Lion, Lamb & Big Dick Energy: Becoming Unapologetically You with Sarah Woodruff

From lingerie shops and burlesque stages to outlaw country sing-alongs and heirloom jewelry, Sarah Woodruff has lived about seven creative lives already. This episode is a loud, glittery permission slip to be “too much” on purpose—and to love yourself for it.

Summary

Siobhan sits down with artist and entrepreneur Sarah Woodruff to talk about what it really means to live creatively, without apology. Sarah shares her winding journey through thrift-store fashion eras, owning multiple businesses in her twenties, founding a burlesque troupe, singing in bands, and eventually stepping away from a soul-draining corporate job to rebuild her life (and studio) on her own terms.

They explore the difference between confidence and comfort in your own skin, the grief of losing joy when creativity becomes transactional, and the relief that comes from realizing you’re not meant for everyone. Sarah opens up about self-criticism, ADHD tendencies, perfection paralysis, and how returning to playful, low-stakes creation through the Alameda Gallery & Collective helped her reconnect with joy.

The conversation weaves through motherhood, long-term partnership, bar culture as community, boundaries, gossip, and the responsibility that comes with sharing your story publicly. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t need permission, that growth is messy, and that being “a lot” is often exactly the point.

If you’ve ever dimmed yourself to fit, this episode will gently (and hilariously) remind you to turn the light back on.

Sarah Woodruff

Sarah Woodruff is a Bay Area–based artist, musician, and entrepreneur behind Lion and Lamb Studios, where she creates one-of-a-kind, heirloom-quality jewelry and metalwork. She co-owns Crown Billiards in San Ramon with her husband, has run a pin-up lingerie shop and burlesque troupe (Original Sin), fronts multiple bands including an Outlaw Country Sing-Along Show, and leads her daughter’s Girl Scout troop with unforgettable life lessons. Sarah lives at the intersection of style, performance, creativity, and unapologetic selfhood.

Resources & Mentions

• Lion and Lamb Studios – Sarah’s jewelry/metalsmithing studio

• Crown Billiards - Pool hall in San Ramon

• Original Sin Burlesque – Sarah’s former burlesque troupe

• Outlaw Country Sing-Along Show – Live band + audience lyric binders

• Fellowship Foundry – Pewter goblets and fantasy pieces (her husband’s family business)

• Alameda Gallery & Collective (AGC) – Local creative community space mentioned

• 10,000 Trees for Humanity – Amos White’s tree-planting nonprofit

• Girl Scouts – Sarah as long-time troop leader

💡 Key Takeaways

“I’m not for everyone—and that’s okay.”

~ Sarah

• Being “a lot” is a feature, not a bug – You’re not for everyone, and that’s healthy.

• Reinvention is allowed at any age – Shops close, bands change, jobs end; your creativity can evolve with you.

• Art vs. money is a real tension – Monetizing creativity can drain joy; community and play can restore it.

• Boundaries are self-respect in action – From bar regulars to friendships, you’re allowed to hit the “bitch switch.”

• Confidence is built, protected, and sometimes rebuilt – Losing it doesn’t mean it’s gone forever.