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
336 episodes
#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
Ryan & Becca sit down for a conversation with Link Henderson, owner of Kentucky Mudworks & Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, to go in depth about clay & tools. We learn how Kentucky Mudworks begun almost 20 years ago and how Dirty Girls Po...
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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
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 topics but mainly focus on how Heidi manages many wholesale accounts, the collections most s...
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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
#315 - From Clay Prep to Trimming: Tools We Love
This week, Ryan & Becca share their favorite pottery tools—from clay prep to throwing to trimming. You’ll likely recognize a few of your own go-tos and maybe discover some new ones to try. Plus, they announce an exciting new sponsor joining...
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Episode 315
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1:34:53
#314 - Making It Work When Sales Slow Down
Ryan & Becca dig into a listener’s question about what to do when your big, higher-priced pieces stop selling—and you don’t want to pivot into teaching. We talk honestly about adapting to shifts in the buying market while staying t...
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Episode 314
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1:30:36
#313 - Taking Creative Risks with Isaac Shue
Ryan welcomes back Isaac Shue for an open conversation about taking risks and growing beyond what’s comfortable. They explore the leaps Isaac has made to expand his pottery business — from scaling production and diversifying sales channels to t...
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Episode 313
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2:22:22
#312 - Growing a Nonprofit Clay Community with Trevor Daugherty
Ryan & Becca welcome back Trevor Daugherty to dive into the story of the Northern Indiana Clay Alliance — from its founding vision and organizational structure to the events it organizes, including the renowned Michiana Pottery Tour. They d...
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Episode 312
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2:02:09
#311 - Creativity vs. Exhaustion: Managing Burnout as Artists
Ryan & Becca discuss the realities of balancing work and life as artists, sharing thoughts on preventing burnout and navigating career transitions. They also highlight the importance of self-care, building support systems, and offer strateg...
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Episode 311
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2:35:23
#310 - Finding What Works (for Us) on Social Media
As Wheel Talk approaches its 6-year anniversary, Ryan and Becca reflect on the podcast’s growth and the incredible community that’s formed around it. Ryan shares highlights from his recent anniversary trip to Hawaii, and the conversati...
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Episode 310
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1:34:48
#309 - Wages, Worth, and Working for Yourself
Ryan & Becca explore the realities of small business finances—from paying livable wages and employee compensation to navigating the shift from salaried work to self-employment. This episode follows a slightly different format, and we hope y...
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Episode 309
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1:40:42
#308 - Converting Followers Into Buyers
Ryan and Becca kick off with a recap of Ryan’s recent Nashville workshop. The episode then centers on a listener question about converting social media engagement into actual sales—especially when platform limitations make linking to your shop ...
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Episode 308
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1:33:16