Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades. She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of these stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. However, alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity: highlighting the positive impact these individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others, have moved in or out of public service roles or have successfully introduced an additional income stream alongside your public service role, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
Donna continues to add to her extensive academic achievements, experience and skills. She is working towards a Diploma in Coaching and Positive Psychology and offers support to individuals looking to find clarity in their careers, to reach their full career potential or to plan their exit with confidence.
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Données mises à jour le 04/07/2026
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The Teacher, Trainer and Funeral Celebrant - Chris Henley
Épisode 5
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 45:04
In this episode, Donna interviews Chris Henley, a former teacher with a remarkable 35-year career in education. Chris shares pivotal moments from his teaching journey, including the profound impact he had on students, such as a former pupil who credited him with making a difference during a tough time in his life. They delve into the challenges teachers face, the importance of reflection, and the emotional complexities of the profession. After retiring from teaching, Chris transitioned to becoming a civil funeral celebrant, where he utilises his teaching skills to create personalized services for bereaved families. He emphasises the privilege of being part of such significant moments in people's lives and reflects on the transferable skills that have shaped his post-teaching career.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Teaching is not just about delivering lessons; it's about making a lasting impact on students' lives. Personal connections, like the story of a former student expressing gratitude, highlight the profound influence educators can have.
The journey of a teacher is filled with continuous learning and self-reflection. Acknowledging mistakes and striving to improve is essential, as no teacher is perfect, and every experience contributes to personal growth.
Skills developed in teaching, such as communication, empathy, and lesson planning, are highly transferable to other professions. The transition to becoming a civil funeral celebrant demonstrated how these skills can be applied in a completely different context.
The challenges faced by teachers today are more complex due to societal changes, including the impact of social media and mental health issues among students. This complexity necessitates a more structured approach to pastoral care within schools.
Transitioning from a long teaching career to a new profession can be daunting, but it can also lead to fulfilling opportunities. Embracing change and being open to new paths can lead to rewarding experiences, as seen in the journey to becoming a funeral celebrant.
BEST MOMENTS
"When I was going through that tough stage in year eight, you were the teacher that looked out for me. You made a real difference."
"You never stop learning. I can remember watching a young probationary teacher sort out quite a knotty problem in the playground. I was in absolute awe."
"It's not the things you say or do, it's the way you make people feel that has the real impact."
"Once you've been engaged, you have to meet with the family. It's exactly the same sort of scenario as when I sat and met with families in an education context."
"You know, sometimes I think it's easy to cling on to teaching, even if it's hard, because you can't think what else to do."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
Abuse, Suicides and Bombing - How a Police Officers' Experience Is Helping Thousands Through His Charity - Gary Hayes - PTSD 999
Épisode 6
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 01:29:37
In today's episode, Donna interviews Gary Hayes, the founder of PTSD 999, a charity dedicated to supporting frontline staff with their mental health. Gary shares his compelling life story, beginning with his childhood in East London and his early passion for football, which fostered a sense of teamwork and leadership. He discusses his military service in the army and his subsequent career in the British Transport Police, where he faced the challenges of dealing with traumatic incidents, including the aftermath of the 2005 London bombings. Throughout the conversation, Gary reflects on the importance of trust, the emotional toll of public service roles, and the lack of mental health support for emergency responders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Individuals often pursue careers in public service due to a desire to help others, driven by personal experiences and a sense of responsibility, as illustrated by Gary's early life experiences and his roles in the army and police.
The podcast highlights the psychological toll that traumatic experiences in public service roles can have on individuals, including feelings of guilt, anxiety, and moral injury, particularly after dealing with distressing incidents like suicides or fatalities.
There is a significant gap in mental health support for frontline workers, as many officers, including Gary, faced traumatic events without adequate resources or training to process their emotions and experiences.
Many individuals in high-stress public service roles resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as self-medication with alcohol, to manage the emotional burden of their work, which can lead to long-term mental health issues.
Maintaining relationships with colleagues and peers is crucial for emotional support in public service roles. Shared experiences can foster camaraderie and provide a network for discussing challenges and seeking help.
