Contender

Joe Stanton is a writer in New York. He loves his family and tends to his garden. When we met in 2010, Joe was a comedian, devoting much of his free time to writing sketches and performing both improv and standup. Join us as we discuss artistic perseverance, execution over perfection, and the alluring, expensive, opaque, dazzling, and insular comedy scene that brought us together.

Andrew Brischler is a painter. For the most part (and despite some doubts), he always has been, which is an anomaly for this podcast. Join us as we discuss artistic validation, the bizarre world of galleries, and - duh - Oprah.

Kelly Sherwin, my sister, spent years trying to adhere to conventional paths of success. Then she gave it up for something meaningful. Join us as we discuss winter camping, Ivy League card stock, and the horror show that is commercial real estate.

Jordan Siegel trained at a theater conservatory and moved to New York to work as a professional actor. A handful of years and a couple of side jobs later, he ditched New York for Portland and acting for speech language pathology. Join us as we discuss auditioning with a roomful of doppelgängers, a surprise boost from Frances McDormand, and staying relevant through stuttering.

Before embarking on a career in consulting, Julian Bowling was a Marine. Join us as we discuss servant leadership, extreme boredom in Afghanistan, and the art of figuring it the fuck out.

Tyler Coates, senior culture editor at Esquire.com, spent his teenage years behind the counter of his local pharmacy-cum-diner. Join us as we discuss drug classifications, the consultative role of the rural pharmacist, and advocating for equity (even when it pisses people off).

Beatina Theopold was a political campaigner for Barack Obama. She then traded DC for LA and politics for consulting. Join us as we discuss coding constituents, the secret thrill of the USDA, and struggling to fill a high school gymnasium with 200 supporters of a virtually unknown presidential candidate from Illinois.

Before appearing on The Great American Baking Show and co-hosting the podcast Flour Hour, Jeremiah Duarte Bills was a professional flute player. Join us as we discuss discipline, the mystique of Juilliard, and (duh) Bjork.

Aileen Clark spent years studying food labels and counting calories. Now she's embraced the joy (and practicality) of moderation. Join us as we discuss Brasilia embassies, Taurus indulgence, and the craft of counting out 23 almonds every morning.