What's Your Why?

Patrick McGinty is a novelist, professor, and Pittsburgh writer who spent 13 years revising his second novel from a 1,000-page manuscript to a published book. His journey is the opposite of overnight success. He got an agent young, sent out a massive manuscript, faced rejection after rejection. His response? "Great, I get to keep working on it." We talk about the 13-year revision, his grandfather'...

Lauren Greenwood spent over a decade as "just a screenwriter." No paid work. No qualifier. Just writing sample after sample, getting rejection after rejection. Then she became a working screenwriter—three TV thrillers on Lifetime, awards, representation, commissions. But here's what got me: imposter syndrome didn't leave her body until her fourth commissioned movie. Not the first. Not the second....

Pastor JP Robles: When the Church Breaks You "Christians are exhausting," says Pastor JP Robles' wife. He agrees. This isn't your typical faith conversation. JP grew up in a Pentecostal church where his father was a pastor—until a public divorce shattered everything. He jumped off a roof at 16, lived in an old Holiday Inn, and discovered that music and creativity were his lifelines. Now he's a pas...

Donovan Clark left union grip work on Westworld and American Horror Story to make the films he actually cares about. We talk about leaving stability for uncertainty, losing his father in 2020, and whether pain actually makes better art. CONNECT WITH DONOVAN:   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/donavanclarkdirector   Website:  https://www.donavanclarkdirector.com/   Full Notion Media:  https://...

Jacob Luttrell has written songs you know by heart—"Wild Ones," "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)," "I Can Only Imagine." But the song that matters most? The one that saved his own life. In this raw, honest conversation, Jacob opens up about standing at the edge, the piano that brought him back, and why his real purpose is to help others feel less alone. We talk about pain as a creative valve, the danger...