Creator Alchemy

How do you actually build a life of freedom, fulfillment, and success? Ali Abdaal is a NYT bestselling author and creator who’s built a multi-million dollar lifestyle business. In this episode, Ali candidly shares what it actually takes to build a life of freedom, the inner game of entrepreneurship, how even the most successful people still struggle with Imposter Syndrome, how his definition of freedom has changed, and how to make life and business feel like a video game you can win.—CONNECT WITH ALI ABDAAL: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aliabdaalNewsletter: https://aliabdaal.com/Lifestyle Business Academy (aff): https://get.lifestylebusiness.com/corey-wilksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-abdaal/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliabdaal/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—WORK WITH ME:https://tally.so/r/mVqOlv—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro00:55 The Guide Who Became a Guru07:10 How to Resist Audience Capture13:49 The Price of Fame20:48 Dealing with Online Hate24:02 What Holds People Back from Building a Lifestyle Business28:18 The Truth About Imposter Syndrome39:35 The Power of Being a Duck47:13 Waiting for Permission56:11 Theorycrafting01:10:05 Bouncing Back from Failure01:14:25 How to Decide What Is Worth Doing01:17:35 Learning to Feel Your Feelings01:28:47 The Post-Productivity Shift Toward Woo01:32:18 Why We Avoid Ourselves and Our Thoughts01:39:42 Why Life and Business Are Like Playing a Video Game01:51:54 Designing Ali Abdaal's Perfect Week Calendar01:53:56 What is Enough?01:55:05 Ali's 3-Year Journey of Building a Life of Freedom01:59:58 How Ali's Definition of Freedom Has Changed02:02:28 The Highest ROI Life Advice02:03:56: Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers:...

This is a public coaching session where I help Karolina, an entrepreneur who’s launched the first season of her podcast but still doesn’t know how to grow or leverage it.—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—CONNECT WITH KAROLINA: Her Podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCRCUDTqzXdLZutFIrXkWN5QSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Sil8eVYToL3eUwfPwm82ZApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-to-pause/id1846616180Her Social:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolinaplanica/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Marianne Vander Dussen is an artist, educator, and YouTuber who creates calm, approachable painting tutorials and teaches thousands of students through her online acrylic courses. Her work focuses on making the creative process feel clear, enjoyable, and accessible for artists at any level. In this episode, we dive deep into her journey and how anyone can unlock their inner artist.—CONNECT WITH MARIANNE: https://www.youtube.com/@mariannevanderdussenhttps://mariannevanderdussen.com/https://courses.mariannevanderdussen.com/https://www.instagram.com/mariannevanderdussen/https://www.tiktok.com/@mariannevanderdussenhttps://www.facebook.com/artbymariannevanderdussen/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Problem with Motivation and Creativity16:45 Balancing Creative Time and Business Building21:25 Marianne’s Creator Journey27:38 Imposter Syndrome and Creativity49:05 Navigating Vulnerability as an Artist01:03:02 The Psychology Behind Why We’re Afraid to Be Judged01:11:00 Embracing Authenticity01:26:44 The Power of Resilience and Adaptability01:32:48 AI and the Future of Art01:54:08 When is Your Art Finished?—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Paul Millerd is the author of The Pathless Path, a book he self-published that's sold over 70,000 copies worldwide over the last four years. His work has helped countless people all over the world leave the "Default Path" and blaze their own trail to build the life they want and do work they love. Paul has been an inspiration to me for years--as a writer, entrepreneur, and all-around incredible and generous human being--so I'm excited to share our conversation with you today where we dive into what it really means to pursue your own path. Enjoy.—CONNECT WITH PAUL MILLERD: https://pmillerd.com/https://pathlesspath.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Power of Self-Publishing07:13 Navigating the Identity of Being A Writer17:38 Embracing Authenticity21:09 Optimizing for Uncertainty40:20 Embracing the Pathless Path46:50 Chasing Success and Rejecting Status55:42 Finding a Niche vs a Mode58:35 The Intrinsic Value of Writing Books01:05:28 The Insane Realities of the Book Publishing Industry01:20:07 The Future of Books01:28:27 The Psychology of Taking Risks01:35:05 Guerilla Marketing and Gifting Books01:47:18 The Lasting Impact of the Pathless Path—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

If you're ambitious but stuck in the gap between knowing and doing, this episode is for you. I break down the nine psychological barriers that keep capable people from taking action—from waiting for permission that will never come to letting impostor syndrome run your life. These aren't tactical problems, they're deeply rooted patterns that affect everyone. Here's what you need to understand about what's actually holding you back.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro00:37 You're Waiting for Permission02:21 You Have Imposter Syndrome05:06 You're Focusing On What "They" Think07:32 You've Lost Perspective11:11 You're Waiting Until You Feel Ready13:19 You Keep Getting In Your Own Way16:31 You Allow Toxic Personal Narratives to Persist21:08 You Avoid Yourself23:45 You're Trying to Be a Lone Wolf—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Tim Stoddart is one of my favorite entrepreneurs and writers. He's built multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses with SEO, content marketing, advertising, and great writing. A few years ago he went full circle and bought Copyblogger, a website and platform that first taught him how to build an online business when he first started. In this episode, we dive into the "inner game" of what it actually takes to build multiple successful companies, the psychological toll it can take that most entrepreneurs never talk about, and Tim shares business advice everyone ignores that could actually be the key to building a successful business. —CONNECT WITH TIM STODDART: https://copyblogger.com/https://www.timstodz.com/https://www.youtube.com/@timstodz—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Creators Are Broke09:29 How Content Attracts Serendipity19:04 Building Business Relationships Through Authenticity29:09 Sobriety, Entrepreneurship, and Obsession47:10 Self-Care, Stillness, and Sustainability54:29 Business Advice Everyone Ignores—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

WANT TO WORK TOGETHER?Apply for PUBLIC Coaching: https://tally.so/r/EkkQgqApply for PRIVATE Coaching: https://tally.so/r/mVqOlv—This is a public coaching session where I help Dan Bennett, an entrepreneur who's built a six-figure company, navigate the constant uncertainty and overwhelm of growing his business.—ABOUT DAN BENNETT: Dan is the founder of Hot Sauce Video, a company dedicated to helping remarkable people look and sound great on camera.Connect with Dan: http://danhaslinks.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

In this episode, I sit down with Tintin Smith, former Head of YouTube for Ali Abdaal where he helped Ali's channel generate millions in subscriber count and revenue before launching his own business helping educational YouTubers turn their channels into sustainable six-figure businesses. We explore the psychological journey of entrepreneurship including navigating imposter syndrome, pricing psychology, the insecurity of self-promotion, and other psychological aspects of running a successful online business every creator faces.—CONNECT WITH TINTIN SMITH: 100K YouTuber: https://100kyt.com/100K Roadmap: https://100kroadmap.co/Tintin's Business Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theyoutubetinTintin's Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tintinsmith—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 From Working with Ali Abdaal to Building His Own Business19:41 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Charging Premium Prices34:06 Pricing Psychology and Charging Your Worth50:34 Doing Aligned Work and Avoiding Golden Handcuffs01:01:30 Dealing with the Insecurity of Self-Promotion01:19:17 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

In this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite no-bullshit entrepreneurs, Jessica Lackey, to talk about what it actually takes to build a successful online business. We dive deep into why most entrepreneurs are gambling with their careers and how to build a sustainable, meaningful business based on conviction and curiosity.—ABOUT JESSICA LACKEY: Jessica Lackey is the founder of Deeper Foundations, a consulting and training firm that helps expertise-based business owners grow and scale sustainable companies rooted in stronger business foundations. She brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and soulful business building, drawing on an MBA from Harvard Business School, a coaching certification from iPEC, and experience at McKinsey & Company and Nike, Inc. Jessica has supported over 200 entrepreneurs through her programs, blending systems thinking, operational rigor, and deep values alignment.—CONNECT WITH JESSICA LACKEY: Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/Book: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/casino—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Building an Online Business Feels Like a Gamble08:10 When the Math Doesn’t Math13:37 Understanding Your Business Model39:04 Common Pitfalls of Early Entrepreneurship51:10 Languaging, Frameworks, and Resonating with the Right Audience56:33 The Power of Curiosity and Conviction01:16:22 Leaving the Casino of Business01:25:47 Creating an Impact with Your Work01:36:14 Dealing with the Fear of Ridicule01:40:45 The Harsh Truth About Building a Business01:59:35 Advice on Building a Successful Business02:05:09 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here...

