Imperfect Creatives

Hosted by Michael Carruthers

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Feb 2026

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About the show

Conversations with people building creative and independent careers - even though that wasn’t the plan.

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20 recent

February 27, 2026Episode 41 hr 13 min

The Entrepreneurial Casino Is Selling You a Lie | Jessica Lackey

The online business world sells you a dream that doesn't work. Jessica Lackey shares the reality outside of the entrepreneurial casino. We chat about the the real path - the long, hard path - that's often the only way to sustainable success. More from Imperfect Creatives: Substack: https://imperfect.email YouTube: https://youtu.be/_0FRrrmBAMQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfect_creatives More from Jessica: Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@jessicalackey Chapters (0:00) How Jessica ended up in the casino (5:48) Why social media stopped working for networking (8:30) Puppy dog internet theory (12:28) Building two businesses at once (17:20) The cost of running a content engine (20:00) Procasti-learning (25:56) Doing the stuff that sucks to do the stuff that sings (28:52) What are you optimising for? (30:28) Delivery vs content business (33:20) Don't force the art to pay the bills (35:06) Step-change functions and limiting factors (41:38) What kept Jessica going in the early years (45:32) The zone of enoughness (50:10) Idea composting (55:14) Roots to fruits (57:46) Signal vs momentum (1:01:14) Niche down, but let the pattern emerge (1:07:22) Playing the long game (1:11:31) Key takeaway & recommendations

February 4, 2026Episode 31 hr 14 min

Ikigai Ruined My Life - Dave Kang

Dave Kang spent years trying to figure out his “one thing.” His Ikigai. It didn’t work. Now he's embraced life as a CEO. No, not that kind. A Chief Exploratory Octopus. A generalist with multiple interests (aka tentacles) reaching in different directions, without forcing it all to converge into one neat identity. Now he writes about this on his Substack, helping other multi-talented, multi-interested people break free from the pressure to pick just one thing. Chatting with Dave was an absolute joy, and I left feeling inspired and reassured about being someone with “too many” interests. Chapters (00:00) The Ikigai Lie (03:34) Becoming an Octopus (06:56) Managing Multiple Tentacles Without Overwhelm (11:20) Picking Up and Dropping Rocks (13:40) Breaking Free from Optimization Culture (16:56) The Three Hearts of an Octopus (19:02) Time, Calendars, and Cultural Obsessions (24:50) The Pressure to Monetize Everything (30:02) When Work Kills Creative Passion (31:44) Configuring Your Tentacle Portfolio (36:12) Accomplishment vs. Living True to Yourself (41:46) Destigmatizing Quitting (48:14) Start with "Why Not?" Instead of "Why" (54:10) Embarrassment and Putting Yourself Out There (59:38) Finding Your Tribe and Mentors (1:10:32) Book Recommendations (1:13:56) Final Takeaway More from Imperfect Creatives: Substack: https://imperfect.email Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfect_creatives More from Dave: Substack: https://davekang.substack.com/ Books Mentioned: The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope Range by David Epstein 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

January 21, 2026Episode 21 hr 3 min

Why Experimentation Beats Perfection - Karin Majoka

Karin Majoka is a photographer, YouTuber, psychologist, and psychotherapist-in-training, who somehow makes it all work without burning out. We chat about how she balances multiple creative passions with a full-time career, why internal motivation matters more than external validation, and how treating photography as "just one language" opens up creative freedom. As a huge fan of Karin's work this conversation was a pure joy to have and we dove in to much more, from the struggle of overthinking, to the temptation to "pick one thing," and ultimately why experimentation might be more valuable than trying to find your one exact creative style for life. More from Karin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/karinmajoka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinmajoka/ More from Imperfect Creatives : Substack: https://imperfect.email Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfect_creatives Book recommendations : You Are What You Do by Daniel Arnold Twilight by Gregory Crewdson Art Work: On the Creative Life - Sally Mann Chapters (00:00) Balancing Psychology, YouTube & Photography (02:36) Internal vs External Validation as a Creator (05:12) Planning vs Spontaneity (08:08) Searching for Your Style (12:17) Identity: Being Multiple Things at Once (16:14) Why Both Psychology and Art Make You Better at Each (18:39) The "Artist" Label Problem (20:11) Photography is Just One Language (26:34) You Can't Think Your Way Through (28:24) Killing Your Dreams to Actually Live Your Life (30:30) Recovering Overthinkers Anonymous (35:28) Opening Doors vs Shouting at Walls (37:42) Low Expectations, High Purpose (40:09) Creating Under a Pseudonym as a Therapist (43:15) Female Representation in Photography (45:47) The Rise of Authentic "Grandma Content" (48:08) Would Your Work Matter Without Sharing It? (52:01) Doing Your Homework (56:46) Follow Your Curiosity & Experiment (58:51) Book Recommendations

