Today's episode gets real when Serenity and her guest, Ryan Long, tell their layoff stories. Serenity was laid off from a director's role in market research. Ryan was let go from a management role at a company that manufactured holiday lighting, a workplace he found surprisingly dreary when he first arrived. Besides the work stories, today's episode has a lot of firsts, including a guest appearance by one of Ryan's daughters and a blooper we really should have cut.

CHAPTERS
2:18 Let’s meet Ryan
8:55 What makes a creative
10:09 A codeword and a special guest
13:58 Being let go: It’s personal
14:40 Ryan’s story
19:14 Serenity’s story
26:37 What it feels like
35:16 Jobs & Identity
39:20 Do we stay too long?
50:27 We are making this
55:47 What will we do next?
1:13:02 It Worked for Me
1:17:35 It is Personal (refrain)

Links
Nov 12 is the last day to vote for Serenity to reach the top of her group in the Top Host contest: https://tophost.org/2026/serenity-bohon
Rate I Do This for a Living on your favorite place to listen or watch: https://idothisforaliving.buzzsprout.com/2503107/follow

Books Mentioned
The Art of Nonconformity by Chris Guillebeau: https://geni.us/theartofnonconformity
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

I Do This for a Living is sponsored by H34 Contracting

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

Ashley Mayer Tocchet is a dance instructor based in Los Angeles. It has always been dance for Ashley. Her career has included performance, competition, design, teaching, managing studios, and starting her own business when she was only 23. She accomplished all this with determination and systems, two things she hoped would help her achieve her dream of becoming a mother. Instead, she faced the fear that some dreams are outside our control. They may even require a miracle.

Ashley online: https://www.amdanceconnection.com/

Chapters
1:14 Introducing Ashley
5:00 Dance for a Living
10:29 Relationship Coaching
17:28 It Was Always Dance
21:56 Ashley's Other Dream
23:28 Finding Ballroom
29:39 Starting a Business at 23
32:53 A New Path: Competition
35:56 New Beginnings in Los Angeles
40:27 Finding Love
44:35 The Journey of IVF and Parenthood
47:19 Counting the Cost
54:50 It Worked for Me

This episode is sponsored by H34 Contracting.

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

Andrew Bohon is a newly sworn-in lawyer and clerk for a Judge on the Missouri Supreme Court. Describing a number of spiritual and practical layers behind his decision, Andrew has been unwavering in his pursuit of a career in law since he first felt its pull. And that was in middle school! Andrew and Serenity (mom and son) have wildly different career stories but a shared love of reading, writing, singing, and quoting Friends. You'll hear about all of it in this episode of I Do This for a Living. Note: Andrew Bohon approved this picture from childhood.

Chapters
3:37 Supreme Court Clerk
9:06 Aspirations
20:54 Pulled Like a Magnet
23:01 Practicalities
27:07 Choosing a Major
34:31 Burnout Dangers
42:30 Learning to Rest
52:56 It Worked for Me

This episode is sponsored by H34Contracting.com.

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com