The Zack Arnold Podcast
Zack Arnold
Hi I'm Zack, and the purpose of my work is to help you find meaning and purpose in yours (without burning out...or selling your creative soul).If you've built your entire career around your creativity like I have, you may be asking the same question I am: Is there a future for us “creatives,” Or is it game over? I can't promise that I know what the future brings, but I do promise few are more dedicated to helping you find the answers than I am.You're in the right place if:You live to create. Your work isn't just a job but an expression of who you are.You create to live. Your livelihood depends on your creativity.You love making cool shit.Whether you identify as introverted or neurodivergent (or both, like me)...No matter if you're a misfit, a rebel, an outlier, or a troublemaker...If you've been called weird, nerdy, dorky, quirky, or awkward...Or if you’re an over-thinker, procrastinator, or perfectionist…You are welcome here. 😊Come join me as I have honest, authentic, and candid conversations with NYT bestselling authors, Oscar and Emmy winners, experts across many different industries, and ordinary humans achieving extraordinary things.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 27, 2024 • 21min
Hot Seat Friday: How to Reconnect When the Conversation Has Gone Quiet
In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member Saarang Vinodh, who’s navigating a delicate challenge: reconnecting with a producer he had previously reached out to. Their last conversation seemed to close the door on potential mentorship, but now Saarang’s goals have shifted, and he’s confident this producer could help. The question is, how can he reach out again without the message feeling purely transactional? Together, we workshop thoughtful strategies to craft an outreach that goes beyond the surface, aiming to spark a meaningful conversation and lay the foundation for a deeper, more genuine connection.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Dec 20, 2024 • 36min
Hot Seat Friday: Trimming down and streamlining your resume to clearly tell your story
In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member Brett Williams to help him refine his resume and align it with his career goals. Brett is targeting broadcast promos and marketing agencies but finds himself grappling with a resume that's overflowing with information. While he has a good sense of which experiences to emphasize, he's unsure how to organize them in a way that tells a clear, compelling story. Together, we workshop his resume—trimming away the irrelevant details, reordering sections, and focusing on strategies to ensure it resonates with his target audience at a glance.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Dec 13, 2024 • 16min
Hot Seat Friday: Identifying the right relationships to build to help you achieve your goal
In this Hot Seat session, community member Stephen Lehman opens up about his goal to edit narrative projects consistently while working as a film teacher. Stephen is trying to navigate the challenges in building the right connections to make this vision a reality. Together, we explore the types of relationships he should focus on and develop strategies to ensure he's on the radar for future opportunities that align with his goals.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov 22, 2024 • 44min
Hot Seat Friday: How to reach out cold to a gatekeeper and get a useful response
In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member David Spragg to tackle the challenge of reaching out cold to a gatekeeper. David wants to connect with a YouTuber known for creating high-quality documentary and travel content, who is now venturing into scripted filmmaking. Drawing on his experience in filmmaking, David hopes to offer his skills and insights to support this person’s project. Together, we craft a thoughtful and compelling strategy to ensure his message stands out and gets a response.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov 15, 2024 • 11min
The future of Optimize Yourself (a painful lesson in branding)
Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the first to receive next week’s newsletter, to read today’s episode in addition to listening, and for access to all of the past newsletters in the Case of the Mondays archives, simply visit optimizeyourself.me/newsletter.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov 15, 2024 • 58min
Hot Seat Friday: How can I show employers I'm the right match even with a different experience?
In this Hot Seat session, longtime community member Tonianne Fleig tackles the challenge of pivoting from film into the brand and agency world. Although her recent years have been in film, Tonianne is confident in her skills and expertise—and now it’s about framing her experience to resonate with potential employers in a new space. Together, we dig into the strategies that will help her highlight her unique strengths and communicate the true value she brings to the table that sets her apart from the others.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov 8, 2024 • 34min
Hot Seat Friday: Crafting a thoughtful follow-up when your first email goes unanswered
In this Hot Seat session, community member Mark Carr is looking to re-engage a valuable contact he reached out to a few months ago. Knowing the person was previously too busy to respond, Mark wants to follow up in a way that’s both respectful of their time and likely to get a response. Together, we break down the art of a well-crafted follow-up, exploring subtle strategies that go beyond a simple nudge and aimed at making his outreach feel timely, genuine, and worth reading.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Nov 1, 2024 • 17min
Hot Seat Friday: Better managing your time and energy so you don't have to "steal" time
In this Hot Seat session, community member Leonardo Oliveira seeks guidance on refining his weekly planning. He often ends up not being able to finish everything he planned for the week and finds himself "stealing" time from other tasks to keep up. Together, we explore the mindset shifts and practical strategies that can help him better manage his time and energy, while building more flexibility into his schedule.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Oct 18, 2024 • 34min
Hot Seat Friday: Crafting a pitch deck that draws your audience in
In this Hot Seat session, community member Michael Addis brings his series pitch deck to the table. He wants to refine it so he can capture the interest of the executives. Together, we crawl into the brains of the busy decision-makers to understand how they process ideas, ensuring that he can convey his vision clearly and effectively giving Michael the best chance of making his idea a reality.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
Oct 11, 2024 • 47min
Hot Seat Friday: How do I answer the 'tell me about yourself' interview question?
In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member Tristan Felberg for a mock interview to help him craft a compelling response to the classic "tell me about yourself" question. We explore what interviewers are really looking for and how Tristan can shape his answer to draw them in, keeping the conversation flowing. We also dive into a key strategy to stay confident and natural, even when the conversation takes unexpected turns. This hot seat is packed with practical tips to help you navigate interviews with ease and take control of the dialogue.Want to provide your feedback on this new format? We'd love to hear from you!→ Click here to let us know what you think of this formatWant to learn more about working with me and having your own Hot Seat session?→ Click here to learn more about the Optimizer coaching & mentorship programSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-zack-arnold-podcast/exclusive-content
