Ourselves Podcast
Ourselves Podcast
Podcast Description
OURSELVES is the world’s first open-source podcast that dives deep into the worlds of creativity, culture, & personal growth. Hosted by film & music video director Arrad, each episode brings you unfiltered conversations with visionary artists, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and thought leaders shaping the future. From behind-the-scenes stories of groundbreaking projects to candid discussions about mental health, reinvention, and navigating the creative industry, OURSELVES is your space to feel inspired, challenged, and connected.
Made by ourselves, for ourselves.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a diverse range of topics such as creativity, culture, personal growth, and mental health. Specific episodes delve into themes like navigating fame in the music industry with artists like RealestK, tackling anxiety within the creative community, and resilience stories featuring actors like Daniel Moncada. Focus areas include personal challenges faced by creatives, behind-the-scenes industry insights, and strategies for maintaining mental well-being.
OURSELVES is the world’s first open-source podcast that dives deep into the worlds of creativity, culture, & personal growth. Hosted by film & music video director Arrad, each episode brings you unfiltered conversations with visionary artists, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and thought leaders shaping the future. From behind-the-scenes stories of groundbreaking projects to candid discussions about mental health, reinvention, and navigating the creative industry, OURSELVES is your space to feel inspired, challenged, and connected.
Made by ourselves, for ourselves.
Most of what you’ve been told about being a content creator is a lie. Sooraj Saxena spent years learning that the hard way.
In this conversation he reveals the testing pool TikTok uses before any video goes viral, why Mr. Beast openly admits his mental health is awful, why chasing another creator’s blueprint guarantees you’ll resent your own life, and the moment that made him walk away from a 5,000 person paying waitlist. If you’re building anything online in 2026, this is required listening.
00:00 Content Is Science
01:51 Sooraj’s biggest audience
03:21 His Original Chai videos
05:22 Brown Creator Representation
06:13 Childhood Performer Roots
10:47 Startup Videos Breakthrough
16:41 Sneaking Into Concerts
19:23 His Company Shakti And the TikTok Market Gap
32:58 Back to Brand Deals
33:22 Betting on a Portfolio
35:14 Being Ghosted From a Big Partnership
37:09 Gods Wake Up Call
40:24 His First Big 6 Figure Merch Year
48:20 How the Algorithm Can Penalize You
51:41 Why Brands Dont Reach Out
01:10:05 Creator Chaos Tradeoffs
01:14:01 Create for Joy Not Fame
01:16:12 Deinfluence Your Dreams
01:16:43 Having Four Million Followers But Broke
01:19:50 Stop Chasing Blueprints Like Mr Beast
01:23:48 No One Is Saving You
01:27:03 What To Do When Content Flops
01:30:49 AI and Human Resilience
01:35:49 Final Advice
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Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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