Passion is Overrated

Thanks to MAINGEAR for speeding up everything for us. Check out the VYBE line that’s making up the core of Matt’s new studio -- and use code CREATE for a free additional year of warranty on desktops: https://maingear.com/ref/656/ Join Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecreateunknown We’re divining into this episode on MLB Opening Day, and Kevin kicks off the 2026 season by reflecting on his long-standing connection to baseball, recounting a quiet summer in 2004 when watching the Red Sox became much more than just entertainment. He also drops some knowledge on what makes baseball fans so unique. That takes us into a tribute to legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, whose unique emphasis on storytelling blurred the line between commentary and narrative. But we find out that Scully may have just tapped into something that had always been there from the start as we pick apart the ways that baseball lends itself particularly well to storytelling. From there, we pivot briefly to the legacy of Paul Ehrlich before landing on a broader frustration with creative advice. Kevin questions the usefulness of half-baked questions like “where do you get your ideas?” That leads us to an actually valuable question: if everyone’s workflow is different, does any advice even matter? We also wonder… why do so many people seem drawn to the idea of being creative more than the act itself? Are routines helpful tools or just aesthetic rituals? And when does a hobby quietly shift into something more serious? Kevin also explores the tension between making things for yourself versus making things that actually reach people. We reflect on his character “Jerry Bloop” and how Fred Seibert’s blunt yet accurate advice changed the way Kevin viewed creating forever. That advice leaves us with some larger questions: are most creatives building businesses or just jobs that depend entirely on them? What happens when the work stops the moment they do? We close things out by putting our foot down and challenging two pieces of common creative advice. That leaves us asking ourselves – is ignoring feedback actually protective or just avoidance? And if turning something you love into work risks draining it of meaning… what are you supposed to follow instead? Big thanks to our patrons, we’ll be back next week! You love anime. You love tea. Get 10% off your order with code CREATE at The Dragon's Treasure: https://www.thedragonstreasure.com/ Buy our T-shirts: https://www.thecreateunknown.com/store/ Join our Discord to talk with artists, creators, and fans of the finer things in online life: discord.gg/vnRnr3rCzt Apple: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownApple Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheCreateUnknownGooglePodcasts CREDITS: Hosts: Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor Executive Producer: Ben Webster Editor: Spencer Vann "Created in the Unknown" theme by Basswaite: https://linktr.ee/Basswaite Theme by Mega Drive → http://megadrivemusic.com Opening Animation: Kidmograph City Animation: Eric Langlay "The Create Unknown" is produced by Unknown Media. CONNECT WITH US: » Chat with us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/qAQV3Jw » Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/createunknown » Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/thecreateunknown » Follow us on FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/thecreateunknown » View our website: https://thecreateunknown.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices