287 episodes

We spend most of our time working, so what does it take to (mainly) love what you do? How do even the most gifted, talented, intelligent, ambitious, disciplined, imaginative, inventive, and lucky people develop their point of view, find meaning, serve a greater good, deal with work place politics, rejection, finances, boredom, red tape, logistics, and creative roadblocks? What are the perks or enjoyable about forging your own path? Catie Lazarus and her guests delve into beauty, banality and absurdity of work, jobs, and labor.

Employee of the Month Slate Podcasts

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.4 • 129 Ratings

We spend most of our time working, so what does it take to (mainly) love what you do? How do even the most gifted, talented, intelligent, ambitious, disciplined, imaginative, inventive, and lucky people develop their point of view, find meaning, serve a greater good, deal with work place politics, rejection, finances, boredom, red tape, logistics, and creative roadblocks? What are the perks or enjoyable about forging your own path? Catie Lazarus and her guests delve into beauty, banality and absurdity of work, jobs, and labor.

    Alyssa Mastromonaco and Peter Grosz on what makes President Obama, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers great bosses

    Alyssa Mastromonaco and Peter Grosz on what makes President Obama, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers great bosses

    In this episode Catie Lazarus talks to Obama’s former Deputy Chief of Staff  of Operations Alyssa Mastromonaco and comedy writer Peter Grosz.

    • 1 hr 11 min
    Tim Blake Nelson and Jill Sobule

    Tim Blake Nelson and Jill Sobule

    In this episode Catie Lazarus talks to acclaimed actor, writer, and director Tim Blake Nelson and singer songwriter Jill Sobule. 

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Adam Gopnik on Sibling Rivalry, Stand Up, and Liberalism

    Adam Gopnik on Sibling Rivalry, Stand Up, and Liberalism

    Adam Gopnik has held many dream jobs, all in the same office. After almost forty years (and counting) at The New Yorker, Gopnik has served as a food, art, and music critic, and he’s written his own novels, children’s books, musicals, and solo shows. His latest (and first) political book A Thousand Small Sanities delves into how liberals can save Democracy. In this interview Gopnik talks to Catie Lazarus about the infighting between liberals and progressives, his upcoming solo show at The Red Bull Theater, and the incalculable torment of sibling rivalry.                                                                                                Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Theme song by Lady Rizo.

    • 55 min
    Aparna Nancherla On Learning to Saying No and Avoiding Brain Trolls

    Aparna Nancherla On Learning to Saying No and Avoiding Brain Trolls

    After making her stand-up debut in Washington, D.C., Aparna Nancherla quickly became a comedy darling in Los Angeles and New York, writing for FX’s Totally Biased with Kamau Bell and Late Night with Seth Meyers. She also became a welcome fixture in New York’s competitive stand-up scene thanks to her smart and self-aware one-liners. When she opened up about her own anxiety and depression, more fans flocked. As a writer and actor, she has worked on HBO’s Crashing, Comedy’s Central’s Corporate, and Netflix’s Bo-Jack Horseman. Now she’s eager to explore new terrain in her next stand-up special but worries what fans and Hollywood will think. In her conversation with Catie Lazarus, Nancherla talks about the solitary nature of stand up and writing, the toll it takes to regularly joke about anxiety, and how to say no to too much work. 

    • 40 min
    Adrienne Truscott and Alysia Reiner

    Adrienne Truscott and Alysia Reiner

    Adrienne Truscott reveals what comedians mean by “funny is funny.” Her debut solo show transformed #MeToo, #TimesUp and still manages to be hilarious, as she proves just how funny feminsists can be. Plus, Pamela Adlon’s Better Things on FX starts up again, while Orange is the New Black reaches its final season. What do they share in common? Actor Alysia Reiner. The actor speaks about the two hit series and her film EGG, which co-stars Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks, and cracks into motherhood and work from a fresh, fun, and smart angle. 

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Nick Hornby on His New TV Project and Knowing Whether His Writing is Any Good

    Nick Hornby on His New TV Project and Knowing Whether His Writing is Any Good

    With Fever Pitch, About a Boy and High Fidelity, Nick Hornby created a niche penning romantic comedies from the male perspective and launching the crush worthy careers of Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Jon Cusack on both sides of the pond. Then he went on to prove that he can deftly embody a female lens with the box office hits Wild and Brooklyn and the critically acclaimed Education. Now, Hornby has teamed up with Stephen Frears to tackle marriage from both male and female perspective in their new TV series State of the Union, which stars Rosamund Pike and Chris O’Dowd. In the interview, Hornby discusses the new project, whether philanthropy is harder to pull off in the US than in England, and how Brexit will be the end of everything. He also talks about what he gets out of doing philanthropy and why it is easier to get honest feedback in the film industry than publishing books. 

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
129 Ratings

129 Ratings

Nomes C ,

Packed with insights I didn’t know that I needed to hear

This is one of the podcasts that is making stay-at home projects possible. Great interviews with people who I wouldn’t have otherwise gone through the trouble of hearing from

WillMiller122 ,

Catie Lazarus is the best interviewer ever!

So glad Slate has this show! Can't wait to listen to more episodes. Love the way Catie Lazarus interviews guests on her podcast. Smart, funny, always honest. Lazarus's live show is incredible too!

bonzi74 ,

Love Them girls

Emily I think you are so awesome..u guys remind me of my friend and I after a few puffs. Lol. I plan on seeing Mary P a dozen times and my kids are long grown and gone. Enjoy this wonderful ride you girls are one....ur so deserving of these blessings :))🙏🏼

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