The Unemployment Diaries

Aisha Ommaya
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast isn’t about work. It’s about the beliefs, systems, and expectations that “employ” us. Through interviews with experts and honest conversations with people who’ve chosen a less-known path, we explore what it takes to break old patterns and choose differently. Become “unemployed” from anyone else’s definition of a life well-lived, and design your own.

Episodes

  1. May 28

    Learning expert on the skill no one taught you

    Have you ever thought about how you learn? Or, for that matter, why you learn in the first place? Romy attended schools that prided themselves on academic rigor. From the third grade, she was pulling all-nighters and spent years feeling like she was one step behind. She walked out of her final university exam and celebrated never having to learn again. Today, she's a Chief Learning Officer, experiential learning designer, and facilitator who has worked with C-suite leaders, Formula One teams, and UN agencies on the science of how people actually learn. So what changed? Turns out, she didn't hate learning at all. In this episode, Romy shares her story and: How her environment shaped her relationship with learning (and why her ADHD wasn’t the problem) Why most training doesn't work and the science behind about how we learn David Kolb's four-stage learning cycle The way we unlearn — and why upgrading your software beats wiping the operating system How learning style preferences can become a trap  Why psychological safety is a precondition for any real growth What AI is doing to our critical thinking skills (and what to do about it) How to design your own learning process Why we should aim to be explorers rather than experts Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Romy Alexandra 01:18 Are you good or bad at learning? 03:05 From fixed mindset to learning advocate 05:57 Experiential learning: A new approach 07:30 Why knowledge transfer isn't enough 12:03 The shift from education to learning 14:12 What we get wrong about learning 17:53 How to unlearn 21:00 Learning as a lifelong journey 22:58 We learn how we live 27:24 Understanding learning preferences 32:31 Navigating AI in learning 35:44 The importance of critical thinking 38:32 Balancing objectives and learning outcomes 40:19 Designing your own learning process 44:27 Measuring progress in learning 48:18 Creating safe learning environments 53:55 Shifting from expert to explorer mindset Where to find Romy LinkedIn Website Instagram For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    56 min

  2. May 20

    Healthcare executive turned writer on “becoming you” after a stroke

    Florence Acosta spent years building herself around her credentials of nurse anesthetist and executive director of a surgical center. On the weekends? She was doing work she loved but never fully committed to: facilitating women's circles. Then she had a stroke. And overnight, the career, the title, the independence — all of it — was gone. What followed was two years of sweats, silence, and grief she didn't know how to name. That is until her son moved 1,231 miles away and something in her finally shifted. In this episode, we talk about: What it actually looks like to rebuild in small, almost invisible steps Why driving alone for the first time in three years felt like getting her freedom back How writing became the way she finally found her voice — and why those two things took decades to connect Grieving a version of yourself you're not sure you're ready to let go of The power of writing to heal yourself and others  How a Raggedy Ann doll taught her it wasn't safe to ask for what she wanted, and how she’s building that safety today This one is quiet, honest, and particularly important for anyone who has ever faced a setback that took more than they expected. Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Florence Acosta 01:23 Life after the stroke 05:45 Navigating grief and recovery 08:00 Finding independence after a stroke 09:38 Help, grief and signs of recovery 13:08 Writing on Substack 15:51 Not taking independence for granted 16:53 Appreciating the past 18:12 Are you happy? 19:51 Facing challenges 20:33 Finding a voice through writing Where to find Florence BECOMING YOU with Florence Acosta on Substack For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    25 min

  3. May 14

    Venture capitalist & founder on life after ego death

    What happens when the career you built becomes the thing that breaks you down? Yannick Kpodar spent fifteen years in front-row seats at some of Europe and San Francisco’s fastest-growing companies — LinkedIn, PayFit, and a unicorn valued at $2.2 billion. He raised hundreds of millions as an operator and by every external measure, he was winning. Then, in the span of 6-12 months, he lost his job, his marriage, and his identity.  What followed wasn't a pivot. It was an ego death. In this episode, Yannick shares his story and: Why hypergrowth has a dark side and how it spreads through an organization What identity collapse actually feels like  The beliefs that shattered and how he rebuilt  What happens when you wear a mask for too long What conscious leadership looks like in the age of AI The one piece of advice he gives every founder before their next move Why he now vets who gets into his community — and what disqualifies you immediately Chapters 00:00 Introducing: Yannick Kpodar 01:10 The journey to identity collapse 07:44 The dark side of hypergrowth 15:17 Experiencing ego death 19:34 Rebuilding with a new perspective 26:31 The cost of wearing a mask 30:26 Reconnecting with creativity and intuition 34:22 Balancing structure with flexibility 38:03 Conscious leadership in the age of AI 42:03 The importance of identity for founders 46:40 How to avoid re-masking 51:40 New ventures and learning paths Where to find Yannick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yannickkpodar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yannickkpodar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannickkpodar/ Website: https://www.full-stack-ceo.com/ & ⁠https://www.aventracapital.com/⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YannickKpodar For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    56 min

