Actual People

The Anatomy of Collaboration: Insights from a Writer's Room Veteran. Meet Oscar-nominated writer and director, Rob Pearlstein, known for his work in both advertising and television, MacGyver, Scorpion, Someone Marry Barry, and more. Join Rob and Chauncey as they delve into the dynamics of collaboration exploring the intense, intricate world of writers' rooms and creative agencies.
The episode offers a deep dive into how creative professionals navigate the pressures and politics of collaborative environments to produce magic. Whether you're an artist, a corporate executive, a CIA operative, or a junk bond salesman (okay maybe not that), this episode is for you.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
1. The Essence of Collaboration: Rob discusses the necessity of collaboration in writers' rooms and compares it to his experiences in advertising. He shares practical tips on how writers and creatives can enhance their collaborative skills.
2. Navigating Difficult Conversations: Rob and Chauncey touch on sensitive topics like racism and sexism in creative spaces.
3. Survival Tips for Creative Fields: From "digging shallow holes" to understanding when to push an idea and when to step back, the conversation offers a roadmap for thriving in competitive creative environments.
4. The Impact of AI on Creativity: The discussion explores how artificial intelligence is influencing creative processes and the potential implications for creative jobs.
5. Rob's Personal Journey: From starting in advertising to breaking into Hollywood, Rob shares his personal and professional journey, including the challenges and breakthroughs that have marked his career.
Why You Should Listen:
- For Creatives : Gain insights into the skills and attitudes that help you succeed in high-pressure creative settings.
- For Aspiring Industry Professionals: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how TV shows and advertising campaigns come together from concept to execution.
- For Fans of Creating Better Processes Everywhere: Get 6 concrete tips for smoother collaboration.

Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen.
Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to pledge subscription. (;
Want to see the episode? Subscribe to the Actual People YouTube Channel.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and behind the scenes.
We want to hear from YOU so if you want to be a guest, have a pithy but kind retort, or for business inquiries, drop me a line.
Actual People, a Podcast
www.chaunceyzalkin.com

A New Vibration - The Optimism and Renewed Passion of Creative Boom Founder Katy Cowan
This is a special one. Katy was Chauncey's first pick for a guest episode when launching her podcast almost a year ago and finally it's here.
In this episode of Actual People, host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with the ever-so-charming Katy Cowan, founder of UK-based Creative Boom, a global platform supporting creatives across industries for the past 15 years.
The episode is packed with practical advice for creatives navigating the rapidly changing landscape of self promotion - including a kind of simplicity we often overlook. She also talks about the aftermath of an injury and how she came out the other end with a renewed passion and willingness to get comfortable with discomfort in order to grow.
Take a listen!

Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen.
Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to pledge subscription. (;
Want to see the episode? Subscribe to the Actual People YouTube Channel.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and behind the scenes.
We want to hear from YOU so if you want to be a guest, have a pithy but kind retort, or for business inquiries, drop me a line.
Actual People, a Podcast
www.chaunceyzalkin.com

Welcome to a conversation with a true pioneer in elevating the best design in the world. Piers Roberts offers profound reflections on the distance we've fallen from conscious consumerism and where to go from here with a strong emphasis on uplifting neurodivergent ways of thinking.

For over 20 years, Piers has played a significant role in contributing to East London’s success as an inspirational beacon of creativity and innovation. He launched Designersblock in September 1998 at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, 5 years ahead of the London Design Festival. He went on to develop and produce major Creative Festivals in London, Milan and Tokyo covering design, architecture and illustration. Over 19 years the pioneering and much imitated event showcased over 4000 creatives from 38 countries in 65 events across ten countries.

Piers has written, curated and produced critically acclaimed conferences in Creativity and Entrepreneurship for Southbank Centre, the Oxo Tower and Europe House.

This interview is one of the nearest and dearest to my heart so far in my time hosting this beautiful podcast. It's a true gem and I'm immensely honored to be able to share it.

