My extended interview with physicist and materials scientist Anouar Benali is now available. Only on Citizens of Jobland will you hear the career advice "Don't make an enemy unless you are willing to destroy him completely." Enjoy!

My guest in episode #7 is Anouar Benali, a physicist and materials scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. We get into topics like the future of the supercomputer, what's good and bad about algorithms and the surprisingly un-objective and irrational obstacles to scientific progress. Anouar also offers up some terrific career advice and, conversely, what may be the best way to fend off recruiters.

Music this episode, including the theme song, is from Jumblehead

https://www.hpcwire.com/2021/09/27/seeking-new-semiconductor-materials-using-quantum-monte-carlo-calculations/

My guest in episode #6 is Katie Gonzalez, fundraising communications & data maven at the Jane Addams Resource Corporation. We talk about her shift from professional oboe playing to working at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and Koval Distillery, volunteering at The People's Music School and how she found that giving away an instrument actually improved her musicianship.

Music this episode is from The Mercury Program

Theme music is from Jumblehead

My guest in episode #5 is Brian Lowit, founder and owner of Lovitt Records, label manager at legendary record label Dischord Records and owner of Mount Desert Island Ice Cream in Washington DC. He talks about how getting creative with his college mailroom allowed him to establish a record label out of his college dorm room and how the digital music revolution has impacted the industry. Brian shares his experience growing up in the DIY community of Washington DC, what led him to such diverse endeavors and why it makes sense that he ended up exactly where he is…even if it did take a few lucky breaks.

Music this episode if from Lovitt recording artists The Mercury Program

Theme music is from Jumblehead

Episode #4 features St Louis immigration and civil rights attorney Javad Khazaeli. We discuss how he came to practice immigration law and how it continues to adapt to recent political, social and technological advances (and setbacks). He shares some of his varied experiences working in the Federal Government and what led him to strike out on his own. Javad also talks about writing a New York Times op-ed and offers up some great interview advice.

Featured music is by Chan Maurice Evans's group YOUPEOPL, which he founded as part of the St Louis protest movement.

Voice talent by career coach Michael Lindner: groundworkscoaching@gmail.com

Theme music by Jumblehead

Javad's NYT op-ed: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/25/opinion/prosecution-terrorists-bush-iran.html

Episode #3 of Citizens of Jobland features executive recruiter and Jeff Award winning actor Michael Lindner. We discuss how the pandemic has changed the job market, his own transition from non-union to Equity actor and how success on the stage prompted him to take on a second career. An expert career coach, Michael talks about what goes into being an effective executive recruiter (don't call him a headhunter) and offers advice for job seekers.

Michael's blog post on telling your story

Theme and incidental music by Jumblehead

Thanks to expert voice-talent baritone Dan Gibbs

Episode #2 of Citizens of Jobland features Dr Alex Lickerman, CEO of Chicago-based provider of direct primary care ImagineMD. We discuss how the innovative DPC model addresses the needs of patients that the traditional fee for service method can't, as well as the ways it can potentially revolutionize healthcare. Dr Lickerman talks about what he learned in his 20 years practicing medicine at the University of Chicago, the challenges faced by primary care physicians in the US and how he strikes a balance between caring for patients, running his business and writing books on resilience.

Dr Lickerman's blog and books The Undefeated Mind and The Ten Worlds

ImagineMD corporate resilience training

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Thanks to Jason Heath of Contrabass Conversations

Theme and incidental music by Jumblehead

For the first episode of Citizens of Jobland, we'll hear from Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership. She talks about her varied career after law school, her time at Teach for America both in the classroom and as an administrator and the valuable experiences that led her to head the nation's largest workforce system.

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Roadtrip Nation interview

Theme and incidental music by Jumblehead

Creative consultant: Karen Schulz-Harmon