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Finding a mentor in Hollywood is an elusive process that few really understand, but when you find a mentor that really understands your challenges and wants to help you succeed, it can change your career (and even your entire life). So then how do you find a mentor? In this episode I have the pleasure and honor of chatting with my very first mentor Academy Award nominated film & television editor Dody Dorn, ACE who has worked with such acclaimed directors as James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Baz Luhrman, David Ayer, and Ridley Scott…to name a few. We talk about how and why I reached out to Dody in the first place, why she chose to respond and become my mentor, and how our relationship has worked as mentor & mentee over the last seventeen years. But more interestly, we also chat about the major transition in our relationship when Dody went from being the mentor to becoming the mentee after realizing that… “Keeping your head down is not the road to a healthy life” …and is in fact the path to an early death. Like so many in her field of editing blockbuster features, Dody struggled with major health challenges, both mental and physical, and we chat about the mindset shifts and lifestyle transformations she made to become more active, energetic, and creative. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here’s What You’ll Learn: How Zack connected with Dody and cultivate a mentorship relationship with her. The tragic series of events that led to Dody calling Zack about “Fitness in Post” and work-life balance. Dody shares valuable insights with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight on her career in editing. Her flexible approach to gradually bringing more self-care into her busy schedule. How to stay connected to the rest of the world when internal and external pressures put you in front of a screen most of the time. Why “Keeping your head down” is not the road to a good, healthy life. In fact, it might be the road to an early death. The realities of ‘working in isolation’ and the impacts on our health, wellbeing and relationships. The “how to boil a frog” analogy and how easy it is to get so focused on work only to realize the negative health impacts once we’re already “boiling”. A key shift in mindset after working with a nutritionist for just one day that led to her losing 30 pounds without even focusing on weight loss but instead on lifestyle. On long hours: Dody shares valuable insights on how she overcomes the ‘gravity’ that draws so many of us into long hours at the expense of our wellbeing. HINT: We often have more control than we think we do. Why we editors are “horrible bosses” to ourselves. Dody’s process for preparing for the time when the director’s going to be in the room. On shooting ratios: How the shift to digital has led to “pushing the work to the other side of the camera”. The key to getting a mentor is simple. You need to ask and know what you’re asking for. Useful Resources Mentioned: Article: How I Became a Curmudgeon at 25 Years Old Live panel & workshop for Editor’s Guild – Saturday Jan. 18th “Hollywood Networking for Introverts” Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Switching easily between blockbusters and independent art house cinema, Dody Dorn is one of the leading film editors in the United States. A native of Santa Monica, California, Dorn graduated from Hollywood High School. At the outset of her career she worked mainly as a sound editor, before moving on to film editing in the 1990s. She has collaborated on several projects with directors Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia) and Ridley Scott (e.g. Kingdom of Heaven). For Memento, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film Editing in 2002. Dody Dorn is a member of the board of Governors for the film editing branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as well as a board member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) and a member of the American Cinema Editors (ACE) . Dorn is a board member of the Avid Customer Association (ACA) and co-chair of the Friends of Residential Treasures (FORT). Dorn has spoken on numerous panels about the art of film editing including MASTERS IN MOTION (2017) ACE Edit Fest, the Lean in Moment (2015), keynote speaker for NAB adjacent Super Meet (2017) and FilmPlus in Cologne, Germany (2018). As an Academy member, Dorn has been a Branch Executive committee member for 7 years as well as a judge for the Student Academy Awards, and the UCLA Student Film Awards. She has given seminars and talks at numerous film schools and universities including USC, UCLA, and SFSU. Here is a partial list of Dorn’s film and television editing credits: ARMY OF THE DEAD (2020) COME AWAY (2019) I AM THE NIGHT (2019) 4 episodes POWER RANGERS (2017) BEN HUR (2016) FURY (2014) ENLIGHTENED Season 2 (2012) – as Producer and Editor END OF WATCH (2012) ENLIGHTENED Season 1 (2010) – as co-Producer and Editor THE GOOD WIFE (2009) pilot AUSTRALIA (2008) YEAR OF THE DOG (2007) A GOOD YEAR (2007) KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (2005) MATCHSTICK MEN (2004) INSOMNIA (2002) MY LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND (2001) MEMENTO (2000) GUINEVERE (1999) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0233827/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dody_Dorn Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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).
Author and productivity expert Matt Sandrini believes that time has no intrinsic value and is “essentially worthless.” Given that I have been saying for years that “Your time is your most important asset,” you’d think we wouldn’t have much to talk about in this conversation, right? On the contrary, by the end of this conversation Matt not only convinced me that our time is in fact worthless, but I’ll bet that we will convince you of the same. As the founder of Time Zillionaire and the author of Invest Your Time, Matt has coached business owners, CEO’s, and entrepeneurs around the world to take control of them time and boost performance. Therefore Matt is no stranger to using time as effectively as possible to achieve the most important goals in life. His story is very similar to mine in that he was a Type-A overachiever who hit a giant wall and burned out (more than once). As he emerged from the dark hole he assumed he needed to strive for “work-life balance” only to discover that was the last thing he should be searching for. In this conversation Matt and I discuss the true value of your time and how to use it most effectively (Note: Being ‘effective is much different than being ‘efficient’). We also discuss why creativity and structure are not enemies, and how to most effectively plan your week no different than you might budget your finances for the week or month. Most importantly, we dispel the myth that we should all be searching for some semblance of ‘balance’ and discuss what to cultivate and strengthen instead. If you’re interested in learning how to better balance and manage your time, this is the conversation for you. Matt was also kind enough to provide a link to his 7-Day Productivity Challenge which you can participate in for free by visiting timezillionaire.com/challenge. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How to plan your week as easily as planning your budget The true value of your time and how to use it effectively How seeing time in a new light totally change Matt's life Learning how to have healthy interactions between structure and creativity How the idea of finding a "perfect balance" is a myth The difference between efficiency and effectiveness Ways in which the same amount of time can have different levels of value Treating time as a careful investment Useful Resources Mentioned: Matt's "7 Days to Productive" Challenge Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Twitter|Instagram Matt Sandrini is the founder of timezillionaire.com. He works with top business owners and CEOs around the world to get the structure and clarity they need to double their business and take back control of their time. He privately coaches top entrepreneurs to take control of their time, boost their performance, and scale faster. His clients are active in sectors including cryptocurrency, real estate, electric cars, design, apps, fashion, food products, media, and more. His personal transformation started when he left the corporate world as a consultant, and launched his first business: He now travels and works remotely for 6 months of the year, and helps top performers take control of the only resource that is scarce—time. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Pictured: The main gate at Paramount Pictures. It may seem impossible to get to the other side of any movie studios’ walls and into scripted editorial...but I promise it’s not as difficult as you think. Let’s get real: Making a major career transition is hard. You’ve spent perhaps a decade or more honing and perfecting your craft, building a network of contacts and clients, and you’re at the top of the ladder...only to realize you’ve climbed the wrong ladder. If you ask ten different editors who work in narrative television & features about how they broke in or transitioned from a different medium, you’ll get ten completely different answers about how they did it. Even worse, the business pigeonholes us and assumes we can only do ONE THING. Clearly if someone edits reality television (or trailers, or game shows, or YouTube videos, or whatever), they simply could never learn how to edit scripted narrative, right? Right? In today’s conversation I chat with not one but two seasoned reality editors at the top of their games, Phil Habeger and Toni Ann Carabello, who have decided they are done with reality and want to make a major transition in their careers to scripted. Except they have NO IDEA how to make the transition. Working with me in my Optimize Yourself Elite coaching & mentorship program, both Toni Ann and Phil have spent the last four months designing the path that makes sense for each of them. But unfortunately they both were working under the assumption that the only way to break into narrative television and features was to take a step “backwards” to become an assistant editor. This simply isn’t true, and in today’s conversation we do a live coaching call where I walk them through their various options so they can choose the path that makes the most sense for them. This is a unique glimpse “under the hood” of the process I use with all of my students to design their unique path to success. If you’re interested in working with me for the Fall session and having me in your back pocket for the next four months where I’ll be 100% invested in helping you succeed, applications are open until August 30th. To learn more about the program and apply, visit optimizeyourself.me/elite. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Understanding that their is no single path to your perfect career transition Evaluating your options (you have more than you think!) when looking for a big vocational upheaval Focusing on who you know, rather than just putting more work on your resume How someone else's lateral career move might be your promotion How Toni and Phil fell into the world of editing Ways in which your limiting beliefs are keeping you from pursuing the career you deserve Refining your goals so that you don't end up in an undesirable job that technically fit your criteria for a new position What to do when the jobs that are finding you are the wrong ones Useful Resources Mentioned: Optimize Yourself Elite Coaching & Mentorship Program Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: LinkedIn|Instagram Toni Ann began her career in tv at 22 yrs old and got my first job as a PA at MTV. She was on the producing path, but after getting the opportunity to learn how to edit, her focus shifted. She went on to become one of the series producers/editor of MTV Cribs, where she was instrumental in developing the look and style of that show. She has since worked on many of the big reality shows out there, like multiple Housewives franchises, Say Yes to the Dress, Long Island Medium, 90 Day Fiancé, and Busy Tonight. Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn |Instagram Phil Habeger was raised in Iowa, spent about 10 years in Boston and has been in Los Angeles for the last 10 years. He fell in love with editing the first time he touched an NLE in a college course in 1998, and has been editing ever since. Phil finds joy in bringing characters and story to life in the edit room and has no plans to ever retire from editing. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Fil Eisler, one of today’s busiest and most diverse award-winning composers, has projects that range from big studio action pieces and comedies to gritty independent films and hit TV shows. I know Fil from working with him on the first two seasons of ‘Empire,’ and he has since exploded onto the scene working on multiple big studio productions. In this episode Fil and I talk a bit about his slow and steady rise to being an “overnight success” as a top composer, but more importantly we dive into his personal journey as an overworked composer with a young kid who decided enough was enough. He wasn’t going to let the entertainment business slowly kill him...and he decided to fight back. Fil’s story is a true inspiration and testament to what can be accomplished no matter how busy you think you might be. He’s the hardest working person I know, yet he figured out how to introduce better health into his routine not only for his child’s sake, but for his own as well. If you want to learn what finally compelled Fil to change his priorities, his routines, and his life and how to apply these strategies to do the same for yourself, this episode won’t disappoint. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnF-C92gafK/ Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How Fil finds all the time to keep himself healthy and productive The trials of breaking into the composing game The project that put Fil on the map, and the twenty years it took him to get there Being able to master tradition musical composition as well work in an entirely digital workspace The unique difficulties of dealing with producers and directors while composing music Trusting yourself and learning when it's okay to improvise Not getting overwhelmed by the big picture and distilling your tasks to whatever you have to do next Living productively in Hollywood with children Useful Resources Mentioned: Fil Eisler's Instagram Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Instagram Fil Eisler is one of today’s busiest and most diverse composers, with projects that range from big studio action pieces and comedies, to gritty independent films and hit television shows. He has been nominee and recipient of numerous awards including the World Soundtrack Awards New Discovery, SXSW Best Soundtrack Award and multiple BMI Awards. Eisler’s ability to understand directors’ musical intent and his flexible approach to scoring has led to numerous collaborations with Hollywood heavy-weights such as Catherine Hardwicke, Marti Noxon, Lee Daniels, Phillip Noyce, Mc G and Ben Falcone. Eisler’s music for Showtime's Emmy-winning “Shameless” earned him the BMI Film and TV Award. The same year, he also won the BMI Award as both the composer and conductor for ABC’s breakout hit drama “Revenge.” Eisler also composed the main title theme and acted as co-composer and music director for the Peabody-winning documentary, “Newtown,” for which he organized and led an all-star line-up of over a dozen Hollywood composers, who each donated a piece of music for the film. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
How does someone go from retiring as an NFL player with over $300,000 in the bank to offering his time and services for free (and surviving off less than $25k per year) just so he can “get his shot?” If this story sounds crazy, then you’ve haven’t met Akbar Gbajabiamila. Akbar Gbajabiamila is the host of American Ninja Warrior (alongside Matt Iseman) who is also a former NFL player for teams such as the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and Miami Dolphins, as well as the host of the NFL network’s highest rated show ‘NFL Fantasy Live.’ Akbar is also the author of the soon-to-be bestselling book “Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams.” Whether you’re an athlete who aspires to be or who has already competed on Ninja Warrior, a weekend warrior who enjoys the occasional Spartan Race or triathlon, or a sedentary office worker looking for something to inspire you to get back in shape, Akbar’s story is one of the most compelling and motivating I’ve ever come across. From the outside it might appear his path to stardom just makes sense and was pretty simple, but once you break down the challenges he’s faced since the very beginning of his life growing up in ‘the hood,’ you realize Akbar’s career path is anything but ordinary. The biggest reason I’m excited about this interview and Akbar’s book is that it’s not just an inspirational story...it’s also a roadmap to help you overcome the mindsets, limiting beliefs, mental barriers, and outright excuses you might be making to stop you from pursuing something difficult and frightening. Get ready to step outside your comfort zone...because that’s where the magic happens. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How Akbar got his first job in television even though he wasn't a "hall of famer" Taking a monetary loss for the sake of your ideal career plan Realizing that the work you get paid more for might fail to fulfill you Learning to reject your circumstances and do what you can with what you have Counteracting the negative narratives that you've been give about the cards you've been dealt in life How to stop using the obstacles and low expectations in your life to keep yourself from improving Recognizing when you're afraid of being successful Learning how to accept and even take joy in failure without watering down how painful it is in the moment Useful Resources Mentioned: IAmAkbar.com Akbar Gbajabiamila's Ninja Warrior Run for Red Nose Day GO FAR Official Theatrical Trailer Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram As one of television’s most compelling personalities Akbar Gbajabiamila reigns supreme as host NBC's 5-time Emmy® nominated, heart-racing obstacle course competition series American Ninja Warrior. In addition, a former NFL star player, Akbar hosts NFL Networks' highest rated show NFL Fantasy Live. His debut book “Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams” will be published by Gallery Books (A division of Simon & Schuster) on May 7th of this year. Akbar is honored to leverage his formidable professional platform to inspire and motivate others as well as advocate for those in need. Currently, he serves on the board for the Asomugha Foundation, which provides pathways to college for disenfranchised youth, as well as for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He is also privileged to be a celebrity ambassador for Red Nose Day, which since its inception in 2015 raised more than $150 million dollars to fight child poverty. Moreover, Akbar is a strong proponent of financial literacy, lending his time and energy to educating young people and pro athletes. Akbar grew up in hard-scrabble South Central LA, one of seven children of Nigerian immigrants. A solid family foundation coupled with a natural athletic ability made him a stand-out high school student athlete, excelling in both basketball and football. Akbar went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies, while attending San Diego State University on a football scholarship and then spent five years in the NFL as a linebacker and defensive end with the Oakland Raiders, Chargers (San Diego), and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2008. Akbar began his broadcasting career while still playing for the Chargers as a contributor to KLSD 1360 AM and as a co-host for Football Night in San Diego (NBC 7). He went on to serve as an analyst on the MountainWest Sports Network (formerly mtn.) and CBS Sports before joining the NFL Network. He and his wife live in Los Angeles where they are raising their family. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Today’s episode is part 2 of two-part case study (click here for part 1) that dives deep into the question that plagues so many trying to land their dream job in scripted entertainment: To assist, or not to assist: That is the question! In part 2 of this case study I chat with Wellington Harrison, an assistant editor with nine years experience in the post-production industry who’s worked across multiple genres and formats from drama to animation and beyond. Wellington is a unique case study in that he originally came from a completely different industry - architecture - and has been forging his own path to success in Hollywood ever since. After working with Wellington for 12 weeks in my one-on-one career coaching & mentorship program, Wellington has confidently come to the conclusion that at this point, the route that makes the most sense for him to build a fulfilling career and lead a happy life is pursuing work as an editor in independent features. There is no set path we can follow to success in our industry, but it is possible to design your own unique path if you know the right questions to ask and the right steps to follow. My purpose for sharing this case study with you is to demonstrate how Wellington designed his own path so you can then apply what you learn to your own journey. If after listening to this interview you do want to learn more and apply to work with me for the next several months and beyond, enrollment is currently open in my career coaching & mentorship program, but time slots are extremely limited. Applications will only be accepted through Friday May 10th. Want to work with me one-one-one to land your dream job? » Click here to apply for Optimize Yourself Elite Here's What You'll Learn: Wellington's beginning in marketing and his journey through different industries Fighting film industry impostor syndrome There is no correct or incorrect step towards your goal, only the one that you are able to make Designing your own career path through the industry Respecting your own journey to the work you want to be doing Clarity's essential role in making sure your goals are achievable Finding the perfect goal using the "Goldilocks Principle" Useful Resources Mentioned: Click here to apply for Optimize Yourself Elite Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear Ep70: To Assist or Not to Assist...That Is the Question (pt 1) | with Chris Cavanagh Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram With nine years experience in Post Production as an Assistant Editor, Wellington Harrison has actively pursued projects across multiple genres and formats. From Drama to Animation, Wellington continues to contribute with one overarching goal: To tell good stories that resonate with audiences. “In Post Production there are always multiple ways to achieve results. As Editors, it is our mission to be open and fearlessly take risks in order to tell the best story each and every time.” Wellington is a member of the Motion Picture Editor’s Guild and The Los Angeles Post Production Group. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Today’s episode is part 1 of two-part case study (click here for part 2) that dives deep into the question that plagues so many trying to land their dream job in scripted entertainment: To assist, or not to assist: That is the question! In part 1 of this case study I chat with Chris Cavanagh, a television and film editor who specializes in long-form unscripted storytelling. He’s worked on numerous shows in the docuseries, true crime, and reality spaces, and two years ago he moved from New York City to Los Angeles to make the terrifying transition from unscripted to scripted. Despite having an extensive resume of popular shows for top networks, Chris found it incredibly difficult to make the transition from unscripted to scripted because most in Hollywood unfairly believe that “People who do unscripted work can’t do scripted.” After working with Chris for 12 weeks in my one-on-one career coaching & mentorship program, Chris has officially made the transition into scripted television. He even landed the gig as my assistant editor on Cobra Kai, and he’s now moving onto one of the editorial teams for Star Trek: Discovery. There is no set path we can follow to success in our industry, but it is possible to design your own unique path if you know the right questions to ask and the right steps to follow. My purpose for sharing this case study with you is to demonstrate how Chris designed his own path so you can then apply what you learn to your own journey. If after listening to this interview you do want to learn more and apply to work with me for the next several months and beyond, enrollment is currently open in my career coaching & mentorship program, but time slots are extremely limited. Applications will only be accepted through Friday May 10th. Want to work with me one-one-one to land your dream job? » Click here to apply for Optimize Yourself Elite Here's What You'll Learn: How Chris and Zack came to work with each other Approaching networking in a way that isn't arrogant or anxiety-inducing Ways in which creativity is birthed from necessity Overcoming the "non-scripted editors don't understand scripted work" mindest Respecting yourself and accepting career set-backs in order to find a better ladder to climb Making a commitment to a goal is the difference succeeding and failing How to pitch yourself confidently and avoid language that makes you sound unprofessional Useful Resources Mentioned: Click here to apply for Optimize Yourself Elite Ep12: The Right Way to Network In Hollywood | with Chris Visser Ep48: Feeling Lost? It’s Time to ‘Find Your Why’ | with David Mead Ep71: To Assist or Not to Assist...That Is the Question (pt 2) | with Wellington Harrison "Give & Take" by Adam Grant ChrisCavanagh.net Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Facebook|LinkedIn Chris Cavanagh is a television and film editor/ assistant editor with a passion for long-form story-telling. His job is to help bring stories to life on screen. It’s not just what-he-does-for-work. He creates human emotion for a living. As an editor it is his responsibility to engage the viewer in every moment from start to finish. He recently transitioned to scripted TV as an assistant editor for Season 2 of the hit show Cobra Kai to pursue his passion for editing scripted content. He is excellent at collaborating and more importantly establishing trust, because working with people is one of the most satisfying facets of his career. He specializes in drama because he loves exploring human motivation at its core and throughout every complex layer. Story shows us why people do something, or do not. And getting the story right is all about nailing the emotion. When he is not editing, he is playing with his two kids, or he is cooking dinner with his wife, or he is attempting to complete one of the 7,942 daily tasks required to exist as both a professional and a parent in 21st century Los Angeles. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Have you ever wanted be a fly on the wall in the edit suite of a high profile tv show to see what it’s really like working in the trenches? Have you ever wondered what it takes to get the attention of high profile producers and showrunners so you can build a relationship with them and possibly work on their shows someday? And if you do land the job working with your dream creators, have you ever wondered what steps you can take to not only do a great job but also build relationships for life so you are always invited to work on future projects? All these questions are answered (and a lot more) in my interview with Cobra Kai creators and showrunners Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg. In this episode we have a candid no-topics-off-limits conversation about the realities of editing and collaborating on a show like Cobra Kai. We discuss how in the world the Karate Kid saga ended up becoming a hit series on YouTube of all places, the psychology I used to land myself this job not having any previous relationships with Jon, Josh, or Hayden, and we also dive deep into the creative process on the show including managing the tight schedule, why then insisted on sending hundreds of pages of notes for every cut (and how I prioritized that work with the other obligations in my life), and ultimately what showrunners and producers are looking for in potential talent they might hire for future projects. If you want to work in scripted television or features someday, this is a masterclass on the psychology of networking and building relationships with high profile producers. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How John, Josh, and Hayden pivoted from Harold and Kumar and American Pie to furthering the Karate Kid saga Why now is the perfect time for Cobra Kai to exist "Knowing what you want" as healthy alternative to perfectionism Learning who to trust when being given feedback on your work Adapting to the storytelling language of your showrunners in the edit bay How you should be interviewing your interviewer Adjusting to the unique flow of your creative relationship with new executives Finding the BEST story instead of clinging to ideas just because they're yours Knowing when it's healthy for you to throw your creative instincts into the mix Why you should be watching Cobra Kai Season 2! Useful Resources Mentioned: Click here to watch Cobra Kai Season 2 Tired of Life Kicking Your Ass? Learn to Fight Back Like a True ‘Cobra Kai’ Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg have been close friends since they were teenagers. Their first collaboration together is YouTube Premium’s runaway hit COBRA KAI, the Karate Kid spinoff series that picks up decades after the original film ends. Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg are the creators and showrunners of the series. They wrote and directed the bulk of the first and second seasons. Josh Heald is best known for creating and writing the cult classic, Hot Tub Time Machine – for which he earned the inaugural Comedy Award for Best Screenplay – and the sequel, Hot Tub Time Machine 2. He has produced and developed pilots across many networks and platforms. Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg are the writing/directing/producing team behind New Line Cinema's Harold & Kumar franchise. They penned Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, which garnered a legion of fans and was launched to immediate cult status. Two sequels followed: 2008’s Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, which became Hurwitz & Schlossberg’s feature directorial debut, and 2011’s A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. In 2012, they wrote and directed American Reunion for Universal Pictures, and worked again for the studio in 2018, producing the hit comedy Blockers. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Rose Wetzel is a 2-time American Ninja Warrior finalist, a professional obstacle course racer, a personal trainer, and a new mom (as if she wasn’t running around enough already). She has spent her whole life pursuing athletic endeavors including trying out for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials (coming just seconds short of making it), and she has literally run hundreds of Spartan races and other brands of obstacle course racing in her career. She is so good that she actually makes a living as a professional racer, something very few are able to accomplish. Rose and I chat today not about what it’s like being a kick-ass elite-level obstacle course racer (even though she is indeed a badass), but instead she and I discuss what it takes for someone who wants to run their very first Spartan race. Beyond just the physical side of training (which we touch upon), we dive much deeper into the mindset you need to develop to get over the fears and apprehensions that so many people face when thinking about registering for an event they most likely aren’t capable of finishing...YET. We talk about how to set the right goals and create a “Diversified Portfolio of Motivations” so no matter how you perform at the race (or during any given day of training) you are set up for success instead of failure. And we talk about how to focus on small progressions every single day rather than much larger goals. If you’ve ever been on the fence and thought to yourself, “Man it sure would be cool to run something like a Spartan Race, but I’m not ready yet. Maybe SOMEDAY…” then this is the conversation to inspire you to get off the couch and onto the course! Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: How Rose became one of the top female obstacle course racers in the world Learning to enjoy pushing yourself out of your comfort zone Reminding yourself that everyone has improvements to make The importance of focus and a dedicated mindset in a sport like obstacle course racing Confronting your fear by breaking daunting tasks into bite-sized pieces Rose's race injury and how she pushed through the pain to finish despite it Planning and preparing for your obstacles before they surprise you Setting performance goals, not weight goals Sign up for the race first, then let your fear drive you to prepare you for it Useful Resources Mentioned: RoseWetzel.com Stackit Mamas Facebook Page Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Growing up in Seattle in a family of nine kids (could you imagine?!), Rose loved the feeling of running outside after tackling piles of dishes and laundry. Her love for running grew, and it landed her a track scholarship at Georgetown, where she met wonderful women she still calls her best friends, over a decade later. After college, Rose fulfilled a childhood dream of working at a summer camp before starting her own personal training business in order to encourage others to reach their health and fitness goals, while she tried to make the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. After coming up a couple seconds short in the 800 meters (half mile), Rose took a friend’s advice and tried a totally new challenge – an obstacle course race! A perfect match for her running background, strength skills, and love of adventure, Rose became a professional obstacle course racer (thanks to sponsors like Clif Bar), running up mountains in Spartan Races around the country and flying through obstacles on the hit show American Ninja Warrior. A year and a half ago, Rose and Tim, her husband, welcomed Baby Taylor Joi into the world, and after moving from Seattle to Boulder for more mountains and Ninja gym training options a couple months later, Rose battled post-partum depression for many months, finally emerging from the condition mentally stronger than ever. Her physical fitness recently caught up as she started the Spartan season strong last month, finishing Top 3 at the first Spartan National Series race, just one minute behind the reigning Spartan World Champion. She looks to race hard all year and inspire the moms out there to continue to chase their dreams if they so desire, and remember to make self-care a priority, through her Stackit Mamas program for new moms. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Jimmy Choi is a motivational speaker, an advocate for Parkinson’s research, an ultra-endurance athlete, a Parkinson’s patient, and a 2-time American Ninja Warrior. But most importantly he’s a father of two, a devoted husband, and a friend to many. Jimmy was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s at the age of 27 (in 2003), and for the first 8 months he lived in complete denial. So much so, in fact, that he didn’t even tell his wife for months. He spent the next several years of his life ignoring the problem hoping a single pill would make his disease go away, and at one point he gained over 70 pounds, topping out at a whopping 240 pounds. Then one day a single event changed Jimmy’s life forever, and ultimately the lives of thousands of people along with it. On that day when Jimmy literally hit rock bottom, he decided something needed to change. And since that moment he has transformed from an obese person with Parkinson’s disease who could barely walk (even with a cane) without repeatedly falling over to a decorated ultra-endurance athlete, obstacle racer, and ninja warrior. Jimmy’s secret is incredibly simple: His only goal is to be ‘Better than yesterday.’ And in this episode you’re going to learn the mindsets and tools that Jimmy uses every single day to make incredible progress despite what should be a debilitating disease. View this post on Instagram People are always asking about how I balance nutrition with exercise. It’s simple, balance your food while doing exercise! #pistolsquats #fupd #fitness #nutrition #balance #training #ocr #anw #anw11 #breakfast #eggs #legday A post shared by Jimmy Choi (@jcfoxninja) on Feb 8, 2019 at 5:59am PST Parkinson’s Disease or not...this is friggin’ HARD Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Processing a Parkinson's diagnosis Misconceptions about Parkinson's disease Learning that everything you do should have a purpose The moment when Jimmy learned that he needed to take control of his life Setting goals that are not overwhelming but still inspiring Taking pride in even the smallest progress Re-evaluating our excuses for the things we can't do Find a way to tell your story Useful Resources Mentioned: The Fox Ninja Jimmie's Tedx Talk Changing Course Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Instagram|Facebook|Twitter Jimmy Choi, a member of The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) Patient Council, was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's Disease at the age of 27 in 2003. With symptoms rapidly affecting his daily life, he “did nothing” for the next 7-8 years and just went through the motions. One day while carrying his infant son, they both fell a full flight of stairs which triggered fear of the future and fear for his family. He vowed to himself that he would do what it takes to take back control of what Parkinson's has taken from him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jimmy transformed into a new person with an action-minded positive mindset using exercise to manage Parkinson’s Disease. In 2012, joining Team Fox, the grassroots fundraising arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research and completed his first marathon - and he hasn’t stopped! a 2-time competitor on American Ninja Warrior, showing all that Parkinson’s does not define him. He continues to share his story to spread awareness and fundraise towards high impact research that will lead to a cure in his lifetime. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Amber de la Garza, aka the ‘Productivity Specialist.’ Amber is a sought-after trainer, coach, speaker, writer, and she’s also the host of the ‘Productivity Straight Talk’ podcast. She works with entrepreneurs to help them take actions that will maximize profits, reduce stress, and ultimately make time for what matters most in life. Oh...and she’s also quite possibly as big of a productivity nerd as I am! If you’ve ever heard the term ‘Time Blocking’ and wondered what the heck that is, or you’ve wondered how it works, or what the best tools are, or whether or not this productivity strategy will work for you, this episode could change the way you manage your day, your week, and your life. I can say without hesitation that time blocking is quite simply the most important strategy I use to manage my own life. It allows me to visualize my ‘ideal week’ (something we dive into in great detail in this interview), it helps me avoid procrastination because I always know what tasks to complete on any given day, and most importantly it keeps me focused on taking actions that actually move my life forwards as opposed to getting sucked into “busy work,” and even worse...social media. If you’re one of those people who believe, “Time blocking isn’t for me because I’m creative,” this episode is a must-listen. Because what you’ll discover is that learning how to properly manage your time and calendar will ultimately set your creativity free. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Scheduling your day according to your energy and ultradian rhythms The importance of "margins" Creating an ideal daily calendar The basics of time blocking and why it's important according to neuroscience Asking yourself, "Can this wait without consequences?" Working on low value tasks in batches rather than sporadically as they "come up" Useful Resources Mentioned: Opt-In Guide Link The Ideal Weekly Calendar Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of S.T.O.P.! The Entrepreneur’s Success Solution. She helps driven entrepreneurs execute actionable solutions to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most! Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University, and he’s also the author of six (amazing) books including Deep Work and So Good They Can’t Ignore You. You will NOT find Cal on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platforms. And if you’re wondering why, you’ll learn a lot more in today’s interview when we discuss his brand new book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life In a Noisy World. In my previous conversation with Cal we did a deep dive into his area of expertise: Deep work. And what Cal discovered after publishing that book is that one of the main distractions keeping people from regularly getting into ‘the zone’ and accomplishing deep work was social media. This led him down the path of learning more about how social media affects our lives, our attention spans, our emotions, and our psyche. And what he has discovered is not good. Beyond simply breaking down in very clear terms the detriments of spending too much time on social media, Cal has taken the step of creating a philosophy for technology use that has already improved the lives of thousands of people that have implemented it. If you have the nagging suspicion that your smartphone and social media are commanding far more of your time, energy, and attention than you would like, perhaps adopting a little digitial minimalism isn’t such a bad idea. Learn how to drastically reduce your addiction to social media and your smartphone and live a more calm, distraction-free, and present life from the expert himself in this interview. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Creating a philosophy of digital use, not just tips & tricks Is there still a healthy place for social media? Do you need to digitally declutter or digitally detox? How to do a 30-Day declutter Maximalist vs. Minimalist view of embracing technology The mental health detriments of social media How to healthily reintroduce technology into your life The designs and intentions of social media companies Useful Resources Mentioned: CalNewport.com Digital Minimalism Book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude OPT Podcast Ep35: FOCUS: The Superpower of the 21st Century Focus Yourself Program Waitlist Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of six books, including Deep Work and So Good They Can't Ignore You. You won't find him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, but you can often find him at home with his family in Washington, DC, or writing essays for his popular website calnewport.com Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Chryss Terry is an Emmy-nominated documentary and unscripted television editor who began her career editing independent feature films (that have played at the Toronto, Sundance and Berlin film festivals). But after recently discovering her true life’s purpose - to use her challenging upbringing to create scripted television that inspires women worldwide to lean into adversity - she has begun the transition into the role of narrative assistant editor. Chryss is driven, ambitious, motivated, and a borderline workaholic (like me). And while all of these character traits have served her extremely well in her career, they haven’t exactly done wonders for her mental or physical health. A few years ago Chryss hit a giant wall in her career that had very little to do with her talent and lack of opportunities. Instead it was her mindset holding her back which included a vicious bout of imposter syndrome that led to fear, anxiety at work, and eventually burnout. In this case study Chryss and I talk through the mindset shifts she made so she could approach her work, her goals, her health, and her career differently so she could stop always chasing after the next accomplishment and instead begin patiently playing ‘the long game.’ In short, you’ll learn how Chryss stopped playing checkers and started playing chess. My purpose for sharing this case study is to help explain the process that Chryss and I worked through together in my one-on-one career coaching & mentorship program, ‘Optimize Yourself Elite.’ That way you can use some of these same ideas and techniques mentioned in our conversation to move yourself forwards this year, whether or not you’re interested in working with me one-on-one. If after listening to this interview you do want to learn more and apply to work with me for the next several months and beyond, enrollment is currently open but time slots are extremely limited. I will only be taking applications until Friday January 25th. » Click here to work with me one-on-one Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Overcoming the fear of both success and failure Stopping yourself from setting overly ambitious goals that lead to burnout Handling anxiety rising due to imposter syndrome Time management leading to perfectionism leading to not meeting deadlines... Breaking down big goals into single action steps The power of 'the 3 words' Useful Resources Mentioned: ChryssTerry.com Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: Twitter|LinkedIn|Facebook Chryss Terry is an Emmy-nominated documentary and unscripted television editor (Lost In Transition, Little People, Big World, Vanderpump Rules) who began her career editing independent feature films that have played at the Toronto, Sundance and Berlin film festivals. After recently discovering her true life’s purpose—to use her challenging upbringing to create scripted television that inspires women worldwide to lean into adversity—she has begun the transition into the role of narrative assistant editor in order to work with some of her most admired writers, showrunners and editors; those who are changing people’s lives in this “New Golden Age” of television. Chryss lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and two dogs, Amelia and Quigley. She continues to work on stress management and self-care while learning more about personal development; she shares everything she’s learned with friends, family and co-workers. You can learn more about Chryss at chryssterry.com. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Moni Salazar is a Mexican assistant editor (and now editor) for feature films who has been KILLING IT since she moved to Los Angeles. In fact her first feature film as an editor, Honey Boy, is about to screen at Sundance! As an assistant editor she has also worked on such films as Netflix’s All Day and a Night, The Beach Bum, and Zoe. In addition to the many hours she spends in dark rooms, she is also the Vice President of Blue Collar Post Collective. Moni approached me last year because she found it nearly impossible to focus on creative tasks. She was constantly distracted by little things that kept her from doing the creative work that she loved, so much so at one point she didn't get her Visa application done in time...and she was forced to move back to Mexico! We worked together one-on-one for the next 12 weeks to help her clarify her goals and find the most important ‘One Thing’ in her life that she had to accomplish every day in order to get focused, avoid constantly procrastinating, and get her life organized! My purpose for sharing this case study is to help explain the process that Moni and I worked through and the steps she took to get her life more organized and establish daily habits to help her increase her focus and productivity while actually creating more time in her day to relax. That way you can use some of these same ideas and techniques to move yourself forwards this year, whether or not you’re interested in working with me one-on-one in my coaching program. If after listening to this interview you do want to learn more and apply to work with me for the next several months and beyond, enrollment is currently open but time slots are extremely limited. To apply just visit optimizeyourself.me/elite-apply.