The Zack Arnold Podcast From Five Emmys to Trader Joe’s: The Realities of Working In Hollywood In 2025 | with Mark Keefer
What happens when your creative career no longer pays the bills—but you’re still called to create?
In this episode, I talk with award-winning editor Mark Keefer, whose nearly 30-year career spans Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros. A simple LinkedIn selfie in a Trader Joe’s uniform went viral after he shared he'd taken his first non-creative job in decades to support his family. We talk honestly about identity, resilience, and what it means to pivot when your career path changes. Mark shares the advice that shaped him, the power of being a generalist, and how letting go of titles can open surprising new doors.
Key Takeaways
- Find purpose in showing up with care no matter the role. Taking a moment to make others feel seen and valued can turn ordinary work into meaningful contribution.
- Hard work grounds you. Stepping into physically demanding, honest work can reset your perspective and reconnect you to the resilience of others.
- Don’t rely on just one creative “instrument.” In an unpredictable world, versatility isn’t optional, it’s survival. The more tools you have, the more ways you can adapt, create, and thrive.
Episode Highlights
- The LinkedIn post that went viral — why share a photo he almost kept secret?
- How a Hollywood editor found unexpected fulfillment stocking shelves, and why the mindset behind it matters
- On résumés that makes no sense, and how every twist reveals a deeper story of reinvention
- Letting go of the sunk cost fallacy — how he pivoted careers without feeling like a quitter
- Still working at Trader Joe’s while getting back into editing and how he manages both
- What’s the way forward for mid-career creatives who are trained to do only one thing?
- The impact and wisdom from his father that still echoes through every career decision he makes
Recommended Next Episode
Christina Rasmussen: If you too are struggling with the anxiety and potentially even the grief associated with losing your job (or even your identity)
Bevin Farrand: If you’re looking for the courage to summon strength in your darkest moments
Useful Resources
Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?
» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode
Guest Bio
Mark Keefer is a five-time Emmy-winning and three-time Golden Reel-winning film editor whose credits include “The Garfield Movie,” Netflix’s “Over the Moon,” Disney’s “Planes,” and the “VeggieTales” franchise. Beyond his professional achievements, Mark remains passionate about music and continues to play and record, drawing inspiration from his musical background.
Mark’s Instagram, LinkedIn, IMDb
Show Credits
Edited by: Curtis Fritsch
Produced by: Debby Germino
Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon
Music by: Thomas Cepeda
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content