Real people. Real stories. Real solutions. I’m Jay Abbasi, host of Unstuck, and as a former leader at Tesla, I understand the whirlwind of challenges in the modern work scene. In this podcast, we reveal how to thrive in demanding work environments through relatable, real-life stories.
Each episode begins with a story based on real life professional challenges (some details are changed to protect anonymity), followed by expert insights to help you thrive at work including practical advice on resilience, mental health, and work life balance.
Get unstuck and build the life and career you’ve always wanted.
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What happens when the host becomes the guest… and nothing goes as planned?
Meet Jay… from a completely different perspective. This time, the questions aren’t coming from him. They’re coming from Alexandra, his wife, who flips the script and takes over the podcast.
What follows is an unscripted, honest, and hilarious conversation that pulls back the curtain on Jay’s story, from the origin of his name to his early days in sales, a short-lived rap career, and the moments that shaped his transition into speaking and personal development.
But beyond the laughs and stories, this episode reveals something deeper: the human side behind the work. The habits, quirks, values, and relationship dynamics that don’t usually make it into a keynote or a polished talk.
Notable Quotes
“I made a decision on the kind of work I wanted to do long term.” — Jay Abbasi
“I love using language to shift how people think.” — Jay Abbasi
About Our Guest
Alexandra Preziosi is a real estate professional and entrepreneur known for her authentic, relatable approach to content and client relationships. In this special episode, she brings a fresh, unfiltered perspective as she steps into the host role, creating a candid and engaging conversation that reveals a different side of her husband, Jay.
Resources & Links
Alexandra Preziosi
Website – https://alexpreziosirealestate.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrapreziosi/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070492525113
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alexpreziosi_real_estate/
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay dives deeper into a conversation around AI and leadership. Rather than exploring how to use AI, this episode will be about how to lead humans through the AI disruption. If you’re a leader who sees how AI is impacting how people are showing up, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
157: The Real Reason You Get Distracted
Season 1 · Episode 157
Friday, April 3, 2026 • Duration 16:57
Distraction isn’t new, but there are evidence-based ways to cultivate greater focus.
In this solo episode, Jay breaks down the real reason we struggle with focus and attention, and why distraction is not a modern problem caused by technology, but a deeply human trait that once helped us survive. Drawing from neuroscience and research, he explains how attention actually works and why trying to “fight distraction” often leads to frustration.
Jay introduces practical tools to help you regain control of your attention, including understanding what your mind prioritizes, asking yourself powerful awareness questions, and building the habit of mindfulness training. If you’ve ever felt scattered, unfocused, or overwhelmed by distractions, this episode gives you a clear path to sharper focus and greater presence.
Notable Quotes
“Attention is the flashlight that illuminates your life. Learn to hold it steady and everything changes.” — Dr. Amishi Jha
“Your attention will go to what you deem is most important.” — Jay Abbasi
“You could be missing so much of your life because your attention is on something else.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on the show? Submit it through the link below and Jay may highlight it in a future episode, offering personalized insights to help you move forward.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, Jay hosts a special and lighthearted conversation as his wife, Alex, takes over the podcast and interviews him. From his background in music to their relationship, favorite shows, and personal insights, this episode offers a fun and refreshing break from the usual format.
156: Pursue Your Spark
Season 1 · Episode 156
Monday, March 30, 2026 • Duration 56:08
What happens when the life that once excited you… no longer fits?
Meet Emma. After 30 years in real estate, she’s built a successful career, but lately even picking up the phone feels heavy. The routines that once energized her now feel exhausting. She doesn’t want to quit, but she knows something has to change.
In this episode, Jay sits down with Heike Yates, midlife fitness expert, author of Pursue Your Spark, and creator of the Spark Framework. Together, they explore what it really takes to reinvent yourself when your current path no longer feels aligned.
From letting go of safety to rebuilding self-trust, Heike shares practical strategies for navigating change without overwhelming yourself, and why progress comes from small, consistent steps, not overnight transformation.
Notable Quotes
“Leaving safety is gutsy.” — Heike Yates
“Progress takes work, effort, consistency, and follow through.” — Heike Yates
“You don’t have to jump all at once. Take small steps.” — Heike Yates
About Our Guest
Heike Yates is a midlife fitness expert, author, and coach with over 35 years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Through her Spark Framework, she helps individuals rebuild energy, confidence, and direction when their current routines no longer align with the life they want to live.
Resources & Links
Heike Yates
Pursue Your Spark book – https://heikeyates.com/midlife-mindset-book-pursue-your-spark/
Website – https://heikeyates.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/heike-yates/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQIeOesGLGAOD5RhI2KYjcA
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/heikeyates/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pursueyourspark
X – https://x.com/Heike__Yates
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/heikeyates/
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay dives into the science of attention and why most people misunderstand how focus actually works. He shares research-backed insights and practical techniques to help you reduce distractions, strengthen concentration, and direct your attention toward what matters most.
155: The “ABC” Framework for Reframing Challenges
Season 1 · Episode 155
Friday, March 27, 2026 • Duration 14:01
What if the way you see your challenges is the problem, not the challenge itself?
In this solo episode, Jay introduces a simple yet powerful framework to help you reframe stress, overwhelm, and adversity in real time. Drawing from neuroscience, personal experience, and insights from working with leaders across industries, he challenges the idea that we need to reduce or cope with stress, and instead offers a more effective approach.
Through the ABC framework, Jay walks you step-by-step through how to acknowledge what you’re feeling, become curious about your perspective, and channel that energy into meaningful action. If you’ve ever felt stuck in negative thought loops or overwhelmed by challenges, this episode gives you a practical tool to shift your mindset and move forward with clarity.
Notable Quotes
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln
“The original perspective that we have does not serve us.” — Jay Abbasi
“You have to acknowledge whatever’s coming up in you.” — Jay Abbasi
“Channel that energy into something positive.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Emma, a real estate agent in the later stages of her career who feels stuck, unfulfilled, and unsure of her next step. Jay is joined by Heike Yates, midlife fitness expert and author of Pursue Your Spark, to explore how professionals can reconnect with purpose, rebuild energy, and take meaningful steps toward their next chapter.
154: Turn Your Anger Into Power
Season 1 · Episode 154
Monday, March 23, 2026 • Duration 56:18
What is your anger trying to tell you?
Meet Annabelle. At home, she swallows her frustration to keep the peace. At work, she watches others get recognized while her effort goes unseen. The anger keeps building, but instead of expressing it, she turns it inward. What if that anger is trying to tell her something needs to change?
In this episode, Jay sits down with Alyse Maslonik, founder and CEO of RedefinED School Advancement and a TEDx speaker whose life was shaped by poverty, abuse, and the power of education. Together, they explore how anger can become fuel for grit, purpose, and meaningful change when it is understood instead of suppressed.
Notable Quotes
“The truth is the truth no matter how many people believe it.” — Alyse Maslonik
“Anger is neither good nor bad. It’s simply a signal.” — Alyse Maslonik
“If you can believe it, you can become it.” — Alyse Maslonik
About Our Guest
Alyse Maslonik is the founder and CEO of RedefinED School Advancement, a mission-driven organization that helps schools grow enrollment and increase access for underserved students. A TEDx speaker and advocate for educational opportunity, Alyse draws from her own lived experience of poverty and abuse to help others turn adversity into impact, purpose, and change.
Resources & Links
Alyse Maslonik
Website – https://alysemaslo.com/
RedefinED Website – https://redefiningeducation.org/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/redefiningeducation/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/alyse.victoria.7
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay shares a new three-step framework for handling adversity without suppressing emotions or losing momentum. If you want to stay focused, resilient, and effective when life gets chaotic, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
153: 3 of the Fastest Ways to Build Confidence
Season 1 · Episode 154
Friday, March 20, 2026 • Duration 13:57
The fastest way to build confidence is not what most people think.
In this solo episode, Jay breaks down three practical and proven ways to build confidence in the shortest amount of time. Drawing from his own journey as a speaker, coach, and entrepreneur, he explains why confidence is often overcomplicated and why the most effective formula is also the simplest.
From taking messy action and reflecting on your progress to priming your mind through visualization and affirmation, Jay shares a clear roadmap for building real confidence, not just temporary motivation. If you have been waiting to feel more ready, more certain, or more capable, this episode will help you move forward now.
Notable Quotes
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” — Dale Carnegie
“You have to fail over and over and over and over and over again.” — Jay Abbasi
“You want to be confident? You need to give evidence to your subconscious mind.” — Jay Abbasi
“When it’s paired with taking the action and reflecting on your success, you are now building up what I would say is even unwavering confidence.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcas
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Annabelle, who is struggling with anger, frustration, and the tendency to suppress what she is really feeling in order to keep the peace. Jay is joined by Alyse Maslonik, founder and CEO of Redefined School Advancement and TEDx speaker, to explore how anger can be understood, channeled, and used in a way that leads to growth and positive change.
Unstuck Classics: Stop Lying to Yourself
Season 1 · Episode 153
Monday, March 16, 2026 • Duration 48:55
How many times have you told yourself you’d change… and didn’t?
In this episode, we revisit the story of Trevor, an oncologist who has built a career on precision, compassion, and service, yet feels exhausted, empty, and increasingly disconnected from himself. Beneath the long hours, self-doubt, and lack of boundaries is a deeper issue: he no longer trusts himself to follow through on the things he says matter.
This Unstuck Classics episode revisits a powerful conversation with Leon Thurston Jr., speaker, coach, and author, about confidence, discipline, standards, and the hidden damage caused by the lies people tell themselves every day. Together, Jay and Leon explore how burnout, comparison, and weak boundaries chip away at self-trust, and what it takes to rebuild it.
Notable Quotes
“You’re the only person who’s ever heard every lie that you’ve ever told.” — Leon Thurston Jr.
“When you look at the root word of confidence, the root word is confide.” — Leon Thurston Jr.
“Discipline means that you’re a follower, a disciple.” — Leon Thurston Jr.
“If you don’t have any standards set, you won’t be able to follow anything.” — Leon Thurston Jr.
About Our Guest
Leon Thurston Jr. is a speaker, coach, and author whose mission is to help people get unstuck and become their greatest solution. Through his coaching, speaking, and the University of Unstuck, Leon helps leaders, athletes, and professionals move from self-doubt to self-mastery by building stronger standards, confidence, and ownership.
Resources & LinksLeon Thurston Jr.
Website – https://www.universityofunstuck.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-thurston-jr-2b635355/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@leejuniorunstuck
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lee.junior.50?ref=bookmarks
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/leejuniorunstuck/
Jay Abbasi
Website – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, Jay takes a deeper dive into three specific ways to build confidence, especially during seasons of change, uncertainty, and self-doubt. If confidence has been wavering lately, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
152: 10 Tips For My Younger Self (Part 2 – Birthday Special)
Season 1 · Episode 152
Friday, March 13, 2026 • Duration 20:30
What if the most important advice you ever received was the advice you gave yourself?
In this special continuation of Jay’s birthday reflection series, he shares the five most impactful lessons he would give his twenty-year-old self. These principles are rooted in lived experience and designed to help you build a fulfilling career, meaningful relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose.
From priming your mind through visualization to learning from disruptive emotions, speaking with greater presence, practicing self-observation, and ultimately learning how to “lose yourself” in service of something bigger, this episode invites you to turn insight into daily practice. If you’re looking for direction, resilience, and clarity as you grow, these lessons offer a powerful guide.
