What if creativity isn’t just self-expression, but a way to heal and connect?

In this episode, I talk with Allison Sweet Grant, an author, former psychiatric nurse practitioner, and mother of three who brings deep honesty and courage to her storytelling. Her debut novel I Am the Cage wasn’t written to launch a career but to process overwhelming trauma and offer hope to others. We talk about how creativity can be both healing and hard, especially for those of us who are sensitive or introverted. But when we choose to go deeper, our stories can become acts of bravery—and unexpected gifts to the world.

Key Takeaways

• Use your unique life experiences to enrich your creative work. Drawing from multiple roles can deepen your storytelling and bring authenticity to your creations.
• Create space for your kids (and yourself) to fail safely. Protection isn’t about control—it’s about allowing risk in a space where learning and growth are possible.
• Use writing as a space to find your voice. It gives you the time and clarity to say what you mean without anxiety getting in the way.
• Create a simple mantra to steady yourself in tough times. Simple, repeated words can anchor you when life feels overwhelming.
• Embrace vulnerability as an act of bravery. Sharing your deepest fears and shame can feel exposing, but doing so can free you from the power those secrets hold—and prove your strength in facing them.

Episode Highlights

• Why Zack and Allison are both nervous in the interview
• The origin story of the book “I Am the Cage”
• Defining trauma in Elizabeth’s story and how it relates to Allison
• Processing the experience through writing and self-reflection
• Feelings behind self-blaming and the umbrella of shame
• The impact of trauma on self-confidence, trust, and relationships
• Personal career and impact of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner
• The logical vs. emotional argument in personal and creative life
• Parenting, advocacy, and how past experience informs present choices
• Crossing senses in storytelling with Synesthesia
• Openness and vulnerability in the creative process
• Exploring the book’s motif: “I am okay, I am safe”, to “I am not okay and I am not safe”
• Creativity as an act of courage and the emotional impact of releasing the book
• Dreaming of a movie adaptation and the poetry of everyday life
• How to connect with Allison
• Zack’s American Ninja Warrior experience

Recommended Next Episode

Jennifer Kahnweiler – To dig deeper into better understanding how to thrive as an introverted creative.

Bridget Sampson – If fear of speaking up and sharing your story is holding you back.

Useful Resources

Allison’s Book I Am The Cage

How We are “Wired to Create”, What It Means to Be a “Creative”, and How We Can Leverage Our Unique Gifts | with Scott Barry Kaufman

Turning Adversity Into Opportunity and Suffering Into Purpose (a Superhero’s Perspective) | with Aaron Welty

Go Far: The Christopher Rush Story

Call Me By Your Name

Lost In Translation

Before Sunrise

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Guest Bio

Allison Sweet Grant is an author who has been published in The New York Times and The Atlantic. Previously, she was a psychiatric nurse practitioner; she holds dual master's degrees from the University of Michigan. An introvert, synesthete, and avid poet, Allison can usually be found at home with a cup of hot tea in hand, reading or rewatching a film she has seen sixteen times. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and their three children (and two cats, Pom-Pom and Jasper). I Am the Cage is her debut novel.

Allison’s Website, Facebook, Instagram, Email

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Ever feel stuck between playing it safe and going all in on your dream?

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker, actor, and real-life action hero Paul Beckman—whose story is equal parts hilarious, outrageous, and deeply inspiring. From sneaking into the World Series VIP section to facing cancer with grit and the mantra “This too shall pass,” Paul shows what it really means to take risks. We talk about walking away from comfort, facing fear, and pushing forward even when you’re unsure. If you’ve been holding back, this conversation might be the nudge you need.

Key Takeaways

• Lean into the ideas that scare you—do them anyway. The gut feeling of fear is your cue that it’s worth trying, and it trains your mind and spirit for the bigger ones.
• Decide to bring purpose with your presence. Your attitude and energy are choices—and they shape your experience and the experience of everyone around you.
• Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t. Even in moments when outcomes are out of your hands, your time and growth are still yours.
• Take one breath, one moment, one step at a time. Whatever you're facing will pass, and on the other side of it is everything you want.

Episode Highlights

• Sneaking into the Dodgers World Series game
• How confronting fear prepared him for life’s most pivotal moments
• Cancer journey and the power of a positive mindset
• The role of positivity and humor to navigate tough times
• Facing fears: Sneaking into a stadium vs Sending outreach emails
• Current pursuits, goals, and the ongoing journey
• The value of having diverse skills and interests
• How to leverage opportunities and balance multiple roles
• Lessons learned from juggling many jobs and skill sets
• Building authentic relationships and the importance of networking
• Paul’s advice to his past self in the middle of chemo

Recommended Next Episode

Christopher Titus: To overcome a dark past, manage inner voices, turn pain into purpose and still find something to laugh about.

