It’s been six months since Steve Carney started working for himself.

A longtime radio sports journalist in the Tampa Bay area, Carney lost his job during pandemic.

So, he started his own website and podcasts.

And found his way back on the air at his former station— as a sports insider.

The U.S. Navy veteran started working at Sports Radio WDAE a little more than 15 years ago.

“When good things have happened to Tampa Bay sports over the course of the last 15 years, I've been able to be a part of it,” said Carney, expressing his gratitude, even though he was part off a wave of layoffs in November of 2020.

Pictures provided by Steve Carney from his 15 years of covering the Rays, Lightning and Bucs (Steve Carney)

“It was sad when it came to an end because I was I felt I had so much more still to give,” Carney said.

So he founded and began publishing stories at his own website, StPete9.com.

He also started hosting podcasts — “Under the Orange Roof” for the Rays, and “Pewter Cast,” for the Bucs.

“It was a real exciting opportunity. And it's something that I wanted to make sure that I didn't pass up,” Carney said.

He praised colleagues who have reached out for an assist as he navigates his new world.

Carney says the pandemic showed him the goodness in the people around him, and it reinforced his beliefs on professionalism.

“I'm able to go on WDAE still three times a week to talk about the Tampa Bay Rays,” said Carney. “And I'm able to promote my website using my former employer because I did not go crazy and burn bridges.”

The best part about his new job?

Everything he writes is his own.

“I love that I'm going to be the one that gets to benefit when I when I perform well,” Carney said.

You can see more stories about how your friends and neighbors are doing during Life in The Time of Coronavirus here.