I Do This for a Living

Serenity Bohon

5.0 (14)
Careers

A show that asks how we can give as much time and energy to the things that matter as we do to the things that pay. I Do This for a Living is hosted by Serenity Bohon - sarcoma survivor, writer, and day jobbist, forever starstruck by anyone who finds meaning at work and in life. Follow serenitybohon.substack.com for the newsletter. Visit serenitybohon.com/guest to be on the show.

Aug 12

The Best Plan is Knowing Plans Can Change with Valerie Peavler

Please welcome Valerie Peavler to I Do This for a Living. Valerie has a confident recommendation for how NOT to choose a major. She is a consummate planner but learned early in her career that plans can change. Her advice is about how allowing those changes can help you grow and get you where you really want to be. Her story took her from exercise science to cardiac rehab and finally to the photography company where she works today. For a person who needs a plan, Valerie has an inspiring contentment with life exactly as it is - changes and all. Her story is relatable, comforting, and promising as she finds herself in a company unmatched for its positive work culture and intentional values. Chapters 6:21 Who is Valerie? 16:43 Childhood plans 20:30 How (NOT) to choose a major 26:48 Cardiac Rehab to Photography 39:39 Different work for different seasons 48:49 Work culture over following the plan 1:04:49 Getting intentional about getting together (It worked for me) I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Aug 5

Be Obsessive! Making Time for What Defines You with Nikki Corder

Today's guest is Nikki Corder. In twenty years of friendship, Nikki and Serenity have had many conversations about work, life, and what they dream. A lot of the time, their conversations are about learning to cope and adjust when it feels like life is nowhere near the dream. Their career paths are similarly winding for many reasons, but Nikki has learned a lot about her strengths and what she's good at, even if nobody's paying her for it. Serenity and Nikki talk generational stereotypes, Enneagram, and pop culture. In the end, Nikki shares her obsession in an "it worked for me" that's all about making time and space in our lives for reminders that the job does not define us. Chapters 1:50 The kid years - wanting to be a teacher 6:56 Long-running daydream - wife and mom 16:27 Education decisions - Psychology vs. English 25:16 Wake-up call: the end of teaching 29:30 Job scrambling 40:19 Being a millennial in the workforce 44:56 Event planning (what it takes!) 51:07 Delightful obsessions 1:08:04 The endless possibilities game 1:12:00 When it's not what you dreamed but beautiful anyway 1:14:16 It Worked for Me I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jul 29

What Do You Like to Do? A Conversation with Simone Stolzoff

Simone Stolzoff is an author and journalist who explores big questions about work, meaning, and identity. A former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO, he is the author of two bestselling books: The Good Enough Job and How To Not Know. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and on the TED stage. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and son. Serenity has been following Simone since his first book. Many of the ideas behind I Do This for a Living were built on or enhanced by Simone's ideas about diversifying our identity beyond our careers. In this episode, she gets to ask him about the ideas and concepts that have helped her the most. Where to find Simone HowtoNotKnow.com or https://simonestolzoff.com/how-to-not-know Chapters 5:02 The importance of asking, what do you like to do? 15:22 Making career decisions in a culture of abundance 20:33 Why does it feel like work is so much of our lives? 26:48 What is the good enough job? 37:23 Why work/art tension is not a problem to solve 44:38 How To Not Know 1:01:41 Choosing your burdens 1:04:47 It worked for me I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jul 22

What Can I Learn? Why I Choose and Enjoy Work with Maureen Yaconis

Maureen Yaconis had a career in hospitality when COVID practically collapsed the industry. After a year or so out of work, Maureen found her way into market research. Today, she runs her own business and manages multiple income streams. Maureen has a question-everything approach to work. She loves identifying better processes and more efficient ways of working, and she does not hesitate to implement them. She is passionate about empowering women and always learning. Maureen also has an awesome wish for the next generation about choosing work they love. 02:28 From hospitality to market research 14:28 A quitting story 15:42 Not really understanding work as a child (ah, bliss) 19:16 A college story 32:06 Work archetypes and questioning everything 43:17 Work philosophy and lifelong learning 49:42 Starting a women-owned business 53:01 What is a business operations architect? 59:06 Women: Be Empowered 1:08:00 Hobby time 1:13:34 Making decisions (if it's not hell yes, it's no) 1:18:42 A wish for the next generation (do what you want!) 1:25:19 It worked for me Maureen's business: www.unparalleledmrs.com Mia Poppe, Esq. law firm: https://www.miapoppe.com Coaching community: mc2lifecoaching.com Sign up to be a guest: serenitybohon.com/guest Newsletter: serenitybohon.substack.com I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jul 15

