The Futur with Chris Do

1. 260 - Encouraging The Entrepreneurial Spirit — with Jodie Cook

Some people are just natural entrepreneurs. Whether it’s in their bones, or they grow up with a positive entrepreneurial role model, they just feel that need deep down inside of them. But how do you become a positive entrepreneurial role model for others? Our guest, Jodie Cook, has started multiple businesses, as well as being an author (Ten Year Career and How To Raise Entrepreneurial Kids), powerlifter, and creator of Coachvox AI, a service that can help turn your knowledge and wisdom into an

Sep 27,2023 01:21:30

2. 259 - Scaling Up — with Ayman Al-Abdullah

Ayman Al-Abdullah is the former CEO of AppSumo, and now coaches CEO’s on how to scale their business from seven figures to nine. Graduating as an accounting major during the 2008 recession, Ayman saw a lot of his friends treading the battlefield of the job market. He had always been interested in entrepreneurship, so instead of working for someone else, he decided to begin his own business, but he kept coming up against a revenue wall - A monetary figure he just couldn’t get past. As time went b

Sep 20,2023 01:18:20

3. 258 - The ADHD Creative — with Abi Lemon

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has been around a long time, but is surprisingly under diagnosed in the many that struggle with its symptoms. It can cause a variety of issues with concentration, finishing work, and following instructions (per the CDC). Those symptoms can then result in a variety of reactions, with one of the most common one’s being low self esteem. Our guest for this episode, Abi Lemon, believes that with self awareness and discipline, people with ADHD can man

Sep 13,2023 01:02:29

4. 257 - Expert Advice — with Keir McLaren

Have you ever been curious what it would be like to talk to a business coach? To ask direct questions about the problems you or your business might be having, and get direct answers? Chris has been doing business coaching for years, but before he did, he had a business coach of his own - Keir McLaren. Chris hired Keir a few years into Blind’s existence, because he knew he needed someone to help him see what he wasn’t seeing, and could help him get to where he wanted to go.Unfortunately, we lost

Sep 06,2023 01:35:06

5. 256 - From Good To Great

In everyone’s career there is a moment where you need to make the leap from good to great if you want to keep growing. There’s always a point where everyone wants to level up their brand so they can work on bigger projects, and boost revenue and profit. Working with clients is a skill, just like your art, and in order to make the leap from good to great, you need to have the skills to get from where you are to where you want to go. Some people make that leap quickly, and others struggle with it.

Aug 30,2023 50:33

6. 255 - Designing A Top Tier Workshop — with Rob Fitzpatrick

Have you ever considered creating a workshop to teach others? Not just a single lecture that you’re going to give once, but a workshop you can teach in different situations, over and over again? Buckle up, because Rob Fitzpatrick, co-author of The Workshop Survival Guide, is here to talk to Chris about the in’s and out’s of designing a great workshop, and why it’s so important to treat it as your product. Rob shares some of the things he did wrong in his early workshop attempts, the iterations t

Aug 23,2023 01:43:14

7. 254 - Storytelling Is A Superpower — with Michael Margolis

Michael Margolis believes that narrative storytelling is the #1 superpower of humanity, and that the three most important, fundamental skills for the future all come from the exercise of storytelling. As the CEO of Storied, a strategic messaging and leadership firm, Michael and his team help leaders and teams stand out through story. But why is story so important? and what makes a great story when it comes to a product or a business?In this episode, Chris and Michael are going to talk about the

Aug 16,2023 01:29:27

8. 253 - Demystifying LinkedIn — with Nicole Osborne

LinkedIn. The very name conjures a variety of feelings amongst people. Hard to believe, but the social media juggernaut has been around for over two decades, and has over 930 MILLION users worldwide. Needless to say, whether you appreciate it or not, it is a force in the business world, whether you’re looking for a new job, or you’re an HR manager looking for potential recruits, or you’re a CEO looking to connect with people in similar positions, there’s a LOT that can be done on this site. Beca

Aug 09,2023 57:43

9. 252 - Tactical Analytics— with Amanda Webb

A website is an amazing sales tool. It can tell people who you are, what you do, and act as a sort of virtual handshake to begin a relationship between you and a potential customer. Often times, a website might be someone’s first point of contact with you or your business. So how do you optimize it to boost its ability to convert potential clients? There’s a lot of data that you can pull from a website, but are you using it effectively?Amanda Webb is a Digital Marketing and ROI consultant and tr

Aug 02,2023 51:48

10. 251 - Building The AI Chris Do — with Sho Rust

AI has become such a buzz term lately. It was the mainstay of sci fi books and movies, for the longest time, and was something everybody thought of as being far in the future. And then Midjourney happened, and Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT. AI is definitely here, right now, and is growing almost exponentially, every single day. Through all of this, we’ve seen people create magical, non existent worlds, wild characters, and some very… weird stuff with AI like Midjourney. People have used ChatGPT t

Jul 26,2023 01:19:37

11. 250 - Have People Lining Up To Do Business With You — with Daniel Priestley

It’s common sense to think “I have a business. I should sell as much of my product to as many people as I can”. So why do companies, like Rolex or Ferrari, make so much money by limiting the amount of product that they sell? Why would anyone throw up road blocks in front of their own potential customers? And why is creating tension in the supply and demand equation a way to get people to want to buy from you?Daniel Priestley returns to talk with Chris about his concept of being “Oversubscribed”.

Jul 19,2023 01:03:44

12. 249 - The Power of Listening — with Orly Israel

Orly Israel is a communicator who wanted to improve his conversational skills, and realized the best way to do that was to learn how to listen. His concept to achieve his goal, The Listening Table, is just that - A table that he has set up in various cities across the country, where he sits and listens to anyone who wants to talk. His goal is to create a space where the other person can share whatever they need to, in a zone that is free of advice and free of judgment. Those two things are in pl

Jul 12,2023 49:43

13. 248 - Mastering Negotiation — with Chris Voss

Chris Voss is a former FBI negotiator who is using his decades of knowledge to teach others how to negotiate in both life and business. His book Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It is a Wall Street Journal Best Seller, and Chris is teaching negotiation in classrooms, workshops, and through a popular series on the MasterClass website.In this episode, the two Chris’s (Do and Voss) talk about how negotiation works, whether it’s on a personal level or in sales. Chr

Jul 05,2023 57:35

14. 247 - 5 Core Business Principles, Part 3

In our final discussion on the 5 Core Business Principles, Mo Ismail returns to talk to Chris about Attraction Marketing. In todays world, few people are looking at your social profiles by random chance. They’re looking to see who you are, and what you’ve done. One of the strongest way you can attract potential clients is to use those profiles to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in your area of expertise. That way you’re not just building an audience, you’re building trust.In this episode,

Jun 28,2023 36:50

15. 246 - 5 Core Business Principles, Part 2

In the second part of Chris’s discussion with Mo Ismail on the 5 Core Business Principles, he’ll be talking about The Irresistible Offer, and how to create it. It’s natural to feel like “the work should sell itself”, but competition has risen to a level where you have to start creating a product, or service, that is SO attractive to a potential customer or client, that they want to buy from YOU. So how do you do create The Irresistible Offer? Two ways - Either lower the price, or create more val

Jun 21,2023 01:03:17

16. 245 - 5 Core Business Principles, Part 1

For much of human history, mankind didn’t have very much in the way of resources. If there was food to eat, we ate it, and we would eat as much as we could, because we didn’t know when our next meal was going to come. Fast forward to the 21st century, and we have an abundance of food and mass produced goods which gives us choice. With this multitude of options, we start to ask ourselves “Why do we choose one over the other?”. Why do people buy? What are the core, psychological elements that get

Jun 14,2023 01:19:39

17. 244 - Getting Your First Clients

Whether you’re just starting out in a creative business, or pivoting to a new specialty, finding those first clients is one of the biggest hills you have to climb. So how do you build up your skills and get yourself seen by potential clients? If you’re adding a skill or a specialty, how do you get potential clients to see you as someone who can do more than just what you have already done for them? Mo Ismail returns to talk to Chris about how he went from being a student to landing clients as a

Jun 07,2023 58:13

18. 243 - It's Only Money

Money. How does that word make you feel? Some people hear it and think opportunity, success, maybe even happiness. Others have a much more complicated reaction. Chris has fielded a lot of questions and comments about money over the years, and the one thing that is consistent with these questions is that there is a surprising amount of negative attitude towards both money, and the people who have made a fair share of it. But, as Chris argues, money is simply “a score card of how much you are able

May 31,2023 43:41

19. 242 - Pick A Side — with Sean Cannell

We’re back with our second episode with YouTube pro and entrepreneur Sean Cannell. Sean is the driving force behind ThinkMedia, a company focused on YouTube strategy and growth. He is also an international speaker and coach that helps entrepreneurs build their influence and income with online video. In this episode, Sean and Chris continue their conversation about the importance of YouTube for entrepreneurs and business owners. Sean goes into topics like building a team, figuring out what to foc

May 24,2023 47:21

20. 241 - Creating Impactful Content — with Sean Cannell

Sean Cannell returns to the podcast to talk to Chris about why YouTube is the most undervalued social media platform, and how to take advantage of its amazing features. Sean is a successful YouTuber, and founder of ThinkMedia, an organization and YouTube channel focused on helping creators understand new technology, devise strategies, and create more success on YouTube.In the first part of a two part conversation, Sean and Chris talk about why being able to communicate is the most important skil

May 17,2023 56:31

21. 240 - Finding Your Voice — with James Victore

James Victore is a designer and fine artist, who’s work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. His stunning, expressive typography has helped to define his work, and is born out of the passion that he feels for the act of creating. He’s always known what he wanted to do, and has spent years whittling away the perfection so many of us suffer from to deliver work that is authentic, vulnerable, and bold. Because personality and humanity are the most important parts of his work. In t

May 10,2023 01:13:30

22. 239 - Productize design — with Brett Williams

Brett Williams is a designer and entrepreneur who runs DesignJoy, a design subscription service. He is essentially a one-man design agency that operates at scale and earns upwards of $1 million in annual revenue.In this podcast episode, Brett gives us a peek into how his business operates, the tools he uses, and what he’s learned after running a design subscription service for six years. It’s not for everyone, but to make something like this work you need two things: to be good and to be fast.Le

May 03,2023 01:03:19

23. 238 - Discover your gift — with Michael Ventura

Michael Ventura is the founder of Sub Rosa, a strategy and design firm that works with some of the world’s largest brands, organizations, and startups. He is also a board member and advisor to several organizations, including Behance, The Burning Man Project, and The Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum.As if that weren’t impressive enough, he also owns a globally recognized design store in New York’s West Village and is a visiting lecturer at institutions like Princeton University

Apr 26,2023 01:05:55

24. 237 - Jump as high as you can — with Vinh Giang

In this inspiring podcast episode, we welcome magician, father, and keynote speaker Vinh Giang to the show. Vinh walks us through his fascinating life and career path, sharing powerful personal stories from both along the way.We hear about how Vinh struggled as a shy and seemingly invisible kid and how the allure of magic and showmanship helped instill confidence and paved the way for an even bigger, worldly presence for him.Beyond the craft of magic, Vinh is a teacher at heart. And his topic of

Apr 19,2023 01:20:39

25. 236 - Lean in to what makes you different — with Dr. Emmanuel Probst

Dr. Emmanuel Probst is Global Lead of Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, a leading market research agency in the world. He is also a WSJ bestselling author and adjunct professor at UCLA.We invited Dr. Probst on the show to share his deep understanding of consumer psychology, discuss how branding has evolved throughout the 21st century, and what it means for businesses to connect with their audience.In this episode, Emmanuel shares his thoughts about what a brand is and what a brand is not. Put s

