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What professionals in Charlotte are listening to at work

Whether your job has you crunching numbers, working with kids or doing something in between, music is the great equalizer. It helps you focus and calms you down when deadlines seem a little too close for comfort.

Since Charlotte is home to so many diverse career paths, I wanted to find out what’s playing in some of these professionals’ earbuds when they want to feel especially ready to take on their work.

The responses I got have me reconsidering my own “get it DONE” playlist, which I thought was fairly diverse since it features everything from Taylor Swift to Motley Crue and Chris Stapleton. I mean The Muppets, dubstep and Panthers radio calls in Spanish? I need to start expanding my work music horizons a bit.

Prepare to be surprised:

“We listen to classical Pandora every morning in class to get us ready for the day.”

– Mary Kathryn Wallace, a fourth grade teacher

“Concentrate: Beach House. Be productive: CHVRCHES. Get pumped up: Kanye West. Cheer me up: ‘1989’ by Ryan Adams.”

– Miller Yoho, director of communications for the Charlotte Sports Foundation

“Concentrate: Railroad Earth. Productive: Ben Harper. Pumped up: Rage Against the Machine. “

– John with Charlotte Food Fight

“A mix of political/professional podcasts. They keep me sane as someone who works in creative. Balance is key.”

– Nora Trotman, who does social media management with Posse Social Media and also freelances

“Gotta put on some hardcore dubstep to get me in the zone for work.”

Eric Thompson, an internal auditor at Wells Fargo

“My soundtrack: Langhorne Slim station on Spotify or San Fermin.”

Sarah Morton, a domestic violence counselor for a hospital

“I listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or WEQX radio online.”

– Rachel Guillot, architect

“The Muppets. I can crank through with a smile on my face.”

– Sarah Shumway, senior designer at Mythic

“Either the Avett Brothers or Fratellis channel on Pandora.”

Phil Sanford, who works in ACA compliance

Spanish radio calls of the Panthers.”

Russell Burton

“Explosions in the Sky.”

– Wade Foley, social media specialist

“I’ve been alternating between Charlotte local bands: Patabamba’s Argentinian afrobeat fusion sound and Sam the Lion this week.”

Scott Lundgren, DevOps consultant, @scottelundgren

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 10:08 PM with the headline "What professionals in Charlotte are listening to at work."

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