Where Work Lives: Real People. Real Jobs. Real Stories

Some of our earliest jobs teach us lessons we carry for a lifetime. For Merl Guth, those lessons began growing up in Salmon, Idaho, in a family of outfitters and guides. Taking guests on float trips down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in spring and summer, and hunting and fishing trips in other seasons, work was woven into everyday life.

In this episode of Where Work Lives, Merl Guth talks about growing up on the river, learning to do hard things, and building a work ethic that has served him well throughout his career. Join us for a warm conversation about friendship, family, and the lessons we learn when there’s work to be done.

What’s it like to work in a Wyoming trona mine? Chantz Potter takes us into his working world, sharing how he landed the job, what mine work is like, and his experience working with heavy machinery in a work environment very few people know or understand.

Along the way, he talks about keeping his skills current and continuing to learn on the job. Join us for a warm, down-to-earth conversation about the person behind the work—and a working world many of us never get to see.

Could your voice be the starting point for a business of your own? In this episode, Voice Actor Beau Stephenson shares how he built a successful business from scratch—and the hard work, training, and resilience that helped him get there.

Beau takes us inside his journey, discussing how he got started, how he approached auditioning for work, and where he began finding success. He also explores the training he received and the persistence it took to keep moving forward while building his career.

If you’ve been curious about voice acting as an entrepreneurial opportunity, this conversation offers a detailed look at what getting started can involve. Beyond the microphone, Beau’s story speaks to anyone working to develop a skill, find customers, and turn an ambition into a business.

Tune in for an encouraging conversation about starting from scratch, learning your craft, and sticking with the work long enough to create opportunities.

How do you choose between blue collar and white collar work? In this episode, Colby Smith shares the work ethic he developed as a kid, how he grew through demanding work in a beam plant, and his experiences as a miner. Along the way, he explores the differences between blue collar and white collar careers and what hard work has taught him.

If you’re weighing your options or considering a change, join us for a friendly, honest conversation about finding work that fits your strengths, values, and the life you want to build.

Before careers come first jobs—and stories that stick with us for years. In this episode of Where Work Lives, I revisit my teenage days washing dishes in a restaurant and working as a line boy at the local airport. My guest, Dan King, brings a different first-job experience: working on a drill rig as a teenager.

Originally recorded for Growing Up in Idaho, this conversation explores the work we did when we were young, the memorable experiences we carried away, and the fine line between a cool job and a crappy one. Join us for a look back at where our working lives began.

What can a life in music education look like? In the first episode of Where Work Lives, we meet Sue Porter, a retired music teacher who moved into teaching at the college level.

Sue reflects on her early college classes, a two-year volunteer role in Peru, and her experience teaching college students. Together, we explore the experiences and opportunities that shaped her journey, offering listeners a personal look at a career that connects music, education, and service.

Whether you’re drawn to teaching, passionate about music, or curious about where a career can lead, Sue’s story offers an inviting place to begin.

Real People, Real Jobs, Real Stories.