The Artistic Entrepreneur w/ Jake Isham

Your art is a business. The sooner you accept that, the sooner your career actually starts. In this episode, Jake breaks down the philosophy that's guided everything he's built — every artist is an entrepreneur, and the ones who don't treat it that way usually don't make it. There's a hard line between a hobby and a career, and most artists don't want to look at it too clos...

Nobody starts out good. The artists who make it aren't the most talented — they're the ones who were willing to make a lot of bad work to get to the good stuff. In this episode, Jake makes the case for why being willing to suck is the most underrated skill in any creative's toolkit. It's not a fun lesson, but it might be the most important one: most artists struggle because they&#3...

Every artist faces the same tension: doing the work that pays the bills vs. doing the work that feeds the soul. In this episode, Jake makes the case that the line between them doesn't have to be a war — and that the smartest artists find a way to get paid to practice. There's a version of this story most artists know too well: working a job that has nothing to do with their craft, saving u...

Most artists plan their career first and figure out their life later. Jake flips it — and makes the case that the life you want should come first, and everything else gets built around that. Before you can build the career, you have to decide on the life. That's the whole premise of this episode — and it's the question most artists never stop to ask. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake br...

Originality is overrated — at least at first. In this episode, Jake breaks down the lesson that changed how he thinks about both his art and his business: everything has a structure, and the fastest path to creative success is learning it, duplicating it, and then making it yours. It sounds like creative heresy. But Jake's latest revelation might be the most practical thing he's ever said...

You get excited. You tell people. They have opinions. Now you're off course. In this episode, Jake makes the case for keeping your mouth shut — until the work speaks for itself. Everyone has an opinion about what you should be doing. Your friends, your family, your mentors — even people five steps ahead of you. The moment you open your mouth about a plan, you're inviting all of it in. And...

Nobody hands you a list of your core values. You have to go find them. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake shares the four core values he lives and works by — not because they looked good on a wall, but because he had to think for the first time about what actually mattered to him. He starts with competence — the one his parents drilled into him from day one — and breaks down the three-step frame...

Most people think their "team" is just the people they work with. It's not. In this episode, Jake breaks down the three roles every artist and entrepreneur needs in their corner — mentors, teammates, and cheerleaders — and why confusing them is costing you. Your team is bigger than your business. In this episode of Move Faster, Jake breaks down the three types of people every creativ...

Recorded in March 2026 — right in the middle of one of the fastest-moving moments in AI history — Jake Isham shares his honest take on what AI means for artists, and why most of the conversation around it is missing the point entirely. Jake pushes back on the growing narrative that AI can or should replace human creativity, breaking down why the grind of mastering a craft is exactly what makes gre...

In this episode, Jake Isham breaks down the single most important piece of advice for artists trying to build a lasting career — and it came from filmmaker Robert Rodriguez: build a body of work you're proud of. Jake unpacks what that actually looks like in practice, sharing how he personally stepped away from his creative work while building his agency — and how shooting 14 short films in fou...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Move Faster Podcast — formerly known as The Artistic Entrepreneur. In this launch episode, host Jake Isham pulls back the curtain on why he's rebranding, where this show has been, and exactly where it's going. Jake shares the raw origin story behind The Artistic Entrepreneur — a philosophy born from his own hard lessons as an actor, musician, filmma...

Most artists spend years perfecting their craft—but never learn the business side. That’s why so many insanely talented people stay broke, stuck, or overlooked. In this episode of The Artistic Entrepreneur , I break down the essentials every artist needs to know if they want to build a real, sustainable career. 👉 You’ll learn: Why being an artist automatically makes you an entrepreneur . How to p...

Everything on the internet is a lie… or at least, it can be. In this episode, I break down the hard truth about how people perceive you online and why your “perceived reality” (PR) matters more than you think. From traveling the world on nonprofit gigs with no paycheck, to tricking friends into believing I lived in Japan, I share real stories of how I learned to control my own narrative—and how yo...

Recorded in March 2026 — right in the middle of one of the fastest-moving moments in AI history — Jake Isham shares his honest take on what AI means for artists, and why most of the conversation around it is missing the point entirely. Jake pushes back on the growing narrative that AI can or should replace human creativity, breaking down why the grind of mastering a craft is exactly what makes gre...

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” But is it really true? In this episode, I break down the myth behind that cliché and share the realities of turning your passion into a career . From my 11+ years as a filmmaker and photographer, to stories from mentors who built multimillion-dollar businesses while pursuing art, I explore the tough choices e...

fill in later

Are you an artist trying to figure out your path? In this episode, I break down the 4 types of artistic careers —and which ones actually get you paid. Whether you’re just starting or deep in your journey, this will give you clarity on the lifestyle you want to build and how to get there. 👉 Here’s what you’ll learn in this video: The difference between being a hobbyist, corporate artist, freelance...

AI is here to stay — but should artists be worried about it replacing creativity? In this episode, I share how I actually use AI as a filmmaker and photographer to make better art without letting it do the art for me. 👉 Here’s what we cover: Why AI is the ultimate research tool for artists and creatives. How to use AI to handle the “boring” business side of being an artist (marketing, accounting,...

Ever wonder how long it really takes to break into Hollywood? In this episode, I share a real conversation I had with a brand-new screenwriter who just moved to LA — and the exact strategy I gave her that could literally change her career in 2 weeks . We break down: How to use IMDb Pro to build a 500-person Hollywood contact list The exact follow-up system that gets producers, execs, and reps to r...

Inspiring quotes from the best filmmakers of all time

Film School - Pros and Cons (after graduating 10 year ago)

Message to my 16 year old self | Becoming a filmmaker

It's the minor things that add up that deter you from your goals...

Love these quotes so much I wanted to share them with you!

What is the future of cinema and films? My thoughts on Sean Baker's speech at the Independent Spirit Awards...