Hitting the Career Break Wall? Don't Fall For This Midpoint Trap
Episode 78
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 31:21
Episode 78 - Hitting the Career Break Wall? Don't Fall For This Midpoint Trap
Feeling the urge to pack it in and go back to work right in the middle of your career break? You aren't alone. In this episode, Katrina McGhee and James Hammond dive deep into the hidden "trapdoor" that trips up high achievers around the midpoint of their break.
Once the initial bucket list items and big adventures are checked off, a wave of discomfort, existential questioning, and the familiar urge for productivity can hit hard. Katrina breaks down why your brain panics when faced with spaciousness, the massive costs of returning to work too early, and a simple 3-step framework to help you push through the discomfort and completely transform your life.
In this packed conversation, we explore why default living and decades of hustle culture trick your nervous system into believing that being busy equals being a good person. You will learn how to spot the early warning signs of the midpoint slump, why your brain desperately seeks the familiar comfort of a job, and how a former client successfully handled a sudden job offer without breaking the commitment she made to herself.
To overcome this tricky phase, Katrina outlines her actionable, no-nonsense solution built around defining your core purpose and themes, establishing temporary targets, and creating a grounded morning routine. By leaning into structure and intention instead of defaulting back to autopilot, you give yourself the vital mental space needed to reshape your relationship with work and rest. Whether you are currently on a career break, planning a sabbatical, or dreaming of stepping away from burnout, this episode gives you the exact blueprint you need to master your time without regret.
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Does a Career Break Mean You're Not Ambitious Anymore?
Episode 77
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 22:57
Episode 77 - Does a Career Break Mean You're Not Ambitious Anymore?
Are you worried that stepping away from the daily grind means losing your edge?
In this episode of Taking a Career Break, hosts Katrina McGhee (career break and sabbatical coach) and James Hammond tackle a heavy stigma: the idea that taking a career break or sabbatical means you are no longer ambitious.
Inspired by recent client discussions and a viral Substack reflection titled "I lost my ambition in Europe," Katrina and James unpack the traditional, work-centric definition of ambition and why it often leads to burnout. They explore the difference between ambition and motivation, discuss the societal pressure to tie your self-worth to a corporate ladder, and offer a powerful reframe.
Tune in to discover why taking a career break isn't a sign of laziness—it's the ultimate act of being ambitious about your life, your well-being, and living a truly rich existence.
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What 10 Life-Changing Sabbaticals Proved Wrong About Career Breaks
Episode 76
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 32:17
Episode 76 - What 10 Life-Changing Sabbaticals Proved Wrong About Career Breaks
In this episode, Katrina and James catch up after the summer break to reflect on the inspiring stories shared throughout the Summer Series. They dive deep into the 10 core beliefs and fears that almost stopped 10 high achievers from taking a sabbatical—and how their real-life experiences proved every single one of those beliefs wrong.
From navigating the fear that "everything will collapse without me" to unlearning the idea that rest has to be earned, this episode recaps the biggest mindset shifts that make a career break truly life-changing. Plus, Katrina and James announce exciting new ways for listeners to get involved, including upcoming listener Q&A episodes and live on-air coaching opportunities!
Key Takeaways & Resources
Have a question for Katrina and James? Drop a comment on Spotify to be featured in an upcoming episode!
Want 15–20 minutes of free live coaching with Katrina on air? Reach out to us via Spotify by leaving a comment or by visiting Katrina's website
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Summer Series #10 – From Survival Mode to World Travel: Nicole’s Family Career Break
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 01:08:19
Summer Series #10 – From Survival Mode to World Travel: Nicole Starling’s Family Career Break
In the final installment of the Summer Series, host Katrina McGhee sits down with Nicole Starling to explore the transformative power of taking an extended family sabbatical. After facing consecutive family losses, caregiver responsibilities, and corporate burnout, Nicole and her husband decided to pause, pivot, and take their two children on a world-schooling adventure.
Nicole shares the raw reality of planning a global trip, overcoming deep-seated career and financial fears, and managing decision fatigue on the road. She also breaks down how stepping away allowed her family to reconnect, how her kids gained life-changing perspectives, and how she successfully re-entered the workforce—landing a promotion and a raise with her former employer.
Episode Takeaways
Breaks don't have to be "earned"
Rest and space are essential parts of the human lifecycle, not something you only get after burning out.
Realized fears aren't total failures
Returning to your home state or former company doesn't mean you didn't grow; internal transformation changes how you experience your reality.
Kids thrive in the ordinary
The most meaningful memories from family travel often come from everyday interactions, local parks, and simple community connections—not expensive tourist attractions.
Sabbaticals can enhance market value
Stepping away gives you the clarity to recognize your professional worth and negotiate stronger compensation upon re-entry.
Summer Series #9 – Jessica Walked Away From a 60-Hour Week and Discovered a Whole New Life
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 55:22
Summer Series #9 – Jessica Walked Away From a 60-Hour Week and Discovered a Whole New Life
What happens when you're really good at your job, you're making a difference in the world, and yet you know deep down that the life you're living isn't good for you anymore?
