Zach Braff Is Processing Pain Through Art‎

We all face difficult experiences at some point in our lives: loss, grief, disappointment—feelings that can be overwhelming, confusing, and even paralyzing to confront.

But what if we could transform our pain into something beautiful? What if we could use our creativity to process our emotions and, in turn, transmute them into something that speaks to others, serves as a communal salve, and illustrates that hope, help, and healing are possible?

Today we explore the art of understanding, accepting, and processing emotion through the creative process with the incredibly talented actor, writer, director, and new friend, Zach Braff.

Many of you may know Zach from the hit TV show ‘Scrubs,’ or his seminal directorial debut ‘Garden State’—a much-celebrated independent film he wrote, directed, and starred in alongside Natalie Portman. But today, we dive into the creative process behind Zach’s newest directorial effort, ‘A Good Person,’ a story about a young woman played by the eminently talented Florence Pugh whose world crumbles in the wake of surviving an unimaginable tragedy.

‘A Good Person’ portrays complicated truths about grief, addiction, forgiveness, trust, friendship—and the messy path to sobriety and becoming whole—all themes close to my heart that I relate to deeply through my own lived experience. Zach renders these themes with a keen appreciation for the nuance and an impressive degree of accuracy rarely portrayed in cinema.

In addition to discussing Zach’s background and his relationship with creativity, today we talk about what happens when you create with authenticity, find presence in pain, and make your own meaning. We also discuss Zach’s own personal journey in bringing this story to life and the impact he hopes it will have on audiences.

Note: If you care about independent cinema, if you enjoy mature fare, great writing, and great acting, make a point of going to the theatre this weekend and checking it out. ‘A Good Person’ opens nationwide this Friday, March 24th— and how long it remains in the theatres is up to you. Let’s help him make this one a hit.

The visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Zach is an artist in the truest sense of the word and I loved getting to know him through this conversation. It’s a privilege to share his wisdom and experience with you today.

Peace + Plants,