Todd Wachtel is one of New Jersey’s most popular podcasters. On the “Jersey Toddshow,” he mixes disparate genres of independent rock and pop with often hilarious commentary on life in the Garden State. Most days, though, the 35-year-old Montgomery resident is a working attorney – something that, since he embraces it on the show, gives the podcast another interesting dimension.
What's the worst or most interesting thing that's happened to you at work?
100 percent of my practice is devoted to representing injured workers in New Jersey Workers' Compensation Court. I have been doing this for some time, and I enjoy it immensely. Every day is an adventure, and I get to help people from all different walks of life, and many of my clients are an inspiration -- a CEO and a bricklayer both have the same concerns and problems when they get hurt, and someone needs to passionately guide them through the process of dealing with the insurance company, and ultimately the Court.
Of course, the worst thing that's happened is the day that I went through an entire trial with my fly down. That was bad.
Does work ever conflict with your art?
Actually, the art helps to resolve conflict. A majority of what I do is negotiation. Having an outlet like the "Jersey Toddshow" to talk to another attorney about, actually breaks the ice a little bit, and is a nice way to relax the situation before talking about substantive things in a case.
Do you have health insurance?
I'm so terrified of being without coverage that I am on my policy for work, and pay to be on my wife's policy as well!
Who are the three people you'd most like to hear one of your shows, in terms of helping your radio career?
You and two of your friends, so long as those two friends were required to find two other friends to listen, and so on. Podcasting is such a wonderful medium, because I don't care whether Viacom, or Clear Channel, or any of the big media moguls hear my show. I do it because of the amazing independent music that is available on the Podsafe Music Network, and because it makes me happy. I got tired of listening to the same, old, tired, music on the radio or at Sam Goody, and turned to podcasts as a way to control the content that I hear. Everyday, I download a ton of amazing podcasts to my mp3 player, plug it into my car stereo through a very cheesy tape-deck adaptor, and drive to court, and I've never been happier.
If Clear Channel approached you about giving you a radio show, would you do it?
No. Absolutely not. No way. Besides, who still listens to the radio?
Any additional thoughts on the conflicts and intersections of work and art?
If I didn't podcast, I'd go insane. The practice of law is too intense, too all-involving not to have a creative outlet. Everyone needs a balance between work and art, and podcasting provides me with the perfect opportunity to help promote independent music that you normally would not get an opportunity to hear, and gives me an opportunity to have some fun, which I absolutely am having. And if I can stick it just a little to these large media companies that aren't providing challenging, thought-provoking, or even entertaining content, that's a good thing, too.
On the Web: Jersey Toddshow
The Podsafe Music Network
Day Job is a weekly column examining the contradictions, conflicts and convergence between “work” and “art.”
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