Why Most Ideas Don’t Have Legs (Christopher Leon Price)
Filmmaker and podcaster Chris Price reflects on over 1,000 podcast episodes, navigating creative pivots from streaming on Twitch to film, and the discipline it takes to follow through on big ideas.
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Transcript:
Mike: Hey Chris, how’s it going?
Chris: Mike, it’s going good. It’s always good, my friend, when I’m speaking with you.
Mike: Aw. You know, we’ve been friends for a long time, and I want to say how much I appreciate you for several reasons. One, we were literally about to hang out, and you were like, “Let’s just jump on a podcast and start recording.” And here we are—within five, ten minutes, we're recording.
I realized it’s been a long time since you’ve been on the show. For any new listeners, your last episode was under the original name, The 80/20 Show. Now, with Creatives Prevail, it’s a whole new era. I thought this was a great idea because there’s so much we can cover.
I also want to say how much I’ve learned from you—especially about podcasting. You are the guru. A lot of what I incorporate into this show, I learned from you. Like those fun endcap questions I ask every guest—that was your idea. So thank you, I always appreciate you.
Chris: Well, Mike, I’m happy to be the proverbial guinea pig in the podcasting world. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I started in college—graduated in ’09—and haven’t really stopped since. I’ve made every mistake in the book, three times over. So anytime a friend needs guidance, I’m more than happy to help.
It validates everything I’ve been through to be able to pass that wisdom on. Seeing what you’ve done with 80/20 Records, your entrepreneurial projects, and now Creatives Prevail, it’s awesome. You’ve done over 200 episodes now, right?
Mike: Over 230!
Chris: Wow, that’s amazing. That kind of consistency—putting in those 10,000 hours—that’s how you become an expert. I’m happy to be here. When we were chatting and realized we had time for a podcast, I said, “F**k it, let’s go.” So here we are.
Mike: Here we are indeed. I was actually wondering—how many podcasts have you been involved in at this point? You've done quite a few.
Chris: I won’t go through every single one, but if you look at my IMDb, I’ve got over 250 episodes of Post Mortem. Probably another 600 episodes of other stuff before that. I’d say I’ve made around 1,000 podcast episodes.
Mike: That’s a lot.
Chris: A lot of it is absolute bull crap! I mean, my first podcast was The Geek Jock, which I think you were even on a few times.
Mike: I was!
Chris: I did like 150 of those. Maybe more. Then there was The Mega Men Show—like 300 episodes. Plus, all the ones I edited or produced as a side gig after moving to LA. I had Brain Love, Hollywood Hangover, and more.
Podcasting is such a unique medium. It’s kind of like radio, in the sense that the output needed to stay relevant and build a fanbase is high. People thought it would go nowhere. The name itself came from the iPod—already outdated even in the early 2010s. But it stuck. And now, look—here we are. They’re more popular than ever, and people make real money and influence through them.
Mike: And I’m sure the production workflow has changed drastically since 2009.
Chris: Oh, totally. The fundamentals haven’t changed—you still want clean audio, a plan, a deadline—but the tech is a whole different world. Like, back then we didn’t have SquadCast or Zoom. I remember recording an episode with Stephen King in 2019. It was pre-pandemic and the tech was clunky. We had to route audio through an H4n recorder because the platform didn’t support remote recording well. His internet connection wasn’t great. The result was... rough.
But people didn’t care too much. It was Stephen King! Still, nowadays, with Zoom Pro or SquadCast, it doesn’t matter if you’re on a phone or in a pro studio—you’ll sound solid. The platforms streamline everything now.
Mike: I’ll also say this: it’s important to have good gear to get the best quality possible. But content matters just as much—maybe even more. If the content is compelling, people will listen. Sure, if it sounds like total garbage and you can’t hear anyone, that’s an issue. But there’s definitely some leeway when it comes to audio quality, especially with virtual setups like this.
Chris: Yeah, and podcasting has no official standard—no NTSC, no network guidelines, no board of experts deciding best practices. It’s kind of like the Wild West. And in a way, that’s the beauty of it. It’s the ultimate evolution of pirate radio—some weird signal on an obscure AM frequency where you can say whatever you want and play whatever music you want.
What’s fascinating is how podcasting self-regulates. If you say something too wild, yeah, maybe you get attention. But that attention can turn. The internet doesn’t forget, and that content lives forever. So there’s this unspoken social contract in podcasting. And yet, people will still go on shows and say outrageous stuff—conspiracies, mean-spirited things—and it’s all out there. You kind of have to accept the good with the bad. It’s what makes the medium so raw and real.
Mike: You’ve really covered so much ground with your own work. You’ve done podcasts on philosophy, film, video game reviews—even if not always in podcast form. You’ve explored so many topics and formats.
Chris: The odyssey of Chris Price, my friend. I love too many things. That’s my burden. There’s not enough time in the day to explore them all. There are things I think about daily that I never even bring up to you—just because there’s not enough space or time.
I’ve always had this wide net of interests—film, games, podcasting. Lately, I’ve been focusing more on film. I did Twitch streaming during the pandemic and reached affiliate status. That was kind of the goal. I scratched that itch, and then I moved on.
Mike: When you say you got what you wanted out of Twitch, what do you mean?
Chris: Well, when you start something, you should have some kind of goal. Otherwise, you might find yourself doing it just because, with no direction. And I’ve done that plenty. But with Twitch, I had specific goals: I wanted to connect socially during the pandemic, reach affiliate status, and replay some of my favorite older games. And I did all of that.
Twitch helped me during a socially isolated time. It gave me a sense of projecting myself into the world again, getting that feedback loop. I got through my list of 15 or so games I wanted to revisit—Super Mario Galaxy 2, Donkey Kong Country 2, Twisted Metal 2… apparently, I have a thing for sequels.
But then, life got busy again. I started working on short films—Viscous, Jerk, Showdown at Walter Reed. When those bigger projects came along, I needed to make space for them mentally. So I shifted.
Mike: One of the things I really admire about you, Chris, is how many incredible ideas you generate. I never know what to expect when you call me. It could be a film concept, a podcast idea, a show format—anything. But what I really appreciate is that once you figure out which one to focus on, you actually follow through. You commit.
Like with Twitch—you explored it, got what you needed out of it, and then shifted gears to film and podcasting. How do you keep that discipline? Because you’ve always been able to execute once you commit.
Chris: That’s really kind of you to say, man. But truthfully, I don’t always feel disciplined. I feel like I waste too much time playing video games. I feel lazy sometimes. But to actually answer your question...
I think most creatives come up with a lot of cool ideas. That’s not unique. When I was younger, I would chase the next shiny thing all the time. I’d have this burst of inspiration, and that was enough to get me started—but rarely enough to finish anything.
What changed for me was that I got tired of starting things and not finishing them. Starting is easy. It’s fun. But eventually, you hit a wall where the inspiration runs out, and then what? You need something else to carry you through.
Mike: Right, that’s where execution has to kick in.
Chris: Exactly. I realized that not every idea has legs. Inspiration is important, but it’s not enough. You have to evaluate: does this idea have potential? Can I realistically pull it off? Is it even worth doing?
Filmmaking taught me that. I had a project called Viscous that took me three years to finish. It was just a short film, but it dragged on forever. Life got in the way, I gave myself excuses—and the result was a film I’m proud of, but that feels disjointed. I never want to make a project like that again.
So now, I don’t start anything serious unless I know why I’m doing it. I need a clear goal. Ideally a release date. And if I don’t have those answers, I keep developing the idea until I do.
Mike: I love that. And I totally relate. For me, it’s all about creating the right conditions for commitment.
With the podcast, for example—I practiced for a year before releasing anything. I recorded mock interviews, even one with you. Then I built up a runway of four to six episodes so I wasn’t scrambling when life happened. Once I got that rhythm, it became a habit.
Same with Twitch. I didn’t start with a strict schedule, but once I found my groove, I committed to two regular days a week. I treated it like a habit, not a hustle.
If something interrupts that habit, it’s easy to fall off. But if the structure is strong enough, you can bounce back.
Chris: That’s so true. We’re creatures of habit. If your life is chaotic, it’s hard to commit to anything. But once you build those foundational systems—sleep, food, emotional health—it’s much easier to stick with your creative goals.
A lot of people try to bypass the basics and jump straight into building something great. But that foundation matters. And honestly, it’s a luxury to even have the time and space to think about creative work. Some people are just trying to survive. So if you’re in a place where you can create, build from there.
Chris: As we get older, our priorities change. We're not the young bucks trying to conquer the moon anymore. What we want from our creative work evolves, and that’s okay.
Mike: Absolutely. That’s something I’ve learned too—what mattered to me five years ago might not matter today. I’ve had to break goals I set for myself in the past. Some were unrealistic. Some just didn’t align with who I’ve become.
Chris: That’s exactly it. I call it breaking promises to your former self. It sounds harsh, but it’s actually freeing. You might’ve promised your 18-year-old self you’d become a famous actor, or a rock star, or a director who only makes feature films. And then life happens, and you realize... that promise isn’t who you are anymore.
And that’s not failure. It’s growth. It’s adaptation.
Mike: For me, it wasn’t so much promises as it was goals. I used to write down all these external targets—financial goals, metrics, career milestones. But those rarely worked for me. I’d get to the end of the year feeling disappointed because I didn’t hit them, even if I had accomplished so many other things I never even imagined.
