Career Bites

Rachael Barksdale of The Scoop

5.0 (4)
Careers
Updated Monthly

Discover careers you didn't know existed with Career Bites, a podcast from The Scoop. Listen for new episodes each month to hear from real people about what their job is like, the training it took to get there, and what keeps them coming back. scoopcareers.substack.com

Jun 22

A Secret Service Agent Doesn't Take No For an Answer

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. That’s exactly what Scott Bryson did throughout his career in the Secret Service. What’s it like to set up a brand new protective detail? How well do agents get to know their protectees? And why do teachers make good agents? You can learn more about Scott’s career on his website. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! LIKE THIS EPISODE? Try sampling our Police Officer, Wildlife Cameraman, and Airline Pilot episodes. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, Anatasia Chubarova, freesound_community, Alexsey Chistilin, Dvir Silverstone, and Denis Pavlov. Sound effects from Pixabay by charlie clark and YouTube Studio Audio Library. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
May 25

A Car Salesperson Bets on Herself

Like competition? Try selling cars! As our guest Andrea Anderson will tell you, there’s nothing like making deals on the lot to get your adrenaline going. How does she handle being mistaken for the receptionist? What is it like to be paid on commission? And how did a bet turn into her dream job? See more of what it’s like to sell cars on Andrea’s Instagram. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! LIKE THIS EPISODE? Try sampling our Realtor, Trash Collector, and Portfolio Management episodes. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, Geoff Harvey, JoyInSound, Mykola Sosin, bliu music, Artem Hramushkin, and Andrii Poradovskyi. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
Apr 27

A Construction Manager Earns While He Learns

This job is proof that a blue collar career can be lucrative - not only in income, but also in growth opportunities. The catch? You’ve got to be willing to start at the bottom and work your way up. That’s exactly how Ryan “Ike” Eisenhauer went from cleaning job sites at 14 y.o. to a facilities director at 35. But how do you land that first construction job when you’ve zero experience? Does a college degree give you a leg up in the industry? And why does Ike wish he’d paid more attention in English class? You can learn more from Ike on Instagram and through his construction project management course. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! LIKE THIS EPISODE? Try sampling our Sous Chef, Army Captain, and Corporate Trainer episodes. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, nojisuma, Sierra, and Dvir Silverstone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
Mar 23

A Scientific Illustrator Clarifies the Complicated

You’ve likely seen their work as an infographic at a zoo or on a nature walk, and never even realized who created it. So this week, I’m talking to J. Spahr to learn more about how she’s able to marry science and art as a scientific illustrator. Where does her inspiration come from? How does she balance best practices with client demands? And why are so many of her clients from Europe? You can see J’s work on her website, or go behind the scenes on her Instagram. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! LIKE THIS EPISODE? Try sampling our Concert Musician, Actress, and Wildlife Cameraman episodes. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, OctoSound, Disrots, ViraMiller, folk_acoustic and Dvir Silverstone. Ambient SFX by YouTube Studio Audio Library. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
Feb 23

A Janitor Proves Any Job Can Be Fun

Cleaning classrooms might just be the most fun you’ll ever have at work - but don’t take it from me. In this episode, I asked high school janitor Maddie “Mad Dog” Baker and retired middle school janitor Gary Parsley for the dirt on what it’s really like to care for our public schools. What do janitors do over summer break? What is their relationship like with teachers? And do they ever get used to that smell in the boys’ bathroom? You can follow Maddie’s behind-the-scenes janitor content on Instagram and TikTok. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Try sampling our Trash Collector, Mortician, and Crime Scene Investigator episodes. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, Alana Jordan, Music Word, Anastasia Chubarova, and Dvir Silverstone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
Jan 26 · Bonus

Bonus: How to Launch a Career You'll Love

Guest Ruha Tacey is more than just an engineer - her mission is to help up-and-coming engineers navigate their ideal career path. So I asked her for her best internship advice, how to stand out while networking, and whether you have to have a passion for engineering to work in this field. She has nuggets of wisdom for all students - even if you’re not an engineering major! You can find Ruha on her Engineering Impact Forum, her website, or on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Try sampling the full Chemical Engineer episode. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Fae Spencer and Grand_Project. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
Jan 26

A Chemical Engineer Shares Her Expertise

They make the chemicals that make the world go round. But they’re not using test tubes and beakers. Instead, they design the systems producing millions of units of product daily. So I interviewed Ruha Tacey, former chemical engineer turned technical career advisor, to learn what it takes to become someone who does chemistry at such grand scales. What skills can you work on now to get noticed by job recruiters? Which types of engineering are the most future-proof? And can an engineer have too much education? You can find Ruha on her Engineering Impact Forum, her website, or on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Try sampling my bonus episode with Ruha! Or listen to other full episodes with a Cybersecurity expert, a Food Scientist, or a Manufacturing Scientist. GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Sergio Prosvirini, Jean-Paul Verpeaux, Michael-X_Studio, Grand_Project, and Alana Jordan. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com
12/29/2025 · Bonus

Sample These Careers in Art

We’re continuing our review of careers from previous episodes. In this third episode of our Sampler Series, we’re getting a taste of what it’s like to be a photographer, a 3D artist, and an actress. WANT TO LEARN MORE? Get the newsletter, or follow us on Instagram! IF YOU LIKE THIS EPISODE: Try sampling the full episodes with a Photographer, a 3D Artist, and an Actress. Then follow Career Bites on Instagram! GOT A COMMENT OR SUGGESTION? Email us at scoopcareers@substack.com. WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW? Or know someone you’d like us to feature? Email us a voice memo. Introduce yourself and answer these two questions. We’ll reach out if we think it’s a good fit. * What is a major misconception about what you do for a living and what is your clever solution for addressing the misconception with those you meet? * What’s your go-to story about your work? It could be a proud moment for you, a sad or thoughtful experience, or anything in between. Music from Pixabay by Artem Hramushkin. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scoopcareers.substack.com

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Discover careers you didn't know existed with Career Bites, a podcast from The Scoop. Listen for new episodes each month to hear from real people about what their job is like, the training it took to get there, and what keeps them coming back. scoopcareers.substack.com

Creator

Rachael Barksdale of The Scoop
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

54
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Rachael Barksdale
Show Website

Career Bites