Apr 12,2023 56:20

26. 235 - The Pursuit of Happiness — with Vince Lebon

Vince Lebon is a husband, father, and a curious design collaborator. He founded the experiential footwear brand Rollie Nation, where he has designed for and collaborated with celebrities.In this episode, Vince discusses the importance of pursuing what makes him happy instead of chasing money. He shares how he honed his product design skills and started his own footwear brand from scratch.Vince also talks about Rollie Nation's future as an experience-centric brand and how he plans to blur the lin

Apr 05,2023 01:12:27

27. 234 - Tonal Influence — with Marshall Davis Jones

In this episode, we are joined by Marshall Davis Jones, TEDx Speaker and founder of MindBodySpeak. Marshall is a competitive slam poet and world-bridger, known for his voice tone techniques that help people win negotiations, deescalate conflicts, and build business relationships across multiple industries.Throughout the conversation, Marshall emphasizes the importance of voice work in communication and how tonal decision making can impact behavior in others. He explains how mastering words and t

Mar 29,2023 01:07:17

28. 233 - From BBQ to Branding — with Phyllis Strawder

Phyllis Williams-Strawder is a certified brand strategist, life and business coach, and psychology marketing specialist who is known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®. She has a passion for guiding people and helping them become brand leaders.Phyllis began her career in the food industry. She started by delivering lunches from her dining room table to eventually owning two restaurants and a catering company that generated millions in revenue. Her personal brand at that time was Mrs. Mista, wher

Mar 22,2023 01:23:00

29. 232 - There is wisdom in learning — with Kevin Finn

Kevin Finn is a TEDx speaker, advisor, internationally recognized branding designer, and author who works with individuals and groups dedicated to creating a positive impact at scale. With 30 years of international experience, Kevin emphasizes that not every business is a brand, and that businesses become brands only when society says so.As an advisor, Kevin challenges his clients' assumptions objectively. He questions their identity in comparison to how their customers perceive them. In this co

Mar 15,2023 56:22

30. 231 - Knowing when to quit (Part 2)

In Part Two of our discussion on when to quit and when to push through, we hear stories from listeners about perseverance and strategic quitting. Joining us again are Nidhi Tewari and Stefan Bucher, who both remind us that joy is an important factor in deciding whether to stay the course or not.If there’s one thing you take away from this conversation, it’s that sacrificing your personal well-being for professional success rarely works out in the long run.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Mar 08,2023 44:42

31. 230 - Knowing when to quit (Part 1)

Acclaimed NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Winners never quit and quitters never win." It's a motivating and catchy sentiment, but famed marketer Seth Godin begs to differ. In his book, The Dip, he argues that quitting can be the best strategy.In this two-part episode, Chris is joined by therapist Nidhi Tewari and designer Stefan Bucher to discuss knowing when to quit and when to persevere.Like it or not, the free market rewards exceptionalism. Success goes to the obsessed. But where is the

Mar 01,2023 01:01:10

32. 229 - Don’t trade time for money — with Paco de Leon

Paco de Leon is the author and illustrator of Finance for the People, a practical guide to helping you navigate your financial life, no matter your situation. They also run a bookkeeping agency for creative professionals called Hell Yeah Bookkeeping.This episode focuses on helping creative professionals feel more confident about their finances. From applying value-based pricing to taking proactive steps for the financial health of your business.Biologically, humans have survived by having a scar

Feb 22,2023 59:56

33. 228 - Boredom is the key to creativity (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this series, we established that boredom is the precursor to creativity. It provides important moments of stillness that allow one's mind to wander. Or as Deepak Chopra puts it, to “dream, imagine, and reflect.”But is that what boredom really is? And why do we associate it with laziness?In Part 2 of this series, we try to make sense of why boredom has such a bad reputation, or if it’s just a matter of semantics.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 15,2023 49:34

34. 227 - Boredom is the key to creativity (Part 1)

There is no shortage of work to do when you run your own business. However, just because you are busy does not mean that what you are doing is productive; hence the term “busywork”.In this two-part episode, Chris coaches Mo Ismail on how to better spend his time as a business owner. He provides management tips and shares frameworks for hiring, training, and creating time for yourself to think.To quote Chris, “Boredom is the precursor to creativity.” If you have no time for being bored, then you

Feb 08,2023 59:21

35. 226 - How affiliate marketing works — with Jacob Cass

Jacob Cass is a designer, strategist, and the founder of branding agency, JustCreative. In this podcast episode we talk with him about how to use affiliate marketing and SEO to build a successful online business.Jacob emphasizes the value of search over social media, and how having a blog that uses affiliate marketing and attracts inbound clients can be a key part of building a business. He also talks about how to create effective content that will be seen as authoritative by Google, and the imp

Feb 01,2023 01:06:44

36. 225 - Energy is everything — with Simon Ong

Simon Ong is a personal development entrepreneur, coach, and public speaker. He is also the author of Energize, a book that will introduce you to the art and science of energy management.In this podcast episode, Simon and Chris talk about the role energy plays in our lives. Case in point: you can be ruthlessly efficient with your time, but without enough energy, your returns will be diminished.So, what is the best way to maximize your energy management? According to Simon: plan your day the nigh

Jan 25,2023 01:26:09

37. 224 - Feelings are unreliable (Part 2) — with Chris Do

In part two of this series, we are joined again by Nidhi Tewari and Mo Ismail to continue our conversation about the role emotion plays in decision making.As a therapist, Nidhi points out the importance of processing and allowing yourself to feel strong emotions. Chris counters with the argument that emotions cloud the data, especially in business.Science then enters the chat to remind us that most decisions people make are rooted in emotion. So, should you listen to your heart or your mind. We

Jan 18,2023 45:13

38. 223 - Feelings are unreliable (Part 1) — with Chris Do, Nidhi Tewari, Mo Ismail

This two-part podcast episode features Chris Do, Nidhi Tewari, and Mo Ismail discussing the merits of whether to make decisions with your mind, your heart, or a little of both.In part one, Chris shares how he processes his feelings, how they affect his decisions, and why leading with rational thought is the best path forward.Chris also explains his own scale of karmic equity and shares stories about how he diverted from the path of logic when making business decisions and how those stories playe

Jan 11,2023 57:57

39. 222 - The art of PR — with Lucy Werner

Lucy Werner wears many hats: public relations (PR) expert, business owner, author, coach, and mother. She is the founder of The Wern, a PR agency and design shop for startups, entrepreneurs, and independent brands. In her own words, she is a "nobody that helps people become somebody."This podcast episode is all about PR: what it is, what it isn't, and how to successfully use PR for your business (and yourself).Lucy shares her approach for creating meaningful PR and offers actionable tips for pre

Jan 04,2023 01:05:24

40. 221 - Making sense of YouTube — with Benji Travis and Tom Ross

People love YouTube for a variety of reasons, but it's most popular use: search engine. Unsure how to cut that mango? Here are twelve videos that will teach you.But how do you become that coveted top search result? The best of the best mango-cutting videos, so to speak. The not-so-secret key to success on YouTube is understanding how it works.In this episode, Chris is joined by Tom Ross, CEO and co-founder of designcuts.com, and Benji Travis, a veteran YouTuber and influencer coach. If you haven

Dec 28,2022 01:01:16

41. 220 - Trust your gut (Part 2) — with Chris Do

In part two of our conversation about making better business decisions we get to sit in on a live coaching session with Chris Do, Mo Ismail, and Nidhi Tewari.The group continues to discuss data-based decision-making versus following your instinct, the longterm effects of your choices, and why every business should set aside money for R&D.Sponsored by:Masterclass - https://www.masterclass.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 21,2022 43:36

42. 219 - Trust your gut (Part 1) — with Chris Do

When you run a business, you earn the right to make any decision you want with it. You also accept the responsibility and outcome—good, bad, or otherwise. The choice is truly yours.But how do you know if you are making the right decision?Welcome to part one of our conversation about decision making in business. In this two part series, Chris Do talks with Mo Ismail and Nidhi Tewari about how to make objective decisions and when to trust your gut.They talk about pattern recognition, quick-thinkin

Dec 14,2022 57:39

43. 218 - The 3 pillars of great content — with Dakota Robertson

Dakota Robertson is a professional ghostwriter. Businesses and influencers hire him to write tweets that go viral and amass an audience. And he is damn good at it.In this podcast episode, Dakota shares how he went from working as an electrician to becoming this invisible, content-writing hero for his clients. His ghostwriting business is so successful that he is turning down all new and potential clients.If you write copy or work in the content creation business, then do not sleep on this episod

Dec 07,2022 01:12:48

44. 217 - What is self-confidence? — with Chris

What is the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence? And how do they affect who we are and what we believe we are capable of? In this candid conversation, Chris Do answers question from members of The Futur Pro Group.They tackle topics like supply and demand in the service industry, intrinsic beliefs versus extrinsic beliefs, and how to manage your self-talk. If you struggle with confidence or constantly chase external validation, then give this chat a list.Sponsored by:First Republic

Nov 30,2022 01:22:00

45. 216 - Business Q&A — with Chris D

In this special episode, Chris Do fields business questions and offers answers live and in real-time. Questions like: how do I raise my rates without losing clients, how do you measure creative impact, and what is the best way to price your service work?Chris is joined by several Futur Pro Group members including Drigo Tasca, Nidhi Tewari, and Anneli Hansson who also weigh in.If you run a creative service business then this episode will resonate with you. Get practical tips and valuable insights

Nov 23,2022 01:24:32

46. 215 - Change is inevitable — with Anneli Hansson

Adapt or die is the classic business mantra. To survive and thrive you must remain nimble and ready to pivot. To jump the curve, so to speak.If you could start your business all over again, what would you do differently? In this episode, The Futur CEO Chris Do and brand strategist Anneli Hansson discuss what the future holds for creative service businesses.How will technology like Ai and blockchain change how we run our businesses? What new opportunities will they provide? And how can you levera

Nov 16,2022 59:27

47. 214 - You are more than your job title — with Sarabeth Berk

Sarabeth Berk is a TEDx speaker and professional identity researcher. She is reshaping how we think about the workforce by shifting and expanding our definition of professional identity. What does that mean exactly? It means that you should not be limited to either/or titles (e.g. specialists vs. generalist). And that there is a third option: hybrid.But does that help or hurt your marketing efforts? Will potential clients and employers be intrigued or confused?In this episode, Sarabeth and Chris

Nov 09,2022 01:03:39

48. 213 - Creativity is not magic — with Joey Cofone

Do you have to suffer to build character? We get philosophical in part two of our conversation with Baronfig founder and author Joey Cofone. He and Chris continue their discussion about The Laws of Creativity and delve into the role failure—and sometimes delusion—plays in the story of success.We like how Joey explains the concept of creativity: like a musical instrument, creativity is a practical trade that you can learn, develop, and improve over time.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod

Nov 02,2022 59:32

49. 212 - The Laws of Creativity — with Joey Cofone

Joey Cofone is the Founder and CEO of Baronfig, an award-winning designer and entrepreneur, and the newly minted author of The Laws of Creativity.If you have listened to our podcast long enough then you may have heard Joey’s voice before. Way back in episode 57. We are pleased to welcome him back to the show to share what he’s been working on for a long time: defining the laws of creativity.In part one of this conversation, Joey and Chris share some of their most poignant memories of creativity.

Oct 26,2022 55:24

50. 211 - How to give and receive feedback — with Eric Moore

Criticism is easily given, but rarely appreciated. At some point we have all had to critique someone else’s work or be critiqued by a client, manager, or teacher. The experience can be emotionally rattling.In part four of our design thinking talk, Eric Moore and Chris Do discuss ways to improve how you give and receive critique. A key component of constructive criticism is having a shared criteria to review the work.During their conversation, Chris and Eric share memorable stories of critique fr

Oct 19,2022 01:05:11

51. 210 - Know your audience — with Eric Moore

Creative ideas are tough to sell. They start vague and, until fully realized, are malleable concepts prone to change. So how do you prove the value of an idea before it is created? With design thinking, of course.In part three of our design thinking conversation, Eric Moore joins Chris Do to discuss what is at the heart of this beloved concept: knowing your audience.You may hear design thinking referred to as human-centered design. That idea of designing with people in mind is what makes design

Oct 12,2022 01:10:18

52. 209 - The 4 phases of Design Thinking — with Eric Moore

Now that we understand what design thinking is, it is time we learn how to use it. In part two of our design thinking discussion, app designer Deanna joins Eric and Chris to walk us through her practical application of the framework.We start by explaining the four phases of the design thinking process and follow Deanna’s story and design process for context. We also discuss how making empathy maps (and what they are), Eric’s cleverly named rose-thorn-bud concept, and where data analysis and conf

Oct 05,2022 51:27

53. 208 - What is Design Thinking? — with Eric Moore

Eric Moore is a communication strategist and champion of design thinking. In this episode, he and Chris debate an eyebrow-raising talk from Natasha Jen called Design Thinking Is Bullsh*t.For context, Natasha Jen is an acclaimed designer and partner at the renowned design studio, Pentagram. In her talk, Natasha criticizes the concept of design thinking, ultimately calling it B.S.But is that true? Is design thinking just a sticky note ladened buzzword, or is it woefully misunderstood?If you are un

Sep 28,2022 55:41

54. 207 - Your vibe attracts your tribe — with Anneli Hansson

The word authentic gets thrown around a lot, especially when describing brands. But what is an “authentic” brand? And why do some brands garner loyal customers while others do not?In this episode, Anneli and Chris discuss the traits of what they refer to as magnetic brands. That is, brands that customers prefer over others and that have true fans.If you are interested in branding, brand strategy, or trying to figure out how to bolster your brand, then give this conversation a listen.Sponsored by

Sep 21,2022 01:13:35

55. 206 - The Art of Detachment Pt. 2 — with Anneli Hansson

In part two of our discussion about detachment, Chris and Anneli dive deeper—and more personally—into how practicing detachment benefits your life.It's easy to attach your value and identity to your work. But that attachment then often becomes the root of your unhappiness. If your work is undervalued or criticized, then you feel personally undervalued or criticized.In this conversation, Chris shares his steps to practice meaningful detachment and explains key concepts that he follows. If you str

Sep 14,2022 50:48

56. 205 - The Art of Detachment Pt. 1 — with Anneli Hansson

If you’ve listened to the podcast long enough (or watched enough videos), you will have heard the joke about Chris being a robot. That is to say; he always keeps his cool.But how does he do it? How does Chris regulate his emotions so well? Especially in the face of aggressive internet criticism.In part one of this two-part episode, Chris and Anneli discuss the art of detachment. By definition, detachment means being free from bias or prejudice. And that is key to Chris’s ability to remain object

Sep 07,2022 42:27

57. 204 - Put something on the line — with Sean Cannell

Sean Cannell is a YouTuber, international speaker, and the founder of ThinkMedia. His mission: help entrepreneurs build their influence and go full-time doing what they love through the power of online video.In 2022, Sean took a huge risk by throwing a live personal branding event in Las Vegas, NV. He booked guest speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Alex Hormozi, and Vanessa Lau, which put tremendous pressure on his team. Pressure to make this event memorable for guests and profitable for his busines

Aug 31,2022 01:16:08

58. 203 - Prototyping yourself — with Kate Pincott

Kate Pincott is a product designer, design coach, and CEO/founder of Remote Design Coaching. Her mission: reconnect designers to their intuition and creativity.At the peak of her tech-design career, Kate burned out. She had been running at full speed in shoes that did not fit. But instead of taking a sabbatical or falling into distraction, she made an interesting choice.Kate took what worked (and what she had become quite good at) in product design and applied it to her life. She started prototy

Aug 24,2022 01:08:04

59. 202 - Making a marketing strategy from scratch — with Joana Galvao

Joana Galvao is the founder of award-winning branding and web design agency GiF Design Studios. She is also on a personal mission to help fellow creative service providers stay booked solid.In this special episode, Joana takes us through her entire marketing funnel. You will hear how it developed and how she automates nearly everything to maximize efficiency.Joana’s marketing process worked so well that she took four months of maternity leave and did not check her email once. If that doesn’t imp

Aug 17,2022 01:08:33

60. 201 - How to make content that goes viral — with Brendan Kane

Brendan Kane is a bestselling author and influential marketing advisor to celebrities, pro athletes, and major brands. He’s helped clients like Taylor Swift, Paramount Studios, Vice, and IKEA make content that consistently goes viral.Despite how it may feel, the algorithms are not working against you. They are one of the keys to making viral content. In this episode, Brendan walks us through his process for creating quality content that appeals to a broad audience and makes our algorithmic adver

Aug 10,2022 01:15:39

61. 200 - Making sense of data — with Neil Hoyne

Neil Hoyne is an author, researcher, and marketing executive working at Google as Chief Measurement Strategist. He is also a senior fellow at The Wharton School and an advisor for Capital G.Neil specializes in building strong customer relationships by analyzing data like customer lifetime value (CLV) and consumer psychology.In this informative conversation, Neil and Chris discuss the power and pitfalls of relying on data to make business decisions. They start by defining what “data-driven” means

Aug 03,2022 01:03:20

62. 199 - From Gangster to CEO — with Ryan Blair

Ryan Blair is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and most importantly, a dad.He is the founder and CEO of Alter Call, a multi-faith spiritual community that helps people accelerate personal transformation. Alter Call members value living a life of service and measurable impact.But before the philanthropy and fatherhood, Ryan had a very different life.After surviving an abusive childhood living in poverty, Ryan’s ability to adapt led him to join a gang. Though he thrived as an illegal entre

Jul 27,2022 01:06:33

63. 198 - Navigating the Creative Industry — with Susana Chen

Susana Chen is the founder of the Asian Creative Foundation (ACF). ACF is a community organization that helps entry-level creatives find opportunities, navigate their career paths, and help make the creative industry a more inclusive place.Roles get flipped in this episode. In this conversation, Susana interviews Chris for an ACF-hosted virtual event called Asian Creative Festival. And they cover a lot of ground. Like what inspired The Futur’s mission to teach 1 billion people, how Chris manages

Jul 20,2022 52:27

64. 197 - Build Your Personal Brand — with Daniel Priestley

Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur (several times over), but you may know him best from his book Key Person of Influence. Over the last decade, Daniel noticed a trend in successful businesses: visible (and often outspoken) leadership.Steve Jobs. Richard Branson. Elon Musk.These CEOs leveraged technology to wield influence and change how we think about the world and their products. In short, we buy into the people behind the business before we buy from the business.You may not aspire to be the n

Jul 13,2022 01:21:30

65. 196 - Self Sabotage Part 3 — with Chris Do

In the final episode of our series on self-sabotage, we pick up where the conversation between Nidhi and Chris left off. If you missed the first two episodes, we suggest you go back and listen to those first.At this point in the story, Chris is betting his future (and the future of his staff) on pivoting into a new teaching venture then called The Skool. But to do that, he must abandon his design agency.Everywhere Chris looks, he sees doubt. Doubt from internal management, creative teams, and ev

Jul 06,2022 48:13

66. 195 - Self Sabotage Part 2 — with Chris Do

In part two of our three-part series on self-sabotage, Nidhi speaks with Chris about his decision to abandon Blind and start The Futur.Blind was Chris’s branding and design agency. He started it in 1995 primarily as a motion design studio. The company focused on creating design-focused video work like commercials and branded content.But after two decades of growth, Chris noticed a decline in work. He saw the inevitable writing on the wall and had to make a decision: stay the course or pivot.In t

Jun 29,2022 49:53

67. 194 - Self-Sabotage Part 1 — with Nidhi Tewari

Have you ever worked so hard on something only to find yourself stuck and caught in what feels like a complete slog? At that moment, you may think: This isn’t working. It’s time to pivot.But what if, on the other side of that discomfort, awaits everything you want?More importantly: how do you know if it’s time to pivot or push through the discomfort?Welcome to part one of our three-part series tackling the concept of self-sabotage. Why we do it, how we do it, and finding the right balance betwee

Jun 22,2022 01:04:11

68. 193 - What is copywriting? — with Neville Medhora

Neville Medhora is best known as a copywriter. But that doesn’t mean he just writes copy. According to Neville, effective copywriting means communicating a message from your brain to millions of other brains using the best technology available.Hundreds of years ago, a carrier pigeon was the best option. Today, it’s probably a brief email that includes curated animated GIFs.In this episode, we talk with the author and copywriter about why he dropped out of college, his direct approach to helping

Jun 15,2022 01:15:37

69. 192 - You Can’t Be Good At Everything — with Kyle T Webster

Kyle T Webster is an award-winning international illustrator. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, TIME, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Nike, IDEO, and several other distinguished clients. Acclaimed industry publications like the Society of Illustrators, Communications Arts, and American Illustration have recognized his illustration work.Kyle also teaches at UNC School of the Arts and works for Adobe, hosting workshops and helping to make digital products like Adobe Fresco. But you may b

Jun 08,2022 01:05:18

70. 191 - How Chatbots and Messenger Automation Work — with Natasha Takahashi

In 2017 Natasha Takahashi completed her first semester at the prestigious (and quite expensive) college, University of Southern California.She'd spent many nights writing essays and working tirelessly to attain any scholarship she could find to pay her tuition. But Natasha had a scary epiphany halfway into her second semester: This is not for me.Frustrated and unhappy with her USC experience, she decided to drop out. She even wrote a letter to her parents expressing her gratitude and reasoning.F

Jun 01,2022 01:11:52

71. 190 - Life in the Metaverse — with Lisa Andrews

Just when you thought you had the internet figured out, new waves of technology approach. With them come a torrent of unfamiliar terms: non-fungible tokens, web3, DAOs, the Metaverse.Are they real, hype, or are they keys to solving the world's biggest problems?In this episode, we host investor and futurist Lisa Andrews. She's fascinated by this new technology and sees an opportunity in it to create a positive impact on humanity.As Lisa puts it, we are living in the phigital world. That is to say

May 25,2022 01:13:24

72. 189 - Making time for yourself — with Chris Franklin

Chris Franklin is a filmmaker, photographer, and budding YouTuber helping clients, and fellow creatives meet their goals.He's also a Futur Pro Group member, which is where he met and connected with Chris Do.In this friendly conversation, Chris shares his career path and how he went from studying pre-med biology to now running a thriving video production business.Spoiler alert: it wasn't a straight line from point A to point B. It took Chris time and inward reflection to understand who he is and

May 18,2022 01:11:51

73. 188 - How to tell better stories — with Kindra Hall

Kindra Hall is a storyteller, acclaimed keynote speaker, and bestselling author of Stories that Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business. She's here to remind you how important storytelling is, especially for your business.We all recognize the need for connection, now more than ever. And telling stories is an excellent way to connect with people, but being a great storyteller is not easy.Like most important things, great storytelling requi

May 11,2022 01:10:33

74. 187 - How to tell your story — with Chris Do

Storytelling is one of the fundamental ways humans connect. It’s how we learn, exchange ideas, and entertain ourselves. At its core, storytelling is communication.This episode comes from a live Twitter Space talk Chris Do, and Anneli Hansson hosted. The topic: how to tell your own story.The conversation opens with how powerful good storytelling is. A well-crafted story is relatable and will draw you in, making the storyteller themselves inherently more interesting.Storytelling plays a crucial ro

