EP 042: From Wilderness Survival to Filmmaking to Founding Callings.ai: A Candid Conversation on Resilience, Creative Grit, and How AI Can Help Job Seekers Take Back Control
Description
In this thought-provoking episode of Dream Plan Execute, host Ramon Parchment welcomes Garrett Rice, the Co-Founder and CEO of Callings.ai, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on the evolving nature of work, creativity, and career resilience.
Garrett’s story is anything but conventional. Before stepping into the tech startup world, he trained in wilderness survival, worked as a filmmaker, and led product innovation teams at companies like Apple and Maxon. Each chapter of his career sharpened his ability to adapt, communicate, and create—with a throughline of storytelling, strategy, and purpose.
Now, as the founder of Callings.ai, Garrett is on a mission to modernize the job search experience using artificial intelligence. He shares how the platform was born out of frustration—recognizing that today's job seekers juggle a dozen different tools while navigating opaque hiring processes and algorithm-driven gatekeepers. His solution? A unified platform that helps people personalize their resumes, track their job applications like a sales funnel, prepare for interviews, and build a professional brand—all in one place.
Throughout the episode, Garrett dives into his core beliefs around career growth, including why job seekers need to iterate like product designers, the rising importance of authentic networking, and how to overcome the fear of rejection that keeps so many from reaching out. He also discusses how skills like storytelling—often viewed as niche—are actually central to success in both creative and technical fields.
Whether you're just starting your career, pivoting into a new field, or building your own venture, Garrett’s insights offer a grounded and energizing perspective on how to navigate uncertainty and design your career with intention.
💡 Key Topics We Cover:
How wilderness survival taught Garrett adaptability, self-reliance, and grit
The power of storytelling as a bridge across industries: filmmaking, tech, entrepreneurship
The parallels between screenwriting and product development—why iteration is everything
The rise of AI in hiring and how to stand out in algorithm-heavy job pipelines
Building a “job search funnel” to measure progress and improve your outreach
The myth of specialization—why today’s market favors agile, multi-skilled professionals
Letting go of fear, perfectionism, and external validation in pursuit of meaningful work
How Callings.ai is reshaping how people find, track, and apply for jobs
United States
