logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
26m 59s

Jobs that don’t exist anymore

American Public Media
About this episode

As times change, so do jobs, and careers that once were common can go extinct! Join Joy and co-host Amirah as they head to the world famous “This Used to be a Career Fair.” There, you’ll hear about knocker uppers, switchboard operators, ornamental hermits and other unique jobs that have gone away as technology and culture have changed. Plus, listeners share their ideas for new jobs that will exist in the future, and we play a brand new game of First Things First!



This episode was sponsored by:
Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Up next
Oct 8
We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters
We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new episodes of Brains On coming later this month and new Smash Boom and Forever Ago after that. If you want to support the show or drop u ... Show More
7m 30s
Jun 2025
Where did school uniforms come from?
Our world is filled with uniforms. From mail carriers, to sports teams to students! This week, Joy, cohost Hannah and Articles of Interest’s Avery Trufelman trace the history of school uniforms, from their start 800 years ago in England, to their popularization in America by immi ... Show More
32m 25s
Jun 2025
A big update about Forever Ago and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
300 Episodes of 'Working People'! Announcements, reflections, & what comes next...
<p>In 2024, <em>Working People </em>officially crossed the 300 episode mark! Since we published our first episode back in 2018, the show has grown in ways we never could have imagined, and the world itself has changed in radical, hopeful, terrifying ways, the labor movement has u ... Show More
55m 36s
Feb 2025
343. Lincoln asks: What if the Learninator was interviewed?
We meet the Learninator’s whole family and discover the secrets of time travel. Get ready for lots of lasers and chrome! Lessons include: family celebrates who you are, not who they want you to be; imagine the future you want, then start taking steps to make it happen! Please Sub ... Show More
20m 10s
Sep 29
Big Tech Told Kids to Code. The Jobs Didn’t Follow.
<p>For the past decade, a simple message has been delivered to a generation of American students: If you learn to code and complete a computer science degree, you’ll get a job with a six-figure salary.</p><p>Now, thousands of students who followed the advice are discovering that ... Show More
31m 20s
Sep 2
Corporate America ditched DEI. What happened to the employees?
“Chief diversity officer” was once Corporate America’s hottest job. Now corporate America has retreated from DEI and slashed thousands of jobs. So where does that leave the people who’ve built careers around that work? Hear the story of one veteran executive who’s been job-huntin ... Show More
7m 59s
Oct 2024
The Missing Mogul | The Bouncing Czech | 1
<p>A Czech refugee from the Nazis begins a new life in Britain under a new name: Robert Maxwell.</p><p><br></p><p>Listen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock ex ... Show More
36m 53s
Dec 2024
An Elf-Made Success | How the Elf On The Shelf Found a Place at Christmas | 1
<p>Mother-daughter duo Chanda Bell and Carol Aebersold turn their old family tradition into a new Christmas children’s book they call The Elf on the Shelf. But when they are rejected by the major publishers, they decide to finance the release of the book themselves—and begin a ne ... Show More
34m 36s