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 fundamentally reshaped how he viewed work, ambition and identity.

That experience sparked a deeper inquiry into the role of extended breaks in modern careers. Through The Sabbatical Project, DJ now leads the first research of its kind exploring the impact of sabbaticals on non-academics.

In this conversation, DJ shares his personal journey, the myths and misconceptions surrounding sabbaticals, and why he believes time off is not a luxury but an ancient and essential human ritual.

We dive into:

• The concept of intentional time off in sustainable, meaningful careers

• Why sabbaticals can trigger powerful identity transformation

• The difference between passive rest and active rest

• How to identify your unique sabbatical style, take the quiz here

• The role of journaling and reflection during a career break

• Common myths about sabbaticals and what the research actually shows

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• How Life-Changing Sabbaticals and Career Breaks Helped Host Bex Transition from Corporate to Coaching

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: DJ DiDonna is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and the founder of The Sabbatical Project, a pioneering research initiative exploring the impact of extended time away from work on modern professionals. Known as the “King of Sabbaticals,” DJ is passionate about bringing about positive change by commercialising social science research and translating academic insight into practical action.

Get in touch with DJ via LinkedIn

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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 opens up about the realities of taking a purposeful pause and how the experience shifted his perspective on success, work, and freedom.

This conversation is full of honest reflections, practical insights, and reassurance for anyone quietly questioning whether there might be another way to live and work.

We dive into:

• Overcoming fear and uncertainty before leaving

• The difference between a fake and real career break

• Immersing yourself in a new culture and language

• The realities of travelling internationally with pets

• How remote work culture influenced his thinking

• Rebuilding identity outside of work

• Designing a life aligned with personal values

• The emotional and practical realities of re-entry

• Why “prototyping” life changes can reduce fear

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• From Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His Sabbatical

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Sean McIntosh is a strategic eCommerce and digital growth leader with more than 15 years of experience driving revenue growth across marketplaces, DTC platforms, and omnichannel retail environments. His career spans global marketplace analytics, digital merchandising, and brand leadership roles with organisations.

Outside of work, Sean is also a proud cat dad, having successfully travelled internationally with his two cats during his sabbatical adventure.

Get in touch with Sean via LinkedIn 

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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, Danielle used her career break to explore new environments, identities and ways of being. A pivotal retreat experience including an ayahuasca ceremony challenged her to confront what she had long avoided and to sit in the uncomfortable “messy middle” of personal growth.

In this conversation, we explore what happens when high performers step away from achievement and into self-discovery.

We dive into:

• Why high achievers often avoid their emotions

• Making the decision to take a career break without a fixed plan

• The lessons learned from an ayahuasca experience in Bolivia

• Redefining “home” during a sabbatical

• Reconnecting with family during personal transition

• Embracing the messy middle of career change

• Community, connection and self-compassion

• Surrendering control as a leadership practice

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• Discovering Inner Wisdom Through a Career Break: Danielle Dacunha-Howarth’s Sabbatical Journey

• How a career break can prepare you for emigration: Liz Ferguson’s sabbatical story

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Danielle Zellman is a People Experience & Culture Leader turned fractional consultant, partnering with mission-driven companies to translate employee signals into durable strategy and measurable follow-through. As employee 20 at Cedar, she built the People Experience function from the ground up, helping scale the company to 450+ employees and $100M in revenue while sustaining engagement above 88% and eNPS above 50 through hypergrowth, restructuring, and acquisition. 

Get in touch with Danielle directly on LinkedIn or using the links below:

Substack: https://zellyd44.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zellyd11/

With special thanks to:

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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 fix.

For high-achieving professionals who assume a sabbatical must result in a bold reinvention, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective. Sometimes the value of a break lies not in radical change, but in deeper self-awareness and renewed appreciation for work that already fits.

We dive into:

• The emotional reality of returning to work after a career break

• Why you don’t need a dramatic epiphany for a sabbatical to be valuable

• The role of curiosity in navigating career transitions

• How to interpret feelings of ambivalence towards work

• The difference between dissatisfaction and healthy reflection

• Why wanting more time away doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new career

• The complexity of work-related emotions during life transitions

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• From Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His Sabbatical

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Mark Hughes is an experienced trainer, mentor, coach and facilitator with a strong track record of developing leaders across sectors and continents. Mark works one-to-one with individuals from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, both in the UK and internationally, and facilitates board away days, multi-day residential programmes and complex team conversations. As Director of mch, he also speaks at regional and national conferences, delivers high-impact workshops, and provides consultancy, team development and non-executive support to organisations seeking to strengthen their leadership capability and positive impact.

