
The Eric Koester Creator Institute
What happens when you show your work? Learn how and hear the stories of amazing creators -- authors, podcasters, event organizers and product builders -- who share how they created something awesome and where it led them next.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2023 • 30min
History: Your Story at the Perfect Time | Roy Choi
Have you found the writing style that suits you? Do you find it hard to focus with all the distractions that surround you every day? How will you tell your readers your identity through your writing? Are you prepared to show your ugly and vulnerable side? Or will you stay cooped up in your shell and hide?
Roy Choi is the person who can answer these fascinating questions. As someone who had gone through difficult and darkest moments of his life, he was able to transcribe his life-experiences in the memoir “L.A Son.”
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How to find the perfect time to write.
How your history shapes your writing style.
What is Roy’s thought process when creating his craft.

May 1, 2023 • 48min
Commit with the Right Mindset to Hard Work | Matt Thomas
Do you believe hard work pays off? Have you been in situations that test the strength of your mindset? When was the last time you believed in yourself? Do you doubt your capabilities and strengths? To help you find the right attitude and strengthen your commitment, Matt Thomas sets a great example for us, by sharing what works for him.
Matt Thomas is a renowned World Champion in Chess boxing, a hybrid sport of alternating rounds on boxing and chess. He is also the founder of Brawl for a Cause, a non-profit organization to support various charities. In my talk with Matt, we dived into having the right mindset and its correlation to success and the significance of commitment to his boxing journey.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
The importance of choosing courage over comfort
Why it’s important to know your ego
Why we reframe ourselves
How to not lose sight of your reason

Apr 24, 2023 • 21min
Passion, Success, Deep Work & Digital Minimalism | Cal Newport
What does it take to succeed at a big project? How do you write that book, or start that podcast, or put on that huge event that is sure to take your career to the next level? Moreover, how can we ensure that we remain focused in our increasingly distracting and technologically-focused world, where our attention and time are perhaps the most important assets to have?
Cal Newport is the perfect person to answer these questions. As a professor at Georgetown and an author, Cal has deeply researched what makes someone successful through his books such as “Deep Work” or “Digital Minimalism.” He’s one of the world’s experts at helping people who are ambitious and want to do challenging things.
In this episode, you’ll learn...
How intense focus for manageable lengths of time is a superpower
The necessity of being intentional about your use of technology
The methods needed to prepare to do something difficult
The importance of doing relentless diligent work on a small number of projects
The ways to avoid distracting yourself with countless technological distractions

Apr 17, 2023 • 27min
Cheat Codes for Productivity & Creativity | Tyler Hayes
How can you manifest your technological creativity? What ups and downs should you tread to achieve your ambitions? What plans should an upstart implement for his/her dreams? What does the future have in store for us? Furthermore, is humanity even prepared for the next big thing? Or will the next big thing will forever be shelved and left undiscovered?
Tyler Hayes seems to be on a life mission to answer these compelling questions. As the CEO of AtomLimbs, Tyler has the knowledge and insights as to what the future is all about for upstart creators and his company’s drive to transform lives, literally.
In this episode you’ll learn...
How to build up your expertise
How to navigate setbacks
The most optimal way to fund your project as a tech developer
The value of having an audience

Apr 10, 2023 • 37min
Rawness, Realness & Authenticity | Chuck Palahniuk
What does it take to write a book? How can you gain confidence when publishing your work? Furthermore, how can you become more authentic when it comes to your writing style? And how can you ensure you remain focused in this increasingly distracting and technologically-focused world, where attention and time are perhaps the most important assets?
Chuck Palahniuk is the person to answer these questions. He is an American freelance journalist and novelist who describes his work as transgressional fiction. Among many books that he published, the one that especially stands out is an award-winning novel "Fight Club," which also was made into a film of the same name, starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
What it takes to become a capital W writer
How to develop your research process
How to get a positive mindset in writing and publishing your book

