Episode #51: "The Work Behind Getting Work: Building a Sustainable Freelance Filmmaking Career" w/ Director Michael Fagan

Filmmaker Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel speaks with filmmaker, therapist, and Nourish coach Saritha Rothermel about what happens when the version of success we’ve been pursuing no longer fits the life we actually want.Together, they explore:• Grieving careers, identities, possibilities, and seasons that have changed• Separating our worth from our success as filmmakers• Reconsidering ambition as our lives and priorities evolve• Balancing creative dreams with relationships, family, finances, and other responsibilities• Accepting where we are while still making space for change• Finding a “third way” when the path we imagined no longer fitsUltimately, this conversation isn’t about becoming less ambitious. It’s about asking whether our ambition is still serving the life we want to build, and giving ourselves permission to let our definition of success evolve as we do.Learn more about Nourish at ⁠thenourish.community⁠ or follow ⁠@thenourish.community⁠

Applications are now open for The Filmmaker Reset Circle, a new weekly group coaching space for filmmakers navigating burnout, disconnection, uncertainty, and misalignment in their work and life. Learn more and apply at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠members.thenourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel speaks with writer/director Liz Sargent about the journey of making her first feature, Take Me Home, a deeply personal film centered around her sister Anna, who has a cognitive disability.Together, we explore:• Turning personal experiences and family relationships into stories• The emotional realities of making deeply personal work• Liz’s unconventional path into directing• Trusting your instincts and adapting the filmmaking process to the people involved• Building teams that understand and support how you work• How making a first feature changed Liz’s understanding of leadership• Success, recognition, and what it means for a film to truly matterLiz reflects candidly on coming out the other side of her first feature changed by the experience and reconsidering how she wants to make films and lead moving forward.If you’re working toward your own first feature, making deeply personal work, or thinking about the kind of filmmaker you’re becoming in the process, this conversation is for you.Learn more about Nourish at thenourish.community or follow @thenourish.community

Filmmaker Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel speaks with director and Art of Documentary co-founder Mark Bone about how our relationship with ambition can evolve throughout a creative career.Together, we explore:• When ambition serves us—and when it begins to cost us• Separating our identity and sense of worth from our work• The role validation and ego can play in a creative career• Knowing when an ambition is still worth pursuing• Learning to say no as our priorities evolve• Finding meaning and purpose beyond what we accomplishAt one point, Mark shares a question that has become important in his own work and life: At what cost? It opens up a larger conversation about what we’re pursuing, why we’re pursuing it, and whether our ambitions still fit the people we’re becoming. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning what you’re working toward, or redefining what success means to you, this conversation is for you.Learn more about Nourish at thenourish.community or follow @thenourish.community

As mentioned in the episode, director Michael Fagan is leading “How to Get Work: Without Losing Yourself in the Process,” a live, three-hour workshop about building a more sustainable freelance career.Two sessions are available:August 26 at 6:00 p.m. ET⁠https://luma.com/howtogetwork⁠August 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET: ⁠https://luma.com/howtogetworknourish--Episode Description: Do you need to live in Los Angeles or New York to build a meaningful career in film?In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel speaks with Josh Carrasquillo, President & Executive Producer of Taproot Pictures, about building a nationally respected production company from Grand Rapids, Michigan.Together, we explore:• Creating opportunities outside the major film hubs• Why relationships and trust are foundational to growth• Building reputation and momentum beyond your local market• The role culture has played in Taproot’s longevity• Making the most of wherever you are todayIf you’ve ever questioned whether you need to be somewhere else to build the career you want, this conversation is for you.Learn more about Nourish at www.thenourish.community or follow @thenourish.community

As mentioned in the episode, director Michael Fagan is leading “How to Get Work: Without Losing Yourself in the Process,” a live, three-hour workshop about building a more sustainable freelance career.Two sessions are available:August 26 at 6:00 p.m. EThttps://luma.com/howtogetworkAugust 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET: https://luma.com/howtogetworknourishThis is the first paid Nourish event offered outside the gatherings included with a community membership.In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel speaks with Michael about the work behind consistently finding work.Known for directing campaigns for brands including Best Buy, LG, and PayPal, Michael shares how creative focus, relationship-building, outreach, and visibility helped him move beyond the feast-or-famine cycle.We discuss:• Why trying to be everything to everyone can limit your opportunities• How choosing a clearer creative lane changed Michael’s career• Building relationships that lead to work• Staying visible without feeling inauthentic• Creating momentum during rejection and slow seasons• Balancing ambition, family, and financial responsibilityThis podcast explores Michael’s story and philosophy. The workshop provides a deeper look at the tools, systems, and habits he uses in practice.Learn more about The Nourish Community at www.thenourish.community or follow @thenourish.community.

