Yeah, I’m not perfectly consistent. In fact, no one is.
Even so, I felt ashamed, guilty, and dare I say even hypocritical for missing the past couple of weeks of the podcast. So what better way to make a comeback than… to TALK ABOUT IT?
And while we’re at it, let’s talk about how we’ve got consistency all wrong. Because if we let it mean never missing a beat, we’re setting ourselves up for failure before we even start. Real consistency lives somewhere between “showing up every single day” and “disappearing for 3 months because life happened.”
In this episode, I’m unpacking why your bounce-back rate matters more than never falling behind, the difference between consistency in marketing vs. branding, and how your visual identity can become the system that makes consistency easier (not harder). We’ll also dig into why so many entrepreneurs mistake a shiny rebrand for a solution to inconsistency… only to stall when it’s time to actually use it (you guessed it… consistently).
So if you’ve ever felt guilty for dropping the ball, burned out from chasing the algorithm, or stuck in a cycle of redesign–retreat–repeat, this one’s for you.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why “perfect consistency” is setting you up to fail
✦ The real reason beautiful brands gather digital dust
✦ How improvisation becomes the enemy of implementation
✦ What consistency actually looks like for solopreneurs (and why it’s not about posting daily)
✦ Why memorability > frequency when it comes to branding
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Listen to Ep. 002 “What If You’re Bored Of Your Own Brand?”
✦ THE COLOUR CIRCLE: Fix whatever design you’ve been (over)fiddling with for hours
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
00:33 The guilt of being perfectly inconsistent
01:46 Replacing “perfect streaks” with “bounce back rate”
03:21 The branding trap: beautiful visuals, no space for consistent implementation
05:56 Improvisation vs. intentionality (and why we default to winging it)
10:11 Social media frequency vs. brand consistency
13:07 Why consistent beats pretty every time
If you don’t know what to write your newsletter about this week (or if writing anything for your business makes you wanna scream), today’s episode is exactly what you need.
What do “The Unlikely Game Changer”, “The Embarrassing Moment”, “The Necessary Reframe”, “The Truth Comes Out”, and “The Unexpected Transformation” all have in common?
They’re the topics inside Sara Joelle’s Swipe File (out NOW) for October!! And in this episode, she’s giving you a FREE, behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how to use it. Yep, you’re getting a front-row seat inside Sara’s squirrel genius brain as she turns one of the topics into a ready-to-go newsletter idea you can send today.
And that’s just the opening act.
Because Website Girl came to overdeliver, and once she gets going, every sentence is a strategy, and every tangent a mini masterclass. And this conversation is overflowing with copywriting tips & newsletter strategies, that’ll make you want to open a blank doc before the episode’s even finished.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why “write like you’d talk to a friend" is not helpful copywriting advice
✦ How to turn boring stories into high-converting content your subscribers wanna read
✦ Free walkthrough of Sara’s October Swipe File (and ready-to-use newsletter ideas you can steal today)
✦ Newsletters vs. Sales Emails: including how often you should actually send them
✦ Why copy comes first and design comes second (always)
TAKE THE STAGE
Take “The Necessary Reframe” topic to write your next newsletter or blog post:
Share about a time you were forced to change your perspective about something you’d previously never considered changing your mind on. This can be a shift in mindset, a change in routine, a new perspective about an industry topic, or even something as simple as starting to like someone or something that you previously disliked.
