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

Raven Nickerson holds a degree in promotional planning that she has never used and a Master's in Divinity, which she uses to be a volunteer chaplain. She is also a substitute elementary teacher who has taught preschool at home to her own kids. These are things Raven is today. Ask her in a couple of weeks, and the hats may have changed. "Dreams are big in this house," she says of herself and her husband (Lt. Joe Nickerson, from a previous episode). Raven says she does not ever expect to be fully content because she will always have aspirations and questions to pursue. Incidentally, asking questions is not defiance! Raven's conversation is fascinating, funny, and relatable. I hope it inspires us all to keep imagining what could be next.

Chapters
2:11 Who is Raven Nickerson
8:08 Questions are Not Defiance
13:12 Seasons and Personality Types
18:37 I didn't think I would live past 18
21:44 First Career
24:55 Transition to Ministry
38:02 Not Yet Content
45:44 How Each Job Fits
54:39 It Worked for Me

This episode is sponsored by H34Contracting.com.

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

Serenity visits with her long-time friend, Fr. Mike Coleman. We told the audience in the intro episode that we want to highlight a million different kinds of jobs on this show, and it's still the goal. Fr. Mike and Serenity talk about what led him to feeling called to this work, what it takes to get there, and the fact that he doesn't think of it as work at all. There are very few stories that inspire like a person who loves their work. We think you'll be inspired, too.

Chapters
3:05 Introducing Fr. Mike
6:10 A Glimpse of the Calling
10:36 Becoming a Priest
20:58 Priestly To-Do's
30:17 St. Louis Cardinals!
35:06 There's a Priest in this Car
39:50 It Worked for Me

Links
Vote for Serenity in the Top Host contest (and sign up for reminders) Go to serenitybohon.com/guest and scroll to the bottom. While you're there, sign up to be a guest!
Direct link to vote for Serenity: tophost.org/2026/serenity-bohon

Sponsored by H34Contracting.com

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

Today's guest is Parker Bohon. Only four years out of college, Parker has found a remote job that offers a positive work culture and the perfect work-life balance for a new mother. Encouraged throughout her life to be kind and work hard, Parker has found success at work by doing just that. In life, Parker is determined to keep a growth mindset and to love well. Her conversation with Serenity, who happens to be her mother-in-law, touches on all these things and more, including the encouragement that a degree is NOT who you are.

Chapters
1:46 Who is Parker Bohon
8:03 Billable Hours
10:55 Remote for the Win
14:44 Degree Talk
21:01 When Life Surprises You
41:09 That Grown Up Life
42:54 Still Dreaming
47:11 Being Mama
47:45 It Worked for Me

This episode is sponsored by H34Contracting.com.

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

It's Episode 25! Serenity invites journalist and podcast host Jodie O'Brien to celebrate 25 episodes of I Do This For a Living. Jodie teaches us that journalism is more than a skill; it is a worldview. She is a proud graduate of the Mizzou School of Journalism, the oldest journalism school in the country and part of the University of Missouri (Mizzou Rah!). Today, Jodie hosts two podcasts, Influential Women and 39/94. The latter features residents of the northwest corridor of Missouri where Jodie lives and works. Jodie is passionate about local news and featuring the amazing stories we can all find in our friends and neighbors next door.

Chapters
4:11 Jodie's Professional Journey
14:05 Journalism is a worldview
24:44 Make it local
44:41 Dream Roles and Aspirations
45:53 Advice to Our Younger Selves
47:28 Finding Authenticity
50:43 Make it short and simple!
53:05 It Worked for Me

Links

jodieobrien.com

The 39/94 podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-39-94/id1840534384

The 39/94 Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/cw/The3994

Influential Women podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influential-women-podcast/id1850947661

This episode is sponsored by H34Contracting.com

For the beaded designs Serenity’s wearing today: https://www.instagram.com/createinthemargins/

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

serenitybohon.substack.com

Serenity welcomes Kiyoko Hairston, author of the children's book Freeda's Fabnificent Feet. As a young adult, Kiyoko earned her SAG card for delivering a line in a movie with Jeff Bridges and Barbara Streisand. While her acting career continued for a time, today Kiyoko is confident in her identity as a storyteller. Her new children's book empowers readers to see their perceived weaknesses as superpowers. Kiyoko's personal story is about figuring out what fills your heart and staying in alignment with what you know you're meant to do until the perfect timing brings it all together.

Chapters
2:20 Who is Kiyoko Hairston
8:56 Work keeps us apart
11:36 Actress Dreams + Reality
31:00 I am a Storyteller
35:44 Freeda’s Fabnificent Feet
56:17 The Perfect Time is Now
1:17:59 What Fills Your heart
1:21:56 It worked for me

Links
FreedasFabnificentFeet.com
Kiyoko on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedasfreedom2025/

I Do This For a Living is independently produced.

@serenitylive