Behind the Design

Hosted by Olivia Austin

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Episodes

172

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Behind the Design is a podcast for ambitious designers and creatives ready to move beyond inconsistent income, overworking, and playing small and into a more refined, scalable, and sustainable business and life. Hosted by Olivia Austin, brand strategist and business mentor, the show goes behind the scenes of what it actually takes to build a high-performing creative business through smarter offers, confident pricing, streamlined systems, and the mindset required to scale without burnout. This is the gateway into The Studio Co., where clarity, leverage, and long-term growth begin.

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60 recent

June 10, 202630 min

166. Why Ambitious Moms Undercharge, Overdeliver, and Say Yes When They Mean No

There are limiting beliefs holding you back as an ambitious mom. It doesn't matter how successful you are, how long you've been in business or how clear you are on your goals, limiting beliefs can subconsciously sabotage even your greatest accomplishments. In this episode, we're talking all about limiting beliefs going. Where they come from, what it's been costing you in ways you might not even realize, and exactly how to start dropping it for good. If you feel discontent, overwhelmed or "behind", mastering your limiting beliefs may be the thing that gets you to the next level. The Focus Filter: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/w9krm39mi9[FREE GUIDE] The Part Time CEO: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/lbsf3c4fe8[FREE EXPERIENCE]: The Upgraded You: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ej9iv1g03p1:1 Coaching: ByoliviaaustinPrivate Coaching for women business owners

June 3, 202628 min

165. Working Constantly and Still Not Where You Want to Be, Here's What's Missing

FREE GUIDE: Six Figures, Part-Time Hours https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/lbsf3c4fe8 You've built the business. Clients are coming in, you're showing up and doing the work, but somehow it still feels like you're drowning. If you've ever wondered why having the business doesn't feel like you thought it would, this episode is for you.LINKS:The Focus Filter: ⁠https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/w9krm39mi9⁠[FREE GUIDE] The Part Time CEO: ⁠https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/lbsf3c4fe8⁠[FREE EXPERIENCE]: The Upgraded You: ⁠https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ej9iv1g03p⁠1:1 Coaching: ⁠ByoliviaaustinPrivate Coaching for women business owners

May 27, 202624 min

164. My Biggest Business Evolution Yet

Nine years in, and I'm making the biggest change I've ever made to my business and I'm taking you behind the scenes of the thought process of making the decision and the logistics of making it all happen. In this episode, I'm getting honest about what it actually looks like to run three brands simultaneously, why having them spread out was capping my revenue and the moment I knew something had to change. This episode I walk you through the massive identity shift, ego work (and death), the fear that simplifying meant giving up, and what finally happened when I chose to follow my intuition.I'm talking about what I had to let go of, what I'm combining, what's staying, what's next and the questions I wish someone had asked me years ago that I'm now asking you.If you've ever felt like you're doing all the things and somehow still feel behind, this one's for you.LINKS:The Focus Filter: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/w9krm39mi9[FREE GUIDE] The Part Time CEO: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/lbsf3c4fe8[FREE EXPERIENCE]: The Upgraded You: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ej9iv1g03p

May 6, 202628 min

163. Why the Life You Want Feels Just Out of Reach And How to Finally Close the Gap

You know that version of you — the one who's present, building something meaningful, not running on fumes, not behind, not constantly waiting for things to feel easier. She's clear. She's calm. She's fully in her life.Here's the truth: she's not working harder than you. She's not waking up earlier. She doesn't have more hours or more help. The difference between her and where you are right now isn't strategy. It's identity.In this episode, I'm getting really honest about the moment I realized I had built a life I couldn't actually live in — a thriving design studio, a team of five, multiple six figures — and none of it fit the mom and woman I was becoming. That realization changed everything. And it started not with a new plan, but with a new version of myself.If you've ever felt like the life you want is just slightly out of reach — like you're doing all the right things but something still doesn't fit — this episode is for you.The Part-Time CEO: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/lbsf3c4fe8The Upgraded You: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ej9iv1g03p1:1 Coaching: https://currentdesignstudio.com/coaching

April 29, 202629 min

162. The Revenue Streams I Added This Year, What's Next and Why My Business Is Changing

This one's been a long time coming. I'm pulling back the curtain on the biggest business evolution I've made to date with the new revenue streams I've added across both Current and The Studio Co., the ones coming next, and the real story behind why I'm doing all of it. This isn't a highlight reel. It's the honest, behind-the-scenes version of what it looks like to build a business that actually fits your life. If you've been sensing something shifting over here, you're right. Let's talk about it.currentdesignstudio.com/coachingthestudioco.co

April 23, 202651 min

161. Farm Life, Three Kids, and a Thriving Business with Sydney Walden

What does it look like to build a business that truly revolves around your life, not the other way around? In this episode, I'm sitting down with Sydney of Rouse Design Studio, a brand and web designer, mom of three, and accidental homesteader who traded suburban life for 12 acres, cows, donkeys, and some very stubborn potbelly pigs. Sydney shares how leaving teaching ignited her confidence, why she only takes calls on Mondays, how she carves out alone time with a six-week-old at home, and the mindset shift that changed everything to just chill out. It's not that deep. If you've been trying to do it all and wondering why it feels so hard, this one's for you.

April 15, 202627 min

160. Standards to Stay Grounded During Tough Seasons of Life & Business

In this episode of Behind the Design, I'm sharing the five non-negotiable standards that kept me grounded through one of the most overwhelming seasons I've had in business and life. These standards are rooted in identity, not business strategy or tactics. We're talking about what it actually means to lead yourself first, why structure is the thing that creates freedom (not the thing that takes it away), how to show up consistently when motivation is nowhere to be found, the sneaky way consuming content keeps you stuck, and why making fast decisions is one of the most underrated skills in business.The Upgraded You: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ycxm0bjxgxGet 25% off activations app: https://share.activations.com/olivia6!21d64258b9!a?locale=en1:1 Coaching: https://currentdesignstudio.com/coaching

April 6, 20261 min

159. No Episode This Week, But Here's Something Better!

WE START TOMORROW!! SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintApril 7–9, we're running The Studio Growth Blueprint, a free 3-day live challenge for brand and website designers who are done being overworked and undercharging.Three days and three trainings with daily live hot seat coaching and a group pop-up channel. Real strategy for attracting high-end clients, building a $200k offer suite, and finally replacing the feast-or-famine cycle with something that actually holds.Replays through April 14th and it's completely free.This is the work. Come do it with us.🔗 Grab your free seat → thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprint

April 2, 202628 min

158. The Marketing Advice Designers Actually Need Right Now

SAVE YOUR FREE SEAT: https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintMost designers try something for a month, don't see results, and switch strategies. Then they wonder why nothing works. In this episode, we're cutting through the noise and giving you a real, repeatable marketing framework you can actually stick to without dedicating your entire week to content creation.We're breaking down exactly how to build a marketing strategy that fits your business, starting with the one thing most people skip: getting crystal clear on your ideal client before you do anything else.

March 25, 202628 min

157. 10 Lessons That Changed My Life (Birthday Reflection)

FREE CHALLENGE FOR DESIGNERS // Save your free seat: https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-blueprintThis episode is a little more personal. With another year behind me, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have shaped how I live, work, and show up in both business and life. Some of these came from hard seasons, some from growth I didn't expect and some are reminders I'll probably carry with me forever. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 lessons that changed the way I think about decisions, relationships, ambition, and what it actually means to build a life you love. If you’re in a season of growth, transition, or just craving a deeper level of clarity, this one is for you.