I sit down with writer and producer Jon Zuber, who I first met on my debut feature film Killer Holiday. Jon shares stories from his 40+ year career in film & TV, his time living and working in Santa Barbara, and the making of his Emmy-winning documentary Stories in Time: Santa Barbara. Now based in Palo Alto, Jon reflects on balancing family life with creative work, the evolving entertainment landscape, and how to keep finding inspiration over the long haul.

Highlights:

• How Killer Holiday brought us together 🎬
• Lessons from 40+ years in entertainment
• The story behind his Emmy-winning Santa Barbara doc 🏆
• Moving to Palo Alto & pursuing new creative projects
• Reflections on staying inspired + collaborative in LA & beyond

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In this deep and raw mini episode, I open up about the heavy days—the ones where depression keeps me from showing up, where being absent feels easier than facing the world. I talk about what it’s like to try and pick myself back up when I’m very much down, and the small steps I take to find purpose and self-motivation in uncertain times.

From discovering that tarot is something I’m genuinely good at, to making changes in my diet and lifestyle, this episode is about the ongoing process of caring for my mental health and learning to show up for myself—even when I can’t show up for anyone else.

Because sometimes, just admitting “I’m not okay” is the first step to becoming okay.

What do you do when you’re halfway through Griffith Park, alone with your dogs, and two coyotes appear on the trail ahead of you? In this solo episode of 15 Years in LA, I share the story of one of the most nerve-racking hikes of my life and how it became a reminder of something bigger.

Because whether it’s wildlife on a hike or a challenge in your own head, LA will put you in situations where you have no choice but to face your fears. We’ll talk about what it feels like in the moment, the mental shift that happens when you choose to stand tall, and how those moments prepare you for everything else this city (and life) throws at you.

Lately, I’ve been inspired by voices that push me to live braver: including The Sabrina Zohar Show, which has guided me through my mental health journey, and my own therapist, who hosts Own Your Truth Podcast. In therapy, he’s helped me face my fears head-on in the real world; Sabrina’s words have helped me face the ones living inside. Together, they’ve been a huge part of me learning to stand my ground on a trail or in life.

This isn’t just a story about coyotes. It’s about courage, instinct, and the quiet power of realizing you can handle more than you think.

Listen on Spotify🎙️ Follow, share, subscribe, and rate to help more people find the pod!📸 Follow along on Instagram: @15.years.in.la.pod