  4. Apr 30

    From paralyzed to podium | A marine veteran’s story of post-traumatic growth

    What if the worst thing that ever happened to you turned out to be the making of you? Patrick grew up knowing exactly who he was going to be. His grandfather's photo above the fireplace. His dad's. A blank third frame he promised himself he'd fill. He applied to just one school (The Citadel), joined the Marine Corps, and became a platoon commander leading 40 Marines. He was living his calling. Then, five days into his second deployment, a bullet tore through his body and the only life he ever wanted. He was 26, paralyzed from the waist down, and told he'd never walk again. Fourteen surgeries, two years at Walter Reed, and a collapsed identity later – he found a reframe that is almost hard to believe: getting shot is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me. In this episode, Patrick shares his story and: The blank photo frame that shaped his entire identity and what happened when that identity was taken away What emotional contagion taught him about leadership under the worst conditions How he broke a two-year recovery into milestones small enough to survive, and why a 48-minute mile mattered How he battled imposter syndrome at Harvard and Wharton Why he left management consulting How he went from a paralysis diagnosis to Team USA captain at the Invictus Games, a bronze medal, and training for the Paralympics What resilience actually is — and why helping someone else is the fastest way to shorten your own suffering Welcome to The Unemployment Diaries, Patrick Nugent.  Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Patrick Nugent 00:46 The journey 07:30 The power of mindset and belief 09:49 Facing the diagnosis 11:15 Breaking down the recovery 18:54 The lowest point 29:42 The reframe: Getting shot was the best thing 32:57 The journey to the Invictus Games 36:55 Imposter syndrome in business school 40:26 Strategies for resilience and avoiding burnout 45:48 The power of helping others in healing Where to find Patrick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nugentpatrick/ Website: https://www.patrickdnugent.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdnuge/ Substack: https://nugentnotes.substack.com/ For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    51 min

  5. Apr 23

    Women’s fightwear CEO on betting on yourself before anyone else

    What if the thing that changed your life wasn't supposed to be your life at all? Maya stumbled into a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu class at 16 thinking it was kickboxing. She then started a business at 19 with $2,000 and kept it secret for two years. Recently, she took it to Shark Tank and walked away with $300,000. But this episode isn't really about any of that. It's about what it takes to bet on yourself and then to keep investing no matter which direction you decide to walk in. In this episode, Maya and I discuss: Why women on the mat changes everything What jiu-jitsu teaches you about failure, humility, and showing up How betrayal can be an incredible teacher The two-pen journaling practice that gives her perspective on everything Why she's project-agnostic and why that might be the most important mindset of all What 80-year-old Maya thinks about all of it Welcome to The Unemployment Diaries, Maya Nazareth.  Chapters 00:00 Introducing: Maya Nazareth 01:02 Starting Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) 06:04 The transformative power of jiu-jitsu 11:57 Finding calmness, peace and humility 14:28 From 2k at 19 to Shark Tank success 21:37 Tools for resilience and overcoming challenges 26:38 Navigating life and business on social media 29:41 The next chapter 32:52 Embracing change and new identities 36:42 How to shift perspectives 41:02 The power of self-control and acceptance 44:09 Advice to a younger self Where to find Maya https://www.instagram.com/maya.nazareth/ https://alchemizefightwear.com/ For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    46 min

  6. Apr 15

    Former lawyer/elephant conservationist/travel creator: Stop building the wrong life

    What if you already know what you need to but you just won't do it? Jacob Templer went from law school to state attorney to elephant conservation to tech sales to travel content creator. Any one of those would have been a solid career. None of them were the right life. Now he helps people figure out the difference before they waste any more time.  In this episode, Jacob and I discuss: Why being good at something isn’t a reason to keep doing it How to build a life you actually want  Why most people never take action  What travel taught him about the difference between a life you love and content about a life you love How AI is becoming a thinking inhibitor that's way more dangerous than social media  Why mass education may be producing people who don't know how to think  What it means to curate your environment, inputs, and influences  Churchill's two-sentence framework for the only decision that actually matters Chapters 00:00 Meet Jacob Templer 01:07 Travel and self-discovery 03:28 Defining a dream career 05:16 A non-linear career path 11:31 Passion isn't enough 14:54 Lifestyle vs. career choices 17:16 The benefits of having a coach 21:18 The downsides of mass education 24:41 The case for homeschooling 27:05 Parental responsibility and self-awareness 28:38 The dark side of tech 30:51 Navigating the future: skills for uncertainty 34:37 The role of virtue and agency 37:46 Living with courage and truth 40:40 The challenge of taking action 46:30 Embracing fear and taking risks Where to find Jacob Instagram Substack hello@jacobtempler.com  For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    50 min

  7. Apr 8

    OG digital nomad who quit being employable | Linda Jackson

    What if the life you always wanted had no map, no guarantee, and no way back? Linda Jackson spent decades in tech sales and marketing, working for startups and surviving volatile bosses. Then she sailed out under the Golden Gate Bridge (just two weeks after 9/11) on a 34-foot sailboat with her husband and a one-year plan that turned into a lifetime. Today they live full-time aboard their sailboat in Fiji where she runs a consulting business from the middle of the Pacific Ocean (for now). No house. No car. No safety net. She's been doing this since before Starlink, before Zoom, before anyone called it remote work. And somewhere along the way, she discovered that the most important parts of her life had nothing to do with work at all. In this episode, Linda shares her story and: Why she walked away from employee life and what finally pushed her over the edge What being truly "unemployable" actually looks like in practice — and what it costs you The loneliness and isolation nobody talks about when they romanticize life off the grid Why flexibility isn't just a nice-to-have — it's the only way this life works How she found creativity through art and writing, and why it changed everything How she almost turned her Substack into a job she didn't want What 150 rejection letters taught her about doing creative work on your own terms The drowning iguana in Mexico that changed her outlook and became a book Why "nothing's forever" is the most liberating business strategy she knows Chapters 00:00 Introducing Linda Jackson 00:37 How the OG digital nomad earned her title 05:30 The journey to becoming unemployable 10:29 Subconsciously designing a life you love 11:17 Embracing flexibility and imperfection 14:29 The downsides to being a digital nomad 17:15 Navigating financial trade-offs 19:59 You don't need to monetize everything 22:54 Rediscovering joy in writing 28:28 Small acts of kindness, big impact 31:22 Being willing to course correct 32:13 Navigating life as a crew of 2 35:29 Trusting your captain (or boss) 37:06 Advice to start working for yourself Where to find Linda Substack LinkedIn Website Verde’s Very Lucky Day For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    39 min

  8. Mar 23

    How an introvert led 40,000 people

    What if the trait you've been hiding is actually your greatest asset? Mohamed Fadel spent years behind a computer screen, finding community, purpose, and progression in online gaming. Then, at only 24, he became the Global President of AIESEC, the world's largest youth-led organization, leading 40,000 young people across 120 countries. As a self-proclaimed 97% introvert. He didn't change who he was to get there. He just realized introversion was never the obstacle. It was the edge. In this episode, Mohamed shares his story and: How gaming taught him the three things every human needs — and how he found them IRL Why introversion isn't a limitation, it's a superpower  What empathy actually looks like in leadership  The real reason entrepreneurship isn't freedom and what keeps you going anyway Why the world glorifies the loudest voice in the room  The two pieces of advice he'd give his younger self Chapters 00:00 Introducing: Mohamed Fadel 00:40 Why podcasting is great for introverts 04:08 The benefits of gaming (and experience) 10:13 Who can be a leader 11:24 The qualities of a good leader 15:21 Work and home life are not separate 17:55 The impact of being laid off 20:10 The importance of thinking outside the box 21:59 The reality of leading yourself as an entrepreneur 24:10 What determines success 25:23 The discipline of self-leadership 26:41 The power of being an introvert 33:04 Advice for a younger Mohamed Where to find Mohamed https://mohamedfadel.com/ On Substack For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    37 min

  9. Mar 10

    Author on designing a life without labels

    What if the question "so, what do you do?" is the wrong question entirely? Charlie Rogers never had a conventional answer because he never took the conventional path. He built and closed businesses, represented Great Britain in triathlon, and spent the last decade figuring out how to live beyond labels. Now he's written the field guide for everyone else who's ever felt too much for one box. In this episode, Charlie shares his story and: Why "what do you do?" asks you to delete parts of yourself  How to strip away inherited assumptions about how life "should" look and rebuild from zero Why the echo chambers we live in keep us smaller than we need to be The Purpose Acropolis framework and how to find your golden thread Why focused experts earn twice as much as generalists — and how Undefinables can have it both ways The advice he'd give anyone who has more interests than they know what to do with Chapters 00:00 Meet Charlie Rogers 00:49 So, what do you do? 03:51 Charlie's unconventional background 08:18 How do you know it's time to move on? 09:22 What is a golden thread? 12:55 We're not one thing forever 13:34 Can you be an expert with many interests? 17:39 When life goes out of balance 19:58 How constraints shape your future 22:36 How to shift your mindset 24:21 Is it growing pains or just pain? 31:38 From "good enough" to "great" 35:41 Advice for younger Charlie Where to find Charlie https://www.undefinablelifedesign.com/ Substack Buy the book on Amazon For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    38 min

  10. Mar 4

    From corporate to cafe: Building a business around what matters most

    A layoff. A house under construction. A trip to London. And the realization that the life he wanted was within reach.  These moments pushed Tim Akapo to trade a 20-year supply chain career for an espresso machine — and build one of Westchester's most beloved community spaces, Ludy Café, from the ground up. In this episode, Tim shares: How he went from laid off to running a business generating over half a million in revenue The priority order that keeps his marriage, family, and business all thriving The values he inherited from his parents and carries into everything he does Why faith is the foundation of his unshakeable confidence How investing in your community always pays back dividends What he'd tell his sons and anyone thinking about making a leap of their own If you're in the middle of a career transition or thinking about starting something of your own, you're going to want to hear this one. Welcome… to The Unemployment Diaries. Chapters 00:00 Meet Tim Akapo 01:03 From corporate to coffee 04:06 Balancing family and business 05:21 The importance of good communication 07:02 Prioritizing your home life 09:04 Putting your partner first 09:36 On giving back to the community 13:46 The ripple effect of connection 15:46 Why Tim has no regrets 17:44 The power of having faith 19:00 How to expand the business sustainably 21:38 You can't do it all alone 22:40 Where to begin if you want to start a business 24:10 Tim's advice to his boys: Don't be afraid 26:47 From pissed off to half a million in revenue 32:28 When customers become community Visit Ludy Café https://ludycafe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ludycafe For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube Disclaimer: Just to be clear, this podcast is still not sponsored by Nike. Yet…

    34 min

  11. Feb 24

    Life coach on honesty, intuition, and the power of alignment

    Motherhood. A global pandemic. And the realization that the career she had pursued for so long no longer fit. These major life shifts prompted  Sofía Paredes Chaux to leave the United Nations and step into a new chapter — one centered on helping others reconnect with themselves. In this episode, Sofía shares: Her journey from the UN to becoming a life coach A way to avoid repeating the same emotional and behavioral cycles How to tune into your intuition Why awareness is the foundation of all change How to navigate challenging relationship dynamics Where to start if you want to take aligned, values-driven action Welcome… to The Unemployment Diaries. Chapters 00:00 Introducing Sofía Paredes-Chaux 00:36 From international development to self-development 05:33 Starting my coaching business 07:50 Differentiating between discomfort and danger 09:11 How to listen to your intuition 10:36 The role of the nervous system in decision making 14:15 Creating honest relationships with yourself and others 17:06 Transforming relationship dynamics 21:20 Why patterns repeat themselves 22:55 Being yourself without convincing others 25:16 Being self-aware while still being human 28:25 Embracing who you're being right now 30:57 Starting the journey of self-discovery 34:16 Reprogramming relationship dynamics 35:10 A piece of advice: Everything is fine Where to find Sofía https://www.sofiaparedeschaux.com/ Instagram LinkedIn For more from The Unemployment Diaries Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    41 min

  12. Feb 16

    Futurist on how to engage in the creator economy

    Whether you’re building a company, navigating a career pivot, dreaming up your next big idea, or just trying to understand the insane pace of technological change, this conversation might change how you think about innovation, creativity, and what’s coming next. Today, we sit down with Chris Kalaboukis — a futurist, technologist, and philosopher known for his work at the intersection of tech foresight and product development. He has advised global corporations on emerging technologies, shaped long-term innovation strategies, and holds hundreds of patents across the internet, fintech, and social networking worlds.  You’re going to learn: The common innovation traps that keep teams and leaders stuckWhy companies need a Chief Philosophy OfficerHow AI is shaping the future of workThe cultural mindset shift required to monetize creative workWhy it’s easier than ever to start making contentThe simple practice Chris uses to get started and stay consistentChapters 00:00 Where Stark Trek meets purpose 04:48 Why it's important to safeguard ethics at work 08:39 The great reconfiguration of purpose 11:33 Substack: A platform for the creator economy 13:22 When to let AI take your job & what to do next 15:04 The rise of the creators 19:04 The value of digital content 21:17 How to start creating 28:32 Leveraging technology for content creation 29:32 Managing content creation while working 32:06 The democratization of content creation 35:31 Chris' advice on the miracle of creation And just in case the joke didn’t land, this episode is not sponsored by Nike. That said: Nike, if you’re listening… we are available. Just do it. (Or at least just DM us.) Where to find Chris: thinkfuture Nomads50+ For more from The Unemployment Diaries: Stay up to date on Instagram Go behind the scenes on Substack Watch on YouTube

    39 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This podcast isn’t about work. It’s about the beliefs, systems, and expectations that “employ” us. Through interviews with experts and honest conversations with people who’ve chosen a less-known path, we explore what it takes to break old patterns and choose differently. Become “unemployed” from anyone else’s definition of a life well-lived, and design your own.

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