ReInvention

We're taking a short break while we gear up for our next season. In the interim, listen to this episode again on how to design your ideal future self. It's a powerful episode.

If you're staring down "what's next?" after a solid run in corporate, this episode is your invitation to reinvent from the inside out. Todd and Chris unpack the real engine of lasting career change: identity.

You'll learn how to define the future-self you want to grow into, gently retire the parts of your old identity that don't serve you, and build daily practices that make reinvention tangible. From 'clarity' weekends and morning pages to self-talk walks, and crisp new language for "what you do," this is a practical guide to becoming the person your next career actually needs. No hype—just honest tools, mindset shifts, and stories from the trenches to help you land work that's aligned, abundant, and way more fun. You'll learn:

• How to map your future-self identity and use it as a north star
• The allow & reflect method for releasing old patterns without bulldozing your feelings
• Two zero-cost practices: morning pages and self-talk walks (and why they work)
• Crafting a new narrative for "what you do" that feels true and opens doors
• Why non-attachment accelerates reinvention more than white-knuckling goals

**Subscribe to our ReInvention Podcast and stay on the cutting-edge with fresh ideas and practical tools to navigate the future of your work!

Fear. Doubt. Anxiety. The mental spiral that makes everything feel heavier than it actually is.

In this episode, Todd and Chris go straight into the "real stuff" that shows up when you're in transition or uncertainty — especially when you're trying to make a big change and your nervous system starts writing worst-case stories.

We break down a simple truth: your emotions can feel urgent… without being supported by objective reality. And we give you practical tools to stop the spiral, separate facts from fear, and turn "negative" emotions into forward motion.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why your nervous system can react like the world is ending - even when the numbers say you're okay
• How to tell the difference between real fear and "rollercoaster fear"
• A simple method to sort what's valid vs. imagined
• The "control the controllables" mindset shift (and why it saves massive energy)
• Why numbing out (Netflix, distractions, checking out) keeps you stuck - and what to do instead
• The Allow & Reflect practice Todd uses to process fear and generate solutions

If you've been feeling stuck, frozen, or caught in old conditioning… this episode will give you a framework to work with fear - without letting it drive the car.

If this conversation resonated with you, visit ReInvention.biz to explore our guided workbook and join a community of people just like you - people designing what's next.

https://toddjason.com

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast to stay plugged into fresh ideas, frameworks, and real-world tools for navigating the future of your work and life.

Roxana Heitz is the kind of person who "has it all" on paper: Stanford Ph.D., 15+ years of product leadership, and a career building health and wellness products across the Google/Alphabet health ecosystem, Peloton, and others…

So why reinvent?

In this episode, Roxana breaks down a tension so many mid-career high performers feel: the work still matters, but the environment doesn't fit anymore. The gap between insight → action gets slow. The process becomes the job. The misalignment grows.

Instead of making one massive leap, Roxana applies product thinking to her own career reinvention: form hypotheses, run experiments, collect data, and iterate. The result is a portfolio approach - building flexibility and momentum while she explores what's next.

What we cover:

• The moment corporate success stops feeling aligned, even when the mission is meaningful
• How Roxana gave herself "permission" to step off the treadmill
• Designing a portfolio career: advisory/consulting, fractional product leadership, and founder exploration
• Why "betting on yourself" is a skill - and how to build it without blowing up your life
• The ReInvention superpower most people skip: feedback, accountability, and community

If you're a high-achiever who's quietly thinking, "I can't keep doing it this way," Roxana's story will help you rethink what's possible - and how to move forward with clarity without needing a perfect 20-year plan. If this conversation resonates with you, visit ReInvention.biz to explore our guided workbook and join a community of people just like you - people designing what's next.

https://toddjason.com

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast to stay plugged into fresh ideas, frameworks, and real-world tools for navigating the future of your work and life.

In the Season 1 finale of ReInvention, Todd and Chris come full circle on the framework they've been pressure-testing with their community: the 6 core tenets of Career ReInvention. This isn't resume-polishing or a quick pivot - it's a practical, human roadmap for mid-career professionals who want more agency, more fulfillment, and a smarter path forward in a rapidly changing world.

They unpack why ReInvention starts with clarity and long-term vision, why game-planning reduces anxiety, how to take imperfect action through experiments, and why humility and a growth mindset are the hidden unlock for learning new skills and building what's next. Plus: a look ahead at Season 2 themes like AI, money, and the future of work. In this episode:

• A practical breakdown of the 6 core practices to reinvent your career FAST
• Why this is a ZEITGEIST moment for Career ReInvention, and how you can take advantage
• Practices to become the most charismatic and magnetic version of yourself
• The real advantage: building a team so you don't reinvent in isolation

If this conversation resonates with you, visit ReInvention.biz to explore our guided workbook and join a community of people just like you - people designing what's next.

https://toddjason.com

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast to stay plugged into fresh ideas, frameworks, and real-world tools for navigating the future of your work and life.

For generations, the path seemed simple: Go to college. Get a degree. Find a good job.

But what happens when the world changes faster than the education system?

AI is reshaping work. Employers are placing greater value on skills than credentials. Apprenticeships are making a comeback. And more families than ever are asking a question that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago:

Is a traditional four-year degree still the best path?

In this episode of ReInvention, I sit down with author, educator, and futurist Kathleen deLaski to explore what the future of education really looks like - and how parents can prepare their children for careers that may not even exist yet.

This isn't an argument against college. It's a conversation about possibility. We discuss:

• Why the four-year college degree is no longer the default answer
• How AI is reshaping education and hiring
• The rise of apprenticeships and skills-based careers
• Why certificates and shorter learning pathways are exploding
• The human skills employers say they'll pay more for

If this conversation challenged the way you think about education, work, or parenting, be sure to subscribe, share it with someone who has teenagers, and leave a review. It helps us continue bringing you conversations that prepare people - not just for the future of work - but for a meaningful life.

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

Visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com

For decades, we've been taught 'how to build' successful, long lasting careers.

But almost nobody teaches us what happens when that career suddenly disappears - or when it no longer feels like the life we want.

In this deeply honest conversation, former Fortune 500 Chief Communications Officer Geoff Curtis shares what happened after a corporate acquisition eliminated the role that had defined him for nearly 30 years. What followed wasn't just a job search. It was an identity crisis.

Together, we explore what Geoff calls "professional identity purgatory" - that uncomfortable space between who you were and who you're becoming.

If you're navigating career uncertainty, AI disruption, burnout, job loss, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation offers something far more valuable than a five-step plan: permission to slow down, embrace discomfort, and rediscover who you are beyond your title.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The hidden danger of tying your identity to your career
• Why rushing into the "next thing" can actually delay your reinvention
• How to become comfortable with uncertainty instead of fighting it
• Practical ways to begin rebuilding your identity before life forces you to

The future belongs to people who can adapt - not just professionally, but personally.

Sometimes the first step toward reinvention isn't finding the next job. It's remembering who you are without one.

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

And if this conversation resonates with you, visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com

What if the biggest risk to your future isn't AI...what if it's living on autopilot?

In this episode of Reinvention, Todd sits down with innovation strategist, best-selling author, and CEO Charles Lee to explore one of the biggest questions facing professionals today:

Am I intentionally designing my life - or simply reacting to it?

As AI reshapes careers and the future of work, many midlife professionals are questioning not only what they do for a living, but who they want to become. Charles shares a practical framework for career reinvention that begins with something surprisingly simple: curiosity.

Charles shares some incredible useful and creative practices for developing critical thinking. For example, you'll learn why Charles goes to conferences outside his industry - and how this shapes his success in surprising ways.

Together, Todd and Charles explore why meaningful relationships and contribution - not status or achievement - are the true foundations of a fulfilling life.

If you're navigating career change, considering a new chapter, or wondering how to stay relevant in an AI-driven world, this conversation offers a thoughtful roadmap for designing your future with intention. We cover:

• Why success must start with curiosity - not certainty
• The two ingredients that consistently define a meaningful life
• How external pressures quietly shape your identity
• Why successful people intentionally expose themselves to unfamiliar ideas
• How to prepare for career transitions in the age of AI
• Why relationships may become your greatest competitive advantage

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

And if this conversation resonates with you, visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com

AI is transforming the world at a pace we've never seen before.

But according to entrepreneur, AI reinvention expert, and Flipwork co-founder Nikki Barua, the biggest challenge isn't learning the technology - it's reinventing ourselves fast enough to keep up.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Nikki shares some truth - that AI is challenging our IDENTITIES - and we discuss what all professionals must do to remain valuable in a rapidly changing world. Take notes because this episode is a career transition clinic, and imbued in our dialogue is the necessary leadership skills we all need to be embodying right now.

If you've been wondering how AI will impact your career, your business, or the future of work, this conversation is essential listening. In this episode we break down:

• Why AI is creating an identity crisis for many professionals
• What the most successful leaders are doing that others are not
• A self assessment tool that will help you move forward with confidence
• Why curiosity, humility, and courage are becoming career superpowers
• What individuals can do today to remain valuable and relevant in the future

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

And if this conversation resonates with you, visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com

Sean Phelps has spent more than two decades coaching over 10,000 college students through launching and running real businesses. As President of College Works Painting, he's had a front-row seat to what separates high performers from everyone else - and what skills will matter most as AI transforms the workforce.

In this conversation, Sean shares powerful lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, accountability, career development, and why CLARITY may be the most underrated advantage in today's rapidly changing world.

We explore how young professionals can prepare for the future, why accountability isn't what most people think it is, and how professionals at every stage of life can continue reinventing themselves in an era of accelerating change. You'll hear:

• How to find clarity when the future feels uncertain
• The human skills AI can't easily replace
• Why entrepreneurship is becoming more important than ever
• How to stay relevant as technology transforms the workforce
• What parents should be teaching the next generation about careers

Whether you're a student, a parent, a business leader, or someone navigating a career transition, this episode offers a practical framework for thriving in the future of work.

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

And if this conversation resonates with you, visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com

While most of us are still figuring out how to use ChatGPT and Claude, Max Ventilla is helping build the next generation of AI companies.

A four-time founder, former Google and Dropbox executive, and investor who has helped raise over a billion dollars, Max spends his days thinking about where this technology is actually heading - and what it means for the rest of us.

In this episode, we move beyond the headlines and into the deeper questions:

• Will AI really replace knowledge work?
• Does AI actually understand what it's saying?
• What happens when digital agents become part of our daily lives?

And perhaps most importantly:

How do we prepare ourselves - and our kids - for a future that may look radically different from the world we know today?

At one point in the conversation, Max makes a startling prediction:

"I think it'll break society."

Not because AI is evil.

Because the pace of change may be faster than our institutions, careers, education systems, and culture can adapt.

**Subscribe to the ReInvention Podcast for more thought-provoking conversations about the future of work, practical tools concerning career transitions, and insights about AI and emerging technologies that will help you stay ahead of the game.

And if this conversation resonates with you, visit ToddJason.com and sign up for my weekly newsletter "The Future of Work" and download some resources that will help you make great decisions about your next steps.

https://ToddJason.com