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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
Operational Law
Baking
Olympic Games
Covid-19
Ice Cream Truck Drivers
Secret Service
Stand-Up Comedy
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 monthlyEpisodes88Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessSociety & Culture

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

Latest Episodes

Poking a finger through rotted structural columns, hunting down the water leaks behind construction defects, and keeping cool under hostile cross-examination with Jorge McCormack, a forensic architect in Florida. Why do forensic architects avoid sayi... more

Sprawling on the floor like a starfish beside an overwhelmed teen, staging Friday prank calls to fellow teachers, and orchestrating the chaos of a self-contained classroom with Sierra Patrick, a special ed teacher in South Carolina. What does she wis... more

Chanting bids to whip up a bidding war, shipping $750,000 of Magic: The Gathering cards by armored car, and knowing exactly when to bring the gavel down with Joe Bodnar, an auctioneer in New Jersey. How does he separate junk from treasure? And what d... more

Sleuthing through patient histories for the clue everyone else missed, asking patients about caves, scorpions, and shaman retreats, and sounding the alarm on a potential Ebola case with Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious disease doctor. What annoys I... 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

Sierra Patrick
Special education teacher
South Carolina (district unspecified)
Episode: A Special Ed Teacher
Joe Bodnar
Auctioneer and owner of Bodnar's Auction
Bodnar's Auction (New Jersey)
Episode: An Auctioneer
Boghuma Titanji
Infectious disease doctor and professor of medicine at Emory University
Emory University
Episode: An Infectious Disease Doctor
John Ayala
Mail carrier in Los Angeles
United States Postal Service
Episode: A Mail Carrier
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"

Host

Dan Heath
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Piling on…

    It’s just a great way to see how people express their unique brand of excellence at work and in life. Makes me feel good every time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    One Dan in a Million
    United States11 days ago
  • Outstandingly Addictive!

    Love, love, love. Really enjoy this podcast. Quite enlightening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mommapenguin66
    United States14 days ago
  • Outstanding

    Love this podcast. Great stories great feel good stories really interesting people excellent interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Griswold Bookbinder
    United States18 days ago
  • Great Questions!

    I love listening to this podcast. Dan Heath does a phenomenal job asking questions and drawing out stories and insight from the guests. My kids love listening to the show with me. They have learned so much about different professions, but more importantly, they have learned how to ask people great questions and to show curiosity for those around them. I recommend the show at every opportunity I get, especially the first episode about the Stadium Beer Vendor. My kids will also be thrilled that I ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    doncheetwood
    United States18 days ago
  • I love this show

    My mom works at a Montessori school that has this thing called floortime where they work with. Some autistic kids. I need help getting into the classroom. And I’m finding a lot of similarities. Between this and the thing my mom runs. Also, I’ve been show for a long time almost the beginning and I’ve watched almost every episode and I love it so much. I just haven’t gotten myself to write a review. I listened to another podcast and I learn a lot of stuff there. this show really helps me calm down... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    0b-1
    United States19 days ago

Listeners Say

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

The show broadens imagination by revealing everyday experts behind familiar roles.
Episodes feel practical and heartwarming, with meaningful takeaways.
Guests are consistently engaging and the conversations feel human, not scripted.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful questions and warm interviewing style.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#179
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#65
United Kingdom/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#116
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#38
Australia/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Infectious Disease Doctor
Q: How would you coach a new fellow on getting the right answers from patients?
Listen more than you speak, watch for pauses, probe those pauses, and create a trusting environment that encourages patients to disclose details they might hide from others or forget to mention.
An Infectious Disease Doctor
Q: What makes an infectious disease doctor's work feel like detective work?
The core is taking deep patient histories, asking very specific questions about travel, exposures, pets, and environments, and then assembling clues to rule in or out potential diseases, often before tests solidify a diagnosis.
A Mail Carrier
Q: What was a memorable interaction with a resident?
One memorable moment involved a neighbor and a dramatic change in their life; the conversations and support around those moments highlighted how the mail route became a social lifeline for many.
A Mail Carrier
Q: What was the most rewarding part of your work?
The camaraderie with coworkers and the neighborhood relationships stood out, making the job less about delivering mail and more about being a consistent, trusted presence in people's everyday lives.
A Mail Carrier
Q: How did the introduction of DPS change the job?
Delivery Point Sequencing automated the sorting process, so carriers no longer sorted letters by hand and instead followed pre-ordered routes, which reduced in-office time but increased the emphasis on delivering as scheduled.

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 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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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. Sidedoor
2. Radiolab
3. This American Life
4. 99% Invisible
5. Choiceology with Katy Milkman

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

What It's Like To Be... launched 3 years ago and published 88 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. Sierra Patrick
2. Joe Bodnar
3. Boghuma Titanji
4. John Ayala
5. Michael Rejent
6. Linda Beall
7. Paul Drusch
8. Murat Kogut

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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