Workshopping

Our guest this week, the incomparable Simran Baidwan lays down exactly what it takes to be a successful television writer in Hollywood. After a brave career change from District Attorney to barely surviving assistant in Hollywood, Simran's emblematic resume confirms that hard work (and self esteem, perseverance, and Tiger parents) pays off! This wild ride up and down the California coast is not only entertaining and inspiring, but Simran's advice to newcomers really strikes a chord, and her definition of success is one for the Workshopping books.

Sam and Steph are joined this week by dynamic duo Barry McLaughlin and Jason Lautenschlager, friends since day one of freshman year at UCLA. Something about white boards and gnomes ignited this friendship, and since the dry erase days, they've never looked back. Barry and Jason keep S&S rolling with bellyache laughter as they navigate over 25 years of friendship, various projects and creative endeavors ranging from stand up comedy, to serious music, back to stand up-serious-comedy-music and onto live interactive game nights, where they've landed currently as brilliant game creators. And somehow still friends. And it's just the beginning, so buckle up!

Sam and Steph bow down to friends Jen Russell and Steph Walker in this candid and informative interview which peels back the layers of our education system and what it's like to become a teacher. Jen and Walker shed light on the benefits and challenges of the process and programs, the pivots the 2020-2021 school year demands and the pure joy their students have brought them (most of the time). After this one, you'll want to call your favorite teacher.

Sam's oldest and dearest friend, Nikki Chabre (literally they're born a week apart), talks with S&S about growing up in L.A., the magnetic pull of the East Coast for college, her post-college career pole vault from Account Executive to VP, a move to Europe for an even broader delve into Advertising and Global Client Leadership / Partnership with McCann Erickson and currently a little company called Google. Google her. You'll see she authentically believes in unicorns and rainbows. And then prepare to fall in love.

Ned Brower joins Sam and Steph for their first episode to discuss Ned's unbelievable journey from actor, musician, model, performer all the way over to EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter-in-brief-brutal-training to where he currently lands as a Registered Nurse... just in time for a global pandemic in need of health care workers. As the friend who initially introduced Sam to Steph, Ned is the glue that binds both their friend groups together, even to this day.

Husband and Wife team Sam and Steph Farrar crash into their first episode of job fair podcast Workshopping in an interview gab session. Steph recounts all 4 million jobs she's hoarded and heaved while Sam tells his story of coming up in the L.A. music scene, and still maintaining that career over 25 years later.