We examine what happens when the feeling that "anything is possible" starts to fade from creative life. Starting with the mythology of Los Angeles and its role in manufacturing dreams, we dig into the shift from youthful ambition to adult pragmatism and what gets lost in that transition. The conversation explores how being surrounded by people chasing big goals creates an energy that's hard to replicate once life becomes more complicated.

We discuss the practical realities that erode creative optimism - mounting responsibilities, financial pressures, and the accumulated weight of meetings that don't pan out and projects that stall. But we also examine whether this decline is inevitable or if there are ways to maintain that sense of possibility through intentional community building and creative practice. The episode grapples with finding authentic creative energy in midlife and the challenge of sustaining ambitious work when the path forward feels less clear than it once did. -Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

We examine the tension between creative expression and commercial necessity in the digital age. We explore how the pursuit of expensive camera gear and equipment can become a substitute for actual creative work, and discuss the corrupting influence of affiliate marketing and sponsorships on genuine artistic curation. The conversation moves toward the concept of "escape velocity" - finding ways to separate commercial considerations from the creative process through patronage models, financial independence, or simply refocusing on experience over acquisition.

We reflect on how social media and internet culture have shifted focus from seeking meaningful experiences to collecting objects, and consider whether it's possible to maintain authentic creative practice while still earning a living from content creation. We discuss the appeal of older, non-commercial equipment and the challenge of building genuine audience relationships in an increasingly commercialized creative landscape. -Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

In this episode, we discuss the responsibility artists feel to give back through their work after being influenced by others. We share stories of stepping outside our comfort zones—including a chance encounter with a silversmith in Badlands National Park—and how these experiences fuel creativity. We explore the tension between control and surrender in the creative process and examine why modern comforts often distance us from making meaningful work.

We look at what makes creative output timeless and how to connect with deeper truths in our art. Drawing from road trips, travel literature, and photography experiences, we consider the difference between talking about creating versus actually creating something authentic. The conversation challenges us to move beyond comfortable routines and safe creative choices to produce work that resonates on a deeper level and contributes something valuable to the ongoing creative dialogue. - Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

In this episode, we examine how comfort can become a creative liability. Through conversations about films, road trips, and creative production, we explore the paradox that meaningful work often requires embracing uncertainty and hardship. The tension between structure and surrender becomes central to our discussion—whether on film sets, during travel, or in personal projects.

We consider the difference between merely discussing creative work versus actually producing it, and how modern conveniences make it easier to stay in the realm of theory rather than practice. Drawing from Japanese poet Basho, we reflect on how true creation happens when we stop imposing ourselves on our subject and instead achieve a deeper connection through surrender and presence. -Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

We explore the fundamental impulse that drives us to create and communicate through our art. Inspired by Bruce Springsteen's reflection that his need to express himself is "as reliable as the rhythmic beating of my own heart," we examine this universal language that transcends medium, form, and intention. Whether it's through music, film, photography, or simply speaking our truth, we discuss how creation isn't just something we do—it's essential to feeling alive and connected to our existence.

Over whiskey tastings and spirited conversation, we debate the tension between raw emotional expression and crafted artistic discipline. We question whether today's culture of immediate sharing has changed our relationship with the creative process, potentially sacrificing longevity for immediacy. At the heart of our discussion is the recognition that creating isn't merely about ego or recognition—it's about transforming our personal experiences into something that resonates beyond ourselves, lifting the ephemeral into something that endures. As one of us notes during our conversation, "We want to feel like we exist," and perhaps creating is the most profound way we confirm that we do. -Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

Fair warning: this episode meanders a bit as we jump around – but that's just how it goes sometimes <3. We explore the relationship between creativity and physical spaces, examining how third places foster artistic inspiration and community. We discuss the importance of curated environments, and our shared vision for spaces that nurture authentic experiences. Our conversation touches on everything from film photography to bookstores, considering how these physical touchpoints connect to broader themes of artistic process, curation, and the human need for tangible creative engagement in an increasingly digital world. - Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

We often find ourselves drawn to practices that shape our daily lives—not because they promise grand outcomes, but because they ground us in the moment and make us feel alive. Whether it’s meditating to clear the mind, running just to feel the rhythm, or making the bed each and every morning, these habits remind us that joy and purpose don’t always need a finish line. We explored how reframing these routines as acts of optimism, rather than obligations, can transform the experience.

Through our conversation, we discuss the idea that optimism isn’t just blind hope—it’s a deliberate choice to see possibility in every situation, something essential when making work. It’s about balancing discipline with spontaneity, and trusting that the next moment can be good even when the path isn’t clear. - Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

In this episode, we explore the tension between authenticity and evolution in creative projects. Beginning with a discussion about potentially refreshing our visual identity, we dive deeper into examining what makes our conversations meaningful and why we're drawn to document them. We question the purpose of structure in creative work and the value of maintaining a pure intention versus following conventional paths toward growth or commercial success.

We reflect on the nature of long-term documentary projects and what happens when creative endeavors remain untouched by commercial pressures. Drawing parallels to musicians and filmmakers who maintained their vision over decades, we consider how various forces—including desire for novelty, insecurity, and commercial interests—can potentially corrupt the purity of creative intentions. The conversation ultimately celebrates the organic, unplanned connections that emerge when creators stay true to their original purpose rather than conforming to external expectations. -Ai

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode.

Links To Everything:

Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT

Matt’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT

Matt’s 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT

Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT

Matt’s Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG

Alex’s Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG