Good Work with Barrett Brooks

By Barrett BrooksBusiness Entrepreneurship Careers

Good Work with Barrett Brooks episodes

August 08, 2024Chasing Light: Austin Mann on Purpose, Beauty, and Art
Austin Mann is a talented photographer, adventurer, and technology influencer known for his captivating images and storytelling. With a passion for exploring the beauty of creation, Austin has traveled the world, capturing stunning photographs and sharing his experiences through his work. He has gained recognition for his expertise in using Apple products, particularly the iPhone, as powerful tools for photography and has been featured in Apple's "Shot on iPhone" campaign.
This week, Barrett talks with Austin about his journey as a photographer, storyteller, and entrepreneur. They discuss the pivotal moments that shaped Austin’s career, from his early days of hustling for a job at National Geographic to his collaboration with Apple on the groundbreaking "Shot on iPhone" campaign. Austin talks about his relationship with his wife and fellow artist, Esther Havens, and how their shared passion for socially impactful storytelling and empathy-driven photography has guided their work. Austin also discusses the importance of curiosity, determination, and meaningful intent in his work, as well as the power of photography to challenge, inspire, and enable others to explore the beauty of the world around them.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(05:11) - Austin's move to National Geographic
(15:29) - Early influences
(19:29) - The role of technology in photography
(23:50) - The future of photography in the age of AI
(32:47) - Austin’s college years and faith journey
(36:00) - A life-changing moment
(38:45) - Finding purpose through faith and photography
(43:04) - Austin reflects on his lightning photo
(49:20) - Early career and social impact work
(56:27) - First iPhone review and growing recognition
(01:07:34) - The Shot on iPhone campaign
(01:11:58) - The surreal experience of seeing your work on billboards
(01:14:39) - How Austin met his wife
(01:21:05) - Austin's unique proposal
(01:30:51) - Austin's mission and the life plan exercise
(01:36:43) - Who Austin is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 45 min
July 30, 2024The Art of Excitement: How Josh Scott Built JHS Pedals through Authenticity and Community
Joshua Scott is the creator and president of JHS Pedals. His YouTube series, The JHS Show, has garnered millions of views from audiences spanning the globe. Josh is passionate about the history and stories surrounding guitar technology and teaches in collaboration with museums, companies, and universities. Often considered the historical authority on guitar's sonic evolution from the sixties to the present day, Josh contributes his knowledge to historical archive preservations, auction appraisals, documentaries, and more.
This week, Barrett talks with Josh about his journey from experimenting on YouTube to building a thriving community around guitar pedals and music. Josh shares his deep passion for music history, and how JHS Pedals has grown through authenticity, technology, and community engagement, despite facing rejection and online criticism along the way. They also discuss the importance of authenticity in marketing, the power of history, and the challenge of balancing creativity with business demands.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[07:08] - Josh's journey with Ross Pedals
[14:30] - Why excitement is a crucial part of the creative process
[26:32] - Balancing excitement and execution
[39:32] - The role of the team in decision-making
[42:35] - Challenges in communication and collaboration
[50:08] - The importance of story in creativity
[01:05:10] - What makes a brand
[01:16:19] - Staying authentic amidst rejection
[01:21:04] - The shift to YouTube
[01:30:50] - How Josh keeps his show interesting
[01:33:38] - Embracing criticism and personal growth
[01:41:20] - Josh's beautiful future
[01:45:36] - Who Josh is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 50 min
July 23, 2024How Thinking Deeply Will Transform Your Life with Josh Kaufman
Josh Kaufman is the bestselling author of books on business, applied psychology, and practical wisdom. His first book, The Personal MBA, is a top-selling business book worldwide, with more than 1 million copies sold. His second book, The First 20 Hours, introduced a universal research-based method of learning fun and useful skills. His third book, How to Fight a Hydra, a "fairy tale for the entrepreneur's journey," debuted at #1 in Modern Philosophy on Amazon.
This week, Barrett and Josh cover a wide range of topics from thoughtful entrepreneurship to heartful parenting. They talk about the profound impact of letting go of assumptions, the trap of pursuing status, and how to live with wisdom and intention. Josh shares his experiences with strategic self-publishing, why he thinks about his books like an investment portfolio, and what it looks like to define success on your own terms. They also discuss how to evaluate priorities, why emotional clarity is necessary for breaking down barriers to creativity and action, the importance of playing the long game, and much more.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[03:04] - The chocolate quality debate
[08:03] - Developing taste and preferences
[17:01] - The art of audio and narration
[30:53] - The business of books
[41:20] - Building a book portfolio
