Meet Sam. He’s just stepped off stage at a media leadership conference, still riding the high of a panel that went better than expected. An attendee leans in and says, “You could be a motivational speaker. You’re so good at this.” Sam smiles, but inside, those words don’t land as encouragement. They echo as doubt. He thinks, “Who am I to do that? I’m not an author. I don’t have a TED Talk. I’m not a thought leader with a massive following.” He goes back to his Monday routine, preparing someone else’s presentation instead of building his own. He tells himself maybe next year, but the quiet voice inside keeps asking: What if now is the time? In this episode, Jay is joined by Hussein Hallak, entrepreneur, writer, and startup mentor who has helped thousands of founders in 100+ countries bring bold ideas to life. Hussein’s philosophy, Play, Learn, Get Better, comes from a lifetime of saying yes first and figuring it out later, from launching businesses to fronting a rock band without knowing how to sing. Together, they explore why fear is natural, how to de-risk failure with small experiments, and why overpreparing can turn fear into fuel. Hussein shares his “million-dollar rule,” the concentric circles approach to aligning your work with what you love, and a powerful mindset shift that moves you from self-focus to service. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to act or have felt stuck in fear of failure, this episode will inspire you to take that first step and trust you’ll get better as you go. Notable Quotes “Say yes first, then figure it out later. That’s how you play, learn, and get better.” — Hussein Hallak “Fear is natural. The key is to redirect it into preparation and practice.” — Hussein Hallak “When you show up in service of others, fear dissolves and purpose takes over.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Hussein Hallak is a writer, entrepreneur, and startup mentor who has guided over 1,000 founders worldwide. He is the founder of Next Decentrum, a company focused on innovation and education in emerging technologies, and the author of The Dark Art of Life Mastery, a guide to navigating uncertainty with courage and clarity. Hussein is known for his candid storytelling, practical wisdom, and frameworks that empower people to take risks, embrace failure, and live in alignment with their true purpose. Resources and Links Hussein Hallak The Dark Art of Life Mastery book – https://geni.us/thedarkartoflifem  Website – https://www.husseinhallak.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/husseinhallak/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hhdarkal/ Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on a future episode and offer you personalized advice on how to overcome any challenge. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will dive deeper into his conversation with Hussein about letting go of yourself, becoming like the mango tree that gives mangoes or the sun that gives away its light and warmth. He’ll share how this theme has become the key takeaway in his own upcoming book and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process. If you’ve been searching for fulfillment beyond self-focus, this episode will give you a fresh lens to live with meaning. Until then, stay bold, stay playful, and keep getting better

In our last episode, we met Theo, a senior account executive who had no clear goals or direction. Alongside Caroline Miller, we explored how grit and goal setting can transform hesitation into meaningful progress. Caroline emphasized that success comes from embracing the unglamorous work that others avoid. In this solo episode, Jay shares 10 actionable steps to stop procrastinating and start taking consistent action. From defining a crystal-clear vision of success to identifying unglamorous activities, from scheduling intentional time blocks to building accountability, Jay walks you through a practical roadmap to achieve your biggest goals. These strategies are the same ones Jay has taught in keynotes and coaching sessions with professionals worldwide, proven tools to help you clarify your goals, plan effectively, overcome distractions, and take courageous steps forward. If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination, perfectionism, or simply felt stuck on where to start, this episode offers a structured plan to help you commit, follow through, and achieve at a higher level. Notable Quotes "We all have dreams, but we don’t all have plans." — Jay Abbasi "Success is not about massive leaps. But if you walk through each step, you'll have a plan in place to achieve at a higher level." — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Get Featured on “Unstuck” Want to have your story featured on “Unstuck”? Submit your story through the link below, and Jay may choose to highlight your story on an episode of “Unstuck”. Submit Your Story Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Sam, a senior communications manager at a major media company. Everyone tells him he’s a gifted public speaker who should launch his own business, but fear and self-doubt are holding him back. Jay will be joined by Hussein Hallak, writer, entrepreneur, and startup mentor who has helped thousands of founders across more than 100 countries bring bold ideas to life. Together, they’ll explore how someone like Sam can take the first step without waiting for permission, perfection, or certainty. Don’t miss this inspiring and actionable discussion!

Meet Theo. He rolls out of bed, head pounding from too many drinks with old friends, scrolling through Slack messages while convincing himself he’ll figure things out next weekend. For years, he’s coasted as a sales executive, hitting quotas but feeling stuck, stuck in the same habits, the same crowd, and the same cycle of instant gratification. Theo has no real goals beyond surviving the week. He listens to podcasts, scribbles half-baked ideas on bar napkins, and dreams of doing something bigger. But with no structure, no accountability, and no one pushing him to rise higher, his life feels full but not fulfilling. In this episode, Jay is joined by Caroline Miller, pioneering positive psychology expert, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading voices on grit and goal setting. With 40 years of recovery, nine books, and decades of coaching leaders, Caroline has a powerful perspective on why traditional SMART goals often fail and what actually drives lasting success. Together, they explore the pitfalls of “realistic” goals, why behavior is contagious, and how surrounding yourself with people who do hard things can transform your own capacity to grow. Caroline shares her research-backed framework for setting challenging and specific goals, the kind that stretch you beyond your comfort zone and build authentic self-esteem. If you’ve ever felt stuck chasing easy wins or wondered why your goals don’t light a fire inside you, this conversation will help you rethink goal setting and commit to what truly matters. Notable Quotes “Most people set no goals or low goals. The happiest people pursue the hardest goals.” — Caroline Miller “Your goals should be just outside your fingertips. That’s when you discover your potential.” — Caroline Miller “It’s what you do in the dark that people see in the light.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Caroline Miller, MAPP is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and coach, recognized as a trailblazer in the field of positive psychology and goal setting. With nine published books, including Creating Your Best Life and Getting Grit, she has inspired audiences worldwide to pursue authentic goals, build resilience, and cultivate the grit required to achieve them. Caroline’s work blends cutting-edge science with her own extraordinary journey of recovery, making her one of the most sought-after voices on motivation and success. Resources and Links Caroline Miller Website – https://www.carolinemiller.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineadamsmiller/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/camcoaching Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Caroline.Adams.Miller.MAPP Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/carolineadamsmiller/ X – https://x.com/carolinemcoach Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will walk you through how to commit to the unglamorous process. He’ll break down how to prime your environment, anticipate setbacks, and build accountability structures that keep you moving toward your most important goals.  If you’ve struggled to stay consistent or fallen victim to shiny-object syndrome, this episode will give you practical strategies to follow through. Until then, stay gritty, stay focused, and keep aiming just beyond your fingertips.

In our last episode, we celebrated the first 100 episodes of Unstuck by reflecting on lessons 10 through 6. From the power of discomfort to the value of consistency, Jay walked through insights gained from conversations with thought leaders, executives, and everyday professionals finding their way through challenges. In this solo episode, Jay reveals the top five lessons he’s learned since launching the podcast. From discovering your anchor story to embracing change as a springboard, from the power of belief to the importance of connection, Jay distills the wisdom of guests like Julian Placino, Nick Tasler, Anne Grady, David Marlow, and Henna Pryor into actionable insights. These lessons underscore what it really takes to be resilient: remembering your own story, leaning into change, cultivating belief, connecting to something greater than yourself, and prioritizing relationships as non-negotiable. If you’ve ever wanted to know the most important takeaways from 100 episodes of Unstuck, this episode gives you the distilled version, helping you focus on what truly drives fulfillment, resilience, and growth. Notable Quotes “Your story is your anchor. It reminds you that you’ve already overcome more than you remember.” — Jay Abbasi “Change isn’t something to fear. Change is the springboard that takes you to the next chapter.” — Jay Abbasi “Social connection is a non-negotiable. Without it, we simply cannot thrive.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, Jay introduces Theo, a senior account executive at a fast-growing data infrastructure firm. Five years into his role, he’s making good money but feels like he’s coasting, lacking clear goals, stuck in unhelpful habits, and unsure of his path forward. To help Theo move from aimless achievement to meaningful goals, Jay will be joined by Caroline Miller, a globally recognized expert on grit, goal-setting, and authentic success. Together they’ll explore how to get gritty about what matters most and find fulfillment beyond the paycheck. Don’t miss this inspiring and actionable discussion!

