Artists of New York

Alfonso Hernandez is a New York-based stand-up comedian, creator, and writer.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Finding his way to New York City

(01:35) Discovering the art of bartending

(03:10) From online sketches to stand-up comedy

(04:50) Finding freedom through comedy

(06:15) Making a living in New York's service industry

(07:35) Turning anger and frustration into comedy

(09:00) Getting sober and finding his comedic voice

(10:40) How sobriety accelerated his comedy career

(12:05) The anxiety and addiction behind his drinking

(14:25) When substance abuse became unbearable

(16:10) Replacing drunken arrogance with authentic connection

(18:20) Redefining ambition and enjoying the journey

(20:15) Creating opportunities through persistence and openness

(22:25) Why social media matters for comedians

(24:50) Turning online followers into professional opportunities

(27:10) Using comedy to address immigration and politics

(29:45) Exploring masculinity and hypocrisy through humor

(31:10) How he writes and develops new material

(33:45) His favorite comedians and biggest influences

(36:00) Surviving New York through community and generosity

(38:15) Finding belonging at Top Secret Comedy Club

(40:35) Redefining success through gratitude and small victories

Marcellus Hall is an artist, a musician, and an illustrator for The New Yorker magazine, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Choosing New York over San Francisco

(01:52) Pursuing illustration and surviving on a shoestring

(04:07) Discovering a lifelong passion for drawing

(06:18) Art school, Minnesota, and an unexpected encounter with Ethan Coen

(11:43) The gritty allure of New York City

(13:21) Day jobs and breaking into freelance illustration

(16:14) The New Yorker opens doors

(19:03) Balancing illustration with a music career

(21:12) Developing artistic skill through constant practice

(24:03) Finding a personal voice beyond commercial illustration

(27:07) Creating original artwork for New Yorker covers

(29:12) How New Yorker covers get selected

(32:24) The creative process behind a magazine cover

(34:19) Artificial intelligence and the future of illustration

(37:02) Advice for the next generation of artists

(39:03) Finding inspiration in New York's architecture

(40:36) Favorite museums and artistic communities

(43:08) Pursuing music, graphic novels, and new creative ambitions

(45:29) Reflecting on a lifetime in New York

(47:04) Growing older and reconsidering city life

(48:42) New York's extraordinary diversity and endless discoveries

(50:08) Defining success through personal artistic standards

Joel Walkowski is a comedian and the author of Honolulu Blues, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) A burning car and the move to New York

(02:18) Growing up in Detroit and pursuing filmmaking

(05:12) Writing, addiction, and the pursuit of validation

(08:05) Finding belonging in New York's comedy scene

(10:36) Surviving New York through unconventional jobs

(13:14) Getting sued by Major League Baseball

(15:30) Early stand-up and an obsessive creative drive

(18:05) Leaving comedy behind and pursuing an MBA

(20:12) Addiction spirals and the decision to get sober

(23:15) Finding community through SMART Recovery

(26:10) The challenges and rewards of early sobriety

(28:35) Writing Honolulu Blues while caring for his father

(31:30) The Detroit Lions and a shared family obsession

(34:05) Childhood trauma and its lasting effects

(37:15) Growing up with an autistic father

(39:40) The origins of Honolulu Blues

(41:10) Building sustainable writing habits and routines

(44:05) Rediscovering fun without alcohol

(46:15) Using football to discuss men's mental health

(49:00) Grief, gratitude, and celebrating a lifelong dream

(51:30) Advice for anyone struggling with addiction

(53:35) Redefining success through relationships and small victories

Guy Richards Smit is a performance artist, painter, and singer-songwriter, based in New York City

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Growing up in New York City

(02:06) Childhood memories of a dangerous Harlem

(04:18) Freedom and independence in old New York

(06:32) Attending LaGuardia High School and starting a band

(08:05) Playing CBGB at fifteen

(10:24) Performance, movement, and artistic identity

(12:13) Discovering art at an early age

(14:30) Studying painting in Amsterdam

(16:23) Living in Berlin after the wall fell

(18:42) Why New York's cultural diversity matters

(21:02) Discovering humor as an artistic medium

(23:12) Creating characters, bands, and performance art

(25:09) Confidence, rejection, and creative persistence

(27:06) The childhood cartoon that changed everything

(29:32) Pursuing a career at The New Yorker

(32:02) Lessons in perseverance from his mother

(34:02) Developing a daily creative routine

(36:30) How ideas emerge through drawing

(38:13) What The New Yorker changed

(40:04) Raising independent children in New York

(43:09) New artistic projects and opportunities

(45:35) Discovering the world of professional poker

(48:25) Drawing poker players and finding unexpected inspiration

(52:04) Redefining success beyond financial achievement

Pete Muller is a photographer, visual artist, and the director and producer of the documentary film Bucks Harbor.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) How COVID brought Pete Muller to New York

(02:16) Growing up with a photojournalist mother

(05:01) How 9/11 sparked an interest in conflict

(07:02) Questioning America's role in the Middle East

(08:23) Beginning a journalism career in Palestine

(12:21) How childhood turmoil shaped his fascination with conflict

(13:28) Understanding the fundamental causes of human conflict

(14:07) A decade documenting conflict across Africa

(17:34) Entering the deadly Ebola epidemic

(22:27) Understanding the dangers of Ebola transmission

(23:45) Why Ebola is a caregiver's disease

(26:39) Witnessing the devastating human toll of Ebola

(28:32) The power and purpose of photojournalism

(30:33) Making a living as a conflict photographer

(34:29) How masculinity and humiliation contribute to violence

(37:27) The origins of the documentary Bucks Harbor

(41:35) Letting a documentary's story emerge naturally

(42:28) Building trust with the people of Bucks Harbor

(46:41) David's transformation and the vulnerability of men

(53:13) Recognizing extraordinary moments through the camera

(58:07) The universal human themes of Bucks Harbor

(60:55) A Maine fishing community from another era

(63:22) Financing a five-year documentary project

(65:43) The challenges of marketing meaningful documentary films

(69:25) Discovering the truth about his biological father

(72:46) Questioning what it means to be a man

(75:09) Redefining success through meaningful creative work

(77:19) The future of storytelling beyond documentary photography

Evan Nachimson is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founder of The Candle Room, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York City to pursue music

(01:29) Discovering guitar and songwriting

(03:12) Early musical influences and recording

(04:43) Studying music at Berklee

(06:32) Finding his voice as a musician

(08:06) The art and science of songwriting

(10:03) The limitations of music school

(12:15) Learning to trust yourself as an artist

(13:37) Building a music career in Brooklyn

(14:35) Creating the Candle Room concert series

(17:02) Designing an intimate musical experience

(19:28) Finding community and purpose through music

(20:45) From personal songwriting to improvisation

(22:25) Making a living through children's music

(25:07) Exploring storytelling beyond songwriting

(27:06) Balancing music, writing, and therapy

(29:43) What keeps the musical passion alive

(31:03) Musical heroes and the power of joy

(33:03) Favorite listening rooms in New York

(35:38) Advice for aspiring musicians

(37:15) Defining success through relationships

(39:10) Finding fulfillment beyond external validation

Viv Ford is a writer, comedian, and producer, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York from Panama

(01:28) Leaving tech to travel the world

(03:39) Lessons from 24 countries

(06:10) Childhood creativity and redefining success

(08:15) Moving into San Francisco’s Crypto Castle

(10:21) Discovering the power of improv

(12:51) Turning the Crypto Castle into art

(15:42) How crypto changed its ideals

(18:14) Bitcoin, quantum computing and digital gold

(20:40) How sudden wealth changes people

(23:14) Making peace with money and motivation

(25:15) Betting on Bitcoin before it was big

(26:33) Making a crypto comedy series

(29:13) Challenging comedy’s traditional gatekeepers

(31:13) Building your own opportunities

(33:24) Following fun and learning stand-up

(35:39) Finding comedy in modern dating

(37:36) Learning from great comedians

(39:40) Making art and confronting AI

(41:31) Why success ultimately means nothing

Emily Jeanne Brown is a singer and actress, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York City

(01:46) Growing up in Sonoma County

(03:40) Family, curiosity, and imagination

(05:15) Discovering music and theater

(07:36) Choosing a life in performance

(10:20) Finding her way to Smith

(12:59) Looking back on Smith College

(17:04) Breaking into New York theater

(19:24) Paying the bills as an artist

(20:24) From singer to theater actor

(21:44) Pursuing serious acting training

(23:02) COVID and a return to music

(24:08) Shifting from acting to music

(25:57) Letting go of the acting track

(26:49) Building a musical community

(28:23) Finding confidence as a live musician

(29:44) Making human art in a digital world

(31:22) The story behind the album

(32:40) East Coast versus West Coast

(34:32) What comes next creatively

(35:40) Motherhood and a new life chapter

(37:48) Redefining success as an artist

Robby Slowik is a stand-up comic, TV writer, and podcast host based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving from LA to New York

(04:49) Growing up funny

(06:40) Finding the courage for stand-up

(08:17) Early feedback and comic delusion

(10:29) Life before comedy

(12:20) Committing to stand-up

(13:31) Developing a comedic voice

(15:34) Breaking into New York comedy

(17:50) Career-changing opportunities

(21:19) Conan and the changing industry

(23:29) Becoming a full-time comic

(24:37) Writing for Jon Stewart

(27:32) Andrew Schulz and the pandemic

(29:24) Returning to Jon Stewart

(30:28) Having kids and IVF

(33:25) Building a stand-up audience

(35:17) Finding comedy in fatherhood

(36:37) Balancing comedy and parenting

(39:50) Working with Jon Stewart

(43:30) Redefining success

Julie Roland is a magician, storyteller, and stand-up based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Returning to New York for her mother

(03:16) An unexpected calling to military service

(06:05) How The West Wing inspired service

(08:50) Military service meets complicated reality

(11:25) The poverty draft and military opportunity

(12:59) Finding purpose by serving her sailors

(14:37) A lifelong love of magic

(16:47) Using magic to bridge military divides

(19:57) Learning magic and preserving wonder

(23:02) Developing a personal magic repertoire

(24:17) From casual tricks to public performance

(25:54) The backyard variety show takes off

(28:44) Psychics, intuition, and collective consciousness

(33:19) DMT, machine elves, and unseen realities

(37:07) Keeping magic central to her future

(40:23) Where to see magic in New York

(41:41) Rediscovering her mother through saved belongings

(43:17) Reconnecting with her mother’s old friends

(45:32) Defining success through usefulness and impact

(46:33) Fun, service, and a successful life