Rick Foerster spent 12 years at a healthcare startup, from early employee to public company exec managing hundreds of people. He built the network. He accumulated the war chest. He had 100+ company ideas ready to go. He was standing at the starting line of what he thought was his entrepreneurial dream.

Then he “went dark”.

What was supposed to be a three-month sabbatical turned into two years of what Rick calls "the wilderness phase". No networking, no building. Rick wanted to figure out who he was when he wasn't on the hook to do anything.

Now he’s writing post-apocalyptic fiction, has a completely different relationship with work, and believes most of us need to get lost before we can actually find anything worth doing.

We talk about why his executive coach told him to disappear, what led him to writing about his experiences on Substack, the trap of suppressing existential questions with productivity, the "first mountain vs. second mountain" framework, and why following weird creative interests matters more than having a plan.

Resources mentioned:

• Rick's Substack: https://www.thewayofwork.com/
• Book: Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra
• Book: The Second Mountain by David Brooks
• Book: Transitions by William Bridges

Connect with Rick:

• https://www.thewayofwork.com/
• https://substack.com/@rickfoerster

More from Imperfect Creatives:

• Newsletter: https://newsletter.imperfect.club/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imperfect_creatives
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfect_creatives
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-carruthers/

Ari Magnússon is a fantastic photographer and writer whose newsletter 'One Lens, Too Many Stories' explores borders, identity, and what it means to belong. He's lived in seven countries, holds three passports, and is now based in Berlin where he's documenting his neighbourhood one frame at a time.

In this conversation, we talk about what that split identity actually feels like — growing up between Iceland and the UK, restarting from scratch in Montreal, and eventually landing in Berlin. We also get into why he shoots Leica (including the cost), how he developed his photographic style, and what he's actually trying to achieve with his work.

Links & Resources

• Ari's Newsletter: One Lens, Too Many Stories
• Ari’s Instagram: @admagnusson

• Modern Color by Fred Herzog
• William Eggleston
• Sunshine Terrace by Emily Shur

Chapters

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:57) Writing vs Photography
• (2:55) Living Across Seven Countries
• (5:45) Cultural Identity and Belonging
• (7:11) Exploring Borders Through Photography
• (12:22) Photography Philosophy and Purpose
• (26:47) Building a Body of Work & Editing Process
• (29:58) Making a Living as a Photographer
• (32:50) Moving to Berlin
• (34:47) Camera Shyness and Street Photography
• (38:58) Ethics and Motivation in Photography
• (41:47) Developing Your Own Style
• (46:47) Film vs Digital Photography
• (51:47) Final Thoughts and Recommendations

What happens when you chase your entrepreneurial dream for four and a half years and then realize it's not actually what you want?

In this episode, I sit down with Jacob O'Bryant, creator of The Sample (now Yakread), to talk about his journey from quitting his job in his early twenties to going all-in on building his own products, only to discover that entrepreneurship wasn't the path he thought it would be. Jacob is refreshingly honest about the psychological toll, the gradual realization that he valued invention over business-building, and why going back to a full-time job wasn't defeat, it was clarity.

We also explore the framework that sits between pure research and entrepreneurship: invention. It's a way of thinking about your work that doesn't require monetization or academic rigor, just meaningful exploration. Plus, we dig into unbundling social media: what it means, why it matters, and practical steps you can take as an everyday person to support a more open internet. If you've ever wondered whether the "quit your job and start a company" narrative is really for you, this conversation might give you a different perspective.

