Unconventional Leaders

There isn’t a straightforward career path for creatives. You’re often figuring it out on your own and facing resistance. When is it "too lofty" of a dream? Where’s the line between "This isn’t for me" and just needing patience?

Today, I connected with Jay Worsley, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, here to share what it took to build a career (and life) telling stories. In this conversation, he shares his decision-making process and why he "says no as much as he can" (and sometimes says yes for reasons beyond the project). Jay also dives into finding emotion in a story, building a team, networking (even if you’re not extroverted), and his bold ideas about marketing indie films. And he shares why it’s crucial to get still and ask, How does this move me?

This, my friends, is Jay Worsley.

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• When should you say “no” to a project?
• Developing a strong vision in your work
• Finding and conveying emotion in a story
• You might not need social media (try this instead)

CONNECT WITH JAY WORSLEY: 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayworsley/
• Website: https://sonderstorytelling.com/

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access Full Show Notes Here: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/62

Today, I'm answering a question from William about what to do when friends and family are critical of your dreams.

Clips Mentioned:

• Dan Martell TikTok Clip: https://www.tiktok.com/@money.secretx/video/7424834138139659538?_t=8qgENScavut&_r=1
• Lewis Howes with Jen Sincero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FV7YCDfp5A&t=42s

WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access full show notes here: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/61

The conversation around money and art is a tricky one. What do you do when folks aren't buying your work? How much should you really be charging? And why do so many people feel uncomfortable even talking about this?

Today, we have with us Amie McNee, the author of We Need Your Art and the voice behind the wildly popular community Inspired to Write, where she helps her global audience of creatives dismantle limiting narratives and start taking their work seriously.

In this episode, you’ll hear why Amie believes that charging for art is “ANTI-Capitalist,” the conspiracy around keeping artists “small and poor,” and why, as a creative, you might want to ignore traditional marketing advice and… f*ck the niche.

WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Why making money with your art is “anti-capitalist”
• What you should consider when folks AREN’T BUYING your art
• A unique approach to MARKETING (that’s actually kinda fun) 
• Why ”NICHING DOWN” is NOT good advice

CONNECT WITH AMIE:

• Order ‘We Need Your Art’: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761126/we-need-your-art-by-amie-mcnee/
• Website: https://www.amiemcnee.com/ 

CONNECT WITH HEATHER:

• Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 
• Access full show notes here: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/60

Negative comments. Some folks advise that you “just shouldn’t look at them.” What if there was another trick?

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/59

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Eric Petersen is an American actor, singer, and comedian – most recently known for his leading role as Kevin in Kevin Can F**k Himself. You may have also seen him in Kirstie, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and even Broadway plays like School of Rock, Shrek, and Escape to Margaritaville. He also co-hosts one of the biggest Christmas podcasts – The Christmas Countdown Show. 

In this conversation, we dig into how to keep the magic of the creative spirit alive while navigating the business side, building traction in your creative career, calming nerves during performances, and the invitation “to be smarter” as a creative.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/58

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Keeping the magic of the creative spirit – even when there’s a business side
• Building traction in your creative career
• Calming nerves during performances
• Eric’s creative process for finding characters

Connect with Eric Petersen: https://www.instagram.com/ericpete/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Brandi asked, 'What are the three best books on tactical storytelling?' I share them here, along with examples of what they taught me.

Books Mentioned:

• Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: https://amzn.to/4877Gs6
• The Best Story Wins by Matthew Luhn: https://amzn.to/4dMxHxQ
• On Writing by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/3XZ7g2d
• Save the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4dGHQMI

Episodes Mentioned:

• Matthew Dicks:   
•  • How to be a Better Storyteller | @mat...  
• Matthew Luhn:   
•  • How to Tell Better Stories | Pixar’s ...  
• Rob Bell:   
•  • Rob Bell on Writing, Creativity, and ...  

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/57

Follow Heather on IG:  / heatherparady  

WATCH Episodes on Youtube:  / heatherparady  

You may have worked hard to get the opportunity in front of you—whether it’s landing a speaking gig, getting cast in an independent film, or finally gathering the courage to post content online for the first time. Even though you genuinely want it, your body may be in full freak-out mode.

In today’s conversation, I sat down with Will Reynolds—an actor, writer, composer, and seasoned performer who has written songs for Central Park on Apple TV and Disney. We talked about why Will believes overcoming nerves requires stepping into service-based storytelling, how to reframe rejection by seeing art as medicine, and how to approach performing from a healed place, rather than using it to seek validation.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/56 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Service-based storytelling
• How to reframe rejection by seeing art as medicine
• Operating from a healed place → Not making art for validation
• Tools for calming nerves and preparing adequately for success

Connect with Will Reynolds: https://willreynoldsonline.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

Someone sent me an email the other day. The bottom of it said, “Sometimes I worry that I am too old to do X”.

My response? You are too old.

Here is why.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/55 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today’s episode is a solo one. Let’s talk about Apathy.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/54 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

Joshua Dixon is the founder of Admire Wear, a platform that explores issues around mental health and helps its community rediscover their self-worth. After surviving a life-threatening pit bull attack as a little boy, Joshua is on a mission to help others overcome deep struggles and find purpose in pain. In this conversation, you will hear how, as a grown man, Joshua has conceptualized what happened to him and used his story to impact the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Please support his work here: https://www.admirewear.com/ 

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/53 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Looking within to find validation
• How to use your story to connect with others and make an impact
• Making sense of faith after traumatic experiences

Connect with Joshua Dixon: https://www.joshuadixonarts.com/ 

Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ 

WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady