Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo

Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo

Jay Acunzo

An inside look at the unconventional choices of quality-obsessed creators – and the memorable things they made as a result. It's a show about trusting your intuition and your craft more than best practices and blueprints. Since 2016, Unthinkable has inspired creators to ship more personal, powerful work. In the era of AI and endless commodity content, that type of work is now urgent. Hosted by Jay Acunzo, founder of the Creator Kitchen.

Bonus - How Stories Happen #3 - Ann Handley, Bestselling Author

Bonus - How Stories Happen #3 - Ann Handley, Bestselling Author

🟢  Dear Unthinkable listener: Thank you SO much for your support over the years! I invite you to find and follow the new show, How Stories Happen, in your preferred podcast player in just 2 taps right here:https://episodes.fm/1736586770Every episode, an expert, entrepreneur, creator, or communicator dissects a single story or draft piece by piece. Hear how they found it, how they developed it, how it might improve, and how they're using it to build their business and leave their legacy.You'll w

Jun 6, 2024 • 48:43

How Stories Happen #1: "The only way to figure out a story is to tell it"

How Stories Happen #1: "The only way to figure out a story is to tell it"

🟢  Dear Unthinkable listener: Thank you SO much for your support over the years! I invite you to find and follow the new show, How Stories Happen, in your preferred podcast player in just 2 taps right here:https://episodes.fm/1736586770Every episode, an expert, entrepreneur, creator, or communicator dissects a single story or draft piece by piece. Hear how they found it, how they developed it, how it might improve, and how they're using it to build their business and leave their legacy.You'll w

May 6, 2024 • 50:10

Keep Making What Matters | Follow My New Show, How Stories Happen

Keep Making What Matters | Follow My New Show, How Stories Happen

Find and follow How Stories Happen in your favorite podcast player, or visit howstorieshappen.com to learn more about the show and find the appropriate link for you.Every episode of the show, we’re dissecting stories and drafts with incredible storytellers to understand how they found their ideas, how they developed their work, and how they’re using their stories to build their business and leave their legacy.You’ll walk away ready to differentiate on the impact of your ideas, not the volume of

Mar 29, 2024 • 24:19

Going Streaking: the Relationship Between Creative Ambition, Quality, and Consistency

Going Streaking: the Relationship Between Creative Ambition, Quality, and Consistency

Why do we constantly underestimate how long something will take in the short-term? In other words, we tend to over-estimate just how much we can achieve right now. Then, when we think long term, the reverse tends to happen: we actually UNDER-estimate what we're capable of achieving over time. Today, we want to know more about the promise of a popular trend, the creative streak, and whether they can help us overcome our constant battle with planning our time and achieving something greater.This w

Feb 26, 2024 • 49:17

How to Find Great Stories

How to Find Great Stories

As Ira Glass said, "Great stories happen to those who can tell them." This idea says everything we need to know to develop stronger stories in our work, so we can stand out easier and resonate deeper.But we're asking the wrong questions and searching in the wrong places. Let's rethink some things together...For the full transcript of this episode, read the original article.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:💌 Playing Favorites is the newsletter from Jay about resonance, storytelling, differentiatio

Feb 7, 2024 • 16:15

The Difference Between Forgettable and Favorite

The Difference Between Forgettable and Favorite

The story of a surprisingly dynamic and captivating idea from a (sometimes) bland and boring space -- and what we can learn about crafting more resonant work.What does it look like when an organization, project, or individual’s work resonates so deeply that they have passionate fans and loyal followers who declare them a favorite? This week we start in the sometimes bland, boring space of team training software and follow the story of a surprisingly dynamic, brilliant and captivating idea from 3

Jan 29, 2024 • 54:58

Be Honest | One-Shot #26

Be Honest | One-Shot #26

No matter your craft, when you develop an idea, a project, or a key moment within a piece, the power of what you're sharing tends to start with the same question:Can you be more honest with yourself?In this one-shot episode, a dense dose of a single idea that can help us become stronger storytellers and produce higher-impact content, so we can get off the hamster wheel and produce more work that actually works. Plus, the backstory of a high-stakes moment when this question was put to the test.**

Jan 18, 2024 • 16:17

Create to Find Your Answers (Overcoming the Gap)

Create to Find Your Answers (Overcoming the Gap)

We want to make things that matter. To our careers, companies, and communities. When THAT is our aim and THAT is our driving belief, and yet our work comes out feeling like THIS? The way it is right now? Oof, that can cause all kinds of existential crises or at least panic-induced researching and debating and analyzing and asking.It's time to get to the next rep. It's time to cross the gap.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:💌 Playing Favorites is the newsletter from Jay about resonance, storytellin

Jan 10, 2024 • 38:10

Create to Find Your Answers

Create to Find Your Answers

We want to make things that matter. To our careers, companies, and communities. When THAT is our aim and THAT is our driving belief, and yet our work comes out feeling like THIS? The way it is right now? Oof, that can cause all kinds of existential crises or at least panic-induced researching and debating and analyzing and asking.It's time to get to the next rep. It's time to cross the gap.***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:💌 Playing Favorites is the newsletter from Jay about resonance, storytellin

Jan 10, 2024 • 39:24

Twas the Night Before Launching (2023)

Twas the Night Before Launching (2023)

Have a wonderful holiday season and a beautiful start to your 2024! Back in the new year with more...UNTHINKABLE IS TAKING A BREAK -- BUT DON'T UNSUBSCRIBEWe're back with more soon. In the meantime...BECOME A STRONGER STORYTELLER:Subscribe to Jay Acunzo's free newsletter, Playing Favorites, and learn what it takes to stand out easier and resonate deeper by communicating with greater power, everywhere you show up. Join free at  jayacunzo.com.Join the Creator Kitchen, a mastermind of smart experts

Dec 18, 2023 • 4:36

Signature Stories: Jay Baer

Signature Stories: Jay Baer

Signature Stories is a miniseries where world-class business storytellers take us inside one important story and dissect it with us. It's like Song Exploder meets storytelling for our work! In our sixth and final episode of the series, bestselling author and Hall of Fame keynote speaker Jay Baer brings one of his oldest, most proven stories to the show -- and we learn the two habits most driving effective storytellers like Jay. And also Jay. Both Jays. (There are two Jays on this episode, is wha

Nov 20, 2023 • 52:03

Signature Stories: Simone Stolzoff

Signature Stories: Simone Stolzoff

Signature Stories is a miniseries where world-class business storytellers take us inside one important story and dissect it with us. It's like Song Exploder meets storytelling for our work! In our fifth episode of the series, a globetrotting, bestselling, keynote-giving, smart-opinion-having, big-idea-distributing author takes us inside what was ultimately a tiny moment in his life that sparked all that "big" stuff.  Simone Stolzoff is the author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work

Nov 13, 2023 • 43:44

Fighting Endless AI Junk

Fighting Endless AI Junk

We interrupt the current series to bring you this message.Find and share this rant in essay form.Subscribe to Jay's free newsletter to become a stronger storyteller. (Sent every other Friday, these essays help you get off the content hamster wheel, escape social feeds, and get the perspective and frameworks you need to write and speak with greater impact, everywhere you show up).Recommended resources to help you do the work AI can't:The Idea Impact Matrix: how to craft more valuable, original wo

Nov 6, 2023 • 16:50

Signature Stories: Amanda Natividad

Signature Stories: Amanda Natividad

In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Natividad, the VP of marketing at SparkToro, who shares a story about the time she met her marketing hero: her now-boss, Rand Fishkin. Amanda is a former tech journalist and also a former test kitchen cook for the LA Times. She writes the newsletter The Menu which includes marketing advice and delicious recipes (for actual food, not marketing). And she takes us inside three different drafts for potential intros of this signature story, where we learn about

Oct 18, 2023 • 42:39

Signature Stories: Jenny Blake

Signature Stories: Jenny Blake

Up next in Signature Stories, we're joined by Jenny Blake, author, speaker and podcaster. She's written three books and hosts the wildly popular podcasts "Free Time" and "Pivot." Jenny sits down with Jay to share a story about a walk with her dog. Jay and Jenny unpack how we can pull out moments of meaning from a small interaction, and how to reshape a story for an audio-only medium versus video. Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuabl

Sep 25, 2023 • 44:31

Signature Stories: Michael Bungay Stanier

Signature Stories: Michael Bungay Stanier

Up next in Signature Stories, we're joined by Michael Bungay Stanier, speaker, coach and author of the wildly popular book "The Coaching Habit" and the brand new book, "How to Work with (Almost) Anyone." Michael sits down with Jay to share a story about a very bad job. Jay and MBS dive into how to use open loops, comedy in storytelling, and crafting tiny stories to create a sense of safety for your audience -- plus, they add some seasoning to the main ingredients of Michael's story to make it ta

Sep 11, 2023 • 42:42

Signature Stories: Melanie Deziel

Signature Stories: Melanie Deziel

Up first in this mini-series, Creator Kitchen co-founder and author Melanie Deziel sits down with Jay to share a story about her time as the first-ever editor of branded content at the New York Times. Jay and Mel dive into the messy reality of crafting resonant narratives -- and using them to serve an audience and build your business.Throughout this series, we'll learn from how inspiring creators and experts craft their most valuable, most original stories that build connection and resonate deep

Aug 28, 2023 • 43:13

Tasty | One-Shot #25

Tasty | One-Shot #25

What is taste? And once we understand it, how do we use our own taste? In this one-shot, Jay dives into they days before dating apps to find Bryan Cranston and how he shows us the brilliance of having taste, and how he used it in all the work he did. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to

Aug 14, 2023 • 17:47

Writer’s Block (Maker Monsters 4)

Writer’s Block (Maker Monsters 4)

Writing matters... a lot. You don't need us to tell you that. But what happens when you feel like you can't write? Yes, on this episode we're talking about writers' block - what it feels like, how it shows up, and how we can tackle it once and for all. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting mo

Jul 31, 2023 • 35:28

Fun with Formats

Fun with Formats

Today, why formats matter so much. If you want to get listeners stay engaged, for readers to finish an article, to resonate deeply and make work that matters, then we need to focus on formats. In this episode, we focus on why formats matter so much, how you can search them out for yourself and craft your own to hook an audience and get them to the end.We’re joined by the most format-obsessed person out there: Hugh Garry, co-founder of Storythings. Hugh and his team write the newsletter, Formats

Jul 13, 2023 • 39:43

How to Define Quality | One-Shot #24

How to Define Quality | One-Shot #24

How you define quality is contextual, it's in the eyes of the beholder. In this one-shot, Jay breaks down the three questions we each need to ask to define quality - Who is it for? What is it for? How will I know if it's working? - and then shares the two habits that can help us to create quality content. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framework from Jay

Jun 19, 2023 • 17:05

Speakeasy Business

Speakeasy Business

In marketing today, there's the widely used, noisy way to market yourself and your business, but then, just maybe, there's a calmer, quieter, perhaps more effective way.Stories from one of the world's most surprising speakeasy lounges, based in London, as well as one of Jay's favorite marketers who doesn't show up much publicly -- least of all on social media -- yet has found a way to build a business which is in-demand and even overbooked. (Now that sounds pretty unthinkable.)In this episode: s

Jun 5, 2023 • 45:53

Beware this Storytelling Advice| One-Shot #23

Beware this Storytelling Advice| One-Shot #23

A list of steps isn't helpful if you're facing the wrong way. That's why in this one-shot, we try to pivot the right way... as it relates to story. Jay unpacks three common misconceptions about how we understand story and why it's actually more important to understand how to be storytellers than to understand story. ***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1.  Learn more about Jay's 1:1 coaching and collaboration: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creators2. Get a new story/framewo

May 22, 2023 • 18:05

MINI-Series: Copywriting with Margo Aaron

MINI-Series: Copywriting with Margo Aaron

In a 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it’s done r

May 10, 2023 • 51:46

You Are Wu-Tang | One-Shot #22

You Are Wu-Tang | One-Shot #22

In 2016, Pharrell Williams dropped by NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to speak to a class. There, he met a young Maggie Rogers and sampled her song "Alaska." His reaction, captured on camera, went viral. This is a relatively known moment on the internet.What's not known is just how the words Pharrell shared and the element he noticed from Maggie's work can be applied to the work we do.In this shorter, monologue episode, we take a closer look.***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new

Apr 24, 2023 • 16:58

In on the Secret

In on the Secret

If you're going to reject conventional thinking and instead trust your intuition, you'll find yourself sharing tons of ideas with others. But this can feel scary, like our ideas are secrets we'd prefer to keep inside. And when someone shoots them down, we assume they just don't "get it."But what if the point of sharing our ideas is NOT to get the approval of others?Today, we go outside our echo chamber with Unthinkable contributor Andrew Littlefield to hear the story of an unusual art project in

Apr 10, 2023 • 23:53

What Do You See When You See an Elephant? | One-Shot #21

What Do You See When You See an Elephant? | One-Shot #21

Any story you find can serve your cause -- if you know how to mold it and change it appropriately to tell it your way, for your specific goals.  Today, the four things we can change in any story we find to tell it better."Better" doesn’t mean more epic or popular. It means more purposeful, more customized to your specific situation and needs — your audience, your goals, your desire to express yourself a certain way, to connect deeper with the world and others around you, and get your creative fi

Mar 27, 2023 • 25:57

Song Exploder Exploder (ft. Hrishikesh Hirway)

Song Exploder Exploder (ft. Hrishikesh Hirway)

Hrishikesh Hirway is a musician and creator/host of the popular podcast Song Exploder. The show has a simple but powerful premise: each episode, a musician breaks apart a single track and, piece by piece, tells the story of how it was made. He's interviewed Madonna, Billie Eilish, Rick Astley, Lorde, U2, Yo-Yo Ma, and plenty of lesser-known artists creating beautiful music. Vulture even called the show "the best use of the podcast medium ever," and in 2020, Song Exploder became a TV show on Netf

Mar 13, 2023 • 50:25

Fine, I'll Talk About AI | One-Shot #20

Fine, I'll Talk About AI | One-Shot #20

In this shorter, monologue episode,  we explore how we arrived at a place where so many creators view AI tools like ChatGPT at a killer robot coming to beat down their doors and crush them and why we worry that these tools are greater masters of our craft than we are.  We're obsessed with only one part of the craft, and it's the same part AI is getting alarmingly good at owning. What if we focused on the 3 Ps instead? Posture, process, and practice. For a full written version of this episode, re

