You Gotta Hear This! A Podcast for Video Creators & Storytellers

In this episode, Paul invites creatives and storytellers to pause long enough to get perspective. Instead of sprinting into the next project or measuring progress only by speed, you’ll hear why great creatives consistently stop to: Look Behind... to see where you’ve come from, what you’ve learned, and how far you’ve traveled. Look Around... to take inventory of the present moment, see what’s worki...

Creativity doesn’t disappear. It just runs out of charge. If you’ve been feeling creatively drained, unfocused, or flat—this episode is your reminder that even seasoned creators need time to recharge their creative batteries. In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul Steven Forrest talks about why creative energy fades, how to recognize the warning signs early, and what it really takes to refu...

We all want the straight line from A to B. Clear direction. Clean progress. Obvious momentum. But real creative life rarely works that way. In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul Steven Forrest talks about the in-between — the space between where you started and where you’re trying to go. The part that doesn’t show up on a roadmap. The part filled with twists, detours, pauses, and second-gu...

Ever feel like you’re making progress…only to feel like you’re sliding backward? You book a win. Finish a project. Launch something new. And then—almost immediately—it feels like resistance shows up. I n this episode, Paul Steven Forrest talks candidly about a rhythm every creative knows well : progress that doesn’t always feel linear. Growth rarely looks like a straight line forward. More often,...

What do you do when the thing you built — your plan, your momentum, your confidence — suddenly collapses? In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest talks about those moments when a creative tower falls. When the project stalls. When the opportunity disappears. When the structure you trusted no longer holds. Instead of panic, this episode reframes collapse as a moment of clarity. Paul shares why breakdo...

In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, we continue our Wonder Series with a powerful creative shift: learning to see what’s already working in your process—and doubling down on it. Most creators spend their energy chasing the next big thing: the next idea, the next technique, the next project. But Wonder invites you to slow down, look closer, and recognize the patterns that are already pointing...

In this episode, we continue the Wonder Series and explore the single question that can change how you see your work, your world, and the stories you choose to tell. Wonder isn’t just something you feel — it’s a creative posture that rewires how you show up behind the camera, in the edit bay, and in the moments that matter most. I f you haven’t listened to Ep 35 (The Power of Wonder) or Ep 36 (Liv...

In this episode, Paul explores a creative superpower that separates average shooters from unforgettable storytellers: the ability to see before you shoot. This is the discipline of slowing down, noticing details, absorbing emotion, and approaching every location, every character, and every moment with a sense of wonder. Because great storytellers don’t wait until the camera rolls to start telling...

In this episode, Paul explores what every great creator knows: wonder is the secret ingredient that turns a simple story into something unforgettable. Wonder draws you in. It expands your imagination. It keeps you creatively alive. For video creators and storytellers, wonder isn’t optional — it’s a strategic mindset. Using examples like Cirque du Soleil and personal creative moments, Paul shows ho...

Every creative hits a ceiling — that moment when “good” just doesn’t cut it anymore. In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest unpacks what it means to chase your next level of Wow. He shares how to recognize the gap between where you are and where you could be, how to elevate the craft behind your content, and why the difference between “nice job” and “Wow!” often comes down to patience, detail, and p...

Every creative project either moves the needle… or it doesn’t. In this episode, we’re talking about what that really means for video creators and storytellers who want to play in the big leagues. Because here’s the truth: if your work doesn’t move the needle, producers will scroll right past your reel, networks won’t return your call, and the opportunities you dream about will stay just out of rea...

Some stories are watched. The best stories are experienced. In this episode, we’ll unpack how to use sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to pull your audience beyond the screen and into the moment. When you tap into the senses, you create stories that linger — long after the final frame. What You’ll Learn: Why sensory storytelling makes stories unforgettable. How to weave the 5 senses into inter...

