The MOOD Podcast

Matt Jacob
  • 5.0 (68)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The MOOD Podcast is a long-form conversation series exploring photography, creativity, identity, and the inner life of artists. Hosted by Matt Jacob, the show moves beyond technique and trends to examine why people make work, how creative voices are formed, and what it takes to sustain a meaningful artistic life. Through thoughtful, unhurried conversations with photographers, filmmakers, and creative thinkers from around the world, the podcast explores themes of process, mental health, ethics, purpose, legacy, and the tension between art and industry. Episodes are grounded, reflective, and often philosophical, offering listeners provocation of thought rather than formulaic answers to copy. The MOOD Podcast is less about instruction and more about understanding, aimed at emerging and established creatives who care not just about what they make, but why they make it.  At its core, The MOOD Podcast is the art of conversation, one frame at a time. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Instagram: @the_moodpodcast / @mattyj_ay Website: https://themoodpodcast.com.

  1. Your Story Isn’t Needed - Pie Aerts Finds Meaning Within The Pressure Machine Of Photography, E108

    1D AGO

    Your Story Isn’t Needed - Pie Aerts Finds Meaning Within The Pressure Machine Of Photography, E108

    In this episode, I sit down with photographer Pie Aerts to unpack the philosophies, struggles, and decisions that have shaped his work over the last decade. Pie is a documentary and wildlife photographer whose practice sits at the intersection of human presence, conservation, and long-form storytelling. He is also the founder of Prints for Wildlife, a platform that has raised over $2.5 million for conservation initiatives worldwide. Our conversation focuses on how Pie thinks about photography beyond aesthetics. We talk about self-doubt, ethics, money, responsibility, and what it actually takes to stay committed to a story over many years. A central thread is his 6-year project in southern Chile (titled COIRÓN), documenting the lives of the Puesteros, and how that work has evolved from an idea into a deeply personal body of work. My discussion with Pie was reflective for photographers who are thinking long-term, questioning their motives, and trying to balance meaning with sustainability. Other stuff we talk about: Pie Aerts’ background in documentary and wildlife photographyHis six-year long-term project with the Puesteros of ChileEthical responsibility, power, and care in long-form photographySelf-doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty as part of creative lifeWhy deep, meaningful photography rarely pays on its ownBuilding expeditions and community as a funding engineAuthenticity, AI, and the future of photography.During the part where we discuss his project 'COIRÓN', Pie shares details about his current Kickstarter campaign to fund the publication of his upcoming photobook COIRÓN on the Puesteros, produced with GOST Books. The book is scheduled for release in 2026, alongside a feature-length film developed from the same long-term project. Find kickstarter link below for you to support the project. Links for Pie and his work: Kickstarter Page here Instagram: @because.people.matter Website: pieaerts.com __________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 38m
  2. Finding Contentment, Craft, And Community In Photography - Answering Your Questions! Moments of Mood, 3.2

    JAN 21

    Finding Contentment, Craft, And Community In Photography - Answering Your Questions! Moments of Mood, 3.2

    What if your best work starts with a quiet cup and a clear mind? We kick off the year with an honest, unscripted 'Ask Me Anything' episode that explores how small rituals, sharper definitions, and a steadier inner compass can change both your art and your days. From an early morning espresso and two loyal dogs to the decision to ignore empty metrics, I trace a path from presence to better pictures, and hopefully a calmer life behind the lens. I talk about instinct, happiness, success, and the quieter realities of building a life around photography. We also move through what it actually takes to get better without burning out, why alignment matters more than attention, and the long game of creating work and communities that genuinely care. I hope it helps, and thanks for all of you who sent in questions. Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 7m
  3. Why Most Photographers Never Begin - Wesley Verhoeve, E107

