Working

Do you like horses? How about dancing horses? If those words sound fun to you, you’ll be delighted to meet Amanda Kenny, the head horse trainer at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst New Jersey, where a surprisingly large chunk of the show focuses on elaborate dressage routines (that’s horse ballet, for you non-equestrians out there). Amanda tells Jordan what it’s like training steeds to jump and kick, training knights to ride, and dealing with the dirty side of the stables. This episode is brought to you by Constant Contact. For a free trial, sign up today at constantcontact.com/working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first episode of Working’s brand new season takes you back in time...and to Lyndhurst, New Jersey. This season, Jordan will be talking to the various employees of Medieval Times, the popular dinner theater experience that appeals to kids and adults alike. Even if you’ve never been yourself, you probably have some idea of what the show entails: Jousting, fighting, royalty and horses. And as a Knight, Ivan Guevara, is one of the stars of the show.Ivan tells Jordan all about how he got into the Knight business, the extensive training it entails and how, when people think he really wants to kill someone, he knows he’s doing his job right.This episode is brought to you by Constant Contact. For a free trial, sign up today at constantcontact.com/working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the last episode of Working at MoMA we are, quite appropriately, exiting through the gift shop. Though, in MoMA’s case the term gift shop might be a little misleading. Jordan talks to Maggie Berry, the associate director of retail marketing for the MoMA Design Store. As you’ll hear, the Design Store goes beyond your typical mugs and T shirt souvenir shopping. The store is dedicated to beautifully and cleverly designed items that range from a remarkably quiet shower cap to a brilliantly company piano. Each item has been carefully selected or created by the museum itself in collaboration with some of your favorite artists.  You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of all the people who work at MoMA, there very few who get as up close and personal with the artwork as the museum's art handlers and registrars. Registrars are the people responsible for keeping tracking of every inch of every piece of art that belongs to the museum. They thoroughly inspect and catalog each detail and always know where everything is at all times. Meanwhile, art handlers are the ones trusted with physically moving the pieces. They’re the only department outside of conservation who are actually allowed to touch the artwork. Jordan talks to Steven Wheeler and Sarah Wood about the special privileges and particular pet peeves of working in these two departments at MoMA. You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like any museum of its scale, MoMA relies on major donations. Which, of course, means throwing major events to match. This week Jordan talks to Tania Abitbol, MoMA’s in-house event planner. Tania is the person charged with dreaming up events worthy of MoMA-lovers. To do her job right, Tania has to make sure every detail of each party is interesting, memorable and, just as important, perfectly executed. She tells Jordan about the tiny details that can inspire entire events and how she completely transforms the museum’s lobby and sculpture garden for a massive fundraiser every year. You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nelson Nieves has never been especially interested in art, yet he has one of the single most important jobs at New York’s MoMa. As the museum’s assistant director for building operations he oversees the huge team of workers who keep the building clean and running—everyone from the janitorial staff who scour the galleries and bathrooms to the engineers who manage the high-tech heating and cooling system. Nelson talks to Jordan about keeping workers on their toes, the comedy of trying to capture stray animals that fly into the building, and what happened the time a heart doctor had a heart attack in the middle of the building. You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli.This episode is brought to you by the following advertisers: Transferwise. Check them out today at Transferwise.com/WORKING.Citrix. Start working smarter today at citrix.com/slate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For decades, strolling along New York City’s 5th Avenue during the holidays has meant being surrounded by the most magical window displays imagainable. And Spaeth Designs is part of the reason why. The company behind the amazing displays for the city’s biggest stores has been around for over sixty years. And, as the Production Director, Quinn O’Sullivan is the man who makes it happen. Quinn has been helping design and produce window displays for Spaeth since 2000. He’s worked on projects for all the major windows including Bergdorf Goodman, Macy’s, Henri Bendel and Tiffany & Co. Quinn tells Jordan about his background in set design, the elaborate planning that goes into his displays and what it takes to stay excited about Christmas for 9 months out of the year.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think about the types of jobs at an art museum, scientist probably doesn’t spring to mind. But as it turns out, science plays a big part in the art world. As a senior conservation scientist at MoMA, Chris McGlinchey uses the latest scientific techniques to conserve the collection and study the art. Chris tells Jordan about all the complex machines he uses, the extremely tiny scale conservators work on, and how he figured out how to fill the museum with sugar cane that won’t rot. You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you look at the rows of greeting cards at your local pharmacy or megastore, it’s easy to forget that each one of those cards was actually written by someone. And, if they’re anything like our guest, that person put some very real emotion into writing the sentiment inside. For this holiday bonus episode, Jordan speaks to Greg Vovos who is a senior writer at American Greetings and is exactly the kind of person you want writing for you. Greg truly believes in the power of giving a card to someone. Whether they’re funny or sympathetic or romantic, Greg writes his cards to foster a connection between giver and receiver. Greg tells Jordan about where he gets his inspiration, the challenges of staying fresh and why you really shouldn’t be cynical about a store bought card. You can email us at working@slate.com.Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anny Aviram has been conserving paintings at MoMA for 40 years. So, as can imagine, she’s had her hands on some of the world’s most famous artworks. And, occasionally, her saliva. Anny tells Jordan about the techniques conservators use to restore and preserve paintings. From taking X-rays to painstakingly reweaving canvas fiber by fiber to, yes, using spit to clean certain surfaces. And, as Anny tells Jordan, not only does the technology of conservation change over the years, but so does the aesthetics. So, sometimes conservators are even tasked with undoing their own work from years before.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices