Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo

Find and follow How Stories Happen in your favorite podcast player, or visit howstorieshappen.com to learn more about the show and find the appropriate link for you.Every episode of the show, we're dissecting stories and drafts with incredible storytellers to understand how they found their ideas, how they developed their work, and how they're using their stories to build their business and leave their legacy.You'll walk away ready to differentiate on the impact of your ideas, not the volume of your content.It's a show for business storytellers focused on standing out easier and resonating deeper through substance and stories, not hollow stunts.***You can also subscribe to my free newsletter,

Why do we constantly underestimate how long something will take in the short-term? In other words, we tend to over-estimate just how much we can achieve right now. Then, when we think long term, the reverse tends to happen: we actually UNDER-estimate what we're capable of achieving over time. Today, we want to know more about the promise of a popular trend, the creative streak, and whether they can help us overcome our constant battle with planning our time and achieving something greater.This week, Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of the world-wide phenomenon NaNoWriMo (aka National Novel Writing Month) gives us a peek into the power (and potential pitfalls) of creative writing streaks. Meanwhile, Giorgia Lupi, an information designer and partner at the firm Pentagram, reflects on her famous, collaborative creative streak, Dear Data, with Stefanie Posavec -- a year-long journey of sketching personal data-based postcards, which eventually led to exhibitions, book deals, critical acclaim, and internet fame. Can we change our relationships to deadlines? How might we banish our inner editors holding us back during crucial early stages in the creative process? And how might we reconcile both the short-term and long-term work we do? Let's go streaking.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

As Ira Glass said, "Great stories happen to those who can tell them." This idea says everything we need to know to develop stronger stories in our work, so we can stand out easier and resonate deeper.But we're asking the wrong questions and searching in the wrong places. Let's rethink some things together...For the full transcript of this episode, read the original article.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

The story of a surprisingly dynamic and captivating idea from a (sometimes) bland and boring space -- and what we can learn about crafting more resonant work.What does it look like when an organization, project, or individual's work resonates so deeply that they have passionate fans and loyal followers who declare them a favorite? This week we start in the sometimes bland, boring space of team training software and follow the story of a surprisingly dynamic, brilliant and captivating idea from 360Learning -- an original series called Onboarding Joei. This short docuseries follows Joei Chan, a new employee, as she navigates her first 3 months on the job. The docuseries has become a phenomenon for the brand, earning Joei Chan devout fans and 360Learning followers, viewers, and customers that feel connected to the show and compamy. Highly personal and transparent, the show proves that when a company does something risky, sometimes the reward is more than they'd ever expect. The most important theme through it all? The audience consistently reacting with a very emotional, very rare comment: "I feel seen." ***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

No matter your craft, when you develop an idea, a project, or a key moment within a piece, the power of what you're sharing tends to start with the same question:Can you be more honest with yourself?In this one-shot episode, a dense dose of a single idea that can help us become stronger storytellers and produce higher-impact content, so we can get off the hamster wheel and produce more work that actually works. Plus, the backstory of a high-stakes moment when this question was put to the test.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

We want to make things that matter. To our careers, companies, and communities. When THAT is our aim and THAT is our driving belief, and yet our work comes out feeling like THIS? The way it is right now? Oof, that can cause all kinds of existential crises or at least panic-induced researching and debating and analyzing and asking.It's time to get to the next rep. It's time to cross the gap.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:

Have a wonderful holiday season and a beautiful start to your 2024! Back in the new year with more...UNTHINKABLE IS TAKING A BREAK -- BUT DON'T UNSUBSCRIBEWe're back with more soon. In the meantime...BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to Jay Acunzo's free newsletter, Playing Favorites, and learn what it takes to stand out easier and resonate deeper by communicating with greater power, everywhere you show up. Join free at  jayacunzo.com.Join the Creator Kitchen, a mastermind of smart experts learning to become more influential voices -- NOT by relying on any cheap tricks, but by mastering their craft and creating higher-impact content. Community, masterclasses, 1:1 and 1:few coaching from Jay Acunzo, and more. Learn about membership and see what's inside the Kitchen at creatorkitchen.com.Keep making what matters!

