Daring Forever (Find your Extraordinary)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Seth Epstein from Los York ~
Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic
daringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.com
Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Seth Epstein is a creative entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Los York, a global creative company of self-described “global nomads of the arts.” In this conversation, Radim and Seth skip the business talk and follow the story behind it. ~
It starts with a furious client phone call in the mid-’90s, in the early days of Fuel, one of the first Mac-based motion design studios in LA. Inspired by the Zen parable “Emptying the Cup,” Seth asked to come in and simply listen. That meeting became the basis of how he listens, leads and wins work to this day.
Seth talks about growing up between a hippie philosopher father and a disciplined, self-improvement-driven mother. He sold Fuel to Razorfish at 31 and then spent nearly a decade lost, without purpose. At one low point, his family couldn’t afford groceries. 
A small passion film made with one camera, about his hero Shawn Stüssy, opened the door back into the industry. It led to taking over Stardust and eventually to Los York, whose name, ethos and clothing label all trace back to Stüssy’s International Tribe. The episode ends with a reflection on why creatives keep returning to their hands, and on the universal urge to grow towards the light.
Key takeaways
You can’t have a breakthrough without a breakdown. Breakdowns are a signal that growth is around the corner, so go looking for them.
Empty the cup. Let people say everything, don’t defend yourself, then repeat back what you heard so they feel fully heard.
There are three kinds of listening: distracted, listening to respond (the cocktail-party default) and listening to recreate. The last one wins work and builds relationships.
Write your own notes. Seth handwrites his and doesn’t let AI do it, because the quality of listening is the competitive edge.
Money without purpose leads to misery. The “someday my prince will come” story falls apart without community and meaning.
When everything is stripped away, go back to home base. Ask what you’re good at and what you’d do for free.
Constraints create great work. One camera, no crew and nothing to lose made a hero-level ask feel easy.
Comfort kills. Comfort is when we start trimming our dreams and ignoring the “wouldn’t it be cool if” urge.
One meeting can change your life. Stay open and available, because a throwaway comment can change your direction.
Find your North Star. Look for people living the life you want and let them pull you forward.
Be a multi-hyphenate. Keep finding new ways to create, including being bad at ceramics.
Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic
daringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.com
Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Amy Swift ~
Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic
daringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.com
Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Amy Swift is a singer and songwriter from London. She grew up in South East London on her parents' Motown, jazz and blues records and was going to gigs from about 15. ~
Her career started on Myspace and in a part-time job selling subscriptions at Music Week, where she "bullied" her way into industry events. Amy Winehouse was breaking through at the same time, so Amy took an alias, Berry Farley, which was her nan's name. 
Features on house tracks followed, then fronting Pacific State with The Shapeshifters and a deal with Universal. She was grateful for all of it, but she never wanted to be just a voice on a house track, because she had stories to tell.
She and Radim talk about where songs come from, and about learning to write to a brief for sync, TV, adverts and even a musical for a cruise ship. They also cover the "twisted fairy tale" of publishing contracts, a week-long writing camp in Denmark with no phones, and why her track Moving ended up using the first demo vocal she recorded.
Takeaways
Songs start with a feeling. Ask yourself how you feel and what you want to say, then the melody and words follow.
Anyone can write, because we all share heartache, loss and grief.
Writing to a brief is a different way of thinking. The constraints can free you up instead of limiting you.
Sync work became a real income during COVID. It also put her music in front of hundreds of thousands of people through a Netflix show.
Be open about the commercial side of being an artist. There's no shame in having more than one way to earn from music.
Labels and publishing deals aren't the be-all and end-all, and they can leave you stuck.
Less is more. When it feels good, stop, because overcooking can take months or even years.
Your songs capture a moment in time, and that's what makes them beautiful years later.
Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic
daringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.com
Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few standout moments from this week's guest interview with Nils Leonard from Uncommon Creative Studio ~

Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic
daringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.com
Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFc
Free audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobook
Book bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.uk

Lux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)
November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)