Podcast · Arts & Books

Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

Are you a creative business owner? Do you ever feel like you’ve got more to give or that there’s a bigger impact you could make? Creative Courage is a creative business podcast hosted by award-winning coach, author, and speaker, Matt Essam. Matt explores the internal battles we all face as creat

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest: 7 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026 · 20 min

How To Stay Relevant As A Designer In 2026 and Beyond (Solo Episode)

I believe the future of design is shifting away from phones toward wearables, voice agents, and more physical, tactile experiences. This episode breaks down what that could look like and why it matters for your career. I talk about the macro trends I'm noticing in design and consumer behaviour in general, and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve. If you found this episode valuable, please hit the subscribe button. When you are ready to go deeper, here are 2 ways I can help: 1: Join my private '$100K conversations' channel on Instagram 2: Stop getting ghosted and close bigger deals…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E124 · 29 Sep 2026 · 19 min
Create a new reality by moving through 'the gap'
Have you ever found yourself in that weird in-between space between familiarity and a new compelling future? You know there is more available to you, but it's difficult to let go of the comfort and familiarity of your current reality. In this episode I explore “the gap”. The scary space between the life you know and the one you want. I then break down three key principles for closing the gap and moving into that new reality. Whether it's raising your prices, changing industry or leaving a relationship, we all face the gap at some point. This podcast will give you the tools and strategies to…
S2 · E123 · 23 Sep 2026 · 39 min
Dominate LinkedIn in 2026 with Maria Ledentsova
If LinkedIn still feels like an enigma, this episode is for you. I sit down with Maria Ledenstova in Hyde Park to unpack how she grew 40k+ followers and now gets steady inbound clients and brand opportunities. We break down exactly how she has done it and how you can aply it to your business. We cover: How to show up authentically without being cringe What to post and when The importance of finding purpose And so much more. If you found this episode useful, please share it with a friend. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialeden/ Work with me 1:1 to grow…
S2 · E122 · 16 Sep 2026 · 17 min
Be The Top 1%: Two Simple Moves Every Founder Must Make
If you are still pitching with your experience and portfolio, you need to listen to this episode. I had a crazy experience the other day. I posted on LinkedIn asking for help writing some case studies, and I was inundated with DM's. What blew my mind was that not a single person led with any value. They all just shared their experience and portfolio.In 2026, this only gets you drowned out in the noise. It won't win high-value clients, and you are probably leaving thousands on the table. Instead, you must lead with value and insight. The right clients have more money than time; they won’t…
S2 · E121 · 9 Sep 2026 · 14 min
Stop sending proposals - do this instead
Do you remember the feeling of sending the proposal and then patiently waiting to see if you won the project? What if you never had to feel like that again, and there was a better way... In this episode, I break down why PDF proposals lose projects and what to do instead. I talk about framing, uncovering the real objections and moving people from "let me think about it" to "When do we start?" You can also grab a copy of my One Page Sales Framework which has been used by hundreds of creative founders to close more deals and raise prices.Send me a message on LinkedIn and I will send you a copy…
S2 · E120 · 2 Sep 2026 · 37 min
Finally Eliminate Procrastination By Making Friends With Your Inner Child
What would it be like if you could eliminate procrastination by improving the relationship with your inner child? Sounds like a strange concept right? That's exactly what happened to Lucio in this session. This episode pulls back the curtain on a real coaching session. What starts as business stress quickly becomes something deeper: a childhood wound, a lonely 6‑year‑old, and a surprisingly simple way to reconnect that unlocks confidence and better decisions. It’s honest, intimate, and practical. You’ll hear the moment Lucio meets that younger part of himself, the 5‑minute practice he…
S2 · E119 · 27 Aug 2026 · 16 min
Stop playing it safe and unlock your true potential
If you’ve ever found yourself choosing the "safe" path over the one you really want to pursue, this episode is for you. I break down why security is actually an illusion and how to avoid falling into the trap. I've personally found that the energy you bring to what you do, is far more important than what you actually do. When you choose work that lights you up, you’ll find that challenges are just temporary obstacles and opportunities show up in unexpected ways. Consider this episode a gentle nudge to re-examine the choices you’re making: are you chasing security, or are you chasing…
