Windowsill Chats

I'm bringing you a preview of the new series of Death of An Artist. In February 2024, celebrated children's book author and illustrator Petra Mathers and her husband, photographer Michael Mathers, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Petra and Michael were by all accounts healthy, happy, and in love. Why did they choose to die together? And what did that decision do to the people left to mourn them? Journalists Leon Neyfakh and Alice Gregory set out to interview everyone who got one of Petra and Michael's letters—as one married couple trying to understand another. Through intimate conversations with Petra and Michael's friends and family about their own relationships to aging, grief, death, and the friends they thought they knew, Death of an Artist weaves together a portrait of a community grappling with the Mathers' deaths and the final words they left behind. Done entirely in recordings, Death of an Artist is as much a love story as one about death. Listen to Death of An Artist wherever you get podcasts. And if you want to hear the full story right now, ad-free, you can binge the entire season with a Pushkin+ subscription—sign up on the Death of an Artist show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

Margo sits down with Daniel Boettcher, founder of The Intrepid Wendell, to explore the intersection of storytelling, craftsmanship, and legacy—and how the most meaningful creative paths are rarely the most straightforward ones. Daniel's journey has taken him through music, law, aspirations of diplomacy, and ultimately, bespoke jewelry design. After a life-changing experience shifted the trajectory of his career, he found his way toward work that allowed him to combine creativity with something he has always been drawn to: people and their stories.
Margo and Daniel discuss:
Daniel's unexpected journey from music and law to diplomacy aspirations and, ultimately, bespoke jewelry design.
How a life-changing experience redirected his career.
Why deep listening and personal connection are at the heart of Daniel's design process.
The stories behind a few deeply personal pieces.
The idea of an "instant heirloom" and how jewelry can carry family history, memory, love, and meaning across generations.
Daniel's move from Washington, D.C. to Puerto Rico and how the community and culture of Old San Juan have influenced his creativity.
What happens when a client feels truly seen and understood by the person creating for them.
The charming story behind The Intrepid Wendell
Connect with Daniel:
www.theintrepidwendell.com
www.instagram.com/theintrepidwendell

Margo is joined once again by New York Times bestselling illustrator, artist, and now author Andrea Campos, the creative force behind DreasDoodles. Since her first visit to Windowsill Chats, Andrea's creative career has continued to evolve—from a pandemic doodling practice that began simply as a source of joy to collaborations with Target, Jimmy Fallon, and Jennifer Lopez, and now the release of her very first picture book as both author and illustrator, Tis' the Season for Tamales.
In this conversation, Andrea and Margo get candid about what happens when something you love becomes your livelihood. Andrea shares the deeply personal process of finally telling a story that is entirely her own, inspired by the beloved Latin tradition of gathering for tamaladas, while also opening up about the vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and pressure that can accompany creative success. Together, they explore how artists can protect the joy that brought them to their work in the first place—even while being asked to wear the hats of artist, marketer, content creator, entrepreneur, and everything in between.
In this episode, Margo and Andrea discuss:
Andrea's evolution from pandemic doodling to becoming a full-time artist, illustrator, and author

What it felt like to move from illustrating other people's stories to writing and illustrating one that is entirely her own

The inspiration behind Tis' the Season for Tamales and sharing the tradition of tamaladas through a bilingual picture book

The reality of imposter syndrome—even alongside major milestones, high-profile collaborations, and public recognition

Accidentally building a creative business and learning to navigate the good, hard, and complicated parts along the way

The pressure on today's artists to also be content creators, marketers, editors, and personal brands

Finding ways to show up and share your work that feel natural to you rather than forcing yourself into someone else's formula

Using joy as a creative compass and learning how to protect the part of your practice that exists simply because you love making

The importance of creative community, mentorship, and finding people who understand the unique challenges of building a creative life

Margo is joined by Kim Robinson, founder of 3pts and a longtime contributor to and advocate for creative communities. With more than 15 years of experience at cultural platforms including The FADER, Complex, Red Bull, and the American Museum of Natural History, Kim has worked alongside artists like Solange, Kendrick Lamar, Spike Lee, Erykah Badu, and Tyler, the Creator. Raised within underground punk, hip-hop, electronic music, and art scenes, Kim eventually founded 3pts to put his experience directly in service of makers and creative entrepreneurs, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms.
Kim and Margo explore what working behind the scenes in music and culture taught him about what artists actually need, why he continues to approach his work as a fan first, and the role community plays in building a sustainable creative life.
Margo and Kim discuss:
How growing up in DIY punk, hip-hop, electronic music, and art scenes shaped Kim's approach to creativity and community
What working with major artists and cultural platforms taught him about the realities of building a creative career
Why Kim leads with a "fan first" mentality and how genuine curiosity has guided his career
Why community is the invisible infrastructure behind so many successful creative careers
Moving beyond the myth of the self-made artist and recognizing the people, resources, and relationships that help us grow
Defining success on your own terms rather than following someone else's blueprint for a creative business
The value of practical support—from sharing opportunities and resources to having someone a few steps ahead show you what's possible
Connect with Kim:
Website: www.3pts.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/3ptsco
Substack: 3pts.substack.com
A monthly newsletter dedicated to sharing opportunities for makers such as grants, residencies, open calls, markets and more. https://us7.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=eb522373216e8266b4805a156&id=45f83f7c19

Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill

Margo is joined by author, creative writing coach, and video creator Abbie Emmons for a conversation about the power of storytelling and why our ability to tell meaningful stories is more instinctive than we might think. Abbie is the author of three novels and YouTube's most-watched creative writing coach, with a community of more than half a million writers worldwide. Margo and Abbie explore storytelling as something fundamentally human, why compelling stories begin with internal conflict, and how we can move beyond rigid rules, perfectionism, and self-doubt to reconnect with our natural creativity. Abbie's nonfiction debut, Make Your Story Matter, releases August 11, 2026.
Margo and Abbie discuss:
Why storytelling is fundamentally human and helps us make sense of life
The three pillars of relatable characters: desire, fear, and false belief
Why internal conflict drives compelling stories and meaningful transformation
How rules, expectations, and self-doubt can disconnect us from our natural creative instincts
What neuroscience and creativity research reveal about losing—and rebuilding—creative confidence
Creating from joy and curiosity rather than trends or external validation
Moving through perfectionism, overwhelm, fear, and other creative blocks
How to trust your instincts, reignite your storytelling spark, and create work that matters
Connect with Abbie:
www.youtube.com/abbieemmons
www.abbieemmonsauthor.com
www.makeyourstorymatter.com
Connect with Margo:
www.windowsillchats.com
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill