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Exceptional Decisions

Exceptional Decisions

By: Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall
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About this listen

Jobs? Quit! Bed? Sold! One Way Ticket? Bought!

On the eve of their 30th birthdays, Russell & Andrew made an exceptional decision. They quit their jobs, sold everything they owned and booked a one way flight across the world.

Guided by ‘Divina’ (the universe), Russell & Andrew explore the planet country by country. Join their adventure as they share the exceptional places they visit and the exceptional people they meet.

Join their quest and discover what life becomes when you make Exceptional Decisions.

Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall 2025
Social Sciences Spirituality Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • 8. Cambodia - Phnom Penh Pt.1
    Nov 2 2025

    The backpack is down. The welcome mat is out. We're officially living in a city.

    After months of chasing beautiful landscapes across Vietnam, Divina has delivered the biggest, most unexpected twist yet: a complete change in travel style. We’ve gone from "flashpackers" constantly on the move to long-term house sitters with a fixed address.

    Our new mission? Six weeks in the frenetic, fascinating capital of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For two boys who usually do everything they can to avoid cities, this is a major psychological shift.

    Join us as we trade overnight trains for grocery runs and explore how we’re settling into this new concrete jungle. We share our initial culture shock, the unexpected comforts of domestic life, and our favourite hidden parts of the city. A new country and a new way to travel—how will this change our relationship with this "exceptional experience"?

    We threw away the map and handed the compass to Divina (our name for God). Hit subscribe and don''t forget to keep up to date as we share our full experience on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions

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    49 mins
  • 7. Vietnam - Hoi An ft. Hannah Wilson
    Oct 26 2025

    Luxury, Laughter & Long-Lost Friends

    This week, we’re celebrating Andrew’s 30th in serious style — five-star resort, ocean views, and the kind of robes that make you feel like you’ve got your life together. But the real surprise comes early — way too early — when there’s a knock on the door at 7 a.m. claiming to be housekeeping. In what world does housekeeping come that early? Turns out, it’s not room service — it’s Hannah, Andrew’s childhood friend, showing up after nine years with the best kind of surprise.

    From there, the week becomes a blur of sun, stories, and a cooking class that promises “a culinary journey” but somehow leaves us hungrier than when we arrived. Between the empty plates and endless laughs, we spend most of the time rediscovering old friendships, finding humour in everything, and realising that sometimes the best trips are the ones where nothing really goes to plan.

    Join us for an episode full of luxury, laughter, and long-lost friends.

    We threw away the map and handed the compass to Divina. Hit subscribe to join us for the kind of rewards that only truly exceptional decisions deliver.

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    42 mins
  • 6. Vietnam - Phong Nha
    Oct 19 2025

    We traded the serenity of Ninh Bình's water ways for the subterranean magic of Phong Nha.

    This week, Divina sends us deep into the Vietnamese jungle to Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. This episode is all about the joy of getting truly remote, which, it turns out, is also the joy of getting up close and personal with nature’s most enthusiastic bugs.

    We tackle the magnificent caves, which were vast and alien, it genuinely felt like exploring another planet. We were surprised by the lack of tourists in the area, giving us that sweet, satisfying feeling of being off the beaten path.

    However, the real adventure was back at our guesthouse, where the dining experience included an unsettling number of resident animals that made tit feel less like a restaurant and more like a surprise petting zoo.

    Join us as we brave the subterranean wonders and the extra-terrestrial weirdness, proving that travelling based on gut feeling always provides the greatest rewards.

    We threw away the map and handed the compass to Divina. Hit subscribe to experience the wild, unpredictable rewards of life far from the familiar—and the fly swatter.

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    42 mins
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