Sorry I Missed You

If you’ve ever wondered why some stories follow you home, this voicemail is for you. I’m thinking about Obsession , happy songs in horror movies, and the strange power of stories that are easy to follow but hard to predict. We’ll talk about tension, contrast, and why sometimes the stickiest creative choice is the one that feels just a little emotionally wrong. This is a public episode. If you woul...

If you’ve ever felt comforted by proof that someone else has been here before, this voicemail is for you. I’m thinking about dirt paths, memory, and the quiet traces people leave behind that help us find our way. We’ll talk about how those small signs of shared humanity can bring us back to ourselves, and why the best creative work helps people feel a little less alone. This is a public episode. I...

If you’ve ever felt “included” but still not fully at home, this voicemail is for you. I’m unpacking the difference between being welcomed and being expected, and why that subtle shift can change how we show up in friendships, rooms, and even the experiences we build through marketing. We’ll talk about belonging as something you can practice (not something you accidentally earn), how to stop audit...

What makes tiny wins so addictive? I’ve been thinking about how low-effort side quests create momentum, fulfillment, and repeatable joy. From conveyor belt sushi and surprise capsule toys to habit streaks and everyday rituals, this voicemail explores why small wins work—and how a little progress, story, and reward turns ordinary moments into something we actually want to return to. This is a publi...

Why does your brain love things you don’t have to choose? In this voicemail, I get into why background TV, old cartoons, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade feel so comforting right now. We talk about algorithm fatigue, shared attention, curiosity, and how everything somehow started feeling like homework. From Pretty Little Liars nights in high school to texting my mom during Santa’s big e...

Amy Poehler recently said, “Enthusiasm is a risk.” This voicemail explores why that risk is worth taking — from the professor who told me I had too much enthusiasm to the creator behind K-Pop Demon Hunters , whose joy made the world’s most-watched movie. In this voicemail we talk about how excitement turns nerves into connection, why joy is a creative advantage , and how protecting our spark makes...

The smartest people I know are also the dumbest—on purpose. This voicemail reveals how low-stakes humor builds trust, sparks belonging, and makes ideas unforgettable. From spontaneous party bits and Step Brothers quotes to playful B2B campaigns, you’ll see how embracing silliness fuels creativity, strengthens your brand, and drives results that last. This is a public episode. If you would like to...

What do Snoop Dogg mugs, velvet track suits, and brand strategy have in common? A weirdly specific point of view. In this voicemail, we talk about how to make your voice so you it’s instantly recognizable and why that’s the secret to trust, connection, and creative work that sticks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

Did you know bees play for fun? We explore what those little wooden-ball-rolling bees can teach us about perfectionism, creativity, and the power of play. Talk about why bad ideas matter (and why we should collect them), how daydreaming fuels insight, and what Amy Poehler’s Good Hang gets right about collaboration and curiosity. Play isn’t just a reward—it’s a requirement. So if you’re feeling stu...

TL;DL: Your audience’s brain is following a script. If your content doesn’t break that pattern in a memorable way, it gets forgotten. Here's how to make them remember you—and want to share it with a friend. I’m digging into the neuroscience behind why some content sticks and some slides into the void. We’ll talk about “event scripts”—the mental templates our brains use to process stories—and how t...

Ever wondered why your brain loves filling in song lyrics more than remembering your own to-do list? In this voicemail we dive into the neuroscience behind our love for filling in blanks, what marketers can learn from Spotify Wrapped (and Netflix’s autoplay fails), and why our content should empower our audience instead of instructing them. Also included: catchy songs, psychic friends, questionabl...

Does more actually mean better ? Or does it just feel that way? Jerry Springer’s show ran for 27 seasons , thriving on shock, chaos, and controversy —until it all collapsed under the weight of too much . And honestly? The same thing happens in content marketing. Everyone’s obsessed with more —more posts, more videos, more channels. But just like in cooking, more butter doesn’t always make the dish...

One second, I’m enjoying a normal shower. The next? A mysterious man’s voice is coming from my living room, and I’m mentally preparing to defend myself with a bottle of shampoo . Turns out, the culprit wasn’t an intruder—it was my possessed alarm clock radio. A clock radio I’ve had since 2008, you know, the last time you used a radio. A clock I suddenly realized I was way too loyal to. And that go...