May 04,2022 59:56

75. 186 - How Brand Strategy Works — with Mika Saulitis

Mika Saulitis is the Director of Creative Strategy at branding and design studio, Trollbäck+Company. But what does a Director of Brand Strategy do exactly?As Mika puts it, there are two core components: strategy and creativity.Strategy involves strategic thinking, writing positioning statements, and determining the brand’s voice—the invisible traits of a brand. Creativity arrives in more tangible forms, like campaigns, videos, concepts, and copywriting.In this episode, Mika shares how he navigat

Apr 27,2022 01:11:23

76. 185 - You don’t need to be an expert — with Graham Cochrane

Graham Cochrane is an entrepreneur, YouTuber, and business coach whose mission is to help other people start their own businesses.You might be thinking, “Great. Another online business guru telling me to sign up for their seminar while they pose in front of a rented Lamborghini.”But you would be wrong.In 2009, right after the financial collapse, Graham was laid off. He and his wife had recently purchased a house and just had their first baby. Not a great place to be.After struggling to find work

Apr 20,2022 01:17:25

77. 184 - Taking Risks — with Jason Fried

Jason Fried is the founder and CEO of Basecamp. Once a web design firm (and operating under the name 37Signals), Basecamp unintentionally pivoted into building software with their namesake product. They also created the email app HEY, a fresh take on an old idea.As you can imagine, Jason is no stranger to change. In this episode, he shares how Basecamp accidentally came to be and the struggles they’ve encountered along the way. Like working remotely, building new products, and taking calculated

Apr 13,2022 01:19:18

78. 183 - What makes something valuable? — with Ron Baker

Ron Baker is a writer, speaker, educator, and recovering CPA. He is the author of seven best-selling books, most of which cover economic topics—specifically, value and pricing.Throughout history, value has always tied itself to labor. These many work hours cost this many dollars, also known as billable hours.The counter to this method is value-based pricing. This thing costs this many dollars because it is valuable to you.So, which is correct? Which is fair?In this episode, Ron and Chris dive de

Apr 06,2022 01:17:24

79. 182 - Learning Together — with Wes Kao

Wes Kao is co-founder of Maven, a platform that helps creators build cohort-based courses. Before that, she co-founded the altMBA with acclaimed author and marketer Seth Godin.If you’re not yet familiar with them, cohort-based courses (CBCs) are a not-so-new way of learning with a group of other people. They take the best parts of traditional classroom education and blend them with online classes to create a rich learning experience.In this episode, Wes shares why CBCs are the best way to learn

Mar 30,2022 01:06:31

80. 181 - Making The Internet Fun Again — with Daniel Savage

Daniel Savage is a lot of things. A director, graphic designer, illustrator, animator, musician, and artist. He’s spent the last fifteen years trying lots of creative things for both enjoyment and to pay the bills. Nowadays, he does a little bit of everything and makes sure he’s having fun while doing it.We talk with Daniel about connecting the dots in his career path and how he went from studying avant-garde percussion to designing animated patterns for Volvo.One through line in Daniel’s body o

Mar 23,2022 01:02:39

81. 180 - Forget The Algorithm — with Jake Fellman

Jake Fellman is a self-taught 3D artist who spends his time making original, animated content for YouTube and TikTok. As of this episode, Jake has 10.9M YouTube subscribers and 11.7M TikTok followers—so whatever he’s making people enjoy watching.The videos Jake creates are anywhere from ten to thirty seconds long and often reference pop-culture and video games, like Among Us and Poppy Playtime. These animated shorts walk the line between comedy and horror and typically involve a surreal twist.In

Mar 16,2022 01:03:16

82. 179 - The Science Of Sleep — with Nicoline Douwes

Nicoline Douwes is a Dutch dream expert and sleep activist. Her mission? Show everyone how to wake up with new ideas and fresh insights.While our bodies sleep, our minds continue to work. Processing what we’ve experienced and what’s troubling us—all while making new, uninhibited connections between thoughts.In this fascinating Clubhouse conversation, Nicoline and Chris dive into what happens in our brains while we sleep. They get into a bit of science, explain why dreams get so weird, and share

Mar 09,2022 01:41:21

83. 178 - Just Do The Work (Pt. 3 of 3) — with Chris Do

In final episode of our three-part passion versus profit series, Chris and Rodrigo agree to never have this conversation again. In exchange, Rodrigo makes a public commitment to remain focused on his business and sets a clear financial goal.But it doesn’t end there. Chris helps Rodrigo plot the course to achieve that goal and offers a useful equation that anyone can use to do the same.To wrap up this conversational trilogy, Chris reminds us that life is about making hard decisions. When things d

Mar 02,2022 01:06:36

84. 177 - Design Your Life (Pt. 2 of 3) — with Chris Do

In part two of our three-part passion versus profit conversation, Chris, Rodrigo, Mo and Niddy pick up where they left off: to succeed you need a clear goal and to remain focused on it.The benefits of living this way are clear. It’s how Chris built his design agency and ultimately The Futur.But at what cost? To quote Chris, “I worked like an animal.”That lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but to Chris’s point, you have the freedom to design your own life. Whether you achieve that goal depends on how

Feb 23,2022 49:56

85. 176 - Should You Follow Passion or Profit? (Pt. 1 of 3) — with Chris Do

How do you make decisions about your life? Do you follow what brings you happiness and makes you feel good? Or do you remove emotion from the process and remain focused and objective?Most of us land somewhere in the middle on that spectrum. Juggling the pursuit of our ever-changing interests while working a job that pays the bills.But what happens when your time is equally split between the two and you’re unhappy with that juggling act?In this special three-part episode, Chris helps Rodrigo work

Feb 16,2022 01:03:24

86. 175 - NFTs For Newbies — with Rich Cardona

Rich Cardona is a retired Marine, podcaster, and NFT enthusiast. In fact, his podcast NFTs for Newbies, is one of the most popular shows on the subject.In this fun and informative conversation Rich takes us into the budding world of NFTs. He explains what an NFT is, how they work, and helps make sense of the jargon associated with them—gas fees and all.It is a fascinating new world, filled with both potential and problems. Rich shares his experience with both sides of that coin.On the one hand,

Feb 09,2022 01:27:30

87. 174 - How to Think On Your Feet — with Erin Diehl

Have you ever tried improv? Neither had Chris, until he met Erin Diehl. Erin is a former experential marketer and veteran improviser that conducts workshops leveraging improv techniques to improve employees’ skills in corporate settings. That’s right. She brings improv to the corporate world.One of her many mottos: Inspire, don’t perspire.In this episode, Erin shares her story of starting out sweaty and terrified of trying improv, to then wielding it as a powerful communication and teamworking t

Feb 02,2022 01:22:08

88. 173 - How to Stay Curious — with Aaron Duffy

Aaron Duffy is the Executive Creative Director and co-founder of boutique creative agency, Special Guest. He also works as a director with acclaimed production company, 1st Avenue Machine.In this inspirational chat, Aaron shares the story of how a project he wasn’t excited about (and nearly turned down) propelled his career forward and landed him a coveted Super Bowl ad.Sponsored by Real Vision - https://realvision.com/cryptoSponsored by Athletic Greens - https://athleticgreens.com/futurSponsore

Jan 26,2022 01:15:50

89. 172 - Why you dread doing the work — with Nick Harauz

Nick Harauz is a content creator, video editing expert, and student of the creative process.He's also a certified Adobe, Apple, and Avid trainer and founder of Creative 111; a company that specializes in video and motion graphics training. You might recognize him from instructional videos all over adobe.com.In this episode, Nick and Chris talk about the challenges of teaching (and learning) online, how they each prepare for presentations, and why starting is the hardest part of the creative proc

Jan 19,2022 01:18:25

90. 171 - Own who you are — with Carlos Segura

Carlos Segura is the founder of award-winning design firm, Segura Inc. He also founded digital type foundry T26, whose fonts you can find everywhere.Over the last 30 plus years, Carlos has built (and lived) an extraordinary life and career. And he’s done it on his own terms, whether you like it or not.In this candid conversation, Carlos shares what he’s learned along the way. From surviving the violence he faced growing up in Miami, to stumbling into what would change his life forever (spoiler a

Jan 12,2022 01:12:06

91. 170 - Into the Creative Unknown — with Tuna Bora

Tuna Bora is an acclaimed Turkish visual artist whose clients include Google, Nike, Netflix, and Coca Cola. She’s won awards for her unique design work on several VR and AR projects and continue to explore new creative spaces.In this conversation, Tuna shares her story of immigrating to the United States alone in hopes of pursuing a career working in feature film animation. But after graduating in 2008—right at the start of the financial collapse—was met with very few opportunities.She talks abo

Jan 05,2022 01:08:55

92. 169 - Start before you’re ready — with Hoodzpah

You might better know Jen and Amy Hood by their clever business name: Hoodzpah. The California-born, Kentucky-raised twin sisters co-founded their brand identity and type design studio because they had to. And before they were ready to.In this episode, Jen and Amy talk shop with us about how Hoodzpah came to be, the source of their entrepreneurial spirit, taking joy in doing the work, and how they’ve landed coveted clients like Disney, Target, and Nike.The conversation gets even more interesting

Dec 29,2021 01:35:33

93. 168 - How to Build Authority — with Rochelle Moulton

Rochelle Moulton is a brand strategist and business coach that helps people (and their businesses) build authority.In this episode Rochelle shares how she prepares for important presentations, her experience self-publishing a book, the parallels of building a brand and building authority, and why having a vision for your business is imperative to its success.She also walks Chris through a niche-finding exercise that might help all your designers out there.Sponsored by Charles Schwab - schwab.com

Dec 22,2021 01:21:22

94. 167 - How to Design a Presentation — with Ashley Smithers

A great presentation will inspire you. It will leave you feeling excited, energized and most importantly: wanting more.But a bad presentation will put you to sleep.Ashley Smithers specializes in presentation design. She's helped people prepare for TED talks, design important fundraising decks, and even worked with former vice presidents on their presentations.In this clubhouse discussion, Ashley offers five tips to help you step up your pitch game. And Chris matches her. Between the two of them

Dec 15,2021 01:04:57

95. 166 - Death by a thousand cuts — with Anthony Banks

We last we spoke with Anthony way back in 2018, in episode 148 to be exact. At the time, he felt stagnant at his current job. Though his needs were met, there wasn’t much opportunity for growth.Cut to three years later: the world is a different place and Anthony is now right where he wants to be. But where is that?Did he remove those golden handcuffs in pursuit of something more? Did he ride out the slow boat to nowhere? Or did he do something else entirely?In this episode we find out what path

Dec 08,2021 01:09:27

96. 165 - Is The Futur a Cult? — with Ivy Malik

Welcome to our second installment of 5 rounds. In this episode, we welcome creative sales coach (and Futur Pro Group member) Ivy Malik to the show.Her mission: grill Chris Do with a series of five tough questions. And she does not disappoint.Ivy tasks Chris with questions about how to be your true self in both public and private, why he dislikes the current state of educational sales, the role emotion plays in his decision making, and the biggest one of all: is The Futur a cult?Sponsored by Skil

Dec 01,2021 01:07:14

97. 164 - The Art of Sales and Negotiation — with Chris Do

If you were to order an expensive meal at a nice restaurant, but then asked if they could knock 50% off of the price, how would your waiter respond?Probably not well. Of all the possible replies, the most likely one would be, “I’m sorry, we can’t do that.” Which is not surprising.So then why do people in the creative business bend to such requests from clients?In this fun Clubhouse talk, Chris helps people with their pricing and negotiation troubles by roleplaying scenarios with them. When do yo

Nov 24,2021 01:55:15

98. 163 - How to get more from what you read — with Chris Do

Have you ever read a lengthy paragraph from a book and then sort of woken up and asked yourself, “Wait. What did I just read?” You and us both.Reading is a fantastic way to learn, but if you don’t retain that precious information then what is the point?In this Clubhouse discussion Chris shares his approach to reading books. How he reads, his note taking method, and why he suggests you read a book three times. And he is joined by The Futur Pro Group members, Stephanie Owens and Rahul Bhogal.Wheth

