The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Economist Allison Schrager, author of An Economist Walks into a Brothel, discusses the psychology of risk tolerance through her framework of financial economics. She explores how our high school social choices reveal risk preferences, the difference between calculated risks and reckless ones, and why taking more risks often leads to becoming better at evaluating them. The conversation covers risk in creative careers, the math of making risky art, and how to organize your thinking around uncertainty to make better life decisions.

Anders Ericsson, the pioneering researcher behind deliberate practice, explains the essential components of purposeful learning and skill development. He discusses how teachers help identify performance gaps, why measuring progress against clear benchmarks is crucial, and the difference between mindless repetition and intentional practice designed to push beyond your current best.

Marketing professor and author Ben Guttmann explains why we over-complicate our messaging and how to apply design principles to communicate with clarity. He breaks down the drill-built method for identifying emotional benefits, shares his controversial take on AI as unlimited stupid people, and reveals why features never sell but benefits always do.

Cell biologist Bruce Lipton explores how subconscious programming shapes our lives, explaining the science behind beliefs and habits. He discusses his research on epigenetics, how environment influences gene expression, and practical methods for reprogramming limiting beliefs installed during childhood.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Charles Duhigg breaks down the science of conversation and connection from his book Super Communicators. He explains why 80% of our conversations naturally align, how to use looping for understanding during conflict, and why super communicators ask 10-20x more questions than average.

Stanford professor Tina Seelig discusses how traditional education's obsession with grades and roadmaps kills creativity and curiosity. She shares her failure resume exercise, the dangers of pushing yourself past your limits, and how giving students $5 and two hours produced more innovative thinking than any lecture could.

Chris Guillebeau, author of Born For This and creator of World Domination Summit, discusses finding your dream work at the intersection of joy, money, and flow. He shares his journey from juvenile delinquent to visiting every country in the world, the role of believing in your own success, and how to curate experiences that bring out the best in your community.

Brant Menswar explains why black sheep—those who feel like outcasts—are actually 100% authentically original. He shares his framework for discovering your five non-negotiable core values, the brutal self-honesty required to find them, and how losing his son to cancer clarified what truly matters.

The commissioner of the NBA 2K League shares how professional gaming has evolved from hobby to legitimate career path. Brendan discusses the league draft process, player development strategies, and why esports skills are more than just grinding hours—covering physical fitness, nutrition, and the emergence of esports schools in Asia.