Getting Work To Work

2026 is upon us and it’s not just a new year thrusting us toward change, it’s everything: society, culture, technology, relationships, work, life—it’s all dynamic, frenetic. Some of us start the year clutching our resolutions tightly, convinced that this is the year we actually live up to them. Others rely on the thesaurus to shift the psychological burden from resolution to something else, anything else, in order to trick our brains into actually accomplishing the things that matter most: “I don’t have resolutions, I have goals.” But it’s going to take more than hacks and tricks to comprehend the amount of change we need in our daily lives. It’s about introducing system-wide curiosity that shifts change from being the end result of an enormous task with a binary value—yes or no—to a daily process that gives us time to explore and open our minds to new realities. Show Links Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn by Richard W. Hamming Pearl Jam – Do the Evolution (Single Video Theory) Photo by Nikoline Arns on Unsplash

For almost 50 years, today’s guest didn’t talk about what happened to her on September 6, 1970 when the plane she was on was hijacked. But in her new book, Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, Mimi Nichter recounts her story of what happened before, during, and after her hostage experience. In our conversation, we talk about her work as a cultural anthropologist and the ways observation and listening inform our ability to understand others. She also touches on how she found her voice in the writing process, choosing to write from memory instead of interviewing others, how images and stories helped memories to emerge, reconciling our past and present selves, the value of compassion, and why we need to talk about what happens to us. When we share our stories with one another, either in memoir or conversation, we connect not only to moments in time, but bear witness to the experiences that shape history itself. Show Links Mimi Nichter Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience by Mimi Nichter Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad Episode photo from Envato Elements: Aerial Drone, Where Desert Meets the Ocean, Sandwich Harbour, Namibia, Africa

What do you do when you get stuck? Maybe you’re like me and you let doubt and despair slow you down or even stop you. Today’s guest has a different answer: keep it moving. Bishop Kevin Foreman, “The People’s Bishop,” is a man of many pursuits—pastor, church planter, bishop, success coach, speaker, author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur—and in this conversation he shares how curiosity, faith, and divine conviction help him to keep his life and work moving. We talk about his insatiable thirst for knowledge, the art of letting go, building the essential skill of reframing, liberating versus limiting beliefs, how faith and data work together when making decisions, why prioritization matters more than balance, and his constant drive to bring the best out of people. Show Links Bishop Kevin Foreman History Makers by Bishop Kevin Foreman Sins of the Fathers: Breaking Generational Curses by Bishop Kevin Foreman Evolutionaries: Unlocking the New You by Bishop Kevin Foreman Groundhog Day (1993) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Episode photo from Envato Elements: Texture of layers in orange and gray colors

Do you ever feel like you’re making the same mistakes over and over again? Yeah, me too. There are some parts of my life and work where curiosity and experimentation are endless, but when it comes to money, I’m stuck on a treadmill of feast and famine. I know enough of the lingo to talk a good game, but really, I’m still doing business like I did when I started 20 years ago. Underneath it all, I’m stuck in a shame spiral wondering if it will ever change. The truth is that something broke a long time ago and instead of fixing it, I kept repeating my mistakes making the break worse and worse. But as I watch my wife heal from a broken leg, it’s time for me to heal my own brokenness. Show Links Wisdom Takes Work: Learn. Apply. Repeat. by Ryan Holiday Shrinking (TV Series 2023–) Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future by Reid Hoffman and Greg Beato The Daring Creatives Episode photo from Envato Elements: broken glass, impact, overlay, realistic

There’s a lot that holds us back as creative individuals, but today’s guest thinks one question is the death of our creativity: who cares? The work begins when you shift from asking the question to stating, “I care.” As a literary publicist, Kim Dower—also known as Kim-from-L.A.—is celebrating 40 years of putting authors on the map, booking them on shows, and getting their books in the hands of people like myself. But Kim is also a poet, “ordained” and “blessed with the gift,” as she shares in our conversation. Her latest book of poems is titled What She Wants: Poems on Obsession, Desire, Despair, Euphoria. Our conversation weaves between the worlds of art and entrepreneurship, starting with the clouds and the sky, reflecting on the magnificent sounds of nature, exploring Kim’s evolving relationship with persistence, lamenting the loss of nostalgia, and documenting our obsessions throughout our lives. Not to mention, a love for words, both written and spoken, conversationally between two people on Zoom. Show Links Kim Dower What She Wants: Poems on Obsession, Desire, Despair, Euphoria by Kim Dower Kim-from-L.A. Charles Baudelaire The Stranger by Charles Baudelaire Thomas Lux Wallace Stevens Lunch Poems by Frank O’Hara Dorothy Parker Bill Knott Limerence Parasocial Relationships: The Nature of Celebrity Fascinations Friends (TV Series 1994-2004) The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield Why Write Love Poetry in a Burning World by Katie Farris A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker: 1925-2025 Photo by Chris J. Davis on Unsplash

