Tristan Cusick is a filmmaker and entrepreneur who built Cusick Media from the ground up—taking on tour work, directing music videos, and learning business the hard way. But after years of saying yes to everything, he hit a wall. What followed was Ruak—a wellness-forward creative community aimed at helping artists take care of themselves while staying inspired.

In this episode, Tristan shares what it’s really like to lead a creative team, why failure taught him more than success ever did, and how cold plunges and community runs became part of his healing. He opens up about starting something new in the middle of a busy career, and what it means to be both creative and well—without burning out.

This conversation is about work, health, leadership, and permission. Permission to ask for help, to pivot, to rest, and to build something that reflects who you actually are.