OccuPassionate is an interview podcast hosted by 
accidental Renaissance woman, and enthusiastic television writer, LIBBY WARD. 
Find out more about Libby's mission to inspire the aimless and sate the curious here.

EPISODE 25:

TRIP PAYNE

​PUZZLE MAKER & EDITOR

Autodidact Trip Payne discovered his love of puzzles early and leapt right in: submitting, competing and publishing crosswords. He's since cleverly navigated his way through the labyrinth of life, figuring out how to turn his passion, into a puzzling profession. This has led him to work, creating, editing, and publishing individual crosswords and entire books. And, Hollywood fun consulting and competing on game shows. Discover the clues to emulating Trip's wordy work here.

EPISODE 24:

AARON SIMPSON
​
DEVELOPMENT & ANIMATION CONSULTANT

A penchant for treasure hunting, and a love of art and technology, led Aaron to become a creative curator: someone who consumes lots of contents searching for, and sharing, those unique gems that suit his particular tastes. In doing so, he's built a career for himself finding, polishing and distributing those gems...all the while mentoring, encouraging and protecting the artists who conceptualize them. And, along the way, Aaron found a family of like-minded weirdos. Learn how to build your own unique curation career like Aaron- himself a diamond in the rough- here.
EPISODE 23 : 
RICHARD BROMLEY
TRAIN MAN


Richard had no inclination of working for the railroad. Midway through his corporate career, he was musing about the general state of the railroad industry. The same week, by uncanny coincidence, one of his coworkers shared a train conductor recruiting ad in the newspaper (one of those paper publications as nostalgic as trains). He signed up, jumped the corporate ship, started riding the rails and never looked back...except when he needed to examine a hot axle on the 145th car (that's part of his job). Find out how to toot your own (train engine) horn like Richard, here.
EPISODE 22 : BILL LEWIS
BEEKEEPER 


Bill ordered his first hive from the Sears, Roebuck & Company catalogue. The post office called his home and asked him to please come retrieve his living package! He learned a lot about bees and won a Boy Scout merit badge thanks to that first colony, but it was off to college and an engineering career. Deciding he needed to get back to nature, his next hive found him- attempting to move rent-free into his home. He offered instead to build them their own place out back and it's been a symbiotic relationship of honey and sweethearts ever since. Learn all the buzz about Bill's career here.
EPISODE 21 : 
YANA KIRIACOPOULOS 
PERFORMANCE RIGGER


Yanna began her career on the stage as a classical violinist. Then, decided to climb the literal corporate ladder to work in the rafters as a performance rigger. It took a great deal of dedication and taxing labor to work her way up, up, up to rigger. Now, she uses her technical prowess to help others soar on stage. Shine the spotlight on Yanna's career journey here.
EPISODE 20: SCOT NERY
PANCAKE JUGGLER


Scot Nery is a renowned juggler, comedian, contortionist, performance artist, and host. The great Robin Williams called Scot "splendidly surreal.” Scot has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, at the HBO Comedy Festival, in films for Disney and Sony, including the hit horror spoof Scary Movie 5. He is a featured performer for Cirque-a-Palooza, produced and directed by Stefan Haves, a director for seven Cirque du Soleil productions who calls Scot "sensational in every way." He performs regularly at private and industry events for Fortune 500 companies — from major film studios to Delta, McDonald’s, and Mattel. He was recently featured in the promotional campaign for the hit FX series American Horror Story. Find out more about Scot's career here.
EPISODE 19: SARAH REYNOLDS
CLASSICAL SINGER/
VOICE TEACHER


While training her own voice, Sarah had to learn to block out the voices of the cynics around her...and in her own head. Many things she learned the hard way, but she wouldn't trade in her struggle. That experience helps inform her choices and give depth to her performances. Find out more about Sarah's mellifluous career here.
EPISODE 18: AMBER GARZA
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL LICENSING FOR COMIC BOOKS


Amber has a law degree, a background in litigation and a budding library studies eduction, but the most important thing all this experience has taught her is to do what makes her happy. Her 8 year old self would be psyched to see where she is now. As the director of international licensing for comic books she gets to use all her background knowledge to support the industry, the artists and the social commentary that she loves. Find out more about Amber's creatively conscientious career here.
EPISODE 17: 
ADAM GREENWALD
ACADEMIC RABBI


A scholar and a gentlemensch, Rabbi Adam Greenwald is a self-described Jewish Life Concierge. A combination of his love for helping people during difficult transitional times and his argumentative spirit, prompted him to deepen his exploration of the Jewish faith... ultimately finding himself at  "so you want to be a rabbi" summer camp. Adam's studies, experiences and instincts led him to his current position: Director of the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at American Jewish University. Find out more about Adam's brand of high-impact Rabbi-ing here!
EPISODE 16: JOE TABBANELLA
HYPNOTHERAPIST


