Her Creative Empire
Her Creative Empire is a voice note for the women who never quite fit in — curious, creative, emotional, ambitious, and allergic to surface-level anything. Hosted by Leah Clancy, a photographer turned business coach and creative founder, this podcast is where art, business, identity, and soul collide.
Each week, Leah shares real, unfiltered solo episodes and interviews with women who’ve built thriving creative businesses — often after a massive life pivot in midlife. From painters and designers to retreat hosts and influencers, these are the stories of women who took the leap, bet on themselves, and did the wild thing, even when it was terrifying.
If you’ve ever felt too much, too intense, or too layered for the world around you… welcome home.
Her Creative Empire
The Grit That Saved me: Fire, Failure and Getting Up Again
In this solo episode, I’m talking about grit—the unglamorous, sweaty, get-back-up-again kind. The kind that shows up when your house burns down. (Yep, that happened.) The kind that keeps you going when your catalog business tanks spectacularly. (Also me.) And the kind that lets you smile through a massively awkward, under-attended ballroom event where you hired a band, belly dancers, and booked a venue the size of a Costco… for 30 guests.
I take you through the real stories that taught me what grit really looks like—plus why it matters more than talent, IQ, or even confidence.
You’ll hear:
- The surreal moment I watched my bedroom go up in flames
- How I lost money (and probably a little dignity) chasing a dream business in my 20s
- The ball that bombed—and the lesson that stuck
- Why failing big gave me the skills I needed to eventually succeed
- And the quote I come back to every time I want to crawl under a blanket and never try again
This one’s for anyone who’s ever failed, flopped, or felt like giving up. If that’s you—listen up. This is your sign to keep going.
Because your empire? It’s still waiting.
And you? You were built for it.