On this week’s show, Working producer Cameron Drews talks to Erin Tomasello, casting director for the Netflix reality show The Circle. In the interview, Erin explains what it’s like to work on the casting team for shows like The Bachelor, Fear Factor, America’s Got Talent, and more. Then she discusses the casting process for The Circle and lays out what she and the casting producers are looking for in potential contestants. She also offers tips for anyone who’s thinking about applying to be on the show (which you can do at thecirclecasting.com). 

After the interview, co-hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler talk to Cameron about the rise of politeness and good sportsmanship on reality shows, and then Cameron asks June and Isaac for some creative advice. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Erin talks about how she got into reality show casting and what it’s like to work as a freelancer in the TV industry. 

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and the Culture Gabfest—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus.

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This week, host Isaac Butler talks to dialect coach Samara Bay, who helps film and TV actors learn new accents. In the interview, Samara describes her coaching process and explains the importance of combining good dialect work with good acting. Then she teaches Isaac how to speak in an Irish accent. 

After the interview Isaac and co-host June Thomas discuss Samara’s tactful way of providing feedback and the distinction between “cheerleading” and “flattering.”

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Samara talks about one particular movie that she loved working on. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and the Culture Gabfest—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus.

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This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to Jordan Moblo, the man behind the Instagram account @jordys.book.club, which features artful photos of both fiction and nonfiction books, as well as short reviews of titles Jordan feels like promoting. In the interview, Jordan discusses the creative decisions that go into his posts and explains what it was like to grow an audience of 69,000 followers. He also talks about balancing his Instagram hobby with his full-time job. 

After the interview, Rumaan and co-host Isaac Butler discuss Jordan’s decision to never post negative reviews of books. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jordan lists some of his favorite book covers and talks about the hashtag #bookstagrammademedoit.  

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews. 

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and the Culture Gabfest—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus.

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This week host Isaac Butler talks to actor Blair Underwood about performing for the stage and screen. In the interview, Blair talks about landing a role on the legal drama L.A. Law when he was still an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon. He also explains how he prepares for roles and how he gets in the right mindset to play tormented characters. 

After the interview, Isaac and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss the mysterious craft of acting. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Blair tells the story of the time he found himself sitting next to Sidney Poitier on a flight from New York to L.A. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

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This week, host June Thomas talks to cartoonist Alison Bechdel, whose work includes the hugely influential comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and the bestselling graphic memoir Fun Home. In the interview, Alison talks about her new book, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, which is about her interest in exercise and fitness but also her work ethic as an artist and writer. 

After the interview June and co-host Rumaan Alam discuss Alison’s skills as a memoirist and her work-life balance. Then they get some creative advice from Pulitzer-winning playwright Michael R. Jackson. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, June asks Alison about the Bechdel Test. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, host Rumaan Alam talks to author Stuart Gibbs, who writes mystery novels for young readers. Stuart’s work includes the FunJungle series and other collections like the Spy School and Charlie Thorne books. In the interview, Stuart discusses his career beginnings and the literary agent who encouraged him to try writing for a younger audience. He also talks about his writing process, getting pointers from his own kids, and how he’s able to produce multiple titles per year. 

After the interview, Rumaan and co-host June Thomas talk about Stuart’s unique relationship with his readers. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Rumaan’s son shares what he loves about Stuart’s books. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week host June Thomas talks to TV writer Jed Mercurio, who created the hugely popular UK police procedural Line of Duty and recently executive produced the drama series Bloodlands. In the interview, Jed explains what an executive producer does and discusses some of the signature qualities of his work. He also tells the story of how he became a practicing doctor before trying his hand at writing for television. 

After the interview June and co-host Isaac Butler talk about Jed’s career pivot. Then they get some creative wisdom from writer Roxane Gay. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Jed talks about why British TV writers rarely work in U.S. writers rooms.

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week host Isaac Butler talks to Anthony Fortenberry, chief nursing officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, which has been serving the LGBTQ community in New York City for decades. In the interview, Anthony talks about all the creative challenges he and his staff have faced over the past year, from converting a hotel into a quarantine facility to making sure vulnerable people have access to vaccines. He also talks about the importance of flexibility and explains why managers need to model the behavior they advocate. 

After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas reflect on some of Anthony’s creative wisdom. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anthony talks about his cultural interests and some of the high points of his job. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week host June Thomas talks to the activist photographer Joan E. Biren, also known as JEB. In the interview, JEB discusses the creation, funding, and printing of her 1979 photobook Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians, which was recently reissued by Anthology Editions. She also talks about the enduring legacy of the book and what it meant for lesbians to see themselves accurately represented in her work. 

After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler reflect on JEB’s ability to create the art she wanted to see in the world. 

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, JEB explains why she doesn’t like words like capture and shoot to describe photography. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Rumaan Alam co-host a special episode about staying creative during a difficult year. First they talk about their own experiences in quarantine and how they managed to continue getting work done. Then they hear from other professional creative people like Zoe Kazan, Emma Straub, Jessica Winter, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Alison Bechdel, Emily Gould, Roxane Gay, Chris Eigeman, Alex Winter, and Michael R. Jackson, who discuss the obstacles they faced over the past year and how they dealt with them. 

Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to [email protected] or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. 

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now to help support our work.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices