Mia Wilson is a stand-up comedian based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Moving to NYC on Parade Day

(04:30) Graduate School and Starting a Band

(09:10) A Childhood in Dance and Music

(13:55) The Dave Matthews Band Epiphany

(17:30) Teaching Herself Guitar Over a Summer

(21:15) Struggles of Early Songwriting

(25:40) Playing Overseas and Building Chops

(30:05) Complex Musical Vision vs. Skill Gaps

(34:20) Early Success, Publicity, and Frustration

(38:10) Surviving on $36K in New York

(41:30) The Pandemic and Stepping Away from Music

(46:05) Taking a Stand-Up Comedy Class

(51:00) The First Time on Stage and Loving Comedy

(56:20) Touring as a Comic: City to City Lessons

(60:10) Adjusting Material for Different Audiences

(64:15) Building a Name and Learning to Say No

(67:45) The Shift in Defining Success

(70:20) Misery, Creativity, and Healthier Artistry

(73:30) Women in Comedy and Navigating the Scene

(75:10) Advice for New Comics: Create Your Own Path

Soraya Cruz is a model based in New York City and Amsterdam.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) An Unexpected Acting Workshop

(02:47) First Trip to New York

(05:18) Getting Scouted on the Street

(08:05) The Visa Challenge

(10:42) Leaving the Office Job

(13:21) Building a Portfolio in Cape Town

(16:08) The Energy of South Africa

(19:35) Returning to Europe and COVID Delays

(22:14) Adjusting to New York’s Modeling Scene

(26:02) Differences Between Markets

(30:18) Freedom, Adventure, and Growth

(35:07) The Business of Modeling Agencies

(39:14) TV Commercials and Lucrative Work

(42:55) Risks and Power Dynamics in the Industry

(46:40) Entering Modeling Later in Life

(49:02) Advice for Aspiring Models

(51:13) Building Structure Beyond Modeling

(53:45) Defining Success and Staying Grounded

Nira Burstein is a documentary filmmaker based in New York City.

Instagram and all episodes

(00:00) Growing Up in Queens

(02:41) Everyone Is an Artist

(05:13) Discovering Donnie Darko

(08:02) Choosing Filmmaking Over Stability

(10:49) Internships and Early Career

(13:27) Mining for a Story

(16:11) Portraying Her Parents

(18:46) The Emotional Heart of Filmmaking

(21:20) Building Charm Circle Over Six Years

(26:04) Festivals, Rejections, and Sheffield Premiere

(30:08) Reflections on European Audiences

(33:11) Passion, Purpose, and Healing

(36:23) Success, Struggles, and Staying Inspired

(38:17) Advice to Young Filmmakers

(40:25) The Power of Vulnerability