Do It Today

Trying to move forward but feeling sloggy or stuck?  1. Do something easy. 2. Do something nice. 3. Do something hard. And repeat until unstuck. Would love to know if you try this out...!

Meet the author of an inspiring new book I devoured in two days... Kara Cutruzzula talks to author and freelance writer Alyssa Ages, whose debut book Secrets of Giants is a deep dive into the science and psychology of why pushing our physical limits is so impactful — and a personal look at her own experience training for strongman competitions. Big moments include 5:30 a.m. workouts, the challenge...

Special collaboration episode today with the wonderful Aransas Savas and The Uplifters Podcast! Aransas is a wellbeing and leadership coach, and her podcast highlights inspiring women and mindset techniques to create your biggest life. We talk about our weekly "Virtual Friday Therapy Runs," our creative practices and routines, closing open loops and finding deep work blocks, exercises from Do It (...

Hi friends! This conversation inspired me so much. I have a feeling Florencia's journey and persistence will inspire you, too... Kara Cutruzzula talks to Florencia Iriondo, a writer, performer, and showrunner, about her new one-woman musical South . Big moments include leaving the corporate world to pursue theater full-time, putting up the show, and lessons learned along the way. She shares how he...

Kara talks to Sara Wordsworth, a musical storyteller who has created shows for Broadway, television, arenas, cruise ships, and theme parks around the world. Big moments include making time for herself in the early hours of the morning, how to continue being vulnerable in your work, seeing feedback as a gift, and more. More about Sara on her website ! Fun mentions in the episode: BMI Lehman Engel M...

Kara talks to professional organizer and coach Linda Samuels, founder of Oh, So Organized! and author of The Other Side of Organized , who facilitates change in her clients' lives. Big moments include creating a "success check-in" for the summer, advice for clearing a path for the new season, and why a slow start to her day is essential. Follow Linda and find more about her work: Website Blog The...

Kara talks to Kat Jackson, the senior director of Audible Studios, who has worked in the storytelling space for two decades and oversees all production in the U.S. as well as Canada, Latin America and Brazil. She's also an educator, mother of two, and fierce Tough Mudder competitor. Big moments include how she found a career she loves, why "being good enough isn't good enough," how audiobooks enco...

Kara talks to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Aegean Chan, who opened her own practice in Santa Barbara, California, has published in medical journals, and runs one of my favorite Instagram accounts with skincare advice. Big moments include balancing parenting with her career, her social media cutoff time, creating realistic to-do lists, and treating responsibilities like glass balls and plastic...

Kara talks with author Michelle Wildgen, whose newest book Wine People was published August 1. She's the editor of the food writing anthology Food & Booze , and the former executive editor of the literary journal Tin House . Michelle is also a freelance editor and creative writing teacher and co-runs the Madison Writers' Studio with novelist Susanna Daniel. Big moments include being in a no-re...

Kara talks to Tony Award-winning producer, manager, and educator Erica Rotstein, who's currently represented on Broadway as a co-producer of Parade and Just For Us. Big moments include embracing radical candor, the idea of emergent strategy and being able to pivot your plans, and why she wants to build all of her work around relationships.  More about Erica Rotstein http://ericarotstein.com/ Take...

Kara talks to Dorie Clark, a keynote speaker, consultant, and author of four books, most recently The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World . She has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review . Dorie is also a musical theater lyricist and member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical The...

Kara talks to actor, singer, and writer Samantha Massell, who is starring as researcher Rosalind Franklin in the world premiere of the new musical Double Helix by Madeline Myers. Big moments include the four-year journey of Double Helix , treating creative projects like they're non-negotiable, her script for saying "no," and how plants and word puzzles create the structure of her day. More about S...

Kara talks to certified professional organizer Julie Bestry, an expert in all aspects of organizing and time management, who writes articles and teaches seminars on how organizing can make your life more functional. Big moments include creating time blocks for your most meaningful work, her 1-2-3 system for moving through the day, and letting go of the stress, shame, and overwhelm of not doing "en...

Kara talks to screenwriter and author David Koepp, who's written or co-written the screenplays for over 30 films, from Death Becomes Her a nd Jurassic Park to Mission: Impossible and his latest film Kimi . He's also a director and has written two novels, Cold Storage and Aurora , both of which are being adapted into films. Big moments include reworking a draft, how to respond to notes you may not...