Signature Stories is a miniseries where world-class business storytellers take us inside one important story and dissect it with us. It's like Song Exploder meets storytelling for our work! In our sixth and final episode of the series, bestselling author and Hall of Fame keynote speaker Jay Baer brings one of his oldest, most proven stories to the show -- and we learn the two habits most driving effective storytellers like Jay. And also Jay. Both Jays. (There are two Jays on this episode, is what I'm saying...)Collecting stories regularly, in the seemingly mundane moments of lifeDesigning stories so they arrive at an insightJay Baer is the author of the book The Time To Win and six other business books. He's a globally touring keynote speaker, brand advisor, and marketing and customer experience thought leader. Jay is among the more process-driven storytellers in the world, and he takes us inside that approach in this episode in a refreshingly transparent way.UNTHINKABLE IS TAKING A BREAK -- BUT DON'T UNSUBSCRIBEWe're back with more soon. In the meantime...BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to Jay Acunzo's free newsletter, Playing Favorites, and learn what it takes to stand out easier and resonate deeper by communicating with greater power, everywhere you show up. Join free at  jayacunzo.com.Join the Creator Kitchen, a mastermind of smart experts learning to become more influential voices -- NOT by relying on any cheap tricks, but by mastering their craft and creating higher-impact content. Community, masterclasses, 1:1 and 1:few coaching from Jay Acunzo, and more. Learn about membership and see what's inside the Kitchen at creatorkitchen.com.***IN THIS EPISODE:Jay Baer: speaker site - book site - LinkedIn - Instagram***PRODUCTION CREDITS:Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay AcunzoProducer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Signature Stories is a miniseries where world-class business storytellers take us inside one important story and dissect it with us. It's like Song Exploder meets storytelling for our work! In our fifth episode of the series, a globetrotting, bestselling, keynote-giving, smart-opinion-having, big-idea-distributing author takes us inside what was ultimately a tiny moment in his life that sparked all that "big" stuff.  Simone Stolzoff is the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work. He's written for the Atlantic and Wired, worked as a design lead for the innovation firm IDEO, and even got his creative start in school delivering spoken word poetry from the stage.Together, we dissect a signature story that's become "mythology" to him from his own life, and we talk about what makes it work -- and why he approaches it with such restraint. Then, we learn why and how effective storytellers imbue stories with meaning to ensure they matter to others.BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to Jay's free newsletter, Playing Favorites, and learn what it takes to stand out easier and resonate deeper by communicating with greater power, everywhere you show up. Join free at  jayacunzo.com.Join the Creator Kitchen, a mastermind of smart experts learning to become more influential voices -- NOT by relying on any cheap tricks, but by mastering their craft and creating higher-impact content. Community, masterclasses, 1:1 and 1:few coaching from Jay, and more. Learn about membership and see what's inside the Kitchen at creatorkitchen.com.***IN THIS EPISODE:Simone Stolzoff: website and books - LinkedIn - Twitter - Threads - Instagram***PRODUCTION CREDITS:Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay AcunzoProducer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

We interrupt the current series to bring you this message.Find and share this rant in essay form.Subscribe to Jay's free newsletter to become a stronger storyteller. (Sent every other Friday, these essays help you get off the content hamster wheel, escape social feeds, and get the perspective and frameworks you need to write and speak with greater impact, everywhere you show up).Recommended resources to help you do the work AI can't:The Idea Impact Matrix: how to craft more valuable, original workHow to create original work consistently (a visualization of Jay's process)The paradox of storytelling (how to ensure your work resonates emotionally with others)From telling stories to BEING storytellers (the first episode of our Signature Stories series)How to differentiate your ideas (the XY Premise Pitch)Super-Stories (how to shape the same story to teach anything and everything you need to say)JOIN THE CREATOR KITCHEN -- A MASTERMIND OF BUSINESS STORYTELLERS:Where smart experts become influential voices. Join fellow entrepreneurs, marketers, and creators learning to craft more valuable, more original content, with a community of creative, kind humans, daily access to the Kitchen's founders, masterclasses and elite guest interviews, group calls and 1:1 support, and shared focus sprints fitting busy schedules.Learn more about membership at creatorkitchen.com 

