Cynthia Zarin is an American poet and journalist.

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(00:00) Growing Up Bookish in New York

(03:18) Childhood Influences and Becoming a Writer

(06:47) Columbia, Job Hunting, and The New Yorker

(10:41) Inside William Shawn's Legendary New Yorker

(14:19) Why Poetry Became Her Lifelong Medium

(17:46) Learning Journalism Through The New Yorker

(21:03) New York City and Literary Life in the 1980s

(24:42) The Magazine's Culture of Quiet Excellence

(28:07) From Character to Personality Culture

(31:36) Mentors, Editors, and Writing Craft

(34:12) Balancing Writing, Marriage, and Four Children

(38:09) Reporting While Raising a Family

(41:26) Returning to The New Yorker and Yale

(44:11) Memorable Profiles and Interviewing Philosophy

(48:03) Writing Without Deadlines or Recorders

(51:09) Creating Inverno and Estate

(56:04) Caroline, Love, and Modern Relationships

(61:02) Writing Habits and Creative Process

(64:06) Trusted Journalists and Democracy

(66:07) Defining Success as a Writer

Jason Choi is a standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Loving New York's Chaos

(02:27) Childhood Comedy Obsession

(04:58) Early Stand-Up Dreams

(07:19) College, Writing, and Fear

(09:43) Comedy Class Breakthrough

(12:16) Advertising, Engineering, and Saving Money

(15:08) First Sets and Bombing Hard

(18:07) Grinding Through Open Mics

(20:54) Opportunities Through Consistency

(23:41) Leaving Software Engineering

(26:31) Family Sacrifice and Financial Discipline

(29:14) Recovering From Burnout

(31:42) Success, Fulfillment, and Contentment

(35:01) Sustainable Work and Resistance

(38:06) David Attell, Mark Normand, and Craft

(41:12) Finding Creative Ideas

(43:25) Redefining Success

(45:02) Letting Go and Trusting the Journey

Preston from The Heaven is a musician based in New York City.

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(00:00) Driving a Prius to New York

(02:18) Childhood, family, and moving to California

(04:36) Discovering music through Johnny Cash and Kanye

(07:12) Wanting to become a musician

(09:51) Guitar as a lifeline

(12:46) Daily obsession and first bands

(15:21) Choosing music despite industry uncertainty

(18:08) Why rock bands became less viable

(21:16) Pursuing music after high school

(24:02) Touring, networking, and building opportunities

(27:05) Talent versus relentless hard work

(30:11) Streaming economics and modern music careers

(33:28) Multiple projects versus one band

(36:02) Songwriting identity and solo performances

(39:06) Mastering guitar through persistence

(42:14) Leaving Los Angeles for New York

(45:37) Finding home in Brooklyn

(48:34) New York's creative energy

(51:03) The city's music scene and favorite venues

(53:22) Planning to stay on the East Coast

(54:45) Redefining artistic success

(56:18) Authenticity over popularity