Created by actor Leah Walsh, The Compass documents the lives of artists navigating the waters between art and commerce. Each week, Playbill highlights Walsh’s latest episode with industry professionals who share their own stories about making art, making a living, and maintaining inspiration.

The Compass marks its second anniversary this week, welcoming fiction writer Matt Lombardi for its 87th episode on August 11. Walsh speaks with Lombardi about his process as a writer, the long game of writing a novel, his work as a teacher, and how being a new father has changed his personal and professional life.

The Compass can be downloaded for free on iTunes.