Laid Off to Lift Off – Details, episodes & analysis

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 (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/

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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, 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/

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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Prideaway Stays

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

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 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 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 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.

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 setback, sometimes it’s a blessing you didn’t know you needed.

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

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 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!

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 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!