WELCOME MIKE RICHY TO THE POD

In my conversation with Mike, we talk about story telling, authenticity, and the creative journey. But more than just another conversation about any of those things, we dive deep into his personal stories (and mine too) of growth and creative challenges.

My favorite topic today was covering the cost of not making an impact as a creator.

As well as:
- What “story” means to Mike
- The role of authenticity and courage in creative work
- Mike’s creative inspirations, from Steve Jobs to Tyler the Creator
- The challenges and rewards of building a creative business
- The mission behind Viddy Studio and how it helps creators deliver their best on camera
- Overcoming plateaus, burnout, and the fear of putting yourself out there
- The importance of showing up, resilience, and long term vision for creators

Follow Mike:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikerichy?igsh=MWJib29kMHQ3c2V1cw==
Music: https://spotify.link/yvBdYv19UXb
Viddy Studio: viddystudio.com
Connecting Creators: https://www.youtube.com/@connecting_creators

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:
0:00 Teaser / intro
1:48 What does the word "story" mean to you?
6:19 Who do you draw inspiration from?
10:34 Growing with an artist
13:16 Authenticity is courage
20:15 The cost of NOT making an impact
29:48 Being on camera is a DIFFERENT skill
32:06 Why tell my story?
35:41 the 1% and the 99%
43:18 Go straight through the discomfort
45:10 When I knew I had to be a creator
47:16 Viddy Studio pitch
49:49 Respect people's time
51:30 Why give back to creators
55:19 My ability to sleep at night is priceless
57:49 How to get back on the wagon when you fall off
1:02:34 What would you say to younger Mike

Why are the smallest, everyday moments often the most valuable?

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Pickard from Family Crest Studios, a filmmaker dedicated to preserving personal histories and family legacies through video. Kevin shares how his passion for storytelling grew from a personal experience, and why documenting memories (no matter how simple) can become priceless treasures for generations.

Kevin reveals the art and heart behind life story films, the challenges of making subjects comfortable on camera, and the responsibility of honoring each person’s story with care and authenticity.

What we go over:

➤ Why the “little things” and everyday moments matter most in storytelling

➤ Why it’s never too early (or too late) to start documenting your story

➤ The process of making people feel at ease and authentic during interviews

➤ Lessons learned from filming people with unique challenges, like memory loss

➤ The importance of always showing subjects in their best light

➤ How Family Crest Studios helps families preserve memories and legacies through video

➤ How success in this work is measured by meaning, not money

I'm confident this conversation will inspire you to pick up a camera, or even just your phone, and start capturing your own story.

Follow Kevin & Family Crest Studios:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/familycreststudios/
➤ familycreststudios.com

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob/?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Trailer

1:08 Intro

1:44 What does the word "story" mean to you?

4:11 Telling somebody's life story

7:09 Freezing moments in time

13:15 What's the most reiterated life advice people give?

14:31 The most fulfilling part about what you do

17:18 How long are these videos typically?

18:41 How to connect younger and older generations

23:32 Make your subject/customer their own HERO

24:48 How do you make the most watchable content?

28:03 Diving into the technical processes

30:19 I realized I needed to do this thing

35:20 Opportunities

What does it really mean to be “successful”? How do you keep chasing big goals without losing sight of what actually matters?

In this episode, I flip the mic on myself to share the lessons I’ve learned the hard way about content, business, and fulfillment. Why chasing hype doesn’t last, and what it really takes to build a life you’re proud of.

I talk about the mindset shifts that helped me find meaning in the work I do, the traps I’ve fallen into trying to grow too fast, and how slowing down can actually create more impact than constant hustle.

