Podcast Summary: Daring Creativity. Daring Forever.

Episode: Dare to Navigate Creative Discomfort – Rachel Gogel

Host: Radim Malinic
Guest: Rachel Gogel (Independent Design Executive & Devoted Generalist)
Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the value of creative discomfort, the power of being a generalist, and the importance of authentic relationships for creative careers. Host Radim Malinic sits down with Rachel Gogel, a design executive who has deliberately crafted a multidisciplinary, "devoted generalist" path—spanning consulting, teaching, mentoring, and advocacy—to discuss her journey, convictions, and redefinition of success. The conversation orbits around adaptability, generosity, and navigating both the noise and uncertainty of today’s creative landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rachel's Path as a “Devoted Generalist”

• Background and Definition:
  Rachel describes herself as “an independent design executive and a creative director… collaborating with global organizations in what we call, or some people call, a fractional leadership capacity” (03:15).
• Multidisciplinary Involvement:
  She balances consulting with teaching (California College of the Arts), mentoring, speaking, and advocacy, focusing on helping marginalized voices and building communities.
• Credit for the Term:
  “‘Devoted generalist’ is very real and I just wanted to give [Elizabeth Goodspeed] credit where it’s due” (05:47).

2. Generalist vs. Specialist: The Conviction Argument

• Specialization Pressure:
  Rachel notes the prevailing advice to “find your niche” but counters: “If you’ve got this unrivaled curiosity for life and creativity, it’s your call... generalists don’t do it because someone tells them; it just comes from the soul” (06:01, B).
• Conviction Over Specialization:
  “We need more conviction and a little bit less specialization because it is about conviction, right?” (07:54, B).
• Adapting to Change:
  Rachel cites an AIGA survey identifying adaptability as a crucial creative skill, especially in an AI-driven era (08:12), and narrates the rapid job-title expansion she’s witnessed.

Notable Quote

“Developing discernment through practice and failure—those are the things that remain uniquely human.”
— Rachel (18:17)

3. Managing the Noise and the Role of Fundamentals

• Teaching & Critique:
  Rachel highlights the importance of core skills: “Sometimes going back to those basics and stepping away from what’s entering the zeitgeist… is just as important” (10:58).
• Note-taking in the Age of AI:
  Even with AI tools, she insists: “How important note-taking is—almost as important as listening” (12:35).

Notable Quote

“It’s still very important to take notes, even if it’s digitally, but a pen and paper... even if you’re relying on AI to transcribe the meeting or the critique…”
— Rachel (11:39)

4. Deliberate Use of Time and Self-reflection

• Designing Her Time:
  Rachel discusses the importance of “designing your time” and how health challenges prompted her to prioritize well-being (14:03).
• Early Observer, Not Early Adopter:
  She describes keeping close to cultural shifts but selectively engaging with new tech or trends (14:03).

  “I have always felt like I’m close to what’s happening in culture... but I figure out what feels right for me in the moment” (16:19).

5. Comfort with Discomfort: Early Leadership Lessons

• Thrown into People Management Early:
  At age 21–22, Rachel was thrust into managing a team at GQ, which seeded her ease with discomfort (20:31).
• Relishing Messy Processes:
  She reflects: “If I look back, most people think that I would leave jobs or situations when things were good... but my answer was: I don’t know, it’s just a feeling—like, it’s too easy” (21:41).

6. Permission & Agency: Designing Your Own Path

• Career Without Permission:
  Rachel and Radim discuss not needing permission to design a career—embracing curiosity and change, and recognizing when it’s “the right time” to leap (29:50).
• Turning Setbacks into Launchpads:
  Rachel describes negotiating a severance from Netflix (when her role changed unexpectedly), using the package as seed money to launch her own practice (32:55).

Notable Story

“The joke amongst friends is that Netflix technically gave me seed money to start my own business.”
— Rachel (34:38)

7. The Power of Generosity and Authentic Relationships

• Creative Jobs Newsletter:
  To help friends during a recession, Rachel started a Mailchimp newsletter to share creative job listings—cultivating a large, organic network (36:53).
• Karma & Connection:
  Every job she’s had has come through relationships and investing in authentic connections.
  “It’s not just luck. It is definitely time spent towards nurturing and fostering relationships” (40:27).

Notable Quote

“More time for relationships… just remember again some of the basics... building relationships and trust can really change your life.”
— Rachel (39:11)

• Generosity in Practice:
  Rachel helps companies hire her replacement, mentors widely, and is transparent about money and salaries to help others thrive (42:52).

8. Redefining Success

• Personal Blend:
  Success for Rachel means: “A harmonious blend… if I’m able to consult, mentor, teach, speak, and then spend a good amount of time for advocacy… while making a living.” (47:06).
• Rejecting Bigger-Is-Always-Better:
  She challenges the American paradigm of perpetual scaling, instead focusing on “impact, meaning, and continuous reflection” (47:50).

Notable Quote

“Growth doesn't always mean expansion. I can be a successful solopreneur and define what those rules should look like.”
— Rachel (47:38)

9. Creative Work and Empathy

• Leading with Empathy:
  Rachel and Radim discuss how empathy—and not materialism—drives their work and fulfillment (50:32, B).
• Meaning Over FIRE:
  Rachel argues against deferring meaning until after financial milestones, noting the unpredictability of life and the privilege required for such plans:

  “I guess I’m just very conscious of my time on this planet. Time is a luxury and to be… more conscious of where your time and energy is going…” (51:58).

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Developing discernment through practice and failure—those are the things that remain uniquely human."
  — Rachel (18:17)

• "Growth doesn't always mean expansion. I can be a successful solopreneur and define what those rules should look like."
  — Rachel (47:38)

• "More time for relationships… just remember again some of the basics... building relationships and trust can really change your life."
  — Rachel (39:11)

• "The joke amongst friends is that Netflix technically gave me seed money to start my own business."
  — Rachel (34:38)

• "Sometimes it feels like it’s happening so quickly now that you’re on a really fast train and it’s hard to get off. I would encourage people to get off the train once in a while."
  — Rachel (18:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Rachel’s Background: 02:54–05:29
• Generalists vs. Specialists: 06:01–08:12
• Fundamentals in Creative Practice: 10:52–13:01
• Designing Your Time & Navigating Noise: 14:03–18:02
• Embracing Discomfort, Early Leadership: 20:31–23:08
• The Power of Relationships: 36:53–41:01
• Generosity as Practice: 42:52–46:07
• Redefining Success: 47:06–51:58
• Final Reflection on Time and Meaning: 51:58–55:13

The Daring Spirit: Episode Takeaways

• Dare to Create: Show up fully—even with doubt and imperfection.
• Embrace Discomfort: Growth and innovation often come from messy, awkward situations.
• Design Your Own Definitions: Success, value, and fulfillment are personal, and evolving.
• Generosity Multiplies: Relationships, kindness, and transparent sharing lead to long-term opportunity and meaning.
• Pause and Reflect: Step back from the “train” of rapid change to ensure your journey remains intentional and authentic.