The Reboot Era
Layoffs. Burnout. Reinvention. Welcome to the messy middle of career change — and the community that's not afraid to talk about it.
Hosted by Dray Jankowski, a former tech program manager laid off in 2025, The Reboot Era is part unfiltered storytelling, part emotional support group, and part career comeback plan. Through weekly solo episodes and candid guest interviews, we explore what it really means to rebuild your life — professionally, emotionally, and financially.
We’re not here to sell you hope. We’re here to tell the truth — with humor, heart, and a little chaos.
Each episode dives into one of our seven pillars:
• Layoffs & Unemployment
• Motivation & Momentum
• Strategy & Income
• Redirection & Reinvention
• Mental Health & Renewal
• Closure & Reflection
• Identity & Calling
If you’ve ever screamed into a throw pillow after reading a rejection email — this is your place.
🎧 New episodes every week.
💬 Got a story of your own? Come tell it. This isn’t just my era — it’s ours!
The Reboot Era
Latest Episodes
AI, Networking, and Career Growth: What Actually Works Today
In this episode, Dray sits down with Sharon Markowitz, founder of Your Career Wings and former product marketing leader at Zoom, to unpack what it really takes to navigate today’s job market.From experiencing layoffs firsthand to coachin...
Rooted in Reinvention: A Layoff Story with Flavor
What happens when a 17-year career comes to an unexpected end?In this episode, I sit down with Steve Fiore, who shares his journey from long-term corporate leadership into an unplanned chapter of reflection, creativity, and reinve...
From Microsoft Layoff to CEO: The Human Side of Reinvention
In July 2025, 9,000 employees were laid off in a single day.Quentin Cobb was one of them.After 17 years in the gaming industry — working across studios owned by Sony, Bethesda, and Microsoft — Quentin suddenly found himself asking...
From Forbes to Founder: Turning a Layoff Into a Podcast Booking Business
In this episode of Reboot Era, James shares the emotional aftermath of being laid off, the uncomfortable silence of job applications going nowhere, and the pivot that led him to launch Wonderfish, a podcast booking agency built ...
Laid Off After 30 Years: What Corporate Leadership Still Gets Wrong
Layoffs may be framed as business decisions—but for the people impacted, they’re deeply personal.In this episode, Dray sits down with Mark Nickerson, a leadership and management coach with 30 years of experience in the tech indust...