Feb 9, 2023 • 22:29

Welcome to the Jumble

Welcome to the Jumble

To be driven by creativity is to become a walking, talking collection of contradictions, but one conflicting notion sits at the center of the intertwining thoughts and emotions in our work -- the jumble, if you will. Today, we dive into that jumble to try and find an answer to this mysterious yet ubiquitous contradiction at the core, and it leads us to meet some of our listeners and experience their questions, conundrums, and even their creative work. REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others fi

Dec 8, 2022 • 56:49

The Best Thing to Do Is The Right Thing

The Best Thing to Do Is The Right Thing

For years, the promise of content marketing far exceeded its reality. But more than ever, brands -- even in B2B, the more "boring" cousin to consumer businesses -- are creating content that gives us reason to believe: creativity, community, and capitalism and not only co-exist, but for-profit can be used for-good. Today, the story of In the Works, a publication from the software company Help Scout. We go inside the decisions and the strategy of both the company's CEO and the head of content resp

Nov 15, 2022 • 41:11

How to Write and Speak with Greater Impact | One-Shot #19

How to Write and Speak with Greater Impact | One-Shot #19

In this shorter, monologue episode, we learn from storytellers like Kazuo Ishiguro and Ira Glass just what it takes to speak and write in ways that instill the urge to act in others. Why would anyone pick you or stick with you? Why would they refer you to their peers or friends? What makes something truly resonate beyond simply holding your attention?After all, our jobs as communicators and storytellers isn't to "get in front of" them. It's to ensure they care.In this episode, you'll learn a sim

Oct 19, 2022 • 17:36

Expect the Unexpected

Expect the Unexpected

In this story, we hear from Chris Lavigne, the head of production at video software company, Wistia. His story helps reveal what it really means to build a big, meaningful body of work -- no matter where you work -- and how, maybe, the worst thing you can do is focus on the expectations of others.Instead, what if your entire aim was something else? Paradoxically, focusing there might THEN help you exceed others' expectations with your work.Plus, we go inside the projects that Chris says keep com

Oct 5, 2022 • 42:40

How to Tell Gripping Stories About the Seemingly Mundane | One-Shot #18

How to Tell Gripping Stories About the Seemingly Mundane | One-Shot #18

One-Shots are monologue episodes complementing our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work.Today, we learn how to tell stories about the seemingly mundane details in our lives.For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter:

Sep 21, 2022 • 18:46

Going Bananas

Going Bananas

This story is a surreal, escapist journey into the true story about how the Savannah Bananas became exceptional by being the exception. This minor league baseball team has majorly passionate fans -- with more social media success than some of the biggest teams in the Major Leagues, and a plan to disrupt the MLB itself. This story is told through the ever-optimistic, yellow-tux wearing Jesse Cole, the owner of the team.Not a fan of the sport? No worries. This isn't really a story about baseball.

Aug 31, 2022 • 50:24

An Ode to the Asterisk | One-Shot #17

An Ode to the Asterisk | One-Shot #17

One-Shots are complementary episodes to our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work. As we continue our exploration, we have to stop to appreciate the tiniest mechanic that enables us to tell stories with the biggest impact.The more we master open loops, the more gripping our communication becomes -- and the more we inspire action in others. Isn't that our jobs?REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favor

Aug 25, 2022 • 15:33

Working Bravely

Working Bravely

In this episode of Unthinkable, the story of two marketers and community leaders, Andrew and Pete, of the brand ... Andrew and Pete! They were heading down that now-familiar creator path of digital fame and fortune -- the speaking, the books, the followers -- when they decided to leave that behind. Instead, they've been helping OTHERS conquer fears and make leaps in their small businesses. So often, what we need to see greater results in our business isn't an improvement in productivity. It's no

Aug 9, 2022 • 50:19

Special Episode: Jay on 2 Pages with MBS

Special Episode: Jay on 2 Pages with MBS

Which books have shaped minds & changed lives? 2 Pages with MBS is described as a show where "brilliant people read the best two pages of a favorite book … a book that’s shaped them and changed them. Listen as authors, leaders, activists, academics, entrepreneurs, change agents and celebrities dig into the ideas that matter the most."This is the episode featuring Jay, only lightly edited to replace the intro and outro.It's unlike any other appearance you'll hear. Enjoy!SHARE THE SHOW:Help others

Jul 22, 2022 • 49:25

10 Questions to Ask Creative People | One-Shot #16

10 Questions to Ask Creative People | One-Shot #16

In this One-Shot, a list of better questions to ask others to learn from them (whether you want to hire them or publish their thinking) than the typical conventional wisdom provides us. Interviews are too important to drift through them, unhinging our brains in favor of the basic questions that yield basic answers. We need to dig deeper.We also talk about how to create an inviting, comfortable space for others to share more personally, as well as suggestions for unpacking responses to really ass

Jul 13, 2022 • 23:11

MINI-Series: Sound Design with James T. Green

MINI-Series: Sound Design with James T. Green

In the fourth and final MINI-Series episode, we learn from sound designer, artist, and brilliant documentarian James T. Green about their philosophy and practice around sound design and creation.  James is the founder of the studio Molten Heart, and their work has been heard in 99% Invisible with Roman Mars, The Met, Pop Up Magazine, and more.By unpacking and dissecting small pieces of sound and music from James, we learn the thoughtful, intentional art of sound design and the power that small a

Jun 30, 2022 • 56:11

MINI-Series: Jokes with Matt Buechele (The Tonight Show, Netflix)

MINI-Series: Jokes with Matt Buechele (The Tonight Show, Netflix)

Creativity doesn't mean BIG, and so we're exploring the tiniest pockets of the created work -- small bursts of making, or projects that fit neatly into the  nooks and crannies of the internet.Today, joke writing and comedy songwriting with Matt Buechele. Matt is a writer, musician, and hilarious human who's performed original songs for Netflix commercials and worked as a writer on The Tonight Show, where he wrote jokes and music for the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Matthew McConaughey, and Lin-Manuel

Jun 16, 2022 • 39:37

MINI-Series: Illustration with Haley Weaver (Haley Drew This)

MINI-Series: Illustration with Haley Weaver (Haley Drew This)

Resonating deeply doesn't require us to do anything big or expensive. The MINI-Series explores four types of created work that don't take up much space -- but still carry tons of meaning to those who encounter it. Last episode was about copywriting. This episode: illustration, featuring Haley Weaver of the wildly popular instagram account, Haley Drew This. Together, we unpack some of her seemingly simple but deeply emotional webcomics -- many of which uplift those suffering with their mental wel

May 11, 2022 • 27:10

MINI-Series: Copywriting with Margo Aaron

MINI-Series: Copywriting with Margo Aaron

In a new 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it’s do

May 4, 2022 • 54:33

Maker Monsters

Maker Monsters

Maker monsters often creep in at the least opportune times, drag us backwards, convince us of defeat, fill us with self-doubt, so where do we go from here? And what does that mean for our creative, professional work?We hear from Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast host and producer Lizzie Peabody and poet and keynote speaker, Tucker Bryant, about how their maker monster, perfectionism, creeps into their creative work. We dive into how they conquer, co-exist, or accept defeat with their own internal m

Mar 30, 2022 • 30:52

Announcement from Jay

Announcement from Jay

Learn more about Elevate and apply here: https://jayacunzo.com/accountability-group-for-b2b-marketers-creatorsThe first group begins work April 11.MORE DETAILS:Achieve your creative goals with small working groups of B2B creators and marketers, led personally by me, Jay Acunzo.8 weeks of guided work on your existing, most important projects, with 1:1 and 1:few time with me.Sharpen your ideas, be more creative, and earn more passionate fans and customers.Connect with successful, generous, creativ

Mar 24, 2022 • 3:53

In the Margins | One-Shot #15

In the Margins | One-Shot #15

In this one-shot, Jay reflects on a childhood writing lesson that continues to impact how he approaches his work today.  SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent creators, to marketers and le

Mar 23, 2022 • 14:05

Foster the Signal

Foster the Signal

A story about a writer and entrepreneur with an audacious mission driving the organization he helps lead. Together, cofounder Stew Fortier and his community-led business Foster is helping writers who care about turning their ideas into timeless writing, not viral hits that quickly fade. They're here to fight back against the hollow noise, to develop important ideas from unique voices, crafted into writing that’s meant to resonate deeper, even as the internet trends shallow.But to do that kind of

Mar 16, 2022 • 56:32

New Rockstars vs. Conventional Wisdom

New Rockstars vs. Conventional Wisdom

In this episode, we hear from the founder of the media company New Rockstars, Filup Molina, and their first head of operations, Holiday Kinard, about how a small team of creative people operating out of one tiny room established themselves as just part of the viewing experience alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can find New Rockstars on YouTube and become one of their nearly 4M subscribers at https://www.youtube.com/newrockstarsSHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favo

Mar 10, 2022 • 57:57

The Concept: Learned Helplessness

The Concept: Learned Helplessness

In the second installment of The Concept, we learn about the idea of learned helplessness, which causes us to hit our ceilings as creators or even refrain from pursuing an opportunity, never attempt to overcome a challenge, or simply avoid asking for help.  We learn how learned helplessness forms in the brain -- and what it DOES to our brain -- through two experiments involving both dogs and humans. Then, we learn about the three parameters of how we explain the world to ourselves and how we can

Mar 2, 2022 • 41:02

Nothing Is Boring (And You Can Too)

Nothing Is Boring (And You Can Too)

Patrick Campbell is cofounder and CEO of the software company ProfitWell, which sells tools to help subscription businesses (SaaS and DTC) reduce cancellations and optimize pricing and ultimately earn more revenue.Their media team -- a small group of about 6 full-time employees and a few freelancers -- has been setting the B2B marketing world on fire of late, as they've created 11 original series in audio and video form, plus dozens of other projects.The thing is, these projects don't feel much

Feb 23, 2022 • 47:38

Smell Like You Mean It

Smell Like You Mean It

Suzy Batiz calls herself CEO to more conservative crowds, but PEO to everyone else. To define PEO, however, would be to make more than a few people blush. The Poo Executive Officer.Suzy is the founder of Poo-Pourri, a toilet spray that solves the problem of bathroom smells in a way that runs counter to conventional thinking. But more than the hilarious branding and advertising (and there's plenty of that, as we hear in this episode), Suzy and her company showcase the power of something called Fi

Feb 9, 2022 • 38:50

What You Need to Know About Rocky | One-Shot #14

What You Need to Know About Rocky | One-Shot #14

In this one-shot, Jay unpacks one of Rocky’s most iconic scenes to better understand how we can approach our own constraints and begin to use them to our advantage.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers, an

Feb 2, 2022 • 16:59

The Concept: Telic

The Concept: Telic

In the first installment of The Concept, we learn about telic and its opposite, paratelic. These ideas inform our own internal motivations -- or that of our teams -- and they can radically change the results we see from our work.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thou

Jan 26, 2022 • 50:32

The Battle for the Soul of the Internet

The Battle for the Soul of the Internet

Today, we hear the story of Patreon, as told by cofounder and CEO Jack Conte. More pressing for our purposes as makers, however, is the driving belief Jack shares which is the beating heart of the creator economy -- or should be.There's a coming fork in the road we'll face if we want to create for a living and thrive. The decision is embedded into the very name of the movement: creator economy. I think the pendulum has swung too far towards the economy part, and we need to remember what this is

Jan 19, 2022 • 26:49

Every List is a Lie | One-Shot #13

Every List is a Lie | One-Shot #13

In this one-shot, we unpack how we can become more discerning about the real intent behind lists. Jay walks us through a very special ingredient list for his mom’s famous green bean casserole to give us a real-life example of how sneaky lists can be.  SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting mor

Jan 12, 2022 • 19:22

Going Bananas

Going Bananas

It’s a team that borders on a circus, bucks baseball traditionalists, and is unapologetically authentic. It’s a team that deeply resonates with fans both near and far, whose players go through “Fan First U” to join the team, and then try all kinds of atypical things to entertain fans -- sometimes off the field, and often, on it.What’s the difference between a fan and a customer? Why should baseball's walks be sprints? From dancing grandmas to babies in banana gear, hiring people using "future re

Jan 5, 2022 • 47:47

Resonance Revisited with Jay Clouse

Resonance Revisited with Jay Clouse

What does it take to create work that resonates? This week, Jay unpacks his framing of resonance - why it matters, why we should prioritize it, and how to build it - with one of his creative sparring partners, Jay Clouse. From dissecting how competition comes into play to analyzing how it differs from reach, they look at resonance from all angles. It’s a raw, messy, and unfiltered conversation that gives listeners a behind the scenes look at being an investigator in our own daily work. SHARE THE

Dec 29, 2021 • 58:24

My Weekly Constraint | One-Shot #12

My Weekly Constraint | One-Shot #12

Every week Jay waits until the last minute to write his weekly newsletter, why?  In this short episode, Jay unpacks why he puts a weekly constraint on himself and how that has served as a tactic to wrestle with, dance with, and address his persistent maker monster. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework fo

Dec 22, 2021 • 13:08

One Person, Ten Million Times

One Person, Ten Million Times

We often hear one word used to describe a person or team that's built something big: empire. They've built a business empire.For Chris Sharpe and Adriene Mishler, the idea might have applied ... but only at first. Chris (as CEO of YWA's company, Find What Feels Good) and Adriene (as the performer and personality) co-founded something that did expand in such a way that it felt empire-bound.But then they decided to make a switch.The reason why can be found hidden in how they speak to their audienc

Dec 16, 2021 • 48:14

Maker Monsters 3

Maker Monsters 3

No matter how new or experienced we are at the craft, inevitably, we face maker monsters -- these internal barriers that hold us down and prevent us from doing our best work. These aren't external factors like budget, time, team, or tools. Instead, they sound like imposter syndrome or fear of rejection or procrastination.Today, we explore the fear of being unoriginal. In the working world, that might sound like "differentiation." Regardless of how it shows up, all we can do is learn to confront

Dec 8, 2021 • 44:11

I Feel Seen

I Feel Seen

What does it look like when an organization, project, or individual’s work resonates so deeply that they have passionate fans and loyal followers who declare them a favorite? This week we start in the sometimes bland, boring space of team training software and follow the story of a surprisingly dynamic, brilliant and captivating idea from 360Learning -- an original series called Onboarding Joei. This short docuseries follows Joei Chan, a new employee, as she navigates her first 3 months on the j

Dec 1, 2021 • 59:15

The Science of Resonance | One-Shot #11

The Science of Resonance | One-Shot #11

What does resonance really mean? In this short episode, we explore the science of resonance and how understanding the definition of the word can help us to focus on making content that matters. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from

Nov 10, 2021 • 13:59

Maker Monsters 2

Maker Monsters 2

In this episode, we follow multimedia journalist Natalia Aldana, organizer and artist Aisha White, podcaster and indie creator Jay Clouse, and we hear from marketing legend Joe Pulizzi as they (and me, Jay Acunzo) learn to navigate how these maker monsters attempt to take hostage their (and our) sense of self worth. So many of us conflate our professional success with personal worth, so what happens when we don’t believe in ourselves or  we are paralyzed by potential rejection? And how can we al

Oct 27, 2021 • 34:20

The Thing About Art | One-Shot #10

The Thing About Art | One-Shot #10

The word "art" is often misunderstood, especially by those who don't consider themselves artists. But make no mistake, if you're in the change business, you're in the art business. In this episode, a short but inspiring look at how.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jaySUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to t

Oct 20, 2021 • 11:18

Leaving Expertville

Leaving Expertville

So many of us focus on becoming an expert in our professional field. But what if instead, we wanted to become visionaries? Not THAT kind of visionary, mind you -- the over-hyped media machines that become the business world equivalents of the Kardashians. But instead, a type of useful, practical, attainable, and much-needed visionary. On this episode we begin to unpack what it means to be a visionary. We learn about the “Quest Matrix,” and we begin to chart a path away from Expertville toward so

Oct 14, 2021 • 55:08

How to Resonate | One-Shot #9

How to Resonate | One-Shot #9

It's time for another one-shot -- a short-form, monologue episode sharing short stories, metaphors, and frameworks from my perspective to complement the longer-form stories about others that we share every other week.In this one, I answer a crucial question -- some might say mission critical to all our careers.Then, I detail why my answer to the question is extremely, laughably biased, and why we all face that same bias when others make decisions involving our work.What does it take to resonate?

