The Career Cantina

They don’t want you to think.
They want you to react.

Every scroll, every ping, every “must-read” headline is engineered to steal your focus.

So how do you take it back?

This episode isn’t a rant—it’s a playbook.
If you’ve ever felt mentally drained just from checking the news, this one's for you.

It’s the final part of the media literacy series, and maybe the most personal.

Listen now.

#Podcast #MediaLiteracy #AttentionEco...

Remember The Gong Show? A chaotic talent competition where bad acts were cut short by the sound of a giant gong. Today’s content landscape isn’t much different.

This episode explores what happens when everyone is performing for your attention—and how job seekers can cut through the noise using the FEEL / KNOW / DO protocol. If you’ve ever scrolled your feed and wondered, “Why did I just read that?” this is for you.

#jobsearch #career...

🎧 Behind the Curtain: Surviving the Age of Amplification
Is Agentic AI the future of work—or just a better-dressed Clippy?

In this episode, we follow the Yellow Brick Road of AI hype, where every vendor is a wizard, every headline is a spell, and flying monkeys come with chatbots. You’ll hear why some AI promises sound too good to be true, what “Agentic AI” really means (and doesn’t), and how to navigate it all with heart, brain...

🎧 New Episode: The Barry InMail Job Scam Breakdown
You know what’s worse than a scam email?
A LinkedIn InMail that preys on your career goals before you've finished your first sip of Red Bull.

In this episode of The Career Cantina, we unpack one real message from a mysterious “recruitment assistant” named Barry — and what it reveals about how modern job scams have evolved. From vague promises to emotional manipulation, th...

Agentic AI: the sleek, self-driving secret-agent you’ve been promised for your job search—right?

In this intel drop from The Career Cantina, we suit up to separate the blockbuster fantasy from the everyday reality:

• What “Agentic” really means (and why we’re not there—yet)

• How today’s AI tools can assist but not command

• Why you’re still M, calling the shots on every mission

Grab your briefing, keep your expectations calibrated, ...

You're the Pilot, AI is Your Wookiee. But what’s the mission? Total Career Fitness. That means building a memorable reputation that algorithms can't create for you.

This episode is your flight manual.

Learn how to steer the conversation, feed AI the right signals so it works for you, and tell a story so compelling you become the candidate they have to call. That's the difference between being found and being remembered.

R...

Feeling stuck in the job search maze? Discover The Case of the Missing Job—a detective-style blueprint to craft a killer elevator pitch and master the interview dance. Inspired by messaging strategist Alex James, this episode reveals how to name the real problem, call out common mistakes, and prove your unique value with confidence and clarity. Plus, learn why interviews are conversations, not tests, and how to own your career stor...

Feeling uncertain about your next career move? HR strategist Tammy Rainey has been through three company mergers in five years, and turned every shake-up into a springboard. In this bonus episode of The Career Cantina learn how to:

• swap panic for curiosity when the org chart flips

• spot hidden upskilling moments in new tools and workflows

• build alliances that survive layoffs and reorgs

• keep your résumé, LinkedIn, and mindset “opport...

Think of it like Luke’s journey from moisture-farm extra to lightsaber-wielding hero: you’ve been handed a script—job descriptions, career ladders, the whole Tatooine scene—but your true power ignites when you rewrite it. In this episode, we dive into why education—curiosity-driven, dessert-style learning—becomes your holocron, transforming you from passive performer into the director of your own destiny.

So strap in, banish the com...

Holmes is on the case—and this time, the mystery isn’t a criminal, it’s AI hype.

In this final chapter of the “Engagement” arc from the R.I.S.E.E. Job Search Framework, we investigate how job seekers can stay discoverable in a world of automation, algorithms, and uncertainty.

You’ll learn how to:
🔎 Optimize for ATS without losing your humanity
💡 Build digital visibility that works 24/7
🧠 Future-proof your presence for age...

If Episode 11 got you thinking differently about job search intensity, this episode gives you the structure to act on it.

We’re moving past the switch and into the dial.
What does it mean to be at a 1 versus a 10? And what about all the settings in between?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What branding looks like at the lowest dial levels

• What marketing looks like when you're fully engaged

• How to operate at 4–7 without bur...

🎙️ New Episode Drop: “The Job Search Dial – Finding Your Career Intensity Setting”

You’ve been told to “turn on the job search switch” when you’re looking and “turn it off” when you’re not.
But what if that mindset is setting you up to fail?

In this episode, we explore a better model: the job search dial.

We’ll cover:

• Why the old switch model no longer fits today’s career landscape

• What it means to operate at different intensity...

Interviewing is a lot like dancing: there are structured steps (STAR and CAD frameworks), but the real magic unfolds when you blend diligent rehearsal with genuine authenticity. In this episode, "Nobody Puts Your Career in the Corner: Mastering the Interview Dance," you'll discover practical, actionable methods to sharpen your interview skills through targeted practice—without sacrificing your personality.

You'll l...

🎙️ Bonus Episode: The Trick Behind the Click
What do stage magicians and AI tools have in common? More than you think.

In this quick bonus episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the illusion baked into every prompt you write. It’s part monologue, part magic show, part wake-up call for anyone who’s handed over their critical thinking in exchange for speed.

This isn’t about doom. It’s about design.
And the trick… is knowing yo...

Interview Like a Dancer: Part II – Alignment and Agility

You’ve nailed the basics. You’ve told your story and shown you can follow the interview rhythm. But what happens when the tempo changes?

In Part II of Interview Like a Dancer, we explore the second half of the interview conversation—where values, adaptability, and improvisation take center stage. Learn how to spot when the interview shifts from verification and validation to so...

What if your next interview felt less like an interrogation and more like a dance?

In this week’s episode of The Career Cantina, we explore the rhythm behind a well-executed interview. From the classic moves of the STAR method to the strategic flow of CAD (Conclusion, Argument, Data), this episode is all about understanding the choreography.

We unpack what hiring managers are really doing with those early questions—Verification and V...

The first episode covering Simulation in the RISE Job Search Framework is here. Interviews are high-stakes conversations, but too often job seekers rely on rigid structures like the STAR method, turning their answers into rehearsed scripts rather than authentic dialogue.

In this episode, we explore the balance between preparation and personality, why structured responses can become a crutch, and how to practice smarter using AI tool...