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

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
Baking
Operational Law
Olympic Games
Covid-19
Stand-Up Comedy
Ice Cream Truck Drivers
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 monthlyEpisodes76Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureBusinessCareers

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

Latest Episodes

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 d... more

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 sou... more

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 c... more

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 pe... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Josh Beckley
Owner of Beckley Harvesting, a third-generation custom harvester
Beckley Harvesting
Episode: A Custom Harvester
Heather Hill
Funeral director in Raleigh, North Carolina
Funeral home in Raleigh, NC
Episode: A Funeral Director
Swati Mohan
Aerospace Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Episode: An Aerospace Engineer
John Johnson
Retired diplomat, US Foreign Service, public affairs specialist
US Department of State
Episode: A Diplomat
Elden Rivas
Journeyman lineman, Texas
IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
Episode: A Lineman
Justin Dwyer
Health inspector with eleven years of experience
Peoria City County Health Department
Episode: A Health Inspector
Sophie Williams
Owner of Raven Bakery
Raven Bakery
Episode: A Baker
Aaron Williams
Dog groomer with a unique style and approach to grooming.
Episode: A Dog Groomer
Grace Jackson
Country Director for GiveDirectly in Malawi, humanitarian worker.
GiveDirectly
Episode: A Humanitarian Worker

Host

Dan Heath
Host of What It's Like To Be... who guides conversations with professionals from various fields.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • I guess that makes me the second Podcast Addict review!

    Great podcast! Keep up the good work!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RyanDarkStormer
    a month ago
  • So Interesting!

    So often, initially the job title doesn’t even sound that interesting to me and I end up listening to the pod a day or so after posting. Invariably, I am amazed!!! From beach / ocean lifeguard to harbor captain. All the jobs it takes to keep a country running, many that we (or at least I) never think about (much). Great pod!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    E_Munch
    United States2 months ago
  • A favorite listen

    Whenever there is a new episode, it goes to the top of the queue. They are fun and engaging, always a treat to get the inside scoop on something I will likely never do. Dan is thoughtful with his questions and shows a genuine curiosity for his guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ALM81279
    United States2 months ago
  • Glad I Came for a Visit

    … to this Podcast ! Learning new things about jobs from actual workers is brilliant with the wrap-up synopsis is perfect.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gutfeld Fan
    United States2 months ago
  • Love this

    This is one of my favorite podcasts! I genuinely look forward to each episode of What It’s Like. It’s fascinating to hear directly from people about their jobs—the good, the challenging, and everything in between. I am so happy that I found it!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Evalinkz
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

People appreciate the empathetic, humanizing approach that makes unfamiliar jobs accessible and inspiring.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful, curiosity-driven interviewing and ability to surface engaging, practical details from diverse careers.
Audiences value the mix of technical insight and personal storytelling, noting the show's broad relevance for career exploration and workplace understanding.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#9
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#241
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#14
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#15
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#190
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#53
Australia/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Correctional Officer
Q: Why do you continue in a role that is so damaging mentally and emotionally?
He cites benefits like pension, stability, and a sense of purpose, plus belief in positive transformations he witnesses in others and the meaningful impact of his programs.
A Correctional Officer
Q: How has the job affected your personal life?
Battles at work spill into home life, influencing how he relates to his wife and family; recognizing this led to efforts to manage stress and keep boundaries.
A Correctional Officer
Q: What does it mean when you say communication is important in this job?
It means greeting inmates, checking in, and talking respectfully to build rapport, which helps deescalate situations and show humanity even in a tough environment.
A Custom Harvester
Q: What have you learned over years about managing people in this line of work?
People management is the hardest part; it requires adapting language and tone to different generations, controlling your facial expressions, and maintaining calm when mistakes happen, since you cannot replace a person like you replace iron, which makes leadership and communication crucial.
A Custom Harvester
Q: What's the biggest disaster you've faced on the harvest run, and how did you handle it?
Two major incidents stand out: a field fire caused by a bearing failure on a header that burned hundreds of acres, and a separate incident where a combine slipped off a ditch; both required quick coordination, insurance coverage for the fire, and cranes to recover the equipment, underscoring the volatility and risk in the job.

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 offers intimate, human-centered conversations with people who love what they do, spanning trades, public service, the arts, science, and entrepreneurship. Episodes foreground practical realities, gearheads and grit, daily routines, and the human stories behind professional expertise—from linemen wrestling with storms to health inspectors enforcing safety, chefs crafting memorable menus, and researchers shaping public understanding of risk. Across samples, the host's curious, empathetic approach surfaces surprising anecdotes, tradecraft details, and the mindset that makes a profession compelling. The format tends to blend technical gloss with personal narrative, making complex work approachable and inspiring for listeners considerin... more

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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. The Economics of Everyday Things
2. Choiceology with Katy Milkman
3. No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp
4. People I (Mostly) Admire
5. Freakonomics Radio

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

What It's Like To Be... launched 3 years ago and published 76 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. Josh Beckley
2. Heather Hill
3. Swati Mohan
4. John Johnson
5. Elden Rivas
6. Justin Dwyer
7. Sophie Williams
8. Aaron Williams

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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