Everyday Experts

Episode 4: Gary Ferrar (Magician and Mentalist)

hola@bethanycrystal.com (Bethany Crystal, Gary Ferrar) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:00:57 +0000

In episode 4 of Everyday Experts, you'll meet Gary Ferrar, a New Yorker who runs his own business as a magician and mentalist for corporate, social, and theatre settings. You'll learn how Gary pivoted from his degree in theatre to a career as a self-taught magician, and why repetition and failure is so important in learning new tricks. In a job that's all about audience reactions, you'll learn how he picks up on subtle cues in human behavior to make every effect a success.

Our main conversation took place in early 2020, just a couple of months before the world shut down and live performances ceased to exist due to COVID-19. In our follow-up conversation, held at the end of the year, you'll hear what happened to his career in mentalism when IRL magic was no longer possible.

You can watch some of Gary's work on his YouTube channel , book a show for yourself or friends on his website, www.ahrealmagic.com, or follow him on Instagram.

Episode 3: Chiniqua Levine (NYC Bus Operator)

hola@bethanycrystal.com (Bethany Crystal, Chiniqua Levine) — Mon, 5 Apr 2021 23:17:06 +0000

In Episode 3 of Everyday Experts, you'll meet Chiniqua Levine, a New York City bus operator who drives on Manhattan's busy streets. You'll hear how Chiniqua was trained to be a bus operator, how she de-escalates situations, and how she uses her birds-eye view perspective of the street to look ahead and see the big picture. You'll also hear how she practices her own version of mindfulness to keep her cool and stay focused on the job.

Transit workers were among the hardest hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bus operators were thrust into an unexpected front-line position during the early months of 2020 when they continued to transport essential workers in the city. In this conversation, held in the fall of 2019, you'll get a glimpse at what things looked like in the "before-times" (pre-pandemic) and take away a couple of tips from Chiniqua that you can apply in any external, customer-facing job.

To read more about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted New York City transit workers, read this New York Times article. You can also see a virtual memorial that the MTA created in honor of 136 employees who died from the pandemic as of January 2021.

Episode 2: DJ Big Will (Chicago DJ)

hola@bethanycrystal.com (Bethany Crystal, DJ Big Will) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 02:18:27 +0000

In Episode 2 of Everyday Experts, you'll hear from DJ Big Will, a Chicago-based DJ and Resident DJ of Thee Debauchery Ball. In our initial conversation, held in the fall of 2019, you'll hear about the work that goes into planning for a 500-person dance party -- and how his job as a DJ is to keep his cool, "read the room," and stay as organized as possible.

While the 2020 pandemic temporarily made it impossible to DJ in front of large crowds, DJ Big Will picked up a couple of side projects and even dipped his toe in the waters of virtual dance parties. You'll hear about that, and what he's learned along the way, in our follow-up conversation from the winter of 2020.

Until the return of live dance parties, you'll find DJ Big Will DJ'ing the Underground Dance Suite on Friday nights at www.gottahavehouseradio.com, You can also listen to his mixes on SoundCloud and on YouTube, and also find him on Instagram. Watch Thee Debauchery Ball documentary on Kweli TV or on YouTube.

About this Show

Everyday Experts is a show about what we can learn from anyone's job. In each episode, Bethany Crystal speaks with people from a variety of industries about the people and the systems behind the work they do. This whole first season is about people who work hands-on with others. Visit everydayexperts.co for more information and photos behind the scenes from each interview.

Episode 1: Paul Finnegan (NYC Bar Owner)

hola@bethanycrystal.com (Bethany Crystal, Paul Finnegan) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 21:42:08 +0000

In Episode 1 of Everyday Experts, you'll hear from Paul Finnegan, a New York City bar owner of St. James Gate on the Upper West Side. Paul is a true Everyday Expert and has learned a lot about people, community, and operations in his work. In a post-pandemic world, he's also learned a lot about flexibility and adaptability.

For the first 30 minutes, you'll hear what Paul's life was like in the "before-times" -- that's, before the pandemic that shut down his bar for five months in 2020. Then, following that original interview, you'll hear an update on how things are today, in early 2021.

You can visit Paul's bar on the corner of 81st and Amsterdam, which is still open today, and see more at https://www.stjamesgatenyc.com/.

About this Show

Everyday Experts - Trailer

hola@bethanycrystal.com (Bethany Crystal) — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 22:51:01 +0000

Welcome to Everyday Experts, a show about what we can learn from anyone's job.

Each season, I’ll explore a different aspect of work by talking with people from a variety of backgrounds about the people and the systems behind the work they do. In every episode, you’ll hear from someone new, and at the end of each interview, I’ll share a few of my own observations: What makes them an expert in the work they do, and what techniques could we apply in other contexts and settings?

All together, these stories, and so many more, offer a unique take at the work we do and the people we meet along the way.

http://everydayexperts.co