Unthinkable With Jay Acunzo

In a 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it’s done right.  SHOW LINKSMargo's essay on watching the news: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/media/what-happened-when-i-stopped-watching-the-news/Jay's response to Margo's essay: https://jayacunzo.com/blog/differentiation-isnt-about-topics-how-to-find-actual-whitespace-to-stand-out VOICES IN THIS EPISODE:Margo Aaron is a copywriting expert and has taught over 4,000 students in the art of copywriting through The Copy Workshop. She is the host of the popular internet talk show, “Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites” and a write

In 2016, Pharrell Williams dropped by NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to speak to a class. There, he met a young Maggie Rogers and sampled her song "Alaska." His reaction, captured on camera, went viral. This is a relatively known moment on the internet.What's not known is just how the words Pharrell shared and the element he noticed from Maggie's work can be applied to the work we do.In this shorter, monologue episode, we take a closer look.***KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay, and join live sessions to do better work, more consistently and confidently. creatorkitchen.com(Use code UNTHINKABLE for $100 off membersh

If you're going to reject conventional thinking and instead trust your intuition, you'll find yourself sharing tons of ideas with others. But this can feel scary, like our ideas are secrets we'd prefer to keep inside. And when someone shoots them down, we assume they just don't "get it."But what if the point of sharing our ideas is NOT to get the approval of others?Today, we go outside our echo chamber with Unthinkable contributor Andrew Littlefield to hear the story of an unusual art project in Brooklyn. Then, we talk to internet legend and creator of PostSecret.com, Frank Warren, to hear the story of his epic project. KEEP MAKING WHAT MATTERS:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program for professional communicators to achieve their creative potential.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get perso

Any story you find can serve your cause -- if you know how to mold it and change it appropriately to tell it your way, for your specific goals.  Today, the four things we can change in any story we find to tell it better."Better" doesn’t mean more epic or popular. It means more purposeful, more customized to your specific situation and needs — your audience, your goals, your desire to express yourself a certain way, to connect deeper with the world and others around you, and get your creative fingerprints all over the work. “Better” here means “more yours.”***PUSH YOURSELF CREATIVELY:1. Get a new story/framework from Jay every other week for making things that matter more to you and others: jayacunzo.com/newsletter2. Join the Creator Kitchen, a membership program helping you push yourself creatively.Go inside the making of Unthinkable and all Jay's projects, immerse yourself in the work of inspiring creators, get personalized feedback from Jay and others, and join live sessions to do better work, more consist

Hrishikesh Hirway is a musician and creator/host of the popular podcast Song Exploder. The show has a simple but powerful premise: each episode, a musician breaks apart a single track and, piece by piece, tells the story of how it was made. He's interviewed Madonna, Billie Eilish, Rick Astley, Lorde, U2, Yo-Yo Ma, and plenty of lesser-known artists creating beautiful music. Vulture even called the show "the best use of the podcast medium ever," and in 2020, Song Exploder became a TV show on Netflix, running for two seasons.Today, we turn the tables on Hrishikesh and ask him to break apart his work -- an episode of Song Exploder featuring the band The War On Drugs.We also examine this idea that artists and successful people are rarely asked questions that stick close to their work. There's a precedent set by big-picture interview shows and mass media hosts that leads to general advice or end-to-end biographies.Hrishikesh shares why starting his show was born out of a frustration with that approach, and he reve

In this shorter, monologue episode,  we explore how we arrived at a place where so many creators view AI tools like ChatGPT at a killer robot coming to beat down their doors and crush them and why we worry that these tools are greater masters of our craft than we are.  We're obsessed with only one part of the craft, and it's the same part AI is getting alarmingly good at owning. What if we focused on the 3 Ps instead? Posture, process, and practice. For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unth

To be driven by creativity is to become a walking, talking collection of contradictions, but one conflicting notion sits at the center of the intertwining thoughts and emotions in our work -- the jumble, if you will. Today, we dive into that jumble to try and find an answer to this mysterious yet ubiquitous contradiction at the core, and it leads us to meet some of our listeners and experience their questions, conundrums, and even their creative work. REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Cory Ames: Podcast | TwitterAshley Cummings: Writing | TwitterMichael Ashford: Podcast | TwitterMinnow Park: Website | TwitterJason Bradwell: Podcast | TwitterAmanda Delaney: LinkedIn | InstagramTallen Gabriel: Website | Music***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail:

For years, the promise of content marketing far exceeded its reality. But more than ever, brands -- even in B2B, the more "boring" cousin to consumer businesses -- are creating content that gives us reason to believe: creativity, community, and capitalism and not only co-exist, but for-profit can be used for-good. Today, the story of In the Works, a publication from the software company Help Scout. We go inside the decisions and the strategy of both the company's CEO and the head of content responsible for crafting a brand new publication with a bold mission.There, we find the true dividing line between brands who do this whole storytelling stuff well ... aaand everyone else. REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Nick Francis: Twitter | LinkedInHillary Noble: Twitter | LinkedInHelp ScoutIn The WorksThe Chezie storyList of brands building in-house media arms***SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:P

In this shorter, monologue episode, we learn from storytellers like Kazuo Ishiguro and Ira Glass just what it takes to speak and write in ways that instill the urge to act in others. Why would anyone pick you or stick with you? Why would they refer you to their peers or friends? What makes something truly resonate beyond simply holding your attention?After all, our jobs as communicators and storytellers isn't to "get in front of" them. It's to ensure they care.In this episode, you'll learn a simple but powerful technique to speak and write with greater impact.For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a

In this story, we hear from Chris Lavigne, the head of production at video software company, Wistia. His story helps reveal what it really means to build a big, meaningful body of work -- no matter where you work -- and how, maybe, the worst thing you can do is focus on the expectations of others.Instead, what if your entire aim was something else? Paradoxically, focusing there might THEN help you exceed others' expectations with your work.Plus, we go inside the projects that Chris says keep coming back to him, even years after he created them. He dissects the process and arrives at some inspiring philosophies about creativity too -- one which can help us all create higher-caliber work.REFER A FRIEND:Love the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***INSIDE THIS EPISODE:Chris Lavigne: Twitter | LinkedInChris Savage: Twitter | LinkedInWistiaOne, Ten, One HundredEnterprise Plan (Parade video)Gear SquadiPhone videoWebinar AttendeeSandwich

One-Shots are monologue episodes complementing our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work.Today, we learn how to tell stories about the seemingly mundane details in our lives.For a full written version of this episode, read the original story.REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***CONNECT WITH JAY ELSEWHERE:WebsiteTwitter and LinkedInEmail: jay@unthinkablemedia.com***PRODUCTION:- Creator, host, writer, editor, sound design: Jay Acunzo- Producer and researcher: Ilana Nevins

This story is a surreal, escapist journey into the true story about how the Savannah Bananas became exceptional by being the exception. This minor league baseball team has majorly passionate fans -- with more social media success than some of the biggest teams in the Major Leagues, and a plan to disrupt the MLB itself. This story is told through the ever-optimistic, yellow-tux wearing Jesse Cole, the owner of the team.Not a fan of the sport? No worries. This isn't really a story about baseball. It's a story about our collective desire to make things that matter -- to ourselves, certainly, but to those we serve most especially. This is a story about what it means to truly build something that is, in Jesse's words, "fans first" -- and all the weird, wacky, wonderful things that follow.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***IN THIS EPISODE:Andrew and Pete of ATOMIC: atomic.site // twitter.com/AndrewAndPete***MORE FROM

One-Shots are complementary episodes to our longer-form narratives, which all seek to explore ideas like resonance, storytelling, and creativity in our work. As we continue our exploration, we have to stop to appreciate the tiniest mechanic that enables us to tell stories with the biggest impact.The more we master open loops, the more gripping our communication becomes -- and the more we inspire action in others. Isn't that our jobs?REFER A FRIENDLove the show? Help others find us in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning: a beautiful, curated collection of the best creators and resources serving sales and marketi

In this episode of Unthinkable, the story of two marketers and community leaders, Andrew and Pete, of the brand ... Andrew and Pete! They were heading down that now-familiar creator path of digital fame and fortune -- the speaking, the books, the followers -- when they decided to leave that behind. Instead, they've been helping OTHERS conquer fears and make leaps in their small businesses. So often, what we need to see greater results in our business isn't an improvement in productivity. It's not about just working harder, or even working smarter. Instead, often, it's about conquering fear.  SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***IN THIS EPISODE:Andrew and Pete of ATOMIC: atomic.site // twitter.com/AndrewAndPete***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or p