In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Natividad, the VP of marketing at SparkToro, who shares a story about the time she met her marketing hero: her now-boss, Rand Fishkin. Amanda is a former tech journalist and also a former test kitchen cook for the LA Times. She writes the newsletter The Menu which includes marketing advice and delicious recipes (for actual food, not marketing). And she takes us inside three different drafts for potential intros of this signature story, where we learn about the paradox in our storytelling: to connect deeper externally, we need to go deeper internally.But does our work and culture encourage that? Amanda and Jay wrestle with that.Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuable, most original stories that build connection and resonate deeply. We're putting on display the hidden details, tiny choices, and emotional moments, as we seek to go beyond telling stories to instead BECOME storytellers.BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to Jay's free newsletter or work with Jay to consult your team or coach you personally: jayacunzo.comHire Jay to develop a differentiated podcast.JOIN THE CREATOR KITCHEN MASTERMIND:Where smart experts become influential voices. Join fellow entrepreneurs, marketers, and creators learning to craft more valuable, more original content, with a community of creative, kind humans, daily access to the Kitchen's founders, masterclasses and elite guest interviews, group calls and 1:1 support, and shared focus sprints fitting busy schedules.Learn more about membership at creatorkitchen.com***IN THIS EPISODE:Amanda Natividad, VP marketing at SparkToro and writer of The Menu newsletter. Find her on LinkedIn.***PRODUCTION CREDITS:Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay AcunzoProducer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Up next in Signature Stories, we're joined by Jenny Blake, author, speaker and podcaster. She's written three books and hosts the wildly popular podcasts "Free Time" and "Pivot." Jenny sits down with Jay to share a story about a walk with her dog. Jay and Jenny unpack how we can pull out moments of meaning from a small interaction, and how to reshape a story for an audio-only medium versus video. Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuable, most original stories that build connection and resonate deeply. We're putting on display the hidden details, tiny choices, and emotional moments, as we seek to go beyond telling stories to instead BECOME storytellers.BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to my free newsletter. Every other week, get a new story/framework to help you stand out easier and resonate deeper with your work: jayacunzo.com/newsletterCRAFT A PODCAST YOU'RE PROUD TO CALL YOURS:Work with me one-on-one to develop or improve a show that stands out easier and resonates deeper. Using your creativity, NOT your budget, you'll walk away with an irresistible premise and format – and the on-mic skills to tell stories and conduct interviews that grip and inspire them.Book an hour now or learn more about my coaching and collaboration.JOIN THE CREATOR KITCHEN MASTERMIND:Connect with Jay and peers who care deeply about the craft: The Creator Kitchen is a mastermind of content creators learning to ship higher-impact work. We help you see the possibilities, decide the best approach, and execute with clarity + confidence on your most important projects.Learn more about membership – plus get some free samples – at creatorkitchen.com***IN THIS EPISODE:Jenny Blake: author, podcast host of Free Time and Pivot with Jenny Blake,  and international keynote speaker. "Reclining Liberty" Artist: http://www.zaqart.com***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Up next in Signature Stories, we're joined by Michael Bungay Stanier, speaker, coach and author of the wildly popular book "The Coaching Habit" and the brand new book, "How to Work with (Almost) Anyone." Michael sits down with Jay to share a story about a very bad job. Jay and MBS dive into how to use open loops, comedy in storytelling, and crafting tiny stories to create a sense of safety for your audience -- plus, they add some seasoning to the main ingredients of Michael's story to make it tastier.Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuable, most original stories that build connection and resonate deeply. We're putting on display the hidden details, tiny choices, and emotional moments, as we seek to go beyond telling stories to instead BECOME storytellers.BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to my free newsletter. Every other week, get a new story/framework to help you stand out easier and resonate deeper with your work: jayacunzo.com/newsletterCRAFT A PODCAST YOU'RE PROUD TO CALL YOURS:Work with me one-on-one to develop or improve a show that stands out easier and resonates deeper. Using your creativity, NOT your budget, you'll walk away with an irresistible premise and format – and the on-mic skills to tell stories and conduct interviews that grip and inspire them.Book an hour now or learn more about my coaching and collaboration.JOIN THE CREATOR KITCHEN MASTERMIND:Connect with Jay and peers who care deeply about the craft: The Creator Kitchen is a mastermind of content creators learning to ship higher-impact work. We help you see the possibilities, decide the best approach, and execute with clarity + confidence on your most important projects.Learn more about membership – plus get some free samples – at creatorkitchen.com***IN THIS EPISODE:Michael Bungay Stanier: author of "The Coach Habit", podcast host and keynote speaker  ***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Up first in this mini-series, Creator Kitchen co-founder and author Melanie Deziel sits down with Jay to share a story about her time as the first-ever editor of branded content at the New York Times. Jay and Mel dive into the messy reality of crafting resonant narratives -- and using them to serve an audience and build your business.Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuable, most original stories that build connection and resonate deeply. We're putting on display the hidden details, tiny choices, and emotional moments, as we seek to go beyond telling stories to instead BECOME storytellers.BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to my free newsletter. Every other week, get a new story/framework to help you stand out easier and resonate deeper with your work: jayacunzo.com/newsletterCRAFT A PODCAST YOU'RE PROUD TO CALL YOURS:Work with me one-on-one to develop or improve a show that stands out easier and resonates deeper. Using your creativity, NOT your budget, you'll walk away with an irresistible premise and format – and the on-mic skills to tell stories and conduct interviews that grip and inspire them.Book an hour now or learn more about my coaching and collaboration.JOIN THE CREATOR KITCHEN MASTERMIND:Connect with Jay and peers who care deeply about the craft: The Creator Kitchen is a mastermind of content creators learning to ship higher-impact work. We help you see the possibilities, decide the best approach, and execute with clarity + confidence on your most important projects.Learn more about membership – plus get some free samples – at creatorkitchen.com***IN THIS EPISODE:Melanie Deziel: speaker, author, co-creator of the Creator Kitchen with Jay***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

What is taste? And once we understand it, how do we use our own taste? In this one-shot, Jay dives into they days before dating apps to find something unexpected - Bryan Cranston showing us just want the power of having taste can do. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter3. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently.creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Writing matters... a lot. You don't need us to tell you that. But what happens when you feel like you can't write? Yes, on this episode we're talking about writers' block - what it feels like, how it shows up, and how we can tackle it once and for all. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.DEVELOP MORE INSPIRING IDEAS & STORIES:Jay's free newsletter, with a new idea for communicating in ways that connect shared every other Friday: jayacunzo.com/newsletterThe Creator Kitchen: Jay's membership for quality-obsessed creators, built in partnership with Melanie Deziel (author, speaker, NY Times, TIME, HuffPost). Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.Jay's 1:1 coaching: book an hour or a month of swapping voice memos -- or book Jay as your dedicated collaborator, coach, exec. producer, and creative partner to develop your ideas and tell more effective stories.***VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Mia Quagliarello: Head of Creator Community at Flipboard, writes Mia's Queue newsletterMark Schaefer: keynote speaker, founder and co-host of Marketing Companion, bestselling author (of 12 books!) Beth Dunn: coach, public speaker, author, Principal Content Designer at Thrive Global***PAST MAKER MONSTER EPISODES:Maker MonstersMaker Monsters 2Maker Monsters 3***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins  

