Podcast · Business

The 100 Jobs Project

by Katie Monson Gantt · English · Business

Discover 100 Stories To Help You Find Yours  Ever wondered what life would be like in a different job — or what day-to-day work looks like for your friends, neighbors, or even that guy at the gym at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday? This podcast is for you. Join your host, Katie, for weekly episodes as she in

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 45 min
Latest: 27 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

27 Aug 2026 · 4 min

I HAD A BABY & Other August News

Hey there! My baby has officially arrived!! I originally planned on having episodes prepped and ready to go when he made his appearance — but during the weeks leading up to my due date, my extended family had an unforeseen loss that shifted my plans and the time I had previously set aside for interviews. I’m sharing a bit of detail about what’s new in my life on this mini episode/update, as well as what you can expect from the few weeks of “maternity leave” that I’m taking! I’ll be back in a few weeks with fresh interviews (probably the first week of October?) — but in the meantime, I’ll be…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

19 Aug 2026 · 53 min
028 — TEACHERS CAN TRAVEL TOO: Building a Teaching Career That Makes Room for What You Love, with a High School Choir Director
Have you considered becoming a teacher—but wondered if it would limit your opportunities for travel, family or a well rounded life you love? In this episode, I’m talking with my sister, Lexi, a high school choir director in the Pacific Northwest, about her path into teaching. We get into everything from the classes in her program and a summer teaching music in Kenya, to student teaching, licensure and landing a job out of state. We talk through what it’s taken to build up a music program she’s proud of and how she balances her career with her husband’s job, raising kids, and prioritizing…
6 Aug 2026 · 49 min
027 – LIFE (& FINANCE) IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM: Building Wealth, Saving Lives & Balancing Motherhood as an ER Physician Assistant
This week, I'm joined by Alicia, a physician’s assistant working in emergency medicine in the Pacific Northwest. We talk about what first drew her to PA school and the ER, what a typical shift actually looks like, and the realities of working nights before jumping back into daytime life with a family. Alicia also shares how growing up with older brothers, playing sports, and moving across the country for school and work shaped her career and life. We chat through what she brings (and wears!) to work, coordinating childcare with a partner who also works in healthcare, and building a life that…
30 Jul 2026 · 42 min
026 – CHEMICAL ENGINEERS MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND: Thriving as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field
In this episode, Hannah shares her unique journey from chemical engineering to psychology (and back!), her experiences as a woman in STEM, and insights on balancing career, family, and personal growth. We chat through interesting projects she tackles during her day to day job, and get into what starting her own business (and podcast 👏) looked like, along with how she navigates those personal commitments alongside her day job. Hannah co-hosts a podcast and runs an Instagram channel highlighting relatable insights and real advice for women in STEM careers. Connect with her here: 📸 Instagram:…
23 Jul 2026 · 16 min
ICYMI: Add This Job Inspo To Your Summer Playlist
Summer tends to be a season when routines change—maybe you're traveling, spending more time outside (or finally catching up on podcasts you've had saved for months). So instead of introducing someone new today (I know!! we're all set to be back on our interview grind next week), we’re revisiting a handful of conversations that I think are especially great summer listens. Whether you're brand new here or you've missed a few episodes along the way, these are five conversations I'd recommend starting with, depending on your vibe for the summer. Tune in for inspo if: …if you’re binging anything…
8 Jul 2026 · 35 min
GRAD SCHOOL AT GEORGETOWN: How I Navigated Parenthood, Work & Going Back to School
Taking a quick break from interviews this week because…after three years, countless late nights, changing careers, starting a business, raising a toddler and announcing my second pregnancy—I finally graduated from Georgetown with my MBA! Two of the questions I've been asked most since finishing are, “What are your plans now?” and, “How did you do grad school as a (super cute, fun, young, amazing, insert flattering adjective here) mom?” 😉 So this week, I'm taking a break from interviewing someone else to answer those questions—because a big part of why I started this podcast was to figure out…
3 Jul 2026 · 45 min
025 - BUILDING PRODUCTS IN BIG TECH: A Day in the Life of a Product Manager
How does a Product Manager at Microsoft land a job, and what does their day to day actually look like? In this episode, I sit down with Noopur to talk about her journey from growing up in India and Shanghai to building a career in product management at Microsoft. After attending college and starting her career in India, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a master's degree at Duke University, where she landed an internship—and eventually a full-time role. We talk about what any job as a product manager entails, her career progression, and what it’s like working in a hybrid environment with teams…
25 Jun 2026 · 48 min
024 - A FULFILLING CAREER IN HR: Lessons on Leadership, Opportunity & Resilience With Chief People Officer, Angie Balfour
What does it take to build and scale teams at some of the world's fastest-growing companies? In this episode, I sit down with Angie Balfour, a seasoned Chief People Officer who (among many impressive roles!) previously served as Head of HR at Instagram, to discuss her journey from a high school business competition to leading people strategy at high-growth companies. Angie shares how an early mentor helped her recognize her strengths, her first role after college, earning an MBA while working full-time, and the path that eventually led her to Meta. There, she helped scale Instagram's…
19 Jun 2026 · 47 min
023 - FROM BAT HABITATS TO COLLEGE CLASSROOMS: A Career in Bat Biology & Wildlife Research
From studying bats in Belize to launching her own research as a new professor, Alyson's career has taken her across the country—and deep into the world of wildlife biology. Growing up surrounded by the forests of the northeastern United States, Alyson developed an early love for the outdoors that eventually led her to study biology. In this episode, she shares how she narrowed her interests over time, along with her journey pursuing specialized master's and PhD programs focused on bat research–and moving around the country for the school, fieldwork, and new opportunities that came with it.…
10 Jun 2026 · 46 min
022 – RUNNING A FLOWER SHOP IN NEW ENGLAND: How Liz Turned a Love of Flowers Into a Thriving Business
Ever daydream about owning a flower shop in New England? 🌸 In this episode, I sit down with Liz, founder of Mellow Botanical, to talk about her journey from nannying and marketing to becoming a self-taught florist and successful business owner. Liz shares how a love of flowers emerged during a challenging season of life as she navigated motherhood and divorce, eventually leading her to build a thriving floral business from the ground up. We talk about landing her first wedding, opening a storefront, surviving COVID as a predominately event-based business, marketing her services, hiring…
3 Jun 2026 · 46 min
021 - INSIDE THE WORLD OF INTERIOR DESIGN: Lisa Morton’s Holistic Design Journey, from Private Jets to Feng Shui
Ever wondered what it’s like to be an interior designer? In this episode, I'm joined by Lisa Morton, a holistic interior designer, Certified Master of Feng Shui, author, and founder of Pure Living with Lisa Morton. Lisa shares how 20 years of industry experience took her from designing the interiors of private jets for clients around the world, to building her own business as a designer. We chat about the early days of breaking into the design industry, how she built her expertise, and what ultimately inspired her to step away from corporate life and launch her own business. Lisa shares how…
27 May 2026 · 31 min
10 More Jobs, 10 More Stories – What 20 Career Paths Have Taught Me
In this recap episode, I’m reflecting on some of the biggest themes that came up across my last ten conversations (interviews 11-20!): unexpected career pivots, balancing passion with practicality, confidence, creativity, and the boundaries guests set to make the most of their careers and their lives. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or are just discovering the podcast, this recap is a chance to step back and look at the bigger picture emerging from the first 20 jobs we've discovered together. Links to all featured episodes are below: 011 – PLANNING LUXURY EVENTS IN THE HAMPTONS &…
30 Apr 2026 · 52 min
020 – SEMPER FI, LADIES: Basic Training, Deployments & 10 Years in the Marine Corps
In this episode, Mysti shares how a last-minute shift during her senior year of high school led her from planning a future in dance to enlisting in the Marine Corps—and ultimately spending nearly a decade in military service. What drew her in? Structure, stability, and the opportunity to build a meaningful career. As we chat, Mysti shares about everything from basic training and her two deployments, to what she wore to work and how she juggled her relationship and family with a busy military schedule. If you’re curious about the realities of day-to-day life in the military, or interested in…
15 Apr 2026 · 41 min
019 - JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS: Inside a Fourth-Generation Moving Company
What’s it like to build a career inside a family business that’s been around for four generations? In this episode, I sit down with Mollie, who works in Texas as the VP of Sales for a moving company, that specializes in residential, commercial and corporate relocations — and has been in her family for decades. After earning a master’s degree in a completely different field, she shares how she ultimately found her way into the family business and into a sales leadership role. We talk about what life looks like when no two workdays are the same — from frequent travel and site visits to…
8 Apr 2026 · 51 min
018 - TEACHERS CHANGE LIVES: A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Teacher
In this episode, I chat with Amber, a 5th grade English Language Arts teacher at a Title I school in Maryland. She shares how she never originally planned to become a teacher, what changed for her in college, and how after teaching for a while, she eventually continued on to pursue a master’s degree in Learning, Diversity & Urban Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. We talk about her experience teaching in Spanish through a dual immersion program, finding the age group that was the right fit, and what it looks like to support students from diverse backgrounds, including children…
