Just Press Record

Rachel Goldfarb and Eric Pachman meet for the first time on Just Press Record in an extraordinary conversation about grief, awareness, and reclaiming soulfulness. Matt Zeigler brings these two together—each transformed by loss and purpose—to explore how we find meaning, reconnect with our humanity, and turn pain into growth. From policy and data to parenting and purpose, this episode is a raw, thoughtful journey through how awareness heals and connection grounds us.Topics covered:• Eric’s path from drug pricing reform to data visualization and awareness• Rachel’s journey through public service, motherhood, and redefining the Chief of Staff role• How grief and loss became catalysts for both guests’ personal and professional transformation• Reclaiming “soulfulness” in an increasingly divided and digital world• The connection between awareness, empathy, and leadership• Why we need to hold our beliefs lightly and focus on human connection• Finding hope, meaning, and purpose through service and presenceTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and setup00:30 Guilt, gratitude, and loss01:30 Defining soulfulness and awareness03:00 Matt’s introductions: Eric Pachman and Rachel Goldfarb07:00 Eric’s background in data visualization and healthcare reform11:00 Rachel’s background in policy, the White House, and the CFPB15:00 The 46Brooklyn story and connecting data to change20:00 Rachel’s experiences at the Gates Foundation and loss of her mother25:00 Shared stories of grief and transformation35:00 Awareness, choice, and meaning after loss43:00 Reclaiming soulfulness and the impact of technology on empathy50:00 The role of nuance, awareness, and understanding in leadership58:00 Balancing awareness with mental health and media overload01:06:00 Channeling energy into positive impact and community01:12:00 Final reflections on meaning, awareness, and connection

Dennis Moseley-Williams joins Matt Zeigler for a conversation on creativity, preparation, and authenticity in the experience economy. They explore what it means to truly “show up” — balancing the control of preparation with the freedom of flow. From keynotes gone sideways to customer secrets and the power of belonging, Dennis shares personal stories and insights on how businesses — and people — can create genuine connections by being real, weird, and specific.Topics covered:• Knowing your stuff vs. controlling the chaos• The difference between keynotes and workshops• What it means to “show up” as your full self• Why over-preparation kills creativity (and how ChatGPT plays into it)• The Elvis Costello opening — starting with energy and authenticity• Authenticity in the experience economy• The role of customer secrets in creating magic• When businesses become communities — “niche, niche, weird”• How structure and ritual create freedom and flow• Lessons from a keynote gone wrong — and how to recoverTimestamps:00:00 Intro and setup05:00 The power of customer secrets08:00 Why preparation matters (and when it goes too far)11:00 Knowing your stuff vs. controlling the chaos15:00 Preparing vs. performing — finding your flow17:00 The Elvis Costello opening21:00 Authenticity and chemistry with audiences27:00 The rise of individuality and belonging29:00 Niche, niche, weird — when businesses become communities33:00 The keynote nightmare story37:00 Lessons learned from failure39:00 Launching a new show and embracing flow42:00 The importance of sweating the small stuff43:00 Structure creates freedom44:00 Where to find Dennis online

NEPA Horror Fest is happening at Circle Drive in on 10/22/2025! $15 at 5pm, all ages welcome. More info and tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/nepa-horror/nepa-horror-13-short-films-night-market?fbclid=IwVERDUAMk5uhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoN7Ac74lOm-7IMweZDjTRWb1N41GHD0SRmSjFEGAQZC-1RkDShNvPnwMxS__aem_FNWIe1phkCqfjHgyp8J7Dg

