Wheel Talk
Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespottery) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time studio potter, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring you helpful tips we've learned over the years, learn from each other, and share expertise from a number of guests with you also. Please join us for some Wheel Talk!
#282 - Handling problematic customers & soda kiln visions
#281 - Teaching, digital art & craftsmanship with Bryan Wilkerson
#280 - What we're thankful for in the ceramics community
#279 - Worth it or not worth it
#278 - Hands-on tips for teaching short workshops
#277 - How do you feel about preorders?
#276 - Turning Ideas into Art: Steal Like an Artist with Taylor Swilley
#275 - Exploring Etsy HQ and brewing success at the Cincy Coffee Festival
#274 - Big city, small business with Sarah Hussaini from Not Work Related
#273 - Commissions, business startup tips, and Michiana Pottery Tour recap
#272 - Listener Q&A: Perfecting mystery boxes and kiln programs
#271 - Countdown to Pot Swap 2024: what’s new this year
#270 - Creating monumental installation art with Jackie Head
#269 - Workshops, sales, and solving glaze problems
#268 - Blending military life and ceramics with Delvin Goode from D Goode Art
#267 - Embracing a Creative Life: Big Magic with Taylor Swilley
#266 - Creating through health struggles with Aleatha Aiken-Sherrer from aleathabean (Pt 2)
#265 - Creating through health struggles with Aleatha Aiken-Sherrer from aleathabean (Pt 1)
#264 - Spaghetti brain or box brain?
#263 - Cohesion vs. creativity in your pottery
#262 - Lessons from The E-Myth Revisited
#261 - Virtual teaching milestones & new horizons with Tzipporah Schvarcz from Sipor Ceramics (Pt 2)
#260 - Virtual teaching milestones & new horizons with Tzipporah Schvarcz from Sipor Ceramics (Pt 1)
#259 - Q&A Part IX
#258 - A new start for Bluebird Clay with Jordan Kloppe (Pt 2)
#257 - A new start for Bluebird Clay with Jordan Kloppe (Pt 1)
#256 - Moving out of a studio
#255 - Adapting to uncertain times with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks (Pt 2)
#254 - Adapting to uncertain times with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks (Pt 1)
#253 - Becca's next challenge
#252 - Making pottery for restaurants with Bethany Kramer from Bethany Rose Pottery
#251 - What can you do when sales are slow?
#250 - Finding the right shows
#249 - Calculated risk-taking
#248 - Is your price right? with Isaac Shue and Heidi Fahrenbacher
#247 - "Resources for your business" at NCECA 2024
#246 - Let's talk preorders
#245 - Pricing your work pt 2 & presenting at NCECA with Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery
#244 - Road trip home from NCECA!
#243 - Getting better at in-person shows
#242 - How we started & where we're going
#241 - Setting boundaries on social media with Melanie Westheiden from Swell Ceramics
#240 - Mobile studios
#239 - Custom wholesale & clay buttons with Sara Davis from Golden Earth Designs
#238 - A path to full time ceramic artist with Em (Paz) Stevens (Pt 2)
#237 - A path to full time ceramic artist with Em (Paz) Stevens (Pt 1)
#236 - Clay Con West recap!
#235 - A peek inside the Maker's Playbook with Rebecca Ickes Carra
#234 - Body care for long term success with Joshua Reed from Wellness with Joshua
#233 - Is paid advertisement worth it? with Will Donovan from Donovan Pottery
#232 - What do you look for in a workshop?
#231 - Analyzing your best & worst Instagram Reels
#230 - Starting a community studio from scratch with Noah Smith from NWS Ceramics
#229 - 2023 wrap up
#228 - How do you handle negative feedback?
#227 - Tiki Technical Talk with Henrik van Ryzin from VanTiki
#226 - Kiln size matters
#225 - What influences a buyer to purchase?
#224 - Becca’s on the road
#223 - Health & safety in the studio
#222 - Building partnerships with companies
#221 - Fostering community as a family with Milissa & Eric Beale from Beale Pottery
#220 - Are you feeling burned-out?
#219 - Pricing your work effectively with Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery
#218 - Pot Swap 2023 is almost here!
#217 - Teaching in-person & virtually
#216 - Maintaining a love for clay with Juliann Roush
#215 - Scaling your business with Curt Hammerly from Hammerly Ceramics
#214 - We're not in Kansas anymore with Meghan Yarnell & Tony Young
#213 - 4 year anniversary of Wheel Talk!
#212 - Live Q&A with Ashley from Bowled Over Ceramics
#211 - Building community virtually with Tzipporah Schvarcz from Sipor Ceramics
#210 - Live Q&A with Caroline from Revisionist Studio
#209 - Q&A Part VIII
#208 - Optimizing your show applications with Deanna Poelsma from Glazed & Confused Creations
#207 - Comparing clay conferences
#206 - Subscription & mug clubs
#205 - Live Q&A with Cindy from Green Cabin Pottery
#204 - Live Q&A with Lynne from Grit & Grace Pottery
#203 - Chat GPT
#202 - "Am I robbing students of a teachable moment?"