Joe is a neuroprogrammer: the person who helps clients reorganize their thoughts to work to their greatest potential. What he does is not magic, but it is magical. Whether interested in his career, or simply his philosophies, he cautions: one must be open to the magic but science-minded enough not to be foolish. Learning to be open to the magic is a challenge for some. Joe, however, knows just how to do it. Find out more about Joe's hypnotic career, here.
EPISODE 15: 
WHITNEY PETERSON
PUBLICIST


Whitney throws all her energy into her goals. As a kid, that meant running her own after-school classroom because she wanted to teach. Now, it means doing her best to put each client's best foot forward. Her work never pauses but her jet-setting lifestyle benefits make it all worth while. Find out how Whitney's attention to detail always catapults her to the head of the class, here. 
EPISODE 14: MARK KIRKLAND
TELEVISION DIRECTOR


Mark grew up in an artistic family and had the good fortune of studying with some of Disney's animation greats. But in forging his own path, he still experienced the nerve-wracking ebb and flood of freelance work before landing at an awesome animated TV show. Now directing his 80th episode of The Simpson's, Mark continues to develop his own passion projects. He's completed two award-winning live-action shorts, has a third in post-production and more to come! Find out how Mark has directed his impressive directing career here.
EPISODE 13: JOSH WILLIS
CLIMATE SCIENTIST


Josh has always been a science nerd through and through...with a penchant for performing! After wandering into physics, then stumbling back out (physics wasn't for him!) he found a new home studying global climate change. With information that can change the world, he needed a clever way to spread the word. Comedy! Improv! and the power of science combined! Find out more about Josh's super smart tom-foolery here.
EPISODE 12: ERIN DEAN
REALITY TV PRODUCER


Erin has a passion for competition reality TV. She launched her own adventurous competition with herself when she decided to change up her entire lifestyle and try to get hired on her favorite show: Survivor. She won! Thus beginning a new life in a new city with a new world-travelin' job. Erin is a creative brainstormer and a fastidious planner, perfect for the many facets of her job: challenge and format development, field production and compelling storytelling in post. Learn more about Erin's adventures here.
EPISODE 11: 
PRASHANTHI REDDY
COFFEE SHOP OWNER


Prashanthi spends most days laughing and chatting with "intimate strangers," the patrons of her coffee shop Makeda & Mingus. She guesses she spends only about 20% of her time doing the less-fun necessities like trash and taxes. Business ownership is challenging but certainly rewarding...and delicious! Learn more about Prashanthi's home-brewed career here.
EPISODE 10: JEFF LINDSEY
PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER


Jeff makes his living playing the odds at the poker table. A careful study of poker strategy and human psychology help him win at the casino. And his cleverly managed schedule and bank ledger help ensure consistent earnings. Learn more about Jeff's winning career here.
EPISODE 9: APRILLE CURTIS
LANDSCAPER


Using colorful flowers as her palate, Aprille is an artist in the garden. No need to negotiate an office with a window, she's already outside! Her career and hobbies share a lot of happy crossover; she prides herself on her roses. Find out how a budding landscaper grew her career here.
EPISODE 8: JON MESSER
ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATOR


Jon is an expert at the geometry of perspective and the artistry of interpretation, the combination makes him a master Architectural Illustrator! His freelance gig requires personal discipline but also affords him flexibility. "One job done right," leads to more offers and more referrals from his clients (urban planners, architects and advertisers). Learn Jon's career secrets for being well-fed artist here.
EPISODE 7: JEFF CROSS
MODEL FABRICATOR


Jeff has built his cool career by building cool things! Both he, and his prop, could be considered the BIG CHEESE. As a model fabricator, Jeff has built fun backgrounds, props and characters for all manner of stop-motion madness including: Robot Chicken, Sponge Bob, and Community! Learn about all 3 dimensions of Jeff's 3-D career here.
EPISODE 6: 
CLAYTON WELLER
PERFORMANCE VENUE OWNER


Clayton used his entrepreneurial prowess to create his own awesome job! Now, as the owner of The Pocket theater in Seattle, Clayton has the opportunity to create his own play space AND to provide a home for all manner of fun, weird, and hilarious performers looking to share their talents. Check out Clayton's page delving further into the comedy and art of theater ownership here.
EPISODES 4 & 5: 
NIKKI SULLIVAN
NEUROECONOMIST 
(parts 1 & 2)


Nikki spends her days inventing clever psychological experiments to collect data regarding how our brains make decisions. Then a significant amount of time figuring out how to analyze that data to prove or disprove existing research theories. Check out our page describing Nikki's brainy research here.
EPISODES 2 & 3: 
MIKE BAUMGARTNER:
COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOT (parts 1 & 2)


Mike has a real passion for looking down on the world...from the flight deck of an aircraft at 35,000 feet! He built his career, literally, from the ground up, starting as an aviation mechanic and earning his wings and eventually his Captain stripes. Check out our page featuring Mike's uplifting career here.
EPISODE 1: MARY KARCZ
STUNT PERFORMER/ACTOR


Mary's professional career has offered her the unique opportunity to catch fire, repel face-first down a skyscraper and get pummeled on a regular basis: for fun! and profit! Check out our page featuring this intrepid stunt performer here.