Today, why formats matter so much. If you want to get listeners stay engaged, for readers to finish an article, to resonate deeply and make work that matters, then we need to focus on formats. In this episode, we focus on why formats matter so much, how you can search them out for yourself and craft your own to hook an audience and get them to the end.We're joined by the most format-obsessed person out there: Hugh Garry, co-founder of Storythings. Hugh and his team write the newsletter, Formats Unpacked, diving each week into a format and why they love it so very much and why, maybe, you should too. DEVELOP MORE INSPIRING IDEAS & STORIES:Jay's free newsletter, with a new idea for communicating in ways that connect shared every other Friday: jayacunzo.com/newsletterThe Creator Kitchen: Jay's membership for quality-obsessed creators, built in partnership with Melanie Deziel (author, speaker, NY Times, TIME, HuffPost). Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.Jay's 1:1 coaching: book an hour or a month of swapping voice memos -- or book Jay as your dedicated collaborator, coach, exec. producer, and creative partner to develop your ideas and tell more effective stories.***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Hugh Garry: Director at  Storythings, writes the Formats Unpacked newsletterTone Knob newsletterBrands and Humour newsletter***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

How you define quality is contextual, it's in the eyes of the beholder. In this one-shot, Jay breaks down the three questions we each need to ask to define quality - Who is it for? What is it for? How will I know if it's working? - and then shares the two habits that can help us to create quality content. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter3. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently.creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In marketing today, there's the widely used, noisy way to market yourself and your business, but then, just maybe, there's a calmer, quieter, perhaps more effective way.Stories from one of the world's most surprising speakeasy lounges, based in London, as well as one of Jay's favorite marketers who doesn't show up much publicly -- least of all on social media -- yet has found a way to build a business which is in-demand and even overbooked. (Now that sounds pretty unthinkable.)In this episode: speakeasy business! Why going deeper instead of broader, emphasizing value instead of scale, and  prioritizing resonance over reach are all viable ways to build your business and leave your legacy.  DEVELOP MORE INSPIRING IDEAS & STORIES:Jay's free newsletter, with a new idea for communicating in ways that connect shared every other Friday: jayacunzo.com/newsletterThe Creator Kitchen: Jay's membership for quality-obsessed creators, built in partnership with Melanie Deziel (author, speaker, NY Times, TIME, HuffPost). Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.Jay's 1:1 coaching: book an hour or a month of swapping voice memos -- or book Jay as your dedicated collaborator, coach, exec. producer, and creative partner to develop your ideas and tell more effective stories.***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Michelle Warner: WebsitePaul Tvaroh and Lounge Bohemia (Lounge Bohemia Instagram)Jay Clouse (Creator Science, Jay's podcast and business)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

A list of steps isn't helpful if you're facing the wrong way. That's why in this one-shot, we try to pivot the right way... as it relates to story. Jay unpacks three common misconceptions about how we understand story and why it's actually more important to understand how to be storytellers than to understand story. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter3. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently.creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In a 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it's done right.  SHOW LINKSMargo's essay on watching the news: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/media/what-happened-when-i-stopped-watching-the-news/Jay's response to Margo's essay: https://jayacunzo.com/blog/differentiation-isnt-about-topics-how-to-find-actual-whitespace-to-stand-out VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Margo Aaron is a copywriting expert and has taught over 4,000 students in the art of copywriting through The Copy Workshop. She is the host of the popular internet talk show, “Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites” and a writer at her award-winning website, That Seems Important. KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently.creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In 2016, Pharrell Williams dropped by NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to speak to a class. There, he met a young Maggie Rogers and sampled her song "Alaska." His reaction, captured on camera, went viral. This is a relatively known moment on the internet.What's not known is just how the words Pharrell shared and the element he noticed from Maggie's work can be applied to the work we do.In this shorter, monologue episode, we take a closer look.***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently. creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

