Wheel Talk
Ryan Durbin (@rdceramics) & Becca Otis (@5linespottery) share their experiences as potters, makers, small business owners, and creatives. Becca is a full time studio potter, while Ryan is a full time website developer and part time potter. We'd love to share our ups and downs along the way as we build our skills as makers and small business owners in an honest, informal manner. We hope to bring you helpful tips we've learned over the years, learn from each other, and share expertise from a number of guests with you also. Please join us for some Wheel Talk!
Episodes
344 episodes
#340 - A Reset for the Podcast
Ryan and Becca announce a shift to a seasonal podcast format, moving from weekly episodes to three seasons per year with planned breaks in between. They outline what listeners can expect in each season, including interviews, book club episodes,...
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Episode 340
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1:10:54
#339 - Chasing $15K in 4 months
Becca sets a bold short-term goal: earning $15,000 over the next four months, and Ryan helps her break it down into realistic, actionable steps. Together, they explore multiple income paths—from producing small, repeatable items like mini mugs ...
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Episode 339
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1:06:01
#338 - Building a Sustainable Creative Business with Megan Auman
In this episode of Wheel Talk, Ryan and Becca talk with artist, author, and educator Megan Auman about the business lessons behind Try It and See. Megan shares how her revenue streams and pricing strategies have evolved since publishin...
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Episode 338
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1:41:46
#337 - Try It and See with Taylor Swilley
Ryan and Becca return with the seventh chapter of the Wheel Talk Podcast book club, exploring Try It and See: How to Get Sh*t Done While Overanalyzing Everything...
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Episode 337
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2:02:48
#336 - Looking Back to Move Forward
Ryan and Becca reflect on the past year’s highs and lows, from personal challenges to major business milestones. Becca opens up about mental health, burnout, and the impact of a 9-to-5 job, while Ryan shares hitting a six-figure sales milestone...
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Episode 336
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1:42:47
#335 - Is paid advertisement worth it? with Will Donovan from Donovan Pottery
Note: This episode is a replay from our archive, originally released in 2024. Ryan and Becca welcome back Will Donovan of Donovan Pottery to discuss a range of topics, including: sharing end of year recaps, growing your business wit...
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Episode 335
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2:23:25
#334 - Building Consistent Etsy Sales Without Driving Your Own Traffic
Ryan and Becca open with personal updates before shifting into a deeper conversation about generating consistent Etsy sales over time. Ryan breaks down a repeatable listing strategy designed for makers who aren’t driving their own traffic, emph...
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Episode 334
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1:54:48
#333 - Chat GPT Still Has Questions. We Still Have Thoughts.
In continuation of our ChatGPT-led conversation, we go deeper into the human side of running creative businesses, talking openly about burnout, balance, and the tools and habits that have helped us stay grounded. We share what’s improved our wo...
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Episode 333
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1:35:51
#332 - Chat GPT Has Questions. We Have Thoughts.
Ryan and Becca flipped the format on this episode and answered a set of thought-provoking questions generated by ChatGPT—sparking a really honest conversation about how our businesses have evolved, what we’re learning, and where we’re feeling c...
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Episode 332
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1:33:52
#331 - What Happens When Pottery Becomes the Day Job
Ryan and Becca recap Ryan’s two-week “pottery vacation,” where he stepped away from his day job to experience what full-time pottery could feel like. They talk through the technical challenges he tackled, the shows he prepared for, and the sale...
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Episode 331
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1:29:48
#330 - Building a Creative Business from the Ground Up with Rachel Durbin
Ryan & Becca sit down with a very special guest — Rachel Durbin, Ryan’s spouse and the creative force behind Decades NKY. Rachel is in the early stages of growing her small business, which focuses on upcycling vintage textiles into unique, ...
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Episode 330
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1:22:43
#329 - Let's Talk About Clay with Link Henderson from Kentucky Mudworks
Note: This episode is a replay from our archive, originally released in 2021. Ryan & Becca sit down for a conversation with Link Henderson, owner of Kentucky Mudworks & Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, to go in depth about clay &a...
