Working
Episodes
A Theater Director and a Dramaturg on Reviving Black Plays
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to theater director Awoye Timpo and dramaturg Arminda Thomas. In the interview, Awoye and Arminda start by defining...
Working Overtime: When to Give Up
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas reply to a listener named Jamey, who thinks it might be time to abandon a novel-w...
Writer Hannah Kirshner on Japanese Artisans and Immersive Reporting
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Hannah Kirshner, author of Water, Wood, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain To...
Working Presents: The Madness Behind 'The Method'
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of method acting, we tend to think of actors going a little over the top for a role – like Jared Leto, who allegedly sent his colleagu...
Working Presents: The Madness Behind 'The Method'
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of method acting, we tend to think of actors going a little over the top for a role – like Jared Leto, who allegedly sent his colleagu...
Artist Christina Chang on Her Creative Direction for Cartoon Shows
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to Christina Chang, creative director for the animated series We Baby Bears on Cartoon Network. In the interview, Chri...
Working Overtime: Teaching as a Creative Practice
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and June Thomas answer a question from a physics teacher named Anya, who thinks we s...
How Children’s Book Creators Natalia and Lauren O’Hara Balance Art and Family
17 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to sisters Natalia and Lauren O’Hara, who work as an author/illustrator team to create children’s books like Hor...
How Artist and Writer Lauren Redniss Creates Visual Nonfiction
10 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to artist and writer Lauren Redniss, whose latest piece of visual nonfiction is Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land i...
Working Overtime: Routines and Rituals
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, host Isaac Butler helps co-host June Thomas adjust to life as a freelancer. With boundless free time co...
Artist Dan-ah Kim on Picture Books and Graphic Designs for The Gilded Age
03 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to artist and designer Dan-ah Kim, whose work includes the picture book The Grandmasters Daughter and multiple graphic...
Author Julia Cameron on Morning Pages and Overcoming Perfectionism
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Julia Cameron, author of the classic book The Artist's Way and dozens of other books about creativity, including ...
Author Julia Cameron on Morning Pages and Overcoming Perfectionism
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Julia Cameron, author of the classic book The Artist's Way and dozens of other books about creativity, including ...
Working Overtime: Spicing Up Dry Writing
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han answer a question from a listener named Anna, who wants to enliven her...
Jeeyon Shim’s “Keepsake Games” Combine Crafting and Storytelling
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to Jeeyon Shim, who designs immersive games that allow players to craft objects and tell stories. In the interview, Je...
Jeeyon Shim’s “Keepsake Games” Combine Crafting and Storytelling
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to Jeeyon Shim, who designs immersive games that allow players to craft objects and tell stories. In the interview, Je...
The Writers of HBO's Somebody Somewhere on Collaborating as Best Friends
13 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, writers and creators of the HBO series Somebody, Somewhere. In the interview, Hanna...
Working Overtime: Is Boredom Essential to the Creative Process?
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts Isaac Butler and Karen Han reply to an email from a listener named Jeffrey, who points out how rare it is ...
How a Ghostwriter for Fiction Collaborates With Clients
06 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to author, ghostwriter, and YouTuber Michelle Schusterman, who’s written more than a dozen novels. In the intervie...
Composer Fabian Almazan on His Green Alternative to CDs and Vinyl
27 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer and band leader Fabian Almazan. In the interview, Fabian explains how he uses physical places, like the...
Working Overtime: Writer’s Block
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Karen Han discuss their experiences with writer’s block. Then they analyze how the Apple...
Why Isaac Butler's History of Method Acting Is Such a Page-Turner
20 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to Isaac Butler about the writing of his new book The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act. They discuss h...
Rebecca Mead on the Challenge of Writing About Herself
13 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to New Yorker writer Rebecca Mead about her new memoir Home/Land, which traces her experience moving back to Britain...
Working Overtime: Bong Joon-ho’s Creative Advice
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode of Working Overtime, hosts Karen Han and June Thomas dissect some creative advice from the director Bong Joon-ho, who claimed during ...
How a Playwright and a Director Harmonize to Make Great Theater
06 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Aleshea Harris and director Whitney White, whose new play On Sugarland is currently in preview perfor...