The title says it all.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro01:24 Stop Waiting for Permission04:08 You’ll Never Find Time05:52 The Path of Least Resistance is Often the Most Crowded07:42 You Can Sell Without Being Salesy11:25 If You’re Not Making Money, You Don’t Have a Business13:23 A Hobby Work Ethic Won’t Drive Business Results16:43 Hustle Culture is Just Virtue Signaling for Entrepreneurs20:09 There’s Prestige in Solving Hard Problems, Not in Making Problems Hard to Solve21:43 Ideas Don’t Matter23:27 Listen to People Who Open Their Wallets, Not Their Mouths27:02 Branding is a Waste of Time29:20 People Don’t Follow You for Your Content33:05 Don’t Try to Be a One-Person Media Empire35:48 Be Less Impressed, More Involved38:20 No One Wants You to Pick Their Brain41:26 Who You Can Text Matters More Than Your Follower Count42:58 Don’t Romanticize Being a Lone Wolf. Lone Wolves Die in the Wild45:01 Focus on Building a Portfolio of Assets47:07 Don’t Live on Rented Land52:31 If You’re Stuck at a Fork in the Road, It Means Both Paths Are Viable55:20 Metrics Matter Until They Mislead You57:13 Audience Capture Can Cause You to Lose Yourself01:01:43 Forget About Work-Life Balance. It’s a Lie01:04:55 If You Don’t Respect Your Value, No One Else Will01:07:38 Confidence is Overrated01:10:08 No One Knows What They’re Doing01:12:32 It Feels Hard Because It Is Hard01:15:56 No One Gives a Shit About You01:17:58 Stories Move People, Not Statistics01:20:44 Know When to Widen Your Vision and When to Put On Blinders01:25:58 Don’t Live Online. Live Offline and Share Online01:28:23 Pick What You Want to Be Great At, Then Accept Being Mediocre At Everything Else01:30:33 Forget Trends. Focus on Timeless01:33:40 Find the Torture You're Comfortable With01:36:49 It’s Going to Feel Like Drinking from a Fire Hydrant for a Long Time01:39:16 Focus on Resonance Over Reach01:42:03 Embrace Your Dark Horse Era01:44:59 Most Productivity Issues Aren’t Due to a Lack of Discipline, But an Abundance of Fear01:47:17 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation,...

Are you secretly afraid of success? In this solo episode, I dive into why fear of success is so common, even when you deeply want to achieve success. You'll also learn an exercise to help you navigate fear of success.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.

Lawrence Yeo is the founder of More to That and author of The Inner Compass. He's legitimately one of my favorite modern writers and has been instrumental in helping me improve my ability to think clearer, tell better stories, and live more meaningfully. In today's episode, I sit down with Lawrence to dive deep into the psychological barriers that keep creators from doing their best work. We explore how to transform imposter syndrome into creative fuel, why authenticity beats algorithmic optimization, and how philosophical frameworks provide more practical guidance than traditional self-help for navigating creative uncertainty, building sustainable businesses, and developing unshakeable conviction in your ideas.—CONNECT WITH LAWRENCE YEO: Website: https://moretothat.com/Lawrence's book, The Inner Compass: https://compass.moretothat.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Imposter syndrome signals you're entering new territory and growing, rather than being a character flaw to eliminate.Original ideas don't exist - your unique value comes from filtering universal concepts through your personal experience and worldview.Tactical vulnerability means sharing personal struggles specifically to serve your audience, not just to process your own emotions.Writing like you naturally speak creates more authentic connection than trying to hit artificial reading level targets.Perfectionism paralyzes creators because achieving it would make creating the next piece even more daunting.Stories move people more than statistics - personal anecdotes create lasting impact where data fails.Mastery (refining intuition) creates more sustainable success than status-chasing (collecting attention).The people you attract reflect the ideas you share - shallow content brings shallow thinkers.External validation becomes addictive when you're in periods of self-doubt, but focusing on craft builds genuine confidence and conviction.Monetizing creativity requires attracting people whose values align with yours, not just anyone willing to pay.Trusting yourself is learnable through repeatedly doing work for its own sake without external pressure.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Genesis of More to That05:16 How Lawrence Deals with Imposter Syndrome09:46 The Art of Remixing Ideas14:42 The Power of Authenticity and Vulnerability in The Creative Act25:38 Common Writing Advice to Avoid33:15 Why Perfection is Overrated40:39 Knowledge vs Wisdom in the Age of AI48:25 Krishnamurti, Philosophy, and Navigating Existence01:17:08 Why We Wait for Permission to Hit Publish01:25:52 The Pursuit of Mastery and Craftsmanship01:32:25 Staying True to Yourself and Resisting Misaligned Incentives01:49:49 The Inner Compass—SOCIAL LINKS:Website:

