Employee Of The Month

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow revolutionized developmental psychology when he came up with the notion, Hierarchy of Needs. It was a simple theory, but not simplistic. Maslow broke down how humans must first fulfill basic physiological needs, like hunger, before progressing towards safety, and eventually self-actualization. Seth Godin shares Maslow's gift for breaking down human psychology, only his focus is on business. Godin is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author whose best selling books include Linchpins, Tribes, and Permission Marketing. I am paraphrasing, but Godin encourages people to: - Figure out if you're a freelance or an entrepreneur - Make things that matter - Make those things (and services) truly remarkable - Find your tribe - Share your product in ways that are relevant and honest. - Go make something happen His writing manages to simultaneously captivate successful entrepreneurs and aspiring ones, but doesn't offer proscriptive advice, like 10 Easy Steps to Make Gazillions. In...

One of Nellie McKay's many gifts is that her subtle, smart writing is on par with her supple range as a singer and a musician. The result is that she can go high and low, be it in what she sings and how she does so. Just out of school, McKay quickly earned a cult following with her 1st album Get Away From Me. Since then, she dropped four more delightful albums in the span of just six years. She also appeared on Broadway in Three Penny Opera and wrote scores for film and television. McKay has also used her fame to raise awareness about her pet causes, such as animal rights. Her political passion is as fierce as her talent, and it's why she delivers so much good, on stage and off.

After a stint in interior decorating, Daryl Roth decided to change her career and, in doing so, changed theater. Roth became a theater producer when she was 40 years young and quickly became known as a tour-de-force in the theater world. What sets Roth apart is an unusual gift for picking original, riveting and meaningful productions that are ultimately accessible to audiences of all shapes, colors and sizes. As a producer, she does everything from securing financing to reading scripts, casting, and adapting plays to film and vice versa. Her bread and butter are smart, thoughtful and imaginative stories, typically about identity and the frailty of human relationships, like, amongst others, The Normal Heart, Wit, Kinky Boots, Proof, Our Lady of 121st Street, War Horse, August: Osage County, Anna in the Tropics, and Clyborne Park. Producing is a family affair. Her son Jordan Roth is a stellar producer in his own right. While not involved in theater, her husband Steven Roth is a real estate tycoon behind...

A music composer, Jad Abumrad began freelancing in radio when film scoring wasn't scoring high on either the personal fulfillment or financial fronts. NY's flagship public radio station WNYC saw Jad's potential and enabled him to spend a couple years quietly building a radio show to pose philosophical questions about science and its practical applications (and impractical ones). Robert Krulwich came on as a co-host. NPR entered into a joint partnership. With the resources and time, these great minds could create a show that garnered duly deserved praise, like a Peabody Award and MacArthur Genius grant, and a rabid fan base. Today, RadioLab has over 1.8 Million Listeners. In the wonky, truly nerdy radio world, Jad is rockstar. Our interview was taped live at Joe's Pub. If you enjoyed it, please come to the next live taping Wednesday March 5th at 9:30 pm at Joe's Pub. I will also post, for a LIMITED TIME, a glimpse into Jad's editorial process on www.lazarusrising.com.

Only a playwright would think stand up is a stable career choice. In Lewis Black's case stand up is what pays the bills. Most folks recognize Lewis from The Daily Show's Back in Black segments. When The Daily Show began in 1996, they hired Lewis and he's been there since. The regular TV exposure put him on the map. And when the Hollywood called, he was more than ready. Since 2000, Black has recorded over 10 specials, written 3 best selling books and won two Grammy Awards. Oh, and he still writes plays. Somehow Lew has remained utterly down to earth, even as he become a duly deserved star. Catie Lazarus hosts Employee of the Month, a talk show about dreamy jobs, well, it's really about the dream boats who have these jobs. If you enjoyed our interview, the next live taping is at 9:30 pm, Wednesday, March 5th at Joe's Pub. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com @catielazarus

