The Speak Easy Podcast

By Jen Estill and Karen Stefl — creative studio entrepreneurs, brand and video experts, boss ladies, moms

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Description

Hi. Jen Estill and Karen Stefl here. In The Speak Easy Podcast, we share years of expertise in marketing, branding, video production, strategy—not to mention management, employee development, mentoring, sales, creativity, maintaining life balance, managing money, and.. you get the idea. It takes a lot to keep a couple of creative studios thriving. We developed this podcast after years of "how do you..." boss lady conversations. It was clear that if we were both in such similar places with regard to business growth, and personal growth, and work/life/motherhood/bossland balance, then other women may be, too. We'd been sharing confessions over cocktails for quite a while—solving problems, asking for advice, and whispering the secret fears and disappointments that successful women are never supposed to have. (You've had those, right? It's not just us?) Thus, Speak Easy was born. Our goal and our promise is to speak with honesty about the challenges that experienced women in the creative industry face. To create a community where we can support one another and abandon the mantra that we put on a good face and make it look like we have it all together, even when we don't. You can expect honesty, complete vulnerability and even a good laugh. And cocktails. You can expect cocktails.

Episode Date
Case Study: Story Isn’t Messaging With Render
May 20, 2026
The Difference Between Fault and Responsibility
May 06, 2026
The Erosion of Industry Standards
Apr 22, 2026
Case Study: Shitty Logos
Apr 09, 2026
Creative Anger as Fuel
Mar 25, 2026
Outgrowing Your Dreams
Mar 11, 2026
Case Study: Review by Committee Has Hidden Costs
Feb 24, 2026
What Marketers Wish Producers Knew
Feb 11, 2026
Q5 Thinking
Jan 27, 2026
Case Study: Campaign Launch Strategy with Redhead
Jan 13, 2026
The 2% Rule
Dec 17, 2025
When Your Clients Want to Phone It In
Dec 02, 2025
Case Study: Making the Most of a Production Team with Render Studios
Nov 19, 2025
Get Out of Your Zip Code
Nov 04, 2025
Book Clubs and Other Life Hacks
Oct 22, 2025
Case Study: Building Brand Awareness with Redhead
Oct 08, 2025
Get Selective With Your Social Media Strategy
Sep 24, 2025
How We Prioritize Our Day
Sep 09, 2025
Case Study: Video Marketing Trends with Render
Aug 26, 2025
The Difference Between Affordable and Cheap
Aug 15, 2025
The Danger of Jumping to Conclusions
Jul 30, 2025
Case Study: Brand Marketing with Redhead
Jul 15, 2025
Quick, Send the Heads-Up Email
Jul 01, 2025
The Bad and the Ugly
Jun 18, 2025
Why Ongoing Budgets Beat One-Off Projects
Jun 04, 2025
Color: Why Hue Matters in Marketing, Design & Video
May 20, 2025
It Doesn't Work!
May 06, 2025
What Type of Brand Are You? (And Why the Distinction Matters)
Apr 22, 2025
Micromanaging and Control: When To Let Things Go
Apr 08, 2025
Lightning Round: What's Important
Mar 25, 2025
Case Study: Storytelling Essentials with Render
Mar 11, 2025
Fighting Words: ‘Fire Your Comms Person’
Feb 26, 2025
Clients You Can't Help But Love
Feb 10, 2025
Case Study: Redhead's 25th Anniversary
Jan 27, 2025
Pet Projects & Why They Matter
Jan 15, 2025
Resolutions Done Right
Jan 02, 2025
Case Study: Filming Far and Wide with Render Studios
Dec 16, 2024
Opportunity is Not a Pie
Dec 03, 2024
Tall Orders, Quick Turnarounds
Nov 19, 2024
Being an Intentional Mother When You’re an Entrepreneur
Oct 22, 2024
Is Your Creative Tank Full?
Oct 09, 2024
Case Study: MI Children’s Savings Accounts for CEDAM
Sep 25, 2024
Are You Doing the Task or Solving the Problem?
