191 Maintaining Inspiration when Creating is your Job with Jeremy Spears: Story Artist, Collaboration, and The Creative Process

Leaders Who Create Inspiration: Join Jason Squires as he sits down with Jeremy Spears, an Annie Award–winning Story Artist who has helped bring to life some of Disney’s most beloved films, including Encanto, Wreck-It Ralph, Zootopia, Moana, and Frozen. Jeremy pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to be a story artist from his day-to-day responsibilities to the collaborative process of shaping characters and storylines alongside directors, writers, and animators. In this conversation, Jeremy shares the moment that first sparked his passion for animation, how he stays inspired when creativity is his full-time job, and why pursuing personal projects—like hand-carving wooden sculptures in his Whittle Woodshop keeps his artistry thriving. Stick around until the end to hear which Disney character Jeremy would love to share a meal with, and what would be on the table. If you’re passionate about storytelling, animation, or the creative process, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Learn more about Jeremy and a new film he is working on at https://www.forevergreenfilm.com/