Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee

Summer Series Ep 2 - Summer Series #2 - Juliana Left a Six-Figure Job to Finally Live Her Dream Many of us dream about taking a career break—but fear, security and other people's opinions often stop us before we ever begin. In Episode 2 of our Summer Series, Katrina sits down with former coaching client Juliana Moreira, whose career break journey proves that the biggest transformation isn'...

Welcome to the very first episode of our new  Taking A Career Break Summer Series! Throughout this special series, Katrina sits down with former coaching clients who have taken courageous career breaks and sabbaticals to hear what really happened after they stepped away from work. Our first guest is  Brittany Coleman , whose story is one of the most remarkable transformations we've ever shared...

Episode 75 - Do you really need a coach for your career break or sabbatical? In this milestone 75th episode of  Taking A Career Break , Katrina and James tackle a question many aspiring career breakers ask themselves: Do I need a coach to take a successful career break? Katrina pulls back the curtain on what career break coaching actually looks like, sharing powerful client stories and explaining...

Episode 74 - Behind the Scenes of a Career Break Entrepreneur: Katrina McGhee’s 9-Year Journey Nine years ago, Katrina took a leap that made absolutely no sense on paper. She left behind a successful corporate career, launched a business helping people take career breaks, and stepped into a space that barely existed at the time. In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Katrina shares the real st...

Episode 73 - The Hardest Parts of Taking a Career Break (And How to Get Through Them) Taking a career break can be life-changing, but it's not always easy. In this episode of  Taking a Career Break , Katrina and James break down the hardest parts of stepping away from work and explain why so many people struggle at the same points during their break journey. From making the decision to leave y...

Episode 72 - How to Start Living Your Career Break Before You Quit Your Job What if you didn’t have to wait until your career break or sabbatical officially started to begin changing your life? In this episode of  Taking a Career Break , Katrina and James explore the powerful idea of  living your break life early . Through the story of one of Katrina’s coaching clients, they discuss how gaining cl...

Episode 71 - 7 Warning Signs You Need a Career Break (Before Burnout Takes Over) Are you feeling burned out, emotionally drained, or questioning whether your career still fits the life you want? In this episode, James and Katrina unpack the seven warning signs that it may be time to step away from work and take a career break. From burnout and chronic stress to losing your spark, feeling disconnec...

Episode 70 - The 8 Stages of a Career Break: Your Step-by-Step Sabbatical Roadmap In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Katrina and James break down the complete 8-stage career break journey and explore what it really takes to move from burnout and overwhelm to a more intentional and fulfilling life. The conversation walks through the three major phases of taking a career b...

Episode 69 - How to Explain Your Career Break (Even When You Don’t Have All the Answers) What do you say when someone asks, “So… what’s next?” during your career break — and you genuinely don’t know? In this episode of the  Taking a Career Break Podcast , Katrina and James unpack one of the biggest fears people face when stepping away from work: explaining your break when you don’t have all the an...

Episode 68 - The Hidden Cost of Staying in a Job Too Long What happens when staying in your job becomes more dangerous than leaving it? In this powerful episode of  Taking a Career Break , Katrina and James dive into the hidden cost of overstaying in a career that no longer serves you. From burnout and anxiety to damaged relationships and lost creativity, this conversation explores why so many hig...

Episode 67 - Why You Should Stop Waiting for the “Right Time” to Take a Career Break (Fear of Falling Behind Explained) Is there ever a  right time  to take a career break—or are you just waiting forever? In this episode, James Hammond and career break coach Katrina McGhee dive deep into one of the biggest mindset traps holding people back: the belief that you need perfect timing to step away from...

Episode 66 - Debunking Career Break Fears: What’s Really Holding You Back? Thinking about taking a career break—but your mind is spinning with  what ifs ? In this powerful episode of  Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee , we’re debunking the most common fears around career breaks, sabbaticals, and quitting your job to travel or reset your life. From financial anxiety and job market fears to...

Episode 65 - Should You Take a Leave of Absence Instead of Quitting? Pros & Cons Explained In this episode of  Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee , we tackle a question that’s coming up more and more:  should you take a leave of absence instead of quitting for a full career break? After seeing multiple clients face this exact situation—being offered a leave of absence after handing in t...

Episode 64 - Listener Question Episode - How to Pivot to Self-Employment on a Career Break? (And Other Questions) In this listener Q&A episode of  Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee , Katrina and James dive into a powerful and relatable question:  how do you pivot into self-employment while on a career break—without feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or held back by fear? Katrina unpacks the e...

Episode 63 - The First Interview: Katrina McGhee & Lyndall Farley on Career Breaks, Sabbaticals & BreakSpace In this milestone episode of  Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee , we celebrate a first for the show—our  very first guest interview . Joined by BreakSpace co-owner Lyndall Farley, Katrina and James dive into the real story behind building BreakSpace, what it takes to step aw...

Episode 62 - The Simple “Container” Hack to Stay Consistent on Your Career Break (Stop Procrastinating Today) In this episode, James sits down with career break expert Katrina McGhee to unpack a powerful yet simple strategy that can completely transform how you approach change, challenges, and personal growth. If you’ve ever struggled with staying consistent, committing to new habits, or navigatin...

Episode 61 - Podcast & Business Update: Career Break Trends, YouTube Launch & What’s Coming Next In this behind-the-scenes episode of  Taking a Career Break , hosts James Hammond and Katrina McGhee share exciting updates, real-time insights, and emerging trends in the world of career breaks and sabbaticals. From record-breaking revenue months and powerful client transformations to the laun...

Episode 60 - The Hardest Step of a Career Break: How to Finally Decide to Take One Deciding to take a career break might be the hardest step of the entire journey. In this episode of  Taking a Career Break , career break coach  Katrina McGhee  and co-host  James Hammond  dive into the moment that stops so many professionals in their tracks:  how to actually decide whether to take a career break or...

Episode 59 - Having The Audacity to Take a Career Break: Why High Achievers Feel Guilty Resting (And Why You Shouldn’t) Why does taking a career break feel so… audacious? In this powerful (and fiery) episode,  Katrina  and  James  unpack the hidden guilt high achievers feel when they consider stepping away from work — even temporarily. From societal pressure to “earn” rest… to the subtle shame aro...

Episode 58 - How to Start Your Career Break the Right Way (What to Do in Your First Week) What should you actually do in the  first week of a career break ? In this episode, career break and sabbatical coach  Katrina McGhee  and co-host  James Hammond  break down how to start your break the  right  way — without pressure, guilt, or rushing into the next thing. Drawing on real examples from the Bre...

Episode 57 - How To Overcome The Uncertainty Of Taking A Career Break Uncertainty is one of the biggest barriers stopping people from taking a career break—and it doesn’t just show up before you leave. In this episode, James and Katrina unpack why uncertainty feels so uncomfortable, why trying to eliminate it never works, and how learning to sit with the unknown can actually transform your life. K...

Episode 56 - Why Job Searching Too Early Can Ruin Your Career Break Taking a career break or sabbatical is meant to restore your energy, clarity, and sense of purpose — but what happens when job searching sneaks in too early? In this episode, James and career break coach Katrina McGhee unpack one of the most common (and sneakiest) mistakes people make during a break: starting the job search before...

Episode 55 - Why Celebrating Your Wins Matters More Than You Think In this episode, James Hammond is joined by career break and sabbatical coach  Katrina McGhee  to unpack one of the most overlooked tools for sustainable success:  celebration . High achievers are often wired to move the goalposts, downplay progress, and focus on what’s missing rather than what’s working. Katrina explains why this...

Episode 54 - From 3am Work Calls to a Life Rebuilt: A Career Break Client Success Story What does it really take to step away from a career when burnout feels overwhelming and stopping feels impossible? In this powerful client story episode,  career break and sabbatical coach Katrina McGhee  is joined by  James Hammond  to unpack a real-life journey from chronic burnout to a completely reimagined...

Episode 53 - What happens when your career break is coming to an end… and instead of feeling refreshed or excited, you feel dread? In this episode, James Hammond and career break & sabbatical coach  Katrina McGhee  respond to a powerful listener question: What if you’re dreading going back to work at the end of your career break — and don’t know why? Together, they unpack the emotional crash m...