The Zack Arnold Podcast

I can’t believe I’m about to say this...but 2017 is just about to end (which seriously doesn’t even seem possible), which means it’s time to start setting some goals for 2018. If you missed my previous episode with high performance coach Jeanette Goodrich I highly recommend checking that out first because in that interview we talk a lot about setting high level goals and the steps that most people...

Around this time every year a common word begins to resurface: “Resolutions.” And while we all have the best intentions of beginning the new year with all the energy and motivation to make positive changes in our lives, inevitably 92% of resolutions fail. It’s easy to make excuses and say that “Life got in the way,” but if you truly intend to achieve your goals in 2018 and make positive progress t...

If you’re a keyboard monkey like me who loves to escape the dark room on weekends and get dirty in the real world, i.e. you consider yourself a “Weekend Warrior,” then you’ll love today’s episode as much as me because this interview blends two of my favorite passions: Creative work and obstacle course racing. My guest today is Nick Montgomery, a film editor who likes to run around in the mud and l...

It’s no secret that my #1 productivity hack is movement throughout the workday. And everyone knows that exercise is good for us and can help us feel better, but who has the time to go running for 45 minutes every morning just to achieve the “Runner’s High?” Luckily for working stiffs like us who live in front of computers, the benefits of simple exercises and movement reach far beyond what you mig...

For those of us who spend most of our waking hours sitting in front of screens (i.e. ALL of us), we’ve learned a lot recently about the negative health effects of screen exposure, especially when it comes to eye health. I’ve seen a lot of activity in Facebook groups in the last few months especially about eye health and protecting yourself from blue light. I’ve done past podcasts with sleep expert...

When discussing depression and anxiety, it’s not uncommon to hear people say things like, “Why don’t you just snap out of it!” or, “You just need to get some sleep and you’ll be fine.” But unfortunately for many people like myself, depression and anxiety come part and parcel with being blessed with creative talents. There is no simple way to “snap out of” depression or “sleep off” anxiety if you h...

The term “Psychoanalysis” comes with plenty of baggage, not the least of which is images of Freud asking someone about their relationship with their mother, or on the opposite end of the spectrum someone lying down on a couch expressing their innermost fears and desires only to have a practitioner passively responding with, “and how did that make you feel?” Ugh….shoot me. But despite some of the n...

“Mindfulness” is a buzz word you see on the Internet all the time nowadays, but what does the term mindfulness actually mean? And do I need to wear sandals, eat organic hemp granola, and chant to the stars while somebody balances my chakras to authentically practice mindfulness? Luckily mindfulness requires nothing more than a willingness to hit the pause button on your life for just a few minutes...

The holidays are the time of year we’re all meant to slow down and recognize all the things in our lives that we are grateful for, but unfortunately with the crazy speed that life moves nowadays, the holiday season is most likely the most stressful time of the year. All most people (including myself) are often focused on is rushing to get projects done before the year ends, making travel plans, fi...

If you spend all day sitting in front of a computer, then you’ll no doubt relate to Todd Kopriva’s oh-so-familiar story of gaining over 70 pounds from working a sedentary job for over a decade as a software designer for Adobe. But even though the beginning of this story might sound familiar, the rest of it is anything but ordinary. During his final year before leaving Adobe, Todd had a stark reali...

If you work in one position all day long, whether sitting, standing, or otherwise, it's important to understand how gravity is negatively affecting your health when you are sedentary. We've all heard the phrase, "Sitting is the New Smoking," but it goes much deeper than that. My guest in this episode is Dr. Joan Vernikos , the former director of the Life Sciences Division at NASA a...

Qualia is quite possibly the most revolutionary product I’ve come across in my decade-long quest of personal development and self-optimization. It’s as close as you’ll ever get to experiencing the ‘Limitless’ drug. Yes...it’s that good. I’ve been experimenting with it behind-the-scenes for several months now, and I’m finally coming out of the closet to share it with you because I’m now thoroughly...