If you're going to reject conventional thinking and instead trust your intuition, you'll find yourself sharing tons of ideas with others. But this can feel scary, like our ideas are secrets we'd prefer to keep inside. And when someone shoots them down, we assume they just don't "get it."But what if the point of sharing our ideas is NOT to get the approval of others?Today, we go outside our echo chamber with Unthinkable contributor Andrew Littlefield to hear the story of an unusual art project in Brooklyn. Then, we talk to internet legend and creator of PostSecret.com, Frank Warren, to hear the story of his epic project. KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently.creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Any story you find can serve your cause -- if you know how to mold it and change it appropriately to tell it your way, for your specific goals.  Today, the four things we can change in any story we find to tell it better."Better" doesn't mean more epic or popular. It means more purposeful, more customized to your specific situation and needs — your audience, your goals, your desire to express yourself a certain way, to connect deeper with the world and others around you, and get your creative fingerprints all over the work. “Better” here means “more yours.”***PUSH YOURSELF CREATIVELY:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program helping you push yourself creatively.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay and others, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently. creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***INSIDE THE EPISODE:Derek DelGaudio's version of the blind men and the elephant story on YouTubeDelGaudio's full special, In and Of Itself, on Hulu***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Hrishikesh Hirway is a musician and creator/host of the popular podcast Song Exploder. The show has a simple but powerful premise: each episode, a musician breaks apart a single track and, piece by piece, tells the story of how it was made. He's interviewed Madonna, Billie Eilish, Rick Astley, Lorde, U2, Yo-Yo Ma, and plenty of lesser-known artists creating beautiful music. Vulture even called the show "the best use of the podcast medium ever," and in 2020, Song Exploder became a TV show on Netflix, running for two seasons.Today, we turn the tables on Hrishikesh and ask him to break apart his work -- an episode of Song Exploder featuring the band The War On Drugs.We also examine this idea that artists and successful people are rarely asked questions that stick close to their work. There's a precedent set by big-picture interview shows and mass media hosts that leads to general advice or end-to-end biographies.Hrishikesh shares why starting his show was born out of a frustration with that approach, and he reveals what you can find when talking narrowly about the work.Plus, the creative strategy behind Song Exploder and why Hrishikesh removes almost all of his voice.This is a beautiful, existential, inspiring exploration of creativity -- all emerging from the tiny parts and pieces of doing the actual work. Because there's magic in the minutiae.***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently. creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membership.)***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Hrishikesh Hirway: Website | Twitter |  Music: Spotify, Apple | "Still Dreaming" music videoSong Exploder: Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | others***PRODUCTION CREDITS:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In this shorter, monologue episode,  we explore how we arrived at a place where so many creators view AI tools like ChatGPT at a killer robot coming to beat down their doors and crush them and why we worry that these tools are greater masters of our craft than we are.  We're obsessed with only one part of the craft, and it's the same part AI is getting alarmingly good at owning. What if we focused on the 3 Ps instead? Posture, process, and practice. For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

To be driven by creativity is to become a walking, talking collection of contradictions, but one conflicting notion sits at the center of the intertwining thoughts and emotions in our work -- the jumble, if you will. Today, we dive into that jumble to try and find an answer to this mysterious yet ubiquitous contradiction at the core, and it leads us to meet some of our listeners and experience their questions, conundrums, and even their creative work. REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Cory Ames: Podcast | TwitterAshley Cummings: Writing | TwitterMichael Ashford: Podcast | TwitterMinnow Park: Website | TwitterJason Bradwell: Podcast | TwitterAmanda Delaney: LinkedIn | InstagramTallen Gabriel: Website | Music***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

For years, the promise of content marketing far exceeded its reality. But more than ever, brands -- even in B2B, the more "boring" cousin to consumer businesses -- are creating content that gives us reason to believe: creativity, community, and capitalism and not only co-exist, but for-profit can be used for-good. Today, the story of In the Works, a publication from the software company Help Scout. We go inside the decisions and the strategy of both the company's CEO and the head of content responsible for crafting a brand new publication with a bold mission.There, we find the true dividing line between brands who do this whole storytelling stuff well ... aaand everyone else. REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Nick Francis: Twitter | LinkedInHillary Noble: Twitter | LinkedInHelp ScoutIn The WorksThe Chezie storyList of brands building in-house media arms***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In this shorter, monologue episode, we learn from storytellers like Kazuo Ishiguro and Ira Glass just what it takes to speak and write in ways that instill the urge to act in others. Why would anyone pick you or stick with you? Why would they refer you to their peers or friends? What makes something truly resonate beyond simply holding your attention?After all, our jobs as communicators and storytellers isn't to "get in front of" them. It's to ensure they care.In this episode, you'll learn a simple but powerful technique to speak and write with greater impact.For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In this story, we hear from Chris Lavigne, the head of production at video software company, Wistia. His story helps reveal what it really means to build a big, meaningful body of work -- no matter where you work -- and how, maybe, the worst thing you can do is focus on the expectations of others.Instead, what if your entire aim was something else? Paradoxically, focusing there might THEN help you exceed others' expectations with your work.Plus, we go inside the projects that Chris says keep coming back to him, even years after he created them. He dissects the process and arrives at some inspiring philosophies about creativity too -- one which can help us all create higher-caliber work.REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Chris Lavigne: Twitter | LinkedInChris Savage: Twitter | LinkedInWistiaOne, Ten, One HundredEnterprise Plan (Parade video)Gear SquadiPhone videoWebinar AttendeeSandwich VideoMORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

One-Shots are monologue episodes complementing our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work.Today, we learn how to tell stories about the seemingly mundane details in our lives.For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

This story is a surreal, escapist journey into the true story about how the Savannah Bananas became exceptional by being the exception. This minor league baseball team has majorly passionate fans -- with more social media success than some of the biggest teams in the Major Leagues, and a plan to disrupt the MLB itself. This story is told through the ever-optimistic, yellow-tux wearing Jesse Cole, the owner of the team.Not a fan of the sport? No worries. This isn't really a story about baseball. It's a story about our collective desire to make things that matter -- to ourselves, certainly, but to those we serve most especially. This is a story about what it means to truly build something that is, in Jesse's words, "fans first" -- and all the weird, wacky, wonderful things that follow.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***IN THIS EPISODE:Andrew and Pete of ATOMIC: atomic.site // twitter.com/AndrewAndPete***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Masooma Memon on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

