this is a draft.

This one's off the dome. I'm sitting down for an honest check-in on where things are at, what's been hard, and everything I wish someone had told me before I started.Nobody actually has it figured out before they begin. It's a game of trial and error really, and that's the beauty of it! You learn what you love, what you're built for, and what will never be in your service offerings again. You'll only truly feel "ready" after you've done something once before.In this episode we cover some founder crisis moments I've had recently, the client who ghosted me without paying, why I stopped billing hourly, how I landed on value-based pricing, and why "niche down immediately" might be the worst advice in the creative business space.So please join me for a messy and honest discussion about what building your dreams actually look like :)CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER!!!

Everyone is fighting for attention. Most brands are losing... and it's not because they aren't trying hard enough, but because they're fighting for the wrong thing.In this episode:— Why comfort is the slowest, most polite way to kill your momentum (and why it never looks like a problem until it's too late)— What the attention economy actually is, why most businesses are still playing by the wrong rules, and the real difference between posting and positioning— Why if AI could replace your brand voice tomorrow, that's not an AI problem — that's a brand problemNew episodes drop the first Tuesday of every month.Grab the free Brand Personality Audit → unlesscreative.com/newsletter

In this episode, we'll cover the topic of knowing yourself on an introspective level. I've been putting a lot of thought into who I was before the world told me who to be- and what parts of my inner child really shine through now that I'm in a good place in life. Join me in this stream of consciousness as I explore the ins and outs of KNOWING WHO YOU ARE. Instagram: @rileymelinaschmitz Website: rileyschmitz.com

In the first episode of this is a draft, I take a more personal angle on reflecting on the events of 2025, sharing how I navigated interesting situations, and all the things I learned (and some things that I completely disregarded). From spilling the tea on my first agency experience to discussing why believe in learning from other people's mistakes, I covered too many topics because I went off script! Oops! Anywho, thank you for watching :)Instagram: @rileymelinaschmitz

On this episode of Digital Dopamine, we sit down with UX designer, dancer, and creative powerhouse Chris Nicdao, for a wide-ranging convo that’s equal parts vulnerable and insightful. From psychology, to the marketing world, to user experience design, Chris shares the winding path that led him to creative clarity—including burnout red flags, startup chaos, and the art of asking better questions. Follow us on Instagram! Chris: https://www.instagram.com/nvcdao/ Tuft Grove: https://www.instagram.com/tuftgrove/ Riley: https://www.instagram.com/rileymelinaschmitz/ Digital Dopamine: https://www.instagram.com/digitaldopamine.podcast/ 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:32 - Meet Chris! 00:01:07 - Chris's Career Journey 00:03:35 - Transition to User Experience 00:05:51 - Overcoming Creative Blocks 00:11:18 - Productivity and Time Management 00:18:24 - Recognizing and Overcoming Burnout 00:27:04 - Design Trends: Likes and Dislikes 00:27:55 - Most Challenging Project Experience 00:33:08 - Learning from Mistakes 00:45:12 - Future of User Experience Design 00:50:55 - Tuft Grove: Hand Made Rugs 00:54:49 - Chris' Dance Accomplishments 00:59:27 - Goals for 2025 01:05:25 - Rapid Fire Questions 01:06:36 - Closing Remarks and Social Media Handles

This Episode, we talk to junior UX designer and industry Graphic Designer Ronald Atutubo. A lot of great insights here on managing creative burnout, what creativity really looks like, and minimalist design best practices. In case you missed it... Check out Ron's Podcast ‪ @ugoodhomiepodcast5196 And Ron's Instagram @ronaldatutubo Also, Ron's Portfolio www.ronaldatutubo.com And finally, Ronald's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldatutubo/ Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitz, @ugh.podcast I took some time of from Digital Dopamine land to get myself set up for success on Instagram! Thank you for your patience, and see you soon, as we are switching to two part episodes on a weekly uploading basis!

This Episode, we talk to junior UX designer and industry Graphic Designer Ronald Atutubo. A lot of great insights here on managing creative burnout, what creativity really looks like, and minimalist design best practices. In case you missed it... Check out Ron's Podcast ‪ @ugoodhomiepodcast5196 And Ron's Instagram @ronaldatutubo Also, Ron's Portfolio www.ronaldatutubo.com And finally, Ronald's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldatutubo/ Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitz, @ugh.podcast I took some time of from Digital Dopamine land to get myself set up for success on Instagram! Thank you for your patience, and see you soon, as we are switching to two part episodes on a weekly uploading basis!

This week, we chat with my buddy Aaron about his journey to becoming a UX designer, starting a youtube channel, and staying productive with ADHD.In case you missed it...Check out Aaron's channel @AaronNicorAnd Aaron's Instagram @aaron.nicorAnd finally, Aaron's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-nicor/Other Instragrams to visit: @digitaldopamine.podcast, @rileymelinaschmitzThank you everyone for your continued support in this adventure! See you soon!Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/i-dont-need-your-love License code: FYTQP1MXBJJFCQXC

On this week's episode we chat with my good friend, Tina Le. Covering topics like impostor syndrome, pretending until things feel natural, using AI to validate your opinions, and of course, STICKERS!These are the Asian creators that Tina mentioned, on Instagram:@[email protected]@edgykatrinaTina's Sticker Shop on Instagram: @stickersbytinaTina's personal Instagram: @tiina.leTina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-le-6173ba1a5/Digital Dopamine on Instagram and Youtube: @digitaldopamine.podcastMy personal Instagram: @rileymelinaschmitzMy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-schmitz-designs3113/Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/fourth-dogma/asi-esLicense code: 0L3SW8RZMKXFTECV

This week, we are joined by talented UX designer Briana Truong, as she walks us through her process of finding inspiration, staying motivated, and managing her time with group projects.