You Gotta Hear This! A Podcast for Video Creators & Storytellers

Paul Steven Forrest
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

You Gotta Hear This! is the go-to podcast for video creators who want to master the art of storytelling. Hosted by writer, director, and creative coach Paul Steven Forrest, each episode dives into practical techniques, insider tips, and real-world strategies to help you shape raw footage into powerful, engaging stories. If you’re ready to level up your storytelling skills, this podcast is for you!

  1. 4d ago

    Ep 70 - Secret Sauce: Shaping Your Reputation

    Your reputation isn't built by what you say about yourself. It's built by what other people say after you've left the room. In this episode, Paul explores why your secret sauce isn't just a skill — it's the consistent value you bring to every project, every client, and every relationship. From a behind-the-scenes television story to the quiet habits that make people want to hire you again, you'll discover why reputation is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever build. Who you know may get you in the room... what you know helps you do the work... but it's your reputation that gets you invited back. You'll learn: Why talent alone isn't enough How your "secret sauce" shapes your reputation. The difference between being remembered and being recommended. A television production story about trust, excellence, and showing up. Simple ways to strengthen your reputation starting today. Key Takeaway: Your secret sauce shapes your reputation. Every project, every conversation, and every interaction leaves an impression. The question isn't whether you're building a reputation—it's whether you're building the one you want. Next Steps: If today's episode challenged you, take a few minutes this week to ask three people you trust: "When you think about working with me, what's the first thing that comes to mind?" Their answers may reveal strengths you've never recognized—and opportunities to become even more valuable.   Connect with Paul at: paulstevenforrest.com

    Ep 70 - Secret Sauce: Shaping Your Reputation

  2. Jul 14

    Ep 69 - Secret Sauce: What's Yours?

    Every successful creative seems to have something extra. Not a better camera, more expensive gear, or a more impressive title—but a unique value that keeps people coming back. I call it their secret sauce. Years ago, when editing technology was changing, I realized I needed to grow or risk getting left behind. Learning to edit wasn't just about mastering software. It was about becoming more valuable. Little by little, I discovered new ways to make every story stronger, and in the process, I refined my own secret sauce. But here's the challenge: before you can refine your secret sauce, you have to know what's already in it. Think about the people who keep hiring you. Why do they call you back? What value do you consistently bring that makes their work better? Sometimes the answer isn't what you think. As one of my favorite freelance camera operators taught me, your greatest value may not be your technical skill—it may be your attitude, your work ethic, or your ability to make everyone around you better. This week, call five people you've worked with and ask them three simple questions: Why did you hire me? Why do you keep hiring me? What do I bring that makes the project better? Then listen. Because here's the truth: You know the recipe. Other people know the flavor. Your secret sauce isn't just what you do. It's the value you bring...and how you make everyone around you better. 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-gotta-hear-this/id1805367166 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vYCMlY3JtM0u2LoQFWQ60 📚 More creative resources, courses, and tools at: paulstevenforrest.com

    Ep 69 - Secret Sauce: What's Yours?

  3. Jul 7

    Ep 68 - Connect The Dots: Shoot For The Moon, And Work Backwards

    Every great creative project begins with a vision. Years ago, while working with a television director in Dallas, I learned a simple principle that has guided my work ever since. Before anyone picked up a camera or planned a shot, he'd gather the creative team together, talk through the assignment, kick around a few ideas... And then say, "Let's shoot for the moon... then work backwards." That wasn't a call to be unrealistic. It was a reminder to start with the biggest idea you can imagine, then build the plan that makes it possible. In this episode, you'll discover why beginning with the end in mind changes the way you approach creative projects, solve problems, and lead teams. Instead of settling for what's easy, you'll learn how aiming higher often leads to better, more innovative solutions. Whether you're producing videos, leading a ministry, telling stories, or building something new, this simple mindset can change the way you create. Let's connect these dots. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ 🌐 More resources: https://paulstevenforrest.com 📖 Get the book You REALLY Gotta See This!: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/you-really-gotta-see-this

    Ep 68 - Connect The Dots: Shoot For The Moon, And Work Backwards

  4. Jun 30

    Ep 67 - Connect The Dots: You Gotta Change Your Perespective

    What if the biggest breakthrough in your creativity isn't learning a new skill...but looking at the same subject from a different angle? In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul explores one of the most powerful storytelling tools available—perspective. From shooting inside an aerobatic airplane to using a jib camera in the studio, he shares real-world examples of how changing your viewpoint instantly changes what your audience feels. Whether you're creating videos, speaking from a stage, or telling stories through a camera, perspective shapes connection. The shots people remember are often the ones they weren't expecting to see. Sometimes the difference between ordinary and unforgettable is simply moving a few feet higher...lower...or seeing the story through someone else's eyes. In this episode you'll discover: Why perspective creates curiosity. How camera angles change emotion and engagement. The power of taking your audience where they can't normally go. Why creative breakthroughs often begin by changing how you see the story. Final Takeaway: When you change your perspective, you change your story. And when you change your story, you change what your audience experiences. 🎙️ Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-gotta-hear-this/id1815700712 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2d6tTq4N7Qp6P4Qm6nBf2m 🌐 Learn more about Paul Steven Forrest: https://paulstevenforrest.com 📘 Book: You REALLY Gotta See This! https://store.bookbaby.com/book/you-really-gotta-see-this

