Working: How a Professional Pen Expert Makes a Living

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4.2 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 September 2023

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, host June Thomas talks to writer and podcaster Brad Dowdy, who makes his living as a pen and stationary enthusiast. In the interview, Brad explains how he was able to quit his full-time job in I.T. and turn his passion into a career. He also breaks down the many facets of his job, from his “Pen Addict” blog and podcast to his newsletter and Twitch streams. After the interview, June and co-host Isaac Butler discuss what makes a great pen and how to schedule your days as a freelancer. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Brad explains what “pen shows” are all about. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The one thing I've always said and the one thing I've said to my wife over all these years
0:13.0	and I said it didn't say it now, I'm only as good as my next idea.
0:16.6	And to this day, I still worry about that.
0:19.7	Like am I delivering on my promises to provide good content, good education, a good community
0:27.7	vibe.
0:29.7	Welcome back to Working, I'm your host, Isaac Butler.
0:32.7	And I'm your other host, June Thomas.
0:34.7	June, now that the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is over, have you finally gotten any sleep?
0:40.1	Are you still hungover? What's going on over there?
0:42.7	I'm a very clean living girl. I would disappoint you in every direction.
0:46.7	So yeah, I'm getting my eight, nine every day. It's great.
0:50.7	Incredible. And who did you talk to today?
0:53.7	I said this week, I spoke with Brad Dowdy, who is known to those of us in the stationary
0:59.2	fandom as the pen addict.
1:01.7	Wait, wait, wait, wait, let me just stop you right there. This guy makes his living, reviewing
1:06.7	pens.
1:07.7	Well, Isaac as an improv comedian might say yes and Brad does indeed review pens on his
1:15.0	blog and he's been doing that for more than 15 years. But he also has a weekly podcast
1:20.4	and a thrice weekly Twitch stream. And he's involved in designing and manufacturing
1:26.8	pens, pencils and other stationary products. And so as a fellow pen addict, I know Brad
1:33.9	and I'm a big fan of his work, but I mostly wanted to talk to him because to me, he is
1:38.6	a great representative of a new kind of independent creator. You know, in journalism, we have this
	...

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