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about publicity? After I think about celebrities, perfume ads, TMZ, and shameless attention-seekers, I say, “I guess it’s not for me.” Thankfully, today’s guest is on the show to make me laugh and correct my thinking because PR is for everyone. KJ Blattenbauer is a publicist, author, and speaker who helps founders and experts move from overlooked to in-demand through credibility-driven visibility. In our conversation, she gives actionable steps on making sure your visibility is connected to your goals and your audience; it’s about service and storytelling. She also shares the importance of not giving up when someone says no, that all you need is a sprinkling of audacity to make a difference, why it doesn’t hurt to try something a million times, and why you can never have too much passion. Show Links Hearsay PR Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off by KJ Blattenbauer Aaron Rodgers: Enigma (TV Series 2024) “Untold” – The Fall of Favre (TV Series 2025) I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2025) Three Amigos! (1986) Tree Paine – Taylor Swift’s Publicist P.T. Barnum We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Making Something by Amie McNee Threads

Rejection is on my mind today. Yes, it’s because I got rejected for something I actually wanted. But there’s also a deeper reason: Somewhere along my creative journey, I learned to minimize rejection by playing-it-safe, making my dreams small, and maximizing my chameleon tendencies. Recently, Shae Omonijo shared a short video on Substack about her plan for 2026: “Collect 1K rejections.” A lot ran through my mind after seeing the video, “1,000 rejections? One hurt enough! Are you a glutton for punishment?” I think my brain short-circuited when I watched it, but it didn’t take long for the truth to be revealed: I’m a chicken and I’m tired of being scared. If you are someone who has big dreams, but shove them aside because you have an unhealthy relationship with rejection, then this episode’s for you. Oh, and don’t worry, I’m preaching to the choir here because this is the work I need to do for myself as well. Seven ways to go from avoiding rejection to chasing 1,000 rejections? Know what you actually want. Adopt a rejection mindset. Stop waiting and start moving. Dream bigger and share often. Allow yourself to change. Learn to separate rejection from failure. Become an advocate for yourself, your wants, and needs. Show Links Shae O. – “Collect 1K Rejections” video Finding Mastery Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. Episode photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash

How do you respond when moments of disruption happen in your life? Do you shake your fist at the sky, bemoaning, “Why me?” Or do you get curious and ask, “What’s around the next corner?” During every pivotal moment in the life of today’s guest, he learned what it would take to not only escape the assembly line, but to build a life worth living. auGi Garred is a storyteller, former comedian, multi-instrumentalist, beacon of fun on the horizon, and founder of Molting Men, a place for Gen-X creatives to reimagine their futures. In this conversation, auGi tells powerful stories centered around three key areas: Rush, the power of humor, and staying open to what is around the next corner. He talks about why you should always choose best friends over young love, the challenges of collaborating with a college grad who thought he was the next Ira Gershwin, how he earned the equivalent of a business school education by speaking with over 70,000 people at the world’s largest telecom company, and the power of excavating your origin story to shape your future. Most importantly, he shares how what he calls “luvity,” the fusion of love and levity, can make the lives of those around you better. Show Links auGi Garred on LinkedIn Molting Men (Running Naked) OGGOMATiC on YouTube Rush Caress of Steel by Rush Signals by Rush Permanent Waves by Rush Moving Pictures by Rush Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage Star Wars Trash Compactor Scene (A New Hope) Binary sunset… from A New Hope, Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection Welcome to Ingham County The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Wikipedia History of Oldsmobile – Oldsmobile Club of America Goodyear Tires Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru’s Death Scene – Star Wars: A New Hope [4k UltraHD] Goblin Claudio Simonetti REO Speedwagon 3209 W Barnes Rd, Mason, MI 48854 UFO (band) Le Studio Whitesnake Foreigner – Hot Blooded (Official Live Video) Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue – Full Album Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love Guns N’ Roses – Welcome To The Jungle van-halen.com – The Official Van Halen Web Site ABBA -– Dancing Queen (Official Music Video) Nazareth – Hair of the Dog (Official Audio) Foo Fighters – Breakout (Official HD Video) Michelangelo’s Non-finito Sculptures Beyond the Notes Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson Episode photo by Noah Klimpel on Unsplash

