The Zack Arnold Podcast

Latest Episodes:

TOP 5: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar May 23, 2023

Show notes

Given the vast amounts of fear & uncertainty surrounding not only the job market in general but specifically in the entertainment industry with the writer’s strike, we figured now is the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your career path, identify your unique strengths, and make the changes necessary to take you one step closer, if not all the way, to your dream job.

That’s why for the month of May we’ll be releasing one of our most popular top 5 podcast playlists where I’ve narrowed down over 200 of my podcast conversations down to the 5 best authors and experts who can help you design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career that you deserve. In this top 5 series you will hear a range of topics covered such as how to navigate difficult career transitions, finding your why, how to be happy and successful at the same, how to overcome creative burnout, and how to effectively tell your own story.

If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.

Without further adieu, here is the third part of this five interview series with bestselling author, lecturer and founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar where we have a candid discussion about whether happiness and success are mutually exclusive and the differences between a job vs a career vs a calling.

You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode132.

TOP 5: Feeling Lost? It’s Time to ‘Find Your Why’ | with David Mead May 16, 2023

Show notes

If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.

Without further adieu, here is the second part of this five interview series with David Mead, co-author of Find Your Why written alongside legendary bestselling author and expert on leadership Simon Sinek, where we discuss the importance of just that - finding your why - and how it will help you clarify your career path so you can find more purpose and fulfillment in your work.

You can find the original show notes for this interview at optimizeyourself.me/episode48.

TOP 5: Ramit Sethi on Forging The Path Towards Your Own ‘Rich Life’ May 09, 2023

Show notes

If you haven’t already, make sure to visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your very own customized podcast playlist based on your goals.

Without further adieu, here is episode one of my five-part interview series with the bestselling author and founder of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Ramit Sethi, who is also my business mentor and the reason I have been able to transition from “editor” to “entrepreneur”. Ramit is an expert on helping people design their own rich life, and if you haven’t caught it already, I highly recommend checking out his brand new Netflix show which was a top 10 show how t Get Rich. The original show notes for this conversation can be found at optimizeyourself.me/episode105.

philippe-danielides-bio — **How to Know What You Actually Want (and Find Support to Make It Happen) | with Philippe Danielides** May 02, 2023
Show notes

**Philippe Danielides** is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional life and career coach. He is the author of ***The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want*** and co-creator of **The Garden** - a group learning retreat in Greece inspired by the teachings of ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus on the art and practice of living well. Needless to say, Philippe and I have a fascinating conversation spanning a wide range of topics (burnout, sailing, the meaning of life…).
Today Philippe shares with us the story of his own drastic and unexpected career shift, which came as a result of reaching burnout, unfulfillment, and illness despite having "reached the pinnacle of success." Through his journey towards building a life of fulfillment and health, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge and tools that he generously shares with us. Philippe provides not only practical steps to identify what you really want to do with your life but also inspiration and encouragement to start walking the path towards fulfillment and embrace the support of others along the way.
Whether you are considering your own drastic career shift and need support managing self-doubt and criticism (coming from yourself or those around you), are wondering how to find the right community to help you advance your existing career, or are even looking for guidance in determining what it is you actually want to do with your life, this conversation is a must-listen.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
The shocking similarities between lawyers and creatives…
How to navigate a massive career transition when faced with doubt (from yourself and others)
The importance of seeking community and asking for help
How to break away from our cultural definition of success (and why that’s crucial)
The first essential step to take if you’re struggling to decide what to do with you life
Why the western struggle for individualism is working against you
The two biggest fears that keep us stuck in careers that don’t serve us
The first two steps you can take if you’re ready to change your reality
The 3 ingredients to happiness (that you might not expect)
The changes you can make to if you don’t want to leave your job, but want to enjoy it more

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**The Blue Pen Project**
**The Garden**
**The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder**
**The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr**
**Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler**
**How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke**
**I need help making a career transition**
**Guest Bio:**
Philippe Danielides

**Philippe Danielides** is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional coach, and the author of The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want.
His coaching is focused on helping lawyers and other habitual high-achievers to live more engaged and energized lives by answering one critically important question, and then providing them with the strategic and practical support to translate that answer into a reality. That question is, “What do I actually want?”
And for reasons explained by what he calls The Red Pen Problem, it is a particularly daunting and challenging question for many lawyers to answer, and why it’s so often set aside (albeit unintentionally) in favor of answering more achievable yet ultimately unsatisfying questions like “What should I want?” or “What do I realistically think I can get?”
Philippe holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center. He’s a native New Yorker and somehow, also, a slow walker, which continues to annoy his fast-paced New York friends and family.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Chris Orsi**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of **Joe Trapanese** (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Connect on Facebook — **How to Know What You Actually Want (and Find Support to Make It Happen) | with Philippe Danielides** May 02, 2023
Show notes

