The Zack Arnold Podcast

This episode is the latest Q&A episode with my trusty sidekick Natalie Boschan, and in this episode we answer the question “How do I know when it’s worth it to take a great career opportunity that might mean sacrificing time with my family?” plus I reveal big news for the future of the Fitness In Post program.Spoiler Alert: This is the final episode of the Fitness In Post podcast.Now before you get too upset, the reason is not because I’m giving up this podcast for good or that I’m no longer interested in finding solutions to the health problems we all face as creative professionals chained to a desk all day long...in fact it’s quite the opposite. Over the coming months I plan to broaden my search and provide even more resources to this community via the podcast, the blog, as well as new online training programs I’m creating that go way beyond what I offer in the Move Yourself program.So on that note, I am announcing to you my loyal listeners before anyone else that Fitness In Post is becoming Optimize Yourself.Natalie and I talk a lot more about the thinking behind this change and what this will mean over the coming months, but in short this means there will be some down time for the podcast as I make this change, especially given that as I write this I’m editing a tv pilot for NBC Universal 6 days a week and my schedule is batshit crazy. On top of that I will be overlapping this pilot with a tv series for several weeks too, so if I intend to maintain my sanity as well as see my kids on occasion, my only choice is to take it slowly if I want to do this rebrand right.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:The origins of Fitness in PostWhen is it worth it to take career risks?Maintaining your energy and presence while working a full-time jobKnowing when sacrificing your time is worth itAddressing the confusion surrounding the FiP nameDeveloping an awareness of your long-term goalsBalancing work opportunities and family lifeThe end of Fitness in Post and the future of Optimize YourselfUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

"What is ACE, how do I become a member, and what are the benefits?" are common questions I'm asked often by fellow film editors (that I've also asked myself).Beyond simply breaking down the criteria for entry into the most prestigious organization in the post-production industry, in this episode I speak with Steve Rivkin, ACE President and editor of such films as Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ali, and many more, about what it really takes to be considered an elite editor, whether or not you belong to ACE. We break down how Stephen broke into the film industry without every having an assistant editor credit to his name, the secret to getting hired by any director or producer, how to transition from assisting to editing, and much more.If you've ever been curious about the inner-workings of what it really means to work as an editor at the highest levels and the psychology necessary to succeed, this episode is for you.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Steve's big break into the industry and how he became the president of ACEThe evolution of the modern editing career trajectoryHow to make contacts in post-productionRe-learning the lost art of cutting collaborativelyWhat you will need to get into ACEFostering good relationships within the film industryHow Steve became an editor without an assistant credit to his nameWhat it takes to transition from assisting to editingThe in's and out's of ACE as well as it's educational initiativesRaising awareness and perception of editing as a craftUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensACEEditors GuildGuest Bio:Stephen Rivkin, ACE, has been an editor in the motion picture industry for over thirty-five years. He is currently serves as President of the American Cinema Editors and is on the Board of Directors for the Motion Picture Editors Guild. He founded The Committee for Creative Recognition and EditorsPetition.com to petition film festivals and critics organizations, which honor Cinematography and/or Production Design, to add the category of Film Editing to their annual awards presentations.He has worked for some of Hollywood’s top directors including: James Cameron, Gore Verbinski, Michael Mann, Norman Jewison, Ridley Scott, Mel Brooks, Rob Cohen, Wolfgang Peterson, Chris Columbus and Diane Keaton.Rivkin was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and an ACE Eddie Award for his work on James Cameron’s mega-blockbuster “Avatar” which he co-edited.He also co-edited the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy for producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski. All three films were nominated for ACE Eddie Awards, with a win for the original summer hit “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.”Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

Let’s be honest...many of the poor habits that we have living in front of our computers did not materialize overnight. Instead they formed very slowly over years and years, and most likely many of the bad habits that you carry with you today started way back in college, or when you were a recent graduate killing yourself trying to “make it” in the film industry.Recently I was approached by Austin Coburn, a current student at George Fox University in Oregon, because unlike many college students who spend endless all-nighters getting their projects done fueled by Red Bull and fast food, Austin realized at an early age how detrimental neglecting his health was to his creativity. He was so intrigued by this concept he decided to take it upon himself to direct a documentary film about seeking some form of work-life balance in the world of filmmaking and post-production. Because he was an avid listener of this podcast, he reached out to me to be an interview subject for the film, and I found his questions and his perspective so engaging I wanted to invite him to be a guest on this show to share the student’s point of view, one I don’t get to share too often on this show.This episode is part two of a two part conversation where the roles are reversed and I become the interviewee.If you’re interested in learning how to combat the stress of being a student or graduate at an early age and not letting your bad habits get the best of you later in life, this two part interview is the place to start.If you'd like to share any horror stories or experiences about being a student, please feel free to reach out to Austin at frameworkdocumentary@gmail.comShow Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Facing the workload increase while moving from student to professionalLearning to balance work life with home lifeSwitching off your work brain to preserve creative powerEstablishing helpful triggers to optimize your cognitive processing Reducing the fear of overwhelming tasks by staggering your work over breaksHow to remain focused on your cut when you step away from the computerZack's tips for transforming your desk into a standing workstationApplying a healthy working lifestyle to your social interactionsCounteracting "work 'til death" culturePositive qualities and red flags to look for in potential employersChoosing your jobs based on where you want to be in ten years, rather than how much you makeFostering work relationships that will lastUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensSpark Foldable Standing DeskTopo MatCAP Barbell 15 Pounds KettlebellTribe Resistance Band SetShare your story with Austin: frameworkdocumentary@gmail.comGuest Bio:Austin is a senior film student at George Fox University near Portland, Oregon. He is currently working on a documentary about finding life balance while working as a young professional in the post-production industry.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

Let’s be honest...many of the poor habits that we have living in front of our computers did not materialize overnight. Instead they formed very slowly over years and years, and most likely many of the bad habits that you carry with you today started way back in college, or when you were a recent graduate killing yourself trying to “make it” in the film industry.Recently I was approached by Austin Coburn, a current student at George Fox University in Oregon, because unlike many college students who spend endless all-nighters getting their projects done fueled by Red Bull and fast food, Austin realized at an early age how detrimental neglecting his health was to his creativity. He was so intrigued by this concept he decided to take it upon himself to direct a documentary film about seeking some form of work-life balance in the world of filmmaking and post-production. Because he was an avid listener of this podcast, he reached out to me to be an interview subject for the film, and I found his questions and his perspective so engaging I wanted to invite him to be a guest on this show to share the student’s point of view, one I don’t get to share too often on this show.This episode is part one of a two part conversation where the first part is me doing the interviewing, but then in part two the roles are reversed and I become the interviewee.If you’re interested in learning how to combat the stress of being a student or graduate at an early age and not letting your bad habits get the best of you later in life, this two part interview is the place to start.If you'd like to share any horror stories or experiences about being a student, please feel free to reach out to Austin at frameworkdocumentary@gmail.comShow Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:What led Austin to produce a documentary on post-production wellnessThe overlooked health of college film studentsHow students view the demands of the industryBalancing a career and family lifeThe dangers of valuing time over talentLearning to develop good working habits How to stop viewing yourself as a machineBreaking the hold of late night fast food runs on your dietLearning to say no (and not loathe yourself in the process)Dealing with information overload and focusing on improving a few skills at a timeUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensEp81: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (And Learning How to Say No)Share your story with Austin: frameworkdocumentary@gmail.comGuest Bio:Austin is a senior film student at George Fox University near Portland, Oregon. He is currently working on a documentary about finding life balance while working as a young professional in the post-production industry.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