1 Apr 2026 · 56 min
017 – WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY AN AIRPLANE? Behind the scenes of International Business Development
Ever wondered what goes into selling airplanes around the world? Caroline works in International Business Development for a global aerospace and defense manufacturer (aka, helping develop relationships with customers buying aircrafts or related services). Her focus is the Asia Pacific region, which means she's frequently traveling around the world for meetings, events and airshows. In this episode, Caroline shares what her day-to-day looks like both at home and on the road, and how she finds time for grad school when she’s not at work. We also talk about how growing up in a multicultural…
25 Mar 2026 · 50 min
016 - BUILDING AN ETSY BUSINESS: Scaling a “Side Quest” To Thousands of Sales
Have you ever daydreamed about starting an Etsy shop—but weren’t sure where to begin? In this episode, I talk with Jenna, a Kansas City, MO–based small business owner who turned a side project into a thriving Etsy shop with 2,500+ sales in just a few months. After launching her career in communications and events at an IT company that was acquired by Oracle Corporation, and later working in the nonprofit space, Jenna stepped away from full-time work during COVID to care for her first child. What followed was a series of “side quests”—from photography to resume writing to 3D-printed…
19 Mar 2026 · 46 min
015 - TYING SHOELACES CHANGES LIVES: The Path to Pediatric Occupational Therapy
In this episode, Laurel shares her journey to becoming a pediatric occupational therapist—starting with a childhood friendship that first sparked her interest in special education. After getting hands-on experience in the classroom and learning from mentors, she discovered occupational therapy and set out on a path that would take her across the country (three times!) for grad school and new opportunities. We talk about how she chose her graduate program, what OT school actually looks like, and how she found internships, picked a specialty, and landed her first job. Laurel also shares how…
11 Mar 2026 · 43 min
014 - WORKING AS A WOMAN: Building a Career in Workplace Research While Balancing Life at Home
What happens when you have your first child, no maternity leave, and suddenly need to rethink your entire career path? In this episode, I talk with Karina, the Director of Global Strategic Workplace Insights at Great Place To Work and the creator behind @corporate.homemaker, an Instagram account highlighting the real experience of being a working mom in corporate America. As we hear, Karina’s career path didn’t start in the corporate world. After college, she worked as a writer and ghostwriter in the travel space, but when she had her first daughter—with no maternity benefits, a toxic work…
4 Mar 2026 · 47 min
013 - A LITTLE WINING & DINING: What Work Is Like as a Woman (& Student!) in Telecom Sales
What does it actually mean to “wine and dine” clients in a sales career? In this episode, I sit down with Jessie — an account director at a major telecom company (by day!) and an MBA student (by night!). After growing up in Atlanta with lots of different interests, Jessie discovered the world of sales through a college sales club that opened the door to internships, competitions, and eventually her first full-time job. We talk about the different types of sales careers that exist, how Jessie’s responsibilities have evolved as she’s grown in her career, and how she navigated asking her…
26 Feb 2026 · 44 min
012 - LIFE OF A SHOW(DOG): Building a Dog Grooming Business — From Local Clients to Competition Wins
In this episode, Ashleigh —the owner of both Little Jenna’s Grooming & Pawdicure—shares how she turned a love of animals into opening a brick-and-mortar grooming shop, expanding into mobile grooming and even grooming show dogs! We talk about her first jobs, working from her garage, and taking the leap to finding and renovating a physical space. Ashleigh shared her process for hiring and training her employees, learning how to manage people, and how having a supportive partner helped her grow. Plus, she shares how she found her way into competitive dog grooming (and what it felt like to win…
18 Feb 2026 · 40 min
011 - Planning Luxury Events In the Hamptons & Beyond: A Glimpse Into the Life of a Media & Events CEO
In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Gordon , Luxury Event Planner and Producer, CEO and Founder of East End Taste, to talk about how she built a media brand rooted in culinary culture, refined travel, and unforgettable experiences—both in the Hamptons, and all over the world. Vanessa shares how she found her way from teaching into publishing and events, turning her love of storytelling and the East End lifestyle into a thriving digital publication and the exclusive annual Hamptons Interactive Brunch. This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at entrepreneurship, event production,…
4 Feb 2026 · 42 min
What 10 Women in WILDLY Different Careers Taught Me
