Episodes

  • Mickey Down and Konrad Kay (How To Make A HBO Show)

    Mickey Down and Konrad Kay (How To Make A HBO Show)
    Nov 5 2025
    Behind HBO's Industry, are showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, two ex-bankers who walked out of London's finance world to create one of TV's most compelling modern dramas. Here are the 6 creative lessons I learned from them about redefining your identity and doing great work...----Get FREE BONUS downloadable poster here----⁠The podcast is now on YouTube - check it out!⁠⁠----Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:03:56 The Journey: From Banking to HBO00:12:45 Rule 1: Write What You Know00:17:31 Rule 2: Give People a Peek Into an Inaccessible World00:23:21 Rule 3: Study Human Nature00:32:17 Rule 4: Create Something Shocking00:40:32 Rule 5: Steal Like An Artist00:46:35 Rule 6: Don't Stop Making----Art mentioned:Industry - TV show, HBO (Mickey Down and Konrad Kay)Mad Men - TV show, AMC (Matthew Weiner)The Wire - TV show, HBO (David Simon)The Sopranos - TV show, HBO (David Chase)Game of Thrones - TV show, HBO (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss)Mastery - book, Robert GreeneGregor - indie film, Mickey Down and Konrad KayEdinburgh TV Festival - panel/interviewKeep Going - book, Austin KleonHayao Miyazaki - Make Like The Greats episode 2Bruce Lee - Make Like The Greats episode 8The Godfather - film (1972), Francis Ford CoppolaThe Social Network - film (2010), David Fincher"Industry's Unintelligible Finance Jargon" GQ article by Jack KingTelevision Academy - interview, Mickey Down and Konrad KayThe Prestige - film (2006), Christopher NolanIndiewire - interview/podcast, Mickey Down and Konrad KayTasteland - podcast, hosted by Daisy AliotoThe Laws of Human Nature - book, Robert GreeneThe Lord of the Rings - book, J.R.R. TolkienBecoming The Main Character - podcast50 Cent - Make Like The Greats episode 1The Creative Act - book, Rick RubinHamilton - musical, Lin-Manuel MirandaWashington Post - interview, Mickey Down and Konrad KayApocalypse Now - film (1979), Francis Ford Coppola (edited by Walter Murch)The English Patient - film (1996), Anthony Minghella (edited by Walter Murch)Novembermag - interview, Mickey Down and Konrad KaySteal Like An Artist - book, Austin KleonThe Runaway Species - book, Anthony Brandt and David EaglemanHeat - film (1995), Michael Mann----To learn from makers not covered in the podcast: Twitter⁠: https://twitter.com/makegreatsLinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats
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    54 mins
  • ICONS is now Make Like The Greats

    ICONS is now Make Like The Greats
    Nov 3 2025

    After starting 2 years ago, ICONS Podcast is evolving. In this special episode, I'm announcing the rebrand to 'Make Like The Greats' — a name that better reflects the podcast's true mission.

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    4 mins
  • Rick Rubin

    Rick Rubin
    Sep 6 2025

    Here are the creativity lessons I learned from Rick Rubin by reading: Rick Rubin In The Studio, by Jake Brown

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    Download the Bonus Printable POSTER for FREE here

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    The podcast is now on YouTube - check it out!⁠

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    Art mentioned:

    • ​"Problem Child" (song by AC/DC)
    • ​Highway to Hell (album by AC/DC)
    • ​"Rick Rubin, In The Studio" (book by Jake Brown)
    • ​The Midnight Special (TV show)
    • ​Iron Man films
    • ​Magna Carta Holy Grail (album by Jay-Z)
    • ​"Berzerk" (song by Eminem)
    • ​"Mastery" (book by Robert Greene)
    • ​"It's Yours" (song by T La Rock)
    • ​Flower Boy (album by Tyler, the Creator)
    • ​IGOR (album by Tyler, the Creator)
    • ​To Pimp A Butterfly (album by Kendrick Lamar)
    • ​"Happy" (song by Pharrell Williams)
    • ​"The Runaway Species" (book by Anthony Brandt and David Eagleman)
    • ​"I Need a Beat" (song by LL Cool J)
    • ​Krush Groove (film)
    • ​Radio (album by LL Cool J)
    • ​Lemonade (visual album by Beyoncé)
    • ​"Walk This Way" (song by Aerosmith/Run-DMC)
    • ​The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (album by Red Hot Chili Peppers)
    • ​"Ring of Fire" (song by Johnny Cash)
    • ​American Recordings (album by Johnny Cash)
    • ​Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (album)

