This episode, Kristen is joined by, not one, but two fearless Michelles who know that to be a successful leader, you need to take risks and have a strong support system. First, she speaks with Michelle “Mace” Curran, a former F-16 fighter pilot and the second woman to fly as Lead Solo in the Air Force Thunderbirds. Now an entrepreneur, Curran has made it her mission to empower others to make bold and brave choices. Afterwards, Kristen talks with Michelle Fermin, Team Lead of the Fermin Group at ...
Jan 06, 2023•36 min
This week, we revisit two of our favorite interviews from 2022. In the first one, Isaac Butler discusses his book The Method: How the 20th Century Learned to Act . After that, Karen Han reveals the process behind her book Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema . Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get ...
Dec 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario talks to comedian and activist Aida Rodriguez about the state of women in comedy. They dig into Aida’s background and what it was like to come up as a woman of color in comedy. They also unpack the sneaking suspicion that women of color are getting fewer and fewer chances these days, and how to turn trauma into comedy. In Slate Plus, Aida and Daisy talk about whether it’s feminist to not stand up for yourself in...
Dec 22, 2022•35 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to author and repeat Working guest Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who recently adapted her novel Fleishman is in Trouble into a limited series for Hulu. In the interview, Taffy describes the biggest challenges she faced as both a showrunner and writer. She also explains what it was like to take a very personal project and turn it into a collaborative one, with creative input from actors, directors, and tons of other creative people. After the interview, June and co-host...
Dec 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min
This week, Isaac talks to journalist Steven Thrasher, author of The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide . In the interview, Steven discusses the origins of the book, his decision to include himself in the narrative, and his distaste for the idea of journalistic objectivity. He also shares some tips about outlining and interviewing. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about how to cite sources without disrupting the flow of nonfiction writing. ...
Dec 11, 2022•1 hr 2 min
We’ve all heard the saying: winners never quit and quitters never win. But what if it turns out they do? In this episode, Kristen is joined by two fearless guests who are reshaping the way we think about quitting. First, she sits down with Annie Duke, a former professional poker player, bestselling author, and sought after consultant in the decision-making space . Throughout her career, Annie has achieved great success by knowing when to walk away — her $4 million in tournament winnings certainl...
Dec 10, 2022•41 min
This week, host Karen Han takes a turn in the guest chair and talks to host Isaac Butler about her new book Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema , which is a critical analysis of the work of Korean director Bong Joon Ho. In the interview, Karen tells the story of how she began writing about culture in the first place and then how she was selected to write a book about one of the world’s greatest directors. She also talks about the structure of the book, the artwork that accompanies it, and how she mad...
Dec 04, 2022•52 min
Victor’s job—at its core—is to change the world. But he feels like he’s plateaued within his large humanitarian and development organization, and is now on the verge of jumping ship. On this episode of How To!, Annie Duke , author of Quit: The Power Of Knowing When to Walk Away , helps Victor decide if he should recommit to his current job or move on to something else. She explains the cognitive biases that prevent us from quitting and reveals why most of us quit things far too late. If you like...
Nov 29, 2022•40 min
This week, guest host Zak Rosen from The Best Advice Show and Slate’s Mom and Dad Are Fighting podcast talks to Liza Bielby and Richard Newman of the Detroit-based theater company The Hinterlands. They talk about how The Hinterlands’ latest production, Will You Miss Me? came into being, their influences, their rehearsal process, and the importance of deadlines. After the interview, Zak and co-host June Thomas chat about collaboration, how to kill your darlings, and how Zak implements Julia Camer...
Nov 27, 2022•57 min
This week, host Karen Han talks to Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, Robert Kondo, and Sara Sampson, the brilliant minds behind the new Netflix animated series Oni: Thunder God’s Tale . In the interview, Dice and Robert discuss their early careers at Pixar and their decision to start their own animation studio, Tonko House. Then, Dice, Robert, and Sara dig into the many creative decisions that went into the look, feel, and Japanese folklore-inspired story of Oni . After the interview, Karen and co-host J...
Nov 20, 2022•49 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to the prolific lesbian romance author Harper Bliss, who published nearly 40 novels in the past 10 years. In the interview, Harper describes her writing routine and explains how she’s been able to write and publish so many books. She also discusses the common themes in her books and why she chooses so many different international settings. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about Harper’s decision to self-publish and her ability to delegate cer...
Nov 13, 2022•49 min
Wakanda Forever carries on the story that thrilled fans of the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Evan Narcisse. He’s one of the comic book writers whose work –including the Marvel Black Panther Wakanda Atlas– helped flesh out Wakandan mythology in the years since the original film debuted. Narcisse talks about how the Afro-futuristic utopia inspired him, and how he and other creators hope to build its legacy. Guest: Writer Evan Narcisse Podc...
Nov 11, 2022•29 min
On this week’s episode of The Waves, Slate senior supervising producer of audio, Daisy Rosario is joined by actress and director Lake Bell to talk about voices. Bell’s new audio book Inside Voice is all about her obsession with how people sound. They dig into why we should take better care of our voices, how trauma impacts our ability to speak, why candidate voices impact their electability, and more. In Slate Plus, Lake and Daisy talk about the problem with the sexy baby voice. Podcast producti...
Nov 10, 2022•29 min
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to poet J. Hope Stein, whose latest collection Little Astronaut traces Stein’s journey from pregnancy to motherhood. In the interview, Stein discusses all the creative components that go into her work, from structural elements like line-breaks and word-choice to the decision to share deeply personal details in her poetry. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han discuss the benefits of reading their work out loud. They also talk about the important crea...
Nov 06, 2022•50 min
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host June Thomas and co-host Karen Han mull over the pros and cons of creative critique. An expert's input could ignite a new spark, but could too many cooks cause a fire? Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com . Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews. Hosts: June Thomas and Karen Han Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 03, 2022•29 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to Brittani Nichols, a writer and producer for ABC’s hit sitcom Abbott Elementary . In the interview, Brittani describes the show’s very collaborative writing process and explains what it means to be both a writer and producer. She also discusses how the show’s writers touch on personal experience to add texture to the world they’re creating. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about balancing behind-the-scenes and more visible work. They also d...
Oct 23, 2022•56 min
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas help a listener named Alisa who wants to know if it’s possible to move beyond goal-focused work. Alisa works in academia, where the goals and checkpoints are clear, but she feels like she’s gone as far as she can go. Karen and June share their experiences with goal-focused work and try to think of alternative methods for motivation. Do you have a question about creative work? Call us and leave a message at 304-933-9675, or emai...
Oct 20, 2022•25 min
This week, host Karen Han talks to artist Drusilla Adeline, who works primarily as a movie poster and cover designer. Her work includes the poster for Armageddon Time , as well as the one for Bodies, Bodies, Bodies . She also designed the cover and other materials for the Criterion Collection’s edition of David Lynch’s The Elephant Man . In the interview, Drusilla breaks down her creative process and demystifies the art of movie poster and cover design. After the interview, Karen and co-host Jun...
Oct 09, 2022•47 min
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Shanta Thake, chief artistic officer of New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In the interview, Shanta describes the different branches of Lincoln Center and discusses the institution’s new mission to make all of those branches more welcoming and accessible to more people. She also describes her role as a curator and explains how she and her team are always on the lookout for new talent. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han disc...
Sep 25, 2022•55 min
College application season is approaching fast—too fast—for 16-yr old Maya and her mother, Melissa. The problem? Maya has no idea where to go or what to study. It doesn’t help that there are thousands of schools to choose from, and little transparency about their true cost. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Ron Lieber , New York Times money columnist and author of The Price You Pay for College . He shows Maya how to narrow down the list of potential colleges by asking insightful questions ...
