Actual People – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 Applied Neuroaesthetics @ Johns Hopkins). We talk about one of my new favorite topics, neuroaesthetics (the study of how art and sensory experience affect the brain and body) and why it matters for mental health and overall quality of life. 

The episode covers:

•  Ye olde burnout, stress, and cognitive limits; grad school stimulation and time to rest.
• Reflecting on how grad school is reshaping my processing of people and situations.
• How the latest victorious lawsuit gives us a win over algorithm madness.
• What neuroaesthetics is and where it comes from 
•  How sensory environments (light, sound, texture, space) affect stress and wellbeing 
•  The gap between what we think we need and what our body is trying to tell us
•  Why creativity gets conditioned out of people early 
•  How this connects to mental health, learning, and daily life 

Please hit subscribe and find me on YT and TikTok too where I'm particularly active these slowwwerrrr days of the podcast. Stick with me!

- Chauncey

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

And 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 dive deep into the life of Richard Bronson, a former Wall Street player who worked at Stratton Oakmont—made famous by the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Richard's journey is one of redemption, resilience, and facing your mistakes head on with wisdom and empathy.

We discuss everything from the culture of greed in the '80s and '90s, to the mental and emotional toll that financial crimes can take, and how Richard transformed his life after serving time in prison.

In true Actual People fashion, this episode explores the psychology of transition and the emotional and psychological processes of overcoming adversity. Richard doesn't sugarcoat anything (hence, "no glitter in the shit"), and speaks honestly about the mistakes he made, the consequences, and how he rebuilt his life after losing it all. We also dive into the nature of greed and its impact on both individuals and society.

It's not all about hedonistic histories. We also touch on the importance of male friendships, loyalty, and the bonds that hold us together through life’s toughest moments.

Get ready for an episode that’s raw, reflective, and ultimately inspiring—showing that even the most difficult journeys can lead to personal growth and positive change.

In This Episode:

• Richard’s story of working at Stratton Oakmont and committing financial crimes
• Reflections on the '80s and '90s Wall Street culture of greed and excess
• The psychological toll of living a life of self-indulgence and the consequences of those actions
• Redemption and resilience after prison
• The importance of male friendships and loyalty
• AI, technology, and its role in shaping our future
• What we can learn from the mistakes of others and how to move forward

Key Moments:

• [06:15] The culture of greed and excess in the '80s and '90s
• [12:00] Richard's journey from Wall Street success to prison
• [28:30] Male friendships and the bonds that hold us together in tough times
• [45:00] Reflections on AI and its potential to shape our future

Listen now to inspire reflection on how you can rewire your life and find redemption, no matter what the past holds. 

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

Chauncey 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 it's time to exile virtue signaling and embrace anger signaling. Like immediately. 

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

An 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 Kieselhorst.

More on Geezer can be found on their website.

The report on 50+ population referenced in the episode can be found here: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies 

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

Each 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 Todd Bracher to talk about how we can shift the emphasis from needless crap to creating a better future for everyone from an essentialist design perspective.

Inside the episode:

• The value of crossing disciplines to bring more power to great ideas — and your career.
•  Why ditching outside experts is a big mistake companies increasingly make at their own peril.
• How A.I. will accelerate innovation and not replace humans.

Read more about Todd Bracher and Better Lab.

Watch my video story about a chair Todd designed. (NOT your average chair documentary...)

☕️ SUPPORT ACTUAL PEOPLE : Don't let that money burn a hole in your (digital) wallet, support your favorite podcast now. Go to ko-fi.com/actualpeople without delay so we can keep bringing you thoughtful storytelling about the cultural moment, life evolutions, and creativity!  

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

In 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 face Trump's second term.

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

Life 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 and when to jump ship and the importance of personal agency in shaping your career and driving change. She also talks about the important role men have in shaping the future of advertising. 

Warning: A couple of F Bombs.

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

This 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 through the A Small World network in the mid 00s while Chauncey lived in Paris and Melissa in the UK. A lot has changed since then. They discuss the modern paradox of homogeneity in a diverse world. Melissa explains how hope is around the corner in our quest to champion human creativity and individuality.

Take a listen.

Mentioned in this episode

• Neurodiversity
• Journalistic Standards
• Fashion Then & Now
• HBO's  "Industry"
• The Nepo Baby Problem
• The State of The Indie Press in the UK
• 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

From 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 is able to embrace all phases of her life and connect with other women through pure honesty.

Topics Discussed:
Postpartum Depression
Misogynistic Corporate Policies for Mothers
Hormone Therapy
Female networks
Gen Z and Gen Alpha daughters reaction to the election
Women's Rights
Female Friendship
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