The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching

Jay Dehaan didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. In fact, he hated school. He left education with no qualifications, spent five years in a wheelchair as a child due to Perthes disease, and was told by Citizens Advice that his family would be better off if he signed on. But somehow, against the odds, Jay found his way into the classroom. In this episode, Jay shares his early life with brutal hone...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Gareth Dale continues his story - from barely holding it together in the classroom to discovering his voice as a children’s author and private tutor. We talk about what happens after the funeral, the long shadow of trauma, and how Mr Dale - the teacher persona - became both a mask and a means of survival. Gareth shares how he began to write feverishly at ni...

In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Gareth Dale - a teacher from 2005 to 2023 - to explore a story of love, loss, and the emotional toll of showing up in school when life is falling apart behind the scenes. Gareth takes us through his early teaching journey, the formative years in tough inner-city schools, and the moment his life changed forever with the birth - and tragic loss - of...

After 17 years in the classroom, Giselle Wild left teaching at Christmas 2024. In this episode, she reflects on a career built on creativity, care and connection - and the unraveling that began after the traumatic birth of her son. From art rooms to leadership roles, Giselle gave everything to her students. But delayed PTSD, sleepless years, and a system that demanded more than she could give even...

Emma Harper Part 1: From Promise to Breaking Point Emma Harper was a dedicated secondary maths teacher from 2011 to 2023. In this episode, she shares the first half of her powerful story, covering three very different schools, early career promise, and a series of personal and professional challenges that pushed her to the edge. We talk about international teaching experiences, burnout, student be...

Emma Harper Part 2: Finding Freedom After the Fall In the second half of Emma Harper’s story, we follow her journey out of the classroom for good. After a final crisis point left her broken and exhausted, Emma made the decision to leave teaching in December 2023. What followed was not just survival, but transformation. Emma shares how tutoring became a vital part of her healing, how she built Core...

In this powerful first part of our conversation with Jeannette Thompson-Wessen, we hear how a passionate, dedicated food technology teacher went from being earmarked for leadership to being bullied, ignored and broken. After returning from maternity leave, the praise disappeared, the support vanished, and the treatment became so toxic it pushed her to the brink. Jeannette shares her early love of...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeannette Thompson-Wessen, the story turns even darker.  After being shouted at while pregnant, ignored during risk assessments, and breaking down in front of students, Jeannette was left utterly broken. She describes a period of severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and the moment a school chose to send a parental complaint - on the very day she’d shared her men...

Former maths teacher David Myers joins us for a gripping two-part conversation about his journey in and out of the classroom - and everything in between. In this first episode, we follow David from the early days of creative teaching and academic passion, through a toxic shift in school culture, the loss of professional autonomy, and the impact of long COVID on his well-being. From being told that...

In Part 2 of our conversation with David Myers , we pick up at the point he finally walks away from teaching - and follow what happens next. From exploring tutoring, supply work and student support roles, to landing a new job at Durham University (in the castle , no less), David reflects on rebuilding his confidence, recovering from burnout, and rediscovering joy in his work. He shares what true l...

In todays bonus episode of The Pit Pony Podcast , we bring you another trio of powerful Sliding Doors moments – those life-defining experiences shared by our guests since leaving the classroom. 🎙️ Rachael Daniel reflects on an event, that reminded her not all schools are toxic, and some can still feel like home. 🎙️ Kitty White shares how the simple act of walking through the woods in the morning –...

In this vital episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, Sharon and Sarah discuss one of the most common - and distressing - questions that surfaces in the Life After Teaching community: What do I do if I think I’m being bullied? Drawing on hundreds of real teacher experiences, they unpack the early warning signs, the subtle shifts in communication and behaviour, and the emotional toll that workplace bullyi...

In this special Sliding Doors bonus episode, we bring you three more powerful and deeply personal reflections from teachers who’ve exited the classroom and discovered unexpected joy, freedom, and purpose on the other side. 🎙 Hollie Jones shares the life-saving impact of leaving teaching - how being able to drop everything for her son’s emergency surgery reminded her what true flexibility looks lik...

