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The Zack Arnold Podcast — Health
The Zack Arnold Podcast

If you want to make things that matter, I want to help you. And if you've built your entire career around your creativity, you too may be asking: Is there a future for us? Or is it game over? I don't know what the future holds, but I do promise few are more dedicated to helping us find the answers than I am.

You're in the right place if:

You live to create. Your work isn't just a job but an expression of who you are.

You create to live. Your livelihood depends on your creativity.

You love making cool shit.

Whether you identify as introverted or neurodivergent (or both, like me)…

No matter if you're a misfit, a rebel, an outlier, or a troublemaker…

If you've been called weird, nerdy, dorky, quirky, or awkward…

Or if you’re an over-thinker, procrastinator, or perfectionist…

You are welcome here. 😊

Come join me as I have honest, authentic, and candid conversations with NYT bestselling authors, Oscar and Emmy winners, experts across many different industries, and ordinary humans achieving extraordinary things.

Latest Episodes:

chase-jarvis-bio — Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’ Apr 11, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
“Creativity is a life amplifier. It’s as fundamental to our well-being as physical fitness, proper nutrition, and mindfulness.”
-Chase Jarvis
Chase Jarvis is an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, a best-selling author, a podcast host of The Chase Jarvis live show, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years, shooting ads for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull to name a small few. But what brought Chase to my attention was his national best selling book, Creative Calling (an absolute must-read), which is as inspiring as it is informative on how you can both identify your own creative calling and take action on it.
In our conversation, Chase and I take a deep dive into the fundamentals of creativity and how it is innate to us as human beings, despite the fact that it isn’t well nurtured and supported in our education system. Chase shares the ways in which you can learn to push beyond the noise of society (and yourself) saying what you “should” do, and learn to hear your very own deeper creative calling. We discuss key strategies you can use to intentionally use your creative calling, as well as how to surround yourself with the right people that will support your creativity and goals along with it.
Whether you define yourself as a creative and are seeking to expand your career, are curious about how you can get in touch with your creative side in order to expand yourself personally, or even if you don’t think of yourself as having an ounce of creativity (we all do, as you’ll learn), I cannot recommend listening to my conversation with Chase enough. He is an absolute gold mine of information and I know you will love his inspiring, intelligent and creative insights as much as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
Chase Jarvis’ take on what creativity really is (it’s refreshingly different than the standard definition)
How you can use your own “creative calling” to design your ideal life
Creativity as a muscle (and how you can exercise it)
How to take all of your seemingly unrelated skills and build a career
Why Chase says no choice or experience was ever a waste (even if you think they were wrong)
How our education system is built to prepare us for factories, not creativity
How you can take control of your own education and build the skills you need
What you can do specifically to find your own “creative calling”
Why surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial to your creativity (and success)
The networking strategy that Chase recommends to get you in the community of ‘A-players’

Useful Resources Mentioned:
Creative Calling: Establish a daily practice, infuse your world with meaning, and succeed in work + life - Chase Jarvis
The Laws of Creativity - Joey Cofone
RANGE: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World - David Epstein
Creative Live
Continue to Listen & Learn
How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder
What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum
Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Pt1)
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
[CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Guest Bio:

Chase Jarvis is an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years. His expansive work ranges from shooting advertising campaigns for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull; to working with athletes like Serena Williams and Tony Hawk, to collaborating with renowned icons like Lady Gaga and Richard Branson. As a fine artist, he’s had solo and group gallery shows in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2013 Chase contributed to the Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times story Snowfall, and in 2014 earned an Emmy nomination for his documentary Portrait of a City. He also created Best Camera – the first photo app to share images to social networks, and is the Founder of CreativeLive, where more than 10 million students learn photography, video, design, music and business from the world’s top creators and entrepreneurs which was acquired by Fiverr - a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange - in 2021. His recent book Creative Calling debuted as an instant National Best Seller.
He’s long been an advisor to Fortune 100 brands, and a guest at the White House, the United Nations, the Library of Congress, 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and the DIFC in Dubai. Chase lives with his wife, Kate, in Seattle, and serves as a volunteer board director for several non-profits.
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).

Connect on Facebook — Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’ Apr 11, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
“Creativity is a life amplifier. It’s as fundamental to our well-being as physical fitness, proper nutrition, and mindfulness.”
-Chase Jarvis
Chase Jarvis is an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, a best-selling author, a podcast host of The Chase Jarvis live show, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years, shooting ads for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull to name a small few. But what brought Chase to my attention was his national best selling book, Creative Calling (an absolute must-read), which is as inspiring as it is informative on how you can both identify your own creative calling and take action on it.
In our conversation, Chase and I take a deep dive into the fundamentals of creativity and how it is innate to us as human beings, despite the fact that it isn’t well nurtured and supported in our education system. Chase shares the ways in which you can learn to push beyond the noise of society (and yourself) saying what you “should” do, and learn to hear your very own deeper creative calling. We discuss key strategies you can use to intentionally use your creative calling, as well as how to surround yourself with the right people that will support your creativity and goals along with it.
Whether you define yourself as a creative and are seeking to expand your career, are curious about how you can get in touch with your creative side in order to expand yourself personally, or even if you don’t think of yourself as having an ounce of creativity (we all do, as you’ll learn), I cannot recommend listening to my conversation with Chase enough. He is an absolute gold mine of information and I know you will love his inspiring, intelligent and creative insights as much as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
Chase Jarvis’ take on what creativity really is (it’s refreshingly different than the standard definition)
How you can use your own “creative calling” to design your ideal life
Creativity as a muscle (and how you can exercise it)
How to take all of your seemingly unrelated skills and build a career
Why Chase says no choice or experience was ever a waste (even if you think they were wrong)
How our education system is built to prepare us for factories, not creativity
How you can take control of your own education and build the skills you need
What you can do specifically to find your own “creative calling”
Why surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial to your creativity (and success)
The networking strategy that Chase recommends to get you in the community of ‘A-players’

Useful Resources Mentioned:
Creative Calling: Establish a daily practice, infuse your world with meaning, and succeed in work + life - Chase Jarvis
The Laws of Creativity - Joey Cofone
RANGE: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World - David Epstein
Creative Live
Continue to Listen & Learn
How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder
What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum
Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Pt1)
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
[CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Guest Bio:

Chase Jarvis is an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and one of the most influential photographers of the past 20 years. His expansive work ranges from shooting advertising campaigns for companies like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull; to working with athletes like Serena Williams and Tony Hawk, to collaborating with renowned icons like Lady Gaga and Richard Branson. As a fine artist, he’s had solo and group gallery shows in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2013 Chase contributed to the Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times story Snowfall, and in 2014 earned an Emmy nomination for his documentary Portrait of a City. He also created Best Camera – the first photo app to share images to social networks, and is the Founder of CreativeLive, where more than 10 million students learn photography, video, design, music and business from the world’s top creators and entrepreneurs which was acquired by Fiverr - a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange - in 2021. His recent book Creative Calling debuted as an instant National Best Seller.
He’s long been an advisor to Fortune 100 brands, and a guest at the White House, the United Nations, the Library of Congress, 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and the DIFC in Dubai. Chase lives with his wife, Kate, in Seattle, and serves as a volunteer board director for several non-profits.
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).

Not sure who to network with? This should help... Apr 06, 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.

kristina-snyder-bio — How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder Apr 04, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Kristina Snyder is a former photography agent, photo editor, photographer and travel writer. She's worked in the photo industry as an editor and researcher at magazines like Newsweek, Time and People. Today, Kristina is the founder and CEO of SNYDER, one of the best known and most well-respected artist representation agencies in the world with offices in the US and the UK.
Although Kristina’s story clearly ended with success, it began with imposter syndrome, uncertainty, and a long string of failures (just as any other true success story usually does). Kristina shares all the many ways she was able to not only manage the difficult times, but use them for extreme growth. In our conversation today we cover many topics, including surrounding yourself with the right people and trusting your deeper intuition, even if you feel uncertain about where you’re ultimately headed.
Whether you’re an artist (in whatever form that may be) that is looking to transition your work into a different genre entirely, struggling to “make it” in your current form, or looking to further expand on the success you have already built, this episode is for you. Kristina's insights come from both an artist's perspective and that of a business owner who connects artists with clients, making our conversation a wealth of knowledge.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people in order to succeed
The power of listening to your intuition (and how to do it)
How Kristina overcame her impostor syndrome when she was struggling as a freelancer
Kristina’s view of failure and how she deals with it (and fast!)
What SNYDER does and how it helps artists of all kinds
Looking to transition your career as an artist? Kristina has some very important advice for you as an agent
How to transition your career but pay your bills in the meantime
How to stay focused on the “long game” when you’re making a difficult career transition
Kristina’s advice for artists when they fail (because failure is inevitable)
How you can expand a single opportunity into many

Useful Resources Mentioned:
SNYDER
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.
Continue to Listen & Learn
Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum
Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Pt1)
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
[CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
Navigating The ‘Messy Middle’ of Life & Career Transitions | with Melissa Costello
Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
[CASE STUDY] Navigating a Difficult Career Transition | with Sam Lavin
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
A Former Monk on Managing Overwhelm (and Following Your Intuition) | with Cory Muscara
What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
Guest Bio:
Kristina Snyder

