A Phil Svitek Podcast - A Series From Your 360 Creative Coach

“What did you help with today?” and “How did you fail?” These two simple questions—shared by Natasha Beck, also known as Dr. Organic Mommy—are meant for kids, but they apply just as powerfully to adults. Instead of the routine “How was school?” or “How was work?”, these questions reinforce two essential values: caring about community and normalizing failure as part of growth. Helping doesn’t have...

2025 was a year of perseverance, recalibration, and quiet progress — not just for me, but for many people I know. In this vlog, I take time to honestly reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what I’m carrying forward into 2026.I walk through a reflection practice that looks at four core areas of life — mind, body, home, and soul — revisiting the intentions I set for 2025 and sharing where I land...

Every year, we see endless “Top 10” lists — but art isn’t a sport, and ranking films as the best has always felt arbitrary to me. So instead, this episode is about my 10 favorite films of 2025 — the ones that lingered, surprised me, challenged me, or simply stayed with me long after the credits rolled. A few ground rules up front:-These are favorites, not an objective ranking of quality-Straight-t...

If you’re going to the Annecy Festival for the first time (or you already bought your ticket and you’re realizing how huge it is), this video is the FAQ companion to my full day-by-day recap. Here I answer the practical questions people always have. This is meant to be a quick-reference, “save this for later” guide—so you feel oriented before you step into the madness. Watch the full Annecy first-...

I went to the Annecy Festival for the first time and recorded a full day-by-day recap so you know what it actually feels like on the ground—especially if you’ve got a ticket and you’re wondering, “Wait… what am I walking into?”In this episode, I break down what Annecy really is (festival screenings + MIFA market + exhibits + panels + networking), what surprised me most (how spread out everything i...

Most of us can admit we were wrong—yesterday, last year, “back then.” But Agnes Callard’s Open Socrates points to something far more confronting (and far more freeing): Socrates didn’t want you to say “I was wrong.” He wanted you to say “I am wrong.”That tiny shift into present tense hits the ego like a flashbang. Because now it’s not a distant mistake—it’s your identity in the moment. And that’s...

Chuck McCaughan and I use Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life by Agnes Callard as a jumping-off point to explore what it actually means to live an examined life. We dig into the Socratic method—not as an abstract philosophical exercise, but as a lived practice—and discuss where it fits (or doesn’t) in today’s culture. Why do people avoid inquiry? What makes asking fundamental question...

I chat with filmmaker and producer Soukaina Alaoui El Hassani ( https://www.saelhassani.com/portfolio & https://www.instagram.com/saelhassani/?hl=en ) to explore her journey from growing up in Casablanca—within a rich oral storytelling tradition—to producing bold, emotionally resonant work across film, advertising, and animation on a global scale. We talk about her path through commercial prod...

Author Emily Krempholtz explains what cozy fantasy really means—why the genre is comforting, character-driven, community-centered, and focused on emotional warmth over epic battles. She breaks down the storytelling values that define it: gentle magic, small-town settings, internal growth, and an emphasis on healing, hope, and everyday wonder. This soundbite comes from our full interview discussing...

Author Emily Krempholtz shares her practical, down-to-earth advice on how to begin your own book club—from choosing the right group and setting expectations to keeping it fun, flexible, and sustainable. This moment comes from our larger interview with Emily about her debut cozy fantasy romance, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore, where we discuss her creative journey, the evolution of th...

I unpack my growing frustration with AI—not from a place of fear, but from lived creative experience. Everyone keeps insisting AI is the future and that we all need to jump onboard right now, but I’m not convinced that being an early adopter is automatically the smart move… especially when even the companies building these tools aren’t demonstrating real workflows. They just tell us: “Go experimen...

In this inspiring and joy-filled conversation, Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) and I sit down with author Emily Krempholtz to discuss her debut cozy fantasy romance, Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore—a magical, heart-forward story about second chances, redemption, and what it truly means to be a good person. Emily shares her creative journey from bestselling ghostwriter, editor, and book...

Phil Svitek and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) dive into Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by debut author Emily Krempholtz, a warm, whimsical cozy fantasy romance about second chances, self-forgiveness, and the transformative power of community. We explore the novel’s “grumpy × sunshine” dynamic, the slow-burn romance between Violet and Nathaniel, and the story’s deeper moral questions...

