What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath
Alle afleveringen
92 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
-
A Choreographer
1 november 2026 · 38 min
Sketching choreography in airport bathroom stalls, coaching Usher on exactly how to hold a strawberry, and fighting for fair pay for dancers and choreographers with Galen Hooks, a commercial dance choreographer in Los Angeles. Can you copyright a dance routine? And what does "body conscious" mean at an audition? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES
Galen's website, Instagram, and YouTube channel
Watch "River" here
Usher's "Ruin" video, choreographed by Galen
Galen was nominated for a VMA for choreography for Camila Cabello's "Havana" video.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Piano Tuner
25 oktober 2026 · 36 min
Listening for harmonics inside a note, dealing with awkward situations in people's homes, and chasing down nearly imperceptible flaws for world-class pianists with Peter Stumpf, a piano tuner in Pittsburgh. Why does he bite his tuning fork like a cigar? And what does it mean to "stretch an octave"? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Contortionist
18 oktober 2026 · 41 min
Contorting inside a floating pool bubble, overriding her body’s false alarms while bending backward, and stretching and strengthening six days a week for a four-minute act with Lisbeth Mikoleit, a contortionist in Las Vegas. Why does she train with a mouth guard? And what’s a “triple fold”? Lees meer
DID YOU SHOUT US OUT SOMEWHERE? Email a screenshot or link to shoutout@whatitslike.com
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Big Announcement
13 oktober 2026 · 2 min
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com Lees meer
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Forensic Architect
6 oktober 2026 · 32 min
Poking a finger through rotted structural columns, hunting down the water leaks behind construction defects, and keeping cool under hostile cross-examination with Jorge McCormack, a forensic architect in Florida. Why do forensic architects avoid saying the word "mold"? And what's a "Daubert motion"? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Special Ed Teacher
22 september 2026 · 35 min
Sprawling on the floor like a starfish beside an overwhelmed teen, staging Friday prank calls to fellow teachers, and orchestrating the chaos of a self-contained classroom with Sierra Patrick, a special ed teacher in South Carolina. What does she wish people understood about nonverbal students? And what's the most valuable piece of technology in her classroom? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Auctioneer
8 september 2026 · 36 min
Chanting bids to whip up a bidding war, shipping $750,000 of Magic: The Gathering cards by armored car, and knowing exactly when to bring the gavel down with Joe Bodnar, an auctioneer in New Jersey. How does he separate junk from treasure? And what does it mean to "break up the pool"? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Infectious Disease Doctor
25 augustus 2026 · 36 min
Sleuthing through patient histories for the clue everyone else missed, asking patients about caves, scorpions, and shaman retreats, and sounding the alarm on a potential Ebola case with Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious disease doctor. What annoys ID doctors about the TV show House? And which infections can she diagnose by smell? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES
Psittacosis is a rare bacterial infection spread from birds, explained on the CDC's psittacosis page
A 2026 hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship killed three passengers, per this CDC health advisory.
APOPO trains rats to sniff out tuberculosis in sputum samples. See how it works.
