https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-layoff-adventure--6660183Brad Mendenhall is a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, actor…and for the last 15 years, a Software Quality Engineer. That’s the gig that pays for stuff.On May 21, he joined what he thought was a routine virtual meeting. Instead, he was laid off. He wasn’t alone.  Half his team also lost their jobs.  So have a lot of other people.  

The Layoff Adventure is a daily podcast chronicling life navigating unemployment.

The Layoff Adventure is a Geppetto Studios production.

📧 Email: CosmicGeppetto@comcast.net
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brad-g-mendenhall/
📱 Facebook: facebook.com/CosmicGeppetto]]>enCareersCopyright Brad Mendenhallhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/c9f975be1820ab68062d5e0d028502af.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-layoff-adventure--6660183Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:42:34 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad Mendenhallcosmicgeppetto@comcast.netBrad Mendenhall is a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, actor…and for the last 15 years, a Software Quality Engineer. That’s the gig that pays for stuff.On May 21, he joined what he thought was a routine virtual meeting. Instead, he was laid off....Brad Mendenhall is a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, actor…and for the last 15 years, a Software Quality Engineer. That’s the gig that pays for stuff.On May 21, he joined what he thought was a routine virtual meeting. Instead, he was laid off. He wasn’t alone.  Half his team also lost their jobs.  So have a lot of other people.  

The Layoff Adventure is a daily podcast chronicling life navigating unemployment.

The Layoff Adventure is a Geppetto Studios production.

📧 Email: CosmicGeppetto@comcast.net
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brad-g-mendenhall/
📱 Facebook: facebook.com/CosmicGeppetto]]>trueepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-14-nothing-lasts--66973160
There is a song at the end.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66973160Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:38:03 +0000Brad MendenhallIt's the last episode.  Brad records from the Black & Brass Roasting Company in Honesdale, PA. There is a song at the end.
There is a song at the end.]]>404job_hunt,layoffs,new_jobfalse114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-13-the-penultimate--66968841
He's also been writing. Subscribe to this podcast and he'll announce if/when it gets released.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66968841Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:08 +0000Brad MendenhallIt's Brad's last night before starting the new job.  He's reading Steve Jaffe's The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery.  It is very good. He's also been writing. Subscribe to this podcast and he'll announce if/when it gets released.
He's also been writing. Subscribe to this podcast and he'll announce if/when it gets released.]]>290job_hunt,layoff,steve_jaffefalse113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-12-i-m-not-here-to-make-friends-but-i-d-like-to--66960033https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66960033Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:14:41 +0000Brad MendenhallIt's Brad's last weekend before starting the new job.200job_hunt,layoffsfalse111fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-11-what-s-in-the-box--66921057https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66921057Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:19:42 +0000Brad MendenhallThe UPS driiver showed up.  Brad's dog Boomer lost his mind.  The box that was delivered was really cool.245job_hunt,layoffsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-10-it-s-ben-a-lot-of-fun--66896292https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66896292Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:00:21 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad has a new job.  It starts soon.  Therefore, he is spending money on silly stuff he couldn't before.  Like Ben Folds Live with The National Symphony Orchestra on vinyl, which he got signed by MISTER BEN FOLDS!564ben_folds,layoffsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-9-a-perfect-day--66845124https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66845124Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:35:05 +0000Brad MendenhallIt was a perfect day212job_hunt,layofffalse19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-8-brad-says-adventure-too-many-times--66832804https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66832804Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:38:13 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad had a good weekend with the family.  Went to Hershey Park.  Everyone has sunburn.287job_hunt,layoffsfalse18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-7-working-for-the-weekend--66781788https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66781788Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:32:47 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad survived his first week at the temp job.  He's ready to spend the weekend with his family.358false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-6-what-about-bob-mould--66751262https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66751262Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:15:42 +0000Brad MendenhallThere is a lot of cool stuff coming to town.  Brad wants to go.  But he doesn't have a job.395ben_folds,bob_mould,husker_du,job_hunt,layoffs,sugarfalse16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-5-a-good-day--66733780https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66733780Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:10:42 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad had a good day.  He needed one.317job_hunt,layoffsfalse15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-4-this-is-a-test--66715440
It gives him anxiety.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66715440Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:26:50 +0000Brad MendenhallSomeimtes, Brad has to take tests to prove what he knows.   It gives him anxiety.
It gives him anxiety.]]>317layoffs,quality,software,testingfalse14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-3-scammy-scammers-that-like-to-scam--66661499https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66661499Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:16:38 +0000Brad MendenhallBrad recounts when a scammer tried to scam him.  It didn't work, but it was too close for comfort.551job_hunt,layoffs,scammerstrue13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-2-hugh-deserve-it--66638118https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66638118Thu, 19 Jun 2025 21:54:33 +0000Brad MendenhallWhen you get laid off, the budget must be cut.  But what about that trip to New York to see Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman sing and dance?444hugh_jackman,job_hunt,layoff,wolverinefalse12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-1-the-beginning--66612771My name is Brad Mendenhall.

I am a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, and actor.