Then grab Sara's brand-new Swipe File subscription ($31/month for 31 content ideas that fit any business) to get the other x4 topics, x6 angles per topic, and x7 subject lines per angle…
It’s a no-brainer: https://evacoutodesign--btlcopy.thrivecart.com/swipe-file/ (*affiliate link)
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Keep listening to us on Sara’s podcast Point Of The Story: “Cold Pitches, Freak Magnetism, and a Brand Worth Using with Eva Couto”
✦ THE COLOUR CIRCLE: Bring the Canva design you’ve been (over)fiddling with for hours
✦ SWIPE FILE: Never worry about what to write on your newsletter again (*affiliate link)
✦ MAIN CHARACTER MOMENT: Confidently write about yourself in EVERY situation
✦ SITE SERIES SPRINT: An actually-easy-to-understand, self-paced website copywriting course
✦ SUCCESS STORY: 3-month group mentorship program for copywriters (*affiliate link)
✦ WRITE YOUR SITE: Co-working calls to help you start & finish writing your website
✦ WEBSITE COPY TEMPLATE: Wicked easy template for writing your website copy
✦ COLD PITCHING GUIDE: How-to guide to help you send the best, most professional cold pitch emails in the game
✦ Sarah Kleist, Sara’s Website Designer
✦ Mathilde Langevin, Sara’s Brand Photographer
✦ Smart, Pretty & Awkward newsletter, by Molly Beck
✦ The 3-2-1 Newsletter, by James Clear
Follow & Connect with Sara:
✦ Follow her Instagram
✦ Check out her Website
✦ Subscribe to Tuesday’s Table Of Contents
✦ Listen to the Point Of The Story podcast
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
04:09 Sara’s Freak Show Audition
10:46 The Reality Of Writing Your Own Website
14:58 Why Overthinking Kills Your Brand’s Tone Of Voice
24:05 Inside Swipe File: Write Your Next Newsletter Now
28:51 How To Tie Everyday Stories To Tips Without Forcing It
33:29 Newsletters vs. Sales Emails: Frequency & Content
42:10 Selling Without The Girlboss Sleaze
45:48 Why Copy Should Always Come Before Design
51:34 Audacity As The Key To Success
I know Sharpay Evans said “bigger is better, and better is bigger”, but is that the ONLY path to success? Well… I don’t think so, and this game-changing realisation not only flipped my business upside down, but also redefined what growth looks like to me.
What started with Paul Jarvis’ book “Company of One”, turned into me rethinking the whole myth of infinite scaling (and the pressures behind what it takes to make money while you sleep), the hidden costs of always chasing more & more, and why small businesses — like your local coffee shop or a two-person studio — often have more impact than corporate mega-brands. Which is why I’m forever inspired by the real stories of solopreneurs building thriving, human-sized businesses without chasing millions of followers or dollars.
If you started your business to define success on your terms: whether that’s free time, mental health, or a community that hangs on your every word… then I invite you to listen to this one! (and I pinky promise you I’m not sponsored or endorsed in ANY WAY by Paul Jarvis, I just really like this book, it changed my life, and I recommend it to everyone).
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why “bigger is better” doesn’t fit solopreneurs
✦ The invisible costs of scaling: burnout, bureaucracy, and losing what you love
✦ How small businesses build trust and impact through intimacy and authenticity
✦ Real examples of solopreneurs thriving by staying small (and why it works)
✦ What if it’s about quality of life, not just revenue?
TAKE THE STAGE
✦ Is growth really worth it, if the price is your creative life itself?
✦ If your business’s success wasn’t measured by its scalability, how would YOU measure it?
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Company Of One, by Paul Jarvis
✦ Emelie Sanders, from Pass The Queso
✦ Jess Freeman, from Jess Creatives, Thread
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
01:25 Why Scaling Didn't Fit My Business
04:27 The Trap of Infinite Growth & What You Lose With It
06:40 When Intimacy Beats Size (And Bigger Isn't Better)
08:52 The Practical Perks of a Human-Sized Business
12:09 How You Can Redefine Success
If you’ve ever felt trapped in a beige wardrobe (or brand), wondering how to break free without losing your nerve, this episode is for you. Eva & Brigida dive into how the messy overlap of style and branding influences the way you show up online as a personal brand.
We unpack why the beige default is holding you back, how to start sprinkling colour into your wardrobe without ending up saying “I have nothing to wear!”, and why your personal style is one of the ultimate expressions of your values and personality. From cybersecurity to fashion, Brigitta is living proof that leaning into what makes you YOU is how you create your unmistakable brand.
Expect history lessons, nerdy tangents, and a spicy take that’ll have you rethinking everything about what “professionalism” looks like.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ The overlap of branding & style as a tangible expression of identity
✦ Why beige became the go-to (and why it’s time to exit that curve)
✦ The difference between choosing neutrals vs. defaulting to them
✦ How to add colour to your wardrobe without tipping into overwhelm
✦ Why your outfit can’t fake confidence (but it can amplify it)
✦ How the rise of quiet luxury, old money and trad wife aesthetics repackage conformity as “taste”
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE COLOUR CIRCLE: Bring the Canva design you’ve been (over)fiddling with for hours
Follow & Connect with Brigitta:
✦ Follow her Instagram
✦ Check out her website
✦ Subscribe to The Show Notes
✦ Listen to The Style Curious private podcast
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
02:10 Brigitta’s Freak Show Audition
13:35 The Overlap of Branding and Personal Style
22:56 Trust Yourself Over a Colour Analysis
25:46 Different Contexts, Different Clothes, Same You
44:13 How to Start Adding Colour Without Getting Overwhelmed
48:41 How to Navigate Fashion Trends
57:55 The Problem Pith “Quiet Luxury”, “Old Money” & “Tradwife” Aesthetics
01:05:10 Self-Expression Won’t Scare Off Your Dream Clients
01:06:32 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
September is the unofficial New Year’s 2.0, and after a much-needed August break (that I hope you took too, by the way), we’re all ready to shake off the summer haze and get back into business mode with fresh energy, but without the pressure to hustle ourselves into the ground.