#201 - Garbage Talk with Tim Kowalczyk
#200 - Tradesies & artist collabs
#199 - Beyond the tool reviews with Hope Limyansky-Smith
#198 - Should you offer free shipping?
Bonus - Shooting the sh** Part I
#197 - Adding new styles to your product line
#196 - All about fidget stones!!
#195 - NCECA 2023 recap
#194 - "Learning Through Collaboration" at NCECA 2023
#193 - Pricing with confidence
#192 - Managing a wholesale business with Andrew Fegler from That's So Andrew
#191 - Pricing for your worth or your market
#190 - What’s up with Instagram Subscriptions with Brooke Thivierge from BAT’s Ceramics
#189 - Running a massive community studio with Ben Clark from Queen City Clay
#188 - Answering your tax questions with Jamie Boyack from Aloha Friday CPA
#187 - Teaching, online restocks, & family with Jodie Rozycki from Mudslinging Pottery
#186 - Learning to fire your kilns
#185 - Adjusting to van life
#184 - Growing through experimentation
#183 - "Selling at Art Fairs" at Clay Con West
#182 - Working through self doubt
#181 - Meeting customer demand with Will Donovan of Donovan Pottery
#180 - 2022 recap & looking forward
#179 - Returning from a long hiatus
#178 - Shop partnerships & show rejection
#177 - Balancing studio & family time
#176 - Community studio vibes
#175 - Post holiday reflection
#174 - Hosting a home studio sale
#173 - Buying used kilns & wheels
#172 - Shooting the sh** and sharing a booth space
#171 - Rats, frogs, & mushrooms with Sarah Anderson
#170 - Organizing your inventory
#169 - Tim See takeaways
#168 - Finding success with Tim See
#167 - Studio practice Q&A Part II
#166 - Pot Swap 2022 is coming!
#165 - Life without social media
#164 - 3 years of Wheel Talk!!
#163 - Wholesale offerings & pricing
#162 - Trading work for studio access
#161 - Planning a preorder
#160 - I'm gonna getcha good
#159 - Throwing sh** & talking pots with Diana Adams from Sample Haus
#158 - Do you make enough to go full time?
#157 - Balancing priorities
#156 - The business of community studios with Yellow Door Ceramics Studio
#155 - Q&A Part VII
#154 - Should you move off Etsy? with Danielle from D Whigham Ceramics
#153 - New potter, who dis? with Erica Kilroy
#152 - Pay yourself first
#151 - Becca's next endeavor
#150 - Consistency in your product line
#149 - Shifting Your Business with Rebecca Graves Prowse from Gravesco Pottery
#148 - Pricing work at your first show
Bonus - Wheel Talk mugs are coming!
#147 - Shooting the breeze with Aleatha from aleathabean
#146 - Glaze application
#145 - Developing your own style
#144 - Scheduling your studio time effectively
#143 - Answering your small business questions
#142 - ...it's been 14 years since my last recession
#141 - ADHD as a small business owner
#140 - Building a home studio with Liz Cohen
#139 - Studio practice Q&A
#138 - Prepping for an online update
#137 - Playing the Instagram Game with Curt Hammerly from Hammerly Ceramics
#136 - Slips and underglazes
#135 - When should you start selling?
#134 - "Diversifying Your Pottery Business Income" at Clay Con West
#133 - What to do in 2022?
#132 - Are giveaways worth it?
#131 - "We're LIVE!" at Clay Con West
#130 - Art shows & branding
#129 - Capping off 2021
#128 - Q&A Part VI
#127 - Are you a solopreneur?
#126 - Partner of a potter with Ryan and Rachel
#125 - Butts butts butts
#124 - Moving studios effectively
#123 - How was Becca's fancy "cupdate?"
#122 - Atmospheric firing with Trevor Daugherty from Trevor Clayworks
#121 - Don't be like Becca: Show Edition
#120 - Kiln loading 101
#119 - Handbuilding & Rainbows with Amy Brummond from Pine Zen Pottery
#118 - "Successful Art Business Practices" at the Indiana Clay Conference
#117 - Know your customers
#116 - Don't waste your talents with Chris Burch
#115 - Pot Swap 2021 is almost here!!
#114 - Bookkeeping deep dive
#113 - A shi**y discussion
#112 - Q&A Part V
#111 - Business expenses 101
#110s - How much inventory do you need for shows?
#109s - What to make: Fancy or Basic?
#108 - Finding your market with Isaac Shue
#107 - Motivation as a Maker…Take 2
#106 - 2 years of Wheel Talk!!
