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PODCAST

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice for Surface Designers and Creative Entrepreneurs

Carrie Cantwell & Toni Federico: Surface Designer, Creative Career

Introducing Two Cranky Creatives, the podcast where two seasoned creative entrepreneurs pull back the curtain on the highs and lows of building a creative business. Expect unfiltered, real talk about the challenges, victories, and everything in between that comes with being a creative entrepreneur. Whether you"re a fellow creative or just curious about the hustle, join us for candid conversations that go beyond the usual sugar-coated advice.

arts visual arts

All Episodes

01:05:20

REDUX: Stolen Art, Copyright Infringement, and more.

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/10/22

REDUX! While Carrie and I record season 2, we're bringing this much requested episode back...In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, co-hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico dive into a topic that makes every artist’s blood boil: stolen artwork. From discovering your designs on unauthorized products to navigating the complicated world of copyright, they share personal stories, practical advice, and some much-needed venting. If you’ve ever felt the sting of seeing your hard work taken without

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48:04

Cranky and FOMO-Free: Confronting Hustle Culture

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/10/08

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Carrie and Toni tackle the relentless pressure to always be creating. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind because you’re not churning out work at lightning speed—trust us, you’re not alone. Social media, hustle culture, and the myth of the "always-on" artist can make it feel like you're failing if you're not constantly producing. But here’s the truth: It’s okay to step back, take a break, and ignore the noise. Your creative journey is yours

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50:13

Chronically Cranky: Managing chronic illness while...

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/09/24

Chronically Cranky In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Carrie and Toni get real about what it’s like to build a creative business while managing a chronic illness. Spoiler: It’s tough—but it’s doable, and there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Society loves to glorify perfection and hustle culture, but let’s be honest—being human is messy. Whether you choose to disclose your condition or not is your decision, and no one else gets a say. The most important thing? Giving yourself grace.

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52:28

Cranky and Contract-Savvy: The hidden gotchas in...

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/09/10

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Carrie and Toni break down the sneaky language lurking in contracts that could cost you big time. They’ve seen some doozies. Whether you're licensing artwork or signing a freelance agreement, knowing what to look for (and what to push back on) is everything. Contracts are NOT set in stone, no matter how official they look. Carrie and Toni share some of the most common red flags, sneaky clauses, and real-world lessons they learned the hard way. In This

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57:06

How Cranky Creatives Stay Paid w/Kay Wolfersperger:...

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/08/27

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Kay Wolfersperger to tackle a hard truth about making a living in surface design: one income stream just isn’t enough. If you’ve been told that licensing your art will pay all your bills, they’re here to set the record straight—with plenty of cranky real talk. They dive into why relying solely on licensing is the exception, not the rule, how multiple income streams are a necessity (not a failure), and

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01:01:35

Colorfully Cranky w/Ana Bianchi

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/08/20

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, the Cranks are joined by Ana Bianchi—a designer, artist, and color whisperer who says hell no to playing it safe with your palette. Together, they dive deep into the wild world of color: how to find your unique color voice, why signature palettes can sometimes box you in, and what magic happens when you step off the color wheel and into the unknown. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut of “what works,” or afraid to experiment because, gasp, it might clash, this

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56:51

Unpacking “Cranky” with Nate Padavik & Salli Swindell

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/08/13

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Nate Padavik and Salli Swindell of Illustrators for Hire. Together, they break down what’s really behind those cranky moods we all experience as artists and entrepreneurs. Spoiler alert: crankiness is usually a cover for something deeper. They discuss why self-awareness is crucial for navigating creative careers, how our emotional state affects our professional relationships, and most importantly—how to

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46:01

Cranky About “Bad” Art with Melissa Johnson

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/07/30

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Carrie and Toni are joined by Melissa Johnson. Together, they dig into the frustrating yet all-too-familiar challenge of executing the vision you’ve imagined in your head. It’s a topic every creative can relate to … that gnawing feeling when what you produce doesn’t match the image in your mind. Carrie, Melissa, and Toni explore the patience, practice, and self-compassion needed to close that gap while sharing strategies to help you navigate the journey. From

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34:44

The Cranky Creatives Talk Cultural Inspiration vs....

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/07/16

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Xhico of Studio Xhico. Together, they tackle a crucial yet often overlooked issue in the surface design industry: cultural appropriation. They delve into the fine line between inspiration and appropriation, exploring what it means to find your authentic creative voice while respecting cultural boundaries. They also share practical advice on responsibly using cultural references in your work and offer

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50:25

Art Is Everywhere, So Why Are We Cranky? with Julia...

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/07/02

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Julia Barry of UpRoot Design Studio. Together, they dive deep into the societal devaluation of art. From the paintings on your walls to the designs on your favorite coffee mug, art is everywhere—so why is it so often dismissed as “non-essential”? They examine the barriers to collecting art, how classist norms influence accessibility, and challenge the arbitrary systems deciding which art is “good.” Most

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46:37

Cranky and Ahead of the Curve w/Mandy Corcoran

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/06/18

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Mandy Corcoran of Amanda Grace Design. Together, they unpack the ins and outs of pitching schedules in art licensing and explain why working smarter and crankier matters. You'll also hear why small companies might be your licensing sweet spot over those intimidating big-box stores. In This Episode, You'll Hear About: Why you should be designing one season ahead to stay relevant and competitive The

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57:11

Cranky, Creative, and Trendy w/Cat Coquillette

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/06/04

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Cat Coquillette. Together, they tackle the controversial “T-word” in the creative industry—trends. Is trend-chasing selling out? Can you still be considered an artist if your work aligns with market demands? Spoiler: Yes, and yes! This week, we’re embracing the cranky side of being a surface designer in a commercial world. Carrie, Cat, and Toni explore how surface design is, by nature, commercial and why

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45:43

A Cranky Guide to Creative Confidence w/Janine Vangool

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/05/21

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico are joined by Janine Vangool of UPPERCASE Magazine. They tackle the myths and realities of creative confidence. Forget what you’ve heard about “imposter syndrome”—it’s time to ditch the labels and start owning your power. They share their insights on why confidence isn’t something you’re born with but something you build by doing, how to embrace action as your superpower, and why removing self-imposed labels can unlock

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49:32

Tariff Tantrums & Cranky Comebacks

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/05/14

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47:50

A Cranky Creatives Guide to Facing Rejection w/Mable Tan

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/05/07

NOTE: We had some technical issues near the end of the show with echoes and feedback. Apologies in advance. In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, Mable Tan joins hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico to tackle one of the most soul-crushing topics for creatives: rejection. Whether it’s a politely worded email or radio silence after submitting your art, rejection is inevitable—and it can happen at any stage of your creative career! Mable, Carrie, and Toni share personal experiences with

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54:38

Social Media Makes Us Cranky as Hell

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/04/23

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico tackle creatives' complicated relationship with social media. From its highly curated content to the frustration of navigating platforms they can’t control, they get real about why social media can drive even the most patient artists to crankiness. They share personal stories of social media crankiness and offer practical tips for using these platforms without losing your mind—or your creative spark. If you’ve ever felt

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57:15

Cranky Mythbusting: Draw Every Day

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/04/09

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico take on a popular piece of advice that might be doing more harm than good: the idea that you must draw every day to be successful. As two seasoned creatives who’ve found success in their own way, Carrie and Toni break down why this “rule” is more of a myth and how it often pressures artists into unrealistic expectations. They get real about finding a balance between discipline and burnout, exploring how, sometimes,

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55:03

Cranky About Unrealistic Expectations w/Stacie Dale

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/03/26

In this episode, Carrie and Toni are joined by Stacie Dale of Surface Design News to dive deep into the world of surface design classes. They explore how these courses can create sky-high expectations, leaving emerging artists overwhelmed, defeated, and downright cranky. If you’ve ever taken a class that promised you the moon only to deliver a handful of unrealistic goals, you’re not alone. Carrie, Stacie, and Toni share real-life insights into why a surface design career isn’t a one-size-fits-all

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01:04:05

Cranky Creatives Don’t Work for Exposure

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/03/12

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico tackle a topic that’s sure to resonate with every artist, designer, and creative entrepreneur: clients who think your work is overpriced. It’s frustrating, it’s aggravating, and it’s a reality that every creative professional faces. Carrie and Toni dive into the common mindset of clients who believe they could “do it themselves” or undervalue the expertise and effort that goes into professional creative work. They share

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49:00

Ghosted and Cranky

Two Cranky Creatives: Real Talk & Practical Advice... ·

2025/02/26

In this episode of Two Cranky Creatives, hosts Carrie Cantwell and Toni Federico explore the frustrating, confusing, and often hurtful experience of being ghosted. Whether it’s a client, collaborator, or contact who suddenly stops responding, being ghosted can feel like a betrayal. But Carrie and Toni are here to remind you—it’s not personal. They share their perspectives on why being ghosted happens, how it can sometimes be a blessing in disguise, and ways to manage your response. If you’ve ever

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