The Zack Arnold Podcast SUMMIT TOP 5: Selena Soo on Creative Careers In Crisis
At its core, I organized my 5 day virtual summit about Navigating the Future of Entertainment to help us creatives, artists, and storytellers answer two key questions:
What the hell is happening to our beloved film industry? And how can we shape the future of cinema?
In this episode, I talk with Selena Soo, bestselling author of Rich Relationships and a top publicity strategist who’s helped creatives land features in Forbes, O Magazine, and on national TV. Selena shares how we can build genuine, lasting relationships without burnout or feeling transactional. We dive into her three-step approach to meaningful connection, how to give value sustainably, and why simply validating others can be a powerful way to build trust. If networking has ever felt overwhelming or inauthentic, this conversation offers a refreshing new approach.
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→ Click here for lifetime access to all 15 interviews, bonus resources, and my 90 minute Masterclass to help you navigate the next act of your creative career.
Key Takeaways
- Invest in rich relationships that spark both creative flow and career momentum. Look for collaborators and mentors who share your values, elevate your work, and open doors with integrity and trust.
- Adopt the mindset of a rich giver—be generous with purpose and intention. Focus your energy on relationships with mutual alignment and win-win potential, where giving builds trust, goodwill, and sustainable creative momentum.
- Make it easy for others to help you with a thoughtful, clear ask. Start with gratitude, be specific in your request, and show them exactly how they can support your creative goals without added effort.
Episode Highlights
- How I used Selena’s own tactic to start a genuine connection
- Selena’s journey from struggle to a mission that amplifies others
- Learn the three steps to build rich relationships that actually matter
- Recognize the three giver types and choose the one that builds lasting connections
- Hear how supporting one friend led to a million dollars in mutual success
- Pivot your career by identifying ten types of rich relationships to seek
- How to make the ask feel easy and even exciting to say yes to
- Why genuine appreciation might be the highest form of value you can give
- Discover why introverts hold the secret superpowers of relationship building
- Get actionable tips to give thoughtfully without exhausting yourself or others
- Why validating someone's life choices is the ultimate way to provide value
- Learn how showing up in the right rooms can build momentum in a tough creative job market
Recommended Next Episode
Networking (the Right Way), Mentorship, and Connecting with ‘Experts’ | with Troy Takaki, ACE
Useful Resources
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Guest Bio
Selena Soo is a publicity and marketing strategist for visionary entrepreneurs, experts, and authors who want to reach millions with their message.
She’s helped clients and students get featured in places like O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and Inc., and land interviews on popular podcasts and national TV. Many of Selena’s clients have become industry leaders with 7-figure businesses, raving fan bases, and hundreds of thousands of followers.
Her signature approach comes down to building powerful and long-lasting relationships with influencers and the media in a thoughtful, authentic way.
Selena has been featured in magazines and websites like Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Success, and The Huffington Post. She has been a guest on podcasts like Entrepreneur On Fire, Smart Passive Income, and Mixergy.
Selena’s Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Selena’s Book: Rich Relationships
Selena’s Book Launch
Show Credits
Edited by: Curtis Fritsch
Produced by: Debby Germino
Published by: Vim Pangantihon
Music by: Thomas Cepeda
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