What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath

John Johnson, a retired U.S. Foreign Service diplomat with 20+ years and postings from Kabul to Brussels. He recounts a press gaffe that almost sparked a crisis. He explains intense language training and how fluency catches softened meanings. He describes the chaotic Kabul evacuation, rescuing vulnerable Afghans, and the moral strain of who could leave.

Elden Rivas, a Houston journeyman lineman who repairs grids and leads storm crews. He talks about how electricity reaches homes, daring helicopter and Faraday-suit work on high-voltage lines, chasing outages after tornadoes, and the tiny causes of big problems like squirrels on transformers. He also shares training paths, dangerous rescues, and the radio call every crew fears.

Justin Dwyer, a Peoria health inspector with 10+ years hunting food-safety hazards. He tells stories of being locked out, shutting down unsafe kitchens, and tracing foodborne illness outbreaks. Short, vivid scenes cover dodgy dishwashers, staged fixes, handwashing myths, and the detective work behind an outbreak of cooled pulled pork.

Kaillie (Kaylee) Humphries, Olympic bobsledder and multi-time medalist who won gold for two countries, walks through life at 100 mph. She describes the physical training and sprint-style starts. She explains the sensations and high G-forces on the track. She talks about visualization practice, hunting hundredths of a second, and the logistics of a short ice season.

Lucy Stewart-Gould, a London partner who handles high-net-worth family law and Supreme Court matters, discusses negotiating tricky settlements and cross-border jurisdiction races. Short stories cover custody oddities, spotting hidden assets, delivering hard legal truths, and the simple questions that can unlock deadlocks. The conversation also touches on law changes, billing rhythms, and why recovery after divorce can feel hopeful.

Sophie Williams, owner and baker at Raven Bakery in Bellingham who bikes her deliveries and works with local whole grains. She talks about tinkering recipes like a gingerbread that needed hotter baking, adapting to variable local rye harvests, running a bike-based community bakery, scaling from solo baker to team leader, and the physical craft of preserving bodies and workflow.

Join Aaron Williams, a skilled dog groomer from Alabama, as he shares his insights on the unique world of pet grooming. Discover the psychological artistry behind the grooming table and how it influences dog behavior. From battling dreaded anal gland expressions to decoding the sounds of nail clipping, Aaron reveals the intricacies of his craft. He also shares hilarious anecdotes about bites and his encounters with 'fernados'—wild grooming storms that can occur with dirty double-coated dogs. Tune in for an enlightening glimpse into this rewarding profession!

Lieutenant Colonel Susan Upward is a Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, providing legal counsel on military justice and operational law. She shares insights on how military justice differs from civilian systems and the challenges of advising commanders during combat. Hear her bold story of calling a commander's plan 'colossally stupid' and her role as a crucial 'speed bump' to impulsive decisions in high-stakes situations. Susan also reflects on mentoring junior Marines and adapting her legal advice to meet diverse leadership styles.

Yaronda Kilgo, a dedicated elementary school teacher and North Carolina's Southwest Regional Teacher of the Year, shares her vibrant classroom experiences. She discusses using songs and dances to ease kindergarteners into school life and the importance of kinesthetic learning. Yaronda also highlights the various roles teachers take on, from counselor to nutritionist, and the challenges of teacher retention. A touching story about empathy shaped by her second-grade experience and the joy she finds in student breakthroughs makes her passion for education truly inspiring.

In this enlightening conversation, Grace Jackson, a humanitarian worker and country director for GiveDirectly in Malawi, shares her experiences managing Ebola responses in Sierra Leone and discusses the transformative power of cash aid. She reveals how low-income families often buy essentials like chickens with cash transfers, equating the first payment to a Christmas gift. Grace emphasizes the importance of local aid workers and their role amid crises, while also navigating the skeptical landscape of government and donor concerns about cash aid efficacy.