Sabbatical Stories
Episodes
When Your Sabbatical Meets a Global Crisis: Navigating a Career Break During COVID with Gaëlle Deschamps
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, we speak with executive leadership trainer, TEDx speaker and confidence coach Gaëlle Deschamps about taking a ...
Using a Career Break to Redefine Success: Cultural Expectations, Sabbaticals & Life Chapters with Namrata Singh
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex speaks with Namrata, founder of Sing & Tea, about navigating personal transitions, cultural expectation...
Why Community Matters on a Sabbatical or Career Break and how Breakspace Supports You Through Time Off
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this very special bonus episode of Sabbatical Stories we welcome back Katrina McGee and Lyndall Farley. Joining Bex, three of the most respected mi...
How to Stay Healthy on a Sabbatical: Using a Career Break to Heal & Navigate a Life Time Goal with Amy Savage
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex speaks with nutritionist Amy Savage about her journey through multiple sabbaticals and how prioritising hea...
Career Change after a Career Break: From the UN to animal welfare, A Humanitarian Sabbatical Story with Ana Izvorska
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this Season 4 episode of Sabbatical Stories, Ana Izvorska shares her powerful career break and sabbatical journey after nearly two decades working ...
Career Break to Self-Leadership: Overcoming Burnout & Redefining Success, A Sabbatical Story with Sophia Mikelionis
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off Season 4 of Sabbatical Stories, Sophia Mikelionis shares her journey from high-performing finance leader to speaker and facilitator helpin...
Top tips for sabbaticals & career breaks: Highlights from Season 3
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this special New Year wrap-up episode, Bex and Aunty B sit down to reflect on the most meaningful moments from Season 3 of Sabbatical Stories, a se...
Designing a Life Full of Flexibility and Connection after a Career Break with Laura Blagys
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Laura shares her honest and inspiring journey from corporate marketing to building a thriving fractional business that gives her...
From Career Break to Global Career Transition with Izy Remedios
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Izy shares her transformative sabbatical experience traveling through Latin America. She discusses her motivations for taking a ...
Career Breaks & Fatherhood: How Stepping Back Fuels Growth with Sean Macmannis
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sean Macmannis shares his transformative sabbatical journey, detailing the decision to take a break from his tech career to embrace f...
The Power of Sabbaticals: Ritual & Renewal with Nele Vandersmissen
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Nele shares her transformative journey through sabbaticals, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity, freedom, and sacred time....
Tiny Detour on Career Breaks, Breaking the Blueprint & Currency Hacking
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Nabil and Zenesta from Tiny Detour share their transformative journey of taking a career break to travel with their daughter. They dis...
From Career Break to Business Growth: Mandy Millan’s Brand-Building Lessons
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Mandy shares her transformative sabbatical journey that began 15 years ago when she felt lost in her corporate career. She discu...
Motherhood and Identity: Career Break Lessons with Lauren Yates
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Lauren shares her unique journey of taking a career break that began as maternity leave. She discusses the emotional challenges of le...
Career Break Growth: Finding Gratitude & Clarity with Jay Epps
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Jay Epps shares his experiences of taking two significant career breaks, reflecting on the motivations behind them, the activiti...
How to use a sabbatical to prototype your future life with Nicky Palmer
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Nicky Palmer shares her transformative sabbatical journey, detailing her experiences of moving from the UK to the US, the chal...
Financial Planning for a Sabbatical: Taylor’s Peace Corps & Family Career Break Story
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Taylor shares her transformative journey of taking a sabbatical to join the Peace Corps, detailing the inspiration behind her de...
Top tips for sabbaticals & career breaks: Highlights from Season 2
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special wrap-up episode, Bex and Aunty B reflect on the most powerful moments from Season 2. Together, they explore expert insights, inspiring...
How Life-Changing Sabbaticals and Career Breaks Helped Host Bex Transition from Corporate to Coaching
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Sabbatical Stories, host Bex Thomas takes the guest seat while "Aunty B" steps in as interviewer!Bex dives deep into her pe...
From C-Suite to Shaman: How Sabbaticals and Nature-Inspired Rites of Passage Transformed Kat Sforcina’s Leadership
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Kat Sforcina, a serial entrepreneur, NED, and former C-suite executive turned initiated sha...
How Solo Travel on a Career Break Transformed Iuliana Marchian into a Travel Coaching Success
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Iuliana Marchian shares her transformative journey from a teaching assistant in Romania to a travel coach and w...
Taking a Career Break Before Your Career Starts: Sahara Rose De Vore on Creating Your Own Path
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Sahara Rose shares her transformative journey from a broke college student to the founder of the Travel Coach Network.Sahara emp...
Pressing Pause with an Adult Gap Year: How Kyle Ryan Used a Career Break to Reset
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Kyle as he shares his transformative journey of taking a career break to travel the world. Kyle opens up about the m...
From Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His Sabbatical
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Santosh Mahale shares his unique sabbatical journey, taking a break from a career he loves as a management consultant, to pursui...
Using a Career Break or Sabbatical to Discover Your 'Why': Martina McDermott’s Story
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Martina McDermott shares her sabbatical journey, reflecting on her experiences traveling through the Americas and the motivation...
The Truth About Career Breaks: Research Insights from PhD Scholar Patrick Mazzocco
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Patrick Mazzocco, an academic whose PhD research dives deep into the motivations, experiences, and outcom...
How a Career Break Helped Susie Chau Transition from Management Consulting to Travel Agent
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Susie Chou shares her transformative experience of taking a year-long sabbatical with her husband, traveling to all seven continents....
Lessons from 11 Career Breaks and Sabbaticals: Insights with Lyndall Farley
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode of Sabbatical Stories, we’re joined by Lyndall Farley, a global expert in sabbaticals and the founder of Beyond a Break. W...
Burnout Recovery and Mental Health: How a Career Break Helped Amanda Quintero Recharge
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off a brand-new season of Sabbatical Stories, we’re joined by Amanda, whose powerful and deeply relatable journey began with a layoff from a...
Top Tips for Sabbaticals and Career Breaks: Highlights from Season 1
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our host Bex and producer Auntie B reflect on the key themes and insights from Season One of Sabbatical Stories. They discuss the common threads among...
Discovering Inner Wisdom Through a Career Break: Danielle Dacunha-Howarth’s Sabbatical Journey
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle joins us to share her sabbatical story that was prompted by her husband's health challenges. Danielle shares how they planned their sab...
The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical: Laura Marson on Personal Growth After a Career Break
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Marson shares her sabbatical story of leaving her life and career as a chef in Charleston, South Carolina, to embark on a year-long backpacking ...
How a Career Break Can Prepare You for Emigration: Liz Ferguson’s Sabbatical Story
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Ferguson shares her sabbatical story, including her experiences with travel and taking a career break before emigrating. She discusses the motivat...
How To Support Others Through Career Breaks and Sabbaticals : Tips from Jennifer Anderson
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Anderson shares her experience as the wife of someone who took a career break. She discusses the signs that indicated her husband needed a br...
Taking a Sabbatical to Reinvent Your Life: Lucy Lee on Finding Courage and Clarity
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy shares how her messy and unplanned 8 week career break led to a major transition in her life. Lucy knew where she wanted to be physically but...
Leaving Corporate America: How a Career Break Led Tanya Saker to a New Way of Living
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tanya Saker shares her sabbatical story of leaving corporate America after 15 years and returning to the UK. She initially took a summer off and worke...
Taking a Career Break to Volunteer in Africa : Jackson Lindsay-Egan’s Life-Changing Sabbatical
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jackson shares how he took a break after realising that his values didn't align with his job in agency recruitment. His time volunteering in Afric...
What Employers Really Think About Career Breaks (and How to Talk About Yours) With Anika Stokes
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we are joined by Anika Stokes. Anika wears two hats today as someone who has personally experienced the benefits of two career brea...
How a Career Break Helped Juliana Moreira Reconnect with Her True Self
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Juliana Moreira shares her courageous journey of taking a career break and stepping into her own truth. She discusses the challenges of gaining suppor...
How to Take a Career Break Like a Pro: Katrina McGhee, The Queen of Time Off
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this debut episode, we are joined by Katrina McGhee, author of "Taking a Career Break for Dummies." Katrina shares her personal journey, ...
Sabbatical Stories: Real Journeys of Career Breaks
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unlock the power of taking a break with Sabbatical Stories, a podcast hosted by Rebecca Thomas from Feel Good Getaways. Join Rebecca as she explores t...
Career Break to Career Change: How Steve Duke Pivoted and Rediscovered Joy at Work
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Steve Duke. He shares how redundancy prompted him to take a career break, allowing him to reass...