Are you stuck in the messy middle of life, wondering who you’re becoming on the other side?

In this episode, the mic turns inward as today’s guest—well, it’s me, Zack Arnold —and I’m opening up about the newly rebranded Zack Arnold Podcast. Along with my podcast producer and fellow coach Debby Germino, we discuss why the changes go far beyond a new name, music, or artwork. Together, we dig into what’s shifting behind the scenes and the deeper purpose driving this evolution—not just for us, but for anyone navigating their own transformation.

Key Takeaways

Purpose is the Key to Happiness: Connect your efforts to a purpose larger than personal success and let go of the toxic version of 'optimization' pushed by hustle culture.
Make People Feel Something: Focus on how you make people feel, not just what you say or do to create an emotional connection and leave a deeper impact.
Embrace the Unknown: We’re never starting over from scratch. We can always learn from past experiences and apply them to any new situation.

Episode Highlights

Why rebranding was necessary
What led to the change and how it took shape
Lessons from past rebrand: Fitness in Post to Optimize
Speaking to the emotional heart of the rebrand
Introducing the new Substack and vision behind it
Understanding your purpose and its role in success
From providing education to a building community
What this rebrand mean for the existing community
Embracing the new Creator economy
The Summit
Burnout prevention and protecting healthy habits
What’s next for the Zack Arnold Podcast
Final thoughts and how to stay connected

Recommended Next Episode

Oliver Burkeman: To dive deeper into what inspired our rebrand—and how I now approach goals, time, and priorities.

Useful Resources

Zack Arnold Podcast

Zack Arnold’s Substack: Pivot with Purpose

Oliver Burkeman’s Book: Four Thousand Weeks Time Management for Mortals

Viktor Frankl’s Book: Man's Search for Meaning

Scott Barry Kaufman’s Beautiful Minds Newsletter

Andy J. Pizza’s Podcast: Creative Pep Talk

Show Credits

Edited by: Curtis Fritsch

Produced by: Debby Germino

Shownotes and published by: Vim Pangantihon

Music by: Thomas Cepeda

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content

Why the Relentless Pursuit of Optimization Is a Journey to Nowhere | with Zack Arnold

The Zack Arnold Podcast