Working
520 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★ - 378 ratingsHosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.
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Episodes
White Lotus' Composer on the Show’s Distinct Sound
August 29, 2021 09:00 - 1 hourThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, who wrote the spooky, absolutely unmistakable score for the HBO series The White Lotus. In the interview, Cristobal discusses his career journey and explains why he switched from writing classical and pop music to scoring TV shows. Then he gets into the details of how he came up with the sound for The White Lotus and what it was like collaborating with writer/director Mike White. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Ju...
Playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Long Journey to Broadway
August 22, 2021 09:00 - 58 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu about her play Pass Over, which is the first show to premiere on Broadway after a long shutdown due to COVID-19. In the interview, Antoinette discusses the process of writing the play and describes how Samuel Beckett’s influence “came charging in.” She also talks about the many different versions of the play, current revisions, and her new mission to prioritize self-care. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June T...
Charlie Jane Anders on Her New Book of Writing Advice
August 15, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutesThis 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 interview, Charlie Jane offers tons of detailed writing tips and explains how escaping into fictional worlds can help people endure hard times. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss some of Charlie Jane’s writing tips, and then Rumaan talks about his recent profile of author Jason Reynolds, which was published in the New Yor...
Artist Shahzia Sikander on the Painting That Launched Her Career
August 08, 2021 09:00 - 52 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam talks to artist Shahzia Sikander about her decades-long career as a painter and multimedia artist. In the interview, Shahzia discusses the process behind her painting “The Scroll,” which she created as an undergraduate student in Pakistan. She also talks about her relationship to the concept of “tradition” and her unwillingness to either break or conform to it. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host Isaac Butler discuss the importance of demystifying artwork. In...
Why Opera Composer Jake Heggie Writes Music by Hand
August 01, 2021 09:00 - 56 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to composer Jake Heggie, who the Wall Street Journal described as “arguably the world’s most popular 21st-century opera and art song composer.” In the interview, Jake talks about how he fell in love with opera and why he composes all his work on manuscript paper by hand. He also discusses his recent work, Songs for Murdered Sisters, which he created with the help of writer Margaret Atwood and singer Joshua Hopkins. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaa...
Author J. Robert Lennon on the Importance of Revision
July 25, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to J. Robert Lennon, author of numerous short stories and novels. In the interview, Lennon discusses his daily writing practices, the importance of revision, and the creation of his new novel, Subdivision, which features a supernatural world with its own unique makeup and logic. Lennon also talks about his recently published short story collection, Let Me Think. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss Lennon’s process of taking notes and ...
Photographing New York’s Disappearing Storefronts
July 18, 2021 09:00 - 50 minutesThis 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 storefronts and advocate for small businesses. In the interview, James and Karla explain what it was like to teach themselves the basics of photography while juggling multiple jobs. They also discuss the process of landing their first book deal and starting an Instagram account. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the small...
“Genre-Fluid” Musician Yola on Mining Her Subconscious
July 11, 2021 09:00 - 58 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to the multitalented singer/songwriter Yola. In the interview Yola breaks down her songwriting process from the first seed of an idea to the final product. She also discusses her forthcoming album, Stand for Myself, and the collaborative work that went into it. After the interview Isaac and co-host June Thomas marvel at Yola’s intuitive songwriting style. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Yola talks about her musical influences and her upcoming tour. S...
Undocumented Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas Fought to Tell His Story
July 04, 2021 09:00 - 45 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. In the interview, Jose discusses the origins of a piece he wrote for the New York Times Magazine titled “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” He also talks about his organization, Define American, which aims to influence how immigrants are depicted on TV, in movies, and on the national stage broadly. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about which groups are still not represented...
How an Intimacy Coordinator Choreographs Sex Scenes
June 27, 2021 09:00 - 51 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to intimacy coordinator and director Marcus Watson, who oversees the performance of intimate scenes for film, TV, and theater. In the interview, Marcus discusses the increasing prevalence of his role in recent years, especially since the beginning of the #metoo movement. He also details the conversations he has with performers and directors in order to establish boundaries for scenes that involve things like kissing and simulated sex. After the interview, I...
A Spanish-Language Broadcaster on What Matters to His Audience
June 20, 2021 09:00 - 50 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Spanish-language journalist and broadcaster León Krauze, who works primarily as a local news anchor in Los Angeles but also hosts a radio show and writes for outlets like Slate and the Washington Post. In the interview, León discusses the process of figuring out which topics and stories matter most to his community. He also describes what it’s like to have a hyperlocal focus and explains why his Los Angeles broadcast might differ from Spanish-language news...
