I interviewed longtime friend, April! We met touring with Cirque du Soleil 20 years(!) ago and then parted ways, working in box offices on different tours. April was recruited to become a backstage manager for Cirque then took those skills to VEGAS and then applied all of those skills to nursing!It was really great catching up. Can't wait for you to listen!Cirque du Soleil websiteVarekai, the show April and I worked on together, is no longer touring but here are clips from two of the acts she referenced as dangerous:Icarian GamesRussian Swing (finale)Le Reve: The Dream is the resident show she worked on in Vegas. LOTS of water in this show.

I got to speak to BEN RICE! I've known Ben for years, and he was the first person I reached out to when I thought about starting this podcast a few years ago. He also hosts an acclaimed podcast called Barley and Me.Ben shares how he got into comedy (on a dare!) and what he's been doing with it since. It was just really nice to catch up. Ben's podcast: Barley and Me (on all platforms)Ben's Twitter/X:  @ComedianBenRiceBen's Instagram: @BarleyandMePodSacramento Comedy spot (saccomedyspot.com)VFW Post 67 (where you can often catch Ben hosting a show): FacebookThe caterer we used for my dad's memorial at VFW Post 67 who do other events there and around Sacramento-- they were amazing: WeR2CreativeEpisode Transcript

This week, you get ME! I decided to take you through a timeline of the eight different state jobs I've worked so you can one, get a sense of why I turned into a professional anomaly, and two, because you might learn there is a government job out there for you! I didn't even give you all the deets! But, I talk about working inside Folsom Prison (twice!), working for the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and so on. I'll be back next week with an all new episode interviewing others (in case you're tired of hearing from yours truly).Find me on all the of the socials at @anomaliespod.Email me at professionalanomalies@gmail.com! (Especially if you have any questions about working for the government!)

I had a blast interviewing Maya. Notice how great the sound on her end is! She's a professional! (I'll work on mine.)Here is a link to her website: Maya MurphyShe's currently working on a horror feature I cannot WAIT to see, and she recently appeared in an episode of Poker Face with Natasha Lyonne! (Gawd I love Natasha Lyonne-- and now I love Maya!)Damn You, Uncle Lewis! is the Patreon-only spinoff of queer horror podcast ScreamQueenz. Here is the episode about the movie Sissy she referenced! (I'm gonna find that tonight.)Remember, the name of the video game she stars in as Harley Leger is Rosewater and comes out this year! I will be sure to circle back with a release date for that and her new horror movie with the Russian name!Episode Transcript

Dr. Robin agreed to let my bird brain interview her about planets and helium and whether or not it's ethical to colonize Mars! I say "interesting" a lot this episode.Dr. Robin has her own YouTube channel! (If you just can't get enough!)Episode Transcript

I met San on Instagram well before I began producing this podcast-- she'd responded to someone's question about interesting jobs, and now, here we are!She's a dog clothing designer for Chewy, and she generously gave me some time to ask her questions about how she got into this very niche type of work!Episode Transcript

Kathy became a pilot 40 years ago when women just weren't pilots. Men she flew with would make snide comments about how there was "another empty kitchen" because a woman dared to pursue a career dominated by men.We cover a lot in this episode-- Kathy was also a parachuter, Erica talks about beauty school and joining the circus, and the rest is for you to find out!Kathy's podcast, Another Empty Kitchen-- Apple PodcastsSpotifyEpisode Transcript

Friends! This is Erica, and welcome to Professional Anomalies, my new show that explores the world of unique and fascinating jobs. I will be your host and in each episode, I will dive into the stories behind some of the most interesting professions out there.I’ve had a few myself, touring with a circus, working inside a famous prison, regulating the death care industry, and working inside Congress, to name just a few. I cannot wait to share these experiences with you!From underwater archaeologists to professional chocolatiers to beekeepers to space lawyers, we’ll uncover the passion, dedication, and sometimes unexpected twists that make these jobs truly special. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, are curious about different career paths, or just love a good story, this podcast is for you!So, join me as we embark on a journey to discover the extraordinary people and the extraordinary jobs that make our world so diverse and intriguing. This is Professional Anomalies!I apologize in advance for how many times I say "like."