About The Adventure

Can slowing down enable us to get to where we ultimately want to go more efficiently? ‘Slow Coach’ Andy Mort shares his unique approach to coaching and creating community in this enlightening interview. He tells us that he became a coach accidentally after people had directly approached him about it, prompting him to take up training and blend this with his work as a sound artist. 

Before taking up coaching, Andy was an Undertaker. As you can imagine, this provides a unique career change story. He shares compelling insights into his experience and how this influenced his perspective on life. 

Andy shares why he chooses to live between friends’ homes rather than settle in a place of his own, and why he has set up an online community for gentle rebels. Other topics include the challenges he faced while training as a coach, being an introverted performer, how ambient sound and meditative narratives can help people, and the value of podcasting.

This interview has a lovely steady pace and really valuable coaching questions at the end, so please take the opportunity to make yourself comfortable and give yourself the time and space to listen.  

References

The Coaching Academy

Late Bloomers: The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace - by Rich Karlgaard

Look Again: The Power of Noticing What was Always There - by Tali Sharot, Cass R. Sunstein

Links

Andy’s website

The Haven online community

Gentle Rebel Podcast

Andy's music on Spotify

Follow Andy on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

Recording information

This episode was recorded online on 4th April 2024.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure.

Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to contact Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Or email directly: [email protected]

Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by

Does it take a lot of courage to change your career path? Peter Morton thinks it does, and it was his own boss who gave him the nudge to do so! In 2006 he left his job in IT to pursue a career in outdoor education as a freelance instructor. This led on to the creation of RedOakBushcrafts, a family run business in the Peak District.

RedOakBushcrafts offers bushcraft, wilderness and survival skills courses in the Peak District and canoe expeditions in Scotland.

Here are the questions I ask Peter during this interview:

• Do you find it challenging to do people-facing work?
• What do you see is the impact on the people that come on your courses?
• What was it that reignited your passion for the outdoors?
• Did you feel impatient about your career progression when you left your IT job?
• Did something trigger your decision to leave?
• How did it feel for you to be making such a big change?
• Do you think you would’ve stayed longer if your boss hadn’t given you the nudge?
• Are you pleased you’ve taken these steps towards what you’re doing now?
• Do you feel like it takes a lot of courage to leave things behind?
• Which parts of your work do you absolutely love?
• Do people really bond on your canoe trips?
• What aspects of your work do you really not like?
• What have you learnt along the way?
• Has your work/lifestyle turned out as you expected?
• How do people react to the type of work that you do?
• Do you feel that your work is meaningful when comparing it to your previous job?
• What were the first steps that you took with setting up RedOak?
• What do you think your friends and family think of what you do?
• Do you think you need an outdoorsy background to pursue an outdoors career?
• Do you train people to do what you do?
• Do you feel like you have a good standard of living?
• Do you create as much free time as you can?
• What question would you ask somebody who is thinking about a career change?

RedOakBushcrafts Links

Website 

Instagram

Facebook

Recording information

This episode was recorded on the slopes of the Great Ridge in Edale, underneath a tarp, on 9th February 2024.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure.

Final notes

Visi About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis...

**Please note that during this episode Jess talks about chronic health issues and grief.**

How important is support throughout a career change? This is the thread that runs through this interview with Jessica Snape-Burns, who shares her 10-year journey with Amerron Acres - a Community Interest Company (CIC) in Edale that provides a tranquil, safe and nurturing environment for therapeutic healing to take place. Jess offers Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), family visits, retreats and wellbeing workshops.

Jess had a strong draw to animal welfare from a young age, choosing to volunteer with injured and sick animals at a sanctuary as a way to spend time with equines. She  has always found comfort in the company of horses and set up Amerron Acres so she could share her special herd to help others on their healing journey.  

Experiencing her own health struggles, with debilitating and disabling neurological symptoms causing years of wrong diagnoses and deteriorating mental health, she was eventually diagnosed with a chronic spinal CSF leak. Although mostly better now, she knows the value of self-care, resting and taking care of our mental health as a priority.

You can read more about Jess, Director & Practitioner at Amerron Acres, on her website from which these notes have been adapted.

At the end of the interview, Jess asks you a question and offers really helpful advice too.

Here’s the list of questions that I asked Jess:

• How did horses first come into your life?
• How do you get to know a horse?
• Do the horses look to you for guidance?
• How can you describe each of their personalities?
• Was this building already here for you to use?
• Have the other horses had a more challenging past?
• Where were the seeds of this idea to set up Amerron Acres?
• What work were you doing before?
• What’s helped you through all of the challenges?
• Did you come to Edale with this idea to set up Amerron Acres?
• What’s involved in the logistics of getting the horses here?
• Can you tell us about your illness?
• What are your foundations for self-care?
• Who can you best help through your facilitation here?
• How do you facilitate a session with somebody who fears horses?
• Do you still get surprised by the results of your work?
• What role do the goats play?
• How can people work with you? What do you offer?
• How do you look after yourself in between sessions?
• Do you have a vision for what you move towards in the future?
• What’s the training you’ve done?
• What question would you ask somebody thinking about a new career direction?
• What’s the significance of 'Amerron'?

Amerron Acres links

Website

Instagram

Facebook

References

Horse Boy Method

PoTS

Eagala

Leap

Andrew Critchlow -

In what ways can making videos feel meaningful? This is what Stephen explains at the beginning of his interview while sharing the reasons why he started a YouTube channel. In addition to making YouTube videos, Stephen also uses creative filmmaking to grow brands. He specialises in outdoors/tourism and also covers promos, events, online advertising for a range of industries. His business, Grafters Media has helped clients gain customers, win awards and gain multi-million investments. He talks about the aspects of commercial work that he finds most challenging and how he is trying to establish more balance in his life so that he doesn’t feel so stressed and get sick.

Themes during Stephen’s interview include the pressure he puts on himself to do a good job, his thoughts on nerves being a part of life, what it’s like to combine personal hobbies with work, the importance of keeping active, how he got into making commercial videos, and why he started trailrunning. 

At the end of the interview, Stephen asks you a question that might help you to open up your thinking about taking a different career path that will give you more creative freedom and time outside.

Here’s the list of questions that I asked Stephen:

• Why did you start a YouTube channel?
• Did you feel nervous about speaking to the camera and sharing your videos when you started?
• Why is it that you still show up and do it?
• Do you want to spend time outdoors without being on camera?
• What’s it like doing what you do?
• Where do you think your stress is coming from?
• How has it been to get yourself to this place?
• Did you already know how to use cameras before you started the YouTube channel?
• Do you think this is what you’ll continue to do as your line of work?
• Do you believe that you could still find the thing you will stick with?
• How long have you been doing this type of commercial work?
• How proactive are you with finding client work?
• Have you accepted nerves as part of the experience?
• What question would you like to ask your listeners?

Links

Stephen’s YouTube channel

Stephen's video of us running on Kinder Scout

Stephen’s instagram

Stephen’s twitter

Stephen’s LinkedIn

References

Jacob Tonkin on Instagram

Fell Running with Jacob Tonkin video on Stephen’s YouTube channel

Runkeeper

Recording information

This episode was recorded at my house in Edale on 2nd November 2023.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure

Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to email...

What if there’s life outside of a classroom? This is one of the things that Louise Earnshaw kept considering before she made the decision to leave her job as a teacher after 20 years. Dismayed by the pressure and toxic environment, she left teaching in April 2023 to be a freelance outdoor instructor and artist. She says she feels so much happier managing her own time and pursuing the things she loves.

Themes during Louise’s interview include her concerns about finances, imposter syndrome, feelings of inadequacy during her early education years, the positive impact of outdoor pursuits, and managing her time now that she has more freedom and flexibility. 

At the end of the interview, Louise gives you a simple creative task that might help you to take a step towards making a change in your life.

Here’s the list of questions that I asked Louise:

• What does it feel like being sat here on a Wednesday morning when just a few months ago you would’ve been doing your job as a teacher?
• Is the outdoors instructing something that you did alongside teaching?
• How do you balance all of the different elements of your work?
• What was it about Ali Foxon’s training that made you fly with it?
• How long had you been thinking about leaving teaching?
• Did you feel powerless to be able to do anything about it in the educational system?
• Have you taken a big hit financially?
• What would you say are the unmet needs that you experienced as a teacher that you’re discovering about yourself now?
• Is there anything that unsettles you now that you have more freedom?
• Why do you think you doubt yourself?
• Did you go into teaching because you had a challenging experience at school?
• What question would you like to leave us with?

Links to Louise’s work

Louise Earnshaw Artist website

Instagram

Facebook page

References

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Adventure Element website

Dr Ali Foxon website

Dr Ali Foxon on About the Adventure Podcast

Sam Marshall - Artist and Printmaker website

Recording information

This episode was recorded in a Peak District woodland on 5th July 2023.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure

Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for

What makes you feel energised and alive? Jen Scotney says that she is still finding her way since she stopped working as a human rights lawyer. She feels like she is forging a unique path which is scary, but she has faith that if she does what she enjoys she can’t go wrong.  