How Late Night Writer Karen Chee Generates Punchlines
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to comedy writer Karen Chee, who works as a writer and performer for Late Night With Seth Meyers. In the interview, Ch...
Working Overtime: The Pomodoro Technique
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han discuss the pomodoro technique, which involves breaking work into...
Working Overtime: The Pomodoro Technique
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For this edition of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han discuss the pomodoro technique, which involves breaking work into...
Author Malinda Lo on the Limits of the Young Adult Label
23 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to author Malinda Lo, whose book Last Night at the Telegraph Club won the National Book Award. In the interview, Mal...
How the Alien Languages in “Foundation” Were Created
16 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Fionnuala Murphy, an actor and linguist who invented multiple alien languages for Apple TV Plus’s series Found...
Working Overtime: “Get Off the Freaking Internet”
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the debut episode of Working Overtime! In these bi-weekly episodes, June, Isaac, and Karen dissect creative advice—and sometimes of...
Fashion Designer Jasmine Chong on Aesthetics, Familial Influence, and Hot Pink
09 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to fashion designer Jasmine Chong whom you might know from the reality show Making the Cut. Before founding her own la...
Our Creative New Year's Resolutions for 2022
02 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han share their creative New Year’s Resolutions for 2022. Then they look back at their goals f...
A Special Creative Advice Episode
26 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Karen Han help each other to overcome creative roadblocks and discuss some of their favorite pieces of...
How a Museum Curator Decides Which Objects to Put on Display
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Debra Schmidt Bach, a curator of the New-York Historical Society’s new exhibition, " ‘Turn Every Page’: Ins...
How a Museum Curator Decides Which Objects to Put on Display
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Debra Schmidt Bach, a curator of the New-York Historical Society’s new exhibition, " ‘Turn Every Page’: Ins...
How Sound Editor Ai-Ling Lee Creates Immersive Soundscapes for Movies
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Ai-Ling Lee, a movie sound editor whose long résumé includes the critically acclaimed films First Man, La La L...
Inside Super Yaki, the Merch Company for Movie Lovers
05 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Karen Han talks to Andrew Ortiz, founder of the movie merchandise company Super Yaki, which designs T-shirts, pins, hats, and more. In...
Creative Advice From Very Successful People
28 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Zak Rosen, host of The Best Advice Show podcast. First, they discuss the premise of Zak’s podcast, which featur...
Writer Oliver Burkeman on the Dangers of Obsessive Time Management
21 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Oliver Burkeman, author of the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In the interview, Oliver sh...
Documentary Filmmaker Stanley Nelson on Structure, Editing, and Sound
14 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, whose latest film, ATTICA, covers the 1971 uprising at the Attica Correcti...
Cartoonist Dami Lee on Freelancing, Pitching, and Generating Ideas
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in her first episode as co-host of Working, Karen Han interviews cartoonist Dami Lee. In the interview, Dami talks about her resistance to ...
Leslie Ann Sebert on Movie Makeup Magic
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to makeup artist Leslie Ann Sebert about her long career in film and her latest project, the Netflix movie Nightboo...
Leslie Ann Sebert on Movie Makeup Magic
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to makeup artist Leslie Ann Sebert about her long career in film and her latest project, the Netflix movie Nightboo...
Rebecca Lavoie on Her Podcasting “Side Hustle”
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Rebecca Lavoie, who oversees podcasts at New Hampshire Public Radio and who has a “side” hustle as host and p...
Rebecca Lavoie on Her Podcasting “Side Hustle”
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Rebecca Lavoie, who oversees podcasts at New Hampshire Public Radio and who has a “side” hustle as host and p...
How Alessandro Nivola Became Dickie Moltisanti in The Many Saints of Newark
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to actor Alessandro Nivola, who recently starred in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark. In the intervie...
Sponsored: How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Relentless features a conversation about how we can go above and beyond the expected to create truly unique customer experiences. ...
Sponsored: How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of The Relentless features a conversation about how we can go above and beyond the expected to create truly unique customer experiences. ...
Tom Mison on His Acting Techniques and Favorite Roles
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to actor Tom Mison, who discusses some of his favorite roles, from Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow to Mr. Phillips ...