HRV, or “Heart Rate Variability” is a term you might not be familiar with. It’s a biological measurement you should absolutely know just as you would your weight, your cholesterol, or you blood pressure. Simply put, HRV is the measurement of time between your heartbeats. While this sounds relatively simple, what is so profound about this measurement is how it can help you measure the strength of y...

As of this week’s episode I have now recorded over 130 interviews with people all over the planet in many different industries with their own unique stories. But with all due respect to every single person I’ve ever interviewed, I can confidently say that talking today with  Shane Burcaw  was one of the highlights of my life. Rarely do you come across a human being that radiates such positivity, c...

Wes Plate is no stranger to adversity. On the surface it may appear that he is incredibly successful having founded the software company Automatic Duck , as well as worked for companies such as Adobe and Pinnacle, not to mention years of editing commercials and main title sequences for network television shows. On top of all that Wes is currently a product designer for a little tiny tech startup y...

Billy Goldenberg  is the Oscar-winning film editor of such films as Detroit, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, The Imitation Game, several of the Transformers films, the National Treasure franchise, and many more. He’s done numerous collaborations with Michael Mann, Ben Affleck, Michael Bay, and he even won his Oscar the same year that his mentor Michael Kahn was nominated (if you’re not familiar with Micha...

In creative industries like film & television post-production, it's extremely common to see job listings for free or low paid work, but how do you know if it's worth it or if you should run for the hills ? After all, would you ask for services for free in other industries ? Just imagine walking into an upscale restaurant and saying, “I’d love to try out the most popular item on your me...

#AdvanceYourself month continues where we’re diving into the weeds talking about taking practical, boots-on-the-ground action steps to move your creative career forwards, or more specifically to this episode, how to transition from climbing one ladder to climbing a different one, even if that means taking one step back to take several forwards in the future. I’m incredibly excited for this episode...

'Advance Yourself' month continues where we’re diving into the weeds talking about taking practical, boots-on-the-ground action steps to move your career forwards, or more specifically in this episode how to transition from climbing one ladder to climbing a different one, even if that means taking one step back to take several forwards in the future. My guest today is Monica Daniel who has...

Up until maybe the last three to five years, when hearing the term “Blue Collar” one would immediately picture a coal miner, a steel worker, people working in factories, or other types of physically demanding manual labor jobs. But as our society has progressed so rapidly due to advances in technology, a common question that has begun to arise is, “Are tech workers becoming the new ‘Blue Collar’?”...

For those who work in the filmmaking industry, ‘Below the Line’ is a pretty common term, but in case you’re not familiar with it, it originated as an accounting term to separate the fixed costs of a film’s budget (actors, director, writers, and producers, etc) from the variable hourly, daily, and weekly costs of those working in various crafts such as editing, costumes, or the art department, just...

“How can I break into Hollywood or advance in my creative career if I don’t know anybody?” is a common question I receive via e-mail, when I speak at events, or when I teach at USC or online. Whenever someone sends me an email or Facebook message and asks, “Can I buy you coffee and pick your brain?” this is inevitably their reason for reaching out. Unlike doctors or lawyers, the path to being a su...

Author’s Note:  ‘Tragedy’ doesn’t even begin to describe what it means for our industry to lose Norman Hollyn at the ridiculously young age of 66. He was quite possibly the kindest soul in Hollywood. I’m asked so often by so many, “What’s the secret to really making it in Hollywood?” And the answer is SO simple:  Provide value to others. Norman proved through his actions, his never-ending kindness...

I don’t know about you, but I’m really confused by the endless amounts of information available regarding nutrition. All you have to do is spend a couple hours reading the heated (and sometimes outright vicious) debates about the latest hot Netflix documentary to see nutritional science is an emotional topic. And I’m just plain tired of the “My science is better than your science” argument. Luckil...

In today’s digital world of information overload, the most controversial topic that causes the greatest amount of conflict and confusion (politics aside, of course) is nutrition. Rarely do I post anything on social media or via my inner circle email newsletter about diet and nutrition that doesn’t elicit at least one hate-filled response. Who knew something as simple as food could divide us so muc...