As a successful entrepreneur grounded in creativity from an early age, what sets Kristina Snyder apart is her belief in taking risks, parlaying one opportunity into the next and using her innate creative sense in everything she does. Kristina is a former photography agent, photo editor, photographer and travel writer, and has meandered through the creative communities in New York City since she arrived from her native Sweden in the late 80’s. During the day, she worked in the photo industry as an editor and researcher at magazines like Newsweek, Time and People, and in the evenings she was “the girl who schlepped music equipment from CBGB’s at three in the morning” after her husband's gigs.
Today, Kristina is the founder and CEO of SNYDER, one of the best known and most well-respected artist representation agencies in the world with offices in the US and the UK. Kristina has used her experience and insight in the field to build a reputation for developing excellence in the illustrators, animators and visual artists that the agency represents. Many of the SNYDER artists are award winners and have been featured as speakers at industry events and festivals. Kristina has won multiple awards for Creative Direction for promotional pieces from Communication Arts.
Kristina is in the very beginning stages of writing a book on creativity, incorporating her strong conviction that taking risks is a major part of success, and that you should incorporate creativity into your mindset to get the best outcomes. Her own creativity is derived from her deep connection to nature, and art, books, photography, film and creative writing.
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).

Connect on Facebook — How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder Apr 04, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Kristina Snyder is a former photography agent, photo editor, photographer and travel writer. She's worked in the photo industry as an editor and researcher at magazines like Newsweek, Time and People. Today, Kristina is the founder and CEO of SNYDER, one of the best known and most well-respected artist representation agencies in the world with offices in the US and the UK.
Although Kristina’s story clearly ended with success, it began with imposter syndrome, uncertainty, and a long string of failures (just as any other true success story usually does). Kristina shares all the many ways she was able to not only manage the difficult times, but use them for extreme growth. In our conversation today we cover many topics, including surrounding yourself with the right people and trusting your deeper intuition, even if you feel uncertain about where you’re ultimately headed.
Whether you’re an artist (in whatever form that may be) that is looking to transition your work into a different genre entirely, struggling to “make it” in your current form, or looking to further expand on the success you have already built, this episode is for you. Kristina's insights come from both an artist's perspective and that of a business owner who connects artists with clients, making our conversation a wealth of knowledge.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people in order to succeed
The power of listening to your intuition (and how to do it)
How Kristina overcame her impostor syndrome when she was struggling as a freelancer
Kristina’s view of failure and how she deals with it (and fast!)
What SNYDER does and how it helps artists of all kinds
Looking to transition your career as an artist? Kristina has some very important advice for you as an agent
How to transition your career but pay your bills in the meantime
How to stay focused on the “long game” when you’re making a difficult career transition
Kristina’s advice for artists when they fail (because failure is inevitable)
How you can expand a single opportunity into many

Useful Resources Mentioned:
SNYDER
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D.
Continue to Listen & Learn
Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum
Michelle Tesoro (ACE) On Playing Chess With Your Career (Pt1)
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
[CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle
Navigating The ‘Messy Middle’ of Life & Career Transitions | with Melissa Costello
Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
[CASE STUDY] Navigating a Difficult Career Transition | with Sam Lavin
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
A Former Monk on Managing Overwhelm (and Following Your Intuition) | with Cory Muscara
What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone
Guest Bio:
Kristina Snyder

As a successful entrepreneur grounded in creativity from an early age, what sets Kristina Snyder apart is her belief in taking risks, parlaying one opportunity into the next and using her innate creative sense in everything she does. Kristina is a former photography agent, photo editor, photographer and travel writer, and has meandered through the creative communities in New York City since she arrived from her native Sweden in the late 80’s. During the day, she worked in the photo industry as an editor and researcher at magazines like Newsweek, Time and People, and in the evenings she was “the girl who schlepped music equipment from CBGB’s at three in the morning” after her husband's gigs.
Today, Kristina is the founder and CEO of SNYDER, one of the best known and most well-respected artist representation agencies in the world with offices in the US and the UK. Kristina has used her experience and insight in the field to build a reputation for developing excellence in the illustrators, animators and visual artists that the agency represents. Many of the SNYDER artists are award winners and have been featured as speakers at industry events and festivals. Kristina has won multiple awards for Creative Direction for promotional pieces from Communication Arts.
Kristina is in the very beginning stages of writing a book on creativity, incorporating her strong conviction that taking risks is a major part of success, and that you should incorporate creativity into your mindset to get the best outcomes. Her own creativity is derived from her deep connection to nature, and art, books, photography, film and creative writing.
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).