S2 · E118 · 19 Aug 2026 · 11 min
When Life Works: Build Your Personal 'Flow' List
Imagine feeling like every day is one of your best days. In this episode, I walk you through my “When Life Works” list: a handful of controllable habits and inputs that reliably make your days feel more energized, grounded, and joyful. No long rituals or 5am fads just practical, personal things you can use to see subtle but real shifts in how you feel day to day. Give it a go and see what changes after seven days. If you enjoyed this please share this episode with a friend. Connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
S2 · E117 · 12 Aug 2026 · 15 min
How to find out what really makes you happy
Humans are terrible at predicting what will actually make them happy. So how do we avoid wasting years of our life chasing things that won't give us what we are actually looking for. Today I'm breaking down "goal renting", which involves deliberately testing a goal in real life before committing years of sacrifice to it. I walk through my own experiment as well as many other examples. Ultimately closing the the gap between what you think you want and what you actually want. You'll learn: Why stress-testing a goal beats logically reasoning your way to it How to compress the time between…
E116 · 5 Aug 2026 · 23 min
Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your business or life and didn’t know why, this episode might be worth a listen. This week I threw thousands of hours of coaching calls into Claude and one common pattern came up...The one thing that keeps most founders stuck is waiting for permission. Most of us know what to do but we have subconscious patterns that keep us stuck, often waiting for permission from someone that isn't even around anymore. These patterns can show up in your pricing, your sales calls and even your positioning. In this episode I explore how to spot the patterns and break them once…
S2 · E115 · 29 Jul 2026 · 30 min
Do this if you're struggling to decide
Are you struggling to make a decision or simply feel overwhelmed with options? In this episode, I discuss my own struggles with decision making and break down four principles that have helped me to make decisions faster. Whether you are at a crossroads or just feel overwhelmed with options, these principles might get you unstuck and making better decisions. If you found the episode valuable, please hit subscribe and share it with a friend.
S2 · E114 · 22 Jul 2026 · 29 min
Why I Closed My Business (Solo Episode)
I'm back with another episode of the Creative Courage Podcast. Today I'm talking about why I closed my business, what freedom means and how to build a financial buffer in your business. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you are subscribed and share it with a friend. Connect with me on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattessam/
E111 · 22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
The Formula For Attracting Your Ideal Clients On LinkedIn with Sam Browne
If you’re like most creative business owners, you’ve probably dabbled with posting on LinkedIn, but you’ve found that even with consistency, no-one pays attention. Sam Browne is an entrepreneur and LinkedIn strategist who has built multiple six-figure businesses and has grown an audience of over 100,000 followers. Sam spent nearly 20 years operating his creative businesses in silence before stepping into the spotlight, sharing his story, and attracting his first 50,000 LinkedIn followers in just a year. And in this episode, we unpack why so many creative founders struggle to get traction on…
E113 · 15 Apr 2026 · 17 min
If You Feel Lost, Ask Yourself This Question…
It’s understandable if you feel a bit lost right now. There’s more noise and pressure than ever for business owners. And we try to make the right decisions, but the right path isn’t always obvious. In this episode, I wanted to do something a bit different. This is more of a conversation I wanted to have with you. I share the crossroads that I’ve faced over the last few years in my business and the questions I ask myself to find clarity. If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure about which direction to take in your life and business, this episode will help you to move forward with intention.…
E112 · 8 Apr 2026 · 11 min
Are You Undercharging? Use This Number To Find Out…
It might feel like you’re charging the right amount. Your close rate is good. The business is running smoothly. But what if you could charge more without increasing your hours? Most creative business owners wouldn’t say no to that. And there’s a number most creative founders are missing that can easily tell them whether or not they’re undercharging. In this episode, I share what that number is and how you can apply it. If you’re consistently winning work but you feel too busy, or want to find out if you’re leaving money on the table, this is for you. Covered in this episode: The number that…
E110 · 1 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
Uncovering The Hidden Patterns Holding You Back with Kristy Campbell
