Chanera Pierce did everything right: the degrees, the jobs, the network. Then she was laid off, and nothing worked out the way it was supposed to.

What happened next started with a small note and a big ask to family and friends. Today, she’s the founder of Mixational, a mobile bartending and mixology company serving New York City and beyond, and she’s nearly 400 events in. (woo hoo!)

Chanera joins Vanita to share the day everything changed, the refreshing stretch that followed and then some gloomy days, before the unexpected moments led her to the path she's on today.

• The day she was laid off, and what she did with the time after
• The low point she didn’t see coming
• How a simple idea turned into something real
• The role family, friends, and perfect timing played along the way
• Why she refuses to say “pivot”
• Her advice for anyone facing a layoff, or sensing one is coming

• Website: getmixational.com
• Instagram: @mixationalxchanera
• LinkedIn: Chanera Pierce

Vanita started Laid Off to Lift Off a year after her own layoff on a mission to spread stories of hope and resilience in a time where she believes we need it the most. You are more than a job title and you deserve to believe it.

Connect with Vanita:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech
• Substack: https://substack.com/@laidofftoliftoff
• Laid Off to Lift Off Podcast: https://laidofftoliftoff.riverside.com/

Free Resource by Melissa Caudill: https://justgotlaidoff.org/curated-job-search-and-workforce-resources/

If this episode spoke to you, here’s how you can help Laid Off to Lift Off reach more people:

• Comment and tell us what stood out to you
• Share it with someone who needs to hear it, especially anyone going through a layoff
• Subscribe so you never miss an episode
• Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Every comment, share, and review helps this show reach the next person who needs it. Thank you for listening.

#believeinyourself #career #layoffs #resilience #family

But there was one layoff day she’ll never forget, because of what was happening at home the night before with her 7 year old son.

This is a different kind of Laid Off to Lift Off story. Heather takes us inside the HR side of a layoff, what it costs the person delivering the news, and what happens when your own life is unraveling while you’re expected to keep it together at work. Then she tells us what it was like when her own role was eliminated, and what she’s building now because of everything she’s been through.

If you’re a parent holding it together at work while carrying something heavy at home, this one is for you. If you work in HR, lead a team, or make decisions about benefits, you’ll want to hear it too.

What you’ll take away from this episode:

• What a layoff day looks like from the other side of the table, and why the person delivering the news needs care too
• Why so many working parents say nothing about what’s happening at home, and what they fear will happen if they do
• Where “family friendly” benefits fall short for parents raising kids with complex needs
• What a manager can say in a crisis that builds trust and loyalty for life
• What it’s like to be laid off when you’re the one who usually plans the layoffs
• Heather’s advice for anyone who’s been laid off or sees it coming

Why you should listen:

Heather says out loud what a lot of parents carry in silence. She’s honest, she doesn’t sugarcoat it, and she doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out. If you’ve ever felt like you were the only one going through something, her story will make you feel less alone. And if you’ve ever managed someone who was struggling, it may change how you show up for them.

Connect with Heather:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherjlaing/
• Website: https://www.complexcaregiversolutions.com/about

Connect with Vanita:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech
• Substack: https://substack.com/@laidofftoliftoff
• Laid Off to Lift Off Podcast: https://laidofftoliftoff.riverside.com/

Free Resource by Melissa Caudill: https://justgotlaidoff.org/curated-job-search-and-workforce-resources/

Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Youtube. Share with someone who needs it today, it will help me reach more people and keep the podcast going.

Thank you!

#believeinyourself #career #layoffs #resilience #family

What We Cover:

• Getting laid off mid-move and the loses that came after.
• Raising her son through three layoffs and how much he's absorbed watching her navigate corporate life
• Why she sent a mass email to 150 Microsoft executives asking for a shot to prove she could do any job!
• All about her "building" and launching journey - many things! Listen and find out
• Her in-progress coffee table book on Black joy and mother-son bonds, and a children's wellness book series for Black and brown kids
• Her advice for anyone facing a layoff: protect your peace, minimize debt, negotiate your severance, and collect cell phone numbers before you go (find out why)
• Her new podcast, "Own Your Story by Iraya"
• And so much more..

Connect with Iraya:

• LinkedIn: Iraya Corley / A Ray of Sunshine Fitness
• Instagram: @IrayaCorley
• Catch her at her wellness talk in Jersey City, NJ on September 30th
• Black Doctor's film festival: October 14th

Connect with Vanita:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/
• Substack: https://substack.com/@laidofftoliftoff
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laidoff_to_liftoff

Resources:

https://justgotlaidoff.org/ created by Melissa Caudill

Practical, plain-English information to help workers understand layoffs, protect their benefits and finances, and figure out what comes next.

Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off

Share with a friend, follow, comment and rate to keep the pod going.

Appreciate you.

#career #layoffs #motivation #mindset #resilience

Episode Summary

No dramatic firing, no villain, just a remote exec whose company wanted him to relocate to Portland and a quiet, amicable exit that still hit like a loss. In this episode, Brian Sheehy, COO, patent-holding product developer, former CPA, and host of the podcast De:termination joins Vanita to unpack what happens after the layoff: staying challenged, building visibility, and treating a career reset as fuel instead of a setback. They cover comfort zones, reinvention in your 40s and why creating content is a practical job-search tool, not just a personal project.

What We Cover

• Why an amicable layoff can still feel like real grief
• The time Brian got locked out of a startup
• Realizing he had gotten too comfortable and why that's dangerous, not safe
• Why Brian thrives at smaller companies where he can wear a lot of hats
• How a coffee catch-up with his old career coach turned into a job offer
• The origin story of De:termination (yes, the colon is intentional)
• Why cold outreach for guests beats asking friends
• The "always be building" pattern Brian's noticed across his own guests
• LinkedIn visibility as an interview advantage, recruiters want to talk about your content, not "tell me about a time when…"

Connect with Brian:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianhsheehy/
• De:termination Podcast - DeterminationPod.com

Connect with Vanita:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Resources: https://justgotlaidoff.org/ created by Melissa Caudill

Practical, plain-English information to help workers understand layoffs, protect their benefits and finances, and figure out what comes next.

Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off - https://laidofftoliftoff.riverside.com/

Share with a friend, follow, comment and rate to keep the pod going.

Appreciate you.

#career #layoffs #motivation #mindset #resilience

To celebrate 26 episodes and one full year of storytelling, I brought on the person who helped make this whole thing possible: Maha Abouelenein, founder of Digital & Savvy and bestselling author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance.

Back in late 2024, an Instagram ad introduced me to Maha right as she was launching her book and a group coaching cohort. I signed up not really knowing what I was doing and that cohort became the spark for Laid Off to Lift Off. So having her on the show a year later isn't just a guest interview, it's a full-circle moment.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The scrappy, imperfect origin story of starting a podcast (bad lighting, a bed in the background etc)
• Why "getting the reps in" matters more than getting it perfect
• The vulnerability of publishing deeply personal stories on LinkedIn; including the response Vanita got after sharing she was undocumented for 10 years
• What personal branding actually means
• Why LinkedIn isn't just for job seekers; it's where business and relationships happen, regardless of industry
• Maha's simple but powerful networking trick
• The mindset shift Maha says everyone needs after a layoff: your name and title were never the same thing
• Advice for anyone who feels like they don't have it all figured out
• Maha's advice for Vanita heading into Year Two

About Maha Abouelenein:
Founder of Digital & Savvy, bestselling author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, and a self-proclaimed sports fanatic. Minnesota-born, 100% Egyptian, and one of the people who helped give Vanita the courage to start telling her story.

📖 Grab Maha's book: 7 Rules of Self-Reliance (available in audiobook, paperback, and hardcover):

https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/book

https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Self-Reliance-Moving-Invest-Yourself/dp/1401978665

• Connect with Maha - https://www.mahaabouelenein.com/
• Connect with Vanita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

🎧 Here's to Year Two.

Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Share with someone who needs it today.

This one woman show appreciates you.

Mark spent years building creative teams for Star Trek, Halo, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Dark Knight, growing his department from 3 people to 45. Then the same company that laid off your host laid him off too.

This episode covers the 5-minute all-hands that ended it all, the moment his boss called him and Mark ended up comforting him, and the gut-punch of realizing 15 years of never needing a resume doesn't prepare you for a job market that's gone completely silent. On the personal side, he was going through a divorce and was the caregiver for his mother. What an emotional toll!

We get into the "hidden network" nobody explains until you need it and the exact moment Mark stopped chasing outcomes and started connecting with people. Plus hear a childhood story that won him a national ad contest! Impressive.

In this episode:

• The emotional whiplash of a layoff announced in a 5-minute Zoom call
• Why Mark took care of everyone else before he took care of himself
• Navigating a layoff while going through divorce and supporting his mom
• What "the hidden network" actually means and why your current network isn't it
• The difference between transactional networking and the real thing
• Learning to sell yourself after 15 years of never having to
• Building a portfolio career: consulting, speaking, a book, and everything in between
• His advice for anyone who thinks a layoff might be coming

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markweinstein/

Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

#layoffs #laidoff #motivation #resilience #believeinyourself #career #hope

Geoff's layoff wasn't a single day; it was a nearly year-long limbo. His company's acquisition was announced in December 2022, delayed by a government regulatory lawsuit, and didn't close until October 2023; he exited that November.

In this conversation, Geoff and Vanita talk about:

• What it's like to lead a team through that kind of uncertainty while quietly knowing your own role is likely redundant
• Why the emotional hit didn't actually land until over a year later
• How staying "busy" became a way to avoid feeling anything at all.
• Geoff also opens up about the hardest chapter of his book to write which was his father's death.
• He makes the case for why more men need to talk about imposter syndrome, vulnerability, and what's really underneath the finished, polished version of themselves they post on LinkedIn.

Conect with Geoff on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycurtis/

Grab Geoff's book, Embracing Your Own Purgatory: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Purgatory-Geoff-Curtis/dp/B0GVTY5KS5

Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Vanita started Laid Off to Lift Off in 2025, a year after her own layoff. She wanted to spread stories of hope and resilience and show others they are not alone in this career transition they didn't ask for.

To support the podcast, please subscribe, rate, comment and share with someone who needs it today.

#layoffs #believeinyourself

Subscribe, comment, and share with someone who needs it. These are easy ways to keep the podcast going.

This one woman show appreciates you.

Five weeks postpartum, nursing her newborn, juggling a two-year-old and two foster teenage sons, that's when Julia got the call. Her CEO had put off the layoff as long as he could, but there was nothing left in the bank.

She didn't panic. She didn't cry. Her first thought was simply: what's next?

In this episode, Julia Arpag, founder of Aligned Recruitment, shares the wild ride that followed from fielding six job offers within two weeks, to taking sales calls with her baby strapped to her chest, to turning a side hustle for a friend into a business that billed $500,000 in its first 10 months.

She opens up about buying out her co-founder, building a values-first company without sacrificing her family, and why she believes anyone considering entrepreneurship should "run, don't walk."

We also get into the real talk: why storytelling (not "stuffy finance bro talk") is what actually converts on LinkedIn, the mindset shift required to become a founder, and the mantra she repeats to herself on the hard days.

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn (she's the only one!): https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-arpag/

Check out Aligned Recruitment: https://www.alignedrecruitment.com/team

Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off on Spotify, YouTube and Apple. Please share with someone who needs a little hope and encouragement today.

https://laidofftoliftoff.riverside.com/

In this episode:

• Hady shares the emotional and practical realities of being laid off for the second time and how she navigated feelings of fragility and uncertainty.
• The importance of preparedness: financial, emotional, and professional so you can pivot confidently
• Her experience moving to Spain as part of her retirement planning
• How she transitioned from corporate leader to entrepreneur and author, and the lessons learned in marketing, visibility, and community-building
• The power of storytelling and how her book serves as a tool for healing and connection
• Tips on leveraging LinkedIn Live shows, including her Latinas Front and Center and Authors Unplugged, to build community and showcase authenticity
• Practical advice for those facing layoffs, embracing uncertainty, maintaining curiosity and nurturing side hustles

Connect with Hady

📖 Calladita No More - available in paperback, hardcover, e-book, and audiobook. https://www.boldlyspeakingllc.com/calladitanomore

🏆 Two-time Firebird Book Award winner

💼 LinkedIn: Hady Méndez

📺 Latinas Front and Center - LinkedIn Live, Thursdays at noon ET

📺 Authors Unplugged - LinkedIn Live, Tuesdays at noon ET

Connect with Vanita on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Dee Henry, founder of The Sales Loft, turned that exact moment into a 45-day launch sprint that became her origin story as an entrepreneur.

In this episode, Dee shares the raw, real story of her layoff, the spite that fueled her first business move, and the lesson that changed everything: done is better than perfect.

From navigating the emotional whiplash of sudden unemployment to building systems that help other founders move with speed, Dee's journey proves that the skills that made you "good enough" for corporate make you unstoppable for yourself.

Key Takeaways

• "Done is better than perfect." The mantra that drove Dee from layoff to launch in 45 days. When she stopped agonizing over the perfect website or the perfect platform choice and just moved, the universe moved with her.

• Your skill set isn't company property. If you were good enough to hire, you're good enough to bet on yourself. The talent that made you valuable to them is exactly what will make you successful for you.

• The first month is about survival, not strategy. Expect overwhelm from notifications (Slack deactivation, insurance deadlines, concerned colleagues), and give yourself permission to sit in it rather than jump into your next move immediately.

• Boundaries aren't optional for founders—they're a superpower. Dee built Boundaries (coming soon) because she learned the hard way that without them, people exploit your time, your energy, and your earning potential. This is especially critical for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and creators.

• There's always room for you. The space isn't too crowded. CNBC found Dee because she was posting consistently. If you commit to showing up, the right people will find you.

Connect with Dee:

• LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidremhenry/
• Instagram: @deidreofficial
• Tik Tok: @deidreofficial
• The Sales Loft: https://thesalesloft.com/

Shantae Howell is a creative director and brand storyteller who spent years building content from the ground up, eventually leading creative teams across the US, Canada, and Mexico. She's worked with major brands on everything from live events to full campaign builds and her work has always been rooted in one thing: making people feel genuinely seen.

In this episode, Shantae opens up about her layoff, the brutal reality of the 2024 job market (even with referrals), and how she accidentally built a personal brand on LinkedIn that started opening doors for her; one relatable, personality-packed post at a time.

If you're a creative professional navigating a pivot, questioning whether your resume is doing enough, or just trying to figure out your next move, this one is for you.

What we cover:

• The layoff she saw coming and the moment that still blindsided her
• Why five referrals failed her, zero recruiter screens
• The job search pivot from picky to practical
• Why a Linktree is not a portfolio
• LinkedIn, but make it human; her approach to showing up
• The rejection that turned into viral content
• Networking advice from someone who genuinely hates networking
• The half-step nobody talks about between layoff and dream job

Connect with Shantae - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantaehowell/

Connect with Vanita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

• Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off
• Comment
• Rate
• Share with someone who needs it.

This one-woman show appreciates it!

Brittney has 14 years of experience in tech, a self-taught background in software engineering and a track record working with some of the world's leading companies. But in 2025, she was laid off and instead of waiting for the job market to come back for her, she got honest about who she was without a title, what her finances looked like, and what it would actually take to rebuild on her own terms.

In this episode, Brittney and I talk about the morning the email arrived (while her kids were headed to school), the survivor's guilt she had carried from previous rounds of layoffs and what it felt like when for the first time, she was the one let go from a job that had become a big part of her identity. Her first six-figure role.

The applications weren't landing so Brittney did something different: she created a new identity entirely. She coined the term AI Documentation Strategist, launched TechniDox and built a Substack newsletter that grades AI companies on how transparent and inclusive their documentation actually is for everyday users, not just tech professionals.

In this episode:

• What it actually felt like the morning the layoff email came
• Losing your first six-figure job and the identity that came with it
• How Brittney rebranded her career around what was needed, not just what was trending
• Why she invented her own job title and what an AI documentation strategist actually does
• Her Substack journey: from writer since age 16 to published weekly newsletter
• How she plans content a week ahead and stays consistent without burning out
• The honest conversation around AI: what it can do, what it can't, and the safety side nobody talks about
• Running a startup, going to school in the evenings, and being a present mom: the work-life balance reality
• Her advice for anyone in a layoff or sensing one coming: prepare, stay visible, don't let it define you

Connect with Brittney:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-ball/
• Substack — The Documentation Engineer: https://briitoeknee.substack.com/

Connect with Vanita:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Subscribe to the podcast, share with a friend and rate on Spotify and Apple.

#podcast #layoffs #laidoff #mindset #career #AI #personaldevelopment #startup

As someone who worked in HR, Heidi had a feeling her layoff was coming. But nothing quite prepares you for the moment it actually happens and what surprised her most was how she felt: relieved, excited, and quietly hopeful about what was next.

In this episode, Heidi shares her practical framework for navigating career transitions built around three powerful Rs: Recovery, Reflection, and Redesign.

We talk about how she structured her days after the layoff, how she stayed mentally grounded and why she built a three-page master resume that became her secret weapon in the job search.

We also get into her unexpected new chapter - beekeeping. Wait till you hear the Queens names.

