Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with illustrator, designer, and jill of all trades Marisol Ortega for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating a creative career.

Marisol talks about leaving full-time work (again!) to return to freelance life, why office-centric culture doesn’t support the way many creatives actually think and work, and how being a parent shaped her career decisions. We dig into the reality of juggling big-name clients, managing energy, working with a rep, and building a sustainable freelance practice that doesn’t drain your soul.

She also walks us through her thriving, but intentionally chill, product shop, what she’s learned from vending at events like Adobe MAX, and why she reins herself in on new product ideas. We also get into plant obsessions, tattoo pain scales, imposter syndrome (yes, she feels it too!), and dreaming bigger with kids' apparel and creative collaborations.

All that and more when you listen to this episode:

• Why Marisol officially returned to full-time freelancing this year
• The challenges of in-office creative roles when you’re a parent
• How kindness and not burning bridges led to years of referral-based work
• What it’s really like working with major brands (Target, Pringles, sports teams & more)
• Navigating freelancers’ “ebb and flow” without relying on social media
• How a creative rep supports her business and workload
• Lessons learned from vending at events and deciding what’s worth investing in
• How imposter syndrome shows up even when you’re thriving
• Why her dream projects now involve kids' apparel and playful design
• The power of experimenting, staying in your lane, and keeping your head down at work
• How plants, cooking, and hobbies outside design help her recharge

Connect with Marisol Ortega

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisol.ortega/

Website: https://www.marisolortega.com/

Shop: https://www.marisolortega.com/shop

Mentioned in this episode:

• Adobe MAX https://www.adobe.com/max.html
• AIGA Seattle https://seattle.aiga.org/
• Renegade Craft https://www.renegadecraft.com/
• Aqui Mercado Events https://www.instagram.com/aquimercado.seattle/
• Aaron Draplin https://www.instagram.com/draplin/
• Yoto Player https://us.yotoplay.com/

Connect with Katie & Ilana from Goodtype

• Goodtype Website
• Goodtype on Instagram
• Goodtype on Youtube

Love The Typecast and free stuff? Leave a review, and send a screenshot of it to us on Slack. Each month we pick a random reviewer to win a Goodtype Goodie! Goodies include merch, courses and Kernference tickets!

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Subscribe to the show

Tag us on Instagram @Goodtype

Follow us on Tiktok @lovegoodtype

Learn from Katie and Ilana

Grab your tea, coffee, or drink of choice, kick back, and let's get down to business!

Send us a text

In this episode, we’re joined by a very special guest, Rebecca Shostak, co-founder of Flodesk and lifelong designer-turned-entrepreneur. This conversation is packed with insights into how creativity, design thinking, and intentional decision-making can shape not just a project but an entire company. We also go deep into AI, the fears, the opportunities, and what it looks like to use it as a tool that supports creativity rather than replaces it.

Rebbeca shares how she went from designing merch for top artists to identifying a massive gap in the email-marketing world…and eventually building one of the most beloved design-forward platforms in the industry. We talk about the early days, the years of customer feedback that planted the seeds for Flodesk, and what it really took to go from idea to product without outside funding.

We also dig into the emotional and practical realities of creative entrepreneurship: learning to let go of control, hiring before you feel ready, defining roles within your team, and understanding your own strengths as your business grows.

All that and more when you listen to this episode:

• Rebecca’s path from merch designer to co-founding Flodesk
• How growing up around entrepreneurs shaped her mindset
• The importance of validating ideas through honest conversations
• Why intentionality is the foundation of good design
• The shift from being the designer to leading a creative team
• How to hire well and why doing the work yourself first matters
• Creative risks that paid off
• Why AI can’t replace creativity, and what it can free up time for
• How creatives can use email marketing even without a product to sell
• Building thought leadership and connection through email
• The future of work, creativity, and the new wave of tools

Connect with Rebecca Shostak, Co-Founder of Flodesk

Try Flodesk for Free: https://flodesk.com/c/GOODTYPE

Rebecca’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.shostak/

Flodesk’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flodesk/

Mentioned in this episode:

• Flodesk https://flodesk.com/c/GOODTYPE (unlimited plan ends soon!)
• Canva
• WordPress

Connect with Katie & Ilana from Goodtype

• Goodtype Website
• Goodtype on Instagram
• Goodtype on Youtube

Love The Typecast and free stuff? Leave a review, and send a screenshot of it to us on Slack. Each month we pick a random reviewer to win a Goodtype Goodie! Goodies include merch, courses and Kernference tickets!

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Subscribe to the show

Tag us on Instagram @Goodtype

Follow us on Tiktok @lovegoodtype

Learn from Katie and Ilana

Grab your tea, coffee, or drink of choice, kick back, and let's get down to business!

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Callum from Callum’s Creative Club to explore the twists and turns of balancing freelance design, social media content, and staying true to your values. From landing dream projects with Nike to navigating the wild ride of building an online following, Callum shares the highs, lows, and lessons that come with straddling two creative worlds.

We dig into the reality behind comparison traps, how boundaries keep creativity sustainable, and why building community matters more than chasing algorithms. Callum also opens up about shifting energy toward his newsletter as a healthier, more authentic way to connect with designers and creatives.

If you’ve ever struggled with creative balance, content pressure, or simply wondered how to grow without losing yourself, this episode is for you.

All that and more when you listen to this episode:

• The surprising story of landing a dream freelance client right away
• Why working with values-aligned brands makes the biggest difference
• How the pandemic reshaped Callum’s career into content creation
• The double-edged sword of viral growth (and why it’s not always what you think)
• Setting healthy boundaries between online presence and offline life
• The trap of comparison–and how newsletters became a safe creative outlet
• How to keep content authentic while standing out from the crowd
• Why consistency and vulnerability resonate more than perfection
• Choosing between client work, content creation, and education
• The importance of recalibrating your creative career when it drifts

Connect with Callum

Website: https://callumscreativeclub.myflodesk.com/linkinbio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callumscreativeclub/

Mentioned in this episode:

• Callum’s Creative Club Newsletter
• Brick

Connect with Katie & Ilana from Goodtype

• Goodtype Website
• Goodtype on Instagram
• Goodtype on Youtube

Love The Typecast and free stuff? Leave a review, and send a screenshot of it to us on Slack. Each month we pick a random reviewer to win a Goodtype Goodie! Goodies include merch, courses and Kernference tickets!

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Subscribe to the show

Tag us on Instagram @Goodtype

Follow us on Tiktok @lovegoodtype

Learn from Katie and Ilana

Grab your tea, coffee, or drink of choice, kick back, and let's get down to business!