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
Chapters
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
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
More from Imperfect Creatives
Chapters
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
Dr. Rod Berger has a degree in clinical psychology, has interviewed over 4,000 people, and just wrote his first book "The Narrative Edge", but his real expertise is in finding the human behind the talking points. In this episode, we explore what makes storytelling important, how Rod breaks through people's scripted responses to get to authentic connection, and his philosophy that "if you're not telling your story, someone else is."
Rod shares how his "Forrest Gump-like" career of saying yes to unexpected opportunities led him from psychology to refugee work to becoming a master interviewer. We dig into the vulnerable process of writing his first book, why he refuses to ask questions you could find in a press release, and how true presence and authenticity can change everything.
Whether you're struggling to find your authentic voice or wondering how to connect more deeply with others, this episode will make you rethink how you show up in your own story.
Links for this episode:
Chapters
(00:00) The Journey of Storytelling
(05:36) Embracing Opportunities: The Power of Saying Yes
(13:43) Crafting Your Own Narrative
(22:09) The Art of Authentic Interviewing
(30:46) The Addictive Nature of Storytelling
(36:52) The Impact of Connection
(42:51) The Importance of Being Present
(46:56) The Evolution of Storytelling
(54:59) Capturing Stories with Integrity
(01:00:18) Episode Wrap-Up
What if the biggest breakthrough in your communication isn't about being more persuasive, but about being more curious?
Dr. Michael Gerharz, a communication coach with a computer science background, joins me to unpack why so many brilliant ideas die in boring PowerPoint presentations. We dive into his PATH framework (Plain & Simple, Actionable, Transformative, Heartfelt) and explore how empathy beats ego in every conversation that matters.
From navigating blunt feedback in tech teams to making presentations that people actually want to listen to, Michael shares practical tools for anyone tired of dancing around topics or watching great ideas get lost in translation.
Resources mentioned:
Stay in the loop:
Orel Zilberman quit his job to become an indie hacker, and then built 9 projects and made… nothing. And then everything changed with his latest product, WriteStack, an AI writing tool now generating thousands in revenue.
In this conversation, we dig into the messy reality of quitting your job to be an indie hacker and building in public. Orel shares how customer feedback completely pivoted his product direction, why he spends time daily DMing strangers who engage with his work, and how he balances running WriteStack with maintaining his Substack (the IndiePreneur) where he openly shares his journey every step of the way.
Stay in the loop:
More from Orel:
The IndiePreneur (Orel's Substack newsletter)
Other Resources Mentioned:
David Goggins - Can’t Hurt Me (Orel’s book choice)
Michael Box is a filmmaker, writer, musician, juggling indie film production with a full-time job and family life. In this conversation, we dig into how he and his creative partner Patrick launched Echo Eterna Productions to create "Speakeasy”, a dystopian film about punk musicians in a world where self-expression is regulated.
We talk about time management, writing scripts in parking lots, working with ADHD as a superpower, the emotional vulnerability of putting creative work out there, and more.
✉️ Stay in the loop:
More from Michael Box & SpeakEasy:
Other Resources Mentioned:
Chapters:
(00:48) Wearing multiple hats
(01:00) Time management
(03:02) Managing ADHD and Staying Motivated
(05:47) The Importance of Creative Outlets
(06:07) From Music to Filmmaking
(10:04) Launching Echo Eterna Productions
(17:21) Networking and Collaboration
(21:12) Crowdfunding and Production Challenges
(28:42) Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
(30:06) The Challenges of Shooting on Film
(31:20) The Importance of Collaboration
(32:06) Overcoming Creative Obstacles
(33:40) Balancing Creativity and Mental Health
(38:13) Managing ADHD in Creative Work
(45:51) The Influence of Punk Music
(53:18) Supporting SpeakEasy
What does it take to walk away from a broken system and build something better?
In this episode, I talk to Toni Finnimore, founder of The Social Society, about her journey from “climbing a mountain of treacle” in the charity sector to creating a platform that actually helps people give back in more human, meaningful ways. We talk about founder life, compassion fatigue, and how to actually make a difference when you don’t know where to start.
🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
✉️ Stay in the loop:
Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(01:22) What Is The Social Society?