Here's what you'll hear (and more:)

• How DesignersBlock ignited a new wave of UK design by repurposing empty buildings for creative shows
• Why neurodivergence is often a hidden driver of visionary creativity—and how it’s misunderstood in traditional systems
• The origin of the term "creative entrepreneur" and how it emerged from economic scarcity and DIY culture
• What it was like to be on the outside of the mainstream design world looking out, not trying to fit in.
• How pioneers often get dismissed in their time, even as their ideas are widely adopted later.
• The emotional toll of being a creative who is early, original—and overlooked
• How burnout, wintering, and wellbeing are essential chapters in a creative life
• The dangers of reducing creativity to metrics, and the value of nonlinear thinking in solving complex global problems.
• and a lot, lot more

References:

Ron Arad, Jasper Morrison, Marc Newson, Ross Lovegrove, Simon Pengelly, Jan Van Der Lande, Hella Jongerius, Richard Hutten, Ineke Hans, Casper Vissers (Moooi), Sheridan Coakley (SCP), Konstantin Grcic, Matthew Hilton, Andrew Purves, Terrance Conran, William Morris, Judy Singer, Catherine May, Joanne Limburg, Martin Evans, and more.

Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen.
Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to pledge subscription. (;
Want to see the episode? Subscribe to the Actual People YouTube Channel.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and behind the scenes.
We want to hear from YOU so if you want to be a guest, have a pithy but kind retort, or for business inquiries, drop me a line.
Actual People, a Podcast
www.chaunceyzalkin.com

Welcome to an imperfect episode about imperfect times. You can call it the 'Boys to Men Episode', 'The Man Show', 'How The Boys Will Thrive 2025', or 'The Bro Show'. It's a musing on boys and men from the perspective of a GenX woman raised in an all female household now raising only daughters herself.

In this monologue episode, among the bombardment of terror from the White House and in the wake of Andrew Tate's release and the release of Adolescence on Netflix, host Chauncey Zalkin explores her own arc in experiences of boys and men through her GenX life, which looks a lot like the stages of grief.

But there is hope.

Further Reading, Viewing:

• American Women Are Giving Up on Marriage, WSJ
• Battle for the Bros, New Yorker
• Adolescence, Netflix
• The Adolescent Style in American Politics, Atlantic
• The Cruel Kids Table, New York Magazine
• The New Marriage of Unequals, Atlantic
• Why American Women are Staying Single, Swearing Off Marriage, Dating, Business Week

Take a listen, Share Your Experiences.

Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen.
Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to pledge subscription. (;
Want to see the episode? Subscribe to the Actual People YouTube Channel.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and behind the scenes.
We want to hear from YOU so if you want to be a guest, have a pithy but kind retort, or for business inquiries, drop me a line.
Actual People, a Podcast
www.chaunceyzalkin.com

Host Chauncey Zalkin defines Actual People for its second year but not before diving into the movies, tv, and music that held the keys to change in 2025. Despite a backdrop of sadness and uncertainty, we will start anew like we always do.
Actual People is about TRANSITIONS, EVOLUTIONS, NEW CHAPTERS, from the personal to the global.
Topics Include:

• Lingering Post-Election Sadness and a Newfound Optimism 👁️
• Beyond Polarization to a 'Middle Way' 🙏🏼
• Impact of Short-Form Content 😶‍🌫️
• Welcome Generation Beta ! 🐣
• Significance of Wicked, Emelia Perez, Blink Twice, Ronny Chieng, Jamie Foxx, Ellen DeGeneres, Lola Young, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and a lot more.

Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design Consulting by Paper + Screen.
Want to go deeper? Follow my Substack and don't forget to pledge subscription. (;
Want to see the episode? Subscribe to the Actual People YouTube Channel.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and behind the scenes.
We want to hear from YOU so if you want to be a guest, have a pithy but kind retort, or for business inquiries, drop me a line.
Actual People, a Podcast
www.chaunceyzalkin.com