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

Isabel Hagen is a classical violist and standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Growing Up in an Artistic Family

(02:38) Choosing Music Over Everything

(05:06) Conservatory Dreams and Juilliard Auditions

(08:12) Getting Into Juilliard

(10:07) Realizing Music Wasn't the Future

(12:54) Discovering Stand-Up Comedy

(15:41) First Open Mics and Early Lessons

(18:27) Building a Comedy Career

(21:06) Leaving Music for Stand-Up

(24:11) Supporting Comedy Through Music

(27:01) Earning Opportunities and Growing

(30:14) JFL and The Tonight Show

(33:12) Headlining and Defining Success

(36:07) Staying Hungry as a Comedian

(38:14) Comedy, Shyness, and Observation

(40:42) Favorite Comedians and Venues

(43:01) Defining Success

(44:16) Advice for Modern Comics

Adam Shor is a comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Discovering Opera and Moving to New York

(03:12) The Allure and Reality of Opera Life

(06:05) Why Opera Ultimately Didn't Work

(08:48) Leaving Germany and Quitting at 31

(11:42) Identity, Failure, and Family Influence

(14:36) Motivations Required for Artistic Success

(17:25) Performance Anxiety and Vocal Struggles

(20:18) Highs and Lows of an Opera Career

(23:14) Living as a Working Opera Singer

(26:02) Resentment, Jealousy, and Artistic Environments

(29:01) What It Means When Art Doesn't Love You Back

(31:53) Regrets, Teachers, and Overtraining

(34:47) Knowing When It's Time to Quit

(38:12) Depression, Blogging, and Losing Identity

(41:18) First Exposure to Stand-Up Comedy

(44:03) Why Comedy Felt Liberating

(46:42) Early Sets, Bombing, and Learning the Craft

(49:28) Meeting Eyal and Creating Comedy Songs

(52:11) The First Time They Truly Murdered

(54:56) Social Media Growth and Moving to America

(58:02) Understanding the Algorithm and Building Fans

(61:21) Quality Control and Viral Content Strategy

(65:07) Touring, Building Audiences, and Comedy Business

(69:08) Louis C.K., Success, Family, and the Future

Shane Torres is a standup comedian based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving from Portland to New York

(02:08) Reaching Comedy’s Ceiling in Portland

(04:11) Discovering Stand-Up and Bill Hicks

(07:18) Why Bill Hicks Mattered

(11:02) First Open Mic at Hungry Tiger

(13:48) Early Bombs and Finding Purpose

(16:02) Surviving on Service Jobs

(18:27) Living Cheap in New York

(21:01) Comedy Before Social Media Dominance

(25:05) Fame, Followers, and Premature Success

(28:12) First New York Clubs and Career Goals

(31:22) Getting Passed at The Comedy Cellar

(35:06) Respect, Community, and Recognition

(38:10) Finding Original Angles in Comedy

(42:41) Content Culture Versus Craftsmanship

(47:18) Expertise, Nuance, and Modern Media

(51:06) The Comedian’s Role in Culture

(54:02) Success, Recognition, and What Comes Next

Sally Boy is a musician based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving From Philly to New York

(01:07) Growing Up in a Musical Family

(02:06) Discovering Guitar Through John Mayer

(04:05) Blues Obsession and Early Guitar Practice

(05:46) Piano vs Guitar Learning Curves

(07:30) Singing, Musical Theater, and Early Training

(09:47) College Music Theory Frustrations

(11:42) First Live Performances and Validation

(13:22) Forming Bluebird and Philly Recognition

(15:55) The Missed Record Deal Regret

(19:03) Creating Sally Boy and Signing Deals

(21:29) Moving to New York and Early Touring

(24:02) Finding Community in New York’s Music Scene

(26:58) Why Musicians Meet at the Bar

(29:08) The Reality of Life on Tour

(32:15) Touring, Boredom, and Mental Health

(34:46) ADHD, Routine, and Creative Habits

(36:02) New York vs Los Angeles and Defining Success

Harris Solomon is an actor, writer, and reluctant Jewish sex symbol based in New York City.

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(00:00) Moving From LA To New York

(01:48) Discovering Theater And Comedy

(03:56) A Doctor Father's Creative Influence

(05:18) High School Theater Years

(07:12) Why Comedy Helps Drama

(08:47) Columbia And Abandoning Medicine

(10:39) Choosing An Artistic Career

(12:31) Acting Training And The Groundlings

(14:11) Finding Validation As A Comedian

(16:12) Why Sketch Comedy Feels Like Math

(18:14) Comedy, Acting, And Rejection

(20:10) Landing UCB And Moving East

(22:05) Managers, Auditions, And Networking

(24:36) Social Media And Artistic Promotion

(26:19) Tutoring To Support The Dream

(28:42) Wealth, Privilege, And The Arts

(31:08) LA Versus New York Living

(34:09) Writing, Creativity, And Defining Success