[46:27] - Choosing new projects and the paradox of choice
[01:02:07] - Status games and trade-offs
[01:15:49] - Setting the right priorities and dealing with trade-offs
[01:27:44] - The power of questioning assumptions
[01:34:30] - Parenting insights and reflections
[01:41:24] - Building a home with intentionality
[01:47:41] - Josh’s beautiful future
[01:49:28] - Who Josh is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 54 min
July 16, 2024Michelle Tam’s Culinary Revolution
Michelle Tam is the co-creator of the Saveur Award-winning food blog, Nom Nom Paleo. Together with her husband, Henry Fong, they’ve also produced a two-time Webby Award-winning cooking app, authored three New York Times bestselling cookbooks, have been nominated for a James Beard Award, and created a best-selling line of paleo spice blends.
This week, Barrett talks with Michelle about her journey from pharmacist to pioneer in the Paleo community, and her transition to food and wellness. She discusses the creative process of developing cookbooks with her husband Henry Fong, their balanced approach to Paleo eating, and the foundational role of family in their business. Barrett and Michelle cover a wide range of topics including the importance of creative integrity, handling audience feedback, dealing with criticism, the impact of community, and the joys and challenges of running a food blog and app. Michelle also shares her insights on climate change, the importance of professional relationships, maintaining authenticity, and her undying passion for food which continues to drive her work and life.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[02:43] - James Beard Award nomination
[06:32] - Family and food philosophy
[08:49] - The journey of Nom Nom Paleo
[15:02] - Cultural reflections and family dynamics
[27:45] - Career choices and immigrant influence
[35:57] - Embracing playfulness in work and life
[37:13] - Balancing passion and partnership
[41:04] - The creative process behind cookbooks
[48:21] - The impact of night shifts and discovering Paleo
[52:23] - Food as medicine and personal growth
[01:00:28] - Reflecting on success and personal standards
[01:11:55] - Learning from trolls and thoughtful feedback
[01:13:03] - Evaluating which opportunities to pursue
[01:18:09] - Connecting with the food community
[01:25:02] - Balancing life between two cities
[01:30:45] - Designing the perfect kitchen
[01:34:02] - Reflecting on personal and professional growth
[01:36:57] - The importance of quality friendships
[01:43:11] - The beautiful future Michelle is trying to create
[01:44:38] - Who Michelle is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 50 min
July 09, 2024Andrew Farah is Creating the Future of Workspaces
Andrew Farah is co-founder and CEO of Density Inc., where he has spent the last 10 years building real-time radar technologies for measuring how people use buildings. The company works with many in the Fortune 500, manufactures its anonymous radar systems in the United States, and has raised $227m in venture capital. Andrew lives near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with his spouse, three daughters, and English Shepherd.
This week, Barrett talks with Andrew about startup culture, building great teams, reading and contextualizing knowledge, and the essence of enthusiasm in leadership. They discuss the journey of personal and professional growth, the significance of humility in conflict, and the importance of feedback in establishing meaningful relationships and impactful businesses.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[02:34] - "Skateboard Andrew"
[07:47] - LLCs and their impact on global GDP
[14:23] - Seriousness vs playfulness in Andrew's career
[18:53] - The practicality of having multiple founders
[22:05] - Density's three core values
[26:49] - Building ambitious and humble teams
[33:30] - Enthusiasm vs passion
[52:30] - Reading in context
[01:01:24] - How boards help you grow as a leader
[01:08:07] - Building rapport with board members
[01:12:34] - Evaluating and responding to feedback
[01:17:41] - Handling negative feedback and the importance of conflict for growth
[01:26:27] - How Andrew would design an office space starting from scratch
[01:35:39] - How Density's success would change the world
[01:36:52] - Who Andrew is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 42 min
June 18, 2024Nathan Barry: Everything We Learned Growing ConvertKit to $40M (and What We'd Do Differently)
Nathan Barry is the Founder and CEO of ConvertKit. In previous careers, Nathan has been a designer, author, and blogger. After learning the power of email marketing, he gave up a successful blogging career to go all-in on ConvertKit. Outside of work, Nathan spends his time playing soccer, woodworking, and chasing after his three boys.
This week, Barrett and Nathan sit down for a candid conversation about the ups and downs of building a $40M company, and what they wish they had done differently. They also dive into their strategies for growing personal brands, the power of clear roles and communication in projects, building strong team relationships, creating a supportive yet high-performance company culture, and much more.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[04:20] - Why Barrett left ConvertKit
[15:18] - Building confidence as a leader
[22:59] - "We should have fired more people"
[37:57] - Creating a healthy feedback culture
[44:13] - Strategies for better communication
[58:14] - Designing comp and benefits
