What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath
Episodes
A Lineman
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 u...
A Health Inspector
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Suspending the licenses of unsafe restaurant operators, hunting down the origins of foodborne illness outbreaks, and eliciting truthful answers from a...
An Olympic Bobsledder (Replay)
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode originally aired on December 17th, 2024.Hurtling down an ice track at nearly 100mph, perfecting the practice of visualization, and shavin...
A London Divorce Lawyer
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Negotiating cases in which neither spouse wants custody of the cat, setting clients' expectations about what's legally possible (versus what...
A Baker
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tinkering with the recipe for gingerbread cake until it's right, adjusting to the variability of local grains, and cherishing the quiet mornings ...
A Dog Groomer
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sculpting mullets on Havanese, enduring countless bites, and surviving level-five furnadoes with Aaron Williams, a dog groomer in Alabama. Why is the ...
A Marine Corps JAG
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Judging the permissibility of real-time battle decisions, advising commanders how to handle soldier misconduct, and assessing "hostile acts"...
An Elementary School Teacher
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Weaving songs and dances into classroom lessons, having difficult conversations with parents, and navigating the second-day meltdowns of kindergarten ...
A Humanitarian Worker
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Managing Ebola treatment centers in Sierra Leone, coordinating with government officials and local leaders, and advocating for the radical simplicity ...
A Conductor
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reinterpreting centuries-old classical music, marking up symphonies with notes on phrasing, and turning mid-performance disasters into unforgettable m...
A Master Electrician
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Calculating electrical loads, getting zapped by 277 volts, and savoring the freedom of the skilled trades with Doug Powell, a master electrician. Why ...
A Baseball Player
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scaling outfield walls to pick off home runs, bouncing between La Quinta hotels and sleeper buses, and chasing the dream of the majors with Trayvon Ro...
A Seismologist
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Monitoring global networks of seismometers, evangelizing for stronger buildings instead of better predictions, and measuring LA's slow crawl towa...
An Executive Chef
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Butchering whole alligators, costing out every plate down to the garnish, and perfecting grilled sweetbreads with Cindy Wolf, an executive chef. What ...
A Speechwriter
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writing for the ear rather than the eye, racing to meet teleprompter deadlines, and recasting lost memories as timeless advice with Stephen Krupin, a ...
A Floral Decorator
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Crafting floral masterpieces that disappear within hours, dealing with the eccentricities of wealthy clients, and making 3am runs to the flower market...
A Car Mechanic
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cracking automotive mysteries one diagnostic code at a time, mastering the art of quoting complicated repairs, and playing the "what kind of nois...
A Pharmacy Tech
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Counting out pills in fives, working with million-dollar drugs, and ensuring the right medication in the right dose gets delivered at the right moment...
A Chief Financial Officer
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forecasting what a business will earn and spend, allocating resources among teams clamoring for more, and practicing professional skepticism without k...
A Deli Owner
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Boiling briskets for five hours, escorting obnoxious customers to the door, and preserving the ritual of saying "hello" with Steven Peljovic...
A Massage Therapist
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Choreographing massages to Mozart, enforcing cancellation policies with beloved clients, and shutting down callers seeking "undraped sessions&quo...
A Harbor Pilot
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scaling three-story rope ladders up the sides of ships, memorizing every rock and current in a harbor, and narrowly avoiding catastrophic collisions w...
A Hospice Nurse
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Comforting patients as they prepare to transition, navigating end-of-life regrets and frayed relationships, and providing support and advice for fearf...
A Veterinarian
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Calming scared cats with pheromone sprays, advising families how to balance their pet's well-being with budget realities, and diagnosing mysterio...
A Software Engineer
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tracing mysterious errors to their source, jousting with product managers, and rolling out new features (without breaking the old ones) with Taylor Hu...
A City Manager
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mediating pickleball noise disputes, shepherding communities through thorny decisions, and practicing radical pragmatism with Martha Bennett, city man...
A Barman
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pouring pints for thirsty tourists, defusing situations with drunk patrons, and finding flow in the Friday night rush with Brian Wynne, a barman in Du...
A Brain Surgeon
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zapping parts of the brain to know where to cut, operating a mouth-controlled microscope that's worth more than a house, and carrying the weight ...
An Aircraft Carrier Commander
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Commanding a floating city of 5,000 sailors, intercepting Houthi missiles in the Red Sea, and stripping rank from sailors who cross the line with Capt...
A Daycare Owner
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Singing cleanup songs, tiring out kids before naptime, and battling the "babysitter" stereotype with Brenda Hawkins, a daycare owner in Mary...
An Audiobook Narrator
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fine-tuning the perfect accent for a character, recording for hours in a sound-insulated booth, and tracking down obscure pronunciations with Sean Pra...
RESET: How To Change What's Not Working
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've got something a little different and special for you this week! The day this is dropping, January 21st, is the launch day for my new book, ...
A Homicide Detective
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cracking decades-old murder cases, delivering unthinkable news to victims' families, and tracking suspects across borders with John Lamberti, a h...
A Toy Distributor
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Forecasting demand for 40,000 different products, arranging for model kits to traverse the globe from Chinese factories to mom-and-pop hobby shops, an...
An Olympic Bobsledder
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hurtling down an ice track at nearly 100mph, perfecting the practice of visualization, and shaving off hundredths of a second with Kaillie Humphries, ...
A Christmas Tree Farmer
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shearing Christmas trees into their classic shape, fighting back weeds and blackbirds, and planting 5,000 trees a year with Sheldon Corsi, a Christmas...