I’m sharing three actionable ways to reconnect with your brand, spark your creativity, and make fun a part of your routine so that showing up feels exciting again. And this is your invitation to bring more clarity, play and intentionality back into your brand, so you can stop leaving it for last in the to-do list & find the consistency you’ve been searching for.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why September can be your ultimate fresh start
✦ The reason you keep pushing your own brand to the bottom of the to-do list
✦ How to find clarity & purpose within your brand values
✦ Pausing to play and experiment as the key to consistency
TAKE THE STAGE
Ready to go from vacation mode to back-to-business and feel inspired by building your own business again? Here are some prompts:
✦ What do you want your brand to make people feel right now?
✦ What’s something new you could try for your brand, just to have fun with it?
✦ How can you make your brand content recognisable from a mile away?
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ BRAND DESIGNER GETS (RE)BRANDED: listen to episodes 027-029 for the mini-series
✦ THE COLOUR CIRCLE: Bring the Canva design you’ve been (over)fiddling with for hours
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome (back) to The Freak Show
00:54 September Feels Like New Year’s 2.0
02:30 Rest Is Productive (and Hustle Isn’t Mandatory)
03:54 Step 1: Find Clarity in Your Brand’s Core Message
05:32 Step 2: Pause, Play, and Get Inspired
06:42 Step 3: Stay True to Your Brand (Not Trends)
Something about rags-to-riches stories always rubbed me the wrong way. ‘Cause most online business journeys don’t fit that shiny (and predictable) arc. They’re pretty… normal.
Take my own story for example: I followed everyone’s expectations until I said “f*ck it” on Christmas Eve 2019. That was over 6 years ago, and in honour of my 6th Brandversary, I wanted to tell you the real story. From a nightmare internship that had me designing menus in PowerPoint (yes, really) to building a business that lets me own my weird, I’m taking a trip down memory lane. Whether you’ve been here since the very beginning or just started tagging along, here are two big reminders:
1) Sometimes all you have to do when you want something is send a DM.
2) It takes a village to build a business & keep it running for 6+ years.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ How regular beginnings get lost in rags-to-riches funnels
✦ When a nightmare internship led to starting freelancing
✦ Making less than an orange juice an hour (and other corporate red flags)
✦ Why it takes a village to build a business that lasts
✦ Redefining what "professional" looks like
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Joana Galvão, from GIF Design Studios
✦ Yevgeniya Davarashvili (Gigi), from One6Creative (get the Designer Business Templates I use here*)
✦ Alice Benham, Business Strategist (join me inside On It here* )
✦ Vix Meldrew, Online Learning Expert
✦ Xanthe Appleyard, from Oh Sierra Creative (sign up for LOTP here*)
✦ Ceels Lockley, Offer Strategy Coach
*some of the links above are affiliate links, which means if you sign up through them, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ See what my very first website looked like
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
00:30 Why Rags-to-Riches Stories Feel Off
03:42 My 6th Brandversary & Six Years In Business
04:27 The Post-Grad Panic of a Passionate Designer
07:56 Rules That Didn’t Make Sense & Internship Red Flags
12:41 Quitting on Christmas Eve as My Gift to Myself
14:32 Toying with Freelancing and Finding a Mentor
16:53 The People Behind Six Years of Success
The grand finale of our rebrand anniversary series is here, with the third ring of my Three Ring Confidence framework: Development. And THIS is where all the work, effort, energy and time you’ve put into this massive project actually starts working for you & bringing the results you crave (instead of just a shiny Google Drive folder).
In this episode, we’re unpacking how I brought my rebrand from Eva Couto Design to Flying Colours Creative® to life, touchpoint by touchpoint. From having fun with Instagram (yes, it’s possible) to website rollercoasters, I’m telling you everything that worked, what needed tweaking along the way, and why implementation is where every rebrand hangs. If you’re sitting on a rebrand (or dreaming of one), this is your sign to stop planning and start doing — because a brand isn’t something you have, it’s something you use.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why your rebrand doesn’t exist until you start using it
✦ How social media became my low-stakes playground for testing new visuals
✦ The mammoth task of a website overhaul
✦ Why backend assets matter just as much as the front-facing flair
✦ How this rollercoaster ride helped shape The Extravaganza experience
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: A 12-week, all-inclusive brand transformation that gives you all the visuals, website and marketing assets it takes to succeed with Flying Colours.
People I worked with for my rebrand:
✦ Katie Pannell, Naming Expert & Founder of 26&thensome
✦ Ceels Lockley, Offer Strategy Coach
✦ João Nogueira, Website Developer
✦ Adrienne Cruz, Podcast Manager
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
01:36 Why Implementation Is Where Your Rebrand Lives or Dies
05:35 Why Instagram Was My First Touchpoint
11:47 Revamping the Newsletter: From Rebel’s Corner to Uncaged
13:03 The High Stakes Of Tackling the Website
16:39 Launching The Freak Show Podcast
18:39 Email Signatures, Client Portals, and More Backend Implementation
21:25 A Brand Is a Tool You Use, Not a Thing You Have
23:12 Rethinking The Extravaganza
Time for the second ring of my Three-Ring Confidence framework: Design. Today is all about taking that big top brand energy we uncovered last week and turning it into a visual identity that screams me.
Spoiler: designing my own brand wasn’t the smooth ride you’d expect from someone who does this for a living. It was a chaotic, stomach-butterfly-inducing tightrope walk, full of self-doubt and big decisions. From wrestling with colours to taming the shiny-object urge, I’m spilling the tea on how I brought this circus to life without losing sight of who I am. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a visual identity that feels like you, grows with your business, and doesn’t alienate your audience, this is one you’ll want to tune into.
And if you want help with rebranding yourself… I’m booking Extravaganza projects for the rest of 2025: only 5 spots left! Apply now & let’s design a brand that looks the part, acts the part & sells out.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why seeing your brand come to life can spark some confidence wobbles
✦ How I balanced nostalgia & play with a circus brand theme
✦ The tightrope of keeping what works while embracing bold reinvention
✦ Avoiding the Frankenstein trap and over-tweaking your brand
TAKE THE STAGE
What’s one visual element in my brand (a colour, a font, an icon) that feels like me, and how can I make it work harder to tell my story? If you’re stuck, revisit last week’s episode for the direction ring to uncover what makes your brand mesmerising before you dive into design.
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: A 12-week, all-inclusive brand transformation that gives you all the visuals, website and marketing assets it takes to succeed with Flying Colours
✦ Katie Pannell, Naming Expert & Founder of 26&thensome
✦ Case Study: Brand Naming Flying Colours Creative
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Say hey on Instagram
✦ Check out my website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
01:02 Three-Ring Confidence Framework: Design
02:14 Why Designing My Own Brand Was the Worst (and Best) Thing Ever
05:33 Embracing Discomfort: The Key to a Bold Rebrand
07:48 From Fun House Concept to Visual Identity
11:12 Future-Proofing Your Brand with Intentional Design Choices
12:40 Avoiding the Frankenstein Urge in Your Rebrand
13:56 The Power of Implementation
This episode kicks off a 3-part mini-series called “Brand Designer Gets (re)Branded”, diving into my own rebranding journey —from Eva Couto Design to Flying Colours Creative® — one year after the fact. With my 6th Brandversary on the horizon, I’m giving you the good, the bad and the ugly of what rebranding yourself looks like (spoiler: it’s a wild ride).
Using my Three Ring Confidence framework, today we’re tackling the first ring: Direction and unpacking why I decided to rebrand in the first place, the messy emotions that came with it, and how outside perspective makes all the difference to finding clarity.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ The emotional rollercoaster that comes with rebranding
✦ Deciding to do the unpopular thing and going from a personal name to a studio name
✦ The Direction Ring: setting intentions and asking the right questions
✦ Bringing it all together through the “Fun House” creative direction
TAKE THE STAGE
Commit to treating your brand like your most important client (because it is), and set this intention: “I hereby commit to treating my own brand as my most important client, and be as thorough and intentional while rethinking my brand and business as I would for any of my clients.” Then, use one of these prompts to start thinking brand-first:
— What reputation do you want your brand to have in the way it does business?
