The Futur with Chris Do

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The Art of Standing Out in Content Creation w/ Sean Cannell | Recast

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Nov 27, 2025

Guest

Chris Do

In this engaging conversation, Chris Do, an Emmy-winning designer and CEO of The Futur, chats with content strategist Sean Cannell. They delve into the disruptive power of AI in content creation, emphasizing authenticity and personal branding. Chris highlights the importance of websites in a social-first world and explores practical strategies for content differentiation. They also discuss the value of long-term coaching relationships and the necessity of mastering your unique voice to thrive in a crowded space. Tune in for actionable insights!

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insights

INSIGHT

AI Is A Wave To Surf

AI moves extremely fast and is best framed as a surfable wave rather than a stoppable threat.
Chris Do says adapt and use AI as productivity leverage to avoid becoming irrelevant.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Write Dirty, Let AI Clean

Write a messy first draft, then use AI to clean and reformat it while preserving your voice.
Use a hybrid approach: 'write dirty, let AI clean, then put the dirt back in.'

insights

INSIGHT

Curation Beats Raw Generation

Machines can render well but don't know what feels right; human curation and art-history context become premium skills.
Chris predicts a resurgence of curators and style sense to direct AI outputs.

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Chris' View on AI as a Futurist

00:29 • 3min

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Practical AI Uses in Content Workflows

03:15 • 1min

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AI Tools for Editing and Productivity

04:30 • 51sec

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Does AI Remove the 'Soul' of Design?

05:21 • 3min

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Tools Reveal the Creator, Not Laziness

07:56 • 2min

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Future Skills: Directing Machines and Teaching

09:50 • 1min

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Traditional University vs New Learning Paths

11:00 • 2min

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Brand Power and Responsibility

13:07 • 6min

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What Brand Means Today

19:35 • 4min

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How Big Brands Should Stay True

23:20 • 3min

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Personal Branding for Small Channels

26:10 • 7min

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Practical Brand Overhaul Checklist

32:40 • 2min

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Learn Design by Copying Great Packaging

34:49 • 4min

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Copying Masters vs Plagiarism

38:43 • 4min

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Recommended Branding & Story Books

42:37 • 54sec

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Role of a Website in a Social-First World

Pricing, Positioning and Raising Rates

44:01 • 2min

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Value of Long-Term Coaching Investment

45:59 • 5min

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Finding Your Ikigai Intersection

51:00 • 3min

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Competing by Being Uniquely You

53:36 • 2min

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Goal Setting, Seasons, and Rest

55:29 • 3min

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Content Cadence: Frequency vs Quality

58:17 • 2min

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Shorts Strategy and Platform Saturation

01:00:13 • 2min

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Drop-and-Give-Me-20: Share 20 Nuggets

01:02:42 • 2min

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Packaging Content: One Question, One Video

01:04:48 • 1min

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Whiteboard Workflow for Long-Form Teaching

01:06:08 • 2min

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Live Streams, Cadence and Preparation

01:08:30 • 40sec

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Amateurs Quit; Professionals Persist

01:09:10 • 3min

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Defining Mastery as Effortless Skill

01:12:27 • 2min

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The Power of Asking Great Questions

01:14:24 • 1min

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Recommended Reading for Creators

01:15:50 • 3min

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Teaching Skills & Storytelling Resources

01:18:23 • 3min

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Reading Preferences and Fiction Influence

01:21:26 • 1min

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Skincare and Staying Presentable

01:22:39 • 3min

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Programs, Community, and Final Requests

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In 'YouTube Secrets,' Sean Cannell and Benji Travis draw on almost two decades of experience and interviews with over two hundred top creators to provide a step-by-step YouTube success playbook. The book is structured around the '7 C's Framework': Courage, Clarity, Channel, Content, Community, Cash, and Consistency. It offers practical advice on optimizing your YouTube channel, creating engaging content, building a community, monetizing your channel, and maintaining consistency. The book is designed for both beginners and veterans looking to build a lucrative business and make a significant impact on YouTube.

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A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

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In 'The Dip,' Seth Godin challenges traditional views on persistence and quitting. He introduces the concept of 'The Dip,' a challenging phase between starting and mastering a skill, which is necessary for growth and mastery. Godin distinguishes 'The Dip' from 'The Cul-de-Sac' (a dead-end situation) and 'The Cliff' (a risky situation), advising readers to quit the latter two but push through 'The Dip' to achieve significant rewards. The book provides practical advice on recognizing when to quit and when to stick with a project, job, or relationship, emphasizing that strategic quitting can lead to extraordinary success.

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In 'Delivering Happiness,' Tony Hsieh shares his entrepreneurial journey, from co-founding LinkExchange to leading Zappos to its remarkable success. The book emphasizes the importance of company culture, customer service, and employee happiness in achieving business success. Hsieh outlines three core sections: 'Profits,' 'Profits and Passion,' and 'Profits, Passion, and Purpose,' highlighting key lessons such as the superiority of product quality over marketing, the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, and the critical role of company culture in driving success. He also introduces frameworks for happiness, including perceived control, progress, connectedness, and vision/meaning, and how these can be applied to create a happy and productive workplace.

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Pocket Full of Dough

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In this episode, Chris Do joins Sean Cannell from Think Media for a deep dive into AI, personal branding, and what it takes to stand out in today’s creator economy. Sean, a successful entrepreneur and content strategist, shares insights on AI’s disruptive potential, how to use it as a productivity tool, and the evolving landscape of content creation.

Chris and Sean break down the importance of authenticity, goal setting, and work-life balance while discussing the role of personal websites in a social-first world. They explore how creators can position themselves for long-term success by leveraging their unique voice, refining their brand, and staying ahead of industry trends. Throughout the conversation, they provide actionable steps for creators looking to elevate their content and future-proof their careers.

Timestamps:

(00:00) — Intro (04:32) — Audience trust foundations (09:01) — Corporate values misalignment (13:42) — Trend chasing pitfalls (18:20) — Community identity questions (22:57) — Coca-Cola brand positioning (27:15) — Nike Kaepernick case study (31:44) — Content creators’ comparisons (36:10) — Building a loyal audience (40:52) — Long-form strategy mindset (45:28) — Curse of knowledge explained (50:07) — Turning ideas into content (54:49) — Structuring video distribution (59:33) — New creator vs expert approach (01:04:12) — Packaging information well (01:09:01) — Creator growth challenges (01:13:45) — Chris on skincare humor (01:17:58) — Identity and aging jokes (01:22:41) — Podcast multitasking reality (01:26:05) — Mind-space of podcasters (01:29:10) — Final reflections and sign-off

Check out today's guest, Sean Cannell:

Sean's Website: https://www.seancannell.com/

Sean's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWWFavn3ym0w3myTD5OX59g

Sean's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seancannell/

Check out The Futur:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefutur.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Courses: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thefutur.com/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thefutur.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/thefuturishere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