How Real Life Works

As we go into the new year, we have a big announcement to make, How Real Life Works will be having the 2nd season break. 2021 was an excellent year for us. Andrej and I created different content with various formats along with our interns. Furthermore, we also spoke to many extraordinary guests. Heading into 2022, the How Real Life Works podcast will be taking a season break. We will take this time to recharge and come back with new ideas! You can still find new YouTube content on our channel, but we will not be posting any new content through the podcast. Thanks for listening to us, and we will see you when we are back for Season 3! // Discord: https://bit.ly/HowRealLifeWorks-DC Check out more content on Youtube: https://bit.ly/HowRealLifeWorks-YT TikTok: https://bit.ly/HowRealLifeWorks-TT Tell us what you think on Reddit: https://bit.ly/HowRealLifeWorks-RDT // Podcast Credits Podcast Host: Anny Chia, Andrej Zito Audio Engineering: Anny Chia Copywriting: Anny chia

In this career episode, we will be talking to Elina Sumichan, a talent acquisition specialist with over a decade of experience. We chat about recruitment, which she refers to as career matchmaking! Topics included in this episode are the day-to-day routine of a recruiter and an overview of the recruitment process. We discuss how to discover if you can work as a recruiter and the possibility of skipping getting a specific degree to work in this role. We also dive deep into interviews, discussing some deal breakers in job interviews and how recruiters have superpowers to bring out the best in everyone. We also shed some light on why recruiters love asking you about tennis balls. If you are interested in this job, it is an episode you cannot miss! //

In this episode, we talk to Mridul from India, a 15-year-old aspiring UX designer. This is the first-ever request we have received from our inquiry form. We met with Mridul and chatted about teenage life in India. We talked about hustling at a young age, taking online courses about UX design and the tech world in India. We also find out what teenagers in India are up to these days. Tune in to this community chat and get a glimpse of teenage life in India. //

We are back with another episode about the gaming industry! In this episode, we will be talking to Adam Croft on video games audio design. As a Senior Dialogue Lead in Bungie, Adam helps the team create sounds in video games. Since this is a lesser-known topic, we start by explaining what is dialogue in video games. Furthermore, we discuss why it is important. We also go on and discuss what is the process of audio design for video games. As usual, we also cover topics such as the day in the life of the dialogue team. What are the necessary skills for people to get started in this field? Towards the end, Adam also shares some of the funny stores in his career over 15 years. //

Can you get paid by playing video games every day? We are not talking about becoming a streamer, but a full-time job that gets you paid. The best thing is, you might not even need a college degree for it! Sounds good? Tune in and find out all about being a video game quality assurance (QA) tester! In this episode, we talk all about QA testing with Alex Stokes, the Publishing QA Manager at Epic Games. Alex shares all his insights about this role and the gaming industry. He talks about whether QA is really an entry point to the industry. What are the different types of testing when it comes to video game QA? What does a day in the life of a video game tester look like? He also covers the career path of a QA tester and offers tips on how to get started on this job. //

Are you fascinated by sound? Did you know there's a job out there in which you can make sounds every day? You can unleash your creativity and use different objects to imitate different sounds. In the film industry, this job is called a foley artist. They make all the sound effects in a film through live performance. In this episode of How Real Life Works, we speak to award-winning foley artist Richard Hinton. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, he shares all his foley art tips and tricks. We also talk about how to get started in foley as well as career opportunities. If you are a sound enthusiast or an aspiring foley artist, this is an episode you cannot miss! //

How do you get into the foley industry? Is foley internship a thing? And most importantly, what are the skills required for foley production? As a professional foley artist, Richard Hinton knows the foley industry remarkably well. In this episode, he shares how you can land yourself a foley job with some practical tips and exercises. Bonus: he also reveals 3 professions that might have an easier time transition to becoming a foley artist! //

Are you stuck on finding fresh ideas for foley? Wondering how to get creative and find inspiration? Tune in and find out how to take your foley skills to the next level. In this episode, award-winning foley artist Richard Hinton shares his foley tips and tricks. Having practiced foley for over a decade, Richard is a master foley production. He fully understands how our brains respond to these sounds. He reveals some foley tips that everyone can use: where to find inspiration, sound matching, and 3 essential foley props. //

This episode is all about a day in the life of a foley artist. To find out what happens in a day for them, we interviewed award-winning foley artist Richard Hinton. Richard shared not only his daily routine but also talked about interesting sounds that can capture a foley artist's attention. If you like to hear more about this career, be sure to tune in for the next two episodes. We will be diving into the creative side of foley art! //

Have you ever wondered how the sound of a blooming flower is captured in nature documentaries? Or the gulping sound when a character takes a huge sip of water? In this episode, we reveal the truth behind the sound design in film production. In the upcoming episodes, we will be taking a closer look at the job of a foley artist. We interviewed Richard Hinton, an experienced foley artist who has been performing sound for over 15 years. We begin this series with the basics: what is foley? Why is it important in film production? We also discuss the difference when it comes to doing foley for films, TV shows, and animations. //

You may not know what creative copywriting is, but it surrounds your life. Your favorite brand just launched a summer sale? Most likely a copywriter was behind it. Are you impressed by the slick-looking advertisement for the upcoming smartphone? Creative copywriting had something to do with it. A copywriter's job is to curate the words you see every day. In this episode, we interview Alix Blankson. She has worked in large big-name companies as well as freelancing as a copywriter. We explain the specifics of the role of a copywriter. After that, we talk about what goes on in a day as a copywriter. We discuss the similarities between content writers, copywriters, and marketing specialists. Although they serve the same goal, they are indeed very different. We also talk about how to get started as a freelance copywriter. Alix also shares her tips for making your first step towards becoming a copywriter. //

Taken from our interview with copywriter Alix Blankson, in this episode, we talk about where you can start if you are interested in becoming a copywriter. We talk about signs that you might be good at copywriting. As well as if you need a university degree to get started. This concludes our four-part mini-series about the job of a copywriter. If you are interested to hear more, come back on Friday! We will be releasing the complete interview we did with Alix. //

In this interview with seasoned copywriter Alix Blankson, we talk about how copywriting fits into the world of marketing. We discuss the similarities and differences between content writing and copywriting. This is the third episode of the four-part mini-series about the job of a copywriter. If you are curious about what copywriting is and how a copywriter's day looks like, be sure to check the previous episodes. In our last episode next week, we will cover how to become a copywriter! //

In this episode, our guest Alix Blankson shares her daily routines as a copywriter. She also talks about what is the most challenging aspect when it comes to her job. You are tuning into our career mini-series about the job of a copywriter. If you missed last week's episode, you can find out what copywriting is. If you are intrigued by this topic, be sure to come back next week for more! //

If I tell you those summer sale marketing newsletters are all carefully crafted, would you believe it? Every day copywriters design messages we see daily. These include messages you see in the physical and the digital world. In this career mini-series, we will dive into the world of a copywriter. We interview Alix Blankson, a seasoned copywriter. She has freelanced as a copywriter and also worked in big-name companies. We start with the most basic question, what's copywriting and why it matters to the world. //

A wedding day is one of the most significant milestones in a person's life. It's a day you want to celebrate your love and not worry about the event details. Wedding planners are what make your dreams come true if done correctly. In this episode, we interview Kitty Tsai, the Principal Planner of WeDo Weddings Etc. She works with her team to make couples' weddings a memorable event while providing the best experience for their family and friends. We dive into topics such as what goes on in a day of a wedding planner. We talk about how 'virtual weddings' are becoming trendy amid the pandemic. Kitty also shares her five tips for planning a wedding as well as the three saving areas. Last but not least, we share with you how you can start right now if this is something you want to pursue in the future. //

We asked Kitty Tsai, the Principal Planner of WeDo Weddings Etc. if she would plan her own wedding. She shares five tips when it comes to planning a wedding. Furthermore, Kitty also shared three tips on how you can save money when planning a wedding. This is our last episode of the career mini-series that focuses on the job of a wedding planner. If you are interested in this topic, be sure to check out the previously released episodes. We talked about the steps to become a wedding planner. Kitty shared her routine as a wedding planner. We also talke //

Ever wondered what's the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding coordinator? In this episode of our career mini-series, we discuss the difference between the two. We hear from Kitty Tsai, the Principal Planner from WeDo Weddings Etc at Vancouver. She started as a coordinator and is now a planner in the company. Our four-part career mini-series focuses on the job of a wedding planner. If you are interested in this topic, be sure to check out the previous episodes. Also, don't forget to come back next week for the final episode. //

In the 2nd episode of our career mini-series, we are going to dive into the day in the life of a wedding planner. We interviewed Kitty Tsai, the Principal Planner from WeDo Weddings Etc in Vancouver. If you are interested in this topic, be sure to check out last week's episode. You can hear all about the steps to become a wedding planner. Also, be sure to tune in next week for more wedding planner-related content. //

Restrictions in Canada are gradually lifting and it's wedding season! We are kicking off a career mini-series focusing on the job of a wedding planner. We interviewed Kitty Tsai, the Principal Planner from WeDo Weddings Etc in Vancouver. In this episode, we talk about what are the steps you can take right now if you aspire to become a wedding planner. We also discuss a few communication tips that can help you kickstart this job the right way! For the next three weeks, we will be taking a close look at the life of a wedding. This is our first-ever career mini-series, and if you have any feedback share it with us on discord :) //

