Strictly Curious: Jason Connell on Filmmaking, Podcasting & the Power of Story

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Jason Connell's creative journey unfolds like a masterclass in artistic evolution. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma—where Francis Ford Coppola filmed The Outsiders and Rumblefish—Jason absorbed filmmaking magic from an early age through these seminal productions and repeated viewings of Jaws on HBO. These cinematic influences planted seeds that would later flourish across multiple media platforms.

His path to Los Angeles wasn't immediate. Working methodically through college and beyond, Jason taught himself editing, built confidence through small projects, and eventually made the significant move to California at age 32. The universe delivered a pivotal moment when he signed up as an extra on HBO's Six Feet Under, exposing him to the fascinating subculture of background actors. This experience sparked his first documentary, "Strictly Background," which took three years rather than his anticipated six months to complete, but became a festival darling that launched his filmmaking career.

Nine more documentaries followed, including "Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians." Simultaneously, Jason founded the United Film Festival, which expanded to multiple cities over its twelve-year run. This platform allowed him to honor cinema legends like John Landis and Vilmos Zsigmond, while showcasing independent films to appreciative audiences. When both documentary production and festival management began feeling unsustainable, Jason pivoted again—this time to podcasting.

His flagship show "Let's Talk Cobra Kai" exemplifies his talent for identifying opportunities and building communities around content. What began as a modest podcast about a YouTube Red series has become the number one Cobra Kai podcast, recently celebrating its 200th episode. This success spawned multiple additional podcasts under his Just Curious Media brand, including the rapidly growing "Good Thinking" positive affirmation series.

Throughout these transitions, Jason maintains core principles: find your tribe, maintain clear vision, create without delay, and adapt to changing circumstances. His most poignant revelation? Learning to be kinder to himself after years of intense self-pressure and comparison to others' timelines of success. His story serves as a roadmap for creative professionals navigating today's rapidly evolving media landscape.

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