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

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

Dan Heath
Piano Teaching
Music Education
Child Development
Stand-Up Comedy
Mystery Writing
Indiana
Pedagogy
Student-Teacher Relationships
Live Performance
Nursing
Patient Care
Healthcare Challenges
Eric Cline
Santa Claus
Improvisation
Life Skills
Welding
Comedy
Healthcare Salary Issues
Dog Training

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 monthlyEpisodes72Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureBusinessCareers

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

Latest Episodes

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 "sev... more

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 year... more

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 c... more

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 resta... 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

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
Carlos Miguel Prieto
Music director and conductor
North Carolina Symphony; Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria
Episode: A Conductor
Lucy Jones
A seismologist devoted to understanding and preparing for earthquakes.
US Geological Survey
Episode: A Seismologist
Paul Hawkins
A floral decorator who previously was a child actor and has created arrangements for high-profile events.
Episode: A Floral Decorator

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 1.3k ratings
  • 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 States16 days ago
  • Always Insightful

    I was fascinated by Studs Terkel’s “Working” when I read it as a teenager, and have always been interested in how people learn to do their jobs and what makes them both good and fulfilled. This podcast delivers with deft interviewing by Dan and ongoing insights into what it’s like to do a job AND wider lessons for the rest of us too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sendhil
    United Statesa month ago
  • Six stars

    So pleased to have found this show. The vibe is spot on, brilliantly hosted and produced. I wish I was doing a job that allowed me to be a guest! Six stars!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Node71
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • GREAT show!!!

    One of my favorite Podcasts. I learn something new/interesting every episode!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beth_j74
    United States2 months ago
  • First Podcast Addict review! I love this podcast. It feels family friendly, and also has a lot of interesting information. Love what yall do, especially with just 2 people.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    MilesWK
    2 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
#13
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#91
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#191
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#35
Australia/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Diplomat
Q: What was your biggest takeaway about how diplomats handle rapid, high-stakes evacuations like in Kabul?
Preparation, coordination across agencies, and maintaining a focus on protecting those who worked with the U.S. while acknowledging that not everyone can be saved.
A Diplomat
Q: What is the most challenging part of reporting back from the field to Washington?
Ensuring honesty about what is happening on the ground while explaining the White House thinking and balancing it with the need to maintain credibility and avoid blowing up diplomatic efforts.
A Diplomat
Q: Where does your attention go first in a crisis moment, such as dealing with misreported diplomacy in the press?
The priority is to coordinate with the White House and senior officials to clarify policy and issue a real, unambiguous statement, while managing media and embassy communications to prevent misperceptions from spiraling.
A Lineman
Q: How has safety evolved for linemen over generations?
Safety standards were historically weaker, but the profession has fought for stronger standards and safety measures since the early days of the IBEW, significantly reducing injury and fatality rates over time.
A Lineman
Q: What moment convinces Elden that the effort is worth it for linemen?
Seeing the moment when a neighborhood finally has power back after a storm, with lights and AC turning on, is the point where the team's difficult work meets its benefits for the public.

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. This American Life
2. Death, Sex & Money
3. Hidden Brain
4. The Economics of Everyday Things
5. Fresh Air

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

What It's Like To Be... launched 3 years ago and published 72 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. John Johnson
2. Elden Rivas
3. Justin Dwyer
4. Sophie Williams
5. Aaron Williams
6. Grace Jackson
7. Carlos Miguel Prieto
8. Lucy Jones

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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