What is marketing, actually? And how can you improve your marketing to grow your audience, revenue, and resonance in an authentic way? In today's episode, I sit down with my friend Amanda Natividad, head of marketing at SparkToro, to explore the psychology behind effective marketing. We discuss zero-click content, parasocial relationships, and why the best marketing doesn't feel like marketing at all, and Amanda shares actionable strategies for creators who want to build authentic connections that convert.—ABOUT AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Amanda Natividad is VP of Marketing for audience research startup, SparkToro. In her spare time, she co-hosts the Meme Team podcast and writes a marketing newsletter called the Menu (with over 16k subscribers). She’s also the creator/teacher for Content Marketing 201, a contributor for Adweek, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and a former journalist. Amanda previously led marketing for Growth Machine, led marketing for Liftopia, built Fitbit’s B2B content program, and led content and communications for NatureBox.—CONNECT WITH AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Website: https://amandanat.com/Newsletter: https://amandanat.com/subscribe/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanat/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandanat/Twitter: https://x.com/amandanatMeme Team Podcast: https://www.memeteampodcast.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing because people naturally resist being sold to but want solutions to their problems.Content marketing should serve specific business functions rather than just creating content for content's sake.Zero-click content strategy focuses on providing value directly on social platforms instead of driving traffic away from them.Parasocial relationships allow creators to scale intimacy and build genuine connections with large audiences.Content pillars act as guardrails that protect your mental health while maintaining focus and audience expectations.Blog posts and long-form content serve as proof and defense for your expertise, not just standalone pieces.People follow creators for who they are, not just their content, which is why personal connection matters more than perfect information.Building algorithmic capital through consistent valuable content allows you to occasionally promote without being penalized.Making it easy for people to understand what you sell and where to buy it is fundamental but often overlooked.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Why the Best Marketing Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing01:24 - B2B vs B2C Marketing: Key Differences04:25 - The Truth About Content Marketing13:10 - Personal Brand vs Reputation: Building Authentic Authority22:46 - Parasocial Relationships: Scaling Intimacy in Marketing35:20 - Managing Influence and Setting Professional Boundaries41:09 - Marketing Psychology in an Algorithm-Driven World44:15 - Why Zero-Click Content and Algorithmic Capital Are the Future of Marketing50:08 - People Hate Being Sold to But...

Dr. Josh Williams is a clinical psychologist, natural body builder, father, human performance expert, and a personal friend who inspires me to be a better version of myself every day. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of fitness (how to get in shape and stay fit), modern men and masculinity issues (and why so many men feel lost today), emotional intelligence and identity formation, and how sacrifice is a requirement for success in all areas of life.—CONNECT WITH Dr. Josh Williams: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthritual/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoshWilliams—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Soreness doesn't equal workout quality - consistency and progressive overload matter more than how you feel the next dayIdentity beats goals for creating lasting behavioral change - "I am someone who works out" is more powerful than "I want to work out"Environment beats willpower every time - design your surroundings and remove temptations rather than relying on self-controlModern men lack clear role scripts while women successfully adapted to new opportunities and expectationsHigh achievers often create emotional compression that limits both their highs and lows to maintain performanceSacrifice is inevitable in life, so choose what you give up consciously rather than letting it happen by defaultThe lineage perspective creates meaning beyond personal achievement by viewing your life as part of a generational chainTurn toward difficult emotions instead of avoiding them - this builds resilience and emotional intelligence over timeCommunity and accountability accelerate progress in fitness, business, and personal development more than solo effortDefault systems protect your most important values by creating automatic behaviors that don't require constant decisions—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Fitness Myths & How to Optimize for Longevity13:22 What Holds People Back from Getting in Shape22:40 The Psychology of Sacrifice and Building Your Ideal Life32:35 The Power of Constraints to Achieve Your Health Goals52:36 The Modern Men and Masculinity Crisis1:16:00 The Lineage Perspective: Living for More Than Yourself1:25:50 Emotional Intelligence, Expression, and Compression1:49:06 Striving, Excellence, and Enjoyment1:56:25 How to Design Your Environment for Excellence—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram:

