Laid Off to Lift Off

It didn’t happen overnight. It took process, dedication, and being in the right place at the right time.

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 da...

Heather Laing spent more than 20 years building people teams at fast-growing companies. She knows what it takes to sit across from someone and tell them their job is gone.

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 e...

Iraya Corley has been laid off three time, most recently from Microsoft, right in the middle of moving into a new home. In this episode, she opens up about getting the news while packing boxes, picking her son up from summer camp without falling apart, and blind-copying 150 executives just to ask for a shot.

What We Cover:

Brian Sheehy on Layoffs, Reinvention and Building Momentum After a Career Reset

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...

It's Laid Off to Lift Off's first birthday!

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...

Layoff. Divorce. Caregiving. All in One Year and He's Still Standing.

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...

Geoff Curtis spent nearly 30 years building a career as a communications expert. An acquisition eliminated his role and left him, in his words, in "purgatory." He's the author of Embracing Your Own Purgatory and he co-founded the nonprofit Future Voices Collective with his wife.

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:

Laid Off to Lift Off was created to spread stories of hope and resilience at a time where you're experiencing a career transition you didn't ask for. You are more than a job title and you deserve to believe it.

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

This one woman show appreciates you.

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 Arpag, founder of Aligned Recruitment, shares the wild ride that followed from fielding...

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:

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 business move, and the lesson that changed everything: done is better than perfect.

From navigating the emotional...

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 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...

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 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...

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 about what was next.

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

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 she wishes she'd had: documenting your wins, the art of the layoff announcement, why LinkedIn commenting is underrated, and why your next opportunity is one conversation away. If you've been laid off, are...

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 layoff and post it on TikTok and how a viral moment became the spark...

Brittany Barbosa - Redefining her success after a layoffJamie 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-belief and the power of content creation in opening new opportunities.

Takeaways

Chapters

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:

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.

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.

Connect with Evan on LinkedIn.

Visit my Stan Store for my own resume template, interview guides, bounce back blueprint for steps to take...

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 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.<...

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 can find new paths and opportunities.

I absolutely loved our conversation and her positivity is infectious.

<...

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 top performers are still vulnerable, the identity shift...

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 season of growth, clarity and empowerment and how her story can inspire anyone facing big life shifts. She also drops some...

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 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 n...

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 inspiration heading into the holiday, hit play. Jordan’s story is such a reminder that a pause isn’t always a setbac...

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 toughest seasons can push us toward something better.

If you’re going thro...

A soft place to land during a hard season. Real stories and heartfelt advice from people who made it through and want you to know you will too.

Follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok and Youtube. Connect with me on Linkedin.

Visit my Stan Store for 1:1 Job Search help, interview questions, my very own resume template & more.

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 what that does to you emotionally, how to pick yourself back up and what resilience really looks like when fa...

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.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure of what’s next, this conversation is a reminde...

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 one’s packed with tips and inspiration you won’t want to miss.

Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn!