For Hire

Latest Episodes:

The Vulnerability Of Freelancing & Saying "No" To Ketchup With Alison Roman Mar 05, 2019

Show notes

On today’s show, I talk to Alison Roman. She’s a cook, NYTimes columnist, contributor to Bon Appétit, and author of Dining In. If you don’t know her name, you probably know her Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies—otherwise known as “the cookies.” That recipe went viral last year, and just before we recorded, Alison had another recipe that was basically everywhere: her chickpea stew, a.k.a. “the stew,” which I definitely made and ate for lunch on the days leading up to our interview. Recipes aside, Alison is so smart and laser-focused. She’s managed to cobble together a true hybrid career: 50% cook, 50% writer—a job that didn’t really exist when she was starting out (at least in the particular way her career has unfolded). On the show, we talked about:

How to stay organized when you’re “allergic to structure”
Why leaving the security of a full-time job can be worth it if you want to define your work as an individual
When you should say “no” to an opportunity (Alison’s big “no” involved ketchup)

I highly recommend you whip up a batch of “the stew,” find a cozy spot on your couch, and get ready for the freelance pep talk we all need sometimes.

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Send me an email: rebecca@forhirepodcast.com

Payment Plans With The IRS & A Buzzfeed "Blood Feud" With Akilah Hughes Feb 26, 2019

Show notes

This week, I was lucky enough to talk to Akilah Hughes, the funny, smart human that some of you might know from YouTube or Twitter or any of her various TV appearances. She was so honest about money and the nobility of asking for it—which is definitely something I struggle with—so it was awesome to hear how she psyches herself up to get the money she deserves. Other stuff we talked about:

-The importance of mentors/champions (Akilah happens to be mentored by John Green—yes, The Fault In Our Stars John Green, NBD)

-What it’s like to be an independent creator up against huge media companies (ahem, Buzzfeed)

-How she set up a payment plan with the IRS when she couldn’t pay her taxes—and what she’s doing so that’ll never happen again

Say it with me: Taxes can be your friend.

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Send me an email: rebecca@forhirepodcast.com

Book Advances & Asking "Stupid" Questions With Kelsey Miller Feb 13, 2019

Show notes

This week, I talked to Kelsey Miller, a writer, editor, and speaker based in Brooklyn. She’s the author of the new book I’ll Be There For You, a fascinating historical deep dive on the show “Friends.” She also launched the Anti-Diet Project at Refinery29 and subsequently wrote a memoir, Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got A Life. She’s written for publications like Glamour, Vulture, Cup of Jo, and Entertainment Weekly, and on the show she talks about:

-Fighting the urge to say yes to every single offer out of fear that it’ll be the last one you'll ever get (it won’t be)

-Why it might be worth it to hire a lawyer to look at your first few contracts

-How to write to-do lists you'll actually feel good about

-And why you should always, always ask "stupid" questions

So. Much. Great. Stuff. Here. You don't want to miss this one.

Follow For Hire on Instagram: @forhirepodcast

Get the For Hire newsletter: www.forhirepodcast.com

Send me an email: rebecca@forhirepodcast.com