The Unstuck Career
Stuck in your career? Feeling overlooked, undervalued, or unsure of your next move? The Unstuck Career is your roadmap to breaking free and unlocking your next level—whether that’s a promotion, career change, or more fulfillment in your current role. Hosted by Ken Williams, career strategist and leadership coach, this podcast delivers practical strategies, expert insights, and real-world advice to help you gain clarity, build confidence, and take action. Each episode will help you: - Identify what’s keeping you stuck and how to move forward - Learn proven tactics to land promotions and increase your income - Build a career you love—without waiting for permission - Develop the mindset and skills to navigate career challenges with confidence If you're tired of spinning your wheels and ready to take control of your future, hit play and start making real progress today! Subscribe now and take the first step toward your next career breakthrough.
Episodes
Ready to ditch your mediocre New Year’s resolutions and finally set goals that stick? This week, I’m going solo to share the hard-won truth about why most goal-setting systems—especially the classic “SMART goals”—just don’t work for most of us. I open up about my own repeated failures, the guilt and frustration of watching motivation fade by week two, and the breakthrough framework that transformed my approach after 5...
This week, we're talking about the power of unexpected kindness—and yes, chocolate cake! I kick things off by sharing what inspired my TEDx talk, “The Chocolate Cake Phenomenon” (linked in the show notes), and how a simple act like baking and sharing cake became a unique way to build lasting connections. We also revisit the inspiring story of Beth, a former teacher and a recent podcast guest, who traded the class...
This week on Unstuck Career, I sit down with Emma, a behavior analyst from the Chicago area, for a raw and refreshing conversation about what it really feels like to be “stuck” in your career after achieving a significant milestone. Fresh off her master’s degree, Emma found herself in a demanding role as a BCBA—overseeing therapy, coaching parents and teachers, and navigating high-intensity situations with little room...
This Friday, I’m pulling back the curtain on the “SMART goals” myth—a system that’s supposed to help you achieve more, but actually keeps you stuck. As we roll into the final stretch of the year, I break down why SMART goals aren’t designed for personal growth and how their rigid rules like “attainable” and “time-bound” can lead to frustration and self-doubt. Ever set a goal and felt lost when you didn’t meet the dead...
This week on Unstuck Career, we're switching things up—I'm stepping out of the comfort zone and talking with a guest who's right in the thick of it. Knives Monroe, a creative director, filmmaker, and longtime content creator, joins me for a raw, real-time exploration of what it means to face a career crossroads. Fresh off a recent layoff, Knives opens up about the challenge of leaving behind the “steady...
This week, we crack open the myth of “fear of failure” and reveal what’s really holding so many of us back in our careers—and lives. Ever put off applying for a new job, trying a risky project, or even wearing a wild Christmas suit because you’re worried you’ll mess up? In this Friday Focus episode, I share some personal stories (including my infamous sourdough starter disasters and those bold holiday suits) to show t...
This week, you’ll meet Andrew Darlow, whose journey from the magic of a high school darkroom to photographing luxury watches and world travels will have you seeing everyday moments in a new light. From his early experiences in Japan that sparked a lifelong love for visual storytelling, to the creative leap into building a commercial photo studio, Andrew’s story is packed with adventure, risk, and the power of followin...
This week on Unstuck Career, we tackle one of the most overlooked obstacles to a fulfilling life: rebuilding self-trust. I open up about the subtle—and sometimes sneaky—ways we undermine our own confidence, from saying small white lies to ourselves, to making commitments we never truly intend to keep. I share the game-changing shift that helped me rebuild my self-trust, including real examples of how simply following ...
This week, we meet with Cathy Ahron, who navigated the complex journey from being a traditional wife and stay-at-home mom to forging a new life after a major transition. You’ll hear how Cathy’s international experiences—from Prague to Brazil—shaped her perspective on fulfillment and identity.
