Real Work, Real Life

Emily Sampson

Everything you wished you learned during your school's Career Day. Hear interviews from people in every line of work, covering how to get there, what the actual work is like, pay, benefits, and both the joys and annoyances that aren't clear until you're working in the field. Reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com read less
BusinessBusiness

Episodes

Firefighter
Oct 2 2024
Firefighter
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life I’m talking with Mike Ettenberg, a firefighter and the founder of Frontline Optics, a sunglasses company focused on the needs of the First Responder Community but suitable for anyone. If you’ve ever considered becoming a firefighter or you wonder what it’s like, we get into it all: the joys of camaraderie and making a clear and tangible impact on people's lives, but of course, with the lows of the profession like burnout and spending much of your working life seeing people on some of the worst days of their lives. We also learned that if you want to thank your local fire department, you can’t go wrong with sweet treats. If you’d like to find out more about Mike’s company, which donates a portion of all proceeds to the First Responders Children’s Foundation, in support of those children who have lost a parent in the line of duty you can find them here: https://frontline-optics.comIf you liked this interview with Mike, you might also like my discussion with Tim and hearing about his life in the Air Force and working for the government or Meg, talking about life in the U.S.Army:Meg, U.S. ArmyTim, Air Force and GovernmentIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Technical Account Manager
Sep 4 2024
Technical Account Manager
Send us a textOn this week’s episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Nathan, a technical account manager. Generally, technical account managers are the technical support liaison for clients of software companies. They form and maintain relationships with their clients, help them resolve issues with the products, and make sure they’re are able to use it effectively, which is really important because software can often be a huge investment for a client. We cover so much in this episode, including thoughts on the future of this work with the continued rise of AI, the challenges of working in a service role (even a highly skilled one), the transition from in office to remote work, and how this role fits into the typical software company structure. If enjoyed this episode, you might also like my interviews with Sam, a Customer Success Manager, and Jake, a Software Engineer, you can find them linked below!Software EngineerCustomer Success ManagerIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Radiologic Technologist
Aug 7 2024
Radiologic Technologist
Send us a textOn this week’s episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Chaundria Singleton, a medical imaging and radiation therapy professional, or a radiologic technologist. One path we talk about here is one that I don’t hear quite as much about, the path from entrepreneurship into a career as an employee. I’m so glad to have an opportunity to share that path, because we so often romanticize the path of ditching your 9-5 to be your own boss, but there are tons of reasons that being an employee might be a better path for a person, especially in an in demand field like this. We cover so many important tips and considerations in the field, like the earning potential of different specialities, making sure you’re applying for an accredited program, and what actually happens if you accidentally get into an MRI with metal in your body. If you want to find out more about Chaundria and this field, you can follow her on social media at @acoupleofradtechs. If you enjoyed this episode, I have quite a few other interviews with people working in the medical field, like Kat, a physical therapist assistant or Chris, a registered nurse.Follow Chaundria on social media @acoupleofradtechsOther episodes that might interest you:Kat, Physical Therapist AssistantChris, Registered NurseIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Teacher, Middle and High School
Jul 10 2024
Teacher, Middle and High School
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Meagan Tehseldar, a high school English Language Arts teacher. When I first envisioned this podcast, teacher was definitely a career that was high on my list, and Meagan was the perfect guest for this because she’s had experience across different states, public, private, and charter, and now is teaching virtually, so if you’re curious about what life as a teacher might be like, we get into so many different paths you could take. I also appreciated how candid Meagan was about the challenges in this career right now, like some of the other fields I’ve covered, teaching as a profession is in a  tough spot right now. If you’re considering going into education, you’ll be in incredibly high demand, but that’s partly because it’s so hard to find enough people that want to fill the roles, which is definitely something to consider as you consider your own ability to cope with the specific challenges in this field. On the other hand, it’s a chance to positively impact your community in a way that few other fields offer.To learn more about Meagan, follow her Instagram:@loveoverlabelsadvocacyIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Master Goldsmith
May 29 2024
Master Goldsmith
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Jordan Barnett-Parker, a master goldsmith. Jordan has had a really interesting career, and he’s one of quite a few people I’ve talked to at this point that found their career passion through a class in high school, so maybe a vote in favor of just trying as much as you can as early as you can, because you never know what might catch your interest in a way nothing else has before. We also talk about how pursing your passion for a career while probably more rewarding, can also sometimes be the more challenging choice. The people that I’ve talked to that seem really happy with that path are so committed that they really can’t imagine anything else, if you you’re thinking of turning a personal passion into a career, that’s probably a decent litmus test to see if you should dive in or not. Finally, one thing I have noticed about small business owners is that they often have a handful of paths within on general field. We’ll get into what that looks like for Jordan, but if there is a particular field  you’re interested in, talking with someone you know in that field might lead you to niches within that you didn’t even know existed, but when pieced together, can create a thriving business. You can find out more about Jordan's work here: Website: https://jordanadamdesigns.com/Instagram: @jordanadamdesignsIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
U.S. Army
May 15 2024
U.S. Army
Send us a textOn this episode of Real Work, Real Life I’m talking with Meg, who is recently retired after 15 years in the army. While in  helicopter pilot then worked in special operations as a psychological operations officer. If you’ve ever considered joining the Armed Forces, this is a great episode for you, we cover so much about that this path, from the educational opportunities and wide-ranging benefits, to the challenge of a job that you can’t just quit when it’s not a good fit for you anymore. We also talk a bit about Meg’s nonprofit, the Valkyrie Project, which works in the realms of human performance, education, research, and advocacy to provide American female service members the tools they need for success across the full spectrum of military service. You can find out more about it at the link in the show notes, and watch recordings of their annual Military Women’s symposium on YouTube. So let’s get into it!Valkyrie Project: https://www.valkyrieprojectus.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzAPln9f7GAnAPM01rNq4_AIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Butcher and Farmer
