Episode 24: The Death of Casual TV (Why We Don't Just "Watch" Anymore)

Have you noticed that nobody just watches TV anymore? We are breaking down the "Lore Economy" and why audiences are obsessed with solving puzzles instead of just consuming content.

We analyze the shift to "Active Engagement"—where shows like Severance and Pluribus function as investigations rather than just stories. We break down "Environmental Storytelling" (where props tell the story) and explain how creators can stop making products and start building connected worlds, using our Brain Juice Coffee ecosystem as a blueprint.

I

f you are a creator trying to build a loyal audience, this episode is your guide to building a world they won't want to leave.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Shift: Why "Casual Viewing" is dead and the rise of the "Detective Audience."

The Craft: A deep dive into Environmental Storytelling and how to hide clues in plain sight (featuring examples from Weapons and Severance).

The Application: How we are turning Brain Juice Coffee and our films into a single, connected universe.

FUEL YOUR CREATIVITY: Enter your flow state with Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:55 – Segment 1: The Shift

09:51 – Brain Juice Coffee

10:45 – Segment 2: The Craft

16:31 – Segment 3: The Application

19:02 – Outro

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE: In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

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Hollywood executives think Gen Z isn't watching TV because of TikTok. They're wrong. In this episode, we break down the "Crisis of Authenticity" and why this is actually the Golden Age for indie filmmakers.

Episode 23:

We read a piece in The Ankler by Whitney Friedlander that’s causing panic in boardrooms: "Gen Z Is Huge; Their TV Shows Are Tiny." The industry blames attention spans, but we call it the Crisis of Authenticity. We break down why the "Hollywood Formula"—polished, committee-approved content—is failing, while messy, specific, and "niche" shows are the only things cutting through.

If you are a filmmaker, writer, or creator feeling discouraged by the industry—this episode is your proof that you don't need their permission anymore.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Crisis: An analysis of why the "Hollywood Formula" is broken and why Gen Z is rejecting manufactured content.

The Insight: Why creative risk is the new currency and why "safe" bets are actually the most dangerous move studios can make.

The Solution: How indie creators are bypassing the system by building their own creative ecosystems (and why you should too).

FUEL YOUR CREATIVITY: Fuel your independence with Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

PROJECT UPDATE: We are currently organizing the table read for The Actress! Follow the journey as we move from script to production.

Chapters:

00:00 – The "Panic" in Hollywood

01:21 – Why Gen Z watches "Friends" but hates new sitcoms

06:22 – The Crisis of Authenticity (and "I Love LA")

11:16 – The Cancellation Problem: Why shows aren't given time to grow

14:50 – Are Executives using AI to test scripts?

17:27 – Building Your Own Ecosystem (Brain Juice Coffee)

19:01 – Deep Dive: How "Atlanta" broke every rule

23:23 – The Golden Age for Indie Filmmakers

28:07 – Living in Your Skin: The Rachel Sennott & Issa Rae model

30:20 – Conclusion: Take the Risk

Watch on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/XJCzVLS3ECg

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How do you take an idea that has been "incubating" for half a decade and finally turn it into a finished screenplay?

Today, Cobain and Taylor discuss the writing process behind their upcoming short film, The Actress. This isn't just about writing; it's about taking control in an industry built on rejection. We discuss the psychological impact of accomplishing, why we rewrote our antagonist, and the "momentum magic" that helped us bridge the gap between a vague idea and a shooting script.

Topics Covered:

• From "Idea Lottery" to finished draft: The "Fog to Form" method.
• The plot of The Actress: A horror-thriller satire on Hollywood rejection.
• How we used accountability and rituals to break writer's block.
  

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review!

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Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Taking control of our own story 

00:56 – SEGMENT 1: Something That Sparked Something (Fog into Form) 

02:55 – Logline: What is "The Actress"? 

