226 : How Angela Arwady Left Google for a Sustainable Fashion Business

In this episode: entrepreneurship, sustainable fashion, following omens, adaptability as a life skill, mindful parenting with Angela Arwady

Episode Summary

Angela Arwady went from flipping secondhand clothes on eBay in 2008 to launching Unpacka (unpacka.com), a subscription-based sustainable fashion business supporting local artists. She and Adam discuss the mindset shifts required to leave corporate life after nearly 15 years at Google and YouTube, the Zelda-inspired "side quest" approach to opportunity, mindful dressing as a daily ritual, and building a business aligned with your values.

Guest Bio

Angela Arwady is the founder of Unpacka, a curated marketplace for secondhand and handmade goods. Before entrepreneurship, she spent over a decade at Google and YouTube across HR, recruiting, and program management for YouTube TV — helping launch the Sports Plus package and primetime channels in multiple countries. She is a mom of three, a Poshmark pioneer with 75,000 followers, and is pursuing a sound healing certification.

Resources & Books Mentioned

• Unpacka — Angela's sustainable secondhand and handmade goods business
• Poshmark — social resale marketplace where Angela first built her following
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho — Adam's book about following your personal legend and reading life's omens
• Dan Arwady on the Mindful FIRE Podcast: Episode 39 and Episode 182
• Oakland Collective — Bay Area charity that receives clothing donations from Unpacka (free community popups)

Guest Contact Information

• Website: unpacka.com
• Instagram: @shopunpacka

Key Takeaways

• Follow the omens: Angela's pop-up at Golden Soul café in Pacifica snowballed into regular craft fair appearances — a small yes became the seed of her entire business model.
• Adaptability is the #1 life skill: From HR to YouTube TV engineering ops to entrepreneurship, Angela's career pivots were fueled by transferable skills and willingness to relearn — a lesson she now actively passes on to her kids.
• Your energy shapes your kids' world: When Adam was frustrated with his stalled business, he was shorter with his kids; realigning with his purpose brought playfulness back — Angela noted children deeply internalize how parents talk about their work.
• Know your numbers before you leap: Before leaving Google, Angela locked in financial clarity and spousal alignment, calling these the non-negotiable foundations for anyone pursuing financial independence.

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