November 20, 2025 • 51 mins
What does it actually take to Get After It when your "it" is creative passion? That's what I dug into with this episode's guest, Knives Monroe.
Knives is a creative director and filmmaker who has one of the most powerful stories I've ever heard. We’re talking about a journey that goes from being introduced to film by his mom—realizing "Oh sh*t, I’m a filmmaker"—to the brutal reality of being homeless after finishing his first feature film.
We talk about the fear of putting your work out there and the concept he calls "creative poverty"—the struggle many artists face trying to monetize their skills.
If you’re sitting on an idea waiting for it to be perfect, this conversation is your sign.
Check Out Knives work: https://www.knivesmonroe.com/
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Website: Keepgettingafterit.com
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I hope today’s episode sparked something within you to pursue your dreams and unlock your true potential. If you found value in it, consider sharing it with someone who might need that same push.
Getting After It is for those who. want to silence their self-doubt. Refuse to be owned by comfort. Understand their limits are man-made and breakable. We live in a time of constant comparison. Social media drowns us in highlight reels and overnight success stories. But what most people don’t see is the grit behind it all. The reps. The quiet mornings. The sacrifices. The failures.
You are just getting started. Keep Getting After It.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Can you introduce yourself as some as if someone
were introducing you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
Oh yeah, brother.
Thanks for that.
I've never been asked for thatbefore.
Um, this is Kives Monroe.
He's a creative director,filmmaker, entrepreneur,
podcaster, YouTuber, jack of alltrades, master of none.
Um, you know, 13, 14 years ago,he was homeless on the streets
living in Austin, Texas, youknow, fresh off the cusp of his
first feature-length film.
(00:26):
Went from the highest high tothe lowest low.
And now he's gets to be a partof the Getting After It podcast.
And, you know, so much hashappened in between that time,
going from aspiring to amateur,from amateur to pro, and here he
is.
Without any further ado, this isNives Monroe.
That was amazing.
SPEAKER_02 (00:46):
That was awesome.
That's the first time.
That's how I would like it.
That's how I would like it tobe.
There's a lot that you said inthere though that we're gonna
have to chat about.
But yeah, thanks for doing that.
Um, and that's one reason likeI've really enjoyed your content
and watching what you talk abouton just on the internet is you
know, being creative and takingchances on yourself and all the
(01:11):
things that you've already done.
Being a storyteller is somethingthat is really important to me,
and it seems like it is to youas well.
And I'm curious when that began,that that time where you know
you decided to tell stories.
Um, and I might already know theanswer.
I watched you know part of youryour documentary or your your
(01:31):
course online that you put out,just being like, hey, this is a
a 90-minute no interruptions ofyou know really how I got to
this point, which again I Ilove.
But um, I'm curious when thatthat point started, when you're
like, you know what, I was madeto tell stories.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Yeah, thank you for asking that's such a great
question.
And I never get tired of talkingabout it because there's so much
value in the come up and theorigin story when it comes to
storytelling.
You know, it's really cool whenwe look at like the Steve Jobs
and the Jocko Willinks and youknow, these entrepreneurs, the
Elon Musks.
It's really cool to see wherethey're at, but I'd like to know
(02:07):
where they started, like back inthe garage, right?
Like that's really cool to me.
And so I really appreciate theopportunity to answer that.
Um, out the box, I was a weirdo,you know, um, never never fit
in.
Um, was like the black sheepamongst my family, typical
artist story.
Um, and I had a really cool mom,you know, she worked all the
(02:30):
time, but the way she look atlooked after me was by renting
movies for me.
And so I grew up on film, thatwas like my first language.
Uh, my first memory is watchinga movie, in fact, Raising
Arizona by the Cohen Brothers.
I think it came out like '87.
And that was my first memory.
Yeah, I like came to life inlike watching that movie when I
(02:50):
was like two or three orsomething.
And um, long story short, my momrented me Kill Bill Volume 1 on
VHS in 2004.
And I watched it, I'm about 45seconds in.
And spoiler alert for Kill Bill,um, there's a scene, it starts
off, you know, it's black andwhite, it's the bride, she's on
(03:10):
her back.
Bill puts a bullet in her head,and right before she gets shot
in the head, she says, Bill,it's your baby, and then boom,
cut to a title card.
The fourth film by QuentinTarantino.
And in that moment, I get chillsevery time I talk about it.
It never fails.
I mean, I I got goosebumps rightnow.
In that moment, I realize, ohshit, I'm a filmmaker.
(03:30):
That's why I'm the way that Iam.
That's why I've never fit in,and that's why you know the
environment just didn't reallywork for me.
Uh in South Texas in 2004, itwas much different climate than
it than it is now.
Now everyone's a filmmaker,everyone, everyone's got a
phone, and it's it's reallycool.
But uh, that was my come toJesus moment.
Oh shit, I'm a filmmaker.
(03:52):
Can we curse on this?
I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (03:54):
Yeah, no, you you totally can.
SPEAKER_00 (03:56):
Oh, okay.
I don't want to give you morework to bleep to bleep things,
but um yeah, that that that wasmy come to Jesus moment, and uh
the first thing I ever did wasmake a movie.
You know, uh some people startthey do commercials, they do
music videos, they do shortfilms, they document a wedding.
But the first thing I ever didwas a three-hour feature film,
(04:18):
and uh I didn't know any better.
Yeah, it's on YouTube, it's onmy website, it's called Her
Doppelganger.
It's not very good, but it'svery passionate.
You know, uh it was made on thebudget of hot dogs and
handshakes.
And that's awesome.
Movies was all I wanted to make,and all I wanted to do.
I I just didn't know howimpossible it was until somebody
told me, yeah, it's it's it'sreally difficult.
(04:39):
And I was like, oh, I guess itis.
Um, but filmmaking has been myfirst love, and um I'm just
getting back into it because youknow, we I don't want to jump
ahead too far, but uh, I justcame back from this world of
like online social media,creative direction, and it took
me away from my dream and itpaid the bills, and that's
(05:00):
really cool.
And it's still storytelling, youknow.
But uh I want to get back intomy roots a little bit, and so
you'll be seeing me talk alittle bit more about that, I
think, in the future online.
SPEAKER_02 (05:09):
I love that.
And um, that's another thingthat I like that's a great
origin story, by the way.
Like quit any movie by QuentinTarantino, I I love I love that
guy.
He's such a great storyteller,and the movies that he does are
always like that beginning sceneto kill Bill where the bride
gets shot, you know, it's likehe's not afraid to like startle
(05:32):
the audience and and really putthings out there that people
were a lot of the times.
I mean, he was groundbreaking asa director, but um I can see how
that would really shift yourfocus to be like, you know what,
this is what I want to do.
And making movies, um that's athat's a thing that I grew up
doing.
None of them were great, likethey were all just stupid skits,
(05:54):
but there's something about itto where it's like you know,
we're all here trying to tell aa story, even if it's like a a
dumb story with me and mybuddies, you know, in junior
high school doing somethingstupid, but um, it's it's all
about storytelling and gettingthat message out there.
And uh one thing that I reallylike about what you talk about
(06:14):
is the fact that you're alwayspushing people to publish the
ugly draft.
Like, don't worry about it.
And um I'd love for you to talkabout that.
And I I don't know, is is thatwhat you call creative poverty,
or um that's a whole differentthing, correct?
SPEAKER_00 (06:30):
Creative poverty to me is you know, they call this
the not the creative middleclass, the creative economy,
right?
That's what they call the modernmeta of creativity and and the
gig economy.
Creative poverty to me is thereare so many people who just
haven't made one dollar in thisbusiness, and I want to get
people to be able to make aliving um with their fancy
(06:53):
storytelling skills or what haveyou.
Like, I believe if you have themoney to afford a mirrorless
camera, you should be able tomake money, you know, paying
your rent with that mirrorlesscamera.
Like, I really I really believethat.
Um, so that's creative poverty.
Um, but as far as shippingcontent online, yeah, I call
that shit posting, you know?
(07:14):
Like, yeah, yeah.
Get out of your head and startcreating things.
That's a big mantra for me.
Um, and I practice what Ipreach.
I I didn't post anything for 10months this year, and a bunch of
cool things happened.
Like I went to China, got to seethe Great Wall, and I did it for
work.
So filmed this really epic onehour feature um in China for
(07:36):
this e-commerce company whorecently breaking news.
I haven't said this publicly, soit's on your podcast for the
first time.
Who recently laid me off?
They fired me.
They fired me.
And uh for no for no reason, forno good reason, other than just
the economics weren't there.
I guess I was too expensive.
And um, but I got to do a lot ofcool shit.
And so in these past two weeksof being laid off, that's
(07:57):
probably why you've been seeingmore of me.
And I've been practicing what Ipreach.
I've been shit posting, youknow.
Every thought that comes into myhead, I I post it online,
whether if it's a thread, aTikTok, a LinkedIn post, um, a
newsletter, you know, subscribeto my Substack, good content at
Knives Monroe.
Um, whatever it is, like I gotto post online.
I have something to say.
(08:18):
And I believe if you don't sayanything, you're invisible
online.
And that is like really scaryfor me, being invisible as
someone who has this, you know,who likes to look at himself as
like a bright color and wants tostand out and express himself.
If I'm not visible, that'sscary, right?
So you have to post online, andand so it's a good exercise.
(08:40):
I created an ebook, it's it's onmy website for free.
I feel like I'm plugging.
I'm sorry for being such awhore.
SPEAKER_02 (08:45):
That's okay.
No, I'll put all this stuff inthere too, so people can click
it.
Like, I want it's the samething, you know.
It's it's it's what you'resaying about like how you want
artists to get paid.
It's like I want people to sharetheir stories and talk about
what they're excited about.
And I'm sure there's someonelistening to this that's like, I
probably need to shit post more.
Like, I I have all these ideas,but I'm afraid to put them out
there.
And it's like, you know,sometimes you just have to
(09:06):
overcome that fear.
SPEAKER_00 (09:07):
And um, precisely.
If someone's listening and theyhave that issue of how do I get
out of my head and just startmaking stuff, I don't know what
to post.
I have a free ebook online,knivesandrow.com.
It's on the home page, and it'scalled The Art of Shitposting.
And I think it can help you getout of your head.
There's some good creativepractices in there.
Like one thing is you know, goon your camera roll.
(09:28):
I have like 13,000 photos andvideos on my camera roll from
like 2017 and on, and just makea make a carousel on LinkedIn
and write a little essay, andlike that could get engagement
and that could just get you intoflow, right?
Get you out of stasis, out ofthis entropy of not making
stuff.
And all we need is momentum.
Like when people are afraid tostart, what they what they
(09:49):
really want is momentum, theywant to be on third base, they
want to get out of the dugout.
That's what they that's whatthey mean.
So, yeah, totally, man.
I'm all about that.
SPEAKER_02 (09:58):
Yeah, and and that's a hard thing too, is like
gaining that momentum takes awhile, but once you start, it's
it's much easier to maintain it.
I've noticed, at least withmyself.
And the things that I do withyou know podcasting, and there's
been times where I've let itslide for a couple months and I
haven't recorded anything, andit's so much harder just to get
(10:19):
back on track and be like, okay,I gotta build this back up to
where it was.
And it's just staying consistentis a is a difficult thing, but
it's much easier when you havethat momentum.
Once you once how many episodeshave you recorded, sir?
Uh, this is 166.
SPEAKER_00 (10:34):
So you know, yeah, 90 95% of podcasts don't make it
past episode three.
SPEAKER_02 (10:40):
I think I heard a stat around like something crazy
like that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:43):
Yeah.
So, dude, you are in theminority of the minority of the
minority.
I'm so proud of you.
That's a tremendous number.
Like, that is great.
What a what an accomplishment,you know what I mean?
So you've overcome that hurdleso many times.
Like, it's it's difficult to dothis, you know.
I I've produced podcasts forother people, and I have my own,
and it is, it's like it's it'stough.
(11:04):
It's art, it's work, you know.
And then you know, your youryour podcast is so awesome.
Like you do the research, youknow, um, you don't just wing it
and the value is there, and thattakes time, you know, and it's
it's such a fruitless endeavoruntil like it pays off, you
know, on a long enough timeline.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:21):
Yeah, well, I appreciate that.
It it definitely hasn't paid offyet, but honestly, like I've
told so many people this.
Um, I would do it for free, justbecause I I love these
opportunities just to be able tosit down and and hear people
share their stories, you know,like where they came from, what
excites them and and how theystay motivated when times get
tough.
(11:41):
Um you know, I I've realizedthat I'm just one person, and
some things that I say will notresonate with others um the way
that another person can say it,or through their experiences.
Um and so in a way, that is likekind of my art is like how can I
find these people to really geta message out there that's you
know beautifully set and wellput and hopefully inspires them
(12:05):
to take action in their ownlives.
Um like that's what gettingafter it's all about.
