In this solo episode, host Drew English unpacks the concept of leverage and why 2025 is the best time for creatives to build independent success. He argues that cheap tech, free global distribution, and direct-to-audience marketing have removed the traditional gatekeepers. Creators who shift from selling services to building assets can own their future in the “Creator 2.0” era.

Key Takeaways

Tech is cheap: Your phone can produce market-ready visuals—hardware is no longer the hurdle.

Distribution is free: Platforms like YouTube give instant access to a worldwide audience; the game now is earning the click.

Marketing is direct: Email lists and social media let you talk to fans anytime—no middlemen required.

Assets > services: Follow the athlete model—use your primary skill to build IP, products, or partnerships that earn while you sleep.

Real-world examples:

The Umbrella Academy evolved from graphic novel to Netflix hit.

A24 green-lit “The Backrooms,” a YouTube horror series created by a 19-year-old.

Producer Alex LeMay urges filmmakers to “think platform first, not format.”

Action items for listeners:

Audit your expertise - what unique knowledge or story can become IP?

Choose one primary platform (e.g., YouTube) and design content natively for it.

Start an email list to own your relationship with fans.

Package and test ideas in small formats (web series, mini-docs, digital products).

Lean into human connection - your perspective and trust can’t be replicated by AI.

Resources Mentioned

Jason Murray on “Creator 2.0” (@jason_swet on Instagram)

Producer Alex LeMay’s Substack article HERE

The Umbrella Academy (graphic novel → Netflix)

A24’s upcoming film “The Backrooms” (originated on YouTube)

Connect with Drew

Subscribe to Drew’s Substack newsletter Creative Balance for deeper dives.

Follow No Set Path on YouTube, Instagram, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Share the episode and tag @drewenglishh to keep the conversation going.

About the Episode

What happens when you refuse to “pick a lane” and instead let curiosity steer the wheel? In this conversation, multidisciplinary artist Blake Pfeil (creator of the Ambie-winning immersive podcast Abandoned: The All American Ruins Podcast) sits down with host Drew English to explore how haunting, deserted places became a surprising wellspring of creativity, recovery, and self-acceptance.

You’ll Learn

Why Blake traded a traditional musical-theatre path for a globe-trotting artistic life – and how ignored passions came roaring back during lockdown.

How exploring abandoned spaces (from upstate NY to Finland) helped him process grief, addiction recovery, and burnout.

The origin story of All American Ruins and the production choices that landed it an Ambie Award for Best Indie Podcast.

Practical advice for creators who juggle multiple disciplines without losing focus (hint: “master being you,” not a niche).

The power of slowing down, deep breathing, and letting imagination work as a healing tool.

Guest Links

Website & portfolio: BlakePfeil.com

Listen to Abandoned: The All American Ruins Podcast → wherever you get podcasts

Watch the All American Ruins docu-series on Hudsy

Connect with Drew

Newsletter Creative Balance – actionable ideas for creative entrepreneurs

Subscribe to No Set Path on YouTube

Drew’s IG: @drewenglishh

Drew’s Website: www.drewenglish.com

Support the Show

Share the episode on Instagram & tag @nosetpathpod, @drewenglishh and @blakepfeil.

Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify if this episode resonated!

Episode Overview

Drew sits down with LA-based composer and educator Zach Heyde to unpack how he’s blended film scoring, a 100,000-subscriber YouTube channel and a thriving mentorship program into a balanced creative life. They dig into sustaining passion, ditching hustle culture, and why sharing knowledge can be a business model in itself.

Key Topics & Timestamps

00:01 – Zach’s early start: piano at 7 and first composing gigs → landing “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight” (dream job) NSP - Zach Heyde

08:00 – Reality of writing 10 min of orchestral music per week & protecting creative energy NSP - Zach Heyde

16:00 – Moving from Tennessee to LA for community, not clout—how genuine relationships create work opportunities NSP - Zach Heyde

20:50 – 18 years on YouTube: what 100 K subs taught Zach about intention vs. vanity metrics NSP - Zach Heyde

33:00 – Inside Zach’s Composer Bootcamp & Pro Group: teaching the business of music, not just theory NSP - Zach Heyde

42:30 – Lowering the “publish” barrier: tactics for beating over-thinking and sharing in real time NSP - Zach Heyde

50:00 – Upcoming projects: recording live strings in Budapest and turning the process into content NSP - Zach Heyde

Takeaways

Your creative “North Star” evolves. Let the fog clear naturally.

Time-boxed scoring (3 hrs/minute) demands new workflows; balance craft with sustainability.

Authentic networking = making friends first; work follows.

Audience trust grows faster when your content serves genuine curiosity, not algorithms.

Teaching can satisfy creative, financial, and community needs simultaneously.

Ship fast: capture the impulse before perfectionism kills momentum.

Resources & Links

Zach’s YouTube channel – https://youtube.com/zachheyde

Zach’s IG: @zachheyde

Zach’s Composer Pro Group & Bootcamp – details on https://zachheyde.com

The Call of Raven’s Hollow (Album): https://zachheyde.bandcamp.com/album/the-call-of-ravens-hollow

Connect with Drew

Creative Balance Newsletter: https://thedrewenglish.substack.com/

Drew’s IG: @drewenglishh

Drew’s Website: www.drewenglish.com