Resources Mentioned:

• Jacob's website: https://obryant.dev/
• Jacob's "Invention" resource page: https://obryant.dev/invention/
• Jacob's product: https://yakread.com/
• Jason Crawford's "We Need a Career Path for Invention" essay: https://blog.rootsofprogress.org/a-career-path-for-invention
• "You Can Help Unbundle Social Media": https://obryant.dev/p/you-can-unbundle-social-media/
• "Wherever you get your podcasts is a radical statement": https://www.anildash.com//2024/02/06/wherever-you-get-podcasts/

Chapters:

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:40) Being a "Recovering Entrepreneur"
• (04:30) College Was a Waste
• (07:00) The Initial Itch: Ambition and Meaningful Work
• (09:20) Planning the Leap: Money, Marriage, and Runway
• (14:50) The Sample and Yakread
• (19:10) Not Going All In Again
• (21:00) Invention is Between Research and Business
• (26:30) The First Months: Euphoria to Reality
• (29:30) Why You Shouldn't Monetize Your Passion
• (31:15) Hustle Culture vs. The Messy Middle
• (34:00) Going Back to a Day Job Wasn't Defeat
• (36:30) How Entrepreneurship Changed Jacob's Work
• (38:30) Job Searching with Entrepreneurship on Your Resume
• (42:30) Unbundling Social Media
• (46:00) What Everyday People Can Do About It
• (51:10) Final Takeaway and Resources

In this episode, I sit down with Laura aka "Couch Polyglot", a polyglot and YouTuber with over 44k subscribers who creates awesome language learning content whilst also working a day job. We explore how she balances both worlds: maintaining multiple languages as well as a growing channel without burning out.

We dig into practical language learning techniques, why Duolingo might not cut it for serious learners, and how mindset often matters more than natural ability. Laura also shares what it's really like building a YouTube channel, the unexpected challenges of content creation, and her best advice for anyone juggling creative work with a day job.

Resources

• Laura's YouTube channel CouchPolyglot: https://www.youtube.com/@CouchPolyglot
• Laura's website: https://www.couchpolyglot.com

• Imperfect Creatives Newsletter: https://imperfect.email
• Imperfect Creatives website: https://imperfect.club

Chapters

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:03) Starting a YouTube Channel During the Pandemic
• (03:09) From Teaching to YouTube
• (09:35) Balancing YouTube and Full-Time Work
• (13:42) Challenges & Realities of Content Creation
• (26:20) Mindset and Approaches to Language Learning
• (34:02) Is Duolingo Effective?
• (35:48) Starting from Scratch: Learning Basics
• (37:25) The Importance of Comprehensible Input
• (38:37) Maintaining and Activating Languages
• (39:57) Overcoming Language Learning Barriers
• (42:11) Finding Fun
• (46:58) Language Tandems
• (01:02:32) Resources & Recommendations

Elena Mostovova is a product manager and art enthusiast who writes Art for Breakfast, a weekly newsletter making art accessible and relatable to everyone.

In this conversation, we explore how art can be a shortcut to understanding culture, why starting with contemporary work beats historical pieces, and Elena's journey from writing a personal art diary to building a public community around her writing.

We dig into practical tips for connecting with art without needing an art history degree, how to navigate galleries as a beginner, plus specific gallery recommendations for Berlin and New York, as well as why emotional connection matters more than market value when it comes to both art as well as sharing your own work.

Elena's Newsletter: Art for Breakfast - Subscribe on Substack

Book Recommendation: Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton

Chapters

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:22) Connecting with Culture Through Art
• (02:58) The Role of Art in Understanding History
• (05:59) Elena’s Personal Journey with Art
• (11:19) From Personal Diary to Public Sharing
• (15:10) Making Art Accessible
• (17:40) Practical Tips for Engaging with Art
• (22:52) The Human Side of Art
• (26:27) Art Collecting
• (30:16) Supporting Artists Beyond Monetary Investment
• (32:23) Galleries and Digital Spaces
• (34:38) Balancing Passion and Professional Life
• (36:11) Building a Community Through Your Work
• (43:27) Exploring Art Scenes in Berlin and New York
• (49:00): Resources & Recommendations

Catt Small is a staff designer who's figured out something most of us struggle with: how to juggle multiple creative projects without burning out. She's written a book, runs online courses, organizes conferences, develops games, and somehow manages to be intentional about where she puts her energy even with all of these competing interests.

