Let's Walk (with Halli)

Valeria Luiselli's literary voice resonates with a rare intensity that comes from inhabiting multiple worlds. Born in Mexico but raised across continents—from South Korea to South Africa, India to Spain—she crafts stories that blur boundaries between reality and fiction, memory and imagination.In this conversation, Luiselli shares the intricate details of her six-year journey creating her forthcoming novel "Beginning Middle End," which explores how stories shape our perception of reality through a mother-daughter relationship. With remarkable vulnerability, she reveals her writing process—rising at 5 AM to write by hand, starting with atmospheric feelings rather than plots, and collaborating with her teenage daughter to authentically capture a child's perspective.What makes Luiselli truly revolutionary is her multisensory approach to storytelling. For five years, she's been recording the entire Mexico-US border with sound engineers, creating what she calls "a 24-hour sonic essay" capturing everything from underwater whale songs to children interviewing rivers. This ambitious project reflects her belief that different mediums allow us to experience stories in complementary ways—her novels existing simultaneously as text, sound, and sometimes visual archives.Luiselli's perspective on fiction challenges conventional thinking: "Fiction is not the opposite of truth," she explains, tracing the word to its Latin root fingere—"to mold something out of clay, to give shape to something already there." This philosophy illuminates why her work feels so alive; she's not inventing from nothing but sculpting meaning from the raw materials of existence.The conversation culminates in a profound reflection on narrative's power in our lives. "The value we give to our lives is determined by the way we tell the story of ourselves to ourselves," Luiselli observes. In her hands, storytelling becomes more than art—it's a way of making sense of our existence, of anchoring ourselves in an increasingly unmoored world.Dive into this episode to discover how one of literature's most innovative voices creates work that resonates with both intellectual depth and emotional truth. Then explore Luiselli's books to experience her singular vision firsthand.

Grammy-nominated producer Jesse Shatkin takes us behind the curtain of chart-topping pop music, revealing the winding path from his beginnings as a teenage hip-hop DJ to crafting global hits with artists like Sia, Kelly Clarkson, and Rihanna.For anyone fascinated by how the music that shapes our lives comes together, Jesse offers rare insight into the invisible craftsmanship behind iconic songs. His journey challenges our assumptions about overnight success - spending years working minimum wage jobs at recording studios, cleaning toilets at Electric Lady Studios, and absorbing knowledge from established professionals before his breakthrough moment co-writing "Chandelier" with Sia .What stands out is his lifelong commitment to growth and learning. Despite achieving remarkable success, Jesse maintains a beginner's mindset, watching tutorials from teenage producers on YouTube and approaching each project with fresh curiosity. This adaptability explains his longevity in an industry where many producers quickly become obsolete as trends evolve.Perhaps most compelling is how Jesse moved beyond the judgmental constraints of what's considered "cool" in underground music circles to embrace pop production. "Cool is the enemy of creativity," he observes, noting how fear of judgment limits artistic possibilities. This liberation allowed him to apply his talents across genres without self-imposed restrictions, focusing instead on making music that resonates regardless of category.Whether you're a music industry insider or simply curious about how hit songs come together, Jesse's insights reveal the human craftsmanship, technical expertise, and emotional intelligence required to create the soundtrack to our lives. Subscribe now to hear more conversations with the creative minds shaping our cultural landscape.

The journey from rootlessness to cultural pride isn't a straight line - just ask Jing Gao. Born in Chengdu, China, the founder of Fly By Jing spent her childhood moving across continents, adopting a Western name and working tirelessly to blend in as the only Asian kid in her schools. But a remarkable transformation began when she reconnected with her culinary heritage as an adult.In this captivating conversation, Jing reveals how food became her pathway back to identity. From starting a food blog that caught the attention of celebrity chefs to opening (and painfully losing) her first restaurant in Shanghai, each step prepared her for what would become Fly By Jing - now one of America's fastest-growing condiment brands. The story behind Fly By Jing's viral chili crisp is both entrepreneurial masterclass and spiritual journey. Jing shares the raw details of her Kickstarter success, manufacturing challenges in China, and a shipping disaster that became an unexpected brand-building moment. With remarkable candor, she explores how business growth forced personal growth - confronting fears, embracing vulnerability, and finding purpose beyond profit.Most powerfully, Jing articulates how her mission transcends sauce, challenging perceptions of Chinese cuisine as "cheap" while creating space for authentic cultural expression. Her ambition? To make chili crisp as ubiquitous in American homes as ketchup, while staying true to Sichuan culinary traditions.Whether you're building a business, searching for identity, or simply curious about the woman behind the condiment taking over your social feed, this conversation offers wisdom on resilience, adaptability, and the courage to embrace what makes you different. Have you tried it on ice cream yet? You should.

Seth Godin, a renowned marketing expert and author, dives into the essence of creative motivation, sharing his journey from seeking external validation to focusing on genuine value creation. He discusses the concept of the 'smallest viable audience,' encouraging creators to target specific groups for meaningful impact. Seth also explores the profound implications of AI, likening its transformation to electricity, and stresses the importance of community engagement and ethical considerations in navigating these rapid changes. His insights offer a refreshing perspective on creativity and innovation.

What happens when success doesn't deliver the happiness you expected? Comedy legend Andy Richter takes us on a thoughtful stroll through Los Angeles, unpacking this question with surprising candor and characteristic wit.Beyond his famous role as Conan O'Brien's sidekick, Andy reveals himself as a deeply reflective artist who's discovered that creative fulfillment often comes from unexpected sources. "I just want to make things," he shares, explaining how directing commercials can bring him as much joy as working on prestigious comedy projects. This refreshing perspective cuts through Hollywood's status hierarchy with a wisdom that can only come from decades in the entertainment trenches.The conversation takes particularly poignant turns when Andy discusses the current state of the entertainment industry. Still reeling from COVID, strikes, and recent wildfires, he describes a landscape where many creatives find themselves questioning their professional identities. "We all just don't even know quite what we do anymore," he confesses, a sentiment that resonates beyond just Hollywood.Throughout our walk, Andy's fundamental sweetness – the quality that makes his comedic characters so endearing – shines through consistently. Whether discussing his happy second marriage, his approach to parenting, or his genuine enthusiasm for creative collaboration, he demonstrates a self-awareness that's both rare and inspiring. As he puts it, he's "stopped putting my hand on the stove to see if it's hot" – a beautiful metaphor for learning to avoid self-destructive patterns.For anyone navigating a creative career or simply seeking greater fulfillment, this conversation offers valuable perspective that goes far beyond comedy. Join us for this unexpectedly profound walk with one of comedy's most beloved figures.