Phil Cooke Podcast

CEO of Mastermedia International Dan Rupple shares insight into affecting Hollywood as well as tips for those considering a move to Los Angeles in this interview with Phil Cooke.   Known by many as one of the founding members of the Christian comedy team Isaac Air Freight, Dan Rupple has over four decades of media experience as a respected producer, writer and speaker. His Hollywood experience inc...

Donor development and fundraising is critical for your non-profit organization to succeed. Phil Cooke shares five important keys to producing successful fundraising videos that can engage potential donors with your vision and encourage them to partner with you in the mission of your ministry.   Hundreds of nonprofit organizations and religious ministries use fundraising videos to tell their story....

Momentum can catapult your career or leadership, particularly if you're a creative professional. Phil Cooke shows you how to maximize it when it happens and how to make it work to advance your career.   F ew people really understand the power of momentum, and how to take advantage of it when it happens.  Momentum is  serendipitous   – which means it happens outside of our control. But if and when...

Showrunner Dean Batali shares how to be a successful writer and producer for network television in this interview with Phil Cooke. With a long career in Hollywood, Dean is known for That '70's Show , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Good Witch , Ties That Bind , Nazareth , and Chonda Pierce: This Ain't Prettyville TV movie. He's also a co-writer of the book Watching TV Religiously writtenwith Kutter Cal...

Showrunner Dean Batali shares how to be a successful writer and producer for network television in this interview with Phil Cooke. With a long career in Hollywood, Dean is known for That '70's Show , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Good Witch , Ties That Bind , Nazareth , and Chonda Pierce: This Ain't Prettyville TV movie. He's also a co-writer of the book Watching TV Religiously writtenwith Kutter Cal...

Ever offended someone by giving unsolicited advice? No matter how noble your intentions are, giving advice when it's not asked for can backfire on you. Here's Phil Cooke's advice – on not giving advice!   I'm embarrassed to say that it's taken me most of my life to understand this, but it's true. Except in very rare situations, giving people advice who haven't asked for it just doesn't work – no m...

Changing your business, ministry or non-profit name can re-invigorate your organization. Phil gives a checklist for leaders to think through before changing your name while considering brand equity before making the switch. https://www.cookemediagroup.com   Sometimes the need to change a organization's name is obvious, but more often, leaders can't always put their finger on a good reason. In many...

Are legal issues holding your film project or idea back? Phil Cooke interviews Hollywood-based entertainment attorney Sam Curphey about contracts, memos and other legal topics filmmakers must deal with.   Sam Curphey represents producers, writers, directors, actors, rights holders, and on-screen and new media talent.  He is a guest lecturer on entertainment legal topics at Act One and at Biola Uni...

A podcast or media interview can impact your career in profound ways, offering the opportunity to share your expertise and enhance your reputation. Phil Cooke offers seven tips to help you be more articulate when your interview opportunity comes along.   With the rise in popularity of podcasts, your chances of being interviewed are going way up! If you're a designer, leader, filmmaker, teacher, co...

Are your leadership skills hindered by your mood? Phil Cooke takes a hard look at how emotions impact and often damage a ministry or organization.   How do you come in to work? Angry, happy, sad… Over years of coaching pastors and leaders of ministries and non-profits, Phil has seen the tragic consequences of leaders driven by emotion.   You cannot project your emotions onto your team. If your moo...

Interested in a successful career in Hollywood? Phil Cooke interviews Hollywood Prayer Network founder Karen Covell with tips on the spiritual aspect of how to be survive – and thrive in Hollywood.   Jim and Karen Covell started the Hollywood Prayer Network as a prayer ministry in 2001. As active industry professionals, their vision and mission is to encourage Christians to pray for believers and...

Will live streaming affect your church attendance? Phil Cooke consults many pastors and ministry leaders on navigating a changing media landscape, and one of the big changes is live streaming.   If you're hesitant about live streaming, here are a few big picture things to keep in mind:   The church will always be a place where people engage. It's so much more than listening to a sermon online; the...

If you've been fired after age 40 because of a lay-off or company downsizing, don't panic. You have skills, experience and talent and you can recover your career. Here's advice from Phil Cooke…   If you get fired later in your career, here's the first thing to do: Get up to speed on the world and do it fast . Recognize that while you've been living in a work bubble at your place of employment, the...

Are you able to tell your story well? Leaders and those who want to impact the lives of others should master the art of storytelling. Phil Cooke offers three critical keys to help you tell the defining story of your life more effectively.   Telling your story is important and it can have a profound effect on others. Whether it's motivating or encouraging, somebody needs to hear it. Make sure it's...

Are you able to speak the language of change – or is the power of tradition holding your team or organization back? If you're surrounded by people stuck in the "we've always done it this way" mentality, Phil Cooke offers insight to overcome their objections and move them toward your change initiative.   Although there is power in tradition and traditions do matter, we need to remind ourselves that...

Filming interviews or short videos well is a skill every producer or filmmaker should gain. Phil Cooke offers 10 keys to shooting a good interview which can become a powerful tool to market your ministry or nonprofit organization.   How good are you at interviewing people on camera? No matter how great the camera shot or well-lit your set is, if the interview is not skillfully conducted, your over...

Phil Cooke offers practical tips on producing short videos and using social media to establish your brand and gain followers in Part II of this series on branding.   What do people think of when they think of your church, business or nonprofit? Strategic branding can establish an emotional connection with the audience you are working to reach.   Here's a recap of "Branding your Church or Nonprofit...

Branding your business or ministry is a way to distinguish yourself in the marketplace. Phil Cooke shares insight on church branding to position you for greater impact in today's society.   If God has called you to impact culture, then people need to know about it! If nobody knows what you're doing, you've failed.   There are two big reasons for branding: Branding establishes an emotional connecti...

Are you wired to freelance? The success of your career depends on making the right choice between freelancing and full-time employment. Phil Cooke offers questions to consider as you determine the best fit for yourself and your future.   While some people are wired to be a freelancer, others are better suited to be an employee. For example, fulltime employees get insurance benefits, a regular sala...

An accurate perception of your leadership skills can significantly affect your career. A lack of it can get you fired! Here are important tips from Phil Cooke on how to improve your self-awareness.   How do other people see you? Is your view of yourself and your leadership abilities, talent, behaviors and attitudes in synch with how everyone else perceives you?   An accurate self-assessment is imp...

Church media directors know a Christmas production or Easter pageant can easily flare up into a nightmare. Here's a checklist from Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com to help you produce a professional program that warms people's hearts – without losing your sanity.   Subscribe to My Podcast for more good advice for leaders and creatives : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/phil-cooke-podcast/id14...

Time off? Make the most of your holiday weekend and increase your productivity with these tips from Phil Cooke. Bonus: Find out how an attitude of gratitude can help your work environment and impact your business and career. Everybody's busy and it's important to take a break to recharge and refocus. What do you do when you have time off? Thanksgiving, Christmas and other long weekends offer a cha...

Are you a creative person? Especially in Hollywood, you'll eventually run into people who don't see your potential or think your ideas are valuable.   Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and more in Hollywood have faced rejection and criticism as producers, actors and directors. Even novelist Saul Bellow was dismissed as a "dud." He went on to win the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize fo...

Can you schedule creativity? Most highly creative people have a regular routine. In this episode, Phil Cooke shares truths and practical ways to inspire your imagination.   Everybody is creative, but research shows that most significant creativity drops at age six! Creativity is the currency of this culture. In a time when CEO's are looking for creative employees, these truths from Phil Cooke will...

Building a long-term career in the film and television industry can be a struggle. Talent matters, but there are other things that lend towards success. In this episode, Phil Cooke offers 4 keys to freelancers for a creative career that lasts.   Creativity is a volatile business. Phil has been in Hollywood since 1991 and has seen directors, actors, art designers and even studio executives in the f...