05:08 – The Spark: How Bob Fosse inspired us in 2019 

08:03 – Separating identity from rejection 

15:08 – Building Sophia: Creating a character you understand 

20:51 – Brain Juice Coffee: Creating Ritual 

22:21 – SEGMENT 2: Creative Insight (Momentum is Magic) 

24:20 – The "Secret Weapon": Accountability partners 

31:26 – Troubleshooting: Rewriting the ending & the villain 

40:12 – SEGMENT 3: Creator Check-In (How do you know it's good?) 

43:51 – What's Next: The Table Read & Casting Call

Episode 21: 

Cobain and Taylor dive into the first two episodes of the new Vince Gilligan sci-fi series, "Pluribus."  Today the Cinema Social Club analyze the show's craft, from its specific visual storytelling (like that yellow jacket) to its complex sound design. They also do a deep character dive into the flawed protagonist, Carol, and debate whether the new hive mind society is a utopia or a nightmare. Finally, they land on a central theory that reframes the entire show: is the cost of free will worth paying?

00:00 - Cold Open: The Dead Body

00:19 - Intro & First Reactions

02:15 - What is "Pluribus"? (Spoiler Warning)

03:54 - Analyzing "The Craft" (Visuals & Color Theory)

05:17 - Character Deep Dive: Carol, Our Flawed Protagonist

16:37 - Understanding the Hive Mind & The "Others"

26:24 - The Real Problem (Carol vs. The Collective)

32:31 - Final Judgement: Is Carol the Monster?

33:19 - The Big Themes & Future of Pluribus

34:38 - The Central Theory: Is Free Will Worth It?

36:06 - Wrap-up

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

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After a year-long hiatus, Taylor and Cobain are back to unpack the single most important lesson they learned: Take the messy action.

In this episode, they get real about why they stepped away, the creative's biggest enemy—perfectionism—and the lesson they learned about building in community instead of in silence. If you've ever felt stuck in the planning phase or waited until things were "perfect," this is the conversation you need to hear.

Plus, they share two massive announcements born from this new mindset: the launch of their new business, Brain Juice Coffee, and their new horror-comedy short film.

Chapters: 

00:00 - Intro: The Power of Messy Action

00:52 - Why We Took a Year Off

02:08 - The Theme of the Year: "Take the Messy Action" 

03:10 - The Big Lesson We Learned from Our Break

04:14 - "We Abandoned the Community to Build"

05:43 - The Trap of "High Production" Perfectionism

06:50 - The "Real Gs Move in Silence" Misconception 

08:41 - Big Announcement: We Started a Coffee Company 

09:50 - Why Coffee? Connecting Ritual with Creativity 

10:14 - The Purpose: Coffee for Creatives (Without the Jitters)

13:17 - The Messy Launch: Losing Our Supplier

14:45 - Behind the Beans: Brain Juice Coffee Details

16:15 - The "Self-Made" Concept is a Myth

17:00 - The Next Messy Action: Writing a Short Film

17:48 - The Power of Community Encouragement

19:54 - Pre-Production and Redefining as a Filmmaker

21:28 - The Guillermo del Toro Philosophy: You Are What You Do

22:28 - The Entrepreneurial Journey (It's a "Nightmare")

23:25 - Once You Do It, You Get to Call Yourself "The Thing"

25:06 - The Future of the Podcast/ Outro

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

► Follow Brain Juice Creative:

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Uncertainty fuels creativity in unexpected ways. In this episode of The Life We Create, Taylor and Cobain dive into the power of embracing the unknown and how unpredictability sparks innovation. From art and music to tech and filmmaking, we explore real-life examples of how creative breakthroughs happen when you let go of rigid plans and trust the process.

Highlights of this episode include:

 • Cobain’s personal experience with uncertainty in music production.
 • How improvisation and spontaneity play a key role in creative growth.
 • Why uncertainty leads to innovation across industries.
 • Debunking the myth that structure is the only path to creativity.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, musician, or entrepreneur, this episode is for anyone looking to embrace the unknown and transform it into their best work yet. Share your stories with us in the comments—how has uncertainty sparked your creativity?

Join the conversation:
We want to hear about your creative journey! What’s the biggest breakthrough you’ve had when you embraced uncertainty? Drop a comment below and share your experiences.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a new episode of The Life We Create! Let’s create something amazing, together.

