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Sabbatical Stories

Rebecca Thomas
Career Breaks
Sabbaticals
Travel
Personal Growth
Career Break
Sabbatical
Self-Discovery
Work-Life Balance
Burnout
Mental Health
Covid-19
Family
Personal Development
Travel Coaching
Australia
Identity
Fatherhood
Spiritual Awakening
Corporate Wellness
Breakspace

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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes47Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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".

DJ is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project. After foun... more

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 crea... more

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 exhaus... more

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 comp... more

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Recent Guests

DJ DiDonna
The King of Sabbaticals, researcher and author
Harvard Business School (teaches entrepreneurship)
Episode: The King of Sabbaticals DJ DiDonna on The Transformative Power of a Career Break
Sean McIntosh
Guest who took a 15-month career break incorporating travel and relocation between Austin and Mexico City
Episode: Taking a Career Break and Travelling with Pets: Sean’s 15-Month Sabbatical Story
Danielle Zellman
Guest sharing a transformative sabbatical story
Independent professional, entrepreneur
Episode: Taking a Career Break to Reclaim Yourself: Sabbatical, Identity & Personal Awakening with Danielle Zellman
Mark Hughes
Leadership coach, facilitator, former CEO
MCH Positive Impact
Episode: Returning to Work After a Career Break or Sabbatical: Navigating Ambivalence, Purpose and Career Clarity with Mark Hughes
Shantelle Ekermans
Personal trainer and fitness coach who has built a career around staying healthy during sabbaticals and career breaks
Episode: How to Stay Healthy, Fit and Confident on a Sabbatical or Career Break, Fitness, Identity & Wellbeing with Shantelle Ekermans
Gaëlle Deschamps
TEDx speaker, executive leadership trainer, confidence coach, founder of G Force
G-Force / TEDx
Episode: When Your Sabbatical Meets a Global Crisis: Navigating a Career Break During COVID with Gaëlle Deschamps
Namrata Singh
Lead product manager who took a sabbatical to redefine success
Independent professional in tech (based in Bangalore, India)
Episode: Using a Career Break to Redefine Success: Cultural Expectations, Sabbaticals & Life Chapters with Namrata Singh
Katrina McGee
Co-founder and creator of BreakSpace
BreakSpace
Episode: Why Community Matters on a Sabbatical or Career Break and how Breakspace Supports You Through Time Off
Amy Savage
Nutritionalist and sabbatical advocate
Amy Savage Nutrition
Episode: How to Stay Healthy on a Sabbatical: Using a Career Break to Heal & Navigate a Life Time Goal with Amy Savage

Hosts

Rebecca Thomas
Host of Sabbatical Stories, Feel Good Getaways
Bex Thomas
Host of Sabbatical Stories, Feel Good Getaways

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Inspirational & informative stories!

    I love Bex Thomas’s Sabbatical Stories podcast! During my year+ sabbatical, I related so much with the very real and human stories that her guests share. Their stories are both inspirational and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sean đŸ˜ș
    United States2 months ago
  • Great insights

    Fascinating stories. Love the interviewing technique and Bex’s enthusiastic questioning of guests. The bonus episode with her being interviewed by Liz is my favourite, but all are interesting even from someone who has never taken a sabbatical.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jrhyst
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Insightful and thought provoking

    Thought provoking content which provides deep food for thought on how to change things up for a greater purpose and more fulfilled life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ShortStack45
    Australia2 years ago
  • Inspired

    Loving Sabbatical Stories and how it speaks to empowering us to choose the life we want. Not the life that we think we should be living and to be brave! ❀❀❀

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnnaV74
    Australia2 years ago
  • Inspiring!!

    Loving the insightful and inspiring stories that are being shared!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmyMarmo
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Loved the interview approach and energetic questioning.
High-quality conversations with actionable takeaways.
Empowering messages about choosing a life you want.
Thought-provoking and inspiring storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Career Break to Self-Leadership: Overcoming Burnout & Redefining Success, A Sabbatical Story with Sophia Mikelionis
Q: What are your top tips for someone considering a career break?
Start with small, practical habits that protect energy and boundaries—set a phone bedtime, journal daily, find micro-mreener moments, and plan how to reintroduce your values into work when you return.
Career Break to Self-Leadership: Overcoming Burnout & Redefining Success, A Sabbatical Story with Sophia Mikelionis
Q: What sparked your decision to take a sabbatical and how did it unfold?
I realized the culture around me demanded constant availability and high performance, and the physical and emotional toll made it clear I needed to step back, re-evaluate my identity outside of work, and build a sustainable approach to leadership and life.
Career Change after a Career Break: From the UN to animal welfare, A Humanitarian Sabbatical Story with Ana Izvorska
Q: What was the most impactful part of your sabbatical in terms of deciding your next steps?
Drawing and continually updating a living map allowed me to visualize possibilities, test ideas through short-term deployments, and stay intentional about pursuing animal welfare while remaining connected to humanitarian roots.
Career Change after a Career Break: From the UN to animal welfare, A Humanitarian Sabbatical Story with Ana Izvorska
Q: Could you summarize what led you to take a sabbatical and what you hoped to explore?
I had achieved my long-term career goals and wanted to pause to redefine impact for the next chapter, exploring three paths—staying in UN-related work, moving to another NGO, or shifting into animal welfare—while using a visual map as a guiding tool.
How to Stay Healthy on a Sabbatical: Using a Career Break to Heal & Navigate a Life Time Goal with Amy Savage
Q: Watch, read, or listen recommendation for the audience?
Recommend Aspire with Emma Greed as a source of entrepreneurial storytelling and founder journeys.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sabbatical Stories

What is Sabbatical Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Sabbatical Stories centers on taking intentional breaks from work to pursue personal growth, entrepreneurship, travel, and family life. Across recent episodes, the conversations highlight a wide range of sabbatical paths—from fractional marketing and freelancing to global travel, motherhood, and startup rebuilding—emphasizing courage, self-discovery, and the practicalities of planning and funding time off. Listeners can expect relatable, experience-driven guidance, podcast-wide themes of community, transformation, and reimagining career trajectories, as well as stories that showcase how sabbaticals can catalyze new ventures, healthier work‑life balance, and deeper life meaning. A standout aspect is the consistent focus on designing flexible... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Sabbatical Stories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sabbatical Stories:

1. Sabbatical 101
2. Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Zero To Travel Podcast
5. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

How many episodes of Sabbatical Stories are there?

Sabbatical Stories launched 2 years ago and published 47 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sabbatical Stories?

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What guests have appeared on Sabbatical Stories?

Recent guests on Sabbatical Stories include:

1. DJ DiDonna
2. Sean McIntosh
3. Danielle Zellman
4. Mark Hughes
5. Shantelle Ekermans
6. Gaëlle Deschamps
7. Namrata Singh
8. Katrina McGee

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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