Move Faster w/ Jake Isham

Jake Isham
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

What does it actually take to build a career as a creative? Move Faster with Jake Isham is a solo podcast for artists of all kinds — filmmakers, photographers, musicians, actors, and beyond — who are serious about turning their craft into a sustainable career. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker, published photographer, and creative agency founder Jake Isham — whose work has generated over 1 billion views online — each episode openly shares the real lessons from his ongoing journey as a working creative, as he figures it out in real time. From mindset to marketing, productivity to business strat

  1. 6D AGO

    The Power of Silence: Why Artists Need to Stop Announcing and Start Doing

    You get excited. You tell people. They have opinions. Now you're off course. In this episode, Jake makes the case for keeping your mouth shut — until the work speaks for itself. Everyone has an opinion about what you should be doing. Your friends, your family, your mentors — even people five steps ahead of you. The moment you open your mouth about a plan, you're inviting all of it in. And sometimes the noise isn't worth it. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake gets into the power of silence — not as a communication strategy, but as a creative survival skill. He shares what happened when he casually mentioned he was starting a weight loss journey to two friends in the fitness space. He didn't ask for advice. He knew what he was doing. He'd lost 30–40 pounds multiple times. Didn't matter — the unsolicited opinions came anyway, and suddenly he was on the defensive about his own plan. The lesson isn't to go dark on everyone. It's to be strategic about when you share, who you share with, and what you're actually asking for when you do. Jake breaks down three ways to handle it — stay quiet until the work is done, brace for the feedback and hold your ground, or set the terms upfront by telling people what you need from the conversation. He also talks about what it takes to actually trust yourself as an artist — which is harder than any of this — and why silence is one of the few tools that protects your instincts long enough to act on them. In this episode: Why announcing your plans can quietly derail themThe three ways to handle the opinions you didn't ask forHow Jake and his wife set communication terms before every hard conversationWhy artists have to protect their instincts — and how silence helps do thatThe journal trick and other ways to "say it" without opening the door

    9 min

  2. MAY 13

    The 4 Core Values That Drive Everything I Do as a Creative

    Nobody hands you a list of your core values. You have to go find them. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake shares the four core values he lives and works by — not because they looked good on a wall, but because he had to think for the first time about what actually mattered to him. He starts with competence — the one his parents drilled into him from day one — and breaks down the three-step framework he pulled from The Way to Happiness: look, learn, practice. No shortcuts. No skipping steps. Just doing the work. Then he makes the case for having fun, which sounds obvious until you watch people stress themselves into misery over things that, in his words, don't require a 911 call. From his wife's TikTok content to his brother's wedding, Jake keeps coming back to the same question: can we make this a game? From there: communication. Always more, never less. And delivered with the right tone — because how you say it matters just as much as saying it at all. And finally, the one that took the longest to learn — lead with respect and admiration. Not liking. Not agreeing. Just respect. He calls it the ultimate superpower, especially with people who've wronged you. In this episode: The 3-step framework for becoming genuinely competent at your craftWhy "have fun" is actually a serious value, not a throwaway lineHow communication creates problems — and why the only fix is more communicationThe difference between liking someone and respecting them (and why it changes everything)Why you need to know your values before you can hold anyone else to a standard

    12 min

  3. MAY 6

    Find Your Team: The Three People You Need to Win

    Most people think their "team" is just the people they work with. It's not. In this episode, Jake breaks down the three roles every artist and entrepreneur needs in their corner — mentors, teammates, and cheerleaders — and why confusing them is costing you. Your team is bigger than your business. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake breaks down the three types of people every creative needs in their life — and why mixing them up will slow you down. He draws a clear line between coaches (you pay for skill) and mentors (you earn through action), and shares how he's found mentors not in classrooms, but through YouTube rabbit holes, working alongside entrepreneurs on set, and just learning to shut up and ask better questions. Then there's your teammates — the people in the trenches with you, pushing toward the same level. And finally, your cheerleaders — the ones who may not be playing your game, but always want to see you win. Jake makes the case that knowing which role someone fills changes everything about how you show up in that relationship. In this episode: Why mentors aren't coaches — and what you actually owe themHow to find mentors without a traditional networkThe difference between teammates and cheerleaders (and why it took Jake years to stop confusing them)Why your spouse needs to be your number one cheerleader — minimumWhen it's time to become the mentor yourself

    19 min

  4. MAR 31

    How to Use AI to Make More Art (Without Letting It Replace You)

    Recorded in March 2026 — right in the middle of one of the fastest-moving moments in AI history — Jake Isham shares his honest take on what AI means for artists, and why most of the conversation around it is missing the point entirely. Jake pushes back on the growing narrative that AI can or should replace human creativity, breaking down why the grind of mastering a craft is exactly what makes great art worth experiencing — and why shortcuts have never produced legends. In this episode, Jake covers: His response to the Suno CEO's viral clip claiming people don't actually want to learn instruments — and why he thinks that's completely wrongWhy AI is a tool, not a replacement — and the exact philosophy Jake uses to keep that distinction clearThe difference between an AI assistant and an AI agent — and how to know which one you actually needReal examples of how Jake uses AI daily: reviewing contracts, building automations, managing his business in GoHighLevel, and moreHow to identify what's eating your time and let AI handle it — so you can get back to making artWhy learning AI right now is like learning the internet in the early 2000s — and what gets left behind if you don'tThis episode isn't about fear. It's about leverage. The world needs more human art now more than ever — and AI might be the thing that finally gives you the time to make it.

    12 min

  5. MAR 24

    The Simplest Career Advice Nobody Follows: Build a Body of Work You're Proud Of

    In this episode, Jake Isham breaks down the single most important piece of advice for artists trying to build a lasting career — and it came from filmmaker Robert Rodriguez: build a body of work you're proud of. Jake unpacks what that actually looks like in practice, sharing how he personally stepped away from his creative work while building his agency — and how shooting 14 short films in four months helped him rebuild the creative muscle he'd lost. In this episode, Jake covers: Why creativity is a muscle — and what happens when you stop using itThe 4 types of people every artist needs in their corner: mentors, coaches, hustlers, and cheerleaders — and why each plays a different roleHow to study the careers of artists you admire (and why Robert Rodriguez is Jake's north star)The Tom Cruise advice to Glen Powell on Top Gun: Maverick that reframes how you should think about your career trajectoryWhy your brand is your resume — and how to protect it by being intentional about the art you attach your name toThe mindset shift that lets you go from making art on the side to building a full-time creative careerWhether you're a filmmaker, photographer, actor, or any kind of creative — this episode is a reminder to zoom out from the grind and get back to what matters most: making art you're genuinely proud of.

    16 min

  6. MAR 17

    Why I Killed The Artistic Entrepreneur Podcast and Built Something Better: The Philosophy Behind The Move Faster Podcast

    Welcome to the very first episode of the Move Faster Podcast — formerly known as The Artistic Entrepreneur. In this launch episode, host Jake Isham pulls back the curtain on why he's rebranding, where this show has been, and exactly where it's going. Jake shares the raw origin story behind The Artistic Entrepreneur — a philosophy born from his own hard lessons as an actor, musician, filmmaker, and agency owner. From performing in front of thousands to running a recording studio to grinding through film school, Jake details how years of chasing art without understanding business left him broke and frustrated — while his younger brother was quietly pulling in $90K part-time with nothing more than a business mindset. That turning point sparked everything: a deep dive into entrepreneurship, a decade-plus of learning, and ultimately a new core philosophy — move faster. Jake breaks down why speed of execution has been the single greatest driver of his growth, why confronting challenges head-on accelerates success, and why he believes this principle applies to every artist and entrepreneur. He also teases what's ahead: The Artistic Entrepreneur will return as a dedicated interview series featuring successful artists, while Move Faster will be Jake's personal record — his lessons, learnings, and the ongoing journey of building something big. Think of it as the vlog Steve Jobs never made. In this episode: The origin story of The Artistic EntrepreneurWhy talent alone isn't enough — and what the business-minded artist does differentlyThe humbling moment that changed Jake's entire approachWhat "Move Faster" means as a life and business philosophyThe vision for this podcast and what's coming in 2026

    11 min

  7. MAR 11

    Nobody Talks About THIS Side of Being an Artist…

    Most artists spend years perfecting their craft—but never learn the business side. That’s why so many insanely talented people stay broke, stuck, or overlooked. In this episode of The Artistic Entrepreneur, I break down the essentials every artist needs to know if they want to build a real, sustainable career. 👉 You’ll learn: Why being an artist automatically makes you an entrepreneur. How to protect your work legally and financially. The truth about agents, managers, and contracts. How to price your art without undercharging (or overcharging). The #1 marketing strategy that beats everything else. Why word-of-mouth is still king in the digital age. If you’ve ever wondered why your incredible art isn’t reaching enough people—or why it’s not paying the bills—this episode will change how you think about your career. 🔥 Don’t just make art. Build your business. —✦ Subscribe for more episodes on the business side of creativity.✦ Drop your questions in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

    11 min

  8. MAR 4

    PR = Perceived Reality: How I Tricked Everyone Into Thinking I Was a World Traveler

    Everything on the internet is a lie… or at least, it can be. In this episode, I break down the hard truth about how people perceive you online and why your “perceived reality” (PR) matters more than you think. From traveling the world on nonprofit gigs with no paycheck, to tricking friends into believing I lived in Japan, I share real stories of how I learned to control my own narrative—and how you can too. You’ll learn: Why perceived reality is more powerful than public relations. How simple content posting can make people see you as a “working artist.” The mindset shift that turns you from “broke” to “booked.” Tactical steps to shape how people perceive you through social media, art, and presentation. 👉 Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or creator, this episode will show you how to stop letting others define you and start crafting the story you want the world to believe.

    9 min
See All (61)

About

What does it actually take to build a career as a creative? Move Faster with Jake Isham is a solo podcast for artists of all kinds — filmmakers, photographers, musicians, actors, and beyond — who are serious about turning their craft into a sustainable career. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker, published photographer, and creative agency founder Jake Isham — whose work has generated over 1 billion views online — each episode openly shares the real lessons from his ongoing journey as a working creative, as he figures it out in real time. From mindset to marketing, productivity to business strat

Information