— Where does your brand go against the grain and industry standards?
— If your brand were a [mood, colour, song, meal, outfit], what would it be and why?
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: A 12-week, all-inclusive brand transformation that gives you all the visuals, website and marketing assets it takes to succeed with Flying Colours
✦ “Company Of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business”, by Paul Jarvis
✦ Katie Pannell, Naming Expert & Founder of 26&thensome
✦ Case Study: Brand Naming Flying Colours Creative
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Join The Colour Circle
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
02:01 Introducing the Three Ring Confidence Framework
03:44 Why I Decided to Rebrand for My Fifth Brandversary
06:50 The Emotional Rollercoaster That Comes With Rebranding
08:42 Why Changing Your Brand Name Doesn’t Mean Changing You
13:36 How Some Outside Perspective Saved My Rebrand
17:55 From Eva Couto Design to Flying Colours Creative
23:12 Treating Your Brand Like Your Most Important Client
Personal branding isn’t just about showing your face on camera, and it certainly isn't influencer-exclusive. As an online service provider, your audience isn’t just buying your service… they’re buying YOU. So let’s unpack how to make your personality the star of your show, so you can avoid the commodity trap and create a brand that’s unmistakably yours.
You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t brave, so what if I told you being a personal brand myself landed me a five-figure project once (from buttering toast, nonetheless)? Owning your weird turns lurkers into buyers, so tune in to learn how.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why your audience needs to choose you, not just your service
✦ The disconnect that happens when your online personality doesn’t match your real one
✦ How visuals set the stage for your brand’s first impression
TAKE THE STAGE
Weaving your personality into your brand means being clear on the narrative you want your brand to tell, so start by asking yourself:
✦ Does your brand look like it’s run by you?
✦ Is it consistent enough to be recognisable?
✦ Does it feel like an honest reflection of where you are now?
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Your all-access ticket to a full-scope rebrand.
✦ Listen to Ep. 025, for how Interact got in touch with me
✦ Listen to Ep. 009 to learn all about that 5-figure branding project
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
01:28 The Personal Brand Boom Beyond Creators & Influencers
03:16 Finding a 5-Figure Project By Making It Personal
05:33 Why Your Audience Needs to Want You Beyond Your Service
07:30 The Risk of Mismatched Brand Personality
10:25 Why Visuals Are Your Personality’s First Impression
15:49 Find Resonance, Not Just Reach
16:05 Making Your Brand Unmistakably You
The other day I got a DM that sounded wayyyy too good to be true. Interact, a quiz platform that I absolutely LOVE, slid into my DMs asking if I wanted to partner with them.
At first I thought it was a scam, but no. It actually led to something I've been dreaming about for over a year, creating a quiz that actually helps you figure out what the hell is going on with your brand.
In this episode, I'm taking you behind-the-scenes on how this whole thing came together, why I'm obsessed with quizzes (thanks, teen magazines), and most importantly, walking you through the four circus acts that reveal exactly where your brand is right now and what it needs to grow.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why your brand confusion isn't a you problem (you're just too close to see the label from inside the jar)
✦ How to tell if your visuals have officially been outgrown by your personality
✦ Meet the four circus acts: Fire Breather, Tightrope Walker, Juggler, and Contortionist — and find out which one are you
TAKE THE STAGE
Take the "What's Your Brand's Circus Act?" quiz right now — seriously, pause this episode and do it. It takes under 5 minutes and you'll finally understand what's been driving your brand decisions (and what you need more of to grow).
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ What’s Your Brand’s Circus Act?: Take the quiz!
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Your all-access ticket to a full-scope rebrand.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
00:36 The DM I Thought Was a Scam
08:28 Meet the Four Circus Acts
09:52 The Fire Breather
12:26 The Tightrope Walker
15:36 The Juggler
17:38 The Contortionist
19:34 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
Ever feel like you're fighting your own content every time you sit down to create? Like no matter how many templates you buy or tips you save, nothing feels quite right anymore?
You're not behind, you're not broken, and you definitely don't suck at this. You've just outgrown your brand — and that's actually a massive flex.
