Sabbatical Stories

In this powerful episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex sits down with DJ DiDonna, to get an exclusive preview on his upcoming book "The Big Time Off". DJ is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project. After founding and successfully exiting a fintech company, DJ experienced burnout. He chose to take an intentional sabbatical, a decision that fundament...

In today's episode of Sabbatical Stories, Sean McIntosh shares the story of his transformative 15-month career break and how stepping away from work led to a complete re-evaluation of identity, priorities, and the kind of life he truly wanted to create. From navigating the logistics (and fears!) of relocating to Mexico with his two cats, to immersing himself in a new culture and language, Sean...

In this episode of Sabbatical Stories , Danielle Zellman shares the deeply personal journey behind her career break and sabbatical. Danielle spent two decades operating at pace in startups and scaling organisations. But beneath the success was exhaustion and emotional avoidance. Her sabbatical wasn’t about a polished pivot, it was about surrender. From New York City to Vermont, Turkey and Bolivia,...

In this thoughtful episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex sits down with Mark Hughes, leadership coach, facilitator and former CEO to explore the often-overlooked emotional landscape of going back to work after time away. His reflections reveal the complexity of returning to a role that is both purposeful and familiar and how ambivalence can be a healthy, insightful response rather than a problem to f...

In this episode of Sabbatical Stories , Bex sits down with Shantelle to explore how to stay grounded, energised and confident during a sabbatical or career break without turning it into another pressure-filled performance. For many professionals, stepping away from work can feel freeing and destabilising at the same time. Your identity shifts. Your routine disappears. Travel disrupts habits. And s...

In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, we speak with executive leadership trainer, TEDx speaker and confidence coach Gaëlle Deschamps about taking a sabbatical at the exact moment the world shut down. After a 27-year global corporate career spanning L’Oréal, SABMiller and The Coca-Cola Company, Gaëlle made the intentional decision to pause. Her career break was meant to be a period of rest, reflec...

In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex speaks with Namrata, founder of Sing & Tea , about navigating personal transitions, cultural expectations and the power of a career break to redefine success on your own terms. Namrata and her husband chose not to over-optimise her sabbatical. Instead, they embraced what she calls thematic living, allowing a guiding focus, such as health or exploratio...

In this very special bonus episode of Sabbatical Stories we welcome back Katrina McGee and Lyndall Farley. Joining Bex, three of the most respected minds and coaches in the sabbatical and career break space explore why community, accountability and shared experience are often the missing ingredients in a truly transformative career break. Listeners get instant access to join BreakSpace here: 👉 ht...

In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex speaks with nutritionist Amy Savage about her journey through multiple sabbaticals and how prioritising health became the foundation for both personal recovery and career reinvention. After experiencing a serious accident, Amy was forced to reassess everything: her pace, her priorities and her wellbeing. What followed were intentional career breaks that a...

In this Season 4 episode of Sabbatical Stories, Ana Izvorska shares her powerful career break and sabbatical journey after nearly two decades working in humanitarian crisis response with the UN and Red Cross. After years in high-intensity humanitarian environments, Ana chose to step back and take a sabbatical because she needed space to re-evaluate what impact meant for her next chapter.  We explo...

To kick off Season 4 of Sabbatical Stories, Sophia Mikelionis shares her journey from high-performing finance leader to speaker and facilitator helping women lead with clarity, capacity and sustainable power. After years of being celebrated for performance while privately running on empty, Sophia made the decision to take a career break and sabbatical not because she lacked ambition, but because b...

In this special New Year wrap-up episode, Bex and Aunty B sit down to reflect on the most meaningful moments from Season 3 of Sabbatical Stories , a season that explored what happens when we step away from work and give ourselves permission to question the blueprint. Across these conversations, we heard deeply human stories about family, identity, money, purpose, and growth. From financial plannin...

