Where the oddest jobs from the past meet a comedian from the present… and it’s awkward! On this weekly show, Chris Parnell (SNL, Rick and Morty) welcomes guests who have held some of human history’s most unexpected and downright bizarre jobs: funeral clowns, garden hermits, VHS clerks, and everything in between. With the help of his tireless producer, Chris hears from the essential workers from decades and centuries past. Because before there were actual medical doctors, there were barber surgeons. And before there was Instacart, there were milkmen. Wondery’s This Job Is History is a funny, absurd, and informative look into how time can change the way we live and work.
205 Subscribers
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© 2022 Wondery LLC. All rights reserved.
This Job is History
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205 Subscribers
Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 Based on 34 reviews
Melo2345
5 out of 5 stars
Creative, Quirky, and Informative
Let’s be clear: this show has a very particular style, and for what it’s worth: they’ve nailed it! Well-researched and brilliantly scripted, this show provides fascinating information in a joyfully goofy way while using some of the best acting/voice talent around. Some of the negative reviews seem to have missed the point-this show is a creative way to bring history “closer” to us to enhance our understanding of how the past lead up to now, and it does this with a lot of heart! I am glad it exists, and look forward to more episodes. [For the Bah-humbug reviewers out there: not liking the style doesn’t mean it’s a bad show, it just may not be for you.] 😉
kjfdg
5 out of 5 stars
So so funny!
I binged the first 5 episodes without stopping! This is one of the smartest and funniest shows I’ve heard. I need to listen to couple more times in order to catch everything. After listening to them all, I finally read the reviews, and I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s fine if this isn’t your preferred style of comedy, but if you don’t understand how smart this is, it definitely isn’t the podcast for you, so move on.
Dusty Corners
5 out of 5 stars
Sweet smart lil nuggets
Funnnnn
Kaliki12
1 out of 5 stars
Ugh. Call in the Funeral Clown!!!!
I barely made it to 6:47 of the first episode. Horribly scripted and even more horribly acted.
Trunkhill1
4 out of 5 stars
Fun and Interesting History
In a world full of oh-so-serious podcasts and news, this production is a nice escape into the lesser known historical roles in civilization. Quirky host Chris Parnell (of ‘Archer’) presents a fun take on roles and jobs that are no longer functional in today’s world but were integral in days gone by. The voice actors are good and paint a picture quite well. It’s a good program to pass a drive around town with.
silkysusan
5 out of 5 stars
I get it
I’m so sorry so many reviewers here don’t get the premise. I do. Also, I also found Willy Wonka terrifying when I was a child. I still do, I guess. Keep at it.
(つ .•́ _ʖ •̀.)つ▼・ᴥ・▼ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
3 out of 5 stars
Ok
I’m mean it’s alright.
just jimmy is fine
1 out of 5 stars
Decent Idea, Terrible Execution
Very disappointing. Jokes that feel like a first year improv student’s rejects among meandering conversation that fails to explore the topic in any meaningful way and filled to the brim with ads. Sad to see someone with the resume of Chris Parnell doing something so wooden, unfunny, and uninteresting.
jess2468097531
5 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and delightful
Enjoying this!
Vaughnsgirl
1 out of 5 stars
Awful
I can’t believe Wondery produced this!! It’s absolutely awful I couldn’t even finish the first episode. Like a puppet show. Just awful.
TexasPodLover
1 out of 5 stars
Eye-rolling
Historical jobs is something I’d like to learn more about, but not in the way that his podcast presents the information. Interviews with real historians would be more engaging than the fake interviews with actors. It’s too silly and not funny.
PodFictionReviewer
1 out of 5 stars
Not a Fiction Show - also awful
Are you kidding me that this is fiction? Terrible also.
Ltsgthi
1 out of 5 stars
Over produced….
Lot of production for so little info. Not the quality Wondery usually makes.
alimo15
5 out of 5 stars
funny!
loved this! great to listen to with kids in the car so we can all enjoy
Papyrus
1 out of 5 stars
Fiction?
Why is this show in fiction? Wondery playing Wondery games.
Dipsh**s
2 out of 5 stars
Puppet Show
Imagine a puppet show for kids but with no puppets… then don’t change anything. That’s what this podcast sounds like.
Jfhbcfjvdv
1 out of 5 stars
Where’s the info?
Was too late to catch the first episode and happy I didn’t pay for it. 20 minutes into the cringy acting of VHS clerk and haven’t learned anything. This is legit a poor take on comedy that has nothing to do with jobs.