Get an inside look at the challenges (and unexpected lessons) that come with marital upheaval, parenting through adversity, and...
This week, we dig into the heart of the “approval addict trap,” a subtle but powerful force that keeps so many of us stuck in our careers. Have you ever hesitated to make a bold move or wanted to change directions, only to hold back because you were waiting for someone else’s approval—whether it’s your boss, your parents, or even your peers? I share intimate stories from my own experience in management, opening up abo...
This week, you’ll meet Jason Powell, who transformed a frustrating 9-to-5 grind into a vibrant career in stand-up comedy and coaching. You’ll hear how embracing risk and letting go of fear helped Jason find his true calling at 35—and how the rules of comedy, like saying “yes, and” and practicing the “rule of 10,” not only made him a better comedian but also a standout leader, mentor, and parent. If you’re feeling stuc...
This week, Ken Williams helps you break out of the perfection trap and build real consistency in your career and life. You’ll discover why it's okay to “suck” at your goals but not okay to skip them, and learn practical strategies for overcoming slip-ups without giving up on your ambitions. Plus, Ken sets the stage for his upcoming goals masterclass to help you finish the year strong and set yourself up for a pow...
This week, we meet with Dave from North Carolina, who shares how running a side hustle—starting with a drop shipping t-shirt business and growing into his own watch brand—transformed his perspective and skills in corporate America.
You’ll hear how building a business on the side gave him practical experience in everything from marketing to logistics, and how those insights helped him stand out in his day job. Plus, Da...
This week, you join Ken Williams as he tackles the challenge of overthinking in your career and life. You’ll discover why trying to predict the future keeps you stuck and how making decisions—rather than endlessly weighing options—opens the door to new opportunities. Plus, Ken shares personal stories that highlight the power of taking action and trusting yourself so you can finally get unstuck and unstoppable.
This week, you’ll join me for for a solo episode all about planting seeds for your future—even when you can’t see the results yet. You’ll learn how career goals are like planting corn, radishes, bamboo, or even an oak tree: some achievements sprout quickly, while others take years of patience and nurturing. You’ll also explore how belief and persistence play a crucial role in reaching your goals, with personal stories...
This week, you join Ken Williams for a Friday Focus episode all about breaking free from waiting for permission in your career and life. You’ll hear Ken’s personal stories of wanting a promotion but holding back until someone else validated his readiness—and how that pattern held him back for years. You’ll learn why waiting for others to approve your career moves can cost you time, money, and happiness, and how claimi...
On this week’s episode of the Unstuck Career podcast, host Ken Williams sits down with Denise Metzger—a professional celebrant, storyteller, and self-described “Tasmanian unicorn.” Denise’s colorful approach to life and career emerged from deeply personal experiences, most notably her journey navigating her daughter’s leukemia diagnosis and how that led her to transform traditional memorials into vibrant, joy-filled c...
Welcome to another Friday-focused episode of the Unstuck Career Podcast with your host, Ken Williams. Today, Ken dives into the real reasons we hesitate to take action in our careers and lives. Is it wisdom—or is it just fear dressed up as caution? Using his own experience leaving a corporate FedEx operations management role, Ken unpacks how our deliberation often masks deep-seated anxieties about the future, finances...
Welcome back to another episode of Unstuck Career! This week, host Ken Williams sits down with Jason Becker—also known as JB—to dive into the messy, often unpredictable world of career pivots and entrepreneurship. JB shares how his own podcast, "What the Hell Do I Know?", was inspired by his experiences as a dad watching his kids’ eyes glaze over when he tried to offer advice, leading him to gather wisdom fr...
This week, you’ll explore the “curse of potential” with your host, Ken Williams, as you learn how being talented at many things can actually make career decisions harder—not easier. You’ll discover why there’s no single “right answer” for your professional path, and how changing directions isn’t a problem but the new norm in today’s workplace. Get ready to let go of outdated career rules and embrace trying new things,...
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