Nov 17,2021 01:58:08

99. 162 - Is Being a Designer Enough? — with Rodrigo and Anneli

In the corporate world, climbing the proverbial ladder seems common. To get ahead (and make more money) you must climb through the ranks.But in the creative industry, it feels different. We pursue a career in the arts because we're passionate about things like design, photography, and animation. We enjoy making things ourselves.But is that enough to sustain a long career? Will we be aged-out of our jobs? Should we strive to be more than just the artisan?In this lively discussion, Chris is joined

Nov 10,2021 01:20:05

100. 161 - What is Primal Branding? — with Patrick Hanlon

The concept of branding has been around since the dawn of human existence. It is hard-wired into us. Or as Patrick Hanlon refers to it: it’s our primal code.Patrick Hanlon is what many in the creative advertising world call the OG of branding. He is the founder and CEO of primalbranding.co, an acclaimed branding group with an impressive roster of Fortune 100 companies.Patrick also authored a book of the same name (Primal Branding) that has become required reading for the marketing departments of

Nov 03,2021 01:11:20

101. 160 - You Are Here (For Now) — with Adam JK

Adam J. Kurtz (aka Adam JK) is a designer, artist, and speaker whose illustrative work is rooted in honesty, humor and a little darkness.In this episode, we welcome Adam back to the show to talk about what it’s like writing a book about optimism when it feels like you’re living in an end-of-the-world movie.Adam and Chris also discuss their experience with therapy (and the immense benefit it has on your mental health), how to write like you speak, and why perfection is overrated.Sponsored by Stor

Oct 27,2021 01:14:42

102. 159 - Done is Better Than Perfect — with Martha, Jule, and Lola

This episode comes from a discussion held on Clubhouse. The topic: perfectionism. Where it comes from and why it hinders your growth. Better said (and by Winston Churchhill), “Perfection is the enemy of progress.”In this talk, Chris is joined by The Futur Pro Group members Martha Cristina Garza, Jule Kim, and Lola Bakare. Each of them share their experience with perfection getting the best of them.So, how do you fight that intrinsic need to make something perfect before you share it? According t

Oct 20,2021 01:25:11

103. 158 - The Difference Between Art and Design — with Loyola Marymount University

This episode comes from a livestream we hosted via YouTube in early 2020. In it, Chris fields questions from a group of design majors visiting from Loyola Marymount University.The Q&A covers topics like the difference between art and design, demonstrating your value to clients, what to charge for your work, and why there is truly nothing new under the sun.Sponsored by Storyblocks - https://www.storyblocks.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 13,2021 01:36:22

104. 157 - What is experience design? — with David Schwarz

David Schwarz is an award-winning creative leader and one of the founding partners of acclaimed experience design agency, Hush.He’s spent his career designing brand experiences that integrate content, interactivity, architecture and technology.But what is experience design? It depends on where you are and who you ask.From where David stands experience design is about creating an immersive, three-dimensional, sensory experience in the real world. And affecting how you and I feel as we move throug

Oct 06,2021 01:06:37

105. 156 - You are one decision away — with Kyle Quilausing

Once in a while we come across a story that we believe is worth sharing, even though it might not fit within the topics we generally talk about.Kyle Quilausing’s story is one of those. He’s gone from triumph, to tragedy, and back again. A sequence of events that touches on a recurring theme for our show: resilience. How we each find our way out of a dark place and the belief that it is never too late to become the person you are meant to be.Kyle’s message is simple: you are one decision away fro

Sep 29,2021 01:14:31

106. 155 - How to run your own YouTube channel — with Charli Marie

What does it take to run your own YouTube channel? According to Charli Marie, putting in the work is a good place to start.We know that’s not the advice you wanted to hear. But that’s the practical truth. You have to do the hard work.By day, Charli is Creative Director at ConvertKit. A creative marketing platform made for creators. And also by day, she is a YouTuber on a mission to help designers improve their worth as professionals.It almost sounds too good to be true, but Charli has built hers

Sep 22,2021 01:11:18

107. 154 - Round 5: Success leaves clues — with Mo Ismail

In the final round, Mo and Chris discuss what success means and how you can reverse engineer someone else’s.If you’re thinking, “but how do I effectively do that?” then you are asking the wrong question. There are no shortcuts. The path is tough and you will struggle. There is no way around it. But the reward you get, is efficiency.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 17,2021 17:19

108. 153 - Round 4: Change the plan, not the goal — with Mo Ismail

In round 4, Mo and Chris discuss goals and expectations. When it comes to setting goals, you should be uncompromising in them, but flexible in how you achieve them.If the plan is not working, change the plan, not the goal.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 16,2021 14:07

109. 152 - Round 3: A long term sacrifice — with Mo Ismail

Round 3 is all about balance. Mo asks something personal of Chris: how do you balance this uncompromising purpose and your responsibility as a husband and father?It’s a fantastic question and something that many people struggle with. Especially when it comes to making big, scary decisions.As the expression goes, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 15,2021 12:35

110. 151 - Round 2: Failure is the building block — with Mo Ismail

In round 2, Chris and Mo tackle the concept of ikigai. That is, how to live your life to it’s fullest potential.Theoretically, it makes good sense, but when it comes to taking action so few of us have the courage to do so. We are creatures of habit and comfort. The hard work and failure that leads to fulfillment is not an easy sell.But why is that? And how can you persevere in spite of that discomfort?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14,2021 14:43

111. 150 - Round 1: Remove emotion from the equation — with Mo Ismail

To celebrate our 150th episode of The Futur podcast we are releasing a new episode every day this week for a total of 5 episodes. We call them 5 Rounds with Mo.In each episode The Futur Pro Group member and friend of the show, Mo Ismail, will ask Chris a tough question and he won’t let him off the hook until he’s happy with the answer.In round one, Mo asks Chris about how he’s able to break big, complex problems down into something that anyone can understand. And how he does it without letting h

Sep 13,2021 18:35

112. 149 - The Brand Doctor — with Henry Kaminski Jr.

Henry Kaminski Jr. is a self-taught graphic designer and brand consultant. Over the past decade he’s built a multi-million dollar design business.But the road there was filled with rusty nails. Some of which were ready to force him off the road and into a ditch.In this episode, Henry shares his origin story. From surviving his tumultuous youth to earning his first million. Since he and Chris are close, it feels like you’re listening to old friends having a sincere—and at times difficult—candid c

Sep 08,2021 01:15:14

113. 148 - Golden Handcuffs — with Anthony Banks

Are you familiar with the term “golden handcuffs”? It’s a phrase that refers to financial incentives given to employees to make them stick around. Because when you have everything you need, why would you ever want to leave?In this episode, we talk with illustrator, graphic designer, and Futur Pro Group member, Anthony Banks who—at the time this was recorded in 2018—was considering a big career move.But he is conflicted. His job is stable. It pays well. All of which is good for his family.For all

Sep 01,2021 01:05:56

114. 147 - Hey Chris: How do I find my purpose? — with Chris Do and Greg Gunn

Welcome to another special episode format we call Hey Chris. We take listener submitted questions and make Chris answer them on the spot. No reading them ahead of time. No preparation. No time to think. Just a candid conversation between Chris Do and Greg Gunn.In this episode we answer four unique questions about topics like how to apply value based pricing (and when not to), positioning your business, whether to spend your time learning or doing, and and how to find your purpose.Have a question

Aug 25,2021 01:05:09

115. 49 - [Rebroadcast] Creative Strategy — with Douglas Davis

When he would get sent to detention, he’d spend his time there drawing for hours. And despite growing up in a super small town in South Carolina, he had access to an amazing art program. With the help of a nurturing mother, and a lot of talent and hustle, Douglas worked his way into a design career but always wanted more. He had spent a lot of his life creating, but came to a point where he wanted to explore the business side as well, and moved into strategy.In this week's conversation, Chris ta

Aug 18,2021 01:22:39

116. 146 - A fighter’s mindset — with Ognjen Topic

The internet can make people look very one dimensional. When in reality, they are far from.Ognjen Topic is a great example of that. He is a graphic designer and also a three time world champion in the competitive martial art, Muy Thai.You’ll hear about Ognjen’s tumultuous life journey as a Serbian born in Bosnia. Civil war forced his family to flee the country and ultimately immigrate to the United States where he fell in love with graphic design and developed a secret fighting career.You might

Aug 11,2021 54:06

117. 145 - Why the world need creative thinkers — with Chris Do

This episode comes from a Clubhouse Q&A hosted by Billy and Glenn Lundy of Breakfast with Champions. During this candid chat, they ask Chris a series of questions about mindset and marketing.Things like how and why you should be specific with your goals, what creativity really means (hint: it’s not just for artists and designers), and why our future is in the hands of creative thinkers.Also, there is a great listener Q&A where people put Chris on the spot and he offers real time, personalized gu

Aug 04,2021 01:07:28

118. 144 - How to make yourself indispensable — with Kirsty Minns

We talk a lot about branding. What it is, what it means, and how it works. But Kirsty Minns lives it. And excels in it at the highest creative level.Kirsty is the executive creative director at Mother Design in London. Mother is a world famous agency and you’ve probably come in contact with one of their incredible campaigns at some point.In this episode, we follow Kirsty through her entire career and hear about the personal and professional choices she made that ultimately lead her to where she

Jul 28,2021 56:35

119. 143 - Make enemies, gain friends — with Freddie Ost

If punk rock were a genre of design agency, then SNASK would be the Sex Pistols. As they state on their website, SNASK is a “creative agency of misfit geniuses conquering the world through fine lookin’ design and real emotions. To worry about what people think of us is a waste of time.”Freddie Ost is the founder of SNASK and we were fortunate enough to have him on the show and really get to know the person behind the eccentric agency.In the spirit of his business, the conversation oscillates bet

Jul 21,2021 01:05:10

120. 142 - Copywriting and Cold Emails — with Cole Schafer

Copywriting is hard. Which is why we always appreciate great copy when we see it. It’s usually simple, clear, and tickles your brain if written well.Cole Schafer is a creative writer. By day he runs a small advertising business called Honey Copy. By night, he writes and publishes poetry under the alias, January Black.He’s got a lot to say and he does it without mincing words. But in a way that will make you smirk.In this episode, Cole and Chris talk about the nuance and challenges of language an

Jul 14,2021 01:06:19

121. 141 - Everything is a Remix — with Kirby Ferguson

Humans are inherent copy machines. Emulation is how we learn to walk, talk and navigate the world. But when it comes to ideas—especially ones we deem “original”—things are different.We become hyper critical of imitation and resent anything close to a copy of our own. Obsessing over ideological ownership. But what we don’t do, is turn that critical lens on ourself.Copy, transform, and combine. According to Kirby Ferguson, this is the recipe for creativity.Kirby is a filmmaker, speaker, and writer

Jul 07,2021 01:23:18

122. 140 - What is Human-Centered Design? — with Lauren Schwendimann

Picture yourself at the airport. You’ve just returned from a long, arduous flight and you are exhausted. The last thing you want is to get in your car and make the lengthy drive home.So you open a ride sharing app, hail a car, and moments later you are on your way home. And the car is driving itself while you nap in the back seat.Strangely enough, if you live in the metro-Phoenix area, you can do that. All with the help of autonomous ride service, Waymo.Lauren Schwendimann is the interaction des

Jun 30,2021 57:47

123. 139 - How to start your own design agency — with Dan Mall

When you think of a design agency you might imagine a large, bustling office, with an open floor plan, teaming with creative people.And most of the time, reality would meet your expectations. But not all of the time.Because that's not what Philadelphia based agency, Superfriendly, is. It’s not even close.Superfriendly is a distributed design collaborative. Which means their team members reside all over the world. Like specialized creative agents, they are tapped to collaborate on projects that m