A few months ago, I set off to interview 100 “regular”women about their jobs. I wanted to chat with REAL women (not just the executives, CEOs, “experts” and famous people we so often hear from on podcasts) about how they balance work, life goals, friendships, hobbies, finances, relationships, and so much more. Today, after sharing TEN recorded conversations with ten amazing women—all building lives in wildly different career fields—I’m pausing to recap what I’ve learned from these amazing women so far…because what’s the point of talking with people if we don’t actually take a second to…
28 Jan 2026 · 43 min
010 — SALES BY DAY, ROMANTASY BY NIGHT — What it Takes to Lead a Sales Team & Publish Swoon-Worthy Novels
In this episode, I sit down with Tetyana, who grew up in Ukraine and came to the U.S. to study finance in college. Today, she leads a sales team of business development reps across two states — and when the workday ends, she’s writing and self-publishing romantasy novels with thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. We talk about her childhood in Ukraine, summers spent on her grandparents’ farm, the challenges of studying in a new country, and how she balances a demanding career with creativity, fitness, life and motherhood. We cover everything from the lip gloss she keeps in her work…
21 Jan 2026 · 34 min
009 — FLYING TO KILIMANJARO, SCUBA DIVING IN FIJI, & 30 YEARS IN THE SKIES — A Day In The Life of a Commercial Airline Pilot
What does a 30-year career in the cockpit really look like? In this episode, I sit down with Madeleine, a United pilot who has been flying professionally for over three decades. We talk about how her love of aviation started at just 16 years old after her very first flight lesson over the San Francisco Bay Area — and how that spark turned into a lifelong career. Madeleine shares what it was like moving across the country to study Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle, waiting tables at a pizza place to make ends meet during her early flying jobs, and eventually starting a plane management and…
14 Jan 2026 · 54 min
008 — CELEB STUDDED PARTIES, ICONIC BRAND DEALS & A WEDDING IN MALTA — Inside the Life of a Digital VP in NYC
In this episode, I’m joined by Eri, a Digital VP at MSL, Publicis Groupe’s global public relations and integrated communications partner. Based in New York City, Eri has built her career in media agencies and influencer marketing, working across categories like travel, beauty, CPG, and kitchen & home goods. Eri shares her global upbringing—born in Hawaii, attending international schools in Singapore and Hong Kong, and moving to the U.S. for college in Oregon—and how those experiences shaped her career path. We talk about how a Rent the Runway ambassadorship influenced her to switch her major…
7 Jan 2026 · 44 min
007 – INDIA, HARVARD & A $25K CHECK THAT CHANGED IT ALL: The Roadmap To A Career In Instructional Design
In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Blake, M.Ed., CPLP, CEO and Lead Instructional Designer at Blake Learning Solutions, to hear the incredible journey that led her to co-running her own business. Sarah shares how she went from studying journalism in undergrad, working at a non-profit, and almost taking the wrong job, to quitting everything and moving to India to teach at a charity school while figuring out her next career move. From there, she navigated her way to DC, got accepted into Harvard’s instructional design Master's program, worked in LA (including giving the creators of Rings…
31 Dec 2025 · 36 min
NEW YEAR'S RESET — How I’m approaching goals and life in 2026
2026 is arriving and with that, new goals and intentions for the year! Today we're taking another quick break from interviews to chat about how I'm approaching goals and life this year. We get into ten specific steps (I know, it sounds like a lot but in reality it's pretty simple!) I'm taking now and throughout the year to reset, refresh and evaluate progress. We'll be back with more interview starting next week! Can't wait to see you throughout the rest of 2026.
24 Dec 2025 · 23 min
PUSH PAUSE – Making Space in the Quiet Between Christmas & New Year’s
Happy Wednesday! Today we’re pressing pause on regular interviews to talk about that beautiful, quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s — aka Twixmas — because anyone exploring careers or future paths can benefit from a little reset! In this episode, I’m sharing a few simple things I’m doing to unwind, reconnect, clear mental clutter and start exploring 2026 goals…without actually setting any yet.
E6 · 17 Dec 2025 · 47 min
006 – DESIGNING SPACES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL SOMETHING — Inside the Work of an Interior Architect
What does it really mean to design spaces that make people feel something? In this episode, interior architect and creator Jenn Pearson shares the winding path that led her to a career in design — from falling in love with interiors as a kid in Texas to discovering interior architecture after being rejected from a different program at Virginia Tech. Jenn opens up about early career uncertainty, the power of networking, supplementing her early salary through fashion and lifestyle blogging, and how setbacks helped shape a career that feels truly aligned. We talk about navigating relocations as…

About The 100 Jobs Project

The 100 Jobs Project is a English business podcast from Katie Monson Gantt. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Katie Monson Gantt
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 45 min
Latest episode: 27 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1852858681
Rights: Katie Monson Gantt

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