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Sabbatical Stories

Sabbatical Stories

By: Rebecca Thomas
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Summary

 Unlock the power of taking a break with Sabbatical Stories, a podcast hosted by Rebecca Thomas from Feel Good Getaways. Through insightful and engaging discussions, Rebecca explores the motivations behind career breaks and sabbaticals, debunks myths, and highlights their invaluable benefits. With a mission to inspire courage and normalise taking time off for personal growth, Sabbatical Stories is a beacon for those seeking inspiration, encouragement, and guidance on their journey to self-discovery. Tune in to learn how taking a break can transform your life and career.Rebecca Thomas Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • Taking a Career Break and Travelling with Pets: Sean’s 15-Month Sabbatical Story

    Taking a Career Break and Travelling with Pets: Sean’s 15-Month Sabbatical Story
    May 14 2026
    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 leavingThe difference between a fake and real career breakImmersing yourself in a new culture and languageThe realities of travelling internationally with petsHow remote work culture influenced his thinkingRebuilding identity outside of workDesigning a life aligned with personal valuesThe emotional and practical realities of re-entryWhy “prototyping” life changes can reduce fearOther episodes you may enjoy: How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time offFrom Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His SabbaticalGet 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 ⁠here⁠Guest 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=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWAWebsite - https://joannacooke.co.ukYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacookeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
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    44 mins
  • Taking a Career Break to Reclaim Yourself: Sabbatical, Identity & Personal Awakening with Danielle Zellman

    Taking a Career Break to Reclaim Yourself: Sabbatical, Identity & Personal Awakening with Danielle Zellman
    May 7 2026
    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 emotionsMaking the decision to take a career break without a fixed planThe lessons learned from an ayahuasca experience in BoliviaRedefining “home” during a sabbaticalReconnecting with family during personal transitionEmbracing the messy middle of career changeCommunity, connection and self-compassionSurrendering control as a leadership practiceOther episodes you may enjoy: Discovering Inner Wisdom Through a Career Break: Danielle Dacunha-Howarth’s Sabbatical JourneyHow a career break can prepare you for emigration: Liz Ferguson’s sabbatical storyGet 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 ⁠here⁠Guest 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=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWAWebsite - https://joannacooke.co.ukYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacookeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
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    41 mins
  • Returning to Work After a Career Break or Sabbatical: Navigating Ambivalence, Purpose and Career Clarity with Mark Hughes

    Returning to Work After a Career Break or Sabbatical: Navigating Ambivalence, Purpose and Career Clarity with Mark Hughes
    Apr 30 2026
    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 breakWhy you don’t need a dramatic epiphany for a sabbatical to be valuableThe role of curiosity in navigating career transitionsHow to interpret feelings of ambivalence towards workThe difference between dissatisfaction and healthy reflectionWhy wanting more time away doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new careerThe complexity of work-related emotions during life transitionsOther episodes you may enjoy: How to take a career break like a pro: Katerina McGee, The Queen of time offFrom Career Break to Creative Passion: How Santosh Mahale Rediscovered Art During His SabbaticalGet 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 ⁠here⁠Guest 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 mchWith 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=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWAWebsite - https://joannacooke.co.ukYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacookeInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
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