The Underground Railroad’s Joi McMillon on Her Work as a Film Editor
June 13, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutesThis week, Isaac Butler talks with Joi McMillon, an award-winning film editor and longtime collaborator with filmmaker Barry Jenkins. Her latest project, The Underground Railroad, tells the story of a woman’s escape from a Georgia plantation in the 1800s. They talk about how McMillon came to be an editor, her approach to her work, what it’s like to edit the same scene over and over again, and how she gets through it. Afterward, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss what they found most surpr...
Brigid Hughes on the Art of Editing a Literary Magazine
June 06, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutesThis 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 be its executive editor before leaving and starting her own magazine, A Public Space. In the interview, Brigid explains what the editor of a literary magazine does and how she works with authors to unearth the story “underneath” the story. She also discusses how literary magazines can help new authors find an audience. After the interview Rumaan...
A Reality TV Casting Director on What Makes a Good Contestant
May 30, 2021 09:00 - 1 hourOn this week’s show, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Erin Tomasello, casting director for the Netflix reality show The Circle. In the interview, Erin explains what it’s like to work on the casting team for shows like The Bachelor, Fear Factor, America’s Got Talent, and more. Then she discusses the casting process for The Circle and lays out what she and the casting producers are looking for in potential contestants. She also offers tips for anyone who’s thinking about applying to be o...
How Dialect Coach Samara Bay Helps Actors Learn New Accents
May 23, 2021 09:00 - 49 minutesThis 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 coaching process and explains the importance of combining good dialect work with good acting. Then she teaches Isaac how to speak in an Irish accent. After the interview Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Samara’s tactful way of providing feedback and the distinction between “cheerleading” and “flattering.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segme...
How "Bookstagrammer" Jordan Moblo Crafts His Posts
May 16, 2021 09:00 - 51 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam talks to Jordan Moblo, the man behind the Instagram account @jordys.book.club, which features artful photos of both fiction and nonfiction books, as well as short reviews of titles Jordan feels like promoting. In the interview, Jordan discusses the creative decisions that go into his posts and explains what it was like to grow an audience of 69,000 followers. He also talks about balancing his Instagram hobby with his full-time job. After the interview, Rumaan and ...
How Actor Blair Underwood Gets Inside His Characters’ Heads
May 09, 2021 09:00 - 48 minutesThis week host Isaac Butler talks to actor Blair Underwood about performing for the stage and screen. In the interview, Blair talks about landing a role on the legal drama L.A. Law when he was still an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon. He also explains how he prepares for roles and how he gets in the right mindset to play tormented characters. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss the mysterious craft of acting. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Blair tells t...
Alison Bechdel’s Secrets to Superhuman Productivity
May 02, 2021 09:00 - 55 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose work includes the hugely influential comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and the bestselling graphic memoir Fun Home. In the interview, Alison talks about her new book, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, which is about her interest in exercise and fitness but also her work ethic as an artist and writer. After the interview June and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss Alison’s skills as a memoirist and her work-life balance. Then th...
How Stuart Gibbs Writes Mysteries for Kids
April 25, 2021 09:00 - 49 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam talks to author Stuart Gibbs, who writes mystery novels for young readers. Stuart’s work includes the FunJungle series and other collections like the Spy School and Charlie Thorne books. In the interview, Stuart discusses his career beginnings and the literary agent who encouraged him to try writing for a younger audience. He also talks about his writing process, getting pointers from his own kids, and how he’s able to produce multiple titles per year. After the i...
How Jed Mercurio Makes Realistic TV Dramas
April 18, 2021 09:00 - 47 minutesThis week host June Thomas talks to TV writer Jed Mercurio, who created the hugely popular UK police procedural Line of Duty and recently executive produced the drama series Bloodlands. In the interview, Jed explains what an executive producer does and discusses some of the signature qualities of his work. He also tells the story of how he became a practicing doctor before trying his hand at writing for television. After the interview June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about Jed’s career piv...
What Healthcare Workers Can Teach Us About Creativity
April 11, 2021 09:00 - 52 minutesThis week host Isaac Butler talks to Anthony Fortenberry, chief nursing officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, which has been serving the LGBTQ community in New York City for decades. In the interview, Anthony talks about all the creative challenges he and his staff have faced over the past year, from converting a hotel into a quarantine facility to making sure vulnerable people have access to vaccines. He also talks about the importance of flexibility and explains why managers need...
