He was adopted at birth, so before he could even talk, the first question of his life was already there. Where do I belong?He went looking for the answer everywhere a kid like him could. Skateboarding, hiphop, garage bands, anywhere that would have him. Then in fifth grade he picked up a camera and something clicked that he wouldn't understand for years. He wasn't just taking pictures. He was learning how to make people see something the way he saw it.In this episode, Jake sits down with John Mediana, filmmaker, creative director, founder of Executive Brand Growth, and host of Branding Beyond Business, for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, identity, faith, and what it actually takes to build a brand that lasts. John has been the high-level creative mind behind some of the biggest names online, and he can't stand the recycled guru playbook. He's not interested in looking successful. He builds brands that scale into real impact.If this conversation touches on mental health and you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 in the US to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on purpose, discipline, clarity, and building a life that holds up.⏱ Chapters 01:51 | What a creative director actually does 02:45 | The hardest leadership skill to develop 06:05 | The biggest thing that made him a better communicator 12:27 | What still works in branding since MySpace in 2003 13:13 | Why copying what's trending quietly hurts you 15:33 | The inner work most creatives aren't doing 17:21 | Attention as currency and how the algorithm really works 20:03 | Living off brand and the stress it creates 21:41 | Structure, energy management, and avoiding burnout 24:30 | Tomorrow isn't promised and choosing creativity 26:46 | Being Filipino, hospitality, and an open-handed life 28:55 | Growing up a pastor's kid and serving others 31:32 | Why we can't do life alone 34:19 | The dash on the tombstone and what people will say about you 36:48 | Good artist versus great artist 38:08 | Why men one-up each other 44:48 | The bamboo tree principle and overnight success 49:02 | What makes you unique and why most people can't answer 53:07 | Stranger to super fan: the six psychological stages 1:03:08 | Why personal connection beats automation in coaching 1:10:20 | Problem awareness content and the PDOCS framework 1:16:38 | Painkiller or surgery: what your product really is 1:17:30 | Riches in the niches and why you can't serve everybody 1:29:07 | Advice to his nine-year-old self 1:34:12 | The one thing that made the biggest difference👉 Follow John Mediana: 🌐 Executive Brand Growth 🎙️ Branding Beyond Business👉 Follow Jake Turner for more grounded conversations on mindset, purpose, and growth: 📸 Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/jakepaulturner 📘 Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/jakepaulturner 💬 Threads — https://www.threads.com/jakepaulturner 🐦 Twitter / X — https://x.com/jakepaulturner ▶️ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/jakepaulturner 💼 LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/jakepaulturner 🎧 Spotify — https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/jakepaulturner 🍎 Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jake-turner-podcast/id1845876962 🌐 Website — https://www.jakepaulturner.comDisclaimer: This episode is for educational, inspirational, and conversational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, legal, or business advice, and it does not create a clinician-patient relationship. Jake Turner is a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia; however, views expressed are personal and do not represent any employer or institution. Always seek the guidance of qualified professionals regarding personal, business, or mental health matters.#branding #creativedirector #personalbrand #entrepreneurship #faith #marketing #contentcreation #jaketurner #johnmediana #brandgrowth