In this episode of the Summer Series, I talk to Jessica O'Neill about one of the most incredible career-break transformations I've encountered.
Jessica had spent years building and leading a community food-access organisation in Western Massachusetts. As executive director, she was working 60–80 hrs a week, managing staff, writing grants, working with the board and carrying the weight of an organisation that meant an enormous amount to her. She was successful, but exhausted.
The hardest part wasn't knowing she needed a change. It was letting go.
Jessica feared that everything she'd built would fall apart if she stepped away. Through her work with me, she began to challenge those fears, create a concrete plan for her career break and ultimately give herself permission to choose herself.
What happened next was far beyond what she could have predicted.
During her break, Jessica travelled to England to study equine healing and communication, spent time with her twin sister in Italy, rediscovered writing and gardening, and most importantly, learned how to slow down, breathe and reclaim her own time.
That experience eventually became the foundation for an entirely new career working with horses, combining equine energy work, communication, nutrition, plants and sound therapy into what Jessica and her twin sister developed as the TwinErgy Method.
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Summer Series #8 - Elly Quit Her 20-Year Career and Discovered a Completely Different Life
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 49:35
Summer Series #8 - Elly Quit Her 20-Year Career and Discovered a Completely Different Life
What happens when the career you spent 20 years building no longer feels like you?
In this powerful episode of the Summer Series, Katrina sits down with Elly, a former Assistant Dean for International Programs at the University of Illinois, elected county board member, and lifelong high achiever who reached a breaking point. After years of managing teams, navigating bureaucracy, and pushing through burnout, she made a bold decision: quit her job without knowing what came next.
Elly shares the emotional reality of leaving a respected career, the loss of professional identity, and the fear of what other people would think. She opens up about the struggle of learning how to rest, reclaiming mental space, and discovering that spaciousness can be just as uncomfortable as burnout.
What began as a career break turned into something far more transformative. During the break, Elly deepened family relationships, became more engaged in local government, returned to writing, and ultimately made a life-changing decision she never expected: becoming a mother again at 44.
This conversation is an honest look at uncertainty, reinvention, and the courage to choose a life that is aligned with who you are today, not who you were 20 years ago. If you’ve ever felt trapped in a successful career, questioned your identity outside of work, or wondered what might be possible if you finally gave yourself space to breathe, this episode will resonate deeply.
Connect with Elly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellyhanauer/
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Summer Series #7 - From Burned-Out School Counselor to Medical Interpreter in Guatemala | Heidi Leal's Career Break Story
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 01:02:48
Summer Series #7 - From Burned-Out School Counselor to Medical Interpreter in Guatemala | Heidi Leal's Career Break Story
What happens when you walk away from a stable career without another job lined up?
In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Heidi Leal shares her remarkable journey from high school counselor to freelance medical interpreter in Guatemala. After more than 20 years in public education, Heidi knew she could no longer continue in a role that left her feeling exhausted and disconnected. She resigned without a clear next step, spent time in Guatemala, and began exploring what a different kind of life could look like.
What followed was not a perfectly planned career pivot, but a series of experiments. Heidi tried selling handmade artisan products, creating travel itineraries, hosting Airbnb guests, and volunteering as an interpreter at a nonprofit hospital. Through those experiences, she discovered a skill that truly lit her up and eventually turned it into a flexible freelance business that gives her the freedom and autonomy she had been craving.
Katrina and Heidi talk about the fear of leaving a secure salary and pension, the guilt many high achievers feel when taking time off, the importance of structure during a career break, and the surprising opportunities that appear when you create space to explore. Heidi also shares the mindset shifts that stayed with her long after coaching ended, including celebrating small wins, letting work be enjoyable, and learning that rest does not have to be earned.
If you are considering a career break, feeling burned out in a long-term profession, or wondering how to pivot into something completely different, this conversation is full of practical insight and real-life encouragement.
Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidileal/
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Summers Series #6 - Kisha Left Without a Plan: The Career Break That Opened Unexpected Doors
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 56:21
Summer Series #6 - Kisha Left Without a Plan: The Career Break That Opened Unexpected Doors
Kisha Ward loved her corporate career—until burnout caught up with her. After years of leading major projects, ERP implementations, mergers, and international supply chain work, she made the courageous decision to negotiate an exit without having another job lined up.
In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Kisha shares the fears that came with stepping away from a successful career, including losing her identity, disappointing others, and facing the uncertainty of what would come next.
What started as a much-needed break became a complete reimagining of work and life. Kisha talks about learning to rest, letting go of constant productivity, rebuilding her relationship with money, and reconnecting with family, friends, health, and creativity.
She also opens up about her writing journey—from struggling to start, to developing a consistent writing practice, to pursuing publication in the fast-growing romantasy genre. Along the way, an unexpected consulting opportunity found her, eventually allowing her to create a flexible lifestyle that combines high-level consulting with extended breaks dedicated to writing.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that a career break is not always a step backwards. Sometimes it is the pause that creates space for a more aligned, creative, and fulfilling future.
