Brad Frost welcomes Mike Rybachuk, founder of Ukraine-based design education platform The Projector Institute, to discuss living a positive, fulfilling life while Russia’s war impacts Mike’s family, friends, colleagues, and business in Ukraine.

From Prague, Mike shares practical, low-cost ways to improve daily life and spread positivity—working outdoors with a hammock and foldable chair, waving to strangers, and intentionally combining work, nature, and social time. They talk about making work fun without diminishing seriousness, prioritizing joy, and avoiding cultures of constant complaining. Mike emphasizes self-honesty, introspection, and personal responsibility, including his five-year commitment to becoming honest with himself, reframing emotions like fear as signals for action, and using simple techniques like counting to three before reacting. He stresses helping others from where you are with what you have, collaborating rather than starting alone, and choosing responsible work that improves the world.

Topics discussed:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:34) - Support the Podcast: Brad’s Courses + Discount Code
• (02:20) - Kicking Off in Prague: Why Mike’s Waking Up Excited
• (03:04) - Starting Skateboarding at 40
• (05:20) - Cheap Ways to Upgrade Your Day
• (08:25) - Why Can’t Work Be Fun?
• (11:30) - Not Waiting for Retirement to Live
• (16:11) - Priorities, Joy, and Escaping the “Complaining Communities” Trap
• (19:56) - Micro-Positivity in Real Life
• (30:11) - The 5-Year Project: Practicing Self-Honesty (and What It Changes)
• (37:19) - Subjective vs Objective Thoughts: Letting Go of Stress Triggers
• (47:51) - Stop Mind-Reading: Ask, Validate, and Communicate Clearly
• (52:00) - Emotions Aren’t Weakness
• (58:25) - Stoicism & Philosophy as Tools
• (01:08:48) - Ukraine’s Resilience on the Ground: Living Life Under Bombs
• (01:19:45) - Education as Resistance
• (01:28:00) - Choosing Work That Makes the World Better
• (01:33:33) - Collaboration Creates Magic
• (01:38:55) - Where to Find Projector Institute

Brad sits down with Christine Vallaure, a renowned designer, speaker, and founder of Moon Learning. Christine shares insights into living a balanced and fulfilling life, drawing from her experiences as a solo entrepreneur and author. The conversation explores the importance of agency autonomy, the difference between ambition and competition, and the joy of finding fulfillment in daily actions rather than future goals. Christine also emphasizes the value of enjoying mundane tasks, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and staying motivated through passion and interest. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a creative professional, or someone seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways on designing a life that excites you every day.

Topics discussed:

00:00 Introduction
01:25 Supporting the Podcast
02:19 What has Christine waking up excited?
04:16 The Struggle for Autonomy
05:29 Remote Work and Flexibility
08:02 Overcoming Creative Blocks
16:58 Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
22:22 Ambition vs. Competition
28:45 Finding Inspiration and Community
36:12 Finding Joy in the Mundane
39:55 The Importance of Self-Awareness
49:18 Redefining Success and Ambition
53:24 Embracing Privilege and Opportunity
01:02:14 Encouraging Creativity and Exploration

Marc Thiele is the organizer of the Fantastic Beyond Tellerrand Conference that happens every year in Germany. I just got back from his event in Berlin, and I really feel like Beyond Tellerrand should be on every creative person's bucket list. The show is exceptional and balances practical knowledge with diverse creative inspiration. The curation, care craft, and effort that Marc puts into each show is so abundantly clear, and everyone has a great time as a result. Marc's conference holds a special place in my heart because back in 2013, I introduced Atomic design to the world at Beyond Tellerrand, and Marc is one of the kindest, most authentic and sincere people I know, and it's real privilege to call him a friend. In our conversation, Marc and I talk about the hard work behind creative projects, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, embracing vulnerability and sincerity, continuing to cultivate joy and satisfaction, even for long running creative endeavors. The value of community and relationships, learning from failure and a whole lot more.

Topics discussed:

• (00:00) - Introduction to Wake Up Excited
• (01:28) - Support Wake Up Excited
• (02:05) - Introduction to the Conversation
• (02:13) - Marc Thiele on Event Planning and Motivation
• (04:34) - The Reality of Social Media and Authenticity
• (05:05) - Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt
• (15:35) - The Joy and Challenges of Event Management
• (29:59) - Reflecting on Success and Authenticity
• (39:02) - Dealing with Self-Doubt and Finding Motivation
• (40:07) - The Power of Gratitude and Community
• (41:20) - Rebuilding Social Connections Post-COVID
• (42:10) - The Magic of Creativity and Community
• (46:38) - Curiosity and Creativity Across Mediums
• (54:08) - Maintaining Relationships in a Digital Age
• (01:02:02) - Balancing Work and Passion
• (01:07:46) - Exploring New Music and Breaking Boundaries
• (01:12:15) - Conclusion and Event Promotion

• Beyond Tellerrand Conference
• Brad Frost's Courses
• Kirby CMS
• Hans Zimmer
• Sleep Token
• 12 Foot Ninja
• Mr. Bingo