What do you do when the job you gave everything to lets you go? In this episode, Vanita sits down with Anna Morgan, talent acquisition veteran, speaker, and founder of the Evolve Conference to talk about her layoff during COVID, what she did differently to bounce back, and how she turned years of authentic relationship-building into a thriving community and business. Anna shares the real advice she wishes she'd had: documenting your wins, the art of the layoff announcement, why LinkedIn commenting is underrated, and why your next opportunity is one conversation away. If you've been laid off, are dreading one, or are just tired of hiding behind your resume, this episode is for you.

Connect with Anna on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/

Learn more about CareerBFF and Evolve - https://yourcareerbff.com/

Grab my very own resume template, budget tracker, interview guides and more on my Stan Store - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

What would you do if you got laid off on the same day you won a company-wide AI hackathon? For Donald King, the answer was to press record and post!

In this episode, I sit down with Donald King, CEO of AMDK Marketing, who at 25 was building in the AI space at a big 4 company until a 6 a.m. meeting invite changed everything.

Donald shares what that day actually felt like, why he chose to record his layoff and post it on TikTok and how a viral moment became the spark for his entrepreneurial journey.

We talk about building a business with the person you love, and what it really takes to go from employee to CEO.

Whether you're currently laid off, feeling the uncertainty of today's job market or quietly dreaming of building something of your own, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• The moment Donald knew he wasn't going back to corporate
• How his layoff video hit 1 million views in a single day
• Why he pivoted from an AI startup to a marketing agency in 26 days
• Advice for anyone laid off or thinking about entrepreneurship

Connect with Donald at amdkmarketing.com or on Instagram @DonaldTheKing

Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Grab my very own resume template, interview guides, join a movement of women building their personal brand after their 9-5 - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

• Brittany Barbosa - Redefining her success after a layoff
• Jamie Jackson - Chief Meme Officer/ HR Bestie chats about becoming "unemployable."
• Aseeyah Shahid - Building in public, creating her own media company.

All amazing ladies showing resilience, hope and are inspiration that a layoff does not define who you are!

#believeinyourself #layoffs #motivation

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, Vanita speaks with Roxy Couse, an entrepreneur and content creator, about surviving multiple layoffs, the impact on her identity and the importance of building a personal brand. We discuss the need for empathy in leadership, the changing landscape of job security and how to leverage skills for a successful career. Roxy emphasizes the importance of self-belief and the power of content creation in opening new opportunities.

Takeaways

• Surviving layoffs
• Building a portfolio career

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Layoffs and Uncertainty
• 06:56 Impact on Relationship with Leadership and Corporate Loyalty
• 14:53 The New Safety Net: Portfolio Careers and Content Creation

Connect with Roxy on her website and follow on her socials- https://roxycouse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/roxycouse/

https://www.tiktok.com/@roxycouse

Please share this podcast with someone who needs it. Subscribe to get the latest episodes when they drop and let me know how this episode or others helped you in the comments.

Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Grab my very own resume template, interview guides on how to answer the most commonly asked questions and a blueprint on how to navigate layoffs or plan for one! - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

Jess Ramos got fired.

Instead of spiraling (okay, maybe spiraling a little), she turned it into the launchpad for her now thriving data education brand, Big Data Energy.

In this episode, we talk about what actually happens after you lose the corporate job, the doubt, the loneliness, the “now what?” and how Jess used that moment to build something completely her own.

We get into:

• How her very first viral post on LinkedIn changed everything
• Why personality > perfection when it comes to standing out
• How she makes complex data topics fun
• The reality of building a business alone
• And how to turn career disruption into momentum instead of shame

If you’ve ever been laid off, fired, overlooked, or just feel stuck, have a listen. Sometimes the worst news you receive becomes the best redirection of your life.

Connect with Jess on her socials - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessramosmsba/

https://www.bigdataenergycourses.com/

Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

Book a call with me to get a LinkedIn makeover so recruiters come to you, download my very own resume template and snag my interview guide on how to answer the most commonly asked questions. - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

Discover how Benji Block turned a sudden layoff into a year of remarkable growth and bold entrepreneurship. In this episode, Benji shares his personal story of resilience, the mindset shifts that fueled his success, and practical advice for navigating career transitions with confidence.

• The unexpected moment: Benji's experience of being laid off amidst holiday festivities
• The psychological stages of losing a job: laughter, grief, and adaptation
• Recognizing the value of personal agency and control during career upheavals
• The power of boldness and courage in starting a business after layoffs
• Insights from Benji’s impressive 2025 stats: 11 new clients, 294 videos, 1.3M views
• The importance of combining vision with strategy for sustainable growth
• Building community and the role of surrounding yourself with supportive networks
• The origin story behind Signature Series and creating impactful personal brand content
• Practical steps to move from feeling stuck to taking decisive action

• Connect with Vanita on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/

• Stan Store - https://stan.store/vanitacapo

  Book a call with me to get a LinkedIn makeover so recruiters come to you, download my very own resume template and snag my interview guide on how to answer the most commonly asked questions.

• Connect with Benji Block on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benji-block/
• Signature Series - https://www.signatureseries.co/

On this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I chat with Evan Tachoir, HR expert and host of the NetGain podcast, about his layoff journey, from the shock of losing his job to building his own consulting business, Jack of All People Trades. Evan opens up about the emotional side of layoffs, the importance of relationships, and how resilience and reinvention can lead to something even better.

Connect with Evan on LinkedIn.

Visit my Stan Store for my own resume template, interview guides, bounce back blueprint for steps to take before and after a layoff.

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I sit down with Timm Chiusano, a former VP turned creator, to talk about the other side of layoffs. Timm shares his journey from being a senior leader at a major company to navigating leadership decisions with more humanity and empathy than we usually see talked about.

We chat about the realities of leadership during layoffs, how complex those moments really are, and what it means to lead with integrity. Timm shares thoughtful insights on leadership, resilience, and building a career that aligns with your values.

• Connect with me (Vanita) on LinkedIn.
• Visit my Stan Store for my very own resume template, interview guide or book a call with me.

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, I chat with my former colleague and HR Analytics expert, Anette, about how she turned her layoff into the adventure of a lifetime. (Honestly, I wish I had thought of it!)

Anette shares how she processed her emotions on Disney's rollercoasters, finding joy and perspective in the happiest place on earth. Her story is a reminder that even in tough times, you can find new paths and opportunities.

I absolutely loved our conversation and her positivity is infectious.

Resources to help you lift off:

• Visit Vanita's Stan Store for Interview Guides, my own Resume Template and my Bounce Back Blueprint: Before & After Layoff Steps
• Connect with my on Linkedin.

Laid off and kind of relieved?

Jason Muth was a top performer when his role was eliminated.

In this episode of Laid Off to Lift Off, Jason shares his layoff story, what it’s like to go through multiple layoffs and how a side hustle he started while still working became a business he truly loves today. He’s very clear about one thing: he’s never going back to Corporate America.

We talk about why top performers are still vulnerable, the identity shift that happens after a layoff and why starting your next chapter before you’re forced to matters so much.

If you’ve been laid off or think it might be coming, this conversation is for you. And if this made you think of someone else… share it with them.

SmartStay Show Podcast

Prideaway Stays

Visit my Stan Store for my own resume template, interview prep sessions and guides etc.