Careers IRL Podcast
Career Exploration Show
Books That Build Skills is an educational career exploration podcast and YouTube show where real professionals break down how their careers actually work and the life skills that make success possible. Designed for curious kids, teens, parents, and educators, the show blends STEM careers, engineering, space exploration, leadership, and real-world problem-solving into engaging video episodes and podcast conversations that feel like storytelling—not lectures.
Each episode highlights the practical skills behind real jobs — communication, adaptability, teamwork, resilience, time management, creative thinking, and critical problem-solving — showing students how what they learn in school connects directly to careers in aerospace, engineering, technology, finance, and innovation.
Available as a YouTube educational series and career-focused podcast, Books That Build Skills helps families and classrooms use media as a tool for literacy, career awareness, STEM exposure, and life skills development. It’s a podcast for the generation that wants to know how things work, why skills matter, and what careers actually look like behind the scenes.
Careers IRL (In Real Life) is a career exploration show for tweens and teens where real professionals explain how their jobs actually work and the life skills that make those careers possible.
This isn’t a lecture. It’s a behind-the-scenes pass into real careers in STEM, engineering, space, leadership, finance, innovation, and creative industries, designed for curious teens, parents, and educators.
Every episode answers the questions students are already thinking:
- What does this job actually look like?
- What skills do you really need?
- How did you get there?
- What mistakes did you make along the way?
The show connects classroom learning, literacy, and curiosity to real-world careers, helping the viewers understand how skills like problem-solving, teamwork, communication, adaptability, time management, and resilience show up in everyday work.
It’s educational media for the generation that wants to know why something matters before they learn it.
Our Show Guests
Each episode features real professionals — scientists, engineers, innovators, leaders, and industry experts — who break down their careers in a way students can understand. Guests share the skills they use daily, the mistakes that helped them grow, and the turning points that shaped their careers.
Students don’t just hear job titles. They hear stories, setbacks, lessons, and skills they can start building right now.
Adam Laakmann • Ballistician • Aerojet Rocketdyne • LINK
Kim KC Campbell • Fighter Pilot • U.S. Air Force • LINK
David Elder • Wealth Manager • Merit Financial Advisors • LINK
Andrea Klunder • Producer • The Creative Imposter Studios • LINK
Esther Unti • Assistant Chief Engineer • Lucid Motors • LINK
Sarah Siertle • Strength Training Coach • LINK
Zach Sharpell • Mechanical Engineer • Qualcomm • LINK
Hernan Sias • Podcast Host • Business Bros • LINK
Mariana Serio • Spanish to English Translator • MS Translations • LINK
Ryann Doria • Wedding Planner • Ryann Kristena Events • LINK
Josh Hundley • Existential Detective • Machinal • LINK
SPACE WEEK SPECIAL: Adam Laakmann • Ballistician (Rocket Scientist) • Aerojet Rocketdyne • LINK
SPACE WEEK SPECIAL: James Parks • Aerospace Rocket Propulsion Systems Engineer • NASA • LINK
SPACE WEEK SPECIAL: Christina Korp • Astronaut Wrangler • Purpose Entertainment • LINK
Eric Galler • Producer & Director • NASA • LINK
Sara Marie Massee • Historic Trades Manager • George Washington’s Mount Vernon • LINK
Julie Vida • Helicopter Pilot & Commander • U.S. Navy • LINK
Makayla Galler • Inspiration for Character • Navy ROTC • LINK
Rob Northcutt • Golf • Investor • LINK
Andrew McCluskey • Musician • MusicTo.com • LINK
Your future doesn’t start after you finish high school — it starts with what you explore today. Subscribe and be the first to get the new episodes that show how real careers work and the skills behind them, from space and engineering to leadership and innovation. Every video helps students see how curiosity, reading, problem-solving, and life skills connect to exciting possibilities ahead.
Every Sunday evening we drop a new show. 👉 Subscribe to Careers IRL on your favorite podcast platform (Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, etc.) and join us @BooksThatBuildSkills on YouTube
This isn’t homework. It’s the show that answers the stuff school doesn’t explain — like what people actually do all day at cool jobs and the skills that got them there. Subscribe for career stories, real-world skills, and episodes that make you say, “Okay… that’s actually awesome.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s answers to the questions that Aunt Loxley is asked most often.
What is the Careers IRL Podcast?
The Careers IRL podcast is a video series where real professionals explain what they actually do in their careers—in a way that makes sense for students.
Each episode connects real-world skills to the storylines, challenges, and characters from the Charms Book Series.
👉 Start watching now and explore real careers in action. [LINK]
Who is this podcast for?
This show is designed for:
- Students ages 10–15 (grades 6–9)
- Parents who want their kids learning real-life skills
- Educators looking for engaging, career-connected content
If a student is curious about the future—or trying to figure out what they’re good at—this is for them.
👉 Share this page with a student who’s starting to ask “what do I want to be?”
When do new episodes go live?
New episodes drop every Sunday at 5:00 PM Central.
It gives students something to look forward to at the end of the weekend—like the classic Disney movie on Sunday nights that Gen X grew up watching—except now it’s built around skills, careers, and real-world insight.
👉 Subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss Sunday’s drop. [LINK]
What makes this podcast different?
This isn’t scripted or watered down.
Students hear directly from:
Engineers
Pilots
Creators
Leaders
They talk about what their jobs are really like, what skills matter, and how they got there.
👉 Watch an episode listed on this page and see how real careers actually work.
Where can we watch the episodes?
All episodes are available on YouTube and directly on this page:
👉 https://booksthatbuildskills.org/youtube-podcast/
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@BooksThatBuildSkills
👉 Bookmark this page or the YouTube channel and come back every Sunday evening.
How can students get more involved?
Students can:
- Read the Charms Book Series
- Watch weekly episodes
- Complete companion activities
- Join programs like Word Quest, Middle Grade March, or the Charms Summer Reading Contest
👉 Join the Word Quest, download the worksheet and start building your vocabulary today.
How does the podcast connect to the books?
Every episode ties back to the Charms Book Series.
That means:
Students see how stories connect to real life
Characters reflect real career paths
Books become more than reading—they become a starting point
👉 Read the books alongside the episodes for the full experience. [LINK]
How long are the episodes?
Episodes are short, focused, and easy to follow.
They’re designed for:
- After school
- Homeschool lessons
- Classroom use
- Quick learning sessions without losing attention
👉 Pick an episode from this page and watch it in under 30 minutes.
What kinds of careers are featured?
Students are introduced to a wide range of careers, including:
- Engineering
- Aviation
- Science and technology
- Creative fields
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
The goal is to help students understand what’s possible and how different careers actually work.
👉 Explore different careers by watching a few episodes back-to-back.
Is this educational or entertainment?
Both.
It’s engaging enough to hold attention, but every episode builds:
- Life skills
- Career awareness
- Confidence in how to think and make decisions
👉 Turn screen time into skill-building time.
How can parents or educators use this?
The podcast works as:
- A companion to the books
- A life skills lesson
- A career exploration tool
- A “what do I want to be when I grow up” career conversation starter
It’s easy to plug into both home and classroom settings.
👉 Use one episode this week as a conversation starter.
Is this educational or entertainment?
Both.
It’s engaging enough to hold attention, but every episode builds:
- Life skills
- Career awareness
- Confidence in how to think and make decisions
👉 Turn screen time into skill-building time.