In this conversation, Alex Hillman shares his journey from web developer to co-founder of Indy Hall, one of the first co-working spaces in the United States, exploring how community building, meaningful relationships, and iterative learning have shaped his entrepreneurial path.

Links

• Indy Hall
• 10k Independents

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Alex Hillman - Guest

Jessica Abel shares her extensive journey as a creative, starting as a cartoonist and evolving into a business coach for creatives. She discusses her experiences in the comics industry, the challenges of making a living as an artist, and the importance of teaching business fundamentals to aspiring artists. The conversation highlights the need for creatives to adapt their business models and find ways to support their artistic practices while navigating the complexities of the art market.

Links

• Website
• Autonomous Creative Conference

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Jessica Abel - Guest

In this episode, we dive deep with Rob Hardy, a writer whose "devotional pursuit of a more beautiful internet" has led him to craft powerful manifestos that challenge the status quo. Rob shares his journey from filmmaker to manifesto writer, including the emotional roller coaster of entrepreneurship and his transformative experience writing "The Source", an article on perfectionism that resonated deeply with Ben and Marie.

Links

• Ungated Life
• Ungated Media
• Manifestory

Takeaways

• Metrics and views destroy what makes the internet meaningful—connecting with our unique people
• Manifestos contain three elements: articulating what's wrong, envisioning what's possible, and building a bridge between them
• Perfectionism oscillates between shame and grandiosity, while healing happens in the uncomfortable valley between
• Community support systems show us our struggles aren't unique and we don't need to face them alone
• Sustainable businesses start from safety, not scarcity, which leads to chasing metrics and "best practices"
• Writing a manifesto transforms the creator by forcing confrontation with deeper values and identity
• Manifestos help startups clarify values, improve decisions, guide hiring, and attract aligned customers
• Creating from conversation rather than control allows for genuine connections and surprising insights

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Rob Hardy - Guest

In this episode, we're talking to founder Andrew Askins about his experience growing an agency, getting acqui-hired, and then getting fired. We talk about company culture, the unique challenges of being a founder, and what it's like to bootstrap a software business.

Links

• AndrewAskins.com
• MetaMonster.ai

Takeaways

• Selling a business creates unexpected emotional challenges, particularly around maintaining team culture and transparency during transition
• The shift from founder to employee requires significant identity adjustment and emotional processing
• Mindfulness practices and somatic therapy provide practical tools for managing entrepreneurial stress and anxiety
• Successful entrepreneurship requires balancing optimistic vision with realistic anxiety management
• Strong partnerships can provide essential emotional and strategic balance in business leadership
• Teaching and public speaking effectiveness comes from authentic storytelling rather than technical perfection
• Fear of judgment often blocks creative potential more than actual skill limitations
• Building genuine community and psychological safety unlocks both team and individual growth

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Andrew Askins - Guest

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Corey Wilks, a licensed clinical psychologist and executive coach who helps high performing entrepreneurs overcome their limiting beliefs and build a values aligned life and business. We also talk about what it means to navigate entrepreneurship when you're neurodivergent.

Links

• CoreyWilksPsyD.com
• Creator Alchemy

Takeaways

• ADHD can lead to both challenges and strengths in entrepreneurship, often driving hyper-focus and creativity.
• Theory crafting can be a form of self-sabotage, preventing action and real-world execution.
• Authenticity in coaching relationships fosters trust and allows clients to embrace their true selves.
• Productivity should serve personal goals, not become an end in itself.
• Many entrepreneurs feel trapped by their own success, creating a 'gilded cage' instead of freedom.
• Fear of failure, ridicule, and uncertainty are common barriers for entrepreneurs.
• Coaching high-performing clients can be more rewarding than working with those who lack motivation.
• Understanding what one truly wants is crucial for personal and professional alignment.
• The journey of self-discovery is often complex and requires confronting uncomfortable truths. Change can be overwhelming, but it's essential for growth.
• Many people wait for permission to pursue their desires.
• Fear of success often stems from the fear of isolation.
• Coaching should focus on facilitating transformation, not giving advice.
• Fun and passion are key to successful content creation. Authenticity resonates with people and builds connections.

