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I'm the high school podcaster that just got featured by Spotify for my podcast, Major Jobs, where I interview people with different jobs to teach other teens about them. AMA!
My short bio:
Heya, I’m the host of the Major Jobs Podcast, where I try to help teenagers like me discover jobs/hobbies they may have never heard of before. So far, I’ve interviewed amazing people like Grammy winning band Portugal. the Man, Language Creator for Game of Thrones David J. Peterson, and a lot more.
As a teen, I find it harder and harder to know what kinds of careers are out there and which ones I should do, and I feel like a lot of teenagers feel the same way. I wanted to try to do something to help, and started a podcast where I interview different people about their jobs to teach teenagers (and adults) about what it’s like being a particular career. I’ve interviewed amazing people, and love doing it.
Recently, I got featured on Spotify and people have been messaging me questions, so I felt having it all here would be more organized and cleaner, and others could see answers.
Here are some links if you're interested:
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/major-jobs/id1444697743?mt=2&uo=4
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ec9hDE62HkW7ckm2KC17L
or you can search "Major Jobs" on any other podcasting provider.
If you want to ask any questions, do so below and I’ll try to get to as many as possible!
Proof:
This is my reddit account and you can see my previous posts, here’s a screenshot of my anchor page for my proof (with an unreleased episode too!)
Edit: Im going to sleep now but answer questions in the morning :)
Edit 2: Thanks for all the support and suggestions - it really means a lot. I've got tons of PMs from people wanting to be on the podcast - im going to try my best to go through each and everyone and put them into a spreadsheet. Thank you all for being so kind and supportive!
PMNudes2MePlz14 karma
I am a welder who has done work on pipelines, in plants, and overseas. If you are interesting in the welder gypsy lifestyle I’d be more than willing to talk with you.
falkenhyn13 karma
I’d like to add arborists to that list because I freaking love my job and wish teens would know it existed.
Cows_Go_Huh3 karma
I drive dump truck for a construction company on the west coast if you would like my take.
Dinammer2 karma
If you had Paul Sellers on the show I would drop everything and subscribe and listen. I don't think it's audacious claim to say he's done more to keep hand tool woodworking alive in the 21st century than anyone else.
majorjobs349 karma
I just think about someone/a career that might be interesting, reach out to them, they agree to talk and voila.
Absolutely__Alice111 karma
Where do you typically look the careers up to find those people?
majorjobs172 karma
It really varies - just careers that pop up in my head and think, "that's interesting!"
Other times it's specific people I want to interview so I reach out to them as well
NewPhoneAndAccount117 karma
If you want to talk to tradesmen, a good option is going to their union and asking for someone. That invites a fuckton of bias of course but... if you getting low on ideas it's a shot. You'll want to talk to an apprentice (not a brand new one) or possibly longtime journeyman and develop a rapport with them so theyll eventually not give you a bullshit PR answer that makes it seem like heaven.
Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, shipwrights, longshoremen, Teamsters, ironworkers, engineers, Boilermakers, machinists. All trades and if in the right place at the right time can make a very good living. You'll never be rich but also you'll never have people in school lieing to you about how you can make 80,000 immediately out of college as a programmer (have fun in tech support unless you have a stellar resume and git profile).
majorjobs91 karma
Oh shoot, I never would have thought of that. Definitely going to be asking tons of different unions soon. Thanks a lot. I know a lot of people wanted "regular joe" jobs and that's my priority next.
Sicklyurias48 karma
I'm a second year trades apprentice and would love to reach out to a wider (and younger) audience. Most of the problems with getting people into the trades that isn't money related is information related. Any information we can get out there is important.
wimbs2746 karma
Can I make a suggestion for an episode?
Urban planning, or urban design.
It's what I'm studying now and the vast majority of people have never heard of it. Basically, urban planners design cities. It's far more technical than that, but they are responsible for zoning, transportation Planning, TIF districts, allocating growth in certain areas, and deciding how and where the city should grow.
