Hacks & Hobbies is where passions turn into profit stories.
Host Junaid Ahmed interviews entrepreneurs, creators, and builders who are turning what they love into real momentum—income, confidence, community, and impact. Expect practical takeaways on podcasting, video content, home studios, personal branding, systems, and mindset—so your next idea doesn’t stay “someday.”
If you’re building something (a show, a brand, a business, a better version of yourself), you’ll feel at home here.
🎙 Wanna be a guest? Apply on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/member/hacksandhobbies
📖 Home Studio resources: https://homestudiobook.com
🔗 LI: https://linkedin.com/in/superjunaid
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Author of The Mentorship Edge on Midlife, Legacy & Why Storytelling Is the Leadership Superpower You’re Missing - Dr. Deborah Heiser
Season 8 · Episode 24
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 • Duration 25:22
A raw, hopeful conversation about growing up into yourself. In this second part of our deep dive with Dr. Deborah Heiser, we move from the neuroscience of aging into the practical — mentorship, storytelling, and the day-to-day legacy you can build now. This episode turns the fear of midlife into a toolkit for purpose: how emotional maturity becomes your secret power, why some stories should be retired, and how a single conversation can ripple into life-changing impact.
We cover the science and the soul of later-life growth, plus concrete ways to start mentoring today — no degree required, just curiosity and presence.
5 key takeaways
Aging isn’t only decline: emotional capacity often grows, making later life a time of increased happiness and purpose.
Midlife is a developmental milestone: once practical boxes are checked, people naturally seek meaningful impact.
Storytelling is the most powerful mentorship tool — it packages wisdom into memorable, actionable lessons.
Retire unresolved stories; author forward-looking narratives that fuel growth and resilience.
Legacy starts now: quantify and notice the daily ripples of mentorship and you’ll see how immortal your influence can be.
Timestamps
00:00 — Opening: Why this conversation matters now (part two intro)
01:55 — What actually happens to our brains and sense of self as we age
04:54 — The emotional shift toward purpose in midlife — a developmental stage
09:23 — Why storytelling becomes the leadership superpower in later life
12:40 — Storytelling in practice: Latonya Kilpatrick’s lateral-mentorship example
16:25 — Legacy as impact today — the Legacy Tree and measurable ripples
19:31 — How to start mentoring right now: look left and right
Guest links
The Mentorship Edge (book) — [link placeholder for book page/store]
The Mentor Project (organization) — [link placeholder for The Mentor Project website]
Dr. Deborah Heiser — LinkedIn: [link placeholder]
Instagram: [link placeholder] (If you’d like, send me the exact URLs and I’ll update the episode notes with live links.)
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The Mentorship Edge: How Midlife Becomes a Second Act, Not a Crisis - Dr. Deborah Heiser
Season 8 · Episode 24
Monday, June 8, 2026 • Duration 29:51
Midlife isn’t a downhill spiral — it’s a calling. In this episode, Dr. Deborah Heiser reframes aging, mentorship, and legacy so you can turn what feels like a ‘crisis’ into a catalytic second act.
Short description Dr. Deborah Heiser (applied developmental psychologist, CEO & founder of The Mentor Project, TEDx speaker and author of The Mentorship Edge) joins Junaid to dismantle myths about midlife and reveal how mentorship, generativity, and small experiments can reignite purpose after 40. This conversation moves from the lonely assumptions about aging to practical, emotional, and hopeful ways to reclaim relevance, from podcasting and community involvement to volunteering and reinventing identity.
You’ll leave this episode with a fresh lens on midlife transitions — not as endings, but as opportunities to deepen impact, build legacy, and mentor (and be mentored) in ways that matter.
5 key takeaways
Midlife is 40–65: a phase ripe for reinvention, not inevitable decline.
Purpose decay can be reversed by small experiments: podcasting, volunteering, clubs, or a hobby can become a new calling.
Mentorship in midlife = generativity: mentoring, volunteering, and philanthropy create meaning and measurable emotional payoff.
Transitions aren’t crises: midlife is another life transition that requires curiosity, skill-updating, and community — not fear.
Practical first steps: get your toe wet (join groups, try a show, volunteer) and look for mentors and peer mentors in unexpected places.
Timestamps (5–7)
0:00 — Welcome + episode setup: Why this conversation matters now
1:42 — Deborah’s origin story: from aging research to a joy-forward pivot
3:34 — The myths we tell about midlife — and why they’re wrong
4:25 — What midlife actually looks like (the 40–65 sweet spot)
5:00 — How to reignite purpose: the “get your toe wet” approach (podcasting, clubs, volunteering)
7:03 — Midlife crisis vs midlife calling: the reframe that changed everything
8:23 — Why mentorship matters in the second half of life (generativity & legacy)
Guest links :
www.DeborahHeiser.com
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1,400-Episode Podcasting Veteran on How One Interview Can Fuel a Month of Marketing - Robert Plank
Season 8 · Episode 23
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 27:37
What if one recorded conversation could power an entire month of visibility?