\ » Click here to work with me one-on-one Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Practicing focus and awareness during work hours Learning when it's okay to say 'no' Recognizing when you are creating your own obstacles Moving forward with your necessary tasks even when they seem overwhelming How time blocking enhances your creativity even if it feels like having a schedule will restrain it What's the 'one thing' you need to focus on to complete your goals? The domino method of task management Defining the qualities you want to see in yourself before anything else Useful Resources Mentioned: www.monisalazar.com Ep36: Finding Your "One Thing" with Jay Papasan Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Twitter| Instagram Mónica Salazar is a Mexican editor and assistant editor for feature films. She enjoys crafting stories on a daily basis, and is usually found hidden in the darkness of an editing room with a cup of coffee serving as her safety blanket. Her editing credits include Honey Boy set to premiere at Sundance in 2019, and the Los Angeles Emmy award winning documentary Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano. Mónica has also worked as an assistant editor for various films, including Netflix’s All Day and a Night, The Beach Bum, and Zoe. Monica also serves as the Vice President of Los Angeles for Blue Collar Post Collective, an accessible and focused grassroots non-profit organization that supports emerging talent in post production. Mónica takes pride in her taco-expertise and has found the best pastor tacos in LA. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Len Ciccotello is an editor literally at the top of his specific craft: Video content marketing. This includes documentary shorts, long-form behind-the-scenes making-of documentaries, and all of the many cool bonus features you’ll find on Blu-Ray discs or even now on iTunes. He’s worked on such films as Bohemian Rhapsody, Avatar, Ready Player One, The Post, Deadpool, Argo, and several films in the X-Men Franchise, just to name a small few. Len came to me last year telling me he was ready to make a big transition in his career to editing scripted television and features...except he had no idea where to start. He’s driven, motivated, organized, and focused, but without a roadmap none of that mattered. He had no path and no idea where to focus his energy. Should he network? Quit his job first, or wait until he had a gig? Does he need to edit more scripted and build a reel? Become an assistant first? Jump right into editing? There were so many paths to choose, so over 12 weeks Len and I worked together one-on-one to design his unique path to success. And in fact he did so well that we had to cancel our last two sessions because he landed a job on his first scripted show by week 10! My purpose for sharing this case study is to help explain the process that Len and I worked through and the steps he took to make this transition happen and take a huge step forwards in his career, that way you can use some of the same ideas and techniques to move yourself forwards this year, whether or not you’re interested in one-on-one coaching. If after listening to this interview you want to learn more and apply for 'Optimize Yourself Elite,' enrollment is currently open but time slots are extremely limited since this program is extremely time-intensive for me. » Click here to work with me one-on-one Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: What to do when you're stranded on the wrong career ladder Len's 18-year career in video content marketing Being willing to step out of your comfort zone when you're not being challenged anymore How to be patient with the chess game of healthy progress Generating the motivation to get things done by establishing 'why' you want to complete them The common pitfalls the occur when writing out your goals Focusing on the things you can control rather than hoping for what you can't Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. Guest Bio: LinkedIn Len’s career in post production started in New York City working for editor Hank Corwin’s commercial shop Lost Planet where he began as an intern. After 6 years at Lost Planet he moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to pursue working in film and television. For the past 15 years he has been a marketing and documentary editor, working most recently for Mob Scene Creative + Production. There he had the opportunity to work on documentaries for the Blu-ray releases of Avatar, Deadpool, Hidden Figures, Ready Player One and Bohemian Rhapsody. Recently, a constant desire to learn, challenge and improve his work lead him to take a step back to role of assistant editor in order to transition into scripted television. Len lives in Los Angeles with his wife and 2 dogs and works hard every day to bring love, joy and a sense of calm to those around him. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of t
My guest today is Allon Khakshouri, a sports agent who managed three of the world’s #1 tennis players including Novak Djokovic. He is also a best-selling author who specializes in high performance habits and helping ambitious entrepreneurs (and creative professionals) to feel more energized, productive, and inspired. Having worked with some of the world’s top athletes, Allon is a master at understanding the psychology behind the highest levels of performance, and this interview is SUPER dense with a ton of information. Our conversation hits a wide variety of topics, but at the core of our conversation is deciphering the fundamental differences between “amateurs” and “professionals.” What is it that makes top achievers so unique, no matter their field of expertise? Is it their skills? Their work ethic? Is it genetic? Or are they just luckier than everyone else? Do those at the highest level of their craft set goals differently than everyone else? Or do the most successful people simply have a different mindset? And if so, how can you cultivate the mindset of a true professional at the top of their game. If you have ever felt like you could be or should be further along in your career or your business and you want to break through to your next level of potential, Allon is definitely someone who can help you get there. If after listening to this interview you are inspired to dig even deeper, Allon has been kind enough to offer all of you listening a free copy of his 26,000 word ‘Ultimate Guide to High Performance’ which will show you how to accelerate your business or career growth and get more high value work done in a day than most people accomplish in a month. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: Developing the ability to perform your best in those career defining moments Pushing yourself beyond your limits by embracing new challenges with optimism The important differences between Amateurs and Professionals Being intentional and setting a clear vision for your goals Mastering skills so you can adjust to difficult tasks quickly and produce at an elite level What it means to have a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset How your goals feed into your identity and your character Starting meditation and training your focus as a skill Learning to rely on more that just your talent Useful Resources Mentioned: ‘Ultimate Guide to High Performance’ Allon Khakshouri Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Allon Khakshouri is a sports agent who managed three world #1 tennis players, including Novak Djokovic. He is also a best selling author and helps ambitious entrepreneurs introduce high performance habits and strategies to feel more energized, productive and inspired to become leaders of their industries. He is also a Member of the ATP Council. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
My guest today is Westley Silvestri, a two-time American Ninja Warrior, a highly decorated and award-winning real estate professional, a Spartan Racer, a Tough Mudder, the creator of ‘Ninja Beach’ in Santa Monica, CA, and he’s also a former golfer and stand-up comedian. Using Westley’s own words, he has “Professional ADD” and wants to do everything...but also do it well! Westley also happens to be one of my primary ninja warrior training partners who has inspired me to push past my abilities and become a stronger and more well-rounded human being. There are few people I’ve met in my life who are more positive, energetic, and encouraging...all while being brutal and relentless all at the same time. In our conversation today Westley and I focus on what it takes to become 1% better every single day. We talk about the hardship he’s faced in his life including waking up one morning to find his roommate dead, and battling a year of depression because of this. And we dig into the idea of being intentional about progress...because it’s not just about “putting in your 10,000 hours,” it’s about WHAT YOU DO with those 10,000 hours that actually counts. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: Finding your way off the hamster wheel of modern life You find out who you are when you're faced with hardship Incremental improvement as the true path to change Being intentional about progress and getting better instead of "just putting in your 10,000 hours" The importance of running your own race It's not about how many hours or days you work, it's HOW you do those hours and WHAT you accomplish Westley's "try something new every week" philosophy If you're not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you won't grow Useful Resources Mentioned: Westley Silvestri's ANW Submission Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Instagram Westley Silvestri was born Feb. 4, 1986 in Glendale CA. He was the first born son to Jan and Brian Silvestri. His baby brother, Tyler would join the family a couple of years later. They lived quite modestly in several homes the east San Gabriel Valley. By 7th grade, his parents divorced and Wes moved to Glendora with his mom and brother and a couple of years later to Saugus. After high school, Wes attended COC for one semester and then transferred to New Mexico to seek a degree in Multi Media Communications. At 18 he bought his first home while working full time and carrying 18 units of college courses. In 2013, Wes and his best friend Ian, wrote a sitcom and were in the process of pitching it to various networks when Ian died suddenly in his sleep. This knocked Wes into a severe depression for a year. As he emerged from the effects of this tragedy, Wes examined his life goals and earned his CA real estate license. He was honored as the Rookie of the Year at HomeSmart NCG. After only 3 in the business, Wes has closed over $35M in real estate transactions! His aspiration is to become a broker and open the first of it's kind, Ninja Real Estate Office. Wes admits to a severe case of “Professional ADD,” and wants do everything; but do it well! Always the adrenaline junkie, Wes is currently in training for Ninja Warrior and enjoys hiking, cliff jumping, snowboarding, surfing, rock climbing, scuba diving, and wake boarding. He has also participated in 25 obstacle course races such as Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Gladiator Run, and Warrior Dash. Wes loves to catch these and many other life events on film and edit the movies for family and friends. Wes believes in paying it forward and helping those in need. He is a Sobriety Coach and helps others deal with their alcohol addiction through exercise. In 2015, Wes produced and participated in stand-up comedy events which raised over $55,000 for local charities and people in need. These include New Leash on Life Animal Rescue, Bridge to Home Homeless Shelter, Feed the Children (a local food bank) and financial assistance for a close friend with Stage 3 breast cancer as she goes through chemo and radiation. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Joe Trapanese is a friend, colleague, and film composer who has worked on some of the coolest project and film scores of the last 5-10 years including The Greatest Showman, Jean Claude Van Johnson, Straight Outta Compton, Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, Only the Brave, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., and The Raid series (which is my #1 secret weapon as a film editor). Rarely is there an episode of TV where I don’t use a track from The Raid if I’m working with a fight scene or a suspense sequence. It’s MONEY. In this interview Joe and I break down his path from a kid in New Jersey to moving out to Los Angeles and how he climbed from nowhere to the top of his profession in record time. In addition, Joe and I also do a deep dive into the creative process of collaborating with composers. If you have ever wondered how composers approach their work, or more importantly if you’re an editor like me and you want to know some cool tips for working with composers, this is an incredibly useful and insightful interview. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: Focusing on what is in your control It's about who you know, so start meeting people Establishing relationships rather than networking for jobs "You won't get hired until you are the solution to someone's problem." Confidence vs. arrogance Keeping your cool in the reputation-driven world of professional composing How to searching for the best solutions in collaboration, rather than just inserting your own Dedicating yourself to a specific career ladder How to know when you're not getting enough in return for your work "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture" Useful Links: Joe Trapanese's IMDb Page Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Joseph Trapanese is best known for his sleek score work for blockbuster films like “Tron: Legacy,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Oblivion,” and the “Raid” series. As a composer, arranger, and producer for movie, television, theater, and video game music, he has collaborated with a number of mainstream musical acts. His first major break came in 2010 when he worked with Daft Punk on the sweeping digital soundtrack to Disney's “Tron” reboot/sequel. Trapanese followed that success by creating a score with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park for the American release of the 2011 Indonesian martial arts film “The Raid: Redemption” (he would continue without Shinoda in 2014 with “The Raid 2”). That same year, he helped with arrangements on a handful of tracks for M83's breakthrough hit “Hurry Up, We're Dreaming,” which led to the pair's collaboration on the 2013 Tom Cruise scifi epic “Oblivion”. For 2017’s “The Greatest Showman,” Trapanese worked alongside Pasek & Paul and John Debney, producing songs and co composing the score. Notable solo scores include “Only The Brave” (2017), the landmark rap biopic “Straight Outta Compton” (2015), the second and third installments of the “Divergent” series, “Insurgent” (2015) and “Allegiant” (2016); “Earth to Echo” (2014); USA’s “Unsolved” (2018); Amazon’s “JeanClaude Van Johnson” (2017); ABC’s “Quantico” (201617) Freeform’s “Dead of Summer” (2016); EA’s video game “Need for Speed Payback” (2017); and Ubisoft’s video game “The Crew” (2014). In the studio and in concert, in addition to Daft Punk, M83, and Mike Shinoda, he has worked with Dr. Dre, Dierks Bentley, Zedd, Kelly Clarkson, Mike Shinoda, Kendrick Lamar, Moby, Aloe Blacc, Alessia Cara, Haim, The Glitch Mob, Active Child, Halsey, Sohn, John Newman, Dia Frampton, 3OH!3, Steven Price, and James Newton Howard. Born in New Jersey, Trapanese earned his B.A. in classical composition from the Manhattan School of Music. He went on to study at UCLA for his M.A. in music for visual media and taught electronic music composition at the school from 20082011. In 2016, he became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a founding member of The Echo Society. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Kyle Long is a Hollywood feature film and television writer, producer, and the showrunner of the recent limited series 'Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac & the Notorious B.I.G.' He has also worked on the popular USA series 'Suits.' For those who may already know, I edited the pilot, the finale, and two more episodes of the series Unsolved, and Kyle and I spent A LOT of time together working on a very complex story for months on end. And during that time we both learned a lot about each other. And what I was most impressed about with Kyle was his work ethic...not to mention his creative abilities, his ideas, and his unwillingness to compromise when he knew exactly what he wanted. And that’s what we talk about in this interview today: What does it take to get something made in Hollywood? What does it take to become a successful writer? What is the magic formula for delivering high quality work project after project? Hint:The answer to all three is just one thing. Consistency. Kyle and I talk about the whole process of going from brainstorm to idea to pitch to being in production on a multi-million dollar tv series. We also chat about his habits and systems for consistently writing every single day. And we also talk about the cost of prioritizing work above everything else including sleep, wellness, health, and even family. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: Getting a film from spec to being made The importance of consistency in writing The tension between working long hours and doing good work Appreciating negative and positive aspects of the creative process Developing productive writing habits How losing sleep is sabotaging your own work Mortgaging and blocking your time Useful Resources Mentioned: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Twitter Kyle has made a living -- sometimes good, sometimes far from it -- in film and television for almost twenty years. If you know him at all, it is for creating the USA show Unsolved or working on the Queen's favorite show Suits. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
My guest today is Noah Arnold, a veterinarian and business owner who runs his own veterinary clinic in Shorewood, Wisconsin in a very unique way, to say the least. Before going any further, if you’re wondering why in the world I would interview a veterinarian on a podcast that’s all about reaching your full creative potential, trust me. This is one of the best and most inspiring stories you will ever hear, especially if you’re a freelancer or small business owner struggling to build your own niche. Noah did all the right things, took all the right classes, got the right degrees, and landed the right jobs. He had 2.4 kids (well actually 3), a car payment, and a mortgage. He was doing everything he was told to do in order to be happy...except he was miserable. Needless to say, living the life that he was “supposed to” live was slowly killing Noah. In order to get to the point where he had the freedom to build a business his way so he could pursue his passion and fulfill what he believes is his true purpose in life (serving animals and serving people who love animals), he had to summon the courage to escape his old life of desperately trying to conform and fit into the corporate world of animal medicine. In our discussion today Noah gives us an incredibly candid look into his journey and what inspired him to give up a life of comfort and security to take a huge risk, bet it all, and pursue his dream. If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost, or asked yourself, “Is this all there is?” then you don’t want to miss this interview. I’ve released over 180 podcasts, and I can honestly say this is the first interview that ever brought me to tears. I challenge you to make it through without choking up at least once. Finally as a full disclaimer, similar to my previous interview with world-renowned Instagram street photographer Daniel Arnold (which is episode 54 if you’re interested), Noah also happens to be my cousin...and he’s Daniel’s younger brother. Needless to say, I am extremely blessed to have such passionate, creative, and wonderful people in my family. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: How rejection can fuel perseverance Letting go of the necessity of comfort "The trick to success is not focusing on the success but being authentic" Creating a clinic that feels as safe as your living room Facing your own desperation to be a person you're not "There's no reason you should be waking up every day unhappy" Being terrified to take the leap to independence Useful Resources Mentioned: Dr. Noah's Ark "Guitars at the Vet: Dr. Noah puts his own riff on pet medicine" Dr. Noah Arnold Sings to Animals to Relax Them Before Procedures Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook I was born in Madison, WI and moved to the East Side of Milwaukee when I was two. As a kid I stole birds from their nests and bunnies from their moms, misconstruing it as a rescue, and fed them by hand till they flew away or hopped off. I read books about boys with pet raccoons and dreamed of a far away life where people and animals and nature were interconnected. When I was 12 we moved to the North Shore of Milwaukee so I could attend Nicolet high school (where I graduated in 2000 with the esteemed award of class clown). I spent my free time volunteering at nature preserves, caring for the animals on display, and shadowing local vets during surgeries. I received a bachelor’s degree in biology from UW Milwaukee and spent two years studying Animal Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In 2010 I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After vet school I worked for 6 years as a small animal veterinarian at Spring Harbor Animal Hospital in Madison and The Thiensville-Mequon Small Animal Clinic in Milwaukee’s North Shore. I married the girl of my dreams (we’ve been together since I was 15 and she was 34. Just making sure you’re paying attention… she was also 15), and had 3 beautiful, terrible, lovely children (Sadie, 5, Amelia, 3, and Elliot, 8 months). I have a brown tabby cat named “The Little Boy” and a wooly beast of an Alaskan Malamute, “Bella.” I write sad songs on guitar and piano and play locally on a regular basis. If I didn’t have so many diapers to change I would hike and canoe and explore. What I really want you to know about me is that I love animals and I love people and I love people who love animals. My goal is not to be rich and famous. I want to create a family where people and pets feel loved and listened to and receive the highest quality of care.If you’re still reading this, thanks… I am long winded and as much as you’re willing to read, I’m willing to write. I use my Facebook to share stories and I’ve included a few posts that tell about my pets over the years. Follow my Facebook page for my daily adventures. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