[01:07:46] - What we nailed on the growth side (and what we could have done differently)
[01:23:10] - Lessons learned from Barrett's departure
[01:36:20] - Podcasting for the long haul
[01:52:16] - On brand differentiation
[01:55:52] - Who Nathan is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
2 hr
June 11, 2024A Quadrillion Humans in the Stars with Fil Aronshtein
Fil Aronshtein’s journey is one of boundless curiosity, from his childhood dreams of becoming an inventor, architect, and astronaut, to his present-day mission of shaping the future of manufacturing. As the founder of Dirac, a company revolutionizing the manufacturing industry, he faced persistent rejection before finding his breakthrough.
This week, Barrett talks with Fil about his vision for transforming manufacturing processes, and how that fits into a wider vision for a more expansive version of humanity. They dive into the intricacies of launching a new company and overcoming persistent rejection, as well as the larger implications of Fil’s work for industries such as aerospace and defense. They also discuss the importance of personal agency and the power of community, exploring how Fil’s early influences and passion for creating things fuels his vision for a more integrated and self-reliant future.
In this episode:
00:00 - Intro
03:21 - Overcoming rejection
14:52 - Fil's transition to software
19:55 - Why Fil believes nothing is impossible
24:05 - Fil’s go-to-market strategy
25:58 - The problem Dirac is solving
30:22 - How manufacturing affects everyone
41:48 - Why preserving the ability to manufacture is so critical
49:14 - Emotional vs logical reactions to nuclear energy: empathy, education, and exposure
56:19 - Fil’s early interest in science and engineering
01:09:37 - Fil's role models and inspirations
01:15:51 - The compounding effect of community
01:27:30 - Fil's unbearably beautiful future
01:30:42 - Who Fil is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 34 min
June 04, 2024Creating a Shared Humanity through Authentic Storytelling with Polina Pompliano
Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of “Hiden Genius” and the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Schwarzman, Richard Branson, and more.
This week, Barrett talks with Polina about her career as a storyteller, personal growth, and the sacrifices required to pursue one's passion. Polina reflects on immigrating to the US from Bulgaria, her career in journalism, and the influence of marriage and motherhood on her ambitions. Together, they discuss building the resilience required to handle life's challenges, the importance of humanizing stories, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
In this episode:
00:00 - Intro
02:48 - What it’s like to publish a very personal book
05:43 - How Polina's book impacted her relationships
08:44 - Communication emotion in different languages
13:58 - How Polina’s early experiences have shaped her
23:00 - Polina’s fullest version of herself
25:42 - How becoming a parent changes you
31:24 - The transition from curator to profiler
39:31 - The value in sharing personal stories
49:42 - Polina’s and Barrett’s experiences at UGA
56:08 - Can ambitious people have successful relationships?
01:03:37 - How Polina and her husband remain humble and connected
01:10:26 - Why resilience is so important
01:21:08 - On dealing with grief
01:26:40 - When success becomes the obstacle
01:31:06 - Making the right career decisions
01:35:02 - Find something and become the best at it
01:39:01 - Polina’s advice to her younger self
01:41:19 - The future Polina is trying to create
01:43:25 - Who Polina is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 46 min
May 28, 2024Matt Mullenweg Is Democratizing Publishing, Commerce, and Messaging
Matt Mullenweg is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40% of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Texts, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair.
Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco.
This week, Barrett and Matt dive into a range of topics, from the importance of making informed decisions as a leader to the impact of sabbaticals on personal well-being. Matt shares insights on hiring philosophy, the future of web development, and the significance of human-centered design. He also discusses vulnerability in leadership, his evolving perspectives on technology, including artificial intelligence and decentralized computing, and his commitment to open-source values.
In this episode:
00:00 - Intro
02:24 - Matt’s trip to Antarctica and the importance of unplugging
07:51 - Matt’s “ABCs”
10:33 - Transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset
14:08 - How being a musician has shaped Matt’s view of the world
18:48 - The value of music as a metaphor for collaboration and synchronization in creative endeavors
26:45 - Why Matt is described as a “learn-it-all”
28:19 - AI and technological evolution
35:07 - Making smart bets on new technologies
40:00 - Why competition is good for you
45:37 - Pace layering and how to optimize for the right things
53:03 - What Matt learned from taking a three-month sabbatical
01:07:11 - Matt’s mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging
01:13:37 - Why security is critical in the age of social media
01:16:19 - The Automattic Creed
01:22:57 - Finding new ideas and testing vs implementation
01:26:37 - Four qualities Matt looks for when hiring
01:32:15 - Matt's unbearably beautiful future