In this episode Robert Plank — the relentless creator behind Marketer of the Day with over 1,400 episodes — walks Junaid through the exact mindset and workflow that turns a single podcast into a month’s worth of magnetic content. This is less about perfection and more about systems, small wins, and the emotional grit of showing up.
Robert breaks down practical, platform-first moves (YouTube, LinkedIn, syndication), the tools that save you hours, and the creative discipline to keep iterating rather than chasing production perfection. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by “more content” or wondered where to focus your energy, this episode makes repurposing feel strategic, doable — and oddly liberating.
5 key takeaways
Repurposing is a systems game: identify 3–6 bite-sized moments and plan distribution by platform, not by ego.
Prioritize platforms where your people actually hang out — Robert favors YouTube and LinkedIn.
Use transcription + AI (ChatGPT, Cast Magic) to scale captions, posts, and title/keyword ideas fast.
Syndicate smart: get on YouTube + Apple/Spotify/iHeart/Amazon to catch discovery everywhere.
Start with what you have — phone recordings and simple clips beat perfect setups every time.
Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome back: Why one episode should become many
01:00 — The big-picture mindset: Attention, algorithms, and the path to an audience
05:56 — How people consume differently: match format to platform
08:59 — Robert’s workflow and the production tools that actually save time
16:57 — Three actionable steps to repurpose tomorrow (YouTube, host, syndicate)
20:41 — Posting strategy that wins: give value in-platform before linking away
21:31 — Where to find Robert and his Done-For-You podcasting service
Guest links
Marketer of the Day (podcast): https://marketeroftheday.com
DFY Podcast (Done-For-You podcasting service): https://dfypodcast.com
https://www.robertplank.com/in/robertcplank
https://www.youtube.com/@robertplank
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Marketer, 1,400-Episode Podcaster & The Quiet Engine Behind Visibility Without Burnout - Robert Plank
Season 8 · Episode 23
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 33:11
Robert Plank didn’t start podcasting to chase fame — he started because he felt invisible. What followed was 1,400 episodes, a business built around conversation, and a systems-first way to stay visible without burning out.
Description: Robert walks us through the slow-burn alchemy of building a podcast into a platform: how podcasting taught him social skills, why guests rescued him from creative exhaustion, and the mindset shifts that turned grind into sustainable craft. This episode is about more than tactics; it’s about the emotional work of staying consistent, firing the wrong people, and choosing the systems that let you show up every week without collapsing under the pressure.
Five takeaways
Podcasting is practice for people-skills: regular interviews sharpen social confidence and open networks you can’t buy.
Guests scale your content: bringing experts on saves time, diversifies topics, and prevents “running out of ideas.”
Consistency beats perfection: imperfect, regular content creates compound visibility that signals seriousness to collaborators and opportunities.
Systems and teams prevent burnout: delegate social clips and post production so the platform fuels you instead of burning you out.
Balance experimentation with discipline: test new ideas, but keep the steady, revenue-sustaining work in place to avoid the shiny-object trap.
Timestamps (5–7)
00:00 — Why podcasting began as an escape from obscurity (the emotional origin)
03:30 — When solo episodes run dry: how guests rescued creativity
09:20 — The mindset flip: from arrogance to confident presence (stop overthinking)
12:20 — Visibility without burnout: the bare minimum that proves seriousness
15:30 — The danger of doing it all: bright‑shiny‑object syndrome explained
19:30 — How mentors and the right circle restore enthusiasm
24:08 — Podcasts as platforms: build a show others want to join
Guest links
Marketer of the Day (podcast): https://marketeroftheday.com
Do It For You Podcast (DFY podcast production): https://dfypodcast.com
LinkedIn / Instagram / Book: (not provided in transcript) — search “Robert Plank Marketer of the Day” to find his social profiles and publications.
https://www.robertplank.com/in/robertcplank
https://www.youtube.com/@robertplank
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From Hollywood VFX to Flow: How the Founder of Suka Rebuilt Focus, Beat Distraction, and Helped Creators Win Back Their Time - Steven Puri
Season 8 · Episode 22
Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 47:33
A filmmaker turned software founder shares the inciting moment when Hollywood craft collided with personal focus, sparking an app built to help creators reclaim deep work and meaning. In this episode Steven Puri — visual effects producer (Independence Day, Transformers), serial builder, and CEO of Suka — walks Junaid through the pivots, creative rituals, and real-world constraints that shaped his quest to protect productive, meaningful time from attention economies.
