Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search
How do you find meaningful work that pays really well? How do high performers find purpose and happiness in their career? The hope that there is more out there than feeling anxious, burned out, unfulfilled and stuck in your career has led you here! If you’re ready to find work you love that allows you the flexibility and autonomy to prioritize the things most important to you, then you’re in the right place! This kind of work not only exists, but there’s a better way to get there (and it’s not scrolling through job boards). This podcast will challenge you to reconsider what meaningful work looks like and expand your beliefs on what is truly possible for your career & life (and even your job search). Join Scott Anthony Barlow, CEO of Happen To Your Career (HTYC), as he brings you weekly learnings through conversations with successful career changers and experts in psychology, negotiation, signature strengths, happiness, work culture, and unconventional career change. Past guests include Daniel Pink, Gretchen Rubin, Marshall Goldsmith, Jen Sincero, Jenny Blake, Nir Eyal, Vanessa Van Edwards, J.J. Sutherland, Mac Pritchard, Lauren McGoodwin ( Career Contessa ), Dave Stachowiak ( Coaching For Leaders ) Work doesn’t have to suck. You truly can find work you freaking love! Let us show you how you can “happen to your career.”
Episodes
What happens when your “dream career change” doesn’t fit? Louie left a 15-year career in medical imaging for IT—only to discover the stress was wrecking his health and family life. In this episode, he shares how he quit without a backup plan, used LinkedIn networking to reconnect with his old field, and landed a role that gave him balance, purpose, and energy again.
What you’ll learn
What if your job looks perfect on paper but leaves you drained and unfulfilled? For Paul Ichilcik, the breaking point came when he realized he was spending 80-90% of his time on work that didn’t align with his strengths. This episode reveals how Paul challenged assumptions, let go of “security,” and made an intentional career change that finally brought alignment and energy back into his life.
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What if “employee engagement” isn’t about perks, promotions, or free yoga — but about building a career that actually fits you? In this episode, Rachel Cooke (founder of Lead Above Noise and host of the Modern Mentor Podcast) joins Scott to share the 4 pillars of employee experience and how you can use them to grow, thrive, and find fulfillment at work — without waiting on your company to change. Whether you’re feeling stuck, burne...
What if the most awkward career move of your life became the best thing that ever happened? Karen Senger shares how being “passed over” for a role led her to uncover her non-negotiables, align with her strengths, and step into her dream job.
What you’ll learn
- How an awkward career twist turned into Karen’s dream job.
- Why smaller career shifts can be just as powerful as big piv...
What if losing your job was actually the first step toward finding your best-fit career? After being laid off, Melissa Shapiro fought fear, built confidence, and discovered a career that aligned with her strengths. In this episode, she reveals the strategies, mindset shifts, and lessons that helped her transform job loss into opportunity.
What you’ll learn
- What to do immediate...
What happens when decades of success collide with a health scare, misalignment, and doubt about the future? After nearly 20 years in healthcare sales, Glenn Strecker faced a rare spinal cord tumor that forced him to reevaluate everything — his health, his values, and his career. At 61, he discovered it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, refuse compromise, and build a career that truly aligns with who you are.
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When Brian was laid off after years in leadership, he felt rejected, desperate, and unsure of his next move. But instead of rushing into the wrong role, he stepped back, rebuilt his confidence, and used HTYC’s Ideal Career Profile to finally align his work with his values. In this episode, Brian shares how a painful setback turned into a powerful career pivot that brought clarity, balance, and fulfillment.
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Most job seekers approach interviews like a test — trying to guess the “right answers.” That’s the biggest mistake you can make.
After sitting in on more than 6,000 interviews, Scott Anthony Barlow and talent acquisition expert Megan Crawford reveal what hiring managers really want: authentic conversations, not scripted performances.
What you’ll learn:
- Stop overthinking what h...
When Nick’s customer success role shifted into a high-pressure sales position, he quickly realized he was forcing himself into a job that didn’t fit. Instead of powering through, he discovered his strengths, redefined what he truly wanted, and made a pivot into finance — without starting over. In this episode, Scott Anthony Barlow and Nick break down the exact steps he took to move from misaligned work to a career that finally feel...
Is boredom at work enough to justify a career change? Lisa Vu reveals how career apathy quietly derails fulfillment, why it’s just as dangerous as burnout, and how to break free from comfort zones to build a career that actually fits.
What you’ll learn
- Why you...
👉 The biggest obstacle in your career change isn’t your boss, your industry, or the economy—it’s you. In this episode, Scott Anthony Barlow shares real-life advice from people who overcame self-doubt, fear, and procrastination to build meaningful work. Discover how to get out of your own way, take the next step with confidence, and finally create a career that fits.
Negotiating a job offer can feel intimidating. You want to ask for more without sounding greedy or risking the offer. In this episode, negotiation expert and author David Sally shares why the best negotiators are both tough and fair, and how you can use this approach to land the compensation and role you deserve. You’ll learn how to prepare effectively, avoid common mistakes, ...
What if the #1 networking strategy you’ve been told to use is actually holding you back? In this episode, Scott Anthony Barlow reveals the smarter, faster way to find your dream career: Test Drive Conversations. Learn how this simple shift can open doors, build genuine connections, and help you land a role you truly love—without ever asking for a job.
What you’ll learn
- The #1 ...
Quitting your job doesn’t always fix burnout — sometimes, it follows you. In this episode, Amanda Love shares how a bridge role gave her the space, stability, and clarity to recover, reset, and make an intentional career change.
What you’ll learn
- Why quitting your job may not cure burnout — and what actually works
- How a bridge role creates space for recovery and intentional care...
A career change isn’t permanent—no matter how much time and effort you’ve invested. After transitioning from academia to a research role, Michal Balass realized within nine months that it wasn’t the perfect fit. In this “Where Are They Now?” episode, she shares how the lessons and self-discovery from her fir...
She had the PhD, the career, the stability—then parenthood changed everything. This episode dives into Michal’s bold career change after parenthood and how she stopped living on autopilot.
What you’ll learn
You’re not stuck because you lack ambition—you’re stuck because something big has shifted. How Burnout, Breakups, and Babies Trigger Career Change.
In this episode, Scott walks through 3 of the 16 powerful life events—what we call Career Change Catalysts—that often trigger career transformation. You’ll hear real stories from people who faced burnout, identity shifts, and quiet career misalignment… and how they used those moments to...
What if quitting isn’t the answer? Jill’s journey proves that experimenting with your career while still employed can create powerful ripple effects and open new possibilities.
What you’ll learn
What happens when burnout, a toxic work environment, and an unaligned life all hit at once? For Jackie, the answer was a bold, full-life transformation. She left a toxic job, ended a long-term relationship, and made a career change that finally felt aligned with her values, her energy, and her purpose.
What you’ll learn
- How to identify when a “better” job still isn’t the right...
The way you communicate could be the reason you're stuck, OR the reason you get ahead. Charles Duhigg shares the Supercommunicator framework that helps you nail interviews, lead better meetings, and have the career-defining conversations that actually get results.
What you’ll learn
- How to shift from “saying the right thing” to actually connecting
- How top performers approach im...
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