In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about a personal search for meaning. A former government employee, April Lee speaks with us about how she left her job to explore creative crafts, reconnect with herself, and gain the confidence to build her own data visualization consultancy.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Everything is Figureoutable, Marie Forleo
• Self-Compassion, Kristin Neff
• The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown
• Setting Boundaries Will Set You Free, Nancy Agmon-Levin
• Awakening Intuition, Mona Lisa Schultz
• You are a Bad-Ass, Jennifer Sincero
• You are a Bad-Ass at Making Money, Jennifer Sincero
• Living in the Light, Shakti Gawain

You can learn more about our guest at:

leeaprstudios.com

New Year’s is a great time to consider a new hobby! We start the year off with professional musician, composer, and instrument maker John C.L. Jansen. We hear about the craft of building unusual instruments like daxophones and custom guitars, and how Jansen incorporates his built instruments into his music compositions. Jansen is also a classical guitarist and university music educator based in Washington, D.C.

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Resources in the episode:

• “Journey through the Dark Forest” by John C.L. Jansen
• “Fields of Jade” by John C.L. Jansen
• “A Very Brief Fable” by John C.L. Jansen
• Musical Instrument Design by Bart Hopkin

You can learn more about our guest at:

http://jljinstruments.com/

IG: @jcljansen

This week’s interview is for those who prefer to go big or go home. We talk with hobbyist chef Masid Cader about his experience fast-tracking his interest in gourmet cooking, including training with a Michelin-starred restaurant during the weekends, all while working full-time in investment banking.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• International Culinary Institute, New York City
• “Thomas Keller Teaches Cooking Techniques” on Masterclass
• Daniel Humm, owner and chef of 21 Madison Park
• The Food Lab, by J. Kenji López-Alt
• L’Artusi restaurant, NYC

You can learn more about our guest at:

IG @masidcader

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we interview Maryam Jillani about her journey as a food journalist and her experience writing the groundbreaking cookbook PAKISTAN. In our conversation, we learn about how Maryam’s background in public policy, education, and international development gave her a unique perspective on food writing while bringing her cookbook project to life.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• PAKISTAN by Maryam Jillani, published by Hardie Grant
• Pakistan Eats food blog (www.pakistaneats.com/)

You can learn more about our guest at:

https://www.maryamjillani.com/

IG: @maryamxjillani

This week, we talk with marine biologist and medical technician Nova Hanson about her love for birding and photography, and how she keeps her hobby fun and meaningful.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• The National Audubon Society
• “American Robin” (National Park Service)
• eBird, Merlin, and Avibase
• Black Birders Week
• American Birding Association
• Birds Canada

You can learn more about our guest at:

IG @novarrh

In this week’s episode, we get a look behind the showroom curtain in our interview with Tommy Zoppa, better known as the drag queen Tammy Kay Queen. In our interview, we hear about how Tommy took a break from working in international aid and tech to create the popular and hilarious "Monologues" drag show at the Trade Bar in DC.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Trade DC (1410 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• “The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia” monologue from Designing Women (1986)
• “The Defense is Wrong” monologue from My Cousin Vinny (1992)
• “Cerulean Top” monologue from The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1996)
• Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• Let the Record Show by Sara Schulman

You can learn more about our guest at:

IG @TammyKayQueen

This week, we interview Jenny Nam, a data analyst and hobbyist potter in Philadelphia, about her basement home studio and her mother’s 10-year rule when trying out new things.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
• Small Favors show at the Clay Studio, Philadelphia
• The Ceramic Shop, Norristown, Philadelphia
• Bird Seed Florals, Philadelphia

You can learn more about our guest at:

https://www.sjnampottery.com

@sjnampottery (Instagram)

This week, we continue learning about gardens and major career pivots with Sharad Wertheimer, a former labor organizer and current medical student in Washington, D.C. In our conversation, Sharad talks about discovering his passion for urban agriculture…and how 10,000 worms helped him find his purpose.

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Farmacology, Daphne Miller
• Sharad’s syllabus on Intro to Vermiculture

You can learn more about our guest at:

GroW for Health at George Washington School of Medicine