Fear, Faith and the Forest
Fear, Faith, and the Forest: A Podcast of Hope for the Unemployed
If you're unemployed, you know the struggle. Hundreds of applications. Ghosting. Late-stage rejections. The 3 AM panic. The identity crisis. The endless negativity about how "the market is dead" and "AI is taking over."
Fear, Faith, and the Forest is a weekly podcast for people walking through unemployment—created by someone still in the trenches with you. Moving forward. Driven by faith.
About the Host
Rich Zapata is an unemployed software engineering leader with 12+ years of experience. After 7 years at a fintech company, his position was eliminated in January 2025. Nine months later, he's still searching—and he's not waiting until he "makes it" to share what he's learned.
This podcast isn't a victory lap. It's a real-time guide through the Forest.
Fear, Faith and the Forest
Episode 4: You Are Not Your Title - Identity Detox
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One of the hardest parts of unemployment isn't the job search—it's the identity crisis. Who are you without your title? In this episode, Rich talks about why so many of us tie our identity to our jobs, what happens when that's stripped away, and how to build a sense of self that can't be taken by a layoff. He shares what grounded him through his own journey—faith, fatherhood, and knowing what he brings to the table beyond a business card.
Thank you for listening!