The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Srinivas Rao•podcast.unmistakablecreative.com

Timeless Practical Wisdom For Living a Meaningful Life

Inspiring stories and practical advice from creatives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, misfits, and rebels to help you become successful on your own terms

Our listeners say, “If TEDTalks met Oprah you’d have the Unmistakable Creative.” Eliminate the feeling of being stuck in your life, blocked in your creativity, and discover higher levels of meaning and purpose in your life and career. Listen to deeply personal, insightful, and thought-provoking stories from the world’s leading thinkers and doers including best-selling authors, artists, peak performance psychologists, happiness researchers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, artists, venture capitalists, and even former bank robbers. Former guests have included Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Justine Musk, Scott Adams, Rob Bell, David Heinemeier Hansson, Elle Luna, Jordan Harbinger Brett Mckay, and Simon Sinek.

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Episodes

Combining a Love for Science and Comedy to Build a Career with Natalia Reagan

In this episode of the show we speak with anthropologist, writer, actress, and comedian Natalia Reagan. She talks to us about how she’s combined her love for science, comedy, and primates into a rather unusual career. An early obsession with King Kong nightmares Dealing with a tragic and life changing car accident Natalia’s foray into the study of spider monkeys The creation of “butt” week that led to viral success Natalia’s ultimate goal of creating a science comedy show How to look back at our...

Jun 09, 2014•1 hr 4 min

Unmistakable Classic: The Power of a Single Intention with Patti Digh

In this Unmistakable Classic, we revisit a thought provoking conversation with Patti Digh, author of Life is a Verb. The importance of feeling good about the work you’re doing Asking yourself what you’d do if you have 37 days to live The keys to writing your voice with a sole intention How art history and English degrees shaped Patti’s world view The 3 blocks that keep dreams from coming true A look at what it means to be truly transparent How we deal with incredibly negative thoughts How intent...

Jun 06, 2014•1 hr 11 min

The Craft of Narrative Journalism with Jody Avirgan

Jodi Avrigan has chosen a rather unusual way to get his art out into the world. He’s the creator of Ask Roulette, an unscripted conversation in which participants ask and answer questions of each other in front of a live audience. In this interview we discuss the craft of narrative journalism, and the creation of Ask Roulette. Making films in the early days of high school The parallels between sports teams and creative environments Applying the storytelling tools of film to radio journalism The ...

Jun 04, 2014•49 min

The Neuroscience of Storytelling With Lisa Cron

Storytelling is how we make sense of the world. In this episode of the podcast Lisa Cron talks to us about how we're hardwired to respond to story. Lisa's early love for story telling from an early age The reason finding the thing you love is a struggle Why story is a hardwired survial mechanism The reason stories help us to navigate reality Understanding how to shape and develop stories Why making the impossible possible is a journey Digging deep enough to find your true gift is Why we tend to ...

Jun 02, 2014•1 hr 3 min

Redemption and Reinvention After a Life Sentence with Andy Dixon- Part 2

Andy Dixon’s life has been anything but conventional. Born into a life of crime, he grew up imprinted with the notion that violence translated to love. In this amazing story, Andy talks about a journey of redemption and reinvention after a life sentence. Coming from a long line of people who lived outside the law An early vision of possibility in Andy’s life How Andy wound up shooting somebody at age 12 Why the “nerds” in high school became friends with Andy Returning to a life of crime after fi...

May 28, 2014•1 hr 16 min

Redemption and Reinvention After a Life Sentence with Andy Dixon- Part 1

May 26, 2014•1 hr 9 min

The Difference Between Living in Your Head and Living in Your Heart with Nick Onken

Nick Onken’s journey began at crossroads of art and technology, with his work in desktop publishing and design. Upon discovering his passion for more hands-on means of expression, he eventually chose to take the entrepreneurial leap into digital photography. How an early trip to Africa opened Nick’s eyes to photography Why you should be constantly creating in order to improve your art Nick’s signature point of view, found in his art of capturing moments Reconnecting or reawakening your childhood...

May 21, 2014•48 min

The Spiritual Path an Ex-Monk with Dandapani

Dandapani realized at the age of 4 that he wanted be a monk. He saw it as the most efficient path to enlightenment. But it wasn’t until completing an electrical engineering degree and finding his teacher that he joined a monastery, where he decided not to renew his vows after 10 years. How Dandapani knew at the age of 4 he wanted to be a monk A formative childhood experience that wouldn’t go away Finding a deeper purpose and meaning in your life Why spirituality needs a systematic approach Disco...

May 19, 2014•54 min

Unmistakable Classic: The First 20 Hours of Learning Any New Skill with Josh Kaufmann

Josh Kauffman is a poster child for how to give yourself an education that kicks the crap out of the one you got in school. Instead of going to business school, he decided to create a Personal MBA. The result has been a book that sold over 130,000 copies, and an incredible journey. In this interview we get into the first 20 hours of learning any new skill. What You Can Learn from the Marketing of Procter and Gamble Insights into How You Can Conduct Consumer Research The Importance of Rapid Exper...

