In this episode of The Almost Creative Podcast, we bring back our Riches in the Niches series and dive deep into one of the most talked-about topics in the creative industry: podcast retainers Retainer clients are often pitched online as the ultimate path to stability but are they actually the best move for videographers and creatives? We break down when retainers do make sense, when they don’t, and why podcasts are one of the few niches where recurring work can truly work long-term.💬 Inside this episode:✅ Why retainers aren’t a “golden bullet” for every creative✅ What types of industries actually benefit from monthly content✅ How podcasts naturally lend themselves to retainer relationships✅ How we package and price podcast work (real numbers included)✅ Why consistency, availability, and niche matter more than hype✅ How podcasters can monetize beyond views (affiliates, sponsors, relationships)✅ Gear, setup, and workflow considerations for sustainable podcast productionIf you’re a videographer, filmmaker, or creative thinking about offering retainers — or being pushed by online gurus to chase them — this episode brings real-world clarity from creators actually doing the work 📌 Timestamps00:00 – Intro ( Riches in the Niches)02:52 – Retainers vs One-Off Projects06:12 – When Retainers Don’t Make Sense08:24 – The Reality of Retainer Income13:07 – How We Price Podcast Production22:18 – When It’s Okay to Outgrow Clients24:13 – How Podcasts Actually Make Money30:11 – Our Recommended Podcast Gear Setup35:25 – YoloBox Extreme vs Other Switchers36:41 – Final Takeaways & Recap📲 Follow Us🎙️ Podcast: @almostcreativepod📸 Travis: @trheberling📸 Chris: @chrisshootsvideo📺 YouTube: Almost Creative🎁 Free Tools & Resources📄 FREE Pricing Template → https://bit.ly/wedding-pricing-template🎧 Music (SoundStripe) → https://soundstripe.com?fpr=almostcre...🎬 Wedding Day Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/wedding-video💡 Lighting Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/lighting✂️ AI Clipping Tool (Opus) → https://www.opus.pro/?via=almostcreative📋 CRM (17 Hats) → https://referrals.17hats.com/?r=gspzs📌 Subscribe for more conversations on creative business, niches, and building work that lasts. Follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod for new episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode of Almost Creative, Christian Diaz sits down with Kayla Kalisz, a third-generation entertainer whose work spans NBA halftime shows, luxury events, and large-scale productions, to break down the world of specialty entertainment and circus arts.

Kayla shares her journey from dance and acrobatics into aerial performance, immersive character work, and professional circus acts — along with the realities of building a sustainable career as a performer. They dive into how specialty entertainment works behind the scenes, how performers actually get booked, and what it takes to stand out in a competitive creative industry.

This episode explores the balance between creativity and business, offering practical insight for dancers, models, and creatives interested in live performance, gig work, and non-traditional creative careers.

In this episode of The Almost Creative Podcast, we reflect on three client projects from this past year that genuinely stuck with us — not because they were perfect, but because of what they taught us about trust, communication, and creative leadership We walk through one project where the client fully trusted the creative process, one where that trust was missing and things unraveled, and a third where lessons learned helped shape a much stronger outcome. Each story comes with real takeaways for creatives working with clients, brands, and teams at different levels.🎯 In This Episode✅ Why clients often don’t know what they actually need — and how to guide them✅ The difference between being a vendor vs a creative partner✅ When (and how) to push back on client requests✅ Why pre-production can make or break a project✅ How trust leads to better storytelling, fewer revisions, and stronger results✅ Lessons learned from commercial, event, and manufacturing projectsIf you’re a creative trying to grow professionally, work with better clients, or build more meaningful projects, this episode offers honest insight into what actually works — and what doesn’t — in real-world creative work 📌 Timestamps00:00 – Intro & New Year01:24 – Why These Projects Matter01:43 – Project #1: Client Trust in Action08:10 – Sponsor Break09:05 – Project #2: When Process Fails16:36 – Project #3: Lessons Applied23:18 – The Core Takeaway26:43 – Closing & Sponsor📌 Subscribe for more conversations about creative work, business growth, and lessons learned the hard way. Follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod for new episodes and behind-the-scenes content.📲 Follow Us🎙️ Podcast: @almostcreativepod📸 Travis: @trheberling📸 Chris: @chrisshootsvideo📺 YouTube: Almost Creative🎁 Free Tools & Resources📄 FREE Pricing Template → https://bit.ly/wedding-pricing-template🎧 Music (SoundStripe) → https://soundstripe.com?fpr=almostcre...🎬 Wedding Day Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/wedding-video💡 Lighting Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/lighting✂️ AI Clipping Tool (Opus) → https://www.opus.pro/?via=almostcreative📋 CRM (17 Hats) → https://referrals.17hats.com/?r=gspzs

