Optimize Yourself

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist My guest today is Taylor Lewis who is an editor, writer, and disability advocate. He recently wrapped working as an Editorial PA on the Netflix feature film, Rebel Moon. But most of our conversation today focuses on Taylor's advocacy for disability representation in every level of the entertainment industry so they can share their perspective in life. Taylor believes that the best story to tell about a person with a disability is one that focuses on what they do as a human being with the disability being secondary. In our conversation, Taylor tells his story about how he got into the entertainment industry by turning down an entry-level job because he believes it was offered to him out of 'charity' (by the way, did I mention that he has his own unique disability that you’ll hear him talk about?). We also deep dive into the different definitions of the word 'disability' and how some disabilities exist simply through the systems we put in place. Taylor believes that accommodating disabled people at every level not only benefits them, but it benefits all of us. I encourage you to listen to my conversation with Taylor as his views on representation and his advocacies will ask you to consider that in some contexts, everyone has a disability and a disability can also be a superpower. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: The Peanut Butter Falcon 1in4 Coalition Jack Thorne Group Effort Initiative Inevitable Foundation Go Far: The Christopher Rush Story Ep62: [CASE STUDY] Transitioning to Scripted Television | with Len Ciccotello Continue to Listen & Learn Ep46: Finding Strength On the Road to Disability | with Chris Anselmo Ep20: Rewiring Your Brain to Be Happier | with Shane Burcaw Ep190: Transforming Your Disabilities Into Superpowers | with Erik Stolhanske Ep121: Breaking Down Impossible Obstacles to Make (Almost) Anything Achievable | with Jessie Graff, ANW Ep165: How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW Ep53: Never Take ‘No’ For An Answer | with Natalie Asatryan Ep25: Being Grateful In the Face of Adversity | with Humberto Gurmilan Tired of Life Kicking Your Ass? Learn to Fight Back Like a True ‘Cobra Kai’ Want to Be Part of the Solution but Don’t Know How? Start with Listening. Ep107: Recognizing, Mentoring, and Promoting Diversity In Hollywood | with Monty DeGraff, ACE Guest Bio: Taylor Lewis Taylor Lewis started his career in post-production for advertising and documentaries. He recently decided to make the jump to feature films and is currently working as an Editorial PA on a Netflix feature film. Taylor also does disability content consulting for ad agencies, gives presentations about disability representation in media, and runs the Instagram account @disabilitycallsheet highlighting disabled actors. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is Malinda Zehner Guerra who is an Emmy nominated film and TV editor. She is also a long time Optimizer OG since the pre-pandemic days. Malinda has over 15 years of experience cutting a variety of genres on such shows as Shark Week, Naked & Afraid, and A Black Lady Sketch Show for which she has earned her 4th Emmy nomination. But what led to her interview today is her unusual story of transitioning from working on unscripted shows to doing scripted and eventually landing her dream job in one of the top level scripted shows on TV. Malinda shares how she said 'no' to an opportunity to transition to scripted as an assistant editor, why she decided to turn down the offer, and what she did instead. She also shares how she made the most of her downtime during the pandemic by going through the Optimizer program to help in her transition to scripted. In this student case study, not only will you learn about the steps you can take to help you make a career transition, you will also learn the important mindset and relevant skills you need that goes beyond the technical aspect of your resume. I highly recommend that you listen to this Optimizer student case study to give you a better understanding of what you need to do to make your own career shift. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Continue to Listen & Learn Ep76: Transitioning to Scripted Television (Without Becoming an AE) | with Phil Habeger & Toni Ann Carabello Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace Ep204: [CASE STUDY] How to Make Your Dream Project a Reality | with Matt Allen and Matthew Gentile Ep172: [CASE STUDY] Landing Your Dream Job Isn’t About “Luck,” It’s About Strategy | with Fabian Corrado & Nick Towle Ep192: [CASE STUDY] How a Single Outreach Email Led to a Dream Job at Marvel | with Matthew Farrugia Ep179: Navigating The ‘Messy Middle’ of Life & Career Transitions | with Melissa Costello Ep145: [CASE STUDY] Navigating a Difficult Career Transition | with Sam Lavin Ep62: [CASE STUDY] Transitioning to Scripted Television | with Len Ciccotello Ep15: Transitioning From ‘Reality TV’ to Scripted Drama | with Monica Daniel Ep160: Convincing People You Can Do The Job (When You Don’t Have the Credits) | with Chris Patterson Ep159: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs (and Lack of Experience) to Break Into Scripted