Life Between Titles: Career Transition, Layoff Recovery & Reinvention

Savan Kong | Job Loss Recovery & Career Stories
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What happens to your identity when your job disappears? Life Between Titles is the podcast for anyone navigating career transition, job loss recovery, and the hard work of career reinvention — told through honest, human stories. Whether you are between jobs, titles, or directions, Life Between Titles reminds you that the in-between is not the end. It is where transformation begins. Hosted by Savan Kong, a former federal employee and product executive who has lived through layoff, reinvention, and the question of who you are when your title is gone.

  1. Dr. Jordan Swanson on Pediatric Surgery, Building Faces, and a Career Most People Can't Imagine

    2D AGO

    Dr. Jordan Swanson on Pediatric Surgery, Building Faces, and a Career Most People Can't Imagine

    Dr. Jordan Swanson holds the Linton A. Whitaker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — one of the top-ranked children's hospitals in the country. He reconstructs the faces of children born without ears, children whose skulls do not grow with their brains, children with cleft lips and palates. He builds what is missing. He restores what was taken. In this conversation, Savan and his Lakeside School classmate go deep on what it actually costs to do work that carries real weight. About the Guest Dr. Jordan Swanson is a pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon at CHOP, where he holds the Linton A. Whitaker Endowed Chair. He trained at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and the London School of Economics, spent time at McKinsey, and then walked away from elite job offers to spend two years in Nicaragua building a surgical program from nothing. He practices what he calls surgical justice — the idea, drawn from economist Amartya Sen, that the real measure of medicine is not the procedure but the freedom it restores. In This Episode The 4 words an anesthesiologist said mid-surgery in Nicaragua — and what happened nextWhy Jordan left elite offers behind and moved with a two-year-oldWhat wilderness first aid on Bainbridge Island had to do with becoming a surgeonThe detour through McKinsey and LSE before he came back to medicineHow Jordan trains the next generation of craniofacial surgeons at CHOPThe resident whose character was exceptional and whose hands weren'tWhat it feels like to hold a child's life in your handsWhy six-week-old blood in Nicaragua nearly cost an 18-month-old his lifeThe economist behind surgical justice and why it frames everythingThe infant mortality gap between the US and MadagascarWhat doesn't show up on the CV that Jordan is most proud ofWhich medical TV show gets it rightChapters 0:00 Cold open: "I've lost the pulse"5:02 Introduction5:10 Lakeside School, Seattle — how Jordan and Savan know each other8:49 Growing up on Bainbridge Island and the first pull toward medicine10:24 Harvard, global health, summers in Honduras, Bangladesh, and Thailand11:51 Stumbling onto plastic surgery in medical school15:24 Hopkins and the history of medicine19:12 The McKinsey and LSE detour20:24 The surgeon who brought him back — Dr. Rick Redette21:42 Watching an ear get reconstructed — the moment that sealed it25:42 Public health vs. medicine: population vs. patient27:19 Teaching and mentoring the next generation33:37 How to give feedback that actually lands38:31 The resident whose hands didn't match his character40:34 What it feels like to operate on a child's face47:33 "Take some of that anxiety and put it on my shoulders"49:32 Why he left and moved to Nicaragua54:30 "I've lost the pulse" — the full story55:56 How they saved the patient58:54 Surgical justice and Amartya Sen1:00:53 The infant mortality gap: US vs. Madagascar1:02:38 What doesn't show up on the CV1:04:53 Which medical show gets it right: Scrubs1:05:36 Is there a real-life House MD?Support LBT · ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/lifebtwtitles Listen to Life Between Titles🟢 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir?si=A0UYDnCoQzKtS0dksS0MrA🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles Partner with LBT💰 Become a Sponsor → https://www.savankong.com/become-a-sponsor🙋 Nominate a Guest → https://www.savankong.com/guest-submission #lifebetweentitles #workunscripted #pediatricsurgeon #surgicaljustice #careerchange #careertransition #jordanswanson #globalhealthcare #medicalpodcast #childrenshospital #CHOP #lakesideschool

    1h 11m

  2. MAR 31

    Nate Sexton on Going Pro, Sexton Firebird, & Building a Legacy #discgolf #jomezpro

    Nate Sexton is a professional disc golf legend, Innova athlete, and one of the top three ambassadors in the history of the sport. In this disc golf career deep dive, Nate breaks down exactly how a career in professional disc golf actually works, what it costs, and what it takes to stay relevant across multiple decades.About the GuestNate Sexton is a professional disc golfer based in the Pacific Northwest. He turned pro in 2004, competed full time alongside Paul McBeth, won the PDGA Sportsmanship Award in 2017, and has become one of the most beloved figures in the sport as a player, commentator, ambassador, and educator. His signature disc, the Sexton Firebird, remains one of the best-selling molds in the game. He is sponsored by Innova, Pound, and Idio Sports . He is signed through age 43 and is, by his own account, potentially the first person to retire comfortably from a career in disc golf.In This Episode What Nate says when he tells a stranger what he does for a livingThe financial benchmarks he set for himself before committing fully to the sportWhy he almost became a high school science teacher insteadHow his wife's career trajectory gave him the security to keep chasingThe full breakdown of how professional disc golfers actually make moneyThe McBeast Challenge, the Sexton Shootout, and what 200-person fan events actually looked likeHow Nate built one of the most loyal fan followings in the sport without being the best player on tourThe loneliness and grind of flying in and out as a veteran on tourWhether Pacific Northwest players have a geographic disadvantage on the pro tourWhat would happen to disc golf access if the money gets too bigWhy Nate wanted his on-course result to be the least important thing about himHow commentary shaped his connection to fans in ways competing alone never couldWhat the Sexton Firebird success is actually built onHow he thinks about his legacy and what he wants his daughter to say about him Chapters 0:00 Introduction0:34 How Nate introduces himself to strangers3:13 High school sweethearts and a road no one had a map for4:20 The financial benchmarks that made him keep going8:55 First professional tournament in 2004 and the early years14:25 Pacific Northwest players and the geography of the pro tour28:12 How professional disc golfers actually make money33:14 The McBeast Challenge, the Sexton Shootout, and building fan experiences35:24 Fan engagement, accessibility, and what 700 autographs in a day feels like40:50 Mental grind, loneliness on tour, and crisis of confidence43:54 Aging on tour and disconnecting from the road life46:40 Player accessibility and what happens to disc golf as the money grows54:17 Would Nate make it if he started today56:34 Community listener questions58:12 What the ideal disc golf venue looks like for fans and for television1:00:33 How Nate would grow the sport if he had one wish1:06:09 Getting municipalities to invest in disc golf courses1:12:21 Making on-course performance the least important part of your brand1:14:20 The secret sauce behind the Sexton Firebird1:15:23 Commentary: from a DVD at a friend's house to millions of views1:17:33 Building a career with no template1:18:06 What still feels unfinished1:19:35 How Nate wants his daughter to remember him Support LBT ☕https://buymeacoffee.com/lifebtwtitlesPartner with LBT 💰 Become a Sponsor → https://www.savankong.com/become-a-sponsor🙋 Nominate a Guest → https://www.savankong.com/guest-submission #discgolf #discgolfpro #natsexton #discgolflife #innovadiscs #pdga #discgolfcommunity #workunscripted #professionaldiscgolf #discgolfcareer

    1h 26m
  3. LAID OFF: A Year After the Pentagon. The Story I've Been Afraid to Tell.

    MAR 27

    LAID OFF: A Year After the Pentagon. The Story I've Been Afraid to Tell.

    Unemployed for a year after leaving the Pentagon. This is my raw story. I spent nearly a decade inside the Department of Defense across three administrations, holding a title nobody had ever held before, doing work I genuinely believed in. When I left, I thought I'd be fine. Everybody told me I'd be fine. I was not fine. ---- ⁠Buy Me a Coffee to Support LBT ---- This is the story I've been sitting on for a year. The deferred resignation program that got dangled in front of me and yanked back a week before my leave date. The contract work that kept the lights on but felt like nothing. The hundreds of applications that went nowhere. The companies that couldn't even bother to send a rejection. The slow, suffocating realization that this was going to take far longer than anyone prepared me for.And then the part nobody saw coming, including me. A doctor's visit. A score of 16 out of 18. A diagnosis of ADHD at 46. A year of unemployment will force you to look at things you've been avoiding your entire life.The budget is still tight. The search is still going. I'm not putting a bow on this because there isn't one. But I'm done pretending this has been anything other than exactly what it's been. One of the hardest years of my life.If you're in it right now, this one's for you. You're not alone.

    21 min

  4. MAR 24

    Dave Mazzeo on Building a Career Between the Stage and the Classrooms of O'Dea High School

    What happens when the guy hyping up 70,000 fans at Husky Stadium is the same guy quietly mentoring high school boys in downtown Seattle? That's Dave Mazzeo and his story is one you won't forget. Dave is the Alumni Director at O'Dea High School and one of Seattle's most sought-after independent MCs. In this episode, we get into what it really takes to balance two careers that couldn't look more different on paper, why showing up for people IS the job, and what 25 years at one institution can teach you about loyalty, leadership, and legacy. We also talk about his friendship with Nate Burleson, performing at Capitol Hill Block Party, MCing for 70,000 fans as the on-field host for Husky Football, and why the most impactful careers aren't always the loudest ones. 👤 ABOUT THE GUEST: DAVE MAZZEO Dave Mazzeo is a Seattle native, O'Dea High School alum (Class of '97), and one of the most versatile professionals in the city. By day, he serves as Alumni Director at O'Dea High School in downtown Seattle, a role he has held for nearly two decades, where he connects generations of graduates, supports current students, and helps shape the future of one of Seattle's most storied all-boys schools. By night, Dave is one of the most in-demand independent MCs in the Pacific Northwest, having performed at the Capitol Hill Block Party, served as the on-field MC for University of Washington Husky Football from 2015 to 2018, and hosted major fundraising events for organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County. A former Seattle hip-hop artist with full-length albums to his name, Dave's stage presence is the result of decades of hard work, self-reflection, and an unshakeable belief in showing up for the crowd, for the community, and for the kids. 🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: How Dave balances being an MC and an alumni directorWhat makes a great MC (hint: it's not what you think)The brotherhood culture at O'Dea High SchoolO'Dea's house system and why it's changing livesLessons from Nate Burleson on confidence and staying true to yourselfWhy staying at one job for 25 years is a superpower⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The teacher who shows up for everything02:23 Meet Dave Mazzeo03:04 How Dave describes himself04:15 Balancing two careers: MC & Alumni Director09:18 Dave's MC journey and Capitol Hill Block Party13:43 Transitioning from hip-hop to hosting22:34 Lessons from Nate Burleson28:24 What is an Alumni Director?41:15 What brotherhood really means49:25 O'Dea's house system explained56:53 The hardest part of the job1:06:20 What keeps Dave coming back after 25 years ☕ Buy Me a Coffee to Support LBT https://buymeacoffee.com/lifebtwtitles🎧 Listen to Life Between Titles 🟢 Spotify🍎 Apple Podcasts📺 YouTube🎵 Amazon Music 🤝 Join the Community 📝 Substack🎵 TikTok📸 Instagram💼 LinkedIn💼 Partner with LBT 💰 Become a Sponsor🙋 Nominate a Guest #WorkUnscripted #Seattle #ODea #AlumniDirector #SeattleHipHop #NateBurleson #Leadership #Brotherhood #Mentorship #CareerAdvice

    1h 12m

  5. MAR 18

    Andy Alvarado On Leaving Booking.com to Building a One-Man Empire

    Andy breaks down how he walked away from a dream job at Booking.com, moved his family to a town of 1,200 people in Oregon, and built a six-figure content creation business with nothing but a phone and a refusal to be perfect. ———————————————————— ABOUT ANDY Andy is a stay-at-home dad, UGC content creator, and one-man agency operating out of rural Oregon. A former Booking.com market manager who traveled three weeks a month, Andy pivoted to full-time dadhood after the birth of his twin boys — and eventually built a content business that matches his wife's corporate salary. You can find him at @motivatedfather on TikTok and @andyreviewseverything on Instagram. ———————————————————— TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro2:04 Welcome & Andy's background4:52 Family life & raising four kids6:20 What UGC content creation actually is8:38 The psychology of authentic marketing9:31 Setting boundaries & saying no to brands10:19 How he built his client base from scratch12:32 The $100 video that drove $400K in sales14:41 Life at Booking.com & why he walked away16:41 The big move from Arizona to Oregon18:28 Cleaning gutters for $20 & hustling for income20:43 What a typical day looks like22:55 The reselling side of the business24:30 Skills that separate Andy from the competition27:10 Building thick skin online30:03 Who would thrive in this business38:21 The first 3 steps to break in today40:52 Talking numbers & margins44:30 The future of UGC & AI47:13 What inspires Andy ———————————————————— More about Andy: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/andyreviewseverything/⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@motivatedfather Gear inspired by the show: 📱 iPhone 🎙️ DJI Mic Mini 📷 DJI Osmo MObile 7 Gimbal———————————————————— Listen to Life Between Titles 📺 YouTube🟢 Spotify🍎 Apple PodcastsJoin the Community 📝 Substack🧡 Patreon 🔴 Reddit 🎵 TikTok📸 Instagram💼 LinkedInPartner with LBT 💰 Become a Sponsor 🙋 Nominate a Guest

    52 min

  6. MAR 14

    You’ve Been Thinking About Prison Food (And Prisoners) All Wrong

    Career transition, reinvention, and second chances don’t always look the way you expect. Aaron Brooks spent 30 years in government service — 6 on Navy submarines, 20 in federal corrections — teaching people how to cook, lead, and rebuild.In this first episode of Work Unscripted, Aaron breaks down what it actually takes to feed a crew underwater, manage a kitchen inside a federal prison, and earn the respect of men who have absolutely nothing to lose. This is not a story about punishment. It’s a story about craft, dignity, and what happens when somebody actually gives a damn. Chapters 00:00 Pre-show and introductions04:16 Who is Aaron Brooks? Born in Compton, raised between LA and North Carolina06:08 Growing up between two worlds and learning to code switch11:53 Why Aaron joined the Navy straight out of high school14:33 How he ended up on submarines (it was supposed to be a joke)17:44 His life in the kitchen growing up and cooking with Julia Child on TV21:03 What a typical day looked like feeding a submarine crew23:33 The chocolate cake disaster nobody warned him about29:35 How you train the next generation of submarine cooks30:53 From the Navy to the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons37:52 What a typical day looks like inside FCI Herlong43:44 How Aaron selects and builds his kitchen team from the inmate population48:28 The psychology of motivating people who have nothing to lose53:40 The story from Year Two that changed everything01:01:13 Prison food culture and what inmates actually complain about01:03:16 What holiday meals look like inside a federal institution01:05:01 The biggest misconception people have about prison food01:08:22 Dave's Killer Bread and the Hilton chef who both started in a cell Kitchen Gear Inspired by Aaron’s Story Wüsthof Chef’s Knife | Waterproof Digital Meat Thermometer | Dave’s Killer Bread Support the show and tools I recommend Teal - AI resume tool | Free anxiety assessment - Online-TherapySome links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing and help support the show. Listen to Life Between Titles 📺 YouTube 🟢 Spotify 🍎 Apple Podcasts Join the Community 📝 Substack🧡 Patreon 🔴 Reddit 🎵 TikTok📸 Instagram 💼 LinkedInPartner with LBT 💰 Become a Sponsor🙋 Nominate a Guest #AaronBrooks #FederalPrisons #PrisonLife #CulinarySkills #USNavyVeteran #PrisonFood #BehindBars #Corrections #PrisonChef #LifeBetweenTitles #WorkUnscripted #OfficeHours #CriminalJustice #PrisonReform #SubmarineVeteran #PrisonInsights #FederalBureauOfPrisons #CulinaryJourney #PrisonSystem #PrisonStories

    1h 13m
  7. I Talked to 22 People After They Lost Their Jobs. Here's What No One Tells You.

    MAR 5

    I Talked to 22 People After They Lost Their Jobs. Here's What No One Tells You.

    Job loss, layoff, career transition, unemployment — after 20 raw conversations with real people, host Savan Kong discovered that bouncing back has nothing to do with your resume and everything to do with your identity. What he heard completely changed how he thinks about job loss, reinvention, and what it really means to rebuild after something major happens in your life. No networking hacks. No resume tips. Just five honest, human truths — told through real quotes from real people who've been through it. In this episode, you'll hear from Matt Kelly on physical burnout after a decade of high-performance sales, Reet on selling everything and traveling 23 countries to find herself, Mike Lee on losing his job and his marriage at the same time, Sarah Johnson on earning her doctorate at 40 while battling imposter syndrome, Howie Cohen on why 100% of people who follow his life plan process successfully land, Danielle Luhmann on building something that keeps your identity intact, Vanessa Okoro on the invisible pressure of overperformance, and Vanny Whitchelo on why having something beyond your 9-to-5 gives you the confidence to survive anything. If you're in the middle of a career pivot, recovering from a layoff, or quietly asking yourself who am I without my title — this episode was made for you. 📍 Chapters 🕐 00:00 – What 20 conversations about job loss taught me🕐 01:05 – #1: Your body breaks down before your brain does🕐 02:47 – #2: Inner work isn't optional — it's fundamental🕐 04:28 – #3: The people who picked up the phone saved themselves🕐 07:15 – #4: Build something, even if it's just for you🕐 09:34 – #5: You're not grieving a job. You're grieving an identity.🕐 13:30 – What bouncing back actually looks like 🔗 Resources & Support the Show 📄 Rebuilding your résumé after a layoff? Teal's AI tool helps you tailor every application → https://get.tealhq.com/zzNxQ7🧠 Feeling the anxiety of unemployment? Take the free assessment → https://go.online-therapy.com/SHwO📓 Processing your career transition? Guided Reflection Journal → https://amzn.to/4reFQSB😴 Sleep taking a hit during the job search? Sleep Support Supplement → https://amzn.to/46FciGe💪 Men's Health & Recovery Stack → https://amzn.to/40K9J29Some links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing and help support the show. ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/ #️⃣ Hashtags #LifeBetweenTitles #JobLoss #CareerTransition #IdentityCrisis #Reinvention

