Pals with Bill Wadman

Episode 44: Clay Williams - Photographer

February 2nd, 2024  |  1 hr 4 mins

black food folks, interview, new york city, photographer

Food world photographer Clay Williams is well known in culinary circles. He's spent much of the last decade photographing food and the people who make it in NYC and around the world.

Episode 43: Matt Carr - Portrait Photographer

January 18th, 2024  |  1 hr 15 mins

celebrity, interview, photographer, photography, portrait

Today we're in Matt Carr's kitchen discussing his beginnings in photojournalism in the midwest, how photography took him to Alaska and Prague and London, and what happens in the photo press rooms at Sundance.

Episode 42: Noah Prince - Gaffer

March 9th, 2023  |  1 hr 22 mins

gaffer, interview, lighting, movies, tv, union

Noah Prince has worked as a gaffer, best boy, and electrician in the TV and film industry for more than a quarter century.

Episode 41: Dr Benjamin Brush - Neurologist

January 27th, 2023  |  1 hr 18 mins

doctor, interview, neurologist

Ben Brush is interested in just about everything, just like me, except that he's got the bona fides to back it up. Having worked in research labs on brain machine interfaces and then spent the last 10 years between Harvard Medical School, Mass General Brigham, and NYU hospitals becoming a board-certified Neurologist. Oh and he's also hiked all 2184 miles of the Appalachian Trail solo in 135 days. I have so many questions.

Episode 40: Chris Molanphy Returns - Chart Analyst / Pop Critic

November 1st, 2021  |  1 hr 25 mins

billboard, chart, critic, molanphy, rock, slate

Back for his second episode. Slate magazine's resident rock critic & chart analyst Chris Molanphy chats with me about the definition of a "Smash", why the demographics of the artists on the charts have changed over time, and how much he hates most Diane Warren penned songs. Always great to talk to Chris.

Episode 39: Sandi Robertson - Art Teacher

November 17th, 2020  |  1 hr 4 mins

art teacher, color printing, darkroom, photography, scotish accent

The rare Skype episode of Pals with art teacher Sandi Robertson from the UK. We discuss Sandi's deep love of the color darkroom, her early beginnings as a young artist in Scotland, and her belief that a student's understanding of photography is as vital as maths and sciences.

Episode 38: Eran Bugge - Home Sewing Enthusiast

August 16th, 2020  |  1 hr 5 mins

My good friend Eran isn't just one of the best modern dancers working today, she's also an accomplished home sewer. That's right, she's makes most of her own clothes and some for other people too. I just had to know how she got into the hobby!

Episode 37: Keri Thibodeau - Theatrical Lighting Designer

July 16th, 2020  |  1 hr 34 mins

I've been trying to get lighting designer Keri Thibodeau in front of my microphone for a couple of years now, but working at The Metropolitan Opera means that she doesn't have any free time. What she does have is a great story and a whole lot of fun nerdy insider information about the process of modern stage lighting.

Episode 36: Molly Magerman - Footwear Designer

July 6th, 2020  |  1 hr 13 mins

designer, footwear, interview, shoes

Our young friend and footwear designer Molly Magerman is heading back to the west coast, so took the opportunity to talk to her about outsoles, lasts, and manufacturing shoes in China. It's fascinating stuff.

Episode 35: Brad Rego - Filmmaker

June 23rd, 2020  |  1 hr 55 mins

Filmmaker Brad Rego was ramping up to shoot his next horror film "Cryptid" in April just as the Coronavirus shut down the world. In this episode we'll talk about independent film production and how unknowns and additional time have effected his process.

Episode 34: Matt Fisher - BBQ Pitmaster

March 10th, 2020  |  1 hr 6 mins

Come on in and listen to my pal Matt Fisher tell me his story of BBQ. Just be warned that your stomach is going to be full and you may need to wash your jacket to get the smoke out afterward. Yum.

Episode 33: Paul Smith - Constitutional Law Attorney

January 16th, 2020  |  35 mins 21 secs

In a very special episode of Pals I get to spend a half hour talking to one of the leading constitutional law attorneys in practice today. He's argued in front of The Supreme Court over twenty times for gay rights, against gerrymandering, in favor of the first amendment and more. Talking to him is like a primary source masterclass.

Episode 32: Mark Hamilton - Radio DJ

November 22nd, 2019  |  1 hr 45 mins

Mark Hamilton has been a disc jockey on the radio for decades and has an unnervingly encyclopedic knowledge for music. You may have heard him on WBCN in Boston and K-Rock in LA. He also claims to not have a radio voice, but I leave that to you to decide.

Episode 31: Dave Keener - Songwriter

October 31st, 2019  |  1 hr 51 mins

folk, interview, music, songwriter, tunes

One of my earliest NYC friends, songwriter Dave Keener and I take a walk down the road of his musical life and we get to hear Dave play a few of his amazing songs along the way.

Episode 30: Abdulgader Naseer - Architect

September 4th, 2019  |  1 hr 38 mins

Architect AK Naseer is my kind of person. Knowledgeable and a little obsessive just like me. He talks about coming to the US from his home in Saudi Arabia in the 11th grade, his almost complete collection of visits to major Louis Kahn buildings, and nearly convinces me that the Roman orders are something I need to understand. It was a good time.

Episode 29: Eric Gaskins - Fashion Designer

July 19th, 2019  |  1 hr 32 mins

couture, designer, eric gaskins, fashion, givenchy, prêt-à-porter

In this episode, I get schooled by fashion designer Eric Gaskins who spend 35 years in the industry.