# HOW TO: Work Hard, and Play Harder (w/ John Li)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-50-50-podcast-7299121/how-to-work-hard-and-play-harder-w-john-li
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-50-50-podcast-7299121/how-to-work-hard-and-play-harder-w-john-li.md
Podcast: [The 50/50 Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-50-50-podcast-7299121)
Published: 2026-03-24T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://the-5050-podcast.castos.com/episodes/how-to-w-john-li
Audio file: https://episodes.castos.com/67e9c4924ee350-83326482/2404069/c1e-vqnz2s59o4da3np7q-pkwpd7g3t3q5-jh2b5k.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-50-50-podcast-7299121/episodes/how-to-work-hard-and-play-harder-w-john-li
Duration seconds: 3987

## Resource

This week, we’re joined by John Li (Development at Amazon TV) where we dive deep into how careers in entertainment really take shape. From being the guy who’s always grabbing drinks to mastering the art of authentic networking, John shares how genuine relationships—not transactional ones—have driven his path. He reflects on landing at USC just as the industry was being flipped upside down, and why adaptability, curiosity, and getting specific about what you actually want are key to finding your footing. We also dive into why being an assistant might be one of the most fun—and valuable—jobs in Hollywood, offering unmatched exposure early on, and how to reach the point where people rely on you so much your mistakes are actually felt. John opens up about what working at an agency taught him (including the reality that everyone’s “faking it” to some extent), how his taste has evolved over time, and why he’s focused on making impactful, high-quality content that reaches the largest possible audience. JOHN LI LINKEDIN SUBMIT TO 50/50 COMEDY HERE!

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## Transcript

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