Aaron Crowe

I interviewed Adam Carolla recently about his Hollywood home he’s selling for $1.3 million.

While we definitely move in different circles, but I thought of some similarities between us after the interview:

• We’re both about the same age.
• We were both laid off at about the same time. Carolla about a year ago from a high paying radio job that he’s turned into the top iTunes podcast, and me from a newspaper job two years ago that I’ve morphed into a freelance writer and editor.
• Stay-at-home dads. He does it with the help of a nanny, but still takes care of his young son and daughter. I’ve enjoyed the past two years watching my daughter, now 5, grow up.
• Working from home. He’s surrounded by expensive cars and owns two homes. I have a 1991 Acura and work in a home office.
• My house needs renovation.

I’m a big fan of Carolla’s, following his work much more in the past few years. One of my first part-time jobs after getting laid off involved driving around to pick up police logs, and I’d listen to his morning radio show while driving. It was a Sacramento station, so the reception wasn’t great, but I’d always hurry back to the car to hear more between stops. I then started listening to his podcast, but stopped after awhile because he seemed to continue ranting about the same topics again and again. He’s still entertaining, and a comic I’ll continue to follow.

It’s great that his career path has done so well, from construction worker to podcast king. He found a niche and is taking it as far as he can. Good advice for anyone changing careers.