Working

Learn how the sausage gets made with a butcher who combines traditional meat preparation with fine dining. Nathan Anda is a butcher and chef in Washington, D.C. whose company Red Apron produces artisanal meats for its stores and restaurants. Though Anda runs a complex large operation, he's still closely involved with the actual work of butchery. He talked to Slate's Jacob Brogan about how he sourc...

Chantal Tseng has been working as a bartender for 16 years, and has been designing her own cocktails for almost as long. She now operates out of the Reading Room at Petworth Citizen, a small, book-lined bar within a larger Washington, D.C. restaurant. Each week, she develops a new menu of drinks inspired by her recent reading, building experiences around the work of authors such as Graham Greene,...

Tom Noll trained as an artist, but he eventually translated his passion for plants and green living into a career as a landscape designer. Working mostly out of Washington, D.C.’s Bloomingdale neighborhood, he decorates the yards of the area’s many row homes, turning small plots into colorful expressions of their owners’ selves. In a  Slate Plus  extra, Noll told us about his two children’s books—...

Meet a fitness instructor who teaches people how to twerk. Working is brought to you by  Hiscox  Small Business Insurance. Hiscox offers a new way to buy small business insurance by tailoring coverage to fit your needs and allowing you to buy only what you need. Policies start from $22.50 per month. You can order online or over the phone from a licensed advisor in minutes. Go to Hiscox.com to lear...

Meet the rabbi and former hospital administrator who now run a pot dispensary. Working is brought to you by  Hiscox  Small Business Insurance. Hiscox offers a new way to buy small business insurance by tailoring coverage to fit your needs and allowing you to buy only what you need. Policies start from $22.50 per month. You can order online or over the phone from a licensed advisor in minutes. Go t...

In this episode of Working, Slate’s Rachel E. Gross talks to the owners of DC’s Hana Japanese market, married couple Ikuyo and Yoshio Tanabe. In a  Slate Plus  extra, Ikuyo Tanabe talks about what it’s like to run a travel agency out of the back of a supermarket. If you’re a member, enjoy bonus segments and interview transcripts from Working, plus other great podcast exclusives. Start your two-wee...

Teeny Lamothe is the owner of Teeny Pies, a handmade pie company in Washington, D.C. that sells pies at farmers’ markets, local coffee shops, and maybe even to your CSA. Working is brought to you by Hiscox Small Business Insurance. Get customized insurance for your business right now. Go to  Hiscox.com  to learn more and to get a free quote. Join  Slate Plus ! Members get bonus segments, exclusive...

In this episode of Working, Slate editorial assistant Rachel Gross talks to Rachel Pfeffer, whose signature honeycomb necklace has been spotted on Beyonceì, aka the Queen B. Working is brought to you by Hiscox Small Business Insurance. Get customized insurance for your business right now. Go to  Hiscox.com  to learn more and to get a free quote. Join  Slate Plus ! Members get bonus segments, exclu...

In this episode of Working, Slate editorial assistant Rachel Gross talks to Joel Finkelstein, professional coffee roaster and owner of Qualia Coffee in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Working is brought to you by Hiscox Small Business Insurance. Get customized insurance for your business right now. Go to Hiscox.com to learn more and to get a free quote. Join  Slate Plus ! Members get...

In the final episode for this season of Working, Slate’s L.V. Anderson talks with  Vanessa Pollock  a Realtor for Keller Williams Midtown Direct Realty in northern New Jersey. Vanessa discusses the drawbacks and benefits of real estate school, her friendly competitiveness with other agents in the area, and how she goes about getting top dollar on the sale of her client’s homes. Plus, Vanessa talks...

In this week’s episode of Working, Slate’s L.V. Anderson sits down for a glass of wine with Andrew Mulligan, a wine portfolio manager for  Skurnik Wines  in New York City. Andrew talks about the difficult aspects of his job, such as dealing with U.S. regulations, and the happier parts of his job, such as traveling and testing dozens of different wines across Spain. Plus, Andrew explains his wine s...

This week on Working, Slate’s L.V. Anderson talks to  Santana Benitez , a freelance chef in New York City. Santana talks about building a pop up kitchen for a private event, how she prepares to cook for a party, and the different cultures she draws upon for her recipes. Plus, our freelance chef shares her thoughts on culinary school and the proper way to slice an onion. Find photos of her work by...

