PODCAST · education
The Unstuck Career
by Ken Williams
The Unstuck Career is hosted by Ken Williams, an entrepreneur who made a bold career shift at age 55 after spending 16 years in the same job. Now building his own business, Ken is on a mission to help others break free from unfulfilling work and create a better life. This podcast is for burned-out, frustrated professionals who feel stuck in toxic jobs, underpaid roles, or careers that no longer fit, and know they’re meant for something more. Each week, Ken shares powerful conversations with people who have successfully made the leap (or are in the process of doing it) alongside practical Friday Focus episodes packed with mindset shifts and actionable strategies. Listeners will learn how to take control of their careers, build momentum toward change, and create work that aligns with the life they actually want. If you’re ready to stop settling and start moving, this show will help you get there.
Episodes
-
Become the Version of You Who Already Has What You Want - Friday Focus Ep. 302
Send us Fan Mail In this Friday Focus episode, I explore the gap between who you are today and the version of you who has the job, freedom, autonomy, or happiness you want. The changes required may be smaller than expected, from shutting off screens at night to stopping after a set number of…
more -
When Staying Costs Your Life Satisfaction - Ep 301
Send us Fan Mail This week, we unpack what it really costs to stay in a toxic workplace with Kasey James, who found herself in two back-to-back environments that eroded her confidence, relationships, and sense of self. How do you know when a bad job is temporary, and when the organization is…
more -
Stop Talking Yourself Out of the Goals You Want - Friday Focus Ep. 300
Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m tackling the limiting beliefs that shut down your biggest goals before you even give them a chance. Have you ever thought, “I’d love to do that, but it’s not possible”? We’ll look at how quickly we talk ourselves out of what we want, whether that means opening a...
-
From Sunday Scaries to Building a New Career
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Hannah Carvey to talk about the moment a career can start shrinking you instead of helping you grow. After more than two decades as a speech-language pathologist, Hannah realized her work had become less about helping people connect and more about...
-
Friday Focus - Surrendered Authority Chapter 5 - Reclaim Authority
Send us Fan Mail This week, we tackle the moment when you realize you’ve handed your career decisions to someone else. Maybe it’s your boss, your family, your friends, fear, or even the job market. I break down why “not to decide” doesn’t mean you made a decision. It means something else made it...
-
Taking the Next Step Without Knowing the Whole Path
Send us Fan Mail This week, I talk with Deval, who is still in the middle of a career pivot from work that no longer fits toward a life built around service, mindfulness, and coaching. We explore what it feels like to move forward without a perfect plan, especially when comfort and certainty make...
-
Surrendered Authourity Chapter 4 - We Confuse the Familiar with Safety
Send us Fan Mail This week, I unpack what it means to drift through your career, taking whatever opportunity appears after the last one disappears. I share how I moved from sales to a call center, insurance, human resources, and FedEx, often responding to circumstances instead of choosing a...
-
Choosing Meaning Over Money in Your Career
Send us Fan Mail This week, I talk with Patrick about walking away from the corporate ladder after reaching the kind of title and income many people spend their careers chasing. He shares how corporate politics, constant travel, and a job that demanded he leave the day his daughter was born…
more -
Surrendered Authority Chapter 3: The Rationalizer
Send us Fan Mail Chapter 3: The Rationalizer The conversation focused on the voice that sounds reasonable while quietly keeping you stuck. In Chapter 3, “The Rationalizer,” the central belief is “I’m just being realistic,” but the stories created by the rationalizer may be believable without…
more -
Breaking Free from Exhaustion and the Alarm Clock
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Lori, who has spent more than two decades in SBA lending and has reached a point where the Sunday evening dread, 10 to 14-hour workdays, and constant exhaustion have made staying stuck impossible. She’s ready to trade the W-2 and alarm clock for work…
more -
Surrendered Authority Ch2: Fear Makes Predictions, Not Promises
Send us Fan Mail Ch2: Fear Makes Predictions, Not Promises Fear can feel like evidence, especially when the future is uncertain. This episode explores how fear, doubt, and anxiety can distort decisions, from asking for the life you want to trusting your instincts in the cockpit. One concept...
-
What Work Is Really For: Designing a Life You Want
Send us Fan Mail 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…
more -
Friday Focus - Limiting Beliefs and Unlocked Doors
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Breaking Out of the Familiar Zone: A Story of Career Reinvention - Ep. 287
Send us Fan Mail 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…
more -
What If the Fix Is Easier Than You Think?
Send us Fan Mail 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…
more -
Embracing Entrepreneurship: From Corporate Life to Hospitality Success
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Reinventing Careers and Surviving Big Changes: Create a Story of Flexibility
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Surrendered Authority - Chapter 1 Friday Focus
Send us Fan Mail 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...
-
Surrendered Authority Audio - Intro - Why this book? - Ep. 282
Send us Fan Mail 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…
more -
How to Escape a Job You Hate and Discover New Career Opportunities - Ep. 281
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Sharyn Abbott, an unstoppable force in helping people break free from soul-crushing jobs and discover fulfilling work that truly fits who they are. We dig into why so many people feel trapped in jobs they hate and how you can reignite possibility in…
more -
Stop Overthinking: When You Don’t Have Enough Information to Decide - Ep. 280
Send us Fan Mail This week, we dig into the overwhelm of decision-making in a world packed with endless information and opinions. Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by choices, unsure if you’re picking the right path or just following what others expect? I share a late-night conversation with...
-
Playing Big: Andrea on Creativity, Courage, and Creating Memories That Last - Ep. 279
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Andrea, a master of joy and transformation who turned life’s setbacks into a thriving singing telegram business. Ever wondered what it takes to move from playing small to leaving a lasting impact? Andrea shares how a major life change led her to follow...
-
Overcoming Fear by Understanding Your Identity - Ep. 278
Send us Fan Mail This week, we're tackling a question that’s been haunting so many of us: Is fear really about not knowing something, or is it about not truly knowing yourself? If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Something’s got to change—I can’t keep doing this,” you’re in the right place.…
more -
Embracing Imperfection: Maria’s Journey Through Self-Doubt to Small Business Success
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with Maria, aka “the Spicy Chef,” for a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to leap out of a toxic work environment and into the unknown. Maria shares her journey from feeling trapped as an executive chef—even when she was...
-
You’re Not Really Afraid of Failing - Ep. 276
Send us Fan Mail This week, we break down one of the most misunderstood roadblocks in your career: the fear of failure. But here’s the twist—what if it’s not really failure you’re afraid of? I challenge the “fear of failure” myth and reveal the deeper anxiety that keeps so many of us from making...
-
The Truth About Job Market Scarcity and Finding Satisfaction Outside Your Comfort Zone - Ep. 275
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with Matt, who shares his powerful journey from burnout in a niche, soul-draining job to truly thriving in a role where growth and fulfillment are finally possible. We unpack what it feels like when every day at work is just “going through...
-
Why Waiting Is Worse: The Best Time To Act On Your Career Goals - Ep. 274
Send us Fan Mail This week, we tackle a myth that keeps too many professionals stuck in place: the belief that you’re “too old” to change careers, go back to school, or start over. Have you ever caught yourself thinking that you’ve missed your chance or that it’s simply too late? I open up about...
-
Breaking the Golden Handcuffs: Explore Meaningful Change in Life - Ep. 273
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Jon for a raw, relatable conversation about the uneasy tension between career success and personal fulfillment. Jon opens up about what it’s really like to be a top performer in digital advertising sales—crushing quotas, earning well, and working with...
-
Stop Waiting to Feel Ready: Decide and Take Action Ep. 272
Send us Fan Mail Do you constantly put things off until you finally “feel ready”? This week’s episode tackles the myth of ever being 100% ready before making a big move in your career or life. I open up about my own struggles with procrastination and perfectionism, sharing why waiting to feel…
more -
Reinventing Life After 50: Chasing Dreams and Change - Ep. 271
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Clint, a relentless dreamer who ditched stability for a shot at building something meaningful. Ever wonder what it really takes to reinvent your life after 50? Clint shares his raw, honest story: selling a thriving business, moving cross-country, and...
-
Making the Decision Right: Overcoming Analysis Paralysis in Your Career
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, we tackle the paralyzing fear of making the “wrong” decision—a mindset that leads so many smart professionals into analysis paralysis and a life they never truly chose. I share the all-too-relatable ice cream saga (yes, Chocoholic Chunk is still the...
-
Redefining Possibility: Overcoming Trauma and Building Forward Ep. 269
Send us Fan Mail This week, we're joined by Michael, whose journey is a masterclass in perseverance through radical change. From life on submarines and a dream engineering career to surviving a ruptured brain AVM that wiped out most of his memory, Michael’s story will grab you from the first...
-
Finding the Courage to Quit: Overcoming Fear and Taking the First Step
Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re tackling one of the scariest—yet most liberating—moves you’ll ever make in your career: finding the courage to quit when you know it’s time. Are you living with that nagging voice that says, “Something has got to change”? I open up about my own struggles with the...
-
Finding Purpose Beyond the Nine to Five: The Forward Kind Story
Send us Fan Mail What if you could keep your 9-to-5 and still build something deeply meaningful on the side? In this episode, I sit down with Mateo Platsidakis, the founder of The Forward Kind, to talk about what it means to chase “more” out of life without blowing up everything you already have....
-
Why Playing It Safe at Work Is the Riskiest Career Move
Send us Fan Mail This week, we challenge one of the biggest myths out there—the idea that a traditional job is supposed to make you feel safe and secure. Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “If I just made more money, then I’d finally feel safe”? I unpack why that sense of security you’re...
-
When a Layoff Opens the Door: Making Peace with Change
Send us Fan Mail This week, I sit down with Shruti, a fellow coach, to explore what really happens when you're handed an unexpected chance at a fresh start. Shruti opens up about her abrupt transition from IT operations—13 years strong—to making coaching her full-time pursuit after getting laid...
-
Breaking Free from Career Confusion: Trust Yourself and Move Forward
Send us Fan Mail Feeling lost or uncertain in your professional life? You’re not alone. In this episode of Unstuck Career, Ken Williams explores the concept of “career confusion”—that nagging realization that your current path might not be what you truly want. Drawing from his own winding journey...
-
Career Reset: Creating Success on Your Own Terms
Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m joined once again by Dave, whose leap from a high-powered executive role to founder of his own watch brand is nothing short of inspiring. Ever wonder what it’s like to step away from the “security” of corporate life—migraines and all—to chase a dream you never put…
more -
Overcoming the Too Late Myth in Your Career
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we’re tackling a question many wrestle with: Is it too late to make a change? After decades in corporate jobs, I faced this same crossroad myself and discovered it’s never too late to pursue work that aligns with your true goals. Whether you’re in your 30s…
more -
Turning the Odds Stacked Against You Into Success
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with Drew, a hot sauce entrepreneur whose inspiring journey is anything but ordinary. You might have seen him on the Kelly Clarkson Show or blowing up on TikTok, but what you haven’t heard is how a school project and a “bad grade” launched…
more -
Why Playing It Safe May Be the Riskiest Career Move
Send us Fan Mail In today's Friday Focus episode, Ken dives into one of the biggest barriers holding professionals back: the comfort of playing it safe. As the landscape of jobs and industries shifts—thanks to changing economies, new technologies, and unexpected policy changes—the old promise of...
