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What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath

Dan Heath
Child Development
Piano Teaching
Christmas Trees
Daycare
Military Justice
Bobsledding
Tennis
Summer Camps
Music Education
Early Childhood Education
Military Operations
Operational Law
Baking
Olympic Games
Covid-19
Ice Cream Truck Drivers
Stand-Up Comedy
Secret Service
Emotional Development
Love and Attachment

Curious what it would be like to walk in someone else’s (work) shoes? Join New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath as he explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes82Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersSociety & CultureBusiness

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Artwork for What It's Like To Be...

Latest Episodes

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 con... more

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 runw... more

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 phra... more

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 ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Michael Rejent
Air traffic controller
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
Episode: An Air Traffic Controller
Linda Beall
Flight attendant, Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Episode: A Flight Attendant
Paul Drusch
Commercial airline pilot with decades of experience
Episode: An Airline Pilot
Murat Kogut
Aspiring NBA referee, son of Leon Kogut
Self/StoryCorps interviewee
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
Leon Kogut
Barbershop owner; Murat's father
Family member
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
Clarence Haskett
Stadium beer vendor known as Fancy Clancy
Self/StoryCorps interviewee
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
Jerry Collier
Friend of Clancy; fellow vendor
Self/StoryCorps interviewee
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
Red Klotz
Globetrotters coach and player
Harlem Globetrotters
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"
Jodie Ferrari
Red Klotz's daughter
StoryCorps interviewee
Episode: (Bonus) From StoryCorps: "Sideliners"

Host

Dan Heath
Host and interviewer guiding conversations with professionals from various fields

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Great work

    Great work

    Please do a paramedic (specifically the ones that work out of fire stations on ambulances)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Strigaformes Pizzaria
    United States24 days ago
  • Binge worthy

    So glad I found this show. This FEEL GOOD informational listening adds a boost to my day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CJEagleheart
    United States25 days ago
  • suggestion for an episode about what it’s like to be a Phd student

    Thank you for great episodes. I especially loved the episode of the elementary school teacher. Ms Kilgo’s experiences were amazing and the episode urged me to listen. How about doing an episode about Phd student. What’s it like to be a Phd student?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Idk bruh pls don’t take
    United States25 days ago
  • Thanks

    Thanks to Lizzie Peabody telling me about your podcast. Personal pilot for 64 years. Felt like I was getting behind the airplane and gave it up

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JudgeArt
    United Statesa month ago
  • So glad I found this podcast!

    Thank you to Snap Judgment for playing an Episode of What it’s Like to Be - you’ve uncovered a treasure trove of incredibly interesting and thoughtful episodes that make me hopeful for everything that’s great about being human.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amc1975
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes the wrap-up insights that distill lessons from each interview, adding extra value.
The show is described as relatable and enlightening, with stories that feel intimate and human.
Listeners praise the host's genuine curiosity and thoughtful questions that surface surprising details about everyday work.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#3
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#78
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#11
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#62
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#136
United Kingdom/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Airline Pilot
Q: How do you feel about the stereotype that pilots just push a button and ride autopilot?
That view is far from accurate; pilots physically fly the aircraft, especially during challenging weather or precision approaches, and autopilot is a tool used within a broader set of skilled, hands-on tasks.
An Airline Pilot
Q: What is your typical rhythm with air traffic control when you're cruising over the ocean?
You check in at every waypoint and hand off smoothly between controllers as you cross borders, with frequent frequency changes and precise readbacks to confirm you're understood and on the right route.
A Flight Attendant
Q: What is a word or phrase that only someone from your profession would be likely to know, and what does it mean?
The term bid or bidding refers to how flight attendants bid for their schedules based on seniority, and it determines which trips you end up with, including the worst cases like seven short flights in a day.
A Clinical Ethicist
Q: What's the most challenging part of balancing patient wishes with family dynamics?
Determining which version of the patient's wishes is authentic can be difficult when family members disagree; we try to triangulate through patterns of past decisions and the patient's expressed values to infer what they would want.
A Clinical Ethicist
Q: What does a typical ethics consult look like from start to finish?
We identify the decision maker, review advance directives, assess whether there is substituted judgment, consider legal hierarchies, and then present a reasoned recommendation to guide the care team while acknowledging the patient's values and limits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About What It's Like To Be...

What is What It's Like To Be... about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show spotlights a wide range of real-world professionals, from correctional officers and funeral directors to engineers, diplomats, athletes, and bakers, revealing how they navigate high-stakes environments, skillful tradecraft, and meaningful daily routines. Conversations emphasize humanity, resilience, and the practical realities of work, including leadership decisions, safety, ethics, and the personal costs and rewards of chosen careers. A notable throughline is the host's curiosity that draws out concrete details, lessons, and surprising angles—making abstract ideas about work tangible and relatable for prospective guests and listeners alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to What It's Like To Be...?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What It's Like To Be...:

1. Choiceology with Katy Milkman
2. The Economics of Everyday Things
3. Death, Sex & Money
4. This American Life
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of What It's Like To Be... are there?

What It's Like To Be... launched 3 years ago and published 82 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What It's Like To Be...?

Recent guests on What It's Like To Be... include:

1. Michael Rejent
2. Linda Beall
3. Paul Drusch
4. Murat Kogut
5. Leon Kogut
6. Clarence Haskett
7. Jerry Collier
8. Red Klotz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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