My guest today is James Clear, an author and speaker who specializes in habits, decision making, and continuous improvement. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Time, and on CBS This Morning, just to name a few. In addition, his website receives millions of visitors each month, and he has hundreds of thousands of subscribers to his popular email newsletter which you can find at JamesClear.com. On top of all of his writing, James is also an accomplished speaker having spoken regularly for Fortune 500 companies, and much of his work is used by teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. In short...James is one of the world’s foremost experts on habits and the impact of small behaviors on your health & well-being. In today’s interview we do a deep dive into James’ brand new bestselling book Atomic Habits. We talk about how good and bad habits form in the first place, and how to break down seemingly impossible goals (losing weight, breaking bad habits, moving forwards in your career, etc) so you can make small but continuous improvements every single day. If you’re ever wanted to make any kind of positive change in your life but you weren’t sure where to start, or even worse you just can’t make yourself give up bad habits, James is THE guy to get you where you want to be. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: How to get 1% better each day Retouching a painting, upgrading a portion of yourself (through behavior) Creating goals that actually have actionable steps Rapid transformation is not achievable for most people How to deny to intrusive desire to slack off 1% every day Breaking down the phrase "atomic habits" Conquering habit formation by preparing for the "plateau of latent potential" Observing how your expectations influence your behavior How to build a habit based on identity rather than just outcomes Ways in which your descriptions of your habits can make them impossible to change Useful Resources Mentioned: JamesClear.com Atomic Habits The Habits Academy Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram James Clear is an author and speaker focused on habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Time, and on CBS This Morning. His website receives millions of visitors each month and hundreds of thousands subscribe to his popular email newsletter at JamesClear.com. He is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and his work is used by teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Through his online course, The Habits Academy, Clear has taught more than 10,000 leaders, managers, coaches, and teachers. The Habits Academy is the premier training platform for individuals and organizations that are interested in building better habits in life and work. You can learn more at habitsacademy.com Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Daniel Arnold, is a world-renowned NYC street photographer who has been hailed by Gawker as ‘The best photographer on Instagram,’ by Wired as ‘Instagram’s ultimate street photographer,’ the New Yorker turned over their Instagram feed to Daniel for a week to document activity on the NYC subways, and his work is regularly featured in Vogue as well as The New York Times, just to name a few of his accolades. And in the interest of full disclosure...Daniel also happens to be my cousin. In this marathon conversation Daniel and I take a deep, candid, and unfiltered look at the creative process. We leave no stone unturned and share both of our very honest experiences with both the amazing (i.e. manic) sides of creativity...and we also aren’t afraid to talk about our numerous personal experiences with depression and burnout. I thought this article would be both helpful and timely given that October 7th is the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week. If you are dealing with mental health issues, whether or not you work in a creative field like us, know that you are not alone. If you’ve ever felt like your creativity is a calling, a part of your identity, or something you simply must get out of your system in order to feel alive or be considered a productive member of society, you don’t want to miss this conversation. And as soon as you’re done listening (or even while you’re listening), do yourself a favor and look up Daniel’s Instagram page. His photos will literally blow your mind. And I’m not saying that because he’s my cousin....his 200 thousands followers definitely agree with me. Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: The social safety net of holding a camera Creating art as a response to stress The performative nature of being human How photography lowers the unreachable pedestal of cultural fame The ways in which creativity is bred through confrontation Creativity as a positive relationship with the fear of inadequacy Legacy, wanting to be loved, and feeling like your contributions to the world give you internal value Processing expectations and moving past the disappointment of not meeting them Depression and it's relationship with creating "Stop trying to be a good photographer...just make a mess" Useful Resources Mentioned: Daniel’s Instagram Page Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Daniel Arnold could be the William Eggleston of Instagram. Using his iPhone (along with a Contax G2 and Yashica T5), he captures the daily rhythms of New York street life in moments of both high drama and sublime banality. When he needed extra cash in March (“I had 40 bucks in my bank account and 10 grand of credit card debt,” he said), Mr. Arnold told his Instagram followers that he would sell 4-by-6 prints of his photographs for $150 each. By day’s end, he was $15,000 richer. In 2012, the gossip website Gawker published an article about how Mr. Arnold had been censored: He had posted a cheeky but artfully composed photo of two topless sunbathers at Fort Tilden beach. Though he had only 1,500 followers at the time, Gawker called his Instagram feed a “stream of brilliantly voyeuristic snapshots of New York City streets.” Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Natalie Asatryan is the youngest female in the country to be certified as a yoga instructor. If you’re not terribly familiar with the process of becoming a yoga instructor, trust me...it’s not easy for college-educated adults, much less a thirteen year old girl. But as we talk about in our interview, Natalie simply refuses to take NO for an answer. Which is why I wanted to share her inspirational story, because no matter what creative or athletic endeavor you might be pursuing, I guarantee you will hear the word NO a lot more than you will ever hear the word YES. And the difference between those who succeed vs those who fail is simply their ability to overcome adversity and failure. Listen and be inspired... Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: How Natalie became the world's youngest certified female yoga instructor Being told NO so many times but persevering anyways Most of the time people say no because it's about them, not about you Using yoga to do other good in the world through charity work Respecting and embracing the incredible learning abilities of young people "There is no age limit for changing the world" Empowering other young kids to become certified and not have their goals restricted by their age The difficulties and joys of being a young person in a field presumed to be only for adults Useful Resources Mentioned: Natalie Asatryan's Site FiP Podcast Ep86: Yoga's Healing Power (And How to Use It to Take Your Career to the Next Level) with Ally Hamilton FiP Podcast Ep62: Using Yoga to Master Your Edit Suite with Ally Hamilton FiP Podcast Ep04: Yogis Anonymous with Ally Hamilton Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Natalie proves there is no age limit for pursuing your dreams and using your gifts to make the world a better place. She developed a passion for yoga at the young age of 5, and within a few years of studying yoga, she knew she had to share it with others. At only 9, Natalie and her mom set out to find a program that would help make her dream of teaching yoga come true; however, finding a program that would accept her at such a young age was challenging. After searching for 3 years, Natalie found a yoga school and completed a rigorous 200-hour curriculum with several adults. At only 12 years old, Natalie became the youngest female yoga instructor in America and is also a member of Yoga Alliance. She now teaches donation-based yoga classes throughout the Los Angeles area, and all of the proceeds go to charity. Within less than a year of teaching yoga, Natalie raised thousands of dollars to support the Red Cross and the Unstoppable Foundation, a nonprofit that she holds dear to her heart. Through her partnership with the Unstoppable Foundation, Natalie is helping a village in Kenya build a school and get access to education, nutritious food, clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Natalie has a deep appreciation for the ancient wisdom of yoga and is a yoga student for life. Her favorite yoga pose is lotus because that's how she often meditates and escapes from the entire world. Natalie enjoys being part of the yoga community and had the honor of learning from world-renowned yogis such as Tao Porchon-Lynch and Sri Dharma Mitra. She also takes yoga classes in the Los Angeles area and hopes to collaborate with other instructors in the future. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Dr. Jason Wersland is a chiropractor, athlete, and the founder & inventor of the TheraGun, a revolutionary neuromuscular percussive therapy device...or in laymen’s terms, the most badass massage power tool you’ve ever seen. Whether you’re a professional athlete, a ‘Weekend Warrior’ running Spartan Races or training for American Ninja Warrior like me, or if you’re simply someone who lives behind a computer all day long and battles chronic discomfort, aches, and pains, I say this with zero hyperbole...the TheraGun is a GAME. CHANGER. Within minutes it literally melts knots, tension, and pain away. It’s like the cheapest, fastest, and best massage you’ve ever had. After suffering a motorcycle accident that caused a disc herniation that resulted in intense pain (and eventually atrophy), “Dr. J” recognized an extraordinary need for an effective portable treatment device for patients to use as needed. So he basically decided to build one himself. The TheraGun began as a do-it-yourself pieced together device from whatever Dr. J could find in his garage to what is now the world leader in percussive therapy. And since the introduction of this device there have been countless other companies trying to copy or improve the TheraGun...but given Dr. J’s intense attention to detail, there’s still no device quite like it. In this interview Dr. J and I discuss his “origin story” and what led him to build this device on his own, how he developed and perfected it to become the device it is today, and more importantly how anyone can use it on a daily basis to overcome muscle soreness, tightness, fatigue, and chronic aches & pains. Want to Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: How a motorcycle accident led Jason to invent his own tools for physical therapy Paying attention to the information your body is telling you about your habits Reaching as many people as possible with new potential for pain reflief How the TheraGun works on a neurological and muscular level Why it makes more sense to choose value over cost (the cheaper guys out there) Why vibration is so critical for muscle pain relief How solving problems for yourself also provides solutions for others Jason's experience treating "Danger Ehren" from Jackass The gently intuitive design of the TheraGun that helps you use it effectively Useful Resources Mentioned: Electric Face Puncher in Slow Motion - The Slow Mo Guys Podcast Ep02: Deskbound – Standing Up To a Sitting World | with Dr. Kelly Starrett Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook|Instagram I’m Dr. Jason S. Wersland, D.C., a chiropractor and the founder/inventor of TheraGun. After being in a motorcycle accident that caused a disc herniation, resulting in intense pain and eventual atrophy, I recognized an extraordinary need for an effective home or portable treatment device for patients to use as they needed. My philosophy behind TheraGun came from several perspectives. As an athlete, I recognized athletes’ unique need to be involved in their own muscle recovery. As a chiropractor, I wanted the best product for both ease of use and effectiveness. As a practitioner, I wanted a less expensive, more efficient, and more accessible product than what was available on the market. To solve this problem, I spent 8 years developing the TheraGun. With its uniquely calibrated frequency, amplitude, and torque, the TheraGun was engineered to effectively treat sore lactic-acid-filled muscles and other muscle-related conditions. Additionally, it allows the activation of muscles and joints to achieve a broader range of motion. In 2014, top professional teams and athletes began using the TheraGun to optimize their recovery and performance. The results were unanimous! Today, daily users include members of elite NCAA programs, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams, top football clubs in Europe, top rugby clubs in Europe, the United States Navy SEALs, the United States Marines Corp, IFBB professional bodybuilders, high school athletes, and US Olympians. In addition, the world's best triathletes, cyclists, runners and Crossfit athletes are training harder, recovering faster, and performing better with the latest model, the TheraGun G2PRO™. I want to express my gratitude to all the people who have assisted me on this journey. My children and many others have helped in so many ways, and I’m humbled by their support. I continue to work hard every day with the most talented team at TheraGun to deliver the best product and results for our customers. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Scott Bahneman is the creator of the SitTight (use coupon code 'OPTIMIZE' for 10% OFF), an active sitting chair which has become my new #1 recommendation for anyone looking for “the best ergonomic desk chair” (a question I get ALL THE TIME). While a bit difficult to describe if you haven’t seen one, the SitTight basically looks like the coolest bar stool you’ve ever seen attached to a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it's awesome. If you haven’t heard about the SitTight yet, you are going to hear a lot about it in the coming weeks and months because I’m on a mission to get this product in front of as many creative professionals as possible who are tired of sitting all day and want a better solution. I’m so excited about this product, in fact, that I practically begged Scott to become a sponsor of this podcast so I could inspire as many people as possible to spread the word about this new way of “active sitting.” In this episode Scott and I dive into what compelled him to transition from working in the credit card processing industry to designing this chair in his spare time out of his garage. And then we dive much deeper into how using this chair can drastically increase your heart rate, help you burn more calories, strengthen your core and spinal muscles, and even help you focus more (and longer) on complex creative tasks. Never did I anticipate having a show where I would get emotional about a desk chair, but just listen to the story of how a child with autism reacted to using this chair for the first time, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Want to Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: How Scott transitioned from working in the credit card industry to revolutionizing the desk chair The innovative origins of the SitTight chair The correlation between sedentary lifestyles and morbidity rates How the SitTight uses the body's natural sense of balance to improve your posture and tighten your core What separates the SitTight chair from other "ergonomic" posture-straightening chairs Why even the most supportive of chairs will contribute to misalignment and weakness in your spine Learning to take balance and maintaining health slowly, rather than demanding perfection Where the sedentary work lifestyle originated, and the dangers of standing all day The importance of balance therapy in providing focus for those with Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, or Alzheimers Useful Resources Mentioned: SitTight (use coupon code 'OPTIMIZE' for 10% OFF) Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Scott has spent over 30 years in the acquiring side of the credit card industry working with businesses that accept credit card payments. He also spent several years in the digital media space, founding and running a company that delivered high definition music and movie downloads. Scott Bahneman is the inventor of the SitTight and founder of the company by the same name. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
This bonus episode is a raw recording of my recent appearance at the wonderful event Editfest in Los Angeles where I was on a panel sponsored by Avid Technology titled, “The Extended Cut: How to Survive and Thrive in Editorial.” The panel was moderated by Matt Feury of Avid Technology, and in addition to me the panel also included Lillian Benson, ACE (ACE Officer and co-chair of the diversity committee), Carol Littleton, ACE (Member of the Boards of Governors of the Academy, Past President of the Motion Picture Editor’s Guild, and award-winning film editor), and Andy Seklir, ACE (Award-winning editor of Westworld as well as one of the architects of the “ACE Best Practices” Pamphlet). This panel was a brutally honest and open look at what it really takes to not only survive but thrive in Hollywood as a film editor. We talk about the brutally long hours, bouts with depression and burnout, issues with diversity on both an ethnic and gender level, office politics, and the importance of not letting anyone steal your creative passion. This was a ‘No Holds Barred’ conversation where no topic was too taboo. NOTE: This is a raw recording of a live event so I apologize for any inconsistencies in audio quality. No editing has been done to this recording...this is LIVE and UNFILTERED. Want to Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: Facing the question, "I love my work, but is it worth all of this physical pain and mental anguish?" Focusing on your own wellness in order to enhance your storytelling power Fighting the status quo of unhealthy working conditions for editors Being a woman nin the industry and the quietly malicious ways you are discouraged from asserting yourself Finding, refining, and protecting your moral center while discerning whether a job is good for you or not How to process being fired and facing other tough workplace confrontations Being disrespected will rob your of your passion, you owe it to yourself to protect it and your identity Recognizing when "paying your dues" is related to you growing stronger rather than simply being mistreated Breaking the cycle of harmful cultures of competition in the workplace Learning to give and receive criticism without jeopardizing your job Reinforcing patterns of physical movement in your day in order to reduce tension and toxicity Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
Kevin Bull is an obstacle course racing athlete and an American Ninja Warrior superstar who has appeared on 5 seasons of the show, as well as other competition shows such as Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge. During the day when he’s not crushing ninja courses he’s the general manager of DojoBoom in Thousand Oaks, CA. And he is also a huge inspiration to the many people involved in CAP, or the Children’s Alopecia Project, an organization that promotes good self esteem in kids who suffer from the hair loss condition that he also shares. What Kevin is perhaps too humble and shy to include in his biography is that he is an absolute badass that approaches every course and obstacle with zero fear or hesitation. He is most famously known for the upside down flip he made on ‘Cannonball Run’ at the 2014 Venice Finals in his first season as a walk-on. Despite his ability to move through just about any ninja obstacle with ease, in our conversation today Kevin and I don’t talk much about the physical side of being an American Ninja Warrior (although we do dive a bit into the different types of training he recommends). Where we do dive deep is how to develop the mental game of focus required to be successful, how to attack obstacles progressively one small step at a time, and the reason why it’s so important to choose obstacles in life before they choose you. Want to Win a One 1-Yr Subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Frame.io? » Click here to leave a review of this episode in iTunes (or Apple Podcasts) Here's What You'll Learn: The influence and inspiration of Arnold Schwarzenegger on young Kevin and Zack Attacking obstacles progressively one small step at a time Kevin's historic ANW Run and how he ended up there Learning to seek out challenge in order to improve, "get comfortable being uncomfortable" Tackling the mental game of focus, when others are just focused on the physical Finding a way to get rid of the ego to get through intense challenges Choosing obstacles so that when obstacles choose you, you're prepared Focusing on a variety of different types of training because ANW's unique variability Searching for your first steps to improvement when discipline seems impossible Developing habitual mental and physical training in tandem so that they become inseparable How Kevin's experience with Alopecia allowed him to become a more confident person Useful Resources Mentioned: Kevin's Historic ANW Run Our Generous Sponsors: This episode is made possible by our proud supporters Adobe. Leave a review of this episode in iTunes or Apple Podcasts and you’ll be entered to win a yearly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, an essential package of video creation tools that I personally can’t live without. What’s so cool about creative cloud is how easily you can move from ingest to editing, and from color grading to 3D compositing, thanks to smooth integration between Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition. To win yourself that yearly subscription, just leave an honest review of this show in iTunes or Apple Podcasts. You can also enter to win the 12 month 'Pro Plan' from our sponsor Frame.io, an amazing online collaboration tool where you can comment and interact directly with your videos providing instant feedback, rather than constantly going back and forth via endless email chains. (And you know how I feel about email and productivity.) Even cooler your comments can be imported directly into your editing software of choice, and it’s so intuitive, easy to use, and dare I say “pretty” that Frame.io won an Apple Design Award. Leave a podcast review in iTunes to be entered to win your 12 month 'Pro Plan.' This episode is made possible for you by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone who stands at their workstation. The Topo is super comfortable, an awesome conversation starter, and it’s also scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. Click here to learn more and get your Topo Mat. This episode is made possible by SitTight, my new #1 recommendation if you’re searching for a healthier, more ergonomically-friendly office chair that turns sitting into an activity that actually improves your health rather than damaging it. Yes, you can actually get fit while you sit. If you’ve never seen one, just imagine the most comfortable bar stool on the planet on top of a Bosu Ball. Trust me...it’s awesome. SitTight can provide fitness for your body, focus for your mind, and fun for your spirit. BONUS: Use the coupon code OPTIMIZE for 10% off your order! Guest Bio: Faceboook | Twitter | Instagram Kevin is an Obstacle Course athlete appearing on multiple television shows, including 5 seasons of American Ninja Warrior. He also manages DojoBoom in Thousand Oaks, CA and voulenteers with the Childrens Alopeica project to promote good self esteem in kids who suffer from the hair loss condition that he also shares. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared and published by Elyse Rintelman. 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). Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (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.
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