The most famous drummers are known, at least to lay people, for their personas and off stage antics as much as their instrumentation, take Keith Moon, John Bonham or Animal (The Muppet). Whereas drummer Homer Steinweiss is best known for his technical precision and soulful beats. Whether in the studio with Mark Ronson or the late great Amy Winehouse or on stage with Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Homer delivers old school funk and soul with a minimalist flair. He also produces, composes, and writes music. We discuss what life on the road is really like; his uniquely artistic family; collaborating and negotiating various personalities; cover art; addiction; and what it actually means to be a music producer. He's also a remarkable chef and artist. Homer's raw talent, vision, and soulful approach is emblematic of the very bands he plays with, like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band. They are part of the Daptone Records family. In addition to being fierce...

Piper Kerman's memoir Orange is the New Black inspired the Netflix series of the same name. Her best selling book chronicles her time doing time, and sheds light how the prison system fails to provide rehabilitation to inmates who can and want to do better. It's her first book and its popularity led her to a dream job, consulting on the critically acclaimed television series. She also speaks around the country on prison reform. www.piperkerman.com This episode of Employee of the Month was taped live. Our next live taping is at 9:30 pm, March 5th, 2014 at Joe's Pub. www.joespub.com

In this episode, JON RONSON, author of The Psychopath Test, Frankie, and Men Who Stare at Goats, talks about the corrosive effects of diagnosing strangers. We spoke about how reality TV shows, filmmakers and journalists can often oversimplify their subjects and and almost fetishize extreme qualities. Ronson reveals how much he worships celebrities and hangs out on George Clooney's fan sites. Our interview was taped live at UCB, so you'll hear Ronson reference Piper Kerman, who also received her Employee of the Month Award at this live taping. Our conversation should give you a taste of what a thoughtful author he is and I encourage you to check out his work here: www.jonronson.com.

KATHLEEN HANNA is a bad ass. As one of the very first women in the punk scene, Hanna led the way and inspired musicians, from Carrie Brownstein to Kurt Cobain. Proudly a feminist, Hanna quickly won a loyal fan base starting when she was the lead singer of Bikini Kill. Smart, fun, and a formidable presence, Hanna has reinvented herself through out her career and currently performs with The Julie Ruin. Hanna is the subject of the documentary The Punk Singer, which is currently out in theaters. I hope that every school ensures kids watch the documentary Punk Singer as it reveals how the Riot Grrrl Movement greatly influenced Third Wave Feminism and for the first time in history (pun intended) gave a voice to the legal, psychological and social ramifications of sexual violence and sexual harassment. The film also reveals what it takes to be a rock star. http://www.thepunksinger.com Our interview was taped live at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. The next live taping of Employee of the Month is March 14th...

Emmy winning writer for The Daily Show and host of the podcast The Writer's Bloc, JR HAVLAN reveals what it really takes to make a career as a comedy writer. You'll hear the real story of how The Daily Show switched hands from Kilborn to Stewart; what a warm-up comic stomachs; just how different it is to write for Bill Maher and Jon Stewart; how to survive pilot season; and the joy of taking your dog to work. If you want to write for TV, this interview will make you funny! It won't, but it will offer insight. In addition to writing for the Emmy Awards, Bill Maher, and doing stand up, Havlan has written for The Daily Show for seventeen years. Today, TV writing is considered a viable, lucrative, and glamorous profession and there are college professors to failed writers to pet psychics offering tips and tricks on how to hone the craft. But most late night comedy writers found their own voice on stage before considering writing in someone else's. It's not that classes aren't constructive, but stand up...

MEMO RE: Employee of the Month To Whom It May Concern: Employee of the Month is a talk show, where I ask people about their work. It's where we spend the majority of our time, so why not hear from folks who love what they do? I'm not saying they love doing their taxes or every job they take on or the time they got fired, or the other time they got fired. What's important is how they dealt with these inevitable obstacles, stayed on task, found their North star, or discovered it was actually in the Southern hemisphere. Do they meditate with their eyes closed or open? I still don't know. Do they enjoy their duly deserved success? I hope so and if being awarded an Employee of the Month doesn't spell success, what else can. (Now is not the time to bring up true love, Pulitzers, and 401K plans, ingrates!) For this episode of Employee of the Month, I interviewed a journalist, actor, memoirist, and a punk rocker. They all possess talent, discipline, a keen desire to have a positive impact on society, and...

If you ever want a liberal arts education or wish you could go back to school, BrainPickings provides everything you need, without student loans. I sat down with Maria Popova, who is the creator (and Editor-in-Chief) of BrainPickings.org, and has also contributed to The Atlantic, Wired UK, The New York Times, as well as an MIT Futures of Entertainment Fellow. BrainPickings is a resource for great minds about great minds. If you're interested in creativity, psychology, literature, language, science, design, and philosophy, Popova looks at leaders in these fields, both trusted and emerging. The Library of Congress is archiving her treasure chest, but why wait to get a Library Card? Check out our interview and her delightful site. www.brainpickings.org If you like our conversation, please leave a review on iTunes. You can subscribe to Employee of the Month Show's podcast through iTunes or Stitcher. Just go to www.employeeofthemonthshow.com. Gracias. Merci. Danke.

ELLIOTT KALAN is the Head Writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central and recipient of multiple Emmy Awards. We spoke right before he started as Head Writer and, moreover, became a dad for the first time. He also co-hosts the podcast The Flophouse and, in his spare time, just kidding, he no longer has spare time. We spoke at The Writers Guild of America-East, which is our union, albeit non-conjugal. To subscribe to the podcast, go to www.employeeofthemonthshow.com or come to a live taping! The next one is Wednesday, January 8th at Joe's Pub.

TWO GREAT LIVE TAPINGS OVER THE HOLIDAYS! Start 2014 off right or correct! Employee of the Month is making its DEBUT at the phenomenal Joe’s Pub! 7 pm, Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 @ Joe’s Pub 425 Lafayette Street, NY, NY 10003 www.joespub.com Catie Lazarus honors & interviews January’s EmployeeS of the Month: JAD ABUMRAD, Host (NPR’s RADIOLAB) DARYL ROTH, Producer (Proof, August: Osage County, Kinky Boots, Annie, & Wit) LEWIS BLACK, The Daily Show And a surprise guest PLUS COMEDY MUSIC FROM THE BAND BEYONDO, SHOCKWAVE & MORE….. _________________________________________________________________________ 8 pm, Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 Employee of the Month BEST OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY! Upright Citizens Brigade Theater 307 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001 TICKETS: www.ucbtheater.com CATIE LAZARUS honors & interviews Decembers EmployeeS of the Month: Tony nominated actress, MARIA DIZZIA (LOUIE & ORANGE is the NEW BLACK) Author & prison reform activist PIPER KERMAN (ORANGE is the New...

Anthony De Rosa, aka Tumblr's King, aka Twitter's Stallion, helped transform how we consume news. He broke in by writing his own stories and deftly covering news stories on his Tumblr Blog, SoupSoup, and Twitter, @antderosa. His rapid coverage helped set a standard for how reporters provide news updates, corrections, and fact check in a 24/7 news cycle online. De Rosa showed newspapers and television cable channels, which hesitate(d) to switch over to digital platforms, how to do so. They then flocked to him to serve as their social media editor, consultant, ambassador, attache and hunk. All the while, other distinguished reporters, from David Carr to Josh Greenman, and fans, including Anthony Bourdain and David Karp, sang (and sing) his praises. De Rosa scored some plumb jobs, like Social Media Editor at Reuters and now Editor-in-Chief at Circa, but its these institutions who are lucky to have scooped up this muckraker. If you wish to follow one of Anthony's followers, I'm @catielazarus and COME to a...

