The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

As an NYU undergraduate, Mattan Griffel had aspirations for a career in finance. But getting rejected from over 100 jobs he applied drastically altered the course of his career ultimately leading to the launch of the Ycombinator startup One Month. Separating your self worth from experiencing rejection Using self education and online learning to accelerate your career pathWhy we have to make our own ideas happen How a series of blog posts turned into an online class with over 2000 registrants The problem with experts and the internalization of knowledgeCultivating the ability to see opportunity when you hit roadblocks Designing your life around serendipity A framework for accelerated learning that you can apply to any new skillA look inside the Ycombinator experience QuotesOnce something is actually useful to you, you’re much more interested in learning it Resources General AssemblyOne Month Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with reality television producer about Jerry Kolber about his work on shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, National Geographic documentaries and Brain Games. We also talk about why the story you’re telling is so essential to any creative project you’re working on. Inside the NYU Ecosystem of Creative ProfessionalsUsing a meditation practice for career guidance A creative framework for working with limited resourcesDealing with significant career failures Learning to Separate Your Identity from Your Work Why you have to connect to people to find opportunitiesThe Reason Story Is So Essential to Your Creative ProcessInside the reality television production process Why we always have some version of the creative struggleQuotesThe nature of the universe is honest good work gets recognizedJerry is a writer, producer, and Buddhist. Projects include Queer Eye, Inked, National Geographic documentaries, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast we speak with Macgyer creator Lee Zlotoff about the making of his hit TV show which has remained on their air across the world for 30 years, and using what he calls the Macgyver methodd to  engage the enormous capabilities of your subconscious mind to bear on effective problem solving.The 3 key elements that have caused Macgyver to be on the air for 30 yearsCreating global resonance and timelessness in your workWhy this could be a critical century to the future of humanity Learning to solve our problems with humor and humilityA transmedia approach to creativity and creation Why the average college student will change careers 5 times Applying the macgyver method for prolific creative outputRemoving the stress of creative production by using our subconsciousWhy you shouldn’t waste time worrying about how you’re going to get thereInside the problem solving mechanisms of the subconscious mind Using incubation activities to keep your conscious mind fro thinking about problemQuotesIf there’s something you want to do in the entertainment business just start doing it.The ability to reach millions of people is now in the hands of the individual. ResourcesThe Macgyver Foundation Macgyver Global Lee David Zlotoff is an award-winning writer, producer and director of film and television. Among his more than one hundred hours of film and television credits, he was the creator/writer of the hit series “MacGyver” as well as the writer/director of the indie hit film “Spitfire Grill” which won the coveted Audience Award at the Sundance film festival, and which has also gone on to become a successful musical. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Vivak Tiwary about his journey from business school to producing Broadway musicals and working with artists like Greenday, Alanis Morisette and many others. Highlights The cultural conflict of doing what you love versus doing what’s practical Why unorthodox paths are inherently difficult How Vivek used Brian Epstein’s life story to serve as a mentor for his career A look at the Broadway production of Greenday’s American Idiot Making the choices that allow for a profitable expression of art and commerce. How technology changes the entire creative process Lessons in creativity from the production of a Broadway Musical Quotes If your dream’s are unorthodox be prepared to work your ass off. Resources The Fifth Beatle Vivek’s TEDX talk Tiwary Entertainment Group Vivek J. Tiwary is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, and the founder of multi-platform arts and entertainment company Tiwary Entertainment Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show we speak with Wrike founder and CEO Andrew Filev about his mission to become insanely productive. Highlights Cultural influences of a post-Soviet worldBuilding perseverance and becoming resourcefulWhy time is our most precious resourceRecognizing the magic moments in your life The difference between your work managing you and you managing your work Developing a system to drastically change your resultsUsing small wins to get to a really big goal Combining things from different worlds to make something Unmistakable As the founder and CEO of Wrike, Andrew Filev is the visionary behind the unique social project management mix that has become an irreplaceable collaboration solution for thousands of customers. As a successful software entrepreneur and experienced project manager, Andrew not only oversees the company's business strategy, but passionately leads the product management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the show, we speak with behavioral scientist and FiveMinute Journal Founder UJ Ramdas about the science of gratitude and simple behavioral changeUJ’s earlier cultural influences The journey of self inquiry Why momentum is critical How the dots connect in lifeUsing journals to find data about yourselfBecoming a better student of yourselfSimplifying Your Daily Gratitude PracticeManaging cognitive load to change behavior Applying real world consequences to behavioral changeQuotesI think almost always, insight is predicated by disaster – UJ Ramdas ResourcesThe Art of Learning Mastery by Robert GreeneThe Five Minute JournalUJ Ramdas is passionate about bringing together practical psychology and business to create a better world. With a background in Behavioural science, Marketing and Hypnosis, he’s consulted with (several hundred) clients, bringing them from confusion to clarity. Currently based out of Toronto, Canada, he’s a big fan of the wilderness, eastern meditative practices and a good cup of tea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview we wrap up 2014 by revisiting our interview with Nick ReeseLike many young people, Nick Reese was wildly ambitious. While that ambition became the driving force of his entrepreneurial efforts, matters of the heart interfered.  