Film editing is a magical art form that very few people truly understand. Frankly, there are people within the film industry that don't understand the power the editor yields in shaping the finished product.In this episode I have an in-depth conversation with Steven Hullfish, a feature film and tv editor, instructor, and author of multiple books on editing (and the entire post-production process) including his latest book Art of the Cut. Steve and I chat about his journey preparing for and compiling over 50 interviews with editing legends, and beyond just the interviews themselves how he was able to find a narrative within all of his various conversations that led to amazing insights into the process of film editing and storytelling. We talk about many different areas of film editing well beyond the basics like understanding story structure, pacing, timing, rhythm, the process for reviewing dailies, and much more.If you're interested in taking your knowledge of editing to the next level and you want to truly understand what it takes to be a magician in the edit bay, this interview is a great first step, and then picking up a copy of Art of the Cut after you're done listening is a great second step.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Steve's journey from college student to post-production masterThe addicting rush of increasing your editing efficiencyDetermining which of the 4 types of editors you areSteve's strange techniques for parsing through interviewsAsking the questions that editors never get to ask other editorsCommon industry misunderstandings about editingStrategies for fighting editor's blockCreative advice from the industry's greatest editorsThe subjective art of watching dailiesUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensArt of the Cut: Conversations with Film and TV EditorsGuest Bio:Steve Hullfish is a feature film and TV editor, with credits including Courageous, War Room, Champion and the theatrically released feature documentary, Clinton Inc. In addition to Art of the Cut, he is the author of five other books, including The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction and Avid Uncut. He also trains editors and colorists around the world.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

Let's face it: When you routinely work 16 hours a day in front of a computer, one of the greatest challenges is maintaining a healthy diet. On Monday morning you resolve to do better this week, but as the deadlines pile on and the time begins to disappear, your willpower quickly erodes and you'll grab whatever you can quickly to keep moving. If you're lucky it's Chinese or Thai provided by your office assistant, and if you're not so lucky, it's a bowl of cereal and Oreo's (I've been there myself...I'm not judging). And if you truly want to eat healthy either at the office cafeteria or by ordering out yourself, it's going to cost you a second mortgage.But what if you could start creating a workflow for your daily meals no different than your creative workflows? In this episode I chat with returning guest Allison Schaaf, the creator of Prep Dish. In episode 66 Allison and I talked about the basic fundamentals of bulk meal preparation, and in this episode we do an even deeper dive into how you can really optimize your process for creating a week's worth of food in just a few hours every weekend.Click here for 2 free Prep Dish meal plansShow Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:How Allison came to create Prep DishBatching your cooking to save time and maximize efficiencyTaking away the intimidation factor of cooking as a beginnerWading through the crowded marketplace of cooking servicesAllison's tips for developing a cooking workflowHow switching from plastic to glass food storage can make your food taste betterWhere to start if you've never cooked beforeViewing cooking as meditative instead of a choreUsing recipes to develop your ability to improvise with your foodHow to get your kids to eat healthierAllison's journey from personal chef to online entrepreneurDefeating the overwhelming task of starting an online businessUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensPrepDishFiP Ep66: How To Systematize Meal PlanningGuest Bio:Chef Allison Schaaf, MS, RD, LD (Twitter: @prepdish) is a food, nutrition & culinary expert and founder of Prep Dish, a subscription-based gluten-free and paleo meal plan service. Allison holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University, a Masters in Nutrition Communications from Tufts University, and became a Registered Dietitian at New England Medical Center. When she isn’t cooking, Allison fully embraces life as an Austinite. She is an avid yogi and enjoys hiking, standup paddle boarding and regular walks around Lady Bird Lake. Allison is also an avid traveler and draws culinary inspiration from each trip; recent adventures include Africa, Japan and South America, Spain and frequent trips to Colorado, California and her home state of KansasShow Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

