Why I Left – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Aundrea Cline-Thomas spent 15 years as an Emmy-winning journalist in top markets like New York and Philadelphia before making the decision to walk away. Because she realized she was operating far below her full capacity.

In this episode, Aundrea shares what led to that realization, the internal conflict of leaving something she worked so hard for, and how she approached building a new path through entrepreneurship. From financial preparation to redefining identity beyond a job title, this is a grounded look at what real career transitions require.

This conversation is for anyone questioning whether success still fits, navigating misalignment, or thinking about what comes next. It’s not about quitting. It’s about clarity, strategy, and choosing differently.

Enjoy!

Stay connected with Aundrea Cline-Thomas
Website: https://aundreact.com/mountain-court-media/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aundreact/

The Next Nuggets Newsletter: https://aundreact.com/NEWSLETTER/

The Next Best Thing Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFkxUkBZcqCcmc9T5heyg9w

Work with Brian

Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work.

Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yWlc-4M5JIaTMPurQlcccQ8gZF5lEabY/view?usp=sharing

Stay connected with Why I Left 

Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co 

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ 

Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  

Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story.

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Farah Hussain spent more than a decade building a successful career at PayPal. From the outside, her trajectory looked like momentum. Promotions. Influence. Global impact.

But internally, something had shifted.

In this episode, Farah shares the moment that changed everything. A quiet realization during a coaching session that made the burnout disappear and revealed the work she truly wanted to do.

We talk about the myth of corporate meritocracy, the emotional cost of high performance, and what happens when leaders stop benchmarking their success against everyone else.

Farah now helps founders and executives become more effective leaders by starting with something most organizations ignore: self-awareness.

This conversation is about purpose, clarity, and the courage to choose a different path.

Enjoy!

Stay connected with Farah Hussain
Website: https://coachingwithfarah.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farahhussain/

The Pivotal Leader: https://coachingwithfarah.substack.com/

Work with Brian

Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work.

Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yWlc-4M5JIaTMPurQlcccQ8gZF5lEabY/view?usp=sharing

Stay connected with Why I Left 

Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co 

Subscribe:  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef 

Follow: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ 

Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  

Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Thanks to our partners & sponsors:  

BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/whyileft and get 10% off your first month  

ApodcastGeek: Use Code BA10 to 10% off your first order at https://apodcastgeek.com/  

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

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Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Brian sits down with Lori Eberly, founder of Radius Executive Coaching and co-author of "Fuckery." Lori shares her compelling journey from hospice social worker to leadership development expert, revealing how grief, transition, and trust shape meaningful career change. Discover practical, neuroscience-backed strategies for navigating loss in your professional life, building resilience, and transforming team culture. 

Loris trauma-informed approach provides actionable insights on overcoming toxic workplace habits and fostering authentic connections. Whether you're considering your next career move or leading through change, don't miss this conversation packed with wisdom, humor, and real-life advice for making bold, intentional decisions. Check out the episode for inspiration to trust yourself, grieve what you leave behind, and step forward with clarity.

Enjoy!

Stay connected with Guest

Website: https://www.radiusecd.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-swartz-eberly-msw-lcsw-licsw-74550964/ 

Stay connected with Why I Left 

Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co 

Subscribe:  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef 

Follow: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ 

Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  

Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 

Why I Left is happy to be part of the Alive Podcast Network, which offers a diverse range of shows featuring powerful storytelling, insightful conversa

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Courtney Maron joins to share her story of how having faith in herself allowed her to pivot into something she truly loves and the positive effects it's had on her relationship with her children. She had a successful twenty-five year career in advertising. In executive leadership roles, she was responsible for negotiating multi-million dollar partnerships on her clients behalf, ensuring they were consistently the best in the marketplace.

In our discussion, Courtney discussed how much she learned about herself and her family during this time and how the pandemic opened an opportunity for her in her home life that she couldn't pass up. It was great to hear her evolution as a professional and how now she's doing something she truly loves.

Stay connected with our Guest
Connect with Courtney Maron on LinkedIn and visit her Website.

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Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):

02:25 Courtney describes her passion.

04:36 How the pandemic affected Courtney.

06:58 When the pandemic started to affect her relationship with her job.

10:13 Why Courtney left her job during the pandemic.

14:03 Courtney explains whats happened since and the happiness shes achieved.

15:15 Courtney explains what shes learned about herself throughout this process.