Which books have shaped minds & changed lives? 2 Pages with MBS is described as a show where "brilliant people read the best two pages of a favorite book … a book that’s shaped them and changed them. Listen as authors, leaders, activists, academics, entrepreneurs, change agents and celebrities dig into the ideas that matter the most."This is the episode featuring Jay, only lightly edited to replace the intro and outro.It's unlike any other appearance you'll hear. Enjoy!SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***MORE FROM THIS EPISODE:Michael Bungay Stainer: Personal site | Twitter | IGFind and listen to 2 Pages wherever you get

In this One-Shot, a list of better questions to ask others to learn from them (whether you want to hire them or publish their thinking) than the typical conventional wisdom provides us. Interviews are too important to drift through them, unhinging our brains in favor of the basic questions that yield basic answers. We need to dig deeper.We also talk about how to create an inviting, comfortable space for others to share more personally, as well as suggestions for unpacking responses to really assess what they're saying truthfully. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsletter: stories and frameworks for creating work that resonates.Coaching and consulting: Hire Jay to work with you 1:1 on the most important elements of your brand or projects.Or, hire Jay to develop and/or host a show for your brand: jayacunzo.com/shows***SPONSOR: The JuiceThe Juice is like Spotify for B2B learning

In the fourth and final MINI-Series episode, we learn from sound designer, artist, and brilliant documentarian James T. Green about their philosophy and practice around sound design and creation.  James is the founder of the studio Molten Heart, and their work has been heard in 99% Invisible with Roman Mars, The Met, Pop Up Magazine, and more.By unpacking and dissecting small pieces of sound and music from James, we learn the thoughtful, intentional art of sound design and the power that small amounts of sound effects - or silence - can hold. Sound can make us feel, reflect, pause, or act, and often we don’t even notice this subtle art, despite its importance in providing scaffolding or key moments in building a story, a scene, or an emotion. In this episode, we make what is so often invisible in the construction of an audio story, visible.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: jayacunzo.com/unthinkable-podcast***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favorites newsl

Creativity doesn't mean BIG, and so we're exploring the tiniest pockets of the created work -- small bursts of making, or projects that fit neatly into the  nooks and crannies of the internet.Today, joke writing and comedy songwriting with Matt Buechele. Matt is a writer, musician, and hilarious human who's performed original songs for Netflix commercials and worked as a writer on The Tonight Show, where he wrote jokes and music for the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Matthew McConaughey, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.Together, we explore some of Matts projects, including his viral social media videos and his Tonight Show smash hit, This Christmas Will Be Different. We also hear the story of how he ended up at the show, as well as what a writer for such a program ACTUALLY does. Plus, we learn to like the little golden moments where we can say, Hey, yanno what? That's pretty good.SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay***MORE FROM JAY:Playing Favo

Resonating deeply doesn't require us to do anything big or expensive. The MINI-Series explores four types of created work that don't take up much space -- but still carry tons of meaning to those who encounter it. Last episode was about copywriting. This episode: illustration, featuring Haley Weaver of the wildly popular instagram account, Haley Drew This. Together, we unpack some of her seemingly simple but deeply emotional webcomics -- many of which uplift those suffering with their mental well-being. Haley creates honest, beautiful, yet simple depictions of her own vulnerabilities and her experience of anxiety, relationships with friends, understanding of love, and more. SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery other Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for crafting more resonant work to thousands of subscribers, ranging from entrepreneurs, freelancers,

In a new 4-part Mini Series, we're unpacking how we create little pockets of resonance. Through conversations with sound designers, copywriters, comedians, and creatives, we are mapping out how we can create work that can make audiences feel connected, validated, and seen. First up is a conversation with brilliant copywriter Margo Aaron who walks us through some of her most powerful copywriting blogs, her opinions on watching the news (links below) and what copywriting can feel like when it’s done right.  SHOW LINKSMargo's essay on watching the news: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/media/what-happened-when-i-stopped-watching-the-news/Jay's response to Margo's essay: https://jayacunzo.com/blog/differentiation-isnt-about-topics-how-to-find-actual-whitespace-to-stand-out SHARE THE SHOW:Help others find Unthinkable in their favorite podcast player by sharing this link: https://pod.link/jay SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER:https://jayacunzo.com/newsletterEvery other Friday, I send a new idea, story, or framework for