Meet Charlotte. She ends the Zoom meeting and stares at her reflection in the blank screen. The word overqualified rings in her ears. She forces a smile, then closes the window only to find another automated rejection email waiting in her inbox. No name. No feedback. For five months she’s been at it. Different resumes, countless job alerts, endless applications. But at 58, with decades of executive leadership under her belt, Charlotte wonders if any of it matters. She’s led teams, turned companies around, and built cultures people love. Yet now she refreshes LinkedIn like clockwork, questioning if her wisdom and experience are still valued. In this episode, Jay is joined by Loren Greiff, executive career strategist, founder of Portfolio Rocket, and outspoken age activist. Loren has helped over 400 executives break free from outdated hiring processes and land high-paying roles without relying on job boards or soulless resume rewrites. Together, they reveal the three biggest flaws in today’s hiring system, why recruiters aren’t the saviors many job seekers hope they are, and the mindset shifts that can help seasoned professionals reposition themselves as highly relevant in today’s market. If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of rejections or waiting for recruiters to save the day, this conversation will change how you approach your career search. Notable Quotes “Recruiters don’t get you a job. They fill roles for their clients. You need to own your search.” — Loren Greiff “Different is better than better. Your unfair advantage is what sets you apart in a sea of sameness.” — Loren Greiff “Stop pointing backwards with years of experience. Show how your impact is still creating results today.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Loren Greiff is an executive career strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of Portfolio Rocket. Passionate about ending career victimization, Loren empowers executives over 40 to land roles in the hidden job market without relying on job boards. Her approach focuses on relevance, tomorrow stories, and uncovering each person’s unfair advantage. Loren’s work has helped hundreds of leaders secure high-paying, meaningful roles while breaking free from outdated hiring practices. Resources and Links Loren Greiff Website – https://zaap.bio/lorengreiff LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@portfoliorocket Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Portfoliorocket Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will celebrate a huge milestone, the 100th episode of Unstuck. He’ll count down the top five lessons learned from speaking with world-class experts, leaders, and changemakers over the past 100 episodes. If you’re looking for a powerful recap of the most game-changing ideas shared on the podcast, you won’t want to miss it. Until then, stay resilient, stay relevant, and keep creating your tomorrow story.

In this milestone episode, Jay reflects on the journey of creating nearly 100 episodes of Unstuck and distills the top lessons learned from world-class guests, thought leaders, and personal experiences. From vulnerability in leadership to the healing power of nature, these insights offer a roadmap for resilience, fulfillment, and growth. Jay shares lessons 10 through 6 in this first part of the countdown, exploring why authenticity matters more than ever, how small choices shape our well-being, and why burnout isn’t caused by doing too much but by neglecting what recharges us. These lessons are practical, research-backed, and designed to inspire action. If you’ve been following along since the beginning or are just joining in, this episode captures the essence of what Unstuck is all about: real stories, practical tools, and powerful takeaways for building a thriving life and career. Notable Quotes “Vulnerability is a superpower.” — Jay Abbasi “Burnout is caused not by what you’re doing, but by what you’re not doing.” — Jay Abbasi “It’s not the demand that causes burnout, it’s what you stop doing that keeps you charged.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, Jay introduces Charlotte, a seasoned executive whose role was recently eliminated. Despite her extensive experience as an SVP, CHRO, and COO, she’s struggling to land her next opportunity and facing the sting of rejection. Jay will be joined by Loren Greiff, founder of Portfolio Rocket and an executive career strategist, to uncover strategies for overcoming obstacles like ageism and reigniting confidence in the job search. Don’t miss this empowering conversation filled with practical tools for anyone navigating career transitions.

