Showing up — even when it’s uncomfortable.
If you’re a creative, founder, or builder trying to stay consistent in a noisy world, this one is for you.
In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, we sit down with Chris Kore for an honest conversation about the inner battles creators rarely talk about.
We dive into:
Why most people quit before momentum starts
The difference between motivation and discipline
How self-doubt quietly sabotages creative growth
Why consistency matters more than talent
And how to keep moving when nobody is watching
This episode isn’t about hacks or shortcuts.
It’s about you.
Everything that blooms begins in dirt.
In this episode, we explore growth the way nature does it — not through force or hustle, but through patience, integration, and trust in the process. Trauma, failure, rejection, and confusion aren’t obstacles to creative growth; they’re the soil it grows from.
Using nature’s growth mechanics, nervous system science, and yogic wisdom, this episode unpacks how unprocessed experiences keep us stuck in survival — and how regulation, presence, and time turn “dirt” into nourishment. Roots grow in silence. Expression comes later. Fragrance is a byproduct of health, not effort.
This is a reminder for creatives who feel unseen, stuck, or underground:
You’re not behind. You’re growing.
Effortless growth isn’t about avoiding darkness —
it’s about trusting what it becomes.
In this solo episode, I reflect on 2025 through the lens of my solo podcast episodes. What started as individual thoughts and questions slowly became a clear journey — from noise to clarity, from tools to identity, from movement to commitment.
I walk through how each episode shaped my thinking around creativity, focus, purpose, and self-alignment, and how solo episodes became a tool for reflection rather than performance.
This episode is about slowing down, choosing what matters, and entering 2026 with intention, direction, and trust in the process.
What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t lack of talent — but lack of focus?
In this episode, Mourad breaks down the key lessons from “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan, and translates them into the creative world: fashion, design, content, and entrepreneurship.
You’ll learn:
Why multitasking is destroying your progress
How to find the ONE thing that actually moves your career forward
The “domino effect” that turns small actions into major breakthroughs
How to structure your day for deep creative work
How to build momentum even when life feels chaotic
This episode is a must-listen if you want clarity, direction, and a simple way to grow faster in 2026.
Focus is a superpower.
Using neuroscience, creativity, philosophy, and the art of Kintsugi, we explore how the brain shapes our identity — and how conscious choices reshape the brain.
Each episode helps you break old loops, build new pathways, and align fully with the person you want to become.
This is the journey of going all in: on purpose, with purpose.
All in Purpose is a podcast about choosing your path with full intention.
In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, Mourad breaks down one of the most powerful ideas in modern neuroscience: your identity is not fixed — it’s rewired by what you repeat.
As we move toward 2026, the world is changing faster than ever. Creativity, discipline, confidence, and resilience are no longer traits… they’re trainable circuits in the brain. And the version of you that will meet 2026 is being built right now — thought by thought, habit by habit, choice by choice.
Through the research of UCLA neuroscientist Jeffrey Schwartz, the work of Robert Greene, and the science of neuroplasticity, Mourad explores how your mind can physically change, how old patterns can weaken, and how a new identity can be created with intention.
You’ll learn the practical method for rewiring your mind, how to shape the future version of yourself, and why 2026 won’t change you — you will change yourself.
If you're ready to become the person your future needs, this episode is your blueprint.
If your mind feels empty, your ideas aren’t flowing, and your creative spark feels missing — this episode is for you. Mourad shares a clear 5-step reset to help you get unstuck, lower the pressure, and reconnect with your creativity. A comforting and motivating conversation for anyone in a creative dip.
In this episode, we explore how love fuels the creative journey — not just as emotion, but as discipline, courage, and connection.
From the love of ideas to the people who support us, to the self-love needed to stay balanced, this episode dives into why love is one of the strongest forces behind meaningful work. A reflective, inspiring conversation for anyone navigating the creative path.
2026 isn’t about doing more — it’s about rewiring how you think and create.
In this episode, we mix ideas from The Creative Act, Eat That Frog, and Huberman Lab to help you build a system that sticks.
Set your vision, do the hard thing first, and train your brain through focus, repetition, and rest.
This year, don’t just set goals — rewire yourself to reach them.
Drawing on insights from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act and Huberman Lab’s neuroscience, we break down how the brain’s neuroplasticity allows us to rewire our thinking patterns, regain focus, and restore motivation when inspiration fades.
In this episode, we explore how creatives can bounce back from burnout and transform mental dips into powerful breakthroughs.
You’ll learn:
What actually happens in your brain during a creative burnout — and how to calm the nervous system.
How to rewire your neural pathways to respond to setbacks with curiosity instead of fear.
Why rewarding the process (not just success) helps rebuild sustainable creativity.
Simple tools and rituals to turn emotional lows into creative energy.
How to use awareness, reframing, and transformation to reconnect with your creative flow.
Whether you’re an artist, designer, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you understand the science of resilience — and remind you that every burnout can become the foundation for your next big breakthrough.
Inspired by The Creative Act, we explore how to balance both — so you can stay inspired, grounded, and fully present in your art.
Creativity is chemistry:
Dopamine gives you spark + Serotonin gives you peace.
Why does time disappear when you’re deep in your art — but crawl when you’re stuck or bored?
In this episode, we explore how your brain feels time through two key chemicals: dopamine and serotonin.
You’ll learn how dopamine fuels excitement, focus, and creative flow — while serotonin brings calm, patience, and balance. Together, they shape how we experience time, creativity, and joy.
