Podcasts by The Lightning Rod

Tips for Moderators: Interviews and Questions from 2021-05-17T11:00

Empower Asian America is one of our greatest projects to date. We've connected creatives and creators in one platform. Minh as a co-host has advice for you if you want to run your own interviews...

Raya and the Last Dragon: What Does It Mean For Asian America (Prediction) from 2021-05-10T11:00

In honor of AAPI Month! We can't pass on talking about Raya and the Last Dragon! What does this Disney animated film contribute to the Asian American community? What does it mean moving forward ...

Episode 100 Special from 2021-05-05T11:00

In honor of AAPI Month, what a time to celebrate our 100th Episode! Today we're discussing the final updates with our Stop Asian Hate Campaign, express our gratitude, and talk about AAPI Month! ...

Story Time: The Worst Week at TCF from 2021-05-03T11:00

It's story time! Remember when we talked about protecting energies for 2021? Yeah...here's an update on how life is going at TCF! Let's talk!

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Biz Fears Pt. 3: Clients & Obtaining Work from 2021-04-26T11:00

Part 3 of our series, we're diving into client work and obtaining client work! One of the stressful parts of our careers as freelancers and creatives is finding the work so we can live, let's di...

Explaining Our Stop Asian Hate Art Piece from 2021-04-13T11:00

Our campaign is well underway and we want to take this opportunity to explain the meaning behind the work itself. Today's episode is a deep dive into the main art piece, developed by TLR's Minh ...

Stop Asian Hate, Love Asian People Campaign from 2021-04-12T11:00

Disclaimer: This was recorded earlier before the posted date.  During a time in Atlanta where Asian Americans across the state and nation mourn for the 8 lives lost during an Atlanta shooti...

So You Want to Public Speak + Pitch? from 2021-03-29T11:00

A big part of our business is constantly public speaking and pitching our business. Whether that means to you guys on a podcast or to newcomers to TCF. Public speaking is a skill set we're all t...

Been There, Done That, Business Fears! TAXES from 2021-03-22T11:00

We got a name for the series! Been There, Done That, Business Fears! This week we're talking about taxes. Full disclosure that we are not professionals and not licensed. Today's episode will tal...

Tips to Moderating Panels from 2021-03-15T11:00

If you been catching up with us on social, we've been hosting our panel: Empower Asian America. Hosting panels or workshops is not all fun and easy as they seem. Minh has been working with Tammy...

Art Magazines from 2021-03-08T11:00

Have you ever spent money on an art magazine? Was it a "worth it" spend? Minh shares their experience with Art Magazines and how it helped their career.

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Business Fears: Starting A Business from 2021-03-03T11:00

As we know, business is not easy and there's a lot of fear. One of the biggest fears is starting a business, but let's chat. Today we're starting our series about business fears. Our first episo...

One Year of Social Distancing, What Did I Learn? from 2021-02-23T11:00

WHEW! A year already since the Pandemic and Social Distancing? Let's chat about some things Minh has learned!

Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: le...

Hiring a Creative from 2021-02-15T11:00

Hiring a creative is something we're well versed in, additionally, we also get hired out as creatives for other companies too. Being on both sides of those tables, we're here to educate! Here ar...

Clubhouse: App Review! from 2021-02-08T12:00

Heard of Clubhouse? So did we! We joined Clubhouse and now want to give you our tidbit on that experience so that when the platform opens for all, you know what to look out for!

<...

Imposter Syndrome Is Back! from 2021-02-01T11:00

New Year, Same Fears. Let's talk a bit more about imposter syndrome today. With the new year in front of us, everyone is setting up their "new year resolutions", but why does it feel so odd this...

Setting Up Boundaries for 2021 from 2021-01-25T11:00

As 2021 is getting a bit more comfortable for us, don't let anyone ruin your new year's energy. Let's talk about clients today and setting up boundaries with those clients! Today is storytime wi...

New Year Update from 2021-01-04T11:00

Welcome back and welcome 2021! Here’s an update from Tammy about The Lightning Rod!

Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's episode: letstalk@thecreativefolks.or...

Have a Productive Holiday from 2020-12-14T11:00

The holidays are no joke because it's all about the hustle. We get that work is work, but we want you to take you away from your work desk and instead reinvest the time back into yourself. Tips ...

Setting Goals for 2021 from 2020-12-07T11:00

2021 is getting closer and it's no better time than now to start setting your goals. Tammy has tips today on setting goals so that 2021 is prosperous for you!

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Things We're Thankful For from 2020-11-30T11:00

2021 is making it's way around the corner. What a year it's been. We're excited for 2021 but we have a lot of thanks to give 2020. We know it's been a tough time this year, we want to bring some...

Some Days We Want to Quit Too! from 2020-11-23T11:00

You read the title, yup! We have days where we feel like we weren't meant for the space either. Let's talk about imposter syndrome today and some tips to get through the phase.

Attitudes That Won't Get You Far in the Art World from 2020-11-16T11:00

The art industry like any other has its fair share of elitism, selfishness, and pride toward their craft. Here are a few pointers on adjusting our attitude when working in a creative field.

What's it Like Being an Art Mentor from 2020-11-09T11:00

While finding a mentor could be a scary journey, being one isn't as easy as one thinks. Minh as a mentor has tips & advice to help aspiring mentors.

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Finding an Art Mentor from 2020-11-03T11:00

Finding an art mentor can be incredibly intimidating. Minh as an art mentor themselves share a few tips to find a good mentor! They could be anywhere!

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Wellness Wednesday from 2020-10-28T11:00

Content Warning: Today's episode is hosted by Minh who will discuss their panic attacks. At The Creative Folks, we believe that better mental health requires conversations. We want to be that pl...

Automating Your Business from 2020-10-26T11:00

Automating your business sounds so good right? You no longer have to do the little tasks because it's all being done automatically. However, what is that doing to your business. Let's discuss! Listen

4 Tips to Jumpstart Your Freelance Career from 2020-10-19T11:00

The pathway of freelancing is obviously not easy, but it's also not crazy hard either. A lot of the freelance journey is time, place, and good practice. Today Tammy guides you on 4 tips to reall...

Concentrating On One Thing from 2020-10-12T11:00

When you're just starting out, is it important to stick to one thing? Tammy has some advice for you today using TCF as a business model. Enjoy today's episode!

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Tracing in Art. Ethical or Nah? from 2020-10-05T11:00

The right and wrong ways to trace art. When you trace it should be a learning tool. Tracing is also a common act in a lot of fields like Illustration, Graphic Design, and so forth that helps bui...

New Segment: Wellness Wednesday from 2020-09-30T11:00

We're introducing a smaller segment to the show: Wellness Wednesday. Minh tackles wellness tips from experience (not professional advice). At The Creative Folks, we care a LOT about mental healt...

Support Your Artist Friends, For Free! from 2020-09-28T11:00

While art is something we should all as creatives should invest into, especially if we know our friends are creatives/artists as well. However, it doesn't always have to be a monetary transactio...

Is Perfectionism Good? from 2020-09-21T11:00

When it comes to getting things done. What is your mentality? Are you the type to make sure every detail is absolutely perfect or do you let things slide? Let's talk about perfectionism in today...

Loneliness in Freelancing from 2020-09-14T11:00

The world of freelancing is not a smooth ride, even with pros of having creative freedom. The job of a freelancer is often involving the freelancer in a very lonely environment and there may not...

Landing Your First Gig from 2020-09-07T11:00

The first step to anything is not easy, as you may know. Tammy's advice on landing your first gig so that it sets you up for your future ones!

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Cons to Freelancing from 2020-09-04T12:00

Yep! To every pro there's a con! While we know there's a huge amount of creative freedom as a freelancer, but what about job and financial security. More advice in today's episode.

Listen

Pros to Freelancing from 2020-09-04T11:00

Freelancer Lifestyle has a lot of creative freedom. You set your own pricing, you set your own schedule, and you work the clients you want to work. More pros to freelancing in today's episode! Listen

Freelancing & Unpaid Internships from 2020-09-01T11:00

We're introducing to you Freelancer month, where we really dive into our freelancer experiences. On top of that, everyone has to start somewhere. Our student creators have always battled the wor...

Do Creatives Need Awards? from 2020-08-31T11:00

A flashy award is...well, flashy! It's great to have it under your belt, but is it a make it or break it point for creatives? Both Minh and Tammy are considered award-winning, tune in to hear ho...

Creative Work for Family & Friends from 2020-08-24T11:00

We've all had the case where friends are asking for creative favors, family too! Where do we set those boundaries personally as creators. We share with you the rules we set for ourselves, so if ...

Personal Logos vs. Start Up Logos from 2020-08-17T11:00

An essential to branding is the logo. The logo is the front-facing image for you as freelancers and startups in general. But! Just how important is it and when do we need to change it for person...

Personal Branding vs. Start Up Branding from 2020-08-09T23:00

Branding seems simple to the average because it's just colors & logos right? Today Minh & Tammy dive in to give you a closer understanding of branding on a personal freelance level versu...

Should I Run That Ad? from 2020-08-03T11:00

Putting up Ads has always been very common business advice towards anyone even those who are just starting up. But Tammy wants to talk more about how to give value to that Ad by giving value to ...

Tips to Starting a Business (Different Advice!) from 2020-07-27T12:00

Starting a business could get really confusing, overwhelming, and even frustrating especially when you don't know what in the world you're doing. Don't worry. We got you! We've been there and no...

Critiquing JK Rowling from 2020-07-20T12:00

Should we separate JK Rowling from her art of creating the world of Harry Potter? A big fan favorite however she's been in the spotlight for controversial statements. Today we discuss. This is s...

One of the Best Business Investments We Made from 2020-07-13T11:00

In the business world, connections are too vital to even say. Not just connections towards your audience but connections to your fellow businessmen/businesswomen wherein you can help each other ...

Colorism in the Art World from 2020-07-06T12:00

Colorism is not only a real-world issue, but it's prevalent in the art world as well. Today, Minh covers the topic as we acknowledge that colorism is real and affects artists across the board. Listen

Do I Sound Cringey? from 2020-06-29T11:00

Ever had your own ideas, your own concept, your own passion but then thought to yourself, "Am I cringey for having such ideas?" DON'T! Embrace those thoughts because that's what makes you unique...

Fan Art from 2020-06-22T12:00

Can you make a profit in doing fan art? Minh says it's definitely...YES! Tune in as we talk about the concept of fan art and original art as well. Which is better?  

Subm...

Stay In Demand from 2020-06-17T11:00

Tactics, strategies, methods, and steps on how you can stay in-demand for the job market in these times or whatever times we'll be in, we got you covered on that! 

Submit...

Art School from 2020-06-15T12:00

What are your thoughts on going to Art school? Can you benefit way more in going rather than learning for yourself? Is there a catch or is it more likely to have the same results to where you ar...

What is a Logo? from 2020-06-08T12:00

Our brands deserve to be recognized. With the perfect logo, it heightens your chances of being recognized. So let's talk about that today and learn what difference does a logo really bring to th...

Hustle Culture from 2020-06-01T12:00

Rise, grind, repeat? Well, sure. But don't forget, you're still a human being that needs to take breaks, have fun, and just learn more about yourself. You are what's more important, okay? Stay t...

Social Media During Quarantine from 2020-05-25T12:00

As business owners, we have to think about our customers all the time, right? Especially in times like these, how should we be able to cater to their needs? And better yet, how can we do that on...

Zoom and Mental Health from 2020-05-20T11:00

Zoom fatigue. It's a thing now. Being locked up inside your home, having meetings done on Zoom can be your only choice. And for many of you who are working from home these days, maybe you've exp...

