We recently connected with Kenya Rothstein and have shared our conversation below.

Kenya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

I’m going to tell you about the unexpected turn that led me to create my podcast Thank You For Saying NO. The idea of the podcast existed long before the podcast actually came to fruition. The idea came about when I was studying law in Miami and looking for a job. I had this dream of working in Washington D.C. right after law school, practicing environmental law. I applied to hundreds of places there, but wasn’t getting any interviews or offers. Every rejection I got, I kept telling myself, “one day I’ll be glad I didn’t get this job…one day I’ll be saying ‘Thank You For Saying NO.'” The big unexpected turn for me was when I didn’t make it to D.C. right out of law school and instead ended up moving back home to California. When I finally got a job, I decided to start a podcast about finding meaning in life’s unexpected turns. And that’s how Thank You For Saying NO came about. The podcast just turned 1 in November 2023.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

To me, life’s greatest treasures include being able to connect, inspire, and understand one another. A powerful way to do this is through sharing stories of our life’s unexpected turns and how we got through those tough moments. That’s what pushed me to start the podcast. I was looking for my own inspiration through the guests and to inspire listeners going through challenging unexpected turns. On the podcast we talk about the emotions behind life’s rejections and how to walk through life’s toughest moments (sometimes crying…sometimes laughing). If you’ve gone through a breakup, got fired from a job, quit a job, switched careers, or experienced NOs while pursuing a passion full time, then the Thank You For Saying NO podcast is for you.

What I feel most proud of about the podcast so far, is the community. Listeners reach out all the time feeling inspired by the stories we share on the show. As we closed out season 1 of the podcast earlier this month, it’s come full circle for me because while I initially set out to inspire others, I am just as inspired by the Thank You For Saying NO community.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Being genuine will go a long way. When you are exactly who you are in every room you’re in, you will attract the right people and your path will naturally and smoothly start unfolding. Your job is to lean into it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Having a “why” is vital to any endeavor because it gives you a starting point and helps guide you as you forge a path. My “why” is to help people who are struggling in a “NO” moment to have hope that it will get better. Even as the podcast has evolved and changed shape in many ways, the “why” has been a constant. It’s guided every episode, every social media post, and every strategy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/@thankyouforsayingno
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thankyouforsayingno/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Thank-You-For-Saying-NO/100088038129280/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thankyouforsayingno

Image Credits
Head shot by Jaime Levy (kenyalove@earthlink.net). Podcast Logo by Emma Porter (@emmaporter.world)