Themes during Jen’s interview include running, burnout, chronic fatigue, bereavement, the shame of not being able to cope with work, self-employment and career change. She also talks about the importance of flexibility to allow for time in nature, deep rest, and authentic connection.

At the end of the interview, Jen asks you a really powerful question that might help you to take a step towards making a change in your life.

The first 20 minutes of the episode is focused on running, Jen’s work as a coach, and how osteoarthritis has affected her. In the second part of the interview Jen talks about her career as a lawyer, the effects of burnout and chronic fatigue, and the steps she has taken since she decided to stop working as a lawyer.

Here’s the list of the questions I asked Jen: 

• How do you work with people as a running coach?
• How has not running anymore had an impact on your work as a running coach?
• How do you handle stressful times without running?
• Do you give yourself permission to give yourself time off?
• How difficult was it to make the decision to not enter the winter spine race?
• Does choosing yourself and your health apply to your career decisions as well?
• Did the profession disappoint you?
• How did it feel making the decision to step away from your career as a lawyer?
• When you were initially considering a career change, how do you think you got to where you are now and how is that going to guide you?
• Do you ever feel like it can be lonely if most other people are in office jobs?
• Question sent in from Angie: What do you do to stop yourself from spiralling when you’re having a bad day?
• How do these things apply now with your podcast and writing a book?
• Is your relationship with your husband better since you became happier with the work that you’re doing?
• Are there some areas in your life now that you feel resistance towards?
• What’s the motivation to share your story?
• What are you working towards?

Links to Jen’s work:

Read Jen’s substack and subscribe for a small monthly fee

Listen to Resilience Rising Podcast

See her upcoming events

Follow Jen on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Follow Resilience Rising Podcast on Instagram

References:

Montane Winter Spine

Marcus Scotney

James Reeves

...

Why is it important for humans to reconnect with nature? Anna Danby says it is essential if we ever want to move towards a more sustainable way of being on planet earth and when thinking about our impact on this place that we call home. 

This ethos has shaped her career from doing a Post Grad course at the University of Edinburgh in ‘Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education’, to taking up a position within the Learning Team at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, and what she does now as the Founder of Wild Roots Highland Guiding.

Themes during Anna’s interview include moving to live in the Scottish mountains, training as a Mountain Leader during her pregnancy, starting a company during the covid pandemic, resilience, collaboration, outdoor leadership and wild roots.

At the end of the interview, Anna asks you a question that might help you to break out of thinking that it’s too late or too challenging for a career change.

Here’s the list of the questions I asked Anna:

• How would you describe the mountains in Scotland?
• What’s your preferred time of year in the mountains?
• How did you get to where you are now?
• What was it like doing your Mountain Leader training when you were pregnant?
• Has it taken a lot of courage to take the steps in your career?
• Have you had times in the mountains when you’ve felt really vulnerable or fearful?
• How do you facilitate connection with the landscape through your offerings?
• Is it tricky to do because people want to chat?
• What transitions do you witness in people?
• What’s it like collaborating in your work?
• What’s the most effective way that attracts people to your offerings?
• Do you worry about the weather when you’re leading an experience?
• Has your outdoor work affected your personal adventures and family life?
• Where do your wild roots lie?
• What’s the impact that you want to make through your work and in your life?
• Do you think that most things can be resolved and worked through?

Wild Roots Highland Guiding

Take a look at Anna’s website to find out more about her work, and follow Wild Roots Guiding on Instagram and Facebook. You can also connect with Anna on LinkedIn.

Recording information

This episode was recorded online on 15th June 2023.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure.

References

• Shona Macpherson - Counselling and life coaching website
• Shona Macpherson on Instagram
• Lindsay Warrack - massage, yoga and wellbeing website
• Jon Fearne - endurance and adventure sports coaching

What have you got to lose? Sarah Manning-Ball asked herself this question before setting up Glorious Grazes and Posh Picnics. In this episode, she tells us her career change story from working in the corporate world to following her dream of opening her own food business. At the end of the interview, Sarah asks a question for you to explore if you are thinking about a career change.

Themes during Sarah’s interview include mental health, imposter syndrome, career coaching, and practical steps towards making dreams happen. It carries a content warning because Sarah talks about suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression at several points during the episode.

We recorded this approximately one year after our coaching session together, on 8th June 2023 while sitting next to a waterfall along a beautiful brook in the Peak District National Park.