BEST MOMENTS
"I was a victim of sexual child abuse. I became that child looking out for everyone else. As long as I was looking out for everyone, nothing could happen to them."
From Physiotherapist To Successful Pilates Instructor and Business Owner with Debs Paterson
Épisode 4
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 27:57
In today's episode, Donna interviews Debs, a former NHS physiotherapist who transitioned into a successful Pilates instructor and business owner. Debs shares her journey from working in the NHS for over a decade and specialising in amputee rehabilitation, to establishing her own Pilates studio. She discusses the challenges of bureaucracy in the NHS, her motivations for seeking a more fulfilling career, and the flexibility that self-employment has provided her, especially as a mother. Debs highlights the growing popularity of Pilates, its benefits for physical and mental health, and how her background in physiotherapy enhances her teaching.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The journey from working in the NHS to self-employment can be challenging but rewarding. Many professionals find that developing a side hustle or hybrid role can provide the confidence and financial stability needed to make the leap.
There has been a significant increase in interest in Pilates, attributed to modern lifestyle stresses and the need for both physical and mental health benefits. Pilates offers a holistic approach to fitness, combining strength, flexibility, and mindfulness.
Beginner-specific classes and a supportive environment are essential for newcomers to Pilates. Creating a sense of community helps individuals feel more comfortable and encourages them to step out of their comfort zones.
Skills gained from working in public service, such as empathy, communication, and teamwork, can be effectively applied in self-employment settings. Continuous learning and adaptation are crucial for success in a business environment.
Self-employment allows for greater flexibility in work hours, which can lead to a better work-life balance. This flexibility can be particularly beneficial for parents or those looking to manage their time more effectively.
BEST MOMENTS
"I always wanted to be a musculoskeletal sports physio, but I ended up being placed in an amputee rehab centre and I loved it."
"I was earning a full-time wage on part-time hours definitely within the first two years."
Achieving Great Work/Life Balance in Nursing and Skin Care with Caitlin Maye
Épisode 3
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 59:00
In this episode, Donna interviews Caitlin Maye, a dynamic young nurse specialising in dermatology who has successfully combined her medical expertise with a thriving aesthetics business alongside her mother. Caitlin shares her journey from being a professional dancer to becoming a nurse, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she faced during her training, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation delves into the diverse aspects of dermatology, the importance of holistic approaches to skincare, and the differences between NHS and private practice treatments.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Caitlin has developed a successful nursing career in dermatology, where she works with both adults and children, managing a variety of skin conditions and performing surgeries, including skin cancer removals.
Alongside her NHS role, Caitlin operates a skin therapy business with her mother, combining their nursing expertise with aesthetic treatments. This hybrid model allows her to explore her passion for skincare while maintaining a stable income.
Caitlin emphasises the importance of understanding the root causes of skin issues, advocating for a holistic approach that considers factors like stress, diet, and skin barrier health, rather than solely relying on medications that may mask symptoms.
Caitlin's nursing training occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented significant challenges but also taught her resilience and the importance of providing emotional support to patients during difficult times.
Recognising the potential for burnout in nursing, Caitlin stresses the importance of maintaining a work-life balance and pursuing additional interests outside of her primary career to ensure long-term job satisfaction and personal well-being.
BEST MOMENTS
"My mum's also a nurse and growing up I've always heard good stories. I've seen her cry, I've seen her laugh. It's a job where you can't really explain it unless you're sort of in that environment."
"Your skin is your largest organ. If that skin barrier is impaired in any way, then you're going to get bacteria in, you're going to have water coming out."
From Firefighter to Well-Travelled English Butler with Steve Hibberd
Épisode 2
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 44:06
In this episode, Donna interviews her father, Steve Hibberd, a former firefighter with an impressive 29-year career in the fire service. Steve shares his journey into firefighting, the challenges he faced, and the camaraderie built within his team. He reflects on the evolution of the role, including the impact of PTSD and the importance of support among colleagues. The conversation also delves into Steve's transition from public service to a career as a butler, highlighting his unique experiences working for wealthy families and the fascinating stories that come with it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The journey from a public service role, such as firefighting, to other careers can be influenced by personal circumstances, such as changes in family life or career stagnation. The transition can lead to diverse opportunities, including unique jobs like butlering.
Firefighters face significant challenges, including dealing with traumatic incidents and the emotional toll that comes with them. While support systems have improved over the years, earlier firefighters often relied on camaraderie and peer support to cope with stress.
The fire service fosters a strong sense of brotherhood among team members, where colleagues support each other both professionally and personally. This bond is crucial during difficult times and contributes to a positive work environment.
Working for affluent families can provide unique experiences, such as living in luxurious settings and interacting with high-profile individuals. However, the treatment of staff can vary significantly among employers, impacting job satisfaction.
The importance of being treated as an equal and valued member of a team is emphasised. Positive relationships with employers can enhance job performance and overall satisfaction, while negative experiences can lead to dissatisfaction and career changes.
BEST MOMENTS
"I suppose rugby being on the corner of the M6 and the M1, we probably covered more motorway miles than most fire stations in the country."
"We recognize now that as part of doing a job that helps others, we sometimes take on what's known as vicarious trauma or moral injury."
What Is The Purpose of This Podcast?
Épisode 1
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Durée 09:54
In this very first episode of Life After Public Service, Donna reveals her own journey as a nurse with over 27 years of experience in the NHS and discusses the evolving landscape of public service roles. She highlights the challenges faced by public servants, including high attrition rates in the NHS and other sectors, and the increasing demands on healthcare professionals. Donna aims to create a platform for sharing inspiring stories from individuals in various public service fields, exploring both their successes and the reasons behind their career transitions.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Donna aims to share the stories of individuals in public service roles, highlighting both their successes and challenges, and to provide insights into life after a career in public service.
There is a significant attrition rate in public service roles, particularly in the NHS, where 40,000 nurses leave the profession each year. This reflects a gap between expectations and the realities of working in these fields.
The public service landscape has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, with increased demand for services, advancements in technology, and a growing need for evidence-based care due to rising litigation.
Donna encourages listeners to consider their career paths and the possibility of transitioning to new roles, emphasising that transferable skills from public service can open doors to various career options.
BEST MOMENTS
"I wanted to have a platform to be able to share the stories of everyday heroes. They are heroes, in my opinion. People who work in public service roles."
"The NHS is the biggest employer in the UK and it employs over 1.5 million people. But the attrition rate is 8%."
"There's a real ambition by a lot of people in the UK to work in these public service roles, but maybe the reality of it doesn't quite meet their expectation."
"If you're not happy in the role that you're doing, what else could I do? All of these roles give you transferable skills."
Coming Soon...
jeudi 23 janvier 2025 • Durée 00:06
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades. She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
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"I ended up joining the TA. It was fantastic. It was just almost like being back in my battalion."
"I was dealing with someone who, unfortunately for this individual, was still alive at the time. It just throws your world upside down."
"It's about how you as a person have been able to portray that you're empathetic, in the kindest and least ambiguous way."
"We normalise stuff that's not normal. I was self-medicating through booze."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
"Pilates is lovely in the fact that you've got the mindful element to it. It includes a lot of breath work, which helps settle the central nervous system."
"You can get trapped by the fact that you're told that it's an admirable profession, but what it means is you don't ever then explore outside of that bubble."
"We run classes that are specifically for beginners, and that's really nice getting a group of people together."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
"I always say to patients acne is a bit like a fire. You need to have the bacteria. You need to have the dead skin cells and then you have to have the oil. Have all three, you've got yourself a nice juicy spot."
"You are literally always on a stage, you almost do have to perform and you do, I think, learn to develop that skill of putting on a bit of a show."
"I think there's room for medical and there's room for sort of the cosmetic or the holistic approach to things when it comes to your health in many different ways."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
"I remember we had a chief called Wally Redford, and in the end we were just laughing and he was so embarrassed."
"I went to test them out, within seven casts I'd caught six fish, so it was as easy as that."
"It doesn't matter how wealthy you are, you know, everybody in the team's important."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
"Some of the topics that we discuss include war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, Covid, death and moral injury."
ABOUT THE HOST
Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.
She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.
This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.
