Feeling Stuck in Serious Mode? Here’s How to Flip the Script with Play
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like you're taking life a little too seriously? Wake up. Work. Hustle. Repeat. Somewhere along the way, we stopped playing—and started grinding through our days like machines. Why We Get Stuck in Serious Mode We were taught that being serious means being responsible. That fun is a distraction. That joy is something we earn. But let’s be real—seriousness without joy just leads to burnout. Play Isn’t the Opposite of Progress Play is where creativity begins. It’s what makes challenges fun and failure less scary. It helps you breathe, think, connect, and feel again. You Don’t Need Permission to Lighten Up You already know how to play, you’ve just forgotten. But it’s still there, waiting. So try it. Loosen the grip. Smile more. Make life a little less rigid and a lot more yours. Until next time, stay curious, and stay in the game.
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14:04
How Sharing Your Work Can Change Lives Including Your Own
In this episode, I share how putting your creative work into the world—no matter how small—can lead to massive, unexpected impact. I open up about my early days as a self-taught photographer, the pain and joy of learning through film, and how a backpacking trip with my wife turned into the start of an unconventional creative career. This is a syndicate episode from the B&H Photography Podcast, where I sit down with Derek, Jill, and Mike to trace the arc of my journey—from building the Best Camera app and pioneering mobile photography, to founding CreativeLive and finding purpose through community. We talk about the cost of taking creative risks, the billion-dollar idea that got away, and the deeper why behind making and sharing your art. If you’ve ever doubted whether your creative voice matters, this episode is for you. Some highlights we explore: Why you only need 20 people to support your work and make a living. WThe emotional cost—and wisdom—of losing out on the Instagram moment. What “the best camera is the one that’s with you” really means. The key mindset shift: You’re not promoting, you’re connecting people to something they need. Enjoy!
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1:29:12
How to Reconnect With the Intuition You’ve Been Taught to Ignore
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever get a gut feeling—but second-guess it because it doesn’t “make sense”? You’re not alone. From a young age, we’re taught to value logic over instinct. To follow the rules. To ignore the quiet signals coming from within. But science shows that your body—especially your gut—is constantly processing more than your conscious mind ever could. That inner knowing? It’s real. And it’s powerful. Why We Lose Touch With Intuition In this post, we’ll talk about why so many of us lost touch with our intuition—and how to start tuning back in, one small decision at a time. Your gut knows. It always has. The question is: are you listening?
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10:36
Stop Hiding Behind ‘Not Ready’ and Learn How to Begin Anyway
In this episode, Debbie Millman shares how to begin—even when you feel unready, unqualified, or full of doubt. Debbie is a designer, author, educator, and host of the pioneering podcast Design Matters. She's also the chair of the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts and editorial director at Print magazine. We talk about the creative risks Debbie took later in life, why fear and shame shaped her early path, and how she found fulfillment by making deeply personal work—without waiting for permission. From the grief of losing family to the joy of marrying at 57, this is a raw, powerful conversation about love, legacy, and the courage to start—even if you feel like a mess. Some highlights we explore: The myth of readiness – Why waiting to feel “good enough” keeps us stuck in place. Failures that shaped the path – From rejected applications to bad jobs, how struggle created space for clarity. Creating without permission – Why Debbie’s most meaningful work began when she stopped waiting to be chosen. Enjoy!
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55:17
What If Play Is Actually the Most Important Work You'll Ever Do?
Hey friends, Chase here. Ever feel like your life is all work and no you? Emails. Deadlines. Chores. Repeat. Somewhere along the way, we traded play for productivity—and we’ve been tired ever since. Why We Forget to Play From a young age, we’re taught that play comes after the work is done. But here’s the catch: the work never ends. So we keep pushing joy to the sidelines. Play Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline Play isn’t just fun. It fuels creativity, lowers stress, and helps us feel alive. It’s not the opposite of work—it’s what makes work meaningful. What If Work Could Be Play? What if you danced while doing dishes? What if you made emails a game? What if you stopped calling it “work” and started calling it “life”? It’s not about changing what you do. It’s about changing how you see it. You Were Born to Play Play is your natural state. You don’t have to earn it—you just have to remember it. So go ahead. Laugh more. Move your body. Get weird. Play might just be the most important work you’ll ever do. Until next time, keep it playful.
Chase Jarvis is a visionary photographer, artist and entrepreneur. Cited as one of the most influential photographers of the past decade, he is the founder & CEO of CreativeLive. In this show, Chase and some of the world’s top creative entrepreneurs, artists, and celebrities share stories designed to help you gain actionable insights to recognize your passions and achieve your goals.
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