The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Growing up, Jonathan Kis-Lev was very active in Israeli society and was very against the pro-military culture of his society. He’s grown stronger in his convictions since his youth, and he’s a peace activist now. He used those experiences and his pursuit of a creative career to grow and shape his confidence in himself and what he can do for the world. Jonathan Kis-Lev is an Israeli award-winning author, artist, and peace activist. He is the author of five novels and 10 nonfiction books and is the winner of the Bamahane Prize for Literature.  Growing up, Jonathan Kis-Lev was very active in Israeli society and was very against the pro-military culture of his society. He’s grown stronger in his convictions since his youth, and he’s a peace activist now. He used those experiences and his pursuit of a creative career to grow and shape his confidence in himself and what he can do for the world. Jonathan Kis-Lev is an Israeli award-winning author, artist, and peace activist. He is the author of five novels and 10 nonfiction books and is the winner of the Bamahane Prize for Literature. 

Networking is about far more than collecting business cards at events or increasing the number of connections you have on LinkedIn. It’s about relationships.  Within all of our relationships are hidden networks that have the potential transform our lives and careers.  We are all in the words of David Burkus “a friend of  friend.”   David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought after speaker, and associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University. His newest book, Friend of a Friend, offers readers a new perspective on how to grow their networks and build key connections—one based on the science of human behavior, not rote networking advice. He’s delivered keynotes to the leaders of Fortune 500 companies and the future leaders of the United States Naval Academy. His TED talk has been viewed over 1.8 million times and he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review. Networking is about far more than collecting business cards at events or increasing the number of connections you have on LinkedIn. It’s about relationships.  Within all of our relationships are hidden networks that have the potential transform our lives and careers.  We are all in the words of David Burkus “a friend of  friend.”   David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought after speaker, and associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University. His newest book, Friend of a Friend, offers readers a new perspective on how to grow their networks and build key connections—one based on the science of human behavior, not rote networking advice. He’s delivered keynotes to the leaders of Fortune 500 companies and the future leaders of the United States Naval Academy. His TED talk has been viewed over 1.8 million times and he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review.

Gretchen Rubin on Habits and Happiness Gretchen Rubin has been a writer for the last 10 years. Her last three books have focused on how we can make ourselves happier, healthier and more productive. In this episode, she shares unconventional wisdom on becoming happier and developing habits. Gretchen Rubin on Habits and Happiness Gretchen Rubin has been a writer for the last 10 years. Her last three books have focused on how we can make ourselves happier, healthier and more productive. In this episode, she shares unconventional wisdom on becoming happier and developing habits.

Naveen Jain has built multiple successful businesses across different industries. With a combination of the right mindset and a mission to solve problems that reach over a billion people, he’s tackling some of humanity’s most significant challenges. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of space travel, how we improve the healthcare system, and how we design the education system of the future. Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit Shaker&Spoon.com/Creative to learn more and use the promo code creative to get 20$ off your first order Naveen Jain has built multiple successful businesses across different industries. With a combination of the right mindset and a mission to solve problems that reach over a billion people, he’s tackling some of humanity’s most significant challenges. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of space travel, how we improve the healthcare system, and how we design the education system of the future. Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit Shaker&Spoon.com/Creative to learn more and use the promo code creative to get 20$ off your first order

Amber Rae came into the world with a lot of wonder. But that shifted into worry, which was influenced by the need for validation and approval from certain peers. After building a life and career that looked successful on paper, she decided to follow her curiosity, choose herself, and choose wonder. AMBER RAE is an author, artist, and speaker devoted to inspiring people to express the fullness of their gifts. Mind Body Green called her “The Brené Brown of Wonder.” Previously, Amber helped launch six best-selling books as Chief Evangelist of Seth Godin’s publishing experiment and started an “accelerator for your life” called The Bold Academy. She lives in Brooklyn and around the world. She’s the author of Choose Wonder Over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential.  Sponsors Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to learn more and use the promo code creative to get 20$ off your first order Amber Rae came into the world with a lot of wonder. But that shifted into worry, which was influenced by the need for validation and approval from certain peers. After building a life and career that looked successful on paper, she decided to follow her curiosity, choose herself, and choose wonder. AMBER RAE is an author, artist, and speaker devoted to inspiring people to express the fullness of their gifts. Mind Body Green called her “The Brené Brown of Wonder.” Previously, Amber helped launch six best-selling books as Chief Evangelist of Seth Godin’s publishing experiment and started an “accelerator for your life” called The Bold Academy. She lives in Brooklyn and around the world. She’s the author of Choose Wonder Over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential.  Sponsors Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to learn more and use the promo code creative to get 20$ off your first order