Do you ever wonder what's it like to work with Hollywood stars and famous athletes like Kobe Bryant? In this episode, we interview Michael Gonzales. Michael is a Senior Account Executive who works at Rogers & Cowan PMK. It is one of the biggest talent representation agencies in Hollywood. In short, this is an episode all about public relations. This episode is packed with content, we start with a day-to-day run down on the role of public relations specialist. We also discuss what's the difference between marketing and public relations. As usual, we dive into the core question: do you need a college degree to get started on this job? How can you get started if you are interested? And of course, you guessed it, getting started in PR DOES have something to do with social media. //

This episode is for everyone! No matter if you are taking a gap year, considering taking one, or finally decided not to. We have some tips for you :) This concludes our mini-series revolving around our gap year. If you love the topic, be sure to check out previous episodes. We discuss topics such as the gap year leadership program for high school students and why you should consider taking a gap year. //

In the age of content, people can learn almost anything on YouTube. Thanks to COVID-19, more people are getting used to online learning. So why should you spend money on a leadership program when there are free ones? With our two guests Sade and Ulviya, we explore what's the difference between taking a free online course and signing up for the Academy, Global Citizen Year's gap year program. A Program aimed to develop youth leadership. If you like the topic around gap year, don't miss out on our final episode for our mini-series next Wednesday. Together with our guests, we dive deep into the topic gap year. //

In this brief episode we talk to our two guests Sade and Ulviya from Global Citizen Year about why people choose to take a gap year. Specifically, why should high school students take a gap year before going to university? Our gap year mini-series focuses on our interview with Global Citizen Year. It will be released every Wednesday for the next 2 weeks. Together with our guests we dive deep into the topic gap year. //

Hooray! You've decided to take a gap year. You are determined to make the best year EVER, but now that it's really here, you are not sure what to do...Welcome to our very first mini-series of the podcast. As the graduation season approaches we are bringing you more content on gap year in case you are the “odd one” out. In this mini-series, we interview two guests from Global Citizen Year. A company that's dedicated to helping youth make the best out of their gap year! Our guests Sade and Ulviya will be introducing their leadership program called The Academy. This is a leadership program that you can join and learn with youth around the world. If you loved our previous episode on gap year, be sure to tune in every Wednesday for the next 3 weeks for more content on this topic. //

There are lots of ways to be successful in life. Getting a bachelor's degree is not the only way. So... why does going to university seem like a milestone to us from an early age? Sometimes it even seems like the only way of having a successful life. In this episode, we discuss at great length the purpose of going to university. We talk about how to use your time at university to make the best out of it. We offer advice on choosing majors and how to decide to go to university or not. Furthermore, we even discuss how we should choose our careers. Should we choose our career based on what we are good at or what we are passionate about? Our guest for this episode is Scott Ward. He is a personal development coach and founder of Habitstack, a coaching company based in Vancouver, Canada. Scott holds a BA in philosophy, and because of that sometimes our conversation becomes quite philosophical ;) //

Is the pandemic stopping you from taking a gap year? There's more to a gap year than traveling the world. In this episode, you will hear the How Real Life Works team brainstorm on the 7 Things that can make a gap year indoors great. These practical tips can help you make your gap year in the pandemic fruitful. Find out how a gap year during COVID can still be worthwhile now.

How does taking a gap year work when travel is not allowed? Is taking a gap year at home worth it? How do you make gap year meaningful when you are restricted because of COVID? These are questions we answer in our latest episode with high school graduate, Ellyssa. We will find out the reasons why high school students consider taking a gap year. As well as tips that can make your gap year easier and help you get the most of this year. You will also hear about the reaction from Ellyssa's parents when she announced she is taking a gap year. Plus the support and encouragement she received from her friends and coworkers. Furthermore, we also talk about how to take your first step into starting a passion project so you can build transferable skills for the future. Tune in to the conversation and find out what kind of mindset should you have when you take a gap year. //

We are back with another episode about streaming! We have broadened the topic and covered content creation this time. Tune in, as we dive deeper into the world of streaming and content creation. In this episode, we cover topics from beginner streaming tips, technical setup, transitioning platforms as well as should you go full-time with streaming. We also discussed are video games bad for you? All of these answers are coming from our interview with popular League of Legends Twitch streamer Ian aka TwigerLoL. He has over a decade of content creation on YouTube and only transitioned to Twitch in recent years. He has tons of great experiences to share with you and he will even talk about his experience supporting Tyler 1 during Twitch Rivals. //

Are you someone who loves playing video games and connecting with others? If you are, then becoming a Twitch streamer might be the job for you. Even if you are not a gamer, as long as you have a personality to show, you still have a shot of becoming a streamer. The best part is, with streaming, you can start making money while you are in high school. We interviewed Frankie aka QuinnAD, a successful League of Legends streamer. Tune in to find out how he made it, the pros and cons of making streaming a full-time career and how to find your streaming niche! Plus interesting tips and tricks to help you start your channel. //

So you procrastinate too... here are 5 tips that will help you deal with it! We learned that procrastination is the most common struggle for online learning. From Nita and Damon's experience, high school students are pretty much left on their own to figure how to be accountable. In this bonus episode, you will hear Anny and Andrej's tips that will help you stop procrastination. Find out how to make online learning a breeze and turn those assignments in on time!

