Podcast
Creator Alchemy
Hosted by Corey Wilks, Psy.D. · EN
Navigate the inner game of entrepreneurship with psychological insights to transform your business, your life, and yourself.
I'm Dr. Corey Wilks, a psychologist and executive coach who helps ambitious creators and entrepreneurs escape mediocrity and build extraordinary lives and businesses. On this show, I share strategies and insights to help you overcome self-sabotage, break through internal barriers, and unlock the impact only you can have—so you can reach your full potential and build a life and business that actually matter to you.
Through solo episodes and raw, honest conversations with inspiring creators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, we explore the intersection of personal development, entrepreneurship, and creativity—and what it really takes to thrive, not just succeed.
Whether you're wrestling with imposter syndrome, stuck in a life that looks good on paper but feels misaligned, or finally ready to figure out what you really want—this podcast will help you make the most of the one life you've got.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#40 - [SOLO] If You're Ambitious But Filled With Self-Doubt, This Is For You...
Dec 1300:29:04Tap to summarizeIf you're ambitious but stuck in the gap between knowing and doing, this episode is for you. I break down the nine psychological barriers that keep capable people from taking action—from waiting for permission that will never come to letting impostor syndrome run your life. These aren't tactical problems, they're deeply rooted patterns that affect everyone. Here's what you need to understand about what's actually holding you back.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro00:37 You're Waiting for Permission02:21 You Have Imposter Syndrome05:06 You're Focusing On What "They" Think07:32 You've Lost Perspective11:11 You're Waiting Until You Feel Ready13:19 You Keep Getting In Your Own Way16:31 You Allow Toxic Personal Narratives to Persist21:08 You Avoid Yourself23:45 You're Trying to Be a Lone Wolf—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#39 - Tim Stoddart: Inside the Mind of Building Multiple 7-Figure Companies
Dec 1001:06:32Tap to summarizeTim Stoddart is one of my favorite entrepreneurs and writers. He's built multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses with SEO, content marketing, advertising, and great writing. A few years ago he went full circle and bought Copyblogger, a website and platform that first taught him how to build an online business when he first started. In this episode, we dive into the "inner game" of what it actually takes to build multiple successful companies, the psychological toll it can take that most entrepreneurs never talk about, and Tim shares business advice everyone ignores that could actually be the key to building a successful business. —CONNECT WITH TIM STODDART: https://copyblogger.com/https://www.timstodz.com/https://www.youtube.com/@timstodz—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Creators Are Broke09:29 How Content Attracts Serendipity19:04 Building Business Relationships Through Authenticity29:09 Sobriety, Entrepreneurship, and Obsession47:10 Self-Care, Stillness, and Sustainability54:29 Business Advice Everyone Ignores—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#38 - [COACHING] How to Deal with Uncertainty as an Entrepreneur with Dan Bennett
Nov 1601:13:18Tap to summarizeWANT TO WORK TOGETHER?Apply for PUBLIC Coaching: https://tally.so/r/EkkQgqApply for PRIVATE Coaching: https://tally.so/r/mVqOlv—This is a public coaching session where I help Dan Bennett, an entrepreneur who's built a six-figure company, navigate the constant uncertainty and overwhelm of growing his business.—ABOUT DAN BENNETT: Dan is the founder of Hot Sauce Video, a company dedicated to helping remarkable people look and sound great on camera.Connect with Dan: http://danhaslinks.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#37 - Tintin Smith: The Inner Battles of Starting Your Own Creator Business
Nov 401:23:27Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Tintin Smith, former Head of YouTube for Ali Abdaal where he helped Ali's channel generate millions in subscriber count and revenue before launching his own business helping educational YouTubers turn their channels into sustainable six-figure businesses. We explore the psychological journey of entrepreneurship including navigating imposter syndrome, pricing psychology, the insecurity of self-promotion, and other psychological aspects of running a successful online business every creator faces.—CONNECT WITH TINTIN SMITH: 100K YouTuber: https://100kyt.com/100K Roadmap: https://100kroadmap.co/Tintin's Business Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theyoutubetinTintin's Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tintinsmith—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 From Working with Ali Abdaal to Building His Own Business19:41 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Charging Premium Prices34:06 Pricing Psychology and Charging Your Worth50:34 Doing Aligned Work and Avoiding Golden Handcuffs01:01:30 Dealing with the Insecurity of Self-Promotion01:19:17 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#36 - Jessica Lackey: How to (Actually) Build a Successful Online Business and Leave the Entrepreneurial Casino
Oct 3002:06:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite no-bullshit entrepreneurs, Jessica Lackey, to talk about what it actually takes to build a successful online business. We dive deep into why most entrepreneurs are gambling with their careers and how to build a sustainable, meaningful business based on conviction and curiosity.—ABOUT JESSICA LACKEY: Jessica Lackey is the founder of Deeper Foundations, a consulting and training firm that helps expertise-based business owners grow and scale sustainable companies rooted in stronger business foundations. She brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and soulful business building, drawing on an MBA from Harvard Business School, a coaching certification from iPEC, and experience at McKinsey & Company and Nike, Inc. Jessica has supported over 200 entrepreneurs through her programs, blending systems thinking, operational rigor, and deep values alignment.—CONNECT WITH JESSICA LACKEY: Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/Book: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/casino—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Why Building an Online Business Feels Like a Gamble08:10 When the Math Doesn’t Math13:37 Understanding Your Business Model39:04 Common Pitfalls of Early Entrepreneurship51:10 Languaging, Frameworks, and Resonating with the Right Audience56:33 The Power of Curiosity and Conviction01:16:22 Leaving the Casino of Business01:25:47 Creating an Impact with Your Work01:36:14 Dealing with the Fear of Ridicule01:40:45 The Harsh Truth About Building a Business01:59:35 Advice on Building a Successful Business02:05:09 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#35 - [SOLO] 38 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Business 5 Years Ago