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    Chapters:

    00:00:00 How One Piece of Work Can Change Your Life

    00:03:07 Rick Rubin, The Icon

    00:05:49 Growing Up with AC/DC and Magic

    00:14:00 Attending NYU (Enter Hip-Hop)

    00:17:29 Producing a New Kind of Single

    00:22:25 The Birth of Def Jam

    00:29:57 Launching LL Cool J and a Movie

    00:38:41 How Rick Rubin Works

    00:40:22 Working with RUN-DMC

    00:46:40 Working with Red Hot Chili Peppers

    00:59:14 Working with Johnny Cash

    01:10:10 Aim for Greatness

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    To learn from makers not covered in the podcast:

    Twitter⁠: https://twitter.com/makegreats

    LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Al Pacino

    Al Pacino
    Jan 28 2025
    What creative insights I learned from Al Pacino by reading: Sonny Boy, a Memoir.---⁠⁠Download the Bonus PDF (Al Pacino’s Best Performance + Insights Summary) here---The podcast is now on YouTube - check it out!---Art mentionedHome Sweet Homicide — Theatre ProductionPulp Fiction, 1994 — FilmCreditors — Theatre ProductionDog Day Afternoon, 1975 — FilmThe Indian Wants the Bronx — Theatre ProductionSerpico, 1973 — FilmSea of Love, 1989 — FilmCarlito’s Way, 1993 — FilmDoes a Tiger Wear a Necktie? — Theatre ProductionThe Godfather, 1972 — FilmThe Godfather — Book…And Justice For All, 1979 — FilmThe Godfather, Part 2, 1974 — FilmScarface, 1932 — FilmScarface, 1983 — FilmWall Street, 1987 — FilmPlatoon, 1987 — FilmJFK, 1991 — FilmNatural Born Killers, 1995 — FilmAny Given Sunday, 1999 — FilmMission Impossible, 1996 — FilmHeat, 1995 — FilmThe Godfather, Part 3, 1990 — FilmRichard III — Theatre PlayLooking for Richard, 1996 — Film---To learn from makers not covered in the podcast: Twitter⁠: ⁠https://twitter.com/makegreats⁠LinkedIn⁠: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats⁠---Chapters00:00:00 Life's on the Wire00:01:24 Al Pacino as an ICON00:07:52 Life Has Two Paths (Street Life)00:17:33 The Other Path (Acting)00:29:09 The Collaborators00:44:37 Making The Godfather00:56:05 Making Scarface01:08:18 What Keeps Coming Back To You01:20:56 The Greatest Word In English Language
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Bruce Lee

    Bruce Lee
    Oct 29 2024
    What creative insights I learned from Bruce Lee by reading: Bruce Lee, A Life, by Matthew Polly.---⁠⁠Download the Bonus PDF (Bruce Lee's Unmade Script + Insights Summary) here---Check out the visual experience of this episode on YouTube now!---Art mentioned:Bruce Lee Screen Test (1965) — VideoThe Children’s Paradise — Comic Book#2 - Hayao Miyazaki — ICONS EpisodeMy Son-A-Chang — FilmAn Orphan’s Tragedy — FilmSins of the Father — FilmIn the Face of Demolition — FilmThe Guiding Light — Film#1 - 50 Cent — ICONS EpisodeThe Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin — BookThe Mind, Explored — NewsletterThe Orphan — Film1000 True Fans, Kevin Kelly — EssayBatman — TV SeriesThe Green Hornet — TV SeriesOnce Upon A Time In Hollywood — MovieTao Te Ching, Lao Tzu — BookLongstreet — TV SeriesBruce Lee Pierre Berton Interview — VideoThe Big Boss — FilmFist of Fury — FilmThe Way of The Dragon — FilmGame of Death — FilmEnter the Dragon — Film---To learn from makers not covered in the podcast: Twitter⁠: ⁠https://twitter.com/makegreats⁠LinkedIn⁠: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats⁠---Chapters00:00:00 How Bruce Lee was Found by Hollywood00:01:41 Bruce Lee as an ICON00:05:33 The Many Names of Bruce Lee (The Child Star)00:18:28 Bad School Kid (Fighting)00:25:14 Martial Arts - Wing Chun00:38:52 Moving to the US and Cha-Cha00:48:41 America & Teaching Wing Chun01:02:52 What Robin was to Batman01:13:59 Jeet Kune Do01:21:44 Longstreet01:29:09 The Hong Kong Films01:41:38 Hollywood’s New Man: Enter the Dragon01:49:54 The Passing01:54:11 The Icon (Bruce Lee's Legacy)
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • The Canvas Strategy — Turn Grunt Work into Greatness

    The Canvas Strategy — Turn Grunt Work into Greatness
    Jun 26 2024

    BONUS EPISODE: How to turn your early-career frustrations into a great career.


