Home Podcasts Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast
Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

Matt Essam 114 Episodes Sep 16, 2026

Creative Courage is a creative business podcast hosted by award-winning coach, author, and speaker Matt Essam. It explores the internal battles creative business owners face, from fear of launching to anxiety about life purpose. Each week, the show provides expert insights and proven strategies from inspiring entrepreneurs and thought leaders. The podcast aims to help listeners elevate their creative journey, win better clients, and make a bigger impact.

Episodes

Be The Top 1%: Two Simple Moves Every Founder Must Make
Be The Top 1%: Two Simple Moves Every Founder Must Make Sep 16, 2026 1014 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 t
Stop sending proposals - do this instead
Stop sending proposals - do this instead Sep 9, 2026 854 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
Finally Eliminate Procrastination By Making Friends With Your Inner Child
Finally Eliminate Procrastination By Making Friends With Your Inner Child Sep 2, 2026 2218 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 sim
Stop playing it safe and unlock your true potential
Stop playing it safe and unlock your true potential Aug 27, 2026 970 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 jus
When Life Works: Build Your Personal 'Flow' List
When Life Works: Build Your Personal 'Flow' List Aug 19, 2026 668 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 change
How to find out what really makes you happy
How to find out what really makes you happy Aug 12, 2026 897 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 c
Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? Aug 5, 2026 1408 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 s
Do this if you're struggling to decide
Do this if you're struggling to decide Jul 29, 2026 1815 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,
Why I Closed My Business (Solo Episode)
Why I Closed My Business (Solo Episode) Jul 22, 2026 1712 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/ 
The Formula For Attracting Your Ideal Clients On LinkedIn with Sam Browne
The Formula For Attracting Your Ideal Clients On LinkedIn with Sam Browne Apr 22, 2026 4082 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 steppi
If You Feel Lost, Ask Yourself This Question…
If You Feel Lost, Ask Yourself This Question… Apr 15, 2026 1009 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
Are You Undercharging? Use This Number To Find Out…
Are You Undercharging? Use This Number To Find Out… Apr 8, 2026 631 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

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