Difficult Professional Transitions with Jeremy Shuback
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Jeremy Shuback, a multifaceted creative whose work spans editing, motion design, map animation, and writing. Jeremy’s journey started in Hollywood as a visual effects artist and has since taken him into the world of YouTube, where he collaborates with some of the most influential journalists on the platform. His thoughtful visual storytelling and ability to turn dense history and complex ideas into digestible, compelling content is what sets him apart. From passion projects to professional pivots, Jeremy’s story is one of resilience, risk, and reinvention.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
The power of passion projects and how they can redefine your career path
Why Jeremy left a leadership role to return to hands-on creative work
The beauty and struggle of being a perpetual beginner in your craft
How Jeremy juggles freelance work with deeply researched personal series
Behind-the-scenes insight on making educational YouTube videos that reach millions
The unexpected link between ancient world maps and modern career shifts
Why working with kind, passionate clients matters just as much as the project
Exploring spirituality, mythology, and history through animated storytelling
How to make travel more meaningful by tying it to personal creative goals
“I constantly feel like that’s the ladder, can I work with just nicer and cooler people that are passionate and love what they’re doing?” – Jeremy Shuback
Alex reminded me that creativity thrives where there’s room to tinker. Whether it’s turning a broken espresso machine into a globally-accessible IoT marvel or experimenting with AI to tell stories of immigrant heritage, Ale exemplifies the power of playing with purpose. Innovation doesn’t come from having all the answers - it comes from asking questions and being bold enough to see what happens next.
In this episode…
This episode is a deep dive into what it means to make bold transitions as a creative. Jeremy talks candidly about stepping down from a high-level producer role to return to being an artist, relearning the technical tools he’d left behind, and why that felt not like a step backward, but forward. We jammed about the importance of passion projects, how storytelling intersects with history and spirituality, and the underrated joy of working with clients who are simply…nice. Whether you're in a creative rut or just looking for inspiration to pivot, this one’s a must-listen. Jeremy’s story is a masterclass in humility, curiosity, and staying lit up by your craft.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by Epic Made.
Epic Made creates memorable animation, digital art, and graphic design to elevate brands.
They are a collective of talented artists across a multitude of disciplines who can handle the creativity and communication of any project.
Epic Made has created commercials, key art, social content, and more for leading entertainment brands such as the SYFY Network and Nickelodeon.
To learn more, go to www.epic-made.com or send an email to hey@getepicmade.com.