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Episode 329
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2:05:50
#328 - Pottery Vacations & Exploring New Roles
This week, Ryan and Becca catch up on everything happening behind the scenes. Ryan shares highlights from his current pottery vacation and how he’s adjusting his studio routines with a new schedule. Becca opens up about possible career shifts a...
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Episode 328
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1:15:41
#327 - Pricing your work effectively with Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery
Note: This episode is a replay from our archive, originally released in 2023. Ryan & Becca welcome back Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery while Becca is visiting her up in Michigan for the week. They cover a number of to...
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Episode 327
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3:04:13
#326 - Recommending Shows Without Setting Expectations
In this episode, Ryan and Becca talk about how they approach recommending shows to other makers who are thinking about applying. They share why they’re careful about offering exact sales numbers and how using comparisons or percentages can pain...
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Episode 326
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1:57:52
#325 - Planning Ahead for Seasonal Sales Lulls
In this episode, Ryan and Becca answer a listener’s question about how to prepare for slow sales months and boost online shop performance during Q1. They share strategies for connecting in-person show customers with online buyers, building mome...
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Episode 325
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1:10:04
#324 - When It’s Time to Scale Back (Or Walk Away): Part Two
Ryan and Becca continue last week’s conversation by diving into the tough but important topic of scaling back, pivoting, or even closing a business for long-term sustainability. They discuss how to reassess key expenses—like staffing, studio sp...
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Episode 324
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2:04:18
#323 - When It’s Time to Scale Back (Or Walk Away): Part One
Ryan and Becca dive into an honest conversation about knowing when it’s time to scale back, pivot, or even close a business. Becca opens up about her difficult decision to shut down her brick-and-mortar studio in 2020 after gaining clarity duri...
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Episode 323
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1:28:04
#322 - Pot Swap 2025 is coming!!
Ryan and Becca are back with a special episode all about #PotSwap2025—our 8th year hosting this global ceramics exchange! There are some exciting updates for this round, and we’re breaking everything down in today’s episode.Reg...
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Episode 322
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1:06:09
#321 - Finding Themes in Your Work & Overcoming Creative Doubt
Ryan and Becca tackle a wide range of listener questions, from finding themes in your work to navigating self-doubt in the studio. They discuss building kilns big enough for oversized pots, the differences between the terms “potter” and “cerami...
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Episode 321
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1:32:35
#320 - How Do You Want to Be Remembered?
Ryan & Becca kick things off by sharing their record-breaking show sales and a funny encounter with a stray kitten before diving into today’s main topic: legacy. They reflect on how we want to be remembered—both through our work and as indi...
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Episode 320
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1:35:43
#319 - Boy in a China Shop with Taylor Swilley
Ryan and Becca return with the sixth chapter of the podcast book club, exploring Boy in a China Shop: Life, Clay and Everything by Keith Brymer Jones. Joined by guest Taylor Swilley, they dive into the stories behind Keith’s journey as...
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Episode 319
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1:45:06
#318 - Amazing Glaze: Food-Safe Recipes with Gabriel Kline & Bill Collins
In this episode of Wheel Talk, we chat with potter Gabriel Kline, director of Odyssey Clayworks in Asheville, and chemist Bill Collins, Ph.D., co-authors of Amazing Glaze Food-Safe Recipes. They share how ...
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Episode 318
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1:20:44
#317 - A Big Studio Upgrade + How to Host a Pottery Pop-Up at NCECA
Ryan kicks off the episode by sharing an exciting new addition to his studio! Later, he and Becca dive into a listener question about organizing pottery pop-ups at NCECA. Drawing from his experience running the Backyard Craft Show, Ryan offers ...
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Episode 317
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2:12:00
#316 - Decorating, Glazing & Sanding: Tools We Trust
This week, Ryan & Becca are back with more of their favorite pottery tools—covering everything from decorating to glazing to sanding. Whether you’re setting up a home studio or just curious about what they reach for in theirs, you’re sure t...
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Episode 316
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1:34:01