May 16, 2014•1 hr 8 min

Navigating the Challenges of a Nomadic Marriage with Betsy and Warren Talbot

A moment that shook them to the core caused Betsy and Warren Talbot to reevalute what was truly important in their marriage and their lives. They got rid of their belongings and decided to travel the world together. But the dream hasn't comes without unexpected challenges and hurdles. Being shaken to the core in order to make changes in your life Embracing the life you want to have vs the one you created A moment in marriage when a deep connection occurs Why you must work every single day toward...

May 14, 2014•53 min

The Small Journeys That to Lead us to Our Destinations with Hugh Howey

Hugh Howey has on the surface what might appear to be Cinderella story from the world of self publishing. His best selling series Wool caught the attention of Ridley Scott and has been turned into a screenplay. But as you might expect, there's alot more to this story. Why so few writers follow a traditional path The role that our life experiences play in our writing Saying yes to every opportunity to for adventure Gaining it back when you've experienced a loss of faith The importance of having a...

May 12, 2014•1 hr 2 min

Unmistakable Classic: How to Become a BulletProof Performer with Noa Kageyama

In this unmistakable classic we revisit our interview with Julliard faculty member, violinist and performance psychologist, Noa Kageyama. We discuss how to apply principles of peak performance psychology from the world of music to every area of your life. A Look into the Influences of Suzuki Violin in Noa's Life Why You Can Only See Dots Connecting in Hindsight The Reality of What It Takes to Get Good at Something Why So Many Small Ideas Are the Foundation for Big Things The Role That Intense Cu...

May 09, 2014•53 min

Identifying the Patterns and Underlying Threads of Your Life’s Work with Josh Long

To say that Josh Long is an entrepreneur who keeps himself busy is an understatement. He’s the creator of the to-do list app Cheddar, the podcasting service Simplecast, and oversees sponsorship at the Great Discontent. In this interview he talks to me about the underlying themes and threads of his life’s work and how to identify yours. Josh’s exposure to entrepreneurship at a very early age Why entrepreneurship is all about creating value The innate entrepreneurial spirit within all of us Why ou...

May 07, 2014•51 min

Changing your Identity to Change your Habits With James Clear

James Clear’s journey resulted in the intersection of entrepreneurship, health, and creativity. The byproduct of this intersection was an deep study on how habits impact our lives. In this interview we discuss the process of creating identity based habits in order to change our lives. How habits impact entrepreneurship, health, and creativity Lessons from the baseball field that James has applied to his life Why you can design your own options for things in life Post traumatic growth vs post tra...

May 05, 2014•1 hr 2 min

Using Math to Find Love on OkCupid with Chris Mcinklay

Chris Mckinlay’s disparate career path has led to working as a Chinese- English translator, playing team blackjack, and eventually a math PHD program at UCLA. The perfect real world scenario to test the the knowledge gained from his math PHD was OkCupid. And using math to hack OkCupid eventually led to meeting the love of his life. A look at an unconventional college experience in China Why intentional discomfort is instrumental to growth How to deal with the feeling that you don’t fit in The re...

Apr 30, 2014•1 hr

Telling Your Life as a Love Story with Meg Worden

Meg Worden is a memoir writer and health coach with a scandalous past that led her through the federal prison system for selling ecstasy. In this episode she returns to the show to discuss the process of how we reintegrate after a significant emotional experience. Telling the hard truth and finding peace within our stories Finding the seeker that lies within yourself The common tendency to turn to things that numb or mute pain How trauma allows us to tap into the depth of human understanding Lea...

Apr 28, 2014•1 hr 19 min

Getting a PHD in Street Smarts with Hillary Rubin

Hillary Rubin’s difficult childhood resulted in an incredible work ethic in which she started creating demand for herself at a very early age. Her need to survive gave her what she referred to as a PHD in street smarts. Learning to let go of the imprints that hold us back Saving yourself through forms of self expression Focusing on the individual and connecting with people A look at a career path that involved lots of running away Why we must learn to forgive our past in order to heal Plotting t...

Apr 23, 2014•1 hr 7 min

Confessions of a Bank Robber with Joe Loya

Joe Loya’s life trajectory of rising up and moving forward took a radically different turn after losing his mother at an an early age, and stabbing his father in the neck at the age of 16. This was beginning of of a life of crime, and 14 month bank robbing spree in which he robbed 30 banks. In this amazing chat about his life, we discuss the amazing power of innovating with your story. The loss of a parent at a very young age Growing up with an abusive father How stabbing his father unleashed Jo...

Apr 21, 2014•1 hr 19 min

Unmistakable Classic: Scientifically Proven Advice for Becoming Happier with Shawn Achor

In this Unmistakable Creative Classic, we speak with happiness researcher Shawn Achor about scientifically proven advice for become happier. His work in positive psychology has resulted in discoveries of incredibly simple and effective happiness advice. A look at Shawn’s early work in religion and spirituality Why positive brains lead to better outcomes The opportunity to choose between multiple careers Why you don’t have the meditate for 7 years to be happy Divorcing yourself from your genetic ...

Apr 18, 2014•53 min

Quantifying Yourself to Change Yourself with Ari Meisel

In 2006 Ari Meisel was diagnosed with Crohns disease. Through a combination of yoga, nutrition, natural supplements and rigorous exercise he was able to fight back the symptoms of Crohn’s until he was finally able to suspend my medication. He leveraged self tracking and self exploration to develop an awareness the led breakthroughs in human performance. Starting as an Entrepreneur at the age of 15 Why you must learn how to do every job in your business How Ari used self tracking and self experim...

Apr 16, 2014•53 min

Redefining what it Means to be a Man with Brett Mckay

A visit to his local bookstore, and his frustration with quality of the men's magazines on the bookshelf frustrated Brett Mckay. In an effort to change the conversation around what it means to be a man, he was inspired to start The Art of Manliness which has become wildly successful web site with a focus on helping men be better husbands, better fathers, and better men. The motivation behind starting the Art of Manliness Why Brett looked to men like his grandfather for inspiration Developing the...

Apr 14, 2014•47 min

Reflections on The Instigator Experience

In this special Friday episode, we flip the script, and Instigator Experience attendee Diana Alvear interviews Srini about his motivation and thoughts on the event Srini’s original motivation for creating the Instigator Experience How being in the zone completely changes performance Why we have to learn to let go of the people who lead us The illusion of dependency that is created by our leaders Why you have to show fully and own whatever whatever you’re doing How planning The Instigator Experie...

Apr 11, 2014•53 min

Relationships as an Engine for Personal Growth Mike Hrostoski

Mike Hrostoski is making the world a better place one man at a time. In this revealing chat about, grief, loss, and growth he talks me about how our relationships can become one of our greatest engines for personal growth. Here are some of the highlights from our chat: Learning to look at your past through the lens of compassion The dichotomy of tragedy and enlightenment in one event How death can be one of your greatest teachers Giving yourself space between tragedy and the rest of your life Ho...

Apr 09, 2014•1 hr 3 min

Making a Radical Identity Shift with Ali Shanti

Ali Shanti was living a life that looked successful on the outside, with a million dollar business, and the accolades we all dream of. But making every decision based on money, and accumulating more of it became a prison of her own making. Through a radical identity shift, she escaped that prison. Here are the highlights: Building a successful 6 Figure Business The danger of making every decision on money The myth that a certain amount of money will free you Why Alexis gave up everything in her ...

Apr 07, 2014•58 min

The DNA of Entrepreneurs With Chris Ducker

Chris Ducker returns to the Unmistkalbe Creative to discuss his journey from humble beginnings to building a mutli 7 figure business in the Philliplines. We dissect the DNA of entrepreneurs and discuss his new book Virtual Freedom. A look at the beginning of Chris Ducker’s journey Why the journey is not a Cinderella story The myths of the 4-hour workweek lifestyle Why failures and setbacks make you stronger The importance of having a buffer if you want to start A defining moment that that will c...

Apr 02, 2014•55 min

Writing a Comedic Translation of the Bible With Mark Russell

Some people come up with creative projects that truly challenge the status quo. In attempt to come to terms with this religious upbringing, Mark teamed up with cartoonist Shannon Wheeler to write a comedic translation of The Bible. The difference between working artists and earning artists Why making a living from your art isn't always glamorous A look at a 10 year project that was hardly read by anybody Why you only ever hear about the winners Leveraging your art as a connection to the universe...

Mar 31, 2014•43 min

The Transformative Power of Making Things with Megan Auman

Megan Auman began her journey as an artist by studying metalsmithing. The early foray into the work of a metalsmith led to making jewelry and most recently a transition into the world of textiles and fashion. Here are a few of the highlights from our chat. An early look at Megan's interest in jewelry and metalsmith work How to not lose your creative juices in the first place Why you must be prepared to create really bad art The sense of fulfillment that comes from making things with your hands W...

Mar 26, 2014•52 min

Scratch Beginnings, 25 Dollars and a Homeless Shelter with Adam Shepard

Adam Shepard decided to start in a random city with 25.00 and the clothes on his back to see if he could achieve his version of the American Dream by going from the 25 to 2500 Dollars. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation. Finding that one little bit of greatness inside of you Mastering the art of diving in head first to everything The numerous businesses that Adam failed at How failure prepares you for the moments you get punched Drawing inspiration from those around you who ge...

Mar 24, 2014•55 min

The Daily Rituals of Artists with Mason Currey

In an effort to understand his personal optimal rythm and flow, Mason Currey set out to amass as much information as he could find about the routines “brilliant and successful” creators adopted and followed. The result of his research was a book titled Daily Rituals: How Artists Work How Mason started developing rituals for his own craft of writing Why Mason left a job at a library for a crash course in publishing Balancing a day job with a creative project that is fulfilling Finding the motivat...

Mar 19, 2014•52 min

Searching for the Secrets of True Love With Nate Bagley

His growing feelings of cynicism and frustration with love, led Nate Bagley on a search for answers to the questions of what what true love really is, and how to attain it. The search resulted in conversations with people who were experiencing these things on a daily basis and the start of what became known as the “Lovumentary” How failing in relationships caused Nate to start searching for answers The importance of learning to act on your insatiable curiosity Why Nate’s worst-case scenario actu...

Mar 17, 2014•51 min

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