Most creative founders think their business needs them to survive. That if they step away, everything will slow down or fall apart. But what if the opposite is true? In this episode, I’m joined by Kristy Campbell, Founder of Pink Pony Creative. Kristy has built a social media following of hundreds of thousands. But what makes this conversation interesting isn’t just what Kristy has built, it’s how she’s been able to step away from the business and keep it growing. We unpack what happened when Kristy took time away from her business after having a baby and how the business and her following…
E109 · 25 Mar 2026 · 19 min
Scarcity Mode vs. Opportunity Mode - Which One Are You In?
As a creative business owner, it can feel like there’s a lack of opportunities out there. Like you’ve exhausted all possibilities, or, people “just aren’t buying at the moment”. But often, the opportunities are there, we’re just not in the right mindset to see them. We’re in ‘scarcity mode’, rather than ‘opportunity mode’. And when we’re in scarcity mode, our brain switches to fight or flight. We make defensive decisions and we stop seeing opportunities that are right in front of us. In this episode, I break down the difference between scarcity mode and opportunity mode, how scarcity damages…
E108 · 18 Mar 2026 · 50 min
How To Stop Fear and Scarcity From Running Your Business with Sebastian Bates
After a serious BASE jumping accident that shattered both his legs, doctors told Sebastian Bates he may never walk again. During Seb’s 2 years of rehab, he lost 15 of his close friends, leaving him with PTSD and major survivors’ guilt. This is one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had on this podcast (back in 2024), so I wanted to share it again for anyone who hasn’t heard it. After a journey of personal development, Seb is now the founder of Warrior Academy, the largest martial arts academy in the Middle East. Seb teaches thousands of kids worldwide while leading a team of 100. Seb…
E107 · 11 Mar 2026 · 14 min
Why Your Clients Are Killing Your Business
Your clients are slowly killing your creative business. Not the market. Not the algorithm. I recently ran a poll asking creative business owners what their biggest frustration is. Over 60% said inconsistent income and project flow. The feast and famine cycle. But the truth is that this usually isn’t caused by the quality of your work or how much promotion you’re doing. The difference between studios that are constantly busy and those that struggle for work comes down to the way they perceive their clients. In this episode, I break down the shifts that separates oversubscribed creative…
E106 · 4 Mar 2026 · 17 min
The ‘4 Ps’ Strategy That Will Future-Proof Your Creative Business
Does business feel a bit slow at the moment? You’ve got the portfolio, but enquiries and referrals aren’t coming in like they used to. And with AI rapidly evolving, a lot of creatives are asking themselves if things are only going to get worse. In this episode, I break down the shift I believe every creative business owner needs to make if they want to stay relevant, profitable and in demand over the next 5–10 years. Most studios aren’t struggling because their work isn’t good enough, they’re struggling because of how they’re positioned. And that positioning is turning them into commodities.…
E105 · 25 Feb 2026 · 40 min
How To Become The Go-To Expert In Your Industry with Sabrina Stocker
You do great work. You have all the case studies and testimonials. But you still feel invisible. This is a problem most creative founders face. They want to be seen as the go-to expert. The name that gets mentioned in rooms they’re not even in. But instead, they’re constantly chasing projects and wondering why people with less experience are getting all the attention. In this episode, I sit down with Sabrina Stocker, serial entrepreneur, Founder of Two Comma PR and former Apprentice candidate, to unpack what it takes to build visibility and authority as a creative. Sabrina has built a…
E104 · 18 Feb 2026 · 51 min
Scaling A Business Without Losing Your Creativity with Sam Ramsden
Most creative founders don’t struggle because their work isn’t good enough. They struggle because the business they’ve built, or the role that they play within that business, isn’t right for them. In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Ramsden, Founder of film production studio, Dojo Films. Sam has been employed in the creative industry, he’s freelanced, and now he’s running an agency. But throughout his journey, Sam has found that success on paper doesn’t automatically mean fulfilment. We dive deep into the shifts that Sam had to make within his business to allow him to do more of the work that…
E103 · 11 Feb 2026 · 51 min
Why An “Authentic Brand” Doesn’t Exist with James Martin
“Be authentic.” You hear it all the time in the branding space. But what if authenticity wasn’t actually possible? In this episode, I’m joined by James Martin (Made By James) for a very different kind of conversation. We dive into the idea of why “authenticity” when it comes to branding is misleading, why so many creatives end up bored of their businesses, the shifts happening in the creative industry and a whole lot more. You’re either going to love this conversation, or hate it. And if you’re a James Martin fan, and want to hear him take the p*ss out of me, you’ll probably love it. Covered…
