Weird Work

By Sam Balter & Matthew Brown

What's Weird Work about?

Not everyone is fit for the 9 to 5. Weird Work celebrates all the folks who've pursued their passion and made a living -- no matter how weird it might sound. Hosted by Sam Balter & produced by Matthew Brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.5

156156 ratings

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Weird Work episodes:

08.20.2023
"I'm a monster truck driver."
Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY! Time to fuel those carbureted dreams of crushing cars and breaking hearts because today we have Monster Jam's Entertainer of the Year, the driver for team Megalodon, Bernard Lyght. Bernard tells us how he became the man behind...
03.16.2023
"I'm the trivia master for Learned League."
You may know him as Thorsten A. Integrity. Around here, we know his true identity, Shayne Bushfield. And after leaving behind his secure life at Microsoft, Shayne pursued his passion to create one of the biggest invite-only trivia competitions --...
02.07.2023
"I'm a professional butler."
If you own a castle on a secluded island, can you really expect to dress yourself? When you're cruising the Mediterranean on a super yacht, can you really be expected to make your own shrimp cocktails? The world needs butlers. Paul...
08.09.2022
"I'm a pet psychic."
Martha talks to animals. Martha Malone – pet psychic, pet communicator - surfs the astral plane to telepathically connect with animals living or deceased. She communicates between animal and human to help vocalize everything from behavior issues to closure after...
06.17.2022
"I'm a financial dominatrix."
Whether your kink is karma or carnage, there’s always something out there for you. And our guest sure found her sweet spot - financial domination. We're talking with the manipulatrix, the vocal priestess, the hypno crypto queen herself – Theodora. Theodora...
06.02.2022
"I'm a location scout."
Lori Balton has been a location scout with over IMDB credits to her name. She’s scouted locations for every type of film. From big budget action movies like Heat, Armageddon, The Dark Rises, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters to Nic...
12.04.2019
“I’m The Points Guy.”
Brian Kelly has been known to the world as The Points Guy since launching his blog in 2011, but he started slinging credit card reward points long before then. And today, the man with 25 credit cards is the guru...
11.20.2019
“I preserve vintage TV art.”
Chi-Tien Lui is known the world over as one of the last people who can repair and preserve TV art. Because the video art by the likes of Andy Warhol and Nam June Paik were made with now antiquated televisions....
11.06.2019
“I teach kids to be YouTube stars.”
Summer camp usually brings to mind outdoor sports and campfire songs. But the idea of camp that so many people have come to know has evolved into something they might never have imagined. Alexander Rossi is the creator of YouTube...
10.23.2019
“I’m a pet influencer agent.”
Colleen Wilson was a top private mortgage banker in New York City. She was also the youngest. No small feat. But after rescuing a deaf pooch named Charlie, it completely changed the way she saw the banking industry. So she...
10.09.2019
"I'm a dream analyst."
Jane Teresa Anderson knows how to get inside someone’s head. And her work as a dream analyst has helped countless people better understand their waking lives. That way, the subconscious becomes reality. She even reaches into Sam’s psyche to break...
09.25.2019
“I’m a conlanger.”
David J. Peterson is a creator of languages -- otherwise known as a conlanger. And he’s behind some of the most iconic languages ever heard on television and films. Maybe his most well-known conlang is Dothraki and High Valyrian for...
09.11.2019
“I’m a podcast librarian.”
Ma'ayan Plaut is the podcast librarian at RadioPublic. But she’s not like the typical master of the Dewey Decimal System you know from your local public library. And she just so happens to be the only podcast librarian on the...
08.28.2019
“I’m a surf therapy dog.”
Ricochet is a champion surf dog, who’s ridden giants with the likes of Rob Machado, and starred in films like Superpower Dogs. But it’s her surf and therapy work that makes this pooch a real surf legend.Judy Fridono, Ricochet’s owner...
08.07.2019
“I’m an Elvis impersonator and wedding official.”
Brendan Paul grew up as a young punk living in LA. But after one fateful haircut and a handful of paying impersonation gigs around town, he found himself ditching the Sunset Strip for the Vegas Strip. Today, Brendan is Sin...
07.31.2019
“I’m an international pizza consultant.”
Anthony Falco is the reigning pizza czar of New York. And he’s taken his expertise around the world to help others realize their own dreams of opening up a pizza shop. We crawl the streets of New York in search...
07.24.2019
“I’m bringing Weird Work back for Season Two.”
Weird Work returns on July 31 with all new episodes every Wednesday. See you soon, you beautiful unicorn star children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.24.2018
“I make ramen that helps people find their dreams.”
You’ve been listening all season long to how people turned their passions into professions. And want to make the jump, too. But what if you don’t know what your passion is? How do you pursue your dream if you don’t...
05.17.2018
“I’m a comic book inker.”
Mark Morales has probably worked on all of your favorite comic book characters. But the job of comic book inker is not only one of the most ambiguous in the industry, it’s an increasingly rare position. Mark takes Sam through...
05.10.2018
“I created The Museum of Selfies.”
Tommy Honton has a familiar story. Aspiring screenwriter who sets out to make it big in Hollywood. But eight years later, he found himself disillusioned and unhappy with his job. Rather than let the fear of complacency settle in, Tommy...
05.03.2018
“I perform with cats and rats for Cirque Du Sewer.”
Melissa Arleth always loved rats. But she was also fond of her feline pets, too. So she took them both onstage with her and created Cirque Du Sewer, the world’s only cat and rat circus. Sam talks with this acrobat...
04.26.2018
“I’m a professional hand model.”
You can spot Ashly Covington out in public or on the subway pretty easily. She’s the one wearing long black gloves, a sunproof hoodie, and playing an invisible horn. Such is the life of a professional hand model. In today’s...
04.19.2018
“I’m a dungeon master for Dungeons & Dragons.”
You’re stranded on a desert island. What do you do? If you’re Timm Woods, you find the nearest rock and start carving away at your latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Timm is a dungeon master, the game wizard who meticulously...
04.12.2018
“I’m a professional mom.”
Nina Keneally is the founder of NeedaMomNYC, where for $40 an hour she’ll give you the full mom experience. Nina offers sage advice, helps you battle your landlord over security deposits, and weighs-in on big life decisions. But how do...
04.05.2018
“I write obituaries for The Economist.”
