In this episode of Work in Progress, I sit down with the incredibly inspiring Leanne Garner - Pilates instructor, nurse, personal trainer, sports therapist and firefighter. Yes, really.

Leanne’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to redefine your path. Making a bold career change in her 50's, she shares what it truly means to follow your passion, step into the unknown, and build a life centred around helping others and actually enjoying it.

We talk about:

• Reinventing yourself later in life
• Letting passion - not fear -guide your decisions
• The reality (and rewards) of juggling multiple roles
• Why success isn’t about titles, but about impact and fulfilment
• Finding energy, purpose and joy in the work you do

It’s an honest, refreshing conversation that challenges the idea that there’s a “right” timeline for success - and instead celebrates curiosity, courage, and living life on your own terms.

Find out more about Leanne:
https://www.leannegarnerpilates.com/

If you’ve ever questioned whether it’s too late to make a change, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my business and reflect on the first quarter of the year.

Instead of always pushing forward, I explore why pausing to reflect creates clarity, direction, and better decision-making in business and life.

I share my three biggest Q1 wins:

• Launching and selling out the Highland Wintering retreat in just five weeks, and the lessons I learned about courage, trust, and self-belief

• Completing the ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching & Mentoring, and what it taught me about learning, confidence, and growth

• Starting ski touring adventures, and how time in the mountains has impacted my energy, creativity, and leadership

Across all three experiences, a few themes stand out: bravery, trust in the process, and the importance of adventure and freedom in shaping how we show up.

I also invite you to reflect on your own Q1 wins and what they’ve taught you.

If you’re building a business and want to grow without burnout, I share details of my Big Sky Business Collective and an upcoming Business Strategy Day in Sussex (Friday 1st May).

In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, I sit down with Lou Reynolds, an IFMGA mountain guide based in Chamonix, to explore the journey behind a career built in the high mountains - and the mindset it takes to sustain it.

Lou shares how everything began with a bold decision to move to Scotland alone at 18, setting her on a path into mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing and ski touring. From those early days to achieving the prestigious IFMGA qualification, her story is one of persistence, adaptability and deep love for the mountains.

We dive into the realities of working in such a demanding environment, including the mental preparation required for high-level guiding exams. Lou opens up about working with a performance coach to develop the psychological skills needed to perform under pressure - offering insight into a side of guiding that often goes unseen.

Alongside her professional life, Lou reflects on navigating motherhood, family life, and partnership while continuing to guide in Chamonix. She speaks honestly about the importance of health and wellbeing, and how learning to rest and recover has become just as vital as pushing forward.

This episode is a thoughtful look at what it really means to build a life in the mountains - balancing ambition, resilience, and self-awareness along the way.

Connect with Lou:

Website: https://www.loureynoldsmountainguide.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lou.reynolds/

Find out more about the Women’s Alpine Adventure Club

Connect with Sarah: 

Email: [email protected]

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

Website: https://sarahhuntley.com/

Are you a small business owner feeling overwhelmed, stuck in 1-to-1 work, or running your business instead of it running you? In this episode of the Work in Progress Podcast, I show you how to create a value ladder / product ecosystem that structures your offers so clients move naturally from free resources to premium services.

You’ll learn how to map your current offers, define a clear client journey, and simplify your business to reduce burnout, increase predictable income, and grow sustainably. I share real examples from my business and clients who’ve transformed their workflow and income using this method.

If you want to work smarter, not harder, and design a business that flows for both you and your clients, this episode is for you.

Find out more about the Spring Strategy Day here

Are you a small business owner, coach, or wellness professional wondering if you can turn your passion into a profitable business? In this episode of the Work in Progress podcast, Alice Thomson shares her inspiring journey from dentistry to outdoor adventures -and shows that you don’t need a traditional career path to create meaningful work.

We discuss:

• How to overcome failure and loneliness in business

• Building a strong community for your coaching or wellbeing business

• The underrated power of outdoor activity for creativity, productivity, and mental health

• Practical tips for turning your passion into a sustainable, profitable business

If you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed in your service-based business, this episode will give you actionable insights to work smarter, grow your impact, and reclaim your freedom.

Connect with Alice:

• Website: www.enlivenwithalicethomson.com
• Instagram: @freshair_collective/

Connect with Sarah:

• Website: www.sarahhuntley.com

• Instagram: @sarah_huntley_

Life is busy, full, and often overwhelming - especially when you’re juggling work, responsibilities and your wellbeing.

In this episode of the Work in Progress Podcast, we explore the magic of retreats and why taking time out is more than just a luxury - it’s a way to reset your mind, reconnect with yourself, and return to life feeling inspired, energised, and clear.

In this episode, I chat with Dan Hughes (VitaeVi) and Chantelle Manz (The Naturally Curious) - co-instructors on Highland Wintering (my 2026 Retreat) who share their insights on designing retreats that combine wellbeing, nature, connection, and transformation. Learn how immersive experiences help guests:

• Restore energy and reduce stress
• Connect deeply with like-minded people
• Gain perspective and clarity away from everyday routines
• Reignite creativity, curiosity, and passion

Whether you’re curious, adventurous, or simply in need of time out, this episode shows why retreats are a powerful tool for personal growth, professional development, and meaningful connection.

✨ Find the Highland Wintering 2026 brochure HERE - booking is now open!
Discover more about this unique retreat experience, including location, itinerary, and how to join.

Connect With My Guests:

• Dan Hughes – VitaeVi
  
• Chantelle Manz – The Naturally Curious
  

Connect With Me:

Website: www.sarahhuntley.com 

Instagram: @sarah_huntley_ 

Join my WhatsApp Community

Are you a coach, wellbeing practitioner or service-based business owner feeling stuck trading your time for money? If your business feels busy but unpredictable and you’re overwhelmed by 1-1 work, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Work in Progress Podcast, we explore why charging by the hour leads to burnout and capped income -- and how packaging your expertise can help you earn more, create predictability, and have a bigger impact without working longer hours.

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop trading time for money

• Create structured offers that deliver deeper results

• Build clarity, confidence and sustainable income

• Work smarter, not harder

If you’re ready to build a business around your life - not the other way around - find out more about the Big Sky Business Collective, a supportive space for service-based business owners who want clarity, structure, accountability, and community.

If this episode resonated, please leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts - it helps more people find the show.

Connect with Sarah:
Website: www.sarahhuntley.comInstagram: @sarah_huntley_LinkedIn: Sarah HuntleyEmail: [email protected]
Join my WhatsApp Community: https://bit.ly/4inwFw9

Welcome to Episode 24 of Work in Progress. If you’re new here, I’m Sarah Huntley – Performance Psychologist, Business Mentor, and Retreat Host. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Gray, a multifaceted wellness professional and our fantastic caterer on our Big Sky Adventure Wellbeing Retreats. 

In this episode, Kate shares her story with honesty and depth, reflecting on the highs, the lows and the moments that shaped her holistic approach to wellbeing. This conversation explores how food, mindset, and self-connection come together to support sustainable health, resilience and personal growth.

If this episode has resonated with you, please consider leaving a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more people discover these conversations, and helps this podcast grow. Thank you!

If you’d like to experience Kate’s cooking first-hand, booking for our 2026 Winter Retreat opens on Thursday 29th January. Find all the details HERE

See you next time! 

Connect with Kate:

• Website: https://kategray.co.uk/ 
• Instagram: kategrayyogaandayurveda/⁠ 

Connect With Sarah:

• Website: www.sarahhuntley.com
• Instagram: sarah_huntley_

Have you ever looked at someone’s success and wondered what it really took to get there - not the polished version, but the messy, learn-as-you-go reality behind the scenes?

In episode 23 of the Work in Progress podcast, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my six-figure retreat business, Big Sky Adventures. I share how I went from running half-day workshops to hosting four sold-out retreats across England and Scotland over the last two years, what I learned along the way and how adventure has become a powerful catalyst for clarity, confidence, and personal performance.

This episode is for you if you’re curious about building a retreat business, creating meaningful experiences, or using adventure and time in nature to accelerate personal and professional growth.

• How the idea for Big Sky Adventures began
• What it really takes to run a retreat business (logistics, planning and people behind the scenes)
• Key lessons learned from hosting multiple sold-out UK retreats
• Why environment, adventure and shared challenge amplify transformation
• How stepping outside your comfort zone builds resilience, self-belief and performance
• A powerful story from the 2023 Isle of Skye Winter Retreat that captures the true impact of adventure on wellbeing
• What’s coming next, including a brand-new Winter Adventure Retreat in Scotland in 2026

In this episode, I also share details about a brand-new winter retreat taking place near the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.

Expect:

• Guided hiking in stunning Highland landscapes

• Optional wild swimming and cold-water dipping

• Daily breath work and reflective mindset sessions

• Fully catered, nourishing home-cooked food

• Local music, fireside conversations, and deep rest

This retreat is designed for active, outdoorsy and ambitious professionals who want to step away from noise, reconnect with themselves, and return with renewed clarity and energy.

Check out the ⁠retreat brochure⁠

👉 Priority booking opens on the 28th January - Join the ⁠early-bird booking list⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. It helps more people find the show and supports the podcast more than you might realise.

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right—journaling, planning, goal-setting - yet still feel stuck?

In this episode of Work in Progress, performance psychologist and mountain leader Sarah Huntley explores why real growth often doesn’t come from another productivity tool, but from changing your environment and stepping into adventure.

Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and personal experience, Sarah explains how adventure accelerates clarity, confidence, focus, and performance - especially for busy, ambitious professionals who feel flat, disconnected or stagnant.

If you’re craving momentum, energy, and a genuine reset, this episode will show you why the breakthrough you’re looking for may be just outside your comfort zone.

Key Takeaways:

• Why journaling and planning alone often fail to create real change

• How adventure and time in nature reduce stress and improve mental clarity

• The neuroscience behind novelty, challenge and peak performance

• Why stepping outside your comfort zone builds resilience and confidence

• How shared adventure deepens connection and trust

• Practical ways to use micro-adventures to reset your nervous system

• Why reflection works best after experience - not instead of it

• Adventure calms the nervous system and boosts emotional regulation

• Novel experiences stimulate creativity, motivation, and learning

• Discomfort—when chosen intentionally—drives growth

• You don’t need extreme travel; powerful adventures exist close to home

• Shared challenge builds deeper, more authentic relationships

If 2026 feels like the year you want to go deeper, Sarah is hosting a brand-new adventure and wellbeing retreat in the Cairngorm National Park, Scotland from 28th November -4th December.

Expect:

• Guided hiking in stunning Scottish landscapes

• Cold water immersion in remote lochs and waterfalls

• Breath work and mindset sessions

• Time for reflection, connection, and clarity

• Nourishing, home-cooked food

This retreat is designed for active, curious professionals who want more than a spa break - it’s about wellbeing, adventure and perspective. Spaces are limited and previous retreats have sold out.

Check out the retreat brochure

Join the early-bird booking list (Booking opens 10am on Wednesday 28th January!)

Subscribe to the Work in Progress podcast for weekly conversations on growth, adventure, wellbeing and high performance - and join Sarah next week for a behind-the-scenes look at how to design experiences that create real transformation.

Stay curious. Stay adventurous.