In this episode of the Almost Creative Podcast, Chris and Travis take a break from interviews and tactics to reflect on something more personal — the movies that shaped who they are as creatives.Instead of listing “the best films of all time,” they share the ten movies that helped form their taste, curiosity, and creative direction, from childhood inspiration to career-defining moments. Along the way, they unpack how storytelling, cinematography, animation, marketing, and emotional payoff influenced their work in film, video, and business.💬 Inside this episode:✅ We discuss movies we feel would describe us, Not the best, not necessarily our favorite, but movies that match our personalities This is a laid-back, reflective episode about creativity, influence, and why the things we love early on often shape the work we do later. If you’re a creative building a career — or just curious how inspiration compounds over time — this one’s for you.📲 Follow Us🎙️ Podcast: @almostcreativepod📸 Travis: @trheberling📸 Chris: @chrisshootsvideo📺 YouTube: Almost Creative🎁 Free Tools & Resources📄 FREE Pricing Template → https://bit.ly/wedding-pricing-template🎧 Music (SoundStripe) → https://soundstripe.com?fpr=almostcre...🎬 Wedding Day Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/wedding-video💡 Lighting Kit → https://kit.co/trheberling/lighting✂️ AI Clipping Tool (Opus) → https://www.opus.pro/?via=almostcreative📋 CRM (17 Hats) → https://referrals.17hats.com/?r=gspzs📌 Subscribe for more creative business conversations, and follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod to keep up with new episodes!

If you haven't noticed yet we are talking off for the holidays. We plan to be back in Janurary with a BANG! Look out for 1 new episode each week of Jan.

Ever wondered why your back hurts after editing… or why shooting weddings wrecks your shoulders?
In this episode, Travis sits down with Dr. Paul Castle, a chiropractor with 22+ years of experience, to talk about the habits, health tips, and daily choices creatives overlook — and how fixing your body can actually fix your business.

From New Year’s resolutions to posture, diet, movement, and staying healthy in a physically demanding industry, Paul breaks down practical advice every photographer, videographer, designer, and creator needs to hear.

We cover:
• Why most resolutions fail (and what actually works)
• What real habit change looks like
• Healthy snack alternatives for creatives on the go
• How sitting all day affects your body — and how to fix it
• Standing desks, movement, stretching & treadmill desks
• Why being “active” doesn’t always mean being healthy
• Preventing long-term injuries in creative work
• The business lessons Paul learned running a practice for 22 years
• Why helping people — not selling — is the key to growth

If you’re a creative who wants a long, healthy, sustainable career, this episode is your reminder to take care of the body that takes care of your work.

In this episode of Almost Creative, we sit down with Nick Faldstein — a veteran wedding filmmaker and the founder of Newlyweds Cinema — to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in the creative world: the rise of the wedding content creator.After nearly a decade behind the camera, Nick decided to evolve from crafting cinematic highlight films to capturing real, unfiltered moments in the age of social media.He shares what inspired the transition, how it’s reshaping the wedding industry, and why genuine emotions matter more than perfect shots.🎯 In This Episode:✅ How Nick went from short-films and weddings to full-time content creation✅ The difference between a wedding videographer and a content creator✅ Why authenticity and emotion are outperforming cinematic perfection✅ Tips for creatives who want to pivot into the content-creation space✅ How to work alongside other vendors without stepping on toes✅ Why video storytelling still matters more than everWhether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or creative entrepreneur, this episode dives deep into how the digital shift is redefining what it means to capture a wedding day.📌 Subscribe for more creative business conversations, and follow us on Instagram @almostcreativepod to keep up with new episodes!

Ever wondered why some photographers capture emotion effortlessly while others struggle? In this episode, Travis sits down with portrait artist Ranka Djajic Sparavalo — founder of Ranka Photography and the 40 Over 40 Project — to talk about how psychology, empathy, and human connection create powerful images and a stronger creative business.

Ranka shares how her hospitality background shaped her client experience, how she builds trust with vulnerable subjects, and how she launched a thriving portrait brand at 42.

In This Episode:
• Why connection matters more than camera gear
• The psychology behind natural, emotional portraits
• The story of the 40 Over 40 women’s portrait project
• Building trust, confidence, and comfort with clients
• What hospitality teaches creatives about service
• Starting a creative career later in life
• Growing a studio and creating legacy-driven work

Whether you’re a photographer or a creative entrepreneur, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to build the career you want — and that great art always begins with understanding people.