In this episode, we're diving into why that resistance you're feeling when you create content isn't a content problem at all. It's your brand waving a big red flag that says "I'm ready for something bigger." You'll walk away understanding the difference between a surface-level refresh and a full rebrand, plus exactly how to tell which one you actually need.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why buying more Instagram templates won't fix your content struggles
✦ The difference between a brand refresh and a full rebrand
✦ How to tell when you've outgrown your current visual identity
✦ Why trying to fit new ideas into old visuals is like squeezing into jeans two sizes too small
TAKE THE STAGE
The Content Carousel Workshop replay is waiting in your inbox if you signed up — dive into those practical Canva tips and see if that scratches the itch.
But if you’re still feeling the friction, The Extravaganza might be calling your name.
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Your all-access ticket to a full-scope rebrand.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Freak Show
01:52 Do You Need a Rebrand?
05:40 Why Social Media Templates Won’t Fix Your Problem
09:12 A Refresh Is Not a Rebrand
13:40 Summer = The Perfect Time for a Rebrand
16:12 Signs That You’re Ready
18:57 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
We've all poured our hearts into brilliant content, hit publish, and then received 2 likes on a carousel post that took 2 hours to design. If you’re feeling frustrated with your IG content lately, you’re not alone!
And if you want to get out of this rut, here's the uncomfortable truth: no one is reading your brilliant content if your design is working against you. It's not the algorithm, it's not your ideas, and it's definitely not because you don't have anything valuable to say. It could just be how it looks!
In this episode, we're calling out the "content over design" myth and breaking down why your posts have about 1.5 seconds to stop the scroll and how to make sure they do. You'll walk away understanding how to use design as a strategic tool to finally get your genius ideas the attention they deserve.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why "as long as your content is valuable, design doesn't matter" is complete bullshit
✦ The uncomfortable truth about how people actually consume content
✦ Why carousels feel harder than writing entire newsletters
✦ Three non-negotiable design principles that make your content impossible to ignore
TAKE THE STAGE
Join me for the free Content Carousel Workshop happening June 16th! We're diving deep into the design strategies that turn your brilliant ideas into scroll-stopping, share-worthy content. Replay included even if you can't make it live.
——
Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Xanthe Appleyard’s post
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
——
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
00:51 The Annoying Truth About Content Design
12:57 The 1.5 Second Rule
14:44 Three Things Your Audience Is Subconsciously Scanning For
18:53 Why Carousels Are Such a Pain in the Ass
22:35 Join the Content Carousel Workshop!
We're halfway through the year, and while you're probably checking your revenue numbers and updating those Notion dashboards, there's one thing most people forget to audit: their brand.
Whether the past six months went exactly to plan or left you quietly panicking over your unfinished goals, your brand deserves a check-in. With time, your brand, your business, your industry, and you have all evolved. And it's part of your job as a freakishly good service provider to make damn sure your brand evolves with you too.
In this episode, I'm walking you through what I call a quarterly dress rehearsal (aka your brand's performance review). This is the ritual that's led me to major decisions like rebranding into Flying Colors Creative, starting this podcast, and having those clarity-gaining conversations with past clients.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why summer is the perfect time to audit your brand (before the biggest sales season hits)
✦ The three-step quarterly dress rehearsal: visual lineup, audience reaction pulse, and alignment gut check
✦ How to spot visual disconnects that make people think they clicked the wrong button
✦ What to do when your brand isn't exciting you anymore
TAKE THE STAGE
Set a reminder right now — literally put "Brand Dress Rehearsal" in your calendar every quarter. Your future self and your future clients will thank you for keeping your brand front of mind so it becomes front of mind for others too.
Also, if content design inconsistencies were one of your main problems, grab your ticket to my free Content Carousel Workshop happening June 16 at 3PM Lisbon time. You'll learn design tips and tricks to make your visuals enhance your content instead of hiding it. Sign up for the replay even if you can't come live!
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Sign up for the FREE Content Carousel Workshop: Design better on-brand content that looks the part, performs & steals the show.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
02:24 Why Your Brand Deserves a Check-In
05:59 Introducing Your Quarterly Dress Rehearsal
09:59 Step 1: Your Visual Lineup Check
13:05 Step 2: The Audience Reaction Pulse
16:41 Step 3: The Alignment Gut Check
22:44 Closing Thoughts and a FREE Workshop Invite!
We’ve all been there: saving yet another “low-lift content” tip to a folder we’ll forget about, hoping it’s finally the thing that makes content feel easier. But what if the problem isn’t your templates, your workflow, or your posting schedule?