The question no longer is whether or not technology is good or bad for us; it’s now “What do we do with it?” And there’s nobody in the world right now who can better answer that question than Amy Blankson. Through technology, Blankson has been working on implementing positive psychology strategies in new and inventive ways. Take a listen to hear how she does that and how she views the new technology in our lives! Amy Blankson is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two Presidents (President Bush and President Clinton). She received a Presidential appointment to serve a five-year term on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National Service and was one of the youngest delegates to the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future.  Amy received her BA from Harvard and MBA from Yale School of Management. In 2007, she co-founded GoodThink to bring the science of happiness to life for organizations and individuals. She is currently doing research in partnership with Google to determine how to make positive psychology strategies stick and create sustainable positive change. She serves as a Visioneer for the Xprize Foundation for Personal Health and was a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Amy is the author of two books: Ripple’s Effect and The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies to Balance Productivity and Well-being in the Digital Era. The question no longer is whether or not technology is good or bad for us; it’s now “What do we do with it?” And there’s nobody in the world right now who can better answer that question than Amy Blankson. Through technology, Blankson has been working on implementing positive psychology strategies in new and inventive ways. Take a listen to hear how she does that and how she views the new technology in our lives! Amy Blankson is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two Presidents (President Bush and President Clinton). She received a Presidential appointment to serve a five-year term on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National Service and was one of the youngest delegates to the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future.  Amy received her BA from Harvard and MBA from Yale School of Management. In 2007, she co-founded GoodThink to bring the science of happiness to life for organizations and individuals. She is currently doing research in partnership with Google to determine how to make positive psychology strategies stick and create sustainable positive change. She serves as a Visioneer for the Xprize Foundation for Personal Health and was a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Amy is the author of two books: Ripple’s Effect and The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies to Balance Productivity and Well-being in the Digital Era.

Life doesn’t always go how you anticipate. Ben Feder was living the business dream and was on top of the corporate world, but something didn’t feel right. Despite him being at the top his game in his field, he made a dramatic shift in life and discovered what it truly means to be “successful” in life in the process. Ben Feder is senior executive at Tencent, the Chinese global conglomerate that owns WeChat and dominates China’s internet-related media and technology industries. He was CEO of Take Two Interactive, the successful video game company, before that. He’s the author of Take Off Your Shoes. Life doesn’t always go how you anticipate. Ben Feder was living the business dream and was on top of the corporate world, but something didn’t feel right. Despite him being at the top his game in his field, he made a dramatic shift in life and discovered what it truly means to be “successful” in life in the process. Ben Feder is senior executive at Tencent, the Chinese global conglomerate that owns WeChat and dominates China’s internet-related media and technology industries. He was CEO of Take Two Interactive, the successful video game company, before that. He’s the author of Take Off Your Shoes.

You wouldn’t think someone who grew up in poverty and with an abusive father — who was also a pimp — would end up becoming a successful president and CEO. But that’s the story of JT McCormick. He used lessons he learned as a child, in his first job cleaning toilets, and in how his father treated others to become the man he is now. JT McCormick was raised poor and is the son of a pimp. He’s now the President & CEO at Book in a Box and was the President of technology company HeadSpring previously. He’s also the author of I Got There: How I Overcame Racism, Poverty, and Abuse to Achieve the American Dream. You wouldn’t think someone who grew up in poverty and with an abusive father — who was also a pimp — would end up becoming a successful president and CEO. But that’s the story of JT McCormick. He used lessons he learned as a child, in his first job cleaning toilets, and in how his father treated others to become the man he is now. JT McCormick was raised poor and is the son of a pimp. He’s now the President & CEO at Book in a Box and was the President of technology company HeadSpring previously. He’s also the author of I Got There: How I Overcame Racism, Poverty, and Abuse to Achieve the American Dream.