What happens when your entire business gets destroyed in 3 days? Jay Acunzo, storytelling expert and former head of content at HubSpot, shares the messy reality of reinvention and how he discovered his most defensible advantages. We explore why people follow you for YOU (not your content), the psychology behind authentic storytelling vs. performance, and Jay's frameworks for escaping the "commodity cage"—including why you should focus on being their favorite instead of being the best. Plus: the simple 4-part story structure that actually works and how to "ladder down" your ideas to create deeper connections.—CONNECT WITH JAY: https://jayacunzo.com/https://linkedin.com/in/jayacunzohttps://jayacunzo.com/newsletterCheck out Jay's podcast, "How Stories Happen" wherever you get your podcasts—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Getting "punched in the mouth" by unexpected events often forces necessary reinvention that turns five-year plans into 30-day survival plansAsk yourself "What am I the best at doing in a room of 100 people?" to find clarity about your unique strengths and defensible advantagesThe messy, unglamorous parts of reinvention are where you actually find your best ideas and truest selfPeople don't follow you for your content—they follow you for you, which means your imperfections are often what create the strongest connectionsUse "tactical vulnerability"—share imperfect, human aspects of your story that are relevant for building connection or illustrating a pointStories need four building blocks: status quo, tension, turning point, and resolution (remember the itsy bitsy spider)Don't just share expertise—escape the "commodity cage" by developing a unique premise or perspective"Don't market more, matter more"—focus on resonance (how much people care) over reach (how many people see it)"Don't be the best, be their favorite"—people make emotional choices and rationalize them laterMove from being an expert who shares information to an explorer who asks questions and launches investigations"Ladder down" your ideas: start with an easy reframe, then your core premise, then the best-case outcomeBringing conviction to your ideas and learning to package them effectively creates a defensible position in a noisy world—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Jay decided to dedicate this chapter of his life to storytelling and speaking09:00 How Jay reinvented his business after everything burned to the ground14:57 The emotional toll of pivoting your business18:20 How to find your best ideas to share21:41 The trap of being a meta-creator23:43 Being an expert vs. an explorer26:30 Imperfection and building a connection with your audience33:25 AI and the Milli Vanilli Effect37:54 Being authentic vs being performative49:38 The...

In this episode, I sit down with PJ Milani (you may know him by Milani Creative), a high school film teacher who's built an inspirational brand sharing visual metaphors that's attracted an audience of over 400,000 people across platforms by embracing quantity over quality and abandoning perfectionism. We dive deep into his creative philosophy, the psychology behind consistent output, and how he overcame decades of creative paralysis to become one of the most recognized visual metaphor creators online. PJ shares his approach to handling imposter syndrome, the constraints that fuel his creativity, and why "good enough" might be the secret to unlocking your creative potential. This conversation will completely change how you think about creative work and hitting publish.—CONNECT WITH PJ Milani: https://www.milanicreative.com/artThe visual metaphor we talk about at the end of the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFxaB-Hx2md/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Perfectionism is often disguised procrastination - Waiting for the "perfect approach" or "right tools" can delay creative output for years, as PJ experienced before finally starting at age 40.Creative accents (your imperfections) become your unique signature - In an AI-dominated world, the way you imperfectly create something is what makes your work distinctly human and memorable."Good enough" should be redefined as "as good as I can make it today" - This shifts the question from impossible perfection to achievable daily excellence within your current constraints.You are not the best judge of what will resonate with your audience - PJ's most viral content was often work he didn't think was his best, proving creators can't predict what will connect with people.Creative practice should align with meaningful work, not just cool achievements - Focusing on work that feels personally fulfilling sustains long-term creative output better than chasing viral moments.Imposter syndrome intensifies with success rather than disappearing - The feeling of not belonging in certain rooms persists even at high achievement levels, requiring ongoing psychological management.Constraints actually fuel creativity rather than limit it - Having boundaries provides a framework that makes creative decisions easier and prevents paralysis from infinite options.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Overcoming Perfectionism Through Consistency06:16 - From Teaching to Creating: PJ's Background24:08 - Crossing the Fame Threshold30:47 - Navigating Imposter Syndrome43:55 - Balancing Cool vs. Meaningful in Creative Work50:45 - The Overwhelm of Being Multi-Passionate56:20 - Metrics of Success: What Actually Matters1:12:02 - The Art of "Good Enough" and Creative Accents1:23:04 - Technical Skills vs. True Creativity1:44:08 - Creative Constraints That Fuel Innovation1:49:18 - How to Overcome...

