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

Creative Courage: The Creative Business Podcast

Matt Essam 114 Episodes Aug 19, 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

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
Uncovering The Hidden Patterns Holding You Back with Kristy Campbell
Uncovering The Hidden Patterns Holding You Back with Kristy Campbell Apr 1, 2026 3611 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
Scarcity Mode vs. Opportunity Mode - Which One Are You In?
Scarcity Mode vs. Opportunity Mode - Which One Are You In? Mar 25, 2026 1116 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
How To Stop Fear and Scarcity From Running Your Business with Sebastian Bates
How To Stop Fear and Scarcity From Running Your Business with Sebastian Bates Mar 18, 2026 3016 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 jou
Why Your Clients Are Killing Your Business
Why Your Clients Are Killing Your Business Mar 11, 2026 825 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 studi

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