The Creative Hustle With Anika Goyal

Is it talent, the face card, or the parasocial relationship? 👀 In this episode of The Creative Hustle , I sit down with music industries major Borlaza to unpack the pretty privilege industrial complex and the cult of fandom , from how appearance shapes the way we perceive artists to why we become so emotionally invested in people we’ve never met. We get into fandom culture, the psychology behind...

Everyone wants the lore. Nobody talks about what it costs to live it. From treating your life like a PR campaign to fandoms acting like they own the narrative, what happens when being yourself starts feeling like a performance? We’re unpacking parasocial relationships, the trauma child actors often face when growing up in the spotlight, the power of your inner monologue, and why obsessing over you...

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my Create & Cultivate experience: the incredible women I met, the conversations I had, the moments that genuinely surprised me, and the advice I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. We’re talking about why a “risk” isn’t really a risk if you have nothing to lose, why you should never compromise your values for a paycheck, when it’...

What happens when you stop waiting for permission and just… take the leap? In this episode, I sit down with K7: a college student, actor, dancer, kung fu practitioner, and unapologetically curious human who refuses to put themselves in just one box. We talk about what it really means to take risks before you feel ready, choosing curiosity over fear, trying things simply because you can , and break...

Six years ago, I started this podcast at 12 years old with a microphone, a big imagination, and absolutely no idea where it would lead. Fast forward to today: hundreds of episodes, incredible guests, countless conversations, and thousands of listeners later, we’re celebrating six years of The Creative Hustle the only way that felt right: with your questions. In this special anniversary episode, I...

Are you stuck in a scroll loop watching the same trending movies and viral shows everyone else is talking about? In this episode, we break down why relying solely on mainstream media limits your worldview, and why that’s a bigger deal than you think. We look at how Hollywood and big studios often fail at authentic representation, why stories by and about people of color frequently get pushed to th...

In this episode, Anika records her last at-home episode before she begins to record them at her university campus recording studio! She talks lessons learned, favorite podcast moments, and the things to look forward to for the six year podcast anniversary episode on September 16! Stay tuned for new episodes every month!

What actually happens behind closed doors when a mega-creator gets cancelled? Former Us Weekly journalist turned PR mogul Emily Blair Marcus j oins the show to pull back the curtain on Hollywood publicity, high-stakes crisis control, and the "no ego" rule that built her global agency. We talk about the #1 mistake people make during a viral scandal, why being the "smartest person in...

This week, we sit down with Aniketh Sadanala, the mastermind guitarist behind the vibrant sound of Whimzee. Aniketh takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, sharing how he balances technical skill with raw emotion, and how a non-musical hobby secretly shapes his riffs. We also dive into the delicate art of band chemistry, exploring how he navigates the space between rhythm and melody to...

This week, I’m sitting down for a pure, unscripted conversation with my close friend, collaborator, and favorite future Oscar award winner. We tackle everything from the chaotic world of fandoms and our unfiltered thoughts on romance tropes, to overcoming fear as creatives and putting your work out into the world. Plus, we’re sharing some practical advice for fellow storytellers trying to find the...

In this episode, I’m joined by teacher and future NYT-bestselling author (manifesting respectfully), Sarah Militante , for a conversation about building a creative life while embracing uncertainty. We talk about the realities of querying a debut book, navigating career pivots, staying open to unexpected paths, and learning that change doesn’t always mean starting over. Mrs M also shares what it lo...

This episode started as a question about loneliness and became something closer to a love letter. We're talking about creative friendships: the depth of them, the complexity of them, and the specific kind of magic that happens when someone who truly gets it walks beside you. We cover comparison, collaboration, and how to be the kind of friend you actually want to have. And somewhere in the mid...

What does it actually take to be a teenage creative in 2026? In this episode of The Creative Hustle with Anika Goyal, I sit down with a high school senior and videographer, Alyssa Del Mundo to talk about the reality behind the camera roll, from cinematic composition and visual storytelling to balancing school, deadlines, editing, collaboration, and creative burnout. We get into the pressure of cre...

In this episode, Anika has a wonderful conversation with Chapman University screenwriting professor William Stribling. They discuss: - power of storytelling - learning and breaking rules - being more open to change - advice for creatives and more... Stay tuned for new episodes every week and for more updates follow Anika on Instagram @thecreativehustlewithanikag

In this episode, Anika has a wonderful conversation videographer Jeisa Ng. She is an amazing high school sophomore who works in her school's video production team, with a beautiful knack for storytelling. In this episode, we discuss: - storytelling - just going for it - creative mentorship - advice for creatives - and more... This episode is for all the creative and ambitious people out there,...

In this episode, Anika discusses the concept of wanting something versus actually living it. She also discusses the struggles of comparison, feeling like she is asking for a lot, managing pressures, and more! This episode is for all the people who dream big, but get burnt out really quickly!

In this episode, Anika sits down with YA sports romance author Jennifer Iacopelli! They discuss storytelling, romance development, building strong independent woman characters, Netflix adaptations, creating opportunities for debut actors, and more! This episode is for all the creatives out there who dream of making it big someday or want an extra dose of inspiration!

She was here in year two. Now it's year six. And a lot has changed. The last time my mom sat across from me on this podcast, I was still figuring out who I was as a host, as a storyteller, and honestly, as a person. She showed up for me then, the way she always has. And now, four years later, she's back. This Mother's Day, I'm bringing my mom back to the mic for a conversation that...

In this episode, we get into the neuroscience and psychology of first impressions and what it actually means for your career in creative and media: an industry where the meeting is the audition and the pitch is the preview. We break down the warmth-competence axis, why leading with credentials backfires, the uncomfortable truth about Mehrabian's 55/38/7 rule, and what researcher John Antonakis...

In this episode, I'm joined with the world's leading human design expert Erin Claire Jones. In this episode, we discuss: - Thriving vs just surviving  - Identifying career paths that align with your human design - Choice paralysis - and more! This episode is for all the dreamers and innovators out there, hoping to achieve their dreams and goals, while maintaining their peace and composure!...

In this episode, I sit down with Saul Brauns , a 19-year-old founder and Rice University student building Bridge , a dating app designed to rethink how we actually connect. And we’re not keeping this surface-level. We get into: the real psychology of men (not what TikTok tells you) why modern dating feels so broken, and what might fix it the business side of love: attraction, retention, and emotio...

She wrote laugh-out-loud funny books about the hardest parts of life : infertility, friendships, the seasons that don't go according to plan. Then she wrote horror screenplays for Creepshow, including episodes starring Joey King and Molly Ringwald. Then she shambled around as a zombie on The Walking Dead. Then she wrote a young adult horror novel about a girl whose greatest fear turns out to b...

In this episode of The Creative Hustle , Anika Goyal breaks down why Gen Z creators are building more engaging, relatable brands than even the biggest companies, and what’s driving this shift. From authenticity and speed to community-driven content, Gen Z has redefined what it means to connect with an audience in today’s digital world. If you’re interested in marketing, content creation, or buildi...

Today is my 18th birthday and the PILOT EPISODE of SEASON 3!!! In this episode I get into what actually changed between 12 and 18 (hint: not what I expected), the stretch where I almost quit and what pulled me back, what growing up publicly does to your brain, and why I spent years chasing a version of success that didn't even feel good when I got it. I'm also moving to Chapman University in Augus...

300+ students impacted. 8 classrooms. 3 schools. 13 events… all started by a sophomore in high school. Anika Bhasin is the founder of Bridge to Equity, an organization bringing social justice education directly into classrooms and creating space for conversations that actually matter. but this episode goes way deeper than the numbers. we talk about: ✨ what it really feels like to lead at a young...