We’ll also break down simple, science-backed habits to boost both chemicals naturally — from movement and music to mindful rest — so you can stay inspired, focused, and in control of your creative energy.
What happens after your 3-hour creative window ends?
You don’t stop creating — you shift states.
This episode explores Strategic Emptiness — the intentional space between effort and insight. It’s where your subconscious connects the dots, where ideas breathe and grow.
You’ll learn how to:
End with awareness — knowing when to stop before burnout.
Move gently — using walking or simple motion to trigger new neural connections.
Let the mind wander — tapping into the brain’s default mode network.
Capture the drift — recording quiet ideas before they fade.
Protect the pause — keeping distraction out so creativity can expand.
Because creativity doesn’t end when you close your laptop —
it begins again in the quiet that follows.
The 3-Hour Creative explores how health, energy, and discipline shape the mind’s creative potential. The episode dives into the science and rituals behind peak creativity — from deep sleep that fuels originality, to movement that sharpens the mind, to nutrition that sustains focus and flow.
Through stories, science, and reflection, this podcast reveals how creatives unlock their best work in just 3–4 hours a day — by treating creativity like a performance.
Sleep. Move. Recover. Create: Work less. Create more.
In this solo episode, I break down how to use the Hero’s Journey — one of the most timeless storytelling frameworks — inside your pitch deck. Instead of overwhelming your audience with data and slides, you can invite them into a story where they are the hero, and you are the guide.
I’ll walk through each stage of the journey, show you how it maps onto a creative pitch, and use The Matrix as an example to make it crystal clear. By the end, you’ll see how every pitch deck can become an adventure of transformation — one that not only captures attention but inspires action.
Your pitch is not a presentation. It’s an adventure.
In this thoughtful conversation, Valentino Marazziti reflects on how fatherhood reshaped his perspective on creativity, freelancing, and the legacy he wants to leave behind. Once driven by ambition in the advertising world, he now navigates his career with a stronger sense of purpose, turning down projects that don’t align with his values while focusing on work that contributes positively to future generations.
The discussion dives into the shifts in the creative industry, the importance of genuine community over algorithm-driven connection, and the balance between discipline and flexibility in both personal and professional life. Valentino also shares updates on his children’s book project, which grew from a personal idea for his son into a meaningful pursuit rooted in storytelling, creativity, and cultural awareness.
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https://www.instagram.com/valentinomrz/
In this insightful 45-minute podcast episode, Diand returns for her second appearance to share how she navigates life transitions, career shifts, and personal growth. Reflecting on goals that didn’t go as planned—like yoga training in India or van life in Norway—she highlights how unexpected opportunities, such as traveling to New York and landing a new full-time role in fashion, shaped her year.
The conversation dives into the balance between structure and flow, showing how letting go of rigid plans often opens doors to better opportunities. Diand discusses the importance of embracing the “grey zone,” maintaining wellness through yoga, meditation, and sleep, and cultivating resilience during uncertain times.
Listeners will walk away inspired by her farmer’s-season metaphor for growth, her honest reflections on burnout, and practical tips for finding stability while staying adaptable in work, creativity, and personal health.
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In this episode, Andrew Buckley shares his journey from traditional filmmaking into the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven creativity. With over two years of experience using AI tools, Andrew explains how they’ve become an essential part of his creative toolbox, from image and video generation to idea development. He reflects on the similarities between AI workflows and the traditional director’s process—highlighting both the unpredictability of results and the exciting new possibilities for surreal, cinematic storytelling.
Beyond the technical side, Andrew discusses the broader implications of AI: its rapid pace of development, the ethical dilemmas surrounding authenticity and digital models, and its environmental impact. He emphasizes the importance of being critical, fact-checking outputs, and learning prompt engineering as a creative skill. The conversation offers a grounded, inspiring perspective on how artists can embrace AI as a tool without losing their own vision, meaning, and storytelling power.
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In this episode, Creative Director Taranveer Singh joins to discuss the foundations of powerful advertising and storytelling. Drawing on his experience in motion design and directing at Monks, he breaks down the three pillars of content creation: purpose, perspective, and perception. Singh shares how these principles shape brand communication across both physical and digital spaces, while also exploring the psychology of how audiences engage with content in today’s fast-paced, short-form media landscape.
The conversation dives into creativity as a human need, the challenges of balancing consumption versus creation, and how memory and perception drive lasting impact. Singh also reflects on his personal journey, from experimenting with VFX to leading creative strategy, and leaves listeners with practical insights on introspection, motivation, and staying human in an AI-driven world.
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With Tom Crate, a creative director who has worked with Future Deluxe, Tendril, and The Mill. Tom reflects on his beginnings in motion design, his passion for blending visuals with music, and the pivotal lessons learned during his years in the industry. He candidly opens up about burnout, the challenges of freelancing, and how fatherhood reshaped his priorities and outlook on life. For Tom, creativity is more than a career—it’s a tool for navigating life’s pressures and building deeper human connections.
Beyond his professional milestones, Tom shares valuable insights into intentional living, discipline, and the importance of creative self-care. He draws powerful parallels between portfolios and personal identity, emphasizing the courage it takes to showcase only the work—and the habits—that truly reflect who we are. From myths and storytelling to navigating the distractions of social media, Tom highlights the timeless role of creativity in helping us find meaning and resilience in a world of constant change. This episode is a thoughtful reminder that real success is not just about projects or recognition, but about living in alignment with one’s values and passing that wisdom forward.
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https://www.instagram.com/tomcrate/