If you would like to make a podcast on this topic, you can reach out to the Congress for New Urbanism, the American Planning Association, Streetsblog, Planetizen, the Urban Land Institute, NACTO, or any urban planning firm or municipal planning agency
SWRES99 karma
Do you feel an obligation to cover more “normal” jobs after interviewing people in the entertainment industry?
majorjobs73 karma
Yeah - I've been having more enetertainment industry jobs recently because that's what I'm interested in, but I've got some "normal" jobs coming up soon :)
kaytea3088 karma
How did you go from 'i want to do this' thought to actually start the podcast?
majorjobs124 karma
Not sure. Just one of those "screw it, I'm doing it" feelings, and went with it ever since
mugrita40 karma
What’s a career that you’d love to have someone on the podcast discuss but you haven’t been able to do so yet?
majorjobs75 karma
I've tried to get a professional sports player to be on but it's really hard. I also have a series where I interview teenagers and think it would be awesome to get to talk to a teen actor (maybe from Stranger Things or of the sort) because I feel like they are like regular teenagers but also have differences, and I want to learn more about what it's like being in the limelight for most of your life.
Edit: I hear your comments about "normal jobs" and completely agree. I'm reaching out to more and more people and going to be interviewing a lot more. Thanks everyone for the advice!
maestroenglish91 karma
I think it would be much more interesting to hear about "boring" average Joe jobs considering that's the truth of the matter
memtiger31 karma
considering that's the truth of the matter
Opening this thread i fully expected that's what it'd be. I guess at my age I'm so far detached from the dreams of high schoolers and the fantasy job ideas that many have and yet almost no one actually gets.... Ahh, I remember the days of wanting to be in the NBA and an astronaut.
Was really hoping the podcast it was going to be something inspirational and helpful to teens about actual job fields that are attainable to the majority of the population without sheer luck or natural physical talents/genetic luck.
majorjobs15 karma
I'm definitely going to be interviewing more "average joe" jobs - it's been pretty hard to reach out as it's such a vague job and I don't know how exactly I would contact someone, but there are so many people commenting and PMing me asking if they wanted to be on, I think it'll be easier now. Usually it's me asking people, but now people are asking me - Thanks for the advice u/memtiger
iwouldrun500miles1 karma
I've tried to get a professional sports player to be on but it's really hard.
Have you tried getting a recently-retired pro sports player on? They might have more time and willingness than a player that's still playing.
Cedricium19 karma
What job/career are you looking at doing after high school and (possibly) higher education?
Schaatser2812 karma
Hi Great podcast idea. I shall check it out with my 15 year old! Would you consider making your podcast available for iTunes/Apple?
Redxer11 karma
Which jobs where you felt most connected/attracted to at this point in your podcast ? and why ?
LifeSad070419977 karma
Have you considered going international, with the intend of letting the more international audience to know their options?
majorjobs6 karma
Yes!!! I've been trying so hard but it's so hard to find interviewees overseas.
Tokestra4205 karma
Do you interview people with less "interesting", but more practical/realistic careers? Things such as a tradesmen?
Luthalis5 karma
From his other replies, appears the answer is that he hopes to. He mentions that he's interested more in entertainment industry careers, and mentions pro athletes, too. It's all well and good, but I think the concept would indeed be better realized by interviewing more practical jobs, otherwise, what's the difference between this and any interview ever done with an entertainer or professional athlete.
I sent him a PM about my job and I encourage the rest of us to do the same. These kids are not served by furthering the idea that they can all be entertainers for a living.
I suppose there is also the possiblity that this is a thinly veiled way for a teenager to meet celebrities. If so, damn good hustle lol.
majorjobs2 karma
Lol, i totally agree. Lots of people have been pming me and I would like to interview everyone if I could. Not a thinly veiled way to meet celebrities though, haha. If that were the case I'd have lost motivation failing to get any
Luthalis1 karma
Hey, dude-- no judgement either way lol. If you're doing the interview in a way that actually provides the information your audience benefits from, then your motivation is moot. Glad that your heart is in the right place, though : )
jvc20163 karma
Is Podcasting your real job or is it your hobbie ?
If it's your hobby, is it difficult To find times to réalise and prepare your podcast ? Would you like to make podcasting your real job ?
How much time do you spend in average for one podcast episode ?
majorjobs6 karma
It's a hobby.
One episode is usually around 20-40 minutes, the editing process takes an hour or two
Miseryy3 karma
I checked your anchor page - do you have any plans to interview people on the more technical side of things? I'm a computational biologist and I know that there are TONS of STEM kids coming out of high school that know they want to do science, but don't have a clue how to narrow that down!
pirasosa2 karma
What's been your biggest challenge since you started doing this?
How have your peers reacted?
Interview suggestion: look into law enforcement professionals. Depending on what you want to do in law enforcement, there's no straight path to do it. Especially if you want to go federal. Also they have some interesting stories.
majorjobs6 karma
Challenge - getting ignored/rejected for interview requests
Peers reaction - Mostly "why are you doing this?" and then "wait this is actually really interesting" and they listen more.
I would love to talk to law enforcement professionals! Those careers are so interesting.
PastaPoop2 karma
What do you see yourself doing next? Do you have any goals/guests you would want to have on the podcast in the future?
BananaBob552 karma
When you started making podcasts, did you interview someone or just do you own thing for awhile?
I don’t really get how someone starts something like this in all honesty.
FantaPremier2 karma
How do you have time to do the podcast? Since high school consumes so much time, it must be tough managing responsibilities.
majorjobs5 karma
I pull it through, it get hard at times but this is something I like doing and I make it all work out
basedrew2 karma
This is a great podcast idea with an incredible intention.
I’m an aspiring UX Designer and know I would be inspired if I heard about the field while I was in high school.
Who’s the most interesting individual you’ve interviewed yet?
majorjobs1 karma
There's so many interesting people I can't count - all are unique in certain ways
SteveYCr2 karma
How did you get started with podcasts, and how long have you been doing it? - What are some immediate challenges that you think most of us viewers wouldnt know about, and what are some of the most difficult parts about this “job”, if you will. ~ Thanks in advance and best of luck with everything!
majorjobs2 karma
Started this year (January).
Challenges - getting people to be on the podcast
Difficulties - editing process - long and tedious.
PornoPaul2 karma
Are there any jobs you've found that were something you've never heard of, or incredibly unique? Not like "professional eyeglass duster" but something society actually needs (lime the re-icer guys on bridges)
rad2themax1 karma
I definitely will check you out, before I do, weird question, but how is the language on the podcast? Like would it be appropriate for my 4th graders to listen to as part of career education? I think it would be awesome, but don't want my principal walking in as someone drops an f-bomb.
majorjobs1 karma
It should be fine, just stay away from the one with the junior systems administrator
MustardMan0071 karma
Have you ever considered having a guest on to discuss basic financial skills for young adults? This would be very beneficial for young people. Things like applying for scholarships, doing taxes, saving for retirement, the power of saving, scams to avoid, company benefits, student loans (how much debt is too much for the specific major), and many more topics.
Young people don't realize how important these skills are and how beneficial they can be in getting ahead in life. If you need some guidance or ideas in this area, feel free to PM me.
majorjobs1 karma
Yes! I wanted to get Dave ramsey on the podcast because he's pretty knowledgeable in that stuff and i think he could help a lot of people.
I-Really-Want-Death1 karma
What job do you want when you’re older? Do you feel like the podcast has influenced your current choice?
majorjobs3 karma
I still have no clue, but it definitely has me swerving in a certain position
walterdonnydude1 karma
What you're doing is amazing, I really wish someone did this when I was in High School. The world is so big and as a kid you only understand jobs like Firefighter, Nurse, Teacher, etc.
How are kids reacting to your pod?
majorjobs1 karma
Thanks- most people just laugh at first, but then they actually start listening and thinks it's helpful
grooomps-6 karma
my daugter wants to be a singer and loves taylorswift, are you able to do a podcast with her and my daughter please?
tmoore4748351 karma
Have you ever had an opportunity to interview for skilled trades, such as metalworking, craftsman carpenters, potters, mechanics of big machines, things like that; and if not, would you? There's huge opportunities for folks to get into fields like that with little to no formal education, great pay, and tons of folks have no idea.
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