Employee Of The Month

Josh Gondelman is a writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO and has contributed to Billy Eichner’s show Billy on the Street, The New Yorker, and McSweeney’s. His second stand up special Physical Whisper is currently out and he made his stand up debut on Conan. After writing and doing stand up in small rooms in Boston, he became best known for Tweeting under the name @Seinfeld Today, aka Modern Seinfeld, with a friend Jack Moore. We spoke one-on-one about the disgusting bathrooms in comedy rooms to Gondelman’s sunny disposition and how performing in New York is simply the most challenging and cathartic. @joshgondelman and @catielazarus

How do we nurture our art when we’ve got bills to pay and neurosis to slay? I spoke with singer, songwriter and composer Arthur Lewis about potential, success, baggage, inherited dreams, talent, and his career in music. Arthur Lewis is one of New York’s finest original musicians, which is why famed poet Sarah Kay and Pulitzer, Grammy, Tony, and MacArthur “Genius” winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton Fame, are fans. The two were two of the founding members of FreeStyle Love Supreme. Originally from Queens, Arthur Lewis went on to study at Yale, and then returned to New York, where he has spent over a decade playing piano, guitar, percussion, as well as composing, singing, directing, and engineering for fellow musicians, comedians, and theatrical performances. A musician’s musician, Lewis became a go-to player in musical collectives, including the Melting Pot Crew, This Is Not the Radio, and Freestyle Love Supreme, a hip hop improv group. Freestyle Love Supreme was also a foray into comedy and the...

Justin Vivian Bond is a Tony nominated, Obie, GLAAD and Essie winning cabaret star and trans-genre artist. Vocal about being transgender, Justin uses V as a preferred prefix. The first time Bond took the stage was as a wee babe in a Christmas show at V.'s family’s local Church of the Brethren in sleepy Hagerstown, Maryland, but the rest of the word would have to wait decades before hearing from the sumptuous voice and acerbic wit which made Bond a legend. After high school and a stint as a counselor at church camp, Bond knocked around New York and studied theater, but didn’t find a niche until moving to San Francisco in 1989. Out West, Bond took a day job at A Different Light bookstore and performed in plays, most notably in Hidden A: Gender by Kate Bornstein, the renowned performance artist and gender theorist. Like Bornstein, Bond spoke shattered simplistic theories, like the idea that everyone who transgender feels trapped in the wrong body. Justin also met the musician Kenny Mellman, and the duo...

David Simon revolutionized television when he created THE WIRE. A veteran crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon offered audiences a rare and searing portrait of the underground drug market, while simultaneously transforming how television series are devised. Each season focused on the inner workings of the various players, be it the politicians or police or education system. Throughout the five seasons, Simon deftly revealed the interplay between government, police enforcement, addicts, dealers, politicians, prisons, media, press, religious institutions, lobbyists, public school system, gangs, business, entrepreneurs, race, class, and technology. In addition to using a cadre of fine actors, including Omar Epps, Michael B. Jordan and Idris Elba, he also offered cameos and sometimes ongoing roles to real people, be it a Health Commissioner, journalist, or former convict. The result was a gripping drama, that mesmerized everyone from President Barack Obama to drug dealers to the media. They not only...

Growing up, I binge watched ANNIE HALL, and ate up the fraternal, Statler and Waldorf like chiding between Alvy Singer, played by Woody Allen, and Rob, played by Tony Roberts. So when Tony Robert’s publicist asked if I’d interview the two time Tony nominated actor as he was promoting his new memoir “DO YOU KNOW ME?” I, of course, said yes. You may recognize Tony Roberts from STARDUST MEMORIES, PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, or SERPICO, with Al Pacino. In addition to being in tons of films, Tony Roberts did a ton of theater, including PLAY IT AGAIN SAM and DOW JONES, and had an enviable voice acting career. He spoke about how it’s impossible to break in if you’re not already famous, being swindled by managers, befriending a shy Woody Allen, and teaming up with Patty Lupone on comedian Brett Gelman’s Sundance film, which you can see on Adult Swim. Our interview was recorded live at the Writers Guild (WGA-East).

Emel Mathlouthi is a brilliant singer and songwriter with an intoxicating, ethereal voice, who became an international sensation as her music inspired fellow Tunisians fighting for their freedom during the Arab Spring. Tunisian govern banned her music from the country’s radio as her lyrics criticized the regime of then-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. So in 2008, she fled for Paris and continued to sing defiant songs and post them on social media. A video of her singing her song Kelmti Horra (my word is free) in front of 10,000 Parisians went viral. She lived between France and Tunisia, and in 2012, returned to Tunis and sang "Kelmti Horra," and, a couple hours later it was (former) President Ben Ali who would flee the country. Her album also titled Kelmti Horra made its debut in 2012 and received critical acclaim. She has performed all over the world, including a solo performance at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. She made her Joe’s Pub debut on Employee of the Month Show and it was spectacular to...

Despite getting rejected from Yale grad school, Golden Globe nominee Greta Gerwig has never wanted for work. As an actor and writer, Gerwig frequently collaborates with her boyfriend and filmmaker Noah Baumbach, and become known doing films with Joe Swanberg. This summer she will make her directorial debut and talks about the joy of having Scott Rudin as a producer. On Employee of the Month Show, Greta Gerwig tells Catie Lazarus what she really thinks of Yale rejecting her, tax breaks in California versus New York for filming, and loving her own work. You can hear Employee of the Month podcast on SoundCloud or iTunes. Each week there are new interviews. To see it live, follow @catielazarus and go to www.employeeofthemonthshow.com. Connect with EOTM: Website: http://employeeofthemonthshow.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EOTMS Twitter: http://twitter.com/CatieLazarus iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/e... Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/employeeofthem... Youtube:...

MICHAEL McKEAN may be best known as Lenny, Squiggy's best friend, played by David Lander, on the beloved sitcom LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, but he has acted in over 225 roles and, once you hear our interview, you’ll know why everyone from Christopher Guest to Vince Gilligan clamors to work with him. Most actors get so good and comfortable at reprising their shtick or are pushed to do so by agents and network executives, but McKean shrewdly and bravely keeps expanding his repertoire. He said no to Saturday Night Live when the timing wasn’t right. He also takes risks, which is no easy feat when your paycheck rests on you delivering. It could be nerve wracking to build on brilliant performances, from THIS IS SPINAL TAP to the X-FILES, but McKean clearly enjoys the thrill of trying to do so. He makes it seem effortless. Today, you can catch him on the cult favorite AMC’s BETTER CALL SAUL, where he quietly steals scenes. A consummate actor, audiences may not even know they’re watching this chameleon, as McKean truly...

Ambition is a trait most politicians share, regardless of what they aspire to do with it. Luckily, Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, a consummate politician, also possesses a moral compass. While at Harvard Law, the Irish born, American raised scholar decided her academic research on America’s role in genocide, from the Holocaust to Armenian genocide to Darfur, merited a book. In 2002, she published A PROBLEM FROM HELL, which promptly became a Pulitzer Prize Winner and caught the attention of human rights advocates to politicians, including a then young Senator, named Barack Obama. The two policy wonks formed a friendship. Soon after, Power went from working outside of the belly of the beast to becoming a key member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. Today, she holds three jobs. She is part of President Obama’s staff and, eventually, Ambassador to the UN and part of the UN Security Council. In our conversation, which was recorded live, Power deftly reveals the vision, discretion, and drive to...

Before fans and critics knew Sharon Van Etten’s wry, whip-smart lyrics and enchanting harmonies, the singer/songwriter worked the fryer at McDonalds. Despite constant promotions, she moved on. She baked donuts at a donut shop, worked at wine stores, built Subway sandwiches, and revealed in our interview that Chipotle isn’t the only bad apple. As she started considering making a go of singing and songwriting, she connected with Kyp Malone, of TV on the Radio. Malone helped her make music her main gig. He wasn’t alone in recognizing her innate talent. Etten found a following fast. She started touring non-stop and churned out exquisite albums, including Because I Was in Love (2009), epic (2010), Tramp (2012), Are We There (2014), and her latest EP is I Don’t Want To Let You Down (2015). Even as she is now beloved internationally, Etten hasn’t lost her voice, physically or metaphorically, thoughtful gaze, or sly humor. In our Employee of the Month interview, which was recorded live at Joe’s Pub, she sang...