Starting a Business and What I'll Never Do Again with Ashley Rott-Nettleton

Meet Ashley Rott-Nettleton, Serenity's market research mentor and forever friend. Ashley leveraged a financial layoff (from a company that still desperately wanted to work with her) by starting her own biz! Now she has that client plus many others, is her own boss, and will "never go back." Ashley tells you how it's done (even when you're risk-averse!), and she and Serenity talk about work philosophy, negotiating for your worth, and never apologizing. Chapters 7:37 Serenity's day job (finally!) or what is market research? 9:57 Participating in market research (it's not a side hustle) 13:59 Serenity's start in market research/meeting Ashley 20:47 When the workload fluctuates 24:25 The near impossibility of saying no in client services 28:09 Convincing experts that market research is legit 32:41 How to find remote jobs 40:46 One thing about Ashley's work that matters 45:24 Thank a business you love! Write a review 48:51 Ashley's quitting story 53:44 Salary negotiating - Ashley's story 56:20 Never again (insisting on the work-life balance you value) 1:01:04 From layoff to starting a business 1:08:51 Even the risk-averse can do it! 1:12:42 Is starting a business for you? 1:17:20 Work philosophy (do what you love vs. make enough for a life you love ) 1:21:47 Work with Ashley! 1:24:32 It worked for me (a request) 1:29:12 Stop apologizing at work Links Sign up for Ashley's panel to get paid for your opinions: https://insightrecruit.com/join-our-panel/ Hire Ashley to recruit for you: https://insightrecruit.com/services/ Ashley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightrecruit/ FlexJobs: https://www.flexjobs.com/lp/remote-jobs1 (linger on the site for a while, then hover over the X to close it, and it might offer a discount) HireMyMom: https://www.hiremymom.com/ Serenity's sarcastic blog post about starting a business to crush your dreams: https://www.serenitybohon.com/blog/think-again I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jul 8

Your Calling is Who You Are (Humanity and All) with Kathy Nickerson

It's The Mama Episode! Let's hear from Kathy Nickerson, mom of four (including your host, Serenity Bohon), emotional/spiritual mom to hundreds more, author, and eternal optimist. Kathy knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a writer, but it took her some time to admit it and go for it. Now, she has five books published in her "granny lit" series, a book for young readers called Jack and the Green Dragon, and a book on its way to readers soon, A Girl Called Something. Kathy and Serenity talk about childhood and how we bring things from it that we might need to learn to overcome. Kathy shares her work history and her mission during the pandemic to tell us all that it would be okay, a mission she hasn't stopped since. This episode is filled with meaningful stories and warm advice from a mama who loves the role and sees it as the calling she brings to everything she does. Chapters 7:53 My dad was a farmer 13:09 I always wanted to be a mom (and a writer) 21:29 Bringing the writing dream into the light 28:17 Kathy's day job years 28:17 Kathy's weekly Facebook videos 39:54 Kathy's activities and how they all connect 43:00 Spearheading Regen, a recovery program 48:46 Kathy's "granny lit" book series 57:49 The new book, "A Girl Called Something" 1:04:23 Defining success 1:09:18 Matching our strengths to our activities 1:12:11 Your calling has strengths and weaknesses 1:22:23 Getting Back What's Missing (teamwork) 1:28:40 Parenting advice from a seasoned mama 1:36:20 People are the most important ingredient (It Worked for Me) Links Kathy online: https://www.kathynick.com/ Kathy on FB: https://www.facebook.com/KathyNick A mimeograph! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFIUm0DWA74 Regeneration (find a program near you): https://www.regenerationrecovery.org/ I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jul 1

Designing Your Work + Values Ecosystem with Nathan Bransford

Nathan Bransford is the writer's champion, offering A to Z advice for writers about the craft of storytelling, finding an agent, navigating the publishing industry, and everything writers need to make their dreams come true. Don't leave if you're not a writer, though! This episode is for anyone who loves the stories people tell about their varied career paths. Nathan has amazing advice about determining your values and making them the pillars to build your work and life around. Everything that matters to us can exist in one integrated ecosystem that we build and refine as we go. Nathan believes in Extreme Calendaring to make this possible, i.e., if it's important to you, put it on your calendar. Nathan also has a sad/sweet childhood story about the beloved author Roald Dahl. And, along with all the talk of meaning and values, Nathan and I speak tongue in cheek about the sweet, sweet joy of money. It's all in this amazing episode with author, editor, and uncredited life coach Nathan Bransford. Chapters 00:23 Who is Nathan Bransford 3:34 Nathan's early career as a literary agent 8:11 Writing dreams and Roald Dahl! 11:51 What is a literary agent? 13:27 Starting his website/insider tips for writers 18:21 Leaving the literary agent gig 24:42 Work Pivots - CNET, Bridgewater, and more 36:15 Riding the waves vs. charting a course 41:25 A new career driven by values and meaning 47:36 Building the ecosystem (it's all connected) 52:10 Prioritizing meaning (with values pillars) 57:21 Nathan's editing/coaching services 1:04:39 Putting creative time in the ecosystem 1:11:10 What Nathan does for fun (World Cup!) 1:15:18 Why do we write? 1:22:35 Be the protagonist/hero of your own life 1:34:32 Extreme Calendaring (It worked for me) Links: Nathan's website: https://nathanbransford.com/ One of my favorite posts by Nathan, How To Live Creatively: https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2023/01/how-to-live-creatively Nathan's How To Write a Novel: https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2013/10/my-guide-to-writing-a-novel Nathan's Jacob Wonderbar series: https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2010/08/jacob-wonderbar-and-cosmic-space-kapowhttps://nathanbransford.com/blog/2012/03/jacob-wonderbar-for-president-of-3https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2013/02/jacob-wonderbar-and-interstellar-timeRock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackman: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/209739/rock-paper-tiger-by-lisa-brackmann/ We Need Diverse Books: https://www.diversebooks.org/ Pitchfork (where Nathan finds new music): https://pitchfork.com/best/ I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive
Jun 24

Try the Side Gig; It Might Be the Calling with Lt. Joe Nickerson

Meet my brother, Lt. Joe Nickerson. He started in law enforcement as a side gig and discovered it was the perfect fit for his specific strengths and calling. Joe describes his first experiences in the police academy as "life-changing." Learning a new job within law enforcement became Joe's next aha moment. Now he had found not just a calling but a role comprising everything he cared about most. I loved this conversation with one of my favorite humans. His connection to his calling is inspiring. Listen for that and stay for the great advice about finding your own strengths and leveraging them. Chapters 02:27 Early understanding of how work relates to identity 07:22 Joe’s 7-year-old self may have known 08:31 Planning a bivocational life (ministry + side gig) 11:48 Starting college 12:37 Law enforcement: the side gig 17:37 Law enforcement in rural America 20:41 Law enforcement: the calling (and how to get there) 33:06 Strengths finding: a new role in the department is a surprisingly perfect fit 35:45 Starting over in Omaha 40:44 Specializing again (negotiator training) 46:54 Naming AND aiming our strengths for success 53:56 Trusting the calling even when others doubt 1:00:11 Long-term goals, leaving a legacy, and never leaving the calling 1:06:13 Misconceptions about law enforcement 01:23:24 Feeling cohesion (what is cohesion?) 01:28:19 Come work for the Omaha PD! (the many possibilities of a job in law enforcement) 01:32:45 It worked for me Links Gallup strengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx JoinOPD.com https://www.joinopd.com/ Omaha 360: https://empoweromaha.com/violence-prevention-omaha-360/ Other references Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Kevin M Gilmartin I Do This For a Living is independently produced. @serenitylive

5

out of 5

14 Ratings

A show that asks how we can give as much time and energy to the things that matter as we do to the things that pay. I Do This for a Living is hosted by Serenity Bohon - sarcoma survivor, writer, and day jobbist, forever starstruck by anyone who finds meaning at work and in life. Follow serenitybohon.substack.com for the newsletter. Visit serenitybohon.com/guest to be on the show.

Creator

Serenity Bohon
Years Active

2026
Episodes

18
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 I Do This for a Living
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I Do This for a Living

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