In this episode we cover:

• How Heidi knew her layoff was coming and how she prepared mentally
• The three things she did the day she got home
• Why controlling what you can control is the key to staying sane
• Her Recovery, Reflection, and Redesign framework
• How to ask for things you think aren't available to you (free conferences, anyone?)
• Bees. Just… bees.

Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-kent-mack/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Visit my Stan Store for my very own resume template, interview prep guides and layoff resources: https://stan.store/vanitacapo

Connect with Anna on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/

Learn more about CareerBFF and Evolve - https://yourcareerbff.com/

Grab my very own resume template, budget tracker, interview guides and more on my Stan Store - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

In this episode, I sit down with Donald King, CEO of AMDK Marketing, who at 25 was building in the AI space at a big 4 company until a 6 a.m. meeting invite changed everything.

Donald shares what that day actually felt like, why he chose to record his layoff and post it on TikTok and how a viral moment became the spark for his entrepreneurial journey.

We talk about building a business with the person you love, and what it really takes to go from employee to CEO.

Whether you're currently laid off, feeling the uncertainty of today's job market or quietly dreaming of building something of your own, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• The moment Donald knew he wasn't going back to corporate
• How his layoff video hit 1 million views in a single day
• Why he pivoted from an AI startup to a marketing agency in 26 days
• Advice for anyone laid off or thinking about entrepreneurship

Connect with Donald at amdkmarketing.com or on Instagram @DonaldTheKing

Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Grab my very own resume template, interview guides, join a movement of women building their personal brand after their 9-5 - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

All amazing ladies showing resilience, hope and are inspiration that a layoff does not define who you are!

#believeinyourself #layoffs #motivation

Takeaways

• Surviving layoffs
• Building a portfolio career

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Layoffs and Uncertainty
• 06:56 Impact on Relationship with Leadership and Corporate Loyalty
• 14:53 The New Safety Net: Portfolio Careers and Content Creation

Connect with Roxy on her website and follow on her socials- https://roxycouse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/roxycouse/

https://www.tiktok.com/@roxycouse

Please share this podcast with someone who needs it. Subscribe to get the latest episodes when they drop and let me know how this episode or others helped you in the comments.

Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Grab my very own resume template, interview guides on how to answer the most commonly asked questions and a blueprint on how to navigate layoffs or plan for one! - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

Instead of spiraling (okay, maybe spiraling a little), she turned it into the launchpad for her now thriving data education brand, Big Data Energy.

In this episode, we talk about what actually happens after you lose the corporate job, the doubt, the loneliness, the “now what?” and how Jess used that moment to build something completely her own.

We get into:

• How her very first viral post on LinkedIn changed everything
• Why personality > perfection when it comes to standing out
• How she makes complex data topics fun
• The reality of building a business alone
• And how to turn career disruption into momentum instead of shame

If you’ve ever been laid off, fired, overlooked, or just feel stuck, have a listen. Sometimes the worst news you receive becomes the best redirection of your life.

Connect with Jess on her socials - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessramosmsba/

https://www.bigdataenergycourses.com/

Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Book a call with me to get a LinkedIn makeover so recruiters come to you, download my very own resume template and snag my interview guide on how to answer the most commonly asked questions. - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

• The unexpected moment: Benji's experience of being laid off amidst holiday festivities
• The psychological stages of losing a job: laughter, grief, and adaptation
• Recognizing the value of personal agency and control during career upheavals
• The power of boldness and courage in starting a business after layoffs
• Insights from Benji’s impressive 2025 stats: 11 new clients, 294 videos, 1.3M views
• The importance of combining vision with strategy for sustainable growth
• Building community and the role of surrounding yourself with supportive networks
• The origin story behind Signature Series and creating impactful personal brand content
• Practical steps to move from feeling stuck to taking decisive action

• Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

• Stan Store - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

  Book a call with me to get a LinkedIn makeover so recruiters come to you, download my very own resume template and snag my interview guide on how to answer the most commonly asked questions.

• Connect with Benji Block on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benji-block/
• Signature Series - https://www.signatureseries.co/

Connect with Evan on LinkedIn.

Visit my Stan Store for my own resume template, interview guides, bounce back blueprint for steps to take before and after a layoff.

We chat about the realities of leadership during layoffs, how complex those moments really are, and what it means to lead with integrity. Timm shares thoughtful insights on leadership, resilience, and building a career that aligns with your values.

• Connect with me (Vanita) on LinkedIn.
• Visit my Stan Store for my very own resume template, interview guide or book a call with me.