So I love your mission.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
It's been a journey.
I'm all I'm all about it.
I love it, I support it.
SPEAKER_02 (12:13):
Yeah, it's uh it's been three three and a half
years in the making, so we'restill going strong.
But um yeah, I mean that's onething like I think everyone who
creates content in any way, youknow, it could be blogs, uh
social media, it could bemovies, music, anything, uh
(12:34):
there are low periods, and thoseare pretty difficult.
I've I've been through a fewmyself, but you know, you've
been doing this for 20 years, Ithink, right?
Um so I'm sure you know you'vealso experienced some of those
low times as well.
Um and you kind of talked alittle bit about it in the
beginning, you know, with yourintroduction of going you know
(12:57):
homeless after you know havingthe highest of highs and lowest
of lows.
Um maybe if you don't mindsharing a little bit more about
that time of your life, likewhat it was like from going to
the top to where you felt likeyou know, pretty close to the
bottom.
SPEAKER_00 (13:13):
Yeah, absolutely.
I I I don't respect anybodythat's never hit rock bottom,
first of all.
I think everybody should hitrock bottom at least once or
twice in their life.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Yeah, you gotta go through it at least a couple
times.
SPEAKER_00 (13:24):
Yeah, you know, I I I by no means was a Nepo baby,
but you know, I I did grow upwith a single mom, didn't have a
father in the house, could haveused one, uh, didn't have that
extra income or anything.
My mom wore the pants uh and shewore the hat of mom and dad.
And so she was able to get usout of the ghetto, out of the
streets, get us uh into a house,a red brick house, and that was
(13:48):
awesome.
It was like the nicest house onthe block.
So I always felt like uh spoiledor something, like I didn't
deserve that.
And so after making my movie, Iwas like, I gotta go make it on
my own.
Like, thanks, mom, you took meas far as I can go because uh
she wanted to kick me out thethe the year leading up to that
film because she would wake upat six in the morning and see me
(14:11):
writing the script uh in thekitchen.
I was living with her, I waslike 23 at the 23 at the time.
So she'd wake up at six in themorning and I was I was writing
from the night before, and thenshe'd go to work, come back at
six p.m.
and I'm still writing.
And she's she's just like, Youhaven't moved, like what you're
pathetic.
You know, she would tell meyou're useless, like go get a
job, you're a fucking bum.
And I said, Mother, um, I swearto you, I said this.
(14:33):
I was like, just give me a year,let me make this picture, let me
make this movie, and then um youdon't have to worry about
supporting me.
Like, I'll do my own thing.
Um, she said, Okay, I'll I'llgive you a year.
That was 2012.
Made the movie and uh decided tomove to Austin.
It was the closest, furthestplace I can move to that was
like away from my sphere ofinfluence and my circle and my
(14:56):
network and everybody, family,friends, everybody.
Um there's a a short formdocumentary called Six Weeks on
Sixth Street.
Have you ever visited Austin?
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
I've been to Austin once, yeah.
But it was for business, so Ididn't Did you go downtown?
I I was staying downtown, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (15:14):
Okay, so that's where I slept on a fire escape
for six weeks.
And I made a short formdocumentary about it.
It's um it's on my website, it'scalled Six Weeks on Sixth
Street, very proud of it.
And I did vow to never talkabout this story ever again, but
that was just like a hook, youknow.
Um, so I love talking about it.
It's it's cool.
Um, but spent six weeks on thestreets until I got a job at
Walmart.
(15:35):
And um, dude, one week in beinghomeless, like I was like, this
fucking sucks, you know.
Yeah, um, I I went fromliterally my movie premiere, 36
hours later, I'm on the streets,you know.
SPEAKER_02 (15:46):
That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00 (15:47):
It was the highest of high to the lowest of lows.
And I did it to myself becauseonce again, I I wanted to I I
think you know, thank you, mom,for helping me and putting me on
third base.
I felt, you know, um, but Igotta go make it on my own.
And so I did.
And um there's been ups anddowns in between then, but what
I didn't know was okay, you madea movie, so what?
(16:10):
So what?
Like go put that on your resume,go get a job.
Like, there's what's the nextthing?
SPEAKER_01 (16:15):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (16:16):
And so I I that was the biggest depression of my
life in 2012, 2013 was that comedown and starting from scratch
in a in a town where I knewnobody, had no friends.
It was really tough.
You know, I I pride myself innot drinking, not smoking, not
doing drugs.
I drank for the first time, youknow, um, in my apartment alone.
(16:36):
Like I didn't know what to dowith myself.
I was like, what am I doinghere?
Yeah, um, it was so depressing.
I could you don't even want toknow.
I mean, it was dark.
You know, long story short, I Imet I met my my uh my now wife,
and um we started a family.
I had no business having kids,but you know, we we really
wanted the family together, anduh, she already had a son, a
(16:58):
seven-year-old, and I I wantedto be his in his life and be his
father, and so I wanted tocreate a child of my own so we
could all be a happy familyunit.
I went, you know, one yearlater, um, from being homeless,
we had a kid, like it's justextreme, bro.
Like, I should probably I shouldprobably say this as TMI, but
it's a podcast.
(17:19):
Um I have bipolar disorder, sothere's a lot of ups and downs
in my life, and my career and mycreativity, like it all reflects
that.
There's peaks and valleys, youknow, like you mentioned, there
are highs and lows, and youknow, um, there's certainly been
many in my career that informedthe creativity, but also you
(17:39):
know, hurt it as well, harm it.
And uh, but starting a familywas uh was definitely a peak,
you know.
I just had no money and we wereon food stamps, section eight
housing.
It was it was really difficult,you know, to to build that up.
And um I and then you know, aswe're on food stamps, we move
out, you know, we're trying toget better, trying to grow.
(18:01):
I'm working two jobs, whatever.
Um I made another movie, anotherfeature film, and uh that cost
eight grand.
And once again, have a child.
Where the fuck do I come up withthat money?
You know, I come up with thatmoney to make that movie.
It's just like you're you know,making movies is just like
giving birth to the impossible.
Um that was dramatic, that wascrazy.
(18:26):
Another depression came, anotherhigh goes to another low.
All that just to say, man, andthis is I really want to
highlight this.
Um, swinging from vine to vine,and then I met Dakota Meyer.
And that guy That's how I knowyou.
Yeah, that's how we met.
And um that guy put me on, man,and gave me the opportunity of a
(18:46):
lifetime to follow him anddocument his life and his
career, and we we told storiesfor two years.
I I look at my career with him,uh, not that I've ever served in
the military, but I have not,but it I look at it as two
tours.
Like my first tour with him was2017 to 2019, and my second tour
with him was in 2023.
We did a podcast together calledYou're Human.
(19:06):
It lasted like maybe I don'tremember, 40 episodes or so.
It was a fun time, and uh it wascool to like bring the band back
together.
He's just like you know, whatthe greatest asset in my life
and uh the hugest mentor I'veever had, and just a phenomenal
person.
But uh, I thought I was hotshit, Brett.
Like I thought I was really goodand cool and confident, and then
(19:31):
I met that guy and I realized Ididn't know shit.
SPEAKER_02 (19:34):
That's kind of how I felt when I met him too.
I was like, man.
And I I think at the time when Imet him, I was like 22, 20, 22,
23 years old.
And um, this is still somethingthat like so embarrassing to me.
But like one of the firstquestions I asked him was like,
what was it like to be incombat?
And I was like, as soon as thewords left my mouth, I was like,
I wish I could take him back.
(19:54):
That was just oh man, but no,that's okay.
Yeah, truly an inspirationalman.
Like he truly um and yeah, maybeyou can talk more about like how
he found you and and what thatwas like working with him in the
beginning.
Um, because it sounds like itwas kind of a pivotal moment for
you.
It was.
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Yeah, um, he him and his team put out a tweet saying
we're looking for a D-Rock.
Are you familiar with that term?
SPEAKER_02 (20:22):
No, but it sounds really cool.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
Yeah, a D-Rock is short for it's uh a synonym, I
suppose, for uh for David Rock,who is a videographer.
Uh they used to call they usedto call him Predators, a
producer, editor, director.
And uh he he worked for GaryVaynerchuk, and so he documented
Gary V's personal brand, and sothey put out a tweet saying,
(20:44):
Hey, we're looking for our own DRock.
And I responded, and I wasworking at the sales job at the
time, doing whatever I could tosurvive.
And I said, I'll be yourHuckleberry, right?
And so we met, and um I thoughtI blew the interview, like I
thought I fucking blew it.
First of all, I was late, Imissed the bus.
Um, I had to run to like thenext bus stop, and I think I
(21:05):
showed up sweating and like 20minutes late at this barbecue
joint in Austin, which sounds socliche, but it's true.
And um I I just was radicallytransparent with him, and I told
him, Look, man, here's what Icould do for you.
I can blow up your brand, butlike as far as sales go, like if
you're looking for a sales guy,hire a sales guy.
Like, I'm here to tell storiesand uh market your brand and
(21:29):
just get you some awareness.
That's all I can do.
And uh he gave me he gave me aride home the first day I ever
met him.
I'm a fucking stranger, hedoesn't know who I am.
He's meeting this kid.
Who the fuck is Knives Monroe?
Like, is that your real name?
What is this?
And he drove he drove me home,which was like a 40-minute
drive.
And um took me like three hoursto get there from the bus.
I took a day off from work tomeet him.
(21:50):
Like, it was just like mayhem,all hope broke loose.
And um, you know, he I think hemade me an offer later that
evening.
He was like, What do you need tosurvive?
And I said, I need this amountof money.
And he said, Okay, I'll pay youa little bit more than that.
And uh, when can you start?
And I was like, I can starttomorrow.
And on my website as well is myfirst video I ever made for him.
(22:12):
We shot it at Onit in Austin,Texas, Joe Rogan's joint, Mark
Aubrey Marcus.
I don't know if they're still incahoots or what, but um Yeah, I
think I well, I know on it'sstill around.
SPEAKER_02 (22:22):
I don't know who runs that thing now.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah, neither do I, but uh okay, good.
We shot it there, it's dated,it's timestamped, and um first
thing I ever shot for him, Ihave the biggest chip on my
shoulder.
I borrowed a camera.
I didn't even have own a camera,you know, because I was broke
beyond broke.
Yeah, and and so we we toldstories.
I created a podcast for him, Icreated a daily vlog for him,
which was the meta at the timein 2017.
(22:47):
I got to meet all kinds of coolpeople.
I don't want to name drop, but Idid get to meet Jocko Willink,
who's you know, it uh see this?
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_02 (22:56):
I got good tattooed on my bicep because of that guy.
SPEAKER_00 (22:58):
Have you ever met him?
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
Um, I went to his muster, and so I met him for
maybe like five minutes inpassing, but that's who he's my
Mount Rushmore of podcastguests.
He's he's number one.
So you'll get him.
SPEAKER_00 (23:14):
You'll get him.
Just stay the course, you'll gethim.
I promise you.
I vow to you.
You you will.
First time I met him, I believeit.
We were at the uh San Diegoairport, and uh he knows that
I'm following Dakota.
He shakes my hand.
You know, he's like the thingfrom the Fantastic Four, right?
In the flesh.
Absolutely.
Shakes my hand, it's like thecrustiest, rockiest like hand
(23:36):
you could possibly imagine.
And uh he he picks up my bag,puts it in the car, and looks me
in the eyes, greets me like I'ma human being.
It's like, what?
You know, they say don't meetyour heroes.
Jocko Willink is everything youimagine him to be, you know, for
sure.
He's the man's awesome to hear.
I love it.
Yeah, we we we recorded apodcast together, it's somewhere
(23:57):
on Dakota Myers YouTube channel.
And so being able to sit acrossfrom him in that room, in that
OG room, um, and record with himwas epic.
And then uh Dakota and himrecorded like a four-hour pod.
And being in the room I think Iremember that one.
SPEAKER_02 (24:11):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a lot of people.
SPEAKER_00 (24:12):
It's a legendary one.
It's a legendary one.
Being in that room was earthshattering, um, just so cool,
you know.
So you got got to meet all kindsof cool people.
I I like to think that when Imade my feature film, oh, that's
when I was a professional.
No, it wasn't until I startedshipping content with Dakota
that I really become aprofessional because then I
could pay my bills with what Irefer to as art money, you know.
(24:35):
Like I was using art to pay mybills to cash, you know, I was
cashing checks.
Like that was being aprofessional for me.
So uh yeah, I've been doing thisfor 20 years, but pro about
eight or nine, you know.
So that's awesome.
Meeting him was a life-changingevent, and I got to meet you and
uh your partner at the time, anduh it was it's just you know,
(24:56):
it's it's it's a gift that keepson giving.
It's it's totally a blessing.
And I I talked to Dakota about amonth or month and a half ago
just to give him some good news.
