This week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Kevin Rapp, the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Ultra Friends. His agency is known for turning bold ideas into scalable content systems for tech-forward brands. With nearly 20 years in the creative trenches, Kevin has worked his way up from small studios to tech startups, eventually creating a space where creative value and business impact truly meet. One of his standout projects was the socially charged "Progress Owed, No Apology" campaign with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace. That work earned national attention and multiple Cleo awards. It proved how storytelling led by heart can still move both people and metrics.

• Why creatives are chronically undervalued in business and what we can do to start changing that

• The fine line between exposure opportunities and outright exploitation

• How to build leverage in your creative career and when to stop working for free

• The ongoing disconnect between creative ambition and business outcomes

• Why value-based pricing is not only ethical but necessary

• How the "good-fast-cheap" triangle fails both creatives and clients

• The generational cycle of creative gatekeeping and how we can break it

• How to educate clients to value effectiveness instead of just visuals

• The difference between needing art and actually valuing art in business

• Why the creative world needs more unions, guilds, and collaborative pricing ecosystems

"Despite the fact that we are the arbiters of telling Porsche, Gucci, Vuitton why they have this conceptual value... we're terrible at doing it for ourselves."
— Kevin Rapp

This quote hit me hard. It probably will for many of you, too. We, as creatives, are the people behind the stories that turn brands into status symbols, help billion-dollar campaigns succeed, and shape the very culture we live in. Yet when it comes to recognizing and articulating our own value, we often fall short. Kevin puts a spotlight on that contradiction and challenges us to take that same brand-building power and apply it inward. Not just for our own good, but for the health of the entire creative industry.

Talking with Kevin Rapp was one of the most honest and enlightening deep dives we’ve had on the show. It is rare to find someone who speaks fluently in both creative and business languages, and Kevin brings both insight and empathy to the table. We unpacked the pain points around pricing, advocacy, client relationships, and the systems that undervalue creative labor. We even managed to cover all that without diving into AI (a first). Honestly, this felt like the kind of conversation that reminds you why we do what we do and why it is worth fighting for fair value in our field. If you're a creative trying to make a living doing what you love, this episode is for you.

If you'd like a visual quote card or audiogram from this episode, let me know. We have a ton of great material to work with.

— Carl Cleanthes, Founder of Epic Made and Co-Host of Pixel Retentive

For our 100th episode, we welcomed Sherene Strausberg, an Emmy-nominated creative and the founder of 87th Street Creative. Sherene leads a woman-owned animation studio focused on storytelling for healthcare and nonprofits. Her career path is one of the most inspiring I have heard. She combines film composition, sound engineering, graphic design and motion design into a powerhouse studio that makes a real impact. What began as a solo journey while raising young kids has grown into a B Corp certified business that is doing meaningful work in women’s health and beyond. Sherene does not just talk about purpose in her work; she lives it.

• How Sherene transitioned from music composition and sound design into animation and storytelling

• Why animation is such a powerful tool for healthcare, tech and nonprofit clients

• The reason good design is more foundational than animation techniques

• What sound design adds to an animated piece, and why it is more than just icing on the cake

• How Sherene balances entrepreneurship with parenting using what she calls "smart mom multitasking"

• The story behind her studio’s rebranding to focus more intentionally on women’s healthcare

• The importance of mentorship, and why she continues to give and receive guidance

• Tips for running a value-driven creative business with flexibility and focus

“I was so enthralled by explaining how cancer grows in breast tissue… I realized I wanted to reposition my company to focus on women’s healthcare. It speaks to me personally and professionally.” – Sherene Strausberg

This quote really struck a chord with me. Sherene did not pivot her business because of a trend or a marketing opportunity. She made the change because it aligned with her values and her lived experience. That kind of clarity gives purpose to everything you create. When your mission lines up with the work, everything becomes more focused and more powerful. Sherene’s decision to lean into women’s healthcare was not just smart; it was personal. That authenticity shows up in every project she takes on.

This episode flew by. Sherene and I talked about everything from launching a creative studio with a baby in one arm to finding the sweet spot where purpose meets storytelling. We dove into the challenges of pivoting careers, rebranding with intention and what it means to run a creative business that actually fits your life. Sherene opened up about what it is like to be a woman building a company in the animation industry, and she shared how she finds balance through flexibility rather than rigid structure. I especially loved hearing how she weaves her sound design roots into her studio’s work. Her story is a reminder that when you bring your whole self to your business, the work gets better and the journey becomes more rewarding.

This week on Pixel Retentive, I had the honor of sitting down with the unstoppable force that is Lo Harris, illustrator, strategist, speaker, and all-around creative powerhouse. With roots in journalism at the New York Times and NBC News, Lo has built a vibrant visual language that not only empowers but drives social impact. Her collaborations span from Meta and Google to the United Nations, and she’s now a creative leader at the Innocence Project and co-director at the CanCan Diversity Collective. Through every move she makes, Lo carries a deep commitment to using creativity to connect, uplift, and transform.

• How Lo’s journalism background shaped her visual storytelling approach

• Why she left a 9-to-5 to prioritize mental and physical well-being

• The value of mutual aid and creative bartering in building sustainable community

• How design intersects with activism, diversity, and local business advocacy

• A behind-the-scenes look at the CanCan Diversity Collective at the Cannes Lions Festival

• Strategies to future-proof your creative career in the face of AI

• The power of collaboration between visionaries and implementers

• How personal projects can have just as much value as high-profile client work

“Our gifts are meant to be shared. You can't hide your gifts or wait for somebody to reward you. Everything doesn't have to be so transactional.” — Lo Harris

Lo reminds us that creativity isn’t just a commodity—it’s a contribution. In a world obsessed with monetization and metrics, her words are a powerful invitation to embrace generosity in our creative lives. Sometimes the work that fills your cup, nourishes your community, or lights up a kid’s prom poster is more impactful than a six-figure brand deal. And when we lead with intention rather than ego, doors open in ways we couldn’t imagine.

You all know I’m passionate about creative advocacy and building real communities, and this conversation with Lo felt like a soul-level jam session on both. From her storytelling roots to her leadership in diversity initiatives, Lo offers a masterclass in living your values through your work. We dug deep into how creatives can reclaim their worth, create ecosystems outside of corporate structures, and reframe “career success” to include balance, impact, and humanity. This episode hit me hard—in the best way—and I hope it does the same for you. This is what creative leadership in the 2020s should look like.

Until next time, stay creative and keep showing up for your community.
— Carl ✌️