Also interesting is that Catt climbed to director level as a designer, then consciously stepped back into individual contributor work because she knew what gave her the most energy.

We talk about how to build influence without a manager title, why validation matters before you commit hundreds of hours to a project, and how to say no to some projects so you can say yes to the right ones. Plus, practical advice on making the leap from senior to staff level and navigating workplace politics as an Individual Contributor (IC).

This one's packed with insights for anyone trying to level up in their day job or figure out how to balance multiple creative projects alongside a demanding 9-5.

Resources mentioned

• Pre-order Catt's fantastic book "The Staff Designer" here: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-staff-designer
• Checkout Catt's website
• Game Devs of Color Expo (Sep 16–19, 2025)
• Catt's Staff Designer course

• Catt's book choices: The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna and Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

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More from Imperfect Creatives

• Subscribe to the newsletter:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠imperfect.email⁠⁠
• The website:⁠⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠
• TikTok:⁠⁠ @imperfect.creatives⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives

• 
  

Chapters

• (00:00): Intro
• (01:41): Catt's Early Programming Journey
• (03:31): From Web Dev to Graphic Design
• (06:05): Navigating Career Choices & Financial Realities
• (09:44): Evolving Relationship with Work & Side Projects
• (12:27): Balancing Multiple Projects & Avoiding Burnout
• (15:52): Saying No & Identity Beyond Projects
• (20:41): Handling External Perceptions & Self-Awareness
• (28:14): From Blog to Book
• (36:03): Staff vs. Management: Leadership & Influence
• (49:00): Building Influence as a Staff Designer
• (56:19): Game Devs of Color Expo
• (59:38): Resources & Final Takeaways

In this episode, I sit down with Paul Hughes, who's career is far from the traditional 9-5, being that he's worked as everything from travelling salesman, military photography, radio host, to now running AFN Europe's radio programming across 15 stations, 8 countries, and 4 timezones.

We talk about the struggle of finding work that's truly meaningful, following the spark of excitement in creative work without getting bogged down by the 'score' of ambition, and why putting yourself out there might be the only way forward, even when imposter syndrome keeps whispering that you don't belong.

If you've ever decided it's too late to chase something that feels impossible, this conversation might change your mind.

Resources mentioned

• "Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins - Paul's book recommendation

• "A Hard Kick in the Nuts" by Steve-O

Dr. Rod Berger has a degree in clinical psychology, has interviewed over 4,000 people, and just wrote his first book "The Narrative Edge", but his real expertise is in finding the human behind the talking points. In this episode, we explore what makes storytelling important, how Rod breaks through people's scripted responses to get to authentic connection, and his philosophy that "if you're not telling your story, someone else is."

Rod shares how his "Forrest Gump-like" career of saying yes to unexpected opportunities led him from psychology to refugee work to becoming a master interviewer. We dig into the vulnerable process of writing his first book, why he refuses to ask questions you could find in a press release, and how true presence and authenticity can change everything.

Whether you're struggling to find your authentic voice or wondering how to connect more deeply with others, this episode will make you rethink how you show up in your own story.

Links for this episode:

• Dr. Rod Bergers book "The Narrative Edge"

• Subscribe to the newsletter:⁠ ⁠⁠imperfect.email⁠
• The website:⁠ imperfect.club⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠@imperfect_creatives⁠⁠⁠
• TikTok:⁠ @imperfect.creatives⁠⁠
• YouTube:⁠ ⁠@Imperfect_Creatives

Chapters

(00:00) The Journey of Storytelling

(05:36) Embracing Opportunities: The Power of Saying Yes

(13:43) Crafting Your Own Narrative

(22:09) The Art of Authentic Interviewing

(30:46) The Addictive Nature of Storytelling

(36:52) The Impact of Connection

(42:51) The Importance of Being Present

(46:56) The Evolution of Storytelling

(54:59) Capturing Stories with Integrity

(01:00:18) Episode Wrap-Up