This is a Metaphor

Negative Film, Negative Space & Positive Thoughts w/Stephen Zane

Uncertainty is everywhere right now, and it can either shut you down or sharpen you. Mo sit’s down with Stephen Zane, a portrait photographer and the owner of Ybor City’s Coastal Film Lab, in Tampa Bay Florida. Together they talk about what it really takes to build a creative business while protecting your mind. We get into the boundaries that keep you informed without getting swallowed by news, and why a little positivity is not naïve, it is necessary fuel. Before you dive into this wonderful episode, please know we recorded in the bustling studio space and took ample time to figure out the best Audio editing in order to see to this conversation being published. If there are any hiccups in the sound—we’ve done our best and feel the conversation is worth the busy background! They also pull back the curtain on the unglamorous side of analog photography and film development: leases, staffing, backlogs, and the constant game of fixing what is most broken. Stephen shares how he approached risk without taking on debt, how the lab grew faster than the space could hold, and what happens when an open concept shop becomes both a community magnet and a chaos amplifier. If you are building any kind of small business, the lessons on systems, efficiency, and gradual improvement translate fast. Then they go deep on craft and focus. How do you master the technical side of photography so you can stop thinking about settings and start making intentional images? What does a creative plateau actually mean, and why do warm-up periods happen before you hit flow? Mo and Stephen talk ADHD, hyperfocus, walks and showers as reset tools, competitiveness turned into steady improvement, and why your attention span might be the most valuable asset you have. You can find Stephen & the whole crew over at https://www.coastalfilmlab.com/ [https://www.coastalfilmlab.com/] or him directly at https://stephenzane.com/ [https://stephenzane.com/] And see all the cool film things at https://www.instagram.com/coastalfilmlab [https://www.instagram.com/coastalfilmlab]  If you have ever felt pulled between ambition and burnout, this one is a doozy. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a friend who is building something, and leave a review so more creative people can find the show. Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526368/fan_mail/new] Instagram: @tiam.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tiam.podcast]&  @joyscout.mo [https://www.instragram.com/joyscout.mo]  For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: mo@joyscoutstudio.com “Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”

Musings: Better than Branding

Two strangers at a coffee shop say “branding is everything,” and one of them tries to prove it with a straight face: she’s been wearing black since before black was “a thing.” That tiny, ridiculous claim opens a much bigger question Mo can’t ignore anymore. When did personal branding become a substitute for having a personality?  This week, Mo digs into what brand strategy should be anchored to: integrity. Not a perfect color palette, not a flawless logo, not a curated “shtick,” but the harder stuff like follow-through, honest course correction, and alignment between how you show up online and how you treat people in real life. We talk about why “cohesion” can be a trap when it’s used to mask inconsistency, and why authenticity isn’t a vibe you buy, it’s a behavior you repeat. In the world of purchasing power, money matters, but Mo calls it what it really is: a resource for busy people, an efficient shortcut when time and energy are limited. She explores bartering, community support, and the underrated power of kindness, connection, and a real network. Mo also looks at the places and brands that are beautiful on the surface but feel off, versus the ones that last because they do what they say they’ll do. If you’re building a personal brand, a small business brand, or any kind of public identity, this conversation is your reminder that the real work is visible in your actions.  Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s building something, and leave a review with your take: what does integrity look like in your brand? Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526368/fan_mail/new] Instagram: @tiam.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tiam.podcast]&  @joyscout.mo [https://www.instragram.com/joyscout.mo]  For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: mo@joyscoutstudio.com “Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”

Starseeds in the Studio w/Twin Essence

Welcome back to This is a Metaphor — it’s been a few weeks and in this episode, Mo sits down with Twin Essence for a fast, wide-ranging talk that moves from paranormal childhood stories to Starseed identity, ascension work, and the real-world challenge of staying sovereign inside everyday systems.  A Starseed is: A lightworker, Star People, Old Soul, Galactic Soul. They have a deep intuition, deep interest in space and stars, and are focused on spiritual healing and ascension. This week was a wonderful teaser for a follow up conversation between the Mo, Lacey, and Marley. Until then, you can find out more about their work and how to connect below: > Join The Starseed Portal Membership at https://www.twinessence.com/starseed-portal-membership [https://www.twinessence.com/starseed-portal-membership]Connect with them further at http://www.twinessence.com [http://www.twinessence.com/]Follow Twin Essence on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinessencellc [https://www.instagram.com/twinessencellc]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwinEssenceLLC/ [https://www.facebook.com/TwinEssenceLLC/]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twinessencellc [https://www.tiktok.com/@twinessencellc]YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TwinEssenceLLC [https://www.youtube.com/@TwinEssenceLLC] Do you have some questions and follow-up curiosities you’d love for Mo to ask next time? Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526368/fan_mail/new] Instagram: @tiam.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tiam.podcast]&  @joyscout.mo [https://www.instragram.com/joyscout.mo]  For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: mo@joyscoutstudio.com “Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”

Musings: Good Grief Girl

Mo hit a point where she couldn’t tell if she was gathering insight or just collecting noise, so she pulled out the one tool she can’t escape: discernment. With the Pisces new moon overhead, she talks through what happens when astrology, tarot, and “readings” start to replace your own knowing, especially when you’re low-key trying to survive a breakup you don’t want to admit mattered. The emotions are honest and a little funny, because that’s the Pisces way sometimes: laugh so you don’t cry, and then cry because you can. She unpacks the grief that isn’t only about a person, but about losing a witness to your life. The simple nervous system comfort of sleeping beside someone, having a built-in sounding board, and sharing the extraordinarily ordinary. She also names the weird loneliness that can show up when friends get back into relationships and you feel the lopsidedness. From there, Mo looks straight at avoidant attachment patterns, the tug of love that keeps pulling away, and how avoidance often isn’t about “the thing” at all, it’s about avoiding a feeling. Then we pivot to creation and self-trust: making music by feeling instead of technique, learning to recognize the body’s unmistakable “this is it” signal, and facing a big decision about investing in space for art. Our hostess talks about crying as somatic release and nervous system regulation, why gratitude can bring tears too, and the idea that fear and joy may live in the same root system.  Plus, there’s a Spotify playlist treat waiting for you called “Good Grief Girl.” Download and listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/64ltGbMTWEC5nRgctaYhAg?si=gk86nAEfTdODrFmuZns9_A&pi=ahZyyYKyQkOUk [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/64ltGbMTWEC5nRgctaYhAg?si=gk86nAEfTdODrFmuZns9_A&pi=ahZyyYKyQkOUk]  If this hits, listen through, share it with a friend who’s rebuilding, and leave a review so more people can find it. What feeling are you ready to stop avoiding? Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526368/fan_mail/new] Instagram: @tiam.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tiam.podcast]&  @joyscout.mo [https://www.instragram.com/joyscout.mo]  For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: mo@joyscoutstudio.com “Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”

She Said What? w/Madeline Sargent

Recording a podcast is one of the fastest ways to meet yourself, especially when the Wi‑Fi lags, Riverside refuses to cooperate, and you still decide to hit record. Mo sits down with Madeline Sargent [https://www.instagram.com/she.says.it?igsh=MXBuN3JxYzdzaTBoYw==], creator of the She Says It Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/4rI9r0klLmTrzSIgPFNJLX?si=85ryklXHSMyzFfUyDZF8eQ], to talk about the unglamorous truth of starting a podcast: the tech hiccups, the nerves, the editing spiral, and the pressure to market something that still feels tender. What surprised them most is how quickly all of that friction turns into momentum once they kept showing up.  They get into the craft and the business in a very real way. Madeline shares how she thinks about podcast editing, solo episodes that feel like journal entries, and the confidence boost that comes from finally accepting your voice as it is. They also unpack the push-pull between creativity and podcast SEO: titles, episode length, discoverability, and how to make “content” without letting the word drain the art out of it. Threads (the anti X platform) comes up as a rare bright spot for community building, guest booking, and finding talented indie shows that deserve more attention.  The conversation widens into self-compassion and discipline: journaling prompts for clarity, what to do when writer’s block hits, and why half marathon training mirrors the long game of creative work. We talk visibility fears, handling low-validation weeks, and the quiet power of choosing kindness as a standard in your work and relationships.  If you’re building a show, a brand, or a braver version of yourself, listen through and then share this with a friend who needs the push. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: What part of podcasting feels hardest right now? Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526368/fan_mail/new] Instagram: @tiam.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/tiam.podcast]&  @joyscout.mo [https://www.instragram.com/joyscout.mo]  For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: mo@joyscoutstudio.com “Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”