Kara talks to author, speaker, and personal finance expert Erin Lowry, who helps broke millennials get their financial lives together. Big moments include how to do a deep dive with your money, managing wildly variable income as a creative or self-employed person, and bucketing your accounts to reach your financial goals.  More about Erin: Buy Erin Lowry's  Broke Millennial  books Subscribe to her...

Kara talks to author, TV writer, and journalist Carrie Seim about her day. Big moments include the release of The Flying Flamingo Sisters 2 , how she overcame setbacks on her "wild and weird" creative path, why everyone needs lifeguard friends in their corner, her secret to finishing drafts, and how working on a gigantic project is like building a canoe. (Yes, a canoe!) More about Carrie: https://...

Kara talks to composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Steve Wallace about his day. Big moments include working on the arrangements for a new musical adaptation of Animal Farm , how he avoids over-analyzing and gets stuff done, the faith that guides his creative vision, and more. More about Steve: https://stevewallacemusic.com/ Twitter: @stevewstudio Instagram: @stevewstudio1 A developmental pr...

Kara talks to actor and singer Liz Callaway about her day. Big moments include releasing her live Sondheim album , realizing it's never too late to learn something new, creating your own breaks, the joys of starting before you're ready, her favorite reads on creativity, and more. More about Liz Callaway: http://lizcallaway.com/   Twitter: @LizGoesOn Instagram: @LizGoesOn Facebook: LizCallawayOffic...

Kara talks to book editor Zack Knoll about his day. Big moments include how he protects his creative editing time, maintaining author relationships, fighting the three o'clock slump, and why he organizes his multi-folder inbox while watching Real Housewives. Follow Zack on Twitter: @zackknoll_ Follow Zack on Instagram: @rack__roll Mentions in the episode: Do It Today: An Encouragement Journal (whi...

Kara talks to Broadway stage manager, producer, and educator Cody Renard Richard about his day. Big moments include navigating a two-show day for Into the Woods, why he brings his full self to work, his "sh*t to get done" list, finding the path he was supposed to walk, and how he winds down after working long hours.  More about Cody: https://www.codyrenard.com/   Follow Cody on Instagram: @codyren...

Kara talks to actor, audiobook narrator, and director Carlotta Brentan about her day. Big moments include prep work and book analysis, why she's devoted to 10-minute breaks, co-directing the new play Vatican Falls , and how she uses Airtable to organize her life. More about Carlotta: carlottabrentan.com Follow her on Twitter: @CarlottaBrentan Listen to Carlotta's award-winning audiobook narration...

Kara talks to writer, editor, and freelance guru Tim Herrera about his day. Big moments include encouraging writers and self-employed folks to take time off, overcoming scarcity mindset, and leaving the New York Times to build his own business Freelancing with Tim. Follow Tim on Twitter @TimHerrera Subscribe to Freelancing with Tim on Substack: https://freelancingwithtim.substack.com/ Register for...

Kara talks to actor and singer Ann Harada about her day. Big moments include one last vacation on Cape Cod, preparing for her Into the Woods return, how she says no to certain gigs, the anniversary of Avenue Q , working with Milky White, and more. Follow Ann Instagram: @iamannharada Twitter: @annharada Mentions in the episode: Into the Woods on Broadway Schmigadoon! on Apple TV+ Encores! at City C...

Kara talks to musical theater composer/lyricist Adam Gwon about his day. Big moments include building the foundation for a sequence song, becoming a morning person while on the road, writing advice he received from Lynn Ahrens, and more. More about Adam: adamgwon.com Instagram: @gwonster Twitter: @adamgwon Mentions in the episode: Adam's lyric writing classes at Primary Stages Adam's class at the...

Kara talks to speaker and flow state expert Diane Allen about her day. Big moments include how to find your own state of flow, vanquishing your inner critic, setting email power hours, tuning out distractions, and more. More about Diane: dianeallen.com Contact Diane at diane [at] dianeallen [dot] com for a free 15-minute flow strategy session!   Mentions in the episode: Kara's TED Ideas interview...