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Today on the podcast we're talking with Richard Abate, a literary manager who works with all different types of authors---people in the comedy space like Tina Fey, BJ Novak, Aziz Ansari, and Mindy Kaling Novelists such as Melissa De La Cruz, Lisi Harrison, and Amy Sohn, sports figures, chefs, self-help gurus, entrepreneurs, the list goes on. Richard is in the unique position of having experience as an academic, a publisher, an agent, and an author himself--so if you want to know about books he is THE GUY. Today, he divulges insight on how to negotiate, sell, collaborate and gives his predictions on the future of books. So LISTEN TO THIS NOW. 

Today on the podcast we have legendary author and subject of the new American Masters installment, Philip Roth. Get excited, because we discuss his childhood, his politics, his love life, and how the themes of Jewish identity, male virility and dreams manifest themselves in his literature and in the late 20th century in American. WARNING: CONTENT NSFW 

Today on the podcast we're talking with Elliott From, a painter performance artist and fouder of Art Beat Live. Listen to discover how Elliott's path lead him from a cushy job doing graphic design to creating one of the world's first Professional Wrestling Magazines (and meeting Hulk Hogan), to becoming a full-time painter only a few years ago. Elliott has performed for the Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs and Bulls and even left his mark in Mike Ditka's house. And he does it all for charity. Plus, find out how you too can become a professional artist! This episode is brought to you by "I've Been Doing This Wrong," the new memoir from Chevy Chase. Elliott's Website: www.artbeatlive.com

On today's podcast we're talking with Will Bressman, the 30 year-old CEO of his own financial services company. Sounds a ittle dry, BUT IT'S NOT! Listen to hear how he took over a legit company and convinced them to run it, how he went from working for Good Morning America to living in India, and why he was this close to having Carmelo Anthony as a babysitter. Today's episode is sponsored by Sir Winston Churchill's quips. Download this episode on iTunes!

Today's podcast is extra jam-packed! We talk with Alina Mankin, the writer's assistant for the new Fox show, "The Mindy Project." Listen in to hear what it's like working for the incomparable and hilarious Mindy Kaling (and learn how she approaches joke writing!), check out how working for Teach for American and a special needs child obsessed with Anne Frank and vampires gave Alina the courage to pursue writing, and learn how to break into the entertainment industry if you have virtually no connections and no prior experience!  Today's episode is sponsored by Infinite Jest: The Young Adult Edition Download this episode on iTunes!

Today on the podcast we're talking with Evan Schreiber, a 25 year-old lead news anchor for an NBC News affiliate in Eureka, CA. Listen to hear what it's like to interview Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' BROTHER, brace yourself for what happens when you make a gaffe on live TV, and learn some tricks of the trade that will put you on a fast track to being the next Ron Burgandy! Today's episode is sponsored by Egor's Bride Express. Download this episode on iTunes!

Today on the podcast we're talking with the freshest Rabbi on the east coast, Reb David Saiger. We discuss how a priest inspired his career track, how an improv class helped him get through rabbinical school, the struggles of balancing one's ego and desires with what the world requires, monks, spiritual exemplars, and much much more! Today's episode is brought to you by Adilah's NYC: Nails, Massages and Falafel Bar. Download this episode on iTunes!

Today on the podcast we're talking with social entrepreneur Jonathan Schilit, a great guy who started his career in Hollywood and is now creating an idea generating website that strives to make the world a better place. Take a listen to hear about what Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker smells like, learn about what it was like to produce an social action awards show on VH1, get a direct account of what it takes to build a sunglasses company from the ground up, and much more! Today's episode is sponsored by Willis Gan Zolo's Pokemon Day Care Center. You can also download this episode on iTunes!

Today on this Chicago-themed podcast, we're talking with expert blogger, journalist and author, Jimmy Greenfield. What he officially does is run the Chicago Now blogging network, a network of several hundred blogs operated by the Chicago Tribune Media Group. Listen to how Jimmy pissed off the GM of the White Sox, find out how much Lou Malnati's pizza Kobayashi can eat in 90 seconds, learn about how the Red Eye began, how to expand your blog's readership and much much more! Today's show is sponsored by the R.Patz United Rebound Fund. Download this episode on iTunes!

Our guest today is Jon Adam Ross, a Tisch grad freelance performing artist who travels around the world performing his one-man shows and helping communities create art. He also loves Camp Ramah! Listen to how he turned his camp into a drama conservatory, how this year's Tony Award winner for best actor gave him a big break, and why it was dangerous to give a whole bunch of money to a Mississippi redneck in the early 70s. Today's episode is sponsored by The Summer of Tommy Lee Jones.

Our guest today is Theodore Bressman, a screenwriter in Los Angeles who just got hired to write a movie for Ivan Reitman's (Ghostbusters, Stripes) production company. While working for Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Theodore worked on 50/50, The Green Hornet, Funny People and Goon. Listen to how Theodore navigated his way through the industry working at a talent agency, being a personal assistant, and all the while spending over 7,000 hours writing movies! 5 million* screenwriters work in Los Angeles, but Theodore is actually making a living doing it! Today's episode is sponsored by The Olympics! Use the above player to listen or you can directly download to your computer below (right click, Save Link as...) You can also check this episode out on iTunes!

Our guest today is Lindsey Arent Schank, a former news correspondent for Bloomberg News, Yahoo News and Tech TV. We'll discuss life in Medellin, Colombia in the early 90s, how to interview a CEO, which tech giant doesn't blink (hint: it's the founder of Craigslist) and much more! Today's episode is sponsored by Johnston and Johnston's Baby Shrooms. Use the above player to listen or you can directly download to your computer below (right click, Save Link as...) You can also check this episode out on iTunes!

It's Beatlemania! We're talking with Beatles tour guide, expert and superfan Jackie Spencer all about the Fab Four. We dive into their childhoods, the inspirations for their songs, what Pete Best is up to, who got Ringo high first, and much more! And we get it all first hand from a Liverpudlian so well-respected that she consulted on the Beatles LOVE show! This episode is brought to you by Johnston and Johnston's Baby Motorcycles. Use the above player to listen or you can directly download to your computer below (right click, Save Link as...) You can also check this episode out on iTunes!

It's the Cool Jobs debut! To kick it off we have a special hour-long interview with Dean Evans, artistic director of Chicago Physical Theater and Chi Town Clown, as well as an all around clowning virtuoso. We chronicle how Dean went from being a small town Ohio trickster to being a student of mime grandmaster Marcel Marceau and an award winning solo performing artist. We also dive into the world of professional clowning, why they wear those red noses, how Sacha Baron Cohen brought French clowning to the mainstream, what lurks behind the secret doors in Cirque De Soleil’s Montreal headquarters, and much more! This episode is brought to you by Johnston and Johnston's Baby Tanning Oil. Use the above player to listen or you can directly download to your computer below (right click, Save Link as...) You can also download this episode on iTunes!