Talking to Professors about Mental Health from 2020-05-18T12:00

Bringing up your mental health to anyone isn't easy, we get it. As students however it's especially important to be transparent to your professors early as possible so that it doesn't affect you...

Mental Health in the Asian-American Community from 2020-05-11T05:36:07

For Mental Health May and Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we always get so excited because our passions really revolve around these two topics and they hit home close for the both of us i...

Focusing in on Asian-American Businesses here in Atlanta from 2020-05-11T05:16:47

We're in an interesting time now May 2020. 

COVID-19 is scattered across the nation, the world, and of course our newsfeed. We're not here to speak on how to wash your hands or how t...

How is Business Going? from 2020-05-05T11:00

As the whole world seems to be stopping, is your business? Ours....tune in to find out what we're going through during COVID-19!

Submit a Lightning Question or an email about today's ep...

Apps to keep on your phone as a creative from 2020-04-29T11:00

Your phone is essential to your life as a creator. True or False? If true, today's episode is all about getting your phone to start working more effectively for you! 

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Work-life Balance from 2020-04-27T11:00

How do you set boundaries for yourself between work, friends, family, and creative endeavors? Here are some practical tips on how to have that balance.

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Maintaining Branding Consistency from 2020-04-27T11:00

The very essential part to any small business or company is their branding. However, it's often over looked and branding can go in many directions. Consistency is a word that's often preached bu...

Share Less, Do More from 2020-04-22T11:00

When does (too much) sharing become counterproductive in terms of accomplishing more tasks? Are your goals for sharing still in line with your goals of doing more?

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Dealing With Hard Clients from 2020-04-20T11:00

Difficult clients are part of the cost of doing business. In this episode, we'll talk about the types of difficult clients that you'll encounter in your creative business, and how you can possib...

Must-haves for Artists from 2020-04-17T11:00

There are several mediums used in traditional art. Digital art also has pro tools. Regardless of what you want to specialize on, here are some essential tools that can get you going with your ar...

What to look for in a pro designer? from 2020-04-15T11:00

If it wasn't obvious, not every designer is the same. A pro designer also comes in many different forms from skills to delivery. Here are things to look for when seeking a pro designer.  Listen

Self-care Tips from 2020-04-13T11:00

When does the thing that you love become an ultimate source of stress in your life. Do you always have to make money from your creative hobbies?

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How To Deal With Failure from 2020-04-08T12:15

Breath. Assess. Hustle. Repeat. Minh here, and I'd like to share my insights on how to deal with failure in a positive way. Because whether we like it or not, everybody fails every now and then. S...

Efficiently Working From Home from 2020-04-06T11:00

And just like that, COVID19 pandemic has brought the world into a screeching halt. Working from home is the new normal. How can you make sure that important tasks are still done on time when you...

Why invest in Adobe? from 2020-02-19T12:00

One question we receive a lot is about ADOBE. Is it worth it? Why should I invest to it as a creative?
If you're asking those questions for yourself, we encourage you to listen in to today'...

Imposter Syndrome in Art School from 2020-02-17T12:00

Minh is currently a graduate student at SCAD and we're here to discuss the affects ART SCHOOL on the mental health of a student. While today's episode isn't about SCAD directly, we want you to cons...

Importance of Taking Breaks from 2020-02-12T19:00

It seems like an obvious that taking a break is important, but have we learned to practice that in our own creative journey? Today we talk about taking breaks and how important it is to define t...

Artstagram, is it worth it? from 2020-02-11T12:00

Minh here! Another day, another episode! Today we dive into Artstagram. We still believe this is one of the best platforms for creatives, do you agree? 

Let us know!

Finding and Defining Style Re-Do! from 2020-02-10T12:00

Minh here! I'm back on Season 2 of The Lightning Rod. Today to continue our anniversary celebrations, we're revisiting episode 1. There were a lot of things we covered in style and we want to re...