I I called my mother to give hersome good news, she didn't
answer.
I call my brother, Jeremy, toand he doesn't answer.
I called Dakota, picks up on thefirst ring, hadn't talked to him
(25:17):
in like in a year and a half,maybe two.
And uh he couldn't be happierfor me.
And it's just like, dude, likesome of these guys are who they
say they are, and it justinspires me.
And every ounce of leadershipknowledge that I have is because
you know, working with theseguys.
SPEAKER_02 (25:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, I I I can say the samefor myself, and I've I've barely
spent time with them.
It's just like the things thatthey teach and they they talk
about it's all you know aboutdiscipline, leading by example,
um, owning up to your faultswhen when things happen.
Uh it's just being a goodperson, really, when it comes
down to it.
It's like they're teaching youhow to be a good person.
(25:56):
And you know, I think a lot ofpeople look at them as very
intense.
Um, but in some like they had tobe for the the reason like to
protect and serve the country.
Um, so I mean, that makes somuch sense.
And uh what a cool story.
So that that finally got you offthe ground and um sounds like
opened up a lot moreopportunities.
SPEAKER_00 (26:17):
Um validated me, you know.
An artist needs validation, youknow, someone to believe in you.
Uh it uh that's all we needsometimes is just somebody to
buy your stock, you know.
It gives you it puts some air inyour wings.
SPEAKER_02 (26:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
And I love that.
It's like, hey, um, my wife andI we have this phrase that we
say all the time.
It's like be your own biggestcheerleader and be everyone
else's too.
Like cheer yourself on whenyou're going through the hard
moments, and when someone elsehas success, like there's enough
to go around.
Like be excited for them, behappy for them.
(26:54):
Um, I don't know.
I just think with like socialmedia and stuff, there's not
that like people kind of comparethemselves to others all the
time and removes that humanpiece a lot of the times.
It's like, hey, listen, we'reall here together.
It's let's make the most of itkind of thing.
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
That's such an abundant mindset.
I love that.
Tell your wife that knivesMonroe approves.
That's a great one.
SPEAKER_02 (27:14):
I will.
Yeah, no, she's she's helped mea lot with that kind of stuff,
but uh brilliant.
I want to kind of ask about yourcreative process.
Uh let's get into it.
Something that's like everyonehas a different process for how
they decide to create, how theybrainstorm, how they think about
things.
Um, but I would love to hear,like, you know, from you get a
(27:35):
concept of an idea for a movie,and then what it's like to
actually go through, sit down,and and plan that out, because I
don't think people understandhow difficult it is to make
something like that.
SPEAKER_00 (27:44):
Yeah, I just had this conversation.
I met with the screenwritertoday, we had some coffee, and I
was telling I said something tohim I'd never said before, which
was like, I think filmmaking iseasy, you know.
I think you know, we can bereally romantic and
self-aggrandizing as afilmmaker.
We're so pretentious about theprocess and coordinating
people's calendars and schedulesand getting locations and set
(28:07):
decks and wardrobe and makeupand hair, and it's just so
overwhelming.
It's so much, especially at anindie level.
Dude, it's a miracle.
Like it is the funnest job.
We're playing make-believe.
Like, you know, the kids saynowadays it's not that serious.
It's not, it's playtime, it'splaytime, you know.
And then um, is it expensive?
Hell yeah, it's expensive, youknow, for sure.
(28:28):
It costs money, but um,screenwriting is just like the
biggest joy.
It all starts on the page, youknow.
Um you talk about creativeprocess.
I've only ridden screenplayswhere the whole story hits me at
once, the whole thing.
Every character, their siblings,what they wear, like minute
(28:49):
details.
Um, if a germ gets you likethat, you gotta make it.
Like you just because ideasdon't come fully formed like
that.
You're lucky if you get acharacter name, the title of the
picture, um, maybe the car thatthey drive, or maybe the plot,
right?
Like let me ask you a question.
Like, what's one of yourfavorite movies?
(29:10):
Ooh.
SPEAKER_02 (29:11):
Um that's a great question.
I mean, this might be a badanswer, but I love no such
thing.
The I love the dark night.
SPEAKER_00 (29:18):
That's what I knew you were gonna say that.
I knew you were gonna say that.
SPEAKER_02 (29:22):
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (29:22):
So what's what yeah, I did.
So what what is the dark nightabout?
SPEAKER_02 (29:25):
Good and evil, really.
SPEAKER_00 (29:27):
Good and evil.
You said it.
So when the the best stories arethe ones where you can tell me
what it's about in a soundbitelike that.
You know, when you ask somebodywhat's it about, they'll say,
Well, there's this, you know, avigilante guy, and there's uh a
district attorney guy, andthere's a bad, evil clown guy,
and you know, it's about thedynamics between you know
(29:48):
politics and like moral justice.
It's like, no, dude, you'retelling me what the movie is.
Like, I'm asking you what it'sabout.
And you said good, good andevil.
That's what it's about.
You know, and when you can sendsynthesize.
A story like that, you gotsomething, right?
And I think that's why thatmovie was so successful and made
so much money, and it's stilltalked about almost 20 years
later, and it just endured inthe in pop culture and in the
(30:10):
zeitgeist.
It's just we still talk about itto this day.
Every time you put it on, it'slike it's just a it captivates
you, it's arresting.
Um, that is the goal of everystoryteller.
You know, how do we do that?
And so when a when a story comesat you fully formed, you you you
owe it to yourself to to tellit.
And so it starts on the page.
(30:32):
Uh, I'm in the middle of writingsomething right now.
I have the first act complete.
I I've written the beat sheetand the story structure of the
second and third act of thewhole thing.
It's essentially um sevensamurai told in a modern world.
Seven samurai is like a 1950sfilm from Akira Kurosara.
Another modern example of thatsort of template is like a bug's
(30:55):
life, you know, where it's likeyou have these characters who
need to recruit, you know,stronger people to fight the bad
guys.
Like it's a very simple kind ofstory like that.
And um, it's called the PlagueDogs, and I I cannot wait to
make it.
I'm gonna make it.
I'll film it on a phone if Ihave to.
But um, once you have thescript, the document, the
(31:16):
blueprint, then you can attractthe hair and makeup, the
locations, the actors, thecinematographers, the editors.
If they really believe in thepicture, they'll work at a
discount, you know.
Like, yeah, I believe in payingpeople for sure.
You gotta pay actors, you know.
I I pay them up front.
I pay it's like evil can evil,like before they do the stunt.
(31:37):
Like, I'm gonna pay you beforeyou do the stunt, brother.
You know?
Yeah, yeah.
Um, but once they believe in thepage, you have that buy-in, they
understand the tone.
Dude, the rest is just playtime.
The rest is just make-believe,it's just fun, you know, and and
that's a that's a movie.
And then there's a creativeprocess for like social media
campaigns and you know, how doyou sell a product?
(31:59):
And you know, there's marketing,and the that is a different
creative process, it's waydifferent.
Still uh have you know has a lotto do with intention and
results.
Like, what is the outcome thatwe want here?
It's different versus art,commerce and art, you know, uh
it's different processes, butthere's an overlap.
SPEAKER_02 (32:18):
Yeah.
No, I I I love that you saidthat.
You know, it's it's um like yousaid, it's it's the it's the
content that people really careabout.
Like obviously what's on thepage is going to dictate, you
know, how the story is told andand who you get involved to tell
that story.
Um, and it's it's something thatI think about a lot with you
(32:38):
know my podcast.
And um, I journal a lot.
And so like I write down just myown thoughts and certain things
I'm thinking about.
And a lot of the times it's notpretty, but um, it helps me
understand like how I'mthinking.
Uh, especially when I'm doingyou know research for guests or
if I'm diving into a topic onlike a solo episode, I want to
make sure that the content thatI have is is relevant and
(33:01):
actionable for the audience.
And um, you know, that'sprobably one of the reasons I've
been able to keep this going solong, is just because I have you
know my own creative processwhen I when I do this.
And um it's it's gonna soundweird, but yeah, it doesn't feel
like work.
It feels like play because it'sjust me like you know, thinking
about okay, well, how can I howcan I tell this principle of you
(33:23):
know stoicism in a way thatpeople will get interested and
and excited to learn about it?
Um absolutely just like thingslike that for me for me uh
really work, but yeah, I thinkhaving a creative process is
it's crucial.
Like you have to figure out howyou work and you have to figure
out how your brain works, um,especially when we talk about
(33:44):
being creative, because that's ahard thing.
It's a really hard thing.
SPEAKER_00 (33:48):
It comes naturally, so I I forget how difficult it
can be sometimes, you know, butyou're right.
You gotta have standardoperating procedures and you
gotta have systems in place soyou can do repeatable creativity
for sure.
SPEAKER_02 (34:02):
Yeah.
Yeah, and I um I've beenthinking about this a lot and
been throwing this idea aroundwith with like my brother and my
wife, just like getting somefeedback on it.
Um but I've been getting intoultra running, so you know,
running uh anything over amarathon is considered an ultra
marathon.
And my brother and I are doing a50 miler next uh April in
(34:27):
Sedona.
And that whole time, like I Iwant to document really as much
as I can and try and tell thestory of like I think people
look at ultra running andthey're like, you know, you're
going far, but they don't seelike actually the the
difficulties within the race.
Um and that's kind of what Iwant to have the it focus on is
like let's go all the the painand everything that that we're
(34:50):
gonna be going through and yeah,telling that story, being like,
you know, this is this wasn't achallenge, but yeah, here's what
happened in the end, and it'snot gonna be pretty.
Like, I'm sure there's gonna betimes when we're you know
swearing and and yelling andsaying all kinds of things, but
that's part of it too, is likeyou know, being raw and real.
SPEAKER_00 (35:09):
Um how exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (35:11):
Yeah, so let's talk.
SPEAKER_00 (35:13):
Can we can we talk about that for a little bit?
SPEAKER_02 (35:15):
I'd love to, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (35:17):
Okay, so do you have and this is the creative
director in me, so sorry.
Um, but do you have like um youknow content and pillars and
like do you have the channelsand what you want to do?
And do you have all that inplace?
I'm curious.
Um I mean of course you do, butI I just want to know.
SPEAKER_02 (35:36):
Yeah, I mean like channels and we have or I'm I'm
on YouTube, um uh TikTok,Instagram, like those kind of
things.
Uh so long form, probably not onTikTok and Instagram, but
YouTube would probably be theone.
And then I have a website aswell.
SPEAKER_00 (35:51):
So you follow you follow Nick Bear?
SPEAKER_02 (35:54):
Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_00 (35:55):
Okay, so I I really like his approach to his his
process.
I you know, I I can't believehow good and compelling, not
just of a storyteller he is, butas a content creator he is.
You know, like like he makes itlook so easy.
Now, I'm sure he's not editingthe videos, you know.
He has a team that does that,I'm sure, but he's filming them,
(36:17):
you know, and that takes so muchthat that's a full-time job in
and of itself.
Um, so take a page out of hisbook and just tell those long
form stories, dude.
You don't even need toover-edit.
Like the meta right now rewards40-minute stream of
consciousness bulk upload onYouTube.
Like that would crush.
If someone saw like your hourand a half like training,
(36:39):
whatever, or you're running sixmiles or 18 miles or whatever
your your training regimen is,um, to prepare for that.
Wow, people will show up forthat, dude.
You know, and just betransparent and radically honest
and be yourself and warts andall, and people are really gonna
connect with that.
And uh man, that's so exciting.
I I want to be a part of thatjourney.
(37:00):
I want to s I want to I want tosee it.
Um what's your YouTube channel?
SPEAKER_02 (37:04):
Um, it's just called the Getting After It Podcast, I
believe.
SPEAKER_00 (37:08):
So it's gonna be on there.
SPEAKER_02 (37:10):
Or getting after it is what it's called.
But yes, it'll be on there.
SPEAKER_00 (37:14):
Okay, I wasn't sure if uh you were going to promote
like your own personal brand oranything.
SPEAKER_02 (37:20):
I mean, getting after it is is the brand.
Like that's that's kind of whatit is, but um yeah, so I mean
definitely need some some ideasthere, but that Nick Bear, he
has this documentary.
Um I don't know if you heardabout the event they did in
Austin.
I don't think it was outsideAustin, but it's at their uh BPN
(37:41):
ranch, if you've ever heard ofthat.
SPEAKER_01 (37:43):
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_02 (37:44):
Um and they did like uh what's called a last man
standing race where they had agroup of people and just how
many times you can run a certainloop that they had.
Uh yeah.
Yeah, it went on for like twodays, and then like they had to
they had to stop it because ofstorms and all these things.
And um, he made like an hour, Ithink it was an hour and a half
(38:06):
documentary, and it's on YouTubejust about that, and it looks so
cinematic and um like yeah, he'she's got a great team and and
things going up, but yeah,mine's gonna be a lot more raw
and uh not as pretty.
