The Golden Lounge: After Hours (Jesse - Sr. Shooter/Editor)

Golden Lounge After Hours: Jesse on Applying 5 times to Work at Golden Hippo & His Career Journey

Golden Hippo’s new podcast series gives an inside look at what it’s really like to work here, blending humor, career journeys, and personal passions. Hosted by Noah, our Amazing HQ receptionist and Golden Hippo's podcast host, this show brings to life the values that make Hippos thrive.

This episode, Noah sat down with Jesse, a talented Sr. Shooter/Editor at Golden Hippo, to chat about persistence, creative growth, and finding the humor in every step of your journey.

From Hunting Videos to Pet Wellness Stories

Jesse’s career story is anything but ordinary. Growing up in the Midwest, he began his editing career at an outdoor production company filming hunting videos before making the big move to Los Angeles. With his loyal dog, Drax, by his side at the time, Jesse set out to chase even bigger creative opportunities and found his way to Golden Hippo.

Though he studied film in college, Jesse admits his best editing skills came from real-world experience; long hours spent learning on the job, trying new techniques, and saying yes to any opportunity to grow. His journey of taking initiative, staying curious, and never stopping the learning process is the core to all of our hippos and special insight into what we look for in candidates.

A Comedic Start to Golden Hippo

Jesse’s road to Golden Hippo wasn’t a straight line. In fact, he applied five times over seven years before landing his dream role in 2021. Each time, he found new ways to stand out, including one unforgettable introduction line in his application:

"I look like if a wizard cast a spell on a thumb and it came to life and grew a beard." 

His creativity and determination are exactly what make Jesse and so many of our Hippos stand out. Today, he’s part of our creative video team, producing inspiring stories for top wellness brands and proving that perseverance pays off.

Jesse's Wellness Wisdom: Balance is Key

When asked about his health and wellness tips, Jesse's answer was refreshingly honest: work out, don't fear enjoying your favorite foods (Shake Shack is alright!), and never skip breakfast. For real results, he credits Golden Hippo’s on-site gym and our personal trainer for helping him stay consistent!

"TikToks At Work" Segment

In a lively segment, "TikToks at Work," Noah and Jesse react to trending workplace videos, with the first video sparking some meaningful reflections on creative feedback and collaboration. Jesse shared how important it is to be personable and thoughtful when giving feedback and Noah chimed in with his own take from studying in Prague — that honest, constructive feedback (even when it’s blunt) is better than false praise. Together, they strongly felt that growth only happens when people can be open, respectful, and real with one another.

When a TikTok about awkward work events appeared, Jesse laughed and set the record straight — that’s not the Hippo vibe. From epic company parties to meaningful team moments, he shouted out Noah and the Facilities Operations team for creating events people actually love to attend and make lasting memories from.

Favorite Golden Hippo Memories

Jesse also shared some favorite Hippo memories, from seeing teammates get promoted to celebrating new parents. Noah then topped it off with a hilarious Halloween story involving a late-night cleanup and a waterfall of wet trash! Even in those chaotic moments, they agreed: it’s the people and energizing culture that make Golden Hippo such a special place to work.

If you would like to listen to the full conversation, click here!