One-Shots are complementary episodes to our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work. As we continue our exploration, we have to stop to appreciate the tiniest mechanic that enables us to tell stories with the biggest impact.The more we master open loops, the more gripping our communication becomes -- and the more we inspire action in others. Isn't that our jobs?REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Meisha Bochicchio on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In this episode of Unthinkable, the story of two marketers and community leaders, Andrew and Pete, of the brand ... Andrew and Pete! They were heading down that now-familiar creator path of digital fame and fortune -- the speaking, the books, the followers -- when they decided to leave that behind. Instead, they've been helping OTHERS conquer fears and make leaps in their small businesses. So often, what we need to see greater results in our business isn't an improvement in productivity. It's not about just working harder, or even working smarter. Instead, often, it's about conquering fear.  SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***IN THIS EPISODE:Andrew and Pete of ATOMIC: atomic.site // twitter.com/AndrewAndPete***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Masooma Memon on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Which books have shaped minds & changed lives? 2 Pages with MBS is described as a show where "brilliant people read the best two pages of a favorite book … a book that's shaped them and changed them. Listen as authors, leaders, activists, academics, entrepreneurs, change agents and celebrities dig into the ideas that matter the most."This is the episode featuring Jay, only lightly edited to replace the intro and outro.It's unlike any other appearance you'll hear. Enjoy!SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Michael Bungay Stainer: Personal site | Twitter | IGFind and listen to 2 Pages wherever you get your podcasts: mbs.works/2-pages-podcast***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Sara Pion on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In this One-Shot, a list of better questions to ask others to learn from them (whether you want to hire them or publish their thinking) than the typical conventional wisdom provides us. Interviews are too important to drift through them, unhinging our brains in favor of the basic questions that yield basic answers. We need to dig deeper.We also talk about how to create an inviting, comfortable space for others to share more personally, as well as suggestions for unpacking responses to really assess what they're saying truthfully. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Katelyn Bourgoin on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

In the fourth and final MINI-Series episode, we learn from sound designer, artist, and brilliant documentarian James T. Green about their philosophy and practice around sound design and creation.  James is the founder of the studio Molten Heart, and their work has been heard in 99% Invisible with Roman Mars, The Met, Pop Up Magazine, and more.By unpacking and dissecting small pieces of sound and music from James, we learn the thoughtful, intentional art of sound design and the power that small amounts of sound effects - or silence - can hold. Sound can make us feel, reflect, pause, or act, and often we don't even notice this subtle art, despite its importance in providing scaffolding or key moments in building a story, a scene, or an emotion. In this episode, we make what is so often invisible in the construction of an audio story, visible.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:James T. Green: Personal site | Molten Heart | Twitter | IGJames's award-winning audio doc, PMHxSeizing FreedomFinding Tamika***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Katelyn Bourgoin on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Creativity doesn't mean BIG, and so we're exploring the tiniest pockets of the created work -- small bursts of making, or projects that fit neatly into the  nooks and crannies of the internet.Today, joke writing and comedy songwriting with Matt Buechele. Matt is a writer, musician, and hilarious human who's performed original songs for Netflix commercials and worked as a writer on The Tonight Show, where he wrote jokes and music for the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Matthew McConaughey, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.Together, we explore some of Matts projects, including his viral social media videos and his Tonight Show smash hit, This Christmas Will Be Different. We also hear the story of how he ended up at the show, as well as what a writer for such a program ACTUALLY does. Plus, we learn to like the little golden moments where we can say, Hey, yanno what? That's pretty good.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Work together 1:1 via video and chat on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Matt Buechele on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Matt's music on Spotify: under artist name BOOSHELL***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Learn more and try it free at thejuicehq.comConnect with Ali Schwanke on The Juice or on Twitter.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

Resonating deeply doesn't require us to do anything big or expensive. The MINI-Series explores four types of created work that don't take up much space -- but still carry tons of meaning to those who encounter it. Last episode was about copywriting. This episode: illustration, featuring Haley Weaver of the wildly popular instagram account, Haley Drew This. Together, we unpack some of her seemingly simple but deeply emotional webcomics -- many of which uplift those suffering with their mental well-being. Haley creates honest, beautiful, yet simple depictions of her own vulnerabilities and her experience of anxiety, relationships with friends, understanding of love, and more. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery other Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times. VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Haley Weaver is the acclaimed illustrator and writer behind Haley Drew This and the popular instagram account @haleydrewthis featuring her webcomics centered around anxiety + mental health, relationships, and selfhood. Her forthcoming book is Give Me Space But Don't Go Far. SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Get suggestions based on your job title, search top resources, or create and share playlists of useful ideas and content.Learn more and try it free at https://www.thejuicehq.com/Connect with Hiba Amin on The Juice here: https://app.thejuicehq.com/creators/hiba-aminFollow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/h5amin CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.com PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