The pandemic has drastically changed our daily routine. For high school teachers, it changed more than their routine. It also forced them to reinvent how they have been teaching their whole career. Unlike students who are familiar with technology some of them even struggle to use computers and are forced to quickly adapt to online learning platforms. We interviewed a high school teacher, Damon, to find out how teachers are dealing with this change. In this episode, you will hear about their transition to online learning. How they recreated the course structure to keep students motivated and engaged. You will find out the pros and cons of online learning and even get some tips for online teaching! Find out how high school teachers view online learning in this episode.

In the spring of 2020, 1.5 billion students around the world faced the same struggle: transitioning to online learning. A year ago, it's hard to imagine online learning would become the norm of everyday learning. On the surface, it may seem nice. After all who doesn't want to lay in bed and learn at their own pace. However up close, it's not all advantages, there are also some disadvantages. To fully understand what it is like in the world of online learning, we interviewed a high school student, Nita. In this 20-minute episode, you will hear about her struggle to keep herself motivated for online learning. You will also hear about how she dealt with procrastination when it comes to the assignments. As well as how she is coping with the fact that she cannot see her friends every day and eat lunch together! We also discuss the possibility of online learning replacing the traditional school system in the near future. Last but not least she also has some tips for all of you out there who are in the same boat. Find out how high school students really feel about online learning in this episode.

Levana Luu works in the well-respected healthcare system as a physiotherapist. She helps patients manage pain and recover from injuries. This is a path she chose when she was young, but now that she's here, she has some doubts. Levana hopes to tap into her inner creativity and show the world about her culture. Feeling unsure about your future doesn't happen only when you are young, but... it's never too late to figure it out! Find out how she works as a physiotherapist while figuring out her inner passion in this episode.

Paul Bellezza was having a 2nd identity crisis when he decided to risk it all and go for what he loves - video games! First, he started working in a video game retail store. Then he moved onto testing games for game companies. Eventually, he became the first intern for Riot Games. That's right, he's one of the people that made League of Legends happen! Paul now works as a Game Producer at Riot Games. He is also a Product Manager on the newly released VALORANT. Find out how game producers work and the ups and downs on the way to his dreams in this episode.

Renée Chan is a culinary dietitian who figured out how to make a living out of what she loves. She wanted to become a dietitian but decided to give cooking a try. She began working in New York restaurants for no money, which she refers to as “learning cooking for free”. With the knowledge she learned as a dietitian, she decided to open a food company in Vancouver. The company produces Asian sauces and hosts cooking classes. Find out how she did it in this episode! PS: Anny's microphone had some technical issues in this episode (fixed in other episodes).

This is our bonus episode where we chat with a community member. In this episode, we help a grade 12 student pick the right university. We talk about how to avoid getting tricked by university marketing, as well as networking both in university and real life. This is one of our very first community chats where we talk about education with one of you. Find out what we think is important to consider when choosing the right university in this episode.

Business prodigy Cameron Johnson started his first business when he was 8. It wasn't on purpose, it was just a fun hobby! He became a millionaire before he graduated from high school. By the age of 21, he had already started 12 businesses. If you don't like business, this episode will change your mind. Cameron breaks down business in a simple and fun way. Find out how the business world works and his secrets to success in this episode.

Lillian Siu works as a structural engineer in Vancouver. One of her favorite projects is to help build a Disneyland ride. In this episode, you will find out how structural engineering works. You will also hear about her first internship experience. We also talk about her childhood and how that affects her style of parenting. Does having high expectations from your parents help or hinder your growth? Find out in this episode! PS: we've had some audio technical issues with Lillian's microphone (oops).

Steven Richards dropped out of university after his first summer internship at Hootsuite. Despite the lack of a degree, he got invited to interviews with tech giants like Facebook and Google. Now he works for Amazon as a systems developer. Do you really need a degree to be successful? This is a geeky episode, but what else would you expect?! We talked about the cloud, systems and APIs. But also about Steven's education journey and what's the best way to learn. Find out how systems developers work in this episode.

This is how this podcast started, two people wanting to change the education world. In this episode, Anny and Andrej share their personal journey and what prompted them to start the podcast. What is this podcast? Why should you listen to it? Who are the hosts? Find out how it all started in this episode.

Fresh out of high school and wondering what to do with your life? Explore different paths and possibilities with our podcast. Coming early summer 2020.