January 7, 2026Episode 11 hr 7 min

Why Getting Lost Might Be Exactly What You Need - Rick Foerster

Rick Foerster spent 12 years at a healthcare startup, from early employee to public company exec managing hundreds of people. He built the network. He accumulated the war chest. He had 100+ company ideas ready to go. He was standing at the starting line of what he thought was his entrepreneurial dream. Then he “went dark”. What was supposed to be a three-month sabbatical turned into two years of what Rick calls "the wilderness phase". No networking, no building. Rick wanted to figure out who he was when he wasn't on the hook to do anything. Now he’s writing post-apocalyptic fiction, has a completely different relationship with work, and believes most of us need to get lost before we can actually find anything worth doing. We talk about why his executive coach told him to disappear, what led him to writing about his experiences on Substack, the trap of suppressing existential questions with productivity, the "first mountain vs. second mountain" framework, and why following weird creative interests matters more than having a plan. Resources mentioned: Rick's Substack: https://www.thewayofwork.com/ Book: Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra Book: The Second Mountain by David Brooks Book: Transitions by William Bridges Connect with Rick: https://www.thewayofwork.com/ https://substack.com/@rickfoerster More from Imperfect Creatives: Newsletter: https://newsletter.imperfect.club/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imperfect_creatives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfect_creatives LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-carruthers/

October 29, 2025Episode 1653 min

Ari Magnússon on Cultural Identity, Choosing Leica, and Why Capturing the Mundane Matters

Ari Magnússon is a fantastic photographer and writer whose newsletter 'One Lens, Too Many Stories' explores borders, identity, and what it means to belong. He's lived in seven countries, holds three passports, and is now based in Berlin where he's documenting his neighbourhood one frame at a time. In this conversation, we talk about what that split identity actually feels like — growing up between Iceland and the UK, restarting from scratch in Montreal, and eventually landing in Berlin. We also get into why he shoots Leica (including the cost), how he developed his photographic style, and what he's actually trying to achieve with his work. Links & Resources Ari's Newsletter: One Lens, Too Many Stories Ari’s Instagram: @admagnusson Modern Color by Fred Herzog William Eggleston Sunshine Terrace by Emily Shur Chapters (0:00) Intro (0:57) Writing vs Photography (2:55) Living Across Seven Countries (5:45) Cultural Identity and Belonging (7:11) Exploring Borders Through Photography (12:22) Photography Philosophy and Purpose (26:47) Building a Body of Work & Editing Process (29:58) Making a Living as a Photographer (32:50) Moving to Berlin (34:47) Camera Shyness and Street Photography (38:58) Ethics and Motivation in Photography (41:47) Developing Your Own Style (46:47) Film vs Digital Photography (51:47) Final Thoughts and Recommendations

October 15, 2025Episode 1554 min

"Recovering Entrepreneur" Jacob O'Bryant on Building Products Full-Time, Why He Got a Job Again, and Invention as a Career Path

What happens when you chase your entrepreneurial dream for four and a half years and then realize it's not actually what you want? In this episode, I sit down with Jacob O'Bryant, creator of The Sample (now Yakread), to talk about his journey from quitting his job in his early twenties to going all-in on building his own products, only to discover that entrepreneurship wasn't the path he thought it would be. Jacob is refreshingly honest about the psychological toll, the gradual realization that he valued invention over business-building, and why going back to a full-time job wasn't defeat, it was clarity. We also explore the framework that sits between pure research and entrepreneurship: invention. It's a way of thinking about your work that doesn't require monetization or academic rigor, just meaningful exploration. Plus, we dig into unbundling social media: what it means, why it matters, and practical steps you can take as an everyday person to support a more open internet. If you've ever wondered whether the "quit your job and start a company" narrative is really for you, this conversation might give you a different perspective. Resources Mentioned: Jacob's website: https://obryant.dev/ Jacob's "Invention" resource page: https://obryant.dev/invention/ Jacob's product: https://yakread.com/ Jason Crawford's "We Need a Career Path for Invention" essay: https://blog.rootsofprogress.org/a-career-path-for-invention "You Can Help Unbundle Social Media": https://obryant.dev/p/you-can-unbundle-social-media/ "Wherever you get your podcasts is a radical statement": https://www.anildash.com//2024/02/06/wherever-you-get-podcasts/ Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:40) Being a "Recovering Entrepreneur" (04:30) College Was a Waste (07:00) The Initial Itch: Ambition and Meaningful Work (09:20) Planning the Leap: Money, Marriage, and Runway (14:50) The Sample and Yakread (19:10) Not Going All In Again (21:00) Invention is Between Research and Business (26:30) The First Months: Euphoria to Reality (29:30) Why You Shouldn't Monetize Your Passion (31:15) Hustle Culture vs. The Messy Middle (34:00) Going Back to a Day Job Wasn't Defeat (36:30) How Entrepreneurship Changed Jacob's Work (38:30) Job Searching with Entrepreneurship on Your Resume (42:30) Unbundling Social Media (46:00) What Everyday People Can Do About It (51:10) Final Takeaway and Resources

October 1, 2025Episode 141 hr 4 min

"Couch Polyglot" Laura on Learning 7+ Languages, Building a Successful YouTube Channel, and Why Duolingo Won't Make You Fluent

