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Studio Sessions

Matthew O'Brien, Alex Carter

58 episodes

1 week ago

We establish guardrails for the podcast after recognizing we've been on autopilot for months, using this as a state of the union where we commit to actual accountability instead of vague intentions. Matthew discusses diversifying revenue streams to reduce dependence on sponsorships that feel like selling rather than curating, while trying to build financial stability that allows space for reading and creative work. Alex confronts how illness disrupted his morning writing routine and the chall...

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Performing Arts

All content for Studio Sessions is the property of Matthew O'Brien, Alex Carter and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

We establish guardrails for the podcast after recognizing we've been on autopilot for months, using this as a state of the union where we commit to actual accountability instead of vague intentions. Matthew discusses diversifying revenue streams to reduce dependence on sponsorships that feel like selling rather than curating, while trying to build financial stability that allows space for reading and creative work. Alex confronts how illness disrupted his morning writing routine and the chall...

Show more...

Performing Arts

Episodes (20/58)

Studio Sessions

58. The Work You Keep Deferring

We establish guardrails for the podcast after recognizing we've been on autopilot for months, using this as a state of the union where we commit to actual accountability instead of vague intentions. Matthew discusses diversifying revenue streams to reduce dependence on sponsorships that feel like selling rather than curating, while trying to build financial stability that allows space for reading and creative work. Alex confronts how illness disrupted his morning writing routine and the chall...

1 week ago

1 hour 8 minutes

Studio Sessions

57. Private Work, Public Truths

We explore the tension between private creative work and public output—why some projects stay hidden in desk drawers, what gets lost when we don't capture ideas in the moment, and how the act of recording thoughts (whether on paper, voice memo, or typewriter) shapes what eventually gets made. The conversation moves through the craft of writing, from Dostoevsky dictating novels to assistants to the question of whether our image-saturated culture has made us illiterate in different ways than pr...

3 weeks ago

58 minutes

Studio Sessions

56. Seasonality, Not Speed

We examine the tension between artistic evolution and audience expectations, using examples from Mac Miller to Paul Thomas Anderson to explore what happens when creators follow their interests rather than trying to replicate past successes. The conversation moves through Matthew's strategy of operating multiple YouTube channels as both creative experimentation and financial hedge—separating pure documentation from tutorial content while trying to preserve the act of curation from the corrupti...

1 month ago

1 hour

Studio Sessions

55. Reclaiming The Soul of Digital Technology - Less Capability, More Freedom

We explore the philosophy behind building personal websites and using intentionally limited computing as creative practice. The conversation examines why modern computers feel "too dangerous"—offering infinite possibilities that paradoxically constrain focus—and how deliberately choosing simpler tools can restore agency over our attention and creative output. Through discussions of building throwback websites, setting up old computers as single-purpose machines, and integrating AI through ter...

1 month ago

1 hour 40 minutes

Studio Sessions

54. Embracing Necessary Imperfections

We examine how digital culture's promise of frictionless perfection has created unrealistic expectations that we unconsciously apply to relationships, creativity, and life itself. The conversation explores the psychological residue of living in an attention economy—how algorithmic thinking shapes our behavior even when we consciously reject it, and why we find ourselves reaching backward in time for tools and practices that feel more aligned with human limitations. The discussion reveals how ...

2 months ago

1 hour 18 minutes

Studio Sessions

53. The Terrible Master: On Ego, Perception, and the Choice to See Differently

We look at David Foster Wallace's "This is Water" commencement speech, examining its central themes of awareness, ego death, and the daily struggle against our "default settings." What starts as a discussion of the speech evolves into a broader exploration of how we navigate modern life—from the challenge of maintaining consciousness in consumer culture to the difficulty of having genuine conversations without blind certainty. We explore the paradox of participation versus checking out:...

