If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

Dan Rogers shares his journey from computer science to project management at Microsoft and Google. He reveals the daily realities of managing complex technical projects, dealing with personalities, and why it's really about managing uncertainty rather than tasks.

Like all TFTS episodes, the conversation also takes a deep dive into the world of being a project manager. What it's like, how to get into it, and what's the pay.

Escape the Clock by Dan Rogers - https://www.danrogersauthor.com https://www.pmi.org - Project Management Institute

0:00 Intro

1:25 What is a Project Manager?

4:22 Dan's Computer Science Background

9:15 Career Path from Developer to Project Manager

12:30 Working at Startups

18:45 Transitioning to Microsoft

24:20 Inside Microsoft Culture

31:10 Moving to Google

38:25 Google's Work Environment 4

5:50 Differences Between Microsoft and Google

52:30 Technical Project Manager vs Program Manager

58:15 Managing Uncertainty and Chaos

1:04:40 Dealing with Difficult Stakeholders

1:11:20 Work-Life Balance in Tech

1:20:20 Closing Thoughts

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#ProjectManagement #TechCareers #Microsoft #Google #CareerAdvice #TechnicalProjectManager #ProgramManager #TechJobs #ProjectManager #TalesFromTheShift

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Shane interviews Kathy Allen, a career nurse with decades of experience across every major hospital department. Kathy reveals shocking truths about how private equity companies are destroying healthcare by cutting nursing staff, leading to increased patient falls, infections, and adverse events. She discusses her journey through ICU, medical-surgical, pediatrics, emergency room, psychiatric units, and chemical dependency care, sharing heartbreaking and inspiring patient stories. Like all TFTS episodes, the conversation also takes a deep dive into the world of nursing. What it's like, how to get into it, and what's the pay.

Kathy's Website: https://www.gutsynurses.com/

Kathy's Email: info@gutsynurses.com

Chapters

0:00 Intro

0:28 Career Nurse

2:04 Getting Into Nursing - Education and Career Path

5:25 Nursing Specialties and Salary Breakdown

14:00 Nurse Relationships and Workplace Culture

16:35 Journey Through Hospital Departments

27:46 The Truth About Hospital Staffing

29:17 Working in Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Units

40:02 Studying Somatic Experiencing and Trauma Healing

41:13 "Gutsy Nurses Save Lives" Book and Program

48:01 Traumatic Burnout vs Regular Burnout

56:50 Closing Thoughts

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

Elevator Music: Thanks to Mykola Odnoroh via Pixabay

#Nursing #Trauma #Healthcare #HospitalNurse #Burnout #PTSD #SomaticExperiencing #PrivateEquity #HealthcareWorkers #MedicalTrauma #NurseWellness #HospitalLife #TraumaHealing #NursingShortage #HealthcareReform #NurseBurnout #MedicalCare #HealthcareCrisis #NursingCareer #PatientCare #studynursing

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

This episode features Nicole Wolverton, a horror writer and academic with a fascinating career journey. Nicole discusses her unique master's degree in storytelling and horror from the University of Pennsylvania. She reveals the lengthy publishing process, often taking 3-4 years from writing to publication. Nicole shares insights from her academic research on how consuming horror builds resilience and coping skills, drawing from studies at Denmark's Recreational Fear Lab. The conversation explores the business side of horror publishing, rejection rates, advance ranges from $1,000 to seven figures, and why horror writers are surprisingly some of the nicest people you'll meet. Nicole offers practical advice for aspiring writers and explains why she believes horror is a much broader genre than most people think.

Books By Nicole: A Misfortune of Lake Monsters (2024) Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Misfortune-Lake-Monsters-Nicole-Wolverton/dp/0744309581 Bodies Full of Burning: An Anthology of Menopause-Themed Horror (2021) - Edited by Nicole Amazon Kindle link: https://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Full-Burning-Anthology-Menopause-Themed-ebook/dp/B099417CLV The Trajectory of Dreams (2013) Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Trajectory-Dreams-Nicole-Wolverton/dp/1938463447 Pretend You Don't See Her (Kandisha Press, out September 27, 2025)-- her short story in this one is "In The Blood We Live" Additional Resources: Horror Writers Association: https://horror.org/ Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFFWA): https://www.sfwa.org/ Recreational Fear Lab (Denmark): https://recreationalfearlab.com/ Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/ CamCat Publishing: https://www.camcatbooks.com/

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

This episode is about Amy Weldon, a science communications professional who made the difficult transition from dolphin trainer to helping scientists connect with the public. The conversation explores why people's eyes glaze over when discussing climate change, how to reach skeptical audiences in rural America, and the devastating impact of budget cuts to institutions like NASA. Amy discusses her master's degree in science communications, the explosion of this field in recent years, and her own podcast interviewing scientists and STEM professionals. She explains how science communicators act as translators, taking complex research and making it accessible to everyday people juggling multiple jobs and family responsibilities.

Amy's Podcast Blue Collar, White Coat - https://www.youtube.com/@BlueCollarWhiteCoat National Association of Science Writers: https://www.associationofsciencecommunicators.org/

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#ScienceCommunication #Podcast #CareerStories #DolphinTrainer #STEM #NASA #ClimateChange #VaccineEducation #ScienceEducation #CareerTransition #PublicHealth #ScienceWriter #WorkplaceStories #TalesFromTheShift #SciencePodcast #careers #jobs

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

Join Shane Peterson as he interviews Jennifer Johnson, a professional job recruiter who calls herself a "matchmaker for professionals." In this revealing episode, Jennifer shares the inside secrets of the recruiting world. Jennifer explains the intricate process of matching hiring managers with perfect candidates, the 50+ hours it typically takes to hire someone, and why the job description is "the Bible" for any job search. Jennifer reveals shocking stories about candidates who've tried to use ChatGPT to fake their way through interviews, the differences between university programs and how they affect candidate quality, and why understanding industry-specific technical details is crucial for successful recruiting.

Jennifer Johnson Email: itsjennjohnson@gmail.com Jennifer's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jns.adventures Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): https://www.shrm.org/ LinkedIn Learning Recruiting Courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/topics/recruiting Indeed Career Guide for Job Seekers: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice Glassdoor Company Reviews and Salary Information: https://www.glassdoor.com/ Bureau of Labor Statistics - Human Resources Specialists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#JobRecruiter #CareerAdvice #RemoteWork #TalesFromTheShift #JobSearch #HumanResources #ResumeTraining #CareerChange #DigitalNomad #JobInterview #HiringProcess #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #CareerTips #Recruiting #JobHunting #RemoteLife #TravelAndWork #CareerPodcast #JobMarket

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

The YouTube version includes images, video, and diagrams in addition to the video of the host and guest.

In this fascinating deep dive, Matthew Adams pulls back the curtain on the world of political organizing. As both a seasoned political organizer and current California candidate, Matthew reveals the realities of campaign work that most people never see. From going door-to-door facing constant rejection to the surprising truth about why passionate political junkies might actually struggle in this role, Matthew shares stories about what it's really like to work behind the scenes in American politics. Matthew explains the difference between working on presidential campaigns versus local races, and reveals why political organizing attracts mostly young people willing to work for very little money. This episode provides an unfiltered look at one of the most misunderstood jobs in American democracy.

Matthew's election site: sites.google.com/view/adams4assembly/home

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:23 What is a Political Organizer?

00:01:36 How Many Organizers Per Campaign?

00:04:18 Getting Started in Political Organizing

00:05:12 Matthew's Personal Journey

00:21:43 Door-to-Door Safety and Stories

00:22:41 Why Passionate Political People Struggle

00:28:08 Presidential Campaign Experience

01:04:07 How Campaigns Get Your Information

01:06:25 Final Advice for Aspiring Organizers

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#PoliticalOrganizer #CampaignWork #Politics #BehindTheScenes #TalesFromTheShift #PoliticalCareers #CampaignLife #ElectionWork #PoliticalJobs #Democracy #VoterOutreach #CampaignStrategy #PoliticalReality #JobInterview #CareerAdvice #PoliticalCampaigns #GovernmentJobs #PublicService #PoliticalScience #CaliforniaPolitics

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

Note that the YouTube version includes images, video, and diagrams in addition to video of the guest and host.

