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
From Forbes to Founder: Turning a Layoff Into a Podcast Booking Business
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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 around one core belief: helping people share their stories is the fastest way to build trust and influence—especially in the age of AI.
We talk about what James actually did at Forbes on the integrated marketing/revenue side, why podcasts are an “always-on” distribution channel compared to sporadic press hits, and how Wonderfish approaches booking as a full system—from a storytelling workshop and hook development to AI-assisted show research, outreach, guest prep, and content repurposing.
James also breaks down what makes a pitch work (including a standout “this could bankrupt your company” hook), why confidence is the real unlock for guests, and what he’s building next—automation, one-to-many education (LinkedIn Live/workshops), and tools that help more people tell better stories.
Links:
- Wonderfish: https://wonderfish.xyz
- James Colistra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescolistra/
💼 Partner: Jobhire.ai — Apply to jobs while you sleep. 30% off with code DRAY30 → jobhire.ai/job-matcher/?imutm=dray (you must use that link)
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Thanks for supporting The Reboot Era — every follow, share, and tip helps me keep making content for anyone navigating layoffs, pivots, and everything in between.
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.