Meet Jonah. He’s paced this same hallway dozens of times, phone pressed to his ear, telling his cousin all the reasons he can’t start his own thing. Twenty years in SaaS have given him the skills, the ideas, even the network, but also the comfort of a steady paycheck and the paralysis of overthinking. The result? Endless “what ifs” and plans he never fully commits to. In this episode, Jay is joined by Kevin Karschnik, global keynote speaker and expert on mindset, positivity, and avoiding burnout. With over 30 years of experience and multiple successful businesses under his belt, Kevin helps people move from ideas to execution by taking calculated risks, building a financial runway, and aligning work with their deepest values. Kevin shares his four-zone process for leaving your comfort zone, why security in a corporate job is often an illusion, and the practical steps to start building a business before you leave your current role. If you’ve ever waited for the “perfect time” to take action, this episode will show you how to start now without blowing up your life. Notable Notes “Any missing piece of passion, skill, or market demand means you haven’t found your sweet spot yet.” — Kevin Karschnik “The perfect time doesn’t exist. The best time to start is today, with the resources you already have.” — Kevin Karschnik "If you’re 90 years old looking back on your life, what do you want to say you’ve done? Start building toward that today." — Kevin Karschnik About Our Guest Kevin Karschnik is a global keynote speaker, author, and business owner who teaches leaders and entrepreneurs how to adopt a growth mindset, communicate with impact, and avoid burnout. Drawing from decades of experience in launching and scaling businesses, Kevin delivers practical, proven strategies to help people step out of their comfort zones, reduce risk, and take bold, purposeful action toward their goals. Resources and Links Kevin Karschnik Website – https://kevinkarschnik.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkarschnik/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/kevinkarschnik Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KevinKarschnik Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kevinkarschnik/ X – https://x.com/kevinkarschnik Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will share the first half of his Top 10 Lessons Learned from Hosting 100 Episodes of Unstuck. These lessons come from deep, candid conversations with high performers, leaders, and change-makers, and each one is immediately applicable to your work and life. If you want practical, real-world insights you can use right away, you won’t want to miss this. Until then, stay curious, stay bold, and start before you feel ready.

In our last episode, we met Matthew, a nonprofit leader who felt he was on the fast track to burnout, and worried his team was headed there too. Burnout specialist and keynote speaker Cait Donovan joined the conversation, sharing eye-opening insights into what burnout really is and how to prevent it. One key takeaway was the concept of interoception, the ability to sense what’s happening inside our bodies. In this solo episode, Jay takes that insight further, focusing on how to cultivate interoception so it becomes a powerful tool to avoid burnout. Rather than stopping at understanding the concept, Jay walks you through a guided body scan practice designed to help you notice physical and emotional sensations as they arise. This kind of intentional, moment-to-moment awareness builds the self-knowledge needed to recognize stress patterns before they take hold. You’ll be guided to tune into your body, from the toes, to the legs, to the shoulders, jaw, and face, releasing tension and observing emotions without judgment. Jay shares how integrating this practice into daily life, even for a few moments between meetings or before starting the car, can dramatically improve resilience, presence, and overall well-being. If you’ve ever felt like burnout snuck up on you, this episode offers a skill you can begin practicing today to sense it coming and shift course before it takes over. Notable Quotes "The cultivation of self-awareness, the ability to recognize and sense what's happening in the body, requires intentional practice." — Jay Abbasi "We’re not labeling, we’re not adding story, we’re not analyzing. We’re just observing." — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Jonah, a seasoned SaaS professional with big dreams of starting his own business,  but stuck in a cycle of overthinking. Jay sits down with Kevin Karschnik, keynote speaker and multi-business entrepreneur, to explore how to move beyond the entrepreneurial mindset into building a concrete, actionable plan. You’ll learn how to get out of your own way and start creating what you’ve been envisioning. Don’t miss this inspiring and practical conversation.