Sarah Silverman is one of the funniest humans I know. Lauded, if not, encouraged by her dad to curse as a baby, Silverman honed her mischievous antics the minute she started speaking. She was born to two natural performers, although they lived in New Hampshire, a far shlep from Hollywood. Her dad ran a clothing store and did all of his own commercials in his thick Boston accent, while her mom, who was far more sophisticated in her diction, did the voice-overs for the local movie theater in New Hampshire and was actively involved in local theater. Perhaps it’s no surprise that their daughters would all cultivate their own points of view and trajectories. Sarah’s sister Susan became a respected rabbi and social activist, Laura is a well known actor and Jodyne writes. Sarah, who also writes, sings, and acts, started out in stand up when she was a teenager and never looked back. Thanks to Jimmy Kimmel, Silverman’s former beau, you can hear Sarah’s first recorded singing performance on a regional New England...

There are musicians who say they can play any genre, melody, tune, with or without reading sheet music, and then there are a handful of the real deal. Enter Binky Griptite, one of the most versatile, graceful, and finest guitarists out there. He can play it all. Funk and soul are the Brooklynite’s bread and butter. You don’t have to take it from me. Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones knew how brilliant Binky is and seized on his talent. Griptite doesn’t care if most people don’t know who this sly, sexy, and deft player is supporting these iconic talents. Like most exceptional talents, Bikny lets his music speak for itself. A musician’s musician, Griptite is best known for being both the lovable emcee and bold guitarist for the world’s most popular and critically acclaimed neo-soul bands today- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Griptite has also played alongside everyone from Lee Fields to the late great Amy Winehouse. In 2007, Binky accompanied Winehouse on her US tour and in session when she recorded her...

After writing dialogue for a teen comedy as a teletype operator at Columbia Pictures, Kramer, who was barely into his twenties, lapped up the chance to adapt D.H. Lawrence’s revered novel Women in Love. Leave it to Larry to not only score an Oscar nomination, but manage to get the first nude sex scene in theaters in England, a couple years after sodomy was even considered legal in the United Kingdom. You know that phrase "Full Frontal Nudity?" In our interview, you'll hear where it comes from. You also hear Larry chide me. “You missed the climax!” “It’s not the first time,” I lamented. He laughed. Kramer still hasn’t lost his wry wit, which may be his signature weapon in surviving, what he aptly also named, a modern day plague. We spoke about AIDs and his career on Employee of the Month’s live January 2016 taping at Joe’s Pub. Without Larry Kramer, there would be no drugs for HIV and AIDs. He agitated and started a movement which so many brilliant people joined and nurtured, many of whom could negotiate...

With a wry smile, shrewd reporting, and exquisite detail, Ada Calhoun distills America’s signature triumphs in music, theater, commerce, activism, politics, and its transgressions-- including drug abuse, prostitution and, yes, slavery, in her latest book St. Marks is Dead. She chronicles the history of three short blocks in New York from when the land was grassy and feral to now, where you can count the number of trees on two hands. It is still feral and Calhoun revels in the beauty and ugliness which emerges as a result. Her affection for St. Marks in the East Village is palpable, as it was the very block she grew up on, but it is her affecting prose which paints a gripping portrait. Even those who loathe New York or history books or are sick of hearing about how hip and edgy the punk era or sexual revolution won’t want to put down this book. In our interview, which was recorded live at the Writers Guild (WGA-East) in downtown New York, we spoke about her near two decades as a writer. Prolific, if not...

Jason Biggs got his first headshot at age five. Twenty years later, he went onto became world famous for his role in the hilarious comedy American Pie. He went onto star on Broadway, get a recurring role in the hit dramedy Orange is the New Black, and currently co-hosts a radio show with his wife Jenny on Sirius XM. Like many actors, Biggs did theater and, yes, got fired off his first sitcom, only he was still in middle school. The sitcom Drexel's Class was cancelled after one season, so, as Biggs says, he, "Didn't feel alone." He then had a stint on the soap opera As The World Turns. His character was written off the show, which is par for the course in Hollywood, but rejection is even more excruciating when you're just a teenager. Luckily, Biggs received an Emmy nod for his role, which is as sweet as revenge gets in the entertainment world. We spoke about his early career, sharing a room with his mom, stage moms, and his affection for Eugene Levy, who Biggs refers to as a "second dad." Biggs, who is...

It shouldn’t be entirely surprising that Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator at MoMA for Architecture and Design, was into punk rock in her twenties. She says the scene wasn’t hard core in Italy. She dipped her toes, without becoming subsumed by the genre, which is in part, what she does daily, as she travels the world over to assess the multiple ways, designers, architects, inventors, technologists, entrepreneurs, and multi-disciplinary hyphenates are impacting culture. We spoke about the creativity required in her job. A curator must deftly serve as a bridge between those who fund resources and the artists themselves. Am I allowed to call designers artists, when so many strive to create commercial enterprises? In our interview, which was recorded live at Joe’s Pub, we touch on how Antonelli decides which products MOMA highlights and why. You’ll learn in our interview how much her integrity, unique artistic sensibility, whimsy, discipline, and experience matter. It’s why Antonelli is less concerned with...

After completing shooting his first starring role for HBO’s upcoming 10-episode series VINYL, BOBBY CANNAVALE sat down with Catie Lazarus at a live taping of Employee of the Month at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. We spoke about the “ease” one feels when doing what your meant to do, whether it’s social work, which is what his mom does, or acting, which Bobby says, “Is all he ever wanted to do.” He says his son Jake has inherited Bobby’s “ease” and we spoke about their acting together in NURSE JACKIE. Bobby describes theater, film, television, as “make believe,” and is often puzzled when people confuse actors with their characters. In our interview, you’ll hear how his sense of humor is palpable. He’s certainly done his share of lighter fare, like Annie, Antman, Will & Grace, and Sex-and-the-City. But he’s is so good at slipping into gritty, knotty roles that its easy to see why audiences assume Bobby possesses the depth of his more volatile, barbed characters, be it on television in shows like...

As 2015 draws to a close, as soon as I started to feel stressed about getting the right gifts, never mind affording them, hoping to see friends and family, dealing with fraught relationships, and my unmet hopes and dreams. To accept what is and the messiness of life, I found solace in listening to meditation teacher Tara Brach's podcast, often on the subway. Luckily, I got to speak to the person who had offered me the space to sit with all of the above and more. I met with Tara Brach at the Unitarian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, where she gives weekly dharma talks. We spoke about how to be mindfully angry; the dilemma of compartmentalizing and success; cultural differences in how we give; and how she navigates trauma and pain, both her own and others. It's a great listen for anyone interested in what it is like to care for an about others, as a living. Nurses, doctors, activists, social workers, therapists, teachers, nannies, pastors, rabbis, monks, and so many who don't have an official title devote...

Tony Award winning actor Billy Crudup spoke to Catie Lazarus about portraying a polarizing character, lawyer Eric MacLeish in the phenomenal film Spotlight, which chronicles The Boston Globe's Spotlight Investigative Team as they reveal the Catholic Church's systemic cover up of sexual abuse. Eric MacLeish is alive and does not like how he is depicted, although he supports the film. Eric MacLeish's real life saga, which The Boston Globe is also chronicling, could be its own Lifetime Movie. Crudup spoke about the larger mission of the film, which is, by all accounts, accurate and honest, and his own goal as an actor. Alongside Crudup, Spotlight stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci as it depicts how the Boston Globe earned a duly deserved Pulitzer Prize for its investigation and, more importantly, revealed a city wide crisis of abuse, which the Catholic Church covered up for decades. We are all guilty, meaning there was more everyone...

DAVID CROSS on Tats, Hitler, Heroine, and the late Beastie Boy's Adam Yauch by Catie Lazarus