Podcast Summary:

How to Be Anything – Bonus Episode: "My Friend's a Rapper!" (HTBA Listeners Tell Their Stories)
Host: Emily McCrary
Date: August 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This special bonus episode of How to Be Anything takes a documentary approach to storytelling by featuring real listener stories gathered at the show’s launch party in Richmond, Virginia. Instead of the usual in-depth job profiles, host Emily McCrary invites party guests to pick up a phone and anonymously answer prompts about their weirdest, funniest, and most challenging experiences at work—and the result is a collection of raw, quirky, and highly relatable stories about the unpredictable world of working life.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Memorable Moments from Unusual Jobs

• Bizarre Customers (01:58):

  • One storyteller describes an encounter with a customer "very high on some sort of drugs" who attempted to use her shoe as a phone to call someone about cashing a check.
  • Quote: “She took off her... shoe and tried to make a phone call on her shoe and put her shoe up to her head and started talking to it.” (01:58, Anonymous)

• Movie Theater Shenanigans (02:41):

  • Another recounts the fun of a movie theater job during their teen years, highlighting the “great environment of weird people” and customers who would ask for hamburgers at the concession stand.

2. Awkward and Embarrassing Work Moments

• First Period at Work (03:28):

  • A young worker recalls starting their period unexpectedly and bleeding everywhere, requiring a manager to drive them to the store.
  • Quote: “My manager had to literally take me away from my duty and drive me to the store, put a towel in his car... That was very embarrassing, especially for my first job.” (03:28, Anonymous)

• Fainting at a Resort Job (08:49):

  • A listener describes fainting on her first day while getting a tour of a hotel property, then insisting she was fine to avoid medical attention due to lack of insurance.
  • Quote: “I got a little aura before I went down, saw it happening. I was like, I'm going down, this is not good.” (09:07, Anonymous)

3. Getting Fired—and Fighting Back

• Retail Redemption (05:35):

  • Story of being let go from a commission-based retail job by a new manager who doubted their ability, only to win a trial period, surpass goals, and earn back the position.
  • Quote: “So we had a trial period and, you know, I did surpass my goals. And ever since then the manager loved me...” (05:53, Anonymous)

• The Fired Skater Shop Worker (07:21):

  • A mall skate shop worker explains being let go—probably to save money—and being made to sign an NDA for severance.
  • Quote: “They made me sign an NDA at the end to get some severance money. But now I can say that the company was MOHU and they were terrible. And I don't care if I'm violating my NDA.” (08:37, Anonymous)

4. Unforgettable Bosses

• Prankster Skater Boss (06:48):

  • Listeners reflect on a “crusty skater guy” boss known for antics like changing restaurant signs to read “anus beef” and dropping bouncy balls from the mall balcony.
  • Quote: “He one time came to work with like a bucket of bouncy balls and dropped them over the balcony... Just a wacky guy. Shout out, Mike.” (07:05, Anonymous)

• The Harassing French Restaurant Manager (12:13):

  • One woman describes daily comments about her body from her manager, leading to a successful labor complaint and her subsequent resignation.
  • Quote: “So he would make comments about my rear end every day. And one day I had enough and told him that that was sexual harassment. I contacted the labor department, they came, investigated...” (12:20, Anonymous)

5. Wild Job Interviews

• Disrespectful Candidate (09:45):
  • A very pregnant manager recalls a male interviewee lounging with his feet on her desk during an interview; unsurprisingly, he was not hired.
  • Quote: “He set the Coke down on the desk, sat in the chair opposite the desk, scooted it back, and proceeded to put his feet up on the desk... I remember feeling so appalled.” (10:03, Anonymous)

6. Short-Lived and Frustrating Gigs

• Printer Hell on the Chesapeake (12:57):
  • Young marketing manager leaves her dream-like resort job after two weeks and 90 daily printer jams.
  • Quote: “I counted one day and one day I cleared over 90 printer jams from the printer trying to print the specials menu.” (13:37, Anonymous)

7. The Title Story: “My Friend’s a Rapper!”

• Gen Z Coworker, Surprise Rapper (13:50):
  • A junk removal worker endures a shift listening to a Gen Z co-worker’s “terrible SoundCloud rap,” only to later learn the music is his coworker’s own.
  • Quote: “Finally he plays one that's, like, just kind of good. And I'm like, yeah, alright, that one was alright. ... He's like, well, surprise, that's me rapping.” (15:18, Anonymous)
  • The story is a gentle ribbing of both SoundCloud culture and the hustle of young artists, ending on a supportive note: “Kudos to him for, I guess, following his dreams and all that, but I'm pretty sure he was just being taken advantage by studios” (15:40, Anonymous)

8. Surprise Perks and Sweet First Jobs

• Meat Tray in Court (16:07):

  • Working in a courthouse leads to a surprise delivery of a giant meat tray and a memorable impromptu courthouse party.

• Piano Gig Protegé (16:41):

  • One listener fondly remembers getting her start as a piano gig performer as a child thanks to a supportive teacher, dedicating the story to “Mrs. Pridgen.”
  • Quote: “She gave me a lot of confidence... So this one goes out to you, Mrs. Pridgen.” (17:22, Anonymous)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "She took off her phone or her shoe and tried to make a phone call on her shoe..."
  [01:58] – Anonymous

• "My manager had to literally... drive me to the store, put a towel in his car..."
  [03:28] – Anonymous, on period mishap

• "He one time came to work with a bucket of bouncy balls and dropped them over the balcony..."
  [07:05] – Anonymous, on prankster skater boss

• "He set the Coke down on the desk... and proceeded to put his feet up on the desk..."
  [10:03] – Anonymous, on the worst interview experience

• "They made me sign an NDA at the end to get some severance money..."
  [08:37] – Anonymous, on being fired

• "My friend's a rapper... surprise, that's me rapping."
  [15:18] – Anonymous, junk removal story

• "She gave me a lot of confidence... So this one goes out to you, Mrs. Pridgen."
  [17:22] – Anonymous, about supportive music teacher

Overall Tone & Style

True to the documentary and literary spirit of the main series, this listener-driven episode is spontaneous, heartfelt, and often laugh-out-loud funny. The stories range from lighthearted workplace pranks to the vulnerability of embarrassing moments and the grit of overcoming unfair firings or harassment. Listeners open up honestly about the realities and absurdities of working life, often with self-deprecating humor and a clear appreciation for all the unpredictable turns a career path can take.

Key Takeaways

• Everyone has a weird or wonderful work story—sometimes both in the same day.
• Work is as much about the people as the job description—both bosses and co-workers make a lasting impression.
• Embarrassment, odd customers, strange coworkers, and fleeting jobs are universal experiences, uniting listeners across wildly different backgrounds.
• Career paths are often nonlinear, unpredictable, and shaped by moments of generosity and absurdity alike.

For more pictures and community contributions from the launch party, visit howtobeanything.com/substack.