This week’s Pit Pony Podcast is a bit different - it’s just Sharon and Sarah, no guest, but lots of honesty, insight and real talk. We’re kicking off a three-part mini-series by tackling one of the biggest foundations of protecting yourself at work: knowing your rights . From understanding the Burgundy Book and STPCD (NB Sarah had a little moment and forgot that the ‘S’ stands for ‘School’!), to d...

In this sixth edition of our beloved Sliding Doors Stories, we bring you three powerful moments from guests who, after leaving the classroom, found clarity, connection and joy in unexpected places. ✨ Katie Stone shares how her relationship with her daughter transformed – and how a trip to New Zealand gave her children a once-in-a-lifetime experience (and a new dream for Archie!).  💖 Sarah Cowan...

In this special episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, we’re turning the spotlight inward. For the first time, co-host Sharon Cawley shares her own powerful and deeply personal sliding doors story. More than just about leaving teaching, it’s about the moment Sharon reclaimed control of her life and showed what’s possible when we choose presence over pressure. Sharon reflects on how life outside of the c...

In this episode, we’re joined by the unstoppable Ilana King - educational consultant, entrance exam specialist, home educator, and all-round powerhouse. Ilana’s journey is far from typical. After just two years in the classroom, she knew it wasn’t the right fit - and rather than settle, she built something new. Literally. She created her own nursery from the ground up (on land she negotiated with...

This week, we’re joined by the brilliant and unassuming Peter Scholes – a man who gave 21 years to the classroom before stepping away when shifting leadership turned a once-thriving school culture into something unrecognisable. In this heartfelt episode, Pete shares how the sudden departure of a beloved headteacher triggered a school-wide unraveling, leading to mass staff turnover, a loss of trust...

In the first of this two-part special, we meet Rob Newlands, a former headteacher who climbed the leadership ladder quickly - only to face a stark and painful reality at the top. At just 30 years old, Rob stepped into a headship in Cornwall, full of energy, purpose, and a belief that he could make a difference. But what awaited him was far from the job he signed up for. From day one, Rob was met w...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Rob Newlands takes us through the devastating fallout of his time in headship - and the turning point that changed everything. After months of isolation, impossible expectations, and systemic failure, Rob faced a brutal mocksted that delivered the final blow. What followed was a silent breakdown behind closed doors, a desperate call to his GP, and the reali...

Loving the Pit Pony Podcast? Buy Us a Coffee ☕️ Kitty White never imagined she’d leave teaching - she was in it for life.  But after years of battling anxiety, disillusionment, and a crushing sense of being lost, she made a brave leap out of the classroom and into something completely different.  In this powerful episode, Kitty reflects on the emotional toll teaching took on her, how she slowly r...

What happens when a dedicated teacher realises that the career she once loved is no longer the right fit? In this episode, we sit down with Rachael Daniel , who made the bold decision to step away from teaching and carve out a new path. Rachael takes us through the highs and lows of her transition - from the moment she knew she had to leave, to the doubts that nearly held her back, and the surpris...

This week on The Pit Pony Podcast , we sit down with the incredible Grant Decker – a former teacher whose love for music led him to open his own record shop. After years in the classroom, supporting students with complex needs, Grant realised it was time for a change. In this episode, he shares his inspiring journey from education to entrepreneurship, the challenges of balancing work and family, a...

In this episode of the Pit Pony Podcast, we sit down with Paul Lennon , a former teacher with 28 years of experience in secondary schools across the UK and around the world. Paul started his career as a PE teacher, eventually working his way up to head of department, assistant principal, and IB Diploma Coordinator. But his journey took an unexpected and deeply challenging turn when he found himsel...

In this powerful two-part episode, we sit down with Hollie Jones , a former teacher turned neurodiversity practitioner, whose journey out of the classroom is one of resilience, advocacy, and hard-won justice. Hollie always believed teaching was her lifelong career - until she faced systemic barriers, discrimination, and a lack of understanding about neurodivergent needs in the workplace . What sta...