When I switched from construction to freelance web design I spent a couple years doing part time so I could listen to podcasts. Digging, or just about any repetitive physical activity, is therapeutic and unlike programming I don’t have to think much. Now days I do a similar thing with the gym, but it’s still not the same. Reminds me of the end of Office Space where the main character refuses a new programming job because he likes digging and working outside.

Wait, you switched to part time work entirely to listen to podcasts? That's so interesting to me

Well more like a kept a couple of hours a few times a week for podcasts, and the company was happy to have me as I had a worked with them for awhile prior to becoming an engineer.

I'd bet this was also part of his nuclear war survival plans, it's said he moved to Chippewa Falls in part because the Twin Cities were too obvious of a target.