But that's your advantage, yeah.
Yeah, and I always tell myself,you know, those guys started
somewhere too.
And this is just my my firststep, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (38:30):
Dude, that is so incredible, man.
Like one of my dreams is to runa marathon.
I really want to do that.
Uh, and I have all the excusesin the world why I haven't done
it.
But I've had this mental thoughtin my head of this is morbid,
but you know how it is.
Um, say I get the news that mydaughter, she's 11, she's uh she
(38:51):
has a life uh ending illness,God forbid, and uh there's no
cure.
But the cure is you have to runa marathon today, knives.
Could you do it?
Yeah, I would do it.
Probably take eight hours or sixhours or something, but I I
could do it.
I would I would do there I woulddo it right now with no
(39:13):
training.
So it's mental, as you know, andum mental is physical, blah blah
blah, but like it's just such afascinating, like I I just wanna
I wanna be at that finish line,you know.
And um I I would uh talkingabout Nick Bear.
I I did a podcast, I recorded ituh with Dakota and Nick Bear at
(39:35):
the Nick Bear at the BearPerformance Nutrition Place at
the time.
Yeah.
And uh there's a little minidoc.
Man, everything's on my websitetoday, but uh it's on the
website, uh, knivesmonroe.com,and you'll see a thumbnail of
Dakota, and the title of thevideo is If I don't do this, I
will quit everything.
And he talks about running amarathon.
(39:55):
He did uh a Marine Corpsmarathon, no training.
I think he ran four milesbefore, and he just he just you
know raw dogged it, got rhabdouh uh uh as a result, and uh
well he had rhabdo when we metyou.
Uh that's right.
That's why we split early, so itwas that era.
(40:17):
Uh little peek behind thecurtain for the listeners.
We we we got to meet Brett andum we were there for some
business and we had to splitearly.
Dakota just left in the middleof like a conversation to go to
the hospital.
SPEAKER_02 (40:30):
I know.
SPEAKER_00 (40:32):
Yeah, because he didn't know he had Rabdo until
he found out, but uh, and thenhe was like in a hospital bed
for like a week after that.
So he had to fly by.
SPEAKER_02 (40:40):
I remember, yeah, he was like all of a sudden, like
he went up to go to the bathroomand then he just disappeared.
SPEAKER_00 (40:44):
Never came back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:45):
And yeah, then we're like, where the heck is he?
And then he called you, and thenyeah, it was yeah, that was that
was it.
SPEAKER_00 (40:50):
But so full circle, full circle right there.
If people, if people want to seethat story, um they can check it
out on my website, but you canalso just check out Dakota, his
YouTube channel, Dakota Meyer.
Um, but his story about runningthe marathon, you know, he did
it and he talked about mile 20,you know, was like such a mental
hurdle, and you know, and soit's like it's so romantic to me
(41:13):
and just so exhilarating, and Ihave to do it.
I have so do you have any advicefor me?
SPEAKER_02 (41:19):
That's a great question.
Uh one, you can do it.
Like I was in the same boat,like I never thought of myself
as a runner.
Really, the only reason I ran,and you might not know this
about me, but I actually have atumor in my pituitary gland.
And um it was like two yearsthat we didn't know what was
going on with me, anyways.
(41:40):
Long story short, mytestosterone levels are really
low because my body doesn'tproduce it.
Like, I thought I was dying, Iwas 135 pounds.
Um, I went to the doctor and Iwas like, hey, I signed up for a
half marathon with mysister-in-law, and they're like,
if you run that, you willprobably have a heart attack
because I was so underweight formy for my height and my age.
(42:02):
Um and that moment where thedoctor's like, you're never
gonna be able to run.
I was like, watch me.
And I just like it fueled me forsome reason.
Um, and I started gettinghealthier again.
I got on like all thesedifferent medications.
Um and then I just fell in lovewith it.
Like I fell in love with thechallenge and um really trying
(42:24):
to push myself.
But the advice that I didn'ttake myself early on was
starting out slow, like startingout small and slow.
So small with the distances andslow, just like go at an easy
pace, like where you're able tohold a conversation, um, just
get get the distance done.
And uh it's it's kind of likethe same with with creative
(42:46):
processes.
Like there's highs and lows.
There's times where you feellike, man, I got this in the
bag.
And then there's other timeswhere it's like that mental wall
hits you so hard, and you'relike, I don't am I even made to
run?
Like, this is is this a dumbidea?
So it's like, you know, it'sit's that same kind of process,
but it's just making sure thatyou're like I'm staying the
(43:06):
course, I know what my goal is,and I'm gonna do the best I can
to get there.
Um and just listen to your body.
Like if you're overtrained, yourbody will tell you.
Like, don't get rabbed though.
That's that's not good foranyone.
Um, but then also like if youfeel like you're not pushing
enough, like sometimes you gottabe honest with yourself and be
(43:28):
like, you know what, I have moreto give.
Um, so it's it's very muchexperimentation in the
beginning, like understandinghow you feel.
And um but I will tell you, myfavorite running shoes are the
new balance 1080s.
Those are the most comfortable,like that's all I wear.
Um, they're they're great.
So that's probably the bestadvice I can give is just start
(43:50):
out slow because if you go outtoo hot, like you'll hate it way
sooner than you know, givingyourself you have to give
yourself that time to adapt.
And it's not comfortable, but itpasses pretty quickly.
Like, if you run for a week, thenext week will be easier and and
so on.
So yeah, that's my advice.
But love it.
SPEAKER_00 (44:09):
That's sound advice, and you're a practitioner, so I
trust you.
Try that's that's so inspiring.
Keep us updated on your journeywith content.
Um document your 50 miler, 50mile marathon.
50 miles insane, dude.
That's insane.
SPEAKER_02 (44:28):
It's in uh yeah, in the in the mountains, so it's uh
a trail marathon, and so I'mwe'll have pretty views though.
SPEAKER_00 (44:36):
Yeah, you'll have pretty views.
Uh I look forward to the podwhere you talk about where like
the dark places where your mindgoes.
SPEAKER_02 (44:44):
Oh yeah, yeah.
I mean, I've I've shared a fewof those on this podcast, but um
you're talking about duringrunning, like during those long
races.
Yeah, I mean I uh I just ran a32-mile race in Moab, Utah, um
October 25th.
SPEAKER_01 (45:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (45:02):
And yeah, even during those times, like your
body, everything feels like it'saching because you're not just
going distance, like you'regoing up mountains, and there's
a lot of elevation change.
And like there was a coupletimes during that race where I
was like, this shit just sucks.
Like I just want to be done.
(45:22):
I love those moments becauseyou're a sicko.
Yeah, well, it's just like youknow, those moments teach me uh
who I really am and like if I amable to keep going, and though
they're just so honest, and um,they're a rarity.
Like, there's not very manytimes in my day-to-day life
where I'm like, I just want tostop.
(45:43):
Um, but this teaches me thatlike, hey, I can keep going.
So yeah, I mean, definitely willdocument a lot of those things.
And the 50 miler is almostdouble the distance of what I
just did.
So I'm sure I'll be in a lot ofdark places on that one.
But yeah, I'll keep everyoneupdated.
SPEAKER_00 (46:00):
I'm so impressed.
That's so cool.
You're the real deal.
That's awesome.
Uh, I aspire to get there.
I wanna I want to incorporaterunning into my life because I
think it'll uh you know, it'sgood for you, but also it'll
inform my creativity, man.
Like it'll just keep it'll justmake me sharper, you know, and
better and stronger and fasterand endurance and all everything
(46:20):
all around.
Um, you know, I'm a big TonyRobbins guy, and he talks about
emotion is created with motion,you know, he talks about
physiology quite a bit and stateand you know, getting your body
at an optimized state, peakstate, right?
And uh all that's physical.
And so being able to get there,yeah.
I I I've ran one mile, dude, mywhole life.
(46:42):
Like I've ran one mile twice mywhole life, one mile.
And um you got fresh knees.
I do.
I do.
I like to think of myself as avehicle that doesn't have that
many miles on it, even though II get uh 20,000 steps a day, I
walk quite a bit, and but I wantto get to where I'm going
faster, you know?
Like why spend why uh why walkfor three hours when you can
(47:04):
squeeze that into a nice40-minute run or something?
SPEAKER_02 (47:07):
Yeah, yeah, and and that's the thing, is like that
all comes with time, you know.
It's just um have you ever heardof like progressive overloading
with with weightlifting and thatkind of thing?
SPEAKER_00 (47:17):
Yeah, is there like a similar process with running?
SPEAKER_02 (47:21):
It's just basically the the same kind of thing.
So it's like you know, what Ilike to do is I'll run like five
miles, and then the last uh mileor half mile, like I'll just try
and go really quick.
So that's like a tempo run or aprogressive run.
SPEAKER_00 (47:36):
I see.
SPEAKER_02 (47:37):
Um, but then just like the next time you just keep
trying and doing that, and thensoon enough you'll be like, hey,
I can actually maintain thispace.
SPEAKER_00 (47:44):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (47:45):
Um, so yeah, there's a lot that goes into it, but I
won't bore you with all the thenuanced.
SPEAKER_00 (47:50):
It's not boring, it's really cool, but I'm sure
your listeners have have heardit.
And uh I just keep us updated,man, because that that's the
most impressive thing.
I think that's so rad.
SPEAKER_02 (47:59):
Yeah, and you you gotta keep keep me updated on
the the new film.
I I gotta spend more time onyour site checking out what all
the other stuff is.
SPEAKER_00 (48:06):
It's bonkers, dude.
This movie's bonkers.
Like it's one of those I don'teven want my kids to see it.
Like it's they're gonna be like,what the fuck is wrong with you?
You know, like it's it's veryexciting.
It's very exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (48:16):
Hey, there we go.
That sounds awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (48:18):
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_02 (48:19):
Um, but yeah, I uh I really appreciate you coming on
and just being honest, sharingyour story, and of course, um
talking about creativity becauseit really is important.
Um, you know, that's one thing Ilove about humans that we all
share is we all love stories.
Um and film is in my opinion,one of the best ways to tell
(48:42):
stories.
Like it's so visual, the audio,the actual, you know, the
compelling um acts of thecharacters, like all those
different things.
Like that really like the reasonthe Dark Knight's so important
to me is because like HeathLedger's performance in that was
unmatched.
No one's ever gotten close tothat guy.
Um, and it's just like stayedwith me, and all those different
(49:04):
scenes, like I quote it all thetime, and it's just because like
it was such a compelling story.
Um, so yeah, I mean, I justreally appreciate your time and
and for me for for coming on thepodcast.
And I know you're gonna be ableto do that.
SPEAKER_00 (49:18):
Thank you for inviting me.
That's okay.
I always make time for you, man.
If you ever want to do it again,I'm down.
SPEAKER_02 (49:24):
Well, that's the thing, is um my wife is a pilot,
and so we have benefits uh andshe flies to Austin, Texas.
So maybe hey, next time it's anin-person one.
SPEAKER_00 (49:34):
Come to the crib.
Come to the crib, man.
You're invited, just open thedoor.
SPEAKER_02 (49:38):
And then you can show me rock me to barbecue
spots, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (49:42):
Oh, I got the best barbecue spot, brother.
There we go.
Everyone says everyone says theyhave it, but my god.
Yeah, I actually know it and Igatekeep it, so I'll save that
for IRL.
SPEAKER_02 (49:53):
There we go.
Well, awesome, man.
Um, anything else you want toshare before we before we jump
off?
SPEAKER_00 (49:58):
Just thank you for this opportunity to express
myself and to speak my truth.
Um, I'm really proud of how faryou've come and where you're
going.
Truly.
This you're you're you're doingthe impossible all the time, you
know, with this podcast.
I think it's like 90% never makeit past episode three, and then
like 98% don't make it past likeepisode 17 or something like
(50:21):
that.
Like you're in the minority ofthe minority of the minority,
and so if you just stay thecourse, brother, like it's gonna
pay off.
Um, it's that meme of thatexcavator who's like digging,
and oh, he gave up right beforethat he saw the diamonds.
Like, it's that it's that, man.
Like, that's all this is.
It's a last man standing match.
So stay the course.
You already know that.
(50:42):
You have a good pace, you know.
Um, keep us updated.
I love it.
Um if if anybody's made it thisfar, they can support the cause
by going to knivesmonro.com anduh you know just uh seeing if
they like anything there thatthey that they you know what
they're looking around.
Uh you know, I got some freeresources.
Uh I did create a 90-minutecourse that I just dropped
(51:04):
online for free.
And the workbook is availablefor free on the website.
The art of shit posting isavailable on the website.
Uh, got my newsletter, got mypodcast, it's all there on the
website.
So yeah, man.
Uh I love you.
Thanks for inviting me.
This was fucking fun.
SPEAKER_02 (51:19):
It was awesome, man.
I I love it too.
