Embedded Files
Welcome to my “Leadership Shelf”—a curated collection of songs, books, films, TV shows, podcasts, and imagery that have shaped the way I think about creativity, mentorship, and leadership. What began as a personal media log gradually evolved into a portrait of my own leadership philosophy.
When I look across this shelf, three guiding words emerge: Listen, curiosity is the foundation of mentorship and learning. Laugh, humor creates safety and connection. Legacy, leadership ensures the story continues once we depart. These themes come together to define a Compassionate Creator mindset — leading through storytelling, sustained by mentorship, and expressed with empathy.
This shelf is more than a list of favorites; it’s a mirror of who I aspire to become. Whether in design, education, or puppetry, I hope to lead the way these stories have led me—with creativity, humility, and care for the people who will carry the story forward next.
When I look across this shelf, three guiding words emerge: Listen, curiosity is the foundation of mentorship and learning. Laugh, humor creates safety and connection. Legacy, leadership ensures the story continues once we depart. These themes come together to define a Compassionate Creator mindset — leading through storytelling, sustained by mentorship, and expressed with empathy.
This shelf is more than a list of favorites; it’s a mirror of who I aspire to become. Whether in design, education, or puppetry, I hope to lead the way these stories have led me—with creativity, humility, and care for the people who will carry the story forward next.
44 Songs for Cohort 44
44 Songs for Cohort 44
Books for Creativity & Leadership
Books for Creativity & Leadership
Two Guys Named Joe: Master Animation Storytellers Joe Grant and Joe RanftJohn Canemaker
Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True InspirationEd Catmull
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleStephen R. Covey
Six Thinking HatsEdward de Bono
BossypantsTina Fey
Extremely Loud & Incredibly CloseJonathan Safran Foer
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination Neal Gabler
Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American ImaginationBrian Jay Jones
Jim Henson: The BiographyBrian Jay Jones
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred RogersMaxwell King
Puppetry 101: Creating Film & Television Style PuppetryAdam Kreutinger
Leadership: Theory & PracticePeter G. Northouse
Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout WorkshopTimothy Samara
How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral QuestionMichael Schur
Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt BiographyJessica Max Stein
Film Recommendations
Film Recommendations
50/50Jonathan Levine
About a BoyChris Weitz & Paul Weitz
About TimeRichard Curtis
Alex Edelman: Just for UsAlex Timbers
The American PresidentRob Reiner
American SymphonyMatthew Heineman
Battle of the SexesValerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton
Beauty and the BeastGary Trousdale & Kirk Wise
Christmas Eve on Sesame StreetJon Stone
Conan O'Brien Can't StopRodman Flender
Dan in Real LifePeter Hedges
David Holmes: The Boy Who LivedDan Hartley
Don't Think TwiceMike Birbiglia
Eleanor the GreatScarlett Johansson
Everything is IlluminatedLiev Schreiber
Follow That BirdKen Kwapis
The FounderJohn Lee Hancock
HowardDon Hahn
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney StoryChad N. Walker & Dave LaMattina
The InternNancy Meyers
Jim Henson: Idea ManRon Howard
Marcel the Shell with Shoes OnDean Fleischer Camp
Matilda the MusicalMatthew Warchus
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the PoolSeth Barrish
Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for JokesSeth Barrish
Mr. Holland's OpusStephen Herek
The Muppet MovieJames Frawley
The Naked GunAkiva Schaffer
Not Just a GoofChristopher Ninness & Eric Kimelton
One LifeJames Hawes
Outstanding: A Comedy RevolutionPage Hurwitz
Paddington 2Paul King
The Peanuts MovieSteve Martino
Pee-Wee As HimselfMatt Wolf
The People vs. George LucasAlexandre O. Philippe
PinocchioMark Gustafson & Guillermo del Toro
Puffs: Filmed Live Off BroadwayKristin McCarthy Parker
The QueenStephen Frears
Saturday NightJason Reitman
Sing SingGreg Kwedar
Stranger Than FictionMarc Forster
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetMarilyn Agrelo
Thank You for SmokingJason Reitman
That Thing You Do!Tom Hanks
Theater CampNick Lieberman & Molly Gordon
Visible: Out on TelevisionRyan White
Waking Sleeping BeautyDon Hahn
Will & HarperJosh Greenbaum
Won't You Be My NeighborMorgan Neville
The World According to Sesame StreetLinda Goldstein Knowlton & Linda Hawkins
Must-Watch Television
Must-Watch Television
A.P. BioMichael Patrick O'Brien
Brooklyn Nine-NineDan Goor & Michael Schur
CommunityDan Harmon
The Good PlaceMichael Schur
HacksLucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, & Jen Statsky
The InbetweenersDamon Beesley & Iain Morris
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaRob Mac & Glenn Howerton
JuliaDaniel Goldfarb
Last Week Tonight with John OliverJohn Oliver
Late Night with Seth MeyersDavid Letterman & Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertDavid Letterman
Mythic QuestCharlie Day, Megan Ganz, & Rob Mac
The NewsroomAaron Sorkin
The Other TwoChris Kelly & Sarah Schneider
The PittR. Scott Gemmill
Queer EyeDavid Collins
The Righteous GemstonesDanny McBride
SeveranceDan Erickson
ShrinkingBill Lawrence, Jason Segel, & Brett Goldstein
Slings & ArrowsMark McKinney, Sysan Coyne, & Bob Martin
Somebody SomewhereHannah Bos & Paul Thureen
Ted LassoJason Sudekis, Bill Lawrence, & Brendan Hunt
The Tiny Chef ShowOzlem Akturk, Rachel Larsen, & Adam Reid
Welcome to WrexhamRob Mac, Ryan Reynolds, & Nick Frenkel
The West WingAaron Sorkin
An Earful of Podcasts
An Earful of Podcasts
All There IsAnderson Cooper
The Always Sunny PodcastRob Mac, Charlie Day, & Glenn Howerton
Conan O'Brien Needs a FriendConan O'Brien, Sona Movesesian, & Matt Gourley
Fresh AirTerry Gross
How I Built ThisGuy Raz
Movin' Right AlongAnthony Strand & Ryan Roe
Puppet Tears: Puppetry Shop TalkAdam Kreutinger & Cameron Garrity
This Should Have Been a Phone CallCameron Garrity
Wiser Than MeJulia Louis-Dreyfus
Working It OutMike Birbiglia
Images for the Soul Brain
Images for the Soul Brain
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