For our Season 2 finale, we're pulling back the curtain to reveal the specialist behind the podcast and radio show Snap Judgment, and a little about what goes into making our show. Plus: a very special announcement from our team! Make sure you

SPECIALETTE — Fired

Dec 8th, 2016 8m 55s

Glynn Washington, host and creator of WNYC's Snap Judgment, on a job that was doomed from the start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Specialette — Culture Ambassador

Nov 23rd, 2016 6m 3s

Listener Samantha Goldstein on being an observant Jew whose job is to preserve and uphold the values of an evangelical Christian battery company. Photo by Flickr user zeevveez. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE — Poll Locators

Nov 8th, 2016 15m 8s

On the eve of the 2016 election, forget candidates, issues, and vitriol! Instead, spend the day with two women who work for months finding the perfect location for you to vote. Then go vote! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor

13 — Blood Girls

Oct 28th, 2016 15m 50s

Meet the specialists who craft fake injuries for real first-responder training in a world where the blood you see isn't really blood... but the coffee isn't coffee, either. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Specialette — Cheetahs, Fleas, and Bird's-Eye Berets

Oct 14th, 2016 6m 40s

You probably know Mary Roach as the author of such Specialist-filled science books as Gulp, Stiff, and Packing for Mars. But like all of us, she had another life before her current one, and it involved fielding accusatory queries about unwell c

12 — Notary Superman

Sep 29th, 2016 17m 19s

A lot of the people who've met Sunny Jaswal have only spent five minutes with him — but they might have been among the most important five minutes of their lives. Who is this man who swoops in when you most need him, then departs just as quickl

Specialette — Digital Missioner

Sep 19th, 2016 6m 35s

Listener Kyle Oliver on coaching monks who use YouTube. "The joke is that you should never read the comments. You should read the comments on the videos that these monks put together." Read away on our website, specialistpodcast.com. Hosted on

Special Feature: The Committee No One Wants to Be On

Aug 31st, 2016 10m 5s

The Specialist is on summer vacation! We'll be back soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this special feature from friend of the show Raja Shah about the people who eagerly take on work almost no one wants to do. Photo used under a Creative Comm

Specialette — Undercover in the Bread Factory

Aug 18th, 2016 9m 24s

You may know Al Letson as host of the podcasts Reveal, State of the Re:Union, and Errthang. This is the story of the time he went undercover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 — Cane Trainer

Jul 29th, 2016 18m 31s

Traffic surges, tactile clues, and the smell of crispy bacon: meet a specialist who helps blind and low-vision people learn to get around independently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Specialette — Bone Lady

Jul 14th, 2016 2m 28s

Listener Amy Strauss describes her time overseeing a colony of flesh-eating beetles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 — Snake Lady & Wildlife One

Jun 28th, 2016 14m 18s

Bird bombs, decoy coyotes, and wailers: the tricky job of keeping birds away from planes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

09 — Singing Telegram

Jun 1st, 2016 16m 26s

Listener Heather Fife got in touch to suggest a Specialist about her parents, who've performed singing telegrams for 34 years — and who had Heather and her four siblings perform them too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat

08 — Sidewalk Canvasser

Apr 29th, 2016 15m 13s

"This job is as much about self-preservation as anything else... feeling good about yourself as a human being despite a lot of rejection." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

07 — Mock Attacker

Mar 24th, 2016 16m 11s

A man who's paid to behave badly towards women — and what happens when he does his job well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Specialette — Trail Guides, Snap Judgment, & Season 2 Sneak Peek!

Feb 18th, 2016 18m 28s

Snap Judgment's Anna Sussman tells the surprising story of a search & rescue tracker; tales from the trail in Chile, & a special sneak peek at The Specialist Season 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06 — Zoo Chef

Dec 15th, 2015 12m 41s

Meeting wild animals' needs and wants, and the dietary preferences of a very picky vulture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05 — Lice Ladies

Nov 10th, 2015 10m 43s

Comb, wipe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04 — Home Stager

Oct 14th, 2015 13m 44s

Home stager Cora Sue Anthony on how to turn the place you live into a product you're selling, the difference between house and home, and why you never want to run into the back of a sofa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat