When Kevin Zych left his corporate job three years ago to become a full-time live event illustrator, he had just enough proof of concept from brand sponsorships to believe he could make it work.In this episode, Kevin shares his unconventional path from English major to Zen monk to professional street artist, revealing how he built a creative career around "reportage illustration". He discusses the practical realities of going full-time creative without a plan, why he believes art creates human connection, and how his time as a Zen monastic shaped his philosophy of embracing risk and immediacy in both art and career decisions and much more.

Bart Dziedzic and Max Zucker from MrBeast's strategy team share how they went from investment banking to working at one of the world's biggest YouTube channel and media company. In this episode, you will learn their unconventional networking strategies, how LinkedIn is underrated, and the importance of adding value before asking for anything. You will also learn about community building, the creator economy's anti-establishment culture, and why 1,000 true fans beat 10 million passive followers. If you are looking into working at creator companies or transform their career through authentic relationship building, this episode is for you!

Are you looking to start your own thing? Listen to this episode with Tish Dignam about her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship. Tish emphasizes the importance of adopting a business owner mindset, including marketing, operations, and product development. Tish also highlights her emergent strategy for business growth, using AI tools like ChatGPT for introspection and market segmentation. She also shares her success with TikTok, which has generated significant inbound leads. Tish's business has evolved from brand marketing coaching to clarity coaching, driven by client referrals and her ability to help founders communicate effectively. If you are looking to start your own service-based business, this episode is for you!

In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, how do we discover what truly matters? In this Hot Pod event episode, you will hear stories about people have been finding meaning through learning, community, service, and more. Whether you're navigating a major life transition or simply seeking deeper satisfaction, this conversation offers insights and ideas for you to hopefully find more meaning.

Are you looking to make work more enjoyable and meaningful? Listen to this episode with Bree Groff, the author of "Today Was Fun.” In this episode, you will hear Bree share her seven rules for better days. Bree advocates for being a "meets expectations employee and an exceeds expectations human," focusing ambition on relationships and personal fulfillment rather than solely on work success. In addition to some moments of personal stories, this episode concludes with Groff's daily journal prompt: asking "Was today fun?" and identifying one moment of joy, even on difficult days, as a way to actively seek and appreciate the happiness available in everyday life. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

Are you looking into better understand yourself and the world around you? Listen to this new episode Mari Andrew about her new book, "How To Be A Living Thing," which explores lessons from animals. Mari discusses her cat Sunny, who taught her about unconditional love and autonomy. She highlights the sensitivity and emotional intelligence of horses, which mirror human emotions. Mari also reflects on rats, likening them to our societal shadows. She emphasizes the importance of embodiment and intuition, drawing parallels between human and animal behavior. She also touches on the connection between pregnancy and creativity, advocating for a devotion to embodiment. Here we go with Mari!

Read Mari's book

Hosting good events is a life hack. You can meet incredible people, build your network, have fun, etc! In this episode, I detailed 7 tips for hosting a great event. After that, I shared about the events I have hosted since 2022 and what I have learned from them. Excited for you to build and grow your portfolio career! Happy hosting!

Are you looking to better understand yourself and take agency of your own life more? Lawrence Yeo, in his new book called The Inner Compass, suggests to follow your inner compass more. In this episode, you learn about how to navigate the tension between certainty and curiosity when facing uncertain decision, why removing societal conditioning is essential for finding contentment, viewing uncertainty as an asset rather than a liability, and the benefits of journaling. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career!

You can pre-order the book, The Inner Compass, here!

Are you looking to stand out when building your business? Listen to this new episode with Phil and Xandie. You will learn about how Phil developed his unique selling point to clients by talking to them. You will learn about how Xandie decided to start her business and got her initial customers. You will also learn about the importance of relationships and building relationships when building your business. Excited for you to build and grow your Portfolio Career! 

Jenny Rothenberg, Cofounder of Smooth Media, shares real strategies behind sustainable creator monetization. We dive into content-market fit—creating content your audience actually wants rather than chasing viral moments—and why events might be the most underutilized monetization strategy for creators today. Whether you're looking to monetize for the first time or diversify your income streams, this conversation offers actionable insights you can implement immediately.