Life in the Layoff

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Eric Kennedy-Smith is an entrepreneur in Zanesville, Ohio. He keeps a nine-to-five at Capital One and also runs WOKS Private Security, a company he started this year with a close friend. He is also an online hobby shop owner and a foster parent. In this conversation he explains why he likes having backup income when "you never know what tomorrow brings."

Inside this episode:

• How a local artist's event request turned into a security business
• Licensing, insurance, invoicing (Eric recommends Zoho Books) and what it takes to add services like process serving and private investigation
• Working with a trusted business partner, and why Eric starts as an LLC owner with a plan to reassess later
• Finding clients, including what has and hasn't worked on LinkedIn and Facebook
• What private security involves: access control, first response, de-escalation, and the "post orders" that define each contract
• Eric's ideal contracts, like warehouses and distribution centers, and why he'd start with six-month terms
• Practical advice for new business owners: do your research, set realistic expectations, get a P.O. box and a burner number

If you're thinking about starting something on the side, this episode is for you.

Eric's business currently serves clients in Ohio only. You can find him by searching WOKS Private Security on Facebook.

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Most people think a layoff means one path: either leap all in on your dream or stay stuck in survival mode. JT Jones proves there’s a third way—and it might be the most sustainable one for creative people trying to build something real.

Poet, writer, and Tulsa creative JT Jones sits down to unpack what happened after a company merger upended his job, how he chose to stay and pivot internally, and why that decision pushed him back toward poetry, horror writing, and showing up in his local arts scene. The result is a conversation about financial reality with work that actually matters to you.

You’ll discover:

- How a corporate merger and forced location closure became the wake-up call that changed JT’s relationship to work

- Why poetry became his “fun” writing—and eventually the thing Tulsa started recognizing him for

- How open mics, writer groups, book clubs, and random coffee shop conversations are building real creative opportunity

- Why writing every day only works when you stop waiting to feel inspired and start using deadlines, page goals, and small daily wins

JT also shares the hard part nobody talks about: trying to create while working evenings, sacrificing PTO just to show up, and mentally switching between analytical job mode and creative mode.

This episode matters if you’re wondering how to keep your creative life alive while your paycheck still depends on a day job. It’s especially useful for writers, artists, and anyone trying to build a name locally while juggling time, energy, and uncertainty.

If you need a reminder that community, consistency, and a little creative stubbornness can open real doors, this one belongs in your queue. Perfect for anyone who’s trying to make art without blowing up their entire life.

JT Jones can be found on Instagram at @atomic.sonnet and on Substack at Sublime Curation.

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Today my guest is writer and Tulsa native, Faith Harl. This episode explores Faith’s career pivot into freelance work, the side hustles she uses for supplemental income, her relationship with media, and her passion for community. Enjoy, and thank you for tuning in!

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Today my guest is Josue Saucedo. We chat about his career in graphic design, including his recent layoff and decision to launch his own agency. We’ll discuss what he looked for when choosing a business partner, how he runs his business, and what advice he would give to someone else. This was a great episode and I hope you enjoy. Thank you for tuning in!

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Hello and welcome to Life in the Layoff!

We have a short solo episode for you today, all about me (your host) and my recent journey. I’ll share a little bit about my career background, recent layoff, and what brought me to creating this podcast. I hope you enjoy, and hope you tune in for more! Thank you for listening.