Episode 146: The Power of Connection: Rethinking Networking in Business with Deanna Seymour
What if networking didn’t have to feel awkward, transactional, or like standing in a room clutching a stack of business cards? In this episode I sit down with designer and community-builder Deanna Seymour to reimagine what networking looks like for creatives. From her punk-inspired roots as an art teacher to running a thriving membership called The Playhouse, Deanna shows us how connection can be fun, authentic, and a whole lot simpler than we think.
Why Fun Belongs at the Center of Business
Deanna’s story is a reminder that many of us started our creative businesses to find freedom, flexibility, and joy. But along the way, it’s easy to get weighed down by “shoulds” and strategies that don’t align with who we are. Deanna shares how leaning into fun, whether through design, collaboration, or building community, not only keeps burnout at bay but also makes business more sustainable in the long run.
Reframing Networking as Connection
If the word “networking” makes you cringe, this conversation will feel like a deep breath. Deanna breaks it down into something simple: connecting with people and helping them feel seen, heard, and valued. We dive into her SHARE framework, a practical guide to showing up authentically, offering support, asking for collaborations, reaching out consistently, and elevating others. It’s networking stripped of sleaze, and infused with generosity and creativity.
Practical Ways to Collaborate
You don’t need a podcast to start building meaningful connections. Deanna gives us tangible, real-life ideas for collaboration. She mentions some examples like featuring another artist in your newsletter, co-hosting a workshop, or creating community-led projects. The beauty of her approach is that it works no matter your business type, and it reminds us that collaboration is as much about giving as it is about growing.
This episode is packed with permission to stop doing the things that drain you, and start leaning into the practices that feel aligned, energizing, and yes…fun! Whether you’re ready to rethink how you approach visibility, craving community, or just need the reminder that business doesn’t have to fry your nervous system, Deanna’s wisdom will meet you right where you are. Press play, and get ready to reimagine connection in your creative business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Business doesn’t have to feel like a grind. It’s easy to lose yourself in all the “shoulds”, posting everywhere, chasing strategies, and forgetting why you started. But the truth is, you began this journey for freedom, for joy, for the spark of creating something that felt like you. That spark is what keeps you going.
Connection is the fuel. Real networking isn’t about slick pitches, it’s about showing up human. It’s the energy of being seen, heard, and valued. Just a comment, a kind email, a small collaboration carries power.
The SHARE framework is a reminder: show up authentically, help first, ask with generosity, reach out consistently, and elevate others as you rise. When you move this way, growth feels lighter and fun comes back into the process.
Protect your nervous system. Build in alignment. Keep joy at the center. Because the real success isn’t just profit, it’s creating a business and a life and business that you love.
Deanna Seymour is a designer, podcaster, and founder of The Playhouse, a membership for creative entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses with more fun and less burnout. A former art teacher with DIY and punk roots, she helps service providers and creatives build simple, usable brands and find visibility strategies that actually feel good. Deanna believes connection beats hustle, and that business should be joyful, sustainable, and a little playful, too.
Less Scrolling, More Connections! Freebie from Deanna
Website: deannaseymour.com
The Playhouse: jointheplayhouse.com
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