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 40 min
May 21, 2024Reinventing the Way We Build Homes and Communities with Matthew Marshall
Matthew Marshall is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of New Story — a nonprofit pioneering solutions to end the global housing crisis. He serves on two nonprofit boards, CNU Atlanta and Citymakers Collective — a nonprofit teaching aspiring citymakers the holistic design principles of resilient, beautiful, and prosperous places. He holds a BBA from the University of Georgia and is a Y Combinator alumni, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper alumni, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 leader.
This week, Barrett talks with Matthew about his experiences in countries like Haiti, Belize, Ghana, and Peru, and how that led to co-founding a nonprofit focused on the global housing crisis. They discuss New Story’s mission to provide real generational change, and their innovative approach to sustainable housing. They also explore the intricacies of creating a meaningful workplace culture, effective leadership, and how emotional health and authentic connection helps achieve organizational goals.
In this episode:
[00:00] - Intro
[07:22] - The heart and “why” of New Story
[12:30] - How Matthew and his co-founders decided what mission to pursue
[17:34] - Working with purpose
[28:40] - Building a culture of innovation and impact at New Story
[50:30] - Practices and habits of a strong organizational culture
[57:07] - The power of praise in an organization
[59:53] - Defining organizational values and culture
[01:03:18] - Building community through shared experiences
[01:10:28] - Navigating difficult conversations with emotional intelligence
[01:16:52] - Growing as a leader and the importance of voice
[01:29:42] - Foundational habits for sustaining performance
[01:34:59] - The significance of roots and community in personal and professional life

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
1 hr 42 min

About Good Work with Barrett Brooks

From the publisher's feed

Good Work is a curated exploration of the inner journey of outward success. Through deeply researched, long-form conversations with founders, authors, artists, and adventurers, host Barrett Brooks…