Oct 1201:51:00Tap to summarizeThe title says it all.—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro01:24 Stop Waiting for Permission04:08 You’ll Never Find Time05:52 The Path of Least Resistance is Often the Most Crowded07:42 You Can Sell Without Being Salesy11:25 If You’re Not Making Money, You Don’t Have a Business13:23 A Hobby Work Ethic Won’t Drive Business Results16:43 Hustle Culture is Just Virtue Signaling for Entrepreneurs20:09 There’s Prestige in Solving Hard Problems, Not in Making Problems Hard to Solve21:43 Ideas Don’t Matter23:27 Listen to People Who Open Their Wallets, Not Their Mouths27:02 Branding is a Waste of Time29:20 People Don’t Follow You for Your Content33:05 Don’t Try to Be a One-Person Media Empire35:48 Be Less Impressed, More Involved38:20 No One Wants You to Pick Their Brain41:26 Who You Can Text Matters More Than Your Follower Count42:58 Don’t Romanticize Being a Lone Wolf. Lone Wolves Die in the Wild45:01 Focus on Building a Portfolio of Assets47:07 Don’t Live on Rented Land52:31 If You’re Stuck at a Fork in the Road, It Means Both Paths Are Viable55:20 Metrics Matter Until They Mislead You57:13 Audience Capture Can Cause You to Lose Yourself01:01:43 Forget About Work-Life Balance. It’s a Lie01:04:55 If You Don’t Respect Your Value, No One Else Will01:07:38 Confidence is Overrated01:10:08 No One Knows What They’re Doing01:12:32 It Feels Hard Because It Is Hard01:15:56 No One Gives a Shit About You01:17:58 Stories Move People, Not Statistics01:20:44 Know When to Widen Your Vision and When to Put On Blinders01:25:58 Don’t Live Online. Live Offline and Share Online01:28:23 Pick What You Want to Be Great At, Then Accept Being Mediocre At Everything Else01:30:33 Forget Trends. Focus on Timeless01:33:40 Find the Torture You're Comfortable With01:36:49 It’s Going to Feel Like Drinking from a Fire Hydrant for a Long Time01:39:16 Focus on Resonance Over Reach01:42:03 Embrace Your Dark Horse Era01:44:59 Most Productivity Issues Aren’t Due to a Lack of Discipline, But an Abundance of Fear01:47:17 Final Thoughts—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
Transcribe →#32 - Amanda Natividad: The Future of Marketing in an Algorithm-Driven World
Sep 20Tap to summarizeWhat is marketing, actually? And how can you improve your marketing to grow your audience, revenue, and resonance in an authentic way? In today's episode, I sit down with my friend Amanda Natividad, head of marketing at SparkToro, to explore the psychology behind effective marketing. We discuss zero-click content, parasocial relationships, and why the best marketing doesn't feel like marketing at all, and Amanda shares actionable strategies for creators who want to build authentic connections that convert.—ABOUT AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Amanda Natividad is VP of Marketing for audience research startup, SparkToro. In her spare time, she co-hosts the Meme Team podcast and writes a marketing newsletter called the Menu (with over 16k subscribers). She’s also the creator/teacher for Content Marketing 201, a contributor for Adweek, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and a former journalist. Amanda previously led marketing for Growth Machine, led marketing for Liftopia, built Fitbit’s B2B content program, and led content and communications for NatureBox.—CONNECT WITH AMANDA NATIVIDAD: Website: https://amandanat.com/Newsletter: https://amandanat.com/subscribe/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandanat/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandanat/Twitter: https://x.com/amandanatMeme Team Podcast: https://www.memeteampodcast.com/—SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to the Creator Alchemy Newsletter for exclusive content and unlock the Psychology of Success Masterclass for free.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/—JOIN THE COMMUNITY:The Creator Alchemy Lab is a community for ambitious creators taking bold action to transform their businesses, their lives, and themselves.Go to https://www.creatoralchemy.com/lab now to join.—TOPICS DISCUSSED:The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing because people naturally resist being sold to but want solutions to their problems.Content marketing should serve specific business functions rather than just creating content for content's sake.Zero-click content strategy focuses on providing value directly on social platforms instead of driving traffic away from them.Parasocial relationships allow creators to scale intimacy and build genuine connections with large audiences.Content pillars act as guardrails that protect your mental health while maintaining focus and audience expectations.Blog posts and long-form content serve as proof and defense for your expertise, not just standalone pieces.People follow creators for who they are, not just their content, which is why personal connection matters more than perfect information.Building algorithmic capital through consistent valuable content allows you to occasionally promote without being penalized.Making it easy for people to understand what you sell and where to buy it is fundamental but often overlooked.—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Why the Best Marketing Doesn’t Feel Like Marketing01:24 - B2B vs B2C Marketing: Key Differences04:25 - The Truth About Content Marketing13:10 - Personal Brand vs Reputation: Building Authentic Authority22:46 - Parasocial Relationships: Scaling Intimacy in Marketing35:20 - Managing Influence and Setting Professional Boundaries41:09 - Marketing Psychology in an Algorithm-Driven World44:15 - Why Zero-Click Content and Algorithmic Capital Are the Future of Marketing50:08 - People Hate Being Sold to But Love This…51:56 - Why Everything is Marketing53:02 - The Power of Building a Content Portfolio57:30 - The Lamborghini Marketing Principle1:05:27 - One Final Piece of Marketing Wisdom—SOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coreywilkspsydSubstack: https://substack.com/@coreywilkspsyd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreywilkspsyd/Twitter: https://x.com/CoreyWilksPsyDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywilkspsyd/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/coreywilkspsyd.bsky.socialDisclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.
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