This week on If I’m Honest, Julia sits down with DJ, entrepreneur, investor, and creative strategist Mick Batyske for a candid conversation about building a career that evolves with you.

From teaching himself how to DJ in college to performing for brands, celebrities, and global events, Mick shares the real story behind turning creativity into a sustainable business. He opens up about moving from Cleveland to New York, navigating uncertainty as a freelancer, learning how to market himself, and why relationships, not just talent, have shaped his career.

Mick and Julia also dive into:
* What it actually takes to build a long-term creative career
* The pressure of constantly reinventing yourself
* Why authenticity matters more than chasing trends
* How he approaches networking and outbound pitching
* The business side of freelancing and setting rates
* The emotional highs and lows of performing
* AI, creativity, and where DJ culture is headed next
* Why adaptability is the key to longevity

This episode is packed with honest insight for anyone pursuing an unconventional path, building something creative, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-changing world.

Buckle up for an honest conversation about ambition, reinvention, resilience, and creating a career on your own terms.

Find Mick on Instagram @mick, check out his website https://www.mick.co, and read his Substack at https://mickbatyske.substack.com.

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What does it take to reinvent yourself, professionally and personally, without losing trust in who you are? 

In this episode of If I’m Honest, Julia sits down with longtime friend Yasmin Shahida, Senior Director of PR at Oatly, to talk about career pivots, corporate communications, confidence, and the power of embracing discomfort. Yasmin shares her journey from broadcast journalism at CBS News to shaping brand storytelling at some of today’s most culturally relevant companies, including The Wing, Away, and Oatly.

They dive into what corporate communications actually means, how brands navigate culture and crisis moments, and why authenticity matters more than ever in a world driven by social media and trends. Yasmin also opens up about trusting your instincts, walking away from paths that no longer fit, and why “starting from scratch” can be one of the most powerful things you do for yourself.

Plus: food trends, caffeine-free living, NYC restaurant culture, manifestation, travel recommendations, and the mindset shifts that helped Yasmin build a career and life that feel aligned.

Buckle up for an honest conversation about ambition, reinvention, resilience, and learning to trust yourself through change.

Find Yasmin on Instagram and TikTok at @traveleatnyc and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasminshahida/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Season 4 of If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer.

In this special kickoff episode, Julia shares the personal and professional journey behind the evolution of the podcast, from stepping away from a 20+ year racing career to rebuilding identity, purpose, and life outside the driver’s seat.

Julia opens up about the grief and uncertainty that came with leaving racing behind, the lessons she learned navigating corporate life at NASCAR, and why moving back to New York after a decade in Charlotte felt like coming home. She also reflects on the growth of If I’m Honest, from solo episodes about confidence, rejection, and external validation to candid conversations with incredible guests across industries.

Season 4 is entering a new era: honest, in-person conversations with people who are building meaningful things; businesses, careers, brands, art, communities, and lives they’re proud of. Expect conversations about ambition, setbacks, resilience, reinvention, and the realities behind long-term success.

This season features corporate leaders, creatives, founders, producers, athletes, scientists, and more, all sharing the lessons they learned while building something meaningful.

Buckle up. We’re just getting started.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.