Difficult Professional Transitions with Jeremy Shuback

Pixel Retentive Podcast

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.

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

This really stuck with me. So many of us think "success" means rising up the ladder or chasing bigger titles, but Jeremy flips that. He reminds us that the real win in creative work is getting to collaborate with people who energize you—people who bring their full heart to the process. That's what keeps the work fulfilling. And frankly, it’s a filter I try to apply to my own projects more and more.

Overview:

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.