Timecode:
00:00 - Intro

“Uncertainty isn’t just a part of creativity—it’s the lifeblood that fuels it.”

01:00 - The Benefits of Embracing Uncertainty

Exploring how uncertainty allows for organic creativity and unexpected discoveries.

09:23 - Uncertainty Breeds Innovation

How unpredictability leads to breakthroughs in art, technology, and beyond.

17:00 - Counterarguments

Balancing structure and uncertainty in the creative process.

19:55 - Outro

Embrace uncertainty and let it drive your creative projects.

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

► Follow Brain Juice Creative:

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In Episode 18 of The Life We Create, we dive into the #1 mistake filmmakers make when marketing their films and how to fix it. Spoiler: it’s all about personal branding! Learn how filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Greta Gerwig, Jordan Peele, and Zack Snyder have mastered the art of personal branding, creating long-lasting careers that go beyond individual projects.

We break down:

- The importance of building your brand as a filmmaker, not just your film.
- Real-life examples of filmmakers who’ve used their personal brand to find success.
- The exact steps you can take to create your own brand: from finding your unique value proposition (UVP) to creating consistent visual identity across platforms.
- How to connect with your audience, grow a loyal fanbase, and gain the creative freedom to control your own career.

If you’re an indie filmmaker or director, branding isn’t just important—it’s essential to your success in today’s film industry.

Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:20 What is Personal Branding for Filmmakers? 03:45 Why Branding is the First Step in Marketing Your Film 07:15 Examples of Successful Filmmaker Branding (Tarantino, Gerwig, Peele) 11:30 Building Connection & Fanbase: Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, Kevin Smith 14:00 Steps to Build Your Personal Brand as a Filmmaker 18:30 Conclusion: Why Your Brand is Key to Success

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

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Cobain & Taylor are back to dive into what it means to be a multi-hyphenate as a creative/professional. As multi-hyphenates ourselves, we talk about our successes, hangups, and lessons learned as creatives with multiple passions and skillsets. It really begs the question, is it necessary to be a multi-hyphenate or just focus on one thing? Can we really do it all? Play along with us and see what side of the fence you're on. 

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

► Follow Brain Juice Creative:

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Cobain & Taylor discuss the treasure trove that is Youtube for independent filmmakers. Youtube has been notoriously underutilized by filmmakers for a long time & those that have tapped into it have reaped amazing rewards. 

They discuss why YouTube is a viable platform for indie filmmakers and that their films can generate profit from YouTube.

It's not necessarily about ditching the traditional model but why not wield the power that is YouTube & make money as a filmmaker.

Fact Check:

https://www.thinkific.com/blog/youtube-money-per-view/#:~:text=Earn%20between%20%242%20and%20%2412%20per%201%2C000%20views%20on%20YouTube&text=Your%20CPM%20(cost%20per%20thousand,total%20views%20will%20be%20monetized.

https://www.emarketer.com/content/youtube-dominates-us-tv-viewership-beating-netflix-according-latest-nielsen-data

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

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Taylor & Cobain are hyped to answer your comments & opinions regarding the previous episode- The Death of Hollywood: Why Creatives are Leaving LA. This engagement was sparked by the LA Times article about Hollywood's Exodus & why TV and Film workers are leaving Los Angeles. There was a lot of great dialogue & we dive deeper into some of the core issues across industries, focusing on entertainment inHollywood. There is hope for creatives (in LA and around the world) & everyone striving to live the life they desire. 

Check out our new coffee!

► Brain Juice Coffee: www.BrainJuiceCoffee.com

Watch & Subscribe on Youtube

ABOUT THE LIFE WE CREATE:

In a world that glorifies perfection, The Life We Create dives into the messy realities of building art, brand, and identity. Hosted by Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers, this is the creative culture podcast from Brain Juice Creative. Get ready for unfiltered, reflective, and inspiring conversations about the real creative process. This is the podcast every creative needs.

► Follow Brain Juice Creative:

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