(04:14) Toni’s Background
(08:33) Leaving the Sector vs. Building Something New
(11:07) The Reality of Starting From Scratch
(13:29) Volunteering That Actually Works: Skills, Not Guilt
(17:01) Micro-Volunteering and Making It Frictionless
(20:22) Founder Burnout and Setting Boundaries
(23:10) Gender Bias in the Founder Journey
(26:05) Growing Slow, Staying Rooted
(30:41) Balancing Strategy with Intuition
(35:18) Rebuilding Local Connection in a Remote World
(38:50) Holding Space Without Absorbing Everything
(41:55) Starting Small to Beat Overwhelm
(45:30) Why Good Events Aren’t About Glitter and Hay Bales
(48:00) Finding Purpose in the Chaos
(49:38) Final Thoughts and Book Recommendations
If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching your 9–5 to pursue something more creative, this one’s for you.
In this episode, I chat with Evelyn (aka tapiocapress) about her transition from a corporate tech job to full-time YouTuber. Evelyn shares what it was like to feel misaligned in the world of work, how she began building her channel on the side, and the pivotal moment she decided to go all-in.
We chat about the emotional and practical sides of creative independence: the fear of leaving security, how to “job-craft” your way into alignment, and what it’s really like to share your life with an audience that’s still growing. We also discuss goal setting, how to deal with the ups and downs of being a content creator, the importance of staying honest with yourself, and the impact of finding community and support within the creator space.
A huge thanks to Evelyn for openly sharing her experience, which I think provides super valuable lessons and encouragement for anyone considering a similar path!
More from Evelyn
Resources Mentioned
Evelyn’s book choice: The body keeps the score - Bessel Van Der Kolk
The Pathless Path - Paul Millerd
More from Imperfect
Chapters
(02:32) Evelyn's YouTube Beginnings
(05:03) Dealing with Transparency and Audience Growth
(12:00) Balancing YouTube and a Full-Time Job
(12:47) The Reality of Burnout
(13:06) Finding Inspiration from Other Creatives
(15:45) Navigating the Decision to Quit Corporate
(22:09) The Importance of Community and Support
(27:49) Job Crafting: Molding Your Job to Fit Your Passions
(30:29) The Dissonance of a Corporate Job vs. Personal Goals
(32:41) Balancing Productivity and Personal Fulfillment
(36:42) Navigating Corporate Culture and Personal Pursuits
(42:16) Aligning Goals and Expectations
(46:25) The Journey to Self-Understanding and Balance
(49:08) Setting Goals and Reflecting on Progress
(55:22) Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts
The work of knowing yourself is never over, and our identity, as well as what matters to us, constantly shifts and changes over the course of our lives. In this episode I talk with Paulo André, a former VP of engineering turned leadership coach, about how we can better understand our personal identity, and be aware of common pitfalls that can so often lead to burnout, like allowing our work to consume our identity to the point that we rely on burning dark energy to get by.
This episode was like a personal therapy session for me, and we dive into many deep topics such as dealing with anxiety, learning to detach from what we cannot control, and being aware of the narratives that are driving us forwards. We also talk about Paolo’s fantastic newsletter “The Hakagure” plus the practicalities of going from a 9-5 role to starting your own business. I certainly learned a lot in this episode and I hope you will too!
(00:00) Introduction
(02:26) From Engineer, to Leader, to Coach
(08:20) Why Start a Coaching Business?
(14:54) Burning Dark Energy
(21:39) Following your Intuition
(24:24) Dealing with Anxiety & Doubt
(31:36) Journaling
(36:13) Personal vs Work Identity
(43:12) Self-Worth & The Stories we tell ourselves
(48:39) Isolating Personal Identity and Professional Growth
(53:11) How to detach
(57:54) Understand, then be understood
(1:06:40) Focus on what you can control
(1:08:29) Connect on a human level
(1:10:30) Anxiety is future-facing
(1:17:32) Negative visualisation
(1:19:45) The different kinds of stress
(1:25:49) Take yourself less seriously
(1:26:23) Taking action & fearing failure
(1:32:50) Nobody’s looking
(01:35:15) Key takeaways and Book recommendations
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I talk with Igor Ranc about his journey as an online creative and writer, from his first online newspaper in 2008 to his newsletter Handpicked Berlin, which now has over 6,000 subscribers. We dive into everything from dealing with fear and the spotlight effect, to Igor’s experience taking an active sabbatical and creating his own startup, to the challenge of “hamster wheel content creation”, and the importance that distribution plays as a creator and entrepreneur.
MORE FROM IGOR RANC
MORE FROM IMPERFECT CREATIVES
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction
(03:34) The origin of Handpicked Berlin
(05:26) Defining success & traction as a creator
(06:54) The evolution of Handpicked Berlin
(09:08) Why keep going?