In 40 minutes of candid story and practical insight, Steven explains how engineering discipline, Hollywood storytelling, and a personal ADHD diagnosis converged to create Suka — a flow-first focus app for people who want to do the work that matters. If you’re turning a hobby into income, leading teams, or simply desperate for longer stretches of undistracted work, this episode gives a human roadmap: why story and mission matter for hiring, how chronotypes unlock your best hours, and the exact mental shifts that turn procrastination into progress.
Key takeaways
Flow is not magic — it’s a predictable state you can design for: align skill, challenge, and meaning to create sustained deep work.
Storytelling is leadership: frame the opposing force and the mission to recruit great people and earn trust — remote or in-person.
Chronotype optimization: know your biologic “when” (morning vs. night) and schedule high-skill, high-value work in that window.
Practical focus habits: batch distractions, use environmental barriers (e.g., off-hours, quiet spaces), and track what actually yields flow.
Product insight: Suka was born from user answers to “why do you pay?” — people pay to protect irreplaceable time (kids, meaningful projects), not just features.
Timestamps
0:00 — Introduction: Steven’s unusual resume (news → IBM → VFX → startup)
3:35 — From IBM to Hollywood: mentorship, systems thinking, and early lessons
8:50 — Creativity mechanics: why giving the brain multiple threads sparks original ideas
11:18 — Diagnosis & discovery: ADHD, distraction, and designing for divergent minds
14:31 — Leadership lessons from big-budget filmmaking: hiring, trust, and mission
25:55 — Why Suka exists: the tug-of-war between creators and attention economies
36:16 — The naming story & user insight that defined the product: “why I pay you”
Guest links
Suka (flow & focus app): https://thesukha.co
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri/
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Founder of Suka on Reclaiming Focus: The One Daily Habit That Quietly Changes Your Life - Steven Puri
Season 8 · Episode 22
Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 43:30
Short description If you keep waking up and losing the morning to scrolling, this episode is for you.
Steven Puri — from IBM and Hollywood sets to building Suka — walks Junaid through the exact mental switches and tiny systems that turn distraction into sustained, creative output. This is not fluff about productivity hacks; it’s a candid, emotional conversation about intention, environment, and the quiet cost of “zero-effort dopamine.”
In part two of our conversation, Steven gets tactical: how to define a single daily intention, time-block and time-box effectively, design your physical place for deep work, and use tech (without letting it own you). Practical, humane, and urgent — these are the moves you can test tomorrow that compound over a year.
5 takeaways
Intention first: pick one thing each morning that will actually move you or your team forward — and protect your best brain time for it.
Simplify to overcome overwhelm: hide the noise; surface the 3 tasks that matter and build momentum.
Environment matters: dedicate a place for work so your brain learns to “enter focus” when you walk in.
Block, time-box, repeat: treat deep work like a sacred meeting with yourself and limit time to beat Parkinson’s Law.
Leverage tech, don’t bow to it: tools like Suka can block distractions, provide music and community, but only after you choose to use them intentionally.
0:00 — Opening & why this conversation matters: from IBM and Hollywood to Suka
2:23 — Start with intention: the single question you must ask each morning
7:28 — Why most people get focus wrong (procrastination vs. distraction)
11:16 — The “phone check” moment: a one-second pause that changes behavior
13:27 — Use place to train your mind: why moving rooms ruins deep work
20:36 — Steven’s top 3 daily techniques: intention, time-blocking, time-boxing
25:25 — Community & flow: why a productivity “run club” helps you actually ship
Guest links
Suka (product / try free for 7 days): https://suka.co
Email (Steven Puri): steven@suka.co
How to use this episode: Listen with a notebook. Pause at 2:23 and write your single intention for tomorrow. Block 60–90 minutes in your calendar and treat it like a meeting. Try one of Steven’s micro-experiments for a week (hide all but three tasks; time-box a blog post to 45 minutes; or put your phone in a different room and notice what happens). Small consistent changes here compound into creative freedom — and fewer nights feeling “I didn’t ship today.”
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Style Strategist on Using Story, Color & Three Truths to Show Up with Unshakable Confidence - Elaine Johnston
Season 8 · Episode 21
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 19:50
You don’t need perfect to be magnetic — you need one story, one palette, and the courage to practice.
In this intimate, practical conversation, Elaine Johnston — a storytelling and style strategist — walks Junaid through a simple, repeatable framework for turning the mess of self-doubt into a confident, memorable public presence. This episode is part how-to, part therapy: the kind of tactical coaching that changes what you say, how you look, and how you feel when you hit record.
Elaine strips brand-building down to essentials: practice relentlessly, pick three guiding values, and anchor your visual voice in color and descriptive words. Expect emotional clarity, wardrobe psychology, and immediate actions you can take today to blend strategy with style — no massive budget or reinvention required.
5 takeaways
Practice beats perfection: record yourself in different settings until showing up feels normal, not terrifying.
The power of three: choose three core values/messages to funnel every piece of content through for instant clarity.
Color is strategy: pick a small palette that reflects your brand psychology and use it consistently across content.
Work your wardrobe: you already own stories in your closet; journal looks and remix instead of always buying new.
Story = connection: your unique experiences are your competitive advantage — share them to build trust and community.
Timestamps
0:00 — Welcome & episode setup: why part two gets practical (why this matters now)
1:00 — The simplest path to confidence: practice, practice, practice
3:00 — The “three things” rule: how three core values create instant clarity
4:14 — Storytelling as confidence: why your personal story is your advantage
5:50 — Style meets strategy: using color, texture and words to shape perception
9:00 — Common mistake: why constantly buying new clothes sabotages your brand
10:55 — 3 practical steps to act today: color, words, and your story
Guest links
Website(s)- Thecryptidatlas.com- Recklessmedia.co (not .com!)SocialIG, TikTok @_elainejohnstonYouTube @elainejohnston
Elaine Johnston teaches a deceptively simple brand formula: show up often, choose three guiding truths, and let color and descriptive words carry your visual story. This episode gives you both the mindset reset (you don’t have to be perfect) and the tactical moves (pick colors, audit what’s in your closet, and journal your story) so your presence becomes meaningful, memorable, and scalable.
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Style Coach & Storyteller: How Dressing with Purpose Builds Trust - Elaine Johnston
Season 18 · Episode 21
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 • Duration 33:48
Style is more than clothes — it’s the first sentence of your story. In this emotional, curiosity-driven conversation, Elaine Johnston traces a lifetime of fashion and writing that led her to help people translate presence into trust. From journaling outfits in high school to co-founding a podcast production company and launching a cryptid storytelling show, Elaine shows how constraints, practice, and playful creativity can shape a magnetic professional identity.
Elaine and Junaid dig into the intersection of style and strategy: why a misaligned look undermines your message, how practicing on camera dissolves fear, and how hobbies (yes—Halloween and cryptids) fuel authentic content. This episode is for creators and entrepreneurs who want tactical confidence and a little creative spark to show up more memorably.
Five key takeaways
Your outfit is the three-second hook: style communicates values before words do.
Alignment matters: style that doesn’t match your messaging confuses and erodes trust.
Practice beats perfection: recording often (even privately) builds on-camera confidence.
Bring childlike curiosity into your work—hobbies and personality deepen audience connection.
Consume intentionally: study formats, titles, and storytelling templates to adapt them to your voice.
Timestamps
0:00 — Welcome & Elaine’s origin story: journaling outfits, early blogging, and the creative red thread
2:53 — From blog to business: Reckless Media, podcasting, and a pandemic‑era pivot
9:40 — Style = presence: why clothes are communication and the confidence beneath them
12:24 — When style and strategy clash: the cost of misalignment on trust and clarity
15:30 — Camera fear & practice: how TikTok and simple repetition lower the barrier to showing up
19:45 — Bringing a spark of creativity: applying childhood passions (Halloween, cryptids) to content
23:36 — Inspiration sources & tools: podcasts, Pinterest, and studying successful creators
Guest links
Instagram: @_elainejohnston (as shared on the episode)
YouTube & TikTok: Elaine Johnston (handles referenced in-episode)
Podcast / Production: Reckless Media (co‑founded by Elaine & her husband)
Current show mentioned: Cryptids Across the Atlas
Notes for show notes / SEO
Include full guest handles and links in the episode webpage (IG, YouTube, TikTok, Reckless Media, Cryptids Across the Atlas).
Use keywords in the page title/metadata: "style coach", "podcast host", "personal branding", "showing up on camera", "style strategy".
Pull quote options for social:
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Serial Entrepreneur & Marathon-Minded CEO on Building Businesses That Fuel Life (Not Consume It) - Leo Gestetner
Season 18 · Episode 19
Monday, May 25, 2026 • Duration 25:47
What if success didn’t mean sacrificing your health, family or sanity?
In this episode Junaid sits down with Leo Gestetner — founder, CEO, and late-blooming endurance athlete — to unpack how to build thriving companies without burning out. Leo recounts starting as a 13‑year‑old selling secondhand computers, transforming his life from “couch potato” to marathoner and triathlete, and reframing entrepreneurship as a long race, not a sprint.
This conversation blends practical routines (what gets scheduled gets done), hard-earned resilience (the “wall” in marathons and business), and the emotional payoff of pacing yourself for a sustained, meaningful life. If you’re tired of hustle porn and want a playbook for sustainable ambition, this episode is a masterclass in balance, discipline, and reimagining success.
Top takeaways:
Schedule your life: you won’t make time for fitness, family, or reflection unless you calendar it.
Build for the long game: treat business like a marathon — pace, recovery, and consistency matter more than bursts.
Reframe failure: setbacks teach more than success; willingness to fail is a core entrepreneurial advantage.
Manage energy, not just time: focus on what gives you the most value and protects your health span.
Small, repeatable habits scale: achievable challenges compound into lasting transformation.
Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro & Leo’s origin story: selling computers at 13
02:30 — From entrepreneur’s DNA to need-driven hustle: early influences
04:40 — The turning point: choosing sustainable success over pure scale
06:50 — Scheduling, boundaries & routines that protect family and fitness
09:40 — Marathons as metaphors: hitting the wall in sport and business
14:00 — Culture of failure: what Steve Jobs and Corning taught about risk
17:30 — Pacing life: digital nomad chapter and lessons on reinvention
Guest links:
Website: https://leogestetner.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogestetner (search “Leo Gestetner” on LinkedIn)
Podcast appearances & resources: (see personal website for links)
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From Couch Potato to Fitness Freak: How Leo Gestetner Built Global Businesses Without Burning Out
Season 8 · Episode 19
Monday, May 18, 2026 • Duration 25:43
What if the real flex isn’t how big you build your business, but how fully you live your life while building it?
In this episode, Junaid sits down with entrepreneur and endurance athlete Leo Gestetner, a man who went from being 95 pounds heavier and non-athletic to running marathons, completing triathlons, and building global teams — all while protecting his health, family, and freedom.
Leo breaks down how he shifted from chasing success at all costs to designing a sustainable, balanced life where business fuels his lifestyle instead of consuming it. He shares how he thinks about health span vs. lifespan, why “what gets scheduled gets done” is the most underrated performance hack, and how hitting “the wall” in marathons taught him everything he needed to know about entrepreneurship, failure, and resilience.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for not doing enough, struggled to find time for the gym or family, or wondered whether balance is even possible for ambitious entrepreneurs — this conversation will challenge how you see success, discipline, and your own potential.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How a 13-year-old hustler turning one family computer into a business became a lifelong entrepreneur
Why Leo believes balance is non-negotiable — and what that actually looks like day to day
The mindset shift that took him from 95 pounds overweight to multiple marathons a year in his 50s
How to protect your time and energy with one simple rule: what gets scheduled gets done
Why hitting “the wall” in a marathon is the perfect metaphor for entrepreneurship and failure
Timestamps
[00:00] The question no one asks: What if success is about life, not just scale?Junaid sets the tone: most entrepreneurs chase growth until they run out of gas — Leo is here to show another way.
[01:20] A 13-year-old and a second-hand computer: the first businessLeo shares how selling his family’s computer led to buying and selling second-hand PCs before the internet even existed.
[02:49] Redefining success: from pure ambition to sustainable ambitionLeo explains why balance — family, health, fun — became more important than just “winning” in business.
[03:55] From 95 pounds overweight to marathons and triathlons in his 50sThe transformation story: how Leo became the fittest he’s ever been later in life, and why he focuses on health span over lifespan.
[06:53] What gets scheduled gets done: the discipline behind balanceLeo breaks down how he protects time for fitness, family, and business — and why entrepreneurs will always “feel busy” if they don’t schedule priorities.
[08:15] Busy vs productive: escaping the trap of constant reactivityA candid look at being intentional, choosing what really matters, and planning for both business and personal life.
[09:55] The wall: why most people quit and what entrepreneurs must learn from marathonersLeo shares a powerful quote on “the wall,” why it exists to keep others out, and how it mirrors the hardest moments in building a company.
[17:32] Life as a digital nomad: pacing yourself for the long gameLeo talks about becoming a digital nomad, living across countries, and learning to pause, breathe, and play the long game in life and business.
[19:34] Where to find Leo and what’s coming in Part 2How to connect with Leo and a teaser for the next conversation on protecting your energy and leading teams without losing yourself.
Guest Links
Website: https://leogestetner.com
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/leogestetner/
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