In this episode, I sit down with Laura aka "Couch Polyglot", a polyglot and YouTuber with over 44k subscribers who creates awesome language learning content whilst also working a day job. We explore how she balances both worlds: maintaining multiple languages as well as a growing channel without burning out. We dig into practical language learning techniques, why Duolingo might not cut it for serious learners, and how mindset often matters more than natural ability. Laura also shares what it's really like building a YouTube channel, the unexpected challenges of content creation, and her best advice for anyone juggling creative work with a day job. Resources Laura's YouTube channel CouchPolyglot: https://www.youtube.com/@CouchPolyglot Laura's website: https://www.couchpolyglot.com Imperfect Creatives Newsletter: https://imperfect.email Imperfect Creatives website: https://imperfect.club Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:03) Starting a YouTube Channel During the Pandemic (03:09) From Teaching to YouTube (09:35) Balancing YouTube and Full-Time Work (13:42) Challenges & Realities of Content Creation (26:20) Mindset and Approaches to Language Learning (34:02) Is Duolingo Effective? (35:48) Starting from Scratch: Learning Basics (37:25) The Importance of Comprehensible Input (38:37) Maintaining and Activating Languages (39:57) Overcoming Language Learning Barriers (42:11) Finding Fun (46:58) Language Tandems (01:02:32) Resources & Recommendations

September 17, 2025Episode 1353 min

Elena Mostovova on Art for Breakfast, Galleries as Cultural Shortcuts, and Building an Online Community Through Authentic Writing

Elena Mostovova is a product manager and art enthusiast who writes Art for Breakfast, a weekly newsletter making art accessible and relatable to everyone. In this conversation, we explore how art can be a shortcut to understanding culture, why starting with contemporary work beats historical pieces, and Elena's journey from writing a personal art diary to building a public community around her writing. We dig into practical tips for connecting with art without needing an art history degree, how to navigate galleries as a beginner, plus specific gallery recommendations for Berlin and New York, as well as why emotional connection matters more than market value when it comes to both art as well as sharing your own work. Elena's Newsletter: Art for Breakfast - Subscribe on Substack Book Recommendation: Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:22) Connecting with Culture Through Art (02:58) The Role of Art in Understanding History (05:59) Elena’s Personal Journey with Art (11:19) From Personal Diary to Public Sharing (15:10) Making Art Accessible (17:40) Practical Tips for Engaging with Art (22:52) The Human Side of Art (26:27) Art Collecting (30:16) Supporting Artists Beyond Monetary Investment (32:23) Galleries and Digital Spaces (34:38) Balancing Passion and Professional Life (36:11) Building a Community Through Your Work (43:27) Exploring Art Scenes in Berlin and New York (49:00): Resources & Recommendations

September 3, 2025Episode 121 hr 4 min

Catt Small on Juggling Creative Projects, Staff Design, and “Procrastiworking”

Catt Small is a staff designer who's figured out something most of us struggle with: how to juggle multiple creative projects without burning out. She's written a book, runs online courses, organizes conferences, develops games, and somehow manages to be intentional about where she puts her energy even with all of these competing interests. Also interesting is that Catt climbed to director level as a designer, then consciously stepped back into individual contributor work because she knew what gave her the most energy. We talk about how to build influence without a manager title, why validation matters before you commit hundreds of hours to a project, and how to say no to some projects so you can say yes to the right ones. Plus, practical advice on making the leap from senior to staff level and navigating workplace politics as an Individual Contributor (IC). This one's packed with insights for anyone trying to level up in their day job or figure out how to balance multiple creative projects alongside a demanding 9-5. Resources mentioned Pre-order Catt's fantastic book "The Staff Designer" here: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-staff-designer Checkout Catt's website Game Devs of Color Expo (Sep 16–19, 2025) Catt's Staff Designer course Catt's book choices: The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna and Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans More from Imperfect Creatives Subscribe to the newsletter: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠imperfect.email⁠⁠ The website: ⁠⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠ @imperfect.creatives⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠ ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives Chapters (00:00): Intro (01:41): Catt's Early Programming Journey (03:31): From Web Dev to Graphic Design (06:05): Navigating Career Choices & Financial Realities (09:44): Evolving Relationship with Work & Side Projects (12:27): Balancing Multiple Projects & Avoiding Burnout (15:52): Saying No & Identity Beyond Projects (20:41): Handling External Perceptions & Self-Awareness (28:14): From Blog to Book (36:03): Staff vs. Management: Leadership & Influence (49:00): Building Influence as a Staff Designer (56:19): Game Devs of Color Expo (59:38): Resources & Final Takeaways

August 20, 2025Episode 111 hr 0 min

Follow the spark, not the score - with Paul Hughes

In this episode, I sit down with Paul Hughes, who's career is far from the traditional 9-5, being that he's worked as everything from travelling salesman, military photography, radio host, to now running AFN Europe's radio programming across 15 stations, 8 countries, and 4 timezones. We talk about the struggle of finding work that's truly meaningful, following the spark of excitement in creative work without getting bogged down by the 'score' of ambition, and why putting yourself out there might be the only way forward, even when imposter syndrome keeps whispering that you don't belong. If you've ever decided it's too late to chase something that feels impossible, this conversation might change your mind. Resources mentioned "Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins - Paul's book recommendation "A Hard Kick in the Nuts" by Steve-O