    JAN 7

    Why Most Photographers Never Begin - Wesley Verhoeve, E107

    In this episode of The MOOD Podcast, I sit down with photographer, writer, and mentor Wesley Verhoeve for a grounded conversation about photography process, confidence, and learning how to make meaningful work without waiting for permission.  We talk about why so many photographers struggle with self-doubt, why overthinking stalls creative progress, and how showing your work and sharing your process can demystify photography and make growth feel possible again. Wesley reflects on his approach to learning photography through participation, not perfection, and explains how confidence is built by doing, not by being 'ready'.  We also explore the philosophy and process behind Wesley’s photo books 'NOTICE' and 'NOTICE Journal Vol. 1', including how routine, attention, and slowing down shaped both bodies of work. In this conversation, we cover: Why process matters more than talent in photographyWhy photographers often hate their own workHow overthinking blocks creative momentumWhere to start when photography feels overwhelmingShowing your work as a way to build confidenceThe role of community, feedback, and shared growth in photographyMaking photo books and long-term personal projects Follow Wesley and his  work: Website: wesley.co Instagram: @wesley His Books: wesley.co/shop __________________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 6m
  4. The Best Bits of 2025 - Moments of Mood, 3.1

    12/31/2025

    The Best Bits of 2025 - Moments of Mood, 3.1

    The year didn’t teach us to shoot faster. It taught us to go deeper. We close out 2025 by stitching together the most resonant moments from a season of hard questions and honest answers: why “quick fix” education fails creatives, how pricing for profit transforms freelancers into owners, and where empathy turns a portrait from performance into truth. Art stays at the centre. We explore ambiguity as a strength, and you’ll hear how long-form projects and photo books benefit from time and distance, how technique and tone evolve across a decade, and why music, language, and psychological safety can unlock authentic portraits. We examine the record-making power of photojournalism and face its mental health tolls with tools that actually help: self-care rituals, supportive networks, and realistic recovery in hostile environments. Threaded through everything is a humbling sense of place—grief and hope living side by side, and nature reminding us the story isn’t finished. If you’ve felt the pull to slow down, to price honestly, to build community, and to let your work breathe, please take stock and listen. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs depth over dopamine, and leave a review telling us where you’ll choose craft over shortcuts in the new year. _____________________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 22m
  5. Why The Only Reason You Should Be a Photographer is Obsession - Jesse Lenz: E106

    12/24/2025

    Why The Only Reason You Should Be a Photographer is Obsession - Jesse Lenz: E106

    In this episode - the last guest episode of 2025 - I sit down with photographer, publisher, and curator Jesse Lenz for one of the most expansive and honest conversations I’ve had on the show - fitting to end the year with such a nice gift-wrapped present.  What begins as a discussion about photography and photobooks quickly becomes a deeper exploration of obsession, taste, community, and what it actually means to build a life of artistry that lasts. Jesse speaks candidly about art not as a career path, but as something closer to devotion; something you shape your life around rather than extract from. Here's what we talk about: Why art is an addictionDiscovering photobooksWhy most projects failEditing and sequencing of artMaking work for yourself before others Charcoal Press and publishing workChico ReviewLongevity over visibilityFollow Jesse and his incredible work: Website: www.jesselenz.com Instagram: @jesselenz Charcoal Book Club: www.charcoalbookclub.com Charcoal Press: www.charcoalpress.com Chico Review: www.chicoreview.com _____________________________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 51m
  6. Why Nobody Cares About Your Photography

    12/17/2025

    Why Nobody Cares About Your Photography

    Nobody cares about your photography. We don’t need more of 'any old' photographers. Yet survival as culture and society with soul is completely dependent on work that matters. In this episode of Moments of Mood, I explore why indifference is the default in modern photography, what it actually means for someone to care about your work, why chasing attention is often the fastest way to lose meaning, and the deeper responsibility artists have in a world drowning in content. Listen if you're interested in: Being tired of chasing validation and wonder why no-none sees or takes notice of your workWhy nobody is waiting to care about your photography, but how you can create from a deeper place that invites care.What “caring” really means in art and visual storytellingWhy meaning matters more than visibilityHow photobooks create depth in a disposable image cultureThe 5 conditions that make people genuinely care about photographyWhy slow, intentional work outlasts viral success____________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    23 min
  7. The Photographer Who Puts Humanity on Trial: Nick Brandt on Sentience, Power, and Responsibility, E105