Sep 10, 2024
What Are Your Growth Options When You Feel Like You’re at the Top?
Aug 29, 2024
Case Study: Render Video Distribution
Aug 13, 2024
When Should You Not Play by the Rules?
Jul 30, 2024
Marketing *is* a Strategy
Jul 17, 2024
Case Study: City of Trenton Rebrand
Jul 02, 2024
The Most Important Advisors You Need in Your Life: Sanity Edition
Jun 18, 2024
The Most Important Advisors You Need in Your Life: Biz Edition
Jun 04, 2024
Case Study: Origami Rehabilitation
May 21, 2024
Setting Expectations for Employees
May 07, 2024
Why Your Budget Isn’t Big Enough: Advocacy Edition
Apr 24, 2024
Case Study: The Michigan Achievement Scholarship for MCAN
Apr 09, 2024
Have the Hard Conversations Before It’s Too Late
Mar 26, 2024
Is Your Job a Job or Is Your Job a Lifestyle?
Mar 12, 2024
Case Study: ScrapFest Documentary
Feb 27, 2024
Clients Who Bait and Switch
Feb 13, 2024
Don't Confuse Youth with Being Youthful
Jan 30, 2024
Case Study: Sad Little Town
Jan 16, 2024
Another Round – The Most Important Things We Do Each Year
Jan 02, 2024
Another Round – A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way
Dec 19, 2023
Another Round – Burnout and Overwhelm
Dec 05, 2023
Evolution & Reinvention
Nov 22, 2023
Hiring Employees With Experience Outside Your Realm
Nov 07, 2023
Professional Advocacy – How Do Advocacy Organizations Avoid Polarizing Politics?
Oct 24, 2023
Quality and Standards: What Does Quality Mean in the Industry Right Now?
Oct 11, 2023
Time Wasters - What Habitual Parts of Your Day Need To Be Swept Aside?
Sep 26, 2023
Shitcake: The Seven-Layer Cake of Our Lives
Sep 12, 2023
Junk RFPs: Navigating the ‘Request for Proposal’ Process
Aug 29, 2023
Leadership: Sometimes You’re Stuck With It
Aug 15, 2023
The Creative Process: How The Sausage Gets Made
Aug 01, 2023
When To Hire — And When Not To
Jul 18, 2023
Delegating Decision-Making: Why and How
Jul 05, 2023
Going with the Flow
Jun 20, 2023
Celebrating Other People's Success
Jun 08, 2023
Bandwidth: Navigating Cognitive and Emotional Capacity
May 24, 2023
A Halfway Point Goal Check In
May 09, 2023
Compensation: Lessons Learned Over the Years
Apr 26, 2023
The Role that Joy Plays in Leadership
Apr 11, 2023
Using Client Feedback to Your Advantage
Mar 28, 2023
Risk Tolerance: Roller Coasters and Business Ownership
Mar 15, 2023
Reframing Artificial Intelligence
Mar 01, 2023
Leading with Your Personal Values
Feb 20, 2023
Rejection: A Redirection to Something Better
Jan 31, 2023
I’m Not the Hot Young Thing Anymore
Jan 18, 2023
Assess, Reset, Refocus
Jan 04, 2023
Amber Clark: Uplifting Neighborhoods Through Economic Development
Dec 20, 2022
Burnout and Overwhelm
Dec 06, 2022
It Doesn’t Matter How You Got There
Nov 22, 2022
Courtney Millbrook: Creating Purpose and Longevity
Nov 08, 2022
Pressure Testing your Brand
Oct 25, 2022
Philosophy for Efficacy
Oct 11, 2022
Ashlee Willis: Building a Business and a Strong Community
