The Middle

After more than seven months of looking, Craig Whitaker still doesn’t have a job. It’s not for lack of trying; he’s submitted over 150 applications. In this brutally honest conversation, Craig shares how being unemployed has impacted his mental health (“I wonder, ‘Did I run over a bus full of nuns in a previous life?’”), what he’s learned, and how competing in triathlons has been easier than findi...

What happens when everything falls apart in just a few months - your marriage, your job, your sense of self - and you’re left sitting in a turbocharged Audi thinking, “At least I can sleep on my leather seats”? In this deeply honest conversation, author, podcaster, blogger, and storyteller Eric Payne shares what it means to rebuild when life gut-punches you from every direction. From navigating di...

Three layoffs in five years. Wade Lee has rebuilt his career time and again, and in this conversation gives a behind-the-scenes look at the tech sales industry, the strategies he's using to find his next role, and how he handles comparing his progress to others. Wade Lee is an account executive and business development professional. He helps companies understand and implement artificial intell...

What happens when you land your dream job, only to realize it’s not enough? In this candid conversation, communications leader Gab Ferree shares what it felt like to be handpicked for a high-profile, executive role while silently navigating burnout and the fear of not being “ready enough.” Still in the middle of her career whiplash, Gab opens up about ambition, identity, and why success doesn’t al...

Welcome to The Middle, a podcast about people in the thick of job loss, layoffs, new ventures, career pivots, and life transitions. These aren't the polished LinkedIn posts. Just real people with real stories.