Takes One to Write One

Katherine Arkady
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Hello, and welcome to Takes One to Write One. I'm Katherine Arkady and I’m a writer. However, my characters are everything but. While research gives me information about their jobs and lifestyles, it doesn’t give me the first-hand experience needed to write a well-rounded character. So I created this podcast where I invite people on to talk about their jobs, their hobbies, or their beliefs, because it Takes One to Write One. ​Subscribe to Takes One to Write One for bi-weekly insights so you can write authentic, well-rounded characters through interviews and real-life stories.

  1. 3d ago

    Massage Therapists

    What does a massage therapist actually do—and what should a writer know before putting one on the page? In this episode of Takes One to Write One, Katherine talks with massage therapist Shea about the training, techniques, boundaries, physical demands, and business realities behind the profession. They talk about different types of massage, what therapists are paying attention to while they work, how they adapt to different clients, and the things that don't necessarily make it into the popular image of massage therapy. For writers, it's a chance to look beyond the massage table and understand the person doing the work: their expertise, judgment, physical skills, relationships with clients, and the practical realities of making a living in the profession. In This EpisodeHow Shea became a massage therapistTraining, licensing, and learning the professionDifferent types of massage and what they involveWhat massage therapists are actually doing while they workWorking with different clients and individual needsProfessional boundaries between therapists and clientsThe physical demands of massage therapyThe business side of working as a massage therapistWhat writers often get wrong about the profession TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction 02:15 — How Shea became a massage therapist 07:42 — Training, licensing, and learning the work 14:30 — Different types of massage 22:18 — What a massage therapist is actually doing 31:05 — Working with different clients and needs 38:40 — Boundaries between therapist and client 45:12 — The business side of massage therapy 52:30 — What writers should know about massage therapists 58:14 — Closing thoughts Read the full transcript: https://www.takesonetowriteone.com/podcast-transcripts/massage-therapists OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Massage Therapists

  2. 12/29/2025

    Pilots - Part Three

    In the final Part Three, Katherine finishes her conversation with Marco and Nate, both regional pilots in the United States with a combined experience of 17 years. This is the final part of a three part series. Let’s hang! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:49 What movies, media, pop culture gets it wrong? 00:06:50 So with call-ins, call-outs, when you're talking about anything over the radio? What certain points need to be hit in order to be understood? What are you identifying? 00:13:38 What is something that you think most people in your field would like to have changed? 00:16:18 The divorce rate for the pilot 00:19:59 Is it something that you notice, more wild with the younger crowd, more wild with the older crowd? 00:21:09 Is there a physical item related to piloting or aviation that you guys cherish? 00:24:48 How does one adapt the pilot speak? 00:25:57 If I weren't in this field, I would never believe what? 00:29:11 You've mentioned the newer prospects and stuff. Is there any advice that you have for them outside of just keep pushing through? 00:35:15 And when they refer to your passengers, they say, how many souls on board? 00:36:53 You mentioned souls being old terminology. Is there other old terminology that's bled through? 00:37:15 Alpha, bravo, trolley, delta, echo. You guys have that memorized now? 00:37:52 So if you weren't a pilot…   00:43:27 So best job ever. 00:44:12 What got me into aviation? 00:49:01 What are pink tags? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Pilots - Part Three

