Grade levels: Senior High (10-12)

Here’s our chance to “needle” Danielle as she visits an acupuncturist! Find out how an audio engineer uses modern technology to bring sounds and music alive, follow the creation of graphics from pen and ink drawing to the finished product, and get some ideas that will be useful in finding a rewarding job.

Be sure to be on hand to meet a new addition to our “Real Life 101” family when Shawn joins Danielle, Joe and Darcy to explore some of the more interesting aspects of life out there in the real world. Are you hungry? Watch Shawn cook up some pretty fancy foods, with the help of an expert chef. Then join Darcy and Joe as they take a look at some of the most exciting special effects from recent films. Danielle will also introduce us to a lady who can help find the right career for the right person.

Have you ever wondered how those amazing puppets operated by people like Jim Henson are created and operated? Danielle, Darcy and Joe have a guest who works with those happy little creatures every day. Shawn will prop his feet up on the table and enjoy a soothing treatment from a reflexologist. And Darcy and Danielle get a little advice from a man who is known as a “personal development coach”.

This time, the gang heads out to the NAPTE Convention and gets to interview celebrities like Jerry Springer and David Hasselhoff, who give the viewers great advice. Amazing Animals lets Jeremy get up close to some of their favorite animals who are training for movie roles. Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! Meaghan has a ball with Norwich Navigators minor league pitcher Ben Phillips. He tells her about his hard work in trying to make it to the Big Leagues. Joey interviews Cindy, a Hoover Dam Guide who gives us lots of information about this massive structure. She explains how she memorized a huge stack of papers to become a guide at the dam.

Sea World serves as home base for this episode. Meaghan sits down with Kay Green, an interior designer who specializes in model home decorating. Joey travels to Washington to see Mt. St. Helens and talk to a volcanologist who explains how the mountain’s eruption reshaped its surroundings. He also provides information about earthquakes. Jeremy has more animal encounters, this time at the famous San Diego Zoo where he talks to the one of the trainers about her bear and tiger cubs.

Joey talks to Andy, a seventeen-year fire pilot veteran, who says his line of work is quite dangerous but exhilarating. Zubi and guest host Ally visit the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans to speak with a saltwater aquarist whose job it is to prepare the sharks’ food and actually feed them. Maya and Meaghan visit Joe Blasco’s Makeup Artists training Center in Orlando. They talk to Tom Blasco who explains how he got into special effects makeup, and then he does them up.

Jeremy goes to a drag racing track to broadcast this episode. He talks to funny car racer John Force. Christina talks to Riverboat Captain Brian Collins, who gives her a tour of his boat and goes over the various tasks of his job. Joey speaks to a professional farrier. A farrier designs horseshoes and puts them on the horse’s feet. Zubi goes on a 3,000-mile trip across the country with truck driver Ron Newton to find out first hand what that is like.

Meaghan talks with a personal trainer who loves helping people get in the shape of their lives. Jeremy travels to Houston, TX to meet up with a professional welder. Zubi and Joey get to help out in the kitchen as they chat with a pizza maker who is a real pro at flipping that dough.

Coming at you from Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum in Orlando! Maya gets the inside scoop on what it’s like to be an aerobic kickboxing instructor who teaches the largest class in the country! Meaghan interviews a general dentist who not only gives her a checkup; he explains how he has to be nice at the office because most of his patients are so scared to see him. Zubi is thrilled to talk to the head “Knight” at Medieval Times in Orlando who trains all the “fighters” in this very real battle at the dinner theater. No fake swords at this place!

Maya and Meaghan talk with a beautician who dolls people up all day. Zubi finds out what it’s like to write messages in the sky when he visits with a skywriter. And Joey meets a professional skateboarder who says you can earn a good living if you’re good because you can earn endorsements.