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As digital phenomena and Hollywood metrics clash for cultural dominance—where do creators find their footing? How do we rebound when our artistic tour de force fails to resonate?
As we strive for recognition and professional success, it’s easy to overlook everyday experiences that constitute our overall sense of happiness.
My guest today is Max Joseph, a pioneer in digital storytelling and happiness exploration. Known for his multifaceted career, Max has worn many hats: filmmaker, former co-host of MTV’s Catfish, and creator of viral YouTube content. Throughout his journey, he’s navigated traditional Hollywood and the ever-evolving landscape of new media. This path has been marked by soaring highs—viral sensations that captured millions—and challenging lows, including box-office disappointment that tested his resolve.
At the heart of his work lies a compelling question: How do creativity, achievement, and personal fulfillment intertwine? His career has been a testament to unraveling this complex web, shedding light on how our pursuits and relationships shape our emotional well-being. Now, Max turns his perceptive lens inward. His new focus? An ambitious exploration into the very essence of happiness itself.
His latest documentary project illustrates how happiness and well-being are intricately linked to factors beyond individual achievement. Our relationships and community are crucial in regulating mood, stress response, and overall life satisfaction.
“Listen to what the world is asking from you and rewarding you for.”
– MAX JOSEPH
Today, we discuss Max’s multifaceted career and personal journey. His professional path spans independent filmmaking and Hollywood projects, reflecting creative growth and industry adaptation transitions. This shift mirrors the broader evolution in filmmaking, as digital storytelling challenges traditional methods.
Max shares his experience making the feature film “We Are Your Friends,” a coming-of-age drama set in electronic dance music—including its challenging reception and the aftermath of box-office disappointment.
We explore his collaborations with other creators, his discovery of a unique creative voice, and his ultimate decision to embrace YouTube and digital platforms. Our exchange also covers Max’s latest YouTube series on the nature of happiness, incorporating acuities from neuroscience and various cultures.
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Max’s work is both deeply personal and universally relevant. It’s a must-listen if you’re a creator, a seeker, or simply someone interested in living a more fulfilling life.
Peace + Plants,
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- Connect With Max Joseph: Website | Instagram | X | YouTube | Facebook
- YouTube: Happiness
- YouTube: Bookstores
- Youtube: Dicks
- YouTube: Signs
- Time: Max Joseph on Catfish and We Are Your Friends
- Men’s Journal: Max Joseph Announces Return to Catfish
- Vulture: Catfish’s Max Joseph: My Life As a Minor Celebrity
- ScreenRant: Catfish: What Happened to Former Cohost Max Joseph?
- BuzzFeed: How “Catfish” Helped Max Joseph Make His Major Film Debut
- IndieWire: How First-Time Director Max Joseph Got Zac Efron to Star in ‘We Are Your Friends’
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Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; with additional audio engineering by Cale Curtis and additional music by Moby; Blake Curtis & Dan Drake for video, & editing; graphics by Jessica Miranda & Daniel Solis; portraits by Davy Greenberg, Grayson Wilder & Gizelle Peters; copywriting by Ben Pryor; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
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