Inspired by love, legacy, and the hunger to create something real.

In this episode, we sit down with Connór Lock, designer, artist, and self-taught chef, who walked away from the expected path and leaned hard into the fire. What started in his mother’s kitchen turned into a life of storytelling through food, driven by resilience, love, and a deep refusal to play by anyone else’s rules.We talk about the emotional fuel behind his work, how design still shapes his cooking, and the powerful legacy of a tortilla with butter. Connór is currently competing in the Favorite Chef contest, and after hearing this conversation, you’ll know exactly why he’s one to watch.Vote for Connor Here: https://favchef.com/2025/connor-lockIG: @HeyStaahjwww.staahj.comIG: @7avisualcraftsmanwww.followseven.com

Dan Janssen, founder and creative director of Lincoln Design Co., returns to the show for a deep dive into the studio’s highly anticipated new release: The Brand Design of a Brand Design Agency. This 288-page book isn't about client work—it's a behind-the-scenes look at how Lincoln built its own brand from the inside out. Packed with unreleased logos, illustrations, internal marketing, swag, and studio stories, the book is a decade-in-the-making tribute to what happens when a studio treats itself like its most important client.

In this episode, we unpack the big ideas behind the book, why it exists, who it’s for, and how it challenges the traditional rules of branding and self-promotion. Dan shares lessons learned from building a dream studio culture, creating products that leave lasting impressions, and the importance of documenting your creative evolution.

We also talk about the value of getting outside the design bubble. Fresh off Crop Con in Austin and gearing up for the Licensing Expo in Vegas, we swap insights on how conferences, both design-focused and industry-specific—can fuel creativity, spark collaborations, and push your studio’s visibility beyond the usual crowd.

If you're a designer, creative director, studio owner, or student looking to understand what it really takes to build a brand-first creative business, this one’s for you.

📕 Grab the book and explore more:
👉 https://shorturl.at/MCWWF
🔗 https://www.lincolndesignco.com/

In this episode, we're diving into one of the biggest struggles freelancers are facing right now—getting clients to actually respond, give clear feedback, and stick to the original project scope. Nick and Mikelle kick things off by sharing real-world pain points and how this trend is quietly killing timelines, budgets, and creative momentum.

Then, we tackle your most burning questions about client communication: What do you do when a client vanishes mid-project? How do you steer the ship when direction is vague—or constantly changing? And how can you protect yourself from endless revisions and scope creep?

To wrap it all up, we serve up 5 super-practical, battle-tested tips to help you stay in control, set the tone from day one, and keep your sanity (and your schedule) intact.

If you’ve ever felt like a project manager, therapist, and psychic all in one—this one’s for you.