In a new 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it's done right.  SHOW LINKSMargo's essay on watching the news: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/media/what-happened-when-i-stopped-watching-the-news/Jay's response to Margo's essay: https://jayacunzo.com/blog/differentiation-isnt-about-topics-how-to-find-actual-whitespace-to-stand-out SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery other Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times. VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Margo Aaron is a copywriting expert and has taught over 4,000 students in the art of copywriting through The Copy Workshop. She is the host of the popular internet talk show, “Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites” and a writer at her award-winning website, That Seems Important. SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketing pros today. Get suggestions based on your job title, search top resources, or create and share playlists of useful ideas and content.Connect with Jason Bradwell at http://jasonrbradwell.com/ or https://twitter.com/JasonRBradwellExplore his Creator Page on The Juice at https://app.thejuicehq.com/creators/jason-bradwell CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.com PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

Maker monsters often creep in at the least opportune times, drag us backwards, convince us of defeat, fill us with self-doubt, so where do we go from here? And what does that mean for our creative, professional work?We hear from Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast host and producer Lizzie Peabody and poet and keynote speaker, Tucker Bryant, about how their maker monster, perfectionism, creeps into their creative work. We dive into how they conquer, co-exist, or accept defeat with their own internal monsters and explore how we can each carve out ways to find joy in our work and continue to make what matters.*   *   *FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:Lizzie Peabody: https://twitter.com/LizziePeabody and https://www.lizziepeabody.com/Lizzie's podcast, Sidedoor: https://twitter.com/SidedoorPod and https://www.si.edu/sidedoorTucker Bryant: https://twitter.com/tucksbryantTucker's speaking site: https://tuckerbryant.me/*   *   *SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.SPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.comABOUT THE SHOW:Unthinkable is a storytelling podcast about creative people who break from conventional thinking to make what matters most. We're traveling the business world to learn how to create work that resonates — with powerful stories from makers, marketers, and leaders like the CEOs of Zoom and Patreon, execs from Adobe and Disney, and creators like writer Tim Urban, comedian Sarah Cooper, and photographer Chase Jarvis. From artisans to entrepreneurs, writers, designers, podcasters, video creators, and all the weird and wonderful nooks of the working world, we're meeting inspiring people to learn what we can do to resonate more deeply with the work we create.Listeners have called the show “This American Life for my work” with stories “as captivating as some of the best, like Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Carlin.”Thanks for listening and supporting Unthinkable!

Learn more about Elevate and apply here: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creatorsThe first group begins work April 11.MORE DETAILS:Achieve your creative goals with small working groups of B2B creators and marketers, led personally by me, Jay Acunzo.8 weeks of guided work on your existing, most important projects, with 1:1 and 1:few time with me.Sharpen your ideas, be more creative, and earn more passionate fans and customers.Connect with successful, generous, creative peers, vetted by me personally. (The first group will be limited to 9 people, at most.)ELEVATE is a premium offering for B2B marketers and creators to avoid stagnation and keep improving their output and results. If you've ever been stressed about time (to be creative), focus (thanks to endless to-dos), differentiation (on merit, not gimmicks), or results (from work you genuinely loved creating)  ... this is for you.There is no one-size-fits-all “system.” Instead, this is a structured way for me to provide live and asynchronous help and guidance — along with other high-performing peers — in a way that's customized to your actual work.Learn more and apply: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creatorsOur work begins the week of April 11.Trust your gut: your best work is in front of you.

In this one-shot, Jay reflects on a childhood writing lesson that continues to impact how he approaches his work today.  SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.SPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.comABOUT THE SHOW:Unthinkable is a storytelling podcast about creative people who break from conventional thinking to make what matters most. We're traveling the business world to learn how to create work that resonates — with powerful stories from makers, marketers, and leaders like the CEOs of Zoom and Patreon, execs from Adobe and Disney, and creators like writer Tim Urban, comedian Sarah Cooper, and photographer Chase Jarvis. From artisans to entrepreneurs, writers, designers, podcasters, video creators, and all the weird and wonderful nooks of the working world, we're meeting inspiring people to learn what we can do to resonate more deeply with the work we create.Listeners have called the show “This American Life for my work” with stories “as captivating as some of the best, like Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Carlin.”Thanks for listening and supporting Unthinkable!

A story about a writer and entrepreneur with an audacious mission driving the organization he helps lead. Together, cofounder Stew Fortier and his community-led business Foster is helping writers who care about turning their ideas into timeless writing, not viral hits that quickly fade. They're here to fight back against the hollow noise, to develop important ideas from unique voices, crafted into writing that's meant to resonate deeper, even as the internet trends shallow.But to do that kind of work, to bet on quality and resonance and originality, is to fly in the face of a certain kind of online creative culture. That culture and those who embody it might be the antithesis of what we stand for, running counter to our values. But it's impossible to ignore the temptation of audience reach and fame, especially when doing meaningful work can feel so hard, so much of the time.How do we reconcile reach and resonance? How do we build a creative business according to our values? Is it even possible to focus on serving the audience more deeply when so many people we see on social media seem to focus on the things we dislike -- and succeed?We have lots of big questions this episode!SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jayFORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER: GET REGULAR IDEAS FOR CREATING  RESONANTJoin thousands of marketers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creative people both independent and in-house at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, a16z, and the New York Times: https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterFROM THIS EPISODE:Stew Fortier, cofounder of Foster: https://stewfortier.com | https://twitter.com/stewfortierFoster: https://www.foster.co/Author AJ Jacobs: https://ajjacobs.com/ | https://twitter.com/ajjacobsAJ Jacobs's Medium article: https://medium.com/the-mission/an-entrepreneurs-most-important-tool-self-delusion-616de720fc39SPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