Oct 7, 2021 • 19:35

Going Streaking

Going Streaking

Why do we constantly underestimate how long something will take in the short-term? In other words, we tend to over-estimate just how much we can achieve right now. Then, when we think long term, the reverse tends to happen: we actually UNDER-estimate what we're capable of achieving over time. Today, we want to know more about the promise of a popular trend, the creative streak, and whether they can help us overcome our constant battle with planning our time and achieving something greater.This w

Sep 30, 2021 • 51:40

Stealing Shots | One-Shot #8

Stealing Shots | One-Shot #8

In  2019, I helped develop, write, and direct a business docuseries called Against the Grain, which I also hosted. You can find that series at helpscout.com/atg. We told three stories of teams rethinking what success in business looks like.It was epic. But the budget ... was not. It was a lean production, with a small budget and small team. In talking to others in documentary production, they were amazed to hear how we produced THAT series with THOSE resources. What helped was a technique known

Sep 22, 2021 • 12:22

Maker Monsters

Maker Monsters

Maker monsters often creep in at the least opportune times, drag us backwards, convince us of defeat, fill us with self-doubt, so where do we go from here?  And what does that mean for our creative, professional work? We hear from Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast host and producer Lizzie Peabody and poet and keynote speaker, Tucker Bryant, about how their maker monster, perfectionism, creeps into their creative work. We dive into how they conquer, co-exist, or accept defeat with their own internal

Sep 15, 2021 • 32:04

The Worst Advice Ever | One-Shot #7

The Worst Advice Ever | One-Shot #7

What's the worst advice you've ever received? Can you recall?Mine happened in my mid-20s. I'd just been hired to lead a team for the first time. I found myself in my first purely managerial role ... and I was miserable.Trying to salvage my schedule and my career, I marched into my boss's office and declared, "I'm not doing my best work here." What followed was the worst advice I've ever received. But here's the thing: at the time, I thought it was GREAT.I was wrong.Maybe we all are.*   *   *KEEP

Sep 1, 2021 • 11:18

The Beginner's Mindset

The Beginner's Mindset

We hear from education entrepreneur and former urban designer Saba Ghole, whose own education journey has led her to rethink and rebuild how we can teach young people. She cofounded NuVu Studio, creating an educational space for imagination and innovation to help build creative, critical thinkers and problem solvers. Writer and researcher Molly Donovan dives into the messiness that is growing up, learning to judge and chasing being right. She explores how we can start dismantling that need and i

Aug 25, 2021 • 39:44

This Is Your Brain on Mushrooms | One-Shot #6

This Is Your Brain on Mushrooms | One-Shot #6

I used to think I somehow escaped the clutches of imposter syndrome. Oh, the ego in that statement. Surprise, surprise, I was wrong.My imposter syndrome grips me as a writer, a podcaster, a speaker, and a creator-of-things-that-people-are-supposed-to-enjoyer.  It's the worst when I face gatekeepers -- people like editors or publishers who decide whether or not someone is worthy of coming onto their platform or working with their service.Most of us face some flavor of imposter syndrome, and it ca

Aug 18, 2021 • 15:44

Get Together and Feel Alright

Get Together and Feel Alright

The company Museum Hack, founded by Nick Gray, was at one point a promising new startup. It helped reinvent and reinvigorate a stale museum experience. It lured people out of their homes, away from their screens, and into groups of people. There, connection happened. Learning. Inspiration. And another concept, pulled from Dutch culture, known as "gezellig." As I re-air this story, we're in the midst of the pandemic. (Again? Still?) The Delta variant is raging. People are making foolish, selfish

Aug 11, 2021 • 46:46

How I Push Through My Own BS | One-Shot #5

How I Push Through My Own BS | One-Shot #5

As creative people, how we see the world changes how we think about it which changes how we communicate which changes how we resonate which changes the results we see.Want to change you results? Start at the beginning. Consider changing, or at least thinking critically about, how you see the world. It's not often a tiny tactic or hidden marketing channel or technology that's needed. It's something far more transformative, but it needn't be difficult to grasp.(PS: Thanks to everyone who shared fe

Aug 4, 2021 • 9:16

Recovery

Recovery

On the show, we keep talking about the importance of reaching that next rep of your creative process consistently, faster, and better, but often, those ideas are in conflict. Often, we shouldn't move to the next iteration or project quickly.  Then there are other times where taking a break is actually a form of hiding. We want the perfect conditions or the Muse to visit us.How do we spot the difference? How do we know whether we should just keep showing up, shipping the work, putting in the reps

Jul 29, 2021 • 55:27

An Untapped Creative Superpower | One-Shot #4

An Untapped Creative Superpower | One-Shot #4

This week, another "One-Shot." These are my short-form, experimental episodes, where I read a short written piece for you, covering an observation I've made or story I've experienced firsthand. Whereas my main episodes share stories from the perspectives of others, these shorts are from my perspective alone.It's all part of the journey we're on to understand how to avoid stagnation, keep improving, and ultimately reach that next rep of the creative process consistently and better.In this one, we

Jul 15, 2021 • 8:57

Creative Elements

Creative Elements

While I'm on vacation, I wanted to ensure I shared something special. Jay Clouse's show, Creative Elements, is among my favorite interview podcasts about creativity and building a career as a content entrepreneur and artist online today.Jay asks me about...My experiences as a sports journalist and sports PR intern at ESPN and elsewhere, before getting into marketing.How I think about and develop stories.Why I aspire to be the Anthony Bourdain of workplace storytelling.How I structure and schedul

Jul 1, 2021 • 59:13

Maybe Don't Be Like Mike

Maybe Don't Be Like Mike

Alex Cook's obsessions are ever-changing, from growing and farming mushrooms to men's haircare products to riding Fat bikes on the beach ... to investigating family mysteries involving his grandfather, a dog, and an old wooden chest full of clues.All of this led Alex to create his company, NanaGram. It's the most rewarding app you'll ever use (full disclosure: I'm a longtime customer). THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:Max Yoder, CEO of Lessonly. Check out his book: https://dobetterwork.c

Jun 24, 2021 • 34:35

3 Phases of Storytelling Skills | One-Shot #3

3 Phases of Storytelling Skills | One-Shot #3

The stories that inspire us and move others to action don't often feel within our grasp. Maybe we think it's about budget, or more time, or even more team. But so often, creativity is about resourcefulness, not resources. This applies squarely to storytelling.In fact, if we just learned (or re-learned) what a "story" really is, we might better equip ourselves to tell great stories.Stories require one ingredient above all others: tension.Want to evolve and improve as a storyteller? Master the use

Jun 16, 2021 • 19:00

Thank Dog

Thank Dog

Alex Cook's obsessions are ever-changing, from growing and farming mushrooms to men's haircare products to riding Fat bikes on the beach ... to investigating family mysteries involving his grandfather, a dog, and an old wooden chest full of clues.All of this led Alex to create his company, NanaGram. It's the most rewarding app you'll ever use (full disclosure: I'm a longtime customer). THANKS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EPISODE:Alex Cook: https://twitter.com/aacookNanaGram: https://nanagram.co/ SU

Jun 8, 2021 • 42:05

What's Your Waggle? | One-Shot #2

What's Your Waggle? | One-Shot #2

In a new monologue story, we try to understand how to bring greater focus and our own unique form to our creative work more consistently. After all, being a professional creator means showing up even when we don't feel amazing in order to tinker, draft, and ship.We need to bring our focus and our form to our work upon command. How do we do that? We look to an unexpected source of inspiration. FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find a

May 26, 2021 • 12:19

Creative Reps

Creative Reps

In a new story, we try to understand what the heck a "rep" is in creative work, so we can reach our next rep faster, better, and more consistently. We hear the story of visual artist Matthew Zaremba and learn more about reps from Grammy-nominated music educator and CrossFit coach Kevin Mazzarella.  FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletter COMMU

May 20, 2021 • 55:23

A New Experiment: One-Shots (#1: Making Bad)

A New Experiment: One-Shots (#1: Making Bad)

In this episode, I experiment with something I'm calling "One-Shots."In this particular One-Shot, "making bad" -- what creative people we admire seem to have in common. FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites shares one new story every Friday morning that you can't find anywhere else, focused on creating work that matters. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com/newsletterCOMMUNITY FOR CREATORS:$13/month makes you a supporter of this show, with bonus content shared monthly. Or you can become a full-blown me

Apr 29, 2021 • 16:12

The Gap

The Gap

Every creative person is trying to make what matters. The projects and jobs they pursue, the bosses or clients they like or dislike, and the works they admire -- it all comes back to that one idea. Not "rank #1" or "drive massive growth."Make. What Matters.I believe everyone has what it takes to make what matters, but we often stop or stagnate in our creative process. So what do prolific, thriving, ever-improving creators have in common? What does a healthy body of work require to create? Well,

Apr 23, 2021 • 39:48

Experts vs. Explorers

Experts vs. Explorers

Your knowledge is finite. Your curiosity is infinite. So why, oh why, do we usually rely more  on our existing knowledge than our boundless curiosity? We live in a society that seems to value the ability to have the answers, but the path to making work that matters just might mean admitting, "I don't have the answers, but I'm going to figure this out."What if we stopped acting like experts and started acting like ... well ... something else?In this episode, we hear stories from keynote speaker A

Apr 6, 2021 • 54:25

Voices

Voices

In this episode, the story of Lisa Schneider, (former) Chief Digital Officer at Merriam-Webster, and their award-winning, President-trolling, brilliant and witty Twitter account, social media presence, and dictionary brand -- yes, a beloved dictionary brand. Their success started with a simple aspiration that threw into question the most accepted approach to their marketing work. It all ended in a very personal place for the team. Meanwhile, story producer Andrew Littlefield goes exploring in Ne

Mar 23, 2021 • 27:46

Sarah Cooper Time Machine

Sarah Cooper Time Machine

Standup comedian and comedy writer Sarah Cooper's rise to mainstream fame feels inevitable. Looking at her 2020, she was one of the biggest stories in entertainment and the creator economy more broadly. It started when her nephew turned her onto TikTok, and it's there where she went viral. She filmed herself in her apartment doing lip-sync videos of Donald Trump speeches and media appearances. Her popularity doing these didn't stop at TikTok, either. The surge in fame spilled across social media

Mar 9, 2021 • 23:10

Break the Wheel (ft. Tim Urban, Wait But Why)

Break the Wheel (ft. Tim Urban, Wait But Why)

Tim Urban writes a blog about ... well ... lots of stuff. Understanding ourselves and our relationship to each other and the world, maybe? From making friends to exploring space, cultural and societal forces to neuroscience breakthroughs ... all packaged as brilliant, entertaining, and sarcastic essays. Tim Urban has written about it all.But like any exceptional project or career, Tim's is not one that reveals any singular secret to success. In fact, it just might be the millions of "secrets to

Feb 24, 2021 • 44:42

Unthinkable's Next Focus

Unthinkable's Next Focus

Fundamentally, Unthinkable is a podcast about creativity -- creativity at work, creativity used to enact change, and creativity as a form of practice, improvement, and exploration. For several years, the show focused on one problem, one source of frustration: our obsession with best practices, and all the problems that causes. So we set out to change how we all see the work. Now, we're embarking on a new adventure -- to change how we see ourselves.Let's stop acting like experts and start acting

Feb 8, 2021 • 11:33

Gravy (a Relevant, Cathartic Story for Right Now)

Gravy (a Relevant, Cathartic Story for Right Now)

How does your intent for your work change your results? If your goal is to build something big, does that increase the odds of succeeding? Why, then, do so many stories about huge successes start out the same way: with a shrug, and a quick, "I just wanted to brew some beer." ? Today, we explore the story of The Alchemist, makers of the industry sensation, Heady Topper. And we hear about a brutal setback they didn’t control, and how they rebounded stronger than ever  -- -- -- If you like these st

May 6, 2020 • 31:50

What Is That?

What Is That?

Plus, a story about a legendary warrior's ship, and mind-bender about what makes this podcast THIS podcast -- or any podcast, or shirt, or pizza, or book...---If you like these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Get my weekly email for podcasters exploring what it might take for you to create your audience's FAVORITE show: marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe- Inquire about my keynote speaking (including virtual talks that have been better-produced than webinars, much like this podcast)

Apr 29, 2020 • 0:00

Favorite Things

Favorite Things

Plus, a story about pizza, and a new show format we're trying as we re-launch Unthinkable during a rather odd and trying time in the global conscience. ---If you like these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote speaking (including virtual talks that have been better-produced than webinars, much like this podcast) for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas each week on creativity, finding your voice, and q

Apr 7, 2020 • 0:00

Seasonish 6ish Trailerish

Seasonish 6ish Trailerish

In the meantime, if you'd like to join me, fellow makers and marketers, and some special guests to get re-inspired to make stuff, join us every Tuesday, 1:30pm Eastern, for the 1-Star Club. It's on Instagram Live: instagram.com/jacunzoIt's all about creative catharsis and community, deconstructing the creative process, and hanging out with special guests and friends.Stay tuned for future episodes of Unthinkable, stop by the IG Live on Tuesdays, 1:30 Eastern, or say hi on Twitter (twitter.com/jay

Apr 1, 2020 • 0:00

Best of Unthinkable: Resonance over Reach, ft. Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon

Best of Unthinkable: Resonance over Reach, ft. Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon

Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon, has some firm beliefs about making stuff on the internet -- namely, that the economics simply don't reward great, quality, resonant, service-minded creators. Thus, the sensationalism and clickbait and algorithm-gamers win out. But that trend is changing, with Jack's company helping lead the charge. This episode goes deep inside some rather cathartic ideas for creators. Enjoy!---If you like these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote spe

Mar 11, 2020 • 19:30

I Made It: Gibi ASMR on the Upside & Downside of YouTube Fame

I Made It: Gibi ASMR on the Upside & Downside of YouTube Fame

Gibi can't use her real name publicly, at least not anymore. Yet her work on YouTube is her calling, it's her everything. Despite the harassment and public criticism for what might ultimately be something rather mundane and sometimes rather wonderful, Gibi persists. Why? And what is the project that most embodies this double-edged sword of her work? She takes us inside its making. Whether you love video, or just love makin' stuff, there's something in this episode for all creators.If you enjoy t

Mar 4, 2020 • 42:48

Best of Unthinkable: Grado Shouldn't Exist (It's Thriving)

Best of Unthinkable: Grado Shouldn't Exist (It's Thriving)

This is the story of a company which, by today's typical business standards and best practices, shouldn't exist. They're the perfect example of why there is no ONE right way in this work we do. We visit them live and in-person and discover some rather surprising things.---If you enjoy these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote speaking for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas on creativity, finding you

Feb 26, 2020 • 30:55

3 Clips: The Cathartic Creative Journey of Neil Pasricha's 3 Books

3 Clips: The Cathartic Creative Journey of Neil Pasricha's 3 Books

The podcast 3 Books was selected by Apple Podcasts as a top show in 2018. Neil's journey is audacious and enjoyable: A search for the 1,000 most transformative books in the world. You may have heard interviews before with the likes of Judy Blume, Seth Godin, Malcolm Gladwell, or David Sedaris ... but not like this. Neil keeps it weird, while also making something wonderful and differentiated, all without a big budget.---If you enjoy these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Inquire abou

Feb 19, 2020 • 0:00

Best Of Unthinkable: Constraints and Creativity

Best Of Unthinkable: Constraints and Creativity

We all wish we had the wide open creative field -- total creative freedom. It turns out, however, that creative freedom doesn't work. It may not even exist. Today, two stories about constraints, creativity, and the surprising outcomes of embracing limitations.If you enjoy these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote speaking for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas on creativity, finding your voice, and

Feb 12, 2020 • 27:02

I Made It: Joanna Wiebe Takes Us Inside a Timeless Writing Project

I Made It: Joanna Wiebe Takes Us Inside a Timeless Writing Project

Joanna Wiebe never meant to quit her job and start her business, Copyhackers. In fact, she quit Intuit by accident. Blame the boss, or the wine, or the way Outlook was configured. But don't blame fate. In fact, THANK fate, if you believe in such things, because without Joanna leaving her job all those years ago, thousands of aspiring writers would be worse-off ... and thousands of pages of great writing teaching writing may not exist.If you enjoy these stories, there are a few ways to go deeper:

Feb 5, 2020 • 42:20

Best of Unthinkable: Carving the White Whale

Best of Unthinkable: Carving the White Whale

Today, a classic episode from the Unthinkable archives about Erik Devaney, a writer and content marketer, who goes deep inside the emotions and the amusing tale of carving the white whale.Find Erik's Medium article, referenced in the story, right here.If you enjoy these stories, there are 3 ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote speaking for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas on creativity, finding your voice, and questioning

Jan 30, 2020 • 30:32

BONUS: The Book Writing Process with Ryan Hawk

BONUS: The Book Writing Process with Ryan Hawk

A bonus, behind-the-scenes episode originally aired on the popular podcast, The Learning Leader Show.---Ryan's book, Welcome to Management, is now available on Amazon. You can find his podcast, The Learning Leader Show, on Apple and everywhere you podcast.---If you enjoyed this episode, there are a few ways to go deeper with my work:- Inquire about my keynote speaking for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas on creativity, finding you

Jan 28, 2020 • 1:14:50

3 Clips: The Subtle Genius of Radiolab's Hosts

3 Clips: The Subtle Genius of Radiolab's Hosts

3 Clips is the official podcast of my company, Marketing Showrunners. MSR serves marketers who want to find and share their voice, make a difference, and shift the culture of their industries. We believe the best vehicle for doing this is called a show, so we want to help marketers make their audience's favorite shows. In this episode, we deconstruct an episode of Radiolab called "Memory and Forgetting." If you enjoy these stories, here are a few ways to go deeper:- Subscribe to 3 Clips on Apple

Jan 22, 2020 • 0:00

Best of Unthinkable: The Pike and the Minnow

Best of Unthinkable: The Pike and the Minnow

Today, a classic episode from the Unthinkable archives about InVision, a software company that made a feature film seem less risky than writing more How-To blog posts. If you enjoy these stories, there are 3 ways to go deeper:- Inquire about my keynote speaking for your next event or company meeting at jayacunzo.com- Subscribe to my blog to get a few short ideas on creativity, finding your voice, and questioning best practices: bit.ly/acunzosub- Support what I do by purchasing a copy of my book

Jan 15, 2020 • 39:53

I Made It: Chase Jarvis Deconstructs His Writing Process

I Made It: Chase Jarvis Deconstructs His Writing Process

"I Made It" is the podcast I'm creating together with Podia, which sells tools for creators who run their own businesses, helping them sell things like courses, digital downloads, and membership/paid subscription.In this episode, world-class photographer and the CEO of CreativeLive Chase Jarvis deconstructs a favorite project: his book, Creative Calling.Subscribe to the I Made It feed separately wherever you podcast, or join the newsletter for the show at podia.com/podcastTo work with me, inquir

Jan 8, 2020 • 48:03

Introducing "3 Clips" | Understanding Great Podcasts, a Few Pieces at a Time

Introducing "3 Clips" | Understanding Great Podcasts, a Few Pieces at a Time

Today, the second of two new original podcasts I've been working on: 3 Clips, the official podcast of Marketing Showrunners.SUBSCRIBE TO 3 CLIPS WHEREVER YOU LISTENApple.Overcast.Spotify.Stitcher.On 3 Clips, we make sense of great podcasts, a few little pieces at a time. In this episode, the debut episode of the show, we profile one of marketing's most under-appreciated yet stellar podcasts, talking to the hosts to dig up some hidden creative techniques and ideas.ABOUT MARKETING SHOWRUNNERSAt MS

Dec 17, 2019 • 0:00

Introducing "I Made It" | World-Class Creators Deconstruct 1 Favorite Project

Introducing "I Made It" | World-Class Creators Deconstruct 1 Favorite Project

Announcing the launch of a brand new podcast I'm hosting and writing, "I Made It," the official show of Podia. You can subscribe wherever you listen, but also join our exclusive community at podia.com/podcast -- you'll get exclusive content + invites to join me and Podia CMO Len Markidan on live video calls, discussing creativity, the various creative types of work we all do, and creator businesses.Enjoy the show!

Dec 6, 2019 • 47:03

5 Small Ideas with Big Impact

5 Small Ideas with Big Impact

Today, a reinvented type of episode sharing 5 quick concepts that can help transform your work (or, yanno ... do a little good here and there at least?)-- -- --HELPFUL LINKS:Book Jay to speak: jayacunzo.comRead Marketing Showrunners, the media company Jay founded to help cover and advance the practice of brands making original series: READ or SUBSCRIBE FREE

Nov 12, 2019 • 16:38

The Green Smoothie Problem

The Green Smoothie Problem

When you share an idea and others simply don't get it, what's happening? And how can we be more persuasive in presenting our creative ideas so we can do our best work? Link to subscribe: marketingshowrunners.com/subscribeInquiries about Jay's public speaking appearances: jayacunzo.com or email speaking@unthinkablemedia.comJay's book is available in print, Kindle, and audio forms on Amazon. It's called Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work

Oct 21, 2019 • 27:46

A Small Fiction [Revisited]

A Small Fiction [Revisited]

Today, we revisit an episode from earlier this year while we're between seasons: One of the smallest, but highest-impact, creative projects on the internet.-- -- -- Book Jay to speak at your next event or company meeting: jayacunzo.comLearn more about making an irresistible show for your brand. Visit MarketingShowrunners.com and join free subscribers from Red Bull, Adobe, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Wistia, Roku, the BBC, and more.

Oct 14, 2019 • 40:39

The Stuff Inside [Revisited]

The Stuff Inside [Revisited]

Today, we replay a classic episode from the Unthinkable archives, involving the fastest-growing B2B app of all-time, a TV producer-turned-speaker, and a healthy dose of examining the backwards way we approach content as brands.-- -- -- Book Jay for your next event or company meeting. Visit jayacunzo.comInterested in learning more about making a great show to support your brand? Visit MarketingShowrunners.com, the media company founded by Jay, to read and subscribe for free. You'll be in good com

Oct 7, 2019 • 21:03

Deconstructing the Art of the Interview

Deconstructing the Art of the Interview

In this episode, Ryan Hawk, host of the Learning Leader Show, and Jay Acunzo deconstruct the art of conducting a great interview for shows and in conversation with others. Among other things, we'll explore...-What to do when the other person won't open up.-How to create an environment where others feel they can share their best ideas (i.e. how to cut through the corporate babble)-Deconstructing Ryan's three most challenging interviews: NBA player JJ Redick, filmmaker/screenwriter/TV showrunner B

Sep 30, 2019 • 0:01

Dumb Ways to Die [Revisited]

Dumb Ways to Die [Revisited]

When we dub something a creative smash hit, we often point to the final product, as if their work was neatly contained in this one project. But it's often what happens AFTER something launches that makes it successful. Today, a revisited story about how to build momentum.-- -- --For insights on how to make a great show for your brand, visit MarketingShowrunners.com and join marketing leaders from companies like Red Bull, Roku, Adode, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, Zendesk, the BBC, and more.Fpr in

Sep 24, 2019 • 39:10

How to Reinvent Live Music

How to Reinvent Live Music

A story from Unthinkable producer and Marketing Showrunners staff writer, Tallie Gabriel, about a startup that's gone global with its attempts at reinventing live music, and how they manage to use small changes to create consistent innovation across dozens of cities and hundreds of venues. (Oh, and their venues? Yeah, they aren't technically venues...) Follow @talligator_ and @jayacunzo For speaking inquiries for Jay Acunzo, visit jayacunzo.com Music in this episode partly provided by New York's

Sep 17, 2019 • 36:13

Something Smelly This Way Comes [Revisited]

Something Smelly This Way Comes [Revisited]

When a past story Unthinkable listeners absolutely loved resurfaces in a rather facepalmy way, it's time to listen back to this ridiculous story.For speaking inquiries to have Jay at your next event or company meeting, visit jayacunzo.com or explore his book, Break the Wheel, at jayacunzo.com/book.You can join marketing leaders from brands like Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Zendesk, Wistia, the BBC, Drift, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and more who subscribe to Marketing Showrunners, Jay's o

Sep 11, 2019 • 36:48

What's Next for Unthinkable

What's Next for Unthinkable

A brief look at where we started, where we're at, and where we're going.

Aug 28, 2019 • 0:00

The Man Bun [Revisited]

The Man Bun [Revisited]

Scott looks every part a blacksmith. And while he might not work with any actual metal, he still forges his work with red hot fire. Today, we rerun a classic Unthinkable episode. Join marketing leaders at companies like Red Bull, Roku, Mailchimp, Adobe, Shopify, Salesforce, and the BBC who get my Marketing Showrunners newsletter: One email per month to help marketers make great original series, like podcasts, video shows, and documentaries, to build passionate audiences. Subscribe at marketingsh

Aug 26, 2019 • 30:58

Creative Cafe: We All Write Menus

Creative Cafe: We All Write Menus

Mike Lombardi runs one of the best new restaurants on the planet. Hearing him speak, it kinda seems like that's ALL our jobs. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, all about brands making shows. Subscribers include leaders from Red Bull, Roku, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, and more: marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe Book Jay to speak at your company or event: jayacunzo.com

Aug 9, 2019 • 52:35

Stagnation Is The Enemy

Stagnation Is The Enemy

Where does innovation fit in boring industries? How do we get creative when things seem to work against us entirely? What happens when the Powers That Be don't seem to want YOU to be? Today, a story from producer Tallie Gabriel about Museum Hack, the organization that's trying to make a centuries old industry with few resources and little sex appeal look a whole lot more like the preferred entertainment destination of young people everywhere. (Seems Unthinkable, no?) Learn more about Museum Hack

Jul 31, 2019 • 41:05

Wrinkles

Wrinkles

When we want to innovate, we need to know what to change, when, and how. So, um ... what exactly should we change? Also when? And while we're at it (yep, you guessed it), HOW? In this episode, a deconstruction of one of the most popular shows on the internet, plus two new concepts and frameworks we can use to answer all those questions. For marketers making shows Join leaders at Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Shopify, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Wistia, LinkedIn, the BBC, and more who get Jay's monthly newsl

Jul 18, 2019 • 29:39

Innovation Impossible

Innovation Impossible

Why do so many leaders scream "INNOVATE!" and so many teams treat innovation like a bunch of random or infrequent stunts or radical changes? It always feels too urgent or too last-minute when we finally evolve. Why? What if there was a better way? What would it REALLY take to make innovation a habit, not a Hail Mary? Jay's email: jay@unthinkablemedia.com Subscribe to Jay's monthly newsletter for marketers making shows. Join leaders from Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, the BBC