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Corey Wilks, Psy.D. - Guest

In this episode we spoke with one of our favorite makers Joel Hooks on the challenges of course creation, platform development, and AI. We also explore software development, music creation, and social media while Joel shares his fitness journey and its impact on his life and work.

Links

• Badass Courses
• CourseBuilder
• Egghead.io
• @joelhooks.com on Bluesky
• _noise_complaint on Tiktok

Takeaways

• The importance of owning one's platform for course creation and delivery
• Challenges and considerations in building and maintaining course platforms
• The impact of platform limitations on course delivery and content creation
• The use of AI in content creation and its potential impact on course development
• The significance of tool choice for course creation and delivery
• The importance of prioritizing the local work environment in software development
• The impact of personal preferences and opinions on file format and software development
• The significance of data portability and interoperability in building software tools
• The joy and creativity involved in music production and exploration
• The evolving landscape of social media platforms and the role of community engagement in programming and creative endeavors The decision to prioritize fitness involves a significant mindset shift and commitment.
• Hiring a coach and committing to a fitness routine can lead to unexpected enjoyment in fitness activities.
• The evolving landscape of online platforms presents challenges and opportunities for content creators.

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Joel Hooks - Guest

In this episode, we spoke with fellow Notion pro, educator, and project management expert Monica Lim about productivity and life including strategies on handling and recognizing burnout. Check out this episode if, like Monica, you love learning and making things happen!

Links

• MonicaLim.co
• @MonicaLim on Twxtter

Takeaways

• Volunteering in high-pressure situations, such as firefighting, can help build resilience and reduce nervousness in other areas of life.
• Teaching experience can provide valuable skills for public speaking, as it involves helping others understand and learn.
• Managing ADHD requires finding strategies for prioritization and focusing on important tasks.
• Developing principles for decision making can help in prioritizing and avoiding distractions.
• Helping others can be fulfilling, but it's important to set boundaries and prioritize personal well-being. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive or prolonged stress.
• Recognizing the signs of burnout and implementing strategies for recovery is crucial in managing and preventing burnout.
• Creating ideal days and rituals can help maintain balance and prevent burnout.
• AI can be a valuable tool in offsetting burnout, particularly in research and decision-making. Curiosity can lead to a deeper understanding of AI and automation.
• Automation can make tasks feel like magic and increase productivity.
• Learning to code can provide more control and power in automating processes.
• It is important to identify areas that can be automated and find the entry point to automation.
• Prioritizing learning and having a specific goal or project in mind can help determine the value of learning to code.

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Monica Lim - Guest

Thomas Frank has been leveraging his learning through multiple businesses and media channels. Today he joins the Oki Doki team to talk about Notion, life, and his new knowledge capture tool, Flylighter.

Links

• Flylighter
• Thomas Frank on YouTube
• Thomas Frank Explains on YouTube
• Learn Notion with Thomas

Takeaways

• Transitioning from content creation to software development can be challenging, and it's important to recognize your strengths and delegate tasks that are not in your wheelhouse.
• Building a team and finding the right people to work with is crucial for the success of a business.
• When pricing a software product, it's important to consider the value it provides to users and gather feedback to determine the optimal pricing model.
• The future of software development lies in modular and flexible tools that can adapt to users' needs and integrate with various platforms.
• Structured play is an effective way to learn and explore new topics, allowing for experimentation and discovery. Breaking the habit of checking the phone first thing in the morning can lead to a more productive start to the day.
• Living without smartphones for a significant part of one's life can provide perspective on the need for constant connectivity.
• Changing focus and obsessions can lead to new creative outlets and a shift in mindset.
• Being closer to family and having a sense of community can be important factors in making decisions about where to live.

Creators & Guests

• Marie Poulin - Host
• Benjamin Borowski - Host
• Thomas Frank - Guest