We recently had the chance to connect with Joe Mazza and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joe, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I’m a musician and, for most of my life, it’s been my vocation as well as my creative outlet. But in recent years, as I’ve poured my energy into my company REANIMATE and dedicated myself to helping others on their artistic and business journeys, the guitar has taken a bit of a backseat. And honestly, it’s been a kind of fascinating shift.
While there are moments I miss the old routine, I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing in this season. And now simply playing music for the sheer joy of it, or diving into a challenging piece to master, or playing a show with friends – it’s all taken on a new meaning. It’s almost like I’ve reconnected with the pure, unadulterated passion I had as a kid. I can lose myself for hours, just exploring sounds without a specific agenda or outcome.
I think these kinds of “wandering practices” are absolutely vital to our wellbeing. They’re not just hobbies; they’re the spaces where we rediscover the joy that can get buried under life’s stresses and challenges. They remind us who we are, outside of our responsibilities, and bring us back to ourselves, refreshed and reanimated.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey everyone, I’m Joe Mazza, and I’m the founder of REANIMATE. We’re a dedicated partner for businesses, non-profits, authors, and artists, offering a unique blend of strategy, communication, and media support. Our goal is simple: to help you get unstuck and thrive at any stage of your journey.
My own path has always been rooted in creative spaces. I’ve spent years as a touring and studio guitarist, led arts organizations, and produced countless events. Through it all, I kept seeing the same challenge pop up: talented people getting lost in the weeds of their own brilliant work. That’s why I started REANIMATE a few years ago – to be that guiding hand, offering coaching, communications support, and content strategy to help creatives find their way forward.
Our clients are incredibly diverse, ranging from published authors and internationally recognized visual artists to world-touring music companies. What makes REANIMATE special is our ability to provide that crucial outside perspective. When you’re deeply immersed in your own creation, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We step in as a trusted, committed partner who, precisely because we’re not the original creator, can see things with fresh eyes. We help clarify what’s cloudy and illuminate the path to your next phase, whether it’s refining an avocational practice for personal well-being or strategically entering a new market.
What truly sets us apart is our boutique, personal approach. We’re not a big, faceless agency. We intentionally keep things small and focused so we can build deep, meaningful relationships with each of our clients. This allows us to provide truly tailored guidance and become an invested part of your success story.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I’m incredibly fortunate to have been surrounded by wise and loving mentors throughout my life. In many ways, they did for me exactly what I now strive to do for others through REANIMATE.
For years, I was deeply immersed in my music, focused solely on my playing, the next gig, the next tour. But my mentors consistently saw something different in me, something I resisted for a long time: my potential as a guide to others. They gently nudged me to explore teaching music, leadership roles in spiritual and life coaching, and facilitating artistic communities.
Without their insights, I would have likely stayed squarely in the lane of a performing musician, content with a career path in Nashville or another music city. Yet, every time I trusted their guidance, I discovered a profound truth about myself: my deepest passion and where I truly thrive is in collaborating with others in a guiding capacity.
I’m immeasurably thankful for these selfless individuals who took the time to illuminate a path I couldn’t yet see, and their impact resonates with me daily. When I work with clients at REANIMATE, I carry their spirit with me, striving to offer the same kind of guidance that helps open up a new vision and empowers them to see themselves clearly, often for the very first time.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This is a great question, and one that I’ve had a changing relationship with, especially over the past few years. We often grow up believing that suffering is an adversary to be avoided at all costs, something to be numbed, escaped or beaten through various means, healthy or not. On the other side, we also chase after an often elusive vision of success, picturing it as some sort of motivational poster, a mountain summit moment where we’ve “made it” and all challenges disappear.
But the real truth is, neither of these narratives holds completely. Suffering is an inherent part of the human experience, not an anomaly. Even at that imagined peak of success, a subtle form of dissatisfaction often finds its way back in. The fleeting nature of every experience means that the labels “suffering” and “success” are far less definitive than we make them.
What suffering has consistently shown me is the fundamental truth that nothing stays the same – everything is always in motion, always transforming. There’s a fluidity to life that goes beyond rigid labels. Just recently, I was texting about this with a friend: “When something new comes my way, instead of immediately judging it as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ ‘great’ or ‘sucky,’ I’m learning to begin with the phrase ‘this is what’s happening, and there will be something beautiful, something valuable, something to learn in this.'”
So, I guess what I’m saying is suffering and success are not so different in their capacity to teach us. Where we often get tangled is in our clinging – our attachment to one, and our aversion to the other. Both are guides, each offering insights that the other might obscure. The deepest teaching emerges not from avoiding one or relentlessly pursuing the other, but from meeting both with an openly, recognizing the continuous flow of life’s lessons.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I certainly hope so, but it’s an ongoing process. As an introverted and somewhat private person who also tends to wear emotions on his sleeve, the real me always finds a way to surface. It’s probably more accurate to say that I’m always learning to be more real.
Early in life, I definitely struggled with presenting different versions of myself in different settings. That fracturing caused a good deal of anxiety, trying to be one person today and another tomorrow, or even within the same day.
What’s helped me overcome this is a combination of things: self-reflective practices, learning to set boundaries with people who might trigger me to want to put on a mask, and, honestly, a bit of an I don’t give a f*** attitude. My ideal self is kind, honest, and trustworthy, and I know that’s a very internal and personal goal and process, versus one that tries to measure up to someone else’s standard of those qualities.
Ultimately, whether we’re collaborating one-on-one or I’m speaking to a group, you’re experiencing the real me. And hopefully, if you see me the following week, you’ll experience a bit more of the real me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
For me, a key sign I’m out of my depth is when I find myself procrastinating, or jumping aimlessly from task to task without making real progress. It’s not a comfortable place to be, and thoughts like “I should know this by now” quickly creep in, whether it’s a professional, personal, or relational challenge.
I once shared this struggle – okay, I whined about it – to a therapist. She simply asked, “Why do you think you should know this? You’ve never experienced this exact situation, at this exact age, in this exact way.” Then she just sat and stared at me and let it land. Therapists are so wonderfully annoying that way! In that moment, something shifted for me. I realized that every experience is new. Feeling “out of my depth” isn’t a failure; it’s simply an opportunity to learn.
This perspective is also at the core of what we do at REANIMATE. Everyone has their own triggers for feeling overwhelmed, and everyone deserves that supportive outside voice, like my therapist was for me. We tell our clients, “You’re not out of your depth; you’re just at a new stage of learning and growing.” From there we move together with them to a new phase in their artistic practice or business – one of growth and development that takes them to where they want to go.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reanimate.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reanimate_us/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reanimatecreative
