Actual People

Hi there! I'm back. In this episode I sit down with Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer at Google and co-author of Your Brain on Art (written with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics @ Johns Hopkins). We talk about one of my new favorite topics, neuroaesthetics (the study of how art and sensory experience affect the brain and body) an...

And we're back with an episode about redemption, a first hand account of a Wall Street insider's journey through prison and reinvention with reflection on the times we are living in. In this first episode of 2026, we dive deep into the life of Richard Bronson, a former Wall Street player who worked at Stratton Oakmont—made famous by the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Richard's journ...

In light of the tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, host Chauncey Zalkin explores trusting your gut when it comes to mental health, safety, and faith in your faculties. Also examined is the impact of toxic narratives on the construction of identity and perception. Addresses mindfulness consciousness mental illness interalized narratives  Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey...

We’re burnt out on bettering ourselves and each other. From sleep scores to productivity hacks to scolding people, the pursuit of improvement has reached a breaking point. Host Chauncey Zalkin is joined by futurist and cultural cartographer Lynn Casey , who explains how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining “better" through spiritual practice, tangible connection,  do-it--with-me vs. DIY and mor...

Season 3 opens with host Chauncey Zalkin talking burnout, perfectionism in grad school, and finally giving her kids her last name. She then sits down with publishing veteran and writer Cindy DiTiberio ( The Mother Lode ) who talks reclaiming competence after divorce, the “math of motherhood,” the portal of 40, and what it's like to undergo MDMA therapy. Highlights: The cost of motherhood—mone...

Are we really getting work done, or just pretending en masse? We're working ourselves to death & getting little done. How do we fix it? Interview with former Washington Post reporter and director of Better Life Labs, Brigid Schulte. This episode dives into: Overwork Culture The Behavioral Psychology of Work The Importance of "Real Work" vs. "Stupid Work" Systemic Chall...

From developing custom tools to create over 200 VFX shots on his own award-winning indie to supervising globally at major studios like DreamWorks and Sony Animation where he is now, hear Chris Browne's story and spot on advice for creativity that won't quit. Learn more about Chris here: http://www.chrisbrownedigital.com/projects.html Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey...

Are women’s networks working? What’s right about them and what can be improved? And why can't we always connect the way we intend to? Host Chauncey Zalkin reflects on these questions before diving into a conversation with Lindsay Kaplan, co-founder of the best-in-class professional women’s network, Chief, who stepped down this year. Together, they explore identity, creativity, burnout, and ou...

Welcome to a conversation with a true pioneer in elevating the best design in the world. Piers Roberts offers profound reflections on the distance we've fallen from conscious consumerism and where to go from here with a strong emphasis on uplifting neurodivergent ways of thinking. For over 20 years, Piers has played a significant role in contributing to East London’s success as an inspiration...

Welcome to an imperfect episode about imperfect times. You can call it the 'Boys to Men Episode', 'The Man Show', 'How The Boys Will Thrive 2025', or 'The Bro Show'. It's a musing on boys and men from the perspective of a GenX woman raised in an all female household now raising only daughters herself.  In this monologue episode, among the bombardment of...

Chauncey Zalkin sits down with Dr. Jennie Byrne, a psychiatrist working with clinicians who sees a painful trend in healthcare but first Chauncey explores why she thinks the wound has spread to the entire nation and why it's time to exile virtue signaling and embrace anger signaling. Like immediately.  Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered...

An ad agency called Geezer is flipping the 50 plus narrative on its head to something more accurate. It's about time. Join us for a conversation with  Founder, Karen McKinley, CEO, Brent Rivard, and CCO, John Kieselhorst. More on Geezer can be found on their website . The report on 50+ population referenced in the episode can be found here: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies  Written, d...

Each creative discipline offers a piece of the puzzle of human creativity. In this episode, host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with three time "International Designer of the Year" award winner and Fast Company board member Todd Bracher to talk about how we can shift the emphasis from needless crap to creating a better future for everyone from an essentialist design perspective. Inside the ep...

In this episode Chauncey Zalkin sits down with guest and advocate for Black women in the workplace, Jessica Pharm, to take an unflinching look at the complexities of race, gender, and trust for liberal America as we face Trump's second term. Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Cons...

Life isn't fair. So what are you going to do about it? In this episode, Jill Brinsdon shares her journey as a creative director and prominent leader in New Zealand's advertising industry. She talks when to play the game and when to jump ship and the importance of personal agency in shaping your career and driving change. She also talks about the important role men have in shaping the fut...

Host Chauncey Zalkin defines Actual People for its second year but not before diving into the movies, tv, and music that held the keys to change in 2025. Despite a backdrop of sadness and uncertainty, we will start anew like we always do. Actual People is about TRANSITIONS, EVOLUTIONS, NEW CHAPTERS, from the personal to the global. Topics Include: Lingering Post-Election Sadness and a Newfound Opt...

This episode, Host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with friend and British Futurist Melissa Sterry who combines a passion for fashion and art with multiple degrees in sustainability, architecture and science. The two met through the A Small World network in the mid 00s while Chauncey lived in Paris and Melissa in the UK. A lot has changed since then. They discuss the modern paradox of homogeneity in a d...

From divergent thoughts, convergent thoughts, indecision loops, and 'a ha moments' to touring middle schools, this discussion starts off with soul searching and moves on to the soul freeing way a woman named Amy Reinert is able to embrace all phases of her life and connect with other women through pure honesty. Topics Discussed: Postpartum Depression Misogynistic Corporate Policies for M...

Psychoanalyst. Mother. Clogger. Playwright.. Meet my mom's college friend who never stops learning and growing: an interview with Tarpley Long and a road map for Gen X women who never cared much for the linear path. Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen....

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Fears of Totalitarianism, and Finding Paradise Spooky season is still not over: In this episode host Chauncey Zalkin covers Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Gorging on Political Wonkery, and Where Beauty and Meaning Really Come From. Topics Covered: Election Anxiety : Chauncey opens up about her deep concern over political divides and the potential fallout of the e...

A New Vibration - The Optimism and Renewed Passion of Creative Boom Founder Katy Cowan This is a special one. Katy was Chauncey's first pick for a guest episode when launching her podcast almost a year ago and finally it's here. In this episode of Actual People , host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with the ever-so-charming Katy Cowan, founder of UK-based Creative Boom , a global platform sup...

Host Chauncey Zalkin recounts a trip to the grocery store with her daughter reminiscing on Obama era ideals realizing, we've largely abandoned them.  Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen. Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to ple...

A conversation with Harris Poll Chief Strategy Officer, Libby Rodney. Could the future of AI monetize creativity rather than exploit it? Is there a future version of capitalism where we ditch artificial scarcity and all get a piece of the pie? Did Gen Z change the workplace dynamic forever?  And can businesses finally end their love affair with the short termism they've had since 2022? In epi...

On A Desire For More: The Summertime Sadness of the Single Mom + The Fire in the Pants That is Kamala's Art of War. In the season premiere, Chauncey Zalkin reflects on her solo summer trip to New Zealand while her kids were with their father. Navigating the emotions of sudden solitude, she finds herself reacquainting with her pre-motherhood identity amid stunning landscapes and cultural explo...

💃🏻 Welcome to the mega 'season finale' episode featuring three personal and honest conversations about what menopause, aging, strength, and vitality mean to women facing this new era.   Join us as we dive into discussions of the changing mindset and deeper understanding and acceptance of menopause, aging, beauty, and mortality. We also got jokes. This hour long episode features the opt...