
Real Work, Real Life
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
Latest episodes

Jan 10, 2024 • 40min
Personal Trainer
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I'm talking with Jenna Jozefowski (also known as Jenna J). Jenna is a semi-retired professional dancer, dance teacher and yoga teacher, turned personal trainer and kettle bell instructor. Jenna describes her approach as anti diet, so she doesn’t coach intentional fat loss. We talk about that in the interview, but if you want to learn more, check out her podcast Tough Cookie Talks. While this interview would be great for someone that ever considered building a career in fitness, a lot of what we talk about would be relevant to any kind of small business, like the challenges of balancing the fear of not enough work without working yourself into the ground, the huge difference between your hourly rate and what you take home, and the personal relationships you get to develop with clients. So much great stuff to share in this interview, but I can’t stop thinking about one of Jenna’s statements at the end “ask yourself why before you say yes”.Website: Itsjennaj.comInstagram: @itsjennajPodcast: Tough Cookie TalksCertification that Jenna has for personal training: NASM https://www.nasm.orgIf 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

Jan 3, 2024 • 36min
Certified Public Accountant, Payroll Company CEO
Charles Read, CPA and CEO of Get Payroll, discusses topics such as the challenges of payroll handling, becoming a CPA, the importance of perseverance, successful social media advertising, utilizing the law in tax issues, and running a successful business.

Dec 20, 2023 • 40min
Real Estate Agent
Former warehouse logistics worker turned real estate agent, Jorge Gonzalez, shares his journey of transitioning careers and overcoming challenges. He discusses the process of becoming a real estate agent, finding potential in ugly houses, and making a positive impact. The importance of building skills, consistency, mentors, and finding success is emphasized throughout the episode.

Dec 13, 2023 • 28min
Financial Services, CFA, Investment Associate
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Urmi Hossain, an investment associate based in Canada with the goal of becoming a portfolio manager. Urmi is a CFA, or a Chartered Financial Analyst. CFA is a globally recognized professional designation that measures and certifies the competence and integrity of financial analysts. Candidates are required to pass three levels of exams covering areas, such as accounting, economics, ethics, money management, and security analysis. Working in financial services can offer a lot in terms of compensation and benefits and upward potential. We also talk about the challenge of finding that first job out of school and how disheartening it can be struggling to get your foot in the door somewhere, even when you have all of the qualifications on every posting. So if you’re there now, just know you’re not alone. My best advice for that stage of your career is to keep a number of strong applications open at once, don’t stop looking and applying until you’ve actually started a job. Hiring for salaried, professional jobs can take months of stops and starts, so if you have a lot of irons in the fire at once, it’s not so disappointing if one falls through. If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy my interview with Steph, a Certified Public Accountant: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/certified-public-accountant-tax/id1673653251?i=1000602280682You can find out more about Urmi here: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/urmi-hossainBook: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B75X14G7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=38ODHSOSYZ3W8&keywords=urmi+hossain&qid=1658373403&sprefix=urmi+hossain%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-2Blog: https://www.myways.ca/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoiI0SGU0Xo9_lNjtLWtgg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urmamio/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

Dec 6, 2023 • 38min
Government, Law Enforcement Support & Early Retirement
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Dalene, who retired at 50 after a career working for the government supporting law enforcement agencies. If you missed last week’s episode, I talked with Tim who retired after 30 years in the air force and is about to retire again after working for the government in security, so that would be a great episode to go back and listen to if you’re considering a career in the public sector (you can find it here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/government-and-u-s-air-force/id1673653251?i=1000636901719)We talk about pursuing college while working, planning for retirement financially and mentally, the many benefits of government work, as well as some of the challenges, and so much more. Dalene has launched a Financial Coaching service in retirement. Find out more here!: https://elevatefinances.us/Where to find jobs in the United States government: https://www.usajobs.gov/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

Nov 29, 2023 • 44min
Government and U.S. Air Force
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 Tim Murphy, a veteran who retired from the Air Force after 30 years and now works for the government in security. Working in the Armed Forces and for the government are distinct in so many ways from the private sector, so we talk a lot about that since the vast majority of my other guests have worked in the private sector. We cover than and so much more, I can’t wait to share this discussion with you. So let’s get into it!Tim mentions that he’s publishing a book soon! You can find out more about it here: https://www.7secretpillarsofsobriety.comIf you're interested in working for the U.S. government: https://www.usajobs.gov/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

Nov 22, 2023 • 24min
Internet Radio and Podcast Host
Trina, host of Run Radio, shares her journey from employee to entrepreneur in the radio industry. They discuss monetizing an internet station, networking for podcast advertising, and the importance of persistence in starting a business.

