Creator Alchemy

In this discussion, Jessica Lackey, founder of Deeper Foundations and author of 'Leaving the Casino,' shares her no-nonsense approach to building successful online businesses. She emphasizes that many entrepreneurs are risking their careers in a gamble, debunking quick-success myths. Lackey advocates for sustainable business models focusing on recurring revenue and community engagement. She stresses the importance of market validation, lived experience in teaching, and the need for genuine conviction and curiosity in driving long-term success.

Learn why waiting for permission is a barrier to success and how optimizing small time blocks can boost productivity. Discover the difference between a business and a hobby, and why authenticity trumps superficial branding. Explore the importance of building real connections over follower counts and the value of creating a portfolio of assets. Dive into the harsh reality that entrepreneurship is hard work and requires embracing discomfort. Finally, Corey emphasizes focusing on timeless work and deep resonance with your audience.

Are you secretly afraid of success? In this solo episode, I dive into why fear of success is so common, even when you deeply want to achieve success. You'll also learn an exercise to help you navigate fear of success.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Lawrence Yeo is the founder of More to That and author of The Inner Compass. He's legitimately one of my favorite modern writers and has been instrumental in helping me improve my ability to think clearer, tell better stories, and live more meaningfully. In today's episode, I sit down with Lawrence to dive deep into the psychological barriers that keep creators from doing their best work. We explore how to transform imposter syndrome into creative fuel, why authenticity beats algorithmic optimization, and how philosophical frameworks provide more practical guidance than traditional self-help for navigating creative uncertainty, building sustainable businesses, and developing unshakeable conviction in your ideas.—CONNECT WITH LAWRENCE YEO: Website: https://moretothat.com/Lawrence's book, The Inner Compass: https://compass.moretothat.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Imposter syndrome signals you're entering new territory and growing, rather than being a character flaw to eliminate.Original ideas don't exist - your unique value comes from filtering universal concepts through your personal experience and worldview.Tactical vulnerability means sharing personal struggles specifically to serve your audience, not just to process your own emotions.Writing like you naturally speak creates more authentic connection than trying to hit artificial reading level targets.Perfectionism paralyzes creators because achieving it would make creating the next piece even more daunting.Stories move people more than statistics - personal anecdotes create lasting impact where data fails.Mastery (refining intuition) creates more sustainable success than status-chasing (collecting attention).The people you attract reflect the ideas you share - shallow content brings shallow thinkers.External validation becomes addictive when you're in periods of self-doubt, but focusing on craft builds genuine confidence and conviction.Monetizing creativity requires attracting people whose values align with yours, not just anyone willing to pay.Trusting yourself is learnable through repeatedly doing work for its own sake without external pressure.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Genesis of More to That05:16 How Lawrence Deals with Imposter Syndrome09:46 The Art of Remixing Ideas14:42 The Power of Authenticity and Vulnerability in The Creative Act25:38 Common Writing Advice to Avoid33:15 Why Perfection is Overrated40:39 Knowledge vs Wisdom in the Age of AI48:25 Krishnamurti, Philosophy, and Navigating Existence01:17:08 Why We Wait for Permission to Hit Publish01:25:52 The Pursuit of Mastery and Craftsmanship01:32:25 Staying True to Yourself and Resisting Misaligned Incentives01:49:49 The Inner Compass—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.socialDisclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