Get in touch with Mark via LinkedIn or directly through his website mch

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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 suddenly, the structure that once held your health and fitness in place is gone.

This conversation is packed with insight for anyone trying to stay fit on a career break or sabbatical.

We dive into:

• Why giving yourself permission to take a break without guilt is foundational to real rest

• Practical ways to stay active and healthy while travelling or living more flexibly

• The power of maintaining small anchor routines to support motivation

• How online fitness platforms can provide structure without rigidity

• Why self-love and confidence are key drivers of sustainable health

• How wearables and technology can support wellbeing without becoming obsessive

• Strategies for staying motivated when routines change or travel disrupts habits

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• How a career break can prepare you for emigration: Liz Ferguson’s sabbatical story

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Shantelle Ekermans is the founder of The SET Life, a high-support online coaching practice designed specifically for executive women 40+ navigating shifts in energy, sleep, strength and body composition. With over 18 years in the fitness industry and a foundation in sports science, she delivers a private, fully managed 12-week transformation built around biology, workload and nervous system regulation, not willpower. 

Her work supports high-performing women whose bodies have changed but whose standards have not, restoring strength, metabolic health and composure without extremes.

Get in touch with Shantelle on LinkedIn, via Facebook or Instagram.

Or, even better book an intro chat here

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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, reflection and renewal, a chance to step back before her next chapter.

She began her sabbatical on March 1st, 2020.

By March 18th, her birthday, the world went into lockdown.

What was meant to be travel, celebration and spaciousness became uncertainty, disruption and confinement. In this conversation, Gaëlle shares how she navigated the emotional shift from control to surrender, how the pandemic reshaped her sabbatical experience, and what it taught her about identity, resilience and leadership.

We dive into:

• The decision to take a sabbatical after decades in corporate leadership

• Planning a career break with intention and structure

• Starting a sabbatical just weeks before global lockdown

• Managing disappointment when plans unravel

• Identity beyond corporate titles

• Lessons leaders can take from disruption

Timestamps

To follow

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• Discovering Inner Wisdom Through a Career Break: Danielle Dacunha-Howarth’s Sabbatical Journey

• How a career break can prepare you for emigration: Liz Ferguson’s sabbatical story

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break" 👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Gaelle is a TEDx speaker, certified executive coach, leadership trainer and Founder of G Force, a company dedicated to shaping the next generation of confident, values-led leaders. With executive education from Harvard and London Business School, she brings over 27 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, having held senior leadership roles at L’Oréal, SABMiller and The Coca-Cola Company.

Today, Gaëlle delivers keynote talks and transformational programmes including The Art of Confidence©️ and The Art of LeadHERship©️, empowering women and young people to step into leadership with authenticity and impact. A passionate advocate for better role models in workplaces, communities and families, she combines global business expertise with contagious energy and a deep commitment to helping others show up confidently and create meaningful change. 

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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 exploration, to shape their decisions rather than rigid goals. 

Namrata shares openly about cultural norms and expectations and how carving her own path alongside her husband was not the most common or encouraged route within their cultural context. Taking a career break, stepping away from conventional timelines and choosing exploration over certainty required courage. It meant redefining stability, success and identity outside traditional expectations.

We dive into:

• Why you shouldn’t over-optimise your sabbatical

• The power of living thematically during a career break

• Cultural expectations around stability, marriage and career

• Carving your own path when it’s not the cultural norm

• How time away creates clarity for your career and life in general

• Openness, identity and redefining success

• How their break led to launching Sing & Tea, a soft rebellion against small talk

Timestamps

to follow

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• From Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His Sabbatical

• Tiny Detour on Career Breaks, Breaking the Blueprint & Currency Hacking

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Namrata is a Lead Product Manager with over 11 years of experience building and scaling subscription, payments and monetisation platforms across both consumer and B2B products. During her sabbatical, Namrata channelled her product expertise into entrepreneurship, founding Sing & Tea, a pop-up series that brings 6 strangers together in cozy corners of Bengaluru for unfiltered heart-to-heart conversations over Chia.