Applications are now open for The Filmmaker Reset Circle, a new weekly group coaching space for filmmakers navigating burnout, disconnection, uncertainty, and misalignment in their work and life. Learn more and apply at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠members.thenourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel sits down with producer, production executive, and Nourish coach Paige DeMarco for a conversation about leadership, emotional maturity, communication, and personal growth within the filmmaking industry.With nearly 20 years of experience producing commercials, branded content, television, music videos, and still photography, Paige has led countless productions while navigating the realities of clients, deadlines, uncertainty, conflict, and the human dynamics that exist behind every creative project.Rather than offering formulas or management tactics, this conversation explores a quieter, more grounded approach to leadership, one rooted in presence, self-awareness, curiosity, and trust.• How to remain grounded when everyone around you feels stressed or overwhelmed • Why emotional steadiness is one of the most underrated leadership skills • How to navigate conflict and difficult personalities without losing yourself • The importance of clear communication and healthy boundaries • Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness • How to lead from your values instead of fear, ego, or people-pleasing • What “quiet authority” looks like in practiceWhether you’re a producer, director, editor, cinematographer, freelancer, or simply someone growing into greater responsibility, this episode is an invitation to rethink what effective leadership really looks like.Join the Nourish Community for weekly conversations, live events, coaching, and meaningful relationships with filmmakers pursuing wellness, purpose, and sustainable creative careers.Visit www.thenourish.community or follow us on Instagram @thenourish.community

The Inner Frame is now live in The Nourish Community. Join filmmakers from around the world for a year-long journey of twelve recurring monthly gatherings, weekly live events, meaningful conversations, and ongoing support as you build not only a meaningful career, but a meaningful life. Learn more at www.thenourish.community.Over the past four years, the Nourish Community has hosted hundreds of conversations with filmmakers around the world. While every story has been different, many of the same deeper questions have continued to emerge.In this solo episode, Jon Bregel introduces The Inner Frame, a new year-long rhythm of twelve recurring monthly gatherings that now serves as the foundation of the Nourish Community. Rather than simply announcing a new series, Jon reflects on why structure matters, how meaningful growth rarely happens by accident, and why the inner life we cultivate ultimately shapes the careers we build.In this episode you’ll discover:• Why The Inner Frame emerged from four years of community conversations• How structure creates space for intentional growth• The difference between building a successful career and a meaningful life• Why the questions beneath our work often matter mostJoin the Nourish Community for The Inner Frame, weekly gatherings, live conversations, workshops, coaching, and an aligned community of filmmakers building meaningful careers and meaningful lives.Visit www.thenourish.community or follow us on Instagram @thenourish.community.

Applications are now open for The Filmmaker Reset Circle, a new weekly group coaching space for filmmakers navigating burnout, disconnection, uncertainty, and misalignment in their work and life. Learn more and apply at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠members.thenourish.community⁠⁠⁠⁠Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel sits down with filmmaker Jake Viramontez, founder of SOWN, a nonprofit storytelling organization, for a conversation about purpose, storytelling, and building a career that serves something bigger than yourself.After years directing commercial and branded content for companies like Sony, Chevrolet, Pepsi, American Airlines, and the United Nations, Jake found himself wrestling with what he describes as a “gaping hole” within himself. Rather than ignoring that feeling, he followed it. That journey ultimately led him to create SOWN, a nonprofit dedicated to producing films for organizations creating meaningful change around the world.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:• Why many filmmakers eventually begin searching for deeper purpose in their work • How storytelling can become an act of service rather than self-promotion • Why success and fulfillment aren’t always the same thing • The role curiosity plays in becoming a better storyteller • How purpose often emerges through paying attention to what won’t leave you alone • Why the stories we tell shape both our audiences and ourselves • What it looks like to build a career around contribution, generosity, and impactThis episode is ultimately about more than filmmaking. It’s about paying attention to the quiet invitations that call us toward a life and career that feel more aligned with who we are and what we value.Join the Nourish Community for weekly conversations, live events, coaching opportunities, and support for filmmakers pursuing wellness, meaningful relationships, and purpose.Visit www.thenourish.community or follow us on Instagram @thenourish.community