**Philippe Danielides** is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional life and career coach. He is the author of ***The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want*** and co-creator of **The Garden** - a group learning retreat in Greece inspired by the teachings of ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus on the art and practice of living well. Needless to say, Philippe and I have a fascinating conversation spanning a wide range of topics (burnout, sailing, the meaning of life…).
Today Philippe shares with us the story of his own drastic and unexpected career shift, which came as a result of reaching burnout, unfulfillment, and illness despite having "reached the pinnacle of success." Through his journey towards building a life of fulfillment and health, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge and tools that he generously shares with us. Philippe provides not only practical steps to identify what you really want to do with your life but also inspiration and encouragement to start walking the path towards fulfillment and embrace the support of others along the way.
Whether you are considering your own drastic career shift and need support managing self-doubt and criticism (coming from yourself or those around you), are wondering how to find the right community to help you advance your existing career, or are even looking for guidance in determining what it is you actually want to do with your life, this conversation is a must-listen.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here's What You'll Learn:**
The shocking similarities between lawyers and creatives…
How to navigate a massive career transition when faced with doubt (from yourself and others)
The importance of seeking community and asking for help
How to break away from our cultural definition of success (and why that’s crucial)
The first essential step to take if you’re struggling to decide what to do with you life
Why the western struggle for individualism is working against you
The two biggest fears that keep us stuck in careers that don’t serve us
The first two steps you can take if you’re ready to change your reality
The 3 ingredients to happiness (that you might not expect)
The changes you can make to if you don’t want to leave your job, but want to enjoy it more

**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**The Blue Pen Project**
**The Garden**
**The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want**
Continue to Listen & Learn
**How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder**
**The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr**
**Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler**
**How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke**
**I need help making a career transition**
**Guest Bio:**
Philippe Danielides

**Philippe Danielides** is a former Wall Street lawyer and corporate communications consultant turned professional coach, and the author of The Lawyer’s Guide to Freedom: A Six-Step Plan to Discover What You Actually Want.
His coaching is focused on helping lawyers and other habitual high-achievers to live more engaged and energized lives by answering one critically important question, and then providing them with the strategic and practical support to translate that answer into a reality. That question is, “What do I actually want?”
And for reasons explained by what he calls The Red Pen Problem, it is a particularly daunting and challenging question for many lawyers to answer, and why it’s so often set aside (albeit unintentionally) in favor of answering more achievable yet ultimately unsatisfying questions like “What should I want?” or “What do I realistically think I can get?”
Philippe holds a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center. He’s a native New Yorker and somehow, also, a slow walker, which continues to annoy his fast-paced New York friends and family.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Chris Orsi**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of **Joe Trapanese** (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Chris Salters bio photo — **[CASE STUDY] “What should I do when I’ve been fired from a gig?” with Chris Salters** Apr 28, 2023
Show notes

**Chris Salters** is a freelance editor working on brand films, commercials and documentaries, as well as a long time member of the **Optimize Yourself Coaching and Membership program**. While we could spend multiple episodes talking about Chris’ success in both his career and the coaching program, instead, today we’re talking about how Chris reached out to me after “dropping the ball” and being fired from work.
Being a veteran in the industry, Chris is no stranger to difficult tasks, challenges, shifting timetables, and high levels of stress. However while in this particular situation, despite the confidence Chris had that he could manage it, he ultimately failed. Today we dive deep into the situation and discuss how failure is a positive aspect in all of our lives despite what it may seem, and that even having a ton of “experience” in a particular field does not exempt you from encountering a moment of failure.
Chris shares the difficulties of dealing with failure (despite the encouraging words surrounding him) and we break down ways in which you can use these heavy emotions to in turn feel more motivated. We are ALL going to experience failure (and quite frankly, already have) and my conversation with Chris will not only help you better embrace the experience when it happens, it will help you understand there is no faster catapult towards success.
**Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?**
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here’s What You’ll Learn:**
Why being fired affected Chris so deeply, despite being a veteran to the stress and challenges of his profession
The real reason you should be upfront about the skills you lack (that benefits you)
The key difference between inspiration and motivation and why you should know the difference
The words of encouragement Chris received from his spouse that helped him through
How failure changed Chris’ workflow for the better
The benefit of negative emotions and how you can use them for motivation
Why Chris’ instinct to charge less after being fired was a harmful and bad idea
The specific “human skills” you can bring to the workplace that make you more valuable than technical skills
What Chris did that made the producer of the job that fired him reach out to work together again
The ONE thing Chris would have done knowing what he knows now (and it’s not doing the job better)
**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.**
**Continue to Listen & Learn**
**Ep218: How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke**
**Ep194: How ‘The Great Resignation’ Caused Us to Question Everything About the Way We Work (and How to Quit if It’s Time to Move On) | with Anthony Klotz**
**Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’**
**Ep148: “I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim Page**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**7 Red Flags You Might Be Burned Out (Or You’re Headed There)**
**Severance Is Not Only the Dystopian Future of Workplace Burnout…In Many Ways We’re Already There**
**[CASE STUDY] Why I Said No to a Job (A Great One)…During a Pandemic**
**Tired of Holding it Together All the Time? Here are Five Basic Needs to Get You Back On Track**
**Guest Bio:**
CHRIS SALTERS

