2 Trick Pony

Ep11: How Weightlifting Builds Courage with Dr. Kristin Harlow

In this conversation, we speak with Dr. Kristin Harlow, a former academic and policy evaluator-turned-weightlifting trainer. We learn from Kristin about her lifelong love for athletics and how she’s building a community for women in strength-training, as well as how she mustered up the courage to leap out of academic research and start her own garage gym.

Ep10: How Letting Go Leads to Authenticity with April Lee

In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about a personal search for meaning. A former government employee, April Lee speaks with us about how she left her job to explore creative crafts, reconnect with herself, and gain the confidence to build her own data visualization consultancy.

Ep9: How Building Instruments Pushes Boundaries with John C.L. Jansen

New Year’s is a great time to consider a new hobby! We start the year off with professional musician, composer, and instrument maker John C.L. Jansen. We hear about the craft of building unusual instruments like daxophones and custom guitars, and how Jansen incorporates his built instruments into his music compositions. Jansen is also a classical guitarist and university music educator based in Washington, D.C. 

Ep8: How the Culinary Arts Build Resilience with Masid Cader

This week’s interview is for those who prefer to go big or go home. We talk with hobbyist chef Masid Cader about his experience fast-tracking his interest in gourmet cooking, including training with a Michelin-starred restaurant during the weekends, all while working full-time in investment banking.

Ep7: How Food Writing Builds Belonging with PAKISTAN author Maryam Jillani

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we interview Maryam Jillani about her journey as a food journalist and her experience writing the groundbreaking cookbook PAKISTAN. In our conversation, we learn about how Maryam’s background in public policy, education, and international development gave her a unique perspective on food writing while bringing her cookbook project to life.

Ep6: How Birding Brings Perspective with Nova Hanson

This week, we talk with marine biologist and medical technician Nova Hanson about her love for birding and photography, and how she keeps her hobby fun and meaningful. 

Ep5: How Drag Builds Joy with Tammy Kay Queen

In this week’s episode, we get a look behind the showroom curtain in our interview with Tommy Zoppa, better known as the drag queen Tammy Kay Queen. In our interview, we hear about how Tommy took a break from working in international aid and tech to create the popular and hilarious "Monologues" drag show at the Trade Bar in DC.

Ep4: How Pottery Builds Creativity with Jenny Nam

This week, we interview Jenny Nam, a data analyst and hobbyist potter in Philadelphia, about her basement home studio and her mother’s 10-year rule when trying out new things.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA 
Small Favors show at the Clay Studio, Philadelphia
The Ceramic Shop, Norristown, Philadelphia
Bird Seed Florals, Philadelphia 
You can learn more about our guest at:
https://www.sjnampottery.com
@sjnampottery (Instagram)
 

Ep3: How Gardening Can Heal with Sharad Wertheimer

This week, we continue learning about gardens and major career pivots with Sharad Wertheimer, a former labor organizer and current medical student in Washington, D.C. In our conversation, Sharad talks about discovering his passion for urban agriculture…and how 10,000 worms helped him find his purpose.

Ep2: How Horticulture Built Confidence with Honor Hawkins

In this episode, we talk with Honor Hawkins, a landscape designer and horticulturalist in New York City, about her serendipitous career pivot from media and technical writing to professionally designing urban gardens.