Just Press Record

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 coveredThe philosophy behind Just Press Record and why unscripted, unexpected conversations matterThe power of reaching out to people and the lasting impact of human connectionHow major life transitions often emerge around key ages and career inflection pointsLosing sight of purpose by focusing on the wrong metrics and how to recalibrateOvercoming fear, stage anxiety, and the courage to live more authenticallyCreativity as recombination, sampling, and reinterpretation across music, art, and businessLong-term thinking, journaling, and reflecting on how beliefs and priorities evolve over timeWhy community, curiosity, and experimentation matter more than optimizationTimestamps00:00 Introduction and year-end clip show setup01:30 The idea behind Just Press Record and pairing unlikely people06:50 Anna Goldfarb on connection, regret, and reaching out13:15 Tom Morgan on age 36, identity shifts, and life phases20:45 Bobby Keller on purpose, metrics, and the Horror Fest30:00 Julia Duthie and Nancy Berger on fear, authenticity, and self-expression42:00 Bill Stephney and Lawrence Yeo on hip hop, creativity, and sampling51:45 Chris Mayer and Anne-Laure Le Cunff on journaling and changing your mind

This episode of Just Press Record brings together Tyrone Ross and Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio explore how early experiences, belief, and community shape who we become. What begins with comic books, video games, and childhood stories unfolds into a powerful conversation about identity, hope, economic mobility, and the systems that determine who gets access to opportunity. From superheroes and supervillains to first-generation college journeys, financial education, and breaking cycles of poverty, this is a deeply human conversation about what it means to see someone, invest in them, and change the trajectory of a life.Topics covered• The shared origins of superheroes and supervillains and how adversity shapes identity• How the labels adults give children can define their futures• The role of teachers, mentors, and small acts of belief in changing life paths• First-generation college experiences and navigating systems not built for you• Athletic talent, opportunity arriving too early, and unprepared success• Hunger, hope, and discipline as lifelong motivators• Financial education versus financial literacy and why language matters• Economic mobility, community investment, and breaking cycles of poverty• Why access, proximity, and support matter more than motivation alone• The moral and practical case for building systems where everyone can eatTimestamps00:00 Introduction and why these two needed to meet01:00 Superheroes, supervillains, and shared origin stories03:00 Childhood identity and being told who you are06:00 Comic books, video games, and learning how the world works12:00 Growing up, moving often, and discovering education18:00 First-generation college journeys and culture shock23:00 Athletics as opportunity and arriving unprepared28:00 Teachers who change lives with belief34:00 Hunger, survival, and early lessons in humanity41:00 Discipline, responsibility, and turning pain into purpose48:00 Economic mobility, financial education, and community investment56:00 Systems, access, and why poverty is not a personal failure01:03:00 Hope, responsibility, and why everyone can eat

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt sits down again with Eric Pachman to explore the idea of serendipity, the role of accident in shaping a life, and what it really takes for opportunity to become meaningful. Using a clip from a prior conversation with Eric Markowitz and Elie Jacobs as the jumping-off point, this conversation turns into a deep examination of privilege, poverty, the three Cs needed for upward mobility, why so many people never reach the threshold where serendipity can help them, and how Eric is channeling his skills into Data for the People to push society toward a better path.Topics covered:• The difference between serendipity and pure accident• How random events shape an entire life trajectory• Privilege, perspective, and why some people never get access to opportunity• The three Cs needed for meaningful upward mobility• Why data can expose the true state of poverty and public programs• Eric’s new project, Data for the People• The emotional cost of working on large societal problems• The dangers of aspirational culture and financial nihilism• What it means to find enough in a world built on more• How to contribute to raising the threshold so serendipity can help more people• Why helping even one person changes everythingTimestamps:00:00 Opening and setup00:37 Eric on accidents and the fragility of life paths02:18 Why random circumstances determine opportunity03:35 Eric returns to the show and discusses major life changes05:00 Introducing Data for the People and the SNAP deep dive07:00 The emotional weight of analyzing poverty data09:03 Setting up the clip from Eric Markowitz and Elie Jacobs10:28 The serendipity clip12:43 Eric’s first reflections on serendipity13:54 The role of privilege in who benefits from randomness15:00 Life as a series of accidents17:00 Who actually gets access to positive serendipity18:00 The three Cs that enable upward mobility20:00 Why connection and consistency matter for kids in struggling communities22:00 Raising the threshold for crappiness24:00 How accidents land differently depending on where you start25:00 The motorcycle accident story that made Eric possible27:00 How understanding accident changes self-importance28:00 Helping more people reach the serendipity threshold30:00 How data can shift voting and policy behavior31:17 What most people really want: stability, not wealth32:40 The dangers of aspirational culture33:53 Breaking out of the matrix of materialism35:00 Why awareness is the only thing we can control37:00 The real teachers in society38:00 Supervillain logic and endless accumulation39:11 Life on the balance beam of enough41:00 The impossibility of perfect balance43:00 What individuals can actually do to push the ball forward45:00 Setting goals you won’t achieve in a single lifetime46:12 Why Matt chose this clip for Eric47:51 Raising opportunity as a societal responsibility49:00 Why Eric’s current path is not a mad chance but the only rational one50:27 Where to find Eric and follow Data for the People52:29 Closing and sign-off

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler brings together motivational comedian and storytelling coach Chris Grimes and structural scalability expert Brad Fisher for a spontaneous, free-flowing conversation about story, leadership, presence, improvisation, personal growth, and the bridges between creativity and organizational transformation. What begins as a playful meeting between two strangers quickly evolves into a deep exploration of how stories shape who we are, how we lead, and how we help others make meaningful transitions in business and in life.Topics Covered• Why asking tell me your story creates instant connection and trust• How deep listening unlocks meaningful conversations• The role of presence and improvisation in leadership and communication• Chris Grimes on The Good Listening To Show and his story framework• Brad Fisher on structural scalability, the second leap, and transforming businesses• How to find your island B and define what you really want next• The power of letting go, delegation, and moving from how to who• Legacy, purpose, creativity, and finding your flow state• Storytelling as a tool for coaching, leadership, and personal transformation• Balancing business growth with authenticity and well-beingTimestamps00:00 Introduction00:56 Why Tell Me Your Story Works01:33 Deep Listening and The Good Listening To Show02:00 Purpose, Flow, and Alchemy02:47 Story as the Golden Thread03:21 Introducing Chris Grimes and Brad Fisher06:10 The Art of Skip Diving08:00 Dog Psychology and Early Notes09:55 First Impressions: Guessing Each Other’s Work12:09 What Is a Motivational Comedian14:01 How Improv Changes Communication16:29 Eyes on Springs and Presence18:00 Teaching Spontaneity and the Clock of Now20:00 Tell Me Your Story as a Leadership Tool22:23 Legacy Life Reflections and Capturing Stories24:09 StoryCorps and Shared Human Stories26:34 How the Legacy Framework Works28:00 Brand Stories, Founder Stories, Leadership Stories30:24 Story Structures and 5 4 3 2 133:00 Alchemy, Gold, and the Cake34:09 How Brad Builds Stories With Clients37:01 Brad’s Framework and the Second Leap39:00 Stage One Companies vs Stage Two Companies41:00 The Six Scalability42:53 Second Curves and Reinventing Yourself44:56 Courage, Change, and Revealing What’s Already There46:12 Leading With Presence and Letting the Team Step Up48:00 Island A vs Island B50:17 Who Not How and Shifting Your Mindset51:00 Chris’s Podcast Growth and Distribution53:00 Becoming a Digital Nomad Broadcaster55:00 What to Stop Doing: Busyness vs Flow57:00 Building Support Around the Creative Work59:00 Self-Compassion and Reducing Pressure01:01:00 Following the Soul Chime01:02:00 Building vs Extracting Stories01:03:00 Creativity in the Known and Unknown

In this episode, we showcase some of the most powerful clips from The Intentional Investor. These conversations explore how strategic thinkers, founders, investors, and creatives navigate risk, build vision, overcome adversity, and retain their humanity along the way. This highlight reel offers a taste of the depth, honesty, and storytelling that define the series.Main topics covered• How goals differ from visions and why committing to a vision changes everything• Why entrepreneurs are actually risk mitigators, not risk takers• The power of mentorship and the people who fill the gaps in our lives• What freedom means in global markets and why incentives matter• Family stories, grit, and how small acts of kindness shape entire lives• What true creativity is and why inventors matter more than we realize• How to stop caring about external approval and shed status games• How humility guides both earnestness and cynicism• Why saying yes expands your world and how impact becomes central later in life• The lifelong bond of sports, tradition, and shared experiencesTimestamps00:00 Intro01:30 Justin Castelli on goals vs visions03:00 Jason Buck on entrepreneurship as risk mitigation04:00 Jenny Rozelle on Susan Hunter and mentorship07:00 Perth Tolle on freedom and incentives08:00 Tyrone Ross on grit, family, and gap fillers10:00 Pablos Holman on inventors vs craft12:10 Kris Abdelmessih on not caring what others think14:02 Rusty Guinn on earnestness, cynicism, and humility16:41 Jared Dillian on saying yes and creative impact17:43 Grant Williams on family, football, and legacy20:00 Closing reflections