Jun 23,2021 01:10:31

124. 138 - What is a brand? — with Dr. Christine Looser

What is a brand? What is branding supposed to do? And can you control your own brand?In this Clubhouse Q&A, Chris is joined by Dr. Christine Looser. You might remember her from episode 109. Dr. Looser teaches marketing and branding, and is the head of business, at startup school, The Minerva Project.If you have any kind of interest in branding, then save or bookmark this episode. Because you will want to re-listen to it.The conversation gets brainy and there are plenty of SAT words throughout it

Jun 16,2021 01:27:49

125. 137 - When to fire your clients — with Ben Burns

Mr. Ben Burns is The Futur’s Chief Financial Officer. You might recognize him as the bearded fellow on our YouTube channel.Though officially our CFO, Ben dons several more hats day-to-day. Self-taught designer, web developer, general steward of our company, and father of two.In this episode, we get to know to the man behind the mouse. His origin story, how he met Chris (and got his attention in the first place), and why firing all of his clients was the best move for both his business and career

Jun 09,2021 01:18:53

126. 136 - What to do when you’re stuck in your career — with Andrea Stern

This conversation comes from a live Clubhouse discussion. In the event you don’t know what Clubhouse is, it’s an invite-only social media app that fosters group discussion through live audio.In this episode, Chris joins photography rep, agent, and manager—Andrea Stern—in her photo business forum. The topic: what do you do when you’re stuck in your career?Andrea helps photographer get work and develop their careers. She’s done so for over two decades.But times change. And so does the professional

Jun 02,2021 01:44:24

127. 135 - How to make it in the dice business — with Karen Wang (Part 2)

This is part 2 of our conversation with struggling artist turned dice-making millionaire, Karen Wang. If you missed part 1, go back an episode and listen to that first.In part 2, Karen shares her experience launching her first Kickstarter—which ultimately lead to $2 million in sales. You’ll hear about how she got into dice-making, what she learned, and all the interesting mistakes along the way.You might think raking in millions of dollars in sales is great. But what happens when you have to the

May 26,2021 59:20

128. 134 - Dungeons & Dragons & Dice — with Karen Wang (Part 1)

When you hear that someone is an “overnight success”, rarely did it happen overnight. But our guest in this episode is kind of the exception. Kind of.Karen Wang is the founder of Dispel Dice. A luxury dice-making business that was Kickstarted into existence. Over the course of her 30 day campaign, she raised over $2 million. All for her stunning, beautiful, and bespoke dice. And that first $1 million, happened on day one.If your jaw isn’t on the floor, then please re-read that last paragraph. Be

May 19,2021 55:29

129. 133 - Brand Strategy and Advertising — with Tim Maleeny

To say that the advertising world is competitive, would be like saying that water is wet. People fight tooth and nail to land big clients.For every account that is won, another is lost. And missing the mark on a pitch you’ve poured your soul into can be heartbreaking.But advertising is also thrilling.You're given a unique problem and it's up to you and your teammates to solve it. Like group of creative detectives.In this episode we were given the rare opportunity to speak with someone operating

May 12,2021 01:26:43

130. 132 - When your plan fails — with Pat Flynn

“Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.” We love that quote from Mike Tyson. It encapsulates life so well.You can do everything right—even go above and beyond—and still be a fantastic failure. But as they like to say: failure is inevitable. It’s how you deal with it that matters.Pat Flynn is an acclaimed podcaster, author, entrepreneur, and Pokémon card collector. Yes, you just read “Pokémon.” Growing up, he did everything right. Earned perfect grades. Landed the perfect, dream

May 05,2021 01:01:03

131. 131 - Why do you believe what you believe? — After Hours at The Futur

Why do you believe what you believe? How much of it was hardwired and how much of it did you inherit from other people? Like, for instance, your parents.This episode comes from a unique event that we like to call After Hours. It’s a raw, revealing, and open-ended discussion with Chris Do and some our friends from The Futur Pro Group.In this After Hours chat, we delve into how to reframe the way you think about goals. What they are, their meaning to you, and why looking to the past won’t help you

Apr 28,2021 01:39:24

132. 130 - How to Price Your Work — with Tom Hirst

When it comes to talking about money, a lot of creative folk tend to get uncomfortable. Many of us believe that the work should speak for itself. And that the cost of something correlates with how long it takes to produce.But that’s not always true.There are plenty of ways to bill for your work. Hourly, daily, fixed price, value-based, and retainer. There’s even the good old barter system.Which way is the best? And is it fair and ethical to not bill for the time you spend on something?If these a

Apr 21,2021 57:37

133. 129 - Teaching the Business of Design — with Abby Guido

If you could go back in time and learn something new, what would it be? What thing would you study to better equip you for the world and you live in today?In the business world, designers now have a seat at table. They do more than just make things pretty. Their decisions and actions have a direct impact on the bottom line.Which means they have a responsibility to the business. Something that isn’t taught in art school.Our guest in this episode, Abby Guido, is an assistant professor of graphic a

Apr 14,2021 01:12:55

134. 128 - How to Become a Creative Director — with Adam Morgan

What do you think it means to be a creative director? It’s not a trick question. Take a moment to think about it.What does a creative director do exactly? What skills do they need to do it?You might think that being a great creative director is all about honing your craft and having a creative vision for your work. In other words, it’s all about you and your creative decisions. But is that true?This episode comes from a livestream we held in early 2019. It’s all about answering the question: how

Apr 07,2021 01:07:39

135. 127 - Quantity Leads to Quality — with Herbert Lui

When you hear the term “side hustle”, how does it make you feel?Maybe you get excited and think of that one thing you’re passionate about. Or maybe it sends a cringe-filled chill down your spine.We ask because this episode’s guest, Herbert Lui, really hates that phrase. And he’s not alone.You may recall our conversation with Austin Kleon where he shared his own contempt for that same term.When it comes to words and language, nuance is everything. Two people can say the exact same thing, yet each

Mar 31,2021 01:05:33

136. 126 - Deep Dive: Guide To Freelancing — with Jonathan Stark

Do you know the difference between a freelancer and a small business owner? We won’t spoil it for you, but there is an important mindset distinction. And it can change everything about the way you do business.In tis deep dive episode, we talk with former software developer and author, Jonathan Stark. If you’re a long time follower of The Futur, then you’ll recognize that name.Jonathan’s mission is to rid the world of hourly billing. And in this Q&A session, he explains how you can do that. Trans

Mar 24,2021 01:18:00

137. 125 - Find Your Creative Courage — with Mario Quezada

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear.” This poignant quote from Mark Twain taps into the theme of this episode: grit. As in fortitude, guts, backboneThink about the most accomplished people that you admire. What drives them? What is that endless source of fuel that keeps their fire burning? Especially through the darkest and coldest of nights.Our guest today, Mario Quezada, is a brand strategist and owner of a small design and branding agency in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mar 17,2021 01:52:24

138. 124 - Deep Dive: Pricing Creative Work — with Michael Janda

This deep dive episode comes from a livestream we held way back in 2019 on The Futur’s YouTube channel.Our guest, Michael Janda, is the author of the best-selling book Burn Your Portfolio. He’s also a seasoned ad agency executive who helps creative entrepreneurs make more money with less stress.In this episode, we aim our focus on pricing creative work. A topic that every creative professional has struggles with. Michael walks you through a step by step process on how to price your work and how

Mar 10,2021 01:33:18

139. 123 - How to Position Your Agency — with Jason Harris

Have you ever heard someone say that an idea “has legs”? What they mean is that the idea can endure and stay relevant over time. Because that’s what good ideas do—they stick around.Jason Harris is the CEO and co-founder of acclaimed ad agency, Mekanism. They do fantastic and progressive work for some of the best clients around. Brands like Peleton, Jose Cuervo, and Ben & Jerry’s.As a seasoned ad man, Jason knows a good idea when he sees it. And he knows how to present that idea to a client while

Mar 03,2021 01:04:53

140. 122 - Deep Dive: Pricing Creativity — with Blair Enns

If you’ve followed us for a while, then you’ve probably heard the name Blair Enns a few times. Blair is a business consultant, speaker and author of the acclaimed book, The Win Without Pitching Manifesto. And if you were to ask Chris Do what one book you should read is, it would be that one.We’ve had Blair on the show before, but we wanted to share this deep dive livestream with you because it’s filled with invaluable information. The insights that Blair shares and the perspective he offers is u

Feb 24,2021 01:23:21

141. 121 - High Performance Creativity — with Erik Korem

When you hear the term “high performance” you might think about professional athletes. People who go through intense physical and mental training to prepare their mind and body for the game.Not to sound like a meme, but what if we told you that you could borrow similar training techniques to improve your creative performance?Well, according to Erik Korem, there are plenty of parallels between creatives and athletes. High stress, long hours, and intense mental focus. And although he comes from a

Feb 17,2021 01:16:42

142. 120 - Passive Income for Designers — with Dustin Lee

Dustin Lee is the founder of RetroSupply Co, a marketplace for retro brushes, textures, fonts, and more. Over the years, he’s carved out a unique position in the creative tool market.When you search for retro or vintage brushes for Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate you’re going to bump into his website. It's a great example of finding your niche.Dustin’s conversation with Chris centers around how creatives can start to think about passive income. But unlike a lot of other talks you have hear

Feb 10,2021 01:36:54

143. 119 - Working Remotely — with Cameron Pierron

2020 normalized the concept of remote work. Many people were forced to take their office home and find new ways to do business and stay connected. Whether they liked it or not.But before the pandemic, remote work wasn’t all that common. Which makes our guest, Cameron Pierron, quite the anomaly.Cameron worked remotely before it was cool. Like, in 2001. And he worked with big names, like Kyle Cooper and Danny Yount. Titans of the motion design industry. All from his home in the mid-West. In Kansas

Feb 03,2021 01:08:48

144. 118 - Building The Futur — with Chris Do (Pt. 2)

This is part two of a two part series where we reverse the roles and have our beloved founder and The Futur CEO, Chris Do, answer the questions.If you haven’t listened to part one, stop what you’re doing and go listen to that episode first.In part two, we pick up where we left off. With Chris’ vision of what The Futur, both the company and the concept, looks like. He and Anneli discuss the power of company culture, engaging with internet trolls and why mission over money is the best path forward

Jan 27,2021 01:00:42

145. 117 - Chris Do’s Origin Story — Part 1

If you’re a regular listener of the show, then you know our format: Chris Do talks with an interesting guest while carefully poking and prodding them with questions. All in hopes of learning as much about their experience as humanly possible.But today, we’re flipping everything on it’s head.In this two part series, the roles are reversed. Our guest, and Futur Pro Group member Anneli Hannson, will interview Chris. Think of it like a deep dive into the mind of Mr. Do. The person, the businessman,

Jan 20,2021 01:01:28

146. 116 - Leveling Up in Life — with Eric Siu

Have you ever heard of The Game of Life? It’s a multiplayer board game that was invented by Milton Bradley in the 19th century. The idea was to simulate a person going through all of their life experiences. School, marriage, jobs, and so on. And you, the player, get to decide what they do.Eric Siu lives his life as if it were a game. It’s no surprise that he is a big gamer, but he’s also an incredibly successful marketer and businessman. Eric runs a marketing agency, a software company, and is t

Jan 13,2021 01:02:56

147. 115 - The Business of Sound Design — with Dallas Taylor

When you hear the term sound design, you might think of fight sequences from action films. Like a fist landing on someone’s face, the cocking of a shotgun or even a building exploding into a giant ball of fire.But you probably don’t think about the subtle atmospheric sound design that permeates your screen. The icy wind underscoring an arctic journey. The ambient noise of a crowded outdoor market unique to Bangkok.Great sound design often goes unnoticed. It takes you out of your seat and submerg