The Activism and Artistry of Joan E. Biren’s Photography
April 04, 2021 09:00 - 54 minutesThis week host June Thomas talks to the activist photographer Joan E. Biren, also known as JEB. In the interview, JEB discusses the creation, funding, and printing of her 1979 photobook Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, which was recently reissued by Anthology Editions. She also talks about the enduring legacy of the book and what it meant for lesbians to see themselves accurately represented in her work. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler reflect on JEB’s ability to create ...
How Zoe Kazan, Roxane Gay, and Alison Bechdel Dealt With a Year of COVID
March 28, 2021 09:00 - 54 minutesThis week June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Rumaan Alam co-host a special episode about staying creative during a difficult year. First they talk about their own experiences in quarantine and how they managed to continue getting work done. Then they hear from other professional creative people like Zoe Kazan, Emma Straub, Jessica Winter, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Alison Bechdel, Emily Gould, Roxane Gay, Chris Eigeman, Alex Winter, and Michael R. Jackson, who discuss the obstacles they faced over th...
How Musician Julien Baker Gets Unstuck
March 21, 2021 09:00 - 54 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to musician Julien Baker about her new album Little Oblivions. In the interview, Julien discusses the process of writing the song “Favor” and how she combined pieces that were originally intended to be separate songs. She also describes her revision process and explains why Little Oblivions features more dissonant and abrasive sounds than her previous albums. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam help a teacher who wants to bring more creativi...
Julia Turshen on Writing a Very Personal Cookbook
March 14, 2021 09:00 - 49 minutesThis week host Rumaan Alam talks to cookbook author Julia Turshen about her career as a professional home cook and her new book Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food. In the interview, Julia explains why she was drawn to cookbooks from a young age and how she later managed to combine her love of writing and her love of cooking into one career. She also talks about the deeply personal details in Simply Julia and discusses why she’s trying to get readers in and out of the kitc...
How an Audiobook Narrator Plays All the Parts
March 07, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to audiobook narrator Abby Craden about voicing multiple characters, narrating fiction and nonfiction, and finding a niche in the world of lesbian romances. (The books June referenced are Radclyffe’s “Honor” series.) Abby also discusses her home recording setup and her surprising workload. Learn more about Abby and her work at abbycraden.com. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler help a listener who feels too stressed out to write. In the excl...
She-Ra Showrunner Noelle Stevenson on Creating a Diverse Kids Show
February 28, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to cartoonist and now showrunner Noelle Stevenson about the process of rebooting the ‘80s TV show She-Ra: Princess of Power. In the interview, Noelle talks about developing a fresh vision for the show and ultimately creating one of the most diverse kids shows in history. She also discusses her webcomic, Nimona, which was adapted into a graphic novel and earned her a National Book Award nomination at the age of 23. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June...
Austin Kleon is Not a Creativity Guru
February 21, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam taps into the well of creativity that is Austin Kleon, author of books like Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work! In the interview, Austin talks about his distaste for the “guru” label and the uncertainty it takes to be a teacher and student of creativity. He also weighs in on whether creativity is teachable and sprinkles the whole conversation with quotes and other nuggets of wisdom from his favorite writers and thinkers. After the interview, Rumaan and co-hos...
Set Decorator Beth Kushnick's Tools Are Furniture and Accessories
February 14, 2021 10:00 - 54 minutesThis week host June Thomas discusses the art of set decoration with Beth Kushnick. Beth has worked on dozens of film and TV projects including The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and the new EPIX series Bridge and Tunnel. In the interview she talks about how she sources items and finds authentic furniture and accessories for period pieces. She also explains how physical items can add complexity and biographical details to the characters we see in movies and on television. After the interview, Jun...
Choreographer Annie-B Parson Expresses Music Through Movement
February 07, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks about movement, music, and space with choreographer Annie-B Parson. In the interview, Annie-B discusses her long-time collaborative relationship with musician David Byrne and her work on his live show American Utopia, which was filmed and can now be streamed on HBO Max. Annie-B also talks about Big Dance Theater, a company she founded, which combines multiple disciplines to produce innovative stage performances. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan ...
