The Power of Paper and The Most Inspiring Journey of Creativity and Change. Meet Ross Symons.

Ever wondered how folding paper could change your life? In this episode of "Something Shifted," Sean Loots sits down with Ross Symons, who swapped web development for the ancient art of origami and the captivating world of stop motion animation.

Discover how a simple 365-day origami challenge catapulted Ross into the spotlight, earning him projects with high-end brands like Christian Dior and Disney.

Ross opens up about overcoming skepticism, the power of self-motivation, and the significance of showcasing one's creative journey, all while reimagining the true meaning of success.

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Ross Symons' career change (00:00:02) Ross discusses his career change, luck, and intuition guiding his creative pursuits.

Origami and Instagram project (00:01:20) Ross explains his origami project and uses Instagram as a digital record for his creations.

Struggles in a corporate environment (00:02:28) Ross reflects on his challenges in a corporate environment and his transition to working for himself.

Early fascination with computers (00:04:50)
Ross talks about spending time with computers and his interest in sound and content creation.

Career path resistance and choices (00:06:21) Ross discusses his career choices and the resistance he faced in pursuing film school.

The pseudonym "Calvin Rockstar" (00:08:17) Ross explains the origin of his pseudonym and reflects on his inner child.

Impact of 365-day project (00:13:02) Ross reflects on the impact of his 365-day project and the potential alternative scenario without it.

Exploring and adapting creative pursuits (00:15:25) Ross emphasizes the importance of exploring new creative projects and adapting to changes in the creative process.

Embracing imperfection and sharing work (00:19:33) Ross shares insights on embracing imperfection, sharing creative work, and approaching the creative process with a long-term perspective.

The magic of paper and technology (00:21:53) Ross discusses the unique blend of stop motion and paper folding, highlighting the role of paper and the challenges and respect it commands.

Defining success in a creative life (00:23:15) Ross shares his personal definition of success, emphasizing the fulfillment of living a creative life and the impact of his work on others.

The importance of time (00:24:42) Ross talks about the significance of having one's own time and its role in achieving success.

Self-reflection and self-sabotage (00:26:18) Ross discusses how he has been his own obstacle and the importance of self-awareness in personal development.

Failing forward (00:28:02) Ross shares a story about a mistake in his work and how he managed to rectify it, highlighting the value of learning from failures. White On Rice · White On Rice instagram · Youtube · Instagram · Website · 3-2-1 Shift Newsletter

About Something Shifted

Something Shifted is a documentary-style, narrative podcast about identity after interruption. It tells stories of life before and after pivotal moments of change, where familiar structures fall away and new ways of being slowly emerge. Hosted by South African broadcaster Sean Loots, the podcast explores grief, resilience, transformation, and the lived experience of becoming someone different after life changes unexpectedly.

These are stories of life after interruption, told with honesty, detail, and emotional depth.

Listen to more episodes

Explore more narrative stories of identity, resilience, and life transition wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to Something Shifted: The Soundtrack on Spotify