Television | with Marcella Garcia Ep233: Redefining Your Career Path in a Post Generational Society | with Mauro Guillén Guest Bio: Malinda Zehner Guerra Malinda Zehner Guerra is a three-time Emmy nominated Film and TV editor. Her love for storytelling first brought her into the entertainment industry as a performer, but she soon found her true passion was in the edit bay helping to bring the story to life. Her body of work includes a wide variety of genres and formats in both the scripted and unscripted space. She earned Emmy nominations for her work on Naked & Afraid XL, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and Born This Way. Her most recent work can be seen on Season 4 of the hit HBO Max show, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and the upcoming season of American Horror Stories. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Chris Orsi, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Mauro Guillén is a Professor of Management and Vice Dean for the MBA for Executives Program at Wharton School, an expert in global market trends and a sought-after speaker and consultant. And what caught my attention is this quote from his website which pretty much describes not only the current situation of the entertainment industry but the world at large: This is not fear mongering but an invitation to reinvent how you plan your life and your career. Our conversation took us deep into the reasons why the world is changing so fast and why the sequential model of life we've been trained to live (for over 120 years now) is not only obsolete but a danger to society as well. Mauro and I talk about the important shifts that we need to take which he lays out in his book, THE PERENNIALS: The Megatrends Creating a Post Generational Society. My previous conversation with Christina Wallace talks about future proofing on an individual level, and this conversation with Mauro broadens out to the societal level. I cannot emphasize enough how timely these conversations are in helping you diversify your life and identify who you are beyond your resume. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society Ep231: Becoming a Master of Change in All Aspects of Your Life | with Brad Stulberg Ep230: Why You Feel Stuck and the Key to Unlocking Your Full Potential | with Eduardo Briceño Ep170: How to Avoid Burnout and Live a More ‘Effortless’ Life | with Greg McKeown Mindset: The New Psychology of Success A Lifetime of Systems Thinking by Russell Ackoff Continue to Listen & Learn Ep232: How to Future-Proof Your Creative Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Résumé | with Christina Wallace Ep74: How to Master the Metaskill of ‘Ultralearning’ | with Scott Young Ep217: How to Live a Better Life Simply by Asking Better Questions | with Marc Champagne Ep214: What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone IDENTITY (Weathering the storm…without losing yourself) This isn’t just an economic crisis…it’s an identity crisis. Ep228: The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis Ep178: How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick [BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao Surviving AI requires changing our relationship with the “F-word” Ep198: Terrified to Make a Big Change In Your Life? Start By “Showing Up Small” | with Eddy Roche Ep06: Defining Your Purpose and Living Large | with Tony Horton Guest Bio: Mauro Guillén Mauro F. Guillén is one of the most original thinkers at the Wharton School, where he is Professor of Management and Vice Dean for the MBA for Executives Program. An expert on global market trends, he is a sought-after speaker and consultant. He combines his training as a sociologist at Yale and as a business economist in his native Spain to methodically identify and quantify the most promising opportunities at the intersection of demographic, economic, and technological developments. His online classes on Coursera and other platforms have attracted over 100,000 participants from around the world. He has won multiple teaching awards at Wharton, where his presentation on global market trends has become a...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is Christina Wallace who is an entrepreneur, author, and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business school. Christina is a self-described "human Venn diagram" who has built a career at the intersection of business, technology and the arts. If you've been a listener of my podcast for sometime or have attended my latest workshops, you will most likely recognize that term as something I highly support. In our conversation, Christina and I talk about the history of how industrialization shaped the needs of the human species to specialize, but how that shift has now turned against the working class. We also talk about how the pandemic became the catalyst to trigger the rapid shift that made specialization become not only outdated, but the biggest risk in our time. We delved deeper into why the specialization model simply doesn't work anymore given the rapid changing circumstances we're going into right now, and what exactly we need to be focusing on as we move forward. Christina and I also talk about building The Portfolio Life, which is the title of her book as well as a key strategy to become irreplaceable (even in these rapid changing times when many roles are being rendered obsolete). She takes us through the steps she describes in her book to find the intersection of everything in your life so you can identify what makes you who you really are as well as discover the value you can offer in any industry. Whatever industry you're currently in, this conversation will help shed light on your next steps if you feel you're behind and need to catch up with our constantly evolving world. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card The Genius Zone: The Breakthrough Process to End Negative Thinking and Live in True Creativity Ep230: The Performance Paradox – How Only Focusing On Performance Leads to Performing Worse | with Eduardo Briceño Ep231: Becoming a Master of Change in All Aspects of Your Life | with Brad Stulberg Continue to Listen & Learn IDENTITY (Weathering the storm…without losing yourself) This isn’t just an economic crisis…it’s an identity crisis. Ep228: The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis Ep178: How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick [BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao Surviving AI requires changing our relationship with the “F-word” Ep229: Why Providing Value & Supporting Your Community is Essential | with Shiran Carolyn Amir, ACE Ep182: Staying True to Your Core Values (When Hollywood Tries to Steal Your Soul) | with Sean Corvelle Ep164: How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix Ep198: Terrified to Make a Big Change In Your Life? Start By “Showing Up Small” | with Eddy Roche Ep06: Defining Your Purpose and Living Large | with Tony Horton Guest Bio: Christina Wallace A self-described “human Venn diagram”, Christina Wallace has crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, where she teaches entrepreneurship and leads HBS Startup Bootcamp. Her latest book is The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Brad Stulberg is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness as well as the upcoming book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing, which we will be discussing in our conversation today. Brad and I nerd out on the science behind how we react to changes and why change can cause stress, anxiety and even depression. Brad reveals a simple and effective formula for relating to change and how to apply it in every day life. We cover the reasons why contentment can be such a sticky and loaded topic. Plus, you’ll learn some therapeutic theories and tools such as the arrival fallacy and behavioral activation, to help you understand and work with anxiety and depression.. Our conversation then pivoted to the latest change that the creatives in the entertainment industry are encountering now. Brad provides concrete steps and questions we can ask ourselves to help us deal with the strike and the developing world of Artificial Intelligence. If you’ve been feeling a shift in your identity, or some form of an identity crisis, there are some helpful ideas for managing this change. This is a timely conversation that will be relevant for years to come due to the everlasting nature of change and our evolving relationship to it. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing - Including You Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’ 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | Federal Communications Commission Crisis hotlines and resources Brad Stulberg | Author, Executive Coach, and Speaker | Official Site Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World You are a “Jack of All Trades” AND a master of one (you just don’t know it yet) Continue to Listen & Learn IDENTITY (Weathering the storm…without losing yourself) This isn’t just an economic crisis…it’s an identity crisis. Ep228: The Link Between Telling Your Story & Identifying Your Purpose (And How to Do Both) | with Dan Davis Ep178: How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick [BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis Ep222: Is Artificial Intelligence Coming for Your Job? Maybe…and Here’s How to Prepare | with Michael Kammes Ep221: How to Be an Irreplaceable Creative in the Emerging World of Artificial Intelligence | with Srinivas Rao Surviving AI requires changing our relationship with the “F-word” Ep230: The Performance Paradox – How Only Focusing On Performance Leads to Performing Worse | with Eduardo Briceño Ep229: Why Providing Value & Supporting Your Community is Essential | with Shiran Carolyn Amir, ACE Ep182: Staying True to Your Core Values (When Hollywood Tries to Steal Your Soul) | with Sean Corvelle Ep164: How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix Ep198: Terrified to Make a Big Change In Your Life? Start By “Showing Up Small” | with Eddy Roche Ep06: Defining Your Purpose and Living Large | with Tony Horton Guest Bio: Brad Stulberg Brad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on health, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness and co-author of Peak Performance. Stulberg regularly contributes to the New York Times, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine,...

