The Zack Arnold Podcast

In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member David Spragg to tackle the challenge of reaching out cold to a gatekeeper. David wants to connect with a YouTuber known for creating high-quality documentary and travel content, who is now venturing into scripted filmmaking. Drawing on his experience in filmmaking, David hopes to offer his skills and insights to support this person’s proje...

Today’s mini-episode is the latest edition of my Case of the Mondays newsletter, a free newsletter I send out exclusively to my subscribers every Monday morning with my latest thoughts, strategies, and tips for better managing the crazy balancing act between work & life. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather design a career where I’m excited about Mondays instead of dreading them. To be the f...

In this Hot Seat session, longtime community member Tonianne Fleig tackles the challenge of pivoting from film into the brand and agency world. Although her recent years have been in film, Tonianne is confident in her skills and expertise—and now it’s about framing her experience to resonate with potential employers in a new space. Together, we dig into the strategies that will help her highlight...

In this Hot Seat session, community member Mark Carr is looking to re-engage a valuable contact he reached out to a few months ago. Knowing the person was previously too busy to respond, Mark wants to follow up in a way that’s both respectful of their time and likely to get a response. Together, we break down the art of a well-crafted follow-up, exploring subtle strategies that go beyond a simple...

In this Hot Seat session, community member Leonardo Oliveira seeks guidance on refining his weekly planning. He often ends up not being able to finish everything he planned for the week and finds himself "stealing" time from other tasks to keep up. Together, we explore the mindset shifts and practical strategies that can help him better manage his time and energy, while building more flexi...

In this Hot Seat session, community member Michael Addis brings his series pitch deck to the table. He wants to refine it so he can capture the interest of the executives. Together, we crawl into the brains of the busy decision-makers to understand how they process ideas, ensuring that he can convey his vision clearly and effectively giving Michael the best chance of making his idea a reality. Wan...

In this Hot Seat session, I sit down with community member Tristan Felberg for a mock interview to help him craft a compelling response to the classic "tell me about yourself" question. We explore what interviewers are really looking for and how Tristan can shape his answer to draw them in, keeping the conversation flowing. We also dive into a key strategy to stay confident and natural, ev...

In this hot seat session, I sit down with community member Kalika Sharma, whose work has kept her creatively fulfilled. But with so much happening at once, Kalika has lost sight of what her future looks like and how to prepare for it. Together, we take time to pause so she can paint a clearer picture of what it is that she really wants for her future, mapping out the steps to help her find clarity...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Moni Salazar  is a Mexican assistant editor (and now editor) for feature films who has been KILLING IT since she moved to Los Angeles. In fact her first feature film as an editor,  Honey Boy , is...

In this hot seat session, community member Brett Williams tells his story of how he lost his creative job and is now working a temporary role to support his family. Brett is eager to return to the work he loves but faces the challenge of balancing that dream with providing for his loved ones. Together, we explore strategies to help him transition back to his creative career, drawing from my own ex...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Having spoken to and worked with hundreds of people worldwide over the years, if there’s one constant to the ever-changing landscape of this age, it’s that the global pandemic has been a magnifyi...

In this hot seat session, community member Mitch Rosin shares how a single email landed him his next dream job. We dive into the strategy he honed during the industry's downtime, getting better at his outreach. We then analyze the email that got him an immediate response to uncover why it worked and how his consistent practice paid off. But with this new opportunity comes new problems (good on...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist A few years back, writer/director  Sam Lavin  came to me because she had never felt more scattered. Amidst unemployment and managing the pandemic she said to me:  “I’m typically a very ambitious...

In this hot seat session, community member Ted Husband wants to workshop his website if the layout is attractive enough to his target audience. Rather than focusing on layout alone, we dive into a strategy that shifts the spotlight onto his audience and make the website more about them. Together, we explore how to guide his target audience through the site, addressing their needs and leading them...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is  Malinda Zehner Guerra  who is an Emmy nominated film and TV editor. She is also a long time Optimizer OG since the pre-pandemic days. Malinda has over 15 years of experience...

In this hot seat session, community member Debra Weinstein is looking for guidance on how to better define her unique value and stand out in her career search. While she’s been making progress with the Design Your Dream Career course, she's hit a roadblock in identifying what sets her apart—why people turn to her and what unique skills she offers. Listen in as I help Debra gain clarity on her...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is  Nick Milo , a long-time Optimizer OG who’s transitioned from the entertainment industry to the realm of Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Nick worked as an assistant edit...

We know that the life of a creative professional comes with passion and excitement and it also comes with challenges and uncertainties. When hard times hit, it’s important to have strategies, mindsets, and game plans in place to keep your creative juices flowing and your passion and excitement pumping. For the next five weeks, we are releasing our best conversations with experts on the topics of c...

We know that the life of a creative professional comes with passion and excitement and it also comes with challenges and uncertainties. When hard times hit, it’s important to have strategies, mindsets, and game plans in place to keep your creative juices flowing and your passion and excitement pumping. For the next five weeks, we are releasing our best conversations with experts on the topics of c...

We know that the life of a creative professional comes with passion and excitement and it also comes with challenges and uncertainties. When hard times hit, it’s important to have strategies, mindsets, and game plans in place to keep your creative juices flowing and your passion and excitement pumping. For the next five weeks, we are releasing our best conversations with experts on the topics of c...

We know that the life of a creative professional comes with passion and excitement and it also comes with challenges and uncertainties. When hard times hit, it’s important to have strategies, mindsets, and game plans in place to keep your creative juices flowing and your passion and excitement pumping. For the next five weeks, we are releasing our best conversations with experts on the topics of c...

We know that the life of a creative professional comes with passion and excitement and it also comes with challenges and uncertainties. When hard times hit, it’s important to have strategies, mindsets, and game plans in place to keep your creative juices flowing and your passion and excitement pumping. For the next five weeks, we are releasing our best conversations with experts on the topics of c...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist My guest today is  Amy Gallo  who is a workplace expert and cohost of Harvard Business Review's Women at Work podcast. Amy is also an author and speaker focusing on gender, interpersonal dyna...

My guest today is  Dr. Steven Rogelberg  who is an organizational psychologist and author of the new book, Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings, and according to Adam Grant, Dr. Rogelberg "knows more about how to improve meetings than anyone on earth." He has helped a number of leading organizations including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pfizer and Warner Brothers. Now, we all kno...

Want to continue learning from the world’s experts on time management, networking, career development, better sleep, overcoming burnout, and so much more? → Click here for your customized podcast playlist Today's guest is  Chris Deaver , the co-founder of BraveCore, a leadership consultancy dedicated to helping leaders embrace creativity and empowering creatives to become better leaders. Chris...