Jul 11, 2019 • 23:05

Triple Dip! #3: Intuition and Process

Triple Dip! #3: Intuition and Process

Re-releasing three popular stories for the holiday travel and downtime around the Fourth of July, 2019. Enjoy! As always, you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter about crafting great shows at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe. Join thousands of marketers from companies like Red Bull, Salesforce, Shopify, Roku, Zendesk, Zapier, Wistia, the BBC, LinkedIn, and Mailchimp. For speaking inquiries, visit my personal site, jayacunzo.com

Jul 3, 2019 • 17:13

Triple Dip! #2: The Pike and the Minnow

Triple Dip! #2: The Pike and the Minnow

Re-releasing three popular stories for the holiday travel and downtime around the Fourth of July, 2019. Enjoy! As always, you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter about crafting great shows at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe. Join thousands of marketers from companies like Red Bull, Salesforce, Shopify, Roku, Zendesk, Zapier, Wistia, the BBC, LinkedIn, and Mailchimp. For speaking inquiries, visit my personal site, jayacunzo.com

Jul 3, 2019 • 41:25

Triple Dip! #1: The Bias to Act

Triple Dip! #1: The Bias to Act

Re-releasing three popular stories for the holiday travel and downtime around the Fourth of July, 2019. Enjoy! As always, you can subscribe to my monthly newsletter about crafting great shows at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe. Join thousands of marketers from companies like Red Bull, Salesforce, Shopify, Roku, Zendesk, Zapier, Wistia, the BBC, LinkedIn, and Mailchimp. For speaking inquiries, visit my personal site, jayacunzo.com

Jul 3, 2019 • 19:44

There's Something About the Light

There's Something About the Light

Consistently great work consistently changes. Does yours? The story of one of history's most revered creators, and the lesser-known story we can all learn from. What does it take to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing times? Subscribe to Marketing Showrunners, the media and education company dedicated to teaching marketers to create original series to build passionate audiences. Join marketers from Red Bull, LinkedIn, Adobe, Shopify, Salesforce, Wistia, Zendesk, Mailchimp, and the BBC on the

Jun 27, 2019 • 14:46

The Shift We Don't Discuss Enough

The Shift We Don't Discuss Enough

Revisiting an old favorite in light of some new events. There's a major shift happening in marketing that few are talking about. Instead, we talk about the industry's reactions to that shift. What if we looked the actual change in the eye? What great work might we create then? Subscribe to Marketing Showrunners, the media and education company dedicated to teaching marketers to create original series to build passionate audiences. Join marketers from Red Bull, LinkedIn, Adobe, Shopify, Salesforc

May 31, 2019 • 37:54

Don't Be Like Mike

Don't Be Like Mike

"But my boss." It's the most common objection to doing better work. Today, we find a framework that can help us do the seemingly unthinkable: have an open, honest conversation, rather than avoiding conflict, in order to create consistently great things as an individual and a team. (Featuring Max Yoder, author of Do Better Work, and cofounder/CEO of Lessonly.) Max's book: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Better-Work-camaraderie-progress/dp/1732843902/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21EMGCAYEQTIZ&keywords=do+better+work

May 27, 2019 • 34:15

Creative Cafe: Standup Comedy with Sarah Cooper

Creative Cafe: Standup Comedy with Sarah Cooper

Continuing our behind-the-scenes miniseries, we talk to Sarah Cooper: comedian, writer, author of the books 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings and the new one, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings. We dive into how a standup comedy act takes shape, what gets changed over time, and what we can learn about creating consistently great work from standups. -- Interested in the craft of creating original series? (Podcasts, video shows, documentaries and more). Explore my new educati

May 20, 2019 • 47:26

Make It So

Make It So

How do we bring our full selves to our work, when a lot of that work feels like a slog? Even if we love our jobs, so much of what we do each day can repeat. We show up, we execute, and we repeat. Over and over again. Today, the story of the Boston-based venture capitalist Sarah Downey of Accomplice. The self-proclaimed nerd loves sci-fi, fantasy, and most of geek culture. Yet despite her role in tech, being her true self at work wasn't always welcome. Recently, she decided to unite her love for

May 13, 2019 • 23:17

A Very Persuasive Porpoise

A Very Persuasive Porpoise

When complacency kicks in, and others refuse to change, we often try to persuade them to change or act in the exact opposite way we should. In this episode, the story of how Sean Callahan and Russell Glass found more effective and far more delightful approach. FURTHER EDUCATION & INSPIRATION: Learn how to make a great show for your brand. Visit MarketingShowrunners.com and subscribe. You can also hire host Jay Acunzo to speak at your next event. Visit jayacunzo.com

May 7, 2019 • 34:00

Sound Comes First

Sound Comes First

Something unthinkable is happening at Grado Labs in Brooklyn. That is, if you can find the damn place... Today, a story about family, business, legacy, and hand-crafted products, found in the most unlikely of industries: the fast-paced, high-budgeted world of consumer electronics. Interested in making a show yourself? Subscribe to my new newsletter specifically about the craft of creating original series. It's called "Hidden Genius," and it's available once per month: marketingshowrunners.com/su

Apr 30, 2019 • 31:14

Creative Cafe: The Speaking Business

Creative Cafe: The Speaking Business

In the third episode of our miniseries featuring in-depth, behind-the-scenes conversations about makin' stuff, we shed light into the black box that is the professional keynote speaking industry. (Learn more about my keynote speaking at jayacunzo.com)

Apr 24, 2019 • 1:01:23

Thank Dog

Thank Dog

Alex Cook's grandfather brightened every room he entered. Now, thanks to Alex, his brother, an old dog, and some lobsters, Tirrell Cook might just inspire every family to brighten the lives of their eldest members. Subscribe to the Marketing Showrunners newsletter: http://unthinkablemedia.com/subscribe Explore Nanagram: http://nanagram.co Hire Jay to keynote your next event or speak to your team: http://jayacunzo.com

Apr 11, 2019 • 41:20

Creative Cafe: How to Make a Great Show

Creative Cafe: How to Make a Great Show

In the second episode of our miniseries featuring in-depth, behind-the-scenes conversations about makin' stuff, we share never-before published thoughts and ideas learned by making this show for three years. Subscribe to the Unthinkable Media newsletter to get one exclusive big idea each month for making great shows, plus a roundup of insights, resources, and show deconstructions: unthinkablemedia.com/subscribe

Apr 3, 2019 • 39:50

A Small Fiction

A Small Fiction

Inside the internet's smallest creative project (which is having a massive impact on its audience) through the eyes of its creator. Together, we uncover the two component parts to creative work that we can use to constantly exceed expectations over time. Buy a copy of James Miller's book and share your receipt with Jay Acunzo for a copy of HIS book, Break the Wheel, signed, with stickers, for free.. Find James's book, A Small Fiction, here: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Fiction-James-Miller/dp/17

Mar 18, 2019 • 41:40

Miniseries Update: Exceptions Now In Its Own Feed

Miniseries Update: Exceptions Now In Its Own Feed

You can find Exceptions anywhere you listen to your podcasts, including on... Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/exceptions/id1451633126 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tXUONfdFE0h9HculjEq36?si=mM6vCZnYSmSfaXkR5KgAvg Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1451633126/exceptions

Mar 13, 2019 • 41:43

The Paradox of Exceeding Expectations

The Paradox of Exceeding Expectations

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER to get weekly inspiration and insights to help you challenge conventional thinking and create your best work: http://bit.ly/DamnTheBestPractices. WORK WITH ME Keynote Speaking: jay@unthinkablemedia.com or jayacunzo.com Creating shows for B2B clients: unthinkablemedia.com Get my book, Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work: http://bit.ly/BTWbook ABOUT THE SHOW: Hosted by author and keynote speaker Jay Acunzo, Unthinkable is a sweet

Mar 5, 2019 • 18:52

Bad Different | Eye-Opening Stories about Being Unique

Bad Different | Eye-Opening Stories about Being Unique

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER to get weekly inspiration and insights to help you challenge conventional thinking and create your best work: http://bit.ly/DamnTheBestPractices. WORK WITH ME Keynote Speaking: jay@unthinkablemedia.com or jayacunzo.com Creating shows for B2B clients: unthinkablemedia.com Get my book, Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work: http://bit.ly/BTWbook ABOUT THE SHOW: Hosted by author and keynote speaker Jay Acunzo, Unthinkable is a sweet

Feb 25, 2019 • 25:53

Made to Stick | Anthony Constantino, CEO of Sticker Mule

Made to Stick | Anthony Constantino, CEO of Sticker Mule

Anthony Thomas, the CEO of Sticker Mule, adores operations and manufacturing. Those are decidedly not-creative areas to adore. Or so I thought. JOIN THE NEWSLETTER to get weekly inspiration and insights to help you challenge conventional thinking and create your best work: http://bit.ly/DamnTheBestPractices. WORK WITH ME Keynote Speaking: jay@unthinkablemedia.com or jayacunzo.com Creating shows for B2B clients: unthinkablemedia.com Get my book, Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your

Feb 18, 2019 • 30:56

Creative Cafe: Dan Mills, Creative Director at Wistia

Creative Cafe: Dan Mills, Creative Director at Wistia

Introducing a new miniseries running within Unthinkable: Creative Cafe, the kind of emotional, insider, and cathartic conversations creative people always have over drinks that microphones usually ruin when we try to record them. In this first episode of the series, we talk to one of the most creative honey badgers around, Dan Mills, creative director at Wistia. We cover things ranging from careers in music, how art and business collide (and why art is taking over), and why Wistia chose to reinv

Feb 13, 2019 • 47:10

Resonance vs. Reach | Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon | Season 5 Premiere

Resonance vs. Reach | Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon | Season 5 Premiere

A plea about creativity in the workplace, and a brief exploration of the evolution of the internet to learn why we should change how we communicate our value to others as creators. We're joined by Patreon's CEO, Jack Conte, as well as a collection of creative voices: Chase Jarvis (CEO of CreativeLive), Deb Aoki (Sr. Experience Designer, Adobe), Josh Bernoff (author, editor, and blogger at Without Bullshit), Juliana Casale (Head of Marketing, CrazyEgg), Angela Schneider (writer and photographer),

Feb 4, 2019 • 19:30

Kid President's Battle

Kid President's Battle

Robby Novak's most popular video has been seen over 44 million times, and even though it's his face, his words, and his VIDEO, almost nobody watching knows his name is Robby Novak. Instead, they call him something else: Kid President. In this episode, hear why even the most enjoyable of videos KP has created -- and the best work from the best creators on the planet -- suffers from one issue that we must face as well. Watch Kid President's Pep Talk video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-

Jan 21, 2019 • 12:28

The Worst Career Advice

The Worst Career Advice

I kick off Season 5 by sharing the worst advice I've ever received and announcing the next leg of our journey together to fight against conventional thinking in our work. As promised, here are the two links mentioned: TRAVEL LOG: http://bit.ly/jay2019log My transparent, public, and continually updated account (editorial calendar and more) of my work this year, packaged as a travel journal. We're fighting against one awful phenomenon in business (shortcut culture) and fighting for one major goal

Jan 7, 2019 • 11:56

Why LESSONLY Prioritizes Psychological Safety Above All Else ["Exceptions" Ep.7]

Why LESSONLY Prioritizes Psychological Safety Above All Else ["Exceptions" Ep.7]

In Episode 7 of my docuseries with brand partner Drift, we go inside a rising star in B2B, Lessonly. The company's internal principles guide everything they do, and they articulate some very atypical but refreshing principles. Underpinning every principle and every action spawned from those principles is one core concept: Psychological Safety.  Hear why it's so dangerous to overlook this idea, and the very real ways it's changed Lessonly's team for the better. Plus, why is the company's VP of Ma

Dec 26, 2018 • 38:44

Why BUFFER Thinks About Traffic vs. Audience vs. Community ["Exceptions" Ep.6]

Why BUFFER Thinks About Traffic vs. Audience vs. Community ["Exceptions" Ep.6]

In Episode 6 of my docuseries with brand partner Drift, I continue to explore why the world's best B2B companies are betting big on brand. Today, we go inside social media software company Buffer. They're an exception for many reasons, but chief among them is how they increase emotional resonance between their team and their audience. In this episode, I define the differences between traffic, audience, and resonance, and we hear how Buffer executes against each. Special thanks to Brian Peters an

Dec 17, 2018 • 40:00

How FIRST ROUND CAPITAL Changed VC Brands Forever ["Exceptions" Ep.5]

How FIRST ROUND CAPITAL Changed VC Brands Forever ["Exceptions" Ep.5]

In Episode 5 of my docuseries with brand partner Drift, I continue to explore why the world's best B2B companies are betting big on brand, with a twist: We go outside the world of product companies and talk to one of the world's most well-known VC firms in tech, First Round Capital. In the episode, we talk to Looker cofounder and CTO Lloyd Tabb about his experiences working with FRC, and then hear from Bill Trenchard, one of the partners at the firm.  MORE GOOD STUFF: My book, Break the Wheel, i

Dec 7, 2018 • 38:26

Gravy

Gravy

In the third of three Thanksgiving Week specials, we hear the incredible story of two individuals who so in-touch with WHY they do their work that they make decisions others can't possibly stomach, and overcome challenges most of us have never faced. It's Unthinkable ;)  (For more weekly stories, subscribe to my newsletter, Damn the Best Practices: bit.ly/damnpractices)

Nov 21, 2018 • 32:14

In on the Secret

In on the Secret

In the second of three Thanksgiving Week special episodes, an old classic featuring a New York artist's odd but revealing experiment and the story of Frank Warren, creator of PostSecret. Why do we let judgment of our ideas affect our willingness to share them? How do we overcome that? Can we reach a place where we stop shoving others away when they criticize us, claiming they don't "get it"? (For weekly stories, subscribe to my newsletter, Damn the Best Practices: bit.ly/damnpractices)

Nov 20, 2018 • 22:38

The Picnic Experiment

The Picnic Experiment

Why do we gorge ourselves on holidays? Why do we do ANYTHING that seems mindless? "Because that's how we do things around here." In this story, the psychological phenomenon that explains this type of decision-making ... and what we need to do to break from it. This concept was pulled from my book, Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work. Buy now on Amazon in print, ebook, or audiobook formats: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Wheel-Question-Practices-Intu

Nov 19, 2018 • 15:19

How Did HELP SCOUT Build Customer Support's Most Refreshing Brand? ["Exceptions" Ep.4]

How Did HELP SCOUT Build Customer Support's Most Refreshing Brand? ["Exceptions" Ep.4]

In Episode 4 of my docuseries with brand partner Drift, I continue to explore why the world's best B2B companies are betting big on brand. Today we go inside Help Scout an talk to CEO/cofounder Nick Francis, head of support Abigail Phillips, and an actual Help Scout customer. Plus, we hear from some of their employee's plants. MORE GOOD STUFF: My book, Break the Wheel, is now available on Amazon in print, ebook, and audio formats: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Wheel-Question-Practices-Intuition/d

Oct 30, 2018 • 43:57

Short Story: The Choice That Makes or Breaks Great Work (Part 2)

Short Story: The Choice That Makes or Breaks Great Work (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of a story that originated in my newsletter, Damn the Best Practices. It got such a great response that I'm syndicating it here. You can subscribe at http://bit.ly/damnpractices Last time, I shared a psychological concept I uncovered while researching for my book, Break the Wheel. Today, the solution to that mental barrier blocking better decision-making at work. GET THE BOOK ON AMAZON OR AUDIBLE: Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work

Oct 26, 2018 • 13:15

Short Story: The Choice That Makes or Breaks Great Work (Part 1)

Short Story: The Choice That Makes or Breaks Great Work (Part 1)

This story originated in my newsletter, Damn the Best Practices. It got such a great response that I'm syndicating it here. You can subscribe at http://bit.ly/damnpractices I first uncovered this psychological concept in the research for my book, Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, and Do Your Best Work, now available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Wheel-Question-Practices-Intuition/dp/1544501056/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Thanks for listenin

Oct 17, 2018 • 11:22

How Does INVISION Make Big Creative Projects Look Logical? ["Exceptions" Ep.3]

How Does INVISION Make Big Creative Projects Look Logical? ["Exceptions" Ep.3]

In Episode 3 of my docu-series with brand partner Drift, I continue to explore why the world's best B2B companies are betting big on brand. Today's most exceptional companies rely on creating great experiences to stand out from the commodity noise. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Damn the Best Practices, for one new story each week about questioning conventional thinking: bit.ly/damnpractices You can also say hi on Twitter @jayacunzo or Instagram @jacunzo My new book, Break the Wheel, is now

Oct 8, 2018 • 33:55

Book Launch Day! Special AMA & Behind-the-Scenes Episode

Book Launch Day! Special AMA & Behind-the-Scenes Episode

Order your copy of Break the Wheel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Wheel-Question-Practices-Intuition-ebook/dp/B07HQF97J7 ABOUT THE BOOK: Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, & Do Your Best Work Our world is flooded by advice, ideas, and experts, but we shouldn’t make decisions based on “best practices.” Instead, we should do what works best for us, building careers and companies with the sort of clarity that leads to exceptional work. Only, first, we need to es

Oct 1, 2018 • 56:03

Short Story: What We Really Mean by "Visionary"

Short Story: What We Really Mean by "Visionary"

Break the Wheel's NEW publish date is Oct. 1, 2018! That means this is the final week to get signed copies plus bonus goodies sent to you in the pre-sale. Visit jayacunzo.com/book for that, or head over to Amazon to purchase your print, Kindle, or audiobook version of Break the Wheel: Question Best Practices, Hone Your Intuition, Do Your Best Work. Today, the problem with dubbing an innovator or creator a "visionary," and how we, too, can act just like them. (Spoiler alert: The very idea that th

Sep 24, 2018 • 16:11

Why Is WISTIA So Creative? ["Exceptions" Ep.2]

Why Is WISTIA So Creative? ["Exceptions" Ep.2]

Big News: My book, Break the Wheel, is now available for pre-orders at jayacunzo.com/book! Today, Episode 2 of my new documentary series with brand partner Drift, where I go inside some of the world's best B2B companies to understand why and how they're proactively building their brands. "Brand" was a dirty word in many B2B companies for awhile, but these individuals are proving why it's arguably the most important strategy today for creating exceptional companies. Subscribe to my weekly newslet

Aug 30, 2018 • 49:28

Short Story: The Schreader [Plus, Signed Books for You]

Short Story: The Schreader [Plus, Signed Books for You]

Visit jayacunzo.com/book for the pre-sale in the United States. Purchase single or bulk, and get each signed. Available now through October 2018 when the book launches worldwide. Also ... a story (obviously).

Aug 27, 2018 • 16:34

What Makes GUSTO Exceptional? ["Exceptions" Ep.1]

What Makes GUSTO Exceptional? ["Exceptions" Ep.1]

Episode 1 of my new documentary series with brand partner Drift, where I go inside some of the world's best B2B companies to understand why and how they're proactively building their brands. "Brand" was a dirty word in many B2B companies for awhile, but these individuals are proving why it's arguably the most important strategy today for creating exceptional companies. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Damn the Best Practices, for one new story each week about questioning conventional thinking:

Aug 5, 2018 • 38:43

Intuition [Re-aired]

Intuition [Re-aired]

While I work on Season 4 plus my book, Break the Wheel (Fall 2018), I wanted to share with you one of the most popular episodes from the backlogs: "Intuition." Insight into how the world seems to define intuition and why it's so darn broken. Then, we do something unthinkable: We try to define it together, not in some fluffy sense, but in a practical, real-world way, so we can proactively hone and use this skill. In this episode, we hear from one of the most legendary photographers on the planet

Jul 18, 2018 • 31:31

Voices [Re-aired]

Voices [Re-aired]

As I work on Season 4 of Unthinkable, I wanted to share with you one of the most popular episodes from the backlogs: Voices. The incredible story of Lisa Schneider and her warm, witty, and wonderful team working for ... the dictionary. What they did seemed unthinkable, until you hear their side of the story. Hope you enjoy! In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, sharing one new story every Monday for being better than best practices. That's at http://bit.ly/DamnTheBestPra

Jun 28, 2018 • 25:17

"Try to Be Awesome" - A Tribute to Anthony Bourdain

"Try to Be Awesome" - A Tribute to Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain inspired much of this very show. Though my style is a bit different than his, I've learned from his method, watched him work with my mouth hanging open and my eyes wide, and aspire to be the Anthony Bourdain of the business world. His window into the human experience was food. Mine is careers. In this episode, a tribute, pulled from my newsletter "Damn the Best Practices." Subscribe to that weekly email at bit.ly/damnpractices. Thank you, Anthony Bourdain, for sharing your art w

Jun 11, 2018 • 12:08

The Bias to Act [Re-aired]

The Bias to Act [Re-aired]

As I work on Season 4 of Unthinkable, I wanted to share with you one of the most popular episodes from the backlogs: The Bias to Act. Two incredible stories and some inspiring-yet-weird-yet-warm commentary (yanno ... like every episode). Hope you enjoy! In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to the Maker Channel wherever you get your podcasts. TMC is where we release experimental episodes for shows still in development, plus go behind the scenes making great podcasts.  Apple Podcasts: https://itu

May 29, 2018 • 24:57

Don't Start with Data [Re-aired]

Don't Start with Data [Re-aired]

I'm hard at work making Unthinkable Season 4 AND writing my first book, Break the Wheel, due out this fall (2018). The book is inspired by and pulls from the first three seasons of Unthinkable! For now, here's an oldie but a goodie -- a sneaky-good episode from the archives. Enjoy! Subscribe to get one new story or idea every Monday morning about being better than best practices: http://bit.ly/joinunthinkable

May 15, 2018 • 19:50

Anthony Shaves the World [Re-aired]

Anthony Shaves the World [Re-aired]

As I work on Unthinkable Season 4 and the book relating to this show, called Break the Wheel (Fall 2018), I wanted to dip into the archives and resurface a sneaky-good episode. Enjoy! Subscribe to get one new story or idea for being better than best practices every Monday morning: http://bit.ly/joinunthinkable

May 1, 2018 • 22:25

Why Unthinkable Media Exists

Why Unthinkable Media Exists

A welcome note to all those new to the Unthinkable Media website (launching later this week!) and community, and an explanation of why I'm starting this company in the first place. Email me anytime at jay@unthinkablemedia.com Or say hi on Twitter @jayacunzo or Instagram @jacunzo Thanks for your support!

Feb 12, 2018 • 0:00

Holiday Special: Twas the Night Before Launching

Holiday Special: Twas the Night Before Launching

A final treat and sign-off until next season. Thank you SO. FREAKING. MUCH. for supporting for my work, from speaking to podcasting and beyond! So much in store for 2018, and I'm grateful to you for your time, feedback, and love. If you haven't yet, be sure to subscribe to get my regular Monday emails: bit.ly/joinunthinkable

Dec 21, 2017 • 3:53

Break The Wheel [Season 3 Finale]

Break The Wheel [Season 3 Finale]

In the Season 3 finale of Unthinkable, it's time for a story and a battle -- a story about a runaway creative success that flies in the face of conventional thinking and a battle that all of us face whenever we aspire to be better than average in our careers. Finally, at long last, we blame one dastardly demon for our nasty habit of always taking the easy way out, the accepted route forward. Finally, we enter the battle within, and things get hairy. Luckily, Tim Urban from Wait But Why is here t

Dec 18, 2017 • 42:27

Gravy [Season 3]

Gravy [Season 3]

How does your intent for your work change your results? If your goal is to build something big, does that increase the odds? Why, then, do so many stories about huge successes start out the same way: with a shrug, and a quick, "I just wanted to brew some beer." ? Today, we explore the story of The Alchemist, makers of the industry sensation, Heady Topper.  SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER http://bit.ly/joinunthinkable LINKS TO KNOW The Alchemist brewery

Dec 11, 2017 • 30:41

A Monumental Shift [Season 3]

A Monumental Shift [Season 3]

Most brand-created podcasts are -- how shall I put this? -- IMPRESSIVELY terrible. So, naturally, Steve Pratt finds total creative fulfillment in that industry. Obviously. See, to invent the future of an entire industry and collaborate with some of the world's top brands, Steve gets to crash through one barrier after another. And as he excitedly does so, his weapon of choice isn't massive budget, a bestselling book, or a big "personal brand." No, instead, Steve calmly walks to the board and draw

Dec 3, 2017 • 36:14

Something Smelly This Way Comes [Season 3]

Something Smelly This Way Comes [Season 3]

Suzy Batiz had sworn off starting companies. NEVER AGAIN, she thought. But one sniff and one conversation later, she was obsessed. Her curiosity took over, and a decade later, she's built a 300-million-dollar empire. And all of it started by trying to solve a problem none of us care to even think about, let alone build a career around. It's Unthinkable. LINKS TO KNOW: Viral video link Company website

Nov 27, 2017 • 32:51

The Pike And The Minnow [Season 3]

The Pike And The Minnow [Season 3]

Nobody actually takes risks, especially in business, so what if the key to doing better work is making unconventional paths seem SAFER than the best practice? That's exactly what Clair Byrd, Clark Valberg, and the team behind Design Disruptors did. They took a massive project in scope and found a way to make each step seem safer than the last. They built a refreshing, eye-opening project without ever changing their team's goals. They did everything we aspire to do in our work in a way that seems

Nov 19, 2017 • 39:54

Dumb Ways To Die [Season 3]

Dumb Ways To Die [Season 3]

Looking for the video link? Scroll down! For now, a blurb on the episode: Unsurprisingly, one of the catchiest songs ever created topped the iTunes charts. It beat epic songs by Rhianna and Drake, and narrowly missed topping Adele and even Gangnam Style. Away from the charts, this song sparked a global movement -- merchandise and microsites, mobile games and parodies galore. One song and one video, going crazy viral, and snowballing into something much larger than itself. And while none of that

Nov 13, 2017 • 38:58

The Man Bun [Season 3]

The Man Bun [Season 3]

Scott Stratten looks every part a blacksmith. He's mastered a rare craft in our digital world today, but make no mistake -- he's a master craftsman. And while he may not work with any type of metal, he still forges his work with red hot fire. It’s Unthinkable. LINKS TO KNOW: Scott on Twitter: http://twitter.com/unmarketing  Scott's website: http://unmarketing.com  Scott's podcast: http://www.unmarketing.com/category/podcast/

Nov 6, 2017 • 30:58

Sound Comes First [Season 3 Premiere]

Sound Comes First [Season 3 Premiere]

If there was a Yelp listing for every industry niche, "Headphone Brand" would appear with the most possible dollar signs. Big brands use bigger celebrities and spend some of the biggest ad budgets around to promote their products and, really, the emotion they want you to feel when you buy their products. Artists like Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj, athletes like LeBron James, and brands like Apple, Sony, Bose, and more, all slug it out to deliver the same message in increasingly expensive ways:

Sep 1, 2017 • 33:26

First-Principle Insights [Season Finale]

First-Principle Insights [Season Finale]

We call the show "Unthinkable" because anytime someone uses their intuition, it feels like they did something crazy. Maybe they broke from conventional thinking -- that alone feels pretty unthinkable in many jobs and industries. Maybe they came up with an incredible idea in an instant -- that can be tough to understand from the outside looking in. Or maybe they did work that was exceptional, i.e., an exception, from all the average, familiar, safe, down-the-fairway, just-so-basic-I-could-punch-a

Jul 31, 2017 • 17:38

Your Unfair Advantage  [How Intuition Works #7]

Your Unfair Advantage [How Intuition Works #7]

What if intuition was actually the same as the kind of thinking we value in the business world, but it reaches full potential quicker? Wouldn't that be an insanely valuable skill? If you could instantly skip ahead of your peers by seven, 17, or 77 steps or pull from seven, or 17, or 77 sources of ideas ... wouldn't you want to figure out how that stuff works?! Wouldn't you cultivate it? Practice it? Get to the point where you could actually RELY on it? Intuition. Your unfair advantage. It's Unth

Jul 24, 2017 • 21:18

Aspirational Anchors  [How Intuition Works #6]

Aspirational Anchors [How Intuition Works #6]

The information age has a downside: Advice Overload. In the face of ubiquitous experts and never-ending best practices and how-tos and secrets, what if you trusted your intuition? Well, for starters, you'd need to focus more on your own context than all that advice. Luckily, today, we explore one question you can ask yourself to instantly make sense of all the advice in this Information Age. And we revisit one of our most popular stories EVER to see how this question affects our ability to creat

Jul 17, 2017 • 31:03

Making the Leap Pt. 2  [How Intuition Works #5]

Making the Leap Pt. 2 [How Intuition Works #5]

We use our intuition every single day to make decisions. So why does it still feel like a leap to trust it when it comes to the more meaningful stuff in our work? The answer is more complicated than you think. But your response can be a lot simpler than you image, too -- and that's great news if you want to do meaningful work.   SUBSCRIBE TO MONDAY'S EMAIL: unthinkable.fm FEEDBACK & FOLLOWS: jay@unthinkable.fm twitter.com/jayacunzo instagram.com/jacunzo

Jul 10, 2017 • 21:58

Making the Leap Pt. 1  [How Intuition Works #4]

Making the Leap Pt. 1 [How Intuition Works #4]

Last we spoke, we wondered why we don't trust our intuition more. I mean, it's with us at all times, telling us things. But we often feel like it's a LEAP to listen to our intuition. This week, we wonder: How do we cross that chasm? To help make sense of this, we revisit the story of Alec Brownstein, the Executive Creative Director at Dollar Shave Club, and his incredible side project, viewed by billions: The Google Job Experiment SUBSCRIBE TO MONDAY'S EMAIL: http://unthinkable.fm  FEEDBACK & FO

Jun 25, 2017 • 25:03

Week Off Mailbag Special!

