Dumb People Town - Wondery Presents: This Job Is History

Episode Date: November 17, 2022

Where the oddest jobs from the past meet a comedian from the present… and it’s awkward! On this weekly show, Chris Parnell (SNL, Rick and Morty) welcomes guests who have held some of human history’s most unexpected and downright bizarre jobs: funeral clowns, garden hermits, VHS clerks, and everything in between. With the help of his tireless producer, Chris hears from the essential workers from decades and centuries past. Because before there were actual medical doctors, there were barber surgeons. And before there was Instacart, there were milkmen. Wondery’s This Job Is History is a funny, absurd, and informative look into how time can change the way we live and work. Listen to This Job is History: wondery.fm/DPT_TJIH

Hey guys, think your job stinks? Well, just wait till you hear what it was like to be a funeral clown. A what? Daniel. A funeral clown. And you've dug ditches in your life. Dan, you've done a lot of things. Long before all human knowledge was in your pocket, people had some pretty bizarre professions. Luckily, you don't have to see a sin eater or barber surgeon now, but you'll find out what it's like to get surgery with a shave.

Wondery's new podcast, This Job Is History, is hosted by Chris Parnell from Saturday Night Live and Rick and Morty. Steeped in factual history, this brilliantly funny podcast delves into the quirky and absurd jobs of the past with hilarious interviews that are infused with fascinatingly true Easter eggs. So come and get weird with us each week as improv comedians from the Groundlings and UCB act out their old-fashioned gig from another time. You'll be glad your guidance counselor didn't recommend any of these jobs do you love chris parnell i love him so much anything he does i'll follow him to the ends of the earth that guy is hilarious so we're about to play you a clip from this job is history while you're listening follow this job is history wherever you get your podcasts and hey prime members you can

listen to this job as history early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today. From Wondery, it's This Job is History with me, Chris Parnell. Each week, my producer Linda and I invite actual people from the actual past who've worked the strangest and most unexpected jobs throughout time. You'll be transported into the past and hear remarkable on-the-job stories straight from the mouths of the people who work them. It's not often that we get to talk to someone from the 18th century, especially someone in your line of work. So tell us, in your own words, what exactly is a sin eater? Well, sin eaters are very well below the poor.

They're below the hierarchy altogether, really. But that's where you stand when your job is banned by the Church of England. Wait, why would sin eating be banned by the Church if what you say is true? You're saving people's souls. First of all, Chris, it is true. Second of all, it's complicated.

So you know how Catholics have last rites? Confession before they die? Right, of course. See, ever since we became a Protestant country, it's not generally accepted to do Catholic things like last rites or confession. The vicar says that faith alone is enough to grant you God's grace. But most of us in Shrewsbury believe it does not, to have a little extra reassurance. Oh, so you're still sort of doing the thing that the Catholic communion wafers and confessions do.

You're just doing it after people die, at dinner time. No, it's completely different. And calling it Catholic would get me in a lot of trouble. What I do as a good Protestant is help people deal with their guilt and fears. Otherwise, what would they do? Oh, I wouldn't know. I mean, not to brag, but my therapist says I'm remarkably good at suppressing feelings of shame.

Uh, what's a therapist? Is that what you call sin eaters nowadays? Oh, a therapist is a person who you see every week to talk. They give you the confidence to speak up for yourself. Like when someone kind of tough-looking takes your drink at Starbucks. Or when a kid on a bicycle bumps into you and says something nasty. Okay, Abigail, you talk to a therapist about your feelings. They help you cope with regrets, shame, things like that.

Actually, they basically are sin eaters, except without the eating part. Hmm. I don't want to alarm you, but talking about feelings doesn't seem like it would save you from damnation. Well, you're symbolically reassuring people. No, I'm literally eating their sins. Uh, Chris, why don't we move on to some other questions? eating their sins. Uh, Chris, why don't we move on to some other questions? Yeah, Abigail, I'm so sorry if I implied that eating corpse bread didn't literally absolve sins. Well, I accept your apology, Chris, and I thank you kindly. Now here's a different question. How do you know what sins

you're eating? Or does it all taste like bread? Truthfully, I can taste it. Yeah, I've got the gift. When you've been a sin eater as long as I have, each sin starts to become very distinguishable. Gluttony. Take, for example, gluttony. Always, always hungry afterwards. That's when I know, uh, gluttony. Sloth. Now, sloth, you can't keep the crumbs off the floor Doesn't matter what you do If you wear a bib If you've got a tray They're all over the place Now lust

Let me tell you something Lust is fantastic It's subtle but tasty It's got a bit of a kip to it, you know