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Eduardo Briceño is a global keynote speaker that has been guiding many of the world’s leading companies in developing cultures of high performance and effective learning. He is the author of the book, THE PERFORMANCE PARADOX: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action (to be released on September 5th) and is an absolute powerhouse of information on what the growth mindset actually is and how you can achieve it. In our conversation, Eduardo and I dive deep into the science of how the human mind learns at different ages, and why understanding this is the key to unlocking your ability to learn more deeply in ways that are far more fulfilling (as opposed to our previous conditioning at a young age that learning sucks). Eduardo explains how you can avoid what he calls the Performance Paradox, where high performing individuals become in danger of being stuck due to the fact that they are no longer learning, they are just doing what they know best over a long period of time. If you’re looking to not only advance your current level of success, but maintain that success long term (or get un-stuck if you feel as if you’re running in place), this conversation is for you. Eduardo completely reframes the process of learning and reaching your own peak level of high performance in ways that are both simple to understand and fulfilling to practice. The insights you'll learn from our discussion are invaluable in order to help you grow not only in your career, but your life in general. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: TED Talk: How to Get Better at the Things You Care About TEDx Talk: The Power of Belief The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action - Eduardo Briceño Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D. RANGE: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World – David Epstein Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise - Anders Ericsson, Robert Pool Dunning–Kruger effect Continue to Listen & Learn Ep55: How Tiny Changes Can Create Remarkable Results | with James Clear Ep214: What Creativity Is, How It Works, and the Laws to Learning It | with Joey Cofone Ep36: How to Accomplish Your ‘One Thing’ Every Day | with Jay Papasan Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’ Ep210: All Quiet On the Western Front Writer/Producer Lesley Paterson On Unleashing Your True Creative (and Athletic) Potential Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar Ep143: Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum [BONUS] Mastermind Q&A: How to Successfully Be a “Specialized Generalist” | with Michael Addis Ep33: Winning at The Ultimate Game of Life | with Jim Bunch Ep140: Using the Athlete’s Mindset to Hone Your Creativity & Productivity | with Vashi Nedomansky, ACE Guest Bio: Eduardo Briceño Eduardo Briceño is a global keynote speaker and facilitator who guides many of the world’s leading companies in developing cultures of learning and high performance. Earlier in his career, he was the co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, the first company to offer growth mindset development services. Previously, he was a venture capital investor with the Sprout Group. His TED Talk, How to Get Better at the Things You Care About, and his prior TEDx Talk, The Power of Belief, have been viewed more than nine million times. He is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network, and an inductee in the Happiness Hall of Fame. He is the author of THE...

I'm so excited to share the conversation I had with Emmy-nominated editors in Optimize Yourself and Impact24's #NoteUnderneathTheNotePanel! Listen in to the conversation to learn more about what makes creatives so valuable in a world with rapidly changing technology…

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Shiran Carolyn Amir, ACE is a film and television editor, who is also actively involved in the Motion Picture Editors Guild. She's worked on projects such as 9-1-1, Z-Nation, Chucky, Fear The Walking Dead, The OA, and Love Victor. What’s unique to Shiran’s success story is the method she has used in order to reroute her career and pursue her dream work. Counterintuitively, it involves not working at all. In our conversation today, Shiran shares with us the strategy she uses to step away from work so that she can dive all into pursuing what is most fulfilling to her (which is helping others). Beyond her unique strategies for developing a fulfilling life and career, Shiran is also here to share with us how providing genuine value is the key to strengthening your community and creating a strong, supportive network. In a world where there is no shortage of highly skilled workers, providing value is how Shiran went from zero connections in the industry to working as an editor with an Eddie nomination. While Shiran’s career path might look like a string of “luck”, as you’ll learn today, it came after she focused on providing value, not as a strategy, but as a heartfelt human desire. If you’re interested in expanding your network, looking to extend your reach in the world, or, want more fulfillment in your life, this conversation is for you. Shiran’s strategies are simple enough that anyone can apply them (and clearly effective enough that you should). Beyond learning some great new strategies, you’ll hear all about Shiran’s unique life story that is sure to leave you feeling inspired. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Become a volunteer (MPEG) Continue to Listen & Learn Ep133: Improve Your Networking Skills By Serving First (Instead of Selling) | with Liston Witherill Ep106: On the Vital Importance of “Being Nice” | with Jesse Averna, ACE Ep129: How to Cultivate a “Service-Centric” Mindset (and Why It Will Make You More Successful) | with Agustin Rexach Ep126: On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian Ep78: How to Build Meaningful Relationships in the ‘Real World’ | with Camille Virginia Ep99: How to Provide Value & Get Paid What You’re Worth | Mastermind Q&A with Monica Daniel Ep196: How to Become Oscar-level Successful (Without Being a Dick) | with Peter Ramsey Ep184: Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE Ep215: How to Build Your Community, Intuition & Resilience in Order to Succeed as an Artist | with Kristina Snyder Guest Bio: Shiran Carolyn Amir, ACE Born in NY and raised in Israel, Shiran Carolyn Amir, ACE served as an Avid Editor during her mandatory 2 year military service in the Israeli Air Force Filming Unit. After moving to LA she transitioned between genres and worked her way up over 13 years. Prior projects include Fear The Walking Dead, The OA, Love Victor, and Chucky. In 2022 she was nominated for an ACE Eddie award for her editing on the indie narrative film, Lupe. Currently she's an editor on season 6 of the show 9-1-1 for Fox. Shiran volunteers her time helping the post production industry within the Motion Picture Editors Guild, serving on its Board of Directors as an Editor representative, is the Co-Chair of its Young Workers Group, and participates on various committees. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Chris Orsi, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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...