Everyone wants to perform better and optimize their life so they can live better and longer. Well, Ben Greenfield has figured out ways to do all that. Whether it’s via bio-feedback, “smart drugs,” or specialized breathing, he’s living a more enhanced life and working towards thinking better and living longer. He shares his experiences with us and tells how we can all improve our lives! Ben Greenfield graduated high school at 15 and began college at 16. He was a tennis player in college and spent four years studying anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pharmaceuticals, microbiology, biochemistry and nutrition, eventually rising to the top of his class, completing an internship at Duke University and the National Football League, then graduating in 2004 at 20 years old as the top senior in his class at University of Idaho. He’s now the founder and CEO of Kion and author of the best-selling book Beyond Training. Everyone wants to perform better and optimize their life so they can live better and longer. Well, Ben Greenfield has figured out ways to do all that. Whether it’s via bio-feedback, “smart drugs,” or specialized breathing, he’s living a more enhanced life and working towards thinking better and living longer. He shares his experiences with us and tells how we can all improve our lives! Ben Greenfield graduated high school at 15 and began college at 16. He was a tennis player in college and spent four years studying anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pharmaceuticals, microbiology, biochemistry and nutrition, eventually rising to the top of his class, completing an internship at Duke University and the National Football League, then graduating in 2004 at 20 years old as the top senior in his class at University of Idaho. He’s now the founder and CEO of Kion and author of the best-selling book Beyond Training.

Elle Luna was rejected from every law school she applied to. After that, she stood at a crossroads between what she felt “should” do and what she “must” do. But thanks to a recurring dream that led to a life-changing painting, she was able to find her calling. Take a listen to her story of overcoming adversity, trusting in her community, and how following her “must” changed her life! Elle Luna is a designer, painter and writer.  She also runs a textile venture, the Bulan Project., a collaboration with master batik artists in Bali, and has previously worked at international design firm IDEO and with teams to build Mailbox’s iPhone App, redesign Uber’s iPhone App and scale the storytelling platform Medium.  You can follow her on twitter @elleluna. Elle Luna was rejected from every law school she applied to. After that, she stood at a crossroads between what she felt “should” do and what she “must” do. But thanks to a recurring dream that led to a life-changing painting, she was able to find her calling. Take a listen to her story of overcoming adversity, trusting in her community, and how following her “must” changed her life! Elle Luna is a designer, painter and writer.  She also runs a textile venture, the Bulan Project., a collaboration with master batik artists in Bali, and has previously worked at international design firm IDEO and with teams to build Mailbox’s iPhone App, redesign Uber’s iPhone App and scale the storytelling platform Medium.  You can follow her on twitter @elleluna.

Growing up a refugee, Nataly Kogan learned all about suffering as a child. She was raised to believe that the only way good things could happen or that she could achieve success was through hard work and suffering first. But through years and years of study and redoing that thought process, she’s learned that suffering isn’t always necessary for happiness. She shares her thoughts about happiness, starting her company Happier, the science behind kindness, and more with us. Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to get $20 off your first order! Nataly Kogan came to the United States as a refugee when she was 13, and she’s become a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist in her career. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Happier Inc. Growing up a refugee, Nataly Kogan learned all about suffering as a child. She was raised to believe that the only way good things could happen or that she could achieve success was through hard work and suffering first. But through years and years of study and redoing that thought process, she’s learned that suffering isn’t always necessary for happiness. She shares her thoughts about happiness, starting her company Happier, the science behind kindness, and more with us. Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to get $20 off your first order! Nataly Kogan came to the United States as a refugee when she was 13, and she’s become a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist in her career. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Happier Inc.