On this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler sits down with music critic Kevin Alexander of On Repeat Records ( https://thekevinalexander.substack.com/ ) for a conversation about creativity, measuring success, and the craft of writing with authenticity. The two explore what it means to build something meaningful in an age driven by metrics, using a clip from musician Ned Russin (Glitterer, Title Fight -  @glitterererer ) as a jumping-off point. Together, they unpack how artists can find fulfillment in smaller, more intentional audiences, how to recognize when a piece of art “completes itself,” and why genuine connection beats scale every time.Main topics covered:Reviewing Ned Russin’s new Glitterer track “Stainless Steel”How to measure success as a creator without chasing metricsThe balance between audience growth and artistic integrityThe skill of eliciting deep responses from readers and listenersWhy great art doesn’t scale—it spreadsWriting when inspiration strikes versus grinding through editsThe importance of authenticity over polish in creative workHow to know when to stop editing and ship your workBuilding community through shared taste and genuine engagementTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and show setup03:00 The Scranton game and Kevin Malone parallels04:45 Reviewing Glitterer’s “Stainless Steel”08:25 Drawing influence lines from Weezer to post-hardcore12:00 Audience growth and how artists measure success15:00 Picking the right ruler to measure creative progress17:00 How Kevin thinks about engagement and reader connection21:00 When creativity flows versus when it takes work23:00 Collaboration, feedback, and knowing when a piece is done27:00 The role of authenticity in modern criticism32:00 Why great art doesn’t scale—it spreads33:30 Closing reflections and where to find Kevin’s work

A venture investor and an audio storyteller explore curiosity, community, and unconventional careers. Danielle Strachman (1517 Fund, Teal Fellowship) and Kevin Leahy (Podcast Point Man, NPR alum) join Matt to dig into education outside the system, how local projects build connection and opportunity, and why following your instincts matters more than following a script. This episode is about taking risks, creating your own lanes, and building things that last.Main topics coveredDanielle’s journey from Craigslist tutor to running the Teal Fellowship and 1517 FundEarly lessons building a tutoring business and charter school from scratchWhy college isn’t the only path and how alternative education unlocks talentKevin’s path from NPR journalism to podcast building and business strategyThe power of curiosity, naivete, and learning by doingWhy local podcasts and grassroots community building matterROI vs the long tail of serendipity and relationshipsCreativity, risk taking, and finding meaning through work and peopleYouTube timestamps00:00 Introductions04:00 Danielle’s path: tutoring, homeschooling, charter school09:30 Teal Fellowship and backing young founders13:00 Skills based hiring and education reform18:00 Kevin’s path: reporting, NPR, learning media24:00 Curiosity, creativity, and making your own path28:00 Local podcasts, community, and connection33:00 ROI vs serendipity in community building37:00 Alternative education and real world learning47:00 Following instincts, shipping work, taking risks58:00 Closing thoughts and lessons

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler welcomes back Dave Nadig for a conversation about music discovery, community, and the art of curation. The two explore how radio, mixtapes, blogs, and the internet have shaped the way we find and share music across generations. From college radio stations to TikTok, from Dr. Demento to The Cramps revival, they discuss how music connects people, defines eras of life, and captures fleeting cultural moments. This episode is a nostalgic yet forward-looking exploration of how community forms around sound, and how documenting what we love keeps the signal alive.Main topics covered:Radio as a community builder and discovery engineThe evolution of music discovery from cassettes to streamingCollege radio, mixtapes, and the importance of shared curationNostalgia, generational shifts, and the persistence of new musicMusic blogging, Substack, and finding filters in a world of abundanceTemporary communities formed around concerts and festivalsThe art of documenting musical eras through playlistsWhy music remains one of the strongest cultural anchors in the age of AITimestamps:00:00 Introduction and setup04:58 Dave’s return to ETF.com and community building06:47 The Laurie Kaye and Kevin Alexander radio clip09:46 Dave’s early radio memories and Dr. Demento nostalgia13:05 Cassette trading, hot takes, and early musical opinions15:00 College radio and discovering community through sound17:44 From radio to live shows and finding local scenes20:00 Early internet and the dawn of digital music discovery22:00 Record store culture and physical community24:00 Music as a personal act versus a shared experience27:00 Curiosity for new music and why discovery never ends29:00 TikTok, subcultures, and modern discovery engines31:00 Communities, fandoms, and cultural tentpoles34:00 Playlists as time capsules and memory markers37:00 Pandemic music and anchoring moments in time39:00 Temporary communities and the concert experience43:00 Finding meaning through curation and connection46:00 Closing thoughts, shoutouts, and where to find Dave

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