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My guest today is Troy DeVolld who is a reality television producer, author and speaker with dozens of credits on shows such as The Surreal Life, The Osbournes, The Bachelor, and Dancing with the Stars. Troy is also the author of the books Reality TV, One Hundred Poems about Los Angeles series and the book about the TV notes process, And Another Thing.

In his more than 23 years in the industry, Troy has no doubt developed an in depth passion for his craft. Troy and I dive deep into some of the wisdom he gained from his experiences to be happy and fulfilled in his chosen craft, including diversifying your skills, setting boundaries while collaborating effectively, and even setting boundaries with yourself. Troy has so succinctly summarized our entire conversation into one short sentence:

"I sacrificed my life to have a version of my life."

No doubt that my conversation with Troy will inspire you to rekindle your passion for your craft while equipping you with the right tools and mindsets so you can stay happy, sane and well.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

How Troy went from an aspiring comic book artist to producing reality TV
How Troy 'fell into' writing for a Woody Woodpecker commercial
What makes networking valuable to both you and the person you’re reaching out to
The advantages of being 'older' in the industry
The right way to 'do it all' when you have multiple passions
What makes all your past experiences and skills relevant and valuable
The difference between being exploited and caring for what you do
How to collaborate with people no matter what your working stye is
Why Troy wrote a book about how to handle studio and network notes
How to get out of your own way and let creativity flow
Reality TV: Ugly Stepchild of Hollywood?
Why Troy decided to stay in the business even after having a stroke

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Allee Willis

Ep205: Using the Hero’s Journey to Write Better Stories (and Live a Better Life) | with Chris Vogler

Troy DeVolld's website & blog

StoryExpo.com

Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market

And Another Thing: A Beginner's Guide to the Television Notes Process

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Ep118: Legendary Editor Walter Murch On Optimizing Creativity, Productivity, and Well-Being In Hollywood For 50+ Years

Ep116: Maintaining Boundaries, Well-Being, and Sanity on Hollywood Blockbusters | with Jeffrey Ford, ACE

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Ep209: Life After 3 Heart Attacks in 24 Hours | with Marc Wielage

Ep187: [Hollywood On the Record] How to Create Your Dream Job by Setting Healthy Boundaries | with Jerilynn Stephens & Kimi Messina

Ep136: Promoting Mindfulness, Well-Being, and Sanity In the Edit Bay | with Kevin Tent, ACE

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Ep153: Mob Scene CEO Tom Grane on What It Takes to Succeed in Trailers & Marketing (Without Sacrificing Work-Life Balance)

Guest Bio:

troy-devolld-bio Troy DeVolld

Troy DeVolld began his career in Hollywood 23 years ago on the MTV series Fear and has been credited on shows like The Osbournes, The Surreal Life, The Bachelor and multiple seasons of Dancing With The Stars. He's a sought-after consultant in the reality space and a speaker at Story Expo and Masters of Story events. Books include Reality TV, And Another Thing and the One Hundred Poems About Los Angeles series.

Show Credits:

This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).

Ep247: When the Passion Tax Leads to a Stroke & How to Rebuild Your Life | with Troy DeVolld

The Zack Arnold Podcast