Meet Matthew. He’s in his office, blinds half closed, watching one of his department heads wipe away tears. “I’m trying,” she whispers. “But I just can’t keep doing this.” As executive director of a nonprofit that supports families in need, Matthew knows the mission matters. But the inbox overload, blurred work-life boundaries, and unrelenting pace are breaking down not only his team, but him too. He’s tried wellness webinars and mental health days, yet burnout feels baked into the culture. Guilt keeps him from slowing down, even as exhaustion mounts. How can he help his team breathe when he hasn’t figured out how to come up for air himself? In this episode, Jay is joined by Cait Donovan, burnout recovery expert, keynote speaker, and host of Fried: The Burnout Podcast. Cait’s Burn Bold Framework has been used by companies like PepsiCo, Clorox, and Forbes to dismantle burnout from the inside out. Together, they unpack how resentment, often ignored or hidden, can quietly drain your energy, erode boundaries, and lead to self-neglect. Cait reveals six “burnout vulnerability buckets,” shares simple, science-backed ways to rebuild your connection to your body, and explains why prevention strategies often fail if you’ve never recovered from burnout before. If you’ve been running on fumes or leading a team that’s burning out, this episode offers a roadmap to reclaim energy, focus, and balance. Notable Quotes “Resentment is a sign your boundaries are too weak and your needs are going unmet.” — Cait Donovan “You can’t prevent burnout if you’ve never learned to recover from it.” — Cait Donovan “Meeting yourself where you are is the first step to lasting change.” — Jay Abbasi About Our Guest Cait Donovan is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, burnout recovery coach, and host of Fried: The Burnout Podcast. With a background in Chinese medicine and expertise in translating neuroscience into practical strategies, Cait has helped individuals and organizations around the world build resilience and dismantle burnout culture. Her Burn Bold Framework empowers leaders to set healthy boundaries, prevent self-neglect, and create environments where people can thrive. Resources and Links Cait Donovan FRIED. The Burnout Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/2VhzgpY24d6xDhxPLGn9Ex?si=ba8048daaa1042f9&nd=1&dlsi=d778de83135f475e  Website – https://www.caitdonovan.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitdonovanspeaks/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@caitdonovanspeaks Instagram – https://www.youtube.com/@caitdonovanspeaks  Apple podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fried-the-burnout-podcast/  Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay will guide you through a practical, step-by-step interoception exercise designed to help you reconnect with your body’s signals and meet your needs in real time. These are the same techniques he’s shared with leaders at Fortune 500 companies to help them manage stress, improve focus, and avoid burnout. If you’ve been stuck in your head, ignoring what your body is telling you, this episode will give you tools to build awareness, make better decisions, and protect your energy. Until then, stay aware, stay balanced, and stay connected to yourself.

In our last episode, you met Nico, who was struggling with unhealthy patterns of suppression, numbing, and comparison. Jay spoke with Allan Kehler, who shared the power of expressing how you feel rather than holding it in. In this solo episode, Jay explores the crucial difference between playing the victim and expressing emotions in a healthy way. Drawing from personal experiences and lessons learned over years of coaching and speaking, Jay shares how unexpressed emotions, especially anger, can quietly erode well-being and relationships. He explains the subtle, covert ways people slip into victimhood, even when they believe they’re avoiding it, and contrasts this with mindful, constructive expression. Jay offers practical steps for noticing and acknowledging emotions without fueling them, creating space between stimulus and response, and communicating feelings with detachment rather than blame. Through journaling, trusted conversations, and mindfulness practices, he shows how to release emotions without falling into the victim mindset. If you’ve ever struggled to voice your feelings without guilt or fear of being “the victim,” this episode will give you the tools to break the cycle and express yourself with honesty, self-awareness, and calm. Notable Quotes “You can feel anger without turning it into a battle of you versus them.” — Jay Abbasi “You don’t have to suppress emotions to avoid being the victim. You just have to express them mindfully.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time In Monday’s episode, Jay introduces Matthew, an executive director of a nonprofit facing a culture of burnout and limited resources. His team is constantly underwater, and he feels like nothing he’s doing is helping. Jay meets with Cait Donovan, one of the leading voices in burnout prevention and recovery, to discuss how mission-driven leaders can hold it together for their teams without quietly unraveling themselves. Don’t miss this inspiring and actionable discussion!