What if the riskiest move isn’t going all in but walking away when something no longer fits? Kim Kerton didn’t leave her media career with a clear plan. She left because she knew something wasn’t right. What followed was a search for a business idea that took her through yoga, ceramics, and creative experiments in remote Tasmania, all of which eventually led to her podcast and business, Unemployed and Afraid. Host Andrea Marquez unpacks how Kim redefined risk not as betting it all on one big idea, but as giving herself permission to experiment, try, pivot and start again. You’ll hear how she used creative detours to find clarity, why walking away can be the smartest move and how she turned vulnerability into her growth strategy. If you’re stuck waiting for the perfect idea, this episode will show you how experimentation can be a powerful and intentional part of building something meaningful.
Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
(02:06) How do you bounce back after a failed first venture? Kim shares her crash course in marketing, management and resilience.
(04:50) Burned out but unsure what’s next? Hear how Kim left a corporate career and gave herself time to experiment.
(08:12) What happens when your purpose doesn’t show up on time? Kim reflects on her early experiments and what they taught her about creativity and identity.
(12:30) What makes an idea stick? Kim breaks down how she came up with the idea of Unemployed and Afraid, knew podcasting was the right fit, and why she built it like a business from day one.
(18:15) Is working solo all it’s cracked up to be? Kim explains why she chose to diversify and go back to a company she once left.
(21:12) Struggling to tell the difference between a rough patch and a red flag? Kim shares how she makes the call to pivot.
(23:50) What does failure actually mean? Kim reframes it as momentum and explains how she got addicted to building, not just succeeding.
(26:48) Can a 10% hunch lead to your next big move? Kim’s advice for anyone waiting to feel “ready” to start.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!