My Dilettante Life

Today's episode features a conversation with Leigh Schanfein, a professional freelance ballet dancer and biomechanics scientist. Her career has included dancing for Hannibal Burress, teaching ballet in Montana, and conducting research at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU. Whether changing costumes in a park or being a role model for her fellow tall ballerinas, Leigh approaches her career with an adventurous spirit and shares some of her insights with us. This seventh episode brings Season 1 to a close, but don't worry! My Dilettante Life will be back with more interesting guests and unusual jobs in Season 2, starting next month.

If you, like me, are a fan of exciting experiences in new places, then you'll really enjoy today's conversation with Kirsten Gardner, an expert in high-end travel. Her insight takes us around the world and shows us how some luxury travel organizations are incorporating sustainability and inclusivity into their business. Don't let the name throw you off, "luxury" travel isn't just for millionaires and Kirsten gives some key examples of how having someone like her in your corner can uncover amazing opportunities AND rescue you when things go awry.

This week's interview is with Jackie Hueftle, a professional rock climbing route setter - that person who decides where to put those brightly colored rock "holds" that you see on a climbing gym wall. In addition to her trailblazing work making rock climbing more inclusive and diversifying route setting itself, she also co-owns a small business that makes the actual rock holds themselves. We talk about the ins and outs of working in rock climbing - a field that is exploding in popularity and recently debuted at the Summer Olympics - and what it's like to shape the profession of route setting as it develops, alongside the demands of running a small business during a global pandemic.

Today's episode features a conversation with Megan Johnston, erstwhile independent consultant. We discuss how she got into consulting, what it means to be an expert, and why we never see James Bond filling out expense reports. Plus, the surprising lack of jet-setting and the constant variety involved in a lot of consulting work.

In the third episode, I get to chat with not one, but two architects about their work. Emili McMakin of Form & Function Architecture and Karen Lange of Waterleaf Architecture share their experiences, including the constant need to design bathrooms and the difficulty of letting go of a building they've created. We discuss the crucial questions: What is it like to be a woman in architecture? What's so fascinating about ceilings? Do all architects wear glasses and carry blueprints around (the answer is yes)? Featuring an unexpected appearance by an adorable pup named Freya.

Hi listeners, here is a small excerpt from my conversation with last week's guest Dan that wasn't included in the original episode. I found this part particularly interesting, though, and thought it deserved some attention. I hope you find it thought provoking - if so, please feel free to share those thoughts via Facebook, Instagram, or the podcast website at https://hanabinder.com/my-dilettante-life/

Today I'm talking with Dan Nebel, a professional French horn and organ player. While the COVID pandemic has had an enormous impact on live performances, some aspects of being a professional musician are as inspiring and frustrating as ever. What does it mean to go into classical music performance without a backup plan? 

Welcome to My Dilettante Life, a podcast featuring interviews with people working in interesting fields, talking about their experiences. My first interview is with artist Julia Vogl, who shares her philosophy behind creating social art that's meant for everyone, as well as her personal journey toward being a professional artist that doesn't fit within the stereotypical portrayal. Her advice for aspiring artists? Don't wait for someone to give you permission or space for a show, go out and make it happen yourself!

Welcome to My Dilettante Life, a new podcast from lifelong dabbler Hana Binder, where each episode features an interview with different people who work in interesting or unusual fields giving us a peek at their experiences. What do you want to be when you grow up?