What is marketing, actually? And how can you improve your marketing to grow your audience, revenue, and resonance in an authentic way? In today's episode, I sit down with my friend Amanda Natividad, head of marketing at SparkToro, to explore the psychology behind effective marketing. We discuss zero-click content, parasocial relationships, and why the best marketing doesn't feel like marketing at all, and Amanda shares actionable strategies for creators who want to build authentic connections that convert.—ABOUT AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Amanda Natividad is VP of Marketing for audience research startup, SparkToro. In her spare time, she co-hosts the Meme Team podcast and writes a marketing newsletter called the Menu (with over 16k subscribers). She’s also the creator/teacher for Content Marketing 201, a contributor for Adweek, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and a former journalist. Amanda previously led marketing for Growth Machine, led marketing for Liftopia, built Fitbit’s B2B content program, and led content and communications for NatureBox.—CONNECT WITH AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Website: https://amandanat.com/Newsletter: https://amandanat.com/subscribe/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanat/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandanat/Twitter: https://x.com/amandanatMeme Team Podcast: https://www.memeteampodcast.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing because people naturally resist being sold to but want solutions to their problems.Content marketing should serve specific business functions rather than just creating content for content's sake.Zero-click content strategy focuses on providing value directly on social platforms instead of driving traffic away from them.Parasocial relationships allow creators to scale intimacy and build genuine connections with large audiences.Content pillars act as guardrails that protect your mental health while maintaining focus and audience expectations.Blog posts and long-form content serve as proof and defense for your expertise, not just standalone pieces.People follow creators for who they are, not just their content, which is why personal connection matters more than perfect information.Building algorithmic capital through consistent valuable content allows you to occasionally promote without being penalized.Making it easy for people to understand what you sell and where to buy it is fundamental but often overlooked.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Why the Best Marketing Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing01:24 - B2B vs B2C Marketing: Key Differences04:25 - The Truth About Content Marketing13:10 - Personal Brand vs Reputation: Building Authentic Authority22:46 - Parasocial Relationships: Scaling Intimacy in Marketing35:20 - Managing Influence and Setting Professional Boundaries41:09 - Marketing Psychology in an Algorithm-Driven World44:15 - Why Zero-Click Content and Algorithmic Capital Are the Future of Marketing50:08 - People Hate Being Sold to But Love This…51:56 - Why Everything is Marketing53:02 - The Power of Building a Content Portfolio57:30 - The Lamborghini Marketing Principle1:05:27 - One Final Piece of Marketing Wisdom—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.socialDisclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Dr. Josh Williams is a clinical psychologist, natural body builder, father, human performance expert, and a personal friend who inspires me to be a better version of myself every day. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of fitness (how to get in shape and stay fit), modern men and masculinity issues (and why so many men feel lost today), emotional intelligence and identity formation, and how sacrifice is a requirement for success in all areas of life.—CONNECT WITH Dr. Josh Williams: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthritual/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoshWilliams—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Soreness doesn't equal workout quality - consistency and progressive overload matter more than how you feel the next dayIdentity beats goals for creating lasting behavioral change - "I am someone who works out" is more powerful than "I want to work out"Environment beats willpower every time - design your surroundings and remove temptations rather than relying on self-controlModern men lack clear role scripts while women successfully adapted to new opportunities and expectationsHigh achievers often create emotional compression that limits both their highs and lows to maintain performanceSacrifice is inevitable in life, so choose what you give up consciously rather than letting it happen by defaultThe lineage perspective creates meaning beyond personal achievement by viewing your life as part of a generational chainTurn toward difficult emotions instead of avoiding them - this builds resilience and emotional intelligence over timeCommunity and accountability accelerate progress in fitness, business, and personal development more than solo effortDefault systems protect your most important values by creating automatic behaviors that don't require constant decisions—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Fitness Myths & How to Optimize for Longevity13:22 What Holds People Back from Getting in Shape22:40 The Psychology of Sacrifice and Building Your Ideal Life32:35 The Power of Constraints to Achieve Your Health Goals52:36 The Modern Men and Masculinity Crisis1:16:00 The Lineage Perspective: Living for More Than Yourself1:25:50 Emotional Intelligence, Expression, and Compression1:49:06 Striving, Excellence, and Enjoyment1:56:25 How to Design Your Environment for Excellence—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

What happens when your entire business gets destroyed in 3 days? Jay Acunzo, storytelling expert and former head of content at HubSpot, shares the messy reality of reinvention and how he discovered his most defensible advantages. We explore why people follow you for YOU (not your content), the psychology behind authentic storytelling vs. performance, and Jay's frameworks for escaping the "commodity cage"—including why you should focus on being their favorite instead of being the best. Plus: the simple 4-part story structure that actually works and how to "ladder down" your ideas to create deeper connections.—CONNECT WITH JAY: https://jayacunzo.com/https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzohttps://jayacunzo.com/newsletterCheck out Jay's podcast, "How Stories Happen" wherever you get your podcasts—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Getting "punched in the mouth" by unexpected events often forces necessary reinvention that turns five-year plans into 30-day survival plansAsk yourself "What am I the best at doing in a room of 100 people?" to find clarity about your unique strengths and defensible advantagesThe messy, unglamorous parts of reinvention are where you actually find your best ideas and truest selfPeople don't follow you for your content—they follow you for you, which means your imperfections are often what create the strongest connectionsUse "tactical vulnerability"—share imperfect, human aspects of your story that are relevant for building connection or illustrating a pointStories need four building blocks: status quo, tension, turning point, and resolution (remember the itsy bitsy spider)Don't just share expertise—escape the "commodity cage" by developing a unique premise or perspective"Don't market more, matter more"—focus on resonance (how much people care) over reach (how many people see it)"Don't be the best, be their favorite"—people make emotional choices and rationalize them laterMove from being an expert who shares information to an explorer who asks questions and launches investigations"Ladder down" your ideas: start with an easy reframe, then your core premise, then the best-case outcomeBringing conviction to your ideas and learning to package them effectively creates a defensible position in a noisy world—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Jay decided to dedicate this chapter of his life to storytelling and speaking09:00 How Jay reinvented his business after everything burned to the ground14:57 The emotional toll of pivoting your business18:20 How to find your best ideas to share21:41 The trap of being a meta-creator23:43 Being an expert vs. an explorer26:30 Imperfection and building a connection with your audience33:25 AI and the Milli Vanilli Effect37:54 Being authentic vs being performative49:38 The truth about what makes a great story52:34 The biggest mental block holding you back from becoming a great storyteller55:32 The secret to incredible storytelling/the secret to guarantee people remember your ideas1:01:30 How to take your public speaking and storytelling skills to the next level1:04:30 Parting words—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.socialDisclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