Sep 28, 2022
Marketing: Avoiding the One-Legged Stool
Sep 14, 2022
Creativity Is Only 25 Percent of the Job
Aug 30, 2022
Roz Keith: Stand With Trans
Aug 17, 2022
129: Adults Need to Have Fun Too
Aug 04, 2022
128: When to Let an Idea Go
Jul 20, 2022
127: Misty Belous — Flexible Entrepreneurship
Jul 06, 2022
126: Courageous Conversations
Jun 22, 2022
125: Grief in the Workplace
Jun 08, 2022
124: Dru Montri — Increasing Food Security in Michigan
May 25, 2022
123: Long "Marriages" — Keeping It Fresh
May 11, 2022
122: The Boundaries and Norms That We Used to Know
Apr 27, 2022
121: Monique Stanton — Advancing Equity in Michigan
Apr 13, 2022
120: How Do I Get Out of Here
Mar 30, 2022
119: Getting the Right People in the Right Seats
Mar 16, 2022
118: Lily Werbin — Continuing a Legacy
Mar 01, 2022
117: Straight Talk About Small Business - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Feb 16, 2022
116: Buyer’s Remorse — Karen Talks Her Short Film
Feb 02, 2022
115: Michelle Reynaert — The Power of Philanthropy
Jan 18, 2022
114: The Ripple Effect — What You Do Has an Impact
Jan 04, 2022
113: Imposter Syndrome — What Has Changed for Us
Dec 22, 2021
112: Kelly Blake - Protecting Children and Their Education
Dec 08, 2021
111: A Little Gratitude Goes a Long Way
Nov 19, 2021
110: Telling the Truth — With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Nov 09, 2021
109: Planning Your Next Year Like a Boss
Oct 26, 2021
108: Building a Brand, Running Retail, and Placemaking for Community
Oct 12, 2021
107: Linda Vail - Leading Through Crisis
Sep 29, 2021
106: Women in Leadership - Where We Have the Edge
Sep 14, 2021
105: Top 10 Things to Do When You Can’t Sleep at 3 in the Morning
Sep 01, 2021
104: Things That Make Us Cry — Crying is a Communication Tool?
Aug 19, 2021
103: The Value of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship – Featuring Guest Amanda Blondeau
Aug 03, 2021
102: Ego—When It Serves You and When You Stick It in the Closet
Jul 21, 2021
101: I don't want your entitled kid to become my employee or client
Jul 07, 2021
Our 100th Episode: Burning Questions
Jun 22, 2021
99: The One That Got Away
Jun 08, 2021
98: From Cashiers and Counselors to Entrepreneurs: Lessons From Our First Jobs
May 25, 2021
97: Building Strong Relationships In Business and Beyond — Featuring Guest Barb Byrum
May 12, 2021
Strategy Series 20: Creating Vs. Launching Your Brand
May 05, 2021
96: Hiring Freelancers: When, Why, And How
Apr 27, 2021
Strategy Series 19: Edutainment – Creating Captivating Educational Content
Apr 20, 2021
95: Burnout and Boredom — How to Handle Feeling Blah
Apr 13, 2021
94: When Business And Life Align — A Conversation With Karen
Mar 30, 2021
Strategy Series 18: Branding Strong Cities
Mar 23, 2021
93: Habits: The Good, The Bad, And The Weird
Mar 16, 2021
Strategy Series 17: The Power Of 'What If—?'