Join us for a conversation with Bobby K, the founder of NEPA Horror Fest. We talk about the origins of the festival, the challenges of running community events, and why creating a space for indie films, music, and art matters so much. From Murphy’s Law stories to what it takes to bring Hollywood-quality experiences to local communities, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at passion, perseverance, and horror on the big screen.Topics covered:The history and evolution of NEPA Horror FestWhy Bobby K started the festival and how it’s grown since 2015The challenges of running local community eventsThe importance of showcasing independent films and local talentWhy drive-ins and nostalgic venues matter for culture and connectionBalancing financial struggles with the reward of community impactWhat’s new at the 11th annual festival, including the night market and live musicHow to support and attend this year’s eventTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Murphy’s Law stories03:00 Local music and festival memories06:20 Why start a horror film festival in NEPA07:30 Growth of the festival and major guests09:00 Bringing Monster Mania–style events to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre10:00 Why indie films need a platform12:00 Nostalgia and the drive-in experience13:20 Film submission process and global reach15:00 Defining success beyond the numbers17:40 Event details: October 11th at Circle Drive-In19:40 Night market, live music, and family-friendly atmosphere21:50 Why supporting local culture matters

In this episode, Nate Bagley and Bree Groff unpack how to design work that feels human, energizing, and worth your days. We dig into the real drivers of performance (recognition, meaning, and momentum), why so many teams misread burnout, and a practical “magic ratio” you can use this week to change culture. If you’ve ever caught yourself wishing away weekdays, this conversation offers concrete ways to redesign your day, your team habits, and your leadership playbook.Topics coveredWhy “work should be fun” is a serious performance principleThe unseen work trap: wishing away days and treating people as resourcesRecognition as a love language and the behaviors that make it landThe 20:1 magic ratio and why praise-to-corrective balance mattersPsychological safety vs. aliveness and how to cultivate bothHow leaders can give better feedback and model the right habitsMeeting hygiene, daily design, and micro-changes that compoundRethinking burnout: what most teams get wrong and how to fix itMetrics that matter: from output obsession to sustainable performancePractical scripts and experiments to try with your team this weekTimestamps00:00 Intro and why work should be fun02:10 The unseen work trap and wishing away your days06:25 Recognition as a love language10:40 The 20:1 magic ratio explained15:05 Psychological safety vs aliveness19:30 Feedback that motivates without fear24:15 Meeting hygiene and daily design29:00 Burnout, misdiagnosed33:20 Metrics that actually move performance38:10 Leader scripts and experiments to try now42:45 Audience takeaways and next steps

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt brings together journalist and friendship expert Anna Goldfarb and psychologist/behavioral finance analyst Naomi Win for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on friendship, uncertainty, and the ways we build and sustain human connection.The discussion moves from personal stories and research insights to cultural commentary, exploring how we navigate modern relationships in a world full of competing demands, distractions, and constant change.Topics CoveredWhy uncertainty shapes both friendships and personal growthAnna’s framework for understanding friendship hierarchies (bathtub, jacuzzi, swimming pool, etc.)The difference between agentic friendships and communal friendshipsHow adulthood, family, and time scarcity reshape our social circlesCultural and societal impacts on modern friendship and lonelinessThe psychology of self-trust, repair, and vulnerability in relationshipsTrauma bonding vs. healthy friendship bondingAnna’s personal story of her father, uncertainty, and the importance of reaching outWhy certainty, communication, and generosity matter in sustaining friendships

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler sits down with Steve Willison—HR executive and author of Players, Payoffs and People—to explore how game theory applies to work, leadership, and life.The conversation weaves together stories of creativity, burnout, and identity with lessons on incentives, teamwork, and personal growth. From bands on tour to boardrooms, Steve shares how seeing the world as a series of "games" can provide clarity and direction in navigating relationships, careers, and organizations.Topics Covered: Finding your people and building the right "pool" of collaboratorsWork-life integration vs. balanceThe role of adventurous risk-takers in creative and professional projectsBurnout: causes, recovery, and organizational responsibilityIncentives, goals, and how shifting motivations impact teamsCooperation games vs. competitive games in relationships and the workplaceViewing life, leadership, and HR through the lens of game theoryCreativity, cross-pollination, and pulling lessons from unexpected places

