Majors Minors & Maybes - Career Exploration for Curious Minds

Dr. W.
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Major Minors & Maybes is a narrative podcast about real jobs you may not have heard of told through the stories of fictional characters inspired by true career paths. Hosted by Dr. W., a college professor, mom, and part-time career detective, each episode is a fun, thoughtful deep dive into the winding roads that lead people to unexpected work. Think: Audio storytelling meets career exploration Forensic entomologists, microbial ecologists, and other niche-but-fascinating professionals Real-world insights, told with curiosity, warmth, and a touch of whimsy A quick note: Our short stories are fictional, but the jobs are not. Every character you meet is a composite based on interviews, research, and real professional journeys. If you’ve ever asked, “What else is out there?” This show is for you. It's Perfect for: College students figuring it out Career changers with big questions People who love science, creativity, and storytelling Subscribe, explore, and get inspired! Check us out at our: Website Instagram Facebook

  1. Sep 22

    A STEM Career Connecting Weather, Water & Data: The Hydrometeorological Analyst

    What if your love of weather could lead to a career that has almost nothing to do with simply checking the forecast? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, Dr. W. investigates the fascinating world of the hydrometeorological analyst. A career where weather data, water systems, environmental science, and predictive modeling collide. From rainfall and soil moisture to rivers, watersheds, and flood forecasting, these professionals help turn mountains of environmental data into information that can help us understand what happens when it rains. Here's your career clue: You don't have to become a meteorologist to build a career around weather. We'll explore what hydrometeorological analysts do, what it's like to work with weather and water data, which college majors can open the door, where students can gain experience, and how much closely related professionals can earn. Plus, Dr. W. has one very important question: If one inch of rain can produce 27,154 gallons of water on a single acre, where does it all go? Get ready because the forecast has a career clue hiding inside it. Listen in, get curious, and uncover a career you probably didn't know existed. Don't forget to check out our website at www.thequasibox.com/majorsminorsmaybes Show Notes: The Water Memory Keeper: Hydrometeorological Analyst Dr. W’s Majors, Minors, and Maybes explores the hydrometeorological analyst, a career at the intersection of meteorology and hydrology that asks how weather affects water on the ground. Through the fictional vignette of Rio, a National Weather Service analyst monitoring a tropical system, the episode shows how these professionals use radar, satellite data, river gauges, soil saturation, and hydrologic models to forecast river response, issue flood alerts, track drought, and advise partners like dam operators and emergency managers. Dr. W explains key tasks (quantitative precipitation estimates/forecasts, streamflow monitoring, modeling, and communicating uncertainty), work settings (forecast offices and possible fieldwork), and suggested majors and skills spanning hydrology, atmospheric science, geology, environmental science, and data science. Salary context is given via BLS medians for hydrologists and atmospheric scientists, plus a stream-gauge and rainfall volume fact, before teasing a future episode on food engineering. 00:00 Weather Meets Water 00:27 What Is Hydrometeorology 02:06 Meet Rio On Duty 02:49 Forecasting The Flood 05:10 Office Hours Mindset 05:58 Meteorology Vs Hydrology 07:09 Core Job Duties 09:47 Work Environment 10:38 Majors And Skills 13:04 Internships And Experience 15:29 Salary And Schedule 17:25 Curious Facts And Wrap 19:18 Next Episode Teaser

    A STEM Career Connecting Weather, Water & Data: The Hydrometeorological Analyst

  2. Sep 8

    When UX Design Meets Emergency Response: The Disaster Response UX Designer

    What if your UX design skills could help people make better decisions during a disaster? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we uncover the unexpected career of the Disaster Response UX Designer. A career at the intersection of UX design, human-centered design, technology, psychology, accessibility, and emergency management. When a hurricane approaches, an evacuation order is issued, or first responders are working in chaotic conditions, having the right information isn't enough. People need to be able to find it, understand it, and act on it quickly. That's where UX design can make a critical difference. We'll follow a day in the life of a disaster response UX designer and explore what happens behind the scenes when designers create digital tools for emergency managers, first responders, and communities. From user research and usability testing to accessibility, information architecture, prototyping, and designing for people under stress, this career goes far beyond making an app or website look good. In this episode, Dr. W explores: What does a Disaster Response UX Designer actually do?How does human behavior change during an emergency and why does that matter for UX design?How can UX design improve emergency alerts, evacuation tools, dashboards, and disaster-response technology?What should you major in if you're interested in UX, emergency management, psychology, or human-centered design?Where can students find internships and experiences that combine technology, design, and disaster response?What can you expect to earn in a UX design career?Whether you're a high school student exploring STEM careers, a college student choosing a major, a parent helping a student navigate career options, or simply someone fascinated by unusual careers, this episode is your reminder that your major doesn't have to define your career. Your major is just the beginning of the story. Don't forget to check out our new website www.thequasibox.com/majorsminorsmaybes Show Notes: Disaster Response UX Designer: Designing Calm, Clarity, and Accessibility Under Pressure The episode introduces the career of a disaster response UX designer, explaining how user experience design becomes critical in emergencies when people are stressed, time is limited, and conditions like weak Wi‑Fi or power outages can affect access. Through a vignette following Julia, a UX designer redesigning an emergency operations dashboard, it highlights testing with emergency managers, accessibility reviews to avoid color-only communication, and observing live response exercises to understand trust, cognitive load, and decision-making under pressure. The script outlines core tasks such as user research, journey mapping, prototyping, usability and accessibility testing, information architecture, and iterative redesign, emphasizing that good UX often means removing unused features. It discusses pathways into the field via majors like UX/HCI, psychology, emergency management, or computer/information science, plus internships in agencies and NGOs, and provides salary and job growth context using web and digital interface designer data. 00:00 What Is Disaster UX 02:36 Design Under Pressure 03:20 Meet Julia A Day 04:32 Testing With Managers 04:56 Accessibility In Crisis 05:37 Field Exercise Observations 07:51 Skills And Pathways 08:32 Office Hours Questions 10:25 Daily Tasks Breakdown 12:11 Majors And Career Stack 13:57 Internships And Research 15:23 Salary And Work Life 16:53 Curious Career Fact 17:17 Cognitive Load Lessons 18:06 Wrap Up And Next Episode

    When UX Design Meets Emergency Response: The Disaster Response UX Designer

  3. Aug 25

    Who is predicting the jobs of the future? The Labor Market Futurist

    What if your future career doesn’t have a job title yet? The job market is changing fast. AI is reshaping work, new industries are emerging, and the skills employers want today may look very different a few years from now. Who’s actually paying attention to all of those changes and helping organizations figure out what comes next? Meet the Labor Market Futurist. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we explore a career that sits at the intersection of economics, data, research, technology, and a whole lot of curiosity. We talk about what labor market futurists actually do, how they spot emerging trends, what you can major in to get there, and where you might intern if you're intrigued by the future of work. Here's a twist: The Labor Market Futurist isn't necessarily a job title you'll find on a college career website. You might build your way into it through economics, data science, public policy, sociology, business, or another field entirely. We'll also look at the numbers behind some of the fastest-changing careers, what employers are likely to need next, and why being comfortable with uncertainty might be one of the most valuable career skills you can develop. Majors Minors & Maybes has a new website. Check us out at www.thequasibox.com/majorsminorsmaybes Show Notes: Labor Market Futurist: Charting the Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet Dr. W introduces the career of the labor market futurist, a role focused on forecasting how work will change as technology, demographics, education, migration, economic conditions, climate and energy transitions, and consumer behavior reshape industries and skills. The episode explains that these professionals don’t predict certainties but build data-informed scenarios to help universities, employers, workforce organizations, and policymakers prepare for emerging opportunities and risks, citing BLS projections of 5.2 million new U.S. jobs from 2024–2034 and World Economic Forum estimates of major global job churn and nearly 40% skill change by 2030. A vignette follows Diane, a sociologist-turned-futurist, who uses hiring trends, patents, investment flows, and climate reports to identify clean energy logistics growth in mid-sized rail cities, spurring new training programs and jobs. The script covers daily tasks, workplaces, key skills, related job titles, suggested majors/minors, internship targets, salary benchmarks, and fast-growing and declining occupations, concluding that “labor market futurist” is a build-your-own “definitely maybe” career and teasing a future episode on disaster response UX design. 00:00 Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet 00:49 Meet the Labor Market Futurist 01:20 Forces Shaping Future Work 02:25 Big Projections and Skill Shifts 03:33 Diane’s Clean Energy Breakthrough 04:46 Turning Data Into Decisions 07:01 Office Hours and Fit Check 07:42 What the Job Actually Is 09:50 Day to Day and Workplaces 11:02 Skills and Majors to Combine 14:17 Internships and Entry Paths 15:58 Salary Benchmarks and Choices 17:29 Fast Growth Jobs and Declines 18:33 Definitely Maybe and Wrap Up 19:45 Listener Call and Next Episode

    Who is predicting the jobs of the future? The Labor Market Futurist

  4. Aug 11

    Who Designs the Cities of Tomorrow?: The Smart City Planner

    Who designs the cities of tomorrow? When you think about the future of cities, you might picture self-driving cars, futuristic buildings, or streets filled with sensors. But behind the technology is a very human profession: the Smart City Planner. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we go behind the scenes of a career that blends urban planning, technology, data, sustainability, and problem-solving. You'll spend a day in the life of a Smart City Planner, discovering what happens when traffic patterns, public transportation, water systems, energy use, and the needs of real people all collide. You'll also hear from Curtis Ostrodka, a Smart City Planner, about how he found his way into the field, the misconceptions people have about smart city planning, and some of the most interesting problems he's been asked to solve. Plus, we're answering the questions curious students and curious adults really want to know: What does a Smart City Planner actually do? What should you major in? Where can you find internships and experience? What can you expect to earn? What skills matter most? Dr. W. asks, could this be a career hiding in plain sight for you?! Special Guest: Curtis Ostrodka, AICP, LEED AP; Director of Smart Communities Show Notes: Smart City Planner: Designing the City You Rarely Notice The episode explores the career of a smart city planner through a day in the life of Louise Alvarez, who monitors city sensor dashboards to detect issues like an emerging water main leak, coordinates cross-department planning for a new neighborhood, observes real street behavior to improve intersection safety, and helps design an easy-to-use resident reporting app; her success is measured by how seamlessly the city works without residents noticing. Dr. W. explains that smart city planners use technology, data, and infrastructure to solve everyday urban problems while translating between technologists, government, and communities, and that paths into the field come from varied majors (e.g., urban planning, engineering, environmental science, computer science) and minors (e.g., GIS, data science). Curtis Ostrodka describes moving from aquatic ecology to urban planning and emphasizes the key misconception: it’s not about tech for its own sake, but community needs. The episode covers internships, typical tasks, salary ranges, and a pandemic project addressing the digital divide via public Wi-Fi and device programs, plus an 1850s sewer-system “smart city” fact, then teases a next episode on labor market futurists. 00:00 City Life Choreography 00:52 Meet Louise Alvarez 01:51 Designing A New Neighborhood 03:31 Field Observations 04:14 City App And Results 05:41 Office Hours Explained 06:54 Degrees And Pathways 08:35 Curtis Career Journey 09:45 Real Work And Misconceptions 12:02 Breaking In And Salaries 14:28 Digital Divide Case Study 15:47 Curious Career Fact 16:24 Wrap Up And Next Episode

