I know a ton of people reading this will relate to what I’m talking about: starting something that feels completely daunting. So here’s another blog about my new YouTube channel, I Learned It on a Podcast—partly because I desperately need viewers, but mostly because this episode hit me hard.”
“For those new to the show: I Learned It on a Podcast is my attempt to create what I always wished existed—something that highlights amazing podcast episodes the way book reviewers highlight great books. I listen to podcasts constantly and kept finding incredible insights that I wanted to share.”
I’d already put out Episode 1 when I heard filmmaker Robert Rodriguez on The Tim Ferriss Show during my drive home from work. His insights energized me in a way I wasn’t expecting—which is perfect timing since I’m juggling an amazing wife, a three-year-old, a commute, and a podcast. I laugh to myself when I tell people, “I wasn’t busy enough, so I started a YouTube channel.”
This episode ended up being particularly meaningful because it traces my own filmmaking evolution—from making goofy movies with friends in high school, to creating a short artsy film in college, to my 2007 reality show “Jew Complete Me” (yes, that was really the name), and now to this YouTube channel. It’s a reminder that creative journeys are never linear, and sometimes the best projects come from embracing uncertainty.
Listen on your favorite podcast app using pod.link.
View the podcast at the bottom of this post or on our YouTube Channel
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Link to Graff-Pinkert’s Acquisitions and Sales promotion!
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Key Takeaways from The Video
Embrace Your Limitations as Creative Fuel
Rodriguez made his breakthrough film “El Mariachi” with just $7,725, proving that constraints don’t have to be obstacles—they can be catalysts for extraordinary creativity. When film stock alone costs thousands of dollars, he had to shoot much of the film in one take.
Manifest Who You Are Being
One of the most powerful concepts discussed is Rodriguez’s approach to identity: he printed business cards calling himself a filmmaker before he’d made his feature film. As he puts it, you don’t call yourself an “aspiring filmmaker”—you’re either a filmmaker or you’re not. This mindset shift from aspiring to being is transformative.
Use Daily Habits to Build Your New Identity
After committing to doing one small action daily toward the channel—whether it’s watching a tutorial, brainstorming thumbnail ideas, or planning content—the consistent habit gradually built the identity of being a YouTuber.
So claim your identity, embrace your constraints, and build small daily habits that support who you’re becoming. You don’t need clarity to begin—you just need to begin.
Question: What are you putting off sharing?