Real Work, Real Life

Send us a textOn this episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Michelle Steiner, a para educator, disability writer and advocate. Michelle has a degree, but you don’t always need one to work as a paraeducator, so it can be a great opportunity to make an impact right away without a degree and with many of the benefits that come from working in a school system. As you’ll hear from Michelle, people with learning disabilities can face many challenges on the path to find employment. It’s important to note that people with disabilities are protected under the American Disabilities act, passed only in 1990, that prohibits discrimination in employment and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. From the Learning Disabilities Association of America, "people with LD possess average or above average intelligence levels, and often have varying areas of ability, or “a weakness within a sea of strengths.” They tend to be creative, persistent, loyal, and good problem-solvers, often achieving a high degree of success in the workplace when the disability is accommodated and their strengths are utilized to the fullest." Happily many employers are proactively working toward true disability inclusion Disability:IN ranks employers each year based on their level of disability inclusion.You can read more of Michelle’s work on her blog, Michelle’s mission. You can find it here: https://www.michellesmission.net/blogYou can also follow Michelle here:Instagram: @steiner7250 or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013356902200Disability:IN 2022 Ranking: https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/disability-equality-index/2022companies/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=ece5b6ad45274b73 Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Carley, a hair stylist and owner of Revive Salon and Spa, located in Falmouth, Maine.Building a career as a stylist can be great for someone that is creative, entrepreneurial, and enjoys building strong relationships with clients and fellow stylists. Much like building any small business, there are plenty of upsides, like the ability to create a positive and supportive working environment for yourself and your employees, some aspects of flexibility, and the potential for growth. Of course, it also comes with some downsides, like managing your own retirement and healthcare and other benefits that you might receive through full time employment.To find out more about Carley:Revive Salon: https://www.revivesalonandspame.com/ Instagram @colorebycarley or @revivesalonandspameIf 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

Send us a textOn this episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Tony Mantor. Tony has been working in the music industry in Nashville for more than 30 years, and is an established singer-songwriter, pianist, podcast host and record-charting music producer. We cover a lot of different components of working in the music industry, like how streaming has changed the industry for musicians and songwriters, the decision to focus on production and management rather than continuing to focus solely on his career as an artist, and the resiliency needed to succeed in this career. Last week, I brought another lens on the music industry, when I interviewed Kiara Laetitia, a Rock Singer, Manager and Coach. If you’re missed that one, and you’ve ever been curious about life working in the music industry, be sure to check out that episode too. You can find Tony here: https://tonymantor.com/https://www.facebook.com/tonymantor/https://www.instagram.com/tonymantor/https://plateaumusic.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tony-mantor-why-not-me-the-world/id1688757384If 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=ece5b6ad45274b73 Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com

Send us a textOn this episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Kiara Laetitia, a rock singer, manager and coach, currently based in Italy. If you’re passionate about music and ever wondered what it would be like to pursue it for a full time career, this will be a great episode for you. For the right person, a career in music offers flexibility, possibility, travel, and the chance to spend your working hours doing something you truly love. It also comes with a lot challenges, for some people, could take something that brings you joy and turn it into a slog. If you’re interested in learning more about Kiara, you can read her book, Never Give Up, the Real Secrets of the Music Industry: https://bookshop.org/p/books/never-give-up-the-real-secrets-of-the-music-industry-kiara-laetitia/14543613?ean=9798633704198You can also follow Kiara at:https://www.instagram.com/kiaralaetitia/https://www.facebook.com/kiaralaetitia/https://kiara-laetitia.com/enKiara also recommended this book for people looking to learn more about management: Artist Management for the Music Business by Paul AllenIf 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=ece5b6ad45274b73 Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com

Send us a textA few weeks ago, I interviewed my Dad, a boat captain, and today, I am so pleased to share another very special guest, my Mom, Trish, an active-retired Judge on this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life.We talk a lot about what it’s like to be a judge, but we also cover the different roles she’s had within the legal profession, so if you’re considering law, this will be a great episode for you. My mom graduated law school in 1979, when about 8% of lawyers were women, today that number is closer to 40% and that continues to inch up each year. One of the many moments that led me to want to do this podcast was attending my Mom’s retirement party a few years ago, and seeing how respected she was for her work, and what an impact she made in our community. My mom never talked about her work at home, but I know from talking to others over the years, that through her work, she’s been able to genuinely help people in scary and stressful situations. A lot of jobs don’t offer an opportunity to make an impact like that, and understanding how important that is to you can be really useful in charting your career path. I’m so excited to share my Mom with you all. And if you’re lucky enough to have your parents still around and have a good relationship with them, consider this your sign to get a conversation with them on tape. You won’t regret it. 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=ece5b6ad45274b73 Transcripts are now available here: www.realworkreallife.com