Tom Mison on His Acting Techniques and Favorite Roles
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to actor Tom Mison, who discusses some of his favorite roles, from Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow to Mr. Phillips ...
Designing Costumes for Steve Martin and Others in Only Murders in the Building
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Dana Covarrubias, costume designer for the popular Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Mart...
Designing Costumes for Steve Martin and Others in Only Murders in the Building
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Dana Covarrubias, costume designer for the popular Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Mart...
How Nichole Perkins Tapped into Memories for Her Memoir
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to writer and podcaster Nichole Perkins, whose new book of personal essays is Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could...
How Nichole Perkins Tapped into Memories for Her Memoir
26 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to writer and podcaster Nichole Perkins, whose new book of personal essays is Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could...
How a Book Cover Designer Catches the Reader’s Eye
19 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in his final hosting appearance on the show, Rumaan Alam talks to graphic designer Rodrigo Corral, who specializes in book cover art. In th...
How a Book Cover Designer Catches the Reader’s Eye
19 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, in his final hosting appearance on the show, Rumaan Alam talks to graphic designer Rodrigo Corral, who specializes in book cover art. In th...
How Morgan Rhodes Syncs Music to Picture
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to music supervisor Morgan Rhodes. In the interview, Morgan explains what a music supervisor is, how she research...
How Morgan Rhodes Syncs Music to Picture
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to music supervisor Morgan Rhodes. In the interview, Morgan explains what a music supervisor is, how she researche...
Writing Trivia Questions With LearnedLeague’s Thorsten A. Integrity
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Shayne Bushfield, aka Thorsten A. Integrity, founder of the online trivia competition LearnedLeague. In the inter...
Writing Trivia Questions With LearnedLeague’s Thorsten A. Integrity
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Shayne Bushfield, aka Thorsten A. Integrity, founder of the online trivia competition LearnedLeague. In the inter...
White Lotus' Composer on the Show’s Distinct Sound
29 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who wrote the spooky, absolutely unmistakable score for the HBO series The Whi...
White Lotus' Composer on the Show’s Distinct Sound
29 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who wrote the spooky, absolutely unmistakable score for the HBO series The Whi...
Playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Long Journey to Broadway
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu about her play Pass Over, which is the first show to premiere on Broadway ...
Playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Long Journey to Broadway
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu about her play Pass Over, which is the first show to premiere on Broadway ...
Charlie Jane Anders on Her New Book of Writing Advice
15 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Charlie Jane Anders, author of many novels and a new book of writing advice, Never Say You Can't Survive. In the ...
Charlie Jane Anders on Her New Book of Writing Advice
15 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Charlie Jane Anders, author of many novels and a new book of writing advice, Never Say You Can't Survive. In the ...
Artist Shahzia Sikander on the Painting That Launched Her Career
08 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to artist Shahzia Sikander about her decades-long career as a painter and multimedia artist. In the interview, Shahz...
Artist Shahzia Sikander on the Painting That Launched Her Career
08 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to artist Shahzia Sikander about her decades-long career as a painter and multimedia artist. In the interview, Shahz...
Why Opera Composer Jake Heggie Writes Music by Hand
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to composer Jake Heggie, who the Wall Street Journal described as “arguably the world’s most popular 21st-centur...
Why Opera Composer Jake Heggie Writes Music by Hand
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to composer Jake Heggie, who the Wall Street Journal described as “arguably the world’s most popular 21st-centur...
Sponsored: How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re kicking off Season 2 with a conversation about how we can go above and beyond the expected to create truly unique customer experiences. Host K...
Sponsored: How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re kicking off Season 2 with a conversation about how we can go above and beyond the expected to create truly unique customer experiences. Host K...
Author J. Robert Lennon on the Importance of Revision
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to J. Robert Lennon, author of numerous short stories and novels. In the interview, Lennon discusses his daily writ...
Author J. Robert Lennon on the Importance of Revision
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to J. Robert Lennon, author of numerous short stories and novels. In the interview, Lennon discusses his daily writ...