16:21 Advice for listeners and recognizing the value she brings to the table.

21:00 Revelations about learnings from the Pandemic in relation to her son.

22:08 Further resources/closing thoughts.

Visit Us: Why I Left

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Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft
Twitter: @WhyILeft_
Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness

Why I Left is created using Riverside, which makes it easy to record podcasts and video interviews that look and sound great: Riverside (paid link).

Did you enjoy t

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Wale Ayantoye is a FinTech industry veteran with vast experience in the Anti-Money Laundering space. He transitioned roles multiple times during the pandemic and shares his perspective on the current state of the job market. In our discussion, Wale discussed how advantageous the work environment is now for prospective employees and how he used that to his benefit to land in an area hes truly passionate about. Hes also found a way to use this time in our history as a teaching opportunity for the younger generation entering the workforce.

Stay connected with our Guest
Connect with Wale Ayantoye on LinkedIn and visit his Website.

Mentioned on the Show
Purchase Wales book Beyond the Spotlight.

Support the Show

Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):
03:02 Wale shares why he entered the Anti-Money Laundering space.

05:45 A quote to live by.

09:00 Summary of what Wale in Anti-Money Laundering.

10:35 How the pandemic put life into perspective for his career.

13:41 Wale understands his worth in the marketplace.

15:00 Why Wale left multiple roles during the pandemic.

20:00 Whats happened in Wales life since he left his job.

22:32 Advice for others and the importance of confidence.

25:52 Impact Wale is trying to have in this next step of his career.

30:00 Further resources/closing thoughts.

Visit Us: Why I Left

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Follow us:
Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft
Twitter: @WhyILeft_
Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness

Why I Left is created using Riverside, which makes it easy to record podcasts and video interviews that look and sound great: Riverside (paid link).

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, rate it 5 stars and share with you

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Valeria Colato is a Brazilian professional with experience in Sales, Customer Service, Account Management, and Marketing. She moved to Ireland in 2017 and marketed for well-known Irish brands prior to joining the Great Resignation and deciding to change her career and industry in December 2021. Since March 2022, she is happily working in the Tech Industry, as a Customer Success Associate. Shes a natural extrovert who was heavily impacted during the shutdowns of the pandemic, but she was able to use available resources to determine where her values truly lied.

Stay connected with our Guest

Connect with Valeria Colato on LinkedIn.

Support the Show

Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):

01:34 Valeria's background, working in Dubai and now Ireland.

03:32 What are some of the things that have driven Valeria's success?

04:50 What are the things that have served Valeria well in the workforce so far?

07:28 Valeria discusses how COVID 19 affected her life.

11:48 How the pandemic changed her and addressing stress via therapy.

14:08 Why Valeria quit her job during the pandemic with no new jobs lined up.

19:47 What happened after resigning the role?

22:41 Discovering new opportunities.

25:43 Advice for listeners.

28:13 Further resources/closing thoughts.

Visit Us: Why I Left

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Follow us:

Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft

Twitter: @WhyILeft_

Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness

Enjoy this episode? If so, rate it 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and share it with your community.

Wed love your feedback.

Why I Left is created using Riverside, which makes it easy to record podcasts and video interviews that look and sound great:

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Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

Send a message to the show

Send us a Text Message.

#TheMoreYouKnow: As of July 16, 2022, people in the US can call/text 9-8-8 when experiencing a mental health crisis.

Joan Pons Laplana is on a mission to disrupt healthcare and empower frontline staff & patients to lead together. He currently works at Health Education England where he helps young adults gain work experience and skills. In 2018, he won the Britain BJN Nurse of the Year Award.

In this episode, we discuss working on the front lines of COVID as a nurse and explore the challenges and cause for his burnout and quitting. We also cover issues of mental health, stress and work-life balance and look at Jo's new career path of helping others through teaching.

Stay connected with our Guest

Connect with Joan Pons Laplana on LinkedIn and Twitter

Mentioned on the Show:

Purchase Joans book Destiny and Hope on Amazon

2022 London Marathon Guinness World Record Attempt: #Pint4Ashgate

Support the Show

Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):

(03:01) Who is Jo, his upbringing and background?
(04:35) What are some of the things Jo has been passionate about when it comes to his job and profession?
(05:58) Jo's experiences in health care. What type of things work and don't work in the medical field?
(08:50) The medical field was at the center of the pandemic.
(11:42) Lessons from the COVID pandemic.
(14:26) What was the ultimate reason for Jo leaving his job during the pandemic?
(19:25) After leaving his role, what is Jo up to now?
(22:20) Advice for people in health care or other highly stressful fields.
(24:43) What can employers do to support employees in the post-COVID world?
(26:24) Jo's book was written as a part of therapy.
(30:10) Final thoughts and further resources.

Visit Us: Why I Left

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Follow us:
Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft
Twitter: @WhyILeft_
Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft
#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation

Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Jennifer Walton is the Chief Brand Officer and Partner of SkyNile Consulting. She spent the last 10 years of her career hustling for one brand at a time, working hard to climb the corporate ladder, reach Executive level, and unlock many of life's "achievements, but couldnt find peace. She lacked fulfillment and joined the public sector, but when she failed to get the resources and support she needed, she decided it was time to work on her own terms.

Stay connected with our Guest

Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn and visit Sky Nile Consulting.

Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):

[01:41] Jennifer's background and how she got into marketing.

[05:44] What has previously worked well in the work environments Jennifer has been in?

[07:50] How did the COVID pandemic affect Jennifer and her industry?

[12:07] What did Jennifer learn from the transition period?

[18:18] Experiences in public sector and private sector.

[24:42] Jennifer learned a lot about herself after her resignation.

[31:37] Jennifer's advice for people looking to do a big career shift.

[36:06] What could employers be doing better to support their employees?

[38:50] What type of impact has Jennifer had on people via her work?

[40:19] Closing thoughts and further resources.

Visit Us: Why I Left

Subscribe on: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Support the Show

Follow us:

Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft

Twitter: @WhyILeft_

Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, rate it 5 stars on #ApplePodcasts and share with your community.

Wed love your feedback.

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Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

Send a message to the show

Send us a Text Message.

Brian Aquart is the Creator and Host of the Why I Left Podcast, a show chronicling real stories from real people about why they left their jobs during the pandemic. He is passionate about knowing the why. He's learned valuable lessons from his family which helped him build relationships, understand peoples motivations, and navigate difficult situations while maintaining his authenticity.

In this debut episode, Brian gives you an overview of the podcast, why he launched the show and its goals.

Stay connected with the Host

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.

Visit: Why I Left

Subscribe: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Support the Show

Follow us:

Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft

Twitter: @WhyILeft_

Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness #Leadership #Career #Culture #Innovation

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, rate it 5 stars and share it with your community.

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It takes a village to put this show together so a special shoutout to:

Why I Left Logo: Ei8htz. Host imagery: Jay at Dos Ojos Media. Audio & Video Production: Mixedmediaire. Transcript & Show Notes: Risko S. Theme Music: Vicate Studios & FASSounds.

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Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

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Chelsea is on a mission to build a healthy world, one organization at a time. She turned her passion for leveraging the power of movement as medicine into a wellness career where she supported large government and Fortune 100 companies. In the throws of the covid-19 pandemic, she joined the Great Resignation to launch her company, SiteWell Solutions. SiteWell helps businesses improve the well-being of their workforces through resilience, fitness, nutrition, and injury prevention services.

Stay connected with our Guest

Connect with Chelsea Kidd on LinkedIn and visit Sitewell Solutions.

Mentioned on the Show:

SCORE: A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small businesses.

Support the Show

Key topics discussed (Time Stamps):

(02:39) Chelsea's background.

(03:30) What are Chelsea's favorite things about working in corporate wellness?

(05:43) What are the differences and similarities between clinical vs corporate wellness?

(08:53) How did COVID impact your industry?

(14:05) Why did Chelsea leave her job and the impact of the decision?

(15:50) What did Chelsea learn about herself through this process?

(17:01) SiteWell Solutions - what is the focus of this wellness company?

(19:48) Advice from Chelsea to people looking to start their business.

(22:10) What should employers be doing to better support employees at this time?

(24:01) Closing thoughts and further resources.

Visit Us: Why I Left

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

RSS feed: Why I Left RSS

Follow us:

Instagram: @OfficialWhyILeft

Twitter: @WhyILeft_

Facebook: @OfficialWhyILeft

#WhyILeftPodcast #GreatResignation #Podcast #Wellness

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, rate it 5 stars and share it with your community.

Wed love your feedback.

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Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswoodto help executives, founders, and rising leaders align their presence with their next chapter.

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring Why I Left?

Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/