Stay Curious, Seek Joy: How Huckberry’s Kate West Builds Stories You Can Feel

What if your next great story isn’t scripted—it’s discovered?

Director and storyteller Kate West (Huckberry Presents) takes us from the Beijing Paralympics to the mountains of Wyoming and into the making of Huckberry’s hit series “DIRT.” We unpack how breaking the fourth wall, leading with curiosity, and lacing scenes with “tidbits” of education keeps viewers glued to the screen—and inspires families (Marc’s included) to explore the world together

Show Notes

00:00 – Who is Kate West? Athlete, mom, storyteller, and the Huckberry Presents lead.

01:00 – Origin story: Beijing Olympics and falling in love with Paralympic narratives.

02:30 – Imposter syndrome, film in NYC, and choosing the brand route.

04:00 – Brand storytelling vs. ads; why lifestyle matters more than slogans.

05:00 – “Stay curious, seek joy”: the motto Kate shouts to her kids—and her crews.

06:00 – Breaking the fourth wall and showing the crew: making BTS part of the story.

07:00 – Joy as a production value; mental fitness and presence on set.

08:00 – Creative bandwidth and nervous system management; perspective as a tool.

10:00 – Why “DIRT” hits: family-friendly, human-first stories and authentic impact.

11:45 – What Huckberry is, and how “DIRT” & “Shop Class” came to life.

12:30 – The seed: Pacific Northwest adventures with Josh; food + nature + people.

14:00 – Not Bourdain—on purpose: humility, hosts, and characters as the focus.

16:00 – Script what you lived: post-shoot writing and place-based reflection.

17:00 – Trusting subjects, rolling with surprises (goodbye horses, hello Mossy).

20:00 – Food as universal connector; the “tidbits” method to keep watch-time high.

21:00 – Most viewers watch on TV, not phones—why that changes the craft.

24:00 – Asking boldly: access, case studies, and selling the vision early.

25:00 – Quiet mind in nature (especially with kids) and the Teton reset.

27:00 – Rituals by phase: exercise to spark words, calendar-blocking for flow.

30:00 – Strategy in the morning; busywork in the afternoon (creative hygiene).

31:00 – Teasers: Mexico, a domestic chapter, Europe—and six episodes next year.

33:00 – Uncharted places (including Canada!) and traveling fast with a lean team.

35:00 – What Kate’s mind needs now: resets and positive energy from all sides.

40:00 – What makes her smile: the superpower of female friendships.

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Special props 👇

Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud

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