Listen to Death, Sex, and Money
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Mail Carrier
11 augustus 2026 · 30 min
Loading the mail truck before the day begins, dealing with aggressive dogs and bad weather, and keeping a neighborhood connected by showing up every day with John Ayala, a retired mail carrier in Los Angeles. How did a golf club help him deliver packages? And what does a mail carrier learn about us from our mail? Lees meer
Thanks to Mike, one of our listeners, who reached out to suggest we talk with John after reading a profile of him in the LA Times.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Hotshot
28 juli 2026 · 35 min
Digging line to redirect the country's fiercest wildland fires, sleeping in the dirt after a 16-hour day, and turning physical endurance into a public service with Ben Strahan, a hotshot crew superintendent in California. What does a wildfire sound like up close? And where does a crew go when the fire threatens to overrun them? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Airport CEO
14 juli 2026 · 36 min
Pitching airline executives during route-planning speed dates, opening a $1.7 billion new terminal, and making space for emotional airport reunions with Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport. Why does she have a beekeeper on contract? And what did a missing freight elevator teach her about leadership? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Civil Aviation Engineer
7 juli 2026 · 30 min
Designing runways for hot air and heavy planes, inspecting pavement cracks with measuring wheels, and protecting vicious little owls from construction crews with Eileen Vélez-Vega, a civil aviation engineer in Puerto Rico. What does the color of runway lights reveal to a pilot? And what's a "spall"? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Air Traffic Controller
30 juni 2026 · 31 min
Sequencing departures like a moving puzzle, scrambling when a jet takes off without clearance, and catching what radar misses with a glance out the window with Michael Rejent, an air traffic controller. What does "tally ho" mean to a pilot? What phrase makes every controller in the cab look up? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Flight Attendant
23 juni 2026 · 30 min
Hugging a mother through an anxiety attack, bidding for the best routes, and absorbing strangers' confessions at 35,000 feet with Linda Beall, a flight attendant. What does it mean when the cabin bells ring three or four times? And what makes a trip a “dog”? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Airline Pilot
16 juni 2026 · 39 min
Shooting cat-three landings in the fog, using the “voice of God” on unruly passengers, and declaring Mayday after an engine fire with Paul Drusch, a commercial airline pilot. Why does the pilot’s paycheck start with the parking brake? And what does “sterile cockpit” mean? (Spoiler: it doesn’t mean “clean.”) Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
(Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
9 juni 2026 · 17 min
Athletes get all the glory, but there are countless people around them making the games happen - from referees making judgments, to vendors in the stands hawking snacks and beer. In this episode from The StoryCorps Podcast, drawn from our archive of the largest single collection of human voices ever recorded, you’ll hear from the people on the sidelines. Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Clinical Ethicist
2 juni 2026 · 40 min
Untangling who gets to speak for a dying patient, weighing a treatment's benefits against its burdens, and searching for clarity in the grayest corners of healthcare with Esther Berkowitz, a clinical ethicist. What is the "dignity of risk"? And how do you know which "version" of a person to trust? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Correctional Officer
19 mei 2026 · 35 min
Grinding through 16-hour shifts, standing behind inmates (never in front), and trying to stay human in an inhuman environment with Bill Farrell, a correctional officer in Massachusetts. What happens when an officer gets "frozen"? And why does the sound of scuffling sneakers stop him in his tracks? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES
Bill was the co-creator of a short documentary about the physical and mental toll of being a correctional officer. It's called "Behind The Wall".
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Custom Harvester
5 mei 2026 · 36 min
Harvesting five million bushels of wheat and corn from Texas to Montana, outrunning hailstorms that decimate a year's income in 20 minutes, and running a multimillion-dollar convoy of equipment down the highway with Josh Beckley, a third-generation custom harvester from Kansas. Why do farmers outsource the harvesting of their own crops? And what happens when you drive a combine into a ditch? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Funeral Director
21 april 2026 · 37 min
Guiding grieving families through arrangement meetings, orchestrating meaningful memorial services within days, and preparing bodies for viewing with Heather Hill, a funeral director in North Carolina. What's different about doing makeup on a dead person? And what is it like to field a death call? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES
Heather writes about her work on her website.
She's a funeral director at Renaissance Funeral Home in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"The Future is Female" - American Funeral Director on the surge of women graduating from mortuary school
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Aerospace Engineer
7 april 2026 · 37 min
Landing the Perseverance rover on Mars, working in clean rooms to minimize the microbial bug count, and slogging through hundreds of engineering trade-offs with Swati Mohan, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. What are the "seven minutes of terror"? And is there evidence of past life on Mars? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES:
Watch Swati voice the landing of Perseverance in 2021.
Swati's official NASA bio
More about the Perseverance rover
Swati Mohan spoke with us in a personal capacity. The views expressed in this episode are her own and do not represent the views of NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or any other organization.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Diplomat
24 maart 2026 · 35 min
Defusing a crisis after an ambassador hinted at a preemptive strike on Russia, delivering demarches in multiple languages, and surviving the frantic evacuation of the Kabul embassy with John Johnson, a retired diplomat who spent more than twenty years in the US Foreign Service. Do diplomats still send "cables" in the 21st century? And what does "not/not" mean? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Lineman
10 maart 2026 · 30 min
Wiring a neighborhood back to life after a tornado, coveting the work of helicopter linemen in Faraday suits, and surviving the collapse of a rotten utility pole with Elden Rivas, a journeyman lineman in Houston, Texas. What is the one sound on the crew radio that stops every lineman cold? And why does a squirrel on a transformer mean easy money? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Health Inspector
24 februari 2026 · 31 min
Suspending the licenses of unsafe restaurant operators, hunting down the origins of foodborne illness outbreaks, and eliciting truthful answers from anxious managers with Justin Dwyer, a health inspector in Peoria, Illinois. What happens when a restaurant locks the door on an inspector? And why should you never wash your Thanksgiving turkey? Lees meer
LINKS & REFERENCES
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath. You can find the audiobook at Audible, Spotify, and Apple Books.