    What I learned from reading the 2008 blog post, The Canvas Strategy, and Ego is the Enemy, by Ryan Holiday.

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    The podcast is now on YouTube! - Check it out⁠

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    ⁠⁠Download the Bonus PDF (Canvas Strategy Checklist) here

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    Art mentioned:

    • The Canvas Strategy, Ryan Holiday — Blog post
    • Perennial Seller, Ryan Holiday — Book
    • The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene — Book
    • Mastery, Robert Greene — Book
    • The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene — Book
    • The Baptism of Christ, Verrochio (Leonardo Da Vinci) — Painting
    • The 50th Law, Robert Greene — Book
    • The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi — Book

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    To learn from makers not covered in the podcast:

    Twitter⁠: ⁠https://twitter.com/makegreats⁠

    LinkedIn⁠: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/⁠

    Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/⁠

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats⁠
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    28 mins
  • Christopher Nolan

    Christopher Nolan
    Mar 4 2024
    What creative insights I learned from Christopher Nolan by reading: The Nolan Variations: The Movies, Mysteries, and Marvels of Christopher Nolan, by Tom Shone.----⁠⁠Download the Bonus PDF (Christopher Nolan’s Best Work + Insights Summary) here⁠⁠----⁠The podcast is now on YouTube! - Check it out⁠⁠----Art mentioned:Inception — FilmChristopher Nolan, Founders Podcast — PodcastMemento — Film#6 - Coco Chanel — ICONS Podcast Episode2001: A Space Odyssey — FilmBlade Runner — FilmAlien — FilmStar Wars — FilmDay in the Life of a Knife Maker — YouTubeInterstellar — FilmFirst Man — FilmThe Place Beyond The Pines — FilmDrive — FilmBlade Runner 2049 — FilmThe Art and Making of the Dark Knight Trilogy — BookBatman Begins — FilmThe Dark Knight — FilmThe Runaway Species: How Human Creativity Remakes The World — BookLas Meninas, Piccaso — PaintingsWhy So Serious? (The Joker Theme), Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard — Music#5 - Charlie Chaplin — ICONS Podcast EpisodeSamson and Delilah, Rubens — PaintingFollowing — FilmPulp Fiction — FilmReservoir Dogs — FilmCitizen Kane — FilmTenet — FilmThe Italian Job — FilmOcean’s Eleven — FilmA Fistful of Dollars — FilmOppenheimer — FilmAmerican Prometheus — BookClear Thinking, Shane Parrish — BookSearching for Bobby Fischer — FilmHard Eight — FilmBottle Rocket — FilmThe Prestige — FilmCasino Royale — FilmHow To Do Great Work, Paul Graham — EssayWestworld, HBO — TV Show----To learn from makers not covered in the podcast: Twitter⁠: ⁠https://twitter.com/makegreats⁠LinkedIn⁠: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats⁠
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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • Coco Chanel

    Coco Chanel
    Jan 31 2024

    What creative insights I learned from Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel by reading:

    1. Coco Chanel - The Legend and The Life, by Justine Picardie
    2. The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene

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    Download the Bonus PDF (Coco Chanel's best work + insight summary) here

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    The podcast is now on YouTube! - Check it out⁠⁠

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    Art mentioned:

    • Patterned paved corridors of Abbey, Aubazine
    • Interlocking knot and loops in window, Aubazine
    • La Pausa staircase side-by-side with Aubazine Abbey
    • Qui Qu’a Vu Coco — Song
    • Chanel logo in Mayfair lamppost
    • Palmy Days (1931) — Film
    • Chanel No. 5 — Perfume
    • #5 - Charlie Chaplin — ICONS Podcast Episode
    • #1 - 50 Cent — ICONS Podcast Episode
    • Lululemon ‘Dupe Swap’ Campaign
    • Westworld, HBO — TV Show

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    To learn from makers not covered in the podcast:

    Twitter⁠: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/makegreats⁠⁠

    LinkedIn⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-greats/⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/makegreats/⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makegreats⁠⁠
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    1 hr and 3 mins