Some of the biggest creative wins don’t happen on set. They happen at 2 AM — staring at an edit that isn’t working and asking yourself, “Okay… now what?” This episode digs into what a real creative mindset looks like — the kind that shows up when the cameras are off, the pressure’s on, and the only way forward is to problem-solve your way through. You’ll hear: Why true wins happen behind the scene...

What separates a good video from a great one? In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest shares 10 practical steps to help you transform your creative process and take your videos from average to unforgettable. Whether you’re just starting out or already working with clients, these steps give you a roadmap to creating stories that connect, engage, and leave your audience saying, “Wow!” You’ll discover h...

Most people settle for average—and wonder why their work doesn’t stand out. The truth is: average never wins. Not in sports, not in business, and definitely not in the creative world. In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest unpacks the Power of Wow!—why it’s not just a nice add-on, but the standard for every project you take on. You’ll hear: Why being “just OK” is the fastest way to get overlooked. T...

What do you do when things go wrong on set, in the edit bay, or in life? Murphy’s Law says, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” But here’s the truth: Murphy isn’t always right. In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest share a personal reflection on those moments when projects hit a snag—and how to turn them into opportunities instead of setbacks. You’ll learn five tools that every video creat...

Every great creator has something that sets them apart. Call it your superpower. It’s not just talent—it’s the unique strength, motivator, or perspective you bring to the table that others can’t duplicate. In this episode of You REALLY Gotta Hear This! , Paul Steven Forrest challenges video creators to identify and own their superpower. Drawing on the energy of superheroes and real-world creative...

Every great story—and every great creative career—needs a flight plan. Without one, you’re just circling the runway or shooting straight up only to crash back down. In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest lays out a 3-Stage Flight Plan designed to help video creators and storytellers gain altitude the right way, avoid turbulence, and land projects that move the needle. What You’ll Learn in This Episo...

In this episode, Paul Steven Forrest unpacks a creative framework that will change the way you think about storytelling. Great stories don’t just happen—they move through a process. See It, Say It, Sow It, Show It is a practical way to remind yourself that every idea needs vision, words, investment, and delivery. What you’ll discover in this episode: Why seeing the story first sets the vision for...

On a hot summer night, nothing beats an ice cream cone. But one little shop in my neighborhood did something unforgettable—they hid a malted milk ball at the bottom of every cone. That tiny surprise left a lasting impression, and years later, it’s still teaching me something about storytelling. In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, I unpack why the last bite matters most—in ice cream and in sto...

In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul reminds video creators that in both life and storytelling—you can’t just stand still. Every creative career is built on making moves. The question is: What kind of move are you making? Paul unpacks how small, intentional steps forward compound into big breakthroughs , while hesitation, fear, or waiting for “the perfect moment” can leave you stuck on th...

Ever ignored a software update on your phone or laptop —thinking everything would keep working just fine until suddenly, it didn’t? Maybe your apps started crashing. Your screen froze. Or things just felt... off. Here’s the thing: that happens to us creatively, too. As content creators, filmmakers, and storytellers, we often push forward without checking if our internal system—our mindset, our met...

Ever watch a show where the video and audio don’t match up? It throws everything off—until you reboot the system and suddenly… it clicks. That kind of misalignment doesn’t just happen on screen. It happens in our creative lives, too. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to be out of sync —and more importantly, how to get back in sync with your collaborators, your calendar, your creat...

You’re not lazy. You’re overloaded.  If you’re a video creator, storyteller, or creative juggling a dozen tasks at once—editing, invoicing, chasing clients, learning new gear, posting reels while rendering footage—you’re not alone. In this episode, we unpack what’s really behind that nonstop hustle.it’s not a lack of discipline, it’s a lack of clarity. Spinning Too Many Plates explores the li...

In this episode, Paul asks a question most creatives never stop to consider: What ladder are you climbing? Whether you’re just getting started or eyeing your next big move, the kind of ladder you choose—and how high you're willing to climb—can shape your entire creative career. Paul shares personal stories, industry insights, and a few cautionary tales to help you figure out where you are, where y...