What People Do

brendanhoward
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Semimonthly

A moment to savor intelligent conversation about ONE THING someone else is deeply invested in.

  1. 3d ago

    BONUS! Episode 104: Chris Garbett manages furniture AND games

    As part of an ongoing volunteering job with Kantcon, a fantastic tabletop gaming convention here in the Kansas City metro area, I record and write up interviews with a few of their sponsors each year. Chris Garbett at Allplay, where he serves as Director of Operations and Logistics, works underground around cool board games all day long. Yes, his job is probably still mostly phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets, but still: A mine! Games everywhere!  Want to learn more about Garbett and the work he does? Listen to this episode, and check out these links: Allplay's selection of games

    BONUS! Episode 104: Chris Garbett manages furniture AND games

  2. Aug 4

    BONUS! Episode 103: KJ Davis helps new creators with marketing

    As part of an ongoing volunteering job with Kantcon, a fantastic tabletop gaming convention here in the Kansas City metro area, I record and write up interviews with a few of their sponsors each year. KJ Davis’ company, A Little Help Company (ALHc), focuses on mentorship and boutique publishing support for indie creatives who may need a little extra guidance navigating public events, creative projects, and business growth. (Note: I interviewed Davis for an episode about her company in 2024.) Want to learn more about Davis and the work she does? Listen to this episode, and check out these links: The all-inclusive directory Davis' books

    BONUS! Episode 103: KJ Davis helps new creators with marketing

  3. Jul 28

    BONUS! Episode 102: Walter Stewart runs a tabletop gaming store

    As part of an ongoing volunteering job with Kantcon, a fantastic tabletop gaming convention here in the Kansas City metro area, I record and write up interviews with a few of their sponsors each year. Walter Stewart is co-owner of one of the best tabletop gaming stores I've ever visited: Tabletop Game and Hobby in Overland Park, Kansas. Want to learn more about Stewart and the games he talks about? Listen to this episode, and check out these links: Gloomhaven Flip 7  Azul King of Tokyo Ark Nova The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship The Hobbit: There & Back Again Cozy Stickerville Starcraft Magical Athlete Mythic Bastionland Hamsters & Himbos Brindlewood Bay Sword World Old Gods of Appalachia

    BONUS! Episode 102: Walter Stewart runs a tabletop gaming store

  4. Jul 21

    BONUS! Episode 101: Rikki Tahta makes games for groups

    As part of an ongoing volunteering job with Kantcon, a fantastic tabletop gaming convention here in the Kansas City metro area, I record and write up interviews with a few of their sponsors each year. Rikki Tahta in the UK talked to me about his company, MeetMax Games, and why the games are fun, how the games work in groups, and his inspiring and revolutionary take on games for corporations and events: Fun over functional. Want to learn more about Tahta and his team's work? Listen to this episode, and check out these links: MeetMax Games Games of theirs that he mentions in the podcast At the Races Elephants on Mars

    BONUS! Episode 101: Rikki Tahta makes games for groups

  5. Jul 14

    Episode 100: Brendan Howard makes a podcast

    Yup. I think it's been 100 or so episodes. So, I thought I'd mark the occasion with a conversation with somebody else who's made podcasts and watched them ... not grow. (That's Jimbo Radio; I've been on a few times and thoroughly enjoy my conversations with James.) The What People Do podcast started more than six years ago with a recording in a library meeting room with a former colleague right as COVID spun up before the lockdown. It continues, every month or so, recorded online now in my apartment living room. Why did I make it? Because I get tired of self-promotional, ad-ridden podcasts. I wanted to make a thing that just ... exists ... to serve my own curiosity and interest in relating to, and asking questions about, people's lives.  There has never been a direction or a focus beyond 1) the people who ask to be interviewed, or 2) the people I ask to interview. There are more rabbis and RPG folks only because that's closer to my wheelhouse as I volunteer to make content for a local RPG convention and pursue my own rabbinate and Judaism in general. Well, don't I normally supply links? Well, here ya go. If you'd like to ever support me financially, feel free to subscribe to my Substack or ask to collaborate on something with me: My rabbinic Substack My random Patreon My random YouTube My sort-of-outdated Linktree

  6. Jun 9

    Episode 99: Rabbi Norman Solomon wrote about what we mean when we say ‘God’

    Rabbi Norman Solomon served in many important capacities in the United Kingdom during his decades of service as a pulpit rabbi and educator. But the title of his latest book—which promised a delve into what we might mean in the modern world with our talk of God—promised to be a rich read. And it has been, with its very personal and idiosyncratic writing style and conventions. Anyone with an interest in thinking about God in Judaism or Christianity in the modern world might find much to agree with, smile at, and wrestle with in the book.  I was also delighted to find out Rabbi Solomon has a delightful sense of humor. You will be too.   Further resources Read Making Sense of ‘God’: What God-Talk Means and Does book Peruse Rabbi Solomon’s writing for the Torah.com website

    Episode 99: Rabbi Norman Solomon wrote about what we mean when we say ‘God’

  7. May 12

    Episode 98: Carole Blane on art and acting in every life stage

    I met Carole as the star administrator of the New York City-based rabbinic school I attended in 2025. (Shout out, Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute!) It always felt like there was a lot more under her surface in the moments when she’d pop up, or in the times she’d email. When she shared a cool introspection exercise with our graduating rabbinic class, I had to learn more about her. Turns out, she’s fascinating herself … nonprofit administration, yoga teaching certification, independent film, commercial work, and community theater. So … I asked Carole about her acting and film experience as a trick to talk to her, because she seemed cool. She is.

    Episode 98: Carole Blane on art and acting in every life stage

  8. Apr 14

    Episode 97: Rabbi Greg Marcus, PhD, teaches religiously centered self-improvement

    A hundred years ago, Judaism’s path of moral self-improvement was stuck mostly in the Orthodox world where the classic books of the field were in their original language. When the wider Jewish world began taking notice of Mussar, study and books in translation blossomed in availability. That’s the beautiful world that Rabbi Greg Marcus and I inhabit today, where the rabbi walks us through his own Mussar origin story, why he became a teacher of it, and where it’s all going from here. So, self-help with a Jewish flavor: Judaism has had it for hundreds of years! Let’s gooooooo …   Further resources: Peruse Rabbi Greg Marcus’ website and his American Mussar website Read The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions: Finding Balance Through the Soul Traits of Mussar book Take the Soul Trait quiz

    Episode 97: Rabbi Greg Marcus, PhD, teaches religiously centered self-improvement
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About

A moment to savor intelligent conversation about ONE THING someone else is deeply invested in.

Information

  • Creator
    brendanhoward
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    What People Do