Is Now the Worst Time to Network? Or the Best Time? Mar 30, 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.

joey-cofone-bio — What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone Mar 28, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Joey Cofone is an author as well as the Founder & CEO of Baronfig, a company that makes tools for thinkers. And speaking of thinkers, Joey has brought over 100 different products from zero to launch thanks to his award-winning (literally) design skills. His work as an entrepreneur has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, and Newsweek just to name a select few. But in today’s conversation we’re diving into Joey’s achievement that caught my eye the most: his #1 bestselling book, The Laws of Creativity.
In our conversation, we discuss what creativity really is, how it works, and the ways in which anyone can learn these essential concepts and unleash their own creativity (yes, you can LEARN how to be creative). We also talk about all the ways you can maintain your creativity despite living in a society that tends to suppress it, judge it, and overall diminish its importance. Joey also shares with us the backstory on how his obsession with creativity started in 1st grade, and why he’s spent his entire adult life writing his book.
Whether you work in a creative industry, are looking to explore creativity outside of work, are already in touch with your creative side, or are looking to explore creativity for the first time, you definitely don’t want to miss this conversation. The concepts Joey shares are practical, actionable, and simple enough you can get started right away.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
The classroom experience in 1st grade that triggered Joey’s obsession with creativity
NASA's research: 98% of 5 year olds are at the creative genius level…but by adulthood, that number dwindles to 2%. Why is this and what can we do?!
Joey didn't create the laws of creativity, he just put a name to it
How anyone can build their ability to be more creative, just like they could with athleticism
What being “weird” really means (and why it’s a good thing)
What creativity really means. HINT: It’s not creating new things…
What makes your ideas unique, even if it’s just a bunch of other ideas put together
How to maintain your creativity in a world where there will always be someone who thinks your ideas are wrong
What Joey means when he says he wants to be “Nike for thinkers”
What makes Baronfig notebooks so different (and in my opinion incredibly special)
Joey puts me in the hot seat to find out what keeps me going and why I HATE the word expert

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Laws of Creativity
Baronfig
NASA conducted a famous study on the creative genius of humans
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Continue to Listen & Learn
How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
All Quiet On the Western Front Writer/Producer Lesley Paterson On Unleashing Your True Creative (and Athletic) Potential
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Athlete’s Mindset to Hone Your Creativity & Productivity | with Vashi Nedomansky, ACE
Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don’t Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1)
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Joey Cofone

Joey Cofone is the Founder & CEO of Baronfig, an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling book, The Laws of Creativity.
Joey has designed and art directed over 100 products from zero to launch. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, New York Magazine, Newsweek, Bon Appétit, Quartz, Mashable, Print, and more. Joey was named a New Visual Artist and, separately, Wunderkind designer, by Print magazine. He is also a 1st place winner of the American Institute of Graphic Arts design competition, Command X.
Joey strives to make work that appeals to curious minds—work that’s beautiful, smart, and communicative. He believes that design is the least of a designer’s worries, that story is at the heart of all tasks, and jumping off cliffs is the only way to grow.
He lives in New York City with his wife, Ariana, and his dog (and writing buddy), Luigi.
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).

twitter — What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone Mar 28, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Joey Cofone is an author as well as the Founder & CEO of Baronfig, a company that makes tools for thinkers. And speaking of thinkers, Joey has brought over 100 different products from zero to launch thanks to his award-winning (literally) design skills. His work as an entrepreneur has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, and Newsweek just to name a select few. But in today’s conversation we’re diving into Joey’s achievement that caught my eye the most: his #1 bestselling book, The Laws of Creativity.
In our conversation, we discuss what creativity really is, how it works, and the ways in which anyone can learn these essential concepts and unleash their own creativity (yes, you can LEARN how to be creative). We also talk about all the ways you can maintain your creativity despite living in a society that tends to suppress it, judge it, and overall diminish its importance. Joey also shares with us the backstory on how his obsession with creativity started in 1st grade, and why he’s spent his entire adult life writing his book.
Whether you work in a creative industry, are looking to explore creativity outside of work, are already in touch with your creative side, or are looking to explore creativity for the first time, you definitely don’t want to miss this conversation. The concepts Joey shares are practical, actionable, and simple enough you can get started right away.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
The classroom experience in 1st grade that triggered Joey’s obsession with creativity
NASA's research: 98% of 5 year olds are at the creative genius level…but by adulthood, that number dwindles to 2%. Why is this and what can we do?!
Joey didn't create the laws of creativity, he just put a name to it
How anyone can build their ability to be more creative, just like they could with athleticism
What being “weird” really means (and why it’s a good thing)
What creativity really means. HINT: It’s not creating new things…
What makes your ideas unique, even if it’s just a bunch of other ideas put together
How to maintain your creativity in a world where there will always be someone who thinks your ideas are wrong
What Joey means when he says he wants to be “Nike for thinkers”
What makes Baronfig notebooks so different (and in my opinion incredibly special)
Joey puts me in the hot seat to find out what keeps me going and why I HATE the word expert

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Laws of Creativity
Baronfig
NASA conducted a famous study on the creative genius of humans
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Continue to Listen & Learn
How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
All Quiet On the Western Front Writer/Producer Lesley Paterson On Unleashing Your True Creative (and Athletic) Potential
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Athlete’s Mindset to Hone Your Creativity & Productivity | with Vashi Nedomansky, ACE
Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don’t Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1)
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Joey Cofone

Joey Cofone is the Founder & CEO of Baronfig, an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling book, The Laws of Creativity.
Joey has designed and art directed over 100 products from zero to launch. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Bloomberg, New York Magazine, Newsweek, Bon Appétit, Quartz, Mashable, Print, and more. Joey was named a New Visual Artist and, separately, Wunderkind designer, by Print magazine. He is also a 1st place winner of the American Institute of Graphic Arts design competition, Command X.
Joey strives to make work that appeals to curious minds—work that’s beautiful, smart, and communicative. He believes that design is the least of a designer’s worries, that story is at the heart of all tasks, and jumping off cliffs is the only way to grow.
He lives in New York City with his wife, Ariana, and his dog (and writing buddy), Luigi.
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).