Mar 09, 2021
92: Yes, And — Guiding Creativity And Exploring Everything
Mar 02, 2021
Strategy Series 16: Branding For Community Impact
Feb 23, 2021
91: How To Happy (And Know It)
Feb 16, 2021
Strategy Series 15: Honoring Efficacy and Efficiency
Feb 09, 2021
90: Creating Credibility: How Trust And Success Go Hand In Hand
Feb 02, 2021
89: Cracking The Glass Ceiling And The Work That's Left To Be Done
Jan 19, 2021
Strategy Series 14: Sensory Branding
Jan 12, 2021
88: How Inner Strength Propels Community Strength — Featuring Guest April Clobes
Jan 05, 2021
Happy Holidays From The Speak Easy Podcast
Dec 23, 2020
87: Moving Forward (Literally And Figuratively) — Part Two
Dec 15, 2020
Strategy Series 12: How Animation Brings Video Marketing Plans To Life
Dec 08, 2020
86: Moving Forward (Literally And Figuratively) — Part One
Dec 01, 2020
85: Performing When The Pressure's On
Nov 17, 2020
Strategy Series 11: A Post-Election Check In
Nov 06, 2020
Strategy Series 10: Videos Work – Science Says So
Oct 28, 2020
84: Innovation and Changes In Nonprofits – Featuring Guest Joan Gustafson
Oct 20, 2020
Strategy Series 09: Cleaning Up Your Brand Language
Oct 13, 2020
83: Back To Basics: B2B vs. B2C Communication
Oct 06, 2020
Strategy Series 08: Growing Your Nonprofit With Video
Sep 29, 2020
82: Quitting While You're Ahead: Knowing When To Stay Or Walk Away
Sep 22, 2020
Strategy Series 07: Effective Outreach Through Marketing And Branding
Sep 15, 2020
81: Waste Not, Want Not: How To Be Our Most Efficient And Effective Selves
Sep 08, 2020
Strategy Series 06: Building Trust In Video
Sep 01, 2020
80: Audiences, Flexibility, And The Future Of Public Broadcasting – Featuring Guest Susi Elkins
Aug 25, 2020
Strategy Series 05: Defining Target Markets
Aug 18, 2020
79: Lessons From A Global Pandemic
Aug 11, 2020
Strategy Series 04: The Art Of Virtual Video Events
Aug 04, 2020
78: Wanderlust, Our Wildest Dreams, and Why We Do What We Do
Jul 28, 2020
Strategy Series 03: Leveraging Your Brand Values
Jul 21, 2020
77: Fuck It, I'm Going For It Anyway
Jul 14, 2020
Strategy Series 02: New Rules for Filming
Jul 07, 2020
76: Fighting For What Matters Most — Featuring Guest Paula Herbart
Jun 30, 2020
Strategy Series 01: Learn From This Crisis To Prepare For The Next
Jun 23, 2020
75: Working With Guilt: Why We Feel It And How To Manage It
Jun 16, 2020
74: Breaking Up And Moving On: The Life Cycle Of Client Relationships
Jun 02, 2020
73: Adapting To Change And Evolving Your Business
May 19, 2020
72: Creating A Legacy Of Service—Featuring Guest Rachel Willis
May 05, 2020
71: Catching Curiosity: How Asking 'Why' Can Model Empathy And Innovation
Apr 21, 2020
70: Bad Manners In The Workplace: How To Avoid Them And How To Address Them
Apr 07, 2020
69: What Do We Do Now?—Leadership During Crises
Mar 24, 2020
68: Fueling Your Fire And Finding Your ‘Why'–Featuring Guest Tammy Hannah
Mar 10, 2020
67: Finding And Using Your Voice: The Art Of Advocacy
Feb 25, 2020
66: The Games We Play Beyond The Board
Feb 11, 2020
65: The Power Of 'Yes': How We Can Break The Routine Of 'No'
Jan 28, 2020
64: What Romance Novels Teach Us About Feminism and Change—Featuring Guest Lyssa Kay Adams
Jan 15, 2020
63: Getting Back To Basics, Avoiding Shiny Objects And Decluttering Our Minds
Jan 06, 2020
62: The Most Important Things We Do Each Year
Dec 17, 2019
61: How The 80/20 Rule Can Help Us Get Our Priorities Straight
Dec 03, 2019
60: Granting Yourself Permission To Be Creative
Nov 19, 2019
59: How To Face Big, Scary, Intentional Changes
Nov 05, 2019
58: Learning New Things, Failing At Them, And Coming Out On Top
Oct 23, 2019
57: What Keeps You Up At Night?
