Enduring 16-hour shifts, always positioned behind inmates (never facing them), and working to stay humane in a dehumanizing setting with Bill Farrell, a correctional officer in Massachusetts. What does it mean when an officer becomes “frozen”? And why does the faint scrape of sneakers on the floor make him instantly stop? [buzzsprout episode=’19183441′ player=’true’] View the episode transcript About What It’s Like to Be…In each installment of What It’s Like to Be…, bestselling author Dan Heath talks with someone about what it’s like to stand in their (work) shoes. Behavioral Scientist is a distribution partner, with new episodes released every other week. Learn more about the podcast’s “slow curiosity” mission here, and click here to read Dan’s reflections on how that mission has evolved after a year of conversations. The “Correctional Officer” episode of What It’s Like To Be… features Bill Farrell and was produced and edited by Matt Purdy. Copyright © 2026 by Dan Heath. All rights reserved. The post What It’s Like to Be…a Correctional Officer appeared first on Behavioral Scientist.