# EP 55 – "Protect the Dream: Purpose, Creativity & Resilience" | Jason Hayes | Filmmaker

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006/ep-55-protect-the-dream-purpose-creativity-resilience-jason-hayes-filmmaker
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006/ep-55-protect-the-dream-purpose-creativity-resilience-jason-hayes-filmmaker.md
Podcast: [Let's Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas](https://stenobird.com/podcast/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006)
Published: 2026-06-18T04:45:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-55-protect-the-dream-purpose-creativity-resilience-jason-hayes-filmmaker--72572670
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72572670/jason_hayes_ep_55_final.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/let-s-talk-passion-purpose-with-nicole-thomas-7066006/episodes/ep-55-protect-the-dream-purpose-creativity-resilience-jason-hayes-filmmaker
Duration seconds: 3096

## Resource

In this episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with independent filmmaker Jason Hayes, also known as Jay D. Hayes, for a powerful conversation about creativity, purpose, resilience, and protecting your dream. Jason shares his journey from a quiet child growing up in Mississippi to becoming a filmmaker whose work has been featured on HBO, PBS, BET, and film festivals around the world. He opens up about overcoming a childhood stutter, navigating racism and rejection, trusting intuition, and staying committed to his calling even when the path wasn't clear. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, artist, filmmaker, storyteller, or someone searching for greater purpose, this episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom for pursuing your passion and staying true to yourself. Topics Discussed Protecting your dream when others don't understand your vision Following your purpose and trusting your intuition Overcoming fear, self-doubt, rejection, and adversity Growing up in Mississippi and lessons from early life experiences How a childhood stutter shaped Jason's voice as a storyteller The connection between acting, listening, and effective communication Creativity, filmmaking, and the art of storytelling Balancing artistic integrity with commercial success AI, creativity, and the future of art Building resilience and staying committed to long-term goals Personal growth, self-belief, and finding your authentic path Creating work that helps people feel seen, heard, and understood Memorable Quotes "Don't ever stress about anything, because it's always okay." "Confusion only happens when we refuse to accept the truth of a matter." "What is really for you is always downstream." "I don't think I chose filmmaking—I think filmmaking chose me." "You're not supposed to be anybody but you."…

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## Transcript

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