As part of our Summer 2025 Rewind Series, we are revisiting one of the most heartfelt and compelling conversations we have ever shared.

In this reissue, we are joined by James Terry, a former RE teacher who knew from a young age that teaching was his calling. After six joyful years in the classroom, James took a promotion and relocated to a new school. Within four terms, everything changed.

He describes the slow unravelling that followed. A creeping sense of disconnection. Burnout. Anxiety. Physical symptoms that went unacknowledged. Eventually, the painful decision to walk away from the career he had once loved.

But this is not a story of failure. It is a story of transformation.

From a short-lived plan to become a bus driver, to years of supply teaching, and finally retraining as a civil celebrant, James found a new way to make a lasting impact. Today, he supports hundreds of families through the most important and emotional moments of their lives, bringing presence, compassion and deep humanity to everything he does.

This revisited episode is for anyone seeking clarity, courage or simply the reassurance that purpose can be rediscovered in the most unexpected places.

Originally aired: November 2024 | Reissued: Summer 2025

With thanks to our episode sponsors (Click to visit their websites):

Conexus Tuition 

Little Voices

Mark Rickard - Author: Teach, Survive, Repeat 

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Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital R...