Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby

🧾 Episode Show Notes

In this episode, Damien sits down with filmmaker and creative studio founder Darren Rayner to explore how action-sports filmmaking shaped modern social media storytelling — and how brands can scale content without losing their voice.

Darren discusses:

🎬 The origin of Magnafire
Why a serious snowboarding accident changed his career direction
Moving from athlete to filmmaker
Building a studio focused on outdoor sport and wellness storytelling
Transitioning from feature-length action-sports films to short-form digital content
📱 Social-first storytelling for brands
What brands still misunderstand about TikTok and Instagram video
Why discovery strategy comes before production
Helping organisations grow audiences without losing authenticity
Turning brand identity into performance-driven social content
📈 Scaling audiences on social platforms
Growing Arc’teryx from zero to hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers
Balancing trend-driven content with long-term brand positioning
Why social storytelling shouldn’t feel like advertising
🧗 Filming athletes and working with global brands
Producing content with limited access windows (sometimes just 25 minutes)
Why preparation is everything when directing elite athletes
Lessons learned from a 12-year collaboration with Red Bull
Why athletes are culture drivers — not just subjects
🎥 Documentary instincts inside branded filmmaking
Capturing real stories vs constructing marketing narratives
Why audiences respond more strongly to observed storytelling
Human-led content in the age of generative AI video
🤖 AI inside modern filmmaking workflows
Using AI for pre-production speed and clarity
Removing unwanted visual elements during post-production
Cleaning audio captured in outdoor environments
Why Magnifier avoids fully generative video pipelines
📐 Vertical vs cinematic framing challenges
Shooting simultaneously for horizontal and vertical formats
Practical strategies directors can apply immediately
Why filmmakers must adapt to social-first viewing behaviour
W: https://www.magnafiremedia.com/about/

🎙️ About the PodcastFilmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby explores the craft, business and creative journeys behind today’s filmmakers, directors, editors and visual storytellers working across cinema, broadcast and digital platforms.

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

Episode Show Notes:

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien speaks with Domenic Angelino, an exercise science specialist, public health expert, and digital fitness innovator working at the intersection of research, technology, and human performance.Currently serving as Chief Fitness Scientist at FitCraft, Domenic leads the science behind gamified fitness experiences while continuing to push forward the integration of AI and digital health tools into everyday training and wellness.With experience spanning academic research, startup consulting, curriculum development, public health programs, and global fitness media, Domenic has contributed to projects reaching millions—from education systems to fitness apps and YouTube channels generating over 50 million views.In this conversation, Domenic shares insights into:
How science is reshaping the future of fitness
The growing role of AI in training and health tracking
Working across research labs, startups, and public health initiatives
Consulting for fitness platforms and performance organizations
Writing textbooks, children’s books, and educational curriculum
Supporting underserved communities through physical activity programs
Bridging academia and industry innovation
Why evidence-based training matters more than ever
This episode explores how fitness science, storytelling, education, and technology intersect to shape healthier futures worldwide.

https://domenicangelino.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/domenichealth.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenicangelino/
https://www.instagram.com/domenichealth/

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

What role does fear play in shaping political narratives—and who benefits from it? In this episode, Emmy Award–winning investigative producer Andrew Goldberg joins the podcast to discuss his documentary White With Fear, a powerful examination of how racial anxiety has been strategically used in American political messaging over the past half-century. We explore how documentary storytelling can unpack complex national myths, why public television still matters in today’s media landscape, and what it takes to build projects supported by hundreds of institutions and partners worldwide.Along the way, Andrew reflects on:
the research process behind White With Fear
how political messaging around race evolved from the late 20th century to today
why documentary filmmaking remains a critical civic tool
the responsibility of public-interest storytelling
the challenges of making investigative work accessible to broad audiences
what global audiences misunderstand—and do understand—about American politics
lessons from producing long-form journalism for PBS and major broadcast outlets
This conversation looks beyond headlines to examine how narratives are constructed, circulated, and remembered—and why understanding them matters now more than ever.

https://www.whitewithfear.com

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

Episode Guest: Michael Kellman
Host: Damien Swaby

Born in Los Angeles, Michael Kellman has been passionate about storytelling and performance from an early age. With interests spanning film, television, theatre, comedy, and live performance, Michael has spent years developing his voice as a creative storyteller.In this episode, Michael shares insights into his creative journey as a writer, director, and performer, and discusses the making of “Say Less,” his debut feature film.

We explore:
Michael Kellman’s early passion for film and performance
The path to becoming a writer and director
Lessons learned while making a debut feature film
The creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking
The vision and inspiration behind Say Less
Advice for aspiring filmmakers pursuing their first project
About the Film – Say Less
Say Less marks Michael Kellman’s debut feature film, representing years of creative work and dedication to storytelling.

WATCH THE FILM: https://deref-mail.com/mail/client/oXGiw0646Lc/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=http%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GK2LN25C

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

Show Notes

Creative careers often demand everything from us—long hours, emotional investment, and intense focus. But how often do we consider how our relationship with food affects our creativity, energy, and wellbeing?

In this episode, we speak with Shirley Billigmeier, founder of the Innergetics Process, about transforming our relationship with eating.

With more than 50 years of experience in holistic wellness, Shirley shares how tuning into genuine hunger and respecting the body’s signals can lead to lasting change—without dieting, guilt, or restriction.

This conversation is especially relevant for filmmakers, artists, and creatives who often struggle with irregular schedules and stress around health and food.

What We Discuss
Why many creatives struggle with eating patterns and energy
The difference between dieting and conscious eating
How to recognize genuine hunger signals
Why willpower and restriction often fail
The philosophy behind the Innergetics Process
Reconnecting with the body’s innate wisdom
Finding balance between creativity, work, and wellbeing
How a healthy relationship with food can support creative longevity
About the Guest:

Shirley Billigmeier is a holistic wellness coach, author, speaker, and body image specialist with more than five decades of experience helping individuals transform their relationship with food. She is the author of Inner Eating and the founder of the Innergetics Process, a program designed to help people reconnect with their body’s natural signals and develop a sustainable, healthy approach to eating.Her work has been featured in numerous publications and she continues to guide individuals through courses and coaching focused on mindful eating and holistic wellness.

Learn more:
www.innergetics.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innergeticsmethod/
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en