To Create is Human - Storytelling for Creatives

Bryson King is the graphic designer behind To Create Is Human's entire visual identity, from the original Success Is a Myth cover to the full rebrand.

In this episode:

➤ How Bryson finds "the one detail" that represents someone's whole story

➤ Behind the scenes of designing To Create Is Human's rebrand

➤ Why we landed on the colors we did for the rebrand

➤ How constraints (client-imposed or self-imposed) push better creative work

➤ Why unpaid work still opens doors

Quote:"Everyone has unique lived experiences. That's all you have when it comes to being different than those around you."

Follow Bryson:

➤ brysonking.com

➤ https://www.instagram.com/bryzzking

Follow Jacob:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/tocreateishumanpod?utm_source=qr

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:55 If everyone's super, nobody is

3:41 Rebranding wasn't a quick fix

13:12 Story bite

14:28 Balancing existing and future audiences

21:41 Digital vs tangible creation

24:20 Artist or problem solver?

26:49 Restraint pushes creativity

30:45 Passion projects

34:02 How story affects technical decisions

36:28 What makes a story stick?

38:43 Where to find Bryson

In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and storyteller Mark Stebnicki to talk about what makes stories resonate, and how to get authentic moments on camera. A section of our convo dives into music and how to use that POWERFUL tool to enhance the story.

If you enjoy conversations about filmmaking, documentaries, and meaningful storytelling, this episode is for you.

Follow Mark's work:

➤ https://www.youtube.com/@ncfarmbureau/videos

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:19 What does the word story mean to you

6:00 Getting folks to open up on camera

9:48 New ways to tell the same story

17:07 Music is POWERFUL

24:12 Getting more out of a music track

26:12 More than just a video guy

28:29 Show your audience REAL struggles

32:59 Different story than what we were expecting

36:16 What makes a story stick with you after it’s over

38:29 Get back to basics

44:19 GEAR TALK

49:10 What’s a story you want to tell?

Stories are currency.

My favorite moments from the conversation with Robert:

➤ Stories require characters, obstacles, and a clear resolution.

➤ Being too broad like "tell me your story" can feel aggressive.

➤ Curiosity is a muscle requiring consistent and daily exercise.

➤ Facilitators must provide safety nets for those sharing vulnerabilities.

➤ Honoring a subject’s story is a creator’s ethical responsibility.

➤ Curiosity about others is the foundation for successful relationships.

Follow Robert:

➤ https://www.dearworld.com/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/robertxavierfogarty/

Follow Jacob:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Trailer + Intro

2:32 Everyone's story is worthy

4:16 Turning pain into a relatable story

7:53 Hopesters

9:07 Inspiration for telling others' stories

14:53 Be relatable to those that matter

18:04 Zig when others zag

20:45 Creating is not for the faint of heart

23:48 Discovering yourself through storytelling

28:14 You can't tell one you're actively in

31:12 We've got the net to catch them

36:14 Stories are currency

40:49 Authenticity vs presentation

48:29 What makes a story stick

49:45 Every day is an opportunity for miracles to happen

53:23 The word STORY

57:51 What inspires you to create?

Stories make others feel seen.

My favorite moments from the conversation with Talmage:

➤ Stories are simple

➤ The "One Way" framework (you're one way, then you change, now you're different)

➤ Take the INTERESTING stuff out of a story if it's a red herring

➤ Vulnerability is terrifying

➤ Love the daily practice of writing down one story worthy moment in your day

➤ Audiences have an incredible BS reader

Follow Talmage: 

➤ https://www.instagram.com/talmagethayne?igsh=N3VyY2Z6bWFqamQ0

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmlaab.podcasts?igsh=M3gzaGVpNXFkODVh

Follow Jacob:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro + Story Bite

2:08 Helping others tell their story

9:22 Why people struggle to tell their story

13:34 The cost of not telling stories

18:33 Don't break your characters' spine

21:48 What is removed from the story

26:48 Make me CARE

32:10 What makes a story stick long after it's over?

35:37 What to do when the project goes sideways

37:43 Address the elephant in the room

40:58 Favorite stories

Storytelling is about saying what people feel but can’t say themselves.