Anette shares how she processed her emotions on Disney's rollercoasters, finding joy and perspective in the happiest place on earth. Her story is a reminder that even in tough times, you can find new paths and opportunities.

I absolutely loved our conversation and her positivity is infectious.

Resources to help you lift off:

• Visit Vanita's Stan Store for Interview Guides, my own Resume Template and my Bounce Back Blueprint: Before & After Layoff Steps
• Connect with my on Linkedin.

Jason Muth was a top performer when his role was eliminated.

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, Jason shares his layoff story, what it’s like to go through multiple layoffs and how a side hustle he started while still working became a business he truly loves today. He’s very clear about one thing: he’s never going back to Corporate America.

We talk about why top performers are still vulnerable, the identity shift that happens after a layoff and why starting your next chapter before you’re forced to matters so much.

If you’ve been laid off or think it might be coming, this conversation is for you. And if this made you think of someone else… share it with them.

SmartStay Show Podcast

Prideaway Stays

Visit my Stan Store for my own resume template, interview prep sessions and guides etc.

Tune in to hear how she transformed a tough transition into a season of growth, clarity and empowerment and how her story can inspire anyone facing big life shifts. She also drops some inspirational quotes to live by!

• Visit Brittany's Stan Store to learn how to break into sports media.
• See her Sport Portfolio
• Visit Vanita's Stan Store for interview guides, my own resume template and other career resources.

In this episode, she opens up about her unique layoff story (trust me, you haven’t heard one like this or at least I hope it’s not common!), what it’s really like running multiple viral accounts and how she’s stepping into a new season of life with more volunteering, more time with her kids and more honesty about the hard days too.

If you’ve ever been laid off, laughed at a meme just to make it through your workday or needed the reminder that you’re not alone , this one’s for you.

Humorous Resources: YouTube • LinkedIn • Threads • Facebook • X

Millennial Misery: Threads • Facebook • X

Horrendous HR: Threads • Facebook

Need help navigating a career transition? Visit my Stan Store for my very own resume template, interview guide and how to answer the most commonly asked questions and free resources.

If you need a little inspiration heading into the holiday, hit play. Jordan’s story is such a reminder that a pause isn’t always a setback, sometimes it’s a blessing you didn’t know you needed.

God's Love We Deliver's mission is to improve the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. They prepare and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. All services are provided free to clients without regard to income. Please visit their website to learn more, donate or volunteer. ❤️

Visit my Stan Store for 1:1 calls with me, my own resume template, strategies on how to effectively answer interview questions and more.

Aseeyah opens up about her own journey, how she learned to sit with those feelings and why building in public helped her find her voice again. Her story is honest, encouraging, and such a good reminder that even the toughest seasons can push us toward something better.

If you’re going through a layoff or just need a little inspiration, this conversation will definitely give you a lift.

Tune in to hear how embracing vulnerability can actually make you stronger.

Connect with Aseeyah on LinkedIn!

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Jaffe, author of "The Layoff Journey " and someone who’s been laid off not once, not twice, but four times. We talk about what that does to you emotionally, how to pick yourself back up and what resilience really looks like when faced with uncertainty.

Steve touches upon the stages of grief that come with losing a job, why community matters more than ever, and how to redefine success when your title suddenly disappears.

If you’ve ever faced a layoff or you just want a reminder that endings can lead to new beginnings, this one’s for you.

For additional support, check out my Stan Store for free interview questions to make you stand out, my very own resume template, 1:1 coaching with me and so much more!

In this episode, I chat with Jakaria Burge, who opens up about her layoff experience and what came after; the emotions, the uncertainty, and the surprising strength she found along the way. 💪

She shares how community, creativity, and faith played a huge role in her job search, especially through LinkedIn, where she’s built an incredible network of support.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure of what’s next, this conversation is a reminder that small steps matter and you’re not alone.

In this episode of 'Laid Off to Lift Off', I speak with Jenn Lee who was a member of my team and how I knew about her layoff a month before she did! We chat about her personal experience with layoffs, the emotional toll it takes, and how it can lead to unexpected opportunities.

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I’m Vanita and this is Laid Off to Lift Off.

Hear real stories from people across different walks of life talk about the day they were laid off, where they are now, and words of advice to inspire you.

Whether you’ve been there, are in it now, or think it’s coming, you’re not alone.

In this first episode, I'm sharing my story. Thank you for listening.

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