Apr 7, 202640 minS3
Hi there! I'm back. In this episode I sit down with Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer at Google and co-author of Your Brain on Art (written with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director International Arts + Mind Lab Center for...
society
Actual People
Hosted by Chauncey Zalkin · society · EN-US
About this Podcast:
Welcome to Actual People, an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change. I open up about my own experiences in order to dive into social and cultural phenomena, positive developments, and collective pain. We look at survival, endurance, strength, triumph and despair while imagining a future with creative joy and hope. Each episode is dedicated to meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of our lives and the power of our own creativity and imagination to make magic. ***** Disclaimer: I’m a mental health counselor-in-training sharing personal perspectives on culture and mental health. Client confidentiality is fundamental to my work. This podcast and writing aren’t therapy or clinical advice. All views expressed are my own.
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
30%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
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What is Actual People about?
Welcome to Actual People, an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change. I open up about my own experiences in order to dive into social and cultural phenomena, positive developments, and collective pain. We look at survival, endurance, strength, triumph and despair while imagining a future with creative joy and hope.
Who hosts Actual People?
Actual People is hosted by Chauncey Zalkin. The show has published 42 episodes to date.
What has Actual People covered recently?
Recent episodes include "S3E5 - Art Required: Feeling, Creativity, and the Brain" (7 April 2026, 40 minutes), "S3E4 - No Glitter in the Sh**t: A story of rewiring your life and finding redemption" (13 January 2026, 37 minutes), and "S3E3 - How to Trust Your Gut" (17 December 2025, 12 minutes).
How often does Actual People publish?
Actual People publishes roughly monthly, with episodes averaging 41 minutes across 42 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on Actual People?
Booking probability for Actual People is 30%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Actual People requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Actual People's contact route on record: verified email.
About the host
Chauncey Zalkin hosts Actual People, a society podcast with 42 episodes published.
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Recent episodes
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Jan 13, 202637 minS3And we're back with an episode about redemption, a first hand account of a Wall Street insider's journey through prison and reinvention with reflection on the times we are living in. In this first episode of 2026, we...
Episode #3
S3E3 - How to Trust Your Gut
Dec 17, 202512 minS3In light of the tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, host Chauncey Zalkin explores trusting your gut when it comes to mental health, safety, and faith in your faculties. Also examined is the impact of toxic...
Oct 8, 202547 minS3We’re burnt out on bettering ourselves and each other. From sleep scores to productivity hacks to scolding people, the pursuit of improvement has reached a breaking point. Host Chauncey Zalkin is joined by futurist and...
Episode #1
S3E1 - The Mother’s Name
Sep 11, 202551 minS3Season 3 opens with host Chauncey Zalkin talking burnout, perfectionism in grad school, and finally giving her kids her last name. She then sits down with publishing veteran and writer Cindy DiTiberio ( The Mother Lode...
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Episode #19
S2E19 - An End to Stupid Work
Jul 2, 202526 minS2Are we really getting work done, or just pretending en masse? We're working ourselves to death & getting little done. How do we fix it? Interview with former Washington Post reporter and director of Better Life Labs...
Episode #18
S2E18 - Running VFX at a Major Studio and the Future of Visual Storytelling
May 29, 202545 minS2From developing custom tools to create over 200 VFX shots on his own award-winning indie to supervising globally at major studios like DreamWorks and Sony Animation where he is now, hear Chris Browne's story and spot on...
May 16, 202539 minS2Are women’s networks working? What’s right about them and what can be improved? And why can't we always connect the way we intend to? Host Chauncey Zalkin reflects on these questions before diving into a conversation...
Apr 23, 20251h 18mS2Welcome 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...
Episode #15
S2E15 - Bro Show: The Question of Men
Apr 3, 202523 minS2Welcome 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...
Mar 6, 202559 minS2Chauncey Zalkin sits down with Dr. Jennie Byrne, a psychiatrist working with clinicians who sees a painful trend in healthcare but first Chauncey explores why she thinks the wound has spread to the entire nation and why...
Feb 19, 202551 minS2An ad agency called Geezer is flipping the 50 plus narrative on its head to something more accurate. It's about time. Join us for a conversation with Founder, Karen McKinley, CEO, Brent Rivard, and CCO, John...
Feb 11, 202545 minS2Each creative discipline offers a piece of the puzzle of human creativity. In this episode, host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with three time "International Designer of the Year" award winner and Fast Company board member...
Jan 29, 202552 minS2In this episode Chauncey Zalkin sits down with guest and advocate for Black women in the workplace, Jessica Pharm, to take an unflinching look at the complexities of race, gender, and trust for liberal America as we...
Jan 10, 202537 minS2Life isn't fair. So what are you going to do about it? In this episode, Jill Brinsdon shares her journey as a creative director and prominent leader in New Zealand's advertising industry. She talks when to play the game...
Jan 3, 202524 minS2Host 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...
Episode #8
S2E8 - Neurodiversity and Individuality
Dec 19, 202449 minS2This episode, Host Chauncey Zalkin sits down with friend and British Futurist Melissa Sterry who combines a passion for fashion and art with multiple degrees in sustainability, architecture and science. The two met...
Dec 6, 202443 minS2From divergent thoughts, convergent thoughts, indecision loops, and 'a ha moments' to touring middle schools, this discussion starts off with soul searching and moves on to the soul freeing way a woman named Amy Reinert...
Nov 14, 202457 minS2Psychoanalyst. Mother. Clogger. Playwright.. Meet my mom's college friend who never stops learning and growing: an interview with Tarpley Long and a road map for Gen X women who never cared much for the linear path...
Nov 2, 202415 minS2Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Fears of Totalitarianism, and Finding Paradise Spooky season is still not over: In this episode host Chauncey Zalkin covers Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Gorging on Political Wonkery, and Where...
Recent guests
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