Careers IRL

What if budgeting isn’t about telling yourself “no”? What if it’s actually a tool for deciding what you want your money to do? And what happens when ADHD adds time blindness, impulse spending, forgetfulness, and decision fatigue to the equation? Certified Financial Coach Jewlz the Budget Nerd knows that combination firsthand—and she has built a career helping families create money systems that work wi...

Want to work in music? Being talented is only part of the job. Showing up prepared matters. Being easy to work with matters. Knowing how to connect with people matters. And sometimes the path to a career in music starts by listening to music you don't even like. Andrew McCluskey has worked as a professional musician, songwriter, musical director, creative director, nonprofit leader, and music entrepreneur—and his career has t...

What does it really take to fly a fighter jet into combat and keep going if something goes wrong? Not just bravery, but preparation, resilience, smart decision-making, and the ability to recover fast under pressure. 

In this episode of Books That Build Skills, retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Kim "KC" Campbell shares the real skills behind flying 100+ combat missions, landing a battle-damaged aircraft, and leading when the ...

What does the Federal Reserve actually do and what does your $20 have to do with the entire U.S. economy?

In this episode of Careers IRL, Anoop Mishra, Regional Executive and Senior Officer for the Birmingham Office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, takes us behind the scenes of economics, financial services, and the Fed.

We explore the money skills every teenager needs—from saving, spending, and investing to understandin...

What if we've been asking kids the wrong question for decades? Instead of asking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" maybe we should ask something far more powerful: Who do you want to become?

That one shift changes everything.

In this premiere episode of Careers IRL, author, entrepreneur, educator, and Books That Build Skills founder Loxley Browne introduces a completely different way for kids, parents, and educators to thin...

What do golf and your future career have in common? More than you think. This week, as The Masters begins at Augusta National — the most prestigious golf tournament in the world — we’re talking about the real skills behind the game: focus, communication, networking, and etiquette. Because sometimes the most important lessons don’t happen in a classroom… they happen on a golf course.

“Golf gives y...

What does it actually take to be on the news? Not just talking on TV — but reading, writing, thinking fast, solving problems, and working as a team under pressure. In this episode, we meet a real TV reporter and learn the skills behind the stories you see on the news every day. If you’ve ever wondered how TV reporters do their job — this episode is for you.

This episode is about the real skills behind careers in me...

Have you ever met a real person who inspired a character in a book? In this episode, you will. Makayla Galler is the real-life inspiration behind Raye in the Charms Book Series—and her story is even more incredible than fiction. She started flying gliders at 15, earned her pilot’s license in high school, and is now working toward becoming a Navy aviator—and maybe even an astronaut one day.

This episode is about wha...

What does it take to fly a helicopter off a Navy ship in the middle of the night? Not bravery alone. Not luck. It takes training, teamwork, and the courage to make calculated decisions when everything is on the line.

In this episode of Books That Build Skills, retired Navy helicopter pilot and commander Julie Vida shares the real skills behind one of the most demanding careers in the world — and how those same skills start dev...

What if the future of space exploration started on a farm?What if crop rotation was once considered radical? What if preserving history was actually protecting tomorrow’s breakthroughs?

Welcome to Mount Vernon — and yes, it matters to space.

In this Middle Grade March special, Sara Marie Massee from George Washington’s Mount Vernon connects 18th-century farming innovation to modern sustainability and scientific thin...

What does it actually take to work at NASA?

Not as an astronaut.

Not as an engineer.

But as the person responsible for capturing history as it happens.

In this Space Week special episode of Books That Build Skills, Loxley Browne sits down with Eric Galler, a television producer and director who has worked behind the scenes filming rocket launches, astronaut interviews, and high-stakes NASA missions—including launches tied to the ...

Humans are going back to the Moon — and in this episode, you meet the people helping make that future real. 

Before the Artemis mission sends astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth, this show gives you a rare, behind-the-scenes look at real space careers, NASA teamwork, and the human skills behind modern space exploration.

What does it actually take to work in space?

Not just rocket science — but resilience, com...

What if your job was to ask why—and not stop until the answer actually works? Meet an Existential Detective who helps turn wild ideas into real vehicles that can fly, drive, or even go to space. From custom cars to spacecraft, Josh Hundley proves that curiosity isn’t a hobby—it’s a superpower. And yes… this episode starts with imagination and ends with making your bed. 

This episode is about how b...

Ever wonder who saves the wedding when everything goes wrong? 💍 Broken zipper? Audio meltdown? Emotional chaos? Meet Ryann Doria—the non-traditional wedding planner who sews, fixes, calms, and makes it work. This episode proves careers aren’t always what you expect… and that unexpected skills can save the day.

This episode is about how real-world skills show up in surprising careers. Ryann shares how organization...

What if speaking two languages could help companies grow across the world? 🌍 Meet the translator who doesn’t just swap words—she rewrites meaning. From soccer vs. baseball to culture, confidence, and business smarts, this skill is way bigger than people think.

This episode explores what it really means to be a professional translator—not just language, but culture, strategy, and communication. Mariana shares h...

What if asking better questions could change your entire future? What if consistency—not talent—was the real superpower? In this episode, we talk podcasting, confidence, and why “just showing up” matters more than you think. If you’ve ever wanted to build your voice, your network, or your confidence—this one’s for you.

This episode breaks down what it really takes to be a podcast host—...

What if your childhood Lego obsession could turn into designing tech that never sleeps, survives extreme temperatures, and powers AI + autonomous cars?

What if the kid who takes everything apart… is actually showing you their future career?

Most children don’t grow up saying, “I want to be a mechanical engineer.” They say: “I like building things.” “Can I try it my way?” “What ha...

Strength isn’t just about muscles — it’s about confidence, independence, and living a bigger life. Ever wished you felt strong enough to handle anything? This episode shows you how.

This episode breaks down what strength training really means, how coaches help people move safely, and why learning to understand your body is a life skill — not just a gym thing. Getting stronger changes how you move through the ...

She french-braided copper wire to save an electric race car. Yes. Really. This is the kind of problem-solving automotive engineers actually use.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what automotive engineers really do—from trade-offs and testing to curiosity-driven problem solving. Esther shares how asking “why” turned her love of problem solving into a career shaping electric vehicles.

🎙 Guest Info

Name: Esther U...