What we go over:

➤ The biggest misconceptions about “making it” in content and business
➤ Lessons from early mistakes that shaped how I approach growth today
➤ Why chasing viral moments can backfire, and what to focus on instead
➤ How to find fulfillment even when the numbers don’t match your expectations
➤ Practical ways to create content that connects without burning yourself out
➤ Why long-term relationships and craft beat short-term hype every time

Follow Jacob:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/
➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:
➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ==

Timestamps:
0:00 Why was I serving everybody?
3:41 Get into communities
4:02 A word about the pod
5:37 Nobody cares about you!
7:46 Who are you to people?
12:17 AI is here.
18:02 People DO judge a book by its cover.
20:56 Playing video games doesn't make you a lazy POS
22:09 Only talk to ONE person.
24:30 Pros to niching down
27:34 It should be your idea.
31:33 How I've learned to position myself
32:03 Outro

What does it take to land high-value clients, build a brand that stands out, and turn storytelling into real business growth?

In this episode, I sit down with Dustin Begovich, owner of Idaho Studio, a film production company serving agriculture and American industry for over a decade.

Dustin shares how a single cold DM opened doors to major opportunities, why decision makers really do hang out on LinkedIn, and how bold storytelling beats hard selling when it comes to building trust and winning clients.

What we go over:

➤ How Dustin built Idaho Studio into a trusted partner for agriculture and industry brands

➤ Why bold storytelling is more powerful than traditional sales pitches

➤ The strategy behind cold DMs that actually turn into business

➤ Why LinkedIn is where decision makers hang out (and how to reach them)

➤ The unique challenges (and opportunities) of creating content in agriculture & industry

➤ How to think about your brand’s story as the key to building a lasting legend

Follow Dustin:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinbegovich/

➤ https://www.idahostudio.com/

Follow Jacob:

➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-christensen-b0701027b/

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmdudejacob?igsh=MW15NHFhMTJudmZzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ==

Timestamps:

0:00 Trailer

0:57 First time making something

3:10 Creativity is freedom

4:11 Doors being opened

7:57 Taking things to the next level

15:42 Why Idaho?

18:04 Why blue collar and agriculture?

19:55 (I screwed up the audio!)

20:36 Relationships are everything

23:35 Be a solid person

26:33 First gig in agriculture

28:36 People focus on their marketing

32:32 Balance between creativity and clients' needs

35:44 Growth as a creative

43:08 Spuds: The Documentary

46:57 Educating the general viewer about agriculture

49:03 What is success, instinctively?

52:03 What would you tell your younger self?

55:10 Any false milestones?

57:48 What mindset shift have you seen?

1:00:55 The MOST important skill to have

1:02:49 The other stuff Dustin's working on

1:05:07 What separates the 1% from the 99%

1:06:07 If not video, what would you do?

1:08:22 Most important factor for your business

1:09:10 LinkedIn is a CHEAT CODE

1:14:45 You need to play the long haul game

1:20:05 Stage 3 of success

1:22:26 Outro

This might be the most unfiltered conversation I’ve ever recorded. My brother Brayden shares what it’s like to farm through failure, work 80-hour weeks, and find real purpose in hard things. We also give some healthy trash talk to brother Bridger.

In this episode, my wife and I sit down with our friend Amanda Conley for a hilarious and honest conversation about what martial arts, especially jiu-jitsu, has taught them.

They open up about imposter syndrome and the fear of looking stupid when trying something new. Amanda shares how her perfectionist dance background shaped her mindset and how jiu-jitsu helped her finally let go of the need to be “perfect.”

They talk about what it means to actually feel strong, how to push past mental limits, why more women should be on the mats, and how martial arts can radically change how you carry yourself in the world. Also, there’s a story about saving a clump of ripped-out hair in a plastic bag. You don’t want to miss it.

I sit down with my good friend and fellow creative, Adam West, for an honest conversation about what success really looks like in the creative world. We unpack the constant tug-of-war between passion and client expectations, and how imposter syndrome has a sneaky way of creeping in no matter how much experience you have.

We also dive into how social media messes with our heads, why AI can be a helpful tool if you don’t let it take over the creative process, and the real power of having a creative community you can lean on. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to chase likes or questioned your worth as a creative, this one’s for you.

Seth’s story is a gut-check for anyone chasing “bigger.” He had the numbers. The scale. The pressure. And he hated it. Cutting back and getting specific didn’t just help him build a business that works, it gave him the freedom to focus on what matters most.