Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged – “Transform Anxiety into Creative Fuel: Insights from Josh Pais”

Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Josh Pais
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Mick Unplugged dives deep into the transformative power of anxiety and fear—how these oft-misunderstood emotions can be converted into creative energy, presence, and true impact. Host Mick Hunt is joined by renowned actor, coach, and author Josh Pais, most famous for being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and now the creator of Committed Impulse, a training program focused on unlocking authentic personal and creative power. Through candid stories, actionable advice, and direct exercises, Josh shares his journey from navigating Hollywood’s stress to helping thousands unleash creativity through embracing—not resisting—their inner storms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovering Your “Because”: The Power Behind Purpose

• Mick’s Signature Question: Mick invites Josh to articulate his “because”—the driving force deeper than “why.”—[03:29]
  • Josh’s Response:
    “My because is to have people get out of listening to how screwed up they are… get people out of listening to how they're not good enough… because I want people to access their aliveness, their creativity, their playfulness, and really access what they have to offer the world…” — Josh Pais [04:02]
  • Josh’s passion lies in liberating others from cycles of self-doubt and instilling the courage to share their unique gifts.

From Stage Fright to Self-Mastery: Josh’s Acting Origins and Hollywood Lessons

• Josh recalls telling his physicist father he wanted to be an actor and his early realization that character creation, even dark roles, can help people see themselves and grow. [05:45]

  • Shared an anecdote about his dad (who worked with Einstein) initially dismissing his ambitions as “the stupidest thing”—only to offer support after hearing Josh’s higher intent.
  • Josh’s first major film role was with Robert De Niro in “Jacknife,” which taught him the necessity of true presence and connection rather than performing outwardly for recognition. [07:48]

    “He pulled me in... from like an amateur... to two people talking to each other. That was a profound lesson—that it's just you and that other person.” — Josh Pais [08:11]

• On Hollywood Competitiveness: Instead of competing with others, focus on bringing out your own honest, spontaneous self.

  “The notion of competing with another person is just an abstract notion... all I can do is be my best.” — Josh Pais [11:48]

  • Rejection is inherent; the healthiest response is to feel the pain, clear the slate, and approach the next opportunity openly. Guarding against hurt can lead to self-armoring and inauthenticity.

Committed Impulse: Transforming Anxiety and Fear into Powerful Fuel

• Mick highlights Josh’s current work with Committed Impulse, emphasizing its real-world relevance, especially in normalizing emotions like fear and anxiety for both men and women. [17:29]

  • Josh shares his own struggles with overwhelming anxiety and self-doubt early in his career. [19:05]

  “I had so many thoughts in my head: ‘I can't do this... I've made a mistake...’ It was just disastrous auditions.” — Josh Pais [19:05]

• Scientific & Personal Insight: Inspired by his physicist father, Josh reframed emotions as atomic vibrations—natural energetic phenomena within the body.

  “We've all been so immersed in a myth, which is that this is a good thing to feel and this is a bad thing... we are designed... to feel all these different emotions... when I just felt the actual sensation... that started to become creative fuel.” — Josh Pais [21:52]

  • Instead of judging or resisting anxiety, feel the energy physically and use it in your work; it ceases to be an adversary and becomes fuel for creativity and connection.

• Symptoms and Suppression: Ignoring anxiety doesn’t erase it; it gets trapped in the body, manifesting as tightness or pain. Authenticity is honoring these feelings, not denying them. [23:31]

  “If you ignore it, we're not ignoring it—we're just suppressing it and pushing it into a part of our body... it's all emotion.” — Josh Pais [23:31]

Riding the Wave: Practical Application for Leaders and Creators

• In any high-stakes situation—leadership, pitching, performance—your body naturally vibrates more. This isn’t a flaw but a signal of engagement and readiness. [25:42]
  • Strategies:
    • Practice feeling sensations throughout the day
    • In high-pressure moments, stay connected with your audience, use your breath, and let the energy fuel your expression instead of trying to “calm down”
    • Don’t mistake high vibration (nerves, excitement) for unreadiness

  “As you extend out into the world, vibration increases... and it's all good. What we feel—is all good.” — Josh Pais [29:25]

  • Even nervousness signals that you care and are alive in the moment. [31:29]

    “It's when I'm very calm that it's like... oh, crap, I have no idea what's going on...” — Mick Hunt [31:53]

“I’m Back”: Returning to Presence (From Josh’s New Book)

• Josh introduces a practical tool from his book “Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility”: The “I’m Back” practice. [34:54]

  • When you catch yourself lost in mental drama, say “I’m back,” connect with the present, breathe, and feel your body.

  “As soon as you realize your mind just grabbed you... in my classes I have people say, ‘I'm back.’ And that is just training yourself to return to what is real.” — Josh Pais [34:54]

  • The more you practice, the longer you can stay present; life expands from there.

• Book Offer: Mick offers to buy the first 20 listeners who message him “I’m back” a copy of Josh’s book, plus 10 more for his own friends and family. [37:07]

  “I want to make sure I purchase those. But ‘I'm back.’ Message me, 20 people, I've got you.” — Mick Hunt [37:52]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Josh's Purpose Statement:
  “My because is to have people get out of listening to how screwed up they are... because I want people to access their aliveness, their creativity, their playfulness...” [04:02]
• On Acting with De Niro:
  “He pulled me in... to where it's just you and that other person. That was a profound lesson.” [08:11]
• On Rejection:
  “When there's a rejection... it's really key to feel it, like a bee sting, feel the hurt... and then clear the slate and be open as you can for the next...” [12:54]
• On Handling Anxiety:
  “... we've all been so immersed in a myth, which is that this is a good thing to feel and this is a bad thing... when I just felt the actual sensation... that started to become creative fuel.” [21:52]
• On Presence & “I’m Back”:
  “As soon as you realize your mind just grabbed you... say ‘I'm back.’ And that is training yourself to return to what is real.” [34:54]
• Mick’s Call to Listeners:
  “First 20 people that message me ‘I'm back’... I’m going to purchase a copy of the book...” [37:52]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:29 – Mick asks Josh for his “because”
• 04:02 – Josh articulates his purpose
• 05:45 – Josh reflects on “being different” and his original mission as an actor
• 07:48 – First acting experience with Robert De Niro and key lessons on presence
• 10:26 – On the competitiveness of Hollywood and healthy internal competition
• 12:54 – Lessons on handling rejection and keeping one’s heart open
• 19:05 – Josh discusses his personal battle with anxiety and how he transformed it
• 21:52 – Emotions as creative energy, not obstacles
• 23:31 – The dangers of emotional suppression; physical tolls
• 25:42 – “Riding the wave” of vibration in practical, high-stress scenarios
• 29:25 – Accepting vibration and using it for performance and leadership
• 34:54 – “I’m Back”: The key presence-building technique from Josh’s book
• 37:52 – Book giveaway offer and closing thoughts

Conclusion

This episode offers both inspiration and tools for anyone looking to harness fear, anxiety, and nerves—transforming them into energy and creative fire. Josh Pais distills decades of stage, screen, and teaching wisdom into accessible concepts and exercises that are relevant for every leader, creator, and individual striving for authenticity and fulfillment. If you want to dive deeper, Josh’s book and Committed Impulse are recommended next steps.

Further Resources:

• Josh Pais’s book: Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility
• Committed Impulse courses and materials
• Contact Mick Hunt for the listener book giveaway ([see timestamp: 37:52])

Memorable Takeaway:
“Your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.” — Mick Hunt [38:34]