For this very special 100th episode of The Audiobook Speakeasy, I invited back some of my favorite guests from over the past five years: Andi Arndt, Jesse Bickford-Coghill, Robin Miles, Amy Rubinate, and Julia Whelan. Edoardo Ballerini and Carol Monda were also planning on joining us, but unfortunately got stuck in traffic and the airport.

I didn't have any specific plan for the conversation aside from one important announcement, but we all kept coming back to the importance of a good work-life balance. I enjoyed chatting about life in the audiobook world with these giants in the industry just as much this time as I did the first time around. There was plenty of water, sparkling and hot, as well as some wine, a Gin And Ginger, and... my drink. :)

If you haven't heard any of our previous, one-on-one chats, you can find them here:

Andi Arndt, episode 4: https://www.richvoiceproductions.com/audiobook-speakeasy-1#episode004

Jesse Bickford, episode 55: https://www.richvoiceproductions.com/audiobook-speakeasy-3#episode055

Robin Miles, episode 39: https://www.richvoiceproductions.com/audiobook-speakeasy-2#episode039

Amy Rubinate, episode 80: https://www.richvoiceproductions.com/audiobook-speakeasy-4#episode080

Julia Whelan, episode 58: https://www.richvoiceproductions.com/audiobook-speakeasy-3#episode058

My guest tonight is the CEO of Common Mode Inc., Jess Escalona!

Jess tells me about working in a hip hop studio and doing post-production at a television studio while pursuing a degree in music and recording arts from William Paterson University, and finding that the work really didn't suit her; but a meeting with an adviser led to an interview at Common Mode Inc., and that led to immediate employment, and she liked that work so much that she's been there ever since. Jess and I then discuss her various different roles at Common Mode over the years, and how very important good -- and timely -- communication is in this industry. All this and more over some water and a Whoville's Spiced Up Christmas Margarita!

You can find Jess and Common Mode on Twitter and Instagram at @commonmodeinc.

My guest tonight is Hachette Audio producer Lisa Cahn!

Lisa and I reminisce a bit about our alma mater, Occidental College: we were apparently there for a year concurrently, but, alas, didn't know each other. Lisa then tells me about her journey from journalism into publishing, including her experience abridging books for audio back when that was the norm, and how she just might be at least partially responsible for the "celebrity narrator" trend (which, thankfully, appears to be waning). All this and much more over some Klinker Brick 1850° red wine and a Mexican Firing Squad!

You can connect with Lisa at lisa.cahn@hbgusa.com.