Pete Muller is a photographer, visual artist, and the director and producer of the documentary film Bucks Harbor.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) How COVID brought Pete Muller to New York

(02:16) Growing up with a photojournalist mother

(05:01) How 9/11 sparked an interest in conflict

(07:02) Questioning America's role in the Middle East

(08:23) Beginning a journalism career in Palestine

(12:21) How childhood turmoil shaped his fascination with conflict

(13:28) Understanding the fundamental causes of human conflict

(14:07) A decade documenting conflict across Africa

(17:34) Entering the deadly Ebola epidemic

(22:27) Understanding the dangers of Ebola transmission

(23:45) Why Ebola is a caregiver's disease

(26:39) Witnessing the devastating human toll of Ebola

(28:32) The power and purpose of photojournalism

(30:33) Making a living as a conflict photographer

(34:29) How masculinity and humiliation contribute to violence

(37:27) The origins of the documentary Bucks Harbor

(41:35) Letting a documentary's story emerge naturally

(42:28) Building trust with the people of Bucks Harbor

(46:41) David's transformation and the vulnerability of men

(53:13) Recognizing extraordinary moments through the camera

(58:07) The universal human themes of Bucks Harbor

(60:55) A Maine fishing community from another era

(63:22) Financing a five-year documentary project

(65:43) The challenges of marketing meaningful documentary films

(69:25) Discovering the truth about his biological father

(72:46) Questioning what it means to be a man

(75:09) Redefining success through meaningful creative work

(77:19) The future of storytelling beyond documentary photography

Evan Nachimson is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founder of The Candle Room, based in New York City.

(00:00) Moving to New York City to pursue music

(01:29) Discovering guitar and songwriting

(03:12) Early musical influences and recording

(04:43) Studying music at Berklee

(06:32) Finding his voice as a musician

(08:06) The art and science of songwriting

(10:03) The limitations of music school

(12:15) Learning to trust yourself as an artist

(13:37) Building a music career in Brooklyn

(14:35) Creating the Candle Room concert series

(17:02) Designing an intimate musical experience

(19:28) Finding community and purpose through music

(20:45) From personal songwriting to improvisation

(22:25) Making a living through children's music

(25:07) Exploring storytelling beyond songwriting

(27:06) Balancing music, writing, and therapy

(29:43) What keeps the musical passion alive

(31:03) Musical heroes and the power of joy

(33:03) Favorite listening rooms in New York

(35:38) Advice for aspiring musicians

(37:15) Defining success through relationships

(39:10) Finding fulfillment beyond external validation

Viv Ford is a writer, comedian, and producer, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York from Panama

(01:28) Leaving tech to travel the world

(03:39) Lessons from 24 countries

(06:10) Childhood creativity and redefining success

(08:15) Moving into San Francisco’s Crypto Castle

(10:21) Discovering the power of improv

(12:51) Turning the Crypto Castle into art

(15:42) How crypto changed its ideals

(18:14) Bitcoin, quantum computing and digital gold

(20:40) How sudden wealth changes people

(23:14) Making peace with money and motivation

(25:15) Betting on Bitcoin before it was big

(26:33) Making a crypto comedy series

(29:13) Challenging comedy’s traditional gatekeepers

(31:13) Building your own opportunities

(33:24) Following fun and learning stand-up

(35:39) Finding comedy in modern dating

(37:36) Learning from great comedians

(39:40) Making art and confronting AI

(41:31) Why success ultimately means nothing

Emily Jeanne Brown is a singer and actress, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York City

(01:46) Growing up in Sonoma County

(03:40) Family, curiosity, and imagination

(05:15) Discovering music and theater

(07:36) Choosing a life in performance

(10:20) Finding her way to Smith

(12:59) Looking back on Smith College

(17:04) Breaking into New York theater

(19:24) Paying the bills as an artist

(20:24) From singer to theater actor

(21:44) Pursuing serious acting training

(23:02) COVID and a return to music

(24:08) Shifting from acting to music

(25:57) Letting go of the acting track

(26:49) Building a musical community

(28:23) Finding confidence as a live musician

(29:44) Making human art in a digital world

(31:22) The story behind the album

(32:40) East Coast versus West Coast

(34:32) What comes next creatively

(35:40) Motherhood and a new life chapter

(37:48) Redefining success as an artist

Robby Slowik is a stand-up comic, TV writer, and podcast host based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving from LA to New York

(04:49) Growing up funny

(06:40) Finding the courage for stand-up

(08:17) Early feedback and comic delusion

(10:29) Life before comedy

(12:20) Committing to stand-up

(13:31) Developing a comedic voice

(15:34) Breaking into New York comedy

(17:50) Career-changing opportunities

(21:19) Conan and the changing industry

(23:29) Becoming a full-time comic

(24:37) Writing for Jon Stewart

(27:32) Andrew Schulz and the pandemic

(29:24) Returning to Jon Stewart

(30:28) Having kids and IVF

(33:25) Building a stand-up audience

(35:17) Finding comedy in fatherhood

(36:37) Balancing comedy and parenting

(39:50) Working with Jon Stewart

(43:30) Redefining success

Julie Roland is a magician, storyteller, and stand-up based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Returning to New York for her mother

(03:16) An unexpected calling to military service

(06:05) How The West Wing inspired service

(08:50) Military service meets complicated reality

(11:25) The poverty draft and military opportunity

(12:59) Finding purpose by serving her sailors

(14:37) A lifelong love of magic

(16:47) Using magic to bridge military divides

(19:57) Learning magic and preserving wonder

(23:02) Developing a personal magic repertoire

(24:17) From casual tricks to public performance

(25:54) The backyard variety show takes off

(28:44) Psychics, intuition, and collective consciousness

(33:19) DMT, machine elves, and unseen realities

(37:07) Keeping magic central to her future

(40:23) Where to see magic in New York

(41:41) Rediscovering her mother through saved belongings

(43:17) Reconnecting with her mother’s old friends

(45:32) Defining success through usefulness and impact

(46:33) Fun, service, and a successful life

Dan Perlman is a writer, director, and stand-up, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Growing up across New York City

(01:58) A childhood obsession with comedy

(05:49) Discovering the path to becoming a comedian

(08:33) Protecting the dream until pursuing it

(10:34) Bombing at his first open mic

(13:20) Building a life around stand-up

(15:30) Gradually getting comfortable onstage

(17:37) Learning how to control a room

(21:42) How his comedy and writing evolved

(24:36) Learning discipline through sketch comedy

(28:46) Turning a web series into a Showtime show

(32:32) Lessons from developing his first pilot

(34:40) Surviving New York with odd jobs

(36:03) Being broke while pursuing comedy

(38:43) The complicated experience of making Flatbush Misdemeanors

(43:01) Discovering filmmaking as his creative sweet spot

(44:50) Becoming Michael Bublé for a documentary

(47:41) Directing his first feature film

(50:19) Creating without always scaling up

(52:45) The creators who inspire him

(54:46) Why New York still feels like home

(55:59) Redefining success around sustainable creativity

Jon Lampley is a trumpeter, based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to New York City

(04:46) Arriving without a plan

(08:30) Breaking into New York’s music scene

(11:06) Becoming a horn section

(15:00) Growing up in Akron

(16:52) Choosing Ohio State

(19:06) Following instinct instead of a plan

(21:57) Making excellence the standard

(25:38) Choosing music as a career

(28:53) The boring work behind greatness

(33:55) Finding clarity about his calling

(35:40) Surrounded by artists at Ohio State

(38:18) Feeling convicted to pursue music

(41:55) Following the crumbs toward purpose

(44:07) The chain of events leading to Colbert

(47:05) Paying attention to opportunity

(49:35) Reflecting on eleven years at The Late Show

(51:40) Paul McCartney plays his trumpet

(54:24) Creativity, spontaneity and performing under pressure

(57:20) The Late Show’s joy machine

(59:04) Inside a typical Late Show day

(62:46) Balancing Colbert, O.A.R. and Huntertones

(67:03) The personal sacrifices of an artist

(73:34) Redefining success around what matters