Daring Creativity. Daring Forever.

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Rachel Gogel ~ Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic daringcreativity.com | [email protected] Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Rachel Gogel, an independent design executive and "devoted generalist," shares her journey from GQ and Facebook to creating her own fractional leadership consultancy. Operating at the intersection of brand, culture, and technology, she works with organizations like Airbnb and Intuit while teaching at California College of the Arts.Her career philosophy centers on designing your own path without permission—starting when she unexpectedly became a people manager at GQ in her early twenties. Rachel redefines success as a harmonious blend of consulting, mentoring, teaching, speaking, and advocacy—deliberately remaining small while creating meaningful impact. Drawing on experiences with chronic health conditions and loss, she advocates for conscious time design and questions the "FIRE" mentality, reminding us that time itself is a luxury we shouldn't take for granted.Key TakeawaysGeneralists belong in the creative landscape — The ability to adapt, work across mediums, and jump between projects at various altitudes represents uniquely human capabilities that AI cannot replicateConviction matters more than specialization — In rapidly changing creative industries, having strong principles and adaptability is more valuable than being pigeonholed into a single discipline or titleEmbrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth — The messiest moments and most uncomfortable situations often become the foundation for the greatest career breakthroughs and learning experiencesRelationships are your greatest asset — Every major opportunity comes through genuine connections built on generosity, empathy, and helping others succeed without expecting immediate returnsDesign your career without waiting for permission — You don't need validation from institutions or traditional career paths; you can package your unique skills and create your own professional identitySuccess doesn't require scaling up — Growth doesn't always mean expansion; you can be a successful solopreneur by remaining intentionally small and defining success on your own termsPractice conscious time design — Regularly audit where your time and energy go; ensure you're investing in work that aligns with your values, impact goals, and desired lifestyleRemember that time is a luxury — Don't defer meaningful work or authentic living to some distant future; be present and intentional with how you spend your finite time on this planetMoney and meaning don't have to be mutually exclusive — Challenge the false dichotomy between financial stability and creating meaningful work; both are possible with intentional career designShare knowledge and lift others up — Transparency about money, opportunities, and career paths creates community strength and often returns to benefit you in unexpected ways Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic daringcreativity.com | [email protected] Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Russ Mashmeyer Meta AI) ~ Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic daringcreativity.com | [email protected] Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Russ Mashmeyer's journey from fine art student to Meta's AI Product Design Director reveals the unexpected connections between creativity and code. Growing up in suburban Georgia where "everything was new," Russ found himself drawn to New York's layers of history, studying fine art at NYU before joining a touring indie band called The XYZ Affair. What began as building Flash websites for his band evolved into a career defining how we interact with technology.~ Now leading Meta's Pathfinding team, he explores rapid prototyping of AI-powered products, helping designers and creators understand AI not as a replacement for human creativity but as an accelerant for bridging skill gaps.Russ brings a unique perspective to AI development, viewing it through the lens of cultural history—from photography's disruption of fine art to desktop publishing's transformation of graphic design. He argues that AI models deliver "mediocre, average expected results" by design, making human taste, perspective, and cultural awareness more essential than ever. Key TakeawaysSoftware as artistic medium requires the same creative intuition as traditional fine art, just expressed through different tools and faster feedback loopsThe best preparation for emerging fields is developing insatiable curiosity about how things work rather than mastering specific technical skillsCultural and historical context matters more than ever in AI development—understanding what resonated with people before helps predict what will matter nextAI models are designed to produce average results, making human taste, lived perspective, and cultural relevance the differentiating factors in creative work"Naïve optimism"—the mindset of "how hard could it be?"—is essential for innovation, especially in spaces where no one is an expert yetChildren benefit enormously from watching adults play, fail with smiles, and create together, normalizing creativity as a lifelong practiceEvery major technological shift creates cultural upheaval, but society consistently figures out how to metabolize new tools and elevate them to art formsThe most powerful use of AI raises the floor of competence in areas where you have skill gaps while you remain exceptional in your core strengthsTreating your first band like a startup teaches essential lessons about entrepreneurialism, feedback loops, and creating products people loveNew technology succeeds when it serves human intent rather than replacing human creativity, becoming a tool that unlocks what people inherently want to doBuilding in public fields where no one is an expert yet levels the playing field—depth of historical knowledge matters more than technical seniorityThe transition from planning perfect UIs in Figma to sculpting functional prototypes with AI represents a fundamental shift from drawing to three-dimensional creationEmergent capabilities in AI models—features that weren't explicitly designed—mirror how creative misuse of instruments led to entirely new musical genres Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic daringcreativity.com | [email protected] Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

A short bonus episode showcasing a few stand out moments from this week's guest interview with Lauren Hartstone of Sibling Rivalry ~ Daring Creativity. Daring Forever. Podcast with Radim Malinic daringcreativity.com | [email protected] Books by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/ (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)