Feb 02

40 Seconds to Fame or Failure with Olympic Speed Skater Apolo Ohno

The Dark Side of Being World-Class In speed skating, a hard pivot is an aggressive turn that requires balance, focus, and courage. Blasting down the ice, shoulder to shoulder with another world-class competitor, blades on his feet, Apolo Ohno began his Olympic career in 2002, eventually winning eight gold medals and becoming the most decorated athlete in US Winter Olympics history. Stories about the commitment, sacrifice, and work ethic required to reach the pinnacle of... read more ›
Jan 31

Zero in on What Matters

You’ve followed your curiosities, found your direction, and made some strides along the path, now what? Chances are there’s something deep inside of you, that calls to you, that you know you are resisting. What is that thing? How can you construct your life around that thing? Pull on that thread. Zero in and focus ruthlessly. The more you can narrow your focus, the faster you’ll learn, and the more effective you’ll become. Define your... read more ›
Dec 29

Words Can Take You Anywhere with Arianna Davis

Words contain the power to transport you anywhere. No matter who you are and where you are in the universe, reading a story can trigger our imagination and lead to growth. Today's guest, Arianna Davis gravitated towards books and stories from a young age, setting the stage for a career that has, in a relatively short time, traversed the media landscape from Oprah Magazine to her current role as Editorial Director of the TODAY Show.... read more ›
Dec 15

James Altucher on Accelerating 10,000 Hours to Mastery

 Skipping to the front of the line is gutsy. It involves taking risks, exploring your curiosity, and getting uncomfortable. Each time James Altucher comes on the show, he provides incredible advice. I was excited to talk with James about his new book and how anyone can catapult themselves to the front of their discipline in an ethical way. When we pursue our dreams, we attract fans. However, we will also face criticism and backlash... read more ›
Oct 20

Creative Acts for Curious People with Sarah Stein Greenberg

It’s an obvious truism but something often neglected, but design is everything.  It’s literally in every man-made thing we make, use, or celebrate.  According to today’s guest, the act of design and creativity can benefit everyone, whether they see themselves as creative or not.  Design is a process of free ideation, the overcoming of challenges and the presentation of clever solutions. Sarah Stein Greenberg is Executive Director of the d.school at Stanford (aka the Hasso... read more ›
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 ›
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 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 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 ›
Jul 28

Old School Photography (+ other musings) with Kai Wong

If you've ever looked up film and digital camera lessons on YouTube, there's a high chance you've bumped into Kai Wong's top-of-the-game photography videos or even come across one of his videos featuring yours truly + a lego camera. Previously known for creating innovative content with a humorous bent for one of YouTube's most subscribed photography channels, DigitalRev, Kai quit his seven-year-long association with the Media House in 2016. After stepping down as the company's... read more ›