Notable Quotes
“We don’t grow from knowledge. We grow from training, from practice, from application.” — Jay Abbasi
“Understanding what you feel frees you from what you feel.” — Jay Abbasi
“Pay attention to paying attention.” — Jay Abbasi
“Learn how to say more with less.” — Jay Abbasi
“Stay connected to something bigger than yourself.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, Jay revisits an Unstuck Classic and shares highlights from one of the most impactful guest conversations since the podcast began. It’s a chance to reflect on timeless lessons and reconnect with ideas that continue to resonate.
151: Why You Can’t Heal Overnight
Season 1 · Episode 151
Monday, March 9, 2026 • Duration 01:02:13
What if the reason you feel stuck… is because you’re trying to heal too fast?
Meet Tony. He’s an account manager at a chemical manufacturer under constant pressure to hit quota, but lately something feels off. Some weeks he’s unstoppable. Other weeks he can barely open his laptop. The harder he tries to push through, the heavier everything feels.
In this episode, Jay speaks with Johnny Crowder, mental health entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and founder of CopeNotes. Together they explore why healing and personal growth rarely happen through a single breakthrough moment. More often, they happen through small shifts, repeated consistently over time.
Notable Quotes
“The habits that took you 30 years to learn, you’re not going to unlearn in 30 minutes.” — Johnny Crowder
“Recovery isn’t one big breakthrough. It’s a lot of tiny steps in the right direction.” — Johnny Crowder
“You can feel a feeling all the way to the end of it.” — Johnny Crowder
“Sometimes the best thing you can do with discomfort is simply sit with it.” — Johnny Crowder
About Our Guest
Johnny Crowder is a mental health entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and founder of CopeNotes, a global mental health platform that sends supportive text messages designed to interrupt negative thought patterns and build healthier habits. Drawing from his own lived experience with severe mental illness, Johnny helps people develop practical coping skills and resilience through education, compassion, and small daily actions.
Resources & Links
Johnny Crowder
Cope Notes website – https://copenotes.com/
Website – https://johnnycrowder.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnycrowder
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/johnnycrowderlovesyou
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnnyxcrowder
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@johnnycrowder
Jay AbbasiWebsite – https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Friday, as Jay celebrates his birthday, he will also share the five lessons he would give his younger self if he could go back 20 years. These are practical, actionable strategies for building resilience, happiness, fulfillment, and balance in everyday life. If you’re looking for clear steps to help you move forward with greater clarity and purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
150: 10 Tips for My Younger Self (Part 1 – Birthday Special)
Season 1 · Episode 150
Friday, March 6, 2026 • Duration 16:40
“If you could go back 20 years, what advice would you give yourself?”
In this special birthday episode, Jay reflects on turning 40 and shares the first half of a two-part series: ten lessons he would give his 20-year-old self. These insights are not abstract ideas, but practical principles shaped by experience, adversity, growth, and years of studying personal development.
In Part 1, Jay explores five actionable lessons that can help anyone build resilience, deepen relationships, and live with greater clarity and purpose. From cultivating relentless curiosity to embracing discomfort and rethinking how we treat both ourselves and others, these lessons offer guidance not just for getting unstuck, but for staying unstuck.
Notable Quotes
“Know that you don’t know, and stay curious.” — Jay Abbasi
“Speak to yourself the way you would speak to someone you love.” — Jay Abbasi
“When you see even a small sign of progress, it gives you the energy to keep going.” — Jay Abbasi
“Treat others the way they want to be treated.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Get Featured on “Unstuck”
Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge.
Submit Your Story
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Tony, an account manager for a chemical manufacturer who feels overwhelmed by the pressure of sales quotas, financial stress, and a lack of time for himself. Jay is joined by Johnny Crowder, founder of Cope Notes and TEDx speaker, to explore how professionals under constant pressure can build healthier thought patterns and practical strategies for protecting their mental health.
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