The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
USDA: To Wash Or Not to Wash Your Turkey
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Olympic Bobsledder (Replay)
17 februari 2026 · 38 min
Hurtling down an ice track at nearly 100mph, perfecting the practice of visualization, and shaving off hundredths of a second with Kaillie Humphries, an Olympic bobsledder. What's the most feared track in the world? And how do athletes practice when there's no ice in the summer? Lees meer
This episode originally aired on December 17th, 2024.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A London Divorce Lawyer
10 februari 2026 · 36 min
Negotiating cases in which neither spouse wants custody of the cat, setting clients' expectations about what's legally possible (versus what feels "right"), and finding hope in people's ability to bounce back from dark times with Lucy Stewart-Gould, a divorce lawyer in London. What simple question can break open a deadlocked settlement? And what's a "jurisdiction race"? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a criminal defense attorney, a forensic accountant, or a couples therapist.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Baker
27 januari 2026 · 35 min
Tinkering with the recipe for gingerbread cake until it's right, adjusting to the variability of local grains, and cherishing the quiet mornings when the sun fills the bakery windows with Sophie Williams, a baker in Bellingham, Washington. What happens when you bake all your sourdough starter by accident? And what's a "starch attack"? Lees meer
Links & References:
Sophie owns and operates Raven Bakery in Bellingham, Washington.
The Economics of Everyday Things
Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Dog Groomer
13 januari 2026 · 33 min
Sculpting mullets on Havanese, enduring countless bites, and surviving level-five furnadoes with Aaron Williams, a dog groomer in Alabama. Why is the grooming table his most powerful psychological tool? And which part of the grooming process is most dreaded by dogs? Lees meer
You can see Aaron in action at his YouTube channel.
Want more episodes featuring professions who work with animals? We've spoken with a veterinarian, a cattle rancher, and a dog trainer.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Marine Corps JAG
30 december 2025 · 34 min
Judging the permissibility of real-time battle decisions, advising commanders how to handle soldier misconduct, and assessing "hostile acts" and "hostile intent" with Lieutenant Colonel Susan Upward, a Marine Corps JAG. What does "dispo" mean in military justice? And how do you tell a commander his idea is colossally stupid -- while keeping your job? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Elementary School Teacher
16 december 2025 · 35 min
Weaving songs and dances into classroom lessons, having difficult conversations with parents, and navigating the second-day meltdowns of kindergarten students with Yaronda Kilgo, an elementary school teacher. What did a backpack full of snacks teach her about empathy? And what makes her "extra"? Lees meer
We're teaming up this month with GiveDirectly to collect money that will go directly to Rwandan families. Dan will match every dollar raised from What It's Like To Be... listeners. Donate now: givedirectly.org/whatitslike
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Humanitarian Worker
2 december 2025 · 35 min
Managing Ebola treatment centers in Sierra Leone, coordinating with government officials and local leaders, and advocating for the radical simplicity of cash aid with Grace Jackson, a humanitarian worker. When low-income families are given money, what's the first thing they often buy? And what is “CMCoord”? Lees meer
This episode is part of a fundraising effort called Pods Fight Poverty. We're teaming up with GiveDirectly to collect money that will go directly to Rwandan families. Dan will match every dollar raised from What It's Like To Be... listeners. Donate now: givedirectly.org/whatitslike
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Conductor
18 november 2025 · 32 min
Reinterpreting centuries-old classical music, marking up symphonies with notes on phrasing, and turning mid-performance disasters into unforgettable moments with Carlos Miguel Prieto, a music director and conductor. How do you get an orchestra to pick up the tempo? (Spoiler: Not by waving your hands faster.) And how does a performance of Beethoven's Fifth sound different today from a century ago? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Master Electrician
4 november 2025 · 33 min
Calculating electrical loads, getting zapped by 277 volts, and savoring the freedom of the skilled trades with Doug Powell, a master electrician. Why are blue-collar professions growing increasingly more attractive? And what are the telltale signs of a hack electrician? Lees meer
Doug runs Lumen Brothers Electric Company with his business partner, Josh.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Baseball Player
21 oktober 2025 · 31 min
Scaling outfield walls to pick off home runs, bouncing between La Quinta hotels and sleeper buses, and chasing the dream of the majors with Trayvon Robinson, a professional baseball player. What superstitions did he live by? And what did he do to make SportsCenter in his major league debut? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Seismologist
7 oktober 2025 · 33 min
Monitoring global networks of seismometers, evangelizing for stronger buildings instead of better predictions, and measuring LA's slow crawl toward Alaska with Lucy Jones, a seismologist in Southern California. Why does she begin counting when she feels the earth start to shake? And how did a nuclear test ban treaty end up boosting the science of earthquakes? Lees meer
Lucy is author of the book The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them). She also founded the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society.
