Sabbatical Stories

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.

Sabbatical Stories is a business podcast hosted by Rebecca Thomas, with 47 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rebecca Thomas hosts Sabbatical Stories, a business show with 47 episodes published.

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  Sabbatical Stories

  The King of Sabbaticals DJ DiDonna on The Transformative Power of a Career Break

  May 21, 202643 minS0

  <p>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". </p><p>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.</p><p>That experience sparked a deeper inquiry into the role of extended breaks in modern careers. Through The Sabbatical Project, DJ now leads the first...

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  Episode #9

  Taking a Career Break and Travelling with Pets: Sean’s 15-Month Sabbatical Story

  May 14, 202644 minS4

  <p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This conversation is full of honest reflections, practical...

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  Episode #8

  Taking a Career Break to Reclaim Yourself: Sabbatical, Identity & Personal Awakening with Danielle Zellman

  May 7, 202641 minS4

  <p>In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Danielle Zellman shares the deeply personal journey behind her career break and sabbatical.</p><p>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.</p><p>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...

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  Episode #7

  Returning to Work After a Career Break or Sabbatical: Navigating Ambivalence, Purpose and Career Clarity with Mark Hughes

  Apr 29, 202639 minS4

  <p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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...

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  Episode #6

  How to Stay Healthy, Fit and Confident on a Sabbatical or Career Break, Fitness, Identity & Wellbeing with Shantelle Ekermans

  Apr 22, 202645 minS4

  <p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>This conversation is packed with insight for anyone trying to stay fit on a career break or sabbatical.</p><p>We dive...

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