Can You Recession-Proof Your Career? Mar 23, 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.

niceole-levy-bio — How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy Mar 21, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Niceole Levy is a television producer, television and feature writer, and author of The Writers' Room Survival Guide. Niceole has written for shows such as Ironside, Shades of Blue, Cloak and Dagger, S.W.A.T. and The Recruit, just to name a small few. Though we mostly talked about her book today, our conversation unveils ideas and strategies that go beyond the world of writing.
Niceole starts by sharing the amazing story of how she forged her non-traditional path to being a writer in Hollywood after beginning as a police dispatcher and baker among many other seemingly unrelated jobs to the industry. But despite her lack of industry experience, Niceole shares with us today the exact ways she was able to reframe her life experiences as relatable skills to the job she was seeking (and even shares her checklist you can use if you’re looking for your own opportunity to break in).
Our conversation is as non-traditional as Niceole’s pathway to Hollywood, but I have no doubt you’ll receive even more advice on breaking into the industry (or further climbing your current ladder) because of it. You’ll learn about how and when to place boundaries, how to use Act Structures to succeed in interviews, the unspoken rules of the writing room, and even what to ask yourself if you’re on the verge of giving up. If you find yourself struggling to achieve your break into whatever industry you’re seeking, this episode is for you.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
How Niceole broke into the industry (after being a police dispatcher and a baker?!)
Want to break into the industry as a writer? You’ll hear Niceole's recommendation on what to write (and how much)
Niceole's checklist that will help you be ready for your own opportunity to be in the writer's room
The unspoken rules of the writer’s room you need to know (like why you shouldn’t bring new ideas to the table for an established show)
Why having a representation is important, but what you can do via networking if you don’t have one
Lacking specific job skills for your resume? Here’s how you can reframe your own life experiences as transferable skills
How to understand the structure of acts and use that to your advantage in your interview (especially for the dreaded prompt, “Tell me about yourself”)
How to better determine your own “line in the sand” and understand the proper balance between your boundaries and how much you’re willing to give up
Why it’s equally important to develop the “soft skills” of being a human as it is the hard skills of your job
How Niceole wrote a book she didn’t even want to write (and why she even did that in the first place)
Niceole's one question to her younger self that can also be a game changer for you when you feel like giving up

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Writers’ Room Survival Guide by Niceole Levy
Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner
Continue to Listen & Learn
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don’t Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1)
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian
From Scraping Up Cigarette Butts to Editing, Directing, and Producing Emmy-Winning TV Shows | with David Rogers
How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking’ & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Niceole Levy

After growing up near China Lake Naval Weapons Center in the middle of the Mojave Desert, Niceole Levy escaped to the bright lights of Los Angeles. While studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she realized her true love was writing stories, not playing them out. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through USC undergrad and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and the WGAW Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on Ironside, Allegiance, The Mysteries of Laura, Shades of Blue, Cloak & Dagger, Fate: the Winx Saga, S.W.A.T, and The Recruit. She also co-wrote a feature, The Banker, with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi. She is now writing Spark, a film inspired by the life of Claudette Colvin. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on Empire of Mali, which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. Her first book, The Writers’ Room Survival Guide, was released in October of 2022.
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).

