The Honest Designers Show

Hosted by Tom Ross, Dustin Lee, Ian Barnard, and Lisa Glanz, The Honest Designers Show is one of the most candid conversations you'll find about making a living as a creative. The four hosts come from different corners of the design world, illustration, hand lettering, product design, and running a marketplace, which means every episode has multiple perspectives bouncing off one another. They talk openly about the parts of freelancing that usually get glossed over: pricing your work without undervaluing yourself, handling client feedback that stings, dealing with burnout, and figuring out when to say no to a project. What makes the show stand out is how unfiltered it is. The hosts share real numbers, real failures, and the kind of advice you'd expect from friends rather than a polished business podcast. Episodes cover topics like building passive income from product sales, growing an audience on social platforms, staying productive during creative slumps, and adapting to shifts in the industry. The vibe is warm, occasionally funny, and always practical. Listeners often say the show feels like eavesdropping on a group chat between designers who actually know what they're doing. If you run your own studio, sell design assets, or are trying to turn a creative side hustle into something sustainable, this is a show worth keeping in your regular rotation.