In today’s episode, I share the live masterclass from our weeklong summit into a clear, practical roadmap for navigating your creative career.
Navigating the Future of Entertainment | with Zack Arnold
Debby and I share a sneak peek of the live summit event that will help creatives confidently navigate their careers during uncertain times.
From Five Emmys to Trader Joe’s: The Realities of Working In Hollywood In 2025 | with Mark Keefer
Mark and I have a candid conversation about staying resilient, creative, and humble when your creative identity no longer pays the bills.
On Vulnerability and the Courageous Act of Creating From a Place of Truth | with Allison Sweet Grant
Allison’s novel began as a personal healing, revealing how creativity demands vulnerability but empowers sensitive and introverts with unexpected courage.
Mastering the Art of Doing Scary (and Often Hilarious) Shit | with Paul Beckman
Paul and I go way beyond the standard career talk. We dig into what it really means to take risks, not just on screen but in real life.
Turning Adversity Into Opportunity and Suffering Into Purpose (a Superhero’s Perspective) | with Aaron Welty
Aaron and I discuss the “terrible privilege” of his disability and how rewriting your narrative helps push through life’s adversities.
How We are “Wired to Create”, What It Means to Be a “Creative”, and How We Can Leverage Our Unique Gifts | with Scott Barry Kaufman
Scott and I make the case that creativity is a way of being—one that thrives when we let go of the fear of judgment and embrace the parts of ourselves we’ve been told don’t fit the mold.
Why the Pursuit of Success Is Making Us All Miserable (and How to Flip the Script) | with Jackson Kerchis
Today Jackson and I are talking about the science and psychology of happiness and not as some abstract feel-good concept, but instead as a practical tool for navigating uncertainty and even unlocking your creativity.
Why Optimization Isn’t the Answer (and How to Make the Most of the Four Thousand Weeks We Have) | with Oliver Burkeman
Oliver and I dive deep into why chasing productivity is a trap, how to stop waiting for life to begin “someday,” and why there might be freedom in not only accepting that we’re never going to finish our to-do lists, but ultimately we’re going to die without having accomplished all of our goals.
Why the Relentless Pursuit of Optimization Is a Journey to Nowhere | with Zack Arnold
In today’s episode, my podcast producer and fellow coach Debby Germino and I peel back the curtain on why we decided to rebrand the show, what’s shifting behind the scenes, and what we’re hoping to create moving forward—not just for ourselves, but for you.
How to Pivot, Adapt, and Keep Going (Your Creative Career Isn’t Over) | with Lydia Hurlbut
Lydia and I explore how to manage the emotional toll of career shifts, identify the transferable skills you might be overlooking, and find your center amidst the uncertainty.
From Setback to Comeback: Finding Strength in the Hardest Moments | with Bevin Farrand
Bevin and I talk about what it really means to acknowledge grief and uncertainty, why toxic positivity can do more harm than good, and the first steps to take when you feel paralyzed by everything happening around you.
Navigating the Messy Middle of a Career Pivot | with Sandy Zimmerman
Sandy shares the mindset shifts that gave her the confidence to take the leap, along with the strategies she still relies on to overcome challenges, stay focused, and continue growing in her new career.
[Case Study] From the FBI to Editing: The Art of the Career Pivot | with Kathy Robinson
Kathy opens up about the fears she had to overcome to pursue a completely new career and how she found her “tribe” through the Optimizer community.
The Dumpster Fire of 2024, Predictions for 2025, and The Future of Creativity | with Zack Arnold
I, Zack Arnold, the usual host of Optimize Yourself, step into the guest seat to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what 2024 was like for me and my team.