Episodios

  • A Floral Decorator
    Aug 26 2025

    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?

    You can see some of Paul's work on his Instagram page.

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    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.

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    34 m
  • A Car Mechanic
    Aug 12 2025

    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?

    IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a forensic accountant, a welder, or a software engineer.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

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    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.

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    33 m
  • A Pharmacy Tech
    Jul 29 2025

    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?

    IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a nurse, a veterinarian, or a hospice nurse.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

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    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.

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    37 m
  • A Chief Financial Officer
    Jul 15 2025

    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?

    IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Check out what it's like to be a turnaround consultant, a forensic accountant, or a life insurance salesman.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

    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.

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    37 m
  • A Deli Owner
    Jul 1 2025

    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?

    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.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

    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.

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    30 m
  • A Massage Therapist
    Jun 17 2025

    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”?

    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.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

    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.

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    34 m
  • A Harbor Pilot
    Jun 3 2025

    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?

    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.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

    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.

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    37 m
  • A Hospice Nurse
    May 20 2025

    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?

    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.

    WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "starter pack". It's a curated Spotify playlist with some essential episodes from our back catalogue.

    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.

    Más Menos
    39 m