In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and storyteller Mark Stebnicki to talk about what makes stories resonate, and how to get authentic moments on camera. A section of our convo dives into music and how to use that POWERFUL tool to enhance the story.

If you enjoy conversations about filmmaking, documentaries, and meaningful storytelling, this episode is for you.

Follow Mark's work:

➤ https://www.youtube.com/@ncfarmbureau/videos

Follow the podcast for more conversations like this:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/successisamythpod/?igsh=MThhNXJmcWVvazB0aQ%3D%3D#

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:19 What does the word story mean to you

6:00 Getting folks to open up on camera

9:48 New ways to tell the same story

17:07 Music is POWERFUL

24:12 Getting more out of a music track

26:12 More than just a video guy

28:29 Show your audience REAL struggles

32:59 Different story than what we were expecting

36:16 What makes a story stick with you after it’s over

38:29 Get back to basics

44:19 GEAR TALK

49:10 What’s a story you want to tell?

Stories make others feel seen.

My favorite moments from the conversation with Talmage:

➤ Stories are simple

➤ The "One Way" framework (you're one way, then you change, now you're different)

➤ Take the INTERESTING stuff out of a story if it's a red herring

➤ Vulnerability is terrifying

➤ Love the daily practice of writing down one story worthy moment in your day

➤ Audiences have an incredible BS reader

Follow Talmage:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/talmagethayne?igsh=N3VyY2Z6bWFqamQ0

➤ https://www.instagram.com/filmlaab.podcasts?igsh=M3gzaGVpNXFkODVh

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 Intro + Story Bite

2:08 Helping others tell their story

9:22 Why people struggle to tell their story

13:34 The cost of not telling stories

18:33 Don't break your characters' spine

21:48 What is removed from the story

26:48 Make me CARE

32:10 What makes a story stick long after it's over?

35:37 What to do when the project goes sideways

37:43 Address the elephant in the room

40:58 Favorite stories

Storytelling is about saying what people feel but can’t say themselves.

My favorite moments from the conversation with Adam:

➤ Story is IMPACT

➤ Cut the GOOD stuff to have a GREAT story

➤ LISTEN to your interviewee instead of just waiting to ask the next question

➤ Creating because YOU want to is a better metric than likes, comments, vanity metrics

➤ A great story makes me QUESTION further

➤ Great interview moments come from conversation, not rigid scriptingFollow Adam:

➤ https://www.instagram.com/adamwest_cc?igsh=bGV4cGZmMGdrcGg=

➤ https://www.instagram.com/adamwest_media?igsh=ZWJ3dDFsOXljajdsFollow 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 Intro + Story Bite

1:51 Story is IMPACT

4:36 How to pull the story out of people

10:29 If it doesn't add to the story, CUT it

14:39 Get EMOTION out of people

17:00 Are we attention seekers?

20:41 Imperfect content

24:34 Creating out of DESIRE

26:17 Cracker Barrel / Jaguar rebrand

32:25 Honoring new and old audiences

33:32 Actually benefiting my brand

37:58 What makes a story stick with you long after it's over?

40:45 Books vs movies story

43:02 Make me question further

46:01 The HARDEST stuff to cut

50:54 Why we STRUGGLE to tell our story

55:01 How story impacts TECHNICAL decisions

59:51 HUMANIZE your subjects

Solo episode today, I spill some thoughts on wanting to create just because. Also thoughts on learning a craft vs technology, and breaking down some industry buzzwords like "authenticity" "consistent" "transparency" etc
Hope you enjoy!
My socials:
➤ 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#

What story archetype are you living?

In this episode, I sit down with marketer Ben Anderson to explore the 12 foundational character archetypes developed by Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, and how they shape not just movies, but our lives.

Most people know the Hero’s Journey.

Very few understand the archetypes behind it.

We talk about:
➤ The 12 core archetypes that show up in every timeless story
➤ The difference between your resting story and your aspirational story
➤ Why brands fail when they tell the wrong story
➤ How culture swings like a pendulum between archetypes
➤ Why I stopped telling a “success” story and leaned into the Creator

Ben shares how he went from being publicly called the worst marketer in his class…

to managing marketing for two of the fastest-growing companies in Utah, all because he learned how to see story correctly.

But this episode isn’t about marketing.

It’s about understanding.

Story is the lens through which you see the world.

And when you learn someone’s story you connect with them in a way that isn’t transactional.

Follow Ben:
➤ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--anderson/

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#

WELCOME TO SEASON 2
In this episode I'll go over why the rebrand is happening, and what's to come in this next season of To Create Is Human.

Welcome to the newly revamped To Create is Human podcast!! (Previously Success is a Myth podcast).

WELCOME HONDO HENDRICKS TO THE POD

Hondo breaks down why filmmaking and acting isn’t just about performance, it’s all about people.

We talk about why bad relationships can quietly ruin a project, and how trust between actors, directors, and cinematographers shapes the final film more than gear or budget ever could.

This conversation is less about chasing roles and more about earning trust, showing up fully, and becoming someone else without pretending.

In this episode, we explore:

- Why being on set feels like “home” for some creatives
- How trust between actors and directors directly affects performance
- The difference between playing a character and being one
- Why communication and respect matter more than talent on set
- What makes a great DP/actor relationship
- How low-budget films can still be deeply meaningful
- Why “one more take” is a sign of care, not incompetence
- Drawing inspiration from real life, not just other films
- The invisible cost of bad culture on a creative team

Follow Hondo:
➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hondohendricks?igsh=ZXloeTVqazhjMDcx

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#