Nov 15, 2023 • 50min
Physician, OB-GYN
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 Sabrina, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist finishing up her residency before continuing into a fellowship in urogynecology. If you’re considering a career in medicine, this will be such a great episode for you. And if you aren’t, this will give you a whole new appreciation for the physicians that care for you over the course of your lives, and the sacrifices they have made to pursue this career. Obstetricians and gynecologists have a special place in medicine I believe. I can’t think of another field of medicine that cares for people during some of the most joyful moments of their lives and also in some of their most challenging and heart-wrenching moments. Guiding people through such personal, private healthcare decisions takes a special person, and I know I left this interview feeling like Sabrina’s patients will be lucky to have her. If you liked this episode, you might like one of these too!Registered Nurse in Psychiatric Care: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/registered-nurse-psychiatric-care/id1673653251?i=1000613358444Immunologist: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/immunologist/id1673653251?i=1000625371633Fisheries Biologist: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fisheries-biologist/id1673653251?i=1000607513735If 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

Nov 8, 2023 • 51min
Theatrical Violence and Stage Combat
Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Brittany, an executive director and cofounder of a school of theatrical violence and stage combat in Philadelphia, Argent Combat. We cover so much about this work, from the many paths you could take within this broader field, to the impact of AI on the industry, to the way Brittany’s organization is advancing equity, inclusion, and best practices around consent in this community. If you liked this episode, you might like some of the other interviews I’ve done with people in the Arts. I spoke with Alex, a Children’s Book Illustrator and Author, Ethan, a Theatrical Lighting Designer, Kiara, Singer, Manager, and Coach and Tony, Music Producer, Developer, Manager (linked below).After talking with all of these different people building a career for themselves in the arts, there definitely seems to be some common themes. There are all the challenges that go along with any kind of entrepreneurial field. Some instability, wildly variable pay, limited location options, and the challenges that go along with making your living from a skill that ultimately subjective. But for all the people I have talked to, it’s seems like it’s all worth it. If it’s something you’re truly passionate about, the value of spending your working time on something you love and the freedom that can come with these types of career paths, is worth all of the challenges for some.You can find out more about Argent Combat here: https://www.argentcombat.com/If you liked this episode, you might like these too! Music Industry, Producer, Manager and Singer-Songwriter: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-industry-producer-manager-and-singer-songwriter/id1673653251?i=1000623157811Music Industry, Singer, Manager, and Coach: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-industry-singer-manager-and-coach/id1673653251?i=1000622386657Theatrical Lighting Designer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theatrical-lighting-designer/id1673653251?i=1000632557420Children's Book Illustrator and Author: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/childrens-book-illustrator-and-author/id1673653251?i=1000617830582If 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

Nov 1, 2023 • 35min
Occupational Therapist, Pediatrics
Send us a textOn this week's episode of of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Tracey, a pediatric occupational therapist. One thing Tracey mentions is that a lot of people don’t know what OTs actually do. Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities to promote health, well-being, and the ability to participate in the important activities in your life. This includes any meaningful activity that a person wants to accomplish, including taking care of yourself and your family, working, volunteering, going to school, among many others.I’ve talked to a few different people in the therapy field and they all seem to have some degree of the same issue: the work is in high demand but the pay has not kept up, meanwhile the education requirements and cost continue to increase and you’re often required to complete an unpaid internship before beginning work. Despite these challenges, it can be incredibly meaningful work. If you’re interested in hearing other related interviews, I talked to Dawn, a therapist in private practice, Kat, a physical therapist assistant, Alison, a social worker, and Samantha, a music therapist, which I’ll link in the show notes. Another theme that has come up in quite a few interviews is people finding that they are best suited to a speciality in their field that they actually did poorly in or didn’t like in college. I think probably the message there is to keep your mind open, liking or doing well is something in school is not always an indication that it will be right for you as a job, and of course, vice versa. Other episodes you might like too:Social Worker: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-worker-in-canada/id1673653251?i=1000608593635Music Therapist: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-therapist/id1673653251?i=1000631717144Therapist in Private Practice: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapist-private-practice/id1673653251?i=1000619359028Physical Therapist Assistant: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/physical-therapist-assistant/id1673653251?i=1000615135619If you want to learn more about Tracey:Website: https://peds.thinkific.com/Website: https://parentnicuconnection.com/Email: tkond423@gmail.comIf 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
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.