And um, I'll keep I'll put allthat stuff in the show notes so
everyone can go check it out.
But seriously, yeah, go checkout Knives Work and um help help
keep creativity alive.
That's really that's what we'reall trying to do.
SPEAKER_00 (51:33):
So that's what we're all trying to do.
SPEAKER_02 (51:36):
Well, seriously, man, thank you so much for
coming on.
Um, I really enjoyed ourconversation.
And um, for everyone elselistening, as always, keep
getting after it.
Can you introduce yourself as some as if someone
were introducing you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
Oh yeah, brother.
Thanks for that.
I've never been asked for thatbefore.
Um, this is Kives Monroe.
He's a creative director,filmmaker, entrepreneur,
podcaster, YouTuber, jack of alltrades, master of none.
Um, you know, 13, 14 years ago,he was homeless on the streets
living in Austin, Texas, youknow, fresh off the cusp of his
first feature-length film.
(00:26):
Went from the highest high tothe lowest low.
And now he's gets to be a partof the Getting After It podcast.
And, you know, so much hashappened in between that time,
going from aspiring to amateur,from amateur to pro, and here he
is.
Without any further ado, this isNives Monroe.
That was amazing.
SPEAKER_02 (00:46):
That was awesome.
That's the first time.
That's how I would like it.
That's how I would like it tobe.
There's a lot that you said inthere though that we're gonna
have to chat about.
But yeah, thanks for doing that.
Um, and that's one reason likeI've really enjoyed your content
and watching what you talk abouton just on the internet is you
know, being creative and takingchances on yourself and all the
(01:11):
things that you've already done.
Being a storyteller is somethingthat is really important to me,
and it seems like it is to youas well.
And I'm curious when that began,that that time where you know
you decided to tell stories.
Um, and I might already know theanswer.
I watched you know part of youryour documentary or your your
(01:31):
course online that you put out,just being like, hey, this is a
a 90-minute no interruptions ofyou know really how I got to
this point, which again I Ilove.
But um, I'm curious when thatthat point started, when you're
like, you know what, I was madeto tell stories.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Yeah, thank you for asking that's such a great
question.
And I never get tired of talkingabout it because there's so much
value in the come up and theorigin story when it comes to
storytelling.
You know, it's really cool whenwe look at like the Steve Jobs
and the Jocko Willinks and youknow, these entrepreneurs, the
Elon Musks.
It's really cool to see wherethey're at, but I'd like to know
(02:07):
where they started, like back inthe garage, right?
Like that's really cool to me.
And so I really appreciate theopportunity to answer that.
Um, out the box, I was a weirdo,you know, um, never never fit
in.
Um, was like the black sheepamongst my family, typical
artist story.
Um, and I had a really cool mom,you know, she worked all the
(02:30):
time, but the way she look atlooked after me was by renting
movies for me.
And so I grew up on film, thatwas like my first language.
Uh, my first memory is watchinga movie, in fact, Raising
Arizona by the Cohen Brothers.
I think it came out like '87.
And that was my first memory.
Yeah, I like came to life inlike watching that movie when I
(02:50):
was like two or three orsomething.
And um, long story short, my momrented me Kill Bill Volume 1 on
VHS in 2004.
And I watched it, I'm about 45seconds in.
And spoiler alert for Kill Bill,um, there's a scene, it starts
off, you know, it's black andwhite, it's the bride, she's on
(03:10):
her back.
Bill puts a bullet in her head,and right before she gets shot
in the head, she says, Bill,it's your baby, and then boom,
cut to a title card.
The fourth film by QuentinTarantino.
And in that moment, I get chillsevery time I talk about it.
It never fails.
I mean, I I got goosebumps rightnow.
In that moment, I realize, ohshit, I'm a filmmaker.
(03:30):
That's why I'm the way that Iam.
That's why I've never fit in,and that's why you know the
environment just didn't reallywork for me.
Uh in South Texas in 2004, itwas much different climate than
it than it is now.
Now everyone's a filmmaker,everyone, everyone's got a
phone, and it's it's reallycool.
But uh, that was my come toJesus moment.
Oh shit, I'm a filmmaker.
(03:52):
Can we curse on this?
I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_02 (03:54):
Yeah, no, you you totally can.
SPEAKER_00 (03:56):
Oh, okay.
I don't want to give you morework to bleep to bleep things,
but um yeah, that that that wasmy come to Jesus moment, and uh
the first thing I ever did wasmake a movie.
You know, uh some people startthey do commercials, they do
music videos, they do shortfilms, they document a wedding.
But the first thing I ever didwas a three-hour feature film,
(04:18):
and uh I didn't know any better.
Yeah, it's on YouTube, it's onmy website, it's called Her
Doppelganger.
It's not very good, but it'svery passionate.
You know, uh it was made on thebudget of hot dogs and
handshakes.
And that's awesome.
Movies was all I wanted to make,and all I wanted to do.
I I just didn't know howimpossible it was until somebody
told me, yeah, it's it's it'sreally difficult.
(04:39):
And I was like, oh, I guess itis.
Um, but filmmaking has been myfirst love, and um I'm just
getting back into it because youknow, we I don't want to jump
ahead too far, but uh, I justcame back from this world of
like online social media,creative direction, and it took
me away from my dream and itpaid the bills, and that's
(05:00):
really cool.
And it's still storytelling, youknow.
But uh I want to get back intomy roots a little bit, and so
you'll be seeing me talk alittle bit more about that, I
think, in the future online.
SPEAKER_02 (05:09):
I love that.
And um, that's another thingthat I like that's a great
origin story, by the way.
Like quit any movie by QuentinTarantino, I I love I love that
guy.
He's such a great storyteller,and the movies that he does are
always like that beginning sceneto kill Bill where the bride
gets shot, you know, it's likehe's not afraid to like startle
(05:32):
the audience and and really putthings out there that people
were a lot of the times.
I mean, he was groundbreaking asa director, but um I can see how
that would really shift yourfocus to be like, you know what,
this is what I want to do.
And making movies, um that's athat's a thing that I grew up
doing.
None of them were great, likethey were all just stupid skits,
(05:54):
but there's something about itto where it's like you know,
we're all here trying to tell aa story, even if it's like a a
dumb story with me and mybuddies, you know, in junior
high school doing somethingstupid, but um, it's it's all
about storytelling and gettingthat message out there.
And uh one thing that I reallylike about what you talk about
(06:14):
is the fact that you're alwayspushing people to publish the
ugly draft.
Like, don't worry about it.
And um I'd love for you to talkabout that.
And I I don't know, is is thatwhat you call creative poverty,
or um that's a whole differentthing, correct?
SPEAKER_00 (06:30):
Creative poverty to me is you know, they call this
the not the creative middleclass, the creative economy,
right?
That's what they call the modernmeta of creativity and and the
gig economy.
Creative poverty to me is thereare so many people who just
haven't made one dollar in thisbusiness, and I want to get
people to be able to make aliving um with their fancy
(06:53):
storytelling skills or what haveyou.
Like, I believe if you have themoney to afford a mirrorless
camera, you should be able tomake money, you know, paying
your rent with that mirrorlesscamera.
Like, I really I really believethat.
Um, so that's creative poverty.
Um, but as far as shippingcontent online, yeah, I call
that shit posting, you know?
(07:14):
Like, yeah, yeah.
Get out of your head and startcreating things.
That's a big mantra for me.
Um, and I practice what Ipreach.
I I didn't post anything for 10months this year, and a bunch of
cool things happened.
Like I went to China, got to seethe Great Wall, and I did it for
work.
So filmed this really epic onehour feature um in China for
(07:36):
this e-commerce company whorecently breaking news.
I haven't said this publicly, soit's on your podcast for the
first time.
Who recently laid me off?
They fired me.
They fired me.
And uh for no for no reason, forno good reason, other than just
the economics weren't there.
I guess I was too expensive.
And um, but I got to do a lot ofcool shit.
And so in these past two weeksof being laid off, that's
(07:57):
probably why you've been seeingmore of me.
And I've been practicing what Ipreach.
I've been shit posting, youknow.
Every thought that comes into myhead, I I post it online,
whether if it's a thread, aTikTok, a LinkedIn post, um, a
newsletter, you know, subscribeto my Substack, good content at
Knives Monroe.
Um, whatever it is, like I gotto post online.
I have something to say.
(08:18):
And I believe if you don't sayanything, you're invisible
online.
And that is like really scaryfor me, being invisible as
someone who has this, you know,who likes to look at himself as
like a bright color and wants tostand out and express himself.
If I'm not visible, that'sscary, right?
So you have to post online, andand so it's a good exercise.
(08:40):
I created an ebook, it's it's onmy website for free.
I feel like I'm plugging.
I'm sorry for being such awhore.
SPEAKER_02 (08:45):
That's okay.
No, I'll put all this stuff inthere too, so people can click
it.
Like, I want it's the samething, you know.
It's it's it's what you'resaying about like how you want
artists to get paid.
It's like I want people to sharetheir stories and talk about
what they're excited about.
And I'm sure there's someonelistening to this that's like, I
probably need to shit post more.
Like, I I have all these ideas,but I'm afraid to put them out
there.
And it's like, you know,sometimes you just have to
(09:06):
overcome that fear.
SPEAKER_00 (09:07):
And um, precisely.
If someone's listening and theyhave that issue of how do I get
out of my head and just startmaking stuff, I don't know what
to post.
I have a free ebook online,knivesandrow.com.
It's on the home page, and it'scalled The Art of Shitposting.
And I think it can help you getout of your head.
There's some good creativepractices in there.
Like one thing is you know, goon your camera roll.
(09:28):
I have like 13,000 photos andvideos on my camera roll from
like 2017 and on, and just makea make a carousel on LinkedIn
and write a little essay, andlike that could get engagement
and that could just get you intoflow, right?
Get you out of stasis, out ofthis entropy of not making
stuff.
And all we need is momentum.
Like when people are afraid tostart, what they what they
(09:49):
really want is momentum, theywant to be on third base, they
want to get out of the dugout.
That's what they that's whatthey mean.
So, yeah, totally, man.
I'm all about that.
SPEAKER_02 (09:58):
Yeah, and and that's a hard thing too, is like
gaining that momentum takes awhile, but once you start, it's
it's much easier to maintain it.
I've noticed, at least withmyself.
And the things that I do withyou know podcasting, and there's
been times where I've let itslide for a couple months and I
haven't recorded anything, andit's so much harder just to get
(10:19):
back on track and be like, okay,I gotta build this back up to
where it was.
And it's just staying consistentis a is a difficult thing, but
it's much easier when you havethat momentum.
Once you once how many episodeshave you recorded, sir?
Uh, this is 166.
SPEAKER_00 (10:34):
So you know, yeah, 90 95% of podcasts don't make it
past episode three.
SPEAKER_02 (10:40):
I think I heard a stat around like something crazy
like that.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (10:43):
Yeah.
So, dude, you are in theminority of the minority of the
minority.
I'm so proud of you.
That's a tremendous number.
Like, that is great.
What a what an accomplishment,you know what I mean?
So you've overcome that hurdleso many times.
Like, it's it's difficult to dothis, you know.
I I've produced podcasts forother people, and I have my own,
and it is, it's like it's it'stough.
(11:04):
It's art, it's work, you know.
And then you know, your youryour podcast is so awesome.
Like you do the research, youknow, um, you don't just wing it
and the value is there, and thattakes time, you know, and it's
it's such a fruitless endeavoruntil like it pays off, you
know, on a long enough timeline.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:21):
Yeah, well, I appreciate that.
It it definitely hasn't paid offyet, but honestly, like I've
told so many people this.
Um, I would do it for free, justbecause I I love these
opportunities just to be able tosit down and and hear people
share their stories, you know,like where they came from, what
excites them and and how theystay motivated when times get
tough.
(11:41):
Um you know, I I've realizedthat I'm just one person, and
some things that I say will notresonate with others um the way
that another person can say it,or through their experiences.
Um and so in a way, that is likekind of my art is like how can I
find these people to really geta message out there that's you
know beautifully set and wellput and hopefully inspires them
(12:05):
to take action in their ownlives.
Um like that's what gettingafter it's all about.
So I love your mission.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
It's been a journey.
I'm all I'm all about it.
I love it, I support it.
SPEAKER_02 (12:13):
Yeah, it's uh it's been three three and a half
years in the making, so we'restill going strong.
But um yeah, I mean that's onething like I think everyone who
creates content in any way, youknow, it could be blogs, uh
social media, it could bemovies, music, anything, uh
(12:34):
there are low periods, and thoseare pretty difficult.
I've I've been through a fewmyself, but you know, you've
been doing this for 20 years, Ithink, right?
Um so I'm sure you know you'vealso experienced some of those
low times as well.
Um and you kind of talked alittle bit about it in the
beginning, you know, with yourintroduction of going you know
(12:57):
homeless after you know havingthe highest of highs and lowest
of lows.
Um maybe if you don't mindsharing a little bit more about
that time of your life, likewhat it was like from going to
the top to where you felt likeyou know, pretty close to the
bottom.
SPEAKER_00 (13:13):
Yeah, absolutely.
I I I don't respect anybodythat's never hit rock bottom,
first of all.
I think everybody should hitrock bottom at least once or
twice in their life.
SPEAKER_02 (13:21):
Yeah, you gotta go through it at least a couple
times.
SPEAKER_00 (13:24):
Yeah, you know, I I I by no means was a Nepo baby,
but you know, I I did grow upwith a single mom, didn't have a
father in the house, could haveused one, uh, didn't have that
extra income or anything.
My mom wore the pants uh and shewore the hat of mom and dad.
And so she was able to get usout of the ghetto, out of the
streets, get us uh into a house,a red brick house, and that was
(13:48):
awesome.
It was like the nicest house onthe block.
So I always felt like uh spoiledor something, like I didn't
deserve that.
And so after making my movie, Iwas like, I gotta go make it on
my own.
Like, thanks, mom, you took meas far as I can go because uh
she wanted to kick me out thethe the year leading up to that
film because she would wake upat six in the morning and see me
(14:11):
writing the script uh in thekitchen.
I was living with her, I waslike 23 at the 23 at the time.
So she'd wake up at six in themorning and I was I was writing
from the night before, and thenshe'd go to work, come back at
six p.m.
and I'm still writing.
And she's she's just like, Youhaven't moved, like what you're
pathetic.
You know, she would tell meyou're useless, like go get a
job, you're a fucking bum.
And I said, Mother, um, I swearto you, I said this.
(14:33):
I was like, just give me a year,let me make this picture, let me
make this movie, and then um youdon't have to worry about
supporting me.
Like, I'll do my own thing.
Um, she said, Okay, I'll I'llgive you a year.
That was 2012.
Made the movie and uh decided tomove to Austin.
It was the closest, furthestplace I can move to that was
like away from my sphere ofinfluence and my circle and my
(14:56):
network and everybody, family,friends, everybody.
Um there's a a short formdocumentary called Six Weeks on
Sixth Street.
Have you ever visited Austin?
SPEAKER_02 (15:05):
I've been to Austin once, yeah.
But it was for business, so Ididn't Did you go downtown?
I I was staying downtown, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (15:14):
Okay, so that's where I slept on a fire escape
for six weeks.
And I made a short formdocumentary about it.
It's um it's on my website, it'scalled Six Weeks on Sixth
Street, very proud of it.
And I did vow to never talkabout this story ever again, but
that was just like a hook, youknow.
Um, so I love talking about it.
It's it's cool.
Um, but spent six weeks on thestreets until I got a job at
Walmart.
(15:35):
And um, dude, one week in beinghomeless, like I was like, this
fucking sucks, you know.
Yeah, um, I I went fromliterally my movie premiere, 36
hours later, I'm on the streets,you know.
SPEAKER_02 (15:46):
That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00 (15:47):
It was the highest of high to the lowest of lows.
And I did it to myself becauseonce again, I I wanted to I I
think you know, thank you, mom,for helping me and putting me on
third base.
I felt, you know, um, but Igotta go make it on my own.
And so I did.
And um there's been ups anddowns in between then, but what
I didn't know was okay, you madea movie, so what?
(16:10):
So what?
Like go put that on your resume,go get a job.
Like, there's what's the nextthing?
SPEAKER_01 (16:15):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (16:16):
And so I I that was the biggest depression of my
life in 2012, 2013 was that comedown and starting from scratch
in a in a town where I knewnobody, had no friends.
It was really tough.
You know, I I pride myself innot drinking, not smoking, not
doing drugs.
I drank for the first time, youknow, um, in my apartment alone.
(16:36):
Like I didn't know what to dowith myself.
I was like, what am I doinghere?
Yeah, um, it was so depressing.
I could you don't even want toknow.
I mean, it was dark.
You know, long story short, I Imet I met my my uh my now wife,
and um we started a family.
I had no business having kids,but you know, we we really
wanted the family together, anduh, she already had a son, a
(16:58):
seven-year-old, and I I wantedto be his in his life and be his
father, and so I wanted tocreate a child of my own so we
could all be a happy familyunit.
I went, you know, one yearlater, um, from being homeless,
we had a kid, like it's justextreme, bro.
Like, I should probably I shouldprobably say this as TMI, but
it's a podcast.
(17:19):
Um I have bipolar disorder, sothere's a lot of ups and downs
in my life, and my career and mycreativity, like it all reflects
that.
There's peaks and valleys, youknow, like you mentioned, there
are highs and lows, and youknow, um, there's certainly been
many in my career that informedthe creativity, but also you
(17:39):
know, hurt it as well, harm it.
And uh, but starting a familywas uh was definitely a peak,
you know.
I just had no money and we wereon food stamps, section eight
housing.
It was it was really difficult,you know, to to build that up.
And um I and then you know, aswe're on food stamps, we move
out, you know, we're trying toget better, trying to grow.
(18:01):
I'm working two jobs, whatever.
Um I made another movie, anotherfeature film, and uh that cost
eight grand.
And once again, have a child.
Where the fuck do I come up withthat money?
You know, I come up with thatmoney to make that movie.
It's just like you're you know,making movies is just like
giving birth to the impossible.
Um that was dramatic, that wascrazy.
(18:26):
Another depression came, anotherhigh goes to another low.
All that just to say, man, andthis is I really want to
highlight this.
Um, swinging from vine to vine,and then I met Dakota Meyer.
And that guy That's how I knowyou.
Yeah, that's how we met.
And um that guy put me on, man,and gave me the opportunity of a
(18:46):
lifetime to follow him anddocument his life and his
career, and we we told storiesfor two years.
I I look at my career with him,uh, not that I've ever served in
the military, but I have not,but it I look at it as two
tours.
Like my first tour with him was2017 to 2019, and my second tour
with him was in 2023.
We did a podcast together calledYou're Human.
(19:06):
It lasted like maybe I don'tremember, 40 episodes or so.
It was a fun time, and uh it wascool to like bring the band back
together.
He's just like you know, whatthe greatest asset in my life
and uh the hugest mentor I'veever had, and just a phenomenal
person.
But uh, I thought I was hotshit, Brett.
Like I thought I was really goodand cool and confident, and then
(19:31):
I met that guy and I realized Ididn't know shit.
SPEAKER_02 (19:34):
That's kind of how I felt when I met him too.
I was like, man.
And I I think at the time when Imet him, I was like 22, 20, 22,
23 years old.
And um, this is still somethingthat like so embarrassing to me.
But like one of the firstquestions I asked him was like,
what was it like to be incombat?
And I was like, as soon as thewords left my mouth, I was like,
I wish I could take him back.
(19:54):
That was just oh man, but no,that's okay.
Yeah, truly an inspirationalman.
Like he truly um and yeah, maybeyou can talk more about like how
he found you and and what thatwas like working with him in the
beginning.
Um, because it sounds like itwas kind of a pivotal moment for
you.
It was.
SPEAKER_00 (20:13):
Yeah, um, he him and his team put out a tweet saying
we're looking for a D-Rock.
Are you familiar with that term?
SPEAKER_02 (20:22):
No, but it sounds really cool.
SPEAKER_00 (20:24):
Yeah, a D-Rock is short for it's uh a synonym, I
suppose, for uh for David Rock,who is a videographer.
Uh they used to call they usedto call him Predators, a
producer, editor, director.
And uh he he worked for GaryVaynerchuk, and so he documented
Gary V's personal brand, and sothey put out a tweet saying,
(20:44):
Hey, we're looking for our own DRock.
And I responded, and I wasworking at the sales job at the
time, doing whatever I could tosurvive.
And I said, I'll be yourHuckleberry, right?
And so we met, and um I thoughtI blew the interview, like I
thought I fucking blew it.
First of all, I was late, Imissed the bus.
Um, I had to run to like thenext bus stop, and I think I
(21:05):
showed up sweating and like 20minutes late at this barbecue
joint in Austin, which sounds socliche, but it's true.
And um I I just was radicallytransparent with him, and I told
him, Look, man, here's what Icould do for you.
I can blow up your brand, butlike as far as sales go, like if
you're looking for a sales guy,hire a sales guy.
Like, I'm here to tell storiesand uh market your brand and
(21:29):
just get you some awareness.
That's all I can do.
And uh he gave me he gave me aride home the first day I ever
met him.
I'm a fucking stranger, hedoesn't know who I am.
He's meeting this kid.
Who the fuck is Knives Monroe?
Like, is that your real name?
What is this?
And he drove he drove me home,which was like a 40-minute
drive.
And um took me like three hoursto get there from the bus.
I took a day off from work tomeet him.
(21:50):
Like, it was just like mayhem,all hope broke loose.
And um, you know, he I think hemade me an offer later that
evening.
He was like, What do you need tosurvive?
And I said, I need this amountof money.
And he said, Okay, I'll pay youa little bit more than that.
And uh, when can you start?
And I was like, I can starttomorrow.
And on my website as well is myfirst video I ever made for him.
(22:12):
We shot it at Onit in Austin,Texas, Joe Rogan's joint, Mark
Aubrey Marcus.
I don't know if they're still incahoots or what, but um Yeah, I
think I well, I know on it'sstill around.
SPEAKER_02 (22:22):
I don't know who runs that thing now.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah, neither do I, but uh okay, good.
We shot it there, it's dated,it's timestamped, and um first
thing I ever shot for him, Ihave the biggest chip on my
shoulder.
I borrowed a camera.
I didn't even have own a camera,you know, because I was broke
beyond broke.
Yeah, and and so we we toldstories.
I created a podcast for him, Icreated a daily vlog for him,
which was the meta at the timein 2017.
(22:47):
I got to meet all kinds of coolpeople.
I don't want to name drop, but Idid get to meet Jocko Willink,
who's you know, it uh see this?
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_02 (22:56):
I got good tattooed on my bicep because of that guy.
SPEAKER_00 (22:58):
Have you ever met him?
SPEAKER_02 (23:00):
Um, I went to his muster, and so I met him for
maybe like five minutes inpassing, but that's who he's my
Mount Rushmore of podcastguests.
He's he's number one.
So you'll get him.
SPEAKER_00 (23:14):
You'll get him.
Just stay the course, you'll gethim.
I promise you.
I vow to you.
You you will.
First time I met him, I believeit.
We were at the uh San Diegoairport, and uh he knows that
I'm following Dakota.
He shakes my hand.
You know, he's like the thingfrom the Fantastic Four, right?
In the flesh.
Absolutely.
Shakes my hand, it's like thecrustiest, rockiest like hand
(23:36):
you could possibly imagine.
And uh he he picks up my bag,puts it in the car, and looks me
in the eyes, greets me like I'ma human being.
It's like, what?
You know, they say don't meetyour heroes.
Jocko Willink is everything youimagine him to be, you know, for
sure.
He's the man's awesome to hear.
I love it.
Yeah, we we we recorded apodcast together, it's somewhere
(23:57):
on Dakota Myers YouTube channel.
And so being able to sit acrossfrom him in that room, in that
OG room, um, and record with himwas epic.
And then uh Dakota and himrecorded like a four-hour pod.
And being in the room I think Iremember that one.
SPEAKER_02 (24:11):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a lot of people.
SPEAKER_00 (24:12):
It's a legendary one.
It's a legendary one.
Being in that room was earthshattering, um, just so cool,
you know.
So you got got to meet all kindsof cool people.
I I like to think that when Imade my feature film, oh, that's
when I was a professional.
No, it wasn't until I startedshipping content with Dakota
that I really become aprofessional because then I
could pay my bills with what Irefer to as art money, you know.
(24:35):
Like I was using art to pay mybills to cash, you know, I was
cashing checks.
Like that was being aprofessional for me.
So uh yeah, I've been doing thisfor 20 years, but pro about
eight or nine, you know.
So that's awesome.
Meeting him was a life-changingevent, and I got to meet you and
uh your partner at the time, anduh it was it's just you know,
(24:56):
it's it's it's a gift that keepson giving.
It's it's totally a blessing.
And I I talked to Dakota about amonth or month and a half ago
just to give him some good news.
I I called my mother to give hersome good news, she didn't
answer.
I call my brother, Jeremy, toand he doesn't answer.
I called Dakota, picks up on thefirst ring, hadn't talked to him
(25:17):
in like in a year and a half,maybe two.
And uh he couldn't be happierfor me.
And it's just like, dude, likesome of these guys are who they
say they are, and it justinspires me.
And every ounce of leadershipknowledge that I have is because
you know, working with theseguys.
SPEAKER_02 (25:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
I mean, I I I can say the samefor myself, and I've I've barely
spent time with them.
