Oct 13

Stevie Van Zandt: Self-Discovery, Activism, and Rock & Roll

When you listen to Stevie Van Zandt talk about his life – with that unmistakable, rugged laugh often breaking up sentences – you get the impression that you are not in the presence of one man. Surely there are, at least, three different Stevies in front of you. Talented guitarist, preoccupied journalist, political activist, impromptu actor and, now, acclaimed book author, Stevie is as complex and multi-faceted as a kaleidoscope. First, he invites you to... read more ›
Oct 11

A bright new future for CreativeLive

Fiverr Expands Online Education Offering With Acquisition of CreativeLive When I was 22 years old, I found myself at a crossroads. I had two choices, follow the “safe” path laid out for me–go to college, get a practical degree, and find a lifelong J.O.B. that provides security, OR take the much-less-certain route, pursuing my passions and my personal creativity.  I saw traditional employment burdened by a rapidly changing culture and economy. Student debt, the eroding... read more ›
Oct 06

Robert Greene: Daily Meditations to Transform Your Life

“If you go deeper into yourself, you’ll find below the surface four or five things, other emotions, other things going on at the same time. Perhaps things from your childhood, things that are unconscious. You’re not even aware of what’s truly motivating your behavior. You’re kind of sleepwalking. You think that you do things for reason A, but actually, there’s B, C, D, E, and F below the surface. So you’re a mystery to yourself.”... read more ›
Oct 04

Design + Creativity Lecture with Renowned Designer Paula Scher

NOTE: If you want to see some of the work/imagery referenced in this podcast, you can follow along with timestamps on the bottom of this blog post. Graphic designers are tasked with creating new and all-encompassing identities for institutions, from signage to promotional materials and even swag. But what happens after the job is done and the institution is responsible for implementing their new identity all on their own? The work of Paula Scher, a... read more ›
Sep 29

Debbie Millman: Why Design Matters

At a certain point in our careers, there are no more promotions to seek. No more pay raises to demand. No more competition to be had.... At the peak of our careers, a sense of achievement can be offset by the sheer terror of falling down to the bottom again. For over thirty years, Debbie Millman established herself as a creative leader, on her own terms. Designer. Educator. Artist. Brand Consultant. Podcast Host. Her journey... read more ›
Sep 27

100 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Try

"It's easier to poke holes in an idea than think of ways to fill them. And it's easier to focus on the 100 reasons you shouldn't do something rather than the one reason you should." - Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach for All This quote resonated with me so much I figured it deserved its own episode. Good ideas are a dime a dozen. So what separates the ideas that stay on the shelf from... read more ›
Sep 22

Discover Work that Makes You Come Alive with Jonathan Fields

The ongoing pandemic is creating a time of rapid transition. It's as if we're waking up from a deep slumber, and as we do so, we're re-examining every aspect of life-- especially our livelihoods and the work we do in the world. If you're someone who's dug up the internet to find ways to rediscover your impulse, you would've infallibly come across Jonathan Fields and his work with unique imprints or Sparketypes®️. Jonathan is an... read more ›
Sep 20

If You Build It And They Don’t Come

There's a common mis understanding about the phrase, "If you build it, they will come." A classic quote from Field of Dreams, but an often-deceiving belief we have as creators. Trust in the universe and belief in yourself are paramount, but do you really want to leave it up to chance? Today's episode includes three tactics for strategically getting your work seen. If you haven't already, check out CJ RAW episode, The Other 50 Pct.... read more ›
Sep 15

Releasing Trauma and Mastering Your Emotions with Jason Wilson

Making headlines back in 2016, a video recording of Jason Wilson's student's martial arts test went viral on social media. In the video, young Bruce is overwhelmed with fear of failure. Jason teaches him to embrace his emotion and overcome the challenge. Jason is the founder and head instructor of the Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy (CATTA) and Yunion (pronounced union), a non-profit youth development organization in Detroit, Michigan. He has written two books... read more ›
Sep 13

Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

Life gets easier when you decide to play your own game. From an early age, we are taught through school that life is a game to win against our peers. Value and success are determined on a uniform scale regardless of an individual's background or strengths. This perspective teaches us that the only way to stand out is to be better at the same task that everyone else around you is doing. This episode is... read more ›