

The Tillage Podcast
Shirlee Fisher
The Tillage Podcast is a space I've created to help you gain clarity on your creative journey. Being a creative entrepreneur comes with its ups and downs, and sometimes it can feel like you're all on your own. I’m passionate about digging deep with you, asking the tough questions, and encouraging action that transforms your creative business and life into something you truly love. In each guest episode, you’ll hear from fellow artists who have shifted their mindsets on their path to success and gain actionable advice and strategies to move forward with purpose. Thanks for listening! 🧡🌿
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 10, 2026 • 40min
157: The Perspective of Time & Rethinking How We Use It with Bella Boss
In this episode of The Tillage Podcast, I’m joined by artist and creative entrepreneur Bella Boss to talk about time, creativity, and building a creative business in real life. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have enough time to pursue your art, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective.Together we explore:How creatives can make progress in small pockets of timeWhy busy seasons of life can actually sharpen your focusThe importance of letting go of things that no longer fit your creative businessWhy there’s never a perfect time to start your creative dreamHow redefining your timeline and priorities can bring more joy to your creative lifeIf you're an artist, illustrator, or creative entrepreneur trying to balance creativity, business, and life, this episode will encourage you to start where you are and trust the season you're in. 🧡🌿Join The Green Room on Patreon ⭐Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk ⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Feb 17, 2026 • 27min
156: Search for the Opposite: How Confirmation Bias Is Shaping Your Creative Business
In this episode, I’m unpacking the powerful mindset shift I learned in therapy that’s changing how I view sales, growth, and identity as an entrepreneur. We’re talking about the tendency to collect proof that our limiting beliefs are true and how that impacts confidence, risk-taking, and business decisions.If you’ve ever thought “I’m bad at selling,” “I’m behind,” or “this just isn’t working,” this conversation will help you challenge those narratives and start searching for evidence in the opposite direction.This is a practical mindset episode for creative entrepreneurs ready to stop playing small and start rewriting their story. 🧡🌿Join The Green Room on Patreon ⭐Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk ⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Feb 3, 2026 • 25min
155: When Life Feels Heavy: Choosing Care, Margin, and What You Need
In this episode, I’m sharing honestly about the heaviness I have been feeling for months and the choices I’ve been making to care for my mind and creativity.We’ll talk about listening to yourself, creating margin without quitting, and protecting your most precious asset, your mind. I also share updates on changes to the podcast schedule and introduce The Tillage Patreon: The Green Room, a place where you can support the show in a new way. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like you might need to do things differently, this episode is a gentle reminder that you’re allowed to honor your needs and move at a pace that supports you.🌿Join The Green Room on Patreon ⭐Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk ⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Jan 20, 2026 • 35min
154: A Different Kind of January: Releasing & Honoring Your Season with Stacie Martinez
January often comes with pressure to start fresh, set big goals, and move fast, but what if this season is asking you to slow down instead? In this episode, Stacie Martinez of The Lucky Bandana opens up about honoring your season when your body, energy, or circumstances require a gentler pace.Together, we chat about releasing unrealistic timelines, redefining productivity, and letting go of comparison, especially when healing, burnout, or uncertainty are part of the picture. This episode offers permission to move slower, listen to your body, and trust that rest and care are not setbacks, but essential parts of a sustainable creative life.If January feels heavy or different than expected, this conversation is a reminder: you’re not behind. 🧡🐌🛒Get $10 off your first Instacart Order today!☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Dec 2, 2025 • 25min
153: Learning to Love Yourself in the Push and the Pause
In this heartfelt episode, I explore one of the hardest questions creative entrepreneurs face: When do I push myself, and when do I pause?After walking through a personally challenging season, I am opening up about what it really means to practice self-love with discernment—the delicate balance between following through on your commitments and giving yourself permission to rest. You’ll learn how to identify whether your current season calls for action or stillness, how to let go of unnecessary guilt, and why pausing doesn’t mean quitting...it’s actually a vital part of growth.✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:Why true self-love requires discernmentHow to let go of guilt around slowing down or taking breaksA mental exercise to lighten your mental “backpack” and release pressureIf you’ve been feeling the weight of doing it all and wondering how to care for yourself without losing momentum, this episode will help you reconnect to your intuition, redefine productivity, and find peace in the pause.Get 10% off your Canvas Lamp today with code: Tillage10☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Nov 11, 2025 • 47min
152: From The Archives | Discovering Your Inner Child with Meg Indy
In this inspiring episode, New York–based abstract artist Meg Indy shares her journey from watercolor beginnings in a college dorm to painting large-scale works that now grace homes and galleries across the city. Meg opens up about how rediscovering her childlike wonder has shaped her creative process and how you can do the same.Together, we explore the importance of reconnecting with your inner child, embracing messy creativity, and giving yourself permission to play again. If you’ve ever felt blocked, burnt out, or disconnected from your creative joy, this conversation will remind you that freedom lives in the process, not the perfection. What You’ll Learn:✨ How your childhood passions can guide your creative path today✨ The power of an intentional “artist date” to spark new inspiration✨ Why giving yourself permission to make a mess leads to authentic art✨ How to overcome perfectionism, fear of failure, and creative paralysis✨ Practical ways to create an environment that supports deep creative flowWhether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone craving more joy in your work, this episode is your invitation to embrace the twists, turns, and beautiful mess of making. 🧡Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk and lock in to the Unlimited Plan before November 28th! ☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Nov 4, 2025 • 34min
151: Be the Person Your Future Self and Business Can Trust
Do you have big ideas but struggle to follow through? In this episode of The Tillage Podcast, we’re talking about what it really takes to become the kind of person your creative dreams can depend on. Not more motivation. Not another planner. But learning how to show up for your goals the way you would show up for a boss, a deadline, or anyone else who’s counting on you.We dive into why so many creatives are great at dreaming but get stuck in the doing. Why it’s easier to keep promises to clients than to ourselves. And how confidence doesn’t show up before action...it’s built through action. You’ll learn how to rebuild your track record, create goals that are actually aligned (not just “shoulds”), and start becoming someone your future self can rely on. In this episode, you’ll learn:✨What it means to become a trustworthy employee in your own business✨The difference between aligned goals and “I should be doing this” goals✨How to rebuild belief in yourself through small, consistent actionsThis episode is an invitation to stop doubting whether you can and start proving that you will. Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk and lock in to the Unlimited Plan before November 28th! ☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Oct 28, 2025 • 40min
150: When Hard Work Turns into Overwork with Amy Frazer of Keller Design Co.
If you’ve ever pushed yourself past your limits because you love what you do, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. In this episode, I sit down with Amy Frazer of Keller Design Co. to talk about the realities of overworking, burnout, and finding balance in your creative business. Amy shares her journey from corporate design roles at Old Navy and Nike to building a slower, more intentional life and business rooted in purpose not pressure.What you’ll learn in this episode:✨ The hidden emotional roots of overworking and burnout✨ How to set boundaries without losing your passion✨ Why rest is not a reward but a rhythm✨ How slowing down can lead to more creative freedomThis conversation is a reminder that you can love what you do without losing yourself in it and that real success is found in balance, not burnout. 🧡Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk and lock in to the Unlimited Plan before November 28th! ☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Oct 21, 2025 • 34min
149: The Return to Self-Trust: Listening, Learning, and Leading from Within
If you’ve ever felt unsure of yourself, constantly second-guessed your decisions, or searched outside for answers you already held within, this episode is for you.In this episode I share a heartfelt reflection on what it means to rebuild self-trust and reconnect with your own inner wisdom. Through personal stories and gentle guidance, I explore why we lose trust with ourselves and how we can begin to return home to that quiet knowing inside us."There is no map for this journey, you are the pioneer." -Glennon Doyle Tune in to discover how to build steadiness in your “knowing,” find confidence from the inside out, and live guided by your own truth. Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk and lock in to the Unlimited Plan before November 28th! ☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM

Oct 14, 2025 • 32min
148: When “Good Enough” Isn’t Serving You Anymore: Getting Out of Survival Mode
Are you stuck in survival mode? Just getting by, telling yourself “it’s good enough” when deep down, you know it’s not?In this episode, I share a simple but powerful story about a small fix that changed everything and how it mirrors the quiet ways we tolerate stress, clutter, and exhaustion in our lives. You’ll learn how to recognize the signs of survival mode, shift your mindset toward ease, and make intentional changes that free up your time, energy, and creativity.Through relatable examples and heartfelt encouragement, you’ll walk away with practical steps to:Identify the areas where you’ve been “making do”Shift your perspective to see what’s truly holding you backCreate small, sustainable fixes that bring more peace and productivityRaise your standards so you can live a better lifeThis episode will remind you that thriving doesn’t start with a massive overhaul, but it begins with one small, brave decision to stop settling and start living with intention. 🧡Get 50% OFF Your First Year of Flodesk and lock in to the Unlimited Plan before November 28th! ☕Buy Me A Coffee and support an episode!⭐Visit www.thetillagepodcast.com for today's show notes and more.⭐Follow along on INSTAGRAM