As the music industry struggles to find its footing, singer/songwriter Diane Birch gracefully manages to music she can feel proud of and earn a living. Her debut album BIBLE BELT led to appearances on every major late night comedy show, from Jimmy Kimmel Live! to The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Her song Valentino appeared in the Blockbuster Valentine's Day and she toured as an opening act for Nick Jonas, of the boy band The Jonas Brothers. The popularity of her first album secured her entree into the music industry, and the quality of her lyrics and vocal range gave her street cred with music legends like Steve Wonder, who had her open for her, as well as Prince, and Daryl Oates. Homer Steinweiss, the drummer for Sharon Jones and the DapKings and a music producer, took note and collaborated with Birch on her second album, SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER. Birch took greater risks with her second album and it paid off with critical acclaim from The New York Times and Boston...

TV Creator AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO transformed television’s images of girls by creating “imperfectly perfect” female characters in her beloved TV series GILMORE GIRLS. In depicting independent, flawed, funny women, who weren't self-hating, Sherman-Palladino paved the way for show runners like Lena Dunham, Michael Patrick King, Amy Poehler, Jill Solloway, Jenji Kohan, Mindy Kaling and Tina Fey. Even her teenage characters in her more recent series BUNHEADS carry on apt, insightful, and honest conversations that do not revolve around boys. Mind you, the females like males, lust for them, and love them as friends, boyfriends, and equals, but they are as resolute about their passion for ballet. They also pass the Bechdel Test! As female show runners have proved themselves to critics and viewers, they are still not enough authentic portraits of women of color in central roles as well. Sure savvy TV creators, like Sherman-Palladino, Lena Dunham and Lorne Michaels can’t fix Hollywood; but maybe they were called...

CHRIS GETHARD is such a delight that it's hard to simply describe him by his job title, comedian. Gethard does improv, stand up, acts, teaches at UCB, authored a memoir A BAD IDEA I'm ABOUT TO DO, which IFC optioned, and hosts the critically acclaimed, beloved talk show THE CHRIS GETHARD SHOW, which Comedy Central just green lit for a pilot! Any channel is lucky to have him and the fantabulous talk show. In our conversation, we spoke about how the love of performing is the only reason to do it; inevitably of rejection in show biz; dreamy day job; and, of course, STD's. I also showed a huge lit up banner ad above Pintchik's, a local hardware store, that is exciting to those of us who live in Park Slope and Prospect Heights, and probably no one else. That said, you are welcome to email me, if you'd like to see the picture. Either way, hope you enjoying hearing our conversation. Our next live show is December 18th at UCB and January 8th at Joe's Pub.

With the exception of Stephen Moyer, Alan Ball never let another actor direct an episode of TRUE BLOOD, his critically acclaimed series nearing its seventh (and last) season on HBO. Once you hear Stephen Moyer in our interview, you'll know why the brilliant Ball, who also created SIX FEET UNDER and penned AMERICAN BEAUTY, chose the British actor turned director. Moyer is the quintessential director's actor. His humility and humor makes him a joy to be around and his talent enables Moyer to morph into whatever the part requires. Take the harrowing and true story of the Warsaw Ghetto resistors, Moyer played Kazik, a man who is very much alive, in the film adaptation UPRISING, with the necessary subtle dignity. He recently forayed (back) onto stage and played showman Bill Flynn in a short run of the musical Chicago in Los Angeles. These days, he is currently rehearsing for NBC's live televised version of the Sound of Music. When not appearing in front of the camera, Moyer is executive producing FREE RIDE...

If you only check Jezebel once a day, you are disciplined. Writer ANNA HOLMES created the addictive website, which covers the cultural zeitgeist and considers females multi-dimensional human beings. Jezebel stood out from its get go because it never coddled women or described feminism in safe, lily white, well pink, branding jargon. Holmes created the site for women and men, so it wasn't above skewering women or men who belittle women. She recently published The Book of Jezebel, a fun, clever companion book to site that fits on any coffee table. It makes a perfect Channukah, Kwanza, Christmas, bat mitzvah, sweet sixteen or grad gift, although you should include a card. Personally, I never like to give gifts without a card. www.jezebel.com We spoke about how it became nearly impossible to make a living as freelancer; her dream internship at Entertainment Weekly; differences between being an editor and writer; job burnout; and how your voice changes depending on the outlet. We did not discuss how boys...