Rinse & repeat

My podcast debut and the power of a weekly ritual

I recently did something I never thought I would do: I was a guest on a podcast!

I was surprised (and frankly, a little nervous) when Kathy Oneto invited me to join her on her podcast Sustainable Ambition. Kathy is an inspiring author, speaker, and coach who believes “that personal life ambitions are just as important as work ambitions”—so as you may imagine, I am a huge fan. Her podcast explores the question: What if you could pursue meaningful work, advance your career, and still have energy for the life you want to live? This is a question I’ve been exploring personally, and one that’s core to Practice. So there was a natural alignment!

I’m used to speaking and presenting, but something about being on a podcast felt uniquely intimidating. Still, I said yes, bought a mic to avoid sounding tinny, and joined the “taping” via a fancy online recording platform. I had some notes prepared, but once we hit record, things flowed pretty naturally.

Afterward, though, I felt a wave of dread. I was sure I’d “messed up,” and that my imperfect rambling would now be immortalized in audio. I had spoken from the heart, airing my dirty laundry and insecurities like I was chatting with a trusted friend, and not like I was being recorded for a podcast. Oops!

Everyone listens to podcasts while folding laundry, right?

A few weeks later, Kathy’s team sent over a preview link and some promo assets. I opened the email while still in bed, pulled a pillow over my face, and forwarded it to my husband with the subject line: “Scared to listen.”

Eventually, I worked up the courage to hit play. I had to take a few breaks (is it ever not cringey to hear your own voice?), but honestly, I am happy with how it turned out.

Kathy created space for me to talk about the messy stew that is my life these days: miniature making, how I think about and talk about work, the origin of Practice and our hopes for the future. The conversation was wide-ranging and vulnerable. But in hindsight, it captured the breadth I’ve been seeking in my life over the past few years.

And since it was recorded, I’d love if you’d give it a listen and let me know what you think.

44 weeks of Practicing

I’m confident that had I not been writing this Substack for the last 44 weeks, my podcast premiere would’ve been a disaster (though you might think it is—please be honest!). But as I talked with Kathy, I realized how much I’d been circling a few big ideas in my writing, which allowed them to come out of my mouth in a semi-coherent stream.

I started off this Substack intending to write about co-founding Practice and the ideas behind it. And I have. Mostly. But it’s also covered the other facets of my life and how I experience the world. I’ve written about miniatures (many times), creativity, hobbies, Joann's closure, AI, even the Pope! It’s often been more Practice-adjacent than Practice-focused.

But it’s as if the ritual of writing this Substack every week has become my excuse—and my invitation—to prioritize critical thought. And it is a ritual:

• Monday: I brainstorm.

• Tuesday: I draft and ask for feedback.

• Wednesday: I do a tiny photo shoot and copy edit.

• Thursday: I tweak (sometimes too much), then post.

• Friday-Sunday: I take a break—unless I have an inspiring experience I want to write about.

A Wednesday ritual that I have not adopted. Yet.

This cycle has been a constant for nearly a year (minus Thanksgiving and a few weeks when Ben has guest posted). It’s helped me reflect, make connections, and add structure to my otherwise variable co-founder-consultant-miniaturist multi-hyphenate life.

Getting meta

There have been a few weeks where adhering to my ritual has been difficult. Instead of the words flowing, I’ve had to force them out. Or I’ve complained to Ben that I had no ideas for “the ‘stack.” Recently, he encouraged me to reflect on the purpose of this Substack and whether my weekly ritual is still serving me. It’s a self-imposed cadence, and it does create some stress. Plus, with the drift toward “personal musings of Erica,” I’ve been wondering: should I be spending this time on something more directly tied to growing Practice?

But after thinking it through, I sent Ben this note:

It has become more about me than Practice and that’s okay.
Because I am more than Practice!

So yes, this Substack is a mix of me and Practice. But in many ways, Practice is about exactly that: making space for the full, creative, complicated version of yourself. It’s about broadening your identity, expanding your interests, embracing the messy and experimental nature of creativity, and carving out space for awe and joy through creative hobbies.

This Substack has become a living expression of that ethos. It is a practice that helps me embody Practice—and I hope, in some way, it encourages you to do the same.