We Didn't Plan Any of This: 10 Unscripted Introductions from 2025

In this special year-end clip show, Matt Zeigler and Jack Forehand reflect on some of the most meaningful conversations from Just Press Record in 2025. Rather than a traditional recap, this episode explores the deeper themes that emerged across very different guests, from connection and creativity to fear, identity, and long-term thinking. Along the way, Matt and Jack discuss why these moments mattered to them personally, how the show itself reflects Matt’s approach to life, and what these stories reveal about how people grow, change, and find meaning over time.

Main topics covered

• The philosophy behind Just Press Record and why unscripted, unexpected conversations matter

• The power of reaching out to people and the lasting impact of human connection

• How major life transitions often emerge around key ages and career inflection points

• Losing sight of purpose by focusing on the wrong metrics and how to recalibrate

• Overcoming fear, stage anxiety, and the courage to live more authentically

• Creativity as recombination, sampling, and reinterpretation across music, art, and business

• Long-term thinking, journaling, and reflecting on how beliefs and priorities evolve over time

• Why community, curiosity, and experimentation matter more than optimization

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and year-end clip show setup
01:30 The idea behind Just Press Record and pairing unlikely people
06:50 Anna Goldfarb on connection, regret, and reaching out
13:15 Tom Morgan on age 36, identity shifts, and life phases
20:45 Bobby Keller on purpose, metrics, and the Horror Fest
30:00 Julia Duthie and Nancy Berger on fear, authenticity, and self-expression
42:00 Bill Stephney and Lawrence Yeo on hip hop, creativity, and sampling
51:45 Chris Mayer and Anne-Laure Le Cunff on journaling and changing your mind