This Job is History
Wondery
Where the oddest jobs from the past meet a comedian from the present... and it’s awkward! On this weekly show, Chris Parnell (SNL, Rick and Morty) welcomes guests who have held some of human history’s most unexpected and downright bizarre jobs: funeral clowns, garden hermits, VHS clerks, and everything in between. With the help of his tireless producer, Chris hears from the essential workers from decades and centuries past. Because before there were actual medical doctors, there were barber surgeons. And before there was Instacart, there were milkmen. Wondery’s This Job Is History is a funny, absurd, and informative look into how time can change the way we live and work.
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Top 10 This Job is History Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best This Job is History episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to This Job is History for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite This Job is History episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Sin Eater: “Sin-cerely Yours” | 3
This Job is History
11/28/22 • 35 min
Wrath. Envy. Pride. For some, these are cardinal sins. For a professional Sin Eater in 1700s England, it’s what’s for dinner. Chris interviews a woman whose job it is to gobble down evil deeds so people may find safe passage into heaven. Talk about giving new meaning to the term soul food!
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Garden Hermit: “Only the Lonely” | 4
This Job is History
12/05/22 • 31 min
What looks like a hermit, talks like a hermit, but is actually a salaried employee of the rich? A 1700s Garden Hermit, of course. In this episode, Chris gains real wisdom from a fake hermit whose job is to act like an all-knowing mystical sage who just so happens to live in some rich dude’s backyard.
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Telegraph Operator: “Woman on a Wire” | 8
This Job is History
01/23/23 • 32 min
Before eggplant emojis and cat gifs, the Telegraph Operator decoded DM’s one letter at a time. It’s old west meets new tech as Chris and his guest cover everything from call signs to heartbreak and all that happens “on the wire.
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WW2 Pigeoneer: “Waiting in the Wings” | 10
This Job is History
02/06/23 • 35 min
Messenger pigeons carried crucial communications that saved untold lives during World War 2. But before they soared into battle, these winged warriors needed to be trained. In today’s episode, Chris learns about these unsung heroes and faces a childhood fear of his own.
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Alchemist: “All That Glitters” | 11
This Job is History
02/13/23 • 35 min
Secret societies. Forbidden experiments. For thousands of years, Alchemists have tinkered in the shadows to crack the code to immortality. In today’s episode, Chris demystifies this dark science and gains insight into a surprising 17th century figure who longed to find the Philosopher's Stone.
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Phone Booth Repair Woman: “Last Call” | 12
This Job is History
02/20/23 • 34 min
Before there was a cell phone in every pocket, there was a pay phone on every corner. And someone had to repair every coin jam and faulty wire, but who? Enter the Phone Booth Repair person. Chris’ guest today hails from 1970s New York and shares their secrets on keeping the City that Never Sleeps connected.
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Resurrectionist: "Grave Mistakes" | 9
This Job is History
01/30/23 • 33 min
Grave robbing. Body snatching. Call it what you want but selling corpses for cash was a lucrative business in 19th century England. Chris struggles to keep it together as he learns the morbid details of what it takes to be the very best in the corpse stealing business
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Factory Lector: “Read The Room” | 5
This Job is History
12/12/22 • 33 min
How did factory workers in the 1920s pass the time while rolling cigars? Chris is on a mission to prove his creative genius as he interviews a man from 1925 Florida who proves that the key to making the perfect Cuban cigar isn’t in the tobacco, it’s in the art of storytelling.
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Barber Surgeon: “Men of the Clot” | 6
This Job is History
12/19/22 • 34 min
A shave, haircut, and an amputation. That’s all in a day’s work if you’re a 1690s Barber Surgeon. Chris struggles not to squirm as today’s guest covers everything from battlefield hack-jobs, whiskey as a painkiller, and of course – the secret to a great haircut.
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Milkman: “Udder Tragedy” | 7
This Job is History
01/16/23 • 34 min
Milk. Eggs. Cheese. It’s all in a day’s delivery for the 1950’s milkman. But most people don’t know this sunny occupation had a dark side. In today’s episode, Chris uncovers the truth about the “Milk Mafia” and owns up to a secret he’s harbored since childhood.
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FAQ
How many episodes does This Job is History have?
This Job is History currently has 15 episodes available.
What topics does This Job is History cover?
The podcast is about Fiction, Society & Culture and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on This Job is History?
The episode title 'Introducing: This Job is History' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on This Job is History?
The average episode length on This Job is History is 32 minutes.
How often are episodes of This Job is History released?
Episodes of This Job is History are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of This Job is History?
The first episode of This Job is History was released on Nov 6, 2022.
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