What started was a radical shift from maximizing income to maximizing impact. Starting a t-shirt company from a college dorm roomLearning to recover from the failure of a business Having the audacity to go for what you really wantWhy Nick tied his self worth to making money A pivotal moment that caused Nick to change his pathLooking at a difficult parental relationship with a fatherHandling significant amounts of adversity in order to growThe 30 day cold shower challenge The importance of being able to tolerate uncomfortable situationsDeveloping a confident internal narrative to go after what you want How to improve your map of the world my modeling great onesWhy reading non-business books is incredibly useful Creating the awareness necessary to  know you're in an identity crisisWhy relationships matter more than anything in the worldAn incredible story of love, heart problems, and what matters in life  Battling with credbility vampires  Nick Reese is on a mission to help people learn the skills to live an uncommonly good life. You can learn more about his work at NicholasReese.com and Broadbandnow.com Resources and People MentionedThe Pillars of the EarthThe Neursocience of Flow with Steven KotlerThe Making of Super Size me with Alex Jamieson This episode of the Unmistakable Creative is sponsored by Skilledup, an online course discovery platform built to help shape the future of learning​. Download their free toolkit for creative professionals. In this interview we wrap up 2014 by revisiting our interview with Nick ReeseLike many young people, Nick Reese was wildly ambitious. While that ambition became the driving force of his entrepreneurial efforts, matters of the heart interfered.  What started was a radical shift from maximizing income to maximizing impact. Starting a t-shirt company from a college dorm roomLearning to recover from the failure of a business Having the audacity to go for what you really wantWhy Nick tied his self worth to making money A pivotal moment that caused Nick to change his pathLooking at a difficult parental relationship with a fatherHandling significant amounts of adversity in order to growThe 30 day cold shower challenge The importance of being able to tolerate uncomfortable situationsDeveloping a confident internal narrative to go after what you want How to improve your map of the world my modeling great onesWhy reading non-business books is incredibly useful Creating the awareness necessary to  know you're in an identity crisisWhy relationships matter more than anything in the... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we continue our best of 2014 series. Joe Loya’s life trajectory of rising up and moving forward took a radically different turn after losing his mother at an an early age, and stabbing his father in the neck at the age of 16. This was beginning of of a life of crime, and 14 month bank robbing spree in which he robbed 30 banks. In this amazing chat about his life, we discuss the amazing power of innovating with your story. HiglightsThe loss of a parent at a very young age Growing up with an abusive fatherHow stabbing his father unleashed Joe’s angerThe power of a story that continually changedHow being robbed caused Joe to ratchet up his gameThe murder of an ex cellmate that changed Joe’s lifeAchieving balance without acting against your consciousnessHow writing starts to reveal the patterns of our lives Why you must start to own your story How Joe became a talking head for crime  The pain of victims that led Joe to working with female writersWhy your story is a fluid thing that you can ownHow we deal with grief and why it’s a part of life Why holding onto grief can be insidious How being trained to look for meaning helped Joe transform A look at what happens in the mind when you rob a bank Why your story is a fluid thing that can change Learning to laugh at the things you take seriouslyOur cultural misperceptions of the people who are prison Joe Loya is an essayist and playwright, as well as a contributing editor with the Pacific News Service. His essays have appeared in several national newspapers and magazines, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Los Angeles Times, and El Andar magazine.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this best of 2014 episode, we revisit our interview with Sarah Peck. Sarah is an writer/designer/entrepreneur whose life has been deeply influenced by swimming and writing. In this chat we discuss lessons she’s learned on her journey from college swim team member to writer and open water swimmer, whose swims have included braving the treacherous waters of San Francisco bay to make it to Alcatraz and back.HighlightsThe “not good enough” narrative that we all deal withChanging our narratives to serve us rather than sabotage usWhy we can’t be too hard on our egosHow learning not to stop can be life changingLetting of the things we think we’re capable of for something betterWhy it’s ok for things to be incredibly difficultTrials and tribulations of Sarah’s college swimming experienceHow open water swimming changed Sarah’s lifeWhy challenges, quitting, and obstacles reveal who we are Leveraging incredible mental frameworks to overcome painFighting through pain when you’re absolutely miserableWhy the worst of times reveals somebody’s true characterThe correlation between happiness and hard workWhy pain is a signal from your bodyLearning to recognize and leverage your areas of expertiseWhy Sarah teaches writing as a mechanism to get access to your inner wisdomThe power of committing to the act of creating and doodling  Sarah Peck is a writer, open water swimmer, designer-entrepreneuer and urban nerd who is on a mission is to find and capture insights from everyday, extraordinary living an share them with others Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we look back at one of our best episodes of the year. Dani Shapiro has made her living as a writer for more than 20 years. In this interview we have an in-depth discussion about working artists and what it takes to master the craft of writing. Highlights:Why there are many trajectories to creative careersDani's early exposure to working artistsThe importance of living and rebelling Why Having a story to tell matters so muchGetting back to callings of our youth How a new generation values of quality of lifeWhy Dani left New York for a quiet country lifeWhat it truly means to live a creative lifeHow some of the great things in life happen accidentallyThe importance of exposing yourself to great artists Some incredible insights on the best way to start your daySlowing down your mind by reading physical books Making meaning from loss by telling a resonant storyThe self doubt that every single writer faces before the pageMemory and imagination as engines for storytelling Being responsible with our gifts as writers When you feel misunderstood and wounded as a writerThe reason you can't hand lack of craftsmanship Why authors are increasingly responsible for their book's successThe role that talent plays in your ability to succeed as a writerResourcesStill Writing: The pleasure and perils of a creative lifeGoodbye to all that: Writers on loving and leaving New York Dani Shapiro is the bestselling author of the memoirs Devotion and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, One Story, Elle, The New York Times Book Review, The Los Angeles Times, and has been widely anthologized. She has taught in the writing programs at Columbia, NYU, The New School and Wesleyan University, and she is co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.