What are branding assets? from 2020-02-07T13:00

Not to be confused with collateral, assets these are foundational to brand building. You can easily tell another designer, new employees, or explain your brand better to someone by placing all t...

Self Designed Logos from 2020-02-06T12:00

Ah, so you need a logo but don't want to pay the price. What you'll end up seeing is you may the price later for self-designing your own logo! What's up about self designed logos, is it worth it...

What Does it Mean to Rebrand? from 2020-01-24T15:00

Like a lot of brands are popping up everywhere, the term rebrand is also tossed so often. What does it mean to truly rebrand? Does it mean I have to keep changing out everything? Let's talk abou...

What is Branding? from 2020-01-23T15:00

This is the official first episode of season 2, and it'a bit rocky but we hope you hear us out. Branding is a lot more than what meets the eye especially when it seems like everyone wants a bran...

SEASON 2 - The New Lightning Rod is Here! from 2020-01-22T14:00

Welcome back and happy 2020! Tune in to hear about our new format for the podcast. You spoke, we heard.
We understand that interviews may not be for everyone. For those of you who still lov...

Ep. 25 | Being Young & Creative ft. Inari Briana from 2019-12-20T12:00

Today's conversation is led by Tammy featuring Inari Briana. Inari is an Atlanta based photographer who has a lot of advice for the modern day creative. Today we talk about our hustle and grind ...

Ep. 24 | Power of Networks ft. Aries Purnell from 2019-10-25T12:00

Today's conversation is led by Tammy but co-hosted by TCF's Brand Director, Sheena! We welcomed Aries, Founder of Purnell Film & Media to the podcast to talk about his creative work and the ...

Ep. 23 | Marion Silverman on Branding from 2019-10-04T12:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! Marian Silverman is a financial educator with a passion for sharing her knowledge about financial literacy to high school and college level students thro...

Ep. 22 | How to Define Success with Nikon Papi aka Wildy Civil from 2019-09-27T12:00

Today's conversation is led by Tammy but co-hosted by TCF's Brand Director, Sheena! We're interviewing Wildy (pronounced: WILL-DEE) Civil, more known as Nikon Papi. Nikon is a well known photogr...

Ep. 21 | $2,000 Later, a New Mural on the Atlanta Beltline from 2019-09-22T21:47:27

Today's episode is hosted by Minh! Cherry Virginia Chandra is a foreign exchange student from Indonesia currently residing in Atlanta. She is a graduate student studying at SCAD Atlanta.Cherry h...

Ep. 20 | Meet Alex Seidenberg and His World of Photography - The Lightning Rod from 2019-09-13T12:00

Today's episode is hosted by Tammy! We're diving into Alex's life on how he moved from Florida up to Atlanta and he'll drop some gems about doing concert photos! Alex is a landscape and concert ...

Ep. 19 | Let's Talk About Rise & Grind Culture - The Lightning Rod from 2019-09-06T12:00

You probably saw this coming but we're back, together, with an episode about rise and grind culture. We talk about what it is, how have we seen it interpreted in the world, and our overall thoug...

Ep. 18 | Meet Marion Silverman & Learning Financial Literacy - The Lightning Rod from 2019-08-30T12:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! Marian Silverman is a financial educator with a passion for sharing her knowledge about financial literacy to high school and college level students thro...

Ep. 17 | Start Up to Start Up, Let's Talk Business ft. The Cork Bros Studio - The Lightning Rod from 2019-08-16T12:00

Today's episode is hosted by Tammy Huynh! We invited The Cork Bros, Andrew McCorkle & Mike Corkrum, to come drop some knowledge about business. Tammy shares some business struggles to get th...

Ep. 16 | Why Art Teachers Hate Anime - The Lightning Rod from 2019-08-09T11:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! They'll discuss about looking at anime with a critical creative eye. How anime portrays different races and how it doesn't provide the basis of human ana...

Ep. 15 | Art School vs. Self Taught - The Lightning Rod from 2019-08-02T11:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh!  Minh's experience stems from a self taught artist into an art student at SCAD. They will talk about the pros and cons of being self taught and the ...