May 1 2024
Butcher and Farmer
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Tiffany Baxter of Backyard Butchery, a mobile whole animal butcher. Tiffany also manages her own farm and a business doing bee removals. This was such a fun discussion, and so much of what we talk about is applicable to any small business owner. If you’re interested in learning more about what Tiffany does, you can find here here: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy two other recent episodes with folks in the broader farming and agriculture space:Backyard Butchery Website: https://backyardbutchery.com/Email: Tiffany@backyardbutchery.comInstagram: @backyardbutchery and @freelandfarmsCaite Palmer, host of the Barnyard Language podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/software-and-farming-life/id1673653251?i=1000646239848Katie Dotterer, founder of Agvokate Agriculture education. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/spanish-and-esl-agriculture-educator/id1673653251?i=100065272215If you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Marine Engineer
Apr 3 2024
Marine Engineer
Send us a textOn this week's episode, I have a very special guest, I’m talking with my best friend and husband, Corey. Corey is a merchant mariner, working as an engineer on an oil rig. If you’ve listened since the beginning of this series, you might remember that the original idea behind this podcast came from a desire to help guide our children as they thought about their own careers and how work would fit into a fulfilling and joyful life. Corey has been my biggest supporter throughout this project (and I’m lucky to say I have many others competing for that title) and so I’m thrilled to be able to share this interview with you all. If you’ve ever considered a job in engineering or in the maritime industry, this would be a great episode for you. You might also like my interview with my Dad, a captain of schooners, tugboats, and ferries, and Ed, who works on tugboats and captains a charter fishing boat in his off time. Charter Fishing and Tugboats: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/charter-fishing-and-tugboats/id1673653251?i=1000642768864Captain, Tugboats, Schooners, and Ferries: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/captain-tugboats-schooners-and-ferries/id1673653251?i=1000618604052If you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Accounting and Job Search Advice
Mar 6 2024
Accounting and Job Search Advice
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Annie Yang. Annie is employed full time as an accountant, but also has a side gig doing similar work for other clients. Annie also helps job seekers land positions quickly, so we talk a lot about strategies there. If you’re currently on the job hunt, check out Annie’s website, which you can find linked in the shownotes. Annie is one of so many people out there that don’t just do one job, they have lots of plates in the air, and Annie seems to have found a balance that really works well for her. If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy my interview with Allison Rothwell, an Administrative Assistant, Actor and Declutter Coach, you can find that here:  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/declutter-coach-administrative-assistant-actor/id1673653251?i=1000615992179Annie’s website: https://www.annieyangfinancial.com/If you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Software and Farming Life
Feb 21 2024
Software and Farming Life
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Caite, who works remotely full time for a software company, hosts a podcast called Barnyard Language, and raises beef cattle and sheep with her husband on their farm. The work that Caite does in the software field is really interesting, essentially preventing abuse of the software, and would be a great option for nonlinear, creative thinkers, even if they don’t have the skills you might typically associate with someone working at a software company. We talk about the value of growth in remote work for farming families and others in rural areas, about the support and inclusion for neurodivergent folks in the tech field, balancing life as a working parent, just about everything in between. I had so much fun talking with Caite and I know you’ll enjoy this episode too.  If you’re interested in hearing more about remote work in the tech space, you can listen back to my episode with Jake, a Software Engineer or Rachel, a Creative Director in User Experience:Creative Director in User Experience: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/user-experience/id1673653251?i=1000630159382Software Engineer: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/software-engineer/id1673653251?i=1000604294924To hear more from Caite and her cohost Arlene:Barnyard Language Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/barnyard-language/id1581475809Barnyard Language Instagram: @barnyardlanguageBarnyard Language Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BarnyardLanguageI mentioned the Barnyard Language podcast episode with Jacob Beaton, you can find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-skills-homeschooling-and-indigenous/id1581475809?i=1000640534350If you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com
Pilates Instructor
Feb 7 2024
Pilates Instructor
Send us a textWelcome to Real Work, Real Life where I talk to real people about what they do for work and what that means for their lives. Today I’m talking with Beth Sandlin, a Pilates Instructor, and the founder of Trifecta Pilates. After years of working as an in person instructor, Beth started Trifecta to expand the reach and accessibility of Pilates, offering teacher training and online Pilates workouts (long before that became so normalized during the pandemic) available through membership, an app, and YouTube and trauma informed. We talk a lot about the ins and outs of a career in movement as well as the challenges and joys of starting a small business while still working full time, and even get into the details on different income streams, and so much more.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like my interview with Jenna J, a personal trainer, which you can find here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/personal-trainer/id1673653251?i=1000641161798You can find out more about Beth here: Website: https://trifectapilates.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/trifectapilatesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/trifectapilatesIf you like the show, please rate and review on iTunes and Spotify  (linked below) and please share with a friend! You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Tiktok. And if you’d like to be interviewed here, or there is a particular job you’d like to learn about, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com.iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-work-real-life/id1673653251Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Cp0w2BjOtS8NWfj0NhmIg?si=ece5b6ad45274b73Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com