Creator Alchemy

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.

Jon Denton shares his 20-year journey from games journalist to 500K-subscriber YouTuber, revealing the hidden mental health crisis plaguing creators. We discuss burnout, isolation, surviving online hate mobs, audience capture, and why he's launching a mastermind to help other creators navigate the psychological toll of putting themselves online.—ABOUT JON DENTON: Jon Denton is a "Level 99 Unc," grown his YouTube channel to over 500k. He spends half his time "reacting to stuff," and the other half helping people break through their limits. —CONNECT WITH JON DENTON: Jon's Newsletter: https://jondenton.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jondenton22/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JonDenton—SUBSCRIBE TO THE CREATOR ALCHEMY 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:Why success amplifies past wounds - Why external achievements often make old wounds louder instead of healing them.The creator isolation paradox - Performing connection for thousands while experiencing deep disconnection and loneliness.When your audience becomes your prison - How creators become trapped by audience expectations and lose the ability to evolve.The psychology behind online hate - Understanding that criticism of your work often reflects the attacker's identity issues, not your content.The RAIN protocol for emotional regulation - Practical frameworks for creating space between triggers and responses.Mental health as a strategic advantage - Why emotional regulation is foundational to sustainable creator success, not separate from it.Creating the stimulus-response gap - How to notice faster and recover quicker from criticism and setbacks.Why you can't think away emotional wounds - Why positive thinking alone doesn't work and what actually helps with creator burnout.Creator communities as survival tool - How connection with other creators becomes essential for survival, not just networking.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro01:35 From Journalist to YouTuber5:45 The Psychology Behind Reaction Videos13:52 The Craft of Being an Entertainer22:50 What Makes Great Music31:06 Meeting The Weeknd - The Power of Putting Yourself Out There38:50 The Fear of Ridicule and Tall Poppy Syndrome 48:50 The Uncertainty of Being a Creator54:34 Burnout and Chronic Fatigue01:01:35 The Inner Journey of Mental Health01:18:14 The Stimulus-Response Gap and Emotional Regulation01:24:35 Handling Online Hate 01:41:04 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindsets in the Creator Economy01:48:45 Creator Isolation and the Need for Community02:07:40 Final Thoughts—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 in-depth conversation, I talk with Dan Bennett, video expert and founder of Hot Sauce Studio, about the psychology of camera confidence (and why your gear only makes up 5% of your success on camera), sharing your expertise with the world, and navigating the insecurities and uncertainties of entrepreneurship. We explore how fear, authenticity, and personal development intersect with being on camera, building a business, and finding your voice as a creator, and share insights into overcoming creative blocks.—ABOUT DAN BENNETT: Dan Bennett helps remarkable people look and sound great on camera. After years working with corporate clients, he shifted his focus to helping entrepreneurs and professionals build camera confidence and create effective video content. His company is currently rebranding as Hot Sauce Studio. Dan emphasizes making video simple (though not necessarily easy) and focuses on the psychological aspects of camera confidence.—CONNECT WITH DAN: Website: danhaslinks.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.—KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:• The psychological barriers to camera confidence and how to overcome them• Dan's "85% rule" - how most of video success is giving yourself permission to be great• The "Four Horsemen of Fear": fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of uncertainty, and fear of success• How video acts as "the ultimate mirror" that forces creators to confront themselves• The importance of authenticity versus creating a persona• Both hosts' personal journeys from difficult backgrounds to entrepreneurial success• Craftsmanship and taking pride in your work, whatever that work may be• The power of tactical vulnerability in building audience connection• How entrepreneurs often face their biggest personal growth challenges through building businesses—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro02:57 The Tech Debt Problem10:51 Why Authenticity Beats Perfection17:51 The Psychology of Camera Confidence24:38 The Four Horsemen of Fear30:32 Growing Up Poor and Becoming a First-Generation Entrepreneur46:15 Dan’s 85% Rule for Winning on Camera50:57 Why Video is the Ultimate Mirror54:11 Navigating Imposter Syndrome1:14:38 The Lost Art of Craftsmanship1:33:30 Tactical Vulnerability1:51:27 The Lazy Authenticity Method1:59:45 Final Thoughts—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.

