My Dilettante Life

Imagine that someone comes up to you at a party and asks the usual small talk question "What do you do for a living?" If you're today's guest, Shayne Bushfield, the answer is something along the lines of "I created and run an online competitive trivia league with tens of thousands of members." Definitely not your typical job, but thanks to Shayne, the members of Learned League can test their knowledge of trivial things and compete head to head against other knowledgeable folks across a wide variety of topics. Just don't ask him for an invite to the exclusive club!

Cirque du Soleil - the name conjures up images of fantastically dressed acrobats flying through the air, twisting themselves into unfathomable shapes, and creating a unique mix of art, performance, music, and clowning that takes you out of your everyday life. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Katy Holtkamp, a singer with Cirque du Soleil, who performs as part of the show Kooza. She gives us a peek behind the curtain of one of the world's most glamorous theatrical acts.

Despite what you may have been led to believe, it turns out that clergy are just like us! Or at least today's guest, Rabbi Moshe Smolkin, doesn't put his pants on with the help of any angels. His approach to the work of a rabbi fosters understanding and community while diving deep into the questions raised throughout Jewish history that continue to spark discussions and debates in the context of modern life. In one breath Moshe references Thích Nhất Hạnh and in the next he talks about texting his congregants in order to meet them where they're at, especially with the distance created during the pandemic. Regardless of your religion, I hope you enjoy the season opener of My Dilettante Life.

Growing up in the American West, I romanticized the open road as a kid and the idea of being the lone hero behind the wheel of a big rig. In today's episode, I'm talking with truck driver Mike Nattress about his decades-long career behind the wheel of various large vehicles. Most important takeaway? We all need to get off our phones while we're driving! Second most important? Bruno the dog might be the world's best copilot.

Today I'm talking with Lindsay Harrison about her career as an international diplomat! While you may not see her speaking from a podium at the G7 summit, her work as an American Foreign Service Officer supports Americans living and traveling abroad, as well as advancing American interests overseas. Moving countries every 2-3 years isn't for the faint of heart, but Lindsay's ability to support individuals and families during difficult moments provides a gratification that makes everything worthwhile. Check out her story and maybe think about applying to join the Foreign Service yourself. I know I am!

Though movie stars may get tons of recognition, everyone knows that the true power in filmmaking sits in the director's chair. Today, I'm talking with film director Chris Lang about his work in films and how he's made his way up the ladder through various departments to develop his own vision and bring that vision to life directing his own movies. While Alfred Hitchcock may have been a notorious jerk behind the camera, Chris shares that for most folks, it's best to be brilliant AND kind to everyone working on your movie. One tip: don't watch movies with a director unless you want to hear about every technique and flaw. (This is the third of three episodes featuring guests named Chris.)

Confession: my mom and I have talked for years about hosting a mother-daughter classical radio show, so I was VERY excited to interview this week's guest, classical music radio show host Chris Morrison! Chris takes us on a journey of his experiences in radio broadcast journalism, music appreciation, and other tidbits, such as getting approached by fans while running errands because they recognize his voice. (This is the second of three episodes featuring guests named Chris.)

"If it's speaking to you listen. If it's singing to you, buy it." So says Chris Cummings, today's guest and a professional art dealer about our reactions to art pieces. Art can be an intimidating field to enter as a newbie - as an artist, consumer, you name it. But talking with Chris helps to ease that anxiety with his reassurance that art can be for everybody. In his decade plus working with artists and galleries, he has seen it all. From his surprising favorite celebrity client to his realization that rich and famous folks really are just like us, Chris shares his experiences and philosophy in a delightful conversation. (This is the first of three episodes featuring guests named Chris.)

You know those talented multilingual people who effortlessly switch back and forth between languages, helping us understand what other people are saying in real time? Whether doing American Sign Language interpretation for Megan Thee Stallion at a concert, helping doctors and patients communicate, or working at the UN, interpreters facilitate conversations and understanding in so many ways. Today I'm talking with Jessica Escobar about her job as a court interpreter who works with Spanish and English speakers. We geek out about learning new words and talk about how formal interpretation differs from just asking your bilingual friend to translate.

Farming is so central to the dominant American story - the intrepid homesteader conquering the Great Plains and sewing and harvesting those majestic waves of amber grain. People living in overpriced cities nowadays like to dream about "getting back to the land," living an idealized version of Little House on the Prairie, but what is it actually like to farm for a living? In the first episode of Season 2, I'm talking with Ashley Wilson, co-founder of Frisky Girl Farms in North Bend, Washington about the bane of her existence - squash rash. I find out that I'm not the only one who's had difficulty with those beautiful divas known as dahlias, and we discuss whether tractors are as awesome as they seem (they are!).

Today's episode features a conversation with Leigh Schanfein, a professional freelance ballet dancer and biomechanics scientist. Her career has included dancing for Hannibal Burress, teaching ballet in Montana, and conducting research at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU. Whether changing costumes in a park or being a role model for her fellow tall ballerinas, Leigh approaches her career with an adventurous spirit and shares some of her insights with us. This seventh episode brings Season 1 to a close, but don't worry! My Dilettante Life will be back with more interesting guests and unusual jobs in Season 2, starting next month.

If you, like me, are a fan of exciting experiences in new places, then you'll really enjoy today's conversation with Kirsten Gardner, an expert in high-end travel. Her insight takes us around the world and shows us how some luxury travel organizations are incorporating sustainability and inclusivity into their business. Don't let the name throw you off, "luxury" travel isn't just for millionaires and Kirsten gives some key examples of how having someone like her in your corner can uncover amazing opportunities AND rescue you when things go awry.

This week's interview is with Jackie Hueftle, a professional rock climbing route setter - that person who decides where to put those brightly colored rock "holds" that you see on a climbing gym wall. In addition to her trailblazing work making rock climbing more inclusive and diversifying route setting itself, she also co-owns a small business that makes the actual rock holds themselves. We talk about the ins and outs of working in rock climbing - a field that is exploding in popularity and recently debuted at the Summer Olympics - and what it's like to shape the profession of route setting as it develops, alongside the demands of running a small business during a global pandemic.

Today's episode features a conversation with Megan Johnston, erstwhile independent consultant. We discuss how she got into consulting, what it means to be an expert, and why we never see James Bond filling out expense reports. Plus, the surprising lack of jet-setting and the constant variety involved in a lot of consulting work.

In the third episode, I get to chat with not one, but two architects about their work. Emili McMakin of Form & Function Architecture and Karen Lange of Waterleaf Architecture share their experiences, including the constant need to design bathrooms and the difficulty of letting go of a building they've created. We discuss the crucial questions: What is it like to be a woman in architecture? What's so fascinating about ceilings? Do all architects wear glasses and carry blueprints around (the answer is yes)? Featuring an unexpected appearance by an adorable pup named Freya.

Hi listeners, here is a small excerpt from my conversation with last week's guest Dan that wasn't included in the original episode. I found this part particularly interesting, though, and thought it deserved some attention. I hope you find it thought provoking - if so, please feel free to share those thoughts via Facebook, Instagram, or the podcast website at https://hanabinder.com/my-dilettante-life/

Today I'm talking with Dan Nebel, a professional French horn and organ player. While the COVID pandemic has had an enormous impact on live performances, some aspects of being a professional musician are as inspiring and frustrating as ever. What does it mean to go into classical music performance without a backup plan? 

Welcome to My Dilettante Life, a podcast featuring interviews with people working in interesting fields, talking about their experiences. My first interview is with artist Julia Vogl, who shares her philosophy behind creating social art that's meant for everyone, as well as her personal journey toward being a professional artist that doesn't fit within the stereotypical portrayal. Her advice for aspiring artists? Don't wait for someone to give you permission or space for a show, go out and make it happen yourself!

Welcome to My Dilettante Life, a new podcast from lifelong dabbler Hana Binder, where each episode features an interview with different people who work in interesting or unusual fields giving us a peek at their experiences. What do you want to be when you grow up?