Chris Salters is a freelance editor, working on brand films, commercials, and documentaries. He’s based in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, father of 2, likes woodworking, triathlons, and copious amounts of coffee.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of **Joe Trapanese** (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Follow on Instagram — **[CASE STUDY] “What should I do when I’ve been fired from a gig?” with Chris Salters** Apr 28, 2023
Show notes

**Chris Salters** is a freelance editor working on brand films, commercials and documentaries, as well as a long time member of the **Optimize Yourself Coaching and Membership program**. While we could spend multiple episodes talking about Chris’ success in both his career and the coaching program, instead, today we’re talking about how Chris reached out to me after “dropping the ball” and being fired from work.
Being a veteran in the industry, Chris is no stranger to difficult tasks, challenges, shifting timetables, and high levels of stress. However while in this particular situation, despite the confidence Chris had that he could manage it, he ultimately failed. Today we dive deep into the situation and discuss how failure is a positive aspect in all of our lives despite what it may seem, and that even having a ton of “experience” in a particular field does not exempt you from encountering a moment of failure.
Chris shares the difficulties of dealing with failure (despite the encouraging words surrounding him) and we break down ways in which you can use these heavy emotions to in turn feel more motivated. We are ALL going to experience failure (and quite frankly, already have) and my conversation with Chris will not only help you better embrace the experience when it happens, it will help you understand there is no faster catapult towards success.
**Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?**
**» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode**
**Here’s What You’ll Learn:**
Why being fired affected Chris so deeply, despite being a veteran to the stress and challenges of his profession
The real reason you should be upfront about the skills you lack (that benefits you)
The key difference between inspiration and motivation and why you should know the difference
The words of encouragement Chris received from his spouse that helped him through
How failure changed Chris’ workflow for the better
The benefit of negative emotions and how you can use them for motivation
Why Chris’ instinct to charge less after being fired was a harmful and bad idea
The specific “human skills” you can bring to the workplace that make you more valuable than technical skills
What Chris did that made the producer of the job that fired him reach out to work together again
The ONE thing Chris would have done knowing what he knows now (and it’s not doing the job better)
**Useful Resources Mentioned:**
**Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.**
**Continue to Listen & Learn**
**Ep218: How to Know (Without a Doubt) If It’s Time to Quit | with Annie Duke**
**Ep194: How ‘The Great Resignation’ Caused Us to Question Everything About the Way We Work (and How to Quit if It’s Time to Move On) | with Anthony Klotz**
**Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’**
**Ep148: “I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim Page**
**Ep113: The Importance of Setting Boundaries, Advocating For Yourself, and Asking For Help | with Janace Tashjian**
**7 Red Flags You Might Be Burned Out (Or You’re Headed There)**
**Severance Is Not Only the Dystopian Future of Workplace Burnout…In Many Ways We’re Already There**
**[CASE STUDY] Why I Said No to a Job (A Great One)…During a Pandemic**
**Tired of Holding it Together All the Time? Here are Five Basic Needs to Get You Back On Track**
**Guest Bio:**
CHRIS SALTERS

Chris Salters is a freelance editor, working on brand films, commercials, and documentaries. He’s based in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, father of 2, likes woodworking, triathlons, and copious amounts of coffee.
**Show Credits:**
This episode was edited by **Curtis Fritsch**, and the show notes were prepared by **Debby Germino** and published by **Glen McNiel**.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of **Joe Trapanese** (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

It's not just you...the job market SUCKS right now. Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.