In this episode, we hear from the cofounder of the media company New Rockstars, Filup Molina, and their first head of operations, Holiday Kinard, about how a small team of creative people operating out of one tiny room established themselves as just part of the viewing experience alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can find New Rockstars on YouTube and become one of their nearly 4M subscribers at https://www.youtube.com/newrockstarsSHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jayGET REGULAR IDEAS FOR CREATING MORE RESONANT WORK:Join thousands of marketers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creative people both independent and in-house at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times: https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterVOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Filup Molina, cofounder of New Rockstars -  https://twitter.com/filupmolina | epicheroshop.comHoliday Kinard, COO of Zero Edition - https://www.instagram.com/holidaykinard/Erik Voss (via video clip) - https://twitter.com/eavossMT (via video clip) - https://twitter.com/MasterTainmentSPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

In the second installment of The Concept, we learn about the idea of learned helplessness, which causes us to hit our ceilings as creators or even refrain from pursuing an opportunity, never attempt to overcome a challenge, or simply avoid asking for help.  We learn how learned helplessness forms in the brain -- and what it DOES to our brain -- through two experiments involving both dogs and humans. Then, we learn about the three parameters of how we explain the world to ourselves and how we can spot moments of learned helplessness to CHANGE the story in our minds.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.SPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/

Patrick Campbell is cofounder and CEO of the software company ProfitWell, which sells tools to help subscription businesses (SaaS and DTC) reduce cancellations and optimize pricing and ultimately earn more revenue.Their media team -- a small group of about 6 full-time employees and a few freelancers -- has been setting the B2B marketing world on fire of late, as they've created 11 original series in audio and video form, plus dozens of other projects.The thing is, these projects don't feel much like B2B marketing. ProfitWell isn't building a brand so much as creating culture -- and their brand's growth and the passionate fans surrounding the company become byproducts. Their culture-building activities include storytelling, sure, but also things called drops -- hot sauces, trading cards, and more.The company has also figured out how to balance the often competing desires of creative teams and deadlines or business goals. In doing so, they've overcome the biggest barriers holding back better creative work.TAKE THE SURVEY TO HELP ME BUILD SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU:https://jayacunzo.com/surveySHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Patrick Campbell, CEO of ProfitWell: https://profitwell.com and https://twitter.com/PatticusDan Callahan, Head of ProfitWell's Recur Studios: https://twitter.com/danfcallSPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

Suzy Batiz calls herself CEO to more conservative crowds, but PEO to everyone else. To define PEO, however, would be to make more than a few people blush. The Poo Executive Officer.Suzy is the founder of Poo-Pourri, a toilet spray that solves the problem of bathroom smells in a way that runs counter to conventional thinking. But more than the hilarious branding and advertising (and there's plenty of that, as we hear in this episode), Suzy and her company showcase the power of something called First-Principle Insights in helping us create more innovative work.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Suzy Batiz -- https://www.suzybatiz.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/suzybatiz/?hl=enSPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH ME ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.com

In this one-shot, Jay unpacks one of Rocky's most iconic scenes to better understand how we can approach our own constraints and begin to use them to our advantage.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and leaders at brands like Adobe, Red Bull, Shopify, Salesforce, the BBC, Wistia, HubSpot, Drift, ProfitWell, a16z, and the New York Times.SPONSOR: RiversideRiverside is the easiest way to record podcasts and videos in studio quality, from anywhere. Record separate audio tracks to avoid the cut-outs, optional video to enhance the show's experience, and even clip content for sharing elsewhere, all without leaving the platform. Riverside is powerful enough to be used by Marvel, the NY Times, TED, Freakonomics, Indie Hackers, GaryVee, and Guy Raz, but simple enough for thousands of indie creators and new podcasters to use it for their shows.Learn more and try it free at https://riverside.fm/CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayacunzo and https://twitter.com/UnthinkableShow- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacunzo- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzo- Email: jay@unthinkablemedia.comPRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, and editor: Jay Acunzo - https://jayacunzo.com- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins - https://www.ilananevins.comABOUT THE SHOW:Unthinkable is a storytelling podcast about creative people who break from conventional thinking to make what matters most. We're traveling the business world to learn how to create work that resonates — with powerful stories from makers, marketers, and leaders like the CEOs of Zoom and Patreon, execs from Adobe and Disney, and creators like writer Tim Urban, comedian Sarah Cooper, and photographer Chase Jarvis. From artisans to entrepreneurs, writers, designers, podcasters, video creators, and all the weird and wonderful nooks of the working world, we're meeting inspiring people to learn what we can do to resonate more deeply with the work we create.Listeners have called the show “This American Life for my work” with stories “as captivating as some of the best, like Malcolm Gladwell and Dan Carlin.”Thanks for listening and supporting Unthinkable!