In this conversation, Laura shares her honest and inspiring journey from corporate marketing to building a thriving fractional business that gives her the freedom to live and work from anywhere. After 15+ years in full-time marketing roles, Laura hit pause and set off on a five-month “Eat, Pray, Love”-style adventure around Europe. What started as a soul-searching sabbatical became the catalyst fo...

In this conversation, Izy shares her transformative sabbatical experience traveling through Latin America. She discusses her motivations for taking a break from work, the challenges she faced, and the personal growth she achieved during her journey. Izy emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone, setting intentions for travel, and maintaining connections with people met al...

In this episode, Sean Macmannis shares his transformative sabbatical journey, detailing the decision to take a break from his tech career to embrace fatherhood and explore new living environments. He discusses the challenges of traveling with a toddler, the unique experience of renovating an Airstream, and the lessons learned about work-life balance and personal growth. Sean reflects on how the sa...

In this conversation, Nele shares her transformative journey through sabbaticals, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity, freedom, and sacred time. She discusses how these experiences have shaped her identity and the work she does with her company, Wander. Neela provides valuable insights on integrating lessons from sabbaticals into everyday life and the significance of having a clear vision. S...

In this episode Nabil and Zenesta from Tiny Detour share their transformative journey of taking a career break to travel with their daughter. They discuss the catalysts that led to their decision, the planning involved, and the cultural responses they faced. Over two years of travel, they reflect on the lessons learned, the challenges of parenting on the road, and their aspirations for the future,...

In this conversation, Mandy shares her transformative sabbatical journey that began 15 years ago when she felt lost in her corporate career. She discusses the importance of taking a break to rediscover oneself, the intentions behind her travels, and how these experiences led her to a fulfilling career in wellbeing and Pilates. Mandy emphasizes the significance of authenticity, courage, and creatin...

In this episode, Lauren shares her unique journey of taking a career break that began as maternity leave. She discusses the emotional challenges of leaving family behind, the identity shift that comes with motherhood, and the importance of mentorship in navigating her career decisions. Lauren emphasizes the need for self-kindness and the value of being present during fleeting moments with her chil...

In this conversation, Jay Epps shares his experiences of taking two significant career breaks, reflecting on the motivations behind them, the activities he engaged in, and the personal growth he experienced. He discusses the importance of disconnecting from work, exploring identity beyond employment, and the lessons learned about gratitude and purpose. Jay emphasises the need to redefine retiremen...

In today's episode, Nicky Palmer shares her transformative sabbatical journey, detailing her experiences of moving from the UK to the US, the challenges she faced in finding a new direction in her career, and the personal growth she achieved through travel and self-discovery. Nikki reflects on the importance of embracing change, the impact of the pandemic on her life choices, and the lessons l...

In this conversation, Taylor shares her transformative journey of taking a sabbatical to join the Peace Corps, detailing the inspiration behind her decision, the planning process, and the cultural experiences she encountered in Kyrgyzstan. She reflects on the challenges faced, the personal growth achieved, and how her sabbatical led to a career shift into financial planning. Taylor emphasises the...

In this special wrap-up episode, Bex and Aunty B reflect on the most powerful moments from Season 2. Together, they explore expert insights, inspiring personal stories, and the unexpected lessons learned from people who took time out of traditional work to reset, travel, grow, and reconnect. Whether you're planning a sabbatical, dreaming of a mid-career break, or wondering how to return to work af...

In this episode, we sit down with Kyle as he shares his transformative journey of taking a career break to travel the world. Kyle opens up about the motivations behind his decision, the challenges he faced during the transition, and the profound insights he gained through travel. From navigating mental health struggles to embracing uncertainty, his story is a testament to the power of stepping awa...

In this conversation, Santosh Mahale shares his unique sabbatical journey, taking a break from a career he loves as a management consultant, to pursuing his passion for art and oil painting. He discusses the origins of his interest in painting, the decision to take a sabbatical, and the challenges and successes he faced along the way. Santosh emphasises the importance of having clear goals, the ne...