Ava DuVernay once said, “We have to work without permission”—and that reminder has stayed with me. This episode is about letting go of the need for a greenlight and choosing to move, even when things aren’t perfect. I share how I trademarked Art of Storytelling back in 2016 but didn’t launch it until five years later, stuck in a mindset that I needed someone else to say it was time.

This theme shows up in a few stories we cover today. Sony’s new 50-150mm G Master lens is a powerful tool for creators who are ready to make their own lane—no permission needed. Adobe’s investment in Synthesia brings up tough questions about what happens when storytelling gets outsourced to AI, especially when the companies involved have a complicated past. And baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. is now turning heads as a pro photographer—proof that it's never too late to start a new chapter on your own terms.

(00:00) Intro: Don’t wait for permission

(09:07) My story: Sitting on a dream for 10 years

(12:41) Sony’s new 50-150 G Master lens

(17:35) Adobe x Synthesia: The AI ethics dilemma

(24:09) Ken Griffey Jr.’s second act behind the camera

(28:38) Outro: Set your path, walk it, trust it

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