Ann Wroe writes obituaries for The Economist. And she knows what you’re thinking: Writing about death must be terribly depressing, right? Maybe, but not for Ann. Sam gets Ann’s take on how she deals with death, and Ann shares her...
03.29.2018
“I turn accidental fur into high fashion.”
Pamela Paquin may have grown up on a farm, but she never thought her life would forever be linked with animals. She was living in Denmark with a high-paying job when her life was completely upended. That’s when Pamela began...
03.22.2018
“I’m a professional gamer.”
Peter “PPD” Dager is one of the winningest professional gamers in history. But we’re not just talking about trophies. Peter has made millions (and millions) of dollars as a professional gamer.Sam talks with Peter about his journey from being on...
03.15.2018
“I uncover conspiracy theories.”
Katelyn Hempstead is a comedian and the host of Lizard People: Comedy & Conspiracy Theories, a podcast where her brilliant friends try to convince her to believe different conspiracy theories. You can even find Sam on there talking about the...
03.08.2018
“I’m a professional wingman.”
Thomas Edwards is a real life Hitch. And after nearly a decade of work, he’s helped over 150 people find love and get married. But this self-proclaimed hopeless romantic wasn’t always the ideal wingman.Thomas’ journey starts with Gary Vaynerchuck, hits...
03.01.2018
“I’m a professional garbage picker.”
Martin Gregory scours the streets looking through people’s trash and sells his garbage finds on eBay. He writes about them on his website, Things I Find in The Garbage.Sam talks with Martin about teacups, the growing trend of minimalism, and...
02.22.2018
“I’m a professional cosplayer.”
Cosplay is a world of transformation, where art meets performance. And no one knows that better than Riki LeCotey. You might’ve seen her on SyFy’s reality tv show Heroes of Cosplay, or maybe you’ve seen her judging costumes at your...
02.15.2018
“I make props for Hollywood.”
Em Schulz is the co-host of And That’s Why We Drink podcast. But Em’s resume runs the gamut: Clown school graduate, professional Segway tour guide, and the list goes on. These days, Em makes props for Hollywood, famously making Eggo...
02.08.2018
“I repair vintage arcade games.”
Gary Vincent is a vintage arcade game technician at Funspot, the world’s largest arcade. He’s also the president of the American Classic Arcade Museum where he works to preserve and promote the history of arcade games.On today’s episode, Sam learns...
02.01.2018
“I’m a weed nun.”
Sister Kate isn’t your average nun. She’s a self-declared nun who owns Sisters of the Valley, a cannabis-based healing products company. But after her early days in the Occupy movement, she now answers to a higher calling.Sam talks with Sister...
01.25.2018
“I’m the listeners’ favorite episode.”
We asked you to tell us your favorite Weird Work episode of 2017 and man did you guys deliver. You mentioned Jen Glantz, the professional bridesmaid, Steven Kutcher, the Hollywood bug wrangler, and Kassandra Brown, the professional cuddler. But one...
01.18.2018
“I’m The New York Times crossword puzzle editor.”
Will Shortz is the crossword puzzle editor at The New York Times. But he’s also the only person in history to receive a degree in Enigmatology -- the study of puzzles. And he’s been creating and publishing his own puzzles...
01.11.2018
“I’m a Vodou priestess.”
Voodoo conjures up pin-pricked dolls and black magic spells. But it’s all just a product of Hollywood, not an actual religion. Everything down to the spelling of its name is bogus. Vodou, however, is a religion. And today, Sam speaks...
01.04.2018
“I’m a professional scent maker.”
Kevin Elkins is a scent maker. He’s crafted custom scents for luxury hotels like The W Hotels and Hotel Emma. For Kevin, the perfect scent is all about the romance.Today, Sam talks with Kevin about what it takes to be...
12.28.2017
“I’m a space psychologist.”
Iya Whiteley always dreamt of becoming an astronaut. Only, there was a slight hitch. Iya grew up in the USSR where women were not allowed to become pilots.So she pursued her other passion of studying human behaviors and decision making...
12.21.2017
“I’m the Saturday Night Live bandleader.”
It’s an iconic sound. Lenny Pickett’s saxophone solo during Saturday Night Live’s opening credits has become a hallmark of the show.Lenny talks with Sam about his responsibilities as bandleader, how he overcame his initial fears of performing on live television,...
12.14.2017
“I’m an intimacy choreographer.”
For some actors, finding the line between intimacy on stage and in real life can be a bit murky. It takes strong direction and training in a safe environment. But like any good fight scene, it can’t be left up...
12.07.2017
“I’m an LSD microdosing coach.”
When Paul Austin looks back on the first time he dropped LSD, he remembers the shame and fear associated with it. So when he created Third Wave, a company devoted to coaching the benefits of microdosing LSD, he knew he...
11.30.2017
“I’m the head knight at Medieval Times.”
Chivalry. Strength. Romance. There’s quite a few things knights are world renowned for. Only, knights died out centuries ago, right? If you’ve ever heard of Medieval Times, then you know the knightly tradition is alive and well. Today, we head...
11.23.2017
“I’m a nude model.”
For some, the nude body is taboo. But for artists, it’s been a constant source of training and inspiration. Ruby Magic has travelled around the world as a nude model. She tells Sam how she’s become more empowered in her...
11.16.2017
“I’m Hollywood’s resident bug wrangler.”
Let’s say you’re a director, and you need to film thousands of locusts descending upon a group of people. It’s a major production, but CGI just won’t cut it. What do you do? Well, there’s really only one person to...
11.09.2017
“I’m a professional mystery shopper.”
It’s likely that at some point in your life, while you were out shopping at your favorite store, you were standing next to a fake customer. An imposter. These people are called mystery shoppers, and they act as quality control...
11.02.2017
“I’m the Bachelor in Paradise bartender.”
What’s life really like behind the bar of a reality dating show? Wells Adams made the jump from radio show host to The Bachelorette contestant a few years ago. But it’s his recent gig as the bartender on ABC’s Bachelor...
10.26.2017
“I’m a professional cuddler.”
In a previous life, Kassandra Brown was a parenting coach. Then one day, about six years ago, she was cuddling with a friend of hers when she had a personal breakthrough. So when she was searching for what to do...
10.19.2017
“I’m a mermaid.”
When you’re a kid, you can be anything. You can be a firefighter, a police officer, hell even a robot. The thing is, we rarely get to grow up and live that childhood dream. Unless you’re Maria Russo. Then you’re...
10.12.2017
“I’ve written 18,728 songs and counting.”
Go on Spotify right now. Type your name, or the name of someone you know. Chances are a strange band has a song about that name. And chances are the man who wrote that song is actually named Matt Farley.Matt’s...