Useful Resources

Friedrich Nietzsche’s Twilight of the Idols

Half Dome Hike

The Groundlings

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Guest Bio

Paul Beckman is a Los Angeles-based actor, writer, and filmmaker known for bold, character-driven stories that blend action, comedy, and a touch of the surreal. A proud Texan, cancer survivor, and graduate of the University of Iowa, Paul brings grit, resilience, and a deep sense of adventure to everything he does—both on screen and in life. From performing at The Groundlings to starring in national commercials, he’s built a reputation for injecting sharp humor and emotional stakes into every project.

An Eagle Scout with a passion for climbing mountains and competing in obstacle course races, Paul gravitates toward stories about survival, justice, and transformation. His work often explores what it means to fight for something real—whether that’s a cause, a connection, or a second chance. With roots in improv and a vision for cinematic storytelling, Paul’s creative work explores what it means to fight, survive, and stand for something—often with a wink and a punch.

Paul’s Facebook, Instagram, Fitness, Youtube, IMDB, Casting Networks

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

What if the way you see your struggles is the key to overcoming them?

In this episode, I talk with motivational speaker and all-around awesome human Aaron Welty—moderator of the Council of Nerds film series, former Two Geek Soup co-host, and Senior Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born with cerebral palsy, Aaron brings a powerful lens to storytelling, shaped by his love of movies and his lived experience with disability. But instead of seeing himself as a victim, he calls his condition a “terrible privilege” and lives as the hero of his own story. We dig into how the stories we tell ourselves shape our mindset—and how rewriting that narrative can help us face life’s hardest challenges.

Key Takeaways

• How can your terrible privilege help you serve others? We all carry something painful we wish we didn’t but it can become the very thing that equips us to make an impact.
• Learn how to suffer well. Know how to go from suffering to perseverance, perseverance to deeper character, and from that deeper character to a place of hope.
• Choose the bigger life. Heroes are shaped not by the pain they face, but by the choices they make in response to it.

Episode Highlights

• Aaron’s origin story and early life
• We all have a disability in certain contexts
• How to turn your ‘disabilities’ into superpowers
• Exploring fandom: Star Wars, Marvel, and comic books as more than entertainment
• Finding meaning beyond yourself and transforming challenges into purpose
• The power of storytelling to influence and transform lives
• The importance of modern mythology for a new generation
• The impact of artificial intelligence on human dignity in entertainment
• How will AI change the way we engage with films
• Embracing the idea that suffering isn’t optional

Recommended Next Episode

Will Storr: Dive even deeper into the science of storytelling and why our brains are wired for narrative.

Useful Resources

Go Far - The Christopher Rush Story

Podcast with Christina Rasmussen

Viktor Frankl's The Man's Search for Meaning

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The Writer's Journey by Chris Vogler

Podcast with Chris Vogler

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Guest Bio

Aaron Welty was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy as a newborn. He overcame those early years of low expectations and a presupposed poor quality of life to graduate from Cedarville University and serve as a Senior Legislative Assistant in the House of Representatives, wherein he worked on a variety of policy issues. Presently he lives and works in Washington, DC.

An avid fan of comic books superheroes and Star Wars, Aaron has shared his story with outlets such as NBC Nightly News, Facing Life Head On, Roll Call, The Daily Signal, and various radio programs. His writing has been featured by a variety of publications and presented at conferences and conventions.

He is the creator and/moderator of the Council of Nerds film discussion series at the Miracle Theatre in Washington, DC and served as a co-host for the Two Geek Soup podcast, focused on the intersection of faith and geek culture.

Aaron’s Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

What if your greatest creative strength is the part of you that never quite fit in?

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, psychology professor at Columbia University and host of The Psychology Podcast, to explore why creativity isn’t a rare talent but a way of being—one that thrives when we embrace what makes us different. We discuss how to reframe “disabilities” as strengths and how owning your uniqueness can unlock your creative superpowers. If you’ve struggled to share your work or felt like you don’t belong, this conversation might shift how you see yourself—and your creative potential.

Key Takeaways

• Boost creativity with boredom: Boredom activates the default mode network that helps with creativity.
• Embrace laughter: Most creative ideas often sound ridiculous at first. Fear of failure blocks creativity.
• Hope is a skill you can learn: You can’t choose your struggles, but you can always choose your response.

