:13

1+ y ago1:16:13

1:16:13

All of us have money mindset challenges. Whether they're rooted in our childhood or our choice of a career (starving artists, anyone?), we can carry around a lot of money baggage that gets in our way and stops us from being financially empowered women. That's where today's guest, Ottawa based financial literacy consultant Pamela George, steps in. A…

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