The Unmistakable Creative Podcast
Srinivas Rao
Timeless Practical Wisdom For Living a Meaningful LifeInspiring stories and practical advice from creatives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, misfits, and rebels to help you become successful on your own terms Our listeners say, “If TEDTalks met Oprah you’d have the Unmistakable Creative.” Eliminate the feeling of being stuck in your life, blocked in your creativity, and discover higher levels of meaning and purpose in your life and career. Listen to deeply personal, insightful, and thought-provoking stories from the world’s leading thinkers and doers including best-selling authors, artists, peak performance psychologists, happiness researchers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, artists, venture capitalists, and even former bank robbers. Former guests have included Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Justine Musk, Scott Adams, Rob Bell, David Heinemeier Hansson, Elle Luna, Jordan Harbinger Brett Mckay, and Simon Sinek.Join The Unmistakable CollectiveThe Unmistakable Collective is a monthly membership for writers, bloggers, podcasters, and content creators that gives you access to workshops, AMA's, and accountability from other like-minded peers to help you accomplish any creative goals! Click here to become a member.Connect with Us On Social Twitter: @unmistakableceoInstagram: @unmistkablecreative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 6, 2026 • 1h 2min
Peter Krask: From PhD Dropout to Hollywood Producer—Building Myth Merchant and Finding Creative Freedom
Peter Krask, a creative entrepreneur and former Hollywood producer, shares his compelling journey from PhD dropout to building Myth Merchant. He explores the tension between creative freedom and financial sustainability, sharing insights on the validation that visibility brings to creative work. Krask discusses the reasons many remain in unwanted PhD programs, the cultural stigma surrounding funding for artists, and the collapse of mid-tier support in the arts. With keen observations on the personal specificity of art, he highlights how individual narratives resonate universally.
5 snips
Jan 5, 2026 • 54min
Oliver Burkeman: Why Positive Thinking Fails and the Paradox of Pursuing Happiness
Oliver Burkeman, a British journalist known for his thought-provoking writings on happiness and time management, challenges the self-help industry's obsession with positivity. He delves into how chasing happiness often leads to misery and proposes negative visualization as a tool for resilience. Burkeman argues that acceptance of uncertainty outweighs relentless optimism, while critiquing spiritual bypassing. He highlights the true ingredients for a meaningful life: relationships, nature, and self-acceptance, emphasizing the need for practical change over consuming endless self-help.
Jan 2, 2026 • 45min
Michelle Gielan: How Small Shifts in Communication Create Big Changes in Happiness and Resilience
Michelle Gielan, a former CBS news anchor turned positive psychology researcher, shares insights from her book *Broadcasting Happiness*. She discusses how small changes in communication can enhance resilience and optimism. Gielan introduces concepts like 'power leads' that can transform conversations. She emphasizes the importance of fact-checking personal narratives and adopting gratitude practices to spread positivity. Additionally, she warns against negative news consumption and advocates for solution-oriented media to foster hope and agency.
10 snips
Jan 1, 2026 • 44min
Breaking Free from the Plan: How Decision Engineering Can Transform Your Life with Michelle Florendo
Michelle Florendo, a decision engineering expert and former management consultant, shares her transformative journey from the pressure of traditional success to embracing uncertainty. She highlights the three essential elements in decision-making: options, objectives, and information, and explains how we often confuse decision quality with the outcome. Michelle emphasizes the importance of reimagining education to teach decision skills and discusses coping with uncertainty in life, illustrating that true agency allows us to make meaningful choices.
Dec 22, 2025 • 48min
Justin McRoberts: Mortality, Meaning, and Giving Away Everything You've Got
Justin McRoberts, a musician, pastor, and author, reflects on how facing mortality early shaped his creative journey and faith. He emphasizes the importance of living fully by confronting death rather than adhering to cultural narratives of invincibility. McRoberts advocates for taking creative risks and sharing your gifts now, rather than waiting for the 'right' moment. He explores the power of narrative, the value of relationships over perfection, and how dead ends can spark creativity. His insights challenge conventional beliefs about art and responsibility.
9 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 51min
Jeff Wald: Navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Why Personal Responsibility Defines the Future of Work
Jeff Wald, author of The End of Jobs and former CEO of WorkMarket, shares his insights on the fourth industrial revolution driven by AI and automation. He debunks the myth of lifetime employment, revealing that job tenures have significantly shortened. Wald discusses the need for individuals to master either technical skills or uniquely human abilities like creativity to thrive. He emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and addresses rising income inequality and responsibility, urging a reevaluation of unions and education to adapt to changing labor dynamics.
Dec 8, 2025 • 43min
Jeff Spencer: The Champion Blueprint and the Eight Inevitable Steps to Peak Performance
In this engaging conversation, Jeff Spencer, a former Olympic cyclist and renowned performance coach, shares insights from his journey of resilience and achievement. He unpacks his eight steps to peak performance, emphasizing the importance of clarity in legacy, vision, and mindset. Jeff explains that rest is a competitive advantage and that focusing on critical success factors is essential to avoid burnout. He also discusses the importance of mentors and the role of a 'corner man' in high-stakes situations, providing invaluable lessons from his experience with elite athletes.
Dec 5, 2025 • 49min
Jason Naylor: The Psychology of Color and Why Bright Hues Unlock Positivity, Memory, and Human Connection
Jason Naylor, an artist and author of 'Live Life Colorfully,' shares how his upbringing as the second of seven in a Mormon family influenced his creative journey. He dives into the psychology of color, explaining how vibrant hues trigger positivity and short-term memory while muted tones linger in long-term recollection. Naylor reveals why fast food chains use specific colors for branding and offers tips on color selection to enhance personal presence. He also highlights the joy connected to colorful experiences, such as balloons and murals, reinforcing the power of brightness in our lives.
30 snips
Dec 4, 2025 • 51min
Jacob Sager Weinstein: The Memory Palace Method and Why You Cannot Synthesize What You Do Not Remember
Jacob Sager Weinstein, a comedy writer and author of 'How to Remember Everything,' explores the art of memory in an age of information overload. He shares his privileged upbringing in D.C., highlighting how it shaped his worldview. Jacob emphasizes that true synthesis requires personal knowledge, not just what one finds online. He introduces the memory palace method for visualizing complex information and discusses spaced repetition as a technique to combat forgetting, making memory retention both fun and effective.
Dec 3, 2025 • 53min
Hillary Weiss: The Danger of Just Mindset and Why Imitation Is a Trap for Finding Your Golden Thread
Hillary Weiss, a brand strategist and positioning coach, shares her journey from quirky Florida schoolgirl to savvy entrepreneur. She critiques conventional mindset advice, highlighting how privilege influences risk-taking in business. Weiss introduces her elevator framework to help uncover one's unique 'golden thread' and warns against the pitfalls of imitation without self-awareness. She also discusses the importance of honing creative confidence and embracing polarizing ideas to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
