Creative Principles

Latest Episodes:

Ep412 - David Hollander, Author ‘How Basketball Can Save the World’ Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

in ‘How Basketball Can Save the World,’ NYU Professor and Author David Hollander takes us out of the classroom to present a beautiful new philosophy with contributions by many of his past guests and based on values inherent to basketball, such as inclusion and the balancing of individual success with the needs of the collective. These principles move us beyond conflict and confusion toward a more harmonious and meaningful future: Positionless-ness: In basketball, players aren’t siloed into just one position or responsibility. In life, we can learn to be more adaptive to the challenges we face by embracing a positionless mindset. Human Alchemy: We talk a lot about team chemistry, but team alchemy means the creation of something totally new—a team far greater than the sum of its parts. Sanctuary: Basketball offers players a critical space to feel safe, free, and expressive. Fostering similar spaces in the real world can encourage people to be their best, happiest, and most productive selves. Transcendence: Basketball is about defying gravity, becoming weightless, and flying higher than anyone ever has before. By seeking out this principle, we can elevate ourselves and those around us to a new plane of experience. In this interview, Hollander talks about the need to encourage young writers, the dangers of AI for future generations of writers, his love for basketball, and of course, how basketball can change the world. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep411 - Christopher Glatis, Filmmaker & Author ‘When Your Mind Screams’ Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

In ‘When Your Mind Screams,’ filmmaker and lifelong personal growth enthusiast Christopher Glatis explores anxiety from the lens of a creative, demonstrating how anxiety makes us feel fearful and stressed in an effort to help, though it’s actually doing anything but. In fact, the instinct to run from anxiety’s uncomfortable sensations does more harm than good. Glatis explains how reworking your response to anxiety—not fighting it—is the key to recovery. In addition to discussing Christopher’s book, in this interview we also talk about using imagination for good and evil, how to find the low-hanging fruit as a filmmaker, why you don’t need permission to be a creative, advice from Steven Pressfield, and we talk some action steps on how creatives can deal with anxiety. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep410 - Jesse Atlas, Writer-Director Bruce Willis Film ‘Assassin’ Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Jesse Atlas is a writer/director that crafts high-concept, character-driven genre thrillers. His feature debut "Assassin" hits theaters in the spring of 2023. Previously, Jesse's mind-bending sci-fi short films "Record/Play" and "Let Them Die Like Lovers" have played at Sundance, Tribeca, Fantastic Fest and countless other festivals, racking up dozens of awards and accolades. Both films were picked up for feature adaptations, with "Let Them Die Like Lovers" evolving into "Assassin". Before making narratives, Jesse honed his skills as an editor of trailers, music videos, commercials, and documentaries. In this interview, Jesse talks about moving from theater to films, getting your foot in the door as an editor, influence from Martin Scorsese, fighting for attention with shorts, and why first-time filmmakers need to learn to write to make a name for themselves. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep409 - Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker, Screenwriters ‘Harley Quinn’ & ‘Abbott Elementary’ Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

“We were interns together at A Band Apart Productions, which was Quentin Tarantino’s production company,” says Justin Halpern, about his partnership with Patrick Schumacker. “We worked in commercials and music videos…we never saw Quentin, ever. Ever.” Back then, Halpern wanted to be a screenwriter and Schumacker wanted to be a commercial and music video director. “I always enjoyed writing, but I think I was more passionate about communicating through visuals, or words being secondary. That’s perhaps too reductive, but I think that’s why we make a good pairing.” As writing partners, the duo have credits for $#*! My Dad Says, Cougar Town, iZombie, Harley Quinn, and Abbott Elementary. “I come at ideas from a visual or aesthetic place and Justin comes at it from more of a character or psychological place. It works for us.” “We started out feeling like we both had to do the exact same job. We wrote stuff together. We directed together, on the side, when we still had day jobs. But when we got our own show on the air, we felt like we needed to be this two-headed entity performing the same tasks. But now, we’ve developed a system to divide and conquer.” Halpern spends the bulk of his time in the Writer’s Room focusing on story breaking. Schumacker floats between the Writer’s Room and set to oversee the filming process. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep408 - Nic Brown, Author Drummer Memoir ‘Bang Bang Crash’ Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

From an early age, Nic Brown was interested in writing and playing the drums. If you listened to 90s alt rock, you’ve probably heard the song “What I Didn’t Know” from a band called Athenaeum, which Nic helped form while he was just in the 8th grade. These days, Nic is a professor at Clemson and the author of three novels. That said, somewhat haunted by his previous musical life, he decided to write about it in a new memoir called 'Bang Bang Crash.' The description reads, “A rock and roll drummer abandons his successful music career to pursue his true passion and discovers a deeper understanding of artistic fulfillment in this episodic memoir of swapping one dream for another.” In this interview, Nic talks about creativity as a process, focusing on what inspires you creatively, the pros and cons of writing memoir, physically removing yourself to recharge, and how he’s somewhat comes back to the drums. Read an excerpt called “The Yips” right here: https://oxfordamerican.org/web-only/the-yips-excerpted-from-bang-bang-crash-a-memoir Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep407 - C.J. Box, Author Joe Pickett Series Including ‘Storm Watch’ Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

“I think if you’re a writer, you’re just hard-wired to be one,” said author C.J. Box. As a kid, C.J. said he would imagine his name on the shelves of the library as different Librarians gave him more and more difficult books to read. C.J. Box is the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of more than thirty books, including the iconic Joe Pickett series. His latest book, Storm Watch, Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett investigates a mysterious death at a secret remote high-tech facility in this riveting new novel. In this interview, C.J. talks about journalism as a training ground for novel writing, getting his first novel published at age 40, how the inverted pyramid is somewhat missing today, working with agents, and how he does research including a potential grizzly bear book. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep406 - Chris McKay, Director ‘The Lego Batman Movie,’ ‘The Tomorrow War,’ & ‘Renfield’ Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Watching movies, reading graphic novels, going to DisneyLand… these things made a heavy influence on Chris McKay, the Director of films like Robot Chicken, The Lego Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War, and now, Renfield. Nicholas Hoult stars as Renfield and Nicholas Cage plays Dracula. The description reads, “Renfield, Dracula's henchman. and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades, longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them.” In this interview, McKay talks about why animation is like “making a film in slow motion,” why every step in your career is an education, the importance of trusting your gut to the right opportunities, his involvement with Dungeons and Dragons, and when to “jump on the moving train” as a filmmaker. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep405 - John Swab, Director Frank Grillo Film ‘One Day as a Lion’ Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

'One Day as a Lion' stars Frank Grillo, Scott Caan, and J.K. Simmons. The plot reads, “Jackie Powers will stop at nothing to prevent his son from following him into a life of crime. With his mob employer in pursuit, a chance encounter at a roadside diner charts a new path.” In this interview, John talks about working with Frank Grillo on four films, what enticed him about his script from Scott Cann, how he gets movies made, why directors have to decide how much they’re willing to compromise, and how to shoot big action on an Indie budget. Listen to our first interview with John Swab on 'Body Brokers' here: https://on.soundcloud.com/wLi7i Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep404 - Anna Katherine Clemmons, Sports Journalist ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Anna Katherine Clemmons has always loved writing. Anna Katherine (Clemmons) Clay is a freelance writer and an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. She is a 17-year veteran writer, reporter and producer for ESPN, where she wrote everything from 5,000-word features for ESPN’s Outside the Lines to technical breakdowns for ESPN the Magazine. In addition to her continued ESPN work, Anna Katherine has written stories for numerous publications, including: The New York Times, Glamour Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, Bleacher Report and more. In this interview, she talks about bringing a different perspective to sports journalism as a woman, how to make people care about sports from a human perspective, avoiding reverse pyramid as a journalist, and how to share your willingness to succeed. Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep403 - Lee Sung Jin, Creator Ali Wong - Steven Yeun Series ‘Beef’ Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

“I was an economics major and I thought I was going to get into investment banking,” says Lee Sung Jin (who also goes by Sonny Lee). “Didn’t feel right at any point of my entire college career,” jokes the screenwriter. “I was really flailing about, unemployed, temping a lot, and I had gotten into the NBC page program.” If you’ve ever seen 30 Rock, this is somewhat the same job Kenneth the Page had, giving studio tours for $10 an hour. “That was my first glimpse into the entertainment industry. I loved TV and movies, as we all do, and I thought, why not give it a go?” Lee taught himself screenwriting through reading books and blogs. “I started staying in most weekends. When you find your passion, you can’t help but keep working at it. So, in my early twenties, I discovered this might be a career path.” Today, Lee has credits on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Outsourced, 2 Broke Girls, Silicon Valley, and Dave. Most recently, he’s the Creator of the Netflix dramedy series, Beef, that stars Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, Maria Bello, Andrew Santino, and David Chow. The simple plot reads, “Two people let a road rage incident burrow into their minds and slowly consume their every thought and action.” Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

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