Champion of Existence
1 out of 5 stars
Good concept. Awful sound mix.
This should be labeled as scripted entertainment with actors. The sibilance cuts like a knife. Skip it.
CA_NRD
5 out of 5 stars
So funny unique. Don’t miss it!
One of my new favorite podcasts! Love the comedy
cdkf92
5 out of 5 stars
Consistently fun and funny
This show is the perfect antidote to the craziness in the world today. Chris Parnell could have taken a mean spirited tone, but instead is warm and respectful to his guests throughout history. All episodes so far have been great but the Sin Eater ep had me busting out laughing all the way through. This is also a perfect podcast for car rides with the family. Delightful for kids and funny for adults.
TS22558
1 out of 5 stars
just can’t
I LOVE the idea- teaching listeners about jobs from the past. that’s about it. I got 5 min into the first episode and had to stop (tbh- about 3.5 min of this was just the pre-show ads). The first 90 sec reminds me of those horrible educational films we had to watch in elementary school. You know, the ones the teachers would use to ‘support’ teaching a difficult concept? They contained super cheesy humor and seriously juvenile dialogue and antics. The class could not stop their exasperated groans and exaggerated eyerolls. Well, I couldnt contain my own then and just I couldnt stop them during this 90 second trainwreck. Embarrassed for you. maybe dont use an actor pretending to be from the era. That overused, elementary school trope can only lead to silliness. That’s what I heard, silly adults trying hard to humor someone…..anyone. I clicked on the podcast bc i am interested in the material. Why are you trying so hard to sell it to your audience? Maybe i missed the ‘ages 6-12’ description?
MarissaNYLA
5 out of 5 stars
Hysterical!
If you want to learn a bit of trivia with a big dose of laughter, you’ve got to listen to this. Loved the funeral clown episode! Favor was very funny, it made my long commute less dreary. Am definitely recommending to all my friends.
Katy1516
2 out of 5 stars
Great concept, bad execution
The ads for this pod make it sound more informative/documentary than dramatic. I felt like I was listening to the puppets in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Patricia Suzanne
3 out of 5 stars
Meh
I hoped this would be educational and interesting but it was definitely more of a performance. Very goofy. Not my thing.
Gabor the Blind Guy
1 out of 5 stars
Jobsolete rip-off
I understand this is supposed to be a scripted comedy show, but Chris Parnell‘s over acting trying to dumb down his character going for cheap laughs seems really forced. This podcast would be better if Chris played the straight guy in the comedy skit, letting the guest play the crazy eccentric character instead. Chris should deliver his lines in a casual tone, letting the comedy come out naturally instead of forcing it out. This podcast seems really dumb downed for an adult audience, and seems to be more geared towards little kids. Plus honestly this podcast seems to be a ripoff of another podcast called Jobsolete, which pretty much had the same concept.
History Honey
5 out of 5 stars
Entertaining History
The podcast used entertaining ways to educate their audience. The delivery of the information was interesting and funny. I appreciated the subtle approach of educating the listeners about a topic as well as unfamiliar terms. I was entertained and wanted to hear more. I felt that the podcast would capture listeners of different ages. It was very clear that there was a lot of time and effort put into it. I am looking forward to the next podcast. Bravo!
data-know
5 out of 5 stars
Props
No time like the present for Dusty Jobs ...
Groomers Wife
3 out of 5 stars
Humorous and informative
I love this concept! But I’m not paying for a wondery membership while listening to ads.
Kissander
1 out of 5 stars
Theater
This is a theatrical performance with some history involved. I was hoping for more information and less performance.
xstevez
1 out of 5 stars
Is this for children?
If it is that’s fine but at least advertise it that way. Made it 5 minutes into Ep1 before checking out. It’s a heavily and poorly scripted “interview” with a person of a quirky historical profession skit that feels like listening to a middle school play. Original, funny and great production value mentioned in 2 reviews already? Guys at least send different scripts to your review farms to pull from.
BandtheC
5 out of 5 stars
Great concept!
Really excited to see where this show will go. The options are limitless.
prarie_wind
2 out of 5 stars
Target Audience under 20?
Listened to one episode. Feels like a kids show.
Lori Lacell
5 out of 5 stars
If you dislike or outright hate your job this for you!
Such a fresh and original spin on history. I listened today, the first day after leaving my last day at work. This first episode sounded authentic and all the voice talents and production quality is outstanding. Fun and positive, but it’s actually a clever disguise. I learned stuff by accident and that was the best of all!
Smart Fla Gal
5 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and informative
Do yourself a favor and download today. Great, original, and funny! Good for family listening. Excellent production.
Podcast information
- Amount of episodes
- 10
- Subscribers
- 205
- Verified
- No
- Website
- Explicit content
- No
- Episode type
- serial
- Podcast link
- https://podvine.com/link/..
- Last upload date
- January 30, 2023
- Last fetch date
- February 1, 2023 2:48 PM
- Upload range
- WEEKLY
- Author
- Wondery
- Copyright
- © 2022 Wondery LLC. All rights reserved.
susbcribers
- Resurrectionist: "Grave Mistakes" | 9Grave robbing. Body snatching. Call it what you want but selling corpses for cash was a lucrative business in 19th century England. Chris struggles to keep it together as he learns the morbid details of what it takes to be the very best in the corpse stealing business Please support us by supporting our sponsors.0 comments0
- Telegraph Operator: “Woman on a Wire” | 8Before eggplant emojis and cat gifs, the Telegraph Operator decoded DM’s one letter at a time. It’s old west meets new tech as Chris and his guest cover everything from call signs to heartbreak and all that happens “on the wire. Please support us by supporting our sponsors!1 comments1
- Milkman: “Udder Tragedy” | 7Milk. Eggs. Cheese. It’s all in a day’s delivery for the 1950’s milkman. But most people don’t know this sunny occupation had a dark side. In today’s episode, Chris uncovers the truth about the “Milk Mafia” and owns up to a secret he’s harbored since childhood. Please support us by supporting our sponsors!1 comments1
- Barber Surgeon: “Men of the Clot” | 6A shave, haircut, and an amputation. That’s all in a day’s work if you’re a 1690s Barber Surgeon. Chris struggles not to squirm as today’s guest covers everything from battlefield hack-jobs, whiskey as a painkiller, and of course – the secret to a great haircut.1 comments1
- Factory Lector: “Read The Room” | 5How did factory workers in the 1920s pass the time while rolling cigars? Chris is on a mission to prove his creative genius as he interviews a man from 1925 Florida who proves that the key to making the perfect Cuban cigar isn’t in the tobacco, it’s in the art of storytelling.1 comments1
- Garden Hermit: “Only the Lonely” | 4What looks like a hermit, talks like a hermit, but is actually a salaried employee of the rich? A 1700s Garden Hermit, of course. In this episode, Chris gains real wisdom from a fake hermit whose job is to act like an all-knowing mystical sage who just so happens to live in some rich dude’s backyard.1 comments1
- Sin Eater: “Sin-cerely Yours” | 3Wrath. Envy. Pride. For some, these are cardinal sins. For a professional Sin Eater in 1700s England, it’s what’s for dinner. Chris interviews a woman whose job it is to gobble down evil deeds so people may find safe passage into heaven. Talk about giving new meaning to the term soul food!1 comments1
- VHS Clerk: “VH-YES!” | 2Before algorithms told us what movies to watch, the local video store clerk served as our 80s and 90s cinema sommelier. Chris interviews a favorite icon of the Spice World Age. They’ll talk about everything from Speed to Speed 2: Cruise Control, and revisit the lost art of recommending the perfect Friday night flick.1 comments1
- Funeral Clown: “To Die Laughing” | 1What is it like to tell jokes at a Roman emperor’s funeral? Chris Parnell interviews a real Funeral Clown from 82 CE, a job that sometimes captured the hearts of funeral goers… and sometimes ended in certain death. And Chris wonders if this is a job tailor-made for his talents. Please support us by supporting our sponsors!0 comments0
- Introducing: This Job is HistoryWhere the oddest jobs from the past meet a comedian from the present… and it’s awkward! On this weekly show, Chris Parnell (SNL, Rick and Morty) welcomes guests who have held some of human history’s most unexpected and downright bizarre jobs: funeral clowns, garden hermits, VHS clerks, and everything in between. With the help of his tireless producer, Chris hears from the essential workers from decades and centuries past. Because before there were actual medical doctors, there were barber surgeons. And before there was Instacart, there were milkmen. Wondery’s This Job Is History is a funny, absurd, and informative look into how time can change the way we live and work.1 comments1
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No host has claimed this podcast yet, if you are the host you can verify ownership by claiming this podcast
© 2022 Wondery LLC. All rights reserved.