  3. 12/15/2025

    Pilots - Part Two

    In Part Two of this 3-part series, Katherine stays grounded (figuratively) while flying deep (literally) with Marco and Nate, two seasoned regional pilots with 17 years of experience between them. This time, the conversation gets personal—and sometimes hilariously honest—as they dive into the emotions, stereotypes, and unexpected curveballs that come with a life spent in the sky. From the thrill of flying next to eagles to dealing with burnout, to answering the age-old question: have you ever been struck by lightning? (Spoiler: you’ll want to buckle up for that one.) Writers and storytellers, this episode is also a quiet masterclass in character work. Whether you’re building an airline pilot protagonist or just want to capture the feeling of someone balancing logic, emotion, and a checklist, these two are gold. Part 2 lets you sit in the jump seat and hear what it really feels like to live a life above the clouds. Let’s hang. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:57 What are typical emotions that you yourself go through? The anger, frustration, bliss.What's a sort of something that you experience on the daily, or that you would hope to experience on the daily, but instead you get X, Y, Z? 00:03:03 Now, why is it that you won't [the photo]? 00:06:03 "Actually, you ever been struck by lightning?" 00:08:42 So I'm hearing about eagles flying beside you, and these beautiful weather-related experiences. Is there anything else that really gets you excited about piloting and aviation that just makes your job f*****g worth it? 00:12:58 What is the typical dress of those in either piloting or aviation? Does it vary based on what plane you're flying or what airline? 00:16:20 Do you get roasted a lot in this field? 00:18:35 What is the most draining part of the job? Something that is like your least favorite thing to do. 00:20:37 You touched on some stereotypes, but are there any stereotypes or cliches that you would like to take this platform to debunk? 00:23:57 So you mentioned that there were some things that might pop up where the plane is still operational. 00:30:09 So Murphy's Law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. What is something that perhaps is often overlooked or forgotten, that you need to just make sure that you flip this or check this? 00:34:19 Is there such thing as being too long in the industry, where there are pilots where it's just like, oh boy, you need to retire. 00:35:54 What is something that will take you off the roster? 00:39:51 So what kind of other sounds do you encounter? 00:42:57 I'm curious, like Florence Nightingale was a hero for nurses, like Arnold Schwarzenegger is a role model for bodybuilders. Is there a hero for pilots? 00:48:58 Earlier in the podcast, you mentioned plateaus. Do you guys have any personal experiences with hitting that plateau? 00:56:16 Contract negotiations are just on fire for pilots right now. 00:58:22 So when you see this problem on the news about the pilot shortage… 01:04:02 Why is it that [Spirit] got such a bad rap then? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Pilots - Part Two

  4. 10/06/2025

    Pilots - Part One

    In Part One of this three-part series, Katherine chats with Marco and Nate—two regional pilots with nearly two decades of collective flight time. From what’s in their fridge to what it’s like inside a flight simulator, this episode covers the nitty-gritty of daily pilot life with warmth, curiosity, and a dash of dry skin talk. If you’re someone who loves digging into real-world routines, quirky human details, and niche subcultures (especially ones with uniforms and acronyms), you’ll love this one. Katherine brings her signature writerly eye to the flight deck, asking questions that hover between “How does this actually work?” and “What’s the emotional cost of flying 30,000 feet above it all?” Welcome to the world of pilots—from personality assessments to hangar banter, and everything in between. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:49 What is in your fridge? 00:04:39 What is in your flight bags? 00:06:24 Do you guys get dry skin? 00:07:43 Is there anything else that you could spot on a pilot on their body where you're like, you're a pilot? 00:08:30 What accolades or credentials do you guys go by? 00:10:37 How did you get into cargo? 00:13:09 You'll go through ground school, and then you'll go through whatever flight portion you need to obtain the certificate, right? 00:13:45 What is it like being in a flight simulator? 00:16:01 What's a typical day for you? 00:18:03 How does it affect your sleep? 00:20:28 How do you go about saying that you're fatigued? 00:25:32 What cargo were you moving? 00:27:47 What makes a great instructor? 00:31:02 What's a personality assessment? 00:34:56 Working as a crew 00:36:44 Fixation. 00:39:23 What is the social culture of being a pilot, an instructor in an aviation scene, whether it's a hangar, whether it's an airport, whether it's just shooting the shit with other pilots, what is the culture that you guys get to share where nobody else understands the stuff that we go through? 00:42:50 Do you struggle in any way with friendships outside? 00:44:45 Your flight hours determine where you live in the country. 00:49:46 Could you guys moonlight as weathermen based on your knowledge? 00:50:25 aviationweather.gov. 00:51:15 What other resources do you guys use to either keep up on your knowledge or to inform you of new stuff that's in the field? 00:53:28 So as far as flying and getting all the credentials needed, is flying a plane in the US about the same or different as flying a plane in the UK versus flying a plane in the Uruguay versus flying a plane and does it vary state by state? 00:57:25 How fast is too fast? How slow is too slow? 01:00:40 So you said difference, that you go by FAA until there's a difference. 01:03:40 What makes [airports] so efficient? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Pilots - Part One

  5. 09/22/2025

    Playing in a Band - Part Two

    In Part Two of this conversation, Katherine picks things back up with Dave, a guitarist who’s been in more bands than most of us have friend groups, and together they unpack everything from the personalities you run into in the music world, to what it feels like to carry gear, lead rehearsals, and maybe even walk away from something you once loved. As a writer, this episode hit differently. It’s less about music and more about rhythm—the kind we try to find in our work, in our relationships, and in the way we build a life around our passions. If you’ve ever tried to create something with other people, struggled to find your voice in a group, or wondered if you’ll always love the thing you’re building… this one’s for you. Also, yes: we talk about the underrated bands you should be listening to. You're welcome. Let’s hang. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:44 What sort of personality types do you notice, do you come across? 00:03:17 What are private gigs like? 00:04:17 On a what? 00:04:56 What is it like hauling equipment? 00:09:28 So what is a physical item that you cherish and with everything having to do with playing in a band? 00:09:37 What is one item if something were to be burning and you had to go in and run and get one thing? 00:14:18 So when reading books and journals and watching MTV and just getting all of this information, there's bound to be out of date tools or terminology. 00:14:32 As far as playing in a band or learning more about music, how much change have you seen over the years? 00:14:39 Are there terms that used to be used or tools that are just kind of now just really nice paperweights? 00:21:12 Do you like taking in full albums? 00:21:18 What is it for the people that don't really do that anymore? 00:21:21 What are they missing out on? 00:25:01 What kind of legalities might be involved with this sort of thing? 00:26:56 Tell me about tryouts 00:32:38 How does one quit a band? 00:33:45 So we talked about having friends with a band, around a band, knowing creatives. How is it like dating in that aspect? 00:34:08 Is there a certain balancing act that one must do? 00:38:30 Are there people that follow the band just because? 00:40:17 How do you communicate with your band members during a show? 00:44:32 Murphy's law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. What is something that is perhaps often overlooked or forgotten before you start playing, where it takes the entire band to say, Don't forget that 00:47:34 How do you book a gig? 00:53:04 How long is the typical set for you? 01:00:19 If you were to buy a piece of equipment right now, splurge, what's something that you want to splurge on right now? 01:05:31 I guess what I'm asking is, if it's the standard, if it's what everybody's getting, is that necessarily a good thing? 01:11:14 What's a band that you think is underrated that you cannot love more, that everybody needs to listen to? 01:13:51 How you find more information in this, is just being involved with it. 01:15:21 If somebody wasn't in this field, if somebody had never played in a band, never experienced what you or, you know, the somewhat general population of people that have played in a band, if somebody wasn't in this field, they would never believe what? 01:19:41 Do you think you'll always have this passion? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Playing in a Band - Part Two

  6. 09/08/2025

    Playing in a Band - Part One

    In this episode, Katherine chats with Dave, a guitarist who’s been playing since the age of fourteen. With experience in eight different bands, Dave gives Katherine (and listeners) a deep dive into the real-life dynamics of playing in a band. Ranging from managing multiple projects to the highs and lows of live performances, this episode uncovers what it’s really like to be part of a band. If you're a musician yourself or if you're writing about a character in a band, or just curious, you’ll walk away with fresh insights into the world of live music. Ready to rock? Let’s dive in! TIMESTAMPS 00:02:21 What is in the fridge of a guy who plays in a cover band? 00:04:23 How does one divide your time amongst one band, let alone two? 00:04:27 How is that for your schedule and working a full-time job? 00:08:18 Are there pros and cons to the cover band in which you can, you know, you know what the sounds are gonna be like. 00:08:34 Is there any sort of downside to having both things going on at the same time? 00:12:28 What is it like as the entertainer aspect of playing in the cover band? 00:12:34 What is it like playing to the audience in that way? 00:15:23 What makes a great night? 00:17:21 What's a clean tone? 00:23:07 What does it mean to be tone-oriented? 00:25:57 A word from our sponsor. 00:26:32 What's a bad night? 00:27:51 How do you down tune? 00:32:09 How long were these tours? 00:35:05 Do you feel the high adrenaline, you know, during the show? 00:35:09 Do you feel the low sort of post show? 00:35:14 What are the emotions that you've had to come to terms with when playing as you do? 00:41:22 What's the difference between what you show them and what you're not ready to, you just want to keep it to yourself. 00:43:59 Do you find yourself becoming friends with people that understand kind of the social culture of playing in a band, that when you're away, it will take you some time to process once you're back from a tour. 00:44:18 Do you kind of have to be with friends with people that are also in bands or in bands adjacent? 00:53:47 So what's this community like? 00:54:09 Have you acquired this knowledge through all of this playing that you've done? 00:54:15 Have you acquired this knowledge specifically because Paper Covers Rock is a 90s band, and you kind of have to know the history? 00:56:50 What was it like to tell your parents? WEBSITE takesonetowriteone.com OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Playing in a Band - Part One

  7. 04/21/2025

    Cults - Part Three

    In the final part of this candid and emotionally resonant series, Katherine sits down with our anonymous guest for a wide-ranging conversation on reclaiming life, identity, and freedom after leaving a cult. Through reflection, analysis, and moments of both levity and gravity, they explore what comes after escape: the long process of unlearning, healing, and re-entering the world. This episode dives into pop culture, spirituality, horror as catharsis, and what documentaries get right—and wrong—about cult life. You’ll hear powerful reflections on trust, autonomy, and the ongoing journey of writing a new story after surviving a system of control. TIMESTAMPS 00:01:32 What other gossip was happening amongst the church? 00:02:38 You said a hundred people. Was there like a flow of there was a minimum, there was a maximum? 00:03:15 Was it ever discouraged going to the doctor? 00:04:05 Tell me more about healing hands. 00:04:47 Were there some church members that were a little louder than others? 00:05:35 Was that truly believed to a level of, like, yes, women are healers, but God is ultimate? 00:06:52 Is Aunt Bessie a reference to something? 00:08:40 Was it just God or was there like the Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? 00:09:40 What were you able to watch as a kid? 00:10:40 Once you were out, and you could watch relatively anything, how did that feel? 00:12:15 Are there any [bible] verses that you might still hold close to you because you like them? 00:14:38 What was it like regaining your freedom of choice? 00:16:11 Did you have to learn how to trust yourself? 00:17:43 What's the difference between a cult and a military? 00:19:29 Did you find comfort being in the military after your experience in the cult? 00:21:18 When you say that you're learning this dark humor, how does that come about? 00:23:27 What tactics have you utilized to get the pop culture refresh into your brain? 00:24:32 What is it about horror that you're able to enjoy? 00:27:32 Were there ever doomsday prophecies with the cult? 00:29:03 You and I have watched a few documentaries on Cults, the Twin Flames documentary, the Keep Sweet and Obey documentary. What about these documentaries do you feel get it right? 00:34:07 “As to what the documentaries got wrong, I can't speak to too much because every cult is different.” 00:35:05 Would you like to see something being made about the cult that you were a part of? 00:36:38 ”Anybody could fall victim to a cult.” 00:37:44 What traits would that leader have to have? 00:38:28 What resources would you suggest writers utilize to better write about Cults, either fictional or realistic, in their own writing? 00:39:34 If I were to only watch one documentary to get that cultness through, what would it be? 00:41:15 What is the best way to heal from a cult experience? 00:44:54 What might you want to say to somebody listening who is questioning the organization that they are currently in, that it may also be of a cult persuasion? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Cults - Part Three