    15 min
  8. Danielle Luhmann on Career Transition From Law to Therapy After an ADHD Diagnosis

    MAR 1

    Danielle Luhmann on Career Transition From Law to Therapy After an ADHD Diagnosis

    Career reinvention, burnout, identity, and the courage to pivot — this episode has all of it. Danielle Luhmann's story is one of the most quietly fearless in Season 1 of Life Between Titles. She went from corporate attorney to licensed therapist, Ironman finisher, ultra-marathon runner, and founder of Brave and Afraid, a therapy and life coaching practice in Fishers, Indiana built for people navigating big transitions, identity shifts, and the messy in-between. None of her pivots were accidental. Each one came from pressure, reflection, and a decision to bet on herself — even when the job loss, the timing, and the logistics made no logical sense. She also serves as a therapist at the Marriage & Family Clinic of Central Indiana, where she helps individuals, couples, and teens build healthier relationships and lives through holistic, relational care. In this conversation, Savan and Danielle talk about growing up multicultural in small-town Indiana, chasing perfection through grades, discovering ADHD in her 40s, going back to grad school while raising three kids and working full time, and what resilience actually looks like when it's not glamorous. They also get into burnout, endurance training, and how to generate hope — practically, not passively. If you're juggling too much, questioning your path, or wondering if it's too late to pivot, this one's for you. 📍 Chapters 🕐 00:00 – Cold open: sacrifice, risk, and the oxygen mask rule🕐 04:18 – Welcome & introducing Danielle Luhmann🕐 05:01 – Meeting her husband in a pitch-black parking lot at Bike Week🕐 08:15 – Growing up multicultural in small-town Indiana🕐 11:26 – Straight A's, family pressure, and chasing "enough"🕐 16:30 – Law school, criminal defense, and the path not taken🕐 28:00 – COVID, her daughter's struggles, and the decision to go back to school🕐 31:29 – What it felt like to finally study something she loved🕐 36:46 – Discovering ADHD later in life🕐 40:58 – Information overload and figuring out what you actually want🕐 48:49 – Getting over analysis paralysis and committing to the leap🕐 51:59 – Burnout warning signs — and what your body is trying to tell you🕐 55:12 – Ultra marathons, Ironman, and why physical training changes everything🕐 1:16:57 – What to do when you're still functioning but quietly struggling🕐 1:19:25 – How to generate hope — on purpose🕐 1:24:01 – What she hopes her kids take away Connect with Danielle: 🌐 Therapy & Coaching: http://www.braveandafraid.com🏥 Marriage & Family Clinic: http://www.themfclinic.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danilulu_rocks/ 🔗 Resources & Support the Show 📄 Rebuilding your résumé after a career pivot? Teal's AI tool helps you tailor every application → https://get.tealhq.com/zzNxQ7🧠 Feeling the anxiety of a life transition? Take the free assessment → https://go.online-therapy.com/SHwO📓 Processing the in-between? Guided Reflection Journal → https://amzn.to/4reFQSB😴 Sleep taking a hit? Sleep Support Supplement → https://amzn.to/46FciGe💪 Men's Health & Recovery Stack → https://amzn.to/40K9J29Some links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing and help support the show. ▶️ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeBetweenTitles🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1olZo0VDvHh9w0F2D2vEir🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-between-titles/id1844748787💼 Follow Savan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savankong/ #️⃣ Hashtags #LifeBetweenTitles #CareerReinvention #MentalHealth #NeverTooLate #BraveAndAfraid

    1h 26m
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About

What happens to your identity when your job disappears? Life Between Titles is the podcast for anyone navigating career transition, job loss recovery, and the hard work of career reinvention — told through honest, human stories. Whether you are between jobs, titles, or directions, Life Between Titles reminds you that the in-between is not the end. It is where transformation begins. Hosted by Savan Kong, a former federal employee and product executive who has lived through layoff, reinvention, and the question of who you are when your title is gone.

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