Second Act Stories

Andy Levine
  • 4.9 (76)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to Second Act Stories, a podcast focused on life and career change. In each episode, we bring you the story of a courageous individual who has made a decisive career pivot and is pursuing a more rewarding life in a second act. The stories are in their own words and the words of friends and family that helped them find a new path. Each episode examines the "before" and "after" phases of a life or career relaunch and offers lessons learned.

  1. 12/01/2025

    How TV Exec Simmy Kustanowitz Turned Impractical Experience into Creative Problem Solving

    Simmy Kustanowitz spent the bulk of his career working in television production. From the moment he took a job as an intern for "The Daily Show," he fell in love with the industry. After college, he climbed the ranks. His first job as an NBC page gave way to a gig as a production assistant for MTV, where he worked on a variety of shows. That's where he was given his first opportunity to produce TV shows. With all that experience under his belt, Simmy eventually landed a role as an executive at the newly formed TruTV Network. That's where things really came together. Not long after he joined TruTV, Simmy became the network executive (or, the network suit) in charge of the rising comedy juggernaut "Impractical Jokers." He oversaw that production for several years before leaving the network and jumping to the other side of the equation, working directly for the Jokers' production company. It didn't take long for Simmy to become the popular show's showrunner, the person who had overall creative authority and management responsibility for the show. In spite of all that success, Simmy felt the need to find a lifeboat. As much fun as TV production was, there were signs that it might not be his long-term career path. He started searching for a career path that would make sense. As he shares in this inspiring episode, the result soon became Clock Tower Innovation, Simmy's creative consultancy for companies that don't have time for bloated processes or mediocre execution. In this episode, Simmy shares details of his path that culminated in his running one of the most successful comedy shows ever to air on TV, how he made the difficult decision to leave TV behind, and what inspired him to draw on all his production experience to launch one of the most unique creative consultancies in the world. To learn more about Simmy, you can find him on Substack (https://substack.com/@simmykustanowitz), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5cTuZAeTy_xkQ18iPrGgSg) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/clocktowerinnovation/) ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes.

    34 min

  2. 10/28/2025

    His Second Act Began With A Double Espresso

    If you like coffee, you're going to love Mike Ayar's second act. Mike ran a highly successful software company for 24 years. With a niche focus, his organization served pest control companies, an industry Mike describes as "the absolute best service business in the world in terms of recurring revenue." In 2002 a private equity company began pursuing the purchase of his company and in 2006 they made him a financial offer "he couldn't refuse." After the purchase, he continued to run the company but finally departed in 2009. Mike had "no idea" what he wanted to do next. A few years earlier, Mike had developed an intense interest in speciality coffee and in particular coffee roasting. Surprisingly, he had never tasted coffee until he turned 45. Waiting for a flight, he entered an airport Starbucks and ordered a double espresso. He was hooked. Mike took a range of courses and seminars from coffee experts around the country. In 2011, he launched Turnstile Coffee Roasters in Belmar, NJ. The company has grown into a thriving cafe which also offers online coffee sales and wholesale services to other coffee shops and area restaurants. It's a family affair with his nephew and two daughters actively engaged in the company. Click here to learn more about Turnstile Coffee Roasters and their seventeen different blends of coffee from Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatamala, Ethiopia, Columbia, Nicarauga, Peru and Indonesia.

    23 min

  3. 09/28/2025

    A Mother, a Miracle, and a Mission: Kristin Connor's Journey to CURE Childhood Cancer

