One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced lately as a creator is finding the balance between “being consistent” and not putting out something I don’t fully believe in. How do we stay professional and "show up," as Seth Godin says, while keeping our work honest and meaningful? TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Understanding why you're creating and who it’s for.Accepting that inspiration doesn’t come on demand—and that’s normal.Using structure and deadlines to create space for creativity.Reusing ideas...

You might think content from a project management company would be dry, right? Think again. Today I sat down with Chris Cunningham, a founding member of ClickUp and the head of their social media marketing, to explore their unconventional approach to content creation. Believe it or not, ClickUp isn’t just making business content—they’re breaking all the rules by taking inspiration from comedy and entertainment (think Saturday Night Live) while still delivering value to their audience. Chris...

Jimmy asked for marketing advice, and I gave a couple of answers he might not have expected. WATCH EPISODES ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady  CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/ Access full show notes here: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/63

There isn’t a straightforward career path for creatives. You’re often figuring it out on your own and facing resistance. When is it "too lofty" of a dream? Where’s the line between "This isn’t for me" and just needing patience? Today, I connected with Jay Worsley, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, here to share what it took to build a career (and life) telling stories. In this conversation, he shares his decision-making process and why he "says no as much as he can" (and sometimes says yes for...

Today, I'm answering a question from William about what to do when friends and family are critical of your dreams. Clips Mentioned: Dan Martell TikTok Clip: https://www.tiktok.com/@money.secretx/video/7424834138139659538?_t=8qgENScavut&_r=1Lewis Howes with Jen Sincero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FV7YCDfp5A&t=42s WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady  CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask Follow Heather on IG:...

The conversation around money and art is a tricky one. What do you do when folks aren't buying your work? How much should you really be charging? And why do so many people feel uncomfortable even talking about this? Today, we have with us Amie McNee, the author of We Need Your Art and the voice behind the wildly popular community Inspired to Write, where she helps her global audience of creatives dismantle limiting narratives and start taking their work seriously. In this episode, you’ll hear...

Negative comments. Some folks advise that you “just shouldn’t look at them.” What if there was another trick? ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/episodes/59 Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask  Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/  WATCH Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Eric Petersen is an American actor, singer, and comedian – most recently known for his leading role as Kevin in Kevin Can F**k Himself. You may have also seen him in Kirstie, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and even Broadway plays like School of Rock, Shrek, and Escape to Margaritaville. He also co-hosts one of the biggest Christmas podcasts – The Christmas Countdown Show.  In this conversation, we dig into how to keep the magic of the creative spirit alive while navigating the business...

Brandi asked, 'What are the three best books on tactical storytelling?' I share them here, along with examples of what they taught me. Books Mentioned: Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks: https://amzn.to/4877Gs6The Best Story Wins by Matthew Luhn: https://amzn.to/4dMxHxQOn Writing by Stephen King: https://amzn.to/3XZ7g2dSave the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4dGHQMI Episodes Mentioned: Matthew Dicks:    • How to be a Better Storyteller | @mat...   Matthew Luhn:...

You may have worked hard to get the opportunity in front of you—whether it’s landing a speaking gig, getting cast in an independent film, or finally gathering the courage to post content online for the first time. Even though you genuinely want it, your body may be in full freak-out mode. In today’s conversation, I sat down with Will Reynolds—an actor, writer, composer, and seasoned performer who has written songs for Central Park on Apple TV and Disney. We talked about why Will believes...

Someone sent me an email the other day. The bottom of it said, “Sometimes I worry that I am too old to do X”. My response? You are too old. Here is why. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/55  Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask  Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/  WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Today’s episode is a solo one. Let’s talk about Apathy. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/54  Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask  Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/  WATCH Episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady 

Joshua Dixon is the founder of Admire Wear, a platform that explores issues around mental health and helps its community rediscover their self-worth. After surviving a life-threatening pit bull attack as a little boy, Joshua is on a mission to help others overcome deep struggles and find purpose in pain. In this conversation, you will hear how, as a grown man, Joshua has conceptualized what happened to him and used his story to impact the lives of tens of thousands of people. Please support...

Michael Jamin is a veteran TV writer and showrunner with over 20 years in the industry, known for his work on shows like Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, and Beavis and Butt-Head. Michael is also the author of the bestselling collection of personal essays, A Paper Orchestra, which he tours as a one-man show. In our conversation, we explored how to draw inspiration from small, relatable moments and the significance of writing through the lens of character. Michael shared valuable insights on...

Today, I connected with Cindy Zaweski, an award-winning journalist, storyteller, and content strategist. With over 15 years of experience in journalism, she left her job as an executive editor and content director for a luxury magazine in New York to open her own boutique content marketing agency. Since then, she has built a loyal online community of over 80,000 people. She helps founders connect their expertise and passions through authentic storytelling—get this—all while rejecting...

Dr. David Hindin is a trauma and critical care surgeon at Stanford University who is... obsessed with storytelling. You heard me right—a surgeon who tells stories. In addition to serving as the Associate Chair of Innovation and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, and the Assistant Director of Stanford’s Biodesign Faculty Fellowship, he also developed a storytelling course at Stanford to help physicians and engineers enhance their communication skills, blending his passion for medicine...

If you look up the name “Neal Foard” on social media, you will see a man standing in front of a black background telling stories. No flashy edits, no animations or jump cuts. It’s just him, the camera, and while staring straight into the screen, delivering powerful, personal stories. Guess what? It’s working. As an award-winning advertising and marketing creative professional with over three decades of experience, Neal has crafted successful campaigns for global brands such as Budweiser,...

Alejo Porras is a graphic artist and storyteller specializing in sketchnotes. I met him at a conference where I was speaking a few months ago. Afterward, he walked up to me and handed me this—a summary of everything I had said, designed in this insanely cool graphic. WOW. Apparently, this is a thing—artists who create pieces of art summarizing lectures, talks, etc., to help people remember what was shared. Cool idea, but how do you market something like this? What Alejo told me he does…is...

Elisabeth Wykert  is a stand-up comedian and actress, famously known for her leotard dance videos. Yes, you heard that right. I’ve been following her since the pandemic when she decided one day, you know what, it's time to put on a leotard, dance in public, and put it on the internet. Definitely the type of person I want to know. What happened afterward is pretty mind-blowing. Growing an engaged audience of over a million people over the past couple of years, I’ve been so curious about her...

Susan George is the founder and CEO of Mediary, where she launches and scales top brands on TikTok through strategic influencer campaigns. As a Pop/Soul recording artist herself, she knows firsthand that pursuing creativity seriously as a career makes you a business. You need to not only be creatively talented but also be intentional about knowing how to monetize. During the pandemic, she started making videos on TikTok, landed big brand collaborations for herself, and eventually helped other...

Today, I connected with Rivky Gross, a hypnotherapist and somatic practitioner for heart centered leaders. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/45 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: When “healing” is actually a defense mechanism“Feeling” again (when it feels uncomfortable)What “urgency” is a sign of... Connect with Rivky Gross: https://www.rivky-gross.com/  Ask Heather a Question: https://www.heatherparady.com/ask  Follow Heather on IG:...

Tyler Tometich landed his dream career, as a visual effects artist his career spanned Hollywood hits like Thor, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel. Transitioning from film production to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyler quickly amassed a following of nearly 500,000 across social media platforms by producing viral videos that resonate with visual effects enthusiasts. Tyler then shifted gears to focus full-time on his creator business, founding Viral VFX to teach aspiring creators...

Today, I connected with Rain Bennett, a two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and competitive storyteller. In this conversation, we dig into how to increase retention and engagement in your stories through sequencing and developing a strong payoff. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/43  TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How to properly sequence your storiesDeveloping a strong payoff in your contentWhy you might want to put your CTAs in the middle of your...

Today I connected with Adam Ivy, who helps creative entrepreneurs develop raving fans through what he calls 'Attention Marketing.' In this conversation, we dig into how to apply attention marketing to our content, how to make CTAs less icky, and how to create entertaining content while building a deep connection with our audience. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/42  TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: The 'Illusion of Productivity'Adam’s 'BRAVE' framework for CreatorsHow...