Creators Abroad - The Podcast for Filmmakers

Do you want to be a full-time creator? Whether you're interested in photography, videography, becoming a YouTuber or podcaster, there is a belief that only a few can succeed. But this is not true. Simon Shaw joins me in studio for this special New Year episode to discuss 21 lessons we learnt starting and growing our creative careers in 2021, and what it will take for you to do the same.

How do you get someone's attention online? Voice actor and podcaster, Brimstone, joins me to discuss 1) Using our voices to get and keep someone's attention, 2) What is the difference between being the creator and talent? and 3) How to get into voice acting, specifically for video games. Discover voice techniques, unusual creative career paths and what it takes to bring someone else's creative work to life.

As a creative, are you happy? Do you have the life you want? Or do you experience frustration, burnout and overwhelm? Our own attitude and beliefs determine our reality. Malta's mindset coach, Ken Attard, discusses the importance of mindset to achieve a happier, balanced life with a rewarding career and healthy relationships.

Do you want to make a living as a YouTuber, podcaster or blogger? Or build a creative agency? There are two key questions to ask yourself: What are your really good at or knowledeable about? Is there a group of people interested in this particular skill or topic? Rael Bricker, keynote speaker and serial entrepreneur, applies his business excellence approach to creative industries in this episode. Find out how to identify your talent, align it with your purpose, while understanding the importance of market demand for scaling your business, growing it faster without spending more time or money.

How do you get a job after graduating from film school? What's next after your art or music degree? You can either 1) teach, 2) work for an agency, or 3) get a completely different job. There's a fourth option - the hardest of them all: start your own business and become a creative entrepreneur. What are the most essential skills you need? Edgar Sierra started as a photographer and now runs a creative digital agency, E. Sierra Media. He shares what to avoid and what to embrace to build a thriving business.

To grow as a creative, we have to learn to be comfortable in our own skin and embrace our vulnerability. Brazilian musician, Nadedja, reveals how vulnerability has helped her build a music career in the UK from scratch. Learn how 1) to be yourself without forcing it, 2) overcome fear of putting your work in a public space, and 3) navigate the pressure of social media - what should you reveal and what should you keep to yourself?

Why do we feel the need to do a 9-5 job first before we pursue our dream job? Mike Murray started out as a chiropractor in New York. When he moved to Brussels, he decided to give up his 9-5 and become a full-time musician. Should you also risk everything for your creative career? Find out why most creatives: 1) end up in traditional jobs in the first place, 2) why this makes them unhappy, and 3) how we can break free from convention and turn our passion into a sustainable career.

How is the mental health epidemic affecting creatives working in the online space (i.e. YouTubers, podcasters and bloggers) and what can we do about it? Psychiatrist and composer, Dr Christian Heim, explains 1) why creators, who rely on social media to market their content, have increased levels of anxiety, depression and even suicidality. We also touch on 2) the risks of normalising mental health issues on social media and 3) how much do you reveal of your struggles as a personal brand?

Should you get a plant? Find out how sprigs of lavendar, mint, tumeric etc. can make your workspace pop with colour, add fragrance, reduce stress and anxiety and improve productivity. Devorah Rivers, a regenerative gardener in Switzerland, explains why gardening can transform your life. We touch specifically on 1) coping with anxiety induced by drastic changes, and 2) how nature in visual work (photos / videos) change what viewers feel. She shares easy, practical tips to start an edible garden today (no matter where you live).

Traditional 9-5 jobs are often not the ones we really want to do. This is what coffee roaster, Dave Beattie, discovered while working as a corporate. What did he learn after quitting, travelling the world and starting his own coffee business? In this episode, you'll discover: 1) when is the right time to quit your job, 2) how to find inspiration to build something of your own, and 3) a real-life example to help you navigate the chaos of it all.

Don't crave instant success. It's the quickest route to failure. When you start a creative business, a podcast, YouTube channel etc. you normally experience these frustrations: 1) Things aren't moving quick enough. 2) You're not getting enough clients, views or listens. 3) Your hard work seems to be for nothing. Here, I share the mindset that is essential to create a sustainable business, leading to success in the long-run (as inspired by my favourite YouTuber, Matt D'Avella, and my own experience of setting up a podcast production agency).

Ever felt puzzled by SEO? Not sure where it all fits in? As creators and business owners, if our content ranks highly in search results, we're more likely to get ahead of competition and draw attention to what we do. Dr Morissa Schwartz, founder of Dr Rissy's Writing & Marketing, has years of experience helping clients produce beautiful content and get recognition for it. She explains 1) how your social media presence is linked to SEO, 2) why both is important, and 3) how you can easily implement practices that won't overwhelm you.

Our lives are dominated by two questions: What could I have done differently in the past? What is going to happen in the future? Because these questions make us worry, we forget to live in the present, but not when we’re travelling. Jeff Seckendorf, filmmaker turned scuba dive instructor, explains what happens to your state of mind when you travel and how physical activity (e.g. hiking, swimming, cycling...) help you 1) find a like-minded community that transcends cultural barriers, 2) heighten your creativity, and 3) combat neurological challenges and signs of ageing.

“Everything you can imagine is real.” How do Picasso's words apply to our professional lives? Robert A. Belle, creative champion and award-winning accountant, explains why being rebellious at work (i.e. suggesting radical new ideas) can reinvigorate your career and set you on a path to genuine recognition. Learn 1) why we want to fit in, 2) why creative rebellion should can be a service (not an indulgence), and, 3) maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a creative.

Can you build a career as an artist? Is your talent recognised? Many creatives struggle to transform talent into a thriving career, often relying on another job to pay their bills. Musician and app developer, Mark Hartman, struggled with this exact dilemma and created an app, Alosha, to help solve it. We discuss how technology, and apps in particular, can help artists 1) earn recognition, 2) make money, and 3) build a community around their art.

Are you thinking of moving to a new country? Have you moved already? Here are five reasons people want to live and work abroad but hesitate. Based on my experience of living in France, Japan, South Africa and England, I share a tip on how to overcome each difficulty.

Firefighter turned chocolatier, Zoë Roberston, moved from the South of England to the North, where she started selling her artisan chocolate slabs on Instagram. She built a new life around her chocolate business and now owns a production site. We discuss moving from one part of a country to another and how to grow a creative business on a saturated social media platform by focusing on location and identity.

Cultural stereotypes give us a false impression of what it is really like living in a particular country. Spanish Professor, Fernando Pérez, joins me to break down Spanish and English stereotypes by sharing his experience of 1) moving to England, 2) overcoming language barriers, and 3) career progression in a foreign country. We also touch on the question of 'Shall I return home?'

Is your brand identity or artwork protected from other people copying it? What should creatives know about Intellectual Property (IP)? This episode with patent lawyer, Devin Miller, explains the difference between 1) trademarks, copyrights and patents, 2) why it is important for creators, 3) how to protect your brand identity and work, and 4) which common IP mistakes you should avoid.

Sales expert and podcaster, Romina Muhametaj moved from Albania to the USA at 17. After a couple of years, she found herself a recovering alcoholic, divorced and broke. How did she turn her life around? We explore how to rebuild your life in a foreign context after hitting rock bottom by making the right decisions through 1) applying sales negotiation skills, 2) balancing stubbornness with practicality, and 3) helping others.