Here’s the list of the questions I asked Sarah:

• What makes your picnics glorious and posh?
• Where did the perspective that food is glorious come from?
• What made you decide to create a business around this love of yours?
• How are you feeling now compared to how you were feeling in the corporate world?
• What made you suddenly see things so clearly?
• Do you think part of it was about giving yourself permission to follow something you really enjoy?
• What were the first few steps you took to make it happen?
• What grew out of that?
• What role has nature played in your journey so far?
• How does that compare to how you would deal with anxiety beforehand?
• What sort of environments do you work in now?
• How do you manage the challenges of working with people now?
• Have you needed to set boundaries with people?
• What’s it like between the excitement of getting a booking and the commitment involved with that?
• Have you had any wobbles since you started the food business?
• What’s one of the highlights that you’d like to share?
• What would you say to your younger self now knowing this information?
• Do you believe in there being the perfect time to make a change like this?
• What’s your method of working through your fears?
• What question would you like to ask people who are in a similar headspace as you were just a few months ago?

Glorious Grazes and Posh Picnics

Take a look at Sarah’s website to find out more about her work, and follow Glorious Grazes and Posh Picnics on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Support My Podcast

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can contribute £5 monthly to the show. This supports the cost of making the podcast and in return offers you a 10% discount on coaching sessions with Sarah and events by About The Adventure

Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career...

How can the power of observation shift your perspective? In this episode, Ali Foxon shares how sketching outdoors transformed her life, career, and her mental health.

She talks about the incredible benefits of sketching nature and making it more accessible, where the idea for green sketching began, what it’s been like to leave previous jobs behind, her experience of becoming an author, and how she delivers workshops despite anxiety about public speaking.

At the end of the interview, Ali asks a question for you to explore if you are thinking about a career change.

Here’s the list of that questions that Sarah asked Ali:

• If you had your sketchbook with you now, what would you choose to draw first?
• When you're sketching, what does it do to you and your state of energy?
• How do you encourage people to start sketching?
• Have you seen people break through their worries, barriers or resistance about spending time sketching?
• Where did green sketching all begin for you?
• What was your first experience of sketching like?
• How did you come up with the idea of “green sketching” and how has your career evolved?
• What has worked really well in terms of engaging people with your work?
• What will people experience from your book?
• What was your experience of writing the book like?
• What does your son think about what you do?
• Did you take your decision to change your career lightly?
• How do you feel now about stepping away from your previous career?
• What’s helped you most along the way?
• What are some of the skills you’ve learnt?
• How do you deliver workshops when you’re anxious about public speaking?
• Where would you like things to go from here?
• How would you describe your experience of making a living from your work?
• Do you feel like it’s given you more freedom in terms of how you spend your time?
• Do you feel like your priorities have changed?
• What question would you ask somebody who is thinking about a career change that allows them more time to connect with nature?

This episode was recorded while sitting in a woodland along the start of the Pennine Way in the Peak District, by Sarah Lister on 7th October 2022.

Take a look at Ali Foxon’s website to find out more about her work, watch her Tedx Talk on YouTube - Drawn to love nature, and follow her on Instagram.

Final notes

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you receive support with your own career change. Sarah is in the process of starting a career change support network to include both online and in-person events. You can support the podcast and get involved with the community for £5 per month.

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.

Thanks for listening!

What happens in the space between starting to think about a career change and actually making it happen? In this episode, Andy Darnton shares his story about leaving a career as a commercial lawyer. 

He talks about the need for change, his concerns about what other people might think, how he started to explore alternative options, why Legal Tech appeals to him, and his experience of getting back into the mountains and becoming a Mountain Leader.

At the end of the interview, Andy asks a question for you to explore if you are thinking about a career change.

Here’s the full list of questions that Sarah asked Andy:

• Can you start by describing what you were going through when you started to think about a change in direction?
• What was on your mind while you were at work? What types of questions were you asking yourself? 
• How did you start to explore and find your answers?
• What have been the highs and lows for you so far?
• Do you think that the culture of work can change?
• Do you think that having a purpose is an important part of your career change story?
• Has freelancing given you the freedom that you wanted to spend more time in the mountains?
• Have your stress and anxiety levels changed since you became self-employed?
• Which aspects of the course have you found the most challenging and how did you approach them?
• Why is having the ML qualification important to you?
• As a leader, what do you think is unique about you and the experiences you’re offering to people?
• How has the transition into a leadership position been for you so far?
• Do you think it comes down to exploring different elements of your personality and what you enjoy?
• What question would you like to ask, to help people think creatively about making a change in their own lives?

This episode was recorded while sitting on Kinder Scout by Sarah Lister on 29th July 2022. 

Take a look at Andy’s website to see the adventures he has planned, his blog Highs and Lows, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

References

Alastair Humphreys

Final notes

About The Adventure has a patreon community where you can support this podcast and receive support with your own career change through a Facebook group and outdoor events in the Peak District.

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.

Thanks for listening!