No matter how passionate, energetic, and dedicated you are to your creative profession, you will inevitably reach a point of exhaustion and burnout. It happens to the best of us including me.In today’s episode I have a conversation with post-production guru Michael Kammes that runs the gamut from tech all the way to really in-depth and honest conversations about mental health. If you’ve ever found yourself at a point in your life where you’re just spinning your wheels and walking into work every day wondering if it’s the right choice for you, Michael’s story is very inspiring. He is one of the most passionate and dedicated to post-production technology that I’ve ever met, but even Michael hit a wall at one point, but instead of giving in he decided to step back, hit the reset button, and make some major changes in his life. I hope his story inspires you to make some positive changes as well.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Michael's journey to becoming a tech guruHow to enable creativity through technical knowledgeThe frustration of losing enthusiasm for your workMichael's history with ADD and DepressionDealing with the pros and cons of medicationUsing activity as a healthy outlet for frustrationFeeling satisfied with your work by giving 100%How Michael reset his life over the course of two weeks and changed his health and outlook for the betterThe importance of sharing our stories to give the tools of health and wellness to allow creativity to flourishBeing effective rather than just being efficientCherishing your ability to do the work that you loveUseful Links:FiP Amazon LinkAthletic GreensMichael Kammes5 Things SeriesFiP Ep14: Let's Talk About Mental IllnessFiP Ep18: The Science of Anxiety and DepressionFiP Ep100: The Current State of Mental Health In PostGuest Bio:Michael Kammes is the Director of Technology at Key Code Media, and host of the tech series "5 THINGS". He works on the technical and consulting side of post production, and has been a keynote speaker at conventions, technology retreats, symposiums, and colleges.His post audio experience encompasses serving as a film and television Dialogue Editor, SFX Editor, ADR Recordist & Editor, Re-Recording Mixer and Supervising Sound Editor.Plus, he just really, really, digs Post.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

As a creative professional you most likely fuel yourself on a daily basis with caffeine and afternoon sugar rushes, you fend off brain fog and the inevitable afternoon nap, and you'll spend however long it takes to make your latest project perfect (whether you're getting paid or not). But how is your modern lifestyle not only affecting your general health but also your brain health?In this episode I have an in-depth conversation with Dr. Dave Jenkins, co-founder of The More Model. With experience in both the traditional medical fields as well as functional and integrative medicine, Dr. Jenkins specializes specifically in brain health and how we can optimize our brain function and fight back against the diseases of modern civilization.Whether you're interested in how sleep affects your cognitive function, how nutrition and poor choices are literally "rotting your brain," or how movement plays a pivotal role in brain health, cognitive performance, and longevity, this conversation covers it all.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Dave's trajectory to studying the brain and developing the "MORE" modelUnderstanding functional medicine's purposeThe difference between functional medicine and integrative medicineTreating patients with a focus on causes rather than symptomsNeuroplasticity and the search for a cure for AlzheimersHow consistent caffeine and sugar intake can damage your brainFocusing on inflammation in your body and brain instead of just counting caloriesHow to recognize signs of mental degeneration early Prioritizing sleep in order to harness the power of your glymphatic systemFacilitating a healthy circadian rhythm by avoiding blue light after sunsetDave's tips for having a nutritionally whole diet (Eat your broccoli sprouts!)Finding ways to motivate movement in your daily routinesUseful Links:Athletic GreensThe MORE ModelContact Dave at: drdave@themoremodel.comFiP Ep63: Overcoming Sugar AddictionFiP Ep71: How Movement Makes Your SmarterFiP Ep83: How Being Sedentary is Killing You (According to NASA)Guest Bio:Dr. Dave Jenkins, founder of "The More Model" is a Functional Medicine Physician and Coach who helps clients reverse disease and achieve ultimate health and longevity. This includes a special interest in brain fog, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