A Marine Biologist
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Swimming with 20-foot manta rays, suffering through grant applications, and rushing to the whale freezer with Jessica Pate, a marine biologist based i...
An Interior Designer
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Perfecting the soft finishes, dealing with divorcing couples, and cultivating the perfect network of artisans with Julie Anne Burch, an interior desig...
An NBA Referee
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ignoring 10,000 booing fans, collaborating with the replay center, and striving for perfection with Billy Kennedy, an NBA referee. What happens when y...
A London Cabbie
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Outsmarting drunks, competing with ride-share apps, and discovering that some of your passengers were Spice Girls with Jamie Owens, a London cabbie. H...
A Life Insurance Salesman
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Overcoming "soft objections," hustling to line up meetings, and navigating the line between business and friendship with David Johnson, a th...
A Camera Operator
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Framing a scene to draw in the audience, dealing with screaming directors, and getting lost in an actor's performance with Pauline Edwards, a cam...
A Long-Haul Truck Driver
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hauling 32,000 lbs of dead rats, strategically planning every turn and pit stop, and soaking up the highway sunrises and sunsets with Kathy and Gene L...
A Summer Camp Director
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Conjuring a world where kids can reinvent themselves, running a small town in the woods, and witnessing camp counselors falling in love with Eric Sass...
An Ice Cream Truck Driver
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Transforming school buses into ice cream trucks, watching kids grow up (one popsicle at a time), and struggling to keep the freezers running with Erin...
An Ocean Lifeguard
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to read the ocean, performing CPR on a dolphin, and leading daring (and sometimes foolish) rescues with Ed Vodrazka, an ocean lifeguard in Ca...
A Secret Service Agent
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scanning crowds for suspicious behavior, learning how to leap from moving vehicles, and investigating every threat to the president with Cindy Marble,...
A Tennis Coach
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scouting for signs of greatness, bolstering players after heartbreaking losses, and fighting the "yips" with Vesa Pönkkä, a veteran tennis...
A PR Crisis Manager
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Taking late-night phone calls from panicked clients, dueling with company lawyers over what to disclose, and rushing to preempt unfavorable stories wi...
A Creative Director
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Churning out creative possibilities on tight timelines, crafting bespoke stock images with help from AI, and pitching unique ideas to risk-averse clie...
A Dog Trainer
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reading canine body language, boarding dogs to teach them manners, and training the dogs' owners with Keely Korbel, a dog trainer. Is it a good i...
An Archaeologist
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unearthing ancient wine cellars, finding the right places to dig, and tracing the arc of lost civilizations with Eric Cline, an archaeologist. What&ap...
An FBI Special Agent
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Building cases against MS-13 gang members, flipping a suspect in an interrogation, and writing countless subpoenas for phone records with Dan Brunner,...
A Cattle Rancher
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Raising cattle in the high desert, hauling calves to auction, and protecting the herd from mountain lions with Chachi Hawkins, a cattle rancher in sou...
(BONUS) From Choiceology: “The Superforecasters”
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've got a special bonus episode for you this week! Our friends over at Choiceology, the podcast hosted by Katy Milkman, explores the lessons th...
A Turnaround Consultant
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Diagnosing what ails struggling companies, choosing the "least crappy option", and managing constant stress with Jeff Vogelsang, a turnaroun...
A Nurse
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Caring for patients with serious burns, making sure the correct leg gets operated on, and working 24 hours straight with Teresa Shuster, a nurse in Fl...
A Stand-Up Comedian
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Crafting jokes that kill, hustling to find gigs, and improvising based on the audience's reaction with Chris Grace, a stand-up comedian. What&apo...
A Hair Stylist
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cutting to accentuate the client's eyes and ears, plotting to tame Einstein's hair, and riding the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with On...
A Welder
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pushing perfectionism to its limits, suffering third degree burns from slag, and having your welds “shot” by X-rays with Matt "Lucky" Re...
A Piano Teacher
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Delivering the perfect first lesson, working with 89-year-old students, and learning how to charge for your work with Christina Whitlock, a piano teac...
A Professional Santa Claus
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Refurbishing old sleighs, reviewing advance dossiers on kids, and going to “Santa School" with Larry Jefferson, a professional Santa Claus base...
A High School Principal
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Managing complaints from parents, handling the horrors of teenage social media, and serving as an emergency substitute teacher with Marcus Belin, a hi...
A Mystery Novelist
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scouting body disposal sites, investigating obscure poisons, and computing royalty payments with Donna Andrews, the mystery novelist behind the Meg La...
A Forensic Accountant
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Catching embezzling CFOs, sniffing out a corrupt private school headmaster, and sifting through fake invoices with Chris Ekimoff, a forensic accountan...
A TV Meteorologist
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tracking a 2.5-mile-wide tornado, fretting over forecasts, and waking up at 2:30am with Lacey Swope, a TV meteorologist for News 9 in Oklahoma City. H...
A Criminal Defense Attorney
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Defending a man prosecuted for breaking into his own house, carrying clients’ burdens, and dispelling a myth about Miranda rights with Mike Panella,...
A Couples Therapist
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mystery dates, adult playrooms, habit stacking, and the misuse of “narcissism” with Laura Heck, a virtual couples therapist. Laura is also a co-ho...
A Stadium Beer Vendor
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meeting Muhammad Ali, handling fans who are alcoholics, pouring with no foam, and dreaming about one last game with Howard Hart, who spent three decad...
Coming Soon: What It's Like To Be...
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...