518 episodes

Hosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.

Working Slate Podcasts

    • Business
    • 4.6 • 37 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Hosts Isaac Butler, Ronald Young Jr., and June Thomas interview creative people about how they write, compose, paint, and more.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    How to Curate a Small Town Art Museum

    How to Curate a Small Town Art Museum

    This week, host June Thomas talks to Courtney Gilbert, curator of the Sun Valley Museum of Art in Ketchum, Idaho. In the interview, Courtney digs into the process of curating a “non-collecting” museum, which means they start from scratch with each exhibition, and they don’t keep a large inventory of pieces. She also explains how she comes up with ideas for exhibitions, what a good exhibition should do, and how she serves her specific community. 

    After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the importance of creating guidelines and best-practices for their work. 

    In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Courtney discusses her education and career journey. 
     
    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 an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 48 min
    Working Overtime: Finding Your Why

    Working Overtime: Finding Your Why

    For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, the hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas, take out their microscopes and examine what gives them purpose and where it comes from. For Ronald, finding creative independence led him to self-publish his own podcast, despite the financial risks, while June moved across the pond to write her book. With any creative pursuits it's important to know why we’re doing the thing we’re doing so we can understand our goals and what sacrifices we might have to make to achieve them.

    Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? 
    Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. 
     
    Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 18 min
    From Corporate Job to Broadway Playwright

    From Corporate Job to Broadway Playwright

    This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Bekah Brunstetter, a TV writer and playwright whose most recent project is the new Broadway musical version of The Notebook. In the interview, Bekah discusses her early career journey, when she was juggling a corporate job with her playwriting passion. She also talks about breaking into TV writing and working on the hit drama This is Us. And finally, she digs into her work on The Notebook and explains what it was like to adapt the classic rom-com. 

    After the interview, Ronald and co-host June Thomas talk about receiving feedback, establishing routines, and choosing the correct creative tools for your project. 

    In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Bekah shares the plot of the first play she ever wrote. Then she and Ronald talk about their experiences growing up in religious households and the impact it had on their cultural diets.  

    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 an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 50 min
    An Acting Coach’s Tips for Beginners and Experts

    An Acting Coach’s Tips for Beginners and Experts

    This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Howard Fine, an acting teacher and coach who instructs both beginners and accomplished movie stars. In the interview, Howard explains why he chose to teach and coach, instead of act. Then he discusses the common problems that his students and clients face, and he explains how actors can protect their mental health, even when they need to go to challenging emotional places.  

    After the interview, Isaac and co-host Ronald Young Jr. discuss the emotional toll that acting can take on performers, and Isaac shares a personal story about his experience as a young actor. 

    In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Howard talks about a role he helped Brad Pitt with and how his approach to Pitt’s character differed from the director’s. He also explains how he tailors his coaching to specific actors. 

    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 an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 52 min
    Working Overtime: Getting Paid On Time

    Working Overtime: Getting Paid On Time

    For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, the hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas talk money, finances, and getting paid as a freelancer in a tough economy. Filling out invoices the right way or sending a payment reminder email to an employer can turn into a sticky situation. Ronald and June recount their own frustrating experiences with not getting paid on time and how best to avoid them in the future. 

    Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at working@slate.com. 
     
    Podcast production by Kevin Bendis and Cameron Drews.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 18 min
    How to Make a “Fair” Crossword Puzzle

    How to Make a “Fair” Crossword Puzzle

    This week, host June Thomas talks to Anna Shechtman, a crossword puzzle creator whose new book is called The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. In the interview, Anna talks about her experience writing crossword puzzles as a teenager and then going on to work with New York Times puzzle maker Will Shortz. She also discusses the subjectivity of “common knowledge” and recalls debates with Shortz about which words and phrases were puzzle-worthy. 

    After the interview, June and co-host Ronald Young Jr. talk more about crosswords and the ever-expanding pool of “common knowledge.” 

    In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid. She also discusses a more sensitive topic: her struggle with anorexia, which coincided with her early interest in crossword puzzles.

    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 an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
37 Ratings

37 Ratings

mbos845 ,

Moma

The Moma series is really awesome

Ben_Klein ,

So amazing considering the premise. Real sonder moments.

This show is amazing. It takes something as simple as asking people what they do and then expands that into how it impacts their lives and their work. It is an excellent realization that there are thousands of stories and real human experiences that I will never touch in a meaningful way. There is power in an interview about something as normal as a persons profession. Even the most basic of jobs creates a wonderful story. Hats off to the excellent interviews.

javahahaha ,

Fascinating look at what people do all day

I absolutely love this podcast. I have always been interested in people's work lives - how they came to do the work they do, what a typical day looks like, how they make sense of their role in the world, what their plans are for the future etc. This podcast deals with all these issues and more. It is a very engaging look at a very diverse set of people doing a diverse set of jobs. I find host Jacob Grogan's questions particular insightful.

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