Ever almost not done something—then realized you’d regret it forever? That was me in Tennessee, debating whether to ride a mechanical bull as our Uber got closer. My friend looked me in the eye and said: “CORE MEMORY.” It got me thinking—how do we actually make memories? And why do some moments stick forever while others fade (or even change)? In this episode:🎬 Why “flashbulb memories” aren’t as...

Ever been vibing to a happy song and thought, "This would be perfect for a horror movie"? No? Just me? In this episode, I’m diving into the power of contrast —in horror, in creativity, in work, and in life. From Us and Devil’s Rejects to satire writing and Six Flags free-fall rides, contrast makes things memorable . 🎬 Why upbeat songs in horror movies feel so unsettling (and why it works) 💡 How...

Seven months after absolutely exploding my ankle (yes, that’s the technical term), I finally got the all-clear to skate again. But... What if I wasn’t ready? What if I wiped out in front of an entire park full of strangers? What if Brad, my physical therapist, was secretly testing me and I failed spectacularly?? But here’s the thing: Play always comes with a little risk. And not just in roller ska...

Some memories stick with us forever—but what if we had the power to reshape them? In this episode, I share a story from my friend Mariya Delano about a day that could have been the saddest of her childhood… but wasn’t. Thanks to a caring father and a little imagination, what started as a painful moment transformed into a lifelong core memory of wonder, adventure, and dinosaurs. We talk about how o...

After getting contacts for the first time, I had a full-blown existential crisis over my eyebrows (shoutout to my glasses for shielding me from this for years). But this got me thinking… what actually makes something belong ? Connection and belonging aren’t the same thing—just because something fits doesn’t mean it feels right. That applies to eyebrows, friendships, brands, and communities alike....

Getting laid off? 0/10, would not recommend. But if life has taught me anything, it’s that the best moments usually come after the absolute worst ones. High peaks don’t exist without deep valleys, and right now, I’m somewhere in between—figuring it out as I go. Turns out, our brains hate ambiguity (like, full-on existential crisis mode). They crave patterns, predictability, and knowing what’s next...

Marketing has a trust problem. And the solution? It’s not more ads, more content, or more lead gen forms. It’s play . Think about it—when was the last time you really connected with someone? It probably wasn’t during a forced networking event or while filling out a 7-field gated form. It was during a shared moment, a laugh, an inside joke, a game. Play is the fastest way to build trust. It’s the d...

Look, I wasn’t sure I wanted to call you today. Nothing personal, just been in a mood. One of those ugh-everything-is-terrible-but-also-I-should-probably-fold-my-laundry kinda moods. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes something (or someone) memorable. And my brain keeps circling back to the day I shattered my ankle—a day that started off suspiciously too perfect before everything fl...

I’ve been a loser my entire life. And honestly? I’m proud of it. Winning has never been my motivator—give me failure, feedback, and a good underdog story any day. In this episode, I’m diving into why losers actually have the advantage (especially in marketing), how getting comfortable with failure breeds innovation, and why the best connections aren’t built from a pedestal. Also, did I once cheerl...

Breaking my ankle in three places? Not exactly the kind of play I had in mind for 2023, but here we are. This week, I’m thinking about play—why we need it, when we lost it, and why two of my best friends swinging like kids on a summer night made me want to cry (in a good way). I'm wondering:How play helps our brains, Why movie remakes don’t actually bring back the magicHow core memories come in al...

Some memories just stick. No photos, no documentation—just a feeling so strong it imprints itself forever. Like the day I got my license, blasting Avicii with the windows down, screaming CORE MEMORY!!! at the top of our lungs. Lately, I’ve been thinking about why certain moments stay with us while others disappear. Is it the people? The place? The emotions? And with how easy it is to document ever...

Memories are human's real currency. And lately, I’ve been feeling rich (and also kinda old??) because my little brother Kyle just graduated high school. HIGH SCHOOL. I remember changing his diapers, and now he’s a full-grown human heading to college. Make it make sense. Between that and realizing it’s been ten years since we lost Papa, I’ve been thinking a lot about how memories shape us. Some mom...