#105 - Our 3 favorite cups!
#104 - Show talk & raising prices
#103 - Etsy or your own website?
#102s - Reclaiming your clay
#101s - More than you wanted to know about handles
#100 - Best of moments
#99 - Signs of a good show
#98 - 'Claygiarism' vs. inspiration
#97 - In the Studio with Val Flynn
#96 - Q&A Part IV
#95 - Let's Talk About Clay with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks
#94s - Is your work food safe?
#93s - Profit potential on different forms
#92 - Money money money
#91 - Things to Be Happy About with Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery
#90 - Thinking about a brick and mortar?
#89 - Do you need help in your studio?
#88 - All the Things with Leigh Anne Thompson from Elan Pottery
#87 - Art show Q&A (pt 2)
Bonus - "How to Build an Etsy Shop"
#86 - Art show Q&A (pt 1)
#85 - Lindsey and Donte join us from The Mud Peddlers Podcast
#84 - Maintenance & innovation...then we take a left turn
#83 - Packing and shipping
#82 - Back to the Questions (pt 3)
#81 - Boost your production
#80 - How much is too much?
#79 - Pricing
#78 - Q&A Part III
#77 - We answer more of your Instagram questions (pt 2)
#76 - Recapping 2020 and looking ahead to 2021
#75 - Social media boundaries
#74 - Ryan answers your Instagram questions (pt 1)
#73 - The hardest question alive! Artist or Potter?
#72 - Should you sell your seconds?
#71 - Goal setting for the New Year
#70 - Let's talk glazing
#69 - Kilns, Kilns, Kilns
#68 - Chasing dreams vs. reality
#67 - Buying & selling pottery wheels
#66 - Body care in the studio
#65 - Is the ceramics market too saturated?
#64 - Evolution of a Brick and Mortar with Kelti Ziese from Coda Co
#63 - Becca's BIG News!
#62 - Prioritizing happiness
#61 - Pot Swap 2020 is COMING!
#60 - Finding New Customers with Amy Boullé from Tryst Studios
#59 - Hustling Online with Andrew Fegler from That's So Andrew
#58 - Building a cohesive body of work
#57 - After-hours with Ryan & Becca
#56 - Why pay for a community studio?
#55 - Balancing a day job & side business
#54 - Why is branding important?
#53 - Q&A Part II
#52 - A Call to Adventure with Matt & Tara Brault from Pitch Pine Pottery
#51 - Are you ready for wholesale?
#50 - Shop Talk with Curt Hammerly from Hammerly Ceramics
#49 - Diversifying your income
#48 - Essentials for a home studio
#47 - Muglyz with Aaron Kleinhelter
#46 - Adapting your business during uncertain times
#45 - Art shows during a pandemic
#44 - Time is money
#43 - Talking Glazes with Joshua Heim from JH Pottery Works
#42 - Had I known...
#41 - Social media ramblings
#40 - Ryan got a... WHAT?!?!
#39 - Love what you make.. don't compromise
#38 - COVID update
#37 - Kiln Venting... Becca explains what not to do....
#36 - Do you have an email list?
#35 - Wholesale and Team Management with Rebecca Graves Prowse from Gravesco Pottery
#34 - Handbuilding, why it's bomb too!
#33 - Jumping in before you're ready
#32 - Pottery on a creative budget
#31 - Pottery, Flowers, and Family with Joshua and Kari Heim
#30 - How to adjust your small business in hard times
#29 - 5 Potters Eat Dinner & Talk Pot
#28 - How to be a professional failure!
#27 - In the Doghouse with Amanda Schwartz from Doghouse Pottery
#26 - To Do Customs or Not to Do Customs? That is the Question...
#25 - Insecurities & Growth as an Artist
#24 - Boundaries...what are those?
#23 - Late Nights at Clay Con West
#22 - Good Times at Clay Con West
#21 - A Beginner's Guide to NCECA
#20 - Let's Hear dem Goals!!!!
#19 - May All Our Failed Goals Be Forgot: 2019 Recap
#18 - From Rich to Poor, How to Handle the Dreaded Winter
#17 - Balancing a Full-Time Job & Side Hustle
#16 - No Ma'am.. This Isn't a Hobby.
#15 - Two Broke Potters
#14 - What's Up Guys?! with Jon Schmidt aka Jon The Potter
#13 - Glazed and Confused
#12 - Why Be a Depressed Bee, When You Can Play with Pottery?
#11 - Should I Stay or Should I Go?
#10 - Pot Swap 2019
#9 - How much does a mug cost to produce?
#8 - Improve Your Art Show Sales
#7 - Transitioning from Fall to Winter
#6 - 21 Questions
#5 - Ways to Sell: Consignment
#4 - Ryan's Best Show Ever!!
#3 - Ways to Sell: Art Shows
#2 - For Love or Money?
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