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Darryl Haberman, a Digital Media and Operations Consultant, primarily in the Sports Industry. If you’re passionate about sports and interested in how you could turn that into a career, this will be a great episode for you. We talk a lot about how to break into the industry, and lessons learned along the way. We also get into detail about the transition from working in the corporate world to striking out on your own as a consultant. Reach out to Darryl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haberman/ or via email at darryl@habermandigital.comIf you have feedback or are interested in being interviewed, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com or @realworkreallifepod on Instagram. Transcripts now available at: https://realworkreallife.buzzsprout.comIf you're enjoying the show, follow so you never miss an episode, rate and review on iTunes and Spotify, and, most importantly, tell a friend!

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Dawn Friedman, a Therapist in private practice. Dawn is an LPCC, which stands for licensed professional clinical counselor. One of the many things we talk about is the pros and cons of the various ways of becoming a mental healthcare provider, so if that path interests you, she raises a lot of important considerations. Being a therapist can be a great role for someone that is curious about people, resilient, empathetic, but capable of holding boundaries. It’s a job that can offer a lot of flexibility and novelty over the course of a career. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you're interested in pursuing a career in this field, and have questions, you can reach out to Dawn at dawnfriedman@gmail.com.If you have feedback or are interested in being interviewed, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com or @realworkreallifepod on Instagram. Transcripts now available at: https://realworkreallife.buzzsprout.comIf you're enjoying the show, follow so you never miss an episode, rate and review on iTunes and Spotify, and, most importantly, tell a friend!

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I have a very special guest! I’m talking with my Dad, John, an active-retired boat captain. If you’ve listened since the beginning, this podcast started out as an idea for my own kids, to find a way for them to hear about the realities of work from people in many different careers. So it’s such a special moment for me to talk to one of the coolest people I know about their career, and share it with you all today. As you’ll hear, my Dad has had a lot of different roles in the maritime industry, from an employee to a business owner, driving schooners, tugboats, and ferries, even running the career office at a maritime academy for a time. My Dad’s approach to work fundamentally shaped my own understanding what work could be. Working hard, doing your best, finding something you love, but also not sacrificing the rest of your life in service of work. So before I get into the interview, I will leave you with a quote that my Dad has repeated throughout my life, an excerpt from “On Work” by Kahlil Gibran:"When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison? .....Work is love made visible."Transcripts now available at: https://realworkreallife.buzzsprout.comFollow the podcast on Instagram @realworkreallifepodIf you're enjoying the show, follow so you never miss an episode, rate and review on iTunes and Spotify, and, most importantly, tell a friend!

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Alex, an illustrator and author of children’s book. Working full time in a creative field is a dream for many, pairing your personal passions with a career can give you a truly fulfilling life long career, giving you tons of freedom and agency in the direction of your life. That said, there is so much more to creative work than the art itself, from contract negotiations, to social media, to balancing an irregular income. If this is a field you’re interested in, Alex shares a lot of great resources:Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/Cuddlefish Academy: https://cuddlefishacademy.teachable.com/Schoolism: https://schoolism.com/Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers: https://makeartthatsells.com/Storyteller Academy: https://www.storytelleracademy.com/If you have feedback or are interested in being interviewed, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com or @realworkreallifepod on Instagram. Transcripts now available at: https://realworkreallife.buzzsprout.comIf you're enjoying the show, follow so you never miss an episode, rate and review on iTunes and Spotify, and, most importantly, tell a friend!

Send us a textOn this week's episode of Real Work, Real Life, I’m talking with Renee. Renee works in Corporate Learning and Development, currently working as the Director of Training at a start up. This type of work can be great for people that love learning new things, are creative and collaborative, and often, for teachers looking to use their skills in a different line of work.  Depending on the industry you’re working in, there are also often great benefits, compensation, work life balance and stability that can often come from corporate roles, as well as the option to work remotely, and the flexibility to work across many different fields. One of the challenges Renee mentions is that this work can sometimes be undervalued in an organization. At first glance that may seem like a small obstacle, but for some people, it can be a real hurdle to deal with over the course of a long career. Renee mentions checking out the Association for Talent Development and considering their certification course if you're interested in this field. You can find out more here: https://www.td.org/If you want to hear about a particular type of job, or want to be interviewed, please reach out at realworkreallife@gmail.com or @realworkreallifepod on Instagram. Transcripts of episodes are now available at https://realworkreallife.buzzsprout.com/