Employee Of The Month

Michael Gottwald, an Oscar nominated producer on such films as BEASTS of the SOUTHERN WILD and the upcoming PING PONG SUMMER, joined for a live taping of Employee of the Month. Funny, passionate, and unpretentious, Michael distills the myths of what it takes to raise money, stump for political campaigns, and discover the youngest Oscar nominated actress in Oscar history, Ms. Quevenzhane Wallis.

NEAL MEDLYN is a performance artist which means he sings, dances, tells jokes, does improv, sketch, storytelling and stand up. Sometimes he even wears clothes. He is mischievously funny, smart, and embodies his characters in a way which makes it difficult for those he's impersonating to look in the mirror. After Medlyn's shows, Beyonce, Lionel Richie and Prince have had to ask themselves, "Am I really that pale?" www.nealmedlyn.com EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers and anyone working at a towing company are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

MIKE WHITE is an ingenious writer who also acts and directs. His films include Chuck and Book, Year of the Dog, and School of Rock with Jack Black. He also created Enlightened, the critically acclaimed series which just wrapped on HBO. While White is primarily a writer, he has appeared in Zombieland, Star Maps, Pushing Daisies, Undeclared, and Enlightened. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I, Catie Lazarus, wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers are ineligible. For more info or to donate please go to: www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

ANDREA SYRTASH is an expert on dating, romance and love. I can safely say I am not. I am also skeptical about people who describe themselves as expert. We spoke about the ethics of being an expert, therapist, brand ambassadors, and product placement. http://www.andreasyrtash.com EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about the best jobs ever. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

GINA GERSHON is an actress, singer and writer. We spoke about her acting career, the pain of writing and expertise at procrastinating, as well as her delightful memoir In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind. To find out more about Gina, please visit www.ginagershon.com but only after you listen to our conversation. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about the best jobs ever. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

NEAL MEDLYN is downtown theater darling. His performance work is often built around music, some of it good, most of it pop. If you didn't see him in THE NEAL MEDLYN EXPERIENCE LIVE! a re-enactment of Beyonce's 2007 concert DVD OR Neal Medlyn, the Paris Hilton of Performance Art OR Neal Medlyn's Lionel Richie Opera; you can still catch him as Champagne Jerry. Mr. Medlyn was also named Mr. Lower East Side. www.nealmedlyn.com EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers and anyone working at a towing company are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

SAMANTHA HAHN is an illustrator who designs everything from wallpaper to stationary to portraits to paintings to pillows. You may recognize her light, airy, feminine designs of J.Crew models in New York Magazine or the pamphlet describing make up application stuffed in your (or my) overpriced lipstick. Her latest book is WELL READ WOMEN. http://samanthahahn.com EMPLOYEE of the MONTH is a talk show all about dreamy careers. The EmployeeS of the Month may inspire to to finish your novel, start a fashion line and/or self-medicate. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

W. Kamau Bell is quietly revolutionizing TV and I hope his show TOTALLY BIASED on FX continues to thrive. Bell's understanding of social stratification isn't (more) nuanced than your typical policy wonk or doctoral student. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. Listening to these interviews may inspire you to finish that novel, quit your day job, and/or self-medicate. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

DAVID CARR who may be best known for his reporting on media for The New York Times should be recognized for reinventing D.C.'s Washington City Paper. His signature mischievous wit, accessible voice, and sound reporting has made him a star reporter. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. Listening to these interviews may inspire you to finish that novel, quit your day job, and/or self-medicate. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

Adam Rapp is critically acclaimed playwright, novelist, and, now, actor. He will make his Broadway debut in Cliff Odets The Big Knife at The Roundabout Theater in the spring of 2013. Rapp's plays include Through the Yellow Hour, Hallway Trilogy, The Metal Children, Nocturne, and Red Light Winter. He has also novels like Punkzilla, 33 Snowfish and The Buffallo Tree. On occasion, he writes for TV, on shows like In Treatment and the L Word, and directs his own feature films, such as Winter Passing and Blackbird. While Adam has won an Obie award and been nominated for Drama Desk, Lucile Lortel and the Pulitzer Prize, winning the Employee of the Month Award may be his greatest achievement today. EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. Listening to these interviews may inspire you to finish that novel, quit your day job, and/or self-medicate. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

PAUL DINELLO and AMY SEDARIS stopped by Employee of the Month's live show at UCB. I hope to have them back on because this interview is brief and nutty, but wanted to share it nonetheless for die hard fans. PAUL DINELLO is an actor, writer, director and performer. He is an alumnus of Second City in Chicago. Since then he continues to collaborate with Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert. Together, they spawned Strangers with Candy, which Dinello later directed the film version, as well as Wigfield and Exit 57. Most recently, Dinello has been a writer and producer on The Colbert Report, where he also makes appearances as Tad, the building manager, and Stephen's Gay Accountability Partner. We spoke a little about his career in comedy.