    Ep 67 - Connect The Dots: You Gotta Change Your Perespective

  5. Jun 23

    Ep 66 - Connect The Dots: Just Find A Way

    Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between an idea and reality isn't a lack of talent, resources, or opportunity. It's the decision to stop looking for a way forward. In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul explores a simple truth found in the stories of some of the world's most successful creatives: they didn't always have the perfect plan, the ideal circumstances, or all the answers. What they had was the determination to keep moving. From Broadway director Julie Taymor turning years of cultural exploration into a groundbreaking theatrical experience, to the everyday challenges faced by creatives, leaders, and storytellers, this episode examines how perseverance often matters more than certainty. Along the way, Paul shares why fear isn't always a signal to stop, how past experiences often become the raw material for future breakthroughs, and why the people who make the greatest impact are usually the ones who refuse to quit when the path isn't obvious. If you've ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure of your next step, this episode is a reminder that progress rarely comes from having all the answers. It comes from deciding to keep going.  Your next breakthrough may not require a new idea. It may simply require finding a way to use the one already in front of you. Listen & Subscribe: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: You Gotta Hear This! on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify: You Gotta Hear This! on Spotify Connect with Paul at: paulstevenforrest.com

    Ep 66 - Connect The Dots: Just Find A Way

  6. Jun 16

    Ep 65 - Next Level Series: Auditioning For Your Next Job

    Every project is an audition. Whether you realize it or not, the work you're doing today is shaping the opportunities you'll be offered tomorrow. Clients notice. Employers notice. Team members notice. And often, they're evaluating much more than your technical skills. In this episode, Paul explores a simple idea that's guided his entire creative career: the job you do today is an audition for the job you'll do tomorrow. Drawing from decades of experience in television production, live events, and creative leadership, he shares why attitude, preparation, flexibility, and teamwork often matter more than raw talent. Because while talent may get you hired, it's character and professionalism that get you invited back. You'll hear stories from the production world, insights about working with creative teams, and practical lessons that apply whether you're a video creator, storyteller, freelancer, church media volunteer, or creative professional. If you've ever wondered why some people keep getting opportunities while others seem to disappear after one project, this episode offers a valuable perspective. The truth is, every assignment, meeting, production, and client interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, how you work, and what it's like to have you on the team. Because your next opportunity may depend on the impression you're making right now. Looking for more insights on storytelling, creativity, and connecting with your audience? Check out Paul's book, You REALLY Gotta See This!: store.bookbaby.com/book/you-really-gotta-see-this  Connect with Paul and learn more about coaching, resources, workshops, and storytelling training at paulstevenforrest.com.

    Ep 65 - Next Level Series: Auditioning For Your Next Job

  7. Jun 10

    Ep 64 - Next Level Series: Building Your Creative Toolkit

    Every creative carries a toolkit. Some of the tools are obvious—cameras, microphones, editing software, lights, and lenses. But the most valuable tools often aren't found in a gear bag. They're the lessons learned from mentors, the experiences gained on difficult projects, the mistakes that taught us what not to do, and the skills we've collected along the way. In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul explores the importance of intentionally building your creative toolkit. Because the longer you create, the more you realize that success isn't about having the newest equipment—it's about having the right tools available when the moment arrives. You'll discover why curiosity is one of the most valuable tools a creator can possess, how every project adds something new to your creative toolbox, and why experiences often become more valuable than information. Paul also shares why the best creatives never stop learning, growing, and adding new skills to their toolkit. If you're a video creator, storyteller, communicator, or creative professional looking to take your work to the next level, this episode will challenge you to look beyond your gear and focus on the tools that truly make a difference. Because someday, a challenge, opportunity, or assignment will come your way—and the tools you've been collecting for years may be exactly what you need to create something extraordinary. Connect with Paul and learn more about coaching, resources, workshops, and storytelling training at paulstevenforrest.com. Looking for more insights on storytelling, creativity, and connecting with your audience? Check out Paul's book, You REALLY Gotta See This!:https://store.bookbaby.com/book/you-really-gotta-see-this

    Ep 64 - Next Level Series: Building Your Creative Toolkit

  8. Jun 2

    Ep 63 - Next Level Series: Permission to Imagine

    What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't a lack of talent, experience, or opportunity—but a lack of permission? In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul explores the power of imagination and why so many creative people stop dreaming long before they run out of potential. Inspired by a simple plaque on his office wall and lessons learned from decades in television, storytelling, and creative leadership, Paul shares why imagination is more than wishful thinking—it's often the first step toward meaningful change. Along the way, you'll hear stories about creative risk-taking, the value of curiosity, and why some of the world's most successful innovators started with ideas that seemed impossible at the time. Whether you're a filmmaker, writer, entrepreneur, ministry leader, or creative professional looking for your next step, this episode is a reminder that progress often begins when you give yourself permission to think beyond what is and imagine what could be. If you've been playing it safe, waiting for the perfect moment, or wondering if your best ideas are still ahead of you, this conversation may be exactly what you need to hear. Because every great story, business, ministry, and creative breakthrough starts the same way—with someone who had the courage to imagine it first.

    Ep 63 - Next Level Series: Permission to Imagine
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You Gotta Hear This! is the go-to podcast for video creators who want to master the art of storytelling. Hosted by writer, director, and creative coach Paul Steven Forrest, each episode dives into practical techniques, insider tips, and real-world strategies to help you shape raw footage into powerful, engaging stories. If you’re ready to level up your storytelling skills, this podcast is for you!

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