What's actually sitting on an animation production desk? Alexis and Natalie compare desk setups, from minimalist workspaces to the surprisingly difficult art of knowing when you've collected too many toys.

Alexis and Natalie welcome therapist Kristine Magat Douglas, LCSW, MPH, to unpack our collective animation production baggage. We dive into burnout, unemployment shame, crying on the job, global stress, work anxiety and more! It’s fun, we swear! Plus: surprising life lessons from Kpop Demon Hunters.

NOTE: The content of this episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

More information about Kristine Magat Douglas at:

https://kristineyourtherapist.com/

Our guest, Elise Scanlan, Production Supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios, joins us with stories from her work on many Disney films, including the Oscar nominated Zootopia 2. She also talks to us about her creative side quests including co-producing an animated short and writing romance novels.

PSA: Production people are creative AF!

Plus, is this the year Alexis and Natalie attend the Annecy Animation Film Festival???

Check out Elise’s books here:

https://elisescanlan.com/books/

This week we’re sharing a mini coffee break episode to discuss our feelings on working while sick (Spoiler: just stay home)

Alexis and Natalie talk to Emily Wilson about her unconventional path to Pixar, the key soft skills in animation production management, and the very serious business of perfecting an alien drink in ELIO. Plus, Alexis reveals the extremely important job she was assigned while catering Pixar’s UP premiere.

Alexis and Natalie chat with Kevin Noel about his journey from production to creative exec, share what animation executives actually do day-to-day, and reveal the story behind Natalie’s “Taco Bell” nickname.

In this episode, our guest Steph Gortz breaks down the technical aspects of animation, and shares how she balanced working full-time on Disney’s Oscar Nominated ZOOTOPIA 2 as a production supervisor while producing a short film in her off hours.

For this snack break, we decided to take it to the rule-laden work kitchen.