In this vlog, I recap everything that made November such a full and meaningful stretch. I start with the Film Finance Summit, sharing the biggest takeaways on how indie films like The Arbiters actually get funded. Then I cover my birthday celebration, this year’s American Film Market, and why the World Animation Summit continues to be one of my favorite events — especially with its mix of studio h...

In this episode, I tackle a deceptively simple workflow issue that has major consequences: sharing a Google Drive or Dropbox folder before the files finish uploading. It’s an easy mistake — you drag in your assets, hit “share,” and move on with your day. But for the person on the receiving end, this creates confusion, missed files, inconsistent downloads, and unnecessary back-and-forth. I break do...

Most filmmakers think development is just “writing the script.” In reality, it’s the quiet money pit no one warns you about — from lawyer fees and talent outreach to pitch deck design, travel to festivals, industry events, budgeting specialists, and even the technological tools required. In this episode, I break down the real hidden costs of getting a project off the ground, why budgeting for deve...

Phil Svitek and Marisa Serafini (@serafinitv) dive into Albert Camus’ Exile and the Kingdom, a collection of six vivid, unsettling, and deeply human short stories exploring what it means to be isolated yet yearning for connection. Written in 1957 against the backdrop of the Algerian War, these stories capture individuals at decisive moments—moments of moral conflict, longing, rebellion, and revela...

Panels are supposed to deliver insights, inspiration, and real value… but too often, a huge chunk of the time gets eaten by long, bloated introductions . Some it takes up 20 minutes out of a 45 minute panel! Today, I break down why panel introductions need to be much, much shorter and how “context over credits” is a rule that changes everything. This isn’t about disrespecting panelists — it’s abou...

In this episode, I show you the quickest and easiest way to password-protect a page in WordPress — no plugins, no coding, no complicated settings. If you’re working on client projects, managing private content, or building exclusive experiences, this is one of the most useful features built right into WordPress. Why password-protect a WordPress page? There are lots of reasons creators, businesses,...

My Google Drive had gotten messy — duplicate folders, random uploads, files mislabeled, and years’ worth of assets scattered everywhere. And with limited local storage and very specific permission needs, the usual “Sync & Mirror” option didn’t work for me. So I created my own one-off cleanup method , and after hours of experimenting, it finally worked. In this episode, I break down exactly wha...

The World Animation Summit is one of my favorite industry events — and not because I’m paid to say so. In this episode, I share why this intimate three-day gathering is such a gem for anyone passionate about animation. Hosted annually by Animation Magazine in mid-November, the summit brings together around 500 attendees ranging from emerging creators to legendary filmmakers, all sharing panels, lu...

When it comes to podcasting, most creators waste time tweaking the wrong things — obsessing over intro music, rearranging episode order, or chasing the mythical “X factor” that’ll suddenly explode their downloads. In this episode, I break down the biggest mistake podcasters make: over-focusing on minutiae instead of consistency, purpose, and audience value. Drawing from experience producing over 8...

In this reflective episode, I expand on my Substack essay “Keep Going: The Quiet Power of Perseverance When Progress Feels Invisible” ( https://philsvitek.substack.com/p/keep-going-the-quiet-power-of-perseverance ). I explore one of the hardest truths of any creative journey — that progress often happens beneath the surface. Whether you’re pitching a film, writing a book, or chasing a dream that f...

It’s my birthday! 🎉 Instead of gifts or a night out, I’m focusing on something more meaningful — supporting independent art and pushing The Arbiters , my hand-drawn animated feature film, closer to full funding. In this video, I share a few ways you can support not just me, but the creative ecosystem I’m part of: 1️⃣ Support authors and artists I love I recently made an Instagram post ( https://w...

This week’s vlog is all about money — in filmmaking and in life. On the creative front, I share major updates on The Arbiters: our budget is finalized, the investor package is complete, and we’re now actively taking the project to investors. I’ve also been interviewing entertainment lawyers in preparation for closing deals and finding the right partner for ongoing production legal. Beyond financin...