In this episode of *Just Press Record*, Matt Zeigler brings together Dr. Preston Cherry, author of *Wealth in the Key of Life*, and Jenny Wood, former Google exec and author of *Wild Courage*. They dive into the power of rejection, the value of “weird,” the courage to stand out, and why nobody likes to be “should on.” This conversation blends psychology, storytelling, and practical lessons on living boldly and authentically.### Topics Covered* Why rejection is often just the first step toward success* Jenny’s “wild courage” story of meeting her husband on the subway* The role of fear—failure, judgment, and uncertainty—in holding us back* How to embrace “weird” as a strength in work and life* Reframing “manipulative” into the courage to influence for good* The balance between seeking permission and trusting yourself* The importance of stage of life, self-audits, and giving yourself grace* Session work, entrepreneurship myths, and the underrated power of enthusiasm* Practical frameworks like Preston’s “6 As” and Jenny’s “WINN” and “FLIP” tools

In this second conversation with Morgan Ranstrom, we dive deeper into the power of creating in public, the discomfort of vulnerability, and the surprising compounding benefits of sharing ideas openly. From creativity and wealth management to music, poetry, and AI, this episode explores how learning out loud can change careers, relationships, and the way we engage with the world.Special shoutout to my prior conversation with Chris Mayer and Anne-Laure Le Cunff (@neuranne) — we've got a great clip from their introduction to inspire this conversation!👉 https://youtu.be/pgdhXiVh2zE?si=39uUxqOOARfITUE8What We Cover:Why creating in public is so powerfulThe tension between being “late” vs. just starting anywayCompounding benefits of small creative risksVulnerability vs. comfort in an AI-driven worldLessons from music, writing, and wealth managementThe role of the muse and the creative flywheelFinding balance between private long-term projects and public iterationHow human connection transforms creativity

What happens when a hip-hop pioneer and a philosopher-turned-artist sit down to explore the tension between external validation and internal mastery?In this episode of Just Press Record, Bill Stephney—former Def Jam executive and cultural force behind launching acts like Public Enemy—and Lawrence Yeo—author of More To That (@moretothat) and creator of deeply reflective visual essays—discuss the creative journey from two unique angles.It's a conversation about art, ambition, history, and the challenge of staying true to yourself when everyone else is watching.• The early days of hip-hop and Bill's pivotal role in launching Public Enemy• Lawrence's discovery of beatmaking and how it shifted his creative worldview• The tradeoff between external recognition, financial success, and creative freedom• Why many creators move away from their first passion—and what replaces it• The LA beat scene, SoundCloud era, and how distribution has changed everything• Gatekeepers vs democratization: is quality being lost or redefined?• How the pursuit of mastery differs from the pursuit of fame• What motivates great artists—and how that changes over time• Bill's work on documentaries like Philly on Fire and Kaepernick in America• The importance of curiosity, creative tension, and following your "inner compass"00:00 - Intro: Def Jam, Rick Rubin, and why these two guests had to meet02:00 - Lawrence on learning about sampling and the genius of collage08:00 - Bill's path from college DJ to discovering Chuck D and forming Public Enemy13:10 - The syncopated roots of hip-hop and its cultural explosion18:25 - Lawrence on the LA beat scene, Flying Lotus, and SoundCloud's golden age24:00 - Why he left music: chasing validation vs. creative fulfillment26:40 - Bill on managing art, fame, and commerce at Def Jam31:10 - From music exec to film producer: the Tony Braxton origin story39:00 - Democratization vs. quality: the creative tension of modern distribution44:30 - What counts as "good" in a world without gatekeepers?50:15 - Cultural movements that weren't planned—but changed everything53:00 - Mastery, the inner compass, and why artists leave a mark58:00 - The danger of overstimulation and protecting curiosity1:03:20 - Saying yes, instinct, and the path to meaningful work1:07:00 - A Grand Wizard Theodore story and the beauty of creative accidents