Behavioral Scientist (Magazine)

What It’s Like to Be…a Lineman

The latest episode of Dan Heath’s podcast *What It’s Like to Be…* spotlights Elden Rivas, a veteran lineman in Houston, Texas, as he recounts restoring power after a tornado, working from helicopters in Faraday suits, and surviving a collapsing utility pole. Listeners hear the radio cue that freezes every lineman and learn why a squirrel on a transformer can turn into a profitable repair call. The show blends vivid field anecdotes with broader reflections on the essential, high‑risk nature of utility work. It also reinforces the series’ “slow curiosity” mission to humanize overlooked professions.