Co-Creating Selfishly AND Unselfishly With Mat Cashman

You know that moment when a casual night turns into an unforgettable story? That's exactly what happened when Mat Cashman—options educator by day, but musician and all-around creative by night—was packing up his gear after a duo gig in grad school. A group of pro athletes walked in, and what unfolded next changed his entire perspective on what it means to create for others.

Mat's one of those beautiful contradictions: a person who can lose himself in the precise world of options math one minute, then go explore in the structured improvisations of an artform like jazz the next. And somehow, he never loses sight of why sharing these passions matters. Which is exactly why I had to bring him back to reflect on Dave Nadig's provocative idea that all creation is actually an act of co-creation.

What emerged was far more than just a discussion about creativity. It's a story about those electric moments when your private passions collide with the real world—when the selfish joy of exploring what fascinates you meets the thrill of watching others light up in response.

(Oh, and there might be a fat stack of cash involved in this particular story, but you'll have to hear Mat tell that part himself.)

Listen to this special "Oh snap, guess what I saw?!" bonus Just Press Record episode to hear how a late-night jazz gig turned into an unexpected masterclass in serving your audience, and why sometimes the best creative insights come when you least expect them.

This is exactly why I love these return conversations—those magical moments when casual chats reveal life-changing wisdom hiding in plain sight, just waiting for the right story to bring them to life.

ps. Hey Brian Portnoy, Dave Nadig, Angie Colee, Kris Abdelmessih, and Jeff Bagwell: Mat and I are saying nice things about you on the internet.