Do you want to truly make the impossible, well, possible? Tim Ferriss visited with us to talk about how to do just that. He discusses how to compensate for your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths while developing new skills along the way. Make your “impossible” dreams become reality! Timothy Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People”, Forbes Magazine’s “Names You Need to Know,” and is the 7th “most powerful” personality on Newsweek’s Digital 100 Power Index for 2012. He is an angel investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, and 20+ more) and author of The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Chef, and The Four Hour Body.  Do you want to truly make the impossible, well, possible? Tim Ferriss visited with us to talk about how to do just that. He discusses how to compensate for your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths while developing new skills along the way. Make your “impossible” dreams become reality! Timothy Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People”, Forbes Magazine’s “Names You Need to Know,” and is the 7th “most powerful” personality on Newsweek’s Digital 100 Power Index for 2012. He is an angel investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, and 20+ more) and author of The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Chef, and The Four Hour Body. 

Gabriel Wyner was best known for his opera singing, but he moved on from that and now focuses on helping people become fluent in foreign languages. But he doesn’t just teach languages to people through typical means; he helps people comprehend those languages in much easier, more intuitive ways. Hear his story about transitioning from one career to the next, how humans learn language, and more! Gabriel Wyner graduated summa cum laude from USC (where he won the school’s Renaissance Award) with degrees in mechanical engineering and vocal arts, and has gone on to distinguish himself as an opera singer. He intends to learn one language a year for the rest of his life. Gabriel Wyner was best known for his opera singing, but he moved on from that and now focuses on helping people become fluent in foreign languages. But he doesn’t just teach languages to people through typical means; he helps people comprehend those languages in much easier, more intuitive ways. Hear his story about transitioning from one career to the next, how humans learn language, and more! Gabriel Wyner graduated summa cum laude from USC (where he won the school’s Renaissance Award) with degrees in mechanical engineering and vocal arts, and has gone on to distinguish himself as an opera singer. He intends to learn one language a year for the rest of his life.

When you think of a successful business person, do you think of someone who dropped out of school and hates “hustle” in work? Well you should, because that’s Amy Birks. She’s a hugely successful business strategist who wants to take all the unnecessary work out of life and help you create a “hustle-free” business. Hear about her journey to her career, her “GPS brain” and how it works, how becoming a mother changed what she brings to her life, and more! Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to get $20 off your first order! Amy Birks is a business strategist for entrepreneurs. She’s the author of The Hustle-Free Business and calls herself the “Strategy Ninja.” When you think of a successful business person, do you think of someone who dropped out of school and hates “hustle” in work? Well you should, because that’s Amy Birks. She’s a hugely successful business strategist who wants to take all the unnecessary work out of life and help you create a “hustle-free” business. Hear about her journey to her career, her “GPS brain” and how it works, how becoming a mother changed what she brings to her life, and more! Shaker & Spoon – Think of Shaker & Spoon as Blue Apron but for cocktails! They deliver a craft cocktail experience right to your living room. Each box has three brand new recipes created by world-class bartenders. And they make it easy to create your cocktail! Visit shakerandspoon.com/creative to get $20 off your first order! Amy Birks is a business strategist for entrepreneurs. She’s the author of The Hustle-Free Business and calls herself the “Strategy Ninja.”

When Brad Montague created Kid President, he didn’t anticipate how successful it would become. But to him, the process of creating that series revealed to him the importance of messengers in our lives, how small moments can create spectacular encouragement, and much more. Hear his story as he shares with us all about that project and more! Skillshare – Skillshare is giving Unmistakable Creative listeners a month of unlimited access — absolutely FREE! Go to www.skillshare.com/create to redeem your free month. Brad Montague is the creator and co-producer of Kid President and founder of Love in Stereo.  When Brad Montague created Kid President, he didn’t anticipate how successful it would become. But to him, the process of creating that series revealed to him the importance of messengers in our lives, how small moments can create spectacular encouragement, and much more. Hear his story as he shares with us all about that project and more! Skillshare – Skillshare is giving Unmistakable Creative listeners a month of unlimited access — absolutely FREE! Go to www.skillshare.com/create to redeem your free month. Brad Montague is the creator and co-producer of Kid President and founder of Love in Stereo.