Drew tries something new this episode, reading his latest newsletter aloud and adding real-time commentary. The result is a raw, honest exploration of what it means to build something creative without having all the answers. He gets personal about a professionally difficult year, shares why polished content might be losing its edge, and makes the case that your rough edges might be exactly what your audience is looking for.

Takeaways

Messy is a feature, not a bug -

In an age where AI can generate "good enough" content instantly, your unique perspective and real experiences become your greatest assets. People are searching for authentic voices, not another optimized piece of content.

The fear versus reality gap is where opportunity lives -

We're all afraid that showing our struggles will cost us credibility. But the paradox is that vulnerability creates connection, and connection is what makes people actually care about what you're building.

You are not your thoughts -

Just because you're questioning everything and considering a thousand possibilities doesn't mean any of it defines you. Working through uncertainty in public can benefit others going through similar transitions.

Community matters more than perfection -

The people who keep showing up for you aren't responding to your best work. They're responding to your most real work.

Related Links

No Set Path Newsletter: thedrewenglish.substack.com

Contact Drew: nosetpathpodcast@gmail.com

Referenced: "The Obstacle Is the Way" by Ryan Holiday

Past Guest Mentioned: Blake Pfeil

Sometimes, your path leads you right back home. This week on No Set Path, Jordan Koschei joins Drew English to talk about how his journey through design and tech inspired him to give back to the Hudson Valley through his passion project, ConnectHV. It’s a story about creativity, community, and coming full circle.

Join the Newsletter

Join the No Set Path Newsletter HERE - https://thedrewenglish.substack.com/

Takeaways

Professional identity doesn't have to fit into neat categories - you can exist between disciplines and create your own path

Staying rooted in your community and building a life first, then fitting work around it, can lead to more fulfillment than chasing traditional career ambitions

Remote work and post-COVID shifts have created critical mass for creative communities in places like the Hudson Valley

Building platforms and communities is about being a temporary steward, not an owner - the goal is for the community to outlive and outgrow the creator

Creativity is fundamentally about play - as adults, we're just doing fancier versions of the same exploratory, world-building activities we did as children

The most sustainable creative work happens when you remove outcome-based thinking and create for the joy of making something

True platforms enable others to create value that far exceeds what the platform itself generates

Work-life balance requires ruthless prioritization and automation - family first, then letting everything else fit around it

Community building in the digital age still requires real-life interaction and grassroots connection

Links & Resources

ConnectHV - https://connecthv.com

ConnectHV About Page - https://connecthv.com/about

Tracks Coffee (Beacon, NY) - "No Sleep Till Beacon"

Monkey Joe Coffee (Kingston, NY)

Connect with Drew

Drew's IG: https://www.instagram.com/drewenglishh/

Drew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewenglish/

Drew's Website: http://www.drewenglish.com/

Drew sits down with Blake Pfeil & Jeremiah Wenutu on Cinema Kingston! to explore his winding path from music production to becoming a sought-after director of photography, podcast studio owner, and host of No Set Path. They unpack the reality of being a multidisciplinary creative, building community in the Hudson Valley, and why storytelling matters more than the tech behind it.

Key Topics & Timestamps

00:00 – Drew's introduction and impressive client roster (Adobe, Netflix, HBO, Disney+)

02:00 – How Upstate Podcast Studio evolved from a basement setup to a professional Kingston space

06:00 – The challenge of being spread thin across multiple creative ventures

09:00 – Feeling like an outsider in the film industry while pursuing diverse interests

14:00 – The frustration with editing other people's work vs. creating your own passion projects

16:00 – The Hudson Valley creative community: talent is everywhere, but connection is key

19:00 – Two years of HBO production boom post-COVID, then the 2024-2025 slowdown

22:00 – Plans for No Set Path: building in-person community events and brand expansion

24:00 – From UMass Lowell recording school to New York City music production

27:00 – The pivot moment: buying a Canon 7D at B&H and teaching himself cinematography

30:00 – Starting No Set Path during COVID as a vehicle for meaningful conversations

33:00 – The unexpected impact: random emails from people inspired by the show

37:00 – Why Drew asks "how did you get here?" instead of "what camera did you use?"

40:00 – The realization: storytelling is the thread connecting everything

44:00 – Storytelling as a buzzword in tech startups and why humans gravitate to narrative

45:00 – The Goonies, Spielberg, Lucas, and movies that shaped a generation

50:00 – Easter eggs, film scores, and the magic of eighties adventure films

Takeaway

Being multidisciplinary isn't a weakness. It's your unique advantage in a changing creative economy.

Community over hustle: the Hudson Valley has incredible talent, but genuine connection matters more than networking.

Storytelling transcends medium. Whether it's cinematography, podcasting, or coaching, story is what connects with people.

Most successful people don't actually know what they're doing. They're "failing upwards" and figuring it out as they go.

Name things well: Upstate Podcast Studio succeeds organically because of smart, searchable naming.

Your creative path will look like a lot of different things. Let it evolve naturally instead of forcing a single direction.

The tech doesn't matter. People care about the emotion and story, not your gear list.

Resources & Links

Cinema Kingston!: https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/cinema-kingston

Drew's Website: www.drewenglish.com

Lights and Years Media: www.lightsandyears.com

Upstate Podcast Studio: www.upstatepodcaststudio.com

No Set Path Podcast: Search "No Set Path: Creative Entrepreneurship Stories" on your podcast app

No Set Path Newsletter: https://thedrewenglish.substack.com/

Drew's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewenglishh/

Drew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewenglish/