

Working
Slate Podcasts
Hosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 5, 2021 • 56min
Inside Super Yaki, the Merch Company for Movie Lovers
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 the interview, Andrew discusses the origins of the company and their first product, which was an enamel pin with legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki’s face on it. After that, Andrew talks about quitting his day job, staffing the company, and building a customer base of people who adore cinema.After the interview, Karen and co-host June Thomas discuss Andrew’s ability to create a vibe and a clear mission for his company.In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Andrew offers some tips for avoiding burnout. 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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 28, 2021 • 35min
Creative Advice From Very Successful People
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 features very short pieces of advice, then Zak shares some clips of his favorite words of wisdom. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Zak offers advice about interviewing. If you have advice that you’d like to share with Zak, you can leave a message at (844) 935-BEST. If you want to get in touch with us at Working—whether you have creative advice or a problem you’d like us to help us solve—leave a message at (304) 933-WORK or email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Zak Rosen.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 2021 • 53min
Writer Oliver Burkeman on the Dangers of Obsessive Time Management
This week, host June Thomas talks to Oliver Burkeman, author of the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In the interview, Oliver shares his philosophy of time management, which hinges on the finite nature of life. He also discusses his previous experience as a “productivity geek” and explains some of the dangers of obsessive time management. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss their own approaches to organization and productivity. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Oliver talks about the benefits (and drawbacks) of group activities. 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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 2021 • 55min
Documentary Filmmaker Stanley Nelson on Structure, Editing, and Sound
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, whose latest film, ATTICA, covers the 1971 uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York. In the interview, Stanley explains how he decides which stories to tell and how he earns the trust of his subjects. He also discusses the finer points of structure, editing, and his use of sound effects and music. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Karen Han talk about the challenges of creating a structure for nonfiction projects and the difficult task of cutting interviews down. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Stanley looks back at the time he worked with legendary documentary filmmaker William Greaves. Then Isaac asks him if he ever gets nostalgic for the pre-digital era of filmmaking. 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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2021 • 55min
Cartoonist Dami Lee on Freelancing, Pitching, and Generating Ideas
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 art school and her early strategy of pursuing art “on the side.” Then she discusses her current career as a freelance cartoonist, her webcomic As Per Usual, and her book Be Everything at Once: Tales of a Cartoonist Lady Person. After the interview, Karen and co-host Isaac Butler discuss the difficulties of pitching work as a freelancer. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Dami talks about her work translating comics from Korean to English. 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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2021 • 47min
Leslie Ann Sebert on Movie Makeup Magic
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 Nightbooks, starring Krysten Ritter. Leslie talks about how she fits into the collaborative process of creating the visuals that shape a film and it’s characters … and just how hard it is to find the exact right formula for candy vomit. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss people who choose sole career path at a young age, versus people whose career changes over time, And Isaac explains his biggest piece of writing advice—buy a laser printer. 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 Jessamine Molli. HostIsaac Butler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2021 • 50min
Rebecca Lavoie on Her Podcasting “Side Hustle”
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 producer of Crime Writers On..., These Are Their Stories, and several other podcasts. Rebecca explains why her supposed side-gig has expanded into a much bigger enterprise, and how she makes that work. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about how Rebecca gets it all done and the “grass is always greener” issue of being on staff versus being a freelancer in creative fields. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2021 • 54min
How Alessandro Nivola Became Dickie Moltisanti in The Many Saints of Newark
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to actor Alessandro Nivola, who recently starred in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark. In the interview, Alessandro discusses his early career as a theater actor and shares a piece of wisdom he got from Robert De Niro about memorizing lines. Then he digs into the process of becoming a believable 1970’s tough guy in Many Saints. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss line memorization and the joys of being part of a “scene.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Alessandro shares how he’s able to tap into powerful emotions in scenes that call for it. 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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 2021 • 31min
Sponsored: How Can We Bring More Imagination to the Customer Experience?
This episode of The Relentless features a conversation about how we can go above and beyond the expected to create truly unique customer experiences. Host Kristen Meinzer talks with Tina Roth Eisenberg, a successful entrepreneur who epitomizes an imaginative and intuitive approach to business. Her diverse collection of enterprises include a co-working space, the temporary tattoo company Tattly, a to-do list app, and an extraordinary lecture series and community called CreativeMornings, which has become a global phenomenon. You’ll also hear from Greg Harrelson, a leading CENTURY 21 Broker and entrepreneur who built a top-performing team by prioritizing coaching and empowering his agents to deliver the best customer experience possible.Guests: Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of the creative coworking community FRIENDS, global lecture series CreativeMornings, to-do app TeuxDeux, and high-end temporary tattoo shop, Tattly.Greg Harrelson, top performing Broker and President of CENTURY 21 The Harrelson Group, and host of the Level Up podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2021 • 54min
Tom Mison on His Acting Techniques and Favorite Roles
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 in Watchmen. Tom also discusses various approaches to acting and his process for learning how to convincingly portray a blind character in the Apple TV+ series, SEE.After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss Tom’s description of different acting traditions in the UK and the US. Then, June turns to Isaac for some creative advice.In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Tom about "posh" parts and "common" parts, a dichotomy that seems to exist all too often in the UK.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 benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Big Mood, Little Mood—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices