What happens when creative power, marketing wisdom, and startup energy collide? In this episode, Jay sits down with Julie Matzen to explore the journey from agency leadership to startup empowerment. With honesty, laughter, and depth, they unpack the emotional architecture of business: the fear of becoming irrelevant, the power of validation, and the truth that failure isn’t a wall—it’s a lens.The conversation moves from the dangers of letting AI write your ad copy to the Gen X struggle of feeling unseen, all the way to the radical idea that access to wisdom should be affordable. Through shared metaphors, unapologetic insights, and unexpected childhood stories, Julie and Jay remind us that the real power in business—and in life—comes not from polish, but from presence."Don't let AI be your art. The paintbrush doesn't get the credit."Bio: Julie Matzen is the co-founder of Boarderline and founder of the MayDay Agency. With over 25 years in branding and digital strategy for top-tier brands, Julie now focuses on democratizing access to expert advisors for startups and mid-sized businesses. Through Boarderline, she's building a platform that empowers emerging entrepreneurs to gain real insights from the minds that helped build the world's biggest brands.📌 Key Takeaways✨ [00:14:00] – "AI can automate, but it can't validate."🧘 [00:20:00] – Insight without experience is dangerous—it’s just expensive noise.🔥 [00:36:00] – Gen X has the tools. It's time to show younger generations how to use them.🤖 [00:03:00] – AI is a mirror, not a muse.💭 [00:48:00] – Validation isn’t weakness. It’s water for the seed.📚 Chapter Timestamps🚢 [00:00] – Shifts and Ships in Business🧠 [05:00] – The Wisdom of Gen X and the Value of Lenses🪞 [10:00] – AI as Mirror, Not Muse🎭 [15:00] – The Fear of Aging Out💬 [21:00] – Validation, Vulnerability, and Starting Over📉 [30:00] – Marketing That Misses the Point🎯 [38:00] – Emotional Triggers and Human Branding📚 [48:00] – The Value of Experience🌀 [55:00] – Final Metaphors and MessagesCTA for the ShowIf this episode resonated, subscribe, review, and share it to help grow the Tree of Knowledge 🌳We explore the human experience through tragedy and triumph—with laughter, candor, and depth.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟CTA for the GuestLearn more about Julie Matzen at:https://theboarderline.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-matzen-1696aa52Support her mission to make expert advice accessible to small businesses and emerging founders.🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy
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What happens when creative power, marketing wisdom, and startup energy collide? In this episode, Jay sits down with Julie Matzen to explore the journey from agency leadership to startup empowerment. With honesty, laughter, and depth, they unpack the emotional architecture of business: the fear of becoming irrelevant, the power of validation, and the truth that failure isn’t a wall—it’s a lens.The conversation moves from the dangers of letting AI write your ad copy to the Gen X struggle of feeling unseen, all the way to the radical idea that access to wisdom should be affordable. Through shared metaphors, unapologetic insights, and unexpected childhood stories, Julie and Jay remind us that the real power in business—and in life—comes not from polish, but from presence."Don't let AI be your art. The paintbrush doesn't get the credit."Bio: Julie Matzen is the co-founder of Boarderline and founder of the MayDay Agency. With over 25 years in branding and digital strategy for top-tier brands, Julie now focuses on democratizing access to expert advisors for startups and mid-sized businesses. Through Boarderline, she's building a platform that empowers emerging entrepreneurs to gain real insights from the minds that helped build the world's biggest brands.📌 Key Takeaways✨ [00:14:00] – "AI can automate, but it can't validate."🧘 [00:20:00] – Insight without experience is dangerous—it’s just expensive noise.🔥 [00:36:00] – Gen X has the tools. It's time to show younger generations how to use them.🤖 [00:03:00] – AI is a mirror, not a muse.💭 [00:48:00] – Validation isn’t weakness. It’s water for the seed.📚 Chapter Timestamps🚢 [00:00] – Shifts and Ships in Business🧠 [05:00] – The Wisdom of Gen X and the Value of Lenses🪞 [10:00] – AI as Mirror, Not Muse🎭 [15:00] – The Fear of Aging Out💬 [21:00] – Validation, Vulnerability, and Starting Over📉 [30:00] – Marketing That Misses the Point🎯 [38:00] – Emotional Triggers and Human Branding📚 [48:00] – The Value of Experience🌀 [55:00] – Final Metaphors and MessagesCTA for the ShowIf this episode resonated, subscribe, review, and share it to help grow the Tree of Knowledge 🌳We explore the human experience through tragedy and triumph—with laughter, candor, and depth.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟CTA for the GuestLearn more about Julie Matzen at:https://theboarderline.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-matzen-1696aa52Support her mission to make expert advice accessible to small businesses and emerging founders.🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy
In this throwback episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay reconnects with Edison Jakupi, a man whose journey embodies resilience, reinvention, and the power of never giving up. From fleeing war-torn Kosovo to building a thriving career in the U.S., Edison’s story is a testament to what it means to start over—and win. 🎙️🎧 Now remastered with upgraded audio & video, this episode brings back one of our most powerful conversations.What You’ll Hear:🔥 [07:45] “I watched my family lose everything overnight—and that’s when I learned what really matters.”💡 [14:20] The unexpected lesson Edison learned from rebuilding his life in a new country.🎵 [21:05] How Kosovo-Albanian culture shaped his music & creative journey.💰 [30:40] The mindset shift that took Edison from survival mode to success mode.🌎 [45:10] Why hardship doesn’t define you—how you respond to it does.🎙️ Thinking of launching a podcast? Let us handle the editing, production, and branding so you can focus on telling your story. Check out TragedyAcademyStudios.com to get started today.Guest Bio:Edison Jakupi is an entrepreneur, artist, and storyteller who brings his rich cultural heritage into everything he does. Growing up as a refugee, he experienced firsthand the struggles of displacement, adaptation, and perseverance. Today, he’s a successful business owner, blending creativity with strategy to build something meaningful. His story is a powerful reminder that no matter where you come from, you have the power to shape where you’re going.CTA for Show:🚀 Join the journey. Subscribe to The Tragedy Academy Podcast for real stories of resilience, raw truth, and the lessons that come from life’s toughest moments.👉 Watch & Listen Now: TragedyAcademyStudios.com💬 Leave a review & share! Help us amplify these stories.CTA for Guest:🎤 Follow Edison Jakupi to see how he continues turning adversity into opportunity.📲 Find him on Instagram: @EdisonJakupiTragedy Academy Studios – Custom Media & Production ServicesLooking to launch your own podcast, create a unique sound, or get high-quality production work? Tragedy Academy Studios offers professional services to elevate your creative vision.✅ Podcast Production & Editing – Full-service solutions for creators.✅ Voiceover & Audio Work – Professional recording, mixing, and mastering.✅ Video Production – Cinematic, engaging, high-quality visuals.✅ Custom Music Tracks & Promos – Original intros, background music, and branding for your podcast or business.📲 Book a session or learn more at TragedyAcademyStudios.comConclusion:Life knocks you down. Edison’s story proves you can always stand back up.💙 Be cool and keep learning.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: Build your site📲 Upgrade Your Recording: Riverside.FM👕 Grab the Gear: Into the AM📘 Expand Your Mind: Our Favorite Reads✅ Subscribe: YouTube Channel📱 Follow Us:Instagram: @TragedyAcademyStudiosFacebook: TragedyAcademyStudiosTwitter: @TragedyAcademyTikTok: @TragedyAcademyStudios💖 Support Us: Donate via PayPal or Buy Me a CoffeeTwitter: @TragedyAcademyTikTok: @TragedyAcademyStudios💖 Support Us: Donate via PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee
The Tragedy Academy
What happens when creative power, marketing wisdom, and startup energy collide? In this episode, Jay sits down with Julie Matzen to explore the journey from agency leadership to startup empowerment. With honesty, laughter, and depth, they unpack the emotional architecture of business: the fear of becoming irrelevant, the power of validation, and the truth that failure isn’t a wall—it’s a lens.The conversation moves from the dangers of letting AI write your ad copy to the Gen X struggle of feeling unseen, all the way to the radical idea that access to wisdom should be affordable. Through shared metaphors, unapologetic insights, and unexpected childhood stories, Julie and Jay remind us that the real power in business—and in life—comes not from polish, but from presence."Don't let AI be your art. The paintbrush doesn't get the credit."Bio: Julie Matzen is the co-founder of Boarderline and founder of the MayDay Agency. With over 25 years in branding and digital strategy for top-tier brands, Julie now focuses on democratizing access to expert advisors for startups and mid-sized businesses. Through Boarderline, she's building a platform that empowers emerging entrepreneurs to gain real insights from the minds that helped build the world's biggest brands.📌 Key Takeaways✨ [00:14:00] – "AI can automate, but it can't validate."🧘 [00:20:00] – Insight without experience is dangerous—it’s just expensive noise.🔥 [00:36:00] – Gen X has the tools. It's time to show younger generations how to use them.🤖 [00:03:00] – AI is a mirror, not a muse.💭 [00:48:00] – Validation isn’t weakness. It’s water for the seed.📚 Chapter Timestamps🚢 [00:00] – Shifts and Ships in Business🧠 [05:00] – The Wisdom of Gen X and the Value of Lenses🪞 [10:00] – AI as Mirror, Not Muse🎭 [15:00] – The Fear of Aging Out💬 [21:00] – Validation, Vulnerability, and Starting Over📉 [30:00] – Marketing That Misses the Point🎯 [38:00] – Emotional Triggers and Human Branding📚 [48:00] – The Value of Experience🌀 [55:00] – Final Metaphors and MessagesCTA for the ShowIf this episode resonated, subscribe, review, and share it to help grow the Tree of Knowledge 🌳We explore the human experience through tragedy and triumph—with laughter, candor, and depth.🌟 Be cool and keep learning. 🌟CTA for the GuestLearn more about Julie Matzen at:https://theboarderline.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-matzen-1696aa52Support her mission to make expert advice accessible to small businesses and emerging founders.🚀 Welcome to The Tragedy Academy PodcastDiscover stories of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit.🎧 Podcasting Made Easy: https://bit.ly/3LSCBh5📲 Riverside Recording Studio: https://bit.ly/3ImjNWD👕 Grab Jay’s Gear: https://bit.ly/431MLD5📘 Bookshop Picks: https://bit.ly/42pPHcv✅ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUXqlregig6vcrvuVNGlKg📱 Follow UsInstagram: https://instagram.com/tragedyacademystudios.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/tragedyacademystudiosTwitter: https://twitter.com/TragedyacademystudiosTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tragedyacademystudios💖 Support UsPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YMU9L4TBWX6AGBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tragedyacademy