    Who Designs the Cities of Tomorrow?: The Smart City Planner

  5. Jul 28

    The Hidden Career Protecting Our Water: The Water Resources Engineer

    What happens before the rain begins? Long before storm clouds roll in, water resource engineers are already at work, using science, engineering, and technology to predict floods, protect communities, safeguard clean drinking water, and design the systems that keep our world flowing. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, Dr. W sits down with water resource engineer Tori Morgan to uncover one of STEM's most impactful and often overlooked careers. You'll discover what water resource engineers really do, the challenges they solve every day, where they work, how to become one, and why this career is becoming increasingly important as communities face climate change, population growth, and aging infrastructure. You'll also step into the shoes of a fictional water resource engineer during a high-stakes storm event, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how engineering decisions made before the first raindrop falls can protect entire neighborhoods. Whether you're a student exploring STEM careers, a parent, educator, or simply someone who's ever wondered where your drinking water comes from or how cities prepare for severe weather, this episode will change the way you think about the world around you. In this episode, you'll discover: What a water resource engineer doesHow engineers help prevent floods and protect water resourcesThe education and career path into water resources engineeringWhere water resource engineers work beyond engineering firmsWhat a typical day looks like in the office and in the fieldThe skills that make someone successful in this growing STEM careerBecause sometimes the most important careers are the ones you never notice until something goes wrong. 🎧 Subscribe to Majors, Minors & Maybes and join Dr. W as she uncovers curious careers, one story at a time. Show Notes: Dr. W hosts Majors, Minors, and Maybes to spotlight water resources engineering, a career focused on protecting communities from floods and drought, ensuring clean drinking water, and preparing cities for climate change using hydrology, GIS, and computer modeling. A vignette follows Lori, who uses a hydraulic “digital twin” of the city to forecast storm impacts, coordinate with public works and emergency management, clear a culvert and storm drains, and prevent flooding during a major rain event. Engineer Tori Morgan explains the role’s civil/environmental roots, daily challenges like aging pipelines and emerging contaminants such as PFOS, and the hidden systems behind a faucet from supply and treatment to distribution. The episode covers pathways (consulting, utilities, academia, nonprofits, and agencies like EPA/FDEP), education, internships, PE licensing, typical work mix, salaries, and a “curious career fact” about watershed digital twins, ending with a community observation challenge and a tease of the next episode on smart city planners. 00:00 Water Crisis Hook 00:44 Meet the Career 01:27 Why Water Fails 02:48 Lori Storm Day 04:51 Stopping Floods Early 07:49 Invisible Wins 08:30 Skills and Interests Fit 09:27 Expert Defines Role 10:15 Aging Pipes and PFAS 12:26 From Faucet Backwards 14:24 Career Paths Options 19:07 Education Internships PE 21:37 Day to Day Balance 22:48 Salary and Demand 24:13 Projects That Inspire 30:19 Digital Twins Fact 31:18 Be a Water Detective 32:22 Next Episode Teaser 33:06 Final Sign Off

    The Hidden Career Protecting Our Water: The Water Resources Engineer

  6. Jul 14

    The Scent of Success - The Curious Career of an Olfactory Branding Consultant

    What if your favorite store, hotel, or airport was designed to be memorable before you ever saw a logo? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we're following our noses into the fascinating world of the Olfactory Branding Consultant, the professionals who use scent to shape experiences, influence emotions, and help brands tell unforgettable stories. Meet Lila, a former chemistry student turned scent strategist, as she tackles a unique challenge: creating a signature fragrance for a sustainable shoe company's first retail store. Along the way, we'll explore how chemistry, psychology, marketing, and creativity come together in one of the most unexpected careers you've probably never heard of. You'll discover: How companies use scent to build brand identity and customer loyaltyThe science behind why smells trigger powerful memories and emotionsWhat olfactory branding consultants actually do day-to-dayEducation paths, internships, salaries, and career opportunities in the fragrance and sensory experience industryWhy some of the world's most recognizable brands invest in signature scentsWhether you're a student exploring career possibilities, a teacher looking for real-world STEM connections, or simply curious about the invisible forces shaping everyday experiences, this episode will leave you seeing and smelling the world a little differently. Sometimes the most powerful branding isn't what you see, it's what you smell. New episodes biweekly. Follow, share, and join us as we uncover curious careers one story at a time. Show Notes: The Career Behind Signature Scents: Olfactory Branding Consultants Dr. W explores olfactory branding consulting, a career blending chemistry, psychology, marketing, and creativity to help brands shape customer emotions and memory through signature scents. The episode explains how scent influences trust, mood, spending, and return visits, and highlights its growing use in hospitality, retail, fashion, and healthcare. A vignette follows Lila, a former chemistry major in New York City, as she researches a sustainable shoe brand and develops a custom in-store fragrance through “scent sketching” and iterative testing. Dr. W then breaks down what consultants do, where they work, common education pathways and training, internships, key skills, schedules, flexibility, and salary ranges. The episode notes Singapore Changi Airport’s custom “orchid tea” scent and ends with a challenge to notice designed scents and a teaser for a future episode on water resources engineering. 00:00 Smell Shapes Behavior 00:57 Meet Scent Strategists 02:15 Lila Builds A Brand Scent 04:40 Why Scent Works 06:37 Office Hours Overview 07:19 What They Actually Do 07:56 Where They Work 08:56 Degrees And Training Paths 10:48 Skills Beyond Smelling 11:18 Schedule And Lifestyle 12:38 Salary And Growth 13:21 Curious Career Fact 14:06 Challenge And Wrap Up 15:05 Next Episode Teaser 15:48 Final Goodbye

    The Scent of Success - The Curious Career of an Olfactory Branding Consultant

  7. Jun 30

    Preserving the Future of Precision Medicine: The Scientific Curator

    What if the next breakthrough in cancer treatment, genetic research, or personalized medicine depended on someone you've probably never heard of? In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we're uncovering the fascinating world of the Scientific Curator. The STEM professional responsible for organizing, preserving, and protecting the biological samples and scientific data that fuel life-changing medical discoveries. Through a compelling fictional story inspired by real careers, you'll step inside a high-security biobank where one tiny data error could derail years of precision medicine research. Then, we'll pull back the curtain on the real career: where scientific curators work, how to become one, the education path, salary expectations, and why this behind-the-scenes profession is becoming increasingly important in biotechnology, genomics, healthcare, and biomedical research. Whether you're a student exploring STEM careers, an educator introducing career pathways, or simply curious about the hidden jobs shaping our future, this episode will change the way you think about modern medicine. In this episode, you'll discover: What a Scientific Curator actually doesHow scientific curation supports precision medicine and genomic researchWhere Scientific Curators work: from hospitals and biobanks to pharmaceutical companies and research institutesDegrees, skills, and education pathways into the fieldCareer outlook, salary insights, and work styleA surprising "Curious Career Fact of the Week" about preserving biological samples for future discoveriesSometimes the biggest breakthroughs in science begin with the people making sure every sample, every record, and every detail is exactly where it needs to be. Show Notes: Scientific Curator: The Hidden Guardian of Biobanks and Precision Medicine Dr. W. hosts “Majors, Minors, and Maybes” to spotlight the scientific curator, a behind-the-scenes profession that organizes, preserves, and safeguards biological samples and scientific data critical to precision medicine. The episode explains how curators work across hospitals, labs, universities, pharma, biotech, genomic centers, and biobanks to ensure proper storage, accurate labeling, ethical consent, legal compliance, and traceable sample histories so research remains trustworthy. A fictional vignette follows Dr. Lena Morales, lead curator at the Meridian Genomics Institute, who detects a single transposed digit that misrouted a trial sample, halts downstream analysis, and prevents compromised cancer research. Dr. W outlines typical education pathways, key skills (systems thinking, databases, quality control, ethics, genomics/bioinformatics), work style, and salary ranges, and notes biobanks may store specimens in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. The episode ends by teasing olfactory branding consultants for next time. 00:00 Frozen Future Vial 00:44 Meet Scientific Curators 02:27 Precision Medicine Stakes 03:19 Lena in the Biobank 04:24 Barcode Error Crisis 05:47 Why This Role Matters 06:43 Office Hours Breakdown 07:03 Where Curators Work 08:20 Education Pathways 09:43 Day to Day Work Style 10:53 Salary and Growth 12:24 Curious Fact Time Capsules 12:55 Listener Questions Wrap 13:46 Next Episode Teaser

    Preserving the Future of Precision Medicine: The Scientific Curator

  8. Jun 16

    Secret Scientists Behind Every Bite: The Food Scientist

    What do potato chips, yogurt, frozen pizza, sports drinks, and even your favorite cookies have in common? Behind each one is a food scientist. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we're uncovering the fascinating career that blends chemistry, biology, creativity, and problem-solving into one delicious profession. Join us as we follow a day in the life of a food scientist, explore how food products are developed and tested, and discover the surprising science behind flavor, texture, safety, and shelf life. You'll also hear from Ranee Anderson, a real food scientist who shares what it's like to work in the field, how foods are tested for bacteria during processing and shipping, the biggest surprises about the profession, and advice for students who aren't sure whether they belong in STEM. Whether you're curious about science, love food, or are looking for a career that's equal parts laboratory and innovation, this episode serves up a career you may not have considered, but probably interact with every single day. Show Notes: Following the Flavor: Inside the World of Food Science The episode of “Majors, Minors, and Maybes” follows food scientist Josie as she troubleshoots chip texture and flavor in a lab, adjusting humidity, extrusion settings, and seasoning ratios while also tackling sodium reduction, shelf-life testing, plant-based protein experiments, and food safety reviews. Dr. W. explains that food science is controlled experimentation that blends chemistry, creativity, and collaboration to make foods safe, stable, and enjoyable across manufacturing and shipping. Guest Renee Anderson describes how research determines safe storage conditions and how food scientists study pathogens like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, and she highlights the field’s breadth and varied entry points. The script outlines common degrees, internships, and related experiences, gives salary ranges (about $50k–$65k entry-level and $100k+ senior), shares a fact about annatto creating cheddar’s orange color, and teases a next episode on scientific curators of human genetic data. 00:00 The Science of Crunch 01:24 Meet Josie in the Lab 03:19 Dialing In Flavor 04:07 A Day in Food Science 05:53 Is Food Science for You 06:35 Food Safety and the Journey 07:54 Guest Renee on Bacteria 10:09 Food Science Career Paths 12:00 Degrees Internships and Skills 13:08 Belonging in STEM 15:06 Paychecks and Reality Check 17:14 Surprising Foods Scientists Touch 18:54 Curious Fact Color and Taste 19:46 Renee on Phages and Detection 21:01 Wrap Up and Next Episode

    Secret Scientists Behind Every Bite: The Food Scientist
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About

Major Minors & Maybes is a narrative podcast about real jobs you may not have heard of told through the stories of fictional characters inspired by true career paths. Hosted by Dr. W., a college professor, mom, and part-time career detective, each episode is a fun, thoughtful deep dive into the winding roads that lead people to unexpected work. Think: Audio storytelling meets career exploration Forensic entomologists, microbial ecologists, and other niche-but-fascinating professionals Real-world insights, told with curiosity, warmth, and a touch of whimsy A quick note: Our short stories are fictional, but the jobs are not. Every character you meet is a composite based on interviews, research, and real professional journeys. If you’ve ever asked, “What else is out there?” This show is for you. It's Perfect for: College students figuring it out Career changers with big questions People who love science, creativity, and storytelling Subscribe, explore, and get inspired! Check us out at our: Website Instagram Facebook

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