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This week, I talk with Aryana about leaving a full-time job that promised stability but delivered 166-hour workweeks, burnout, and benefits she couldn’t afford. After grad school, she returned to freelancing in costume and contour design, creating everything from wedding gowns and corsets to dancewear, sportswear, and wearable technology.

We unpack what it takes to build a business around the life you actually want, including the discipline to schedule breaks, the courage to say no to poor-fit clients, and the value of having someone check in to make sure you’re “being a person also.” Arianna also shares how community, word of mouth, and a clearer sense of purpose helped turn inconsistent freelance work into a more sustainable path.

Connect with Arianna on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aryanangainesstudio/ or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aryana-gaines. Want to connect? Head over to unstuckcareer.com

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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This week, I explore the limits we accept without ever testing them. A dentist’s recurring problem, a numbed mouth, and a surprising product that may reverse Novocaine’s effects reveal how often we simply put up with frustrations because we don’t know an alternative exists.

I’ll take you from a moving truck on the highways of Wyoming to Harry Houdini’s supposedly locked jail cell, which turned out to be unlocked all along. What if some of the barriers holding you back are assumptions rather than facts? And what could change if you truly believed that, with God, nothing is impossible?

Want to connect? Head over to unstuckcareer.com

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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This week, I sit down with Susan, who found me on TikTok and bravely reached out in the midst of her own messy "what’s next" journey. After a pivotal four-year reboot—relocating solo, embracing huge physical changes, and diving deep into self-discovery—Susan is now staring down her last big pivot: finding work that actually feels good. Together, we get real about the exhausting loop of taking jobs out of necessity rather than choice, and the sneaky fears that keep us stuck—even when everything else in life is finally clicking into place.

You’ll hear Susan’s candid reflections on why she dreads Mondays, the discomfort of corporate games, and her simmering desire to move past “just surviving” into a role with meaning, flexibility, and impact. We unpack the universal struggle with fear and self-trust—what if it’s worse on the other side?—and why sometimes, all it takes is eight seconds of courage to make the next leap.

If you sense you’re one decision away from a more fulfilling direction (but feel fear and uncertainty snapping at your heels), this conversation is for you. Want to connect? Head over to unstuckcareer.com.

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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This week, I’m asking a question that exposed more than a coolant leak: What am I tolerating simply because I’ve forgotten that I have options? I share how I ignored a problem with my car for months, only to discover that a five-minute test and a small repair could fix it. The same thing happened with electrical problems I had tolerated for years, because I was afraid to find out what the diagnosis might be.

You’ll be invited to take inventory of the parts of your life you’ve quietly accepted, whether it’s a miserable job, an unresolved problem, or a change you’ve ruled out before even trying. Pick one thing, get the diagnosis, ask for help, and take a step. If you want to connect, visit https://unstuckcareer.com.

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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This week, we're taking you behind the scenes with Lucy, whose path from family-run businesses to independent hospitality entrepreneur will leave you rethinking everything you thought you knew about “safe” career choices. Lucy shares how leaving a so-called stable job led her to building a life and business filled with passion and flexibility, despite setbacks and the constant uncertainty of working for herself.

You'll hear Lucy get real about fears—like health insurance, business failures, and trading your time for money—and why none of these should hold you back from living your purpose. Her story, including powerful lessons learned from the ground up in small businesses and a surprising detour into auctioneering, proves that crafting your own career is just as much about resilience as it is about ambition.

If you've ever wondered whether the traditional path is the only way, or if it's truly possible to build the life you want, Lucy's journey is the mindset shift you need.

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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This week, I sit down with Dan for a whirlwind journey through the ups and downs of an unconventional career path shaped by resilience and adaptability. From small-town roots in rural Oregon to living in five states and two Caribbean countries, Dan shares what it’s really like to reinvent yourself again and again in the face of layoffs, industry changes, and personal challenges. You’ll get the inside story of how losing his job to a robot—before it was “cool”—set him on a path from civil engineering to software development, with plenty of unexpected detours along the way.

Through Dan’s practical wisdom, you’ll learn why panic and worry never move you forward, why flexibility is your greatest asset, and how every job you survive (including the ones that push you to your limits) adds another building block to your future. Whether you’re feeling stuck in your current role or reeling from a recent setback, Dan’s perspective on starting over, building from scratch, and turning setbacks into strengths will give you real strategies you can use today.

If you’re wondering how to navigate career uncertainty, keep perspective during the hardest times, and turn your experience—good or bad—into your next opportunity, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Want to connect? Head over to unstuckcareer.com.

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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Welcome to the Unstuck Career Podcast. In this episode, Ken Williams explores a question most of us have never truly considered: who is really making the decisions about your career and your life? We assume that we’re in control, but as Ken Williams points out, too often we delegate that authority to our jobs, our bosses, societal expectations, or even an unwashed bathroom. Through relatable stories and introspective exercises, Ken Williams challenges you to reclaim your direction, take ownership of your decisions, and break free from invisible expectations. Tune in as we uncover the subtle shifts that can help you build the life you truly want, starting with one powerful question: who's holding the pen to your story?

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck

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Every decision adds a new line to your life story, but who’s really holding the pen? In this episode, I lay bare the real reasons so many of us stay stuck in our careers and lives. We dig past the surface—fear of failure, fear of the unknown, imposter syndrome—and reveal the hidden force that keeps us spinning in place: authority. I share eye-opening stories, including the moment I realized my boss’s opinion could paralyze me in ways my own kids’ couldn't, and why it matters who you allow to define your potential.

You'll hear why blaming fear or self-doubt for your inaction might just be a distraction from the bigger issue. Together, we’ll break down how giving away authority over your choices—usually to bosses, expectations, or even your own comfort—silently sabotages your progress. I’ll show you how recapturing that authority can change the trajectory of your career and your life.

If you’re craving practical steps to break free from stagnation and finally choose your own path, this episode is your invitation to reclaim your pen and start writing the story you want. Want to connect? Head over to unstuckcareer.com.

If you're ready to take the next step and get unstuck and unstoppable, you can find time on Ken's calendar at https://unstuckcareer.com/unstuck