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Summer Series #5 - Henriette Left a Successful Corporate Career at 55 — And It Changed Everything
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 01:05:23
Summer Series #5 - Henriette Left a Successful Corporate Career at 55 — And It Changed Everything
Henriette was a successful engineering manager leading multiple corporate teams, but behind the achievements, she was exhausted, disconnected from herself, and asking a question many high achievers quietly carry: “Is this all there is to life?”
In this inspiring Summer Series conversation, Henriette shares how she went from burnout and late-night tears to taking a fully intentional career break at the age of 55. Guided by a powerful vision she called Vision 60, she began redesigning her health, relationships, adventures, and future instead of simply escaping a demanding job.
Katrina and Henriette explore the moment she realised work was crowding out the life she truly wanted, how she created a purpose-driven career break, and why she was surprised to discover she had more financial freedom than she thought. They also discuss the fears that almost stopped her, including the belief that you do not walk away from a well-paid corporate role and the uncertainty of re-entering the workforce later in life.
During her break, Henriette filled her days with long walks, slow running, forest adventures, national park visits, family travel, and meaningful time with her husband, sons, grandchildren, and even her 80-year-old father. She also shares the unexpected joy of making new friendships and learning how to bring celebration and fun into ordinary life.
The conversation takes a powerful turn when Henriette explains how she applied for a dream management role from a lake house while visiting family in the United States, despite not planning to return to work for several more months. What happened next challenged every fear she had about career breaks and re-entry after 50.
This episode is a moving reminder that taking a career break is not about giving up ambition. It can be about coming back with more energy, better boundaries, clearer priorities, and a deeper sense of being fully alive.
Email Henriette today with any questions you have: henriette@slowrunliving.com
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Summer Series #4 - Karin Quit Her Job to Save Her Health—What Happened Next Will Inspire You
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 56:11
Summer Series #4 - Karin Quit Her Job to Save Her Health—What Happened Next Will Inspire You
What happens when your body forces you to stop?
In this inspiring episode of the Taking A Career Break Summer Series, Katrina McGhee sits down with Karin Holmberg to share the remarkable story of how a planned career break became a life-changing healing journey.
After years of unexplained health issues, long working hours and mounting burnout, Karin reached a point where she could no longer ignore what her body was telling her. What started as a dream of taking a sabbatical soon became a necessity when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, multiple co-infections and mould toxicity.
Karin shares how early planning allowed her to take a two-year career break, why moving back in with her parents became the key to making it financially possible, and how trusting her intuition helped her navigate one unexpected twist after another.
During her break, she immersed herself in learning about functional health, earned multiple certifications, launched her own practice and ultimately found a new definition of success—one that prioritises health, purpose and alignment over hustle.
If you're wondering whether a career break could change your life, Karin's story is proof that one courageous decision can completely transform your future.
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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
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💬 If the show has helped or inspired you, leaving a quick 5-star review genuinely makes a huge difference and helps more people discover the podcast.
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00:00 – Jessica's incredible career-break transformation 03:37 – Working 60–80 hours a week as an executive director 05:46 – Knowing something had to change 07:18 – The fear of walking away from everything she'd built 09:35 – Leaving the organisation and finally taking the break 16:45 – Saying no to six figures and choosing the unknown 17:27 – The big goals Jessica achieved during her break 21:01 – Recovering from burnout and learning to relax 22:30 – Studying equine healing in England 26:54 – Creating a holistic approach to healing horses 29:24 – The TwinErgy Method 33:00 – What Jessica's work with horses actually looks like 38:56 – Learning to value your work and charge for it 41:18 – The highs and challenges of taking a career break 45:54 – The biggest impact of coaching 50:17 – What Jessica would tell someone considering a career break 51:37 – Saying yes to yourself and opening new doors 53:56 – Where to find Jessica and her work
Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?
🫶🏼Join the BreakSpace community - www.gobreakspace.com
📲 And if you know someone feeling burned out, stuck in their career, or dreaming about taking a career break, share this episode with them — it might be exactly what they need to hear.
❤️ Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories for people ready to make a change.
📲 And if you know someone feeling burned out, stuck in their career, or dreaming about taking a career break, share this episode with them — it might be exactly what they need to hear.
❤️ Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories for people ready to make a change.
⭐ Follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode!
💬 If the show has helped or inspired you, leaving a quick 5-star review genuinely makes a huge difference and helps more people discover the podcast.
📲 And if you know someone feeling burned out, stuck in their career, or dreaming about taking a career break, share this episode with them — it might be exactly what they need to hear.
❤️ Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories for people ready to make a change.
📲 And if you know someone feeling burned out, stuck in their career, or dreaming about taking a career break, share this episode with them — it might be exactly what they need to hear.
❤️ Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories for people ready to make a change.