What's Weird Work about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Weird Work episodes:

"I'm a monster truck driver."

"I'm the trivia master for Learned League."

"I'm a professional butler."

"I'm a pet psychic."

"I'm a financial dominatrix."

"I'm a location scout."

“I’m The Points Guy.”

“I preserve vintage TV art.”

“I teach kids to be YouTube stars.”

“I’m a pet influencer agent.”

"I'm a dream analyst."

“I’m a conlanger.”

“I’m a podcast librarian.”

“I’m a surf therapy dog.”

“I’m an Elvis impersonator and wedding official.”

“I’m an international pizza consultant.”

“I’m bringing Weird Work back for Season Two.”

“I make ramen that helps people find their dreams.”

“I’m a comic book inker.”

“I created The Museum of Selfies.”

“I perform with cats and rats for Cirque Du Sewer.”

“I’m a professional hand model.”

“I’m a dungeon master for Dungeons & Dragons.”

“I’m a professional mom.”

“I write obituaries for The Economist.”

“I turn accidental fur into high fashion.”

“I’m a professional gamer.”

“I uncover conspiracy theories.”

“I’m a professional wingman.”

“I’m a professional garbage picker.”

“I’m a professional cosplayer.”

“I make props for Hollywood.”

“I repair vintage arcade games.”

“I’m a weed nun.”

“I’m the listeners’ favorite episode.”

“I’m The New York Times crossword puzzle editor.”

“I’m a Vodou priestess.”

“I’m a professional scent maker.”

“I’m a space psychologist.”

“I’m the Saturday Night Live bandleader.”

“I’m an intimacy choreographer.”

“I’m an LSD microdosing coach.”

“I’m the head knight at Medieval Times.”

“I’m a nude model.”

“I’m Hollywood’s resident bug wrangler.”

“I’m a professional mystery shopper.”

“I’m the Bachelor in Paradise bartender.”

“I’m a professional cuddler.”

“I’m a mermaid.”

“I’ve written 18,728 songs and counting.”