Week Off Mailbag Special!

Technically supposed to be taking a week off but ... I won't tell if you don't! Send your examples of conventional wisdom, pithy quotes-as-gospel, or popular best practices to jay@unthinkable.fm -- we might use them in a future show! Subscribe to the Monday AM newsletter at unthinkable.fm

Jun 11, 2017 • 28:13

The Leap  [How Intuition Works #3]

The Leap [How Intuition Works #3]

Last week, we defined intuition once and for all. This week, we wonder: Why don't we routinely TRUST our intuition? We came up with a practical definition, but why can't we seem to make it practical in our daily lives? Why does it so often feel like a leap? To help make sense of this, we revisit the story of Neil Pasricha, a bestselling author, TED speaker, and the creator of the blog 1000 Awesome Things. SUBSCRIBE TO MONDAY'S EMAIL: http://unthinkable.fm  FEEDBACK & FOLLOWS: jay@unthinkable.fm

Jun 5, 2017 • 33:25

Defining Intuition  [How Intuition Works #2]

Defining Intuition [How Intuition Works #2]

So we aspire to do something exceptional, and we can't stand all that average noise created by the endless "hacks" and "cheats" and "secrets" out there. So now what? If all that expertise is simply generalized advice that gets us to average, what can we use to go from average to exceptional? What can we rely on to get the rest of the way there?  Intuition. But what the heck IS intuition? And how can we actually control it proactively? SUBSCRIBE TO MONDAY'S EMAIL: unthinkable.fm FEEDBACK & FOLLOW

May 29, 2017 • 33:08

Our Journey Begins [How Intuition Works #1]

Our Journey Begins [How Intuition Works #1]

After a year, we finally land on the common thread that ties us all together as listeners. Then, we revisit one of our most popular stories and find out some new things we missed last time. And we begin our march forward, week by week, to solve the biggest problem facing our projects, companies, and careers today. MIKE'S SUPER BOWL AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_3H_Y5QUWw SUBSCRIBE TO MONDAY'S EMAIL: unthinkable.fm FEEDBACK & FOLLOWS: jay@unthinkable.fm twitter.com/jayacunzo instagram.com

May 22, 2017 • 32:18

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Amy Schmittauer

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Amy Schmittauer

Our our every-other-week series profiling names you know sharing stories you don't concludes with Amy Schmittauer. In this brutally honest and hilarious discussion, Amy talks about her parody of the Wizard of Oz, why she loves editing more than being on camera, and how she grapples with her early speaking careers. About the series: In an era full of content marketing thought leaders, we want to get behind the tactics and tips and understand what makes the PERSON break free of conventional thinki

May 15, 2017 • 31:17

Constraints [Intuition Series #11]

Constraints [Intuition Series #11]

Remarkable stories of what happens when you embrace constraints, rather than fight for "creative freedom" (and an exploration of what the heck "creative freedom" even means). Stories today from First Round Capital (one of the premier venture capital firms in tech, with investments in Uber, Warby Parker, Blue Apron, Square, and more) and Soviet Visuals, a remarkable side project from a former Russian ballerina and current Facebook employee revealing something special about constraints. What might

May 8, 2017 • 27:02

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Doug Kessler

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Doug Kessler

We continue our every-other-week series profiling names you know sharing stories you don't. This week, we get existential and emotional with one of the most creative content marketers on the planet, Doug Kessler. About the series: In an era full of content marketing thought leaders, we want to get behind the tactics and tips and understand what makes the PERSON break free of conventional thinking and become an exception to the noise. How are well-known speakers trusting their own intuition? PROU

Apr 30, 2017 • 38:27

Insides [Intuition Series #10]

Insides [Intuition Series #10]

When we say the word content, MOST of us refer to the container -- a blog post, a video, a podcast. But the audience we aim to serve is after what's INSIDE our content -- the information, the education, the entertainment. So why the heck do brands and marketers spend so much less time focused on the stuff INSIDE the content they create? Stories today from Slack, the fastest-growing business app of all time, and their director of content, Julie Kim. Then, bestselling author Andrew Davis (Brandsca

Apr 23, 2017 • 21:03

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Robert Rose

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Robert Rose

We continue our every-other-week series profiling names you know sharing stories you don't. This week, we think the big thoughts and feel the big feels with Robert Rose. We talk music, on-stage interviews with celebrities, and making others FEEL SOMETHING by creating great experiences. About the series: In an era full of content marketing thought leaders, we want to get behind the tactics and tips and understand what makes the PERSON break free of conventional thinking and become an exception to

Apr 17, 2017 • 32:49

Voices [Intuition Series #9]

Voices [Intuition Series #9]

We live in the era of experts. If we don't have an idea or answer, we can find and follow everyone else's. This creates copycat, forgettable work. Luckily, the most powerful way to differentiate from all of that is obvious and free. The only question is whether we have the courage to deploy it. Stories about Lisa Schneider, Chief Digital Officer at Merriam-Webster, and their award-winning, President-trolling, brilliant and witty Twitter account. Their success started with an aspiration and ended

Apr 10, 2017 • 25:02

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Tamsen Webster

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Tamsen Webster

We continue our every-other-week series profiling names you know sharing stories you don't. This week, we get starry-eyed over big ideas with Tamsen Webster. Stories include Tamsen's love affair with speeches, space bags for her brain, and her latest big idea: the Red Thread. About the series: In an era full of content marketing thought leaders, we want to get behind the tactics and tips and understand what makes the PERSON break free of conventional thinking and become an exception to the noise

Apr 2, 2017 • 25:07

Just Ship It [Intuition Series #8]

Just Ship It [Intuition Series #8]

We hear the phrase a lot, from friends, bosses, clients, peers: JUST SHIP IT! Just ship your work already. But should you? COULD you? Is this idea friend ... or foe? Today we go exploring the topic of shippin' it, and shippin' it good. Stories about Chris Piascik, an illustrator who has published a new drawing every single weekday since 2007, and Andrea Fryrear, a newly-minted author who wrote her book in 6 months and got her start writing 5 articles every week for work. We care about craft. And

Mar 26, 2017 • 16:58

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Mitch Joel

Names You Know, Stories You Don't: Mitch Joel

We continue our every-other-week series profiling names you know sharing stories you don't. This week, a frank discussion with Mitch Joel. Stories include Mitch's first-ever keynote speech (and the celebrity that headlined the event); his obsessive and prolific writing habits; and why he believes there's one platform we'll all use in the future. That's right: ONE. About the series: In an era full of content marketing thought leaders, we want to get behind the tactics and tips and understand what

Mar 20, 2017 • 34:38

Wizards [Intuition Series #7]

Wizards [Intuition Series #7]

Exploring how magic-makers in marketing stand out from the noise by relying more on their personalities than any best practices or tools.  Stories about Jay Baer's barbecue adventures (and why his favorite quote involves a pigeon) and Jessica Best's email geekery. At the end, I share some big news.    PROUD TO PARTNER WITH CONTENT MARKETING WORLD This episode was created in partnership with Content Marketing World. Come see me, Jay Baer, Jessica Best, and the world's top content marketers speak,

Mar 13, 2017 • 21:55

Travel [Intuition Series #6]

Travel [Intuition Series #6]

Travel and creativity seem to go hand-in-hand (and then they go skipping down the street in some foreign land). Today we go exploring the topic of exploration: Why is travel linked to inspiration? Does travel help our work, or can it derail our productiveness? And how can we better tap into the benefits of travel to our work ... without booking a single ticket? Stories about Anthony Berriola, a barber with a side project to satisfy his wanderlust, and Carla Johnson, and author and speaker about

Mar 6, 2017 • 21:50

Process [Intuition Series #5]

Process [Intuition Series #5]

"What is your writing process?" Like cats on catnip, us content marketers just can't resist when someone answers that question. We positively obsess over each others' writing process, and the more known the marketer, the more we swoon and purr. Ann Handley writes in a tiny house in her backyard? TO HOME DEPOT, TEAM! Seth Godin shaves his head 'til you can SEE the brilliance? HONEY! CAN YOU GET THE BACK OF MY HEAD PLEASE? Process. It's like the skeleton key to our creativity. If we can just posse

Feb 27, 2017 • 15:33

Facing Yourself [Intuition Series #4]

Facing Yourself [Intuition Series #4]

Richard's side project started with that familiar feeling when you just can't wait to see people's reactions. But in this case, it was his own reaction that surprised this serial side hustler. SUBSCRIBE at http://unthinkable.fm FEEDBACK ON THE SHOW? Email jay@unthinkable.fm Tweet http://twitter.com/jayacunzo Snap http://snapchat.com/add/jayacunzo Insta http://instagram.com/jacunzo   LINKS TO KNOW: Richard's side project: http://theuserisdrunk.com Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.c

Feb 20, 2017 • 9:06

Brilliance in Plain Sight [Intuition Series #3]

Brilliance in Plain Sight [Intuition Series #3]

Content marketers put creativity up on a pedestal. But when you actually create for a living, you know something far simpler, and you see something hidden in plain sight: brilliance. SUBSCRIBE at http://unthinkable.fm   FEEDBACK ON THE SHOW? Email jay@unthinkable.fm Tweet http://twitter.com/jayacunzo Snap http://snapchat.com/add/jayacunzo   LINKS TO KNOW: Joe Lazauskas: https://twitter.com/JoeLazauskas Cara Hogan: https://twitter.com/CaraHogan27 Chris Heivly: https://twitter.com/chrishei

Feb 13, 2017 • 10:58

Content Creator Confessions [Intuition Series #2]

Content Creator Confessions [Intuition Series #2]

We've all been where Angela is at in her work right now. Today, we dive deep into this feeling and try to make sense of it. SUBSCRIBE at http://unthinkable.fm FEEDBACK ON THE SHOW? Email jay@unthinkable.fm Tweet http://twitter.com/jayacunzo Snap http://snapchat.com/add/jayacunzo LINKS TO KNOW: Angela's Twitter: https://twitter.com/that_angela Angela's project: http://ourgreatescape.ca/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: Content Creation Photography Sheep Dogs Side Projects Creativity Craft Print Media Jo

Feb 6, 2017 • 18:21

That Gut Feeling [Intuition Series #1]

That Gut Feeling [Intuition Series #1]

FEEDBACK ON THE SHOW? Email jay@unthinkable.fm Tweet http://twitter.com/jayacunzo Snap http://snapchat.com/add/jayacunzo   TODAY'S STORY: The role of your gut instincts in creating exceptional work. With a story about music legend Sting from executive producer Andrew Davis, followed by the tale of Tim Jensen, a former U.S. Marine who doesn't believe people rise to the occasion as much as they do something else -- something he's mastered and we should, too, if we want to be exceptionally

Jan 22, 2017 • 20:56

The Thoughtless Thought Leader [Creativity Series #30]

The Thoughtless Thought Leader [Creativity Series #30]

Tyler Littwin took a deep breath, walked up on stage in front of his entire company, and let them have it. And they...loved every minute of it. Today in this short story about a side project, we hear the tale of Orlando Scampington. Join the community for content-obsessed content marketers: http://unthinkable.fm   LINKS TO KNOW: Orlando on Twitter: http://twitter.com/oscampington Tyler on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tblittwin Watch Orlando's conference keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV

Jan 15, 2017 • 9:11

Behind-the-Scenes Making the Show

Behind-the-Scenes Making the Show

This week, go behind-the-scenes with the making of Unthinkable with Jay and executive producer Andrew Davis, as the two discuss the thinking behind the show, the audience they're out to serve, and why Jay wants to be the Anthony Bourdain of business content. Get Monday's email: http://unthinkable.fm Follow Jay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jayacunzo Follow Andrew on Twitter: http://twitter.com/drewdavishere Get daily behind-the-scenes thoughts & moments, plus Jay's One-a-Day On My Way series sh

Jan 9, 2017 • 45:03

Don't Start with Data [Creativity Series #28]

Don't Start with Data [Creativity Series #28]

What does it take to trust your intuition and succeed? Get a new hypothesis every Monday morning via email, packaged as an irresistible story. Text TRUST to 444999 ... or subscribe at unthinkable.fm   TODAY: What if something is based not on historical precedent, but potential? How do you measure that? Can you? Today, we go outside our echo chamber with a Grammy-nominated music teacher who helps us re-think our conventional wisdom about data. Then, we return to the business world and hear the st

Dec 12, 2016 • 18:50

Slingshot: Writing Without Bullshit [Creativity Series #27]

Slingshot: Writing Without Bullshit [Creativity Series #27]

Josh Bernoff writes a blog about writing, putting him among a TON of others that could be completely the same. So he uses a hook in order to stand out. In this short story about Josh's side project, we dive into how that hook has built him a successful career as a solo entrepreneur and author. (Slingshots are short stories about a creative side project that led somewhere surprising or unexpected. They run every other week as part of Unthinkable.) Join the journey to figure out what it takes to t

Dec 5, 2016 • 6:12

Best Practices [Creativity Series #26]

Best Practices [Creativity Series #26]

Join our Unthinkable journey -- each week, a new hypothesis for what it takes to trust your intuition and suceed. Subscribe at unthinkable.fm or text TRUST to 444999.   TODAY: If you want to break from convention and follow your intuition, where does that leave all those best practices out there? It's so easy to follow a list or do what someone else says works. But what if best practices aren't even the best? Go outside the echo chamber with the story of a football coach bucking the trend and fi

Nov 28, 2016 • 24:20

Slingshot: Beer2B [Creativity Series #25]

Slingshot: Beer2B [Creativity Series #25]