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Dan Davis is the founder and CEO of Stiry, as well as an award winning documentary filmmaker of over 250 films (yes, you read that correctly). If you’re wondering how Dan has the time and energy to make all of these films, we'll definitely be answering that for you in our conversation! For the majority of our conversation today, however, Dan and I will be discussing his inspiring life story of overcoming multiple health conditions (including undergoing a last minute life saving surgery) that in turn fueled his calling to help others uncover their own unique purpose. Through Dan’s incredible experience, he learned the power that telling your story has when it comes to self-discovery and identifying your deeper calling. By creating Stiry or “stories that stir”, as well as writing his book This Is My Story, Dan provides as many people as he can with the tools it takes to not only better identify their deeper calling, but learn how to share that with others through the power of story. If you’ve been feeling as if you’re unsure of your real purpose, or perhaps you know what that is but are unclear on the steps necessary to transition to that role, this conversation is for you. Dan and I dive deep into the steps he outlines in his book (which is also a workbook) so that you can get started uncovering your own answers. As I mentioned in my interviews and articles, we're in COVID 2.0 right now (minus the COVID) and there’s no better time than now for you to listen to Dan’s advice and get started clarifying your next steps towards where you really want to be in life. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Stiry This is My Story: See Your Story Differently and Let It Move You Continue to Listen & Learn Ep212: The Science of Storytelling, Why We Need Stories, and How to Rewrite Our Own | with Will Storr Ep205: Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler Ep132: How to Pursue Fulfilling Work and Find Your ‘Calling’ | with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar Ep217: How to Live a Better Life Simply by Asking Better Questions | with Marc Champagne Ep48: Feeling Lost? It’s Time to ‘Find Your Why’ | with David Mead Ep216: Chase Jarvis On Building Your Network of ‘A-Gamers,’ Designing the Life You Want, and Fulfilling Your ‘Creative Calling’ Ep219: How to Know What You Actually Want (and Find Support to Make It Happen) | with Philippe Danielides Ep178: How to Manage An Identity Crisis (Especially When You Know You’re Meant For Something More) | with Erica Wernick [CASE STUDY] Why I Said No to a Job (A Great One)…During a Pandemic Ep16: Writing Your Own (Unique) Path to the Top | with Wendy Calhoun Guest Bio: Dan Davis Dan Davis is an award winning film producer, director, and the founder of the documentary film company Stiry (‘stories that stir’). Dan has successfully run multiple multi-million dollar film production companies and produced and directed over 250 films across the globe. His inspired efforts through film have proved to be instrumental in raising millions of dollars for charities worldwide and helping thousands find their own story, a testament to Dan's focus on storytelling as a tool for change. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is Dr. Jessica Higgins, a licensed psychologist and relationship coach. Now you might be wondering why we’re going to talk to a psychologist about relationships today, but while Dr. Higgins specializes in treating couples, our conversation covers the entire spectrum of building and maintaining relationships - even professional ones. Relationship building is a key strategy I teach in my Advance Yourself course, and beyond that a key component of joy and fulfillment (or not) in our lives. In our conversation, we discuss what really goes on behind the scenes when it comes to the start of any personal or professional relationship, and how that attraction can so easily shift to conflict. Dr. Higgins shares the deeper roots of how we form conflict with others and in turn, how we can better manage these situations and come to a resolution rather than burn a bridge. By more deeply understanding how relationships work, we can change the game when it comes to our personal connections and professional network. I cannot stress enough the valuable insights I have learned from Dr. Higgins and know you will have your own eye-opening experiences by listening to what she has to share. Her strategies in dealing with conflict, understanding who to connect with (and how) are in perfect alignment with what I teach my students in the Optimizer Coaching and Mentorship program. Beyond all of the helpful information Dr. Higgins provides in our conversation, she also shares a free guide which can be downloaded here to help you communicate better in your relationships. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Shifting Criticism for Connected Communication (free guide) Empowered Relationship podcast Continue to Listen & Learn Ep126: On the Importance of Building Relationships, Asking Questions, and Never Giving Up | with Andi Armaganian Ep78: How to Build Meaningful Relationships in the ‘Real World’ | with Camille Virginia Ep154: Using Humility to Cultivate Relationships and Land Your Dream Gig In Network TV | with Scott Powell, ACE Ep139: Fostering Better Relationships and Improving Team Culture | with Jason Barger Ep217: How to Live a Better Life Simply by Asking Better Questions | with Marc Champagne Dear Hollywood: The suits may hate us. But they will always need us. Ep195: When Being a “People Pleaser” Goes Too Far (and How to Set Boundaries) | with Lisa Robison, CCE Ep164: How to ‘Get In the Room’ and Work with Producers Who Will Value & Respect You | with Matt Nix Ep41: How to Master “Offline” Networking at Live Events | with Camille Virginia Is now the worst time to network? Or the best time? Guest Bio: Dr. Jessica Higgins Dr. Jessica Higgins holds two graduate degrees in psychology, two coaching certifications, and over 20 years of experience helping clients achieve successful results. As the host of the Empowered Relationship Podcast, she helps people navigate the terrain of long-lasting intimacy more skillfully and mindfully. Through her coaching and online course, clients transform pain into love and connection. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/mondays.

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist My guest today is licensed psychologist Seth Gilihan, who is the host of the Think Act Be podcast as well as the author of Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In our conversation, Seth and I dive deep into exploring what talk therapy is all about (specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and how the addition of mindfulness techniques can be beneficial in treating anxiety and depression. Whether you’re interested in therapy and currently receiving it, classify yourself as “yeah been there done that”, or are against therapy altogether, I highly recommend listening to this podcast. Seth not only shares how to specifically know if therapy would be beneficial to you (you might be surprised at the factors that determine this), he shares his key strategies that actually help you get to the root cause of your anxiety and depression so you can alleviate it. He also shares what he views as “false” when it comes to the traditional ways people are being treated. In addition to our discussion of therapy, Seth takes us on a deep dive into the topic of mindfulness sharing the specific techniques mentioned in his book. You’ll learn all about what mindfulness really is (and how simple it can actually be) and all the ways in which it can help you. So whether or not you’re interested in therapy, Seth’s insights on the topic of CBT and mindfulness are nothing short of profound and in my opinion, too valuable to miss. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: 10 Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety Everyday - Seth Gillihan, PhD Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Think Act Be podcast Seth Gillihan’s books Bloom Self-Therapy App Continue to Listen & Learn Ep217: How to Live a Better Life Simply by Asking Better Questions | with Marc Champagne Ep26: The Power of a ‘Mindfulness’ Practice | with Dr. Swati Desai Ep136: Promoting Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Sanity In the Edit Bay | with Kevin Tent, ACE Ep225: Outsmarting Your Chronic Pain with Mindfulness | with Christiane Wolf FEAR: How to Protect Your Mental Health From the Infection Far Worse Than COVID-19 Ep42: How to Reverse Depression, Anxiety, and ADD at the Genetic Level | with Dr. Ben Lynch Ep148: “I Was Fired For Requesting a Single Mental Health Day” | with Jim Page Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins Ep155: How a Tentpole Hollywood Feature Editor Stays Healthy, Fit, and Sane | with Alan Bell, ACE Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross Guest Bio: Seth Gillihan Seth Gillihan is a licensed psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He was a full-time faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2012, and taught in the Psychology Department at Haverford College from 2012-2015. He has been in private practice since 2012. Seth completed a doctorate in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of multiple books on mindfulness and CBT, Therapy Advisor with the self-therapy app Bloom, a medical reviewer for Everyday Health, and host of the Think Act Be podcast. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD is a former physician who is now an internationally known mindfulness and insight meditation teacher. While practicing medicine, Christiane began noticing the mediation practices she was sharing were making a profound difference in the lives of her patients, and she is here to explain those changes with us today. In our conversation together, Christiane dives deep into explaining the science behind how pain and our brain work (we have quite the geek out session). You’ll learn the 3 components of pain, how the words you use regularly can affect that pain, and which mindfulness techniques are helpful in both managing and lessening your experience with pain. If you are experiencing chronic pain (or are even a physician who treats chronic pain) this episode is for you. Christiane wonderfully blends Eastern techniques with Western medicine and provides mindfulness practices that are simple, effective, and a true gift to anyone who is struggling with pain. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Christiane Wolf’s website Working with Pain: Mindfulness practices and insights for physical pain relief (on-demand class) Ep152: Understanding the Difference Between Integrative & Traditional Medicine | with Dr. Edison de Mello Outsmart Your Pain, Mindfulness and Self-Compassion to Help You Leave Chronic Pain Behind Christiane’s classes Ten Percent Happier #366 How To Outsmart Your Pain with Christiane Continue to Listen & Learn Ep223: Stop “Managing” Your Chronic Pain and Start Fixing It | with Julie Fahrbach Ep224: Managing & Alleviating Chronic Pain with…Creativity? | with Anna Holtzman Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression | with Dr. Edison de Mello Ep26: The Power of a ‘Mindfulness’ Practice | with Dr. Swati Desai Ep161: Managing Limiting Beliefs, Imposter Syndrome, and all the “Chatter” In Our Heads | with Ethan Kross Ep170: How to Avoid Burnout and Live a More ‘Effortless’ Life | with Greg McKeown Ep136: Promoting Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Sanity In the Edit Bay | with Kevin Tent, ACE Ep124: Simple Solutions to Your Chronic Aches & Pains (and Where They Came From) | with Dr. Sadie Sanders The Beginner’s Guide to Alleviating Chronic Pain In 5 Min a Day…Right at Your Desk [VIDEOS] The Magic of Postural Modification (And How It Can Cure Your Back Pain Better Than a Doctor) Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins Ep21: Using HRV to Reduce Stress (and Master Your Nervous System) | with Ronda Collier Ep42: How to Reverse Depression, Anxiety, and ADD at the Genetic Level | with Dr. Ben Lynch Guest Bio: Christiane Wolf Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD is a former physician, internationally known mindfulness and Insight (Vipassana) meditation teacher. She is board certified as an OB/GYN and holds a PhD in psychosomatic medicine from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Wolf is the lead-consultant and teacher trainer for the National Mindfulness Facilitator Training at the US Department of Veteran Affairs. She is the author of “Outsmart Your Pain - Mindfulness and Self-Compassion to Help You Leave Chronic Pain Behind” and the co-author of the classic training manual for mindfulness teachers “A Clinician’s Guide to Teaching Mindfulness.” Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. 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).

Learn how to design the more balanced, more sustainable, and more fulfilling creative career you deserve...without sacrificing your health, your relationships, or your sanity in the process. In a nutshell this podcast is a combination of Tim Ferriss meets Ted Lasso (minus the mustache). Hosted by Zack Arnold (ACE) - an award-winning Hollywood editor, producer, and director turned career strategist - these raw, honest, and candid conversations with Bestselling Authors, World-Class Athletes, Hollywood Legends, Elite Experts in a Variety of Fields, and Everyday People Achieving Extraordinary Things will both provide you with the necessary tools to unlock your true creative potential as well as inspiring you to believe that you can. → Visit optimizeyourself.me/podcast to download your customized podcast playlist curated from hundreds of our expert interviews down to the 5 best conversations to help you unlock your true creative potential today!

This conversation is a bonus episode we are adding to our Chronic Pain Series where we are talking with three different experts about how chronic pain affects creative professionals and what you can do about it. Please be sure to check out those conversations with Somatic Movement Teacher, Julie Fahrbach, TV Editor turned Chronic Pain Therapist, Anna Holtzman, and Medical Doctor, Author and meditation teacher, Christiane Wolf. This conversation is one where I’m the guest and the host is Anna Holtzman on her podcast titled From Chronic Pain to Passion. I go deep into my history with burnout in ways I haven’t talked about on this show before. And I discuss my most recent and ongoing recovery from COVID. Anna helps me unpack the timing of my bouts of burnout and coaches me through new ways of dealing with it. I hope you learn as much as I did from this conversation. → Click here to go to the full interview page at From Chronic Pain to Passion → Click here to go to From Chronic Pain to Passion home page

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Anna Holtzman is a former television editor who, after healing from chronic migraines, shifted gears to become a licensed therapist and coach specializing in chronic pain recovery. Anna both helps people better manage their chronic pain, as well as understand the emotional cause behind it in an effort to release the pain from its source. In our conversation, Anna shares that chronic pain is linked with our stress response and is nothing more than a protective reflex trying to alert us that something deeper is going on. We discuss the power of communicating with the body in order to better receive that message, as well as understand how we can go about addressing it. Anna shares many unlikely, yet powerful tools - including journaling - that you can start using to feel better today. As you’ll learn from this conversation, there are many ways to work with chronic pain that don’t involve more prescriptions, more doctor visits, and more ‘coping’. Whether chronic pain is new for you, or you’ve been dealing with it for a long time, this conversation is a must listen. Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One? » Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode Here's What You'll Learn: Useful Resources Mentioned: Curable app Ep188: How Your Gut Health is the Key to Unlocking a Healthier & Happier You | with Dr. Edison de Mello Dunning Kruger effect newsletter The Passionate Creative’s Guide to Chronic Pain Recovery Anna Holtzman’s website Mind-Body Burnout and Career Rebirth with Zack Arnold (From Chronic Pain to Passion podcast) From Chronic Pain to Passion podcast Continue to Listen & Learn Ep223: Stop “Managing” Your Chronic Pain and Start Fixing It | with Julie Fahrbach Ep152: Understanding the Difference Between Integrative & Traditional Medicine | with Dr. Edison de Mello Ep01: Understanding the Link Between Creativity and Depression | with Dr. Edison de Mello Ep124: Simple Solutions to Your Chronic Aches & Pains (and Where They Came From) | with Dr. Sadie Sanders The Beginner’s Guide to Alleviating Chronic Pain In 5 Min a Day…Right at Your Desk [VIDEOS] The Magic of Postural Modification (And How It Can Cure Your Back Pain Better Than a Doctor) Ep149: How Modern Society Is Damaging Your Brain (and the Simple Steps to Reverse It) | with Dr. Dave Jenkins Ep21: Using HRV to Reduce Stress (and Master Your Nervous System) | with Ronda Collier Ep42: How to Reverse Depression, Anxiety, and ADD at the Genetic Level | with Dr. Ben Lynch Guest Bio: Anna Holtzman Anna Holtzman is a former TV editor and lifelong writer who, after healing from chronic migraines, became a licensed therapist and coach who specializes in chronic pain recovery. While working in TV for over a decade, she edited shows like MTV’s MADE, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant and many more. As the Co-Director of Education and Advocacy for the New York Editors Collective, a group of more than 1000 professional TV editors, she ran education and advocacy seminars on labor rights and social justice issues in the industry. Now a licensed therapist and chronic pain recovery coach, Anna offers an online course called Writing to Release Chronic Pain and is launching a new group coaching program, From Chronic Pain to Passion, for passionate creatives who want to heal from chronic symptoms and reclaim their energy. She also facilitates groups for Curable, a world leader in chronic pain education and recovery. Anna’s weekly blog is syndicated by The Good Men Project and Medika Life, and she’s been interviewed on some of the top podcasts on the chronic pain recovery. Show Credits: This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel. The original music in the opening and closing...