E102 · 4 Feb 2026 · 55 min
You’re Paying Too Much Tax (Here’s How To Fix It) with Pali Banwait
You’re probably paying more tax than you need to. And for a lot of creative business owners, that extra tax can become a real burden and slow down growth. In this episode, I’m joined by Pali Banwait, who shares some advice on how you can avoid paying more tax than you should be paying. But our conversation goes a lot deeper than tax. Pali is the founder of Strive, which helps entrepreneurs set up businesses in Dubai and he’s also founded and invested in many other businesses over the last 20 years, which has given him a unique perspective on what makes a business thrive. We dive into how to…
E100 · 28 Jan 2026 · 52 min
The VA Mistakes Most Founders Are Making with Richard Woods
Business is hard. With delivery, sales, marketing, and everything in between, there’s too much to do, and not enough time to do it. That’s why I tell creative studio owners that the first hire they should make is a virtual assistant. And in this episode, I’m joined by Richard Woods - a three-time bestselling author, serial founder, and finalist on The Apprentice - to dive deep into how to leverage VAs to scale twice as fast. Richard runs Million Dollar Sprint, where he helps small businesses get to a million dollars as well as Sprint VA, a global virtual assistant business with nearly 200…
E101 · 21 Jan 2026 · 52 min
What Creatives Get Wrong About Content with Chris Do
Should you be creating content? It feels like everywhere we turn, we’re being told we need to regularly pump out content to attract more clients. And yet many creatives I talk to feel stuck when it comes to content. They overthink it. Or they post a couple of times and they decide it’s not for them. But the reality is that most creatives don’t have a content problem. They have a clarity problem. In this 100th episode of Creative Courage, Chris Do returns for a conversation that goes way deeper than ‘how to get more followers’. We talk about what people are missing when it comes to content,…
E99 · 14 Jan 2026 · 56 min
Freelance vs Agency: Which Model Gives You More Freedom? with Shoaib Ahmed
Should you run your business solo? Or is it better to build an agency? It’s a question I hear often from creative business owners. You started your business for more freedom and flexibility. But somewhere along the way, things changed, and you end up with less freedom than you’d get from a 9 to 5 job. In this episode, I’m joined by Shoaib Ahmed, who’s lived the agency life, and as a solopreneur. He built an agency doing £30k months with a full team, but realised he could never truly switch off. So he burnt it down and went all in on his freelance business, where he specialises in helping…
E98 · 7 Jan 2026 · 16 min
The 3-Step System For Getting Sh*t Done in 2026
If you want 2026 to be a 10/10 year, you don’t need resolutions. And you don’t need SMART goals. In 2025, I wrote a book, hit 100 podcast episodes and launched a new coaching programme, all while running my multiple six-figure coaching business (and still took two months off). And in this episode, I’m sharing the 3-step process I followed to make this happen. This is the same process I use with my clients to turn vague intentions into measurable results. If you want 2026 to be a year you can look back on and be proud of, this episode will give you the exact framework to make that happen.…
E97 · 17 Dec 2025 · 9 min
Are You Building The Wrong Business For Your Personality Type?
Most creatives see stress and burnout as a time-management problem. Or a team problem. So they hire more people. They implement new systems. But nothing changes. And if you find yourself burning out regularly, you’re probably looking in the wrong place for an answer. Stress can completely break your creativity. And if you’re like me, you probably compare yourself to the Hormozis and Bartletts of the world, wondering why you can’t handle stress and pressure like they can. But what I’ve come to understand is that not all personalities are built to handle stress in the same way. Yet so many of…
E96 · 10 Dec 2025 · 56 min
AI Will Make Creatives Invisible Unless They Do THIS with Paul Fernandez
Most creative businesses aren’t struggling because they’re not good enough. They’re struggling because they’re invisible. And in a world where AI can produce decent deliverables in seconds, visibility is becoming the difference between the businesses that grow and the ones that get left behind. In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Fernandez, Co-Founder of The Growth Guys and Social Pitch AI. We unpack the truth behind what exactly creative businesses need in order to stay relevant. If you’ve been feeling shift in the creative industry, this conversation will give you the clarity you need to…

About Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast is a English arts & books podcast from Matt Essam. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Matt Essam
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest episode: 7 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1721515799

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