When you cross paths with someone whose mission is incredibly clear, it’s hard not to want that clarity for yourself. Scott Proposki is a photographer, entrepreneur, and author; his mission is to help photographers all around the world to build a business to last a lifetime. In our conversation, Scott shares stories from his journey living the photography dream—National Geographic, events at the White House, corporate client shoots, millions in sales—then losing it all in 2020, and rebuilding from nothing. We talk about the role of listening in storytelling, the importance of self-awareness, crafting a 25-year plan, doing one thing instead of 20, why photographers aren’t screwed, and why photography is more relevant than ever before. Show Links Scott Proposki Camera Focus: What Photography Teaches About Business, Life, and Success by Scott Proposki We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Making Something by Amie McNee New England Patriots Bill Belichick on Instagram Watch Mr. Polaroid on PBS Wall Street Journal Podcasts Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries Episode photo from Envato Elements: Snow covered mountain peaks, Monte Rosa Piedmont, Italy

When was the last time you got permission to have fun in your business? For me, it’s been too long, so I’m grateful for today’s guest. Dawn Andrews is a business strategist, executive leadership coach, and podcaster who approaches her business as a playground to explore new tools and technologies that not only help herself, but also her clients. In this conversation, Dawn softens the fear around AI through an exploration of how she uses tools to boost her curiosity and creativity. She shares insights into the ways her brain and business work, how creativity can help us manage the world, the important mindset shift we need to make, how beginners can start using AI with a single piece of paper, and actual examples of AI in action. Show Links Dawn Andrews 12 Day AI Quick Wins Series – Dawn Andrews Is Your Business Killing You? (GWTW865) Jasper POSCA Markers iA Writer Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka On algorithmic anxiety – Kyle Chayka Industries Airtable Make MindPal Microsoft Copilot Claude ChatGPT Google Gemini The Five Minute Journal® I am Shae Omonijo The Art of Gathering Book: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker Episode photo from Envato Elements: Glasses With Landscape View On City Background. Vision Concept. 3D Rendering

Have you ever wondered what gough would do? I do, too. Fresh from his birthday celebration, gough is back on Getting Work To Work, again, to talk about his year-ending projects: a short documentary about a blind man traveling to see the greatest rock band in the world, an audio drama about the seedy underbelly of the podcasting world—sounds about right—and the Beernuts Productions podcast. We talk seriously about the reality of discrimination against people with disabilities, why gough uses silly t-shirts and humor to disarm people, his love for onion rings, the worst gym session ever in his life, jokes so old they can vote, how he found the most annoying voices for his podcasting audio drama, how he makes up the most important statistics to satisfy guests who only go on popular podcasts, the death of radio in Australia, and the weirdest podcast he went on to promote his work. Show Links Beernuts Productions The Seedy Underbelly of Podcasting The Beernuts Productions Podcast The Advertising Meeting Trick or Treat Mr. X. Melbourne Trip – Documentary Gold Coast News Clip Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow Oasis Oasis – Wonderwall (Official Video) dadsaysjokes on Instagram Rush I Love You, Man (2009) Jason Segel & Paul Rudd Meet Rush Apple iPhone Virgin Atlantic Marvel (Docklands) Stadium Alcotraz – Immersive Cocktail Experience Simpsons – Like, You Know, Whatever… (from “Summer of 4 ft 2”) Recording Room Airplane! (1980) John Cleese Packs It In (2025) The Naked Gun (2025) The Running Man (2025) Zambian kwacha Tim Berners-Lee

Sprinkled throughout today’s conversation is a phrase I absolutely love. No matter the situation or the statement, the response is simple, “Let’s talk about it.” Chanda Coston is a Navy Veteran, PMP, and Business Strategist who helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs—especially women over 40—turn chaos into clarity and grow businesses that make sense (and money). In our time together, we talk about the need for clarity, the importance in telling our stories, and having people in our corner. Chanda also talks about her life as a professional pivoter, the reality that nothing happens overnight, trusting yourself, starting over and carving new paths, and systems as self-care. If you’re looking to make some changes, let this sink in: If Chanda can do it, so can you. Show Links Chanda Co. Strategist Chanda Co. on Instagram Free Ebook: Barriers to Breakthru 1:1 Tiny Challenge ($21) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P Moran and Michael Lennington Episode photo from Envato Elements: Study Of Patterns And Lines

