This month in book club, Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and I dive into How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin, a bestselling mystery that blends small-town intrigue, family secrets, and a decades-spanning murder investigation.

The story begins in 1965 when teenage Frances Adams receives a chilling prediction from a fortune teller: one day she will be murdered. Determined to uncover the truth, Frances spends her life investigating both her foretold death and the mysterious disappearance of her friend Emily Sparrow. Decades later, Frances is found murdered, and her great-niece Annie Adams inherits not only her estate but also the responsibility of solving the crime.

As Annie follows a trail of journals, hidden clues, and long-buried secrets, she uncovers shocking revelations about her family, the town of Castle Knoll, and the complicated relationships that have shaped generations. What begins as a classic whodunit evolves into a story about obsession, envy, fate, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

We discuss the novel's dual timelines, memorable cast of characters, red herrings, twists, and whether Frances' fate was truly written in the stars—or created by her own lifelong pursuit of the truth.

We also share what we've been reading outside of book club lately.

Upcoming Book Club Picks:

• Fight Club: A Novel - Chuck Palahniuk (June 2026)
• La Belle Sauvage (Book 1 of The Book of Dust) - Philip Pullman (July 2026)
• TBD (August 2026)
• Nervous Conditions - Tsitsi Dangarembga (September 2026)
• TBD (October 2026)
• Maus: A Survivor's Tale - Art Spiegelman (November 2026)

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.
📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?

Join me on:

• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films

• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books

• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

I reflect on several lessons that have been top of mind recently, including why it can be necessary to walk away from long-term clients, the difference between resilience and adaptability, and why so many things we call “emergencies” are really just inconveniences.

I also share updates on The Arbiters, including the creative freedom we currently have during storyboarding and worldbuilding, the behind-the-scenes documentary I’m editing, and the joy of building a small collaborative creative team before larger production pressures arrive.

Along the way, I discuss:

• Why loyalty is often undervalued
• How openness creates new opportunities
• Adaptability vs. resilience
• The importance of learning the craft deeply
• Mentorship and creative growth
• The Helsinki Bus Theory
• Why most “emergencies” aren’t emergencies
• Creativity, innovation, and modern stress
• Thoughts on the 2026 World Cup
• Reflections on my upcoming 20-year high school reunion
• The creative process behind The Arbiters

If you’re a freelancer, artist, filmmaker, entrepreneur, or simply someone navigating change, uncertainty, and growth, I hope this conversation gives you something meaningful to reflect on.

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?
Join me on:
• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films
• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books
• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

The “hard work” we fear is often far easier than we imagine once we actually begin. The real challenge isn’t doing something difficult once — it’s building the consistency to keep showing up over and over again.

Whether it’s filmmaking, fitness, writing, business, or any creative pursuit, long-term success comes from making one powerful decision: deciding who you are before the moment-to-moment excuses begin.

I share:

• Why discipline matters more than motivation
• The mindset shift that eliminates thousands of decisions
• How consistency builds confidence
• Why professionals don’t wait for inspiration
• The writing quote that completely changed how I view creativity
• Lessons I learned making Finding Love in Bogotá in Colombia
• How to push through the days when motivation disappears

If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent, finish what you start, or build momentum toward your goals, this episode is for you.

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?
Join me on:
• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films
• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books
• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

I share a powerful conversation with Charles McCaughan centered around the art of changing your mind — why it feels so difficult, why we cling to beliefs even when they hurt us, and how much of our identity is shaped by conditioning, fear, and unconscious programming.

Charles explores how thoughts are often mistaken for facts, why society places such a high value on “being right,” and how personal inquiry can become a path toward healing, growth, and greater self-awareness rather than punishment. Together, we discuss insecurity, ego, consciousness, emotional conditioning, therapy, and the surprising freedom that can come from honestly questioning long-held assumptions.

This conversation touches on psychology, healing, emotional growth, self-awareness, and what it truly means to look inward honestly.

Charles McCaughan specializes in muscle testing (applied kinesiology) and subconscious healing techniques designed to help uncover emotional stressors, limiting beliefs, and energetic imbalances held within the body. Learn more about Charles here: http://charlesmccaughan.com

For an additional ~10 minutes from this conversation, along with bonus content and behind-the-scenes material, you can join my Patreon page at http://patreon.com/philsvitek

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?
Join me on:
• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films
• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books
• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

Too many people say they’re “bad at hiring.” But more often than not, the real problem is that they’re rushing the process, avoiding the work required to properly vet candidates, or failing to clearly define what they actually want in the first place.