In this week’s episode of Working, Slate’s L.V. Anderson talks to Victoria Wells, an animal behavior specialist for the  ASPCA  in Manhattan. Victoria explains the strategies she uses to help dogs overcome behavioral problems stemming from years of abuse and what happens when a dog is incapable of being trained. Plus, Victoria talks about the stigma surrounding pit bulls and how her job has change...

Slate’s L.V. Anderson interviews Kevin Fanning, VP of Talent & Culture at Cogo Labs, a startup incubator in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the author of the job search guide, Let's All Find Awesome Jobs. Kevin talks about the difference between recruiting and HR, why he believes people have trouble dealing with problems in the workplace, and the process of firing people. In a Slate Plus extra,...

In the Season 5 premiere of Working, Slate’s L.V. Anderson interviews James Donofrio, a funeral director at Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home. James explains the effects of always being on the clock, how he prepares for an overseas funeral, and why a funeral director needs to know about every religion. In a Slate Plus extra, Donofrio talks about a call he received to disinter 50 bodies and where he ge...

On the last episode for this season of Working, WNYC’s Arun Venugopal talks to Elizabeth Clemants, a New York City mediator and shaman. Elizabeth talks about the psychology of conflict resolution, how she integrates her work as a shaman with mediation, and the role empathy plays in her work. Plus, Elizabeth talks about the difficulties associated with coming to a solution in the “Me” generation. I...

Bernie Telsey has been casting hit musicals, films, and TV shows for over 20 years. In this week’s episode of Working, Bernie talks about what he’s looking for in an audition, how diversity has changed on the stage and screen during his time in the business, and how finding talent isn’t necessarily the hardest part of the job. In a Slate Plus extra, Bernie and Arun talk about casting Ricki and the...

In New York City’s Lower East Side there’s a dungeon with whips, swords, and a slave in chains where Conrad, a male dominatrix, carries out his work at his client’s request. On Working this week, Conrad talks to Arun Venugopal about the impact the Rent Boys bust had on his profession, one of the best places to meet clientele, and some of his safety concerns in the industry. Plus, Conrad talks abou...

WNYC’s Arun Venugopal talks to Dr. Bradley Adams, a forensic anthropologist for the city of New York. Dr. Adams talks about the impact 9/11 had on forensic anthropology in the city, the different types of cases he investigates, and how there are no typical days in his line of work. Plus, Dr. Adams tells the story of an unidentified female body in Brooklyn and how he helped uncover a murder in the...

The host of WNYC’s Micropolis series, Arun Venugopal, interviews Eric Aleman, a barber at King of Kings Barber Shop in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Eric talks about how hairstyles have changed in his years as a barber and how gentrification is changing the conversation in his shop. Also, Eric discusses his role as a therapist for some clients and why they trust him with their secrets and sharp objects. ...

In the Season 4 premiere of Working, the host of WNYC’s Micropolis series, Arun Venugopal, interviews Elena Waldman, a self-defense instructor at MKD Karate in Queens, NY. Elena explains how she came to be a martial artist, demonstrates to our host how to escape from a violent sexual perpetrator, and talks about a personal attack that has informed the way she teaches her students. In a Slate Plus...

On this episode of Working, the last of Slate’s third season, host Aisha Harris talks to Jordan Pavlin, a book editor at Knopf, about how she identifies future bestsellers, works with talented but sometimes temperamental authors, and how she fights for her book within the publishing house. In a Slate Plus extra, Pavlin explains how she answers the most common question she’s asked: Will you read my...

Aisha Harris talks to "Jake," a veteran manager for a fast-fashion retail chain in New York. He talks about the challenges of his job including interacting with young staff, angry customers, and shoplifters. Plus, Jake reveals how he uses what he's learned behind the counter when shopping for himself. In a Slate Plus extra, find out if a store’s sales staff will really be honest with you when you...

John Donvan has made a career out of staying calm – and staying on topic. A veteran ABC News correspondent, he’s now the moderator of Intelligence Squared Debates, a series of Oxford-style debates on the most controversial issues of the day. In this week’s episode of Working, Donvan explains how a successful debate requires a good question and a moderator who knows when to interrupt. In a Slate Pl...

Aleksey Kernes is the guy to know if you’re trying to skip the line outside a hot New York City club. The front of house manager at Hotel Chantelle, a nightclub on New York’s Lower East Side, talks nightlife, table service, and how being a doorman is a lot like being a lifeguard. (He also, of course, has his own app, Hooch, a subscription service for free cocktails at select venues.)In a Slate Plu...