Chris: Exactly. You have to allow yourself the flexibility to evolve. If you’re too rigid, you’ll end up chasing someone else’s dream—or a version of your own dream that no longer fits.
Mike: What I found works better for me are internal goals. Like, one year I focused on setting better boundaries—with myself, with others. This year, my internal goal is to “be seen.” That could mean being more social, showing up online more, reaching out to people—just putting myself out there more intentionally.
Chris: I love that. And it reminds me of a little framework I use, especially when I’m talking to single friends about dating, but it applies to everything in life: Be seen. Be impressive. Be open.
First, be seen—go out, make content, be present. Second, be impressive—stand out, have something meaningful to share. Third, be open—don’t be so rigid about the form your success or relationships might take.
Mike: I love that advice. It works for dating, but also for networking, for creativity, for business. Just showing up consistently opens so many doors.
Chris: Totally. And here’s the kicker: most success is indirect. You might go to a pottery class thinking you’ll meet someone, but really, the benefit is all the other stuff you gain—discipline, confidence, new skills. Those are the things that prepare you for success later.
Mike: Yes! Life is rarely A + B = C. It's more like A + X = something totally unexpected... and it works out better than you imagined.
Chris: People get caught up in rigid plans. Like, “If I do A, then B, I’ll get to C.” But that’s not how success usually works. It’s indirect. You show up, improve yourself, and eventually those investments lead to unexpected opportunities.
Mike: It’s true. I’ve learned that being open is key. You might start with one goal, but as life changes, your definition of success might shift too. Being flexible helps you stay happy and grounded.
Chris: Right. And we get lost in semantics sometimes. What even is a “successful” podcast? One that makes money? One with the most followers? Or is it the one where you feel fulfilled and the audience feels connected? Success looks different to everyone.
Mike: That’s such a good point. And it ties back to what you said about breaking promises to your past self. You’re not betraying yourself—you’re adapting. I’ve had to do that a lot over the years.
Chris: Same. For example, I used to think that success meant making all my money from directing films. But now? I still want to make movies, but I’ve changed what that looks like. Maybe I don’t direct blockbusters. Maybe I just make a really good indie feature with people I respect. And I’m okay with that.
Mike: I love that. It’s such a healthier way to approach creativity. You’re not burning yourself out chasing an outdated vision—you’re refining it as you go.
Chris: Totally. Right now, I’m writing a feature. I’ve done the short films, music videos, and I want to level up. But it’s not about writing the next Star Wars. It’s about writing something shootable—something that can actually get made. That challenge of balancing vision and practicality... I live for that.
Mike: I’m excited to see what comes of it. Okay, let’s shift gears a bit. Time for some fun rapid-fire questions.
Do you remember the first video game you ever played?
Chris: Yep—Super Mario Bros. on the NES. I was born in ’86, so we had one growing up. That was the game that started it all for me.
Mike: What about your first concert?
Chris: I didn’t go to many concerts as a kid, but I remember going to a Pearl Jam show on a second date in high school. Her dad got us tickets. That was my first real show experience.
Mike: Do you have a guilty pleasure movie?
Chris: Oh yeah. Masters of the Universe with Dolph Lundgren. Total campy ’80s action movie, but I love it. And honestly, any classic Spielberg adventure film—just pure comfort.
Mike: What music are you into right now?
Chris: I’ve been listening to a lot of Styx. “Mr. Roboto” is low-key one of the greatest songs ever—super complex and fun. Also, I’m always down for some Herb Alpert. His catalog is wild.
Mike: And finally, the big question I ask every guest: If you could give just one piece of advice, what would it be?
Chris: Find something and get good at it. Life’s going to throw a lot at you—loss, failure, chaos. But if you have something you can improve on, something that gives you satisfaction, you’ll always have a path forward.
And beyond that, learn to validate yourself. External validation is fleeting. What really sustains you is how you feel about your own progress. Also—virtue is its own reward. If you live by your values, you don’t need other people to recognize it. You’ll know.
Mike: That’s incredible. Honestly, all three of those are amazing and very much connected.
Thank you so much, Chris—for jumping on last minute, for always being there, and for just being you. I really appreciate your friendship.
Chris: You got it, man. It’s been a pleasure.
Mike: One last thing—where can people find you and your work?
Chris: You can just Google me: Christopher Leon Price. My website is CLPFilm.com. I’ve also got my podcast Hollywood Hangover with Joe Russo, and a lot of my previous work can be found through Post Mortem with Mick Garris. That one’s got a crazy archive of horror interviews if you're into that.
Mike: Awesome. Thanks again, Chris!
Chris: Anytime, man.