
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 92 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | CareersBusinessSociety & Culture | |||

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 dan... more
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 cig... more
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... more
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Some episodes I listen to just because I wonder, “what could be interesting about that career?” Oh! I am always pleasantly surprised. What a great podcast.
So, so, so, so, so good! So many episodes are great (e.g., “A Custom Harvester”), but “A Piano Tuner” was exceptionally wonderful. Dan Heath asks the most thoughtful and thought-provoking questions. Well worth a listen.
It took me a bit but I’ve grown to love this show. Dan’s recent episode on the piano tuner was a true gem that showed not only the job, but the underlying reasons for the work we do and how we show up as humans in those jobs. Lovely.
I really love this podcast - thanks Dan.
Learning something every episode. A great compliment to a peaceful walk. ☺️
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #19 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show shines a light on a wide spectrum of real-world jobs, from high-stakes careers like air traffic control and piloting to caregiving, ethics, and trades. Guests share tangible, behind-the-scenes details about daily routines, decision-making under pressure, and the human moments that make each profession meaningful. Listeners can expect practical insights, authenticity, and a recurring emphasis on the personal journeys, challenges, and pride that come with doing important work well. A notable strength is the host's thoughtful, respectful questioning and the way episodes connect disparate fields through common themes like teamwork, safety, and purpose.
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What It's Like To Be... launched 3 years ago and published 92 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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Recent guests on What It's Like To Be... include:
1. Peter Stumpf
2. Lisbeth Mikoleit
3. Jorge McCormack
4. Sierra Patrick
5. Joe Bodnar
6. Boghuma Titanji
7. John Ayala
8. Michael Rejent
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