  8. 04/07/2025

    Cults - Part Two

    In Part Two of Takes One to Write One: Cults, Katherine sits down again with her anonymous guest as they dig deeper into life inside a high-control religious group. This episode explores the long-term impact of spiritual abuse, how loyalty was weaponized, and what happens when someone begins to question everything they’ve ever been taught. Together, they unpack relationships, identity, and the emotional unraveling that often follows the first steps toward freedom. It’s an honest, intense, and insightful look into the psychological grip these groups can have—even long after someone leaves. Trigger warnings include trauma, spiritual and emotional abuse, psychological manipulation, and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care. TIMESTAMPS 00:01:26 What differences did you notice in these “biblified” holidays?  00:03:41 What were birthdays like? 00:04:13 Speaking of siblings and their names from the bible… 00:05:50 And y'all could have pets like typical household families? 00:08:44 To have siblings that weren't around for the cult, that are growing up in a different way. How do you feel about that? 00:10:24 You touched on the sex education or rather lack of. Is that the only way —abstinence? 00:11:53 Was there any talk about the health of like, hey, you're, this is what happens with puberty? 00:13:18 What is in the Bible regarding menstruation? 00:15:51 Did you experience other women in the church being pregnant? 00:18:21 You mentioned at five years old, you knew who you were, quote unquote, destined to marry. Did you have a friendship with the person, or relationship? 00:20:02 What sex education do you suppose the guys got? 00:21:56 “I know one of the guys that assaulted me, assaulted one of my sisters.” 00:22:33 Is that out of shame that you didn't share with each other? 00:24:09 So now that you're not involved, and you exited, what was the removal process like for you? 00:26:45 You mentioned earlier how overwhelming it was to be in the greater world of things. How did you cope with that? 00:29:16 “I never even saw the r*pes as r*pe until I was in college.” 00:33:14 So when you were trying one of every [drug], did you find answers out of those experiences? 00:35:23 What was ultimately something that really helped you start the healing? 00:36:39 This may have been weeks ago, perhaps an off comment, where you were figuring out like, there's not a hell, there's not this, there's not, and it was like, your whole belief system was crashing around you. How long did that take to get over? 00:38:13 “Since the day I was born, I was told these shoulders are going to send me to hell.” 00:39:35 Tell me more about you looking into Greek mythologies. 00:44:32 “I have struggled with s*icid*l ideation adhesion since leaving the cult because suicide is a sin, according to the Bible and according to the cult.” 00:46:13 Is an identity crisis the right term to use for that? 00:46:49 Do you find more solace from talking to folk that were also involved in cults, or do you find more solace from folk that have never been in cults? 00:50:08 So these claims, it seems very your word against everybody else's. Does stuff like this get caught in that rumor mill and all of the gossip? WEBSITE https://takesonetowriteone.com/ OTHER LINKS YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTube Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Spotify YouTube Music: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-YouTubeMusic Pinterest: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Pinterest Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/T1tW1-Instagram

    Cults - Part Two
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Hello, and welcome to Takes One to Write One. I'm Katherine Arkady and I’m a writer. However, my characters are everything but. While research gives me information about their jobs and lifestyles, it doesn’t give me the first-hand experience needed to write a well-rounded character. So I created this podcast where I invite people on to talk about their jobs, their hobbies, or their beliefs, because it Takes One to Write One. ​Subscribe to Takes One to Write One for bi-weekly insights so you can write authentic, well-rounded characters through interviews and real-life stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Katherine Arkady
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Takes One to Write One