    12/10/2025

    The Photographer Who Puts Humanity on Trial: Nick Brandt on Sentience, Power, and Responsibility, E105

    British photographer and environmental storyteller Nick Brandt joins the show for a raw, expansive conversation on art, climate collapse, sentience, and the role of photography in an age defined by distraction and decline. Across projects such as Inherit the Dust, This Empty World, The Day May Break, and his latest chapter The Echo of Our Voices, Brandt builds constructed realities that merge portraiture, environmental narrative, and human resilience. This conversation moves through philosophy, ethics, creative fear, the collapse of attention, and the emotional cost of a lifetime spent documenting loss. We discuss: Nick's core philosophy.Why the project 'The Day May Break' exists.How historical worldviews shaped modern cruelty.Climate change as human injustice.The tension between beauty and devastation.The conceptual and emotional logic behind 'The Echo of Our Voices'.The collapsing photobook and print ecosystem.AI as an existential threat.Why Nick refuses to create purely for audiences.The impact of social media on photography as a whole.Medium format film vs digital.Advice for emerging photographers. Follow Nick and his incredible work: Website: www.nickbrandt.com Instagram: @nickbrandtphotography This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code 'MOOD' for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections. _____________________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 23m
  8. The Collapse of the American Dream - Photography as Witness: Bryan Schutmaat, E104

    11/26/2025

    The Collapse of the American Dream - Photography as Witness: Bryan Schutmaat, E104

    Bryan Schutmaat  is a photographer, publisher, and quiet poet of the American West. Known for books such as Grays the Mountain Sends, Good Goddamn, and Sons of the Living, Bryan’s work explores the uneasy tension between land and people, myth and memory, endurance and hope. He is also co-founder of Trespasser Books, a small but powerful imprint shaping the future of modern photobooks. In This Conversation We Explore Why photography feels so lonely and how community changes everythingBuilding meaningful creative connections in a solitary craftThe making of Sons of the Living and the stories behind the imagesNavigating narrative, ambiguity, and emotional truth in photographyWhy photobooks still matter and how sequencing shapes meaningThe philosophy behind Trespasser and independent publishingCuriosity, discipline, and the struggle to stay creatively aliveThe American dream, the American West, and the reality between themHow to make work that does something rather than pretending it doesThe inner journey of becoming an artist with a distinct point of viewFollow Bryan and his incredible work: Website: www.bryanschutmaat.co Instagram: @bryanschutmaat This episode is sponsored by Strata Editions - use discount code 'MOOD' for 10% discount on their store - visit strata-editions.com to shop and see their collections. _______________________________________ Message me, leave a comment and join in the conversation! Thank you for listening and for being a part of this incredible community. You can also watch this episode on my YouTube channel (link below) where I also share insights, photography tips and behind-the-scenes content on my channel as well as my social media, so make sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Threads and TikTok or check out my website for my complete portfolio of work. YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Learn with me https://mattjacobphotography.com/voice-alchemy My Newsletter https://mattjacobphotography.com/newsletter Website: www.mattjacobphotography.com Socials: IG | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube | @mattyj_ay

    1h 35m
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5
out of 5
68 Ratings

About

The MOOD Podcast is a long-form conversation series exploring photography, creativity, identity, and the inner life of artists. Hosted by Matt Jacob, the show moves beyond technique and trends to examine why people make work, how creative voices are formed, and what it takes to sustain a meaningful artistic life. Through thoughtful, unhurried conversations with photographers, filmmakers, and creative thinkers from around the world, the podcast explores themes of process, mental health, ethics, purpose, legacy, and the tension between art and industry. Episodes are grounded, reflective, and often philosophical, offering listeners provocation of thought rather than formulaic answers to copy. The MOOD Podcast is less about instruction and more about understanding, aimed at emerging and established creatives who care not just about what they make, but why they make it.  At its core, The MOOD Podcast is the art of conversation, one frame at a time. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyj_ay Instagram: @the_moodpodcast / @mattyj_ay Website: https://themoodpodcast.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Jacob
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mood Moments Productions Ltd.
  • Show Website
    The MOOD Podcast

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