In this electrifying episode of Raw and Rising, Joshua dives deep with the powerhouse vocalist Ryan James Monroe, an artist who's redefining soulful performance. Ryan shares how his roots in gospel choir ignited a lifelong pursuit of raw, visceral connection with his audience, a stark contrast to the often-sterile world of musical theater. This is where hustle meets heart, and where Ryan reveals the messy, unglamorous side of indie music – the financial risks, the DIY production, and the audacity it takes to build a brand from the ground up.

But it's not all grind. Ryan gets real about the "confidence cocktail" that fuels his unapologetic authenticity, and the vulnerability he embraces to shatter the loneliness that pervades the world. He shares a powerful vision of success rooted in collaboration and empowerment, not cutthroat competition.

Join our Patreon for ad-free early access to episodes, exclusive discounts, weekly Q&As, and so much more. Visit https://www.patreon.com/CreativeRiskPodcast today!

Submit your story to Raw & Rising, the mini-series spotlighting hustling creatives—those self-producing, diversifying their income, and tackling challenges head-on. Visit www.artists-strategy.com/creative-risk to pitch your story today.

—

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“CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts.

THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE

What if your career isn't actually broken-what if your expectations are? Joshua and Mike dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable truths facing artists today: that most creative careers stall not because of lack of talent or even circumstances, but because of unrealistic expectations that were never aligned with reality. From the myth of "making it" to the shifting landscape of an industry in collapse, this episode challenges everything you think you know about building a sustainable creative life.

This isn't your typical motivational podcast episode. Joshua and Mike get brutally honest about the gap between what artists expect and what it actually takes to succeed in today's market. They explore why managing expectations might be the most important skill you never learned, how to break down overwhelming goals into actionable steps, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is assume no one is coming to save you. If you're feeling stuck, unmotivated, or questioning whether you're "good enough," this conversation will give you the framework to get unstuck and start building the career you actually want.

Join our Patreon for ad-free early access to episodes, exclusive discounts, weekly Q&As, and so much more. Visit https://www.patreon.com/CreativeRiskPodcast today!

Submit your story to Raw & Rising, the mini-series spotlighting hustling creatives—those self-producing, diversifying their income, and tackling challenges head-on. Visit www.artists-strategy.com/creative-risk to pitch your story today.

—

Thanks for listening!

Join our email list for our weekly newsletter with deep insight on our personal artistic journeys:
www.artists-strategy.com/signup

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-risk/id1706381310

Subscribe on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/5hzvD8HgCjOo1NcA5zBDN4?si=404a2369523a45cb

Follow Us on IG:
www.instagram.com/creativeriskpod/

Follow Us on TikTok:
www.tiktok.com/@creativeriskpod
—
“CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts.

In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with writer, producer, historian, and all-around powerhouse Jennifer Ashley Tepper for an expansive conversation about creative sustainability, self-made opportunity, and the legacy of women in musical theater. From her start as a theater-obsessed kid in Boca Raton to becoming the programming director of 54 Below and conceiving major off and on Broadway productions, Jen has carved a career with no blueprint - just grit, vision, and relentless initiative.

This is more than a highlight reel. It’s a deep dive into how archival work is creative work, how producing your own shows can change your life, and why being indispensable often means doing what no one else is doing. Jen opens up about her decade-long journey with the Jonathan Larson Project, the power of audience-led virality with Be More Chill, and why writing Women Writing Musicals was both a celebration and a reckoning. If you’ve ever felt like there’s no lane for what you want to do, this conversation is proof that you can build one.

Join our Patreon for ad-free early access to episodes, exclusive discounts, weekly Q&As, and so much more. Visit https://www.patreon.com/CreativeRiskPodcast today!

Submit your story to Raw & Rising, the mini-series spotlighting hustling creatives—those self-producing, diversifying their income, and tackling challenges head-on. Visit www.artists-strategy.com/creative-risk to pitch your story today.

—

Thanks for listening!

Join our email list for our weekly newsletter with deep insight on our personal artistic journeys:
www.artists-strategy.com/signup

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-risk/id1706381310

Subscribe on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/5hzvD8HgCjOo1NcA5zBDN4?si=404a2369523a45cb

Follow Us on IG:
www.instagram.com/creativeriskpod/

Follow Us on TikTok:
www.tiktok.com/@creativeriskpod
—
“CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts.