© 2026 WVIK
Listen at 90.3 FM and 98.3 FM in the Quad Cities, 95.9 FM in Dubuque, or on the WVIK app!
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
A Real Piece of Work
Hosted by Matt Rebro

Matt Rebro and Matt Blaylock talk with people from a wide variety of professions about what they do, how they got started, and how you might follow in their footsteps. Trying to figure out the right career for you? Check out A Real Piece of Work: The Job Podcast for Young People.

A Real Piece of Work is a partnership between Junior Achievement of the Heartland and WVIK, Quad Cities NPR.

Ways To Subscribe
Latest Episodes
  • Driving Growth in the Quad Cities: Workforce, Data, and Opportunity
    In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, leaders from the Quad Cities Chamber join the conversation to discuss the forces shaping economic growth and workforce development in the region. Chris, Vice President of Business Retention, Expansion, and Workforce, and Bill Polley, Senior Director of Business Intelligence, share insights from their work supporting local businesses and analyzing regional trends.The discussion explores how companies are adapting to workforce challenges, the importance of connecting businesses with training and resources, and how data—like the Top 100 High Priority Jobs Report—helps guide decision-making across industries. With perspectives from both direct business engagement and economic research, this episode highlights the opportunities and strategies driving growth in the Quad Cities.
  • Solving a Problem, Building a Brand: Howard White and Constant Mountain
    Solving a Problem, Building a Brand: Howard White and Constant Mountain
  • Growing from the Ground Up: Austin Blunk on Building Valley Outdoor
    In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, Austin Blunk shares how he built Valley Outdoor from a college side business into a thriving lawn, landscape, and snow removal company serving more than 350 accounts with a team of over 25 employees. What began in 2012 as a way to earn tuition money while studying Landscape Design at Iowa State University eventually became a full-time entrepreneurial pursuit that reshaped his career path.
  • Leading With Purpose: Lysa Hegland and Building Opportunity Through Junior Achievement
    In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, Lysa Hegland, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland, shares insights from her leadership journey and what it means to build opportunity through purpose-driven work.
  • Leadership, Service, and Career Lessons with Dan Mitchell
    In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, the hosts sit down with Dan Mitchell, a retired Colonel and West Point graduate, to discuss his career journey and lessons learned through a life of leadership and service. Dan reflects on his path through military service, the skills and values that shaped his professional life, and how those experiences translate beyond uniformed service. The conversation explores leadership, adaptability, and what a long-term career built on purpose can look like.
  • Career Evolution: Lessons Learned Along the Way
    In this podcast episode of "A Real Piece of Work", Matt Rebro and Matt Blaylock discuss their new co-hosting partnership, sharing personal career journeys, perspectives on professional development, parenting, and the importance of community engagement through Junior Achievement.
  • Exploring the World of Corporate Law with Attorney Kurt Spurgeon
    In this episode of A Real Piece of Work, hosts Matt and Joy interview Kurt Spurgeon, a corporate attorney who specializes in general business and corporate law.
  • Nobody Cares About Your Career: Insights from Erika Ayres Badan's Book
    In this episode of the podcast, Matt Rebro and Marc Zyla interview Erika Ayres Badan, the CEO of Food52, a home food and lifestyle company.
  • The Head of Change: An Entrepreneur's Journey with Matt Blaylock
    In this episode of the podcast, hosts Matt and Joy interview Matt Blaylock, the founder and CEO of Cold Penny Marketing.
  • Lessons from a Passionate Coach: Belief, Hard Work, and Resilience
    In this episode of ARPOW, hosts Matt and Joy sit down with Amber Matthews, the Director of Operations and Staff Coach for FC United.