It's just like the things thatthey teach and they they talk
about it's all you know aboutdiscipline, leading by example,
um, owning up to your faultswhen when things happen.
Uh it's just being a goodperson, really, when it comes
down to it.
It's like they're teaching youhow to be a good person.
(25:56):
And you know, I think a lot ofpeople look at them as very
intense.
Um, but in some like they had tobe for the the reason like to
protect and serve the country.
Um, so I mean, that makes somuch sense.
And uh what a cool story.
So that that finally got you offthe ground and um sounds like
opened up a lot moreopportunities.
SPEAKER_00 (26:17):
Um validated me, you know.
An artist needs validation, youknow, someone to believe in you.
Uh it uh that's all we needsometimes is just somebody to
buy your stock, you know.
It gives you it puts some air inyour wings.
SPEAKER_02 (26:34):
Yeah, absolutely.
And I love that.
It's like, hey, um, my wife andI we have this phrase that we
say all the time.
It's like be your own biggestcheerleader and be everyone
else's too.
Like cheer yourself on whenyou're going through the hard
moments, and when someone elsehas success, like there's enough
to go around.
Like be excited for them, behappy for them.
(26:54):
Um, I don't know.
I just think with like socialmedia and stuff, there's not
that like people kind of comparethemselves to others all the
time and removes that humanpiece a lot of the times.
It's like, hey, listen, we'reall here together.
It's let's make the most of itkind of thing.
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
That's such an abundant mindset.
I love that.
Tell your wife that knivesMonroe approves.
That's a great one.
SPEAKER_02 (27:14):
I will.
Yeah, no, she's she's helped mea lot with that kind of stuff,
but uh brilliant.
I want to kind of ask about yourcreative process.
Uh let's get into it.
Something that's like everyonehas a different process for how
they decide to create, how theybrainstorm, how they think about
things.
Um, but I would love to hear,like, you know, from you get a
(27:35):
concept of an idea for a movie,and then what it's like to
actually go through, sit down,and and plan that out, because I
don't think people understandhow difficult it is to make
something like that.
SPEAKER_00 (27:44):
Yeah, I just had this conversation.
I met with the screenwritertoday, we had some coffee, and I
was telling I said something tohim I'd never said before, which
was like, I think filmmaking iseasy, you know.
I think you know, we can bereally romantic and
self-aggrandizing as afilmmaker.
We're so pretentious about theprocess and coordinating
people's calendars and schedulesand getting locations and set
(28:07):
decks and wardrobe and makeupand hair, and it's just so
overwhelming.
It's so much, especially at anindie level.
Dude, it's a miracle.
Like it is the funnest job.
We're playing make-believe.
Like, you know, the kids saynowadays it's not that serious.
It's not, it's playtime, it'splaytime, you know.
And then um, is it expensive?
Hell yeah, it's expensive, youknow, for sure.
(28:28):
It costs money, but um,screenwriting is just like the
biggest joy.
It all starts on the page, youknow.
Um you talk about creativeprocess.
I've only ridden screenplayswhere the whole story hits me at
once, the whole thing.
Every character, their siblings,what they wear, like minute
(28:49):
details.
Um, if a germ gets you likethat, you gotta make it.
Like you just because ideasdon't come fully formed like
that.
You're lucky if you get acharacter name, the title of the
picture, um, maybe the car thatthey drive, or maybe the plot,
right?
Like let me ask you a question.
Like, what's one of yourfavorite movies?
(29:10):
Ooh.
SPEAKER_02 (29:11):
Um that's a great question.
I mean, this might be a badanswer, but I love no such
thing.
The I love the dark night.
SPEAKER_00 (29:18):
That's what I knew you were gonna say that.
I knew you were gonna say that.
SPEAKER_02 (29:22):
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (29:22):
So what's what yeah, I did.
So what what is the dark nightabout?
SPEAKER_02 (29:25):
Good and evil, really.
SPEAKER_00 (29:27):
Good and evil.
You said it.
So when the the best stories arethe ones where you can tell me
what it's about in a soundbitelike that.
You know, when you ask somebodywhat's it about, they'll say,
Well, there's this, you know, avigilante guy, and there's uh a
district attorney guy, andthere's a bad, evil clown guy,
and you know, it's about thedynamics between you know
(29:48):
politics and like moral justice.
It's like, no, dude, you'retelling me what the movie is.
Like, I'm asking you what it'sabout.
And you said good, good andevil.
That's what it's about.
You know, and when you can sendsynthesize.
A story like that, you gotsomething, right?
And I think that's why thatmovie was so successful and made
so much money, and it's stilltalked about almost 20 years
later, and it just endured inthe in pop culture and in the
(30:10):
zeitgeist.
It's just we still talk about itto this day.
Every time you put it on, it'slike it's just a it captivates
you, it's arresting.
Um, that is the goal of everystoryteller.
You know, how do we do that?
And so when a when a story comesat you fully formed, you you you
owe it to yourself to to tellit.
And so it starts on the page.
(30:32):
Uh, I'm in the middle of writingsomething right now.
I have the first act complete.
I I've written the beat sheetand the story structure of the
second and third act of thewhole thing.
It's essentially um sevensamurai told in a modern world.
Seven samurai is like a 1950sfilm from Akira Kurosara.
Another modern example of thatsort of template is like a bug's
(30:55):
life, you know, where it's likeyou have these characters who
need to recruit, you know,stronger people to fight the bad
guys.
Like it's a very simple kind ofstory like that.
And um, it's called the PlagueDogs, and I I cannot wait to
make it.
I'm gonna make it.
I'll film it on a phone if Ihave to.
But um, once you have thescript, the document, the
(31:16):
blueprint, then you can attractthe hair and makeup, the
locations, the actors, thecinematographers, the editors.
If they really believe in thepicture, they'll work at a
discount, you know.
Like, yeah, I believe in payingpeople for sure.
You gotta pay actors, you know.
I I pay them up front.
I pay it's like evil can evil,like before they do the stunt.
(31:37):
Like, I'm gonna pay you beforeyou do the stunt, brother.
You know?
Yeah, yeah.
Um, but once they believe in thepage, you have that buy-in, they
understand the tone.
Dude, the rest is just playtime.
The rest is just make-believe,it's just fun, you know, and and
that's a that's a movie.
And then there's a creativeprocess for like social media
campaigns and you know, how doyou sell a product?
(31:59):
And you know, there's marketing,and the that is a different
creative process, it's waydifferent.
Still uh have you know has a lotto do with intention and
results.
Like, what is the outcome thatwe want here?
It's different versus art,commerce and art, you know, uh
it's different processes, butthere's an overlap.
SPEAKER_02 (32:18):
Yeah.
No, I I I love that you saidthat.
You know, it's it's um like yousaid, it's it's the it's the
content that people really careabout.
Like obviously what's on thepage is going to dictate, you
know, how the story is told andand who you get involved to tell
that story.
Um, and it's it's something thatI think about a lot with you
(32:38):
know my podcast.
And um, I journal a lot.
And so like I write down just myown thoughts and certain things
I'm thinking about.
And a lot of the times it's notpretty, but um, it helps me
understand like how I'mthinking.
Uh, especially when I'm doingyou know research for guests or
if I'm diving into a topic onlike a solo episode, I want to
make sure that the content thatI have is is relevant and
(33:01):
actionable for the audience.
And um, you know, that'sprobably one of the reasons I've
been able to keep this going solong, is just because I have you
know my own creative processwhen I when I do this.
And um it's it's gonna soundweird, but yeah, it doesn't feel
like work.
It feels like play because it'sjust me like you know, thinking
about okay, well, how can I howcan I tell this principle of you
(33:23):
know stoicism in a way thatpeople will get interested and
and excited to learn about it?
Um absolutely just like thingslike that for me for me uh
really work, but yeah, I thinkhaving a creative process is
it's crucial.
Like you have to figure out howyou work and you have to figure
out how your brain works, um,especially when we talk about
(33:44):
being creative, because that's ahard thing.
It's a really hard thing.
SPEAKER_00 (33:48):
It comes naturally, so I I forget how difficult it
can be sometimes, you know, butyou're right.
You gotta have standardoperating procedures and you
gotta have systems in place soyou can do repeatable creativity
for sure.
SPEAKER_02 (34:02):
Yeah.
Yeah, and I um I've beenthinking about this a lot and
been throwing this idea aroundwith with like my brother and my
wife, just like getting somefeedback on it.
Um but I've been getting intoultra running, so you know,
running uh anything over amarathon is considered an ultra
marathon.
And my brother and I are doing a50 miler next uh April in
(34:27):
Sedona.
And that whole time, like I Iwant to document really as much
as I can and try and tell thestory of like I think people
look at ultra running andthey're like, you know, you're
going far, but they don't seelike actually the the
difficulties within the race.
Um and that's kind of what Iwant to have the it focus on is
like let's go all the the painand everything that that we're
(34:50):
gonna be going through and yeah,telling that story, being like,
you know, this is this wasn't achallenge, but yeah, here's what
happened in the end, and it'snot gonna be pretty.
Like, I'm sure there's gonna betimes when we're you know
swearing and and yelling andsaying all kinds of things, but
that's part of it too, is likeyou know, being raw and real.
SPEAKER_00 (35:09):
Um how exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (35:11):
Yeah, so let's talk.
SPEAKER_00 (35:13):
Can we can we talk about that for a little bit?
SPEAKER_02 (35:15):
I'd love to, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (35:17):
Okay, so do you have and this is the creative
director in me, so sorry.
Um, but do you have like um youknow content and pillars and
like do you have the channelsand what you want to do?
And do you have all that inplace?
I'm curious.
Um I mean of course you do, butI I just want to know.
SPEAKER_02 (35:36):
Yeah, I mean like channels and we have or I'm I'm
on YouTube, um uh TikTok,Instagram, like those kind of
things.
Uh so long form, probably not onTikTok and Instagram, but
YouTube would probably be theone.
And then I have a website aswell.
SPEAKER_00 (35:51):
So you follow you follow Nick Bear?
SPEAKER_02 (35:54):
Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_00 (35:55):
Okay, so I I really like his approach to his his
process.
I you know, I I can't believehow good and compelling, not
just of a storyteller he is, butas a content creator he is.
You know, like like he makes itlook so easy.
Now, I'm sure he's not editingthe videos, you know.
He has a team that does that,I'm sure, but he's filming them,
(36:17):
you know, and that takes so muchthat that's a full-time job in
and of itself.
Um, so take a page out of hisbook and just tell those long
form stories, dude.
You don't even need toover-edit.
Like the meta right now rewards40-minute stream of
consciousness bulk upload onYouTube.
Like that would crush.
If someone saw like your hourand a half like training,
(36:39):
whatever, or you're running sixmiles or 18 miles or whatever
your your training regimen is,um, to prepare for that.
Wow, people will show up forthat, dude.
You know, and just betransparent and radically honest
and be yourself and warts andall, and people are really gonna
connect with that.
And uh man, that's so exciting.
I I want to be a part of thatjourney.
(37:00):
I want to s I want to I want tosee it.
Um what's your YouTube channel?
SPEAKER_02 (37:04):
Um, it's just called the Getting After It Podcast, I
believe.
SPEAKER_00 (37:08):
So it's gonna be on there.
SPEAKER_02 (37:10):
Or getting after it is what it's called.
But yes, it'll be on there.
SPEAKER_00 (37:14):
Okay, I wasn't sure if uh you were going to promote
like your own personal brand oranything.
SPEAKER_02 (37:20):
I mean, getting after it is is the brand.
Like that's that's kind of whatit is, but um yeah, so I mean
definitely need some some ideasthere, but that Nick Bear, he
has this documentary.
Um I don't know if you heardabout the event they did in
Austin.
I don't think it was outsideAustin, but it's at their uh BPN
(37:41):
ranch, if you've ever heard ofthat.
SPEAKER_01 (37:43):
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_02 (37:44):
Um and they did like uh what's called a last man
standing race where they had agroup of people and just how
many times you can run a certainloop that they had.
Uh yeah.
Yeah, it went on for like twodays, and then like they had to
they had to stop it because ofstorms and all these things.
And um, he made like an hour, Ithink it was an hour and a half
(38:06):
documentary, and it's on YouTubejust about that, and it looks so
cinematic and um like yeah, he'she's got a great team and and
things going up, but yeah,mine's gonna be a lot more raw
and uh not as pretty.
But that's your advantage, yeah.
Yeah, and I always tell myself,you know, those guys started
somewhere too.
And this is just my my firststep, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (38:30):
Dude, that is so incredible, man.
Like one of my dreams is to runa marathon.
I really want to do that.
Uh, and I have all the excusesin the world why I haven't done
it.
But I've had this mental thoughtin my head of this is morbid,
but you know how it is.
Um, say I get the news that mydaughter, she's 11, she's uh she
(38:51):
has a life uh ending illness,God forbid, and uh there's no
cure.
But the cure is you have to runa marathon today, knives.
Could you do it?
Yeah, I would do it.
Probably take eight hours or sixhours or something, but I I
could do it.
I would I would do there I woulddo it right now with no
(39:13):
training.
So it's mental, as you know, andum mental is physical, blah blah
blah, but like it's just such afascinating, like I I just wanna
I wanna be at that finish line,you know.
And um I I would uh talkingabout Nick Bear.
I I did a podcast, I recorded ituh with Dakota and Nick Bear at
(39:35):
the Nick Bear at the BearPerformance Nutrition Place at
the time.
Yeah.
And uh there's a little minidoc.
Man, everything's on my websitetoday, but uh it's on the
website, uh, knivesmonroe.com,and you'll see a thumbnail of
Dakota, and the title of thevideo is If I don't do this, I
will quit everything.
And he talks about running amarathon.
(39:55):
He did uh a Marine Corpsmarathon, no training.
I think he ran four milesbefore, and he just he just you
know raw dogged it, got rhabdouh uh uh as a result, and uh
well he had rhabdo when we metyou.
Uh that's right.
That's why we split early, so itwas that era.
(40:17):
Uh little peek behind thecurtain for the listeners.
We we we got to meet Brett andum we were there for some
business and we had to splitearly.
Dakota just left in the middleof like a conversation to go to
the hospital.
SPEAKER_02 (40:30):
I know.
SPEAKER_00 (40:32):
Yeah, because he didn't know he had Rabdo until
he found out, but uh, and thenhe was like in a hospital bed
for like a week after that.
So he had to fly by.
SPEAKER_02 (40:40):
I remember, yeah, he was like all of a sudden, like
he went up to go to the bathroomand then he just disappeared.
SPEAKER_00 (40:44):
Never came back.
SPEAKER_02 (40:45):
And yeah, then we're like, where the heck is he?
And then he called you, and thenyeah, it was yeah, that was that
was it.
SPEAKER_00 (40:50):
But so full circle, full circle right there.
If people, if people want to seethat story, um they can check it
out on my website, but you canalso just check out Dakota, his
YouTube channel, Dakota Meyer.
Um, but his story about runningthe marathon, you know, he did
it and he talked about mile 20,you know, was like such a mental
hurdle, and you know, and soit's like it's so romantic to me
(41:13):
and just so exhilarating, and Ihave to do it.
I have so do you have any advicefor me?
SPEAKER_02 (41:19):
That's a great question.
Uh one, you can do it.
Like I was in the same boat,like I never thought of myself
as a runner.
Really, the only reason I ran,and you might not know this
about me, but I actually have atumor in my pituitary gland.
And um it was like two yearsthat we didn't know what was
going on with me, anyways.
(41:40):
Long story short, mytestosterone levels are really
low because my body doesn'tproduce it.
Like, I thought I was dying, Iwas 135 pounds.
Um, I went to the doctor and Iwas like, hey, I signed up for a
half marathon with mysister-in-law, and they're like,
if you run that, you willprobably have a heart attack
because I was so underweight formy for my height and my age.
(42:02):
Um and that moment where thedoctor's like, you're never
gonna be able to run.
I was like, watch me.
And I just like it fueled me forsome reason.
Um, and I started gettinghealthier again.
I got on like all thesedifferent medications.
Um and then I just fell in lovewith it.
Like I fell in love with thechallenge and um really trying
(42:24):
to push myself.
But the advice that I didn'ttake myself early on was
starting out slow, like startingout small and slow.
So small with the distances andslow, just like go at an easy
pace, like where you're able tohold a conversation, um, just
get get the distance done.
And uh it's it's kind of likethe same with with creative
(42:46):
processes.
Like there's highs and lows.
There's times where you feellike, man, I got this in the
bag.
And then there's other timeswhere it's like that mental wall
hits you so hard, and you'relike, I don't am I even made to
run?
Like, this is is this a dumbidea?
So it's like, you know, it'sit's that same kind of process,
but it's just making sure thatyou're like I'm staying the
(43:06):
course, I know what my goal is,and I'm gonna do the best I can
to get there.
Um and just listen to your body.
Like if you're overtrained, yourbody will tell you.
Like, don't get rabbed though.
That's that's not good foranyone.
Um, but then also like if youfeel like you're not pushing
enough, like sometimes you gottabe honest with yourself and be
(43:28):
like, you know what, I have moreto give.
Um, so it's it's very muchexperimentation in the
beginning, like understandinghow you feel.
And um but I will tell you, myfavorite running shoes are the
new balance 1080s.
Those are the most comfortable,like that's all I wear.
Um, they're they're great.
So that's probably the bestadvice I can give is just start
(43:50):
out slow because if you go outtoo hot, like you'll hate it way
sooner than you know, givingyourself you have to give
yourself that time to adapt.
And it's not comfortable, but itpasses pretty quickly.
Like, if you run for a week, thenext week will be easier and and
so on.
So yeah, that's my advice.
But love it.
SPEAKER_00 (44:09):
That's sound advice, and you're a practitioner, so I
trust you.
Try that's that's so inspiring.
Keep us updated on your journeywith content.
Um document your 50 miler, 50mile marathon.
50 miles insane, dude.
That's insane.
SPEAKER_02 (44:28):
It's in uh yeah, in the in the mountains, so it's uh
a trail marathon, and so I'mwe'll have pretty views though.
SPEAKER_00 (44:36):
Yeah, you'll have pretty views.
Uh I look forward to the podwhere you talk about where like
the dark places where your mindgoes.
SPEAKER_02 (44:44):
Oh yeah, yeah.
I mean, I've I've shared a fewof those on this podcast, but um
you're talking about duringrunning, like during those long
races.
Yeah, I mean I uh I just ran a32-mile race in Moab, Utah, um
October 25th.
SPEAKER_01 (45:01):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (45:02):
And yeah, even during those times, like your
body, everything feels like it'saching because you're not just
going distance, like you'regoing up mountains, and there's
a lot of elevation change.
And like there was a coupletimes during that race where I
was like, this shit just sucks.
Like I just want to be done.
(45:22):
I love those moments becauseyou're a sicko.
Yeah, well, it's just like youknow, those moments teach me uh
who I really am and like if I amable to keep going, and though
they're just so honest, and um,they're a rarity.
Like, there's not very manytimes in my day-to-day life
where I'm like, I just want tostop.
(45:43):
Um, but this teaches me thatlike, hey, I can keep going.
So yeah, I mean, definitely willdocument a lot of those things.
And the 50 miler is almostdouble the distance of what I
just did.
So I'm sure I'll be in a lot ofdark places on that one.
But yeah, I'll keep everyoneupdated.
SPEAKER_00 (46:00):
I'm so impressed.
That's so cool.
You're the real deal.
That's awesome.
Uh, I aspire to get there.
I wanna I want to incorporaterunning into my life because I
think it'll uh you know, it'sgood for you, but also it'll
inform my creativity, man.
Like it'll just keep it'll justmake me sharper, you know, and
better and stronger and fasterand endurance and all everything
(46:20):
all around.
Um, you know, I'm a big TonyRobbins guy, and he talks about
emotion is created with motion,you know, he talks about
physiology quite a bit and stateand you know, getting your body
at an optimized state, peakstate, right?
And uh all that's physical.
And so being able to get there,yeah.
I I I've ran one mile, dude, mywhole life.
(46:42):
Like I've ran one mile twice mywhole life, one mile.
And um you got fresh knees.
I do.
I do.
I like to think of myself as avehicle that doesn't have that
many miles on it, even though II get uh 20,000 steps a day, I
walk quite a bit, and but I wantto get to where I'm going
faster, you know?
Like why spend why uh why walkfor three hours when you can
(47:04):
squeeze that into a nice40-minute run or something?
SPEAKER_02 (47:07):
Yeah, yeah, and and that's the thing, is like that
all comes with time, you know.
It's just um have you ever heardof like progressive overloading
with with weightlifting and thatkind of thing?
SPEAKER_00 (47:17):
Yeah, is there like a similar process with running?
SPEAKER_02 (47:21):
It's just basically the the same kind of thing.
So it's like you know, what Ilike to do is I'll run like five
miles, and then the last uh mileor half mile, like I'll just try
and go really quick.
So that's like a tempo run or aprogressive run.
SPEAKER_00 (47:36):
I see.
SPEAKER_02 (47:37):
Um, but then just like the next time you just keep
trying and doing that, and thensoon enough you'll be like, hey,
I can actually maintain thispace.
SPEAKER_00 (47:44):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (47:45):
Um, so yeah, there's a lot that goes into it, but I
won't bore you with all the thenuanced.
SPEAKER_00 (47:50):
It's not boring, it's really cool, but I'm sure
your listeners have have heardit.
And uh I just keep us updated,man, because that that's the
most impressive thing.
I think that's so rad.
SPEAKER_02 (47:59):
Yeah, and you you gotta keep keep me updated on
the the new film.
I I gotta spend more time onyour site checking out what all
the other stuff is.
SPEAKER_00 (48:06):
It's bonkers, dude.
This movie's bonkers.
Like it's one of those I don'teven want my kids to see it.
Like it's they're gonna be like,what the fuck is wrong with you?
You know, like it's it's veryexciting.
It's very exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (48:16):
Hey, there we go.
That sounds awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (48:18):
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_02 (48:19):
Um, but yeah, I uh I really appreciate you coming on
and just being honest, sharingyour story, and of course, um
talking about creativity becauseit really is important.
Um, you know, that's one thing Ilove about humans that we all
share is we all love stories.
Um and film is in my opinion,one of the best ways to tell
(48:42):
stories.
Like it's so visual, the audio,the actual, you know, the
compelling um acts of thecharacters, like all those
different things.
Like that really like the reasonthe Dark Knight's so important
to me is because like HeathLedger's performance in that was
unmatched.
No one's ever gotten close tothat guy.
Um, and it's just like stayedwith me, and all those different
(49:04):
scenes, like I quote it all thetime, and it's just because like
it was such a compelling story.
Um, so yeah, I mean, I justreally appreciate your time and
and for me for for coming on thepodcast.
And I know you're gonna be ableto do that.
SPEAKER_00 (49:18):
Thank you for inviting me.
That's okay.
I always make time for you, man.
If you ever want to do it again,I'm down.
SPEAKER_02 (49:24):
Well, that's the thing, is um my wife is a pilot,
and so we have benefits uh andshe flies to Austin, Texas.
So maybe hey, next time it's anin-person one.
SPEAKER_00 (49:34):
Come to the crib.
Come to the crib, man.
You're invited, just open thedoor.
SPEAKER_02 (49:38):
And then you can show me rock me to barbecue
spots, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (49:42):
Oh, I got the best barbecue spot, brother.
There we go.
Everyone says everyone says theyhave it, but my god.
Yeah, I actually know it and Igatekeep it, so I'll save that
for IRL.
SPEAKER_02 (49:53):
There we go.
Well, awesome, man.
Um, anything else you want toshare before we before we jump
off?
SPEAKER_00 (49:58):
Just thank you for this opportunity to express
myself and to speak my truth.
Um, I'm really proud of how faryou've come and where you're
going.
Truly.
This you're you're you're doingthe impossible all the time, you
know, with this podcast.
I think it's like 90% never makeit past episode three, and then
like 98% don't make it past likeepisode 17 or something like
(50:21):
that.
Like you're in the minority ofthe minority of the minority,
and so if you just stay thecourse, brother, like it's gonna
pay off.
Um, it's that meme of thatexcavator who's like digging,
and oh, he gave up right beforethat he saw the diamonds.
Like, it's that it's that, man.
Like, that's all this is.
It's a last man standing match.
So stay the course.
You already know that.
(50:42):
You have a good pace, you know.
Um, keep us updated.
I love it.
Um if if anybody's made it thisfar, they can support the cause
by going to knivesmonro.com anduh you know just uh seeing if
they like anything there thatthey that they you know what
they're looking around.
Uh you know, I got some freeresources.
Uh I did create a 90-minutecourse that I just dropped
(51:04):
online for free.
And the workbook is availablefor free on the website.
The art of shit posting isavailable on the website.
Uh, got my newsletter, got mypodcast, it's all there on the
website.
So yeah, man.
Uh I love you.
Thanks for inviting me.
This was fucking fun.
SPEAKER_02 (51:19):
It was awesome, man.
I I love it too.
And um, I'll keep I'll put allthat stuff in the show notes so
everyone can go check it out.
But seriously, yeah, go checkout Knives Work and um help help
keep creativity alive.
That's really that's what we'reall trying to do.
SPEAKER_00 (51:33):
So that's what we're all trying to do.
SPEAKER_02 (51:36):
Well, seriously, man, thank you so much for
coming on.
Um, I really enjoyed ourconversation.
And um, for everyone elselistening, as always, keep
getting after it.
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