2 months ago

1 hour 47 minutes

Studio Sessions

52. The Homogenization Problem: Is Culture Losing Itself? PART 2

2/2 We explored the cultural tension between our fascination with the past and uncertainty about the future, using the metaphor of returning to an earlier video game save point when the current level feels impossible to beat. The conversation examined how platforms like YouTube are becoming flooded with AI-generated content, creating what we called a "cobra effect" where attempts to solve one problem create bigger ones. We discussed how the ease of content creation tools has led to an overwhe...

3 months ago

48 minutes

Studio Sessions

51. The Homogenization Problem: Is Culture Losing Itself? PART 1

Part one of two. We once again dive into the tension between artistic integrity and algorithmic demands in today's creator economy. As YouTube's algorithms continue evolving in 2025, prioritizing engagement metrics and recommendation systems that analyze billions of signals, we explore what happens when content creators face the pressure to homogenize their work for maximum reach. The conversation touches on the current shift away from what industry experts call "the era of excess" or "the Mr...

3 months ago

59 minutes

Studio Sessions

50. Fragmented Culture: What Matters When Nothing Really Matters?

We examine whether culture has actually become decentralized or if we just live in isolated "slivers" while still being shaped by the same underlying systems. Starting with observations about feeling "out of touch" we explore how everyone now consumes completely different content yet we can still connect meaningfully with friends over shared experiences. This raises questions about what really drives human connection and whether platforms like YouTube and social media create genuine cultural ...

3 months ago

1 hour 11 minutes

Studio Sessions

49. The Human Cost of "Artificial Intelligence": What Are We Trading Away?

We dive deep into the seductive promise and hidden costs of AI technology and the question that haunts every creative: what are we trading away for convenience? Through our exploration, we examine how tools shape not just what we make, but who we become in the process. We also wrestle with the tension between efficiency and authenticity, discussing everything from DV tape workflows to AI-generated content and the race to the bottom that threatens meaningful creation. This conversation challen...

4 months ago

49 minutes

Studio Sessions

48. What Happens When We Stop Believing Anything Is Possible?

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...

4 months ago

1 hour 19 minutes

Studio Sessions

47. Escape Velocity: The Quest For Autonomy in Art

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 ...

5 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes

Studio Sessions

46. Creative Obligation & Reciprocity: The Debt of Inspiration

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 timel...

5 months ago

1 hour 25 minutes

Studio Sessions

45. Embracing Chaos: Thriving in Creative Discomfort

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 conve...

6 months ago

1 hour 19 minutes

Studio Sessions

44. The Universal Language of Creative Expression - Why We Must Create to Feel Alive

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...

6 months ago

46 minutes

Studio Sessions

43. Artful Spaces: On Curation, Community, and The Creative Value of Physical Spaces in a Digital Age

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 br...

7 months ago

1 hour 4 minutes

Studio Sessions

42. Daily Practice or The Art of Doing It Just Because

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 o...

7 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

Studio Sessions

41. Standing Still, Moving Forward: The Paradox of Creative Consistency

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 doc...

8 months ago

1 hour 50 minutes

Studio Sessions

40. Sonder: Embracing Empathy and Human Connection

We dive into metta-meditation—cultivating goodwill toward strangers—and explore how shifting our mindset can dissolve anger and frustration. We unpack the concept of sonder: the profound realization that every passerby lives a life as vivid and complex as our own. Through personal stories—from navigating LA traffic to estate sales—we reflect on the beauty and chaos of human connection, asking: How do we move from judgment to empathy? We also discuss the parallels of "alternate lives", ...

8 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Studio Sessions

39. Who Made This? The Disappearing Artist and Their Work

We compare different ways of looking back at our past creative work - from screenplays and videos to photographs and stories. While Matt vividly remembers the emotions and intentions behind each project even years later, Alex experiences complete disconnection from his past work, seeing it almost as if someone else created it. We explore whether emotional distance helps with objective evaluation of creative projects, referencing how artists like Michael Mann and John Updike revisit and refine...

9 months ago

50 minutes