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The Reboot Era

The Reboot Era

27 episodes

1 month ago

Send us a text When I started The Reboot Era five months ago, I had just been laid off and was staring down one of the hardest job markets in recent memory. What began as a way to process my own story quickly grew into something bigger — 25+ conversations about layoffs, pivots, side hustles, resilience, and rebuilding. In this 12-minute season finale, I read a letter to the version of myself who didn’t see the layoff coming — the me who thought relationships were real until they went silent, ...

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Send us a text When I started The Reboot Era five months ago, I had just been laid off and was staring down one of the hardest job markets in recent memory. What began as a way to process my own story quickly grew into something bigger — 25+ conversations about layoffs, pivots, side hustles, resilience, and rebuilding. In this 12-minute season finale, I read a letter to the version of myself who didn’t see the layoff coming — the me who thought relationships were real until they went silent, ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/27)

The Reboot Era

Reboot 26 | Season 1 Finale - A Letter to My Pre-Laid Off Self

Send us a text When I started The Reboot Era five months ago, I had just been laid off and was staring down one of the hardest job markets in recent memory. What began as a way to process my own story quickly grew into something bigger — 25+ conversations about layoffs, pivots, side hustles, resilience, and rebuilding. In this 12-minute season finale, I read a letter to the version of myself who didn’t see the layoff coming — the me who thought relationships were real until they went silent, ...

1 month ago

12 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 25 | LU7 - Inside DEI: The Work You Don’t See (and Why It Matters)

Send us a text Last guest episode of the season and it's with a thoughtful, candid conversation about DEI with Lilian Argueta—first-gen American, Human Development grad (UCSD), and DEI operator with experience at UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, Google, and CrowdStrike. Context & Care: This is a sensitive subject. We’re not here to argue, but to share perspectives and invite inclusive dialogue. Two people, real experiences, open minds.What we cover: Clear, practical definitions of diversity, ...

1 month ago

45 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 24 | RR7 - The Future Belongs to the Unconventional: Vivian’s Story

Send us a text In this episode of The Reboot Era, I reconnect with my fellow Bryant University alum Vivian to explore her unconventional career path — one defined by global adventures, freelancing experiments, and fearless reinvention. After graduating in International Economics, Vivian skipped the corporate route to pursue a fellowship in LA, a cultural exchange in Brazil, and eventually five years of freelancing as a writer. She shares how she built a career on her own terms, the highs and ...

1 month ago

33 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 23 | MM4 - Rebooting the Job Search with AI: A Conversation with Jobbyo’s Co-Founder

Send us a text In this episode of The Reboot Era Podcast, host Dray Jankowski sits down with Hilary Torn, co-founder of Jobbyo, to talk about burnout, failed startups, and the messy reality of career pivots. Hilary shares: Her unconventional path to becoming a co-founder (spoiler: it started on Reddit)How multiple failed startups prepared her for Jobbyo’s successWhy today’s job market feels broken — and how AI can help fix itFree features Jobbyo offers, like job tracking, resume market analys...

1 month ago

40 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 22 | RR6 - Go Lancer; The Only Workspace Freelancers Need

Send us a text Guest: Valentina — Founder of Go Lancer, a centralized freelancer workspace (tasks/projects, time tracking, invoicing, booking, AI income forecasts). Started Jan 2025; now in beta. We cover: Why freelancers don’t need another marketplace—they need a workspaceThe feature set: projects, tasks, timers, invoices (1-click), booking, AI nudge/forecastingEarly user feedback (copywriters/designers love the “finally breathe” simplicity)What’s next: portfolio/booking public page, more pa...

1 month ago

29 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 21 | SI4 - Why Layoffs Feel Unfair (and What to Do Next)

Send us a text Guest: Steve Jaffe — author of The Layoff Journey; 25 years in marketing/advertising; laid off four times; now helping people navigate the emotional side of job loss. In this Reboot Era episode, we cover: The myth of meritocracy—why layoffs often feel arbitrary and unfairThe seven grief stages applied to layoffs—and how to shorten the distance from dismissal to discoveryPractical tools to counter isolation, shame, and rumination (community, journaling, movement)Why your skills ...

1 month ago

34 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 20 | SI3 - From Layoff to Offer: Authentic Answers that Win in 2025

Send us a text This week on The Reboot Era: HR insiders Laura Browne and Barbara Limmer show you how to stop guessing and start translating interviews—so your answers are authentic, on-target, and memorable. Perfect for anyone in a career reboot, navigating layoffs, or gearing up for a high-stakes loop. You’ll learn: Why most candidates think they “nailed it” (and why interviewers disagree).The question behind the question—how to tailor without memorized scripts.The STAR method the Reboot Er...

1 month ago

49 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 19 | RR5 - A 25-Year-Old’s Reset

Send us a text At 25, Riley Simmons decided the safe path wasn’t his path. After a stint in the Marine infantry and a climb into corporate finance, the promotion he’d been eyeing crystallized one truth: he didn’t want that life. So he saved, simplified, and bought a one-way ticket. In this episode we unpack the real planning behind a bold leap—monthly burn, student loans, keeping an apartment, and why Southeast Asia is his “in case funds dip” landing zone. We map the early route (Frankfurt → ...

1 month ago

32 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 18 | LU6 - Why AI is More Than Chatbots: Danchez on Tools That Actually Work

Send us a text When Dan Sanchez — better known as Danchez — was let go from his startup role, he could’ve played it safe. Instead, he leaned into what he saw as the next big thing: artificial intelligence. In this episode, Dan shares: How a career setback became the catalyst for his pivot into AIThe progression of learning AI, from first-time ChatGPT user to building custom GPTsWhy experimentation (not perfection) is the key to getting startedThe AI tools he actually uses daily — including Ch...

2 months ago

45 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 17 | RR4 - Entrepreneurship, Healing & Resilience with Shelia "Flower" Benson

Send us a text After being laid off twice in just a few months, Shelia Benson—better known as Flower—turned her pain into purpose. In this episode, Flower shares how her intuition helped her prepare for job loss, how she leveraged her insurance and CRM skills to launch her own freelance consulting business, and how spiritual practices like Reiki and sound healing helped her rebuild confidence and clarity. We talk about: Preparing for layoffs before she happenTurning corporate skills into entr...

2 months ago

31 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 16 | MM3 - Resilience in the Gaming Industry

Send us a text In this episode of The Reboot Era, I sit down with Nellie Hughes — a design director with 20 years in the gaming industry, most recently at Xbox Publishing. Nellie shares her journey from creating open-world experiences to navigating a layoff at one of the biggest names in tech. We cover everything from building creative teams and advocating for accessibility, to spotting layoffs before they happen, to the reality of ageism in tech. Nellie also shares how networking — done with...

2 months ago

42 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 15 | LU5 - Laid Off Twice in 6 Months — And Living His Best Life

Send us a text What would you do if you were laid off… twice… in just six months? Patrick Lyons didn’t just bounce back — he built forward. In this episode of The Reboot Era, Patrick shares how he turned back-to-back Microsoft layoffs into an opportunity to fully invest in his passions: Launching and scaling multiple fitness businesses, including The Lion ShredPerforming improv comedy to packed audiencesCreating daily content for over 2,000 days straightPreparing for a natural bodybuilding co...

2 months ago

39 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 14 | LU4 - Cracking the Career Code with Tami Burdick

Send us a text This week on The Reboot Era, I sit down with Tami Burdick—a published author, resume writer, content developer, and 20-year franchise industry veteran. We cover: How she went from corporate HR to self-employment and franchise consultingHer Erin Brockovich-style book Diagnosis DetectiveThe biggest mistakes she sees on resumes (and how to fix them)Why results > responsibilities on your resumeHow to network effectively without feeling “salesy”AI’s growing impact on the job mark...

2 months ago

35 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 13 | RR3 - Burnout to Breakthrough: Ivy on Layoffs, Freelancing, and Finding Purpose

Send us a text When Ivy got laid off from her dream job at Crate & Barrel, she thought she hit rock bottom—but what followed was a full-on identity reboot. In this episode, we dive into: The slow burnout signs she didn’t recognize until it was too lateWhat freelancing really looks like after a layoffWhy TikTok > LinkedIn when it comes to side hustle inspirationThe messy but powerful path to figuring out what you actually wantGetting into health insurance sales (yep, it’s not what you t...

3 months ago

41 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 12 | MM2 - Building a Routine with Austin Brown

Send us a text In this episode, Dray sits down with Austin Brown, a former corporate director turned founder of Laid Off Launchpad — a platform helping job seekers navigate the emotional and logistical rollercoaster of layoffs. After being laid off three times, Austin saw a glaring gap in the support offered post-layoff: no one was talking about how to manage the day-to-day. He created the LAND Routine — Learn, Apply, Network, Defend Your Energy — and now leads both 1:1 and group programs des...

3 months ago

39 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 11 | CR1 - Double Laid Off, Double the Tea: Matt's temporary exit from Corporate America

Send us a text What happens when you're laid off twice by the same tech company? If you're Matt Goldstein, you take your severance, your sass, and your suitcase — and move to Mexico City. In this episode of The Reboot Era, recruiter-turned-expat Matt Goldstein breaks down: The eerie déjà vu of getting laid off twiceWhy recruiters often smell layoffs before they hitHow tech companies weaponize “evergreen” job postingsHis decision to leave LA and corporate chaos behindTips for finding humor, he...

3 months ago

32 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 10 | LU3 - When Doing Everything Right Still Isn't Enough

Send us a text 🎙 with Ashley Martin What happens when you do everything right — and still find yourself laid off? In this deeply personal episode of The Reboot Era, Ashley Martin, a seasoned content marketing and strategy leader, opens up about her fourth layoff in October 2024 and the nine-month job search that followed. From the shock of losing a role she loved to the financial and emotional toll of prolonged unemployment, Ashley shares her story with honesty, clarity, and resilience. We ta...

3 months ago

46 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 09 | SI2 - Inside the Recruiter’s Inbox

Send us a text In this episode of The Reboot Era, I sit down with two incredible recruiters who’ve seen it all—hundreds of resumes, countless interviews, and the chaos of the 2025 job market. These aren’t just any recruiters—they’re smart, candid, and people I deeply trust. We talk about what really happens after you hit “apply,” how hiring decisions get made, and why you might not get a follow-up (even when it felt like the perfect interview). We also dive into compensation transparency, AI ...

3 months ago

53 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 08 | LU2 - The UX Job Hunt with Christopher Nelson

Send us a text What happens when a UX leader who’s built billion-dollar systems for Fortune 500 companies gets ghosted by recruiters and told they’re “overqualified”? In this episode, Dray sits down with Chris Nelson – former Head of Design at Walmart Fulfillment Services – for a raw, unfiltered conversation on layoffs, LinkedIn noise, AI chaos, and the exhausting ritual of job searching in 2025. Chris shares stories from Verizon to JCPenney, explains why he left startups behind, and gives in...

3 months ago

32 minutes

The Reboot Era

Reboot 07 | MHR1 - Mental Health Realness

Send us a text In this deeply human episode of The Reboot Era, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of job loss, job searching, and the quiet fight to keep going. Host Dray Jankowski is joined by two guests — Christine Vela, a seasoned sales and business development expert with decades of experience and multiple layoffs behind her, and Ry Mantione, a marketing pro and creative force navigating unemployment, identity, and reinvention in Los Angeles. Together, they share stories of resilience...

3 months ago

36 minutes