Juliana Casale's story is not unlike most of ours, because Juliana Casale is not unlike us -- trying hard to use her creative craft to elevate her career. But unlike many of us, Juliana recognizes something about her side project that has launched her career in B2B marketing forward. In this episode, she shares the story of how it all started in the most unlikely of places. (Slingshots are short stories about a creative side project that led somewhere surprising or unexpected. They run every oth

Nov 21, 2016 • 7:40

Think Smaller [Creativity Series #24]

Think Smaller [Creativity Series #24]

Subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm to get our weekly hypothesis answering one question, explored through story: What does it take to trust your intuition? TODAY: We assume creativity has to be big. We need to tackle broad, sweeping ideals, produce massive, industry-leading projects, and find deep, life-affirming meaning in our work. But what if to get all that, we need to think smaller? Today, we go outside our echo chamber with James Miller, creator of the project A Small Fiction. Then, we hear

Nov 13, 2016 • 20:02

Slingshot: 20 Minutes to Do the Impossible [Creativity Series #23]

Slingshot: 20 Minutes to Do the Impossible [Creativity Series #23]

Harry Stebbings managed to break into venture capital -- one of the most difficult industries to work in -- at the age of just 20. And he did so with a side project that took a strong stance on industry norms: The Twenty-Minute VC. In this episode, he recounts the early days of coming up with his idea, longing to work with millionaires who would hardly give him the time of day, and the moment when everything changed. (Slingshots are short stories about a creative side project that led somewhere

Nov 7, 2016 • 7:27

Jumping the Shark [Creativity Series #22]

Jumping the Shark [Creativity Series #22]

Subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning about trusting your intuition. TODAY: Why do some people seem totally fine using tactics that make us nauseous? If we're going to trust our intuition, then often times, that means rejecting some of the gimmicks and hacks and cheats that others don't seem to mind using. Why the gap in thinking? How can we make sense of that? And how does it change our behavior? Today, we go outside our echo chamber with Emily Hir

Oct 30, 2016 • 25:06

Slingshot: The Odyssey of Writing a Book [Creativity Series #21]

Slingshot: The Odyssey of Writing a Book [Creativity Series #21]

GET THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION from this episode -- subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm before October 30, 2016. TODAY: Jonathan Fields has written several books, hosts a top podcast, and speaks all over the world. By most measures, he's "made it." But his latest book, How to Live a Good Life, caused him to question everything he knew about writing. In this episode, he recounts the odyssey of writing the book and shares what he learned studying the most successful authors in business. He also geeks

Oct 24, 2016 • 9:37

In on the Secret [Creativity Series #20]

In on the Secret [Creativity Series #20]

Subscribe at unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning about trusting your intuition. TODAY: If you're going to reject conventional thinking and instead trust your intuition, you'll find yourself sharing tons of ideas with others. But this can feel scary, like our ideas are secrets we'd prefer to keep inside. And when someone shoots them down, we assume they just don't "get it." But what if the point of sharing our ideas is NOT to get the approval of others? Today, we go o

Oct 17, 2016 • 27:53

Slingshot: Magic Markers [Creativity Series #19]

Slingshot: Magic Markers [Creativity Series #19]

SUBSCRIBE at unthinkable.fm to get a quick note every Monday morning containing new episodes, exclusive bonus content, and new experiments to join.   TODAY: Deb Aoki is like many of us craft-driven creators. She aspires to do great work, but she's held more than a few jobs that treat her like a voiceless, last-in-line asset machine. They decide the strategy and lead the meetings. She inserts copy and creative where they see fit. Ugh. But Deb Aoki is no ordinary member of the team. She has a quie

Oct 10, 2016 • 7:58

Art of the Unfinished [Creativity Series #18]

Art of the Unfinished [Creativity Series #18]

FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT: Subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning.   TODAY: Your creative intuition is a powerful guide. So why does it occasionally seem like you're wandering in circles, unable to move past a single piece of a project? It just doesn't feel like you can get it RIGHT, so you keep agonizing over that part of the work.   Today, we learn about the Art of the Unfinished. We assume that, to ship something successful, we need to share onl

Oct 3, 2016 • 25:31

Slingshot: I'm No Spider-Man [Creativity Series #17]

Slingshot: I'm No Spider-Man [Creativity Series #17]

SUBSCRIBE at unthinkable.fm to get a quick note every Monday morning containing new episodes, exclusive bonus content, and new experiments to join.   TODAY:   Tom O'Keefe is one of the most well-known people in all of Boston. But ask people around town if they know Tom O'Keefe, and they'll say no. This is the story of a simple side project that vaulted Tom from behind-the-scenes in his work to front-and-center, including invites to Fenway Park parties, free rooms at Mohegan Sun, and the radio in

Sep 25, 2016 • 9:59

Comfortable Being Uncomfortable [Creativity Series #16]

Comfortable Being Uncomfortable [Creativity Series #16]

FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT + CREATIVE EXPERIMENTS: Subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning.   TODAY: As humans, we're wired to seek out experiences that make us feel comfortable. But in order to hone our intuition and follow it in our creative work, we need to constantly make ourselves slightly UNcomfortable. We need to push outside our comfort zone to grow and create better and better work.   Today, we go outside our echo chamber to hear a story fro

Sep 19, 2016 • 26:27

Slingshot: A Side Project Saved My Startup [Creativity Series #15]

Slingshot: A Side Project Saved My Startup [Creativity Series #15]

FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT + CREATIVE EXPERIMENTS: Subscribe at unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning.   TODAY: Hear the story of a creative side project that saved a startup. Crew co-founder and CEO Mikael Cho talks about Unsplash.com, a photography side project that now boasts billions of photo views each month and salvaged a startup heading for bankruptcy. The project is so widely used today that a photo on the site gets viewed more times than a photo on the cover

Sep 11, 2016 • 8:17

The Bias to Act [Creativity Series #14]

The Bias to Act [Creativity Series #14]

FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT: Subscribe at unthinkable.fm to get a quick note from Jay every Monday morning.   TODAY: Too often, creative people idolize the IDEA of being creative. But our jobs aren't to "be creative." Our jobs are to CREATE. In other words, we need a bias to act. But that's much easier said than done. Until you hear our stories today...   Today, we go outside the echo chamber with executive coach Heather Legge. Although she coaches some of the most powerful women in business, sh

Sep 4, 2016 • 23:48

Slingshot: Scott Monty, Oxymoron [Creativity Series #13]

Slingshot: Scott Monty, Oxymoron [Creativity Series #13]

SUBSCRIBE: unthinkable.fm to get a quick note every Monday morning containing new episodes, exclusive bonus content, and new experiments to join.   TODAY: Scott Monty is one of the world's most forward-thinking marketing minds. He spends his time helping big brands evolve, whether that was in-house at Ford or today as a consultant. So why is he so obsessed with the past? And what is he doing building a side project that historians and NBA players alike seem to love?   (Slingshots are short stori

Aug 29, 2016 • 6:18

Zig When Others Zag [Creativity Series #12]

Zig When Others Zag [Creativity Series #12]

SUBSCRIBE AT unthinkable.fm to get a quick note every Monday morning containing new episodes, exclusive bonus content, and new experiments to join.   TODAY: In a noisy world like ours, you don't just want to be the best of the best. You want to be the only one who does what you do. Today on the show, we explore the need to zig when others zag -- the need to own some white space and be original rather than incrementally beat others who do something similar.   First, we talk about penguins. Becaus

Aug 21, 2016 • 21:25

On the Making of Unthinkable

On the Making of Unthinkable

While we're on hiatus from releasing new episodes, here's a closer look at the thinking and inspiration behind making the show. Be sure to subscribe at http://unthinkable.fm for our emails each Monday morning -- we're sharing the entire framework and process behind making the show run while we tinker on new episodes!   SUBSCRIBE: http://unthinkable.fm   BEHIND-THE-SCENES: http://snapchat.com/add/jayacunzo   SAY HI: http://twitter.com/jayacunzo   TODAY'S EPISODE SYNDICATED FROM: https://soundclou

Jun 27, 2016 • 55:51

A Message From Jay

A Message From Jay

A message from Jay about the future of Unthinkable. Be sure to subscribe at unthinkable.fm.

Jun 6, 2016 • 9:06

Slingshot: Scott Belsky & Behance [Creativity Series #11]

Slingshot: Scott Belsky & Behance [Creativity Series #11]

The story of how Scott Belsky created Behance, a global community of creatives focused on making ideas happen. (Slingshots are short stories about a creative side project that led somewhere surprising or unexpected. They run every other week as part of Unthinkable.)   LINKS TO KNOW: Behance.com Scott's Twitter: twitter.com/scottbelsky   SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW: Get a note from Jay every Monday morning, plus links to the newest episode of Unthinkable. Subscribe at unthinkable.fm   GO BEHIND-THE-SCE

May 30, 2016 • 6:42

Beauty in the Broken [Creativity Series #10]

Beauty in the Broken [Creativity Series #10]

Betting your career on your creativity means you'll have your fair share of saving bad ideas (or "polishing turds" as you'll hear in one of our stories). It also requires the ability to look past the obvious and see the potential for something better or higher quality or generally more creative. It requires you to see beauty in the broken. Today, we look at these ideas from multiple angles.   First, I wrestle with some leftovers (BONUS: you get a recipe out of this episode!). Then, we go outside

May 23, 2016 • 35:43

Slingshot: The Cooper Review [Creativity Series #9]

Slingshot: The Cooper Review [Creativity Series #9]

Slingshots are a mini-series within the Unthinkable show where we go deep into a creative side project that winds up someplace surprising. Tinkering on side projects is a powerful way to slingshot our careers forward as content marketers, writers, designers, podcasters, videographers, and any kind of creative.   In this episode, Sarah Cooper talks about her journey from acting to Google to making the leap pursuing her comedic writing full-time. She parodies business culture, and she's built a ni

May 16, 2016 • 18:27

2% Better [Creativity Series #8]

2% Better [Creativity Series #8]

People driven by their creative craft often spend hours agonizing and obsessing over the details of a project. Why? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? How do we know when to actually ship the work? And what does it take in order to operate with that level of detail in a business world often based on seeking shortcuts and cutting corners?   Today, we go outside the echo chamber for the story of Niko at Granny's Pie Factory to find out why creative people operate with this extreme care for the

May 9, 2016 • 44:21

Slingshot: The Danger Booth [Creativity Series #7]

Slingshot: The Danger Booth [Creativity Series #7]

Slingshots are a new mini-series within the Unthinkable show where we go deep into a creative side project that winds up someplace surprising. Tinkering on side projects is a powerful way to slingshot our careers forward as content marketers, writers, designers, podcasters, videographers, and any kind of creative.   In this episode, Zac Wolf and Becca Goldring discuss their award-winning open-air photo booth, The Danger Booth.   LINKS TO KNOW:
 Zac's Twitter: twitter.com/zacxwolf Becca's Twitter

May 2, 2016 • 25:54

The Muse Is An Excuse [Creativity Series #6]

The Muse Is An Excuse [Creativity Series #6]

For thousands of years, humans have invoked "The Muse" (or any of the nine Muses) to inspire creativity within them. But are we thinking about creative inspiration the wrong way?   Also, a major announcement is made by one of our guest's on this episode, featuring legendary creative thinkers.   Today, we go outside the echo chamber with Elliott Bell of The Muse to think about career coaching and what we can learn about the creative muse. Then, Chase Jarvis - world-famous photographer and the CEO

Apr 25, 2016 • 35:52

Slingshot: Wooden Nickel Shorts[Creativity Series #5]

Slingshot: Wooden Nickel Shorts[Creativity Series #5]

Slingshots are a new mini-series within the Unthinkable show where we go deep into a creative side project that winds up someplace surprising. Tinkering on side projects are powerful ways to slingshot our careers forward as content marketers, writers, designers, podcasters, videographers, and any kind of creative. In this episode, Dan Milano talks about the comedy group and video project, Wooden Nickel Shorts.   LINKS TO KNOW:
 Dan's Twitter: twitter.com/DanMilanoHere Wooden Nickel Shorts: youtu

Apr 18, 2016 • 23:34

Craft-Driven [Creativity Series #4]

Craft-Driven [Creativity Series #4]

When you agonize over the act of creation itself -- for its own sake, not for some ulterior motive or end result -- good things happen. But in the business world, whether in marketing or as an entrepreneur or freelancer, that mentality is surprisingly rare. So what do you call that behavior when someome wants to skip right to the end result, craft be damned? There's a word for it -- a behavior we need to avoid if we want to be truly creative in our careers.    In this episode, we hear the story

Apr 11, 2016 • 37:29

Slingshot: Carving the White Whale [Creativity Series #3]

Slingshot: Carving the White Whale [Creativity Series #3]

Slingshots are a new mini-series within the Unthinkable show where we go deep into a creative side project that winds up someplace surprising. Tinkering on side projects are powerful ways to slingshot our careers forward as content marketers, writers, designers, podcasters, videographers, and any kind of creative. In this episode, Erik Devaney talks about carving the white whale.   LINKS TO KNOW:
 Erik's Twitter: twitter.com/bardofboston Erik's Medium article: https://medium.com/@bardofboston/ca

Apr 4, 2016 • 32:48

Side Projects [Creativity Series #2]

Side Projects [Creativity Series #2]

Creative side projects are powerful ways to slingshot our careers forward as content marketers, writers, designers, podcasters, videographers, and any kind of creative. In this episode, we hear the story of Neil Pasricha, creator of 1000AwesomeThings.com, a TED speaker, and author of multiple New York Times bestselling books, including The Book of Awesome.   LINKS TO KNOW:
 Neil's Twitter: twitter.com/1000awesome Neil's TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome?langu

Mar 28, 2016 • 39:51

Quality vs. Quantity [Creativity Series #1]

Quality vs. Quantity [Creativity Series #1]

In the official launch of Unthinkable, we'll tackle the bizarre but huge debate of quality vs. quantity in marketing. Plus, creator & host Jay Acunzo shares the theme of the show and why it's time to finally, mercifully, start being loud about our one true desire -- to create great content for a living. We'll go outside the marketing echo-chamber to the smartest place on the planet, as well as hear from a prolific content creator who would make most marketers blush.   LINKS TO KNOW: Subscribe at

Mar 21, 2016 • 34:15

Unthinkable Mic Check

Unthinkable Mic Check

See you soon! Be sure to subscribe at Unthinkable.fm to get episodes as soon as they launch, plus other exclusive content, goodies, and behind-the-scenes. Twitter: @UnthinkableFM @JayAcunzo

Mar 17, 2016 • 0:23

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