Hey there,

I’m Thao Armstrong

I’m the founder of Don’t Tell Charles.

I’m a cake artist, cake educator, content creator, website designer, copywriter, social media manager etc. You get the gist, I wear many hats .  However, the biggest hat of all is my mission to help cake makers all over the world Cake Smarter, Not Harder® so they can put time back in their day for creativity and growth, the kind of creativity and growth that gives you more meaning in life. 

I’m the queen of minimalism. Minimalistic in design, in cake making system, in business and in life in general.  

Woman with shoulder-length hair wearing cherries earrings, smiling happily, leaning forward in a kitchen with a white counter and a marble-patterned cake in the foreground.

Listen to my podcast interviews

  • Logo with pink headphones, black stylized text reading 'Little Pudding', and the words 'BAKE.CHAT' at the bottom on a light blue background.

    In conversation with Larissa Hungtington

    Cakes made by Thao from Don’t Tell Charles are instantly recognisable for their perfect, sharp edges, line cleans and abstract art. From a tiny cafe in Melbourne, Thao has built her business into an online cake school where she has taught thousands of cake makers from all over the world to “cake smarter, not harder.”

    She’s always three steps ahead of the industry and whether you’re a hobby baker looking for advice or a cakepreneur, you’re bound to get a lot out of this chat.

    LISTEN NOW
  • Two people, a man and a woman, sitting together in front of a colorful striped backdrop with text that says 'My Baking Journey.' The man is wearing glasses and a white shirt, and the woman has blonde hair and is wearing a leopard print top. There is baking equipment like a stand mixer in front of them.

    In conversation with My Baking Journey

    Thao has taught thousands through her cake school.  But it all started way before that.  Going against the grain of family expectations, she started a cafe and went through a lot of changes to get to where she is today.  

    We personally loved this chat because Thao beautifully opens up about the ups and downs of it all but through this discussion has the positivity and determination to continue to succeed no matter where life takes her.  

    For those of you who constantly question what you’re doing in life, sit back and take a listen.   We think you’ll get a lot out of this one.

    LISTEN NOW
  • Inspirational quote stating 'Everything is teachable' in elegant white script on a teal background.

    In conversation with Melissa Guller

    In this episode, we’ll learn how Thao taught herself to bake and decorate cakes, and how one Instagram DM launched her cake decorating workshop business. We also talk about how her business has evolved over the last six years, and most of all, we share why it’s so important to value your work and get paid for what you do.

    LISTEN NOW

Watch my panel conversation

The Side Hustling Creatives Panel At Interiors Australia + DENFAIR Melbourne 2022