twitter — How to Break Into Any Industry (Without Having Experience) | with Niceole Levy Mar 21, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
Niceole Levy is a television producer, television and feature writer, and author of The Writers' Room Survival Guide. Niceole has written for shows such as Ironside, Shades of Blue, Cloak and Dagger, S.W.A.T. and The Recruit, just to name a small few. Though we mostly talked about her book today, our conversation unveils ideas and strategies that go beyond the world of writing.
Niceole starts by sharing the amazing story of how she forged her non-traditional path to being a writer in Hollywood after beginning as a police dispatcher and baker among many other seemingly unrelated jobs to the industry. But despite her lack of industry experience, Niceole shares with us today the exact ways she was able to reframe her life experiences as relatable skills to the job she was seeking (and even shares her checklist you can use if you’re looking for your own opportunity to break in).
Our conversation is as non-traditional as Niceole’s pathway to Hollywood, but I have no doubt you’ll receive even more advice on breaking into the industry (or further climbing your current ladder) because of it. You’ll learn about how and when to place boundaries, how to use Act Structures to succeed in interviews, the unspoken rules of the writing room, and even what to ask yourself if you’re on the verge of giving up. If you find yourself struggling to achieve your break into whatever industry you’re seeking, this episode is for you.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
How Niceole broke into the industry (after being a police dispatcher and a baker?!)
Want to break into the industry as a writer? You’ll hear Niceole's recommendation on what to write (and how much)
Niceole's checklist that will help you be ready for your own opportunity to be in the writer's room
The unspoken rules of the writer’s room you need to know (like why you shouldn’t bring new ideas to the table for an established show)
Why having a representation is important, but what you can do via networking if you don’t have one
Lacking specific job skills for your resume? Here’s how you can reframe your own life experiences as transferable skills
How to understand the structure of acts and use that to your advantage in your interview (especially for the dreaded prompt, “Tell me about yourself”)
How to better determine your own “line in the sand” and understand the proper balance between your boundaries and how much you’re willing to give up
Why it’s equally important to develop the “soft skills” of being a human as it is the hard skills of your job
How Niceole wrote a book she didn’t even want to write (and why she even did that in the first place)
Niceole's one question to her younger self that can also be a game changer for you when you feel like giving up

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Writers’ Room Survival Guide by Niceole Levy
Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment by Carole M. Kirschner
Continue to Listen & Learn
The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Leveraging Your Skills to Get Hired (When You Don’t Have the Experience) | with Steve Lang, ACE (pt1)
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian
From Scraping Up Cigarette Butts to Editing, Directing, and Producing Emmy-Winning TV Shows | with David Rogers
How to Avoid Getting Pigeonholed, The ‘Concentric Circles of Networking’ & More | with Doc Crotzer, ACE
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Niceole Levy

After growing up near China Lake Naval Weapons Center in the middle of the Mojave Desert, Niceole Levy escaped to the bright lights of Los Angeles. While studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she realized her true love was writing stories, not playing them out. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through USC undergrad and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and the WGAW Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on Ironside, Allegiance, The Mysteries of Laura, Shades of Blue, Cloak & Dagger, Fate: the Winx Saga, S.W.A.T, and The Recruit. She also co-wrote a feature, The Banker, with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi. She is now writing Spark, a film inspired by the life of Claudette Colvin. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on Empire of Mali, which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. Her first book, The Writers’ Room Survival Guide, was released in October of 2022.
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).

The Perfect Storm is Coming (For Our Jobs) Mar 16, 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.

will-storr-bio — The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr Mar 14, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
My guest today is Will Storr, an award-winning writer and author of the book The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better. In our conversation together, Will and I dive deep down the rabbit hole to understand the inner workings of storytelling and discuss why the attraction to stories is a key part in not only our own personal human evolution, but the evolution of our society as a whole.
Will shares many of his unconventional approaches to storytelling (including why he doesn’t believe we need to follow a strict formula). He also shares why he believes character development should come before the plot and how that approach can even be used to help you achieve your own goals. Will and I also talk about why ‘gossip’ is fundamental to us as humans and why it can make even the smartest people believe the craziest things.
As you’ll hear in our conversation, Will and I fully nerd out on the science and psychology of storytelling. Not only will you understand as a creative how to better write your own stories, but you’ll learn how to apply Will’s unconventional approaches to rewrite the story of your own life. Whether or not you’re working in a creative industry, I know you’ll find this conversation as helpful and entertaining as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
Why Will says there's 'science' in storytelling (and doesn’t believe we need to follow a formula)
The real reason stories are so important to us as human beings
Why 'gossip' is fundamental to the human condition
Why the way we see reality affects the way we tell stories (and how you can use your brain to shift that perspective)
How our brains are programmed to be interested in pursuit of goals and overcoming the obstacles along the way
How can people be so smart, yet still believe the craziest things (some people believe the holocaust didn't happen?!)
Why we tend to believe what makes us feel good and heroic
What makes the aspect of ‘change’ so crucial to the art of storytelling
What the Kuleshov Effect is and how we can apply it to both our storytelling and lives
What Will means when he says we are our own personal projects

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better by Will Storr
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Chris Vogler
The Hero’s Journey (Joseph Campbell)
Downfall movie
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (with Bill Moyers)
The Kuleshov Effect
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Continue to Listen & Learn
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
Overcoming a Dark Past (and Managing the Voices In Your Head) to Become Successful In Hollywood | with Christopher Titus
Leveling Up Your Ability to Tell More Engaging Stories using EditMentor | with Misha Tenenbaum
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Will Storr

Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He’s the author of six critically acclaimed books, including the novel The Hunger and The Howling of Killian Lone and the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and The New York Times. His prizes include a National Press Club award for excellence and the AFM award for Best Investigative Journalism. His work on sexual violence against men earned the Amnesty International Award and a One World Press Award. He’s also been presented with the AIB Award for Best Investigative Documentary for his BBC radio series.
He teaches popular storytelling classes in London and has been invited to present his Science of Storytelling workshop all over the world. He’s an in-demand ghostwriter whose books have spent months at the top of the Sunday Times bestseller chart and have sold more than two million copies.
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).

