In this deeply human episode of The Reboot Era, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of job loss, job searching, and the quiet fight to keep going. Host Dray Jankowski is joined by two guests — Christine Vela, a seasoned sales and business development expert with decades of experience and multiple layoffs behind her, and Ry Mantione, a marketing pro and creative force navigating unemployment, identity, and reinvention in Los Angeles.
Together, they share stories of resilience, rejection, and self-discovery — from Christine’s pivot into healthcare sales to Ry’s 1,200+ job applications and 87 online courses. We talk candidly about mental health, cutting costs to survive, staying creative, navigating LinkedIn, and why being yourself might be your greatest asset during a layoff.
✨ If you’ve ever felt lost, overlooked, or mentally drained by the job search — this episode is for you.
🔍 We cover:
Whether you’re in your first layoff or your fifth, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe even hopeful.
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🔗 Christine Vela on LinkedIn
🔗 Ry Mantione on LinkedIn
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Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.