-
Breaking Through Money Ceilings: Transforming Limiting Beliefs for Financial Abundance
Send us Fan Mail This week, we get real about money mindsets with returning guest Karen Thomas, the Surefire Income Guru, whose motto—“a better life is a choice”—guides this candid conversation. We crack open the hidden limiting beliefs around money that so many of us carry without recognizing…
more -
Why Smart People Stay Too Long in Jobs They Hate
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself stuck in a job you know isn’t right, but can’t seem to leave? You’re not alone. In this episode, Ken dives deep into the surprising reasons why smart, capable professionals often stay in roles they dislike. From the traps of overthinking and the drive...
-
Surviving Career Shifts and Job Insecurity
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with Corey Holzer, who’s right in the thick of a huge career pivot: taking the leap from a long military career into the private sector. We dig into his personal journey and the real, raw emotions that come with leaving behind the...
-
What To Do When You Don't Know What You Want In Your Career
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Unstuck Career! In this episode, Ken dives into that nagging question so many professionals face: What do you do when you aren't sure what you want from your career? Are you stuck settling for a life you never chose, repeating the same old patterns, or feeling...
-
Finding Purpose in Every Career Stop
Send us Fan Mail This week, we welcome Connor Laurent to the show for a conversation about carving your own path when the traditional rules of career advancement just don’t fit. From day one in finance, Connor has been guided not by a rigid ladder, but by a mindset of treating every job like a...
-
What to Do When Your Career Is Not the One You Chose
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever looked up from the daily grind and realized your career ladder is leaning against the wrong wall? In this episode of Unstuck Career, Ken dives into what happens when the career you have isn’t the one you truly chose—or wanted. If the phrase “something has got to...
-
Turning Lemons into Lasagna: Your Mindset Controls your Destiny
Send us Fan Mail This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with the remarkable Sarah Ausby for a raw and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to rebuild, reinvent, and get “unstuck”—even when life pushes you out of your comfort zone. Sarah doesn’t just talk about career pivots; she’s...
-
Why SMART Goals Fail and What You Should Do Instead
Send us Fan Mail If you've ever felt frustrated or stuck after trying—and failing—to achieve SMART goals, you're not alone. This week on Unstuck Career, Speaker A dives into why SMART goals might actually be holding you back and why it's not your fault if they haven’t worked for you. We’ll…
more -
Unlearning Lessons to for a More Authentic Career
Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re joined by Sarah Bonello, a remarkable guest who took the leap from a well-trodden corporate path to adventure and fulfillment on a Hawaiian farm. Ever wondered what it’s like to walk away from the “safe” route of a consulting career, sell your car, and drop the...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Unstuck Career is hosted by Ken Williams, an entrepreneur who made a bold career shift at age 55 after spending 16 years in the same job. Now building his own business, Ken is on a mission to help others break free from unfulfilling work and create a better life.
This podcast is for burned-out, frustrated professionals who feel stuck in toxic jobs, underpaid roles, or careers that no longer fit, and know they’re meant for something more.
Each week, Ken shares powerful conversations with people who have successfully made the leap (or are in the process of doing it) alongside practical Friday Focus episodes packed with mindset shifts and actionable strategies. Listeners will learn how to take control of their careers, build momentum toward change, and create work that aligns with the life they actually want.
If you’re ready to stop settling and start moving, this show will help you get there.
HOSTED BY
Ken Williams
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Unstuck Career have?
The Unstuck Career currently has 300 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Unstuck Career about?
The Unstuck Career is hosted by Ken Williams, an entrepreneur who made a bold career shift at age 55 after spending 16 years in the same job. Now building his own business, Ken is on a mission to help others break free from unfulfilling work and create a better life. This podcast is for burned-out,...
How often does The Unstuck Career release new episodes?
The Unstuck Career publishes regularly with 300 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Unstuck Career?
You can listen to The Unstuck Career on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Unstuck Career?
The Unstuck Career is created and hosted by Ken Williams.
URL copied to clipboard!