The piece composed by Lucy featured at the end of the episode is called "In Nomine Terra Calens: In the name of a warming earth". It was performed and mixed by Josh Lee.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
An Executive Chef
23 september 2025 · 34 min
Butchering whole alligators, costing out every plate down to the garnish, and perfecting grilled sweetbreads with Cindy Wolf, an executive chef. What was it like to cook for Julia Child? And what popular item does she wish she could purge from the menu? Lees meer
Dan's latest book is Reset: How to Change What's Not Working. It's out in hard cover and as an audiobook.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Speechwriter
9 september 2025 · 32 min
Writing for the ear rather than the eye, racing to meet teleprompter deadlines, and recasting lost memories as timeless advice with Stephen Krupin, a speechwriter. What was it like to write speeches for President Obama? And when can a speaker's desire for "authenticity" go too far? Lees meer
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Floral Decorator
26 augustus 2025 · 34 min
Crafting floral masterpieces that disappear within hours, dealing with the eccentricities of wealthy clients, and making 3am runs to the flower market with Paul Hawkins, a floral decorator in England. Why is it a no-no to mix red and white flowers? And what's it like to design floral decorations for royalty? Lees meer
You can see some of Paul's work on his Instagram page.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Car Mechanic
12 augustus 2025 · 34 min
Cracking automotive mysteries one diagnostic code at a time, mastering the art of quoting complicated repairs, and playing the "what kind of noise is it?" guessing game with Justin Snodgrass, a car mechanic who owns his own shop. Why should $19.99 oil changes make you suspicious? And why might your local car mechanic decline to work on new cars? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a forensic accountant, a welder, or a software engineer.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Pharmacy Tech
29 juli 2025 · 37 min
Counting out pills in fives, working with million-dollar drugs, and ensuring the right medication in the right dose gets delivered at the right moment with Rose Davin, a pharmacy technician in Rochester, New York. What are the layers of protection that prevent pharmacy employees from absconding with opioids? And what happens if a technician accidentally drops a pill on the floor? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a nurse, a veterinarian, or a hospice nurse.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Chief Financial Officer
15 juli 2025 · 37 min
Forecasting what a business will earn and spend, allocating resources among teams clamoring for more, and practicing professional skepticism without killing the vibe with Steve Love, a chief financial officer. What does it feel like to confess to a board of directors that you've made a potentially catastrophic error? And what happens when business leaders accidentally release non-public information? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a turnaround consultant, a forensic accountant, or a life insurance salesman.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Deli Owner
1 juli 2025 · 30 min
Boiling briskets for five hours, escorting obnoxious customers to the door, and preserving the ritual of saying "hello" with Steven Peljovich, who runs Michael's Deli in Boston. What makes a deli different from a sandwich shop? And, until recently, why did he resist taking orders online? Lees meer
Read The Boston Globe story that Steven mentioned about longtime customer Rita Manor.