Ep. 14 | The New Little Mermaid: Where Do We Stand? - The Lightning Rod from 2019-07-26T12:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! You've heard the tea these past few weeks about the announcement of Halle Bailey casted as The Little Mermaid. The internet was going nuts, as usual, and...

Ep. 13 | Art Habits to Break - The Lightning Rod from 2019-07-19T11:00

Today's episode is hosted by Minh Huynh! We're going to talk about art habits you need to break; some include avoiding social media, marketing, and branding. Let us know what kind of art habits ...

Ep. 12 | Interviewing Our Founder - Re-Meet TCF from 2019-06-14T12:00

We're just a bit past 10 full episodes of The Lightning Rod, so we figured why not interview our internal staff so you can learn more about us as a company. The Creative Folks was founded by Tam...

Ep. 11 | Explore the World of Agency-Level Photography with Freddy at Imagine Media from 2019-06-07T12:00

Today's conversation is about working as a "corporate photographer" in Atlanta. While a lot of photographers typically consider freelance as their route, we wanted to be able to cover the other ...

Ep. 10 | Taking a Mental Break and Better Your Time Management with Mike Glatzer from 2019-05-31T12:00

Mike is not your typical wedding photographer. He's actually a Product Development Engineer here in Atlanta! We found out in today's episode that his full time job as an engineer takes just as m...

Ep. 09 | Minh Shares Their Experience Part Two from 2019-05-24T12:00

NOTE: Today's episode can/may contain triggering words, phrases, and/or scenarios. 

In this episode, Minh continues to share their past mental breakdown experience, ...

Ep. 08 | Minh Shares Their Mental Breakdown Experience from 2019-05-17T12:00

NOTE: Today's episode can/may contain triggering words, phrases, and/or scenarios. 

In this episode, Minh will share their past mental breakdown experience, which re...

Ep. 07 | Understanding Therapy and Practicing Self-Care from 2019-05-10T11:00

Today's conversation with our first guest, Tameika Cheek, a local Atlanta therapist. In honor of Mental Health Month, we recognize that many people, creatives being a big part of this number, go...

What's happening with The Lightning Rod from 2019-05-03T12:00

The Lightning Rod is a project powered by The Creative Folks. 

-

Questions, comments, sponsors can contact us directly: 

letstalk@thecreativefolks.org 

Ep. 06 | What to Expect with Critiques - The Lightning Rod from 2019-03-29T12:00

We're all about touchy subjects. Today's conversation is about constructive criticism and taking on critique to your work. We talk about the differences, what are good ways to constructively cri...

Ep. 05 | The World of Freelance - The Lightning Rod from 2019-03-22T12:00

Today's conversation is all about the freelance career! Our hosts Minh and Tammy dive in to help you understand more about the freelance lifestyle and career pathway. From pricing to when it's t...

Ep. 04 | Can my work be stolen? - The Lightning Rod from 2019-03-15T12:00

In today's conversation, we're hitting the topic of stolen work. As creatives, this is something we face, since we're constantly posting in a public space. Though Minh and Tammy are not legal ex...

Ep. 03 | Social Media for Artists - The Lightning Rod from 2019-03-08T13:00

Today's episode we cover SOCIAL MEDIA!  We dive a bit deeper about social media and how useful it can be as a tool for artists and creatives. We talk about feed, aesthetics, followers, and ...

Ep. 02 | Art Portfolios and Why We Need One - The Lightning Rod from 2019-02-15T12:00

In this conversation, we talk about that one thing every artist probably already has, is in the process of making, or will be getting soon. Art portfolios have definitely transformed over the ye...

Ep. 01 | Finding & Defining Style - The Lightning Rod from 2019-02-06T05:08:10

Welcome to our very first episode! In this conversation, we cover a topic that can be difficult for other artists to identify: style! Both Minh and Tammy believe that style is ever changing but ...