You Are a Storyteller

I am a trendforecaster. This podcast was recommended by member of my design team. Brian’s podcast has changed the way myself and my team approach research and tell the story of emerging trends. The stories we are now telling are empathetic, thoughtful and meaningful. On a personal note, I love his knowledge of Disney animation. It’s great knowing there’s someone who is just as nerdy as I am about it.

I’ve been enjoying this show.

Brian McDonald and this podcast/YouTube channel has been absolutely instrumental in my growth as a storyteller. I am forever grateful! This is my go-to podcast for all things story, writing, and filmmaking.

There’s really no other way to describe what this podcast has done for the way I view mastery and, truthfully, life as a whole. I had heard of Brian McDonald before, but as an adhd kid who was always pushed away from pursuing any sort of creative field, the “storytelling industry” had been a complete mystery to me. Yet all I wanted as a kid was to devour and create stories. I remember getting whooped as a kid for reading when I was supposed to be sleeping, and being sent to the principals office when I was drawing instead of paying attention in class. I didn’t know it back then, but I was a budding storyteller. And then I entered a period which I refer to as my “creative castration.” For about 15 years I would consistently have the creativity beat out of me until I couldn’t even remember what it was like to pick up a book for fun. Yet, story and creativity took hold in other places in my life, like my love for intentional and meaningful experiences with others. When the covid pandemic happened, something interesting happened to me: the “beatings” stopped. The rush to be here and there, the expectation of productivity, it all stopped. And my creativity stood up. I slowly started finding my way back, forming new creative habits, connecting with others who inspired me to create. I began writing every day as if moved by an unseen hand: my creativity was in the drivers seat now. One day an idea sprung out of me, one I believed and still believe will change the narratives encasing creativity, forever. As I started building on this idea, people started aligning themselves with me on mission alone, a team who believe in the same vision. One of them recommended a podcast to me called “Creative Pep Talk.” And it was there that I stumbled upon Brian and Jesse. From the very first episode about armature, I was hooked. It was like a gate had opened up in my mind, and all of the “pieces” I had held together for so long finally had the glue. I was a natural born storyteller. And as I took on this new identity, everything felt simpler and made sense. Brian. Jesse. If you read this, I just want to say thank you. I know multitudes of people have helped you along your way, but I also know you’ve done work that most others aren’t willing to do. I’m a bit late to the game at 29 years old, but I’m early, too. I understand that people are what matter, nothing else. And so I want to build something for makers and doers everywhere like us, a place where we can tell the stories that matter, and feed value into our communities at the same time. I want people to never have to go through what I did, to never have that feeling of thinking their creativity is burden but rather the greatest gift. And I want them to have the life-changing experience I’ve had listening to you and all the greats you’ve invited on this podcast. Haha.. I’m sure everyone around me is tired of hearing me talk about the importance of storytelling now. It’s literally all I can think about now. But part of me also thinks it’s the thing they’ve been waiting for that they never knew they needed. I know it was for me. Thank you.