Seven months ago, I was googling “how to make extra money from home.” I had just been laid off, my nervous system was buzzing, and I needed proof that I could still be “valuable” and generate income if I had to.

Over 3 months, I experimented with three different gig-style income streams: market research studies, restaurant mystery shopping, and wedding event support, and made exactly $1,127.

Some of it felt empowering. Some of it felt absurd.

In This Episode:

• What it was like having a post go viral on LinkedIn last week
• Why I felt like I needed to be “busy” and “useful” after getting laid off
• How I landed seven paid market research gigs, one of which paid $200
• The unglamorous aspects of restaurant mystery shopping
• The mindset shift that made me stop gig work completely and commit to building visibility and leverage

Resources & Links:

Episode 2: Why I Almost “PANIC-SOLD” My House, and How I’m Saving Over $1,500/Month

Sign up for Dscout and make money doing research studies.

Check out these mystery shopping companies: A Closer Look and iSecretShop.

Let's Connect:

Want more real talk? Let’s be friends on Instagram: @alisonkinsey or send me an email: alison@alisonkinsey.com.

Connect with Alison on LinkedIn.

I also help entrepreneurs and thought leaders launch and grow their podcasts through my boutique podcast editing agency, Podcasting for Creatives.

There is a WILD cultural shift happening between AI, massive layoffs, and the boom of portfolio careers, “boring” businesses, and complete identity rewrites are happening EVERYWHERE.

One woman left Slack and Asana and built a 6-figure income without a traditional job. Another started a “boring” business and had a four-figure day. People are walking away from a stable corporate path to make a zig-zag pivot into a dream they can’t ignore.

It feels less like rebellion and more like recalibration, and I can’t stop paying attention!

In This Episode:

• The unconventional income mix behind Maggie’s $107K portfolio career
• How Alyssa turned a playful hobby into a creative income stream
• The sentence my friend said about her wine bar dream that gave me chills
• My friend’s “boring business” that is generating real revenue
• Why I’m constantly turning to my 80-90 year old self for wisdom

Resources & Links:

Many of the women featured in my stories have Substacks where they go deeper on their pivots! Check them out here:

Feeling Free by Maggie Blackburn

Made of Memories by Alyssa Mopia

From the Inside Out by Jessica Howell

Episode 6: I Turned Down TWO 6-Figure Job Opportunities - Am I Crazy?!

Let's Connect:

Want more real talk? Let’s be friends on Instagram: @alisonkinsey or send me an email: alison@alisonkinsey.com.

I also help entrepreneurs and thought leaders launch and grow their podcasts through my boutique podcast editing agency, Podcasting for Creatives.

This is a transparent, behind-the-scenes look at my first 30 days of podcasting. I’m spilling the download numbers, the unexpected surprises and freak-outs, and how putting my “journal” out in the world is already opening doors I didn’t even pitch for.

In This Episode:

• The exact mental block that made YouTube feel impossible even though I had ideas ready to go
• How many downloads I expected to get, vs. how many I actually got
• Why a podcast felt “frictionless” compared to YouTube and what got me to actually hit record
• The 4 things that are still “keeping me up at night” about this podcast

Let's Connect:

Want more real talk? Let’s be friends on Instagram: @alisonkinsey or send me an email: alison@alisonkinsey.com.

I also help entrepreneurs and thought leaders launch and grow their podcasts through my boutique podcast editing agency, Podcasting for Creatives.