In this episode, I sit down with PJ Milani (you may know him by Milani Creative), a high school film teacher who's built an inspirational brand sharing visual metaphors that's attracted an audience of over 400,000 people across platforms by embracing quantity over quality and abandoning perfectionism. We dive deep into his creative philosophy, the psychology behind consistent output, and how he overcame decades of creative paralysis to become one of the most recognized visual metaphor creators online. PJ shares his approach to handling imposter syndrome, the constraints that fuel his creativity, and why "good enough" might be the secret to unlocking your creative potential. This conversation will completely change how you think about creative work and hitting publish.—CONNECT WITH PJ Milani: https://www.milanicreative.com/artThe visual metaphor we talk about at the end of the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFxaB-Hx2md/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Perfectionism is often disguised procrastination - Waiting for the "perfect approach" or "right tools" can delay creative output for years, as PJ experienced before finally starting at age 40.Creative accents (your imperfections) become your unique signature - In an AI-dominated world, the way you imperfectly create something is what makes your work distinctly human and memorable."Good enough" should be redefined as "as good as I can make it today" - This shifts the question from impossible perfection to achievable daily excellence within your current constraints.You are not the best judge of what will resonate with your audience - PJ's most viral content was often work he didn't think was his best, proving creators can't predict what will connect with people.Creative practice should align with meaningful work, not just cool achievements - Focusing on work that feels personally fulfilling sustains long-term creative output better than chasing viral moments.Imposter syndrome intensifies with success rather than disappearing - The feeling of not belonging in certain rooms persists even at high achievement levels, requiring ongoing psychological management.Constraints actually fuel creativity rather than limit it - Having boundaries provides a framework that makes creative decisions easier and prevents paralysis from infinite options.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Overcoming Perfectionism Through Consistency06:16 - From Teaching to Creating: PJ's Background24:08 - Crossing the Fame Threshold30:47 - Navigating Imposter Syndrome43:55 - Balancing Cool vs. Meaningful in Creative Work50:45 - The Overwhelm of Being Multi-Passionate56:20 - Metrics of Success: What Actually Matters1:12:02 - The Art of "Good Enough" and Creative Accents1:23:04 - Technical Skills vs. True Creativity1:44:08 - Creative Constraints That Fuel Innovation1:49:18 - How to Overcome Perfectionism in the Creative Process1:58:21 - Finding Inspiration: Active vs. Passive Approaches2:20:25 - Thinking in Visual Metaphors2:34:40 - The One Work PJ Hopes Outlives Him—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.socialDisclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Tobi Emonts-Holley, a dynamic CEO, father of seven, and high-performance coach, shares valuable insights on leadership. He emphasizes the importance of humility in leadership and the power of strategic thinking over mere execution. Tobi discusses maintaining work-life balance while raising a large family, and how he incorporates fitness into his routine. He highlights the significance of self-leadership and protected thinking time for creativity and growth, offering actionable advice for fathers looking to thrive both at home and work.

In this engaging discussion, Jay Yang, a 19-year-old author and entrepreneur, shares his journey from building a six-figure business before high school to working with industry leaders like Alex and Leila Hormozi. He introduces his 'permissionless approach' to personal growth, emphasizing the freedom in pursuing goals without waiting for validation. Jay tackles imposter syndrome and highlights the importance of self-reflection in discovering passions. He also advocates for embracing discomfort and small actions to navigate unconventional career paths, proving it's never too early or too late to chase your dreams.