    Kristin Connor was living a typical life as a business litigation attorney, a job she held for about a decade and absolutely loved. Then, while she was pregnant with her second child, everything changed. Her unborn son was diagnosed with an unusual form of neuroblastoma, a cancer that's rare in children to begin with, and almost unheard of in unborn babies. After he was born, Kristin and her family spent two years going through test after test, tracking the tumor and evaluating options – all before any invasive surgery ever occurred. After trekking 3,000 miles, clear across the country, to meet with a doctor who seemed to offer the least worst alternative, the hand of god stepped in a performed what can only be described as an honest-to-goodness miracle. More on that in the interview. This experience led Kristin to leave her law career behind and dedicate her life to helping other families whose children are battling cancer. Today, Kristin is the CEO of CURE Childhood Cancer, a national nonprofit organization that raises millions of dollars each year to fund childhood cancer research and help families. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and your donations are encouraged today and every day. You can donate directly at THIS LINK. In this inspiring episode, Kristin shares more about what she loved as an attorney; the way she got involved in childhood cancer research; how she became totally disillusioned with the other cancer nonprofit organizations out there; what Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine and then-Commissioner Bud Selig had to do with it; why she does what she does today; and of course, the miracle she experienced. Again, please donate to Kristin's organization, CURE Childhood Cancer, at THIS LINK. No amount is too small, and every penny brings them one penny closer to saving a life. ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes.

    32 min

  4. 08/13/2025

    A Wall Street Trader Bets Big on Acai Bowls

    Andrew Pudalov spent 15 years working his way up the ladder in the competitive ranks of NYC's financial industry. But the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center changed everything. "I was traumatized. My wife too. We have little kids. I lost good friends. One jumped. I could not believe the towers came down." Andrew, his spouse and their young family were ready for a change. So they headed west to Boulder, Colorado with very little idea what was ahead. With zero experience in the retail food industry, Andrew started Rush Bowls a company  that specializes in all-natural acai bowls and smoothies. Over the past 20+ years, the company has grown to over 50 locations across the United States with another 20 stores in development.

    24 min

  5. 06/30/2025

    The Caregiver's Journey: Drawing Purpose from Pain

    What would happen if you were suddenly thrust into the role of caregiver for someone you love? Would you have any idea what to do or how to do it? It's estimated that as many as 50 million people in the United States are caregivers, a job that virtually none of them trained for. We all know someone who became a caregiver and had to learn on the fly. Unfortunately, there are precious few resources that can help. Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster experienced it first-hand. These inspiring women worked together in the software industry before finding themselves facing a similar life challenge: becoming caregivers for their husbands, both of whom were battling dementia. There was plenty of information about their husbands' diagnoses. Doctors were happy to provide them with hordes of information about what to expect as the disease progressed, but nobody was there with practical information about how to be a caregiver for someone with dementia. Their lived caregiving experience gave Sue and Nancy all the training they needed to make sure nobody else would have to figure it out on their own. That's when they founded the sensationally popular podcast, The Caregiver's Journey. Each episode features truly practical advice about how to manage as a caregiver. Topics range from self-care to advice for clipping your loved one's fingernails. They truly cover it all. The Caregiver's Journey has since grown to a powerhouse brand that fills a hugely meaningful gap for anyone who finds themselves having to be a caregiver. The organization was recently granted nonprofit status. In this episode, Sue and Nancy discuss their former careers, their friendship, and their own personal journeys. It's at times compelling, heart wrenching and funny, but it's entirely inspirational and helpful. To learn more about The Caregiver's Journey, visit them at thecaregiversjourney.org. And look up "The Caregiver's Journey" on any podcast app. ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes.

    33 min

  6. 06/30/2025

    The Caregiver's Journey: Drawing Purpose from Pain

    What would happen if you were suddenly thrust into the role of caregiver for someone you love? Would you have any idea what to do or how to do it? It's estimated that as many as 50 million people in the United States are caregivers, a job that virtually none of them trained for. We all know someone who became a caregiver and had to learn on the fly. Unfortunately, there are precious few resources that can help. Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster experienced it first-hand. These inspiring women worked together in the software industry before finding themselves facing a similar life challenge: becoming caregivers for their husbands, both of whom were battling dementia. There was plenty of information about their husbands' diagnoses. Doctors were happy to provide them with hordes of information about what to expect as the disease progressed, but nobody was there with practical information about how to be a caregiver for someone with dementia. Their lived caregiving experience gave Sue and Nancy all the training they needed to make sure nobody else would have to figure it out on their own. That's when they founded the sensationally popular podcast, The Caregiver's Journey. Each episode features truly practical advice about how to manage as a caregiver. Topics range from self-care to advice for clipping your loved one's fingernails. They truly cover it all. The Caregiver's Journey has since grown to a powerhouse brand that fills a hugely meaningful gap for anyone who finds themselves having to be a caregiver. The organization was recently granted nonprofit status. In this episode, Sue and Nancy discuss their former careers, their friendship, and their own personal journeys. It's at times compelling, heart wrenching and funny, but it's entirely inspirational and helpful. To learn more about The Caregiver's Journey, visit them at thecaregiversjourney.org. And look up "The Caregiver's Journey" on any podcast app. ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes.

