The Memory Palace: Episode 219 - "Lost Jobs"

Host: Nate DiMeo
Release Date: July 3, 2024
Transcript Provided By: Nate DiMeo

Introduction and Book Announcement

In the opening segment of Episode 219, titled "Lost Jobs," Nate DiMeo shares exciting personal news with his listeners. He announces the forthcoming release of his book, set to launch on November 19, 2024. Drawing inspiration from beloved collections like Ripley's Believe It or Not and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, Nate aims to translate the captivating storytelling of his podcast into a tangible, cherished book.

Nate DiMeo [00:16]: "I grew up loving these old paperback collections... something that you can hold in your hands, give as a gift, and something that could live on your shelf."

Nate reflects on his childhood admiration for short, poignant stories and expresses his hope that his book will evoke the same magic for adults, allowing readers to discover new connections with each revisit.

The Importance of Listener Support

Transitioning from his book announcement, Nate emphasizes the critical role of listener support in sustaining independent media. He contrasts the stability offered by Radio Utopia with the instability plaguing larger podcast networks, which are often subject to layoffs and corporate cost-cutting measures.

Nate DiMeo [02:41]: "Listener support provides the foundation of each of these shows, including mine."

Nate passionately advocates for supporting independent podcasts, highlighting how listener contributions enable creators like himself to maintain quality and consistency without succumbing to external pressures. He encourages listeners to donate to Radiotopia to ensure the continued production of beloved shows in an increasingly consolidated media landscape.

Main Story: Social Security Administration Removes 157 Jobs from Disability Claim List

The heart of this episode delves into a significant bureaucratic change within the Social Security Administration (SSA). Nate explores the removal of 157 jobs from the SSA’s list of applicable occupations for disability claims, a move aimed at preventing unjust rejections of benefits based on unrealistic job alternatives.

Background on Disability Claims Process

Nate begins by explaining the disability claims process, where the SSA assesses whether applicants can perform work despite their disabilities. Previously, the inclusion of highly specialized or obsolete jobs often led to unjust benefit denials.

Nate DiMeo [03:42]: "If you had a catastrophic back injury... someone at the Social Security office... would determine whether you, with your changed circumstance, could reasonably find a new career."

Issues with the Previous Job List

The episode highlights how the SSA's prior job list included numerous niche professions that were unrealistic alternatives for many claimants. This practice resulted in unfair benefits denials, leaving individuals unable to secure the support they deserved.

Nate DiMeo [04:50]: "Claims were being rejected unfairly based on the supposed availability of jobs that people simply could not reasonably get."

Impact of Removing Certain Jobs

Thanks to investigative reporting and legal challenges, the SSA has now excised 157 jobs from its consideration list. These removed occupations ranged from highly specialized roles to those that have long since vanished from the modern workforce.

Nate DiMeo [04:52]: "The Social Security administration has removed 157 jobs from its list of possible alternate occupations."

Examples of eliminated jobs include:

• Scuba Diver (Job #379.384010)
• Artist Model (Job #961.667010)
• Reptile Breeder (Job #413-161-014)
• Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Industrial Organization Psychologist
• Hog Confinement Systems Operator

These removals ensure that disability benefits are no longer unjustly withheld based on impractical job alternatives.

Reflections on Lost Professions

Nate takes a nostalgic journey through various obsolete professions, painting a vivid picture of the skills, environments, and daily lives tied to these roles. He muses on the sensory experiences and community bonds formed within these jobs, lamenting their disappearance.

Nate DiMeo [06:20]: "Let this bureaucratic change mark an overdue endpoint to jobs long since vanished from the American landscape."

He poignantly describes the tactile and auditory memories associated with these jobs, such as:

• Photographing Documents on Microfilm: "The specific smells and sounds... the scent of the glue and the feel of the newspaper articles beneath one's fingers."
• Pneumatic Tube Operators: "The whoom and whoosh... the thunk and the clack of the container."
• Manual Sorting of Nuts (Job #521.687086): Reflecting on the meditative aspects of such repetitive tasks.

Nate underscores the human element lost with these professions, from storytelling companions to familiar workplace sounds, emphasizing the intangible costs of technological and bureaucratic advancements.

Nate DiMeo [08:15]: "Maybe the person beside them on the bench always had the best stories, maybe became their kid's godmother."

Conclusion and Final Announcements

As the episode wraps up, Nate reiterates his excitement for the upcoming book and provides listeners with various ways to stay connected and support the show. He shares his social media handles and invites listeners to subscribe to his newsletter for updates on the podcast and book launch.

Nate DiMeo [11:31]: "I'm extraordinarily excited about that and if you want to keep up to date on the podcast, on the book launch... you are always welcome to drop me a line."

He concludes by expressing gratitude to his audience and reinforcing the communal effort required to sustain independent media.

Notable Quotes:

• Nate DiMeo [00:16]: "I grew up loving these old paperback collections... something that you can hold in your hands, give as a gift, and something that could live on your shelf."

• Nate DiMeo [02:41]: "Listener support provides the foundation of each of these shows, including mine."

• Nate DiMeo [04:50]: "Claims were being rejected unfairly based on the supposed availability of jobs that people simply could not reasonably get."

• Nate DiMeo [08:15]: "Maybe the person beside them on the bench always had the best stories, maybe became their kid's godmother."

Additional Resources:

• Book Release: The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo, releasing on November 19, 2024, published by Random House.
• Follow Nate:
  • Twitter & Facebook: @TheMemoryPalace
  • Instagram & Threads: @TheMemoryPalacePodcast
  • Newsletter & Contact: thememorypalacepodcast.substack.com | Email: [email protected]

This episode of The Memory Palace intricately weaves a reflection on lost jobs with broader themes of societal change and the preservation of human experience. Through meticulous storytelling, Nate DiMeo invites listeners to ponder the fleeting nature of professions and the profound impact of their disappearance on individual lives and collective memory.