Jan 06,2021 01:10:36

148. 114 - Beats, Marketing, and Chillhop Music — with Bas van Leeuwen

Streaming great music is easy to come by these days. You can search for almost any artist you want on Spotify or Apple Music and listen to them in a few seconds. The Beatles, Metallica and even Tool all have their discography up in the proverbial cloud.But there’s one place online that’s home to a unique genre of music. Music that’s streaming all day, every day. Whether you're listening or not.Chillhop Music is a music label based out of Rotterdam. They work with artists who primarily make relax

Dec 30,2020 01:13:36

149. 113 - Starting a Business During a Pandemic — with Arree Chung (Pt. 2)

This is part two of our fascinating talk with illustrator, children’s book author and creative entrepreneur, Arree Chung.If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go do that first.In this second episode, Arree talks us through his business plan and the unique opportunity he had to teach kids (and their parents) how to be creative. And how doing that earned him over $400K in 36 hours.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 23,2020 48:04

150. 112 - Starting a Business During a Pandemic — with Arree Chung (Pt. 1)

Arree Chung is an illustrator, children's book author and creative entrepreneur. He’s also a member of The Futur Pro Group.But more importantly, he’s a shining example of how to find the silver lining in a bad situation. Like say, a pandemic.It’s no mystery why businesses across the planet have been decimated. And our guest is no exception. But what he does excel at, especially during these miserable times, is pivoting his way out of it.Arree’s remarkable story comes with many twists, turns and

Dec 16,2020 01:17:59

151. 111 - Prototyping Made Easy — with Koen Bok

Koen Bok is the CEO and founder of the free web-based prototyping tool, Framer. Their mission is to bridge the imagination gap, so that you, your team and even your client are all speaking the same language. In this episode, Koen shares what life was like as a young kid, growing up in the Netherlands who is fascinated by computers. A fascination that developed into a legitimate business that was ultimately acquired by Facebook. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode - gusto.com/futurLearn m

Dec 09,2020 01:14:43

152. 110 - The Business of Hand Lettering — with Lauren Hom

Lauren Hom is an accomplished hand lettering artist, designer and founder of Detroit-based studio, Hom Sweet Hom. She initially started in her career in advertising, working at one of largest agencies on the planet. But what started as a dream job, quickly became less and less dreamy over time. And exciting new opportunities were ripe for the taking. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode - gusto.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 02,2020 01:05:09

153. 109 - Bonus: Building Educational Frameworks — with Christine Looser

This is a companion episode to our previous chat with The Minerva Project managing director, Ayo Seligman. We had a great follow up conversation with professor Christine Looser, but it felt too long and too complex for a regular episode. So we’re releasing it as a bonus. If you haven’t listened to Ayo's episode, then go listen to that one first.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 27,2020 01:54:14

154. 108 - Redesigning Education — with Ayo Seligman

Ayo Seligman is the managing director of brand and creative at Minerva Project. If you’re not already familiar with it, Minvera Project is an educational innovator that is redesigning the way people learn. Ayo tells Chris about graduating from UCLA’s design program and how starting a zine on the internet landed him a job at one of the most prestigious design firms in the world. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode. gusto.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

Nov 25,2020 01:08:30

155. 107 - Building a Creative Community — with Hayley Akins

Hayley Akins runs an online education company called Motion Hatch. They help motion designers with their businesses and creative careers. Hayley and Chris discuss her journey from studying film production, working for Google and the transition from full time to freelance to ultimately, starting her own community focused business. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode - gusto.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 18,2020 57:50

156. 106 - Digital Real Estate — with Jeff Lerner

Jeff Lerner is the founder and CEO of Entre Institute, a platform that teaches people how to build business’ and make a living in non-traditional ways. Which makes sense, because when he was a kid he dropped out of high school and taught himself jazz piano to pay the bills. Eventually, he traded the piano keys for a keyboard, started his own affiliate marketing business and dug himself out of insurmountable debt—about $400K to be exact. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode. gusto.com/futu

Nov 11,2020 01:00:15

157. Special Announcement! Winter workshops + Black Friday

Black Friday is right around the corner. To kick things off we will be dropping time limited deals all month on our products and courses.We will also be hosting a series of Winter workshops covering a variety of topics like Brand Strategy, Instagram, Video Storytelling, Print Production, and Illustration.Visit thefutur.com/blackfriday to stay in the know.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 09,2020 01:11

158. 105 - Making Art that Matters — with Timothy Goodman

Timothy Goodman is a traditionally trained graphic designer turned artist. At least, that’s what his grandmother calls him. But you might recognize his work from murals, graffiti, The Patriot Act show on Netflix, or even his collaboration with international clothing brand, Uniqlo. As designers, we’re taught not to insert our opinions into our work, but our guest does the exact opposite. Beyond the wild strokes in his artwork, there is one theme that resonates through it all: he takes a stand on

Nov 04,2020 01:06:09

159. 104 - Invisible Marketing — with Jeff Lotman

Jeff Lotman is the founder and CEO of brand licensing agency, Global Icons. You may be asking yourself: what exactly is that? Rest assured, you are not alone. As he puts it, they “operate in an incredibly misunderstood field that no one knows about.” In this episode, Jeff and Chris talk about the world of invisible marketing. Pairing brands with products that you wouldn’t think necessarily go together. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode - gusto.com/futurLearn more about your ad choices.

Oct 28,2020 01:04:12

160. 103 - Email Marketing Like a Pro — with Tarzan Kay

Tarzan Kay is an expert in email marketing. In fact, it’s her superpower. And one that she's built a successful business with. In this episode, Tarzan and Chris talk about her journey from jazz pianist, to lawyer, to copywriter and ultimately course creator. She talks about how her sheltered upbringing paved the way for a rebellious spirit and doesn’t shy away from talking about money. You’ll get to hear the what, the how and the why of her business and all of it’s revenue.Learn more about your

Oct 21,2020 01:17:29

161. 102 - Making it in Film and TV — with Matthew Helderman

Matthew Helderman is the founder and CEO of Buffalo 8, a film and television production company in Santa Monica, CA. He also co-founded the media financing firm, BondIt Media Capital, which is now one of the leading film financing firms around. Thanks to Framer for sponsoring this episode - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 12,2020 01:15:21

162. 101 - Winning Over New Clients — with Jone Korpi

Jone Korpi is an entrepreneur, brand strategist and salesperson who helps creatives get more clients. He’s also 19 years old. Jone walks Chris through his thinking and sales tactics for identifying and contacting prospective clients on LinkedIn. And he does it step by step. You could literally write it down and try it out yourself. But talking the talk and walking the walk are two different things. Thanks to Framer for sponsoring this episode - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices

Oct 05,2020 01:02:50

163. 100 - Special Live Q&A with Chris and Greg for our 100th episode!

We did it! 100 episodes of The Futur Podcast. To celebrate this milestone we invited members from our community to join us on Zoom for a live Q&A with Chris Do and Greg Gunn. Big thanks to everyone that joined in the festivities and asked questions along the way. And thank you for your support and for allowing us into your ears for this long. Here’s to 100 more! Thanks to Framer for sponsoring this episode - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 28,2020 02:24:54

164. 099 - Side Project Gone Wrong — with Benjamin Shapiro

Benjamin Shapiro is a brand development and marketing strategy consultant turned podcaster. He runs the MarTech Podcast, which is short for marketing technology. He initially started the podcast as a side project, to help onboard new clients. But it has since blossomed into a bonafide business leading him to start his own podcasting network. This episode is sponsored by Framer - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 21,2020 59:47

165. 098 - Making Life Happen For You — with Dean Graziosi

Dean Graziosi is a New York Times best-selling author, real estate investor, and successful entrepreneur. But it didn't come easy. He learned how to transform a tumultuous childhood into fuel for personal growth and business development. Thanks to Framer and Hover for sponsoring this episode. framer.com/thefutur.com hover.com/thefutur.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14,2020 01:04:46

166. 097 - Build Your Own Dream Job — with Andy J. Pizza

Andy J. Pizza is a podcaster, public speaker and illustrator best known for his optimistic and energetic show, Creative Pep Talk. Andy describes himself as a personal growth junkie, but we think his real secret weapon is knowing the value of creativity and understanding how to use it in the world of business. Thank you to our sponsors for this episode, Framer and Hover.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 07,2020 01:08:58

167. 096 - Deep Dive: How to be a professional — with Seth Godin

This Deep Dive episode comes from a 2018 livestream we hosted with marketing legend, Seth Godin. In this value packed conversation, Seth talks about how writer’s block is a myth, what it takes to be a professional, and why the world needs more artists who love what they do, despite the uncertain outcomes. This episode is sponsored by Framer. framer.com/thefutur.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 31,2020 01:00:37

168. 095 - Introducing “Hey Chris…”

Welcome to a special, new episode format that we call “Hey Chris.“ It’s a candid and casual conversation where Chris answers your most most burning questions. And Greg gets to spring them on him. Have a question for Chris? Visit thefutur.com/heychris and ask away. This episode is sponsored by Framer. framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 24,2020 01:08:46

169. 002 - How to Start and Run a Design Business — with Frank Shi [Rebroadcast]

What do you need to know to start and run a design business? We dug deep into the podcast archive to find and share this episode. Even though this conversation is almost four years old, the concepts Chris shares in it are timeless. If you’re thinking about starting up your own creative business, or rethinking the one you have, then don’t sleep on this one. This episode is sponsored by Framer - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 17,2020 32:35

170. 094 - Deep Dive: Teaching on YouTube — with Unmesh Dinda (PiXimperfect)

In this episode of Deep Dive, Chris talks with content creator Unmesh Dinda, but you might know him better by his YouTube moniker, PiXimperfect. He teaches people everything there is to know about Adobe Photoshop and with over 2 million subscribers, he seems to be doing something right. This episode is sponsored by Framer - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 10,2020 02:12:26

171. 093 - Deep Dive: Listening, Learning and Mindfulness — with Cynthia Kane

In this episode of Deep Dive, Chris talks with mindfulness instructor, Cynthia Kane, about how to process your feelings and find the right language to clearly express them. Easer said than done of course, but the stories and techniques Cynthia shares will help. If you’re in your head too much and struggle with how to make sense of your thoughts and feelings, this discussion might help. This episode is sponsored by Framer - framer.com/thefuturLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices

Aug 03,2020 01:09:08

172. 033 - Making it in the Little Leagues — with Aaron Draplin [Rebroadcast]

Have a question that you want Chris to answer? Ask away. - Chris talks with the people’s champion, Aaron Draplin, about having a following among your peers, honoring your parents, and managing success. Aaron Draplin is one of the most well-known and recognizable graphic designers to date. He’s known for his logo designs, popular design course on Skillshare, and his loud personality.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 27,2020 01:44:12

173. 092 - The Business of Podcasting — with Jordan Harbinger

Want to help support The Futur Podcast? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Jordan Harbinger is the host of his own podcast, The Jordan Harbinger show. He’s talked with incredible people like Kobe Bryant, Mark Cuban, Malcom Gladwell and Frank Abignail. He and Chris talk about the seedy world of contrepreneurs, the business of podcasting and why the best thing you can do for your brand is to uphold your duty to your audience.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas

Jul 20,2020 01:03:16

174. 091 - Why Your Story is Valuable — with Matt Essam

Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Matt Essam is a creative business coach. Think of him like the British version of Chris Do. In this episode, he and Chris talk about finding their sense of purpose in life, and how everyone’s story has inherent value—even if you don’t see it just yet. They discuss strategies about how to become a better listener and why doing so is critical to the success of your business and client relationships.Learn

