Digging line to redirect the country’s fiercest wildland fires, sleeping in the dirt after a 16-hour day, and turning physical endurance into a public service with Ben Strahan, a hotshot crew superintendent in California. What does a wildfire sound like up close? And where does a crew go when the fire threatens to overrun them?
About What It’s Like to Be…
In each episode of What It’s Like to Be…, bestselling author Dan Heath speaks with someone about what it’s like to walk in their (work) shoes. Behavioral Scientist serves as a distribution partner with episodes released every other week. Learn more about the podcast’s mission of “slow curiosity” here, and head here to get Dan’s reflections on how the mission is going after a year of conversations.
The “Hotshot” episode of What It’s Like To Be… featured Ben Strahan. It was produced and edited by Matt Purdy. Copyright © 2026 by Dan Heath. All rights reserved.