Explore the intriguing phenomenon of impostor syndrome, where even the most successful individuals feel like frauds. Learn how this feeling can be a catalyst for personal growth. Discover why early podcasters perceive themselves as imposters and the surprising truth that many creators, despite experience, still struggle with self-doubt. Delve into the connection between curiosity and success, and how embracing feelings of inadequacy can lead to new creative ventures. This conversation reveals that feeling like an imposter is a universal experience, signifying growth.

In this conversation, psychologists Dr. Corey Wilks and Dr. Nick Wignall discuss essential mental health habits tailored for entrepreneurs. They explore strategies to manage overwhelm, anxiety, and burnout, emphasizing the importance of sleep and relaxation. The dialogue also covers building assertiveness and confidence through incremental steps, as well as the distinction between pursuing fleeting pleasures and long-term fulfillment. The conversation is rich with practical tips and insights aimed at fostering emotional well-being in the entrepreneurial journey.—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.—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/EPISODE LINKS:Nick’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFriendlyMindNick’s newsletter: https://nickwignall.com/newsletter/Nick’s 13 Spike Points of View on Emotional Health article: https://nickwignall.com/13-spiky-points-of-view-on-emotional-health/Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s Liminal Creativity article: https://nesslabs.com/liminal-creativity—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro02:33 How to overcome overwhelm and close open loops07:52 How to take back control of chronic worry and anxiety16:53 How to overcome self-limiting beliefs24:25 How to overcome insomnia and improve sleep40:20 How to manage burnout47:00 How to build confidence and overcome insecurity59:36 How to jump off the Hedonic Treadmill and do fulfilling work01:04:30 Final Thoughts and Recommended Resources—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 conversation, Corey Wilks and performance coach Steve Timoney explore frameworks for reaching one's potential through the concept of the future self. They discuss strategies for defining and aligning with one's ideal future self, the importance of values, the use of feedback loops, and the creation of a mental advisory board to guide decision-making. The dialogue emphasizes the need for clarity in identity and actions to avoid cognitive dissonance and achieve personal and professional goals.—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.—EPISODE LINKS:Steve Timoney's Links:X/Twitter: https://x.com/SteveTimoneyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-timoney-214306101/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephentimoney Website: https://www.stephentimoney.com/—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro01:41 How to define your ideal future self07:55 How to focus on what matters and filter out distractions13:46 How to develop a process to align your actions and intentions (and avoid doing unaligned work)23:33 How to overcome short-term thinking and clarify what’s worth your most precious resources31:02 How to leverage feedback loops to get 12 months’ worth of work done in 3 months33:40 How to leverage a Mental Advisory Board to guide yourself toward your ideal future41:30 Final Thoughts on reaching your potential by leveraging “Future Self” frameworks—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: 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 conversation, Corey Wilks, Psy.D., discusses the concept of expiration dates in life, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our limited time and how it can motivate us to prioritize our goals. He introduces the idea of setting micro expiration dates to enhance productivity and accountability, encouraging listeners to reflect on their life choices and make the most of their time.—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/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 conversation, Corey Wilks, Psy.D., discusses the importance of perspective in psychology and coaching. He emphasizes that the way we perceive the world can significantly influence our effectiveness in various disciplines. By learning to see through specific lenses—whether it be psychology, writing, or entrepreneurship—individuals can uncover insights and inspiration from everyday experiences. He also provides practical questions to help listeners develop their own lenses of inspiration, encouraging a deeper engagement with the world around them.—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/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 conversation, Dr. Corey Wilks discusses the Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon, a psychological concept that explains how our perception changes when we focus on specific things. He illustrates how this phenomenon can be used to enhance creativity and inspiration effortlessly. By intentionally directing our attention, we can uncover ideas and patterns that were previously overlooked, leading to a more enriched creative process.—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.—EPISODE LINKS:Hidden Cost of Success article: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/the-hidden-cost-of-success/—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.