Jul 13,2020 01:04:24

175. Chris Do on the Finding Founders Podcast

We have a special clip from another podcast to share with you today. It’s called Finding Founders and it’s all about highlighting the entrepreneurial spirits here in Los Angeles.This clip is from The Futur’s own Chris Do. He shares his origin story and path from refugee to business owner. We think you’ll like it a lot.You can listen to the rest of the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to your podcasts. Just search for Finding Founders.Learn more about your ad choices

Jul 09,2020 44:14

176. 090 - From Ice Cream Parlor to Design Studio — with Amy Balliett

Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Amy Balliett is the founder of Killer Visual Strategies. They’re a design studio in Seattle, Washington helping clients efficiently and effectively create meaning through design. Amy got a head start with entrepreneurship by owning her own ice cream parlor at age 17. Since then, she’s gone on to work as a video editor, film trailer marketer and—after several pivots later—founder, author and public speLe

Jul 06,2020 01:06:31

177. 089 - Tales From a Creative Director — with Jose Gomez

Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Jose Gomez is the Executive Creative Director of Dallas based design agency, ATK PLN. He’s won an Emmy, built a skateboard brand as a teenager and continues to push the envelope in the worlds of motion design and live action. This episode is full of great stories about the triumphs and tribulations of running a creative business in the advertising world.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho

Jun 29,2020 01:09:23

178. 088 - From Shy Kid to Tech Executive — with Reena Merchant

Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Reena Merchant is a UX Manager at Google and one of the few people we know that holds an MBA in Design Strategy. In this episode, Reena and Chris discuss her journey from shy kid to tech executive, the weight of family expectations and why believing in yourself is the best cure for self-doubt. And rest assured, Reena will lay out what exactly UX is and how you can go about learning it.Learn more about y

Jun 22,2020 01:05:24

179. 087 - Designing for the Future — with Hannah Corlett

Want to help support The Futur? Fill out this super short survey: https://bit.ly/futur-survey Hannah Corlett is the founder of architectural and urban design firm, HNNA. The projects she works on today, you may get to see 10 years from now, which means she spends a lot of time thinking about the future and how to design for it. In this episode, Hannah and Chris discuss what that future might look like for everyone and how urban designers and educators play in an integral role in shaping it.Learn

Jun 15,2020 59:47

180. 086 - Stop Thinking and Start Doing — with Randy Hereman

Randy Hereman has lived many professional lives. He started as a web-designer, then a professional kite-surfer, then a high rolling poker player and is now an execution coach, on a mission to help people become who they need to be to attain their goals. He also happens to be a member of The Futur Pro Group. If you don’t know what that is, visit the thefutur.com/pro to find out. It just might be where your people are.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 08,2020 01:14:24

181. 085 - Problem Solving and Product Design — with Alex Zaccaria

Alex Zaccaria is the founder and CEO of Linktree. You might recognize that name from the millions of Instagram profiles that use their product. If you don’t know what Linktree is, go look it up. It is quite the handy social media tool. In this episode, Alex and Chris talk about Linktree’s remarkable growth and how they gain around 20,000 new sign ups every day, without spending much on customer acquisition. Sounds crazy right? Not if you build a great solution to a common problem.Learn more abou

Jun 01,2020 53:26

182. 084 - The Promise of Virtual Reality — with Joanna Popper

What do you think about when you hear the term, “virtual reality”? It's been part of the pop-culture and entertainment news cycle for a while, but still feels out of reach. There are cumbersome headsets you need to wear, low fidelity images and poorly designed experiences. Like or not, VR is on the cusp of changing our lives forever, which is why we were thrilled to have HP’s Global Lead of VR for Location Based Entertainment on the show, Joanna Popper.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod

May 25,2020 01:01:45

183. 083 - How To Tell A Great Story — with Adrien Behn

Adrien Behn is a seasoned world traveler, writer and comedic performer. This self-proclaimed “Jill of all trades“ ventures into new countries to seek out total strangers and listen to their stories. She then reports back about the most daring and interesting ones via her own podcast, Strangers Abroad. In this episode, Adrien and Chris discuss what makes great storytelling, the power of vulnerability and they allude to an unforgettable travel story that led to an audience member fainting mid-show

May 18,2020 01:50:15

184. 082 - Stop Giving Advice, Ask More Questions — with Michael Bungay Stanier

Michael Bungay Stanier is an Oxford graduate and author of the wildly popular book, The Coaching Habit. He is a champion of curiosity that believes the advice we so eagerly give is not nearly as good as we think it is. Michael founded Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations transform from advice-driven to curiosity-led. His missions is to help shape how organizations around the world make being coach-like an essential leadership behavior.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast

May 11,2020 01:05:12

185. 081 - Designing With Empathy — with Sophia Ahamed

Sophia Ahamed is a designer and founder of design agency Monograph & Co. She and Chris go deep into the role that empathy plays in creative business. Spoiler alert: it's an important one. They talk about how losing someone can trigger a perspective shift and, subsequently, how you can use your own life experiences to build greater empathy with your clients.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 04,2020 49:32

186. 080 - Design, Comedy and Personal Branding — with Meg Lewis

Meg Lewis is a designer, comedian, performance artist, entrepreneur, meditation podcaster and a whole lot more. You might recognize her style, her voice and definitely her glasses, but after listening to this episode you will understand the power of her personal branding. Meg and Chris discuss how to take what's weird about yourself and turn it into a unique career advantage. After all, that's what creativity is: combining unrelated things to make something new.Learn more about your ad choices.

Apr 27,2020 01:48:57

187. 079 - Why Branding Matters — with Stef Hamerlinck

This episode is fiery right from the start. Chris talks with brand strategist, Stef Hamerlinck, about the nuance of branding and why it matters. Though, the two don’t necessarily agree about any of it. If you are interested in branding, strategy and enjoy a healthy debate then you will love this episode. Chris and Stef get deep into the weeds of brand purpose, brand differentiation and why it's important for a brand to be just as good as it is unique.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca

Apr 20,2020 01:06:38

188. 078 - Self-Publishing and True Collaborative Spirit — with Beth Stafford and Jeremy Slagle

In this episode Chris talks with creative team, Beth Stafford and Jeremy Slagle. Together, they've written, illustrated and published two successful children's books that shine a light on the importance of teaching empathy to both parents and their kids. These two solopreneurs share how their collaborative spirit works, the perks and perils of social media and the unintended benefits of pursuing that side project you can't stop thinking about.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice

Apr 13,2020 56:51

189. 077 - What does the Future of Education Look Like? — with Christine Outram

Christine Outram is the CEO of Everydae—an education company aiming to provide affordable, fun and personalized learning. As a former architect, MIT graduate and self-proclaimed "systems thinker," she and her team are leading the race to create the world's smartest digital tutor and to bring families all over the world, the custom-tailored education they're looking for. If you're a fan of what we do here at The Futur, and our mission to change education, then you do not want to miss this episode

Apr 06,2020 01:00:02

190. 076 - Deep Dive: Therapy, Leadership and Invisible Pressures — with Marie Elena Rigo

In this episode of Deep Dive, The Futur’s Chief Content Officer, Matthew Encina, and Futur Video Content Producer, Mark Contreras, talk with executive coach, Marie Elena Rigo. They discuss their struggles with communication, leadership and the invisible pressure of working here at The Futur. Get a peek into the minds of our management team in this candid conversation about what life is like under our roof—warts and all. This episode is a long a one, but well worth the listen.Learn more about you

Mar 30,2020 02:02:26

191. 075 - Deep Dive: Vulnerability and Human Connection — with Kathryn Dyer

In this powerful episode of our Deep Dive series, Chris talks with guest Kathryn Dyer about the power and importance of real, human connection. Kathryn shares the story of her fight for a cancer diagnosis and how that experience redefined her purpose in life. The two open up and go deep into one of the most genuine and vulnerable conversations The Futur has ever shared. https://www.instagram.com/kathryn_dyer/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 23,2020 51:19

192. 074 - Stress Addiction, Hustle Culture and a Trip to The Hospital — with Taylor Cashdan

Are you unknowingly addicted to stress? Do you have anxiety about work deadlines or keeping up with the hustle culture lifestyle? In this episode, Chris talks with multidisciplinary designer, Taylor Cashdan, about what too much stress can do to your body. Spoiler alert: Nothing good. Taylor shares his frightening (and enlightening) story about a trip to the hospital at the young age of 24. And about how important rest, recovery and reflection really is to your personal and creative success.Learn

Mar 16,2020 01:01:50

193. 073 - Deep Dive: Branding, Sales and Creativity — with Marty Neumeier

In this episode of Deep Dive, Chris talks with branding and marketing legend, Marty Neumeier. They discuss Marty’s journey from Art Center College of Design all the way through to his experience working in Silicon Valley. The two enter a deep conversation about connecting creativity to business, how to do better by doing less and answer the question: What is branding?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 09,2020 01:27:39

194. 072 - Introducing Deep Dive: After Hours with the Pro Group

Welcome to a new series on The Futur podcast called Deep Dive. In this first episode, Chris talks with several members of The Futur Pro Group about their troubles communicating with clients. The conversation winds in and out of advice for learning how to speak clearly, stories from the community and candid role play between Chris and “the client.”Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 02,2020 03:44:13

195. 071 - Interior Designer, True Entrepreneur, Queen of Taupe — with Kelly Hoppen

Ever wondered what it’s like to design for David and Victoria Beckham? And how do you go about designing a private jet or personal yacht? Well, todays guest has done all those things and then some. In this episode, Chris talks with acclaimed interior designer, Kelly Hoppen. Kelly is a world-renowned designer and prolific author of nine design books. She and Chris discuss her creative path, the blessing of growing up without the internet, and what it takes to be a true entrepreneur.Learn more abo

Feb 24,2020 38:06

196. 070 - Don’t Be Afraid, Just Try — with Adam J. Kurtz (adamjk)

You’ve probably seen one of his handwritten Instagram posts at some point, and that’s because Brooklyn based artist, Adam J. Kurtz (aka adamjk), has a lot to say. In this week’s episode, Chris talks with Adam about why he calls himself an artist and how channeling emotion into both his illustrative work and captivating lectures will leave you smiling and feeling empowered.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 17,2020 01:39:35

197. 069 - How to Make Money Teaching Online — with Daniel Scott

In this episode, Chris talks with entrepreneur and educator, Daniel Scott, about why teaching not only brings him joy, but how lucrative it can be for anyone willing to put in the work. They get deep into the inner workings of Daniel’s online teaching business, how he got started and even how much revenue he earns from it all.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 10,2020 01:03:12

198. 068 - Why Curiosity is the Key to a Successful Career — with Philip Van Dusen

Is there a tried and true path to creative success? Some say follow your passion, but that’s not what worked for this week’s guest. In this episode, Chris talks with YouTube design trend forecaster, Philip Van Dusen, about how following his curiosity led him to where to he needed to be.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 03,2020 01:01:18

199. 067 - How to Find Work-Life Balance in the Creative Industry — with Robert Hranitzky

Can there be a balance between your work, your family and your life? If you work in the creative industry and struggle with work/life balance you are not alone. Motion design veteran, Robert Hranitzky, talks with Chris about the perks and perils of striking a balance between your love of work and your love for life and family.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 27,2020 01:10:02

200. 066 - The Difference Between Inclusion and Belonging — with Hank Washington

In episode 66, Chris Do talks with art director, illustrator and public speaker, Hank Washington. They talk about their experience and feelings about public speaking, finding your voice when giving talks, and how to feel at home in the design world as a person of color. Hank Washington - https://www.hankdesigns.com/ Creative South - https://www.creativesouth.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 20,2019 43:08

All Episodes (200) From new to old From new to old From old to new

All Episodes (200)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new