    33 min

  7. 06/10/2025

    He Stole $7 Million From A-List Clients…A Second Act After Prison

    Jonathan Schwartz was at the top of his game serving as a business manager to top stars including Beyonce, Alanis Morisette, Gwenyth Paltrow, Mariah Carey, Linkin Park and others. But this Hollywood insider had a dark secret; he was a compulsive gambler and cocaine addict. And over the course of six years, he embezzled over $7 million from his clients to fund these addictions. Jonathan's criminal behavior earned him a six-year sentence in prison. When Jonathan returned to society in 2020, he found it almost impossible to get a job. But he went back to school and got a degree in alchol & drug counseling followed by an advanced degree as a therapist. Today, he makes a living as the Director of Programing at Altus Rehab, a top-tier, luxury treament facility in Encino, California. According to Jonathan, "I make very little money, but it's the happiest I've ever been. Money never brought me happiness. And today, helping people like me with the same in the commonality and the way our brains are wired, it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life."

    25 min

  8. 05/21/2025

    Peggy Rowe Became a New York Times Bestselling Author at Age 80

    Peggy Rowe has accomplished a lot in her 87 years. She started her career as a schoolteacher in Baltimore, where she and her husband John – also a teacher – raised three sons. It was a pretty normal life by all accounts. But life got extraordinary somewhere along the way. One common thread in the Rowe household was humor, and Peggy had a finely tuned ability to recognize funny and write about it. See, writing has always been her creative outlet. She wrote all the time. She wrote fun poems for her students, which she would later hear them recite on the playground; she wrote short stories that were published in newspapers and magazines; she wrote stories about things that happened in everyday life; and she wrote about her family. Her son Mike (yes, THAT Mike Rowe) loved her stories, but every time she called to share one, he'd tell her, "Mom, don't TELL me about it; sit down and WRITE about it." This happened a lot. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Peggy had a wonderful career as an educator, but it wasn't until long after that came to an end that her real career took off. When she was 80, Peggy's first book of humor was published. "About My Mother: True Stories of a Horse-Crazy Daughter and Her Baseball-Obsessed Mother: A Memoir" became a New York Times bestseller. Then came more bestsellers. "About Your Father and Other Celebrities I Have Known: Ruminations and Revelations from a Desperate Mother to Her Dirty Son" was Peggy's next bestselling book, when she was 82. "Vacuuming in the Nude: And Other Ways to Get Attention," book number three and bestseller number three, was published when Peggy was 84. Judging by the title, it seems Dirty Jobs run in the family. Her fourth book, "Oh No, Not "The Home": Observations and Confessions of a Grandmother in Transition," came two years later. At age 87, Peggy is working on her fifth book and she shows no signs of slowing down. Thankfully. In this inspiring episode, Peggy shares her incredible journey from the classroom to the bestseller list, complete with a few fun stories woven in. ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes

    38 min
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4.9
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Welcome to Second Act Stories, a podcast focused on life and career change. In each episode, we bring you the story of a courageous individual who has made a decisive career pivot and is pursuing a more rewarding life in a second act. The stories are in their own words and the words of friends and family that helped them find a new path. Each episode examines the "before" and "after" phases of a life or career relaunch and offers lessons learned.

Information

  • Creator
    Andy Levine
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Second Act Stories

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