Episode Highlights

• Scott’s origin story
• Difference between doing creative work and being a creative
• Brain networks (and how it leads to creativity): Imagination, Executive and Salience
• Scheduling boredom and incubation
• Relationship between creativity and mental health
• Importance of flow state on your well being
• Balancing high sensitivity with creativity
• Correlation between creativity and neurodivergence
• How to overcome the victim mindset and empower yourself
• Changing your default response from helplessness to hopefulness
• Strength-based approach to disabilities
• Redefining what it means to be intelligent
• The language that we use in our own minds

Recommended Next Episode

Ethan Kross: If you’re curious to keep exploring the inner workings of the mind—and the inner critic that so often holds you back.

Useful Resources

Scott’s Book: Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind

Scott’s Book: Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization

Scott’s Book: Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential

Scott’ Beautiful Minds Newsletter

The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman

The Amazing Dr. Scott

It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People

Marc Brackett Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

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Guest Bio

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. He is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential. He hosts The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is widely considered among the top psychology podcasts in the world.

Dr. Scott's Website, Podcast, Substack, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

 

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Note: I believe in 100% transparency, so please note that I receive a small commission if you purchase products from some of the links on this page (at no additional cost to you). Your support is what helps keep this program alive. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Hey there, it's Zack. And for today's mini episode, I'd like to share with you an audio reading of a recent article that I wrote on Substack titled, Are we becoming Generation Xtinct?. If you enjoy this article and you're interested in reading more about navigating significant life transitions, finding meaning in your creative work, and what it means to be human in the age of AI. I invite you to subscribe to my Substack newsletter, Pivot with Purpose. To learn more and subscribe visit zackarnold.com/substack.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

What if happiness wasn’t the reward for success but instead the foundation for it?

Jackson Kerchis is here to share the science and psychology of happiness—not as an abstract, feel-good concept, but as a practical tool for navigating uncertainty, overcoming career challenges, and unlocking creativity. From the neuroscience behind gratitude and mindfulness to why we’re so bad at predicting what will make us happy, Jackson offers real, actionable strategies to reshape our thinking—and our lives.

Key Takeaways

• Master the 3 Ingredients of Happiness: Strengthen your physical health, improve your mental clarity, focus on building quality relationships
• Build Momentum Through Micro Habits: Start before you're ready and focus on tiny, repeatable actions.
• Redefine Productivity on Your Own Terms: Productivity isn’t about grinding—it’s about aligning your time and energy with what really matters to you.

Episode Highlights

• How to Define Happiness
• Jackson’s Thoughts on Productivity, Being a Neurotic Overacheiver and a Zen Monk
• Achieved Happiness vs. Cultivated Happiness
• Set Point of Happiness and Practices that Change the Brain
• The Ingredients of Happiness in a Checklist
• Rethinking Productivity through Habits & Systems
• Building Self-Efficacy
• Overcoming the Self-Defeating Cycle
• Scientific Research and Benefits of Gratitude Practice
• Happiness and Performance in High-Stress Environments
• Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World
• Resources for Learning More about Happiness

Recommended Next Episode

Dr Tal Ben Shahar: To learn even more about the psychology of happiness

James Clear: To dive even deeper into the habit formation rabbit hole

Ethan Kross: If you’re struggling with all the negative voices and chatter in your head

Useful Resources

Gratitude Letter | Greater Good Science Center

The Science of Happier Work Course

Happiness Means Business

Warrior Leader Training

Beyond Profit & Productivity – Amazon

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Guest Bio

Jackson Kerchis is a former strategy and operations leader, startup executive, and Zen monk. He’s the co-founder of Happiness Means Business and Warrior Leader Training, where he helps business and military leaders solve people problems through the lens of psychology and well-being. Jackson created the world’s first college major in Happiness at the University of Alabama and is the author of Beyond Profit & Productivity, an Amazon bestseller on workplace culture. He brings a grounded, research-backed approach to helping individuals and teams thrive—without the hustle-and-grind mentality.

Jackson’s Website | Linkedin | Instagram | Youtube

 

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

What if striving for more is actually giving you… less?

In this episode, Zack sits down with bestselling author Oliver Burkeman—known for Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals—to unpack the trap of productivity and the illusion of the perfect to-do list. Together, they explore why the constant chase for achievement might be keeping us from truly living, and how embracing the unfinished parts of life could actually set us free.