Apr 3, 2023 • 20min
Leveraging Your Assets to Catalyze Change | Kate Johnson
We all want that dream job, the one that fulfills our passions, eases our financial worries, and feels more like play than work. But with everyone vying for a similar dream, how do we ensure our name sticks out from the endless pile of applicants? With the ideal version of what our career path and life should look like in the back of our head, how do we not just hope to one day get there, but instead, take tangible steps to creating it?
Today’s guest, Kate Johnson, is a career specialist and recruiter with a passion for people. Her first-hand experience in high-level companies such as Duke University and Hyundai Motor Group has given her an inside perspective to the innerworkings of the workplace and workplace diversification. Through her work and book, Pull Yourself Together, she has made it her personal goal to help fellow dreamers and high achievers break through the workplace, personal, and organizational barriers between them and the life they want. In a world that is simultaneously evolving and stuck in the past, Kate helps us navigate the changing workplace atmosphere and catalyze change in our own lives.
In this episode you’ll learn...
The need to be nimble and open with expectations
Why you are your own biggest asset
The role of mindset in personal marketing and outreach
The importance of genuine connection

Mar 26, 2023 • 43min
Foundation, Perspectives & Difficulties | Riley Sager
How does it feel to be unnoticed? How do you catch someone’s attention? Have you been in a situation where your name influences the future of your work? What should you do to keep yourself in momentum and never lose sight? From being unknown to a world-renowned author, Riley Sager discusses the things that work best for him.
Riley Sager is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer turned into an award-winning author. As someone who tasted the bitterness of what means to be faded in obscurity, Riley Sager is a pseudonym brought into the world that changed his life from an unknown to a sought-after author. Known for his work “Final Girls” applauded by the legend author, Stephen King, Riley is bound to take the world into a massive storm. In my talk with Riley, we dived into his arduous path to international success and the different aspects that an upstart author should understand.
In this episode, you’ll learn…
How Riley changed his life from obscurity to fame
How to build your character and the process of development
How long it takes to build a book and not lose momentum
The things that you should learn as an upstart author
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses when you start your journey as an author is a must, but never lose sight of knowing yourself. It is equally important to understand the undercurrents that surround you as you start your tumultuous path to publishing your first book.

Mar 19, 2023 • 39min
Organization, Discipline & Encouragement | Charlie Hoehn
How can you reach YOUR level of success? Charlie Hoehn is here to share his journey forging his own path in life. He’s the author of “Recession Proof Graduate: How to Land the Job You Want by Doing Free Work,” which The Tim Ferriss Show called “Just epic for anyone starting out, or reinventing themselves.” Other works include “Play for a Living,” and “Play It Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety,” which Tony Robbins called “The cure to your stress!”
In this episode you’ll discover:
How to get organized
How to be more disciplined and achieve your goal
How to encourage others
How to push yourself until you get what you’ve always wanted
In my conversation with Charlie, we dive into how can we overcome rejections in our lives. And this is the thing about being unconventional: conventional wisdom never works.

Mar 12, 2023 • 36min
Reimagining The Human Experience | Vishen Lakhiani
Vishen Lakhiani is an author, Malaysian entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. He is the co-founder and chief executive of Mindvalley, Silva Method's vocal proponent, and the author of two books: “The Code of the Extraordinary Mind” as well as “The Buddha and the Badass.” Today, Vishen Lakhiani takes us through how we demonstrate how we learn through writing a book.
In this episode, you will learn...
How to get people to read your book
How to get the courage to shift jobs or studies
What is an altered state of mind
How to overcome imposter syndrome
A human being is capable of extraordinary things. We have an extraordinary capacity to evolve, develop, discover, love, and solve challenges. In this episode, you will discover why Vishen Lakhiani believes that the world lies in raising human consciousness. We get to learn how an altered state of mind brings us to a more productive and enjoyable life.

Mar 5, 2023 • 47min
Success: Cultivate Passion through Progress | Terri Trespicio
Success is not always easy to achieve, so how do you fulfill YOUR progress towards success? How will you use criticism to fuel your progress? How will you embrace the gateless method of success? We are lucky to have Terri Trespicio with us to guide us on cultivating our passion towards success.
Terri Trespicio is an award-winning writer, speaker, and brand ambassador and she was named by HubSpot as one of the “Top 18 female speakers who are killing it”. She cultivated her way through her passion and rising through her way to success.
In this episode you’ll learn.
Cultivating your passion through your progress
Using criticism to your advantage
Knowing the real path to success