That’s what I do for fun.  Not for money.  Well…not a lot of money.  Every now and then I get enough to cover lunch at Five Guys.

For money, I am a Software Quality Engineer.  There’s a good chance you don’t know what that is.  Basically, I test computer software and make sure it does what it is supposed to do.  It’s more complicated, but you get the idea.

I’ve done this work for over 15 years.  I’m good at it.  I like it.  It pays the bills.

On Wednesday, May 21, I had my weekly meeting with my manager.  It was delayed an hour.  I didn’t think much of that.  Stuff gets delayed.  I hopped onto the Teams call.  I’ve worked from home for the last five years.  All my meetings are Teams calls or Zoom calls.  They used to be Skype calls, but no one uses that anymore.

My manager was there.  So was a woman I didn’t recognize. No big deal.  Maybe there was a new project I was going to work on and she was the lead on it.  
Nope.  She was from HR.  I was being let go.
I wasn’t alone.  On my team, I was one of four to be laid off.  That was half of our testers.  We were the four team members with the least time at the company.

Sucks, but fair.  All of us are awesome.  Seniority was the way to do it.

And…that’s all I’ll say about the Old Company.  This isn’t about them.  I don’t have an axe to grind.  I’m telling my story.

It’s been almost a month since that happened.  I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs.  I’ve had a couple interviews.  Nothing has panned out yet.  I’ve talked to others in the same boat.  Met new people.  Cool people.  New cool people that should have jobs.

Ive found out a few things about the market.  A few things about myself.

So…I started writing about it.  Posting every day on LinkedIn.  And Facebook.  Sorry if I sound like a d-bag on the Bachelor, but I shared my journey.

Someone suggested I create videos.  Well…I’m not good looking enough for that.  But I am good looking enough for a podcast.  So that’s what I’m doing.

My idea is to do this daily.  The episodes will be short.  No guests.  Just me.

Until, of course, I decide to have guests on and make hour long two-parters. And I release weekly. Because I can do what I want, right?

I hope you enjoy the show.  Maybe it’s not something to enjoy, but I hope you find it interesting.  

I’m Brad Mendenhall.  This is my Layoff Adventure.


The Layoff Adventure is a Geppetto Studios Production. 

Email us at CosmicGeppetto@comcast.net. 

Find Brad on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/brad-g-mendenhall/. 

Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CosmicGeppetto
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66612771Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:57:49 +0000Brad MendenhallMy name is Brad Mendenhall. I am a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, and actor. That’s what I do for fun.  Not for money.  Well…not a lot of money.  Every now and then I get enough to cover lunch at Five Guys. For money, I am a Software...My name is Brad Mendenhall.

I am a podcaster, comedian, musician, author, and actor.

That’s what I do for fun.  Not for money.  Well…not a lot of money.  Every now and then I get enough to cover lunch at Five Guys.

For money, I am a Software Quality Engineer.  There’s a good chance you don’t know what that is.  Basically, I test computer software and make sure it does what it is supposed to do.  It’s more complicated, but you get the idea.

I’ve done this work for over 15 years.  I’m good at it.  I like it.  It pays the bills.

On Wednesday, May 21, I had my weekly meeting with my manager.  It was delayed an hour.  I didn’t think much of that.  Stuff gets delayed.  I hopped onto the Teams call.  I’ve worked from home for the last five years.  All my meetings are Teams calls or Zoom calls.  They used to be Skype calls, but no one uses that anymore.

My manager was there.  So was a woman I didn’t recognize. No big deal.  Maybe there was a new project I was going to work on and she was the lead on it.  
Nope.  She was from HR.  I was being let go.
I wasn’t alone.  On my team, I was one of four to be laid off.  That was half of our testers.  We were the four team members with the least time at the company.

Sucks, but fair.  All of us are awesome.  Seniority was the way to do it.

And…that’s all I’ll say about the Old Company.  This isn’t about them.  I don’t have an axe to grind.  I’m telling my story.

It’s been almost a month since that happened.  I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs.  I’ve had a couple interviews.  Nothing has panned out yet.  I’ve talked to others in the same boat.  Met new people.  Cool people.  New cool people that should have jobs.

Ive found out a few things about the market.  A few things about myself.

So…I started writing about it.  Posting every day on LinkedIn.  And Facebook.  Sorry if I sound like a d-bag on the Bachelor, but I shared my journey.

Someone suggested I create videos.  Well…I’m not good looking enough for that.  But I am good looking enough for a podcast.  So that’s what I’m doing.

My idea is to do this daily.  The episodes will be short.  No guests.  Just me.

Until, of course, I decide to have guests on and make hour long two-parters. And I release weekly. Because I can do what I want, right?

I hope you enjoy the show.  Maybe it’s not something to enjoy, but I hope you find it interesting.  

I’m Brad Mendenhall.  This is my Layoff Adventure.


The Layoff Adventure is a Geppetto Studios Production. 

Email us at CosmicGeppetto@comcast.net. 

Find Brad on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/brad-g-mendenhall/. 

Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CosmicGeppetto
]]>317employment,jobhunt,layoffsfalse11full