Key Takeaways

• Accept the kind of defeat that grounds you: Not as resignation, but as clarity, so you can move forward more empowered, relaxed, and effective.
• Embrace imperfectionism: Accept that you’ll never have full knowledge or control, and move forward anyway, knowing you’re always learning and evolving.
• Ask what life is asking of you now: Not in terms of destiny or perfection, but in terms of what is actually doable in your current reality.

Episode Highlights

• The impact of the book Four Thousand Weeks on time management
• Rethinking self-optimization and unlocking your creative potential
• The liberation of letting go of impossible goals
• Overcoming imposter syndrome: Why waiting to feel ready is holding you back
• Work-Life Balance vs Strategic Imbalance and Work-Life Integration
• Imperfectionism and the Kayak vs. Super Yacht Approach
• The difference between efficiency and effectiveness
• Defining life tasks and personal values
• Acceptance, grief and mortality: Dealing with life's limitations
• The power of embracing oneself

Recommended Next Episode

Greg McKeown, Laura Vanderkam, Nir Eyal: To learn more about how to better manage your time and alignment with your values

Zack’s Substack Article: If you’re interested in learning more about why we often don't do the things that we know we should be doing

Useful Resources

Oliver’s Book: Four Thousand Weeks

Oliver’s Book: Meditation for Mortals

Oliver’s Book: The Antidote

The Courage to be Disliked

Carl Jung

Bruce Tift

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Guest Bio

Oliver Burkeman is the New York Times and UK Sunday Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks, about embracing limitation and finally getting round to what counts, and of the newly released Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. His other books are The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. For many years he wrote a popular column for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life'. In his email newsletter The Imperfectionist, he writes about productivity, mortality, the power of limits and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. After a decade in Brooklyn, he now lives in the North York Moors in England.

Oliver’s Website, Newsletter

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Are you stuck in the messy middle of life, wondering who you’re becoming on the other side?

In this episode, the mic turns inward as today’s guest—well, it’s me, Zack Arnold —and I’m opening up about the newly rebranded Zack Arnold Podcast. Along with my podcast producer and fellow coach Debby Germino, we discuss why the changes go far beyond a new name, music, or artwork. Together, we dig into what’s shifting behind the scenes and the deeper purpose driving this evolution—not just for us, but for anyone navigating their own transformation.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose is the Key to Happiness: Connect your efforts to a purpose larger than personal success and let go of the toxic version of 'optimization' pushed by hustle culture.
• Make People Feel Something: Focus on how you make people feel, not just what you say or do to create an emotional connection and leave a deeper impact.
• Embrace the Unknown: We’re never starting over from scratch. We can always learn from past experiences and apply them to any new situation.

Episode Highlights

• Why rebranding was necessary
• What led to the change and how it took shape
• Lessons from past rebrand: Fitness in Post to Optimize
• Speaking to the emotional heart of the rebrand
• Introducing the new Substack and vision behind it
• Understanding your purpose and its role in success
• From providing education to a building community
• What this rebrand mean for the existing community
• Embracing the new Creator economy
• The Summit
• Burnout prevention and protecting healthy habits
• What’s next for the Zack Arnold Podcast
• Final thoughts and how to stay connected

Recommended Next Episode

Oliver Burkeman: To dive deeper into what inspired our rebrand—and how I now approach goals, time, and priorities.

Useful Resources

Zack Arnold Podcast

Zack Arnold’s Substack: Pivot with Purpose

Oliver Burkeman’s Book: Four Thousand Weeks Time Management for Mortals

Viktor Frankl’s Book: Man's Search for Meaning

Scott Barry Kaufman’s Beautiful Minds Newsletter

Andy J. Pizza’s Podcast: Creative Pep Talk

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Hey there, it's Zack. And for today's mini episode, I'd like to share with you an audio reading of a recent article that I wrote on Substack titled, I wasn't afraid of losing my paycheck nearly as much as losing myself. If you enjoy this article and you're interested in reading more about navigating significant life transitions, finding meaning in your creative work, and what it means to be human in the age of AI. I invite you to subscribe to my Substack newsletter, Pivot with Purpose. To learn more and subscribe visit zackarnold.com/substack.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Hey there, it's Zack. And for today's mini episode, I'd like to share with you an audio reading of a recent article that I wrote on Substack titled, I sold my soul for a paycheck. It led me to my purpose instead. If you enjoy this article and you're interested in reading more about navigating significant life transitions, finding meaning in your creative work, and what it means to be human in the age of AI. I invite you to subscribe to my Substack newsletter, Pivot with Purpose. To learn more and subscribe visit zackarnold.com/substack.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content