Translator Damion Searls Explains Why His Job is More Creative Than Technical
January 31, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutesThis week host Rumaan Alam talks to writer Damion Searls, who translates literature from German, French, Dutch, and Norwegian into English. In the interview, Damion argues that the work of translating is more creative than technical, and he breaks down what it means to preserve the best qualities of foreign works. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas talk about their own experiences with literary translations. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Damion lists some of the work...
Musician Kathleen Kelly on Conducting, Accompanying, and Coaching
January 24, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutesThis week host June Thomas talks to musician, conductor, and singing coach Kathleen Kelly. In the interview, Kathleen describes her daily musical practices and explains the tricky work of accompanying singers on piano. She also describes the qualities every great conductor needs. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about what happens when countries adequately fund the arts. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Kathleen plays one of her favorite piano pieces, and then June...
Novelist Jonathan Lethem Likes to Be Surprised by His Own Stories
January 17, 2021 10:00 - 51 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to novelist Jonathan Lethem about daily writing rituals, teaching writing, and the process behind Jonathan’s latest novel, The Arrest, which imagines a world where most advanced technology stops working. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss the improvisational way that Jonathan plots out his novels. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jonathan talks about how he managed to find time to write when he was a young aspiring novelist work...
Biographer Heather Clark on Giving Sylvia Plath Her Due
January 10, 2021 10:00 - 50 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam talks to author Heather Clark about her massive new biography Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath. Heather speaks about what separates her biography from the ones that came before it, and how an academic changes her writing style for a book aimed at a general audience. She also describes what it was like to track down and get permission to view materials she needed for the book. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas talk more ab...
Our Creative New Year’s Resolutions
January 03, 2021 10:00 - 48 minutesTo kick off 2021, June, Rumaan, and Isaac share their creative goals for 2021 and offer each other advice on how to see them through. They talk about reading habits, social media consumption, time management, and much more. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get bene...
You Asked, We Advised
December 27, 2020 10:00 - 46 minutesFor this very special episode, June, Isaac, and Rumaan answer listener questions about creative work. A video producer wants to get better at reacting to negative feedback. A musician wants to know how to avoid ripping off her heroes. Plus, Rumaan answers a question he’s frankly tired of hearing from aspiring writers. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-WORK. That’s (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews...
George C. Wolfe on His New Film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
December 20, 2020 11:00 - 1 hourThis week, Rumaan Alam talks with George C. Wolfe. Wolfe is a playwright, film director, and two-time Tony winner. His latest project, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, takes place in a single day of 1927, when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago, and tensions begin to rise. The film is out now, playing in select theaters and streaming on Netflix. They talk about how Wolfe wanted to approach this project from the ground up, reimagining how the sto...
When Music Is the Family Business: Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche
December 13, 2020 10:00 - 57 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Suzzy Roche, the youngest member of the harmonious folk group The Roches, and Suzzy’s daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche. The duo recently released an album called I Can Still Hear You that was inspired by the pandemic, the Trump presidency, and the #metoo movement. In the interview, Suzzy and Lucy discuss their songwriting process and explain what it’s like to collaborate with a family member. Suzzy also reflects on her time writing songs with her sisters in...
Why Writer Ayad Akhtar Reads Shakespeare Every Day
December 06, 2020 10:00 - 51 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to playwright Ayad Akhtar about dream journals, beginning the workday by reading Shakespeare, and other creative rituals and techniques. Then Ayad discusses the origins of his new novel, Homeland Elegies, and explains how he was able to blend autobiographical elements with fictional ones. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about one of Ayad’s mentors, legendary theater director Jerzy Grotowski. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Ayad ...
How Klancy Miller Designs Recipes for Single People
November 29, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutesThis week host June Thomas talks with cookbook author Klancy Miller, whose book Cooking Solo celebrates the joy of making delicious food for yourself. In the interview, Klancy talks about the trial and error of her career journey and how she came to focus on recipe development after studying at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She also discusses her process for designing recipes and why she decided to write a cookbook specifically for single people. Klancy’s latest project is For the Culture, a f...
How Lovecraft Country’s Cinematographer Guides the Viewer’s Eye
November 22, 2020 10:00 - 49 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks to cinematographer Michael Watson about what it was like to work on the HBO sci-fi series Lovecraft Country. In the interview, Michael talks about the unique challenges of shooting a period drama that features gigantic monsters. He also discusses how he was able to guide the viewer’s attention during crucial moments and bring his own unique style to the scenes he shot. After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam offer advice to a listener who’s curiou...
