Actual People

About Actual People

Welcome to Actual People, an unfiltered exploration of individual and societal shifts in a world undergoing tremendous change. I open up about my own experiences in order to dive into social and cultural phenomena, positive developments, and collective pain. We look at survival, endurance, strength, triumph and despair while imagining a future with creative joy and hope. Each episode is dedicated to meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of our lives and the power of our own creativity and imagination to make magic. ***** Disclaimer: I’m a mental health counselor-in-training sharing personal perspectives on culture and mental health. Client confidentiality is fundamental to my work. This podcast and writing aren’t therapy or clinical advice. All views expressed are my own.

Publisher

Chauncey Zalkin

Category

arts · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jan 2024

Latest episode

7 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

71 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Apr 2026

   S3E5 - Art Required: Feeling, Creativity, and the Brain

   Hi there! I'm back. In this episode I sit down with Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer at Google and co-author of Your Brain on Art (written with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics @ Johns Hopkins). We talk about one of my new favorite topics, neuroaesthetics (the study of how art and sensory experience affect the brain and body) and why it matters for mental health and overall quality of life. The episode covers: Ye old...

2. 

   13 Jan 2026

   S3E4 - No Glitter in the Sh**t: A story of rewiring your life and finding redemption

   And we're back with an episode about redemption, a first hand account of a Wall Street insider's journey through prison and reinvention with reflection on the times we are living in. In this first episode of 2026, we dive deep into the life of Richard Bronson, a former Wall Street player who worked at Stratton Oakmont—made famous by the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Richard's journey is one of redemption, resilience, and facing your mistakes head on with wisdom and empathy. We discuss everyt...

3. 

   17 Dec 2025

   S3E3 - How to Trust Your Gut

   In light of the tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, host Chauncey Zalkin explores trusting your gut when it comes to mental health, safety, and faith in your faculties. Also examined is the impact of toxic narratives on the construction of identity and perception. Addresses mindfulnessconsciousnessmental illnessinteralized narratives Written, directed, and executive produced by Chauncey Zalkin. Intro/Outro sound engineered by Eric Aaron. Photography by Alonza Mitchell with Design...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

23,560

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

43

Social presence

90

YouTube

72

Engagement

51

Contact Actual People

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.