Bob Baker is that rarest of creatives. He’s an accomplished musician, singer/songwriter, author, improv performer, and YouTube content creator, and he’s been successful in each of these arenas. In this delightfully inspiring and engaging interview, Bob reflects on a lifetime of experiences. You’ll learn how he got started in his music and writing careers, and how he has leveraged multiple creative passions to generate unique business and career opportunities. You’ll also hear how a difficult period in his life led Bob (and life partner Pooki Lee) to becoming the successful YouTube content creators they are today—with more than 302K subscribers and 1 million views per month. You’ll love Bob’s charming sense of humor, his marvelous stories, and the wonderful wisdom and success secrets he so generously shares.
If you’re looking for a perfect way to rev up your mojo, then on your mark, get set, hit <Play>.
The Backstory
It’s amazing how a particular place and moment in time can forever alter the course of our lives and careers. Such was the case that rainy, blustery day in 2017, when I first walked into a collaborative working space in Saint Louis, MO, called Medici MediaSpace. There I met so many amazing people, including a particularly talented guy by the name of Bob Baker. Not only is Bob the classic triple threat—a talented musician, writer, and performer, he’s also a genuinely nice guy. With a mission to positively impact the lives of others, he has reached literally millions of people through his music, books, improv comedy, teaching, and coaching, and along with Pooki, their audio affirmations and guided meditations on YouTube.
The question wasn’t if, but when we could schedule Bob as our guest on the podcast. And what more perfect way to wrap Season 2 than with a special, extended play (EP) interview?
The Interview
To say you’re in for a treat is truly an understatement. In this wide-ranging interview, we talk about Bob’s remarkable journey and most memorable accomplishments; the story behind his and Pooki’s successful YouTube channel; and the many ways that “balance” is foundational in his life and career—from balancing (and nurturing) the left and right hemispheres of his brain to striking the right balance between “flying by the seat of his pants” and “planning everything out” to balancing what he loves to do with how people and the marketplace are responding to what he’s doing.
You’re going to hear about one of the greatest challenges Bob faced in his career and how his search for a solution slowly evolved into his becoming a YouTube sensation. You’re going to love hearing about the strengths he has leveraged throughout his creative life; his sage advice about the power of mindset and measuring “success”; and the value of embracing cutting-edge technologies to share your talents and message. And you’re going to thoroughly enjoy learning about the person with whom Bob would most love to spend a day stranded on a deserted island, and why he would love to shapeshift into the body and mind of a….
Fun Facts
- Bob’s mission: “To inspire and empower people through audio affirmations, guided meditations, books, podcasts, music, art, coaching, and improv comedy”
- Has taught and performed improv since 1985 and written a book on musical improv with Laura Hall from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
- Author of 16 books, including the highly acclaimed Guerilla Music Marketing Handbook, which appeared in the major motion picture, “School of Rock,” with Jack Black
- Appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “Marketplace” and has been interviewed or featured in numerous publications, including VIBE Magazine, E! Online, Huffington Post, Mashable.com, and Entrepreneur.com
- Has written, recorded, and performed several albums’ worth of original music over the decades
- Loves life with his girlfriend, Pooki, and his daughter, Rae
Cool Links
Bob and Pooki’s Wildly Successful YouTube Channel
Where Bob Calls Home on the Web
Bob’s Music Marketing Website, The Buzz Factor
Quotes by Bob Baker
“I think as creative people, we initially are drawn to do that thing for personal satisfaction; you know—it’s like scratch the creative itch and that sense of accomplishment. But over time when you realize how what you do impacts the lives of other people in a meaningful way, then you start enjoying that aspect of its as much, if not more.”
“I think that’s a really good way to approach things: How’s your energy? How’s your excitement and your love for doing that thing? But then there’s also how’s the marketplace or how are people responding to it…? When those two things are in alignment, that’s a really good thing to pursue.”
“In the same way that many musicians are influenced by their well known idols, you end up being influenced by [others]. And maybe initially you’re mimicking them, but then after a while, you find your own voice through it, and you’re the combination of all these different things you’ve been influenced by, and you make it your own.”
“The world doesn’t owe you a living simply because you have a passion for something. That’s important…. Money might follow. Passion is a really big part of it. Do the thing that you want to do because you’re excited about it, not because you think it’s a big pay day. Know where there’s overlap between your passion for it and a need or want in the world that people are willing to pay for.”
“Focus on the what. Focus on your why. And don’t get stuck in the how.”
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