This week, I talk to Doree Shafrir, a fellow writer, editor, and podcast host, and author of the novel Startup. Doree co-hosts Matt & Doree’s Eggcellent Adventure and the Forever35 podcast, and I’ve been such a huge fan of her podcasts, so I was excited to talk to her. Doree’s had a really interesting path that’s involved two master’s degrees; freelancing during the recession; working on staff at places like Buzzfeed, Gawker, and Rolling Stone; writing a novel; and launching not one, but two, successful podcasts in short succession. Doree’s now back to being her own boss, so we talked about:

-What, specifically, writers should look out for in contracts

-Why Doree always asks for more money on principle (and how she does it)

-What maternity leave looks like when you’re creating the boundaries yourself

Whether or not you’re a Forever35 fan like me, Doree is very calmingly wise and honest, and has so much great advice to offer. We didn’t have enough time to dive into the nitty gritty of how she produces the Forever35 podcast with her co-host Kate Spencer, but if that’s something you’re interested in, then I recommend you checkout their episode aptly titled How The Pod Sausage Is Made.

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