In this episode, we’re breaking down the low-lift content illusion — why it sounds dreamy in theory but falls flat without the one thing that actually makes content creation easier and way more effective: a brand that does the heavy lifting for you. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of what’s missing, what to focus on instead, and how to finally create content that’s both sustainable and unmistakably yours.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why “low-lift” content only works when your brand is doing the heavy lifting
✦ The difference between authenticity and autopilot (and why effort ≠ fake)
✦ What actually makes your content feel sustainable, and why it’s not another custom GPT
✦ How intentional branding helps you say more, with less
TAKE THE STAGE
Grab your ticket to the Content Carousel Workshop (it’s free!) happening June 16 at 3PM Lisbon time. You’ll learn how to design Instagram carousels that stop the scroll and stay on brand so your message doesn’t get lost in the noise. Sign up here and get the replay even if you can’t come live!
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Sign up for the FREE Content Carousel Workshop: Design better on-brand content that looks the part, performs & steals the show.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
00:41 Why “Low-Lift Content” Sounds Great but Often Fails
04:57 What All the Content Hacks Are Missing
09:01 When Did Effort Stop Being Authentic?
12:37 Closing Thoughts and FREE Workshop Invite!
It’s our 20th episode, Troop!!!
And what better way to celebrate this milestone than with a good ol’ fashioned Q&A, straight from you? This past week, I opened the virtual curtain and invited you to toss your boldest, most chaotic, and curiously specific brand questions into the ring… and let’s just say, you delivered.
In this solo episode, I’m answering everything from how to build a brand people remember, how to spot (and fix) invisible disconnects that are quietly repelling your dream clients, and what to do when your DMs are quiet but your to-do list is full.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ What to do when you can’t be your own case study
✦ Is “being different” the reason your brand isn’t converting?
✦ How to create a brand theme without sounding like you’re trying too hard
✦ The real reason your rebrand feels stuck in limbo
✦ What to do when you “can’t find what’s unique” about your business
TAKE THE STAGE
Open up a doc or your Notes app and ask yourself this:
What’s one recurring compliment you’ve gotten from your clients or community?
Now ask: how can I turn this into a brand element — a theme, a visual, a word I reuse — that makes me instantly recognizable?
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Your all-access ticket to a full-scope rebrand.
✦ Submit your Big Top questions every Tuesday on my Stories!
✦ Sign up for the FREE Content Carousel Workshop: Design better on-brand content that looks the part, performs & steals the show.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
03:38 Can You Really Be Your Own Proof of Concept?
08:49 Do Haters Mean You’re Doing Something Right?
14:29 How Do You Create a Brand Theme That Sticks?
20:36 Just Rebranded — Now What?
24:11 Why Can’t I Make Sales?
29:52 How Do I Build a Brand World People Remember?
32:44 Why Can’t I Figure Out What Makes My Brand Special?
38:07 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
Tired of sounding like everyone else on the internet?
Eleanor Mollie (aka Ellie Kime) is here to stage a full-blown messaging intervention. This episode is a joyful roast of the cool-girl copy era and your permission slip to ditch the corporate-speak, bring the weird, and enjoy talking about your business again.
We’re diving into what makes a truly magnetic brand intro, why enthusiasm is a power move, and how to show up online with an authentic voice… even if your inner critic is yelling “too much!” at every turn.
Plus: tea-making controversies, grandma-approved branding advice, and a spicy take on about pages that I am very much here for.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why enthusiasm is a wildly underrated business strategy
✦ The difference between childlike energy vs. childish behavior
✦ What makes a killer intro
✦ Why your About page should actually be… about you
✦ Navigating brand pivots without losing your voice
TAKE THE STAGE
Grab a blank doc and try this prompt:
How would you introduce yourself if there were no rules or industry expectations?
Then ask yourself: Is any of that reflected in your current bio or brand copy? If not, maybe it’s time for a rewrite.
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Tune in to RE: The Podcast
✦ Subscribe to Ellie’s Substack Caring is Cool
✦ Follow Gem Creative Co
✦ Book: Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Follow & Connect with Ellie:
✦ Website
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Freak Show
02:26 Ellie’s Freak Show Audition
06:59 The Case for Enthusiasm in Business
14:05 Childlike ≠ Childish: Reclaiming Joy Online
19:45 The Importance of Doing What You Love
25:08 Showing Personality Without Oversharing
32:09 How to Write a Killer Brand Intro
43:10 The Truth About Pivoting & Staying Consistent
50:15 The About Page Hill Ellie Will Die On
53:11 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
You ever open a restaurant menu and immediately lose your appetite? Not because of the food, but because the design is an absolute mess of fonts, spacing, and layout chaos? (No? Just me?)