Join host Shane Peterson as he sits down with Hank Smith, an international marketing and business development leader with over 15 years of experience in the strategic marketing space.

In this episode, Hank takes us behind the scenes of the marketing world, sharing insights about how strategic marketers really work, what drives their campaigns, and the surprising realities of building brands and driving business growth. This conversation covers everything from the technical aspects of marketing strategy to the personal motivations that keep professionals passionate about their craft. Whether you're curious about marketing as a career path or just want to understand how the industry really works from an insider's perspective, this episode offers valuable insights into a field that touches every business.

Additional Relevant Links:

Twenty Ads That Shook The World: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0609807234?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

American Marketing Association: https://www.ama.org/

Marketing Land - Industry News: https://marketingland.com/

HubSpot Marketing Resources: https://www.hubspot.com/marketing Content Marketing Institute: https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/

MarketingProfs Training: https://www.marketingprofs.com/

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:20 How Hank Got Started in Marketing

5:00 Early Career and TV Production Background

15:00 Transition into Strategic Marketing

25:00 What Strategic Marketing Really Involves

35:00 Work-Life Balance in Marketing

45:00 Career Progression and Pay in Marketing

55:00 Industry Relationships and Networking

1:05:00 Marketing Secrets and Behind-the-Scenes Stories

1:15:00 Advice for Aspiring Marketers

1:21:00 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#Marketing #StrategicMarketing #MarketingCareer #BusinessDevelopment #TalesFromTheShift #MarketingSecrets #MarketingJobs #DigitalMarketing #BrandMarketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingProfessional #CareerAdvice #MarketingInsights #BehindTheScenes #MarketingIndustry

If you have an interesting job and would like to be a guest on the show, email me at talesfromtheshiftpodcast@gmail.com

Note: The YouTube version contains some images, videos, and diagrams in addition to the host and guest video.

In this episode, host Shane interviews Johnny Flores, a former Navy Hospital Corpsman who shares his remarkable journey from reluctant recruit to combat medic. Johnny reveals the unexpected path that led him to become a "corpsman", serving as the Navy's version of a medic who provides medical care for both Navy personnel and Marines. Johnny candidly discusses the realities of military medical training, including learning emergency procedures like battlefield amputations, and shares fascinating stories about working alongside international military medical personnel.

Warning: This episode contains verbal descriptions of disturbing medical situations and may not be suitable for squeamish listeners.

Johnny's Company: https://florespodcastproductions.com/

Navy Hospital Corpsman Information: https://www.navy.com/careers/hospital-corpsman

ASVAB Test Information: https://www.asvabprep.com/

Military Medical Training Overview: https://www.military.com/education/military-medical-training

Navy Boot Camp Information: https://www.bootcamp4me.com/navy-boot-camp/

Marine Corps and Navy Relationship: https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/585838/relationship-between-navy-and-marine-corps/

Chapters

0:00 Intro 0:32 Welcome and What is a Navy Corpsman?

1:52 Johnny's Path to Military Service

3:12 ASVAB Testing and Career Options

5:16 Hospital Corpsman Training School

6:00 Training Intensity and Washout Rates

33:15 Working with International Military Personnel

35:00 Medical Training and Emergency Procedures

Theme music thanks to https://www.youtube.com/@moodmode via Pixabay

#NavyCorpsman #MilitaryMedicine #NavyMedic #TalesFromTheShift #MilitaryStories #HospitalCorpsman #NavyTraining #CombatMedic #MilitaryCareer #NavyLife #MarineCorps #MedicalTraining #MilitaryService #VeteranStories #NavyBootCamp #ASVAB #MilitaryExperience #FieldMedic #NavyVeteran #MilitaryPodcast