Never Nine to Five

If you're a musician aspiring to blockbuster success, this conversation with singer-songwriter Katie Toupin (formerly of Houndmouth) is a must-listen. But really, anyone seeking to push their creativity to a new level will draw inspiration here. Toupin speaks candidly about her ascent in the notoriously cut-throat music industry, and her insights can be applied to almost any solo endeavor.

This upstate New York couple established Stony Creek Farmstead in 2005 with the simple aspiration of raising a family and living a little lighter on the planet. Their small farm has evolved in surprising ways but their mission endures. “The farm has allowed us to stay independent and lead the life we envisioned for ourselves.”

Like many during the pandemic, Brooklyn gym owner Tommy Ardito discovered baking. Ever the entrepreneur, he was soon selling (via Instagram!) pizza from his apartment kitchen. Now known as the “Underground Pizza Boss,” Ardito is about to open a brick-and-mortar to share his artisanal slices citywide. We talked to him about his unstoppable drive and motivation, about fitness (he knows a lot), about the financial predicament facing Millennials, about surviving as a soloist, and, of course, we talk a lot about pizza.

Spike Gillespie walked away from her last office job in 1988, and has been soloing ever since — to great success. The key to her longevity as a soloist? Diversification. Gillespie is a self-described serial entrepreneur. In her four decades of independent work, this Texan-by-way-of-New Jersey has been a journalist, a writer, a wedding and funeral officiant, a rancher, a venue owner, and, in her latest venture, a professional scone maker. In this episode, Gillespie shares candidly about her unconventional career path, her experience soloing as a single parent, and the positive daily habits that sustain her creativity.

Kraig Adams' minimalist-but-mesmerizing travel videos offer a peek into his broader philosophy about living with less stuff. For him, it’s all about simplicity and authenticity. He’s wholly uninterested in making videos to “grow an audience.” But despite that, his YouTube channel already exceeds 650,000 subscribers. It must be working.

Jennifer Hoppe is an award-winning film and television writer based in Los Angeles. She has written for hit shows like Nurse Jackie, Damages, and Grace & Frankie. Hoppe is currently producing her own show for Apple TV+, a new series starring Patricia Arquette titled High Desert. In this episode, Hoppe shares candidly about her long and winding ascent to the top of a notoriously competitive industry. Her solo path hasn't been easy: She's been fired from nearly every traditional job she's ever held, flunked out of college, and battled years of drug and alcohol addiction. And yet here she is, more productive than ever and thriving as an independent. We delve into it all: Hoppe's best and worst work habits, how the pandemic has transformed television writing, and general tips on how to survive a lifetime of self-employment.

Never Nine to Five is a new podcast from The Solo Project about the booming population of freelancers, indie professionals, creatives, and free agents. We’re Soloists. This is the Solo Movement. And this is our new world of work.