The Second Time Podcast

Vanessa Smith
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

All about job hunting for the second time as an openly disabled person.

Episodes

  1. 11 hrs ago

    Episode 4 - Week 10

    Welcome to the Second Time Podcast. Now that the introductory and background episodes are done, these weekly update style episodes will probably be the main format and frequency going forwards.   It's the end of my tenth week of job hunting.   I didn't apply for much in week nine, because my chronic conditions were flaring a lot and I decided that after eight weeks of hard work, I would do only the bare minimum and focus on my health. However, also in that week, and somehow I'm calling this the bare minimum, was an initial interview or screening call.   I started week ten with a follow up interview to the initial screening I had last week. The job genuinely had some in person requirements, but they seemed to really like my resume and want to work with me. I don't think they knew how it would work - for example, would the job be split into on site and remote tasks - but they didn't view disability as a barrier and even though they seemed somewhat unfamiliar with remote work, they kept me in the short list. Show notes: https://normalness.com/2026/06/26/the-second-time-podcast-episode-4-week-10/ Recorded and edited by myself, Vanessa Smith. Intro and outro music by Ben Dawson.

    8 min

  2. 16 hrs ago

    Episode 3 - What if I don't want to work anymore?

    This is a short episode. It's a blog post I wrote in 2024. What if I don't want to work anymore? This episode doesn't have answers, it asks questions. Show notes and show script: https://normalness.com/2026/06/26/the-second-time-podcast-episode-3-what-if-i-dont-want-to-work-anymore/ Recorded and edited by myself, Vanessa Smith. Intro and outro music by Ben Dawson.

    2 min

  3. 1 day ago

    Episode 2 - Philosophies

    Last episode I covered the HOW of how I job hunt, and this episode it's time to share some of my philosophies.   Many of these I've also written about, and links to the full blog posts will be in the show notes. I will be quickly going over them here.   First up, pay disabled people more because disability is expensive. People are really into equity until it comes to money. For some reason, money is where people really freeze up on equity. March 2022 data suggests that people with a disability need between 50% and 102% more income than non disabled people. And yet, this doesn't show up in employment, even in disability focused employment or companies who pride themselves on being equitable. It's time for them to put their money where their mouth is. Recorded and edited by myself, Vanessa Smith. Intro and outro music by Ben Dawson. Show notes and show script: https://normalness.com/2026/06/25/the-second-time-podcast-episode-2-philosophies/

    6 min

  4. 3 days ago

    Episode 1 - Tactics

    First up today I want to share with you WHY I am open to talking about things like job hunting as a disabled person. It's quite simple. It's because the fault does not sit with me, the fault sits with inaccessible employment and lack of appropriate disability supports. I am not ashamed to be unemployed, disabled, and looking for work. This situation is merely facts to me. Exhausting facts, most certainly, but merely facts. I know many people do not feel safe to speak up on these topics and that's why I think it's even more important that I do speak up. On that note, while I am a member of the disability community, disability is not a monolith. I am only speaking for myself and what suits me. Show notes and full episode script: https://normalness.com/2026/06/23/the-second-time-podcast-episode-1-tactics/ Recorded and edited by myself, Vanessa Smith. Intro and outro music by Ben Dawson.

    5 min

  5. Trailer

    Episode 0 - Introduction

    In 2023 I had to job hunt for the first time as an openly disabled person, someone who couldn't hide my disabilities and only disclose them later or if needed. I'm in the final stages of editing and cleaning up a book about that time, which will be published soon. And yes, I'm writing a book about job hunting, about to publish a book about job hunting... while job hunting again. I was made redundant this year and as I draft the notes for this episode, it's my ninth week of looking for work. The second time job hunting as an openly disabled person. I had been taking notes again on what job hunting was like this time around - spoiler alert, very different. But I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the information. Over a weekend, while I was pretending that simultaneously watching Stargate SG1 and playing power wash simulator was relaxing, the idea for a podcast wandered into my head and got stuck. It seemed like a good idea, so here we are, recording an introduction episode of The Second Time. Recorded and edited by myself, Vanessa Smith. Intro and outro music by Ben Dawson. Links referenced in the episode: Dr George Taleporos clip: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZiyTvPxak0/ Follow me online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normal_ness/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@normal_ness Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/normalness.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NormalNess/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/normal_ness Full show notes including script: https://normalness.com/2026/06/20/the-second-time-podcast-episode-0-introduction/

    5 min

Trailer

About

All about job hunting for the second time as an openly disabled person.

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa Smith
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Vanessa Smith
  • Show Website
    The Second Time Podcast