Episode notes
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr and Isaac Butler are joined by writer Elisa Gabbert for a discussion of reading and rediscovering a love of books. Gabbert is the author of Any Person is the Only Self, a new collection of essays on art, culture, and reading habits. Gabbert delves into some of her reading practices such as always being surrounded by exciting-looking books, exploring the ‘Recently Returned’ section of her library, and not being afraid to revisit and critique classic novels. Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative…
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11 Jul 2024 · 19 min
Working Overtime: How to Ease Back into Work After Losing a Loved One
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7 Jul 2024 · 44 min
How to Photograph a Hardcore Punk Show
This week, host June Thomas talks to Jim Saah, a photographer who documented D.C.’s legendary hardcore punk scene in the 1980’s and 90’s. In the interview, Jim explains how he fell in love with punk music in high school and soon started photographing bands like Minor Threat and Fugazi. He also discusses the chaotic environments he had to work in, and he explains how certain punk rock conventions—like simple lighting and the practice of allowing pretty much anyone to hop on stage—allowed him to snap memorable and action-packed photos. His photo collection is called In My Eyes , and you can…
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30 Jun 2024 · 46 min
How One of the Best Podcast Sound Designers Executes a Vision
This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to John DeLore, a podcast editor and sound designer who’s been in the industry since its heyday. He’s produced hugely popular shows for companies like Gimlet and Stitcher, and now he runs his own production company, Starlight Diner Studio . In the interview, John breaks down his sound design process, shares tips for collaborating with clients, and explains how he keeps surviving despite the industry’s downturn. After the interview, Ronald and co-host Isaac Butler talk about the importance of defining what “good work” means to you. In the exclusive Slate…
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23 Jun 2024 · 52 min
A New Kind of “Live Documentary” Honors the Temporary
This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Sam Green, a documentary filmmaker who has pioneered a new kind of performance called “live documentary,” which involves presenting ideas and images on-stage, accompanied by live music. In the interview, Sam explains why he started designing his films this way and why the temporary nature of these performances makes them so special. He also talks about researching and structuring his performances, learning to script and memorize his lines, and the joys of feeding off the audience’s energy. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss…
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16 Jun 2024 · 46 min
How a Colonial Williamsburg Actor Humanizes History
This week, guest-host Kristen Meinzer talks to Stephen Seals, an actor and historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. In the interview, Stephen breaks down his process for researching and portraying Revolutionary War double-agent James Lafayette, a notable Black American whose story is seldom told. Stephen explains what it’s like to write for his character on the fly, to answer audience questions, and to add meaning and texture to an important historical figure. After the interview, Kristen and co-host Isaac Butler talk about how to handle harsh audience feedback. In the…
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13 Jun 2024 · 20 min
Working Overtime: Storing and Revisiting Your Old Ideas
For this week’s episode of Working Overtime, hosts June Thomas and Ronald Young Jr dive into the work of PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) and the different means of gathering one's thoughts. June, a PKM evangelist, breaks down some of the many apps and processes for collating one’s notes into an organized web of insights and connections. She also explains German scholar Niklas Luhmann’s system of capturing and regenerating ideas with a zettelkasten. Both hosts agree that while new systems of organization can be wonderful tools, obsessing over them can eat away some of your creative time.…
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9 Jun 2024 · 45 min
A Master Class in Character Description
This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to writer Emma Copley Eisenberg about her new novel Housemates , which features a burgeoning friendship between two artists who decide to road trip across Pennsylvania together. In the interview, Emma explains how her nonfiction writing and her interest in history influenced this new work of fiction. She also talks about her “feast or famine” approach to productivity, her desire to document her community, and her belief that physical descriptions of people are crucial to good fiction writing. After the interview, Ronald and co-host June Thomas ponder…
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6 Jun 2024 · 36 min
Working Overtime: Money Advice for Freelancers
This week on Working Overtime, host Isaac Butler talks to AJ Ayers, a personal finance expert who specializes in helping creative people manage their money better. In the interview, AJ offers tips on everything from retirement accounts and taxes to homeownership and family planning. Do you have questions or advice of your own about the creative process? Reach out at (304) 933-9675 or email us at [email protected]. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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