Photographing New York’s Disappearing Storefronts
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to photographers James and Karla Murray, who are on a mission to capture the unique charm of New York City’s store...
Photographing New York’s Disappearing Storefronts
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to photographers James and Karla Murray, who are on a mission to capture the unique charm of New York City’s store...
“Genre-Fluid” Musician Yola on Mining Her Subconscious
11 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to the multitalented singer/songwriter Yola. In the interview Yola breaks down her songwriting process from the fir...
“Genre-Fluid” Musician Yola on Mining Her Subconscious
11 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to the multitalented singer/songwriter Yola. In the interview Yola breaks down her songwriting process from the fir...
Undocumented Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas Fought to Tell His Story
04 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. In the interview, Jose discusses the origins of a piece he...
Undocumented Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas Fought to Tell His Story
04 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. In the interview, Jose discusses the origins of a piece he...
How an Intimacy Coordinator Choreographs Sex Scenes
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to intimacy coordinator and director Marcus Watson, who oversees the performance of intimate scenes for film, TV, a...
How an Intimacy Coordinator Choreographs Sex Scenes
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to intimacy coordinator and director Marcus Watson, who oversees the performance of intimate scenes for film, TV, a...
A Spanish-Language Broadcaster on What Matters to His Audience
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Spanish-language journalist and broadcaster León Krauze, who works primarily as a local news anchor in Los Angel...
A Spanish-Language Broadcaster on What Matters to His Audience
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to Spanish-language journalist and broadcaster León Krauze, who works primarily as a local news anchor in Los Angel...
The Underground Railroad’s Joi McMillon on Her Work as a Film Editor
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Isaac Butler talks with Joi McMillon, an award-winning film editor and longtime collaborator with filmmaker Barry Jenkins. Her latest proje...
The Underground Railroad’s Joi McMillon on Her Work as a Film Editor
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Isaac Butler talks with Joi McMillon, an award-winning film editor and longtime collaborator with filmmaker Barry Jenkins. Her latest proje...
Brigid Hughes on the Art of Editing a Literary Magazine
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week host Rumaan Alam talks to literary magazine editor Brigid Hughes, who started her career as an intern with the Paris Review and went on to b...
Brigid Hughes on the Art of Editing a Literary Magazine
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week host Rumaan Alam talks to literary magazine editor Brigid Hughes, who started her career as an intern with the Paris Review and went on to b...
A Reality TV Casting Director on What Makes a Good Contestant
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s show, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Erin Tomasello, casting director for the Netflix reality show The Circle. In the interv...
A Reality TV Casting Director on What Makes a Good Contestant
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s show, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Erin Tomasello, casting director for the Netflix reality show The Circle. In the interv...
How Dialect Coach Samara Bay Helps Actors Learn New Accents
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to dialect coach Samara Bay, who helps film and TV actors learn new accents. In the interview, Samara describes her...
How Dialect Coach Samara Bay Helps Actors Learn New Accents
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to dialect coach Samara Bay, who helps film and TV actors learn new accents. In the interview, Samara describes her...
How "Bookstagrammer" Jordan Moblo Crafts His Posts
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to Jordan Moblo, the man behind the Instagram account @jordys.book.club, which features artful photos of both fictio...
How "Bookstagrammer" Jordan Moblo Crafts His Posts
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to Jordan Moblo, the man behind the Instagram account @jordys.book.club, which features artful photos of both fictio...
How Actor Blair Underwood Gets Inside His Characters’ Heads
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week host Isaac Butler talks to actor Blair Underwood about performing for the stage and screen. In the interview, Blair talks about landing a ro...
How Actor Blair Underwood Gets Inside His Characters’ Heads
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week host Isaac Butler talks to actor Blair Underwood about performing for the stage and screen. In the interview, Blair talks about landing a ro...
Alison Bechdel’s Secrets to Superhuman Productivity
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose work includes the hugely influential comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and the ...
Alison Bechdel’s Secrets to Superhuman Productivity
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host June Thomas talks to cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose work includes the hugely influential comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and the ...
How Stuart Gibbs Writes Mysteries for Kids
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to author Stuart Gibbs, who writes mystery novels for young readers. Stuart’s work includes the FunJungle series a...