Zack Arnold Navigation
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Optimize Your Career
    • Optimize Your Time
    • Optimize Your Lifestyle
    • Be Inspired!
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Search
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Optimize Your Career
    • Optimize Your Time
    • Optimize Your Lifestyle
    • Be Inspired!
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Search

Home » Personal Stories

Personal Journeys

Be inspired by the personal journeys of others doing their best to find work-life balance working demanding creative careers.

282-mark-keefer
#InspireYourself
Episode282

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Editor & AE InterviewsHabit FormationOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive PsychologyThe 'Success Mindset'
280-allison-grant
#InspireYourself
Episode280

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Habit FormationMental HealthOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive PsychologyStorytelling
279-paul-beckman

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Habit FormationMeditation & MindfulnessOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive Psychology
278-aaron-welty
#InspireYourself
Episode278

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Habit FormationMental HealthOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive Psychology
#AdvanceYourself
Episode269

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
"Making It" In HollywoodHabit FormationMentorshipPersonal StoriesStudent Case StudiesThe 'Success Mindset'
#AdvanceYourself
Episode268

[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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
"Making It" In HollywoodHabit FormationMentorshipPersonal StoriesStudent Case StudiesThe 'Success Mindset'
#AdvanceYourself
Episode267

[CASE STUDY] How to Diversify Your Creative Skills and Experience to Build Multiple Income Streams | with Krysia Szyszlo

Krysia highlights the parallels between dating, networking, and job hunting, offering practical advice and fresh perspectives that resonate across both personal and professional journeys.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Editor & AE InterviewsEntrepreneurshipFreelancingIRL Networking (In-Real-Life)NetworkingPersonal StoriesThe 'Success Mindset'
#FocusYourself
Episode264

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.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
EntrepreneurshipHabit FormationOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive PsychologySetting GoalsThe 'Success Mindset'
#AdvanceYourself
Episode263

The Art of the Pivot: Going From Freelancer to Entrepreneur | with Nick Milo

Nick’s journey from Hollywood to helping others harness their creativity is a testament to the power of diversification and the value of transferring skills across industries.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Biohacking TechEntrepreneurshipFreelancingImprove Your CraftPersonal StoriesThe 'Success Mindset'
#BalanceYourself
Episode247

When the Passion Tax Leads to a Stroke & How to Rebuild Your Life | with Troy DeVolld

No doubt that my conversation with Troy will inspire you to rekindle your passion for your craft while equipping you with the right tools and mindsets so you can stay happy, sane and well.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
"Making It" In HollywoodBurnoutHollywood LegendsImprove Your CraftMentorshipNetworkingPersonal StoriesProducer InterviewsWork-Life Balance
#AdvanceYourself
Episode246

Building a Career Beyond Your Job Title, Strategically Crafting Your Story, and Diversifying Your Career Portfolio | with Jeff Bartsch

No doubt that my conversation with Jeff will unravel the strategies you can use to reinvent the way you interact with people, no matter where you are in your career.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
EntrepreneurshipFreelancingImprove Your CraftPersonal StoriesPositive PsychologySetting GoalsStorytellingThe 'Success Mindset'
#AdvanceYourself
Episode238

Setting Boundaries Between Work & Life (Even When You Work For Steven Spielberg) | with Sarah Broshar

Sarah’s inspiring story reveals that creating your own ‘luck’ is the key to working with the best and setting boundaries is the key to having a life outside of work.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
"Making It" In HollywoodEditor & AE InterviewsHollywood LegendsPersonal StoriesThe 'Success Mindset'Work-Life Balance
#BalanceYourself
Episode236

Building An Oscar-Winning Career…Without Sacrificing Your Values | with Paul Rogers

We can do our jobs and we can live our lives and the more fully we are able to live our lives and the more humanely we treat ourselves and the people around us the better we can do our jobs.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
"Making It" In HollywoodBurnoutEditor & AE InterviewsPersonal StoriesStorytellingWork-Life Balance
#InspireYourself
Episode235

Breaking Barriers: Rethinking Disabilities in the Workplace | with Taylor Lewis

Taylor’s views on representation and his advocacies will ask you to consider that in some contexts, everyone has a disability and a disability can also be a superpower.

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Diversity In HollywoodEditor & AE InterviewsOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive Psychology
#FocusYourself
Episode228

The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis

Through Dan’s incredible experience, he learned the power that telling your story has when it comes to self-discovery and identifying your deeper calling

Share
Share
Tweet
Reddit
Email
Pocket
Habit FormationOvercoming the OddsPersonal StoriesPositive PsychologySetting GoalsStorytellingThe 'Success Mindset'Work-Life Balance
  • Page 1 of 9
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • ...
  • 9
  • →

Find Content

Never Miss an Episode!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Content

  • Home
  • The Podcast
  • The Newsletter
  • Optimize Your Career
  • Optimize Your Time
  • Optimize Your Lifestyle
  • Be Inspired!

About

  • About Me
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Health Disclaimer
©Copyright 2023 Pulse Productions, Inc | Woodland Hills, CA 91367

I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from many of the links on this site (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.