Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviews kids for his social media sensation “Recess Therapy.”

They caught up with kids on benches, in front of statues, in the median of Flatbush Avenue. Mr. Shapiro-Barnum wielded his interviewer’s microphone like a magic wand, using it to distract, redirect, conjure and bestow. A consummate director, he double-checked his lighting, or shifted Ms. Ty Goldberg’s position. Mr. Shapiro-Barnum scrolled through approaches like one…

Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Out of the Office

Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited. Desperately Seeking Ice Breakers I landed a new remote job selling software to H.R. professionals. I’ve been assigned a “buddy” to meet with weekly, on Zoom. I’m a…

Love Isn’t a Zero-Sum Game

I’ve always been wary of sports, competition and falling in love. So growing up, I avoided all three. As a kid, I would shrug when “accidentally” letting goals into the net from the opposing team. I would walk slowly behind everyone else on the basketball court as they ran from end to end. My mother…