Laid Off to Lift Off

Buckle Up - She Got Laid Off Nursing Her Newborn, Then Built a $500K Business 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 A...

After 1,000 applications and 30 interviews with no offers, discover how resilience and authenticity led to an unexpected breakthrough. Join us as Hady Méndez shares her transformative journey from setbacks to success. 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 o...

What happens when a sales and marketing powerhouse gets laid off on a Tuesday with zero warning despite celebrating record company profits just a week prior? 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 busines...

What happens when you see the layoff coming and still can't stop it? That's where this conversation starts. 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...

Brittney Ball - AI Documentation Strategist, Founder of TechniDox, and writer behind The Documentation Engineer on Substack. 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 a...

What do you do when you're being told you're laid off and you have to remind yourself not to smile? That's exactly where Heidi Kent-Mack found herself having to think about. 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 abo...

What do you do when the job you gave everything to lets you go? In this episode, Vanita sits down with Anna Morgan, talent acquisition veteran, speaker, and founder of the Evolve Conference to talk about her layoff during COVID, what she did differently to bounce back, and how she turned years of authentic relationship-building into a thriving community and business. Anna shares the real advice sh...

What would you do if you got laid off on the same day you won a company-wide AI hackathon? For Donald King, the answer was to press record and post! 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...

Brittany Barbosa - Redefining her success after a layoff Jamie Jackson - Chief Meme Officer/ HR Bestie chats about becoming "unemployable." Aseeyah Shahid - Building in public, creating her own media company. All amazing ladies showing resilience, hope and are inspiration that a layoff does not define who you are! #believeinyourself #layoffs #motivation

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, Vanita speaks with Roxy Couse, an entrepreneur and content creator, about surviving multiple layoffs, the impact on her identity and the importance of building a personal brand. We discuss the need for empathy in leadership, the changing landscape of job security and how to leverage skills for a successful career. Roxy emphasizes the importance of self-beli...

Jess Ramos got fired. 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 firs...

Discover how Benji Block turned a sudden layoff into a year of remarkable growth and bold entrepreneurship. In this episode, Benji shares his personal story of resilience, the mindset shifts that fueled his success, and practical advice for navigating career transitions with confidence. The unexpected moment: Benji's experience of being laid off amidst holiday festivities The psychological stages...

On this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I chat with Evan Tachoir , HR expert and host of the NetGain podcast , about his layoff journey, from the shock of losing his job to building his own consulting business, Jack of All People Trades . Evan opens up about the emotional side of layoffs, the importance of relationships, and how resilience and reinvention can lead to something even better. Connec...

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off , I sit down with Timm Chiusano , a former VP turned creator, to talk about the other side of layoffs. Timm shares his journey from being a senior leader at a major company to navigating leadership decisions with more humanity and empathy than we usually see talked about. We chat about the realities of leadership during layoffs, how complex those moments rea...

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off , I chat with my former colleague and HR Analytics expert, Anette , about how she turned her layoff into the adventure of a lifetime. (Honestly, I wish I had thought of it!) 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...

Laid off and kind of relieved? 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 to...

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off , I sit down with Brittany Barbosa , a social media content leader to talk about her journey from the fast-paced world of sports media to redefining success on her own terms. Brittany opens up about navigating a layoff, stepping into motherhood, and discovering who she is beyond a job title. Tune in to hear how she transformed a tough transition into a seaso...

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I chat with Jamie Jackson , self-proclaimed Chief Meme Officer and the brilliant mind behind Humorous Resources, Millennial Misery, and Parody Parenting. As one of the cohosts of the wildly popular HR Besties podcast, Jamie brings humor, honesty, and true authenticity to every conversation. In this episode, she opens up about her unique layoff story (trust...

This week’s Thanksgiving episode of Laid Off to Lift Off is a good one. Jordan Moran , a strategic marketing pro with 14 years of experience, joins me to talk about how a layoff became a chance to slow down, reset, and reconnect with what actually matters. We get into gratitude, rest, family, marathon training, and the power of giving back especially when life feels uncertain. If you need a little...

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off , I sat down with Aseeyah Shahid to talk about the emotions we don’t always say out loud, the shock, the fear and the “okay… now what?” moments. 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...

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn, Instagram and visit his website to learn more about his work. Be sure to grab his book, " The Layoff Journey" for your blueprint on how to navigate the different stages of grief that comes with a job loss. 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...

Connect with Jakaria Burge on Linkedin ! 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...

Connect with Jennifer Lee on Linkedin ! 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.

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I chat with Lindsay Issler about her layoff journey, how she navigated the emotional ups and downs, and what she’s learned about personal branding and job searching. We dive into staying positive, showing up on LinkedIn, and why vulnerability and authenticity matter when sharing your story. If you’ve been laid off or are in the middle of a job hunt, this on...

Have you ever been laid off? Or know someone who has? 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 list...