I discuss:

• Why vague expectations lead to bad hires
• The importance of interviews and trial projects
• How I find hidden creative talent around the world
• Why paying for test projects matters
• The real cost of employee turnover
• How taking more time upfront can save massive frustration later

Whether you’re hiring editors, designers, filmmakers, freelancers, or creative collaborators, this episode explores practical ways to improve your hiring process and build stronger long-term working relationships.

I also share some of the strategies I’ve personally used over the years to build a trusted network of collaborators across multiple creative industries.

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.
📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?
Join me on:
• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films
• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books
• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

If you share large creative projects through Google Drive, here’s a simple trick that can save a lot of frustration: ZIP your files before uploading them.

I explain why uploading folders directly to Google Drive can create messy downloads, broken organization, and multiple ZIP files — especially for larger projects like films, audio sessions, or editing projects.

By zipping your main folder first, you can:

• Preserve your folder structure
• Keep everything organized
• Make downloads easier for collaborators
• Avoid messy file management issues

This is a simple but powerful workflow tip for filmmakers, editors, sound designers, podcasters, and creative teams working remotely.

🚀 Looking for a Creative Collaborator or Coach?
Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.
✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.
📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?
Join me on:
• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

🎬 My Films
• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

📚 My Books
• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

The way you write shapes how people perceive your competence, confidence, and clarity.

And one of the biggest mistakes people make—especially on resumes, presentations, introductions, and professional communication—is relying on weak verbs.

Words like “helped,” “assisted,” “supported,” or “worked on” often dilute your actual contributions and make you sound passive, uncertain, or unclear… even when you did meaningful work.

I highlight why specificity matters and how stronger, clearer language helps people better understand your value, responsibilities, and capabilities.

The goal isn’t to sound impressive for the sake of it. It’s to communicate clearly and accurately so people understand what you actually did and what you’re capable of doing.

Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.

✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?

Join me on:

• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

One of the biggest mistakes people make in creative collaboration is assuming their preferences are objective truths. They’re not.

I explain why subjective creative notes often create confusion, frustration, and inefficiency—especially when they’re communicated as if there’s only one “correct” way to do something.

Whether it’s filmmaking, animation, podcast editing, music, color grading, sound design, or any creative medium, most artistic decisions come down to preference, context, and intent. The problem isn’t having a strong vision. The problem is failing to communicate that vision clearly.

The more specific you are upfront, the smoother the collaboration becomes later.

Because there are countless ways to execute creative work—and if people don’t understand your taste, they can’t properly deliver your vision.

Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.

✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?

Join me on:

• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

Most people misunderstand networking. They think it’s about working the room, collecting contacts, sending cold DMs, or trying to extract value from people as quickly as possible. But real networking isn’t transactional—it’s relational.

I break down why the best form of networking is actually doing great work, being dependable, treating people well, and playing the long game. Over time, your reputation becomes your invisible resume.

Because people remember:

• How you handled pressure
• Whether you communicated clearly
• If you solved problems or created them
• How you treated them when things got difficult

The truth is, lasting careers aren’t built through shortcuts or surface-level tactics. They’re built through trust, consistency, generosity, and genuine collaboration.

If you want sustainable success, stop trying to network your way into opportunities and start becoming someone people genuinely want to work with again and again.

Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.

✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?

Join me on:

• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams

Everyone wants the appearance of success… but fewer people want to endure the process required to actually become great.

I unpack the growing obsession with vanity metrics, inflated bios, fake expertise, and “razzle dazzle” culture—especially in the age of AI. From bought followers to overhyped personal brands, we’re living in a time where perception is often prioritized over real skill, craftsmanship, and experience.

But fake success is fragile.

True mastery takes time, repetition, humility, failure, and a willingness to keep building even when no one is watching. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, filmmaker, musician, or creator of any kind, this episode is a reminder to focus on substance over spectacle.

Stop chasing the appearance of achievement and instead start building actual ability.

Whether you need help launching a podcast, shaping your story, editing a video, or navigating the artist’s life—I’m here to help.

✅ Work with me: https://philsvitek.com/collaborate/

🔔 Subscribe for movie reviews, creative coaching, and mindset tools for storytellers.

📬 Want exclusive breakdowns and behind-the-scenes content?

Join me on:

• Patreon – http://patreon.com/philsvitek
• Substack – http://philsvitek.substack.com

• The Love Market – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#lovemarket
• Finding Love in Bogotá – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#bogotatrip
• The Arbiters – https://philsvitek.com/filmography/#thearbiters

• Elan, Elan – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#elanelan
• Master Mental Fortitude – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#mastermentalfortitude
• In Search of Sunrise – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#insearchofsunrise
• Hollywood Dreams on a Shoestring Budget – https://philsvitek.com/bibliography/#hollywooddreams