(10:45) Balancing passion projects with full-time work
(17:56) Embracing the journey & finding balance
(22:53) Survivorship bias & compounding
(26:00) Nothing happens without persistence
(28:58) Compounding leading to growth
(31:40) Community is the key
(34:00) How things change when you have an audience
(37:20) Metrics and growth traps
(39:12) The urge to scale
(42:56) The pressure to have side-hustles
(45:00) Just start, nobody cares
(49:14) Asking is free
(52:00) Know the game you're playing
(57:40) What to ask companies in interviews
(01:01:17) Mastering salary negotiations
(01:09:02) Book recommendations & final takeaways
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode I chat with Vinamrata Singal about her decision to take a sabbatical after seven years in the tech industry. We delve into the motivations and fears people have when thinking of taking a sabbatical, as well as the impact a sabbatical can have on your life and your career.
As always we dive into the deep stuff - we explore what it means to relinquish your professional identity and deal with the battle of the ego and status that comes with that. We also talk about the challenges of publishing work online and the struggles of marketing yourself. Vinamrata also shares a bunch of great resources for online creatives and for anyone thinking of taking a sabbatical. I’m a big fan of Vinamrata’s writing so it was an absolute pleasure to have her on the show - hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! - Mike.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction
(01:15) The decision to take a Sabbatical
(05:06) What even is a sabbatical?
(07:45) Planning a sabbatical
(11:30) The journey to quitting
(13:18) Scarcity mindset & financial anxiety
(14:22) Struggling with losing your identity
(15:10) The “what do you do?” question & investing in yourself
(16:00) Is taking a sabbatical “brave”?
(18:20) The pebble in your shoe
(19:40) Advice for people considering a sabbatical
(22:45) The door is more open than you think
(25:40) It’s easier to feel the downsides
(27:05) Struggling with professional labels
(30:10) Pride and ego
(35:40) Pursuing a Blended Career
(37:05) Is success as a full-time creative in your control?
(42:30) What is failure for creative work?
(44:00) Does having an audience matter?
(47:20) Self-promotion vs doing the work
(50:10) Starting a coaching side-hustle
(55:00) Growing intentionally & the Sh**ty Marketing Ratio
(58:12) Book Recommendations
(61:55) Key Takeaways
MORE FROM VINAMRATA SINGAL
MORE FROM IMPERFECT CREATIVES
RESOURCES MENTIONED
VINAMRATA’S BOOK PICKS
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I chat with Phil Bennett (Director of Engineering, speaker, and author) about his new book “Punk Leadership”. Taking inspiration from the spikey-haired, loud-mouthed Punks of the 70s, Phil calls on all of us to take a boot to the status quo and fix broken corporations from the inside-out. We dive into the juicy details on what this means and how to do this - figuring out your personal values by building a “personal manifesto”, using Phil’s core pillars (“people, cash, planet”) to build a positively impactful career, and challenging dodgy decisions in the workplace. We also dive into how tech has influenced the creator economy, as well as some practical tips on how Phil tackles writing with Dyslexia. I hope you enjoy the show! - Mike.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:09) What is Punk Leadership?
(08:20) The influence of punk on creative culture
(09:28) The impact of disruption in tech
(12:14) Conscious decision making when choosing a job
(21:46) How to create a Personal Manifesto
(24:57) Challenging decisions in the workplace
(33:23) Reassessing your manifesto over time
(49:43) Exploring entrepreneurship and indie hacking
(52:32) The reality of content creation and the creator economy
(56:00) How tech platforms impact the creator economy
(01:00:00) YouTube niches and how hard it actually is to be a YouTuber
(01:05:19) Tech isolation
(01:09:58) Does online privacy matter?
(01:16:40) The Prog-Rock phase of the tech industry
(01:21:10) The challenges of writing a book with Dyslexia
(01:26:53) Balancing a full-time job with creative side projects
(01:30:41) Key takeaways
This podcast isn't perfect, and neither are you. And that's okay! This show is for imperfect creatives and entrepreneurs who want to embrace shipping their work without the trappings of perfection. Leadership and career coach Michael Carruthers chats with creatives of all kinds - be it engineers, product managers, YouTubers, authors, or solopreneurs - to understand how they grapple with the challenges that come with building a fulfilling creative career, along with all of the glorious imperfection that comes with it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