Oct 08, 2019
56: Navigating Pricing While Knowing Your Worth
Sep 24, 2019
55: Building Community - Live at Bad Annie's, Featuring Guests Meghan Martin and Summer Schriner
Sep 10, 2019
54: Changing Careers And Running The Show–Featuring Guest Lis Weston
Aug 27, 2019
53: How To Stop Dreading Employee Reviews
Aug 13, 2019
52: Brown Suits And Watered-Down Whiskey: Why We Shouldn't Settle For Average
Jul 30, 2019
51: What To Do When You're Burnt Out, Exhausted And Ready For A Giant Nap
Jul 16, 2019
50: Random (And Surprisingly Relevant) Thoughts From A Word Generator
Jul 02, 2019
49: Relevance And The Mid-Career-ness Of It All
Jun 18, 2019
48: Recognizing Our Faults (Almost To A Fault)
Jun 04, 2019
47: The Fine Line Between Critique And Criticism
May 21, 2019
46: Entrepreneurial Hindsight is 20/20–Featuring Guest Kelly Rossman-McKinney
May 07, 2019
45: Change Is Always In Season
Apr 23, 2019
44: Defining Success And Getting Our Priorities Straight
Apr 09, 2019
43: Hitting Reset After Hitting The Brink
Mar 26, 2019
42: Making And Breaking The Rules
Mar 12, 2019
41: Show Up, Follow Through And Don't Be A Dick
Feb 26, 2019
40: Is 'Fake It Till You Make It' Bullsh*t?
Feb 12, 2019
39: Why ‘Entrepreneurial Rigor’ Isn’t An Oxymoron
Jan 29, 2019
38: Plans, Endgames And Questions We Didn't Know Existed—Featuring Special Guest Gabrielle Lawrence
Jan 15, 2019
37: Creative Muscles Need Training, Too
Jan 04, 2019
36: Resilience
Dec 18, 2018
35: Maintaining Virtual Relationships
Dec 04, 2018
34: When Things Go Wrong
Nov 20, 2018
33: Following Creative Trends
Nov 06, 2018
32: The Inevitability of Busy
Oct 23, 2018
31: Vulnerability in Leadership
Oct 09, 2018
30: Who Left Me In Charge?—Featuring Special Guest Sarah Anthony
Sep 25, 2018
29: Difficult Decisions
Sep 12, 2018
28: Impatience is a Virtue
Aug 28, 2018
27: We Hate Sales and Prospecting, Too.
Aug 14, 2018
26: Staying Organized and Keeping Our S*** Together
Jul 31, 2018
Bloopers: Our Birthday Gift to You
Jul 24, 2018
25: When Employees Lie, Cheat and Steal
Jul 18, 2018
24: Transparency
Jul 02, 2018
23: I Need an Assistant
Jun 19, 2018
22: What Makes a Great Partnership—Featuring Special Guests Robin and Betsy Miner-Swartz
Jun 05, 2018
Rebroadcast: Life Balance is a Fucking Lie
May 30, 2018
21: Keep Hiring
May 16, 2018
20: What Are You Worth?
May 01, 2018
19: Comparison
Apr 17, 2018
18: Disintegration of Boundaries
Apr 03, 2018
17: Life Balance Is a Fucking Lie
Mar 20, 2018
16: Professionalism Is Dead
Mar 06, 2018
15: Does Creative Drive Die?
Feb 20, 2018
14: What Our Kids Have Taught Us About Clients
Feb 06, 2018
13: Who Do You Give Your Baggage To?
Jan 23, 2018
12: Crying at the Office
Jan 09, 2018
11: Letting Go
Dec 19, 2017
10: Cautionary Tales
Dec 05, 2017
9: Language. And not in the fun f-bomb kind of way
Nov 07, 2017
8: What's the big idea? (You know you've got one in you...)
Oct 24, 2017
7: Human Resources is Dark and Terrible and Hard to Navigate
Oct 10, 2017
6: Rebranding
Sep 27, 2017
5: Change + Growth
Sep 12, 2017
4: Recognition
Aug 29, 2017
3: What Do You Do When Everything Is a Priority?
Aug 15, 2017
2: Are We Still Entrepreneurs?
Aug 01, 2017
1: It’s Hard to be Honest
Jul 17, 2017