I’ve been slowly waking up to the reality that I’ve been running my business and living my life on autopilot for far too long. It’s been six years since I really felt like I was in control and not operating by the whims of others and the seat of my pants. But here I am, staring at 2026 off in the distance, ready to shake the sleep from my eyes and do something completely different. In this episode, I’m going to share why I’m ready to shake things up, how I’m reconnecting with my vision, passion, and action, and how you can, too. Reflection Questions, Part One Before I go any further, I have some reflection questions for you. It might be useful to open your notes app or get a journal and pen out to write down your thoughts to these four questions: How loud is your fear? What is your fear saying to you? Do you know where you’re going? How long has your autopilot been engaged? Reflection Questions, Part 2 Okay, before I dive into what these three words mean for me and my future, take a few moments in your notes app or journal and write down some initial thoughts to these three questions: What is my vision? How does my passion help bring that vision to life? What actions am I taking to make sure that my vision and passion become a reality? Reflection Questions, Part 3 Now that I’ve shared a little about my own vision, passion, and action, I want you to return to your notes app or journal and go deeper with these questions: What really is my vision? What are my passion levels teaching me? What is the next action I need to take? Show Links Airplane! (1980) This Is Spinal Tap (1984) Innovators of Vancouver Episode photo from Envato Elements: No people in empty captain cabin with dashboard navigation

I always enjoy meeting people who think deeply about the work they do, but also have a lot of fun doing it. Izzy Poirier is a designer, brand strategist, zine publisher, and community builder. From her earliest years, she’s been intrigued with the nature of people, their stories and identities, and making sure that they have a place to belong. In our conversation, we talk about the intersection of design, brand strategy, community building with the Ottawa Design Club, craft, and the art of zines. We also dive into Pivotal Moments, a zine featuring stories from creatives around the world, produced in collaboration with the Ottawa Design Club and New York Design Club. Izzy shares what went into producing the zine, curating the stories, the impact, and how a single font changed everything in the design phase of the project. If you’re looking for some inspiration as you consider new projects or pivots in your own future, then this is the episode for you. Show Links Izzy Poirier Ottawa Design Club New York Design Club Pivotal Moments Heather Crank (Crahmánti) Bend Design Cadillac LYRIQ The Running Man (2025) Non Foundry Non Ophelie TYPE01 Xerox – Graphic & Print Design Solutions Brand – International Brand Design Magazine

Even if you’ve never had a hamster for a pet, you’ve witnessed the spectacle of them running in a hamster wheel. They step inside a giant wheel in the center of their captivity and run, and run, and run. It’s so adorable when they do it. But what if I could tell you we have human hamster wheels, in the center of our captivity, and we run, and run, and run? They aren’t literal wheels, but they serve the same purpose: keep us distracted from the reality that we aren’t where we want to be, not doing the work that matters to us, and somewhere along the way, we took a wrong turn. It’s never been easier to numb out and just keep running, but one day, the call will come from inside the house, it’s time to answer the call, step off the wheel, and jack in to life. Six ways to ditch the hamster wheel: Incorporate experimentation and research and development into your creative process. Look for ways to increase diversity in your work. Before you offload tasks to someone else or another system, make sure that what you’re building isn’t just a larger hamster wheel in disguise. Offload repetitive tasks to virtual assistants, employees, or AI and automation systems. Batch recording is great until it’s not. Don’t fool yourself, the hamster wheel is pernicious, don’t be afraid to step away. Show Links The Running Man (2025) Neuromancer by William Gibson Starship Troopers (1997) Showgirls (1995) Episode photo from Envato Elements: A playful hamster runs energetically on its wheel inside a bright, colorful cage