My favorite moments from the conversation with Adam:

➤ Story is IMPACT

➤ Cut the GOOD stuff to have a GREAT story

➤ LISTEN to your interviewee instead of just waiting to ask the next question

➤ Creating because YOU want to is a better metric than likes, comments, vanity metrics

➤ A great story makes me QUESTION further

➤ Great interview moments come from conversation, not rigid scriptingFollow Adam: 

➤ https://www.instagram.com/adamwest_cc?igsh=bGV4cGZmMGdrcGg=

➤ https://www.instagram.com/adamwest_media?igsh=ZWJ3dDFsOXljajdsFollow Jacob:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro + Story Bite

1:51 Story is IMPACT

4:36 How to pull the story out of people

10:29 If it doesn't add to the story, CUT it

14:39 Get EMOTION out of people

17:00 Are we attention seekers?

20:41 Imperfect content

24:34 Creating out of DESIRE

26:17 Cracker Barrel / Jaguar rebrand

32:25 Honoring new and old audiences

33:32 Actually benefiting my brand

37:58 What makes a story stick with you long after it's over?

40:45 Books vs movies story

43:02 Make me question further

46:01 The HARDEST stuff to cut

50:54 Why we STRUGGLE to tell our story

55:01 How story impacts TECHNICAL decisions

59:51 HUMANIZE your subjects

Solo episode today, I spill some thoughts on wanting to create just because. Also thoughts on learning a craft vs technology, and breaking down some industry buzzwords like "authenticity" "consistent" "transparency" etc
Hope you enjoy! 
My socials:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

What story archetype are you living?

In this episode, I sit down with marketer Ben Anderson to explore the 12 foundational character archetypes developed by Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, and how they shape not just movies, but our lives.

Most people know the Hero’s Journey.

Very few understand the archetypes behind it.

We talk about:
➤ The 12 core archetypes that show up in every timeless story
➤ The difference between your resting story and your aspirational story
➤ Why brands fail when they tell the wrong story
➤ How culture swings like a pendulum between archetypes
➤ Why I stopped telling a “success” story and leaned into the Creator

Ben shares how he went from being publicly called the worst marketer in his class…

to managing marketing for two of the fastest-growing companies in Utah, all because he learned how to see story correctly.

But this episode isn’t about marketing.

It’s about understanding.

Story is the lens through which you see the world.

And when you learn someone’s story you connect with them in a way that isn’t transactional.

Follow Ben: 
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--anderson/

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

People don’t want to watch your transformation.

They care about their own. 

So how do you show your viewers that their story matters to you, while still sharing your own?

Ashley goes over how to tackle this EXACT problem as a personal brand, huge brand, as a storyteller. 

Some of what we cover:
➤ Why most brands only talk about the visible problem
➤ The philosophical layer that builds loyalty
➤ How identity shift is the real goal of storytelling
➤ Why “story = change” isn’t metaphorical, it’s structural
➤ The 3 layers of pain, and what happens when you only hit on one layer
➤ How to know if your story actually works
➤ Creating stories is the closest thing to being like God

Follow Ashley: 
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-arnson/
➤ https://www.blackhavencreative.com/

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

In this episode, my wife and I read and react to 100 real comments from writers, filmmakers, founders, marketers, and storytellers who answered one simple question:

What makes a story stick with you long after it’s over?

Some talked about truth.
Some about emotion.
Some about restraint, specificity, silence, and timing.

Together, they reveal that great stories aren’t about being impressive...

They’re about being HUMAN.

If you care about storytelling in any form (film, podcasts, writing, branding, or creative work) this is for you.

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode:
- "Don't tell your story, let the audience FEEL it vividly"
- "Creating stories is the closest thing to being like God"
- "People think stories are shaped by people, in fact, it's the other way around"
- "A great story makes you take one step closer to your horizon (whatever that may be)."
- "I think humans crave stories because we are addicted to transformation."
- "Feeling fundamentally understood and seen by someone who doesn't even know you exist"

Leave in the comments, what makes a good story to you??

To see the original post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jacob-christensen-b0701027b_ill-venmo-you-50-if-you-answer-my-question-activity-7420130153441226752-HMYZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEQqxzcBDOdxeG7TY_ukbApqyHBAip5_Clo

WELCOME TO SEASON 2
In this episode I'll go over why the rebrand is happening, and what's to come in this next season of To Create Is Human.