Rod McKuen sold multiple millions of poetry books in the 60s and 70s. He released dozens of albums, was a regular on late night, and was even nominated for an Oscar. So, how did the most salable poet in American history simply disappear? On today’s episode, Slate writer Dan Kois went searching for Rod McKuen, a famous poet who isn’t so famous anymore. We’ll hear from Stephanie Burt, Mike Chasar and Barry Alfonso, author of Rod’s biography A Voice of the Warm . Along the way, Dan meets Andy Zax, ...
Aug 02, 2022•48 min
Elaine picked up watercolor painting during her two year, cross country RV adventure with her family. She quickly fell in love with gorgeous nature scenes and found the creative process meditative and healing. But now she’s wondering if her art could be something more. On this episode of How To!, multitalented artist Aaron Dworkin has tips for Elaine and other aspiring artists on how to live a ‘portfolio life’ by finding your signature style, following your passions and ultimately getting paid. ...
Aug 02, 2022•40 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to casting director Angelique Midthunder, who recently worked on the FX series Reservation Dogs . In the interview, Angelique describes the casting and audition processes for the show and shares what it was like to organize an open casting call in Oklahoma. She also talks about the decision to cast Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack, which was originally supposed to be a male role. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss identity and authenticity i...
Jul 31, 2022•51 min
Last week we learned about using the four different styles of humor to your advantage, and who makes a good target for a joke. But what if you read the room wrong and absolutely bomb? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, we resume our conversation with Naomi Bagdonas , co-author of Humor, Seriously! , and Michael Terry, the most hilarious hedge fund guy we’ve ever met. They swap stories about office jokes that fell flat, how to navigate a suddenly tense situation and what...
Jul 26, 2022•37 min
When a fellow employee started bullying Christy at her workplace she took the situation to her supervisor, Human Resources, and even filed grievances with her union. But the situation never improved. In fact, it got worse to the point where Christy had no choice but to walk away from her job of over 30 years. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Megan Hunter – co-founder and CEO of High Conflict Institute and author of BIFF at Work: Your Guide to Difficult Workplace Communication . She offers...
Jul 20, 2022•34 min
When Betsy joined her last workplace, she thought it was a perfect fit. It was on a list of Best Places to Work and she got to be creative while helping people. But as the startup rapidly grew, the company culture changed and Betsy started to lose herself amid the stress. Then she got laid off. Honestly, Betsy was relieved, but now she’s gotta figure out what’s next. On this episode of How To!, we bring on James Altucher, author , podcaster , and all-around interesting person . He’s both created...
May 03, 2022•35 min
Dan Helfrich, CEO of Deloitte Consulting, joins Let’s Workflow It to talk about reinventing the consulting industry by bringing together a diverse set of problem solvers. Dan envisions an exciting future where agile, inclusive work environments empower individuals to challenge the status quo. He’s a big believer that the tone from the top can promote change from the bottom, unlocking value company wide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 27, 2021•35 min
Hey Who Runs That listeners! We'd like to introduce a new show from Slate, Thrilling Tales of Modern Capitalism . Each episode dives into the history of a brand that shapes the way we live and work. This first episode is about The Carnival Corporation, the biggest cruise company in the world. Carnival made headlines at the start of the covid-19 crisis when its ships harbored some of the world’s first coronavirus outbreaks. But it turns out the cruise industry is no stranger to disaster--on the c...
May 27, 2020•22 min
In this episode Seth Stevenson talks to Merrill Stubbs, co-founder and president of Food52. In their conversation, Stubbs talks about her time in cooking school, the interesting demographics of Food52’s customer base, and the balance of combining web content with web commerce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2019•40 min
In this episode Seth Stevenson talks to Beth Newell and Sarah Pappalardo, co-founders of the satirical feminist website Reductress. In their conversation, Newell and Pappalardo poke fun at some of the tropes of internet writing and explain what it’s like to run a digital media company on a tight budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 08, 2019•34 min
In this episode Seth Stevenson talks to Mick Onvural, CEO of the menswear brand Bonobos. In their conversation Onvural talks about the value of brick-and-mortar shops, the challenges of marketing to men, and why marketers make great chief executives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 01, 2019•35 min
In this episode Seth Stevenson talks to Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi, co-founders of the wedding planning and registry site, Zola. Ma and Nakaguchi started the company when they realized their friends’ wedding registries were difficult to navigate. Now they’re growing fast and hoping to eventually be the primary destination for all things wedding-related. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2019•47 min
In this episode, Seth Stevenson talks to Mario Schlosser CEO and co-founder of the health insurance company Oscar. In their discussion, Schlosser talks about what it’s like to start a business in a sector that’s rife with regulation and bureaucracy, about what really goes into setting insurance rates, and about his views on U.S. health care policy and how we can improve it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 18, 2019•40 min
In this episode Seth Stevenson talks to Tim Chen, found and CEO of NerdWallet. During their conversation Chen talks about what inspired him to found the company, how millennials think about money choices, and what he thinks the U.S. government should be doing when it comes to consumer financial protection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2019•34 min
Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, co-founders of Merge Records, talk to Seth Stevenson about running a record label in the era of streaming music, the advantages of operating in Chapel Hill, NC, and what goes into a record contract with a band these days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 04, 2019•43 min
Coffee Meets Bagel CEO Dawoon Kang talks to Seth Stevenson about founding the company with her sisters, turning down $30 million from Mark Cuban, and her effort to make online dating less overwhelming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2019•36 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Andy Katz-Mayfield, co-founder and CEO of the razor and skincare company, Harry’s. In their conversation, Katz-Mayfield talks about some of his early business decisions, the ebb and flow of facial hair trends, and how he wants to promote a more progressive brand of masculinity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 07, 2019•38 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Rose Wang, CEO and co-founder of Chirps. In their conversation, Wang talks about going on Shark Tank, the environmental advantages of eating bugs, and whether crickets can feel pain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2018•34 min
Seth Stevenson chats with co-founder and chief designer of Field Notes, Aaron Draplin. In their conversation, Draplin talks about the inspiration for Field Notes, his use of locally sourced paper and staples, and the timeless appeal of the Futura Bold typeface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2018•32 min
Seth Stevenson chats with Tarang Amin, CEO of the cosmetics company E.L.F. In their conversation, Amin talks about what it’s like to be a man running a makeup company, about makeup trends in the YouTube era, and about what it’s like to test products on his own face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2018•31 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald about what it’s like to oversee nine different cruise lines at once. In their conversation, Donald talks about some of the trends in cruising, explains how a business insight helped his company save a lot of money on arugula, and recounts some of the challenges he’s faced as one of just a handful of black CEOs of big, publicly traded companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 10, 2018•36 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Kickee Pants CEO Aerin Nicole about her search for the perfect baby clothes material. In their conversation, Nicole talks about scouting for a bamboo-based textile, her line of gender-free baby clothes, and what it’s like when celebrities like Kim Kardashian post photos of their children wearing Kickee Pants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 03, 2018•34 min
For a special Giving Tuesday episode of the show, Seth talks to Aria Finger, CEO and “Chief Old Person” of DoSomething. Finger talks about why she’s spent her whole career at a non-profit, what it’s like to be a grown-up trying to reach young people, and about the misconceptions we hold about today’s youth. For one thing, the best place to find them isn’t on social media... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 27, 2018•35 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Betterment CEO Jon Stein about the democratization of financial services. In the interview, Stein talks about the role he feels financial companies should play in treating investors fairly, about Betterment’s preparedness for a potential market crash, and his thoughts about offering so-called alternative investments – like maritime debt and weather futures – to the everyday saver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 26, 2018•36 min
In this special Small Business Saturday edition of the show, Seth Stevenson talks to Douglas Quint, co-founder of Big Gay Ice Cream. Quint was a professional bassoonist who got his start in ice cream when he spent a summer driving a soft-serve truck around New York City. He put a sign that said Big Gay Ice Cream on the side, which was supposed to be just a place-holder name, but the business took off, and the name stuck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 24, 2018•35 min
Seth Stevenson talks to Cuyana CEO Karla Gallardo about her upbringing in Ecuador and how it inspired her to make products that last. Gallardo also explains why she focused on women investors when she started the company and what it was like to see Meghan Markle sporting a Cuyana bag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2018•31 min
Have you ever seen a product you love and thought about what goes on in the company behind it? Enjoy surprising conversations with the people in charge of some of America’s most interesting businesses. Episode 1 drops Nov. 19th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2018•2 min
