Can You Change the Music?

In this episode of Can You Change the Music?, Jeremiah Shumaker and Joe Reeves unpack one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — drivers of long-term business success: relationships.From drawing hard lines around personal values to rejecting a scarcity mindset, they explore what it really means to treat clients as partners rather than transactions. Jeremiah shares why owning your value can transform your confidence as a creative, while Joe opens up about the intimidating early days of networking and how stepping into uncomfortable rooms ultimately changed the trajectory of his business.Together, they challenge the idea that you have to gatekeep knowledge or compete with everyone in your industry to win. Instead, they argue that generosity, trust, and strategic partnerships can create opportunities far beyond immediate revenue.If you’ve ever wondered how to build a sustainable creative business without losing your integrity — this conversation is for you.In this episode:-Why setting non-negotiable personal values strengthens your business-Partnership vs. service: reframing how you see client relationships-How scarcity mindset quietly sabotages growth-The surprising ROI of networking (even when it doesn’t pay immediately)-Why teaching people instead of selling them can lead to bigger opportunities-Practical ways to become more relational in your business-How generosity creates momentum you can’t manufacture

What does success really look like when you step away from a stable career to chase creative freedom?In this episode, Jeremiah and Joe sit down with Gabe Ochoa, founder of MindFlix Films, to unpack the realities of leaving a corporate job, launching a business just before a global shutdown, and redefining what it means to “make it.” Gabe shares how financial uncertainty, pride-shattering moments, and unexpected opportunities helped shape not just his company — but his character.The conversation moves beyond tactics into something deeper: learning to tune out the noise, operate with intention, and stop chasing money as the primary measure of success. Instead, Gabe challenges creatives to pursue meaningful work, trust their inner compass, and build a life aligned with who they truly are.If you’ve ever questioned your path, wrestled with instability, or wondered whether the risk is worth it — this episode is a powerful reminder that growth often comes disguised as hardship.In this episode:-Leaving a 14-year corporate career to pursue creative freedom-Starting a business right before COVID — and adapting to survive-Why income instability forces real personal growth-Diversifying your creative services without losing your identity-Learning to say no to misaligned clients-Shifting your mindset from chasing money to chasing intention-The role of gratitude in avoiding the entrepreneurial “rat race”-Building character through adversity-Loving yourself enough to ignore the noiseRESOURCES:Connect with Gabe:Website: https://www.mindflixfilms.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindflixfilms/Email: [email protected]

A lot of people are trying to make the conversation around AI and creative businesses a black and white conversation. In reality, I don't think this is quite so simple. There is a grieving process that comes with the devaluing of a skill you took years to refine. At the same time, that grief will only take you so far, and there comes a time where you also have to ask yourself "what am I going to do now?"This clip is part of a larger conversation Joe and I are having around AI in the creative space. Listen to the whole thing here:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ghwYRxnxXz3rMnk5IiVG7?si=268b911123d24f72

The following description was written with AI:AI is everywhere right now — and if you’re a creative business owner, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s a threat, a tool, or something in between. In this episode, Jeremiah and Joe dive headfirst into the AI conversation, unpacking the fear many creatives feel while challenging the all-or-nothing mindset surrounding new technology.They explore what AI can actually replace (and what it never can), how smart business owners are leveraging it to improve workflows, and why authenticity may become even more valuable in an AI-saturated world. Along the way, they share real-world examples from their own businesses — including moments where AI genuinely saved a project — and wrestle with the emotional tension creatives face when hard-earned skills suddenly feel less rare.If you’ve been unsure whether to resist AI or embrace it, this conversation offers a grounded, honest perspective: learn it, use it wisely, but never forget that human connection is still the foundation of meaningful creative work.In this episode:-The real fear creatives have about AI — and whether it’s justified-Why people who know how to use AI may outpace those who ignore it-The difference between efficiency and impact-How AI can strengthen (not weaken) your creative business-Jobs that may genuinely be threatened — and where opportunity still exists-Why authenticity is becoming more valuable, not less-Leveraging AI to buy back time without sacrificing creativity-The future divide between “cheap content” and meaningful storytellingSend questions or crazy stories to [email protected]

In this episode, Jeremiah Shumaker and Joe Reeves sit down with videographer and business owner Ben DeLaughter to talk about the roller coaster of creative entrepreneurship. From getting unexpectedly fired during COVID to nearly draining his savings while chasing a dream, Ben shares the honest realities of building a video business from the ground up. Our conversation dives deep into pricing struggles, inconsistent revenue, client relationships, marketing strategy, and the constant tension between creative passion and financial survival. Ben opens up about the moments that made him question everything—and why he still believes the risk is worth it.If you’ve ever wondered whether self-employment is freedom or chaos, this episode is a candid look at what it actually takes to make it work.In this episode:-The reality check that comes when savings run low-Why cheap clients often cost you more-Learning to price your work with confidence-The shift from “video creator” to business strategist-Retainers, ROI, and proving your value-Adapting to trends like vertical video and AI-The mindset required to survive the ups and downs of self-employment-Why betting on yourself is still worth itRESOURCES:Connect with Ben:Website: https://www.blueeyedvisuals.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueeyedvisuals/Email: [email protected] questions or crazy stories to [email protected]

In Episode 4 of Can You Change the Music?, Jeremiah and Joe get practical—and brutally honest—about what it actually looks like to make six figures as a creative business owner. From $250 videos and walking into restaurants with business cards, to retainers, burnout, imposter syndrome, and big-number months that don’t feel as big as they sound, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the realities behind the income headlines.They unpack two very different paths to “six figures,” why neither is as glamorous as it appears from the outside, and how expenses, time, family, health, and sustainability reshape the way money feels when you’re self-employed. This episode is less about flexing numbers and more about understanding what growth really costs—and what it takes to build something that lasts.In this episode:What “making six figures” actually means (and doesn’t)Low-ticket volume work vs. high-ticket fewer clientsBurnout, sustainability, and retainer modelsImposter syndrome and charging what you’re worthThe hidden costs of running a creative business

In the last episode, we opened up a raw conversation about loneliness in creative work. This week, we pick that thread back up—and go deeper.Jeremiah and Joe continue unpacking what it actually feels like to run a creative business when the isolation, pressure, and mental weight start to compound. They talk honestly about depression, burnout, unrealistic expectations, and the spiral that can happen when everything feels like it’s falling behind at once.From giving yourself permission to “sit in the suck,” to building rhythms and structures that force you back into community, this episode moves from diagnosis to practical steps. The guys discuss why creatives need structure more than they think, how to create margin without sabotaging your business, and why choosing your “hard” is the real freedom of self-employment.They also balance the heaviness with perspective—talking about wins, financial realities, the upside of creative ownership, and why, despite everything, neither of them would trade this path for a traditional job.If you’re a freelancer, videographer, photographer, or creative entrepreneur who’s ever felt alone, overwhelmed, or stuck in your own head—this conversation is for you.In this episode:-Continuing the conversation on loneliness from the previous episode-Depression, burnout, and the mental spiral of creative work-Why “doing the right things” can feel impossible when you’re exhausted-Giving yourself permission to rest without quitting-The importance of structure, rhythm, and external accountability-Choosing your hard: creative freedom vs. traditional stability-Financial highs, lows, and what success actually looks like-Why the possibility of the future keeps creatives goingLINKS TO RESOURCES:Jeremiah's Movie Podcast "For the Love of Film":https://open.spotify.com/show/4dsI8Lj02ghzAmOfydfMls?si=d1303944002d4fa9

Loneliness isn’t something most creatives expect when they start their own business—but it’s often the thing that hits the hardest.In this episode of Can You Change the Music?, Jeremiah Shumaker and Joe Reeves get painfully honest about the isolation that comes with running a creative business. What starts as a conversation about client feedback and the dreaded phrase “Can you change the music?” quickly unravels into something deeper: working alone for long hours, carrying financial pressure by yourself, laying off friends, and sitting with the weight of decisions that no one else can make for you.They talk about the emotional toll of self-employment, the difference between creative freedom and creative burnout, and why owning a business can feel far lonelier than any 9–5 ever did. From dark editing rooms to sleepless nights, this episode explores the quiet parts of creative work that rarely make it onto Instagram.If you’re a videographer, filmmaker, or self-employed creative who’s ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure how long you can keep carrying it alone—this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar.In this episode:-The hidden loneliness of running a creative business-Working in isolation and spending long hours alone-Financial pressure and carrying the full weight of responsibility-Laying off friends and the emotional cost of leadership-Creative pride vs. client needs-Burnout, mental health, and creative exhaustion-Why self-employment can feel lonelier than a 9–5-Finding meaning, boundaries, and connection in creative workSend questions, ideas, and stories to read on the show to [email protected]

In the first episode of Can You Change the Music?, hosts Jeremiah Shumaker and Joe Reeves kick off the podcast by asking what might be the most important question for any creative: why?Both coming from backgrounds in music, ministry, and video production, Jeremiah and Joe share the winding paths that led them into self-employment — from recording studios that didn’t last, to leaving full-time jobs, to realizing that creative freedom comes with real pressure, risk, and responsibility.This episode digs into the difference between being passionate about creativity and building a sustainable creative business. They talk openly about money, lifestyle design, entrepreneurship, storytelling, burnout, experimentation, and why “being the best” isn’t always the goal — adding real value is.Rather than offering a polished success story, this conversation sets the tone for the podcast: honest, reflective, and grounded in lived experience. If you’re a freelancer, videographer, photographer, or creative considering working for yourself (or already in it and questioning everything), this episode is for you.In this episode:-Why defining your “why” matters more than your skillset-Creative freedom vs. the 9–5 mindset-Passion, practicality, and choosing video as a career-Solving real problems vs. making “pretty” work-Experimentation, niching down, and avoiding aimless growth-Why success doesn’t happen by accidentThis is the foundation for everything Can You Change the Music? is about — building creative careers that actually support the lives we want to live.Send questions, ideas, and stories to read on the show to [email protected] TO CONTENT:Jeremiah's narrative podcast, Over the Edgehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7JAP213po3dbk8jkNXl8K1?si=5d7a1b147b7e41bf

Videographers and all other business creatives, we made something just for you.