What It’s Like to Be…a Master Electrician
Calculating electrical loads, getting zapped by 277 volts, and savoring the freedom of the skilled trades with Doug Powell, a master electrician.
November 08th, 2025
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October 22nd, 2025
What It’s Like to Be…a Baseball Player
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 Robinson, a professional baseball player.
October 12th, 2025
The Cognitive Contradictions That Shape Who Runs the Household
There’s a puzzling inconsistency in the way couples deploy their skills at work and at home.
October 08th, 2025
What It’s Like to Be…a Seismologist
Monitoring global networks of seismometers, evangelizing for stronger buildings instead of better predictions, and measuring LA’s slow crawl toward Alaska with Lucy Jones, a seismologist in Southern California.
September 24th, 2025
What It’s Like to Be…an Executive Chef
Butchering whole alligators, costing out every plate down to the garnish, and perfecting grilled sweetbreads with Cindy Wolf, an executive chef.
September 10th, 2025
What It’s Like to Be…a Speechwriter
Writing for the ear rather than the eye, racing to meet teleprompter deadlines, and recasting lost memories as timeless advice with Stephen Krupin, a speechwriter.
August 31st, 2025
How to Rescue an Overloaded Organization
Many leaders mistakenly believe that their organizations thrive under constant pressure. But overloaded systems are broken systems—to fix them, we must learn our way to the right amount of work.
What It’s Like to Be…a Floral Decorator
Crafting floral masterpieces that disappear within hours, dealing with the eccentricities of wealthy clients, and making 3am runs to the flower market with Paul Hawkins, a floral decorator in England.
August 12th, 2025
What It’s Like to Be…a Car Mechanic
Cracking automotive mysteries one diagnostic code at a time, mastering the art of quoting complicated repairs, and playing the “what kind of noise is it?” guessing game with Justin Snodgrass, a car mechanic who owns his own shop.
August 02nd, 2025
Americans Are Overworked. Could AI Change That?
AI promises to help us get more done in less time. It’s an opportunity to reverse the trend of American overwork, but powerful structural factors stand in the way.