I’m often asked via social media, via email, and in my member coaching calls about proper posture at a seated or standing workstation. Where should my elbows go? What’s the best desk chair? Why do my shoulders hurt? Why is my lower back on fire all the time?In this episode I have a conversation with Zeena Dhalla, a certified posture specialist, self-proclaimed posture geek, and the founder of the Verticalign program which you can find at verticalign.com. Zeena and I dive into all of these issues and more to help you understand the detriments of living all day long in the same bad position and what positions you can switch to instead, as well as the simple exercises that can be done to alleviate and eliminate years of chronic pains.For further information as well as specific exercises and postural modifications you can be making today, click here for Zeena's article "The Magic of Postural Modification (And How It Can Cure Your Back Pain Better Than a Doctor)"Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Zeena's path to being a posture specialistHow the collective evolution of our bodies has changed the applicability of older pilates programsThe surprising ways that your posture affects how other view youApplying your creative spark to your active lifestyleHow Zeena addresses the most common neck and back issuesLearning to emphasize extension over flexion if you work a sedentary jobEasing yourself into yoga or pilates by knowing your body's strengths and weaknessesHow your posture affects your hormonesTools you can use to help improve your posture and raise your awareness of your bodySimple stretches you can do while you drive to alleviate pain from sittingThe pros and cons of a yoga ball chairZeena's tips for maintaining healthy posture throughout your dayUseful Links:Verticalalign.comPosture BlogFiP Ep64: How To Diagnose Reduce and Eliminate Chronic PainFiP Ep106: The Cure For Lower Back Pain, Tension Headaches, And So Much MoreGuest Bio:Zeena Dhalla is a Certified Posture Specialist and self-proclaimed posture GEEK. She helps people eliminate neck and back pain through simple and effective home based exercise routines. Download the 5 Minute Solution to Hunchback Posture (hyperlink to: http://verticalign.com/2016/05/16/5-minute-solution-hunchback-posture/) if you want to improve your posture and get out of bed every morning with less pain and more pizazz! Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.

In this episode I have a conversation with Nick Harauz, a certified Adobe, Apple, and Avid trainer. And for those of you listening that aren’t specifically in the editing field, that’s like saying Nick teaches people how to drive Ferrari’s, Mercedes, and BMW’s. Teaching one is tough, but knowing how to teach all three effectively? That’s quite an accomplishment. Nick is also an author, graphic designer, and editor as well.Needless to say Nick wears a lot of different hats in the filmmaking industry, and we talk about the different lifestyles that he experiences when working on a set versus sitting all day long in front of a computer. More importantly in this episode we also dig into Nick’s personal health journey and his many different experiments trying to stay healthy using extreme “all or nothing” methods as well as much slower long term lifestyle options.If you’re hitting a point in your life where you’re ready for things to change but you’re not quite sure what the roadmap looks like, Nick’s story is a great source of inspiration.Show Sponsor:G-TechnologyTopics of Conversation:Nick's experience working in production as well as in postUsing "safe holes" to maintain your health in post productionHow Nick maintained a healthy lifestyle after undertaking an unsustainable diet and workout scheduleDeveloping a healthy lifestyle instead of temporarily dietingLearning how different foods affect your physiologyThe morning habits that will improve your dayTechniques for achieving more positive thinkingNick's tips for staying healthy while working a sedentary jobOrganizing your tasks to make the most of your timeHow establishing routines can maximize your efficiency and overall happinessUseful Links:Clips And Handles Website7 Rules For Making More HappinessMorning RoutineBurnout SleepG TechFiP Amazon LinkBeach Body On DemandMiracle MorningYogis AnonymousGuest Bio:Nick Harauz (Twitter: @clipsandhandles)is a certified Adobe, Apple, and Avid trainer. He has an uncanny ability to engage his students and create a level of relatedness that keeps them coming back for more. Since 2002, Nick has also worked with domestic and international brands, offering a wide variety of video production and motion graphic services. He has worked with clients such as Proctor & Gamble, Diageo, Virgin Mobile, Nando's, and Blackberry.In 2013, Nick wrote his first book on Apple Motion 5, which is available on Amazon. This year he has spoken for Adobe at the launch of CC 2014 in Toronto , NAB and the After Effects World Conference . Currently, Nick is working on his first feature film, Lost and Found.When he is not teaching, travelling, or creating video content, Nick can be found playing tennis.Show Credits:This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, the show notes were prepared by Jakin Rintelman, and this show is executive produced by Kanen Flowers. We are a member of the THAT STUDIO podcast network.The music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Dorian Cheah from his brilliant album ARA.