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a stadium beer vendor, a barman, or an ice cream truck driver.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Massage Therapist
17 juni 2025 · 34 min
Choreographing massages to Mozart, enforcing cancellation policies with beloved clients, and shutting down callers seeking "undraped sessions" with Allissa Haines, a massage therapist. What made her cry in her car after one particular house call? And what is "effleurage”? Lees meer
In this episode, Dan recommended The Work of Art by Adam Moss, a book about how artists make their work. Check it out here.
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a couples therapist, a hair stylist, or a piano teacher.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Harbor Pilot
3 juni 2025 · 37 min
Scaling three-story rope ladders up the sides of ships, memorizing every rock and current in a harbor, and narrowly avoiding catastrophic collisions with Captain Grant Livingstone, a retired harbor pilot. What do you do when your engine and anchors fail in heavy fog? And how do you dock a ship the size of the Empire State Building? Lees meer
Grant and his twin brother Captain George Livingstone co-authored the recent book Shiphandling, The Beautiful Game.
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a long-haul trucker, an ocean lifeguard, or a London cabbie.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Hospice Nurse
20 mei 2025 · 39 min
Comforting patients as they prepare to transition, navigating end-of-life regrets and frayed relationships, and providing support and advice for fearful families with Heather Meyerend, a retired hospice nurse. How does she know when the end is imminent? And what has the work taught her about the different ways we deal with death? Lees meer
Heather is a contributing author to the book Resilient Faith: Dare To Believe. She was also profiled in The New Yorker in 2016: "A Tender Hand in the Presence of Death".
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a nurse, a brain surgeon, or a veterinarian.
Learn more about StoryCorps and the Story Preservation Initiative at their websites.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Veterinarian
6 mei 2025 · 37 min
Calming scared cats with pheromone sprays, advising families how to balance their pet's well-being with budget realities, and diagnosing mysterious animal maladies with Dr. Hindatu Mohammed, a veterinarian in Austin, TX. What breed of dog, when having its nails clipped, responds as though it's being murdered? And how did an injured ant shape her career choice? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a dog trainer, a nurse, or a brain surgeon.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Software Engineer
22 april 2025 · 31 min
Tracing mysterious errors to their source, jousting with product managers, and rolling out new features (without breaking the old ones) with Taylor Hughes, a software engineer. How did one failed software fix ruin Christmas for kids around the country? And what is "spaghetti code"? Lees meer
Taylor is currently a co-founder and the CTO at Hypernatural.ai.
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a forensic accountant, a creative director, or a brain surgeon.
Learn more about StoryCorps and the Story Preservation Initiative at their websites.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A City Manager
8 april 2025 · 35 min
Mediating pickleball noise disputes, shepherding communities through thorny decisions, and practicing radical pragmatism with Martha Bennett, city manager of Lake Oswego, Oregon. What is it that makes public hearings so noxious? And what's the difference between "Big P" and "Little P" politics? Lees meer
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a high school principal, a PR crisis manager, or a turnaround consultant.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Barman
25 maart 2025 · 36 min
Pouring pints for thirsty tourists, defusing situations with drunk patrons, and finding flow in the Friday night rush with Brian Wynne, a barman in Dublin. What caused one customer to throw a dog at Brian? And what is "craic"? Lees meer
If you'd like to reach out to Brian, email Dan at dan@whatitslike.com
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be an ice cream truck driver, a stand-up comedian, or a London cabbie.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.
-
A Brain Surgeon
11 maart 2025 · 40 min
Zapping parts of the brain to know where to cut, operating a mouth-controlled microscope that's worth more than a house, and carrying the weight of life-or-death decisions with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, a brain surgeon at the Mayo Clinic. How do you preserve a mathematician's expertise when removing tumors? And how did he go from picking tomatoes to performing brain surgery? Lees meer
Dr. Q wrote about his remarkable journey to the operating room in the book, Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon.
He was also featured in the Netflix documentary series The Surgeon’s Cut.
IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a hospice nurse, a nurse, a veterinarian.
GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at jobs@whatitslike.com
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Email us at partnerships@whatitslike.com
WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Leave us a voicemail at (919) 213-0456. We’ll ask you to answer two questions:
1. What’s a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know and what does it mean?
2. What’s a specific story you tell your friends that happened on the job? It could be funny, sad, anxiety-making, pride-inducing or otherwise.
We can’t respond to every message, but we do listen to all of them! We’ll follow up if it's a good fit.