Applications are now open for The Filmmaker Reset Circle, a new weekly group coaching space for filmmakers navigating burnout, disconnection, uncertainty, and misalignment in their work and life. Learn more and apply at: ⁠⁠⁠members.thenourish.community⁠⁠⁠Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠⁠In this episode, Nourish founder Jon Bregel sits down with director and Nourish coach Danielle Goetz for a conversation about finding your voice, developing your point of view, creative reinvention, and building a career that reflects who you actually are.After years navigating the creative industry as a director, filmmaker, and business owner, Danielle shares what she has learned about trusting your intuition, embracing your uniqueness, and creating opportunities that are more aligned with your taste, values, and creative identity.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:• How to get hired for more of the work that reflects your taste, interests, and perspective.• Why finding your voice is less about creating a new identity and more about uncovering who you already are.• How narrowing your focus can create more clarity and opportunity in your career.• Why sharing your point of view can feel vulnerable, but may be the very thing that helps the right people find you.• How filmmakers can navigate creative pivots and seasons of reinvention.• Why your uniqueness is often the thing people are actually looking for.• How confidence is built through trusting your intuition and creative instincts.• Why building a sustainable creative career requires developing yourself, not just your portfolio.This episode is an exploration of what it really means to find your voice as a filmmaker. Not just your visual style, but the way you see the world, the stories you’re drawn toward, the way you collaborate, and how you show up in your work and life.It’s a conversation about creativity, vulnerability, confidence, and learning to trust that the things that make you different might also be the things that make your work most valuable.Danielle is now available for one-on-one coaching through Nourish, where she helps creatives-for-hire uncover their point of view and build careers rooted in their authentic voice. Learn more or book a discovery call at www.thenourish.communityJoin the Nourish Community for weekly conversations, live events, coaching opportunities, and support for filmmakers pursuing wellness, meaningful relationships, and purpose. Visit ⁠⁠www.thenourish.community⁠⁠ or follow us on Instagram at @thenourish.community

Applications are now open for The Filmmaker Reset Circle, a new weekly group coaching space for filmmakers navigating burnout, disconnection, uncertainty, and misalignment in their work and life. Learn more and apply at: ⁠⁠members.thenourish.community⁠⁠Community + Coaching Support @ ⁠⁠www.TheNourish.community⁠In this episode, Nourish founder, Jon Bregel, sits down with filmmaker Jay Duplass for a candid conversation about career reinvention, creative identity, success, and the challenge of evolving without abandoning everything you’ve built.Drawing from his own journey through independent film, television, parenthood, and decades of creative work, Jay reflects on the moments that forced him to reevaluate his relationship to ambition, achievement, and what it means to build a sustainable creative life.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:• Why career reinvention often begins long before any external change is visible.• How filmmakers can evolve without feeling like they’re starting from scratch.• The hidden pressures that can accompany creative success.• Why fulfillment and achievement are not always the same thing.• How personal growth can reshape your relationship to work, ambition, and identity.• The importance of staying connected to creativity during uncertain seasons.• Why making small things can sometimes lead to the biggest breakthroughs.• How to navigate change while honoring the life and responsibilities you’ve built.This episode is an exploration of what happens when the path you’ve worked so hard to create no longer feels fully aligned. It’s a conversation about adaptation, resilience, and discovering that reinvention doesn’t always require becoming someone new- it may simply require becoming more fully yourself.Join the Nourish Community for weekly conversations, live events, coaching opportunities, and support for filmmakers pursuing wellness, meaningful relationships, and purpose. Visit ⁠www.thenourish.community⁠ or follow us on Instagram at @thenourish.community