We promise to share with you a clip from David Wain's film ONCE it is ready but, for now, you can get to know David Wain a little bet better. He is the director and co-writer of Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, Role Models, Wanderlust and coming this year, They Came Together, starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. He also serves as executive producer, writer, director and occasional guest star of Childrens Hospital. He also co-created and co-starred in The State on MTV and Stella on Comedy Central. His newest series Newsreaders is premiering on Adult Swim this season. www.davidwain.com CATIE LAZARUS is a writer and host of THE EMPLOYEE of the MONTH SHOW, and you can follow her on Twitter @catielazarus and www.employeeofthemonthshow.com.

RACHEL MADDOW the host of the Emmy award winning political talk show THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW on MSNBC. She is also author of the Grammy nominated, critically acclaimed book DRIFT about the US's national security. She is also, as policy wonk's go, a rockstar. CATIE LAZARUS is a writer and host of THE EMPLOYEE of the MONTH SHOW and you can follow Lazarus on Twitter @catielazarus and www.employeeofthemonthshow.com.

HARI KUNZRU is a critically acclaimed prolific novelist and journalist. GODS WITHOUT MEN is his most recent novel, but you can also check out his other books, including TRANSMISSION, MY REVOLUTIONS and THE IMPRESSIONIST. To learn more about Hari, visit his website www.harikunzru.com and his Twitter @harikunzru, which he updates every 37th minute. Luckily for us, his posts are, like his literature, compelling, thoughtful, and fun. CATIE LAZARUS is a writer and host of THE EMPLOYEE of the MONTH SHOW, a critically acclaimed and objectively fun talk show about jobs, work and labor. Please subscribe on iTunes and SoundCloud or come to a live taping at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York or Los Angeles or follow Lazarus on Twitter @catielazarus and www.employeeofthemonthshow.com.

Gloria Steinem is a writer and activist. She has written 8 books and speaks all over the globe on human rights, including sex and race caste systems, child abuse, non-violent conflict resolution, sexism, feminism, and community organization. She lives in New York and, when we spoke, she was working on Road to the Heart: America As if Everyone Mattered, a book about her more than thirty years on the road as a feminist organizer. You'll also hear how funny she is and, if you can't see it, she just know she can tap dance with the best of them. This is a rare, candid interview with the effervescent, brilliant and bold visionary in human rights. www.gloriasteinem.com EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most...

LAUREN IUNGERICH is the creator of MTV's critically acclaimed and Teen Choice Award winning series AWKWARD and HOT MESS as well as the web series MY TWO FANS. She has written for television shows, like TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, and developed and written films, such as DUMB GIRLS. We talk about Iungerich managed to break into the biz and makes accessible, acclaimed work without selling her soul.

CHRIS HENCHY is a co-founder of Gary Sanchez Productions and the interweb sensation Funny or Die. He is also the co-executive producer of HBO's critically acclaimed series Entourage, Funny or Die Presents, and Eastbound & Down. In addition to producing, he is also a scribe for the screens. He created TV shows like Battery Park and I'm With Her, which is loosely inspired by his marriage to super model Brooke Shields. Henchy has written for numerous television shows and films, including The Campaign, The Other Guys, and Land of the Lost. Most importantly, he is tall. EMPLOYEE of the MONTH's host CATIE LAZARUS is not tall. She is short and broke, but much more inspired to write and make stuff after speaking with Henchy. You probably will be as well. I would say your welcome, but you were really just thanking Chris. I get it.

Gregory García created the critically acclaimed Fox series RAISING HOPE, the Emmy Award-winning NBC series MY NAME IS EARL, and CBS's long-running YES DEAR. Before becoming a major show runner, he also worked on Family Matters and Family Guy. If you ever want to break into creating shows for network television, Garcia has set the bar. So if you can top him, MAZEL TOV. Seriously, he is a mensch. It's not a prerequisite for the job, but probably a perk for those who work with him. (I was not paid for this endorsement. I will accept cash though, if you are paying.)

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com AJ Jacobs is an Editor at Esquire and has written numerous critically acclaimed books which are objectively, honestly, and consistently delightful. Check out Drop Dead Healthy or The Year of Living Biblically or The Know It All or The Guinea Pig Diaries as well as his other books, articles, and press about him at http://www.ajjacobs.com

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH (EOTM) is a talk show about work, jobs and labor. I wanted to hear from folks with some of the best jobs in the world. It’s why I interview (and award) these special snowflakes. That said, even if you love your job, you may not be eligible for the prestigious EMPLOYEE of the MONTH award. For example, dictators, most politicians, and parking ticket officers are ineligible. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com CARMEN RUBIN is a wonderful children's book author, singer, and publisher. Her books are unique in infusing interactive play and educating children about the world. You can find out more about Carmen Rubin's work at www.carmenrubin.com