twitter — The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr Mar 14, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
My guest today is Will Storr, an award-winning writer and author of the book The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better. In our conversation together, Will and I dive deep down the rabbit hole to understand the inner workings of storytelling and discuss why the attraction to stories is a key part in not only our own personal human evolution, but the evolution of our society as a whole.
Will shares many of his unconventional approaches to storytelling (including why he doesn’t believe we need to follow a strict formula). He also shares why he believes character development should come before the plot and how that approach can even be used to help you achieve your own goals. Will and I also talk about why ‘gossip’ is fundamental to us as humans and why it can make even the smartest people believe the craziest things.
As you’ll hear in our conversation, Will and I fully nerd out on the science and psychology of storytelling. Not only will you understand as a creative how to better write your own stories, but you’ll learn how to apply Will’s unconventional approaches to rewrite the story of your own life. Whether or not you’re working in a creative industry, I know you’ll find this conversation as helpful and entertaining as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
Why Will says there's 'science' in storytelling (and doesn’t believe we need to follow a formula)
The real reason stories are so important to us as human beings
Why 'gossip' is fundamental to the human condition
Why the way we see reality affects the way we tell stories (and how you can use your brain to shift that perspective)
How our brains are programmed to be interested in pursuit of goals and overcoming the obstacles along the way
How can people be so smart, yet still believe the craziest things (some people believe the holocaust didn't happen?!)
Why we tend to believe what makes us feel good and heroic
What makes the aspect of ‘change’ so crucial to the art of storytelling
What the Kuleshov Effect is and how we can apply it to both our storytelling and lives
What Will means when he says we are our own personal projects

Useful Resources Mentioned:
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better by Will Storr
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Chris Vogler
The Hero’s Journey (Joseph Campbell)
Downfall movie
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (with Bill Moyers)
The Kuleshov Effect
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Continue to Listen & Learn
Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An “Overnight Success,” and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
Overcoming a Dark Past (and Managing the Voices In Your Head) to Become Successful In Hollywood | with Christopher Titus
Leveling Up Your Ability to Tell More Engaging Stories using EditMentor | with Misha Tenenbaum
How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Making It In Hollywood as a “Creative” (What They Don’t Teach You In Film School) | with Norman Hollyn
Guest Bio:
Will Storr

Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He’s the author of six critically acclaimed books, including the novel The Hunger and The Howling of Killian Lone and the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and The New York Times. His prizes include a National Press Club award for excellence and the AFM award for Best Investigative Journalism. His work on sexual violence against men earned the Amnesty International Award and a One World Press Award. He’s also been presented with the AIB Award for Best Investigative Documentary for his BBC radio series.
He teaches popular storytelling classes in London and has been invited to present his Science of Storytelling workshop all over the world. He’s an in-demand ghostwriter whose books have spent months at the top of the Sunday Times bestseller chart and have sold more than two million copies.
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).

dan-erickson-bio — Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An "Overnight Success," and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life Mar 07, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
My guest today, Dan Erickson, is a writer, producer and creator of the hit Apple TV series, Severance. In this tell all conversation, Dan shares how his inspiration for creating Severance occurred while working a corporate job that included an unfortunate amount of experiences far too many of us can relate to (do windowless offices, featureless ceilings, and a strong desire to be able to forget about work as soon as you leave sound familiar?).
Dan’s amazing story of creating Severance has many twists and turns, and in this conversation we dive into them all. We talk about how he created the first draft of Severance in a matter of weeks, the seemingly endless obstacles and rejections Dan faced afterwards, and the ironic challenges with work-life balance that he experienced along the way to his success. We also dive into the underlying themes behind Severance, and how they could be far closer to our reality than we might expect.
This episode offers valuable insights into the making of Severance, as well as practical tips for anyone striving to find balance in their own life (I even put Dan on the Hot Seat to help him tackle his current work-life balance challenges). Whether you’ve seen the show yet or not (don’t worry, no spoilers!), I guarantee you’ll find Dan’s story as captivating as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
What specific job experience inspired Dan to create the show Severance
How Dan was able to create the first draft of Severance in a matter of weeks
Despite all of the rejections and failures Dan endured, he stuck with his plan for one specific reason…
Why the story of Severance changed so much from its original draft (but how it still feels like the exact same story)
Why the story of Severance a lot closer to our reality than we think
How to break down the most important question from Severance: Who are you and can you become whole?
How to answer the question more and more people are asking…is it even possible to achieve 'work-life balance'?
How Dan was able to pull off becoming the showrunner of Severance despite the fact that he had zero experience
What Dan’s own personal work-life balance challenges were while ironically creating a show on the subject
What challenge Dan is now currently dealing with (that I put him on the Hot Seat to work through)

Useful Resources Mentioned:
Dan Erickson Is on the TIME100 Next 2022 List | TIME
Severance
Continue to Listen & Learn
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
[CASE STUDY] How to Make Your Dream Project a Reality | with Matt Allen and Matthew Gentile
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
How to Become Oscar-level Successful (Without Being a Dick) | with Peter Ramsey
Overcoming a Dark Past (and Managing the Voices In Your Head) to Become Successful In Hollywood | with Christopher Titus
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Stop Waiting For Permission to Make Sh*t Happen | with Mark Gantt
On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian
How to Get a Script Made In Hollywood | with Kyle Long
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Guest Bio:
Dan Erickson

Dan Erickson grew up in Olympia, Washington with his parents Mark and Lynn, brother Matt and sister Hayley. He began writing plays and making movies with his siblings and friends at a young age, and went on to get his BA in English and Creative Writing from Western Washington University. He later attended NYU's Tisch School, where he received a Masters in Dramatic Writing. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he delivered food and worked in a string of office jobs, all while conceiving and writing the original pilot for Severance. The script became the first TV pilot ever selected for the annual Bloodlist, which ultimately led to a creative partnership with Red Hour Productions, Endeavor Content, and Apple. Dan now splits his time between Los Angeles and New York, while sneaking back to his beloved Washington state every chance he gets.
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 — Severance Creator Dan Erickson On Staying True to Your Creative Vision, Becoming An "Overnight Success," and the Blurred Lines Between Work & Life Mar 07, 2023
Show notes

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more?
→ Click here for your customized podcast playlist
My guest today, Dan Erickson, is a writer, producer and creator of the hit Apple TV series, Severance. In this tell all conversation, Dan shares how his inspiration for creating Severance occurred while working a corporate job that included an unfortunate amount of experiences far too many of us can relate to (do windowless offices, featureless ceilings, and a strong desire to be able to forget about work as soon as you leave sound familiar?).
Dan’s amazing story of creating Severance has many twists and turns, and in this conversation we dive into them all. We talk about how he created the first draft of Severance in a matter of weeks, the seemingly endless obstacles and rejections Dan faced afterwards, and the ironic challenges with work-life balance that he experienced along the way to his success. We also dive into the underlying themes behind Severance, and how they could be far closer to our reality than we might expect.
This episode offers valuable insights into the making of Severance, as well as practical tips for anyone striving to find balance in their own life (I even put Dan on the Hot Seat to help him tackle his current work-life balance challenges). Whether you’ve seen the show yet or not (don’t worry, no spoilers!), I guarantee you’ll find Dan’s story as captivating as I did.
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Here's What You'll Learn:
What specific job experience inspired Dan to create the show Severance
How Dan was able to create the first draft of Severance in a matter of weeks
Despite all of the rejections and failures Dan endured, he stuck with his plan for one specific reason…
Why the story of Severance changed so much from its original draft (but how it still feels like the exact same story)
Why the story of Severance a lot closer to our reality than we think
How to break down the most important question from Severance: Who are you and can you become whole?
How to answer the question more and more people are asking…is it even possible to achieve 'work-life balance'?
How Dan was able to pull off becoming the showrunner of Severance despite the fact that he had zero experience
What Dan’s own personal work-life balance challenges were while ironically creating a show on the subject
What challenge Dan is now currently dealing with (that I put him on the Hot Seat to work through)

Useful Resources Mentioned:
Dan Erickson Is on the TIME100 Next 2022 List | TIME
Severance
Continue to Listen & Learn
Career & Life Advice from The Office Director & Producer | with Jen Celotta
Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler
[CASE STUDY] How to Make Your Dream Project a Reality | with Matt Allen and Matthew Gentile
[BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis
How to Become Oscar-level Successful (Without Being a Dick) | with Peter Ramsey
Overcoming a Dark Past (and Managing the Voices In Your Head) to Become Successful In Hollywood | with Christopher Titus
How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix
Stop Waiting For Permission to Make Sh*t Happen | with Mark Gantt
On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian
How to Get a Script Made In Hollywood | with Kyle Long
Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun
Guest Bio:
Dan Erickson

Dan Erickson grew up in Olympia, Washington with his parents Mark and Lynn, brother Matt and sister Hayley. He began writing plays and making movies with his siblings and friends at a young age, and went on to get his BA in English and Creative Writing from Western Washington University. He later attended NYU's Tisch School, where he received a Masters in Dramatic Writing. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he delivered food and worked in a string of office jobs, all while conceiving and writing the original pilot for Severance. The script became the first TV pilot ever selected for the annual Bloodlist, which ultimately led to a creative partnership with Red Hour Productions, Endeavor Content, and Apple. Dan now splits his time between Los Angeles and New York, while sneaking back to his beloved Washington state every chance he gets.
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).

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