You might look at today’s title and think I’m trying to be humorous or sensational or clickbait-y, but I’m absolutely serious. It’s such an important question that it demands me to say it aloud right now: Is your business killing you? When you first start your business, you don’t think about the ways it overtakes your life, you let it gladly, because that’s the price you pay for building something that statistically could end in five years or less. But then, over time, you just keep letting it control your life. Social media and email dominate your existence on and off hours. Any hiccups in payments or acquiring new clients results in prayer, drinking, or worse, loans from online payment providers. Shutting it off means the potential for losing everything, or so you tell yourself. Before you know it, you’ve lost your vision and passion, but you keep powering on because at some point along the way, it’s what you do, and you’re also unemployable. If this is resonating with you, grab a cup of tea, take a seat, and let’s talk, because the truth is going to hurt. Show Links Episode photo from Envato Elements: Various spices on stone table

It’s that time of year again, when pumpkin spice invades your latte, kids dress up like their favorite heroes, villains, nightmares, and corporate superstars hoping for a bag full of candy, and gough, your favorite Australian filmmaker, shows up on Getting Work To Work to talk about his latest film, Trick Or Treat. Armed with the biggest budget in the history of BeernutsProductions.com, a stable of actors dishing out sketches and monologues, 27 costumes, and nature balls, gough’s latest film pulls no punches against Halloween. In our conversation, we talk about the struggles he faced making the film in both casting and costumes, how he works through challenging emotions, stupid advice actors have received from their teachers that they have brought to the set, and all the hilarity fit for print and podcast. Show Links Beernuts Productions Trick Or Treat Mr Eligible Mr. X. Treehouse of Horror 2M3C ilia chidzey Goat Track Theatre Neighbours (TV Series 1985–2025) Home and Away (TV Series 1988–) Danielle Collins Taia Favale A Musical Life hosted by Scott Whatman The Recording Room Uncanny X-Men Howard Hughes One Battle After Another (2025) Roofman (2025) Channing Tatum Punches Back While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones Licorice Pizza (2021) Magnolia (1999) Recency bias George Carlin on YouTube Kampala, Uganda

Weaving through the design, data, stories, and statuses on social media, I witnessed the human need to be seen; the longing to be discovered. I like this word, “longing.” I recently came across a book by Sue Monk Kidd called, Writing Creativity and Soul and she writes a lot about longing as a creative, a writer, woman, and a mother. What a word to sit and reflect upon: Longing. Merriam-Webster defines longing as “a strong desire especially for something unattainable.” In this episode, I explore the building blocks of the soul: deep questions that take time to answer. Show Links Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd Austin Kleon Episode photo from Envato Elements: Close-up view of the wooden craft products

How far am I willing to go? How much work am I willing to do? Two powerful questions today’s guest asked herself at the start of her writing journey as she considered what it meant to be a writer. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is a writer, podcaster, teacher, and publisher on the show to talk about writing, podcasting, and her latest book, Pool Fishing, a collection of stories connected by place and featuring characters who live on the fringes of society. In our conversation she shares insights into the act of writing and being a writer, the fluid nature of creativity, the challenges present in short stories, why writing dark fiction can help us make sense of the world, and rejection. We also talk about her podcast, Writers on Writing, which started as a radio show in 1998. 27 years later, it continues as a way for her to learn more about the writing process and share what she discovers with writers around the world. Show Links Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Writers on Writing Pen on Fire Pool Fishing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett IngramSpark Podcast Movement Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell Scott Turow The secret structure of great talks by Nancy Duarte The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield “I apologize for such a long letter – I didn’t have time to write a short one.” – Quote from Mark Twain Orange County Noir Double Indemnity (1944) Kelp Books Richard Bausch Kelley Baker Margaret Atwood The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid Episode photo from Envato Elements: Stairs of an indoor pool with clear water

I’ve heard this phrase way too often in the past 25 years: “If you’re ignoring [enter the trending or disrupting technology], then you’re already behind.” While the phrase may be technically true, it does require a major assumption: equality. It assumes that every person has equal access to the technology, responds with openness and trust instead of skepticism and caution, and can actually see value through the veil of hype, fear, and propaganda. Those are big assumptions, but even bigger are the promises and the corresponding bubbles. Don’t worry about what doesn’t seem to be right, just go all in, because you’ll be able to cash out. Or so the “logic” goes. Do you want to know what I’ve never heard in relation to this notion of being behind? That you’re right on time. So, that’s what I’m going to focus on today because not only is it an accurate statement, it is also life-giving and dream-fulfilling. Show Links Diffusion of innovations Episode photo from Envato Elements: Steampunk mechanism