Season 1
Turning a Gap Year Into a Growth Year
Starting Over—How Kidney Failure Reshaped My Career and Identity
In Episode 2 of The Growth Year | Podcast, Peter reframes the concept of the 'gap year' as a 'growth year' for someone laid off for the first time. What happens when work identity and personal identity are at odds? 📌 In This Episode: Mass layoffs across tech companies Redefining the Growth Year for someone laid off for the first time The complex emotions that surface when losing a job, income, and health insurance 👤 #thegrowthyearpod is Hosted by Peter Cheng—talent strategist by day, multi-hyphenate creative by night (and weekends). 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday starting June 3, 2025 📲 Follow @thegrowthyearpod on Instagram and TikTok 📼 Watch on YouTube 🔗 More at peterandco.org/thegrowthyearpod/ ✅ Available on all podcast streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon & more 📸 Sovanna Pang © 2025 Peter Cheng. The Growth Year and The Growth Year Podcast. All rights reserved. -- At the time of recording, Layoffs.fyi reported 52,340 individuals laid off between May 1, 2024-May 1, 2025.
In Episode 1 of The Growth Year | Podcast, Peter shares his first major life pivot—from a failed kidney transplant at 21 that sidelined a promising dance career, to building a 13-year journey in tech across companies like Yelp, Uber, Ancestry, and a Series F fintech startup. 📌 In This Episode: The unexpected life events that reshaped a creative and professional identity Early lessons from navigating chronic illness, purpose, and career reinvention (twice) Why strong leadership and work-life integration make all the difference 👤 #thegrowthyearpod is Hosted by Peter Cheng—talent strategist by day, multi-hyphenate creative by night (and weekends). 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday starting June 3, 2025 📲 Follow @thegrowthyearpod on Instagram and TikTok 📼 Watch on YouTube 🔗 More at peterandco.org/thegrowthyearpod/ ✅ Available on all podcast streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon & more 📸 Sovanna Pang © 2025 Peter Cheng. The Growth Year and The Growth Year Podcast. All rights reserved.
The Growth Year | Podcast is a limited 12-episode series for anyone navigating a first layoff, job loss, or career disruption. When work ends suddenly, it can shake our identity, stability, and purpose. This podcast explores how to reflect, reset, and rebuild a stronger sense of self—beyond the workplace. In this preview episode, hear what inspired the series and why this moment matters. Each 3-5 min audio companion touches on the realities of post-layoff life and the journey to rediscovering who you are—beyond the workplace. 📌 In This Episode: What happens when career paths are suddenly disrupted How layoffs affect identity, stability, and emotional well-being Reframing the “gap year” into a “growth year” Why The Growth Year was created—and who it’s for #TheGrowthYearPod is hosted by 👤 Peter Cheng, talent strategist by day and multi-hyphenate artist by night, 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday starting June 3, 2025 📲 Follow @thegrowthyearpod on Instagram and TikTok 📼 Watch on YouTube 🔗 More at peterandco.org/thegrowthyearpod/ ✅ Available on all podcast streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon & more 📸 Sovanna Pang © 2025 Peter Cheng. The Growth Year and The Growth Year Podcast. All rights reserved.