Tobi Emonts-Holley is a CEO, father of seven, and high-performance coach for fathers who want to thrive at home and at work without burning out. In this episode, Tobi shares hard-earned insights about what it takes to be a true leader (and why leadership starts with humility, not ego), how to lead yourself in order to lead others, the power of building systems instead of relying on willpower, how to approach work-life balance and burnout when you can’t clock out, how he manages to stay present as a father and husband raising 7 kids and maintain a happy marriage—and how he manages to do all of this while also staying fit, building a huge social media following, and coaching other high-performers.—CONNECT WITH Tobi Emonts-Holley: http://hybrid-dad.comhttp://instagram.com/tobi_emonts/https://www.youtube.com/@tobi_emonts—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Being a leader means transitioning from being a hard worker to a hard thinker - As you advance in leadership, your most important job becomes creating space to think strategically rather than executing tasks.Leading yourself is a prerequisite for leading others effectively - You can’t inspire or guide others until you've done the inner work to understand and manage your own insecurities and patterns.Self-respect is the root issue behind most fitness and time management failures - People who can't stick to exercise routines or boundaries often lack fundamental self-respect, not discipline or knowledge.Systems and boundaries allow you to be present with family while maintaining performance - Having structured work processes and protected personal time allows you to be fully present during family moments without sacrificing professional output.Different life areas can elevate each other rather than compete - Morning workouts improve emotional stability for parenting, better work boundaries create more family time, and strategic thinking enhances all areas of life.Parenting is about raising future adults, not managing current children - The decisions you make about screen time, work ethic, and presence today shape the adults your children will become.Stillness and uninterrupted thinking time are competitive advantages for leaders - Taking walks without distractions and creating protected space for deep thought leads to better decision-making across all life domains.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 From Volunteer to CEO07:30 Setting Healthy Boundaries When You’re Always On11:38 Productivity Myths and How to Have It All26:40 The Power of Stillness34:52 Leadership Myths vs. Reality45:03 How Leaders Deal with Self-Doubt48:20 Why You Have to Lead Yourself to Lead Others55:54 Tobi’s 10-Year Vision and His...

In this episode, I sit down with Jay Yang, a 19-year-old who landed jobs with Noah Kagan and Tyler Denk before graduating high school and is now working with Alex and Leila Hormozi. We explore his "permissionless approach" to creating opportunities, finding your obsession, navigating imposter syndrome, and why most people wait for permission that will never come. If you've ever wondered whether you're too young, too old, too inexperienced, or too whatever to go after what you want, this conversation will shift your perception of what’s possible when you adopt a permissionless approach.—ABOUT JAY YANG: Jay Yang proves you don't need permission to create extraordinary opportunities. He built a six-figure business and hundreds of thousands of social media followers before graduating high school, then became Head of Content for Noah Kagan where he led the social media campaign that made Noah's book a NYT bestseller. Now 19 and working with Alex and Leila Hormozi at acquisition.com, Jay shares his permissionless strategies in his new book You Can Just Do Things: The Power of Permissionless Action.—CONNECT WITH JAY YANG: Twitter (X): @jayyanginspiresInstagram: @jayyanginspiresLinkedIn: Jay YangWeekly Newsletter: The SparkGet Jay’s Latest Book: You Can Just Do Things: The Power of Permissionless Action—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Do the Work Upfront - Instead of asking "how can I help," create actual value first and show them what you can do.The Three Obsession Tests - Find what makes you lose track of time, keeps you up past midnight, and what others find boring but you love.Show Evidence, Not Arguments - When family doubts your non-traditional path, prove it works rather than trying to convince them why it should.Build Friends, Not Networks - Focus on genuine relationships and being generous without expecting anything in return.Reframe Imposter Syndrome - That uncomfortable feeling means you're growing and entering new territory, not that you don't belong.The North Star Decision Filter - Evaluate every opportunity by asking if it moves you closer to your ultimate goal.Find Your Torture - Success comes from finding the suffering you're willing to embrace because you love the work itself.Permission is a Myth - Most doors are unlocked; people just assume they're locked and never try the handle.Compress Your Timeline - You can achieve in months what others take years to do by strategically connecting with the right people.Choose Long-term Fulfillment - Prioritize what's worthwhile over the long run rather than chasing short-term...

Jon Denton shares his 20-year journey from games journalist to 500K-subscriber YouTuber, revealing the hidden mental health crisis plaguing creators. We discuss burnout, isolation, surviving online hate mobs, audience capture, and why he's launching a mastermind to help other creators navigate the psychological toll of putting themselves online.—ABOUT JON DENTON: Jon Denton is a "Level 99 Unc," grown his YouTube channel to over 500k. He spends half his time "reacting to stuff," and the other half helping people break through their limits. —CONNECT WITH JON DENTON: Jon's Newsletter: https://jondenton.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jondenton22/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JonDenton—SUBSCRIBE TO THE CREATOR ALCHEMY NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:Why success amplifies past wounds - Why external achievements often make old wounds louder instead of healing them.The creator isolation paradox - Performing connection for thousands while experiencing deep disconnection and loneliness.When your audience becomes your prison - How creators become trapped by audience expectations and lose the ability to evolve.The psychology behind online hate - Understanding that criticism of your work often reflects the attacker's identity issues, not your content.The RAIN protocol for emotional regulation - Practical frameworks for creating space between triggers and responses.Mental health as a strategic advantage - Why emotional regulation is foundational to sustainable creator success, not separate from it.Creating the stimulus-response gap - How to notice faster and recover quicker from criticism and setbacks.Why you can't think away emotional wounds - Why positive thinking alone doesn't work and what actually helps with creator burnout.Creator communities as survival tool - How connection with other creators becomes essential for survival, not just networking.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro01:35 From Journalist to YouTuber5:45 The Psychology Behind Reaction Videos13:52 The Craft of Being an Entertainer22:50 What Makes Great Music31:06 Meeting The Weeknd - The Power of Putting Yourself Out There38:50 The Fear of Ridicule and Tall Poppy Syndrome 48:50 The Uncertainty of Being a Creator54:34 Burnout and Chronic Fatigue01:01:35 The Inner Journey of Mental Health01:18:14 The Stimulus-Response Gap and Emotional Regulation01:24:35 Handling Online Hate 01:41:04 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindsets in the Creator...

In this in-depth conversation, I talk with Dan Bennett, video expert and founder of Hot Sauce Studio, about the psychology of camera confidence (and why your gear only makes up 5% of your success on camera), sharing your expertise with the world, and navigating the insecurities and uncertainties of entrepreneurship. We explore how fear, authenticity, and personal development intersect with being on camera, building a business, and finding your voice as a creator, and share insights into overcoming creative blocks.—ABOUT DAN BENNETT: Dan Bennett helps remarkable people look and sound great on camera. After years working with corporate clients, he shifted his focus to helping entrepreneurs and professionals build camera confidence and create effective video content. His company is currently rebranding as Hot Sauce Studio. Dan emphasizes making video simple (though not necessarily easy) and focuses on the psychological aspects of camera confidence.—CONNECT WITH DAN: Website: danhaslinks.com—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:• The psychological barriers to camera confidence and how to overcome them• Dan's "85% rule" - how most of video success is giving yourself permission to be great• The "Four Horsemen of Fear": fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of uncertainty, and fear of success• How video acts as "the ultimate mirror" that forces creators to confront themselves• The importance of authenticity versus creating a persona• Both hosts' personal journeys from difficult backgrounds to entrepreneurial success• Craftsmanship and taking pride in your work, whatever that work may be• The power of tactical vulnerability in building audience connection• How entrepreneurs often face their biggest personal growth challenges through building businesses—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro02:57 The Tech Debt Problem10:51 Why Authenticity Beats Perfection17:51 The Psychology of Camera Confidence24:38 The Four Horsemen of Fear30:32 Growing Up Poor and Becoming a First-Generation Entrepreneur46:15 Dan’s 85% Rule for Winning on Camera50:57 Why Video is the Ultimate Mirror54:11 Navigating Imposter Syndrome1:14:38 The Lost Art of Craftsmanship1:33:30 Tactical Vulnerability1:51:27 The Lazy Authenticity Method1:59:45 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: