A Conversation about Work, Doubt, Joy, and Why Community Still Matters
A while ago I sat down with Brad Frost for an episode of his podcast Wake Up Excited, which he recently released.We ended up talking about far more than conferences. It turned into a really honest conversation about creative work, motivation, self-doubt, community, and why it’s still worth doing things that are hard.
Waking up Excited (and Still Doing the Hard Stuff)
Since I run events, what usually gets me out of bed in the morning is the countdown to the next one. As the date gets closer, I’m deep in the details. Those final bits and pieces that usually make an event feel special.
At the same time, there’s always the less fun part of the job. Money, admin, promotion, social media. Brad called it the “shit sandwich,” and that felt painfully accurate. Some of these things used to be enjoyable. These days, especially with social media, they’re mostly sadly “just” work. But they’re part of the deal.
Every job has parts you love and parts you simply have to get through.
Imposter Syndrome Doesn’t Disappear
Even after all these years, self-doubt still shows up. Working alone (often from home) makes it easy to question yourself: Is this really special? Does anyone actually care?
What helps is perspective. And people! Sometimes you need someone else to remind you what you’ve built and why it matters. We’re not meant to sit alone with our thoughts all the time, especially the critical ones.
The Internet Got Louder and Less Honest
We talked a lot about how little room there seems to be online for vulnerability these days. I miss the old forum culture, where people could openly say “I don’t know, can anyone explain this and help me?” and others would help.
Today, everything feels polished, confident, and performative. Social media emphasises this. But I actually don’t believe authenticity is gone. It’s just buried under noise. It still shows up in smaller, quieter spaces and in real conversations.
The Moment That Makes It All worth It
Brad asked me about a moment I am usually looking forward to, when I think about the process of organising and running my events.
For me, the best moment of every event is right before it starts. Tobi starts playing the music, the doors open, I’m backstage, and I know I’ll be on stage in a few minutes. Months of work suddenly become real.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed and tear up. Not from stress, but from relief and gratitude.
That moment when preparation turns into reality never gets old.
I shared a story about moving venues in Berlin, visiting dozens of spaces, and finally standing backstage on opening day in the new venue, emotional and exhausted. Only to be met with a wordless hug from Jeremy Keith, who was going to be the first speaker. No pep talk needed.
Those moments carry me through the harder days.
Why the One Negative Comment Sticks
Like most people, I’m way better at remembering the one negative comment out of a 100 than the 99 positive ones. That’s something I actively try to counter.
One small thing that helps is writing down “things that make (or made, if you do this after something took place) me happy.” It sounds simple, but it works. Sometimes life feels terrible until you stop and realise it really isn’t!
Showing up as Yourself (Even When People Box You In)
We also talked about confidence and identity. I’ve been boxed in my whole life. I mean: long hair, certain looks, certain assumptions. Over time, I learned to play with that instead of fighting it.
I never wanted to pretend to be “professional” in someone else’s definition. I always felt: if people work with me, it should be for how I think and what I can do. Not for how well I fit into a costume.
You don’t need to fake who you are to be taken seriously.
Reflecting, Adjusting, and Sometimes Pausing
Creative work changes over time. So do we. Every now and then, I sit down and ask myself: Is this still enjoyable? What needs to change maybe?
Sometimes the answer isn’t “stop”, but “pause”, or “scale down” or “get help with the parts I don’t enjoy anymore”. Most decisions aren’t black or white. They’re sometimes more like “yes, but …”, and then you figure out the “but part”
How I Reach out to People When They Cross My Mind and What Taught Me to Do So
After my first brother died in 2013, I was left with too many, what I called, “why didn’t I” questions. Since then, I’ve tried to do one simple thing: if someone comes to mind, I reach out. It has never been easier than these days with multiple channels and countless devices.
A short text. An email. A quick “thinking of you”. It costs almost nothing and it keeps connections alive.
I never want to regret not sending a message that would have taken 30 seconds anymore.
Creativity Is Curiosity – Not a Category
I don’t think creativity fits into a single definition. It can be art, code, music, problem-solving, really anything driven by curiosity and a willingness to look beyond the obvious.
That’s also what beyond tellerrand is about. It’s not just about “actionable takeaways”. It’s about energy, inspiration, unexpected connections and the ideas that start in hallway conversations and grow from there.
Closing Thoughts
I’m grateful for the conversation with Brad. It reminded me why I keep doing this: not because it’s easy, but because it creates moments of connection, joy, and courage. For others and for myself.