A Look Inside the World's Longest-Running Medical Drama
November 15, 2020 10:00 - 53 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to Jenny Thompson, story producer for the long-running U.K. medical drama Casualty. In the interview, Jenny explains what a story producer does, and why it’s different from a script-writing job. She also shares what it’s like to create character arcs for a show with such a long and rich history and explains how the U.K.’s National Health Service impacts the storylines and characters. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about why shows lik...
Poet Javier Zamora Wants Readers to Know What It’s Like to Be Undocumented
November 08, 2020 10:00 - 49 minutesThis week host Rumaan Alam talks to Javier Zamora about the truth-telling power of poetry. When Javier was 9 years old, he traveled to the U.S. from El Salvador without his parents. In his book of poems, Unaccompanied, Javier tries to make sense of his own experience and the experiences of his parents, who left El Salvador before him. In the interview, Javier describes the personal and political goals of his poetry and explains what it took for him to turn poetry into a career. After the int...
How Jane Lynch Strikes the Perfect Level of Mean on Weakest Link
November 01, 2020 10:00 - 42 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to the multitalented actor, comedian, and game-show host Jane Lynch, who discusses her wide range of acting roles and her latest gig as the host of NBC’s reboot of Weakest Link. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss Lynch’s many strengths. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jane Lynch talks about one of her favorite projects. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933...
Joe Sacco’s Journalistic Comics
October 25, 2020 10:00 - 1 hourThis week, Isaac Butler talks with journalist and cartoonist Joe Sacco. Sacco is a Maltese-American cartoonist and journalist best known for his comics journalism. His books Palestine and Footnotes in Gaza have been critically praised and have won him several awards, including the American Book Award. His most recent book is Paying the Land. They talk about how he draws stories out of people and then draws those stories onto the page. Sacco talks in-depth about his creative process, which do...
Arranger Alex Lacamoire Breaks Down His Process for Hamilton
October 18, 2020 09:00 - 52 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler talks shop with Alex Lacamoire, who was the arranger, music director, conductor, and orchestrator for Hamilton. In the interview, Alex explains what an arranger does and details some of the specific creative decisions that went into songs like “You’ll Be Back,” “Ten Duel Commandments,” “That Would Be Enough,” and “Burn.” After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas answer a listener question about how to set aside time and energy for creative work when you h...
Rumaan Alam’s New Novel Started With a Daydream
October 11, 2020 09:00 - 47 minutesThis week, host June Thomas talks to novelist, critic, and co-host of Working Rumaan Alam about his new novel Leave the World Behind, which has already garnered critical acclaim and a nomination for the National Book Award. In the interview, Rumaan talks about the origins of the novel, his writing process, and how he was able to craft memorable characters despite being, in his words, “face blind.” After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the prophetic nature of Leave the ...
Director Phil Alden Robinson on the Making of His Cult Classic, Sneakers
October 04, 2020 09:00 - 55 minutesThis week, host Isaac Butler cracks the code of the heist film genre with Phil Alden Robinson, director of the 1992 cult classic Sneakers. In the interview, Phil talks about Sneakers’ nine-year writing process, the film’s alternate endings, and how he landed a cast of cinema legends, including Robert Redford and Sidney Poitier, to portray his meticulously crafted characters. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about Phil’s ability to strive for perfection while also being...
Critic Charles Finch on Reading Hundreds of Books a Year
September 27, 2020 09:00 - 53 minutesThis week, host Rumaan Alam talks about the aims of literary criticism with novelist and book critic Charles Finch. In the interview, Charles discusses the impact of platforms like Goodreads (where anyone can be a critic) and explains why it’s so hard for people to make a living writing book reviews. He also talks about how a book’s popularity can affect his response to it and how it’s possible to get burned out from writing too many reviews. After the interview, Rumaan and co-host Isaac But...
How Scrapbooking Connects Craft and Personal Reflection
September 20, 2020 09:00 - 50 minutesThis week host June Thomas talks about the underrated art of scrapbooking with Ali Edwards, who managed to turn her love of crafting into a full-time career. In the interview, Ali discusses her most popular scrapbooking projects, like “December Daily,” and explains why the practice of pairing photographs with words and artistic flair can lead to personal growth and reflection. After the interview, June and co-host Rumaan Alam talk about the benefits of documenting memories. In Slate Plus, A...