When we think of people carrying out death sentences today, we think of low-key affairs where the media is not invited. However, the Professional Public Executioner was a true showman when he carried out death sentences in front of thousands of

Scribe

Dec 30th, 2021 28m 13s

You might want to write this episode down. Helen and Matt look at one of the most important occupations in human history, the Scribe, and we only know about this job because they were so helpful as to write down what they did. Learn more about

Vaudevillian

Dec 23rd, 2021 29m 3s

From the local small-town stage to New York’s Palace Theater, vaudeville was an essential part of every community. In this episode, Helen and Matt learn about the Vaudevillians, the ones who kept Americans entertained when there wasn’t much to

Rum Runner

Dec 16th, 2021 27m 26s

How do you smuggle alcohol into the country during Prohibition? Being well connected, great management skills, strong interpersonal relationships, and having a passion for the industry. While that sounds like a born Linkedin profile bio, Helen

Big Band Orchestra Leader

Dec 9th, 2021 27m 24s

During the heyday of live jazz music, the charismatic and ambitious one who kept it all together was the Big Band Orchestra Leader. Helen and Matt explore how the occupation gave rise to the birth of the modern pop singer. Learn more about you

Moon Astronaut

Dec 2nd, 2021 26m 33s

The rarest of all occupations on Jobsolete, only 24 men have ever gone to the Moon. All of them were from the United States. Helen and Matt learn about the legacy and impact of the Moon Astronaut. While we cherish the history of the Apollo prog

Animated Cel Inker

Nov 25th, 2021 25m 10s

Before computers, women helped Walt Disney bring his hand drawn animations to life as Animated Cel Inkers, a little known profession that would have a ripple effect over the style of animations for generations to come. Helen and Matt explore th

Sin Eater

Nov 18th, 2021 28m 26s

Some people used to believe that the surest way to get to heaven after you died was to have someone eat your sins. Ya know, so they were no longer on your soul? All you needed was some bread, some wine, and a Sin Eater. Helen and Matt talk abou

Pony Express

Nov 11th, 2021 27m 28s

Before the train and telegraph, for a short time in American history, if you wanted your mail to get across the entire country, you relied on men who travel 1900 miles on horseback at speeds so fast they might as well be competing in the Kentuc

Trailer

Introducing Season 2

Nov 4th, 2021 1m 18s

Season 2 of Jobsolete premieres November 11. Tune in to learn more about history's most fascinating jobs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gandy Dancers

Apr 29th, 2021 26m 10s

Railroad workers who laid the tracks that first crossed America were often called gandy dancers. Find out what it was like to work on the rails in those frontier days! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee

Tall Ship Sailor

Apr 22nd, 2021 30m 32s

Let's return to the Age of Sail with our guest K.C. Crowell, who tells us what it was like to be a sailor on a tall ship. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

MTV (Pt. 2) - video jockey with Martha Quinn & Bob Pittman

Apr 15th, 2021 29m 45s

In 1981, the world was introduced to Music Television, and the job of video jockey, or VJ, was born.In this second part of a two-episode special, our expert guests are Martha Quinn, original MTV VJ, and Bob Pittman, who led the team that create

MTV (Pt. 1) - video jockey with Martha Quinn & Bob Pittman

Apr 8th, 2021 27m 41s

In 1981, the world was introduced to Music Television, and the job of video jockey, or VJ, was born.In this first part of a two-episode special, our expert guests are Martha Quinn, original MTV VJ, and Bob Pittman, who led the team that created

Alchemist - All That Glitters is Gold

Apr 1st, 2021 27m 34s

Our own Amelia Palka helps sort Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian Specimen Collector

Mar 25th, 2021 25m 5s

Writer John Van Wyhe takes Helen and Matt around the world to catch a glimpse of the now obsolete Victorian Specimen collector, He also shares the story of his favorite collector of all, Ida Pfeiffer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:

Food Tasters

Mar 18th, 2021 23m 56s

Eleanor Herman, author of The Royal Art of Poison, shares her tales of food tasters though history with Matt and Helen. She also dispels some myths about what was actually killing royalty if it wasn't poison. Learn more about your ad-choices a

Stone Eaters

Mar 11th, 2021 26m 59s

Author Marc Hartzman tells Matt and Helen about the odd profession of Stone Eaters and they find out that there is another job hiding behind this one. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/l

Professional Royal Mistresses

Mar 4th, 2021 26m 36s

Professional Royal Mistress? Professional? Yup. Eleanor Herman, author of Sex With Kings, 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge, joins the show to help Matt and Helen shed a little light on this often overlooked and misunderstood p

Samurai

Feb 25th, 2021 26m 59s

Kyota Ko, mastermind behind the website Metro Classic Japanese, Joins Helen and Matt to discuss the long and fascinating history behind Samurai. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene

Sea Shanty Singer

Feb 18th, 2021 25m 33s

Sea shantys weren’t just a way to pass the time on a ship, they were integral to the running of it by keeping the men working like clockwork. TikTok TikTok. James Revell Carr joins brings Matt and Helen on this expedition into the harmonic worl

Phrenologist

Feb 11th, 2021 25m 9s

Did you ever think the shape of your head has something to do with your personality? No? Good because it doesn’t, but Phrenologists thought exactly that. Author and historian Dr. John van Wyhe joins Matt and Helen to talk about this odd school

Wax Worker

Feb 4th, 2021 26m 2s

Writer and professor Jennifer Tucker joins Helen and Matt to discuss Wax Workers, Wax sculptures have been around for centuries and before the printed image wax museums were very popular around the western world. Learn more about your ad-choic

Blockbuster / Video Store Clerk

Jan 28th, 2021 27m 36s

Often a film geek, many times a bored teen, video store clerks were the gatekeeper to your weekend movie binge. Helen and Matt are joined by Sandi Harding, the manager of the last Blockbuster video to chat about the early mom and pop video stor

Aeronauts

Jan 21st, 2021 25m 41s

At the dawn of human flight you had one option... Balloons! Balloons were all the rage in 1700s France and Aeronauts were the daredevils / entertainers at the cutting edge of this new science that made the spectacle come alive! Matt and Helen d