#2 - The Hijacking of Attention: Reclaiming Our Agency

#2 - The Hijacking of Attention: Reclaiming Our Agency

Summary This episode is about attention — and how easily it can be pulled into places that don’t serve us. I talk about a recent moment where I let a few hurtful comments take up far more space than they deserved. Before I realised it, I’d lost a week to spiralling, negative self-talk, and a kind of emotional fog that can be hard to climb out of once you’re in it. Reading the opening chapter of Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis helped me see what was really happening. It reminded me that attention isn’t neutral — where you place it shapes how you see yourself, how you feel, and what you’re able to create. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to reclaim your attention when it’s been hijacked, and why choosing where your focus goes is essential if you want to heal, stay creative, and move towards the life you’re trying to build. More on This... This episode came out of a week where I lost my footing a little. One comment. A handful of words. And suddenly my attention was pulled into a place it didn’t belong. I found myself replaying what was said, giving it more weight than it deserved, and before I realised it, I’d lost a whole week to spiralling and negative self-talk. If you’re sensitive, neurodivergent, or simply human, you might recognise that feeling — how easily attention can turn into a kind of self-imposed prison. As I was slowly finding my way back, I was reading the opening chapter of Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis — the chapter on attention. The timing couldn’t have been better. It reminded me that attention isn’t neutral. Where you place it shapes your inner world, your confidence, and your sense of self. In this episode, I reflect on: 1. how attention gets hijacked by hurtful comments 2. why dwelling on negativity costs more than we realise 3. the link between attention, identity, and agency 4. and what it means to consciously reclaim your focus This isn’t about pretending hurt doesn’t land. It does. But it is about recognising that you still have a choice in where your attention lives next — especially if you want to protect your creativity, your mental health, and the life you’re trying to build. If you’ve ever lost days — or weeks — to something that didn’t deserve that much of you, I hope this episode meets you where you are. haroon --------- Here's a few takeaways I want you to have: 1. How easily a few hurtful comments can take over your attention — and how quickly that can spiral 2. Why letting negativity dominate your inner world costs more than you realise 3. How choosing where your attention goes can change your mood, your energy, and your creative output 4. Why reading has become a way for me to regulate my nervous system and find calm again 5. What it means to reclaim your agency when your attention has been hijacked 6. How Chase Jarvis’ idea that “attention shapes identity” landed for me at exactly the right time --------------- Links referenced in this episode: 1. harooncreates.com [https://harooncreates.com] 2. harooncreates [https://www.instagram.com/harooncreates/] 3. chasejarvis.com [https://chasejarvis.com] 4. creativelive.com [https://creativelive.com] 5. modernwisdom.com [https://modernwisdom.com] 6. Seth Godin [https://SethGodin] Companies mentioned in this episode: 1. Chase Jarvis 2. CreativeLive 3. Seth Godin 4. George Mack 5. Chris Williamson

#1 - Why I’m Back — And What’s Next

Summary: This episode marks the relaunch of Speak Easy — a space I’ve built for real, honest conversations with artists, creatives, and the people who shake things up. I talk about why I’m bringing the podcast back, what’s been happening behind the scenes, and what you can expect from the new season. If you’re here for stories, creativity, community, and a bit of soul, you’re in the right place. This Episode: This episode marks the return — or maybe the real beginning — of Speak Easy with Haroon. I’ve been trying to make this podcast happen since 2014, but life, fear, self-doubt, ADHD, and everything in between kept pulling me off track. I finally hit record in 2021, but even then, I struggled to share the work. I kept getting in my own way. This relaunch is me choosing to step forward with intention. To show up every week. To trust my voice, my curiosity, and the conversations I want to have. Speak Easy has always been about artists, creatives, and the troublemakers who reshape culture — the people who make things, break things, and tell the truth in a world that tries to flatten everything. I’m endlessly fascinated by their journeys: the mess, the magic, the doubt, the breakthroughs, and the quiet moments that shape who they are. In this episode, I talk honestly about why I’m bringing the podcast back and what I want it to stand for. I’m revisiting some earlier recordings too — episodes I never released — and adding new reflections and context to them. They still matter. They just needed space to breathe. Going forward, expect conversations that feel real, spacious, and unhurried. Guests you may know, guests you’ve never heard of, and voices that deserve to be part of the room. No performative “success talk.” Just stories, honesty, creativity, and craft. If you’re someone who loves art, ideas, soulful conversations, and the messy humanity inside the creative process, then welcome back — or welcome for the first time. This is Speak Easy. Let’s begin again. Takeaways: * This episode marks the relaunch of my podcast, emphasizing a more intentional approach moving forward. * I aim to provide weekly episodes featuring conversations with various artists and creatives. * The podcast will include reissued old episodes with added introductions and new insights for listeners. * I will explore the complexities of creativity and the journeys of diverse individuals during our discussions. Companies mentioned in this episode: * James Altucher * Tim Ferriss * Chris Williamson * Rich Roll * Ricky Gervais * Karl Pilkington * London Real * Spotify * YouTube * Apple Podcasts