Sep 20, 2022•38 min
This week, host Karen Han talks to TV and film editor Stacy Moon, whose recent projects include Nathan Fielder’s HBO show The Rehearsal , Tim Robinson’s sketch comedy show I Think You Should Leave , and the new feature film Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul . In the interview, Stacy breaks down the process for editing an episode of The Rehearsal , which involves piecing together a narrative from hours of unscripted conversations. She also talks about I Think You Should Leave and explains how she us...
Sep 18, 2022•50 min
When Trish first started working in corporate recruiting, she had wonderful co-workers, a supportive manager, opportunities for growth—it was “bliss.” But the bliss evaporated in 2020 when she got laid off during the pandemic. She’s since found a different job in the same field, but also decided to try her hand at teaching pilates part-time. Now, after burning the candle at both ends, Trish is burned out and unsure of the best path forward. On this episode of How To!, we bring on Nathan and Susa...
Sep 13, 2022•39 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to reporter Casey Parks, whose new memoir Diary of a Misfit was more than a decade in the making. In the interview, Casey explains how the book started as a documentary project that focused on a person from her hometown. Then she discusses the gradual evolution of the project and her decision to make it more personal. After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han talk about Casey’s “need” to write the book and whether they’ve ever felt that same pull. In the e...
Sep 11, 2022•51 min
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Andy Le, Brian Le, and Daniel Mah, fight choreographers for the action comedy film Everything Everywhere All at Once . In the interview, Andy, Brian, and Daniel discuss the origins of their group Martial Club and explain how they learned to recreate fight sequences by watching lots and lots of martial arts movies. Then they talk about their work on Everything Everywhere All at Once and share what they’ve learned about working with big-time action stars like ...
Sep 04, 2022•53 min
This week, Felix Salmon , Emily Peck , and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the reasons behind the current labor shortage, the concept of “quiet quitting”, and the proposed fast-food labor council in California. In the Plus segment: Stacy-Marie Ishmael returns to talk about Michael Saylor’s alleged tax evasion. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 03, 2022•45 min
This week, host Karen Han talks to David Seth Moltz and Kavi Moltz, founders of the perfume company D.S. & Durga. In the interview, David and Kavi explain how their interest in perfume started as a hobby and blossomed into a business. They also discuss the trial and error of creating great scents and argue that perfumery should be considered an art form on the level of writing or music composition. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about telling stories through scents ...
Aug 28, 2022•52 min
This week, host Karen Han talks to Lynon Aksamit, a puzzle designer for the Colorado-based company Liberty Puzzles. In the interview, Lynon explains how he and his colleagues select artwork to turn into puzzles. Then he breaks down his process for designing puzzle pieces (including “whimsy pieces”) and describes how he plays with the themes of the original artwork to create engaging puzzles for customers. After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss their own experiences with puzzl...
Aug 21, 2022•50 min
This week, host June Thomas talks to writers Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn, whose Significant Objects project explores how and why physical items can take on meaning and value. In the interview, Rob and Joshua talk about how their partnership was born and explain why they’re such compatible collaborators. They also discuss their proclivity for balancing lots of projects, and Joshua explains something he calls the “virtuous circle of procrastination.” After the interview, June and co-host Karen Han...
Aug 14, 2022•55 min
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres in theaters this November. The franchise has provided a showcase for African Americans across the entertainment industry, including those behind the scenes. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with one of those rising creatives, conceptual artist Phillip Boutte Jr. Boutte left an acting career for film design, working on several sci-fi blockbusters. They discuss how Black Panther has helped change the dynamic for African American film profe...
Aug 12, 2022•27 min
This week, host Karen Han discusses the basics of great Korean food with chef Hooni Kim. In the interview, Hooni starts by explaining how one of his restaurants developed a meal-kit service at the start of the pandemic. Then he discusses his latest venture, the Little Banchan Shop, which will offer packaged Korean side dishes (called Banchan), marinated meats, and other items that customers can incorporate into their home cooked meals. After the interview Karen and co-host Isaac Butler talk abou...
Aug 07, 2022•49 min