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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:

👉 https://www.gobreakspace.com/join/

You’ll also receive 30% off your first month when you use the code:

BEX30

Be sure to enter BEX30 at checkout, this not only gives you the discount but also allows the BreakSpace team to track your membership back to Sabbatical Stories.

Timestamps

To follow

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• From Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His Sabbatical

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: If you’re thinking of taking a sabbatical, you don’t have to do it alone. BreakSpace is the community for Career Breakers and Sabbatical Takers that gives you a complete support system to make the most of your sabbatical. It gives you access to supportive coaches, step-by-step courses and resources,  expert-led masterclasses and a community of people who ‘get it’. It’s everything you need to plan your break, recharge, design what’s next and return to a career and life you love.

We have a special deal for Listeners as well

We can give you INSTANT access (skip the waitlist!) and get a 30% discount on your first month.

Use this link to skip the waitlist and instantly join - https:https://www.gobreakspace.com/join/

And use this code at checkout for your 30% discount - BEX30

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

🎁 Exclusive Offer for Sabbatical Stories Listeners

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 allowed her to heal, reflect and ultimately pursue studies in nutrition.

This conversation explores the powerful connection between health, career break decisions and long-term career change. Amy shares how stepping away from full time work gave her the space to rebuild physically and mentally.

We also dive into the practical side of maintaining your wellbeing during a sabbatical especially when travel, disrupted routines and uncertainty can easily derail healthy habits.

We dive into:

• The concept of taking multiple sabbaticals for different life seasons

• How a serious accident reshaped Amy’s relationship with health

• Why self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s foundational

• Transitioning back to work after a career break

• How a sabbatical can create clarity for a personal goal and building a purpose-led business

• How to maintain energy and gut health while travelling

• Supplements and simple nutrition strategies during a sabbatical

• How to create small, sustainable health habits that last beyond your break

Timestamps

to follow

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time off

• How Life-Changing Sabbaticals and Career Breaks Helped Host Bex Transition from Corporate to Coaching

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Amy is a qualified nutritionist and the founder of The Signature Program, a 4-week self-guided course supporting weight management, sleep, stress and gut health. Her work focuses on helping busy, high-achieving individuals build small, sustainable habits that improve energy, resilience and long-term wellbeing. Amy’s expertise has been featured in Marie Claire and Women’s Health Australia, where she has contributed recipes and practical nutrition insights.

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/

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 explore what motivates someone to pause a mission-driven career, how to plan a meaningful sabbatical, and what happens when returning to work doesn’t unfold as expected. Ana shares how volunteering in animal welfare became a way to prototype future career possibilities, how she mapped out different professional pathways during her break, and why stepping away ultimately reshaped her understanding of freedom, identity and long-term impact. 

We dive into:

• What sparked her decision to take a career break after years in humanitarian work

• How she created a visual “career map” during her sabbatical

• Using volunteering as a low-risk way to test a potential career change

• Navigating the uncertainty of returning to work post-sabbatical

• What happens when a career transition doesn’t go to plan

• Redefining professional identity beyond titles and organisations

• Why her sabbatical reshaped her view of freedom, exploration and impact

Timestamps

To follow

Other episodes you may enjoy: 

• Career Break to Career Change: How Steve Duke Pivoted and Rediscovered Joy at Work

• How Life-Changing Sabbaticals and Career Breaks Helped Host Bex Transition from Corporate to Coaching

Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - ⁠@Sabbatical_Stories⁠ or reach out on LinkedIn - ⁠Bex Thomas.⁠

Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching: 

As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self. 

Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.

Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more ⁠here⁠

💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity. 

Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.

👉 Grab your free copy ⁠here⁠

Guest bio: Ana is a humanitarian professional with nearly two decades of international experience across the Red Cross, United Nations and now FOUR PAWS. Working in complex environments including Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Armenia and Mozambique her career has focused on migration, displacement, crisis response and protecting vulnerable communities, often operating at the frontline of global emergencies. Driven by purpose and impact, Ana has dedicated her professional life to serving those affected by conflict and instability.

With special thanks to: 

Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine. 

Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.

Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA

Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/