Well, that’s the exact feeling your audience gets when your visuals, voice, and vibe aren’t telling the same story.
In this solo episode, I’m putting on my designer hat (my favorite one, obviously) and dishing up the unfiltered truth about why those tiny brand inconsistencies aren’t so tiny after all. Because while a rogue typo on a dinner menu might be mildly annoying, a mismatch in your brand could be quietly costing you clients.
We’re getting into the definition of consistency, how to tell if your brand’s secretly out of sync, and why a cohesive brand world doesn’t box you in but gives your creativity room to breathe.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ The most-asked question I get about branding
✦ Why “posting consistently” won’t cut it if your brand isn’t recognizable
✦ How to make your brand more memorable without being robotic
✦ Consistency ≠ Boring. It’s your brand’s creative shortcut.
TAKE THE STAGE
Look at the last 5 places your brand showed up — Instagram, your website, a lead magnet, your latest email, your sales page. Now ask:
Would a total stranger be able to tell it’s all from the same person?
If not, where’s the disconnect, and what would make it more cohesive?
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Create your industry-leading first impression.
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Freak Show
04:15 The Inconsistency Trap
14:06 Reframing Consistency
20:27 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
Have you ever wondered where the line is between being “real” online and being fake?
Today I’m joined by the iconic Sarah Kleist — Showit web designer, Broadway actor, unapologetic musical theatre nerd, and multi-hyphenate brand queen — for a deep and wildly validating convo on the blurry (and often misunderstood) space between authenticity and performance.
We dive into what it really means to “show up online,” especially when you’re the face of your brand, and why the word “performance” gets a bad rap in the online business world.
Sarah also shares her hot takes on website templates vs. custom design, why minimalist branding can be totally okay, and how creative business owners can stop shrinking themselves to fit someone else’s idea of what “legit” looks like.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ The messy middle of branding when you’re multi-passionate
✦ Why performance and authenticity aren’t opposites
✦ The real difference between manipulation and storytelling
✦ DIY websites vs. custom design and how to know what you need
✦ The biggest mistake most people make when designing their website
TAKE THE STAGE
Open your notes app or journal and reflect on this: What version of yourself are you performing when you show up online? Is it a version you like? Does it feel real, even if it’s curated?
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ Sarah’s episode in Point of the Story
✦ Tonic Site Shop - Showit Templates
Follow & Connect with Sarah Kleist:
✦ Website
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Freak Show
00:23 Meet Sarah Kleist
03:11 Sarah’s Freak Show Audition
08:48 Can You Be Authentic Online AND Put On a Show?
16:32 Website Templates vs. Custom
40:34 Stop Designing Only for You
44:42 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
When’s the last time you wore your favourite colour — not the “safe” one, the real one? The one you loved back in elementary school?
In today’s show, we're diving into how colour (or the lack of it) shows up in our homes, our wardrobes, our brands, and what it really says about us deep-down.
From the "White Cube" trap of curating ourselves into invisibility, to why adding a pop of unexpected red might just change your life, this conversation is a full permission slip to reclaim the boldness you've been told to tone down.
It will inspire you to stop playing it so damn safe, and to start showing up in your business and life in full colour.
SPOTLIGHT MOMENTS
✦ Why we associate beige with “professional” (and why that’s total BS)
✦ How colour becomes a form of rebellion
✦ Dopamine dressing, unexpected red, and other joyful colour trends
✦ Colour as emotion, strategy, and brand psychology
✦ Small, fun ways to start adding more personality back into your brand
TAKE THE STAGE
Pick one bold colour that lights you up and bring it into your brand this week.
Maybe it’s your outfit, your IG stories background, your CTA buttons, your nails, your launch theme, whatever. Tiny choices build massive confidence.
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Mentioned in this episode:
✦ THE EXTRAVAGANZA: Create your industry-leading first impression.
✦ Article: “Scared of too much color in your life? Learn to let go of your fear — and find more joy” by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Follow & Connect with Eva:
✦